www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 8 May 2017 Issue 1350 Free
This Girl Did: Check out some of Newcastle Uni’s top female atheltes, p. 34
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
MULES: THE 90s THROWBACK
Fashion Ed Zofia Zwieglinska on the revitalised summer fashion, p.16
Est 1948
GLORIOUS GOLDEN OLDIES:
Make a much needed trip to revisit Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, p. 27
RAG society raises record amount Image: Chloe Burton
£12,000 raised over the 2016/17 academic year
RAG Week 2017 was the biggest and most successful week in the society’s history Nominated for 3 awards at Newcastle University Students’ Union’s Celebrating Success Awards By Sarah Holland Newcastle University Raising and Giving (RAG) Society has gone from strength to strength over the course of this year. After transitioning into a society in 2015, RAG has firmly stamped its mark this year after raising thousands for charity and involving over 300 students in hundreds of hours of volunteering across campus and the North East. With a committee of 30, led by Co-Presidents Harry Young and Liam Day, ten fundraising events have been organised over the year. Starting off with a coffee morning during Freshers’ Week and a pub quiz in The Charles Grey in October, with over 150 attendees the committee (and staff !) were taken by surprise. With this initial appetite for RAG already present, the society grew with every event. Next up was the infamous Speed Dating event, taking place in the SU in November with 240 single students looking for love. Ending 2016 with the legendary Naked Calendar, a Day Raid to Durham and a Christmas Pub Crawl, RAG ended the year with a total of £2,108 raised for six charities. With the new year came the imminent arrival of RAG’s biggest event, RAG Week. This week took months of planning an organisation from the exec and the rest of committee, co-ordinating hundreds of students in activities ranging from bucket collections in the city centre and the Quayside, to taking care home residents about the Metrocentre to help them with their shopping.
RAG Committee and models at Newcastle RAG Fashion Show Image: Harry Young In addition to fundraising and volunteering, RAG held five nights of evening entertainment including a barn dance with a live band and the legendary Take Me Out. As the week drew to a close, over £5000 was raised across the week making it one of the most successful RAG Week’s that Newcastle has ever seen. As a celebration for all the hard work put in by everyone, the RAG Ball returned at the end of February at The Biscuit Factory. Dressed to impress, a three course dinner with a live jazz band was enjoyed by members of RAG Crew and their friends. To top it all off, the evening raised £400 for charity too.
With exams and deadlines looming, RAG’s second biggest event of the year was on the horizon. Newcastle RAG Fashion Show (NRFS) was back. This
32 models. Featuring eight clothing brands including Topman, Jack Wills, Next and local dress maker Fash1, the event was a huge success. Collaborating with five different societies including Music Production and Women for Women International, the evening sold out and had people standing to watch. The return of the Rugby Boys and their baby oil covered performance was a hit with the crowd too, with the event raising over £3000 for charity with the help of profit matching from Santander Universities. Looking to the future, the committee have just held their AGM, with Jonny Hall and Jack Green taking
“I’m so proud of everything RAG have achieved this year, we’ve managed to raise a lot of money for some fantastic charities” year had over 80 people attend casting sessions, which were narrowed down to
over the reigns as Co-Presidents for 2017/18. Additionally, RAG have been shortlisted for three awards at the upcoming Celebrating Success Awards at NUSU; Most Improved Society, Best Fundraising Event and Best Society Collaboration. RAG have also been shortlisted at the National Society Awards for Best Fundraising and Volunteering Society and Most Improved Society. Commenting on the year, CoPresident Harry Young said: “I’m so proud of everything RAG have achieved this year, we’ve managed to raise a lot of money for some fantastic charities. A big thanks to everybody that has attended our events”.
2.
News thecourieronline.co.uk/news
NEWS
5 6
Students raise a glass for Teachers at TEAs
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Deputy Editors Ollie Burton & Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson, Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall Kotryna Kairytė & Helena Vesty
Tuition fee increase agreed
Ollie Burton previews the Student Media Awards
COMMENT
11
Thoughts on the General Election
CULTURE
12 13 20 23 24 29
League of Library Lunches
Blind date: When Ana met Lochy Shia LaBeouf just DOES IT Faking it to Making it NUTV on tour
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
Graduates will leave University with more debt than ever before Image: Sakeeb Sabakka @ Flickr
By Errol Kerr The Government has recently rushed through the Higher Education and Research Bill, meaning that Universities are able to increase tuition fees annually until 2020. Initially, tuition fees were designed to increase based upon each university’s teaching standards, which, in itself, has been noted as controversial. The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is an optional initiative, allowing for institutions taking part in TEF Year One (TEF1) and TEF Year 2 (TEF2) to begin increasing their fees. