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Newcastle students join local charitable efforts to help survivors of earthquake

he recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria has caused a devastating impact across the world, and this has also had an effect on Newcastle students with families in the region.

This disastrous event has taken the lives of more than 35,400 Turkish citizens, as well as over 5,800 in Syria.

Turkish associations across the city have been working together to raise funds and provide support for victims, including students from Newcastle University’s Turkish Society.

The Turkish Society has organised two fundraisers so far, the first being a collection for donations outside the Students’ Union, and the second being a bake sale last Monday. Their first event raised more than £1000 for victims of the earthquake, with a representative of the society telling The Courier that students were “quite generous” with their support.

They were also grateful for the amount of support they received at their bake sale, and are aiming to hold more of these events in the near future.

However, they were also keen to establish that financial aid is not the only support needed, particularly when it comes to students with families in Turkey and Syria.

The Society representative stated that after the earthquake “Our priority was the well-being of Turkish students so we immediately contacted [the university]

and asked for their help for the wellbeing of students”. They also “gathered after the events and shared [their] feelings” about what was happening, providing a support network for Turkish students in this difficult time.

TThe President of the Turkish Society was in Turkey when the earthquake occured Interested

Alongside their focus on financial and emotional support, Newcastle students are involved in direct aid to the victims. Huseyun Ayan, President of the Turkish society, was in Turkey when the earthquake occurred and is currently assisting with support for victims in the field.

With many different types of support on offer, the society told The Courier that they “are doing as much as we can both to help survivors and help ourselves”.

All of the fundraising which has occurred on campus has been part of a wider effort by the Turkish Community Association in Newcastle. This is a group formed of smaller local Turkish organisations and fundraising experts, who have come together to provide collective support.

The association has been organising and collecting donations, of both money and physical items. According to The Chronicle, they have raised over £75,000 over the past week across

various collection points in the city. Posters can be seen all around the city centre urging people to donate, created by the Turkish Community Association and the Kotku Mosque, located on Grainger Park Road.

As well as this, the group has put together more than 1000 boxes of food, clothing and sanitary items to send to Turkey - which will go not only to those displaced by the earthquake but also to assist all the volunteers saving lives. These physical donations were taken to Manchester airport, as part of a national effort flying supplies to Turkey. Whilst there have been huge national

efforts to help those in Turkey and Syria, there are also many people here in Newcastle who have been affected by this tragedy. Alongside the support offered by Newcastle’s Turkish society, the University themselves have offered support to students affected by the earthquake.

In a release from their Press Office, Newcastle University stated that “As is our normal procedure, our Student Health and Wellbeing team and People Services have already written out to all colleagues and students where our records show they have family or close links to Turkiye and Syria”.

Alongside this, the University is offering Financial and wellbeing support to students in need, as well as support for employees with families in the region.

The Students’ Union can also offer support from their Wellbeing and Support Centre, found on the ground floor of the SU building.

It’s clear that this terrible earthquake has had a severe impact on many Newcastle students. However, support is being offered both by the University and the Turkish society, who will be continuing to fundraise for victims for the foreseeable future.

Image: Meg Howe / The Courier

A note from the Editor

Life can truly be magical. It can throw you moments of beauty; moments that make you feel alive; moments that fill you with joy. These are moments you want to cherish wholeheartedly, in a way that a photo wouldn’t quite capture. This week has been full of a few of these moments.

The days have begun to get a little lighter, and when I leave work there is still just enough daylight for me to enjoy looking at the gorgeous skyline as I walk past the Robbo on my way home (for

those who don’t know, I’m obsessed with the sky!). The warmer weather this week has made me super excited for summer, and now the prospect of BBQs in the garden with a beer in my hand is the only thing getting me through the really busy month that follows. Tuesday saw me celebrate Valentine's Day with a friend. We bought snacks, made Bailey’s hot chocolate and watched a film. It was a reminder that the commercialised day that had previously made me feel a little on edge can be the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the great people in my life.

Inside 20th February 2023

Current Affairs | News

Sober clubbing

With trends of wellbeing and non-alcoholic drinks on the rise, will sober clubbing become the new norm for students? | Page 4

Current Affairs | Campus Comment

Toast or roast: Market Shaker

The unrivalled question of our time: is Shaker actually good? Find out if trebs and eighties tunes outweigh fresher-filled queues | Page 8

Life & Style | Relationships

Bisexuality in a straight relationship

Bisexuality can act as a huge barrier to intimacy and understanding in relationships, suffering both fetishisation and inconsideration | Page 15

Life & Style | Travel

2023 travel bucket list

From gorgeous Cape Town coastlines, to Madeira's 'Hawaii of Europe' claim to fame, what destinations should you tick off? | Page 24

Culture | TV

To binge or not to binge?

Does melting into the sofa you've layed on for the past four hours top the anticipation and ritual watching joy of weekly releases? | Page 31

Culture | Film

The Whale: did Brendan Fraser's comeback make a splash?

Somber depictions of an obese recluse show a different side to Fraser's repetoire | Page 32

(And it was a hell of a lot better than laying on the couch alone watching Grey’s Anatomy and eating crisps!). Life is full of moments like this. The simple and small things that Moments that you pocket away and look back on when you need a serotonin boost or two. Earlier this week, this concept was described to me as Cookie Jar Moments (I know, how PHILOSOPHICAL!), but that’s really what has inspired this week's musings. There are bad days in this job (and some really bad days), but taking life's small pleasures, bottling

them up (or putting them in the cookie jar), and utilising them when I need them most is something that’s really kept my spirits high on days where things have just been a bit much!

Last week saw National Student Volunteering Week, and as always, I was reminded how incredible the volunteers who work on this very paper are. Their dedication, commitment, and hard work never fail to astonish me. And

THE COURIER SECTIONS

Editor-in-Chief

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

Current Affairs

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

Life & Style

Senior editors: Gabbi de Boer (she/her)

--g.de-boer2@ncl.ac.uk

Scarlett Welch (she/her) --s.welch11@ncl.ac.uk

News

Poppy Bedford

Alice Holmes

Rhys James

Amana Khan

Izabela Kirschnerová

Charlotte Lee

Ella Winskell

Campus Comment

Alexander James

Ashna Mathur

Sam Norman

Opinion

Ross Bennett

Alex Dunn

Science

Elisabeth Göres

Isabel Lamb

Anthony Welsh

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

Tom Barlow

Arthur Ferridge

Elena Photiadou

Paige Rutter

Social Media

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

here is the proof, another fantastic paper! So thanks again, to each and every person who makes this paper possible. It changed my life, and continues to do so week after week.

Thank you for picking up this copy of The Courier, and for reading my weekly rambles.

See you next week! And in true Meg fashion…

Much love,

-- Meg Howe xoxo

Deputy Editor

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

Culture

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

Rachael McCreanor (she/her) -- r.mccreanor2@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships & Blind Date

Ruby Butler

Georgia Purcell

Rebecca Wright

Lifestyle

Jenica Davis

Zahra Hanif

Molly Jackson

Fashion & Beauty

Samantha Seidu

Lizzie Yockney

Travel

Jude Parkinson

Ellen Pinch

Elžbieta Voverytė

Food & Drink

Daisy Harrison

Katy Anya McEwan

Abigail Roch

4 years ago!

News Editor Molly Greeves broke down diversity and inclusion statistics over graduation rates and curriculum compositions. She then went on to cite various Newcastle University professors and other experts on the topic to discuss the particular need of University Schools like SELL and HCA.

Music

Lucy Bower

Rowan Christina Driver

TV

Castor Chan

Olivia Crowley

Imogen Smillie

Film

Rachel Carron

Mitchell Hall

Jessica McKeown

Arts

Louise Cusine

Martha Probert

Sarah Tunstall

Puzzles

Rhys Mason

Leo McManus-Andrea

North East universities working together to drive region’s economy

Rhys James - News sub-editor

New report shows the positive impact five universities across the North East have on the local economy

Newcastle, Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities have released a joint report to highlight the regional impacts that universities across the North East have. Between them, the five universities employ more than 34,000 people and contribute £2.2 billion annually to the North East economy. The report ‘Innovating Together – Universities in the North East’ illustrates how the universities contribute to the innovation and business growth agenda in the area, and their potential role in offering contributions to the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda.

Some notable statistics from the report include the 708 trading graduate start-

ups that the universities collectively supported in 2020/21. These generated a £296 million turnover, £96 million of external investment, and 4,037 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs.

708 trading graduate start-ups that the universities supported in

1,524 SMEs (any organisation that has fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €50 million or a balance sheet total less than €43 million). The projects should also generate an increase in employment of 662 FTE jobs, and help SMEs bring 768 new products/processes to either the market or the firm.

2020/21

The report also covers collaborations between the five universities on innovation and business growth projects, for example Creative Fuse. This is a “unique partnership […]which has supported small businesses, helped boost innovation, create jobs”.

Additionally, there is the collaboration with Insights North East, a “partnership between the NHS, North of Tyne Combined Authority, Newcastle City Council, and the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria, which aims to improve the links between research and policy”.

Out of the nine outlined projects in the report, eight of them are forecast to contribute £33.3 million and support

The projects should generate an increase in employment

Professor Jane Robinson, Newcastle University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Place, said “The North East’s five universities have a long history of generating economic, social and cultural benefits for their local areas… Together with our partners in the public and private sectors, working with local communities, we are adding real value, positioning us to help deliver on the promises of the Levelling Up agenda and build a more resilient society and economy in the North East.”

Gender inequality: a vicious cycle

Akrivi Chaimala

Views on gender inequality differ drastically, as do views on how to combat inequality

With historical gender inequality now constituting both a deeply ingrained culture and a silently perceived phenomenon of normalised sexism, fundamental action must be taken to usher in a new age of revived equality and mutual empowerment.

Yet, opinions differ sharply on how such equality might be achieved, especially as views on the presence of misogyny itself in society today differ sharply, too.

disparity. The resulting statistics from co-ed secondary schools are staggering: depicting the discrepancy in opinion based on gender, 46.6% of female students reported that Sexism at school is not taken seriously enough, yet 39.5% of male students reported that it is. Similarly, 42% of female students reported that their school does not do enough to stop sexism, yet 36.5% male students reported that it does.

education on gender inequality in schools marks the even more profound lack of organised action on combating the ingrained culture of sexism in

contemporary society.

Hence, the alarming divergence of expressed attitudes on gender prejudice may, in fact, be attributed to the

Conducted in 2017, by the National Education Union and UK Feminista, the study ‘It’s just everywhere’ on sexism and gender inequality, found striking results which rendered stark discrepancies of opinion. Stressing the divisive historical precedent of the waves of gender inequality and illuminating the present undercurrent of continuing gender

Possibly providing an explanation for the dissimilitude in opinion as being one of exposure, ‘Male students in single-sex schools are significantly more likely than male students in mixed-sex schools (and female students in any school) to dismiss sexism as an issue’.

Further, offering a point of doubtless reconsideration, 64% of teachers reported being unaware of ‘the existence of any policies and practices in their school related to preventing sexism.’ Yet another troubling figure on the stalled progress of reconciliatory efforts, 46% of teachers reported that the national curriculum does not adequately allow schools the opportunity to prevent sexism and gender inequality. Finally, a cause for deep concern, 25% of all secondary school teachers reported witnessing ‘gender stereotyping and discrimination in their school on a daily basis’.

Evidently, the profound lack of

Opinions differ sharply on how equality might be achieved in society today

42% of female students reported that their school does not do enough to stop sexism

Image credit: Jack Foster on Unsplash

normalisation of gender prejudice itself - ‘a vicious cycle’, an ironic perpetuation in terms.

Image credit: Unsplash

Sub-editors: Poppy Bedford, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan, Izabela Kirschnerová, Charlotte Lee & Ella Winskell

Is sober clubbing the future?

Alexander James - Campus Comment sub-editor

Sober clubbing has been growing in popularity in recent months. Is this an going to be a continuing trend in the future?

Sober clubbing is something of a contradiction in terms –yet an increasing number of people are embracing going out dancing, and clubbing without the aid of alcohol.

The trend has emerged as a response to the UK's traditionally excessive drinking culture, in which 2.5 million individuals have been found to drink more than 14 units of alcohol on their heaviest drinking day. At university cities such as Newcastle or Leeds, renowned for their nightlife, previous surveys have found 58% of students consume alcohol at hazardous levels on a weekly basis. There appear to be very few nightlife options that don’t revolve around alcohol - thus sober clubbing is a response to the damaging effect of

excessive drinking on one’s mental, physical, and emotional health.

Those involved in the trend report feeling more comfortable with themselves on a night out, and much decreased anxiety the night after. Everyone should try it once, it might make you see the clubbing scene in a very different light.

Those involved in the trend report feeling more comfortable with themselves on a night out

There are movements devoted to finding alternative ways to socialize without enduring the negative effects of alcohol. Sober clubbing events are a case in point – organisers prioritize wellness, self-expression, and community building, and can be found in many major cities around the world. They take place in nightclubs, community centres, and outdoor spaces, featuring DJs or live music.

One issue with sober clubbing that brave adopters might find is that they are much more aware of the levels of

intoxication, noise, and general chaos and commotion of a typical club, and find it difficult to enjoy themselves because of this.

There are sober clubbing events like 5Rythems, a UK-wide sober dance event that allows participants to try mediative movement practice based on

different worldwide traditions of dance and music to encourage creativity, connection, and community.

Newcastle University’s sober socials society organises social events for its members without the pressure to drink. Some other options for sober social events organisers in the North East are Non-alcoholic Newcastle, Sober Butterfly Collective, and Bee Sober CIC. Ultimately, sober clubbing is a positive trend that more people are coming to embrace – it is also now possible to still enjoy the same beverages without the added alcohol. The low and nonalcoholic beverage market is expected to grow to £450 million by 2024, having increased 180% in revenue in 2022 –non-alcoholic drinks are becoming increasingly more palatable and a preferred option for pub and restaurant outings, for those who want the taste but not the effects.

The alcohol-free drinks market increased 180%

A range of bars in Newcastle now offer excellent mocktail selections, and some bars operating in London are completely alcohol-free.

Northumberland toddler is first child in the UK to receive 'revolutionary' new gene therapy

Poppy Bedford - News sub-editor

Teddi Shaw from Northumberland becomes the first child to receive a new gene treatment for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD)

Teddi Shaw from Shilbottle, Northumberland, has become the first child in the country to receive a new gene treatment for MLD, a fatal genetic disorder which causes serious damage to the nervous system and organs; cutting life expectancy to 10-20 when diagnosed in children.

The treatment, Libmeldy, was approved by the NHS last year for the genetic condition and works by correcting the cause of MLD, inserting functional copies of a faulty gene into the patient’s own stem cells. The stem cells come from the patient’s bone marrow or blood, and then feed back into the body, carrying the functional genetic material.

Teddi had her stem cells removed and the faulty genes replaced between June and October last year and is now said to be "doing absolutely brilliantly. She is walking, running, a chatterbox – absolutely no signs so far of MLD. She is an absolute character and has everyone

around her laughing all the time... she has the opportunity to lead a long and hopefully normal life."

Teddi is now said to

signs so far of MLD"

Professor Rob Wynn, director of paediatric bone marrow transplants at Royal Manchester commented, "Through the years, colleagues and I have looked after a range of patients with rare but severe conditions, where treatment has been limited.

"It is wonderful to be involved in this breakthrough moment and deliver a gene therapy which will transform outcomes for patients with MLD."

Despite MLD being very rare, with only five children in England being born with the condition last year, Teddi's older sister, Nala, also suffers from the illness. For Nala, the treatment has come too late as she has progressed too far in her condition for it to be effective.

"Being told our first daughter, Nala, wasn’t eligible for any treatment,

would continue to lose all functions and die extremely young was the most

heartbreaking and hardest thing to come to terms with."

Image credit: Unsplash

Ally, Nala and Teddi's mother, commented, "In April last year, our world was turned upside down when not one, but both of our daughters were diagnosed with MLD.

Only five children in England were born with MLD last year

Image credit: Flickr

be "doing absolutely brilliantly, with absolutely no

Northumberland Primary School attendance at an all-time low

Rebecca Wright

Attendance at Northumberland

Attendance is yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis hindering in-person presence at schools.

Parents of Northumberland school children are unable to pay for their energy bills or critical essentials. There are some families who cannot afford to buy their children school lunches, whilst others grapple with energy costs to dry school uniforms.

officers at Northumberland County Council’s family and children’s services overview and scrutiny committee, stating that attendance is slowly improving but is yet to return to prepandemic levels.

Economic deprivation was said to be a leading barricade to education in the country.

It was stated that there are many reasons why families are struggling.

Coun Anne Dale, representing the Stocksfield ward, said, “the cost-of-

Students £1000 worse off this academic year

living crisis is making it difficult for parents to send children to school, there are children being sat at home because they can't afford the school blazer. “They're children, we want them to have outstanding education and good career opportunities. "It's so important we understand it's not their fault - it's the environment they're in sometimes.”

Izabela Marie Kirschnerova - News sub-editor

Student maintenance loans are not rising with the levels of inflation due to incorrect goverment forecasts from last year

Students will have to eliminate their expenses because of incorrect inflation forecasts from last year, as the rise in maintenance loans has proven insufficient. The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that “the poorest students will be more than £1000 worse off this academic year” as a result. Working with forecasts published last year of just 2.8% inflation in March 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) decided to raise maintenance loans from autumn by only that percentage.

This is the message from council

200 jobs created at a new facility at Newcastle Helix

industry is an engine for economic growth, prosperity and security, representing world-class research and technology and many thousands of well-paid jobs and amazing career opportunities for young people entering the workforce.

people in the UK and our new site in Newcastle will allow us to expand even further, drawing on science and engineering skills from the North East region in order to develop the next generation of digitally-led technologies."

As life got back to normal after Covid, the demand for oil and gas increased. This is combined with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which reduced the availability of grain and pushed the prices of food up.

Brexit has also had an impact on food prices, due to border delays and other costs.

“As a result, many students […] will not be able to make the same spending decisions as they did previously with regards to accommodation, travel, food, entertainment and course-related items such as books and equipment, the costs of which will have been rising over time,” the DfE’s analysis said.

Leonardo, a defence and security firm, have announced that they are investing in Newcastle Helix.

The 24 acre city centre development is expected to generate more than £185 million of economic benefit in the North East over the next 10 years.

£185 million

The development will also access talent in the region and build closer links with SMEs in the supply chain. Leonardo is the biggest supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence and produces UK military helicopters and the electronics on-board Royal Air Force aircraft.

The Newcastle site will focus on the research and prototyping of Leonardo’s next generation sensing and security products.

Speaking on the industry, Clive Higgins, the chair and CEO of Leonardo UK said:

“The UK’s defence and aerospace

"Leonardo already employs over 8000

In their recent equality analysis, the DfE admitted that maintenance loans are not keeping up with the rise in the cost of living. Student support would have needed to go up by nearly 14% to balance the effects of inflation. Inflation is the increase in the price of something over time. There are multiple reasons for the current soaring costs of goods. The spiking cost of energy is one of the key factors.

Jennifer Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle, part of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: “This significant investment from Leonardo represents a major boost for the city’s burgeoning defence and aerospace sector that will add millions of pounds to the local economy."

Tim Bradshaw, the head of the Russell Group of universities, said that the analysis highlights how flawed the loan system is.

“The government has a choice, it is actively choosing to ignore its own analysis – as well as our analysis and that of the IFS – and this choice will leave students out of pocket by over £1500", he explained.

Parents of school children are unable to pay for their energy bills

Leonardo, the defence and security firm, are investing in Newcastle Helix

Sub-editors: Poppy Bedford, Alice Holmes, Rhys James, Amana Khan, Izabela Kirschnerová, Charlotte Lee & Ella Winskell

Primary Schools are at an all-time low as parents cannot afford to send their children to school

Image credit: Socialist Party

“The government's choice will leave students out of pocket by over £1500”

The DfE said maintenance loans are not keeping up with the rise in the cost of living

Student support would have needed to go up by nearly 14% to balance the effects of inflation

Alice Holmes

- News sub-editor

The development is expected to generate more than

Image credit: Flickr

Image credit: Unsplash

"This represents a major boost for the city's burgeoning defence and aerospace sector"

Sub-editors: Poppy Bedford, Alice Holmes,

Rhys James, Amana Khan, Izabela Kirschnerová, Charlotte Lee & Ella Winskell

K-hole catastrophes plague the party scenes

TW: Drug Abuse

Varsha Jayarasad

Warning issued after a substance providing similar side effects to ketamine circulated at venues in London

All clubbing enthusiasts and partygoers have been warned of the emergence of a new drug that borrows characteristics from ketamine but provides side effects that last in an unappealing manner.

Various

Over a week ago, London club Fabric posted a warning on their social media stating the spread of this mysterious

substance at their events and the prevalence of it in various venues across London. Various clubs in university cities have taken up this note of caution and have been on the lookout for cases of use for this drug.

According

The police in Lincoln have also been on the case of this contraband and have issued warnings after receiving reports of people collapsing and having adverse side effects after taking recreational drugs.

“We do not know at this stage what has caused the adverse reactions, but we are considering that the supply is tainted and would strongly urge people to avoid taking drugs,” the Lincolnshire Police told The Tab

According to Fabric, the new drug causes symptoms like that of a k-hole but with worse side effects.

FRANK, a drugs information charity says that ketamine is an anesthetic used for humans and animals. It provides a detached and chilled reaction to its

users. A k-hole can be defined as a reaction that occurs due to a high intake of ketamine and one can experience a state of dissociation. The side effects include difficulty in breathing and a lack of responsiveness in many cases.

Fabric London also states that if anyone does experience such symptoms or is in any state of unease, the club does have access to paramedics and a welfare zone.

For more information about drugs,

visit the FRANK website, or you can also call FRANK anytime at 0300 123 6600 for confidential advice. Whilst in an emergency, always call 999.

Image credit: Flickr

Angel of the North is celebrating 25 years

Ella Winskell - News sub-editor

The iconic monument celebrates its 25th birthday

The Angel of the North turned 25 this month, the 20 meter tall figure, modelled off a plaster cast of Sir Anthony Gormley’s own body was first put up on the former site of a coal mine in February 1998, four years after it began construction. The steel sculpture, which cost £800,000 and sits beside the A1 motorway, is a beloved sign of home to thousands of northerners, and university students passing by the hilltop monument on journeys back to Tyneside and the further North East every day.

Similarly, for students of Newcastle they can find more of celebrated artist Antony Gormley’s art closer to the daily commute with the recently reinstalled ‘CLASP’ artwork first loaned to Newcastle University on the 20th anniversary of the Angle of the North in 2018 made of 18 individual blocks which Gormley describes as “two stacks of blocks mutual support and together, they make a concentrated, single sculpture that is both body and building.”

Schools in Gateshead spent Wednesday 15 February celebrating the sculpture and icon of regional home space with council organised events; in addition to many private toasts to the symbol of the North East's industrial past and transition into the information age with visits, social media posts, and articles just like this.

clubs in university cities have been on the lookout for cases of drug use

to Fabric, the new drug causes symptoms liks that of a k-hole but with worse side effects

Toast or roast: Market Shaker

Libby Griffiths

Ahit spot in Newcastle, but the Toon's famous Market Shaker... yay or nay?

If you’re anything like me, you love a good beer garden. There's nothing like socialising with a pint outside and chatting with a stranger like you’ve been pals all your life.

Unfortunately, that is all lost in winter. But, it is replaced with a compact sweaty atmosphere that almost makes it feel like a club-butnot. The atmosphere is unlike many other bars, clubs, and pubs in The

Grace Boyle

The first place that I heard of in Newcastle nightlife was popular student bar and nightclub, Market Shaker. Their reputation proceeds them as a well-known hit and the best of Bigg Market's nightlife scene. But in reality, is Market Shaker a toast or a roast? Everyone talks of how much fun they have and that everyone knows everyone at the infamous Shaker bar however, after three attempts I can safely say I have never had a

Toon. Something about 2000s hits makes me want to dance. That’s something I like about Market Shaker - actually socialising and dancing. A lot of the fun in a night out is actually being able to hold a conversation with others, rather than competing in a screaming match against the DJ’s speakers.

And, last but not least.

The infamous legend of the pizza stand. Although hidden away in the corner, and much talked over, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody eating

good experience or like it there.

I have never had a good experience at Shaker the best being getting crushed in the queues and whist waiting at the bar, and the worst being thrown up on after being in the club for 10 minutes. Each time I enter Shaker it seems like it finds way of getting me to leave. The music there is good, but always overplayed. Can they just play something that isn’t Spotify’s top 50 party anthems! The venue is also quite small and there is definitely not

Why is the government afraid of students'

Sam Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

New free speech measures to be introduced on University campus' - necessary or unethical?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a new government initiative, in which a ‘free speech tsar’ will be appointed to combat the rise of cancel culture at British Universities. The favourite for the role appears to be Arif Ahmed, a Cambridge Professor, who has gone on record stating University “should be an environment where you can say pretty much anything you like” which make one question is a security measure for free speech counterintuitive?

The foundational reason arguing for the ‘free speech tsar’ is simply ensuring those who speak freely are protected – however these foundations are anything but stable. It appears Sunak’s true grounds for this new appointee are connected to his proclaimed ‘war on the woke,’ and assumably would take a similar role to his planned ‘watchdog’ to vet supposed Left-wing bishops. This watchdog comes after Phillip North was announced the next Bishop of Blackburn, only to

withdraw over his comments opposing female priests. Cabinet member and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has rebutted these ‘culture wars’ in her pioneering of Sunak’s new campaign. Because, of course, gender equality is just a silly woke idea by the left. With this framework applied to Universities, it is difficult to envision the new ‘free speech tsar’ as anything other than counterproductive to authentic student voices.

If Rishi Sunak’s plan to ‘stamp out cancel culture’ on university campuses is to allow the breeding of bigoted voices, then I am confident in the response of students – a continuous rejection of hateful

NCL University provides English language speaking support for Ukrainian students

Ukranian students are now receiving free English support lessons from Newcastle University students

Road rage, vegan diets for dogs and scuba diving were just some of the topics discussed during the English Language Speaking Support Programme for Ukrainian students last year. As part of Newcastle University’s partnership with the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) in Ukraine to support long-term research and educational collaboration, the Language Resource Centre set up the programme to improve Ukrainian students’ confidence in their English speaking ability.

A session involved the following, 24 hours prior to the live event, an article from Open Access Government and two short videos from How It’s Made were sent to the students for preparation. Students were divided into teams A & B and

each had to transfer information to the other team for an open discussion led by the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) leader. This was simplified later as the situation in Ukraine worsened and NUWEE students, lacking access to electricity or internet, could not always attend. Sessions were then adapted to a general discussion of the topics.

The PAL leader used the TEAMS chat channel to clarify vocabulary items. The sessions were ninety minutes, once a week for six weeks.

The NUWEE students were dedicated and enthusiastic throughout the programme and the PAL leaders displayed great professionalism. Five PAL Leaders shared details about their experience:

Why did you apply?

Harry: Everyone is worried about Ukraine and the programme provided the Ukrainian students with a break from thinking about the war.

Grace: Currently taking the TEFL qualification online, the programme provided an opportunity to apply knowledge and gain teaching experience.

Did you apply any skills from your degree to your role as PAL leader?

Grace: I was aware of the difficulties that arise when learning a language and so knew what type of questions to ask - I

focused on open ended questions. Did anything surprise you?

Emily: How keen the students were! Even if they hadn't done the prep they really wanted to be there.

How did the programme benefit the Ukrainian students?

Leah: My student’s confidence snowballed. By the 4th or 5th session, their confidence was amazing and they became more comfortable with taking the time to pause and think. Also, the Ukrainian students made friends with each other. They lived near each other so would help each other if they missed a lesson.

Scarlett: The students picked up new vocabulary and different sentence structures. Students were nervous to speak at the start, but by the end were freely talking.

How did taking part benefit you?

Leah: Cultural awareness. During lessons, I asked myself if a topic could be interpreted in a different way and tried to steer away from things that could be insensitive.

Emily: I realised the differences between teaching English online vs in person. I’m taking a TEFL course and there is a module on teaching online. Trying to get students to interact is more difficult on zoom, so I found ways to encourage participation, for example,

by sharing links, sharing screens, and using icebreaker opportunities.

The Language Resource Centre supports and facilitates independent language learning for everyone at Newcastle University and offers a variety of language practice sessions led by fluent-level students. These sessions are intended to provide an informal and relaxed way to practise your language skills with support from fellow students.

These range from Conversation Groups (1 hour, intermediate and advanced levels) to 1-to-1 sessions (20 mins, any level: beginners to advanced).

If you are interested in finding out more about Peer Assisted Learning at the centre or any other language learning opportunities, please email language.resource@ncl.ac.uk

Image Credit: @marketshaker on Instagram

Rachel Taylor

What I learnt from first semester exams government so students' free speech?

ideology and in turn rejection of the Conservative party.

The Mail online reported No 10’s confidence in the new venture,

history? Or why do those in power have such a desperate need to keep their former intolerant, bigoted leaders in icon status?

The calculated spin of ‘cancel culture’ has created an attractive out for the intolerant. You’re calling me racist?

Oh, that’s just silly cancel culture. I’m a homophobe? No, you’re just trying to cancel me! Transphobic? Cancel culture! In reality, being the most diverse generation on all fronts, why would we want a bigot representing us?

In fact, I would even propose we ‘cancel’ their platform. More importantly, is a professor being removed from their post due to discrimination and bigotry a ‘cancellation’ or simply justice? I must be clear, I unequivocally do not support ‘mob rule’ or ‘trial by fire’ but a bigot being removed for spewing harmful intolerance is not cancellation, it is justice. Students speaking out against bigotry is not for culture wars, it is for ourselves and our peer’s safety.

With strikes and protests taking place nationally as a response to Conservative incompetence, it does leave one to wonder who would benefit from this new policing of language. This month UCU strikes will take place in 150 UK Universities with an unprecedented 70,000 members striking – and none of which are protesting censored speech. Has Rishi Suank considered an equal pay, ethical working environment Tsar?

Arthur Ferridge - Sport sub-editor

Personally, I don’t think many Newcastle students would disagree with the following statement: the January exam period is just about the worst two weeks of the year. Seemingly never-ending piles of work, exams to cram for, essays to write, and all of this looming over you while you try to enjoy your Christmas holidays. Nothing sours the taste of a Christmas dinner like the knowledge that you have a 2,500 word essay due in two weeks that you haven’t started researching yet. As I have now completed half of my degree and dragged myself through half of the exam periods I will need to face, I have come to realise that Newcastle University’s exam system is somewhat flawed, with two issues bringing themselves to light. The first of these is that exams happen after Christmas break, rather than before. I have asked around some friends at other Universities around the world and found that Newcastle is one of the only schools to hold exams after Christmas. Would it not be massively beneficial to student mental health to hold exams before we go home for Christmas break, allowing us to properly relax

at home for the weeks we are off?

I had to work while I was home for Christmas and found myself swamped with a nine-to-five, family commitments, and three essays, leaving very little time for me to actually take time to enjoy my holiday. The majority of my friends, on the other hand, returned home from the first semester with finals submitted, exam papers signed and sealed, and looking forward to the prospect of spending a few weeks doing absolutely nothing while I found myself slaving at a minimum wage job and spending my free time in a local library.

In addition, I am lucky enough to be on a degree which doesn’t require sitting exams, but I cannot imagine having to take a final exam five weeks after my most recent lecture. In what world is that fair? Surely it would be better for just about everyone involved to hold exams before Christmas.

The second issue that came to light is one which admittedly arose from my own idiocy. I made the massively embarrassing mistake of submitting the wrong file for one of my final essays, and received the resultant zero, no questions asked, no ifs, ands, or buts.

While I take full responsibility for this humiliating mistake, the fact that there is no room for apologies or redemption

felt somewhat unfair. I had still done the work, and I felt that despite not turning it in, I should have the opportunity to correct this mistake and receive the marks for the work I did, even if it meant taking a points

Happy New Year to Bristol Uni's Women Talk Back! society, who cheers

Alexantra Theodosiou

Bristol Students' Union has sanctioned their Feminist Society for excluding trans women

Yes, you read that title right. No, we haven’t gone back a century, but it seems the Bristol City Students' Union have taken a tumble back in time as they debate over the feminist society excluding trans women. It’s 2023, and some still choose to discriminate against women because of biological characteristics, and shockingly a society that labels itself as feminist! As part of Newcastle’s own Feminist Society myself, I couldn’t imagine calling myself a feminist without intersectionality; including, tolerating, and accepting everyone’s personal views and experiences relating to race, sexuality, class, religion and more. It’s the most important part of feminism to be able to acknowledge everyone’s struggles in order to work together against them – especially for women, our fellow women!

to 1903 with champagne and misogny

Though in saying that, what does it even mean to be a woman? Simone de Beauvoir in ‘The Second Sex’ states that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” We cannot ignore the fact that in our present society, gender is nothing but performative. No matter who you were born, it is who you present to society that becomes your identity. Who you choose to be, and even in that there is fluidity.

believe in equality and justice. To exclude trans women from single-sex events is to deny them their identity. People who act this way should not be allowed to call themselves feminists, as invalidating someone’s gender identity is completely unjust and exclusionary."

Chloe Wood, Secretary of Newcastle University's Feminist Society, says " Lola Olufemi has written that ‘loosely, feminists have understood gender as our sense of self in the world, how we present our bodies, speak, move - anything that refers to our presentation and relationship to our own bodies’. As feminists then, it is so important that we embrace people for who they are (and remember that who they are is decided by themselves!). In the case of trans people then, why is there still any debate? To be a feminist, first and foremost, you must

The essence of being a woman is not in your biological attributes, it’s not whether you wear a dress instead of jeans, or eyeliner instead of chapstick. Our identities are more to us than something for society to manipulate, and feminism is more than exclusion. Bristol City’s so-called ‘Feminist’ Society open a hurtful discussion with a clear answer: feminism is for ALL, trans women are WOMEN, and NOBODY deserves to be discriminated against in such a way.

Image credit: Unsplash

Image Credit: Pexels

We cannot ignore the fact that in our present society, gender is nothing but performative

credit: [flag] Instagram @carly.ahorne [sign] Wikimedia Commons

To exclude trans women from singlesex events is to deny them their identity and rights

The sick man of Europe?

David Luis Martinez

Over the past decade and a half, it is an inescapable reality that Britain has tumbled further down the geopolitical pecking order. The 1956 Suez Crisis was most probably the event where this all began, but Sunak’s absence from the World Economic Forum in Davos last month illustrates how we’re crawling deeper into the shadows.

The situation on the ground at home is much less symbolic; it’s chillingly more tangible. According to the Resolution Foundation, “6 million adults (up from 5 per cent pre-pandemic) reported being hungry in the past month but they didn’t eat as they lacked enough money to buy food”. Mass demonstrations about living conditions, however, haven’t spread from city to city to city. Winston Churchill’s maxim of the British people has never rung truer: it’s definitely “business as usual” for the Brits.

Before I begin to propose how Britain could rebuild, it’s important we lay out some limits going forward. Any movements grounded in patriotic belief should never again echo James Thomson’s colonialist “Rule Britannia!”

Additionally, a British Prime Minister should never again stand in

How should we interpret the January Capitol raid?

A democratic explosion or Leftist propaganda?

The January 6th raiding of the Capitol is a topic that remains at the forefront of US Politics despite more than two years having passed since. There remains fierce debate as to whether this event was in fact a challenge against American democracy or if it is being portrayed as such by the Democratic Party in an effort to increase their popularity.

Following an hour long speech by the then president, Donald Trump, where he encouraged his supporters to march on Congress to challenge the certification of the presidential election results, protesters began the walk to the Capitol building and started a violent assault on the structure and those in place to protect it. The resulting riot interrupted congressional proceedings and threatened the safety of those in the building. After many hours of unrelenting violence, the protestors eventually turned back at the instruction of Trump himself. It is undeniable that the events of January 6th resulted in an enormous amount of pain and damage and in a handful of cases, death.

General opinion regards the attack on Congress as nothing short of a challenge to democracy and a blatant disrespect for the seat of American lawmaking. This is not a partisan issue, with members on both sides of the aisle condemning the actions of Trump and the protestors. There

continue to be legal proceedings to this day as to whether Trump incited the insurrection, yet there remain many people who argue that the implications of these events have been greatly dramatised by the Democratic party in an attempt to villanise the GOP.

be a wealth of insightful reports by the third sector that the government takes no notice of. If only Liz Truss had read Skills Taskforce for a Global Britain's report Wanted: skills for inward investors. Britain does not need to become a tax haven; foreign investors want to see a skilled workforce.

The incel: our very own Frankenstein's monster

Baker

The involuntary celibate: a horrific creature we have all unfortunately come to know. But how did such a thing come into existence?

Reclaiming Great Britain’s power and prestige is possible, but considering the path of decline we’re on, this is a pivotal moment for us. If the ship carries on its current course, we risk the boat capsizing. It’s going to take a new captain willing to pull different levers to steer us on to calmer seas. The new captain must be willing to listen to those who perhaps have brighter ideas than they do. Oh, and they should also trigger an honest, national discussion about Brexit. One step at a time though.

Should the UK have a genocide amendment?

Adam Lovegrove

What is the purpose of the amendment, and is it right for the UK to implement it?

Supporters of President Trump have argued that the 2020 election results were inaccurate due to a number of factors such as mail fraud and improper counting of votes. His extremist supporters believe there was a liberal conspiracy in place to remove him from office. These examples served as justification for those who marched on the Capitol, as they claimed to do so in the name of defending democracy, following a ‘stolen’ election. Many have applied the saying ‘never let a good crisis go to waste’ to the response from left-leaning media and Democratic politicians, who have attempted to portray Trump as the dictator they so want him to be. The widespread message from the left is that America is living with a perpetual threat from the right and that the country is far better off without Trump and his army of fascist, extremist supporters. However, irregardless of such criticism from the Conservative leaning population, there can be no doubt that the tragic events of January 6th represented an aberration from normal democratic proceedings which can ultimately be viewed as at the very least concerning, and at worst, as a brief collapse of American democracy and the rule of law.

The Genocide Amendment – also referred to as the Alton Amendment – if passed, would enable the High Court to determine whether an international trade partner is guilty of genocide and, if found guilty, could break down bilateral international trade agreements with the trade partner in question. Despite some serious support from the House of Lords with 287 to 161 votes, the amendment was defeated in the House of Commons in 2021 by the smallest of margins, by only 319 to 308 votes.

The passing of the amendment is absolutely crucial in the UK laying out the human rights and policies it stands for, as well as laying the groundwork for other countries to follow suit. The standards for the UK’s trade agreements since Brexit has been inconsistent, with humanitarian goals being compromised for the sake of easier trade agreements that treat human rights as secondary. A strong talking point at the time of this amendment’s proposal was the genocide of the

Uyghur people in the region of Xinjiang in China, who have faced forced labour, imprisonment, indoctrination, suppression of religious practices, forced abortions and sterilisations in an attempt to eliminate the Uyghur population and it’s identity. Continued trade with a government orchestrating an eradication of an entire ethnic group directly opposes a system that places the protection of human life at the core of it’s values.

The UK government remain reluctant to implement the amendment, and clearly want to avoid any sort of restrictions in regards to trade, even when a trade partner is guilty for one of the worst imaginable crimes: the eradication of an entire population. China remains one of the UK’s largest trade partners, with £51.189bn of imported goods and £18.642bn of exports in 2022 making them our second largest trade partner outside of the EU.

It is estimated that over 1 million of the Uyghur people have been detained in China, with birth rates of the Uyghur regions of Xinjiang decreasing drastically while China continues to deny these claims of genocide. If human rights truly are at the forefront of the UK’s values as a nation, action must be taken to adjust foreign policies and affirm what our government stands for.

The incel community are well known for their vicious attacks on women, online and in real life, blaming women as the root of all their problems. After all, how dare women live outside of traditional male expectation? Indeed, the modern day woman threatens what the incel believes as their birthright: unlimited access to female bodies, alongside unlimited access to jobs, money and power - basically being ‘top G’, to borrow that well-known phrase. And when the incel cannot satisfy their sense of entitlement, violence ensues and the status of ‘top G’ instead becomes measured by the amount of women abused and murdered - no longer such a funny phrase, right?

But how is this violent and egotistical sort of man created? Is being the primary beneficiary of our patriarchal society not enough?

The question of the incel, and their violent entitlement, ultimately circles round to the question of masculine identity itself. For incels, this violent ideology and the community that has formed around it, arguably stems from the elusive idea of attaining ‘manliness’. And, indeed, what does it mean to ‘be a man’ in a world where concepts of gender are constantly evolving? In actuality, it appears that everything is constantly shifting apart from this idea of masculinity. For example, female identity has been able to evolve through constant protest for reform, workers’ rights, multiple waves of feminism etc., whilst male identity has experienced no such revolution, remaining in its original patriarchal state. Rather, their identity, in the toxic traditional sense, has been left behind. Where men used to be the bread-winners, the head of the household, and the masculine protectors, women are now able to threaten that identity, making it redundant (thankfully). And yet, hetero-normative stereotypes remain ingrained within our society: that men should have power, and women should be an accessory to that power. In short, masculine identity is being torn in two; the enforced requirement to ‘be a man’ is at odds with our modern society.

Out of this tearing chasm springs the incel, fully formed and armed with the anger of denied patriarchal entitlement, unable to connect their sense of self with the reality of our slightly-less patriarchal world. Where critical introspection and selfawareness is required, resentment takes hold, fed by the seething community of men unable to find a place for themselves in this world. Instead of renegotiating their own personal views and questioning the teachings of older generations or idolised figures, blame and violence is the easier solution; after all their perpetuation of misogynistic masculinity cannot be the real problem. And so who is the real culprit of the Incel’s creation? Society - for forcing toxic stereotypes down the throats of men whilst simultaneously expecting their survival in a world that no longer permits this sort of existence. Society is indeed Frankenstien, the incel is the monster, and it is, unfortunately, alive.

Anna-Louise Davies

Amelie

A Prime Minister should never again stand in Congress and use "our beliefs" to justify war

Image credit: [FreeSVG.org]

This is not a partisan issue

Algorithmic manipulation: the hidden agenda behind social media content

Alexander James - Campus Comment sub-editor

Investigating the clandestine role of social media algorithms that influence our behaviour

Google, Facebook and other large silicon valley based companies in the tech industry play an indispensable role in how the open world communicates and receives information. These immensely powerful corporations decide what we see, what we should buy, what narratives to listen to and which political ideas to consider. How do they do this? Through recommendation algorithms. These are sophisticated equations through which data (user information) is fileted through so the platform can provide content that is most pertinent to a particular user. Digital content on social media sites does not just appear, it is curated

through different coded algorithmic structures and big data systems which are immensely complicated. Every decision we make online is saved and computed, another data point fed into computations that aim to determine what content you would most like to see, most likely to buy and most likely to engage with.

information about ourselves – our ‘consumer preferences’ - which is sold to 3rd party advertisers.

oversight and regulation from the European Commission is thus much needed. The internet presents the best opportunity for information exchange and interpersonal connection, and the best challenge to instructional authority

and hegemonic forms of power – but I think we would be weary that it has been co-opted for the purposes of revenue and advertising consumption, with some untoward consequences for society’s broader social fabric.

It is the recommendation algorithms that organise this systematic curation of content which, in the brilliant expose/ documentary The Social Dilemma (2020) is likened to an intentional manipulation of our information diet to maximise ‘engagement’, but which subsequently impacts our most personal decisions and thoughts. An often repeated line from the Netflix documentary is that “If you're not paying for the product, then you are the product” – despite how it appears, these services are not free, we pay with

Recommendation algorithms have helped to grow social networking services' user engagement and popularity, encouraging the growth of online communities, but also fostering social media addiction. While increasing factual levels of knowledge among users, they are also arguably the reason behind increasing social division. The term ‘filter bubble’ now refers to curated news content which can polarise societies into factions and amplify pre-existing political views. Isolating users from diverse viewpoints is especially an issue in a world where more and more people casually absorb news through these platforms. How do they work? that appears to be largely a secret to all but the companies that run them. Demand for increased

Consett community fight controversial waste facility

Darcie Rawlings

Durham community in waiting as appeal to be decided by March 2023

In November 2020 Project Genesis Ltd. submitted a proposal to Durham County Council to build an energy from waste facility on Hownsgill Industrial Estate in Consett, County Durham, the very site of which was given to the residents of Consett in the wake of the Consett Steelworks closure for the purpose of regeneration.

The proposal entailed plans to build a 50m chimney stack and aimed to process up to 60,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste per year taken from a 10-mile radius of the facility. The site aims to assist waste management in County Durham and to benefit the towns net zero waste objectives. The site also proposes to power homes approximately 8,000 homes as well as a solar farm.

From the beginning, the residents of Consett have shown concern for this incinerator proposal. In this, the Say No to The Consett incinerator Campaign was formed to give the residents of Consett a voice – to say this isn’t what they want.

While from the outset the project seems positive for the community, speaking with the Consett residents, as well as professionals the uncertainties within the proposal begin to show.

Tom Curtis Environmental Engineer Lecturer at Newcastle University questions the planning proposal stating ‘it is curious that the proposal is using waste from a 10-mile radius of the facility, Consett is a rural town, I highly doubt 60,000 tonnes of waste can come from this radius in a year’ in addition to this he says ‘there won’t be large job opportunities here, waste incinerators

do not typically employ more than 6 people per facility’.

These are some of the very same concerns that the Residents of Consett have, as student Niamh McDonald highlights ‘it is very clear the waste will be brought in from overseas, Consett isn’t far from the port of Blyth and we fear that this is what the facility will be used for – imported rather than local waste.’

Christine Thomas highlights ‘As a post-industrial town, we already have contaminated land that has taken over 40 years to regenerate, we don’t want that again’

Due to the immense success of the Say No to Consett Incinerator Campaign with over 4,000 objection signatures and a Facebook group with over 6,500 members, on the 7th of September 2021 Durham County Council planning committee unanimously refused the incinerator planning application, but Project Genesis Ltd. appealed this decision.

Head of the Say No to Consett Incinerator Campaign Christine Thomas explains the steps the campaign

Word of the Week: Quantum

has taken, and what happened leading up to the appeal. She explains ‘If they are so concerned about sustainable energy for the town, why don’t they just have the solar farm, they’ve had planning permission for that since 2019’.

Michael Twiss, Consett Resident says ‘This incinerator is not for any noble ecological cause it is purely for a very small few to make substantial profits at the expense of Consett people’.

Both Cllr Alex Watson and Project Genesis Ltd. have been contacted to have their say on the matter but have refused to comment.

For the time being the Consett community can but wait – until the 15th of March where a decision will be made by the Secretary of State Michael Gove. A lot hangs in the balance for the residents of Consett. If the proposal goes ahead it brings up a scary prospect for the community – that they have not

We see the word “quantum” in the news all the time now, especially with new leaps being made in quantum computing.

Quantum comes from the same root as “quantity” and is defined as a discrete packet of energy. In school, we learn classical physics that works specifically with macroscopic objects. The main problem arose in the early 1900s when experiments such as ‘Compton scattering’ and the ‘photoelectric effect’ threw doubt upon the model of electromagnetic waves. Instead, EM radiation acts as a wave in experiments designed to show it as a wave and as a particle in experiments designed to show it as a particle. Enter quantum physics: EM radiation behaves as discrete packets (or “quanta”) of energy when the intention is to observe it this way. The duality of EM waves is where the field of quantum physics stands in opposition to classical physics.

Ada Stockwell

Reading this and not reading this will leave you in a superposition

"It is purely for a very small few to make substantial profits"

credit: Darcie Rawlings

"If you're not paying for the product, then you are the product"

Every decision we make online is saved and computed

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Quantum has the same root as 'quantity'

Image credit: Pixabay

Blind Date

Rate the Date

What were you hoping for?

I really wasn't expecting much, just hoping to meet someone nice and have a good chat.

What were your first imporessions of Esha?

Esha was really friendly and chatty, which was great because sometimes I can be a buit quiet around new people.

Were there any awkward moments?

The conversation went quiet a few times but I feel like that's just natural for a blind date.

If Esha was a drink, what would she be and why?

Bubble tea, because she was very bubbly!

Will you be seeing eachother again?

We're on the same course so I'm sure we'll bump into eachother in lectures!

Joe, 19, Geography

Rate the Date

What were you hoping for?

I was hoping to meet someone to have fun with. Anything romantic was a bonus.

What were your first imporessions of Joe?

He was super friendly and bubbly! I could tell it would be more of a friendship as we are both quite different.

Were there any awkward moments?

Just small pauses which are normal when meeting someone for the first time!

If Joe was a drink, what would he be and why? Berry cider - sweet and fruity!

Will you be seeing eachother again?

Just as friends!

Esha, 20, Business and Geography

Not straight enough, not gay enough: bisexuality in a straight relationship

Rebecca Wright - Relationships Sub-Editor

For reasons beyond my comprehension, bisexuality perplexes people. Society appears to struggle to understand how you cannot be ‘this’ or ‘that’; how someone’s identity can lie in the space between, encompassing all genders. Attacking sexuality with logic will never be the answer, and so will never provide clarity for those looking so desperately to label and categorise. Sexuality is deeply driven by feeling, like anything else. One problem I’m frequently faced with as a bisexual woman in a ‘straight’ relationship is erasure. Time and time again, I am explicitly and implicitly told that my sexuality isn’t valid, or rather isn’t real. I am not seen as my identity, rather people assume I’m straight because the relationship speaks for me. Particularly amongst older family members, I am told that my sexuality is ‘just a phase’: performative, trendy, something I’ll grow out of, much like a pair of shoes. What people fail to realise though, is that identity is not something you can put on and slip off as easily as this. It is not a choice, nor is it a disguise, it is as much a part of me as the skin on my bones is. Bisexual erasure is seemingly endless, with countless different lines of judgement. I have heard that I’m a straight woman who is attention seeking, I’ve been told I’m not gay enough, I have been told I am everything under the sun other than what I actually am – a woman

who is secure in her sexuality, attempting to exist without judgement in a happy relationship. There is little more intimidating to a patriarchal system than a woman in complete control of her sexuality. This unfortunately, is where fetishization appears, as society’s attempt to control the narrative of your own identity. People seem to assume that bisexuality is synonymous with wanting threesomes, a lack of loyalty and a surplus of moral bankruptcy. It goes without saying that it is not. It also goes without saying that it is usually straight men who assume these things, as an attempt to spin their narrative of control on your sexuality.

Some men are so blinded by insecurity that they cannot stomach the fact that your pleasure might not rely on them at all

The fetishized stereotype of bisexual women in straight relationships are these promiscuous, hyper-sexual, mythological creatures that kiss other girls so their boyfriend can watch. Some men are so blinded by insecurity that they cannot stomach the fact that your pleasure might not rely on them at all, that they aren’t at the front and centre of your desires. Like any other sexuality, very little of what it means to be bisexual is about

Born this way: the importance of Pride

Eve South-Klein

Pride is such a large part in our lives - but how bumpy is the journey to get there?

Pride. I think I have a somewhat complex relationship with this word.

Immediately when I think about Pride, I think of colour, flags, drag shows, friends, music, dancing and I guess just a big old party celebrating queerness in all its glory. I think it’s fair to say that this idea of an outward expression of pride, a sense of openness and freedom, is what most of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies have come to associate with the term. I feel it goes without saying that Pride is a super important part of our community for many reasons, but I think there’s more to it than the commercialised rainbows that meet the eye.

Through writing this article, I have been compelled to think deeply about why Pride is inherently important, not only in the wider queer community, but to me personally. How does Pride hold meaning for me as a queer person and how does it manifest itself in my day-to-day life?

If I’m being honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever paid much thought to the Pride I have in my everyday life, or if it’s even there at all. I know that I have great respect for who I am, I know that I like my queer identity and I accept myself in my entirety. Is that Pride? I guess it is .

We deserve to feel pride for ourselves every single day, not just during the months when society says it’s okay

I suppose Pride seems rather natural when you look at it like that and yet it has been, and still is, such a complex journey for myself and many of my queer siblings to feel truly proud of ourselves. Even though I can safely say that I’m at peace with my identity right now in my life, it’s never long before you’re sent a curveball. Just in situations you wouldn’t expect, like when you’re at work and someone asks “have you got a boyfriend?”- I guess people’s assumptions always rattle me ever so slightly.

Again, it’s not that this question fills me with shame, it just fills me with more questions that I don’t really know the answers to. Would this be a good time to bring up my sexuality? What if they’re homophobic? What if I tell them and they think of me differently? I’ll probably laugh and reply with something along the lines of “men are trash”, we move on and that’s that. But I’m still unavoidably reminded of my otherness in this heterosexual world.

the sex itself. Being able to love people irrespective of their gender feels like a gift, and it should be treated as such. If a man told you they were straight, you wouldn’t immediately ask them “so does that mean you want to have sex with women?” because apart from being extremely invasive, you’re aware that sexuality is more than just sex. People seem to forget about this with bisexuality.

A lot of the hate surrounding bisexuality is driven by homophobia, internalised or otherwise, which

in my experience is just thinly veiled ignorance. People are reluctant to see anything that exists outside of their sphere of understanding, and while it would be lovely for everyone to be equally open, I think we still have a long way to go. I suppose the message is that your sexuality and relationships likely mean a lot of different things to a variety of people, but none of that matters. Claim your own identity in spite of everyone’s opinions, and live your life however you choose.

Be your own Valentine: A year-round guide

Self-love is preached continuously - how can we best practice it?

I’m sure we’ve all experienced that dreaded surge of despair as the date edges closer and closer to February 14th. Trawling the likes of Tinder and Hinge in the hope that when someone inevitably asks what your plans are that day, you don’t have to say ‘I don’t have any.' Only to be met with sympathetic sighs from all your friends in relationships, who secretly have never felt more smug in their lives.

Not to sound like a cynical, bitter singleton, but is Valentine's Day really all it’s hyped up to be? Expensive cards, expensive chocolates, expensive meals out. And the argument that at least one person always makes; do we truly need a day to prove we actually like the person we are with? More importantly though, why has society convinced us all that the only way to partake in this day is by being in a relationship, thus diminishing the value of self-love?

might seem, don’t let the fear of what others may think stop you from enjoying yourself. Don't let others belittle you for spending your time doing what makes you feel good.

2. Get to know yourself.

Figure out what you enjoy doing, whether it be something as simple as whacking on a face mask and bingeing The Real Housewives, or something more adventurous like taking yourself out for the day. Indulge in a bit of ‘you time’, because I can guarantee you deserve it.

3. Put yourself first.

Stop doing things for others and start doing things for yourself. Don’t force yourself to go on another date with the walking, talking red flag who slid into your DMs because you feel rude turning them down. The chances are they’re not going to be the love of your life so I reckon nip it in the bud.

4. Be kind to yourself.

I think that’s the crux of it all really, that we live in a very straight world which means most of our identities and experiences as queer people are not reflected in the world around us. We deserve to feel pride for ourselves every single day, not just during the months when society says it’s okay.

So hell yeah, Pride is definitely important to me. Pride is important to me because in loving myself I am able to give love to all the people around me. In the wise words of Lady Gaga, “rejoice and love yourself today, ‘cause baby you were born this way.”

It might feel embarrassing or daunting to think of doing something by yourself, for yourself, and trust me, I get it’s difficult not to feel judged for doing so. But, here are a few tips I’ve come to learn that might just help you learn to appreciate yourself more.

1. Stop caring about people’s opinions.

As hard as this

At times we can all be our own worst enemy, and don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The more we judge ourselves, though, the harder it becomes to respect and love ourselves. Don’t let your mind convince you that the reason you don’t have a Valentine’s date is because you ate a burger yesterday, or because you skipped the gym this week.

It’s easy to start to spiral when all of your friends are messaging asking your opinion on what restaurant to book, what present to get or what outfit to wear. But try to rise above it and take pride in the fact that you’re prioritising yourself.

And remember, as Miley says, we can buy ourselves flowers!

I know that I have great respect for who I am, I like my queer identity and I accept myself in my entirety.

Ellie Cornforth

Image credit: IMDB

The Second Semester scaries: what's next a fter final year?

Imogen Smillie - TV sub-editor

I'm 20 years old, living two hours away from home, with no clue what is going on. The beginning of semester two seems to have crept up on me. Having stayed in Newcastle for the majority of the Christmas break working a pantomime (Oh no she didn’t…), I don’t feel as though I’ve had a proper break. From completing semester one assignments, to cracking on (slowly) with my dissertation, and figuring out the next steps of my life after undergraduate study, its fairly safe to say that this is the busiest semester. yet.

I can’t see myself doing this forever. With all the assignments and research papers that line my folders, its time to take the

creative path I’ve always wanted… journalismnot very surprising coming from a sub-editor for the student

newspaper! And luckily for me, my Dad found one right here at Newcastle (clearly not too eager to have me home!). With application forms coming out of my ears, and no time to travel to different universities for open days, this decision has been a complete stab in the dark. And if you know me, you know I’m very methodical and plan everything. So to say this was a scary step for me is an understatement.

To say this was a scary step for me is an understatement

And the question on everyone’s minds… “What are your plans for next year?”

Well, 4 months ago, at the start of final year, I didn’t have a clue. But the options were there. Do I do a masters? Or go straight into work? Take a year out maybe? Or move back home and pester my family? After much deliberation and advice, I have decided to study a masters. As much as I love English Language (my current topic of study),

The best way towards supporting queer identities and approaching allyship

Growing up with queer people in my life meant that, from the age of about seven, I thought I was some sort of pioneer for social justice every time I so much as saw a gay couple in the street and didn’t scream slurs at them, or turn my nose up at them for acting "unnaturally." They might not want to admit it, but a lot of privileged individuals like myself would say similar things – that they aren’t the ones actively oppressing anyone, because they’re just casual observers. However, simply allowing queer people to exist does not (shock horror!) make you some sort of Marsha P. Johnson. Actually learning who Marsha P. Johnson is, and why she is significant in queer history, could be a starting point.

Being an ally to any sort of marginalised community is about much more than posting aesthetic infographics to your Instagram story.

The first thing is understanding that you possess a privilege that other people do not. From then on, allyship, for me, comes down to just one word: listening. Straight people, cisgendered people, white people, and able-bodied people are given the loudest megaphones in our society. So, one of the simplest things these people can do is to genuinely listen.

ignorance, which is often the root cause of hatred such as homophobia. It seems like a small step, but absorbing media with accurate and relevant LGBTQ+ representation is very important in understanding allyship, as the majority of homophobic comments come from people who “don’t understand it." One of my favourite examples of this is Netflix’s Heartstopper, a love story set in the UK about two boys in secondary school – spoiler alert, it’s actually a happy story about gay people, nobody even dies, so trigger

herapy … seems like a big word, right? Something you maybe wouldn’t consider for yourself unless you reach a crisis?

We have certainly made positive progress in opening discussions about mental health, catalysed through social media with influencers promoting aesthetic selfcare routines and posting vulnerable conversations. Whilst this is most definitely an improvement within the mental health discourse, there is still an expectation that you must be ‘bad enough’ to go to therapy. But this is absolutely not true and it is an expectation that we must eliminate.

Watching a few episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race or listening to Elton John does not make you the world’s greatest ally, but it can be a start. Paying attention to queer culture can help avoid

But one thing I have had to keep in mind, is that this is a completely normal feeling. Being in your 20’s is all about taking that leap of faith (cringe), trusting your gut, and making mistakes. I am so lucky to have support from my friends in Newcastle and family in Sheffield to help guide me through this somewhat emotional time. And even though I have some things ticked off my list in terms of applications and big-ish decisions, there’s still a whole lot of this scary second semester to go. We’ve got this guys… I think!

Whilst therapy is a vital tool for people to address their struggles and acquire a range of coping mechanisms to aid their everyday lives, you don’t need to have a diagnosis to access

therapy. Speaking with a therapist is healthy, allowing you to maintain a positive balance between your work and social life, process any negative emotions you may have been experiencing, and become more selfaware in order to better yourself as an individual.

However, getting access to therapy is a huge struggle, leaving many people on waiting lists for months, sometimes years. According to the NHS, the “demand for crisis mental health services has increased by one third since before the pandemic and doubled since 2017." Unfortunately, in the past few years, I have witnessed the terrifying consequences of mental illness, as a few of my loved ones have suddenly become unwell, sending them into an immediate crisis. Despite this being a sudden change, I wonder how things may have been different if therapy was accessed earlier. If past traumas had been worked through and the struggles of the pandemic openly discussed, could crisis have been avoided? This is certainly not an easy question, and mental health is not a simple thing to navigate, but maybe therapy can be preventative?

Without access to free support, therapy can be very expensive, and it is certainly a daunting concept for many people. However, if therapy is a step that you're ready to tackle, it can be a positive and healthy routine to get into. Whether you want to generally manage your emotions and strive towards personal goals, or whether you want to work on something specific that you have been struggling to cope with, therapy is an incredible tool that everyone should access at some stage in their lives.

The huge taboo surrounding therapy and why it is something that everyone should consider

Mia Dale

You don't need to have a diagnosis to access therapy

Rosie Brennan

Allyship, for me, comes down to just one word: listening.

With application forms coming out of my ears... this decision has been a complete stab in the dark.

How can you be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community? You don't need a 'big reason' to go to therapy

Breaking down 'lucky girl syndrome'

Emma Hunter

We take a look at the latest TikTok trend - is it worthy of all its hype?

Breaking news! There’s a new trend on TikTok. Except for that’s not a surprise, because there’s always new trends on TikTok. It’s actually also not a new trend at all. You may not have heard of ‘lucky girl syndrome’, but doesn’t telling yourself that you’re lucky so you will be ring a bell? If you were on pandemic-era TikTok you might have known it as manifesting. In fact, if you’re a 19th century philosopher you might call it Law of Attraction or Assumption. The concept of telling yourself things to make them reality is not new at all.

mind hack; if you start looking for yellow cars, you’ll see them everywhere. It even shares ideas like positive visualisation, with cognitive behavioural therapy and gratitude journalling, which are proven to help cope with challenges.

goals – which in our society to some extent you do, and it probably is healthy to. The gendered aspect is problematic as well; why no lucky guy syndrome? To me it perpetuates the patriarchal notion that only men put in true work hard to succeed.

Despite this, something about putting my fortune down to the power of the universe makes me feel uneasy. Obviously, it has no basis in scientific fact. But more than that, hidden under the flowery buzzwords like ‘raising your vibration’ is the implication that the people who aren’t lucky simply don’t want it hard enough. It provides comfort for the privileged that they deserve their positions, whilst shaming those who aren’t. Suffering from inequality, or poverty, or systematic racism? The answer's easy, just get lucky! How about another name for this nefarious concept: victim blaming.

Something about putting my fortune down to the power of the universe makes me feel uneasy Changing your mindset can impact your work ethic and your interactions with people

It's long-established, but is it effective? Its ‘founder’ certainly thinks so, since in her videos she raves about opportunities being “thrown in her face” now that she’s decided she’s lucky. For sure, there’s a place in life for optimistic thinking. If you’re feeling positive you’ll be more likely to work harder or be nicer, which might in turn bring you advantages in life. Think of it as a psychological

Lucky girl syndrome also sends the message that you don’t need to put in effort to achieve your

The difference between dog and cat people

Roseanna Leconte

Are we really all that different?

There seems to be a feud between cat people and dog people, with each type of person thinking their choice of pet is the best, and there are many stereotypes about how being a cat or dog person reflects your personality.

First of all, the classic dichotomy that separates the two groups is the idea that dog people are extroverts and cat people are introverts. While there may be some truth to this, I think it’s time we dive a little deeper into this surface-level analysis. Let’s take a look at dog people first.

It's time we dive deeper into this surface level analysis

Owning a dog is a big commitment, you have to have a certain lifestyle that can accommodate for making sure they are taken care of. Not everyone has the go for a walk animal every day, the morning or at work. So in dog people are arguably more outgoing.

Owning a cat, on the other hand, is a lot less work.

Cats are very independent animals, so they work well for

people who perhaps have a busy or stressful lifestyle but would still like some company. However, I think labelling cat people as introverts isn’t necessarily correct.

Instead, I think we should look at how dog and cat people receive love from their animals. Dogs are naturally affectionate, often showing excitement towards their owners.

Contrastingly, cats are more reserved. It’s therefore plausible to consider that dog people actively seek love and validation; they need reassurance which can be provided by dogs. Cats are, in most cases, the complete opposite. You have to earn their love, which I believe makes the connection between a cat and their owner much deeper. Cat people are more selfassured, they respect that cats have their own life and don’t need explicit affection to feel loved by their pet.

Another difference I have very often observed is that a lot of the time dog people hate cats whereas cat people can also appreciate dogs. As a cat person myself, I still think dogs are cute. Cats get bad press; people have one bad experience with a cat, or get impatient that the cat doesn’t immediately show affection, and that’s enough to put them off

I think dog people need to give cats another chance, because they truly are a wonderful pet. Either way, one thing cat people and dog people definitely have in common is constantly taking photos of their pets and showing them to anyone who will give them the time of day!

Of course, it’s understandable why it’s so popular (#luckygirlsyndrome has more than 100m views on TikTok) – it’s alluring to think you have the power to shape reality. You do, to some extent. Changing your

mindset can impact your work ethic and your interactions with people, which can improve your life. But remember that your reality is also shaped by so many other people, societal forces, government policies, the environment, everything. These are out of your control, so please don't fall for lucky girl syndrome’s toxic trap. Good luck.

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History at the SU

Gabbi De Boer - Head of Life & Style

Come down to NUSU on the 25th and the 26th if you're interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ history!

To celebrate LGBTQ+ History month, Newcastle University’s LGBTQ+ Society are hosting a weekendlong event to celebrate community, history and identity. The weekend of February the 25th-26th is set to be filled with workshops, talks and events open to all in order to learn more about intersectionality and history within queer communities.

The weekend kicks off with a workshop from Journals by Dami, founder of Navii Media, which provides a platform for marginalized communities as well as holding events and creating spaces for artists in those communities. The workshop will cover queer folklore and will be held in the Daniel Wood Room in the SU. As well as this, Sexpression Newcastle are teaming up with Azula Bandit to deliver a session on black queer identities, finishing up with a talk by History Society on Polari - a form of slang most commonly used by the gay community when homosexuality was against the law. All three events are an exciting opportunity to learn more about LGBTQ+ history as well as exploring queer marginalised identities.

On Sunday, Curious Arts will be in the History Room talking about LGBTQ+ history and culture. Curious Arts are a local non-profit which supports LGBTQ+ arts, artists and audiences in the North East to promote creatives’ work. Other plans are still TBC, including more workshops and discussions to celebrate and honour the history of queer communities.

Workshops and discussions to celebrate and honour the history of queer communities

Wrapping the weekend up, they plan to host a pub quiz with details to follow soon.

Lucky girl syndrome also sends the message that you don’t need to put in effort to achieve your goals

An exciting opportunity to learn more about LGBTQ+ history as well as exploring queer marginalised identities

Image credits: Pixabay

Fashion & Beauty

The Controversy of Couture Shows

Do crazy couture shows distract from the artistry of fashion?

Over the last few seasons, we’ve seen a significant rise in expressive designs, outlandish creations, and bizarre attendee outfits at fashion shows. From upside-down dresses and lion heads, to spray-on outfits.

What are the limits to just how far fashion shows will go to showcase creative expression?

What are the limits to just how far fashion shows will go to showcase creative expression? And why are they doing it in this particular way of valuing the shock factor from audiences over the skill set of the designers?

Nobody is actually wearing, or buying, reversed dresses from Viktor and Rolf. Nor do they want a spray-on or illfitting dress. This begs the

question; why create a design like this? Although it is highly entertaining to witness, the highly impractical and unwearable designs make for a confusing approach. Is the intention to redefine, or reinvent fashion? Is this what the future of mainstream fashion is going to look like? Should we be investing in more one-of-akind pieces, and what does that tell us about fast fashion and the economy?

As much as I found Bella Hadid’s sprayon dress to be a gorgeous performance, I wouldn’t really use it as a groundbreaking moment for fashion - more for her career. The industry is focusing in on individuals and what they can

offer, rather than what the company is producing.

Why are they doing it in this way of valuing the shock factor over the skill set of the designers?

Take Kylie Jenner as an example. At the Schiaparelli show, Jenner’s promotion of taxidermy by wearing a lion’s head attached to her gown is a new level of disturbing. While handcrafted with talent, supposedly to communicate a deeper message, there is only one thing on the public’s mind There is nothing fashionable about dead animals. Whether it is hand-crafted felt materials or a real animal head, the message is still lost in translation by the sheer disturbance behind the choice and the audacity to label it as ‘fashion’. However, that doesn’t mean to say all abstract fashion is disturbing. On the other end of the scale, acts like Bella Hadid’s spray-on dress for Coperni and Viktor and Rolf’s topsy-turvy ensemble seem to have no clear message behind the designs, but with that they avoid political controversy. Both are random acts of expression, creativity, and absurdity

Scamfluencers: should we be surprised that influencers put profit before authenticity?

Heather Adams

Can influencers be trusted?

The term influencer as we know it has only been around since 2016 with interest steadily rising in recent years yet currently 50% of Gen Z and millennials have said that they would trust influencers to give good advice. However, following the recent scandal involving popular TikTok beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira, should we all be starting to question whether we can truly trust these people?

With over 14 million followers, Nogueira is one of the most popular beauty influencers on TikTok and is known for her makeup tutorials and beauty product reviews. Nogueira recently posted a paid partnership video promoting a L’Oreal Paris mascara, which received millions of views but, after much speculation, she revealed several days later that she was in fact wearing fake eyelashes, thus misleading her followers.

Should we all be starting to question whether we can truly trust these people?

Naturally, many of her followers were enraged by this discovery that they had been lied to and scammed into buying the mascara, and several other influencers spoke about the controversy on the app. Meghan Rienks, a fellow beauty and lifestyle influencer, spoke about her experience doing paid advertisements by stating that will test out products for weeks before promoting them and, as a result, turns down a lot of offers; however, this incident will definitely make some of us think twice about buying certain products

just because our favourite influencers told us to. But is it really that surprising to discover that our favourite beauty influencers who are being paid thousands to promote products are in fact lying to us? After all, many beauty influencers, including TikTok’s current ‘it-girl’ Alix Earle, were gifted an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai by makeup brand Tarte. And being ‘scammed’ into buying substandard products isn’t a new phenomenon.

Like many other people of my generation, I spent much of the 2010s avidly watching YouTube and was a particular fan of Zoe Sugg (or Zoella) whose popular makeup hauls and tutorials led her to become Forbes’ top beauty influencer of 2017 and could easily be referred to as the UK’s original influencer.

is easy to forget that they are often being paid to promote the products that they are talking about.

People are starting to become conscious of the fact that influencers may not be as trustworthy as we once thought with the new ‘de-influencing’ trend starting to grow as many people are discussing

Although Sugg popularised the Rimmel 107 lipstick, it was another product that saw her face significant controversy in 2017: her infamous £50 advent calendar. The advent calendar, promoted by Sugg, included only 12 doors, and contained products such as stickers, a keyring, and a pen, which caused outrage on Twitter with many feeling that it wasn’t worth the steep £50 price that it was being sold at.

The outrage at influencers promoting poorquality products is especially disappointing because of their apparent authenticity. The main reason people follow influencers is because they are seemingly ordinary people who start out as being very relatable therefore, we trust their opinions and recommendations of products and it

Libby Griffiths

The outrage at influencers promoting poor-quality products is especially disappointing because of their apparent authenticity

2023 Creative Careers

February 27 - March 3

Whether you're looking for a bit of writing advice, reallife industry experiences, or just felt like looking into some potential career choices, come along to one of our Creative Careers talks starting next week! There are tons of sessions covering journalism, heritage, fine art, music etc, so if you're interested in the creative sector there is definitely something for you.

Some of our special guests include Issy Roughan, Head of Production at Howell Film, Mediaworks' Head of Copy Nick Loughlin, and The Futureheads musician Ross Millard. But for those who want an introduction to our other guests, we have 4 interviews from industry professionals in one easy spread for your enjoyment. And for a reminder of where all the panels are, check the back page for an event rundown!

"Student media really does prepare you": Simon Rushworth

Sam Norman - Campus Comment sub-editor

An accomplished journalist with a long history of experience in media and now a co-founder in his own business, I sat down with Simon Rushworth to discuss his career experience as well as his advice for students looking to follow suit.

Let’s start at the beginning, where did you take your undergrad and why did you choose that degree?

I studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. It was a different case when I first started university, there weren’t the journalism degrees there are now. I based my decision on the quality of the student media and student newspapers at different Universities.

What role did you have in student media?

I did sports news on the radio and was part of the sports editorial team in the newspaper, but eventually realised I was more interested in the print side. Eventually, the sports team slimmed down and my workload increased. It was actually in my second year where our university newspaper was the runner-up to The Courier in the Student Publication Awards.

Would you consider student media to be an big part of the university experience, and how important would you say it was in your career?

Student media was incredibly important and invaluable to my career. Being involved while at university is one of the best positions you can put yourself in. The experience makes you a jack of all trades, the headlines, the writing, the editing, it really does prepare you.

What would you say your biggest challenge was career-wise?

Anyone going into this industry needs to have thick skin. I think I would have struggled much more at this time with social media being more present. You need to be prepared for people to tear into your writing. I’d have Alan Shearer ringing up complaining about a piece about rumours circulating of his teammate – admittedly he was right –but the industry can be ruthless. There’s also the case of people not liking the fact you’re a journalist or asking questions. With that preparation, because the industry is so unpredictable, do you find a thrill in the adrenaline?

I think you have to. There was a time when the HMS Newcastle was coming in, I got a call at 5 am. Next thing I’m on a fishing boat going out and then boarding the boat, no safety equipment, about a handful of people knowing what I’m doing in the middle of the North Sea. You’d walk into the office having no idea what’s going to happen, and as you get older it’s nice to have a structure and plan, but the unpredictable is great too.

How do you find PR and journalism overlap?

Local news and media have now been stripped away to a skeleton staff. When I started, PR could barely get competition in, but now a lot of journalists are doubling up on both trades. Even as a lecturer at Northumbria teaching media management, the basic concepts of PR were the foundations of the teaching.

Going on from how staff are a lot more stretched now, how much has the industry changed from when you first started?

The first thing to say is that for

want local news. Finding a way of making it all financially viable and persuading the reader for quality and depth over scandal is another story though. I’m in the stages of introducing a weekly subscription paper, hopefully to fill the gap in the market for holding to account and quality journalism. It’s something I have genuine excitement for.

It’s amazing to be excited for the future, looking back, what is your proudest piece?

It would have to be when I was working for an agency that covers for a national newspaper, and when their North East football writer couldn’t do his job or was double booked, I would fill in. There was a period when they didn’t have one so through the agency, I performed that role and did a piece with Nobby Solano – a Peruvian international who had two spells at Newcastle. Nobby’s story was so inspiring, he was getting the bus for an hour to train and wasn't your typically entitled Premier League star, he had to claw for everything he had. Doing a centre spread with a footballer was different, but it worked. I’d have to say it’s my proudest piece.

Charlotte Lee - News sub-editor

Isat down with Meg Howe, the current Student Media Officer and Editor in Chief of The Courier to discuss her time in student media and her achievements as a Sabbatical Officer.

Have you achieved everything you set out to do as Student Media Officer?

I still have four months left and there are still things to be done. I’ve got the anniversary celebration and magazine coming up. However, when you write your manifesto you write a lot of things, like things that will get you elected and what is actually feasible. But when you eventually understand the inner workings of NUSU, some of those points are no longer feasible. For example, the campus calendar idea has been unattainable, but I still believe that we succeeded at engaging in what students are doing. Therefore, while I haven't achieved some specific points, I have and will continue my overall aims.

In your election manifesto you stressed the importance of inclusion in student media, do you believe you have done it?

I do believe that I have made it more accessible. It reflects itself in the work that people are producing because they want to spend time in the office and they want to spend time with each other, therefore they put in more work in the office and the paper looks better. Your most memorable experience so far?

It would be wrong of me to not say when I won the election, but my most memorable experience has to be this year and the community and culture that I’ve fostered and the part everyone has played in creating that. I’m also going to mention the sex edition of The Courier and the fact

Now for those who are hoping for a career in journalism, what pieces of advice would you give?

Definitely get involved in student media, it’s the most important first step. The value of The Courier will be amazing for the future. University radio stations as well are amazing. Also, get in touch with people. If you’re into sports, get in touch with local clubs, communicate, get your name out there. Approach clubs and media managers, offer and volunteer. Newcastle Eagles' women’s team need cover on a voluntary basis, it's not done by The Chronicle or a big franchise. Get in touch with venues for music writers, they will snap you up. Having your own blog

Elisabeth Gores - Science sub-editor

We had the chance to talk to Ian McAllister, Head of Marketing at Alnwick Gardens, who gave us some insight into job opportunities within the marketing field. He also discussed the fundamentals of starting a potential career within marketing, and some of the unlikely degrees and qualifications that may lend themselves useful and valuable.

How do you define marketing?

Marketing is all about the process of making people aware, it is fundamentally an awareness campaign that leads up to a sale, but not the sale itself. This inclusion of a sale is a common misconception due to the way in which marketing and sales are frequently lumped together, despite being very different.

Similarly when I had just graduated, I worked in high-street recruitment whilst my two flatmates worked for BBC and Channel 5 respectively. Out of spite I chose to try to get a cooler job in television and ended up writing to MTV in Camden telling them as such. Whilst I was fortunate enough to be offered a position, this sort of approach is risky as how well it is received is greatly dependent upon who the recruiter happens to be, and in this case I risked being perceived as arrogant. However this anecdote is more to encourage anyone reading that conventional approaches aren’t always the only way to enter a field if you really want to.

What

insights can you provide someone considering a career in marketing?

From a hiring perspective, after reading the first 5 CVs or so they blur into one and quickly become dull and repetitive. So whilst its cliché and been said before, you must make yourself and your CV as unique as possible, and simply market yourself for a career in marketing.

Recently when I was hiring for a digital marketing role; I threw away any applications that were printed on paper rather than being digital in anyway. Those applicants that fared the best in this recruiting process used digital CVs on YouTube and TikTok, and whilst this was at the risk of rejection and embarrassment, it also had the prize of being hired.

Aside from marketing, what degrees do you think lend themselves well to marketing?

Within marketing, the range and application of skills is so broad that to me, the degree is much less relevant than the person themselves or their unique skills and personality. It's about how the individual meshes with the team and the culture of the office and the organisation. This is to me much more important and prioritised over a firstclass marketing degree. I did an applied social sciences degree, and whilst at the time I didn’t have any idea what I wanted to do career wise, this

"It made me happy they had a safe space.":

"Bouncing around and of the process for many": It's something I have genuine excitement for

Anyone going into this industry needs to have thick skin

Image credit: Simon Rushworth

Conventional approaches aren’t always the only way to enter a field

Image credit: Instagram @nusu_ student_media_officer

Creative Careers

that so many people were willing to get involved to talk about and do things that they wouldn’t otherwise. It made me happy that people felt like they had that safe space.

What advice would you give to those currently involved and those wanting to get involved in student media?

Just go for it! When I first started out, I had never attended a student media afternoon and I actually emailed the Editor with my pitch and it all happened from there. So just go for it; even if you have the smallest desire to be involved, just come and do it. I will continue to say it - student media is the place to make mistakes and practise your skills.

Do you think the role of Student Media Officer has set you up well for a future in creative industries?

Being a Sabbatical officer has set me up in any industry, creative or not, because I have the experience of being a Trustee and a Director. However, in regards to being Editor of The Courier,

it has set me up incredibly well for the creative industry as I have been able to still be creative in a leadership capacity.

What do you wish to be your legacy in Newcastle University's student media?

By the time I leave, I hope that I have created a culture of healthy and happy vibes that will continue with whoever takes on the role in the future. And I hope every year they run a sex edition!

Where do you see yourself in five years' time?

In five years' time, I would like to be in a position of leadership and management. I would also like to be someone who inspires and encourages other people in whatever career and industry they are in. I would also like to keep working with students, as I believe they are continually undervalued and often get a bad rap, but there are students out there doing amazing things. But in whatever role I’m in I would like to continue to inspire.

Learn how to write for The Courier's magazine with Meg on 2nd March in the History Room, Students' Union at 1 pm.

happy that people felt space.": Meg Howe and restarting is part many": Ian McAllister

has greatly helped me as people and their psychology greatly factors into marketing. Even on my current team, there are people with English, Graphic Design, Film and Media degrees, and someone who worked in the Army for 20 years rather than undergoing higher education. They all have their unique skills and this when combined allows for us to be greatly successful so someone without a marketing degree shouldn’t worry, but nor should someone with a marketing degree.

How did you end up at your current marketing position?

restarting is part of the process for many. Two years before university, I was planning on joining the Air Force. However, they rejected me due to my eyesight. So off to university I went, choosing the closest one only 30 minutes away. I then came out still unsure what to do, so I worked at the recruitment office for MTV, I rented flats to students, set up my own marketing business and then started working for Alnwick Gardens.

Does your company offer work experience?

Yes my company does offer work experience, and someone reading this could apply. However, they must show interest in the field, rather than treating it like something to check off the todo list. If I believe a candidate is truly passionate and interested, I would make sure they will gain some true work experience on one of our many projects.

What is the marketing project that you are most proud of?

8 years ago, my colleagues and I applied to take part in the Red Bull Soapbox Race, unfortunately we didn’t get in and so decided to organise our own soapbox race in just three months. This event generated huge buzz for the company, with the event raising over £10,000 for a local children’s hospice and being covered by Sky, ITV and BBC news. I’m proud of this due to the money raised for charity and the successful marketing of this unintended marketing project. I also looked after Jay-Z for one weekend, and worked on the Ozzy Osbourne flyon-the-wall series, and whilst those are bigger name drops, the first project still stands out to me.

Ian will be a guest on the 'Careers outside of curation' panel on 28th Feb at 5 pm in The Boiler House, G.03.

Daisy Harrison - Food & Drink sub-editor

Ispoke to Rachel Bainbridge, the Digital Marketing Manager at The Great Run Company, and found out about her Creative Careers appearance, the power of networking, and how marketing campaigns need to be adaptable at a moment's notice.

What is a Digital Marketing Manager?

You are the voice of the brand online. You have to drive the brand’s mission across digital channels, create strategies, and foster a community. Whether it’s driving people to your website, creating an engaged email database, or building on existing social communities. But the bottom line, you’re generating sales for the business so that it can continue to flourish in the future.

Do you think digital has taken over from offline marketing in recent years? Or are they equally important?

During lockdown, there was such a leap forward in digital marketing, and it was obvious how relevant and important it was. Online, you can measure your key metrics, what’s working, what’s not working, and you can react quickly, or change things as you go. But, our events are offline – that’s where you see everything in action, and they’re the most important part of our business. There’s a lot of things we do from an offline perspective; print, PR, out of home advertising, and there’s great value in word of mouth and advocacy from a trusted voice. Everything works holistically and you need both elements to make a successful campaign - there’s never one channel that you’ll purchase straight from, it’s a multi-channel approach, working together to drive the end goal.

me online, brought me in, and I ended up getting a job from that. Later in my career, I moved to Barbour, working as their Global Social Media Manager, looking after online campaigns and communities in the UK, US, Asia, and Europe, working with influencers and the community to grow the business. After that, I wanted to go into my other passion – running. I’m currently the Digital Marketing Manager at The Great Run Company, looking after everything social, paid digital advertising, creative content, campaigns, and influencers. I love having the privilege of passing on my love of running to other people, as well as getting into data, to see what’s working on social and where we can build on it.

We had to get permissions from different stakeholders, the government, local council leaders – and from a comms perspective –what do you do? We had to reflect the tone of the nation at that moment in time, but so many people had put hours of training into this run, and held their stories dear to their hearts. It stands out in my head because we had to be careful and adaptable. Although we might’ve had an amazing campaign planned out, we had to adapt very quickly, and get the tone, messaging, and imagery correct. Ultimately, it was the camaraderie and the teamwork of us all coming together and making it a special day for everyone involved with the Great North Run.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to go into a creative career/digital marketing?

If you’ve got a passion for it, you should do it – no matter the subject. As cliché as it sounds, if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, because you’ll want to learn more about it and strive to be the best which will help you grow in your career and progress further. For Digital Marketing, constant learning is important. Social channels are always changing, and you must adapt your strategy for your audience depending on who you want to target and how you can relate to them.

Getting yourself out there and networking with people, building your own community, and coming up with new ideas is one of the most important things – that’s how I got my first job. From a business perspective, look at what your competitors are doing, and what brands in other industries are doing and what you can learn from them.

What does your day-to-day work schedule look like?

What brand/brand campaigns do you most admire from a marketing perspective?

One that knows their target audience, where they are online, and how their brand can be relevant to them. I always look to the England Team and how they’ve transformed their online presence. They created ‘Lion’s Den’ across the men’s and women's team, looking at their lives and behind the scenes of a tournament. This makes them relatable as people, bringing the audience into their environment. It’s brought me more into football because I want to know what the teams are getting up to.

You can see Rachel in the 'The power of storytelling and digital journalism' session, 4 pm at the Bedson Building, Lecture

Have you always had a creative career? How did you launch your career/find your feet within the industry?

I graduated from Northumbria University with a first-class degree in Fashion, so I’ve always had a creative side. After I graduated, I loved big events and being part of a community, but I was very analytical, so I could see how well that worked with marketing. I pivoted from design to marketing and started working at intu shopping centres for about five years, starting as a Marketing Assistant. I got the job by approaching the Metrocentre style team, telling them it was something I was interested in. I also tweeted the Centre, they found

No day is the same. You could be out on a shoot, in a meeting with a sponsor, talking to a charity about a partnership, learning something new on a course, coming up with social campaigns, or talking to influencers. It’s completely different every day, and that’s part of what makes it exciting.

What is your favourite / most memorable digital marketing campaign you’ve worked on throughout your career?

Last year’s Great North Run sticks out – we had been working on taking the run back to South Shields, post-COVID, and were getting excited. But days before the event happened, the Queen passed away. All of our plans halted.

There’s great value in word of mouth and advocacy from a trusted voice

I loved big events and being part of a community It was the camaraderie and the teamwork of us all coming together

"If you’ve got a passion for it, you should do it": Rachel Bainbridge

Image credit: Ian McAllister

Image credit: Rachel Bainbridge

Your guide to Creative Careers: Who, what, where, and when

Are you feeling inspired and/or curious about all the events? Well check out our handy guide to keep on top of the week ahead, and all the information you need to sign up. Kicking it off on 27th February, we have an amazing opportunity to learn how to write copy. Knowing how to choose the right tone for each piece of work you produce will take you far in your writing career, so this is an excellent chance to brush up on your existing skills.

How to write well with Mediaworks

When: 27th February, 3 pm

Where: Bedson Building (Barbara Strang Teaching Centre) Side PC Cluster Room

Who: Head of Copy, Nick Loughlin

For the 28th, we have one workshop and one panel, featuring industry professionals in film/ video editing and heritage. You can be hands on in learning how to edit with professional software, or hear about the different ways you can get

Careers outside of curation

When: 28th February, 5 pm

Where: The Boiler House, Student Forum, Room G.03

Who: Great North Museum, Learning Officer, Dr Kate Holden Alnwick Gardens, Strategic Head of Marketing and Communications, Ian McAllister a-n The Artists Information Company, Communications and Marketing Officer, Jessica Roper

Going into the second last day of the week, the Careers Service are offering three events for students. There is a practical workshop where you can learn to develop a marketing plan and review a real-life campaign strategy, followed by two panel discussions about storytelling in digital journalism and what it’s really like to be a freelancer.

Designing a successful marketing campaign with Guerrilla Communications

When: 1st March, 3 pm

Where: Lindisfarne Suite, Hadrian Building

Who: Creative Director, Gary Pickering Managing Director, James Allen

The power of storytelling and digital journalism

When: 1st March, 4 pm

Where: Bedson Building (Barbara Strang Teaching Centre) Lecture Theatre 1.46

Who: Investment Content Manager & Editor, Alex Matchett

Newcastle University Students' Union, Student Media Officer, Meg Howe

Great Run Company, Digital Marketing Manager Rachel Bainbridge

Getting paid: turning your passion into your profession

When: 1st March, 5 pm

Where: Kings Gate Room 1.20

Who: Newcastle University START UP, START UP Adviser, Steve Bowden paperclip.it, Journalist Simon Rushworth

To wrap up this year’s Creative Careers, we have another three sessions of a workshop, panel, and an inspirational talk. The final talk will be conducted by The Futureheads’ Ross Millard, and this is definitely one you don’t want to miss!

Learn to write for magazines with the Courier

In conversation with Ross Millard of The Futureheads

When: 2nd March, 5 pm

Where: The Boiler House, Student Forum, Room G.03

Who: The Futureheads musician and Summer Streets Festival Festival Director, Ross Millard

We really hope you'll go have a look at all of the amazing sessions, and that the event helps you become more confident about a path in the creative industries. If any of the above panels or workshops souds like something for you, scan the QR code below to find the Creative Careers page and sign up for your favourite events!

Front cover image credits: Guitar, Mic, Statue (Pixabay), Courier (The Courier), Arches (Castor Chan)

Back page image credits: Bedson, Boiler House, NUSU, King's Gate (Castor Chan)

Castor Chan -TV sub-Editor

Fashion & Beauty

Paving the way: influential LGBTQ+ icons throughout fashion history

A look at the LGBTQ+ icons who paved the way for representation in fashion

Fashion has and always will be an expression of creativity, but it is also an artform that has been shaped and defined by marginalised groups throughout the centuries. In particular, the LGBTQ+ community has long been utilising fashion as a way of fighting oppression and as a form of showcasing their actual self.

Early examples of LGBTQ+ fashion icons include ‘Divine’, who was a well-known American Drag Queen. Divine began dressing in drag in the 1960s and was henceforth turning out look after look, with them later going on to be successful in the film industry. They became a huge part of the counter-cultural movement and a well-known figure in the community, with many still being inspired by Divine’s fashion today.

It is important to consider that Divine began as a very extravagant Queen in a time where it was effectively still illegal to be gay in many States. Not only this, but there were all kinds of intrusive speculations in the media surrounding Glenn’s (Divine’s name out of drag) identity, but the defiant pushback against the norm of the time only makes Divine’s looks all the more powerful. Undoubtedly, Divine’s most recognisable and infamous look was their red, bodycon dress moment. They partnered this show-stopping dress with dangling diamante

earrings, a ginger updo wig, elaborate makeup and a fake pistol. Iconic!

Divine began as a Queen in a time where it was illegal to be gay in many States

Around this time, LGBTQ+ artists such as Andy Warhol were also gaining notoriety for work that deviated from the heteronormative standard. We will all recognize Warhol’s images of Marilyn Monroe, but his notorious paintings actually made pop art come into fashion, with designers creating beautiful, vibrant pieces clearly inspired by him. For example, the Dior Autumn/Winter 2013 collection showcased some of his pieces. Additionally, many other well-known designers are LGBTQ+, including Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, and each have produced some of the most dazzling looks in history.

Fashion icons can also be smallerscale, however, and it is crucial to give flowers to lesser-known individuals that have collectively influenced future fashion icons. For example, Ryan Murphy’s show Pose recently shed light on the ballroom scene that emerged around the 1970s/80s in New York. The Ballroom community mainly consisted of African American and Latino trans people. While these individuals often weren’t appreciated by the wider public, their looks

and practices, such as voguing, often made their way into popular culture. Madonna’s music video for her song Vogue is a prime example of this. RuPaul, a well-known drag Queen and host of his own TV series, came from the ballroom scene and is now one of the most prominent figures of our time. She is acclaimed for her fashions, songs, and her mantras, with dozens and dozens of Emmy awards to her name.

My personal favourite fashion icons to emerge from her show are Naomi Smalls and Bimini Bon Boulash, but regardless of what your taste may be, it cannot be disputed that the show has led millions to feel free to express themselves. It can also not be argued that LGBTQ+ individuals have been highly significant in creating the world of fashion as we know it today.

Notable mentionsDavid Bowie (king of androgyny), Elton John, Janelle Monae, Billy Porter and Freddie Mercury.

#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt: TikTok approved trends that are worth the hype

Zahra Hanif Lifestyle Sub-Editor

If you have any interest in fashion or beauty and a TikTok account, chances are that you’ve seen the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt hashtag, indicating that the creator of the video has picked up an item that they’ve seen making the rounds on the app, with an array of pretty girls telling them to ‘run, not walk’ to indulge in some pattern or product that they can’t be living without.

However, it’s difficult to know which trends will stand the test of time, and with hundreds of rapid 15-second videos being thrown at you it seems to appear as an endless cycle of impossible to attain ‘must-haves’. So with that being said, I’m here to run down some TikTok appraised staples that I think are worth your money.

Discussing the bleached eyebrows trend

Maybe this extreme beauty trend isn’t for everyone…

As someone who hasn’t been blessed with lush dark brown eyebrows, let me tell you – it’s a different kind of nightmare to have naturally blonde hairs for your eyebrows and lashes. Tinting, then still inevitably applying makeup every day because the colour fades fairly quickly, and having trouble shaping them since the outline is rather unclear is something that I wish I didn’t have to deal with. While this is very first-world-problem-esque, it is just another aspect of my routine I wish I didn’t need.

While my eyebrows are not bleached but just naturally extremely light, let me provide some reasons why I think this is just a phase you will most likely regret in couple years, if not right after you do it.

as they skip the ‘micro-trend’ category, they are definitely a piece that you can be pulling out of the wardrobe for years to come. Perfect for going out, or even daytime wear when layered for a more modest look.

Next I’m going to go with a beauty staple, Maybelline’s Sky High mascara. If I’m being honest, I saw this on my housemate first - I specifically remember this because I immediately asked if she’d gone and got eyelash extensions, it’s that good. With godly lengthening powers at a drugstore price, you can see why the beauty community have latched onto this one - again, definitely worth your money if you’re like me and are a little too incompetent to be applying fake eyelashes.

Back to clothes - I’m a firm believer in maxi skirt supremacy. I am thankful for TikTok reviving this staple. They’re perfect as they come in every imaginable style and fabric, whether that be a bright satin pattern for you or a plain white linen for your mum. You know it’s a classic when you see it on any and every age bracket. And there’s just something about wearing a long flowy skirt that makes you feel absolutely angelic. I highly recommend listening to the TikTok girlies on this one, with the best part being their affordability, as you can find a nice maxi skirt in virtually any high-street retail store.

First of all, the Urban Outfitters playsuits. They’re definitely more of an investment, coming in at around the £50 mark, but if you check on Vinted or Depop, there’ll definitely be a discounted few. They’re immensely flattering, with a low-cut, tighter top half and flowy skort deal on the lower half. The patterns are mostly plain or checkered, allowing them timelessness

Another endorsement that enthralled me was that for the Nyx Epic Wear eyeliner, specifically in ‘Sapphire’. Having seen dozens of clips convincing me of the magic that blue eyeliner does for brown eyes, I needed to have it. And again, I highly recommend - it’s a relatively inexpensive product that lasted all day (through multiple cries as well! - blame essay season) and makes you feel like a bad bitch. If you’re looking to switch up your usual makeup look, I can’t recommend this coloured liner enough.

So there you have it - a few recommendations that prove there is validity to TikTok hype. If you do some digging and shop consciously, you can find your next favourite look.

Firstly, it just doesn’t go with everyday looks. While models on red carpets might look very chic and stylish, I promise you, it’s not a look everyone can pull off on a random uni day. It is a very specific look and while you will look unique and interesting, it could get boring pretty soon – as it usually does with most of trends on the internet (think about how many eyebrow trends we've gone through in the last 10 years).

Secondly, while this might be merely my personal opinion, I feel like the absence of brows leaves the face and your other features ‘unframed’, drawing the main attention to the blondness of your eyebrows, especially if you’re a natural brunette. No matter what you’re wearing or what makeup you’ve mastered, the attention will be on the (lack

While I personally get frustrated with anyone that makes this decision (mostly since I didn’t get to make one) and would never leave the house without some colour on them, it all comes down to you and your personal taste. Afterall, you can always tint them if you don’t think you look quite like Kendall Jenner on Met Gala’s red carpet.

Ella Townson

We’re sure that you won’t be ‘deinfluenced’ by these products

If you have any interest in fashion or beauty and a TikTok account, chances are that you’ve seen the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt hashtag

Afterall, you can always tint them if you don’t think you look quite like Kendall Jenner on Met Gala’s red carpet

Elzbieta Voveryte Travel Sub-Editor

If you’re looking to switch up your usual makeup look, I can’t recommend this coloured liner enough

Image credit: Instagram @shayanarex

Image credit: Instagram @samuelefailli_

Things I consider to be perfect about... Newcastle

Emma Hunter

Do you like where you study? When you meet new people, particularly at home or on holiday, the question is to be expected. I never hesitate to answer with an overwhelming, unequivocal yes. Some people are surprised about how passionate I am about our city, so to explain, here’s what I tell them.

Newcastle filled me with awe the moment I first arrived and walked out of Central Station for the first time. When Grainger Town’s impressive neoclassical buildings towered above me I couldn’t help but feel dazzled. When you contrast them with the Chicago-style side streets near Quayside, and then the vibrancy of Ouseburn’s brutalism, plus Jesmond’s peace and quaintness, you have a perfect mix of architecture and vibes, ideal for whatever mood you’re in.

The best way to get a feel for a city? Go running. The thrill of exploring new routes in different areas has allowed me to appreciate the character of each of Newcastle’s neighbourhoods for themselves. Every time I run through the wonders that are Jesmond Dene, the coast or Quayside I have to remind myself not to take them for granted. Some

people have to trudge through industrial parks and housing estates every day whilst I get these breathtaking sights. If you know where to go, Newcastle and Gateshead have some great spots to see the city skyline and a stunning sunset too. Of course, it would be wrong not to mention our iconic landmarks, like the seven bridges along the Tyne and the Angel of the North (actually in Gateshead, but deserves a mention).

As someone from rural, isolated East Anglia, Newcastle’s location really is perfect to me. You’re telling me I’m just a quick train ride away from some more of the North East’s, England’s and even Scotland’s major cities? Only a bus from hiking spots like the Cheviots and the Lake District? Magic.

A resolution to try a weekly new coffee shop has led me to discover another thing that makes Newcastle perfect: its cafes. From high street classics in the centre to small hidden gems in Gosforth, from busy and bustling to relaxing, jazz-in-the-background vibes, there’s so many great places for a brew. I’m even typing this in a cosy little café right now.

Sights, location and cafés are all well and good, but it’s people that really make a city perfect. It’s not just the wonderful friends I’ve made in Newcastle, but also the incredible friendliness and kindness of Geordies that gives me a warm glow inside.

Complete strangers will smile at you, have a chat and even help you out if you look like you need it, something I’ve never experienced in the southern cities I’ve lived in. Another notable difference is the local and regional pride here – Geordies love their city, and they aren’t afraid to show it. By now, the person who asked me whether I like my uni city is bored out of their skull listening to me rave about it. I’m not though, I love Newcastle, and will never shut up about it. The same awe still hits me every time I come out of Central station, and I’m proud to call this

Lucy Reeves

The new app changing travel possibilities!

Always thinking about the next trip away, the next chance to get abroad and see a new city? LuckyTrip is a new app making planning travel incredibly fun and easy. Within seconds, you can have an entire trip planned out in front of you, to places you may never have considered visiting and all for very affordable prices. As a student, this could be the solution to travelling more, with less stress and more fun.

The app is unbelievably easy to use: simply select your home airport and set a budget, press the button - and you are presented with a complete itinerary for a holiday. The app finds a location, flights and accommodation for a low price within seconds. Alongside bright beautiful photos, it gives you multiple accommodation options, a list of activities and attractions to visit and a short description detailing the food, culture and vibe of the location.

Scroll down a little further to find quick ratings out of 5 for affordability, culture, food, nature and nightlife, making it clear to decide if this is the right trip for you. You can even use filters to find the perfect beach getaway, clubbing city break, or nature adventure. The possibilities really are limitless. To read more, head over online.

What destinations should you add to your 2023 bucket list?

Berlin, Germany

As famous for its culture as it is for its famously exclusive and alternative nightlife, the bohemian capital of Germany lives up to its reputation and then some. You can tour the various galleries and exhibits on the Museum Island during the day, walk or cycle through Berlin’s history like the Brandenberg gate or the remnants of the Berlin Wall, or soak up the vibes, second-hand stores, and quirky bars of the Friedrichshain-Kruezberg area. And of course, the nightlife in Berlin is welldocumented. Whilst certain clubs like Tresor and Berghain are famous for their incredibly strict bouncers and all black dress code, there are over 4,500 other nightclubs and bars to explore, so whatever your scene is, you’ll find it here.Flights start at £55 return pp from Newcastle.

single country, where your money will go a long way. Cape Town, with its vibrant nightlife, beautiful seafront, and crystal-clear beaches (you might even spot the African penguins that make Boulders Beach their home) offers opportunities to surf and shark cage dive if you’re an adrenaline seeker, but if that sounds a bit much, there is opportunities to wine taste in the vineyards of Stellenbosch and appreciate the varied culture and food of the Cape. Once you’ve had your fill of the city, you can take an internal flight to the east of the country, where the expansive Kruger National Park gives you the opportunity to go on safari, with a meeting with at least one of the Big 5 African land animals almost guaranteed. I’d forgive you for being tempted.Flights start at £697 return pp from London Heathrow.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

The small capital of a country of just over 2

without taking the train ride up to Lake Bled, which after about an hour of journeying through the pretty Slovenian countryside will drop you at the crystal-blue waters of the lake, with a church on an island in the middle that looks straight out of a Disney movie. Depending on the weather, you can take a dip, get a boat across to the island or just take a walk on the paths around the lake. An ideal mini break to get away from university life perhaps?Flights start at £55 return pp from London terminals.

Madeira, Portugal

Described as the Hawaii of Europe, this volcanic island lies 978 km off the coast of Portugal, and only a 4-hour flight from London. The subtropical climate hovers around 20 degrees Celsius year-round so when I visited in December 2021, it was T-shirt and shorts weather for the duration of my stay. The volcanic nature of the island means there are natural hot springs, jet black beaches and stunning hikes in the dramatic rainforests and gorges that make up the interior whilst the main and only real city of the island,

Funchal, is most commonly known as the birthplace of the Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, the restaurants, churches and architecture also grab the attention. If you’re looking for a cheaper, warmer Iceland, you’ve found it.Flights start at £47 return pp from London Gatwick.

Vancouver, Canada

The snowless ski season experienced by many European resorts certainly isn’t a one-off, and this year’s lack of powder on the slopes will certainly have many skiers searching elsewhere for their fix. And where better than Canada? Vancouver and the wider British Colombia region offer a surplus of ski resorts such as the famous Whistler resort, just a 75-mile drive along the scenic Route 99 along with more affordable options like Sun Peaks. With the Pound at one of its strongest rates to the Canadian dollar post-Brexit, and with regular 10hour flights out of the London terminals to various destinations, maybe you could make Vancouver your regular ski destination this year? Flights start at £503 return from London Heathrow pp.

Ollie Withers

Seville- a stylish Spanish City

Charlie Reid

Spend the weekend ambling through cobbled streets admiring the eclectic mix of architecture and culture on offer in Andalusia’s capital city, Seville. Incorporating a blend of Gothic, Islamic and renaissance styles (to name a few), Seville is home to a beautifully unique collection of art and culture perfect for spending a few tranquil days contemplating.

Begin the day with a visit to Bar El Comercio, one of Seville's iconic tapas bars in the heart of the city just steps away from the Setas de Sevilla. You’ll be herded into a compact tapas bar, celebrated for its homemade churros and creamy chocolate sauce. Seven euros will get you two coffees and a large plate of churros and chocolate sauce to line your stomach and energise you before a day of sightseeing.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville, the oldest royal palace in use in Europe is an ideal attraction to spend a few hours of your time pottering through and contemplating the architectural and cultural mixture on offer here. The palace gardens, home to a generous ostentation of colourful peacocks, will keep you company whilst meandering through the orange trees encircled by the Mudéjar architecture that defines the Alcázar.

Next, a short walk from the Alcázar, you’ll land yourself in the Parque de María Luisa, home to the striking Plaza de España square, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Buskers and traditional Spanish flamenco dancers often frequent the square to share their artistic talents with visitors and provide insight into Andalusian art and dance.

Spend the rest of your day musing over the

Catedral de Sevilla, a renowned UNESCO world heritage site, and the largest gothic cathedral in the world located in the centre of the city. A flat upward climb through the passages of The Giralda bell tower in the cathedral will reward you with elegant views across the city’s sprawling terracotta rooftops.

Immerse yourself in the cuisine by visiting one of Seville's many traditional tapas bars for the evening. Dine in the oldest tapas bar in Seville, El Rinconcillo, located in the city centre. Opt for bar stools or standing at the bar, where your receipt will be written in chalk on the bar top in front of you. Sample a variety of local meat, cheeses and vegetarian tapas options, accompanied by a glass of Andalusian wine. Each dish sits between 3–6 euros each, and house wine costs between 2–4 euros, making an evening of tapas and wine accessible to all budgets.

If you’re looking for a slightly more high-end restaurant for your meal that’s still affordable, PETRA in Alfalfa is the perfect spot to enjoy a well-constructed menu of tapas & Mediterranean dishes on offer. Seville combines a balanced mixture of culture and history with a distinctive gastronomic scene and due to a high student population, a young and vibrant atmosphere for you to revel in on your weekend break.

New airport rules to be instated in 2023

In December 2022, Minister for Transport Mark Harper announced that certain security processes in airports will be relaxed beginning June 2024.

The most significant of these will be the removal of the 100ml liquid rule at large, major airports. Currently, passengers are only allowed to travel with liquids in their hand luggage if the liquid is 100ml or less: ever since this rule was introduced in 2006, following a terrorist threat it has provided extra stress for passengers all across the globe. Furthermore, the department for transport also announced that in the future we can expect to not have to take out our electronic devices at security due to more advanced screening. Which consequently reduce hassle for travellers even more.

However, the European Union’s new travel adjustments have not been as welcomed as others. In December 2022, The European Commission declared that by June 30th 2023 EU member states will make 5G frequency bands available on planes, as 5G operates on a different frequency levels to aeroplanes therefore has a lower chance of interfering with their systems. Many have responded positively to this ruling stating that it will allow them to

stay more connected to the world, particularly on longer flights. Likewise, for nervous flyers, having access to the world and staying in contact with loved ones may provide a calming outlet for their anxieties. Yet, on the other hand, frequent travellers have stated that allowing phone calls on flights will heavily disrupt peace on planes as volume levels will be much louder if multiple people are talking at once.

Conclusively, both the UK’s Department for Transport and the EU Commission have advised passengers prior to travelling to check whether these new measures will apply to them, as these changes will be implemented

The truth about Dubai: beauty beyond the bling Beauty of Bern

Rebecca Wright - Relationships sub-editor

Ivisited Bern entirely by chance last year, as part of an interrail trip around western Europe. Whilst I was only there for a few days, I was absolutely enchanted by the Swiss capital’s charming medieval architecture and altogether different feel from any other capital city I have been to.

As a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beauty of Bern’s architecture has been very carefully preserved. Walking around the streets, the city feels whimsical and small simultaneously, like a well-kept secret. There are markets and flower shops spread around the town squares, as well as countless historical jewels such as Albert Einstein’s former residence, and the 12th Century Zytglogge clock tower. It is this concoction of picturesque and cultural beauty that truly puts Bern out on top. On the subject of picturesque beauty, Bern’s ‘Rosengarten’ is well worth a visit. The steep walk uphill pays off with incomparable views of sprawling rooftops, and the staggering beauty of the garden itself. The city is not only surrounded by nature, but it also actively welcomes it in, which is why Bern is so beautifully unique and dramatically different to any other city. There is a distinctly relaxed vibe, looking over the delightful beauty of the city. Perhaps a slightly stranger reason to visit Bern is the fact that they have bears. Yes, actual bears. As a free attraction just over the river, the ‘Bear pit’ is a huge enclosure for four resident bears, with a glass elevator connecting the walkways between the enclosure. Unfortunately, we visited in September whilst the bears were hibernating, but the walks around the enclosure were still absolutely worth it. Visit in the summer months for a chance to see them!

Marina Snyder

Discover what's behind the stereotype!

When most people think of Dubai, their mind is likely to flash to images of expensive cars, extravagant buildings and a place of luxury - an oasis for the rich. And it’s no surprise, especially after the emergence of tv programs like Dubai Bling and Inside Dubai: Playground for the rich, which portray it to be this out-of-reach, futuristic city, draped in gold and wealth.

I lived in Dubai for 15 years and when I moved, I was shocked by the constant questions I got asked - “Do you speak Dubaian?”, “Oh, so you’re really rich right?”, “Do you own a tesla?”. And I think what it comes down to is the significant underrepresentation of what Dubai is really like for those who live there.

On the one hand, yes, you will be driving to school or work, and you may see some Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Yes, there are luxurious hotels and highend stores found at malls. But this is just top layer. For one, there isn’t always that much to do - many activities and attractions that are advertised to the rest of the world like Ski Dubai and water parks are expensive, whilst it’s usually 40 degrees outside, so spending time outdoors is out of the question. These attractions are often directed more towards tourists than locals, most of the time we might just go to a friend's house or the beach.

What's interesting about Dubai, and is probably my favourite thing, is its diversity, in that, most of the population is not originally from the UAE. Most are everyday ‘expats’ from around the world who have moved for work. There's a feeling of an inclusive and richly diverse community, where people can exchange pockets of their own culture and learn about other traditions and still feel welcomed. This also means that the rich class is

a minority. While local Emiratis hold the majority of wealth and power, expats are often just regular working people. There is certainly a pressure to work hard in

Dubai as a great symbol of capitalism - the city relies on business and tourism to thrive, capturing an ethos of working hard means wealth and a good life. And people are accepting of this, they accept certain governmental restrictions (for example, Skype is banned and scenes are cut out of films) for certain privileges like safety, good education and great opportunities. So, I would not describe Dubai as the land of the rich, rather, it’s place for everyone if

Dubai, placed by the fact that no income tax means you still must afford schooling and healthcare, but also, the lack of citizenship means dependence on a visa - if you’re out of work, you’re out of the country. Dubai is therefore never permanent, as an

There is certainly a pressure to work hard - if you're out of work, you're out of the country

Image credit: Jude Parkinson

Image credit: Charlie Reid

Charlotte Lee - News sub-editor

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Pixabay

Flipping delicious: Guide to Pancakes in the North-East

Daisy Harrison - Food & Drink Sub-Editor

Arguably the best day of the year, (yes, it’s better than Christmas) Pancake Day is right around the corner, falling on 21st Februrary. To get you prepared, I’ve complied a list of the top 3 eateries around the North-East that are worth visiting if you’re after a pancake-fix. All of which have been tried and tested by yours truly, of course!

Love Lily

Located in Sunderland, Love Lily certainly know a thing or two about pancakes. Yes, you read that right, Love Lily is in Sunderland. I always get looks of confusion/ disgust/admiration when I tell people I’ve been all the way to Sunderland, just for pancakes. But if that doesn’t show you how good these pancakes are, I don’t know what will. Love Lily has a huge selection of pancakes, ranging from standard toppings, like Bacon & Maple Syrup, or

Strawberry & Nutella, to more uncommon (but still just as delicious) flavours. These include Kinder, Cinnamon Bun, Reese’s, and Galaxy Caramel Brownie. Like any respectable brunch restaurant, Love Lily also offer specials. I tried their Christmas special of Terry’s Chocolate Orange pancakes, which was as tasty as it sounds. Needless to say, their Pancake Day specials take no prisoners, with last year’s flavours including Tequila Rose, Espresso Martini, Lemon Drizzle Cake, Solero, and many more. But be warned…the Pancake Day specials hit the menu for one day only, and the queue to get into the restaurant is mad. One of Love Lily’s epic stacks cost between £10.95 - £12.95 - definitely worth venturing into Sunderland for!

The Dispesnary

It won’t come to a shock to anyone that The Dispensary graces my Pancake Day hit list. At this point, I’m sure everyone and their mother have been to The Dispensary, or they have at least heard of it - and for good reason!

The science-themed brunch restaurant serves up scrumptious stacks of four American pancakes, accompanied with a maple syrup syringe and vanilla ice-cream. And, in terms of toppings, they dish out the classic Strawberry & Nutella, as well as Lotus Biscoff covered stacks. New additions are constantly being added onto their menu, with the latest being Apple Crumble and Orange Areo. But the fun doesn’t stop there; each Pancake Day, The Dispensary create a whole new pancake menu, full of specials. Last year, these included Toffee Crisp, Peanut Butter Jelly, Custard Cream, and many more! My friend and I both tried the Jam Roly Poly stack when we visited last Pancake Day; I never knew custard could work well on pancakes, but it does. The Dispensary serve up the cheapest pancakes in this list, with each stack costing a generous £10.

Aidan’s Kitchen

Aidan’s Kitchen is located in Sandyford, and is an extremely popular brunch spot, especially with

students nursing weekend hangovers. Although, in my opinion, the pancakes at AK are overlooked by their other menu offerings (if you like eggs, this is the place for you). The pancakes here come either as a half stack or a full stack, and although the full stack may seem like a measly four pancakes, trust me when I say, they’re BIG. My eyes were certainly bigger than my belly when I ordered a full stack at AK, and I’m not usually one to leave food on my plate. They offer an American classic of Bacon & Maple Syrup – the combination of sweet and salty is heavenly. Or, they have toppings which change with the seasons. Currently, you can dig your teeth into Passionfruit Curd, Pineapple, Mango Salsa, and Coconut pancakes, but previous options have included Dulce de Leche with Banana, and Honeycomb. The full stack of pancakes will set you back £12.95, but they’re totally worth it.

Pancake Day battle...

Rowan Christina Driver - Music Sub-Editor

Which makes your heart skip a beat?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right?

That’s generally what we are taught, so when faced with so many breakfast options, understandably we want to make the best choice. And so, with Pancake Day just around the corner, I bring to you an ultimate first world culinary debate: pancakes vs waffles vs French toast.

First up: the humble pancake. Be it the traditional English offering akin to a French crêpe, or a stack of fluffier Americanstyle buttermilk pancakes, these breakfast treats have a wealth of options to explore. With common toppings ranging from simple sugar and lemon juice to altogether more outlandish combinations like maple syrup and bacon, pancakes are nothing short of versatile.

Heck, they’re so acclaimed we even dedicate a day to them. Cheap and easy to make from a simple batter of flour, milk and eggs, pancakes of varying forms are a true breakfast staple in every household.

Next, we welcome the waffle to the ring. While waffles share the same basic ingredients as pancakes, the batter often includes the addition of sugar for a sweeter option. The key

difference between them, however, is the cooking method. Cooked in a waffle iron, a good waffle is always crispy on the outside and somewhere between soft and chewy on the inside. Waffles do have a particular advantage over pancakes –their square holes are ideal for holding syrups and spreads in handy little pockets, making waffles a perfect vessel for a range of topping choices. Also proving a popular mainstay among the everevolving world of street food, waffles often have a certain Instagram-able quality which seems largely unmatched.

Is it not just eggy bread with a beret on?

We are thus left with our final competitor. Now, when it comes to French toast, I have no aversion – per se. It is merely bread soaked in beaten eggs and milk. But then, is it not just eggy bread with a beret on? Many consider the terms interchangeable, after all, while others regard the difference as simple as how it is served. Whether sweet or savoury though, French toast often shares similar serving suggestions with pancakes and waffles. And while I have nothing against anyone who chooses French toast as their go-to breakfast option, it certainly wouldn’t be mine.

So, while all three have their own draw, it seems this age-old (read: arguably quite modern) debate really boils down to personal preference. But which would I choose?

Truthfully, I am not much of a breakfast fan most days. But when it comes to these three, I am easily pleased - if it’s warm and smothered in Nutella, little can go wrong.

Which pancake toppings are seriously overrated? And which hit the spot every time?

Pancake Day, an internationally recognised day where we all enjoy some pancakes, from fluffy Americanstyle pancakes to thin French crepes. to use up any remaining household ingredients before the start of Lent, on Ash Wednesday. But what, in my totally expert opinion, are the best –and worst – pancake toppings? There are many classics out there, namely syrups and chocolate spread, but the one topping that seems to have Brits in a frenzy is lemon and sugar. Now, I have my two cents to say about this national favourite. Unfortunately – and I say this from a definitely (not) unbiased French person’s perspective – I believe lemon and sugar is wildly overrated. This combination of sweet and sour is something I only want to see when I’m ordering a Chinese takeaway. I may be a lemon-hater, but that doesn’t mean I’m throwing fruit out the window. When I asked my friends what they like on their pancakes, we could all agree that partnering a spread or syrup with some strawberries, blueberries or banana is

a top-tier topping. It’s a classic, and there’s so many different combinations to go for. I do think, however, we need to start experimenting with fruits beyond those formerly mentioned – has anyone ever tried kiwi on pancakes? Pineapple? (Or have we done enough damage with pizza toppings…?)

A favourite of mine is the pairing of bacon and maple syrup

A personal favourite of mine is the ingenious pairing of bacon and maple syrup. Whoever came up with this idea, I am a huge fan. I’m not usually one to mix sweet and salty, but there is something uniquely delightful about this pancake topping. If you’ve yet to try it, I highly recommend you give it a go tomorrow. It’s usually best with Americanstyle pancakes, and I can confirm that it works well on waffles too. Finally, I want to end with my most controversial and devastatingly underrated topping – butter and sugar.

Now, it’s probably more suited to crepes, so you can thank my family for this one. This French alternative to lemon and sugar is my go-to crepe filling. I’m sorry lemon, you just don’t make the cut in my household. Simply put, butter and sugar

So, will you be sticking to the classics or take an adventurous leap of faith this Mardi Gras?

Roseanna Leconte

Image: Instagram @nytcooking

Image: Instagram @aidanskitchen

Image credit: Daisy Harrison

Image: Instagram @thedispensaryncl

Image: Instagram @aidanskitchen

Summer Melancholy Culinary mistakes: a letter to past me

A look at the tastiest and most memorable food and drink abroad

Going on holiday is one of the best times in the year; you get to eat, drink, and sleep as much as you want. The highlight to most of my holidays is the food, everything tastes better in the sun, and you don’t have to cook it. Holidays abroad are the time when too many carbs is unheard of, and there's always room for dessert!

Some of the best food I’ve ever had was on my birthday trip to Paris, a city renowned for its pastries, wine, and unusual cuisine. I only had three days in Paris but I have never had a pain au chocolate that has tasted that good. When in Paris, you have to try some of the delicacies that the country is known for, including Escargots (Snails!). It’s something I never thought I’d do, however they’re genuinely good...I’m unsure if time has changed my mind about them, but you must eat them when in France.

The biggest portions I’ve ever had was a school trip to New York City around 5 years ago. I’m still recovering from the fact that a medium pizza was able to feed myself and a friend, with leftovers! I left New York feeling very full, however there’s nothing more exciting to a tourist than buying a pretzel from the street vans and it being double the size of your face.

Somewhere I will travel to again, and again,

purely for the food, is Italy. The land of pizza, pasta and Aperol Spritz. There’s something about the love the locals have for their food that makes it so much better, and I refuse to believe

Rebecca Wright - Relationships Sub-Editor

Learn from your kitchen nightmares, so that you're Michelin Star ready

Iam no expert at cooking. I once burnt a jacket potato so much in the microwave that it shrivelled to the size of a golf ball. I continually burn frozen pizzas by putting the temperature too high. I am, in every sense, an absolute nightmare in the kitchen. However, aside from a few of these disastrous occurrences, I do manage to keep myself alive and (somewhat) well. Here are some of the things I’ve learnt along the way! One thing that I don’t think is ever worth it is prioritising health, over taste. Obviously, it’s great to keep a balanced diet and to make sure you’re actually nourishing your body but doing this doesn’t mean your food has to taste bad. Tasty food isn’t a reward, its actually the bare minimum to enjoy the things you eat! You should never sacrifice enjoying your

food - just don’t forget to eat something green every once in a while. Another mistake I have made previously is not tasting my food as I cook it. I’m not sure why I never did this before, but it’s really useful for telling you what balance of spices you need in a meal and adjusting recipes to your personal preferences. I’ve recently been making a chickpea and lentil curry, and the flavour has improved so much since I’ve started tasting it as I go!

Finally, perhaps the most obvious lesson I have learnt, is to just try new things! This is more of a culinary regret, than a mistake. It’s so easy to get bogged down with loads of work, and not have the energy to try that new recipe you saved the other day, but your future self will always thank you for making the effort to mix up your palette a bit. Be as adventurous with your meals as you’d like to be in your life, price permitting of course!

Pancakes around the world!

Ellen Pinch - Travel Sub-Editor

Why not spend your Pancake Day trying out a few of these alternative options?

With Shrove Tuesday just around the corner, for most Brits, the idea of pancakes will conjure images of lemon and sugar and questionable attempts to flip batter (crumpling into a sticky mess more often than not in my case!) Beyond this, there are an immense variety of pancakes originating from all corners of the globe to explore and set your taste buds alive this year.

Although not all pancakes are eaten on Pancake Day and adhere to the Christian tradition from which our day here in the UK occurs, pancakes are one of the world’s oldest forms of prepared food. According to every amateur baker’s best friend, Betty Crocker, the humble pancake could date back to as far as 600BC in Ancient Greece. Despite

this, the origin of Shrove Tuesday, in around 1100AD, brings about pancakes as we know and love them, as a way to use up dairy products before the religious period of Lent. History may be contested, and pancake variations may differ but, one thing is clear: pancakes have been indulged in for millennia, and as a pancake enthusiast I’m happy to say that their culture continues to be taken very seriously wherever you find yourself around the world.

We all know about the French crepe, North American buttermilk towers and viral souffle pancakes, but this year why not celebrate Pancake Day with some other international influences, what better excuse do you need to elevate your next stack?

Here are some of my favourites:

Japan’s Okonomiyaki

For a savoury pancake twist, these Japanese pancakes come from the Japanese ‘Okonomi’ for

pork belly, spring onions and a sticky combination of teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.

Austrian Kaiserschmarren

A happy mistake in the form of a kitchen experiment in the royal court of Kaiser Franz Joseph gave way to this unconventional scrambled, caramelised pancake mix. Eaten with dried fruit, nuts with icing sugar and apple sauce, if it's good enough for the royals it must be good right?

Indian Dosas

Popular across India and Sri Lanka, the batter of these pancakes is actually made from fermented rice and lentils, creating a characteristic thin and crispy texture. Dosas can be stuffed with spicy curry and daals to create many variations on the most popular ‘masala dosa’ or combined with sweet combinations to suit any taste.

give us a spherical pancake addition to add to the list. These Scandinavian favourites, however, can be made in a standard frying pan and enjoyed with an array of toppings to create your own sensation of Pancake Day ‘hygge’.

Korean Kimchijeon:

It is common knowledge that Kimchi is good for our gut health, so why not combine it into Pancake Day and explore this tasty Korean classic. Combined with, meat, vegetables, spring onions and various sauces, Kimchijeon are completely customisable to any pancake cravings.

Chinese Cong You Bing

Although, made from a dough and not a batter, contesting a pancake definition, China’s savoury

Sarah Castledine

A mistake I have made previously is not tasting my food as I cook it

Image: Instagram @umamiparis

Image: Instagram @fatkidnola

Image: Instagram @thefuddhist

Image credit: Pixabay

Image credit: Pixabay

Image: Instagram

Sub-editors: Lucy Bower & Rowan Christina Driver

My 21st Century Blues

Dan Finch

RAYE finally releases her debut album after much anticipation....

Whilst it is impressive to reach such a level of establishment in the UK dance scene with no album, it is equally disparaging. This was the reality for British singer-songwriter, RAYE, until this February. Yet, the standard of material featured on the record will puzzle any listener as to how a force so compelling could ever be restrained.

I can only begin with the irony of ‘Escapism’ being the track that TikTok has not allowed one to escape since last November. The song garnered success at an unfathomable rate and even became a contender in the Christmas-number-one battle. Its darker theme introduced the gritty undertones to be heard on My 21st Century Blues, the debut album that the singer had alleged to be held back by her previous label, Polydor, for seven years.

In fact, the rising popularity of her independent singles coincided with a sweeping online movement to support RAYE after her struggle to cut ties with the record company. It has been as satisfying to witness as it has been heartening: there is no doubt that Polydor will be kicking themselves, following her self-achieved triumph. And to worsen the blow, the music may just exceed expectation.

Captivating hooks emerge relentlessly across the track-list

Captivating hooks emerge relentlessly across the track-list. Listeners are delivered the sonic highs and lows that are always key to an album worth revisiting. ‘Black Mascara’ offers the thuds of house, compelling us to the dancefloor. Later, RAYE’s capability to tug at our emotions prevails in a personal favourite, ‘Ice Cream Man’. The debut album is titled aptly. An expansive range of political and generational issues are tackled by the songwriter, including a daunting perspective on our diminishing world in ‘Environmental Anxiety’: “a thousand years we been at war, when the planet is dead we will all hold hands.” Her ability to convincingly discuss these topics in her music from a personal place, rather than one of exploitation, is additionally appreciated.

Nonetheless, RAYE does not neglect her means to empower. ‘Flip A Switch’ serves as the ultimate break-up anthem. “Tell him I'm dead if he calling me”, she declares in the chorus, once more asserting the fierce character we have learned the singer to truly embody.

In truth, whether it is RAYE or the listeners who should be more thankful for the overdue release of ‘My 21st Century Blues’, I am not sure.

Late 'n' Live: the North East's

Maria Winter

Check out the brand new event that is here to liven up Newcastle's nightlife this February...

The North East has a new nightlife favourite, as the region welcomes Late ‘n’ Live to its roster; a fully interactive live music quiz event. With its inaugural event scheduled for February 22nd at As You Like It in Jesmond, this unique pub quiz/live music hybrid event is quickly shaping up to be a unique industry mainstay.

Featuring a live band of talented local musicians, audience members test their music knowledge by answering a series of genre-based/artist-specific questions asked and played by Late ‘n’ Live’s resident band. And before you ask, yes, the band plays along to every single question.

Co-founded by two recent Newcastle University popular music graduates, Maria Winter and Sam Harris, the concept of Late ‘n’ Live started out as a response to one of their module requirements.

However, the pair quickly realised the potential value in creating something completely unique within an oversaturated copy-and-paste commercial event environment.

Audience members test their music knowledge by answering a series of genre-based questions

Amy Nolan, front woman of the band says, "I think this unique project is something I am very excited to be part of. It's been great to perform and create with such talented people. I think it gives a new sense of fun to live music and will be greatly enjoyed by a wide range of audiences".

Late ‘n’ Live is a multifaceted immersive music experience, wherein audience members are presented with an exclusive opportunity to learn, listen and win some quality prizes throughout the night. From a retro 80s round, to a missing lyric brainteaser, then to a chart-topper competition and even more, Late ‘n’ Live plans on testing your brain while treating you to a live music show.

Ahead of its inaugural event opening, Late ‘n’

Live co-founder Maria said: "With Late ‘n’ Live, our mission is to celebrate the inherent creativity within the North East, while providing an exciting opportunity to re-invest into the local entertainment scene.”

However, Winter and Harris aren’t just girls who wanna have fun, they are young entrepreneurs who plan on shaking things up within their local music/events scene. With plans to continue their events-based endeavours under the name Marisam Events (a female-led, safe space events company), the two women want to create a more transparent, inclusive and diverse creative industry via their socalled “no-bull business strategy”.

The two women want to create a more transparent, inclusive and diverse creative industry

The two women want to create a more transparent, inclusive and diverse creative industry via their so-called "no-bull business strategy"

Partnering up with Forward NE (a community for women, trans and non-binary musicians/creatives) was their first step, where Late ‘n’ Live fea-

Live Review: DYLAN at NX Newcastle

On Thursday, February 9th I had the chance to see the young artist DYLAN perform live at NX Newcastle. Dylan opened the show with ‘Lovestruck’, a hit from her newest album: ‘The greatest thing I’ll never learn’ and the crowd went wild, watching her run onstage. After her first song she admitted she had only half a voice that night and asked her fans to be extra loud and help her sing. Yet, even with her slight indisposition, she delivered an incredible show, and no one could say that it was only half-good.

Dylan continued to play both her newest songs as well as throwing a few of her good old hits in the show as well. Her fans were very excited to scream the lyrics to her older banger ‘Nineteen’, as she announced this song was the beginning for her. The crowd especially enjoyed one of her most known songs ‘You’re not Harry Styles’ during which a fan handed her a pink cowboy hat, which Dylan rocked.

As she blew away every fan by her performance it was impossible not to notice the rock and roll influence. And even though Dylan and her songs are a pop sensation, she looked positively rock and roll in her own individual style. The rocker vibe was quite visible in her outfit – wearing a black skirt, leather boots and a black and red top – as well as her funky dance moves.

The best I would describe Dylan is as a showwoman as she commands every bit of space, lights up a whole room and entraps every person, fan or no fan, into her moment, when she is onstage. She shared with her audience that writing the song ‘Home is where the heart is’ she didn’t know where she belonged. However, when she started her tour back in November she felt a sense of belonging. And from my eyes, that stage, however big or small, is where Dylan looks at home.

Dylan is an amazing songwriter, which is why so many fans love her. Her songs tell a story –sometimes fun, sometimes sad but always filled with emotions. She also sings with such passion and emotion that her lyrics echoed in my heart. And by the judge of the crowd’s screams, cheers and singing along, my heart was not the only one

the lyrics resonated with. The lyrics though, are not the only thing she is good at, as she accompanied her vocals by playing the guitar – switching from her usual electronic to an acoustic guitar for one special song. Her opening act included a female duo –SIIGHTS. They started the crowd with most of their own songs and one cover song. Since I haven’t heard this duo before I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised and I will admit that they are my new musical discovery. My favourite song of theirs being ‘Fake it’.With less than 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Fontaines D.C. are a band that I highly recommend to anyone who is open to music of a remarkable essence. The Irish post-punk band have a distinct sound that is unique to anything I’ve ever heard before. Influenced and brought together by a common love of poetry, Fontaines combine their passion with music to create a gritty, urban sound and narrative.

Dylan might be a small-time artist now, but the masterful shows she continues to put on and the addictive lyrics she keeps on writing will surely continue to catapult her higher and higher. And one day I hope to see her headlining a Wembley show. Dylan, nothing ever lasts forever, but this night will stay engraved in my mind.

Sam Harris

Anna Nix

Image credits: Anna Nix and Pixabay

Image credits: Pixabay

East's first live music quiz event

tured as the networking event for their recent Feb ruary 9th meet-up at The Cumberland Arms. With plans to continue bringing music (in all of its various forms) to diverse audiences across the North East and beyond, their live music quiz is only the start for this dynamic duo. But first, get your thinking caps on and your ears at the ready this February, because Late ‘n’ Live is here to re-define the traditional pub quiz and revolutionise the infamous North East night out.

Tickets can be purchased here:

BBC Introducing to face huge cuts

Scarlett Welch - Head of Life & Style

BBC Introducing, the regional radio programme which gave a platform to articles such as Lewis Capaldi and Florence + The Machine, is facing huge potential cuts

There are currently 32 regional Introducing shows across the UK, but this could soon become as few as 11 after possible cuts to local radio. Whilst the BBC is yet to announce whether these cuts are going ahead, artists and presenters of the shows have expressed their concerns about the damage they might do.

The rise of queue culture

Joseph Thomas

Does this new trend threaten to change concert etiquette for the worse?

Like me I am sure you will have seen the chaos on social media displaying The 1975’s recent tour. Other than the many clips of Matty Healy on stage, something that emerged was an effort by fans to organise queues for front row standing. Stories of fans starting queues up to 36 hours before concerts wasn’t uncommon. This seems to be a more recent issue. The return of gigs in the last 2 years has been quite a different experience. This rise of queue culture has created quite an unhealthy relationship between groups of fans.

Social media has clearly played a role in enhancing this. The idolisation of larger-than-life figures such as Matty Healy or Harry Styles clearly holds influence. People want to be part of a show filled with short TikTok shareable moments or even have a small interaction with the artist they’re going to see. This is enhanced by the fact that most of these artists appeal to more impressionable young fans.

BBC Introducing is a crucial path into the music industry for local, upand-coming artists, particularly those outside of cities, who wouldn’t get the same exposure otherwise.

An open letter has been written to the BBC Chairman Richard Sharp, by a group of 13 music organisations, stating that the proposed axing to shows would be “a fundamental blow to the health of the entire grassroots sector”.

BBC Introducing began in 2007, airing shows every Thursday and Saturday night. The show gives aspiring artists the

opportunity to upload their own songs online for the consideration of producers and presenters, meaning that anyone can have the possibility of being discovered without having to invest any money in promotion.

Being featured on the show has kickstarted the careers of many phenomenal artists, including Ed Sheeran, Little Simz and George Ezra to name a few. Cutting down the number of shows would drastically reduce the number of artists featured each week, meaning that fewer and fewer regional

competition for a slot, as artists from smaller areas would become engulfed by the huge number of artists from major cities.

Younger fans are also much more inexperienced at concerts. Many people who may have gone to their first concert during various lockdowns simply didn’t. This led to them missing out on learning from older concert goers about gig etiquette especially in standing areas. Another factor could be the role of social distancing creating anxiety in crowded spaces. From my experience a lot of people in standing sections are now quite defensive about showing up early and staying glued to one spot.

However, the BBC maintains that Introducing shows will not be cut completely, with part of the programme moving to BBC Sounds. They argue that this move will give musicians a bigger platform than local radio shows, as they can be accessed by the entire country at different times

Whilst this may be the case, local radio may still suffer from the proposed change. Part of the beauty of BBC Introducing is that presenters know their area well and are able to build personal relationships with artists. Many fear that if local shows are cut, part of the essence of BBC Introducing will be lost with them.

Clearly this atmosphere goes against what gig culture should be. Standing areas should be dynamic environments where anyone can enjoy the concert without feeling they have to be there early to get a good spot. The idea that you are a more committed fan of an artist for showing up earlier is simply not true. Plenty of fans point out the issue that people who work full-time simply cannot afford to queue to get a good standing place.

The best concerts are often the smaller ones with a much more dynamic and friendlier crowd

Some venues in the US have tried to solve this issue through a raffle system. This means that anyone who queues has an equal chance of getting into the concert first. This appears to be a much fairer method discounting the excessive times required queuing for artists. This currently seems to be a limited approach.

Whether you like it or not queue culture is here to stay for the larger acts. Not all hope is lost, however. From my experience the best concerts are often the smaller ones with a much more dynamic and friendlier crowd. You tend to get a much better interaction and involvement with the band or artist. Smaller gigs usually support artists more directly rather than record companies and other large corporations involved in the music industry.

Image credits: Maria Winter, Facebook

The atmosphere goes against what gig culture should be

BBC Introducing is a crucial path into the music industry for local, up-and-coming

The show gives aspiring artists the opportunity to upload their own songs online

Lyric of t h e Week:

I don't wanna see you smile, I want you in the morning before you go performing

Yoke Lore, Beige

Image credits: George Ezra, Facebook

Your new favourite TV show is Extraordinary

A brand- new sitcom has just landed on Disney+ and this one is a must see.

In a world where everyone gains a superpower when they turn 18, Extraordinary Tyers), a twenty-something Northern Irish girl, living in London, and still waiting to develop her power. Although this is perhaps a cliched premise, but the show still manages to feel like a fresh take (with an 18 rating) that brings the humour and truthfulness of life in your twenties, keeping it original. A couple of favourites in my house are Jizzlord the cat and Gordon whose power is to make anyone orgasm upon touching them.

An honest emotional relatability

Witty writing, paired with plenty of hilarious one-liners are further boosted by a talented ensemble cast. For example, Sofia Oxenham, who plays Carrie, with the ability to channel the voice of the dead whilst being exploited by her insurance job, brings a lot of talent to the table as she toils with her somewhat hapless time-travelling boyfriend Kash (Bilal Hasna), who attempts to

form a group of vigilantes, including one man with Disney has brought a killer soundtrack and a welldeserved budget to writer Emma Moran’s debut show, that brings this superpower filled world to life. That being said, Moran has stated that it was important to her to keep the economic realities of the viewer in order to ensure the emotional ground layer of the show remained intact. Moran infuses the current inundation of superhero content with an honest emotional relatability of navigating the difficult world of finding jobs, friendships and hook-ups. She describes the core of the show as the feeling of being “lost and messy” in your twenties and tackles the universal urge to constantly compare yourself to others, who seem to be endlessly thriving and reaching milestones. Of course, that is not the case, which Extraordinary proves, and comforts viewers with the reassurance that it is okay to just be okay. It’s a celebration of the mediocrity that we all feel as we 'comeof-age'. And even if you can fly you still need to remember to call your mum and tell your friends that you

So, gather your housemates for a feelgood binge and be grateful you do not live with someone who can read your mind.

From paper to the screen: Daisy Jones and the Six!

sex, substances and stardom.

The first look at the upcoming tenpart adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestseller 'Daisy Jones & The Six' dropped last month, ahead of the miniseries’ Prime Video premiere on the 3rd March.

Starring Riley Keough in the titular role, alongside Sam Claflin as Pittsburgh rocker Billy Dunne, the series will follow “how an iconic band imploded at the height of its powers” amidst the tumult of the 70's rock music scene. Sebastian Chacon, Josh Whitehouse, Will Harrison and Suki Waterhouse complete “The Six”, while Camila Morrone, Nabiyah Be and Tom Wright are also credited in main roles.

To binge or not to binge?

Are you one to consume the whole series in one day? Or do you prefer the weekly agony and anticipation?

Binge Watching

My support for bingewatching - as opposed to having to wait a whole week for the next episode your favourite programme to be released - is simple. I have no patience! I'm aware that it's kind of pathetic. Many - well, most things in life are harder than waiting a mere seven days for the next instalment of whatever show I'm currently obsessed with. But that's only one side of the coin. The other side is that most things in life are hard, especially at the moment. The planet is dying, we've burned through three Prime Ministers in less than a year, and everything costs way too much. I'll take joy anywhere I can get it, and one of those places is my bed, with a cup of tea, and a series of episodes to delve into on screen before me.

Traditionalists might say that a gap between episodes is, or should be, something that makes TV unique, especially in the era of streaming service giants. The popularity of these streaming sites, however, was built largely upon their (then) unique feature of allowing viewers to watch as many episodes in one sitting as they desired. Now, in an effort to catch up, BBC, ITV and other TV mainstays have mirrored this on their respective websites, in an effort to retain their audiences. And, for the impatient - or to put it more nicely, enthusiastic viewer, like myself, this has been an effective move. Binge watching is edging closer to becoming the dominant mode of television viewing, and, in a time where escapism is needed by so many, this is no bad thing.

Weekly Release

The trailer alone speaks volumes for Keough’s Daisy Jones. A seemingly perfect casting choice, her portrayal of “The Six” frontwoman evokes Florence + The Machine with an added retro ruggedness – a combination of floaty outfits and striking red hair that perfectly matches the picture readers of the book had imagined. The costuming and cinematography together promise an overall visually stunning piece, oozing vintage authenticity into this story of

The novel adopts an unusual structure – told through the transcription of conversations with the band two decades after their turbulent downfall –and it seems to be a storytelling device only made better in its transfer to

be released in line with the first episode – an album brought to life directly from the pages of Reid’s book, aided by the song writing prowess of coveted musicians such as Phoebe Bridgers and Marcus Mumford.

“Daisy Jones & The Six are real”, Reid said in

Imogen Smillie - TV sub-editor

Iwill admit, I am prone to a sleepy Sunday in bed, just binge watching for hours. But what’s better than the anticipation of what’s to come?

Think this time last year, with the release of Euphoria, season 2. Aptly named “Euphoria Sundays”, HBO released 1 hour of the show each week, with us all waiting by the screen eager to watch more. And as a creature of habit, it was nice to know that every Sunday at 9pm (or the early hours of the morning for us lot in the UK) it was time to get everyone together for the next instalment.

Disney+ have taken this almost ‘traditional’ form of TV watching back with its release of Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm series on a weekly release rota. Especially in the current social climate, with our reliance on social media, my favourite thing to do is scroll through Twitter finding the most outrageous theories of the latest TV favourite week-byweek in between episodes.

So whether it be creating clout for the TV company, or just simply keeping things old school, patience is a virtue when it comes to watching television, and we’re all taking it for granted.

But again, who doesn’t love a good binge of our favourite comfort show…

Ciara Rivers

"They are better than my wildest dreams" - Reid

Martha Probert - Arts sub-editor

Rowan Christina Driver - Music sub-editor

Image credit: IMDB

Image credit: IMDB

Is film piracy becoming more normalised?

Jess Bradbury

As staggered film releases become more prominent, are audiences growing more comfortable with pirating their films?

As films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Pearl are finally making their way into UK cinemas, months after being released in the US, is film piracy becoming more normalised among audiences?

We all know the infamous film piracy advert “you wouldn’t steal a car”, in fact, I’m convinced that it’s ingrained into every child's brain who grew up in the noughties. With the rise of streaming during the 2010s, the frequency in which people pirated the latest releases dropped.

After all, streaming and cinemas provide audiences with a goldmine of content,

whether you’re feeling a romcom, a scary film or a really niche production that was only aired once in 2007. Chances are, one of the streaming services or big cinemas will be streaming it. But going to the cinema and subscribing to all of the available streaming platforms is not cheap by any means, especially at a time when most people are feeling the strain in their cost of living. This combined with the fact that many releases are being distributed in the US months before they are released elsewhere (I’m looking at you Pearl which is finally getting a UK release in March) means that many people are turning towards piracy sites to watch the latest blockbusters. Since the Covid pandemic, release dates for films on home devices have shortened, dropping from approximately 90 days to around 45. This means that it is becoming easier for people to pirate

the latest releases, even if they haven’t already been filmed via shaky hand cameras in the actual cinema itself. So it’s clear that the trend won’t be slowing down anytime soon, but the real thing to dig into is the moral implications of it. At the end of the day, it is unlikely that piracy is going to hit the big guys in Hollywood, particularly when films Avatar: The Way of the Water are making $2.17 billion at the box office. A few pirated streams are definitely not going to hurt their success and so, audiences probably don’t feel too bad about watching them on a slightly dodgy But piracy can really affect independent cinema, after all these sites don’t really care if your budget was £100 or £100 million - as long as it brings them ad revenue amongst other things then these sites will continue

to operate. This of course brings a barrier to local films, adding a barrier to an already difficult industry. Should audiences stop pirating films? Probably, but actually stopping the issue is complex because the practice has become so But next time you’re thinking of pirating a film, perhaps consider going to support your local cinema instead. Newcastle has a great venue in the form of Tyneside Cinema and there’s nothing quite like supporting independent cinema compared to using a dodgy pirating

Brendan Fraser’s Awaited Comeback in The Whale - a Sink or Swim?

conveying everybody’s fundamental human need for connection and companionship.

repetitiveness and mundanity of Charlie’s life after his partner’s death.

Brendan Fraser makes his long awaited comeback to Hollywood with Darren Aronofsky's 'The Whale'

Adiscussion of shame, sorrow, and strength is Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, starring Brendan Fraser of George of the Jungle and Sadie Sink of Stranger Things

Unfortunate pasts are revealed through the theme of honesty

A Christian missionary with a secret identity serves for a confusing and unnecessary plot twist to expose that the nature of family is to forgive, and to inject a glimmer of hope into the audience to think that maybe Charlie’s family will forgive him for leaving them; maybe the intention here was to create tension, but to me feels futile and unnecessary to the overall message and plot of the story.

Post-lockdown films such as this one which discuss how people should not live or spend their lives alone may feel relatable or relevant to some, as lockdown was a difficult period and helps the audience relate to the main character with their own experiences of feeling lonely, their only human contact with someone not in their household being over video chat. But the significance of this film, I believe exceeds the boundaries of ‘lockdown was bad’ and ‘loneliness is sad’ as in my opinion it also takes a candid look at the gruesome and not so pretty side of overconsumption and greed so prevalent in our generation, even if the pace did dawdle at times. Our main figure wants so desperately to give his daughter all the

technically put himself in that situation. In all

Selin Hasan

Aronofsky explores the protagonist’s self hatred and sorrow with undisguised intent

We all know the infamous film piracy advert "You wouldn't steal a car"

Image credit: Twitter- @framefound

Can biopics ever not be exploitative?

Blonde and Elvis hit our screens in 2022 but are they honorable or exploitative?

The biopic is one of Hollywood’s most beloved film genres and with dramatised films of the lives of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe,

reputation for being ‘Oscar bait’. However, following the rather negative reaction to the release of the controversial film Blonde and now that production of the tragic singer Amy Winehouse has begun, many of us are beginning to question whether these films are honouring the lives of their subjects or just exploiting them.

assaulted by President Kennedy. Blonde has been described by Scott Fortner (a Marilyn Monroe historian) as ‘the definition of exploitation’ and ‘the assassination of a woman who isn’t even here to defend herself’.

John, is often overlooked when biopics are being discussed; however, it is one of the best biopics in recent years. Unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, which infamously downplayed Mercury’s sexuality, the film does not shy away from the more unfavourable aspects of John’s life but rather embraces them as a But the principal reason that this film is a great example of how not all biopics are exploitative is due to the personal involvement of Elton John (the biopic’s subject matter) and his husband, David Furnish. Furnish was credited as a producer of the film and John served as an executive producer and John has made his influence over the outcome of the film apparent by writing in The Observer that ‘They wanted to tone down the sex and drugs. But

Marilyn Monroe endured a series of tragedies throughout her life from being a victim of child sexual abuse to suffering several miscarriages to struggles with mental health and addiction all while being repeatedly sexualised, objectified, and abused so many were hopeful that the film version of her life would show the humanity of this actress deeply disturbing scene in which Monroe is sexually

As this past year has shown, the popularity of biopics is not declining and despite many biopics being made with the best intentions, such as Elvis, which had the overwhelming support of Priscilla and Lisa-Marie Presley, it is very difficult to make a biopic about a deceased figure without an element of exploitation. Most biopics exploit the very people that they are trying to celebrate as it is oftentimes impossible to get their consent or input or for them to defend themselves

Blue Jean: the lasting impact of Thatcher's Section 28

A glowing and passionate review of Georgia Oakley's newest feature, echoing the film's 93% ratings online. hats.

Georgia Oakley sheds a light

The month before, my mum told me

little did I realise how important this film was. During the lead-up, I received emails from the Cinema informing me that they’d had to change rooms as so many people wanted to buy tickets. Eventually, after two room changes, the film was to be showcased in their largest and most quintessentially “cinema” screen – The Classic – which proved to be a

Moreover, the importance of the film lies in its subject matter. Like many of us, Oakley only recently found out about Section 28, which remained effective until 2003. During the post-screening Q&A, she discussed how her newfound awareness of the law had inspired her to investigate the topic further and those directly affected by it. This led to meetings with various lesbian teachers across the country who had worked between 1988 and 2003. The film is based on the experiences of the women she met, shining a light on an event that seems to be hidden from our history classes and the big screens.

setting worthy of such a landmark film. , written and directed by Oakley, tells the story of Jean (Rosy McEwen), a lesbian PE teacher from Newcastle. Set in 1988, Jean’s life is starkly affected by the passing of Section 28 by Thatcher’s Conservative government. The law prohibited “promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. Throughout the film, we witness the young teacher struggling to reconcile her sexuality with the State, the media, her family and even with herself. Ultimately, we see how conformity can sometimes be more pernicious than risking everything to stand up for what is right.

Oakley stated that her objective with Blue Jean is to leave audiences with a sense of hope and that anyone who has ever been othered in any capacity can relate to Jean’s story. Sitting in the audience, I got the sense that people who had lived through that time finally felt represented by a queer filmmaker who had made a film about the British lesbian experience – something rarely seen. The feature has been nominated for the BAFTA for “Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer” along with (2022), another film by a queer female director.

Heather Adams

[The biopic is] the assassination of a woman

Jemima Ajayi

Shining a light on an event that seems to be hidden from our history classes and the big screens

Image credit: Twitter: @AltitudeFilms, @tilljep

We witness the young teacher reconcile her sexuality with the State, the media, her family and even herself

Image credit: Twitter @TheAcademy

Image credit: Twitter @screenrant

Visions of Ancient Egypt at the Laing Art Gallery

A review of the Laing's new exhibition, Visions of Ancient Egypt: Art, Design and the Cultural Imagination

Opening the two grand oak wood doors, in all the Laing’s glory, you are immediately greeted by a large oil on canvas piece by Agnes Pringle, a Gateshead native. The painting dated 1897, hangs bold and detailed. Moving on through abstract and modern works on Cleopatra's beauty, you are taken to 30BC in which the Romans conquered Egypt, with sandstone and Parian marble busts of Jupiter-Serapis and the Sphinx. From here you arrive at three aged books. The books contain illustrations of Egypt, filled with intricate and colourful hieroglyphics, and soft delicate Arabic dancing across the page.

Snapping from the awe of these ancient books, you turn a corner to be find a statement armchair by British Designer, George Smith, in

all Egyptian glamour, with a Medusa head in the centre and two panthers snarling around either arm. Upon exit of the first exhibition room, you find yourself surrounded by sketches by David Roberts and lithographed by Louis Haghe.

A particularly eye catching, daydream-inducing piece pulls you so hard, you can almost feel the sand beneath your feet and the warm dense air caressing your blushed cheeks – this is 'The Ruins of The Temple Kom Ombos' from 1842 by David Roberts.

The exhibition includes David Hockney's 'The Actor' and 'The Egyptian Head', inspired by his visit to Egypt

Onto the second exhibition room! Here, you explore an array of late 1800s oil paintings of women, dazzling scarab jewels, vintage dresses and an abundance of artworks encapsulating the emergence of global celebrity Tutankhamun in the

1920s. The exhibition tails off into the present day with pieces from Khaled Hafez, and two of David Hockney’s pieces, 'The Actor' and 'The Egyptian Head', both made after Hockney's trip to Egypt in 1963.

"Egypt is not a country we live, but a country that lives within us". This quote, from Coptic Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, concludes the exhibition. It is lit with a lime green tone by the neon light artwork, Awol Erizku's ‘Nefertiti', which leaves you with a pleasant sense of inspiration - and a side of hunger to be back in the room. A real must see.

Visions of Ancient Egypt is on display at the Laing Art Gallery from January 28th to April 29th. Entry is £9 (with student ID).

Books on Queer Love

bit of everything for everyone. This allows a great representation for queer girls. Lesbian, bisexual, pansexual and unlabeled women are written so

heavier topics such as homophobia, biphobia and racism makes those books so powerful in their ability to convey more than just sweet moments.

by Hemangi Chakravarty

A delicate word that sits on coarse tongues exactly how its scent floats into waiting lungs — quietly

Its tender stem yields kindly to garlands, its candy floss petals bow down to every breeze, and while its sunshine heart drinks from dawns, it barely sees the light of day

They say that many jasmines bloom in the still secrets of nights drowned in ink; that only fallen jasmines decked with dirt stare the Sun sorrowfully in its eyes; that trampled, torn, aching jasmines don't count; Many women are still named Jasmine

Top picks for queer love stories - they're not just about men!

Queer literature has been revived in recent years and rightfully praised on many platforms. The most famous works in this genre, however, are about men, something that the readership seems to prefer. Not exactly missing but marginalised, novels celebrating love between women (often called Sapphic books) deserve a space on the literary pedestal.

Whether they are historical fiction such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid or fantasy like The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, their gentle and passionate portrayal of queer love is as important to the community as the renowned male love novels.

From the author Casey McQuiston and her two sapphic novels One Last Stop Wheeler to The Henna Wars Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar, the wide range of stories offered makes it so there is a little

Emily Lowes

Margaux Martinez

The romance is counterbalanced by heavier topics such as homophobia, biphobia and racism

Awol Erizku's ‘Nefertiti’ [right] leaves you with a hunger to be back in the room

Image credit: @kmerrin on Twitter

'Jasmine'

Sub-editors: Louise Cusine, Martha Probert & Sarah Tunstall

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham at the Hatton Gallery

Martha Lilli Probert - Arts Sub-editor

A review of Wilhemina Barns-Graham: Paths to Abstraction at Newcastle University's Hatton Gallery

The new exhibition at Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: Paths to Abstraction, is a thoughtfully curated celebration of the work of an important, but recently neglected, twentieth-century artist.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was born in St. Andrews in 1912, and attended Edinburgh College of Art. She then moved away from her native Scotland, finding her way to Cornwall in 1940, where she became acquainted with a collective of modernist artists including Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo. This is the environment from which the first set of paintings in this new exhibition emerged. Scenes of Cornwall’s seaside towns fill the first

of four rooms, and establish the initial step in Barns-Graham’s artistic development.

The second room contains work from the late 1940s and early 1950s, after she had broken away from the St. Ives coterie. The stylistic evolution in her work during this period is evident. Despite her spilt with the school of artists she had previously been a part of, their influence is seen throughout these paintings. Gabo’s constructivist, geometric style, for instance, can be found in her paintings of Switzerland’s Grindelwald Glacier. Barns-Graham scaled the glacier in 1949, and her studies of it are a highlight of the exhibition.

This exhibition demonstrates the transformation BarnsGraham’s work underwent during her career

We then move into Barns-Graham’s experimentations with colour – specifically, with red. Barns-Graham experienced synaesthesia, and spoke of how, because of this, she associated

people and places with certain colours. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, colour was a central theme in her work, and her move towards brighter hues in the 1950s is unmistakable in this selection. The choice to focus solely on her red paintings is striking, and marks a real change from the themes of the exhibition’s other phases. Her focus on landscapes continues here, however, with Italian and Spanish landscapes featuring. The exhibition’s final room demonstrates the transformation Barns-Graham’s work underwent over the first thirty years of her career. The representational style of her early Cornish works has disappeared completely, overtaken by vibrant abstraction. Works from her series 'Things of a Kind in Order and Disorder', completed in the 1960s, are included here, and the transition from her focus on squares during this period to circles in the following decade is presented delicately and effectively. Barns-Graham’s religious, mathematic, and geographic influences are all present in this climatic display.

With over seventy works to view, this exhibition

provides a unique opportunity to reassess Barns-Graham’s artistic progression and impact. Not only this, but it has been more than thirty years since this number of Barns-Graham’s paintings have been displayed together. For any fans of abstract art – or anyone looking for a refreshing, thought-provoking break between lectures – it is not to be missed.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: Paths to Abstraction is at the Hatton Gallery until 20th May, and entry is free to all.

Image Credits: Hatton Gallery and the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust

'Words are the only Victors': Salman Rushdie's Defiance of Intolerance, One Book at a Time

was antithetical, to say the least.

The Indian-born British-American writer Salman Rushdie released his twenty-first book, Victory City, on 9th February. This event is all the more important since it took place in the aftermath of a near-fatal knife attack that Rushdie survived on 12th August 2022. While the assailant, Hadi Matar, quoted personal dislike to be the reason behind this brutal attack, what does this mean for Rushdie’s career?

The author of Midnight’s Children is no stranger to threats and controversies. One of his earlier novels, The Satanic Verses, was published in September 1988. Although it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in the United Kingdom, the response that it received from the rest of the world

The novel’s reference to the Satanic Verses of the Holy Quran sparked a controversy that spread like wildfire. At first, then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government in India banned The Satanic Verses ahead of a national election. This censorious fury continued to grow as the Iranian press reviewed the book and religious authorities in many countries including Saudi Arabia opposed it vehemently. It even led to riots, marches, and book burnings across the globe. The Iranian religious and political leader Ayatollah Khomeini went as far as to issue a fatwa, or a ruling, that called for Rushdie’s execution. These events lay the groundwork for debates related to censorship and religious violence.

Institution in New York City, was in a similar vein. The assailant, Hadi Matar, said during one of his interviews with The New York Post last year, "I don’t like the person. I don’t think he’s a very good person ... He’s someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems." While dislike for a person and criticism of their work is to be expected in a democracy, it is the violent attempt at silencing the author’s voice yet again that is concerning. It forces one to wonder whether the freedom to explore even remotely religious topics in ways other than the ones preordained by authorities exists any longer.

… that’s [not] what I want people reading the book to think. I want them to be captured by the tale, to be carried away."

The incidence of violence that Rushdie survived created major ripples in the literary world. Salman Rushdie is revered as a free speech icon who continued to push back against intolerance in the face of death threats. In the aftermath of the attack, many of his fellow writers and cultural figures expressed outrage by holding vigils in his honour. They see the release of Victory City as a moment to celebrate not just the author’s literary excellence but also the fact that he is around to cherish it. Some of them also believe the book’s core message — that stories will outlast political clashes, wars, the collapse of empires and civilizations — resonates more with his global audience in light of what Rushdie has endured.

Suzanne Nossel, the chief executive of PEN America, told The New York Times, "They failed to silence him. The publishing of this book is a very powerful demonstration of that."

As for Salman Rushdie himself, he told The Daily Mail and The New Yorker, "I’ve always tried very hard not to adopt the role of a victim... It hurts. But

The knife attack on Salman Rushdie that took place on 12th August 2022 at the Chautauqua

Hemangi Chakravarty

Salman Rushdie's new book, Victory City, and what it means in the light of the attack on him last year

The author of Midnight’s Children is no stranger to threats and controversies

It forces one to wonder whether the freedom to explore religious topics exists any longer

Barns-Graham’s religious, mathematic, and geographic influences are all present in this display

Joke of the Week:

Across

1. Vietnamese capital city. (5)

2. Small guitar-like instrument. (7)

7. Device that emits heat. (8)

8. Built the Biblical ark. (4)

9. ___ Earhart, First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. (7)

10. Ridiculous. (6)

11. Score of 40 all in tennis. (5)

14. Art supplies company. (7)

17. Rice dish originally from Valencia. (6)

18. Large e-commerce company. (6)

21. DC superhero associated with the Batman family. (3,5)

22. River in Northern England. (4)

23. Henri ___, French artist. (7)

24. Animal that Kuzco was transformed into in The Emperor’s New Groove. (5)

Down

1. Oldest American university. (7)

2. Slight push. (5)

3. 1971 John Lennon song. (7)

4. Thick noodles popular in Japanese cuisine. (4)

5. ___ Lohan, star of Mean Girls. (7)

6. Spiky Australian mammal. (7)

10. Bombing attacks like the Blitz. (3,5)

12. Remove. (5)

13. Multiple large titans. (7)

15. Lion star sign. (3)

16. Hot curry with a dark red sauce. (6)

19. Monochrome striped mammal. (5)

20. Person who is stealthy and trained in martial arts. (5)

21. ___ Allen, voice of Buzz Lightyear. (3)

Word Ladders

Start at the top of the ladder, and change one letter each time to form a new word. By doing this, you will be able to get to the word at the end of the ladder.

George Bell

- NSR Production Manager and Courier Jester

Friend of mine didn't pay his exorcist. He got repossessed.

1 3 3 2 2 1 4 12 13 6 3 10 10 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 5 6 6 1 2 14 11 8 9 8 5 2 2 2 5 3 3 2 6 4 7 5 8 9 4 5 4 6 1 2 7 11 1 10 1 10 2 9 1 3 7 1 2 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 5 3 3 3

Colour in the cells in the grid according to the numbers on the sides of the grid to reveal a picture. The individual numbers in each row/ column are separated by spaces of 1 or more squares.

WIN A PRIZE! Upload your puzzle solutions to Instagram and tag @thecourieronline to enter the prize draw!

Heart Word Wheel: Pineapple

Instructions F E T I S H R U S T Y S O O O E R S T R A P O N M E H N I C E P U G L Y L L N L G M T I P A P H R O D I T E T Y H L M O A N P E C K F R F C H U M P C O N D O M U S I A E M S P O R N H U B P E N I S

2 1 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 4 3 2 5 6 6 9 5 3 2 3 6 3 2 3 6 9 4 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 9 5 5 7 7 3 3 5 4 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 4 2 2 5 1 2 2 2 5 2 3 3 5 2 3 2 9 3 3 7 4 3 4 4 3 1 4 4 4 4 4 5 2

A-Z

SPORTING SPOTLIGHT:

G... is for Golf

Ben Hutchins

Midway through the season, Newcastle University’s Golf Club has success in its sights. Now with just a couple of games to go, promotion remains on the cards for both the 1st and 2nd teams. Furthermore, the 1s are off to Leeds Beckett tomorrow to play in the 2nd round of the cup… exciting times. Not to mention a big solo win for one of our 1st team members Henry Croft.

This has been a revolutionary season for Golf at Newcastle University. Although both teams avoided relegation last year, and collected occasional the occasional win, neither team could establish any momentum. It was time for a rebuild.

Now however, having recruited some high-quality youngsters back in the autumn, golf seems to be making a revival at Newcastle. The club will look to implement a new recruitment strategy come the summer, and improve on the abundance of talent its now accumulated.

Varsity, 24thMarch, is fast approaching. We’ll take a mixed team of eight to the world-famous Close House, and take on a Northumbria side, who’ve resided in the Northern Premier League this season. This will be a stern test for our young squad, half of which will likely be first years.

Finally, the social side remains strong, and forms the glue between the members of what is already a highly synergistic club. A new committee will soon be voted in, who are sure to match the dynamism, and enthusiasm of the current administration.

H... is for Hockey

Joseph Lester

The men's hockey club is one of the largest and most active sports clubs at the University. We represent the uni in BUCS leagues, BUCS cups, Yorkshire and North East leagues, and at county cup level. The club has 4 teams who play on Saturdays in the local leagues, with our 1s looking for promotion into the England Hockey National League in the near future. We also have 3 teams competing in the BUCS leagues and knockouts on Wednesday with the 1s looking for promotion to BUCS Prem, and the 2s and 3s in their Cup Semi Finals. Last year we managed to complete a walkover in Varsity, alongside the ladies hockey and beat all the Northumbria teams. We have some great socials and are fully inclusive to everyone, we are always looking for new members and constantly strive for high quality hockey, coaching, and umpiring whilst supporting the local hockey scene too.

Follow us on all socials at @numhc.

Down Under: Djokovic takes top spot again in Australia

Elena Photiadou - Sport sub-editor

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka claimed their 10th and 1st Australian Open title respectively, finals that will go down as two of the most historic moments in the sport.

History inevitably repeats itself with the 35-year-old tennis legend bagging his 10th Australian Open in an emphatic win over the young Greek, Stefanos Tsitsipas that struggled under pressure and lost his second major final. The Serbian was the name of the tournament since the first round, after entrance was denied to him in last year’s competition, he certainly came back for more. He stormed past all seven of his opponents, with only dropping one set, his immaculate form maintained throughout the competition almost flawless, trusting his experience and technique, always prepared to use his skills while maintaining his game management ruthless mentality and knocking his opponents out one by one.

The final had more than just a

trophy on the line, as with a win, both and the big names that followed in player to take a set off Sabalenka this year. Both players took some big names out of the competition and deserved a spot in the final, Sabalenka on her way to the title defeated Rogers, Bencic and Martens, while Rybakina knocked out Ostapenko, Collins and world number 1 Iga Swiatek with a 4-6, 4-6 and defeating all the odds, both players had a lot on the line and that was proven during the game with amazing tennis from both sides.

The Belarusian player has been amongst the headlines for several years now, without being able to get her hands on a major trophy, this title win made her jump from world number 5 to restoring her world number 2 ranking and certainly being the one to beat this year as she climbs towards the glory of the world number 1 spot if she manages to maintain her winning form and intensity that tends to scare her opponents.

Ford to return to F1 with Red Bull

Lara Kelland

As Honda retreats, Red Bull enters a new era as a power unit manufacturer. Since current partner Honda’s withdrawal as a manufacturer from F1, Red Bull Racing has been forced to expand its repertoire. Though the existing Honda power unit will continue to be used through till 2025, Red Bull now finds itself at a pivotal moment in its history. Whilst lesser financed teams may simply have sought out a new provider, Red Bull is taking a leap into the unknown with their Powertrains division.

Red Bull aim to create their own engine by 2026

By 2026, when support from Honda will end, Red Bull Powertrains aim to have created their own unit capable of competing with Mercedes and Ferrari, who each also provide their own engines.

Even in light of the sheer speed at which the Powertrains plant was built (only 55 weeks), this remains a mammoth task. As such, the team will be entering a new partnership for the 2026 till 2030 circuit with American giant Ford.

Prior to its departure from the sport in 2004, Ford built itself an impressive legacy in F1. They remain one of the most successful manufacturers to date, with their

The Kia Oval set to host World Test Final

James Kellett

DFV Cosworth engine earning them 10 constructor’s championships between 1968 and 1981. Their essential role within Powertrains will be to assist in development by providing technical expertise in areas including electric motor technology and power unit control systems, whilst the unit itself will be built by Red Bull.

Ford’s understated role as a supportive partner makes them a viable candidate for working with selfsufficient Red Bull. After talks with Porsche were dropped in September over supposed disagreements in shares, team principal Christian Horner commented that the team's independence as a manufacturer was ‘an absolute prerequisite for the future.’

But it’s not only their shining reputation that make the company so attractive. A historic American brand, a partnership with Ford is expected to boost Red Bull’s popularity in the US – an especially strategic move given the three American circuits on the 2023 calendar (more than any other nation). US approval seems to be a top priority for Red Bull moving forward, as their recent unveiling of the RB19 car across the pond in New York would suggest. As popularity ratings rise, the potential for gaining advantageous American sponsors does too.

The first in-house built Ford-Red Bull Powertrains engine is scheduled to be unleashed at the start of the 2026 season. Whether it sees as much success as Red Bull’s recent years will be decided on the grid.

The home of Surrey

CCC, The Oval, was chosen to host the final showdown in the 2021-23 World Test Championship.

The final will commence on Wednesday 7th June 2023, with the match deciding which nation will reign supreme in red ball Cricket.

The only nation to have secured their ticket for the final is Australia, who will be in for one of their most crucial years in modern cricket.

The three nations searching to claim a spot in the final include South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.

Although England have experienced a remarkable resurgence under Brendon McCullum, their hopes of competing in the final were decimated by a dismal Ashes series down under, as well as winning only one test in the Summer of 2021.

The most likely nation to square

up against Australia in June is India, who are currently playing against the Aussies in a four-match series. Even though South Africa and Sri Lanka both have to play lower ranked nations, India’s home record simply speaks for itself having not lost a test series at home since 2012, thus enhancing their chance to qualify for the final.

India seeks to dismiss the ghosts of the 2021 final as they were convincingly beaten by New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl.

As for the remaining two nations, if South Africa hope to qualify they face the West Indies in a two-match series on home soil, both nations will be attempting to rebound from their previous series defeats in Australia. Sri Lanka are tasked with arguably the more difficult of the two, with a two-match away series against the reigning champions New Zealand, however the Kiwi’s are winless in their last six test matches, their longest winless run since 2012.

Image credit: Wikimedia

Image credit: Twitter (@OlhoDesportivo)

Billy Sharp angered by Wrexham’s ‘disrespect’

James Kellett

The Sheffield Utd man was upset by Wrexham's social media antics...

Following Wrexham and Sheffield United’s six goal thriller in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, both teams were forced into a replay. With the date being set for their second encounter, the winner would be rewarded with a clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round.

Rob Lainton served well with the clubs to keep the game all square at half time, however five minutes into the second half, Anel Ahmedhodžić fired the hosts into the lead; slotting the ball past Lainton’s near post.

Wrexham responded with an equaliser via a controversial penalty, moreover they were given an opportunity to snatch the lead after being gifted another penalty, however Paul Mullin’s second attempt from the spot ended in vain.

The prospect of extra time loomed until veteran striker Billy Sharp expertly they had been as a club’, specifically referring to a tweet Although it is understandable to see why Billy Sharp was frustrated by the actions of Wrexham, it is rather surprising that a player of his experience would suddenly call out the National League high flyers live on television. Having deployed his services for eight clubs throughout his career, as well as competing in all four divisions of the professional English football pyramid, it can be argued that Sharp’s actions were uncharacteristic for a true veteran of the game.

Now aged 37, he has done countless hours of media duties during his professional career, thus being accustomed in such duties, the behaviour of Sharp was overall unbecoming and he could have certainly vented his frustrations in a more civil manner.

Eve

South-Klein

The title race is heating up...

Miedema are undoubtedly Arsenal’s biggest goal threats and with them both wiped out, the team was surely going to struggle…and they have.

Could this season's title race be the tightest ever?

For the past few years, the title of the Women’s Super League (WSL) has often been a race between clubs Chelsea and Arsenal. However, after a tentative start from Chelsea, Arsenal still reeling from longterm injuries and an astonishing run of form from Manchester United, could this season’s race for victory be the tightest one yet?

At the start of the season, Arsenal looked to be the team to beat as they enjoyed a run of eight consecutive league wins. Unfortunately, their luck proved too good to be true when their squad was struck two long-term injuries to key players. Beth Mead, star of the England Lionesses at the 2022 Euro’s, suffered an ACL injury, in November, which would surely see her out for the rest of the season. A few weeks later, forward Vivianne Miedema also ruptured her ACL, leaving Arsenal’s attacking line in complete disarray. Both Mead and

Manager Jonas Eidevall failed to recruit a much-needed striker in the January transfer window and the Gunners are lacking a calm and clinical presence to ‘stick in the net’, which has ultimately been their downfall. Despite only dropping points on 3 occasions, these are points that Arsenal simply can’t afford to give away, considering they lost the title last year by only 1 point. With only 10 more matches to play, they currently sit 4th in the table and they are going to have to dig deep to beat the other teams to victory.

Title holders Chelsea appeared to have a shaky start to their season after losing their first match to newly promoted Liverpool. Yet despite this, they are since unbeaten in the league and their hope of achieving their 7th WSL title (4th consecutive) is still very much in sight. Thanks to the likes of Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten and Lauren James, Chelsea have enjoyed many goal-filled victories. Also, huge props to their manager, Emma Hayes, who has established a

strong winning mentality amongst her team which is evident every time they step out onto the pitch. Although they currently sit second in the table, Chelsea still look like the favourites to win the WSL this season, assuming their attacking line remains

mention, their confidence levels are off the chart and that winning mentality will surely stand them in great stead going into the final half of the season.

victories

Of course, we can’t forget to mention the dark horse, Manchester United, who shockingly have only been re-established as a team since 2018. Mark Skinner’s side have slowly been creeping up the table for the past few seasons, but this year they have proved a force to be reckoned establishing themselves as title contenders. They currently sit top of table and show no signs of letting up with stellar performances from key players such as Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Ona Batlle. Given that both Chelsea and Arsenal have games in hand, it appears unlikely that Manchester United will win the title, however they shouldn’t be ruled out of contention. At the moment the title remains unclear- who will cinch victory in the end? Only one thing is for certain, in the WSL, title races are sure to be wildly dramatic

Image credit: Twitter (@Rach_425)

"it insinuated they were 'eyeing up Spurs'"

Thanks to Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten, Chelsea have enjoyed many goal filled

Sport 40

Surridge Sport: The brand new kit supplier for NCL University’s Clubs

Matchday kit designs reveal..

Surridge Sport is the new kit supplier for the University’s sports clubs. On the 5th of December, an AU executive committee was held with the intention of selecting three new AU sports clubs game shirt designs. The Athletic Union Executive Committee is formed by students and members of the Students’ Union’s staff in order to discuss matters around sport teams, the particular meeting was to selecting three new university sport game shirt designs. As a committee we voted for and against on 6 different designs before narrowing this down to our favourite 3. When we were voting we had at the forefront of our mind that the game shirts needed to be inclusive so that they could be worn by everyone amongst a variety of different sports. Non-surprisingly making this decision was challenging and it felt like a huge responsibility but as a committee we were really happy with the final outcome, and we feel our aim was met and the students were able to be represented well with the new kit for years to come.

A new kit supplier, new kit designs, logos and materials is exciting!

This is my 4th year studying at Newcastle University and representing the university for Women’s basketball. Over this time, I have accumulated several items of kit for myself and team kits for basketball with Canterbury, our previous supplier. I have worn them fondly to fixtures… and the library as I’m sure many others have done too! Canterbury has been the university’s kit supplier for a long time so the transition to a new kit supplier, new kit designs, logos and materials is refreshing and exciting! Everyone gets hyped

about new kit and I can’t wait to see these new game shirts all over campus!

Hannah Danks, AU Officer, explained the process of selecting the kits: “Sport at Newcastle University has thrived over the last few years, finishing in the top 10 BUCS leagues last year, so we needed a kit provided who could match our game. Surridge Sport came out top of the very thorough process, which included student consultation and voice. The scoring showed that our students valued the

affordability and excitement of the new brand, which they have definitely delivered on already this year”. The kit is always good quality and smart and the university has an excellent reputation for sport and performance

sport so wearing the kit really makes you feel part of this successful. When I wear my sports kit I feel really honoured and professional community, the new kit supplier represents that and helps maintain the high standard that has been set over the years. Purchasing kit like these game tops is not just for the now but is something you can look back on fondly. It’s weird how you can associated a piece of clothing with so many emotions and memories but you really can and I’ll be keeping my university kit for years to come!

“Students can wear this kit with pride when representing the University, the traditional colours navy, red and white have never looked so dynamic and refreshed, so I look forward to our Team Newcastle succeed in them”, Hannah Danks added. The next few years with Surridge Sport will continue to be successful across the board and in wearing shared game shirts this will bring all the sports clubs together in this success.

View from the AU

Hannah Danks

- Athletic Union Officer

Running from Tuesday 21st –Friday 24th, Play With PRIDE is aiming to highlight the current inclusivity offer that our sports clubs have for the LGBTQ+ community, and work with clubs to better their understanding of the barriers to participation, enabling further support to their current and potential LGBTQ+ student members.

This campaign was rooted from the recent decisions led by National Governing Bodies that directly exclude transgender members of the LGBTQ+ community to play their sportunfortunately, at University-level sport, we have to follow the rules and guidelines set out by BUCS, University leagues and ultimately the sport’s NGBs. However, at NUSU, we stand for inclusion and participation above all so this campaign aims to show our LGBTQ+ students that there are lots of fully inclusive sporting opportunities to take part in, which are not categorised by gender binaries. As an AU, we will also be showing solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community by wearing rainbow laces and expressing what ‘Playing With PRIDE’ really means to us. Further to this, we recognise that as an AU and as a University, we can always do more to develop our knowledge and understanding, remove barriers and better our allyship, which is why a workshop is being delivered for club committees over the week.

On Friday 24th 7-10pm, we will be running a fundraising Dodgeball tournament, which the whole student body can get involved in and help us raise money for Humankind’s LGBTQ+ North East support service! It will take place in Sports Hall 2 and you won’t need a membership to get in so please come along and have some fun with your friends whilst raising money!

If you are affected by any issues in this article or raised through the campaign, then please don’t hesitate to email Hannah (au. union@newcastle.ac.uk) around sport club-related issues or complaints or get in touch with the Students Union Welfare and Support Centre. We want to ensure that all of our students feel safe and supported at all times.

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK

rundown

Which team will achieve the victory?

Billy Sharp angered over Wrexham disrespect

Sub-editors: Tom Barlow, Arthur Ferridge, Elena Photiadou & Paige Rutter

Esme Court-Johnson

The historic colours, navy, red and white never looked so dynamic

Image credit: Surridge and Instagram (@nufutsal)

We need a kit that can match our game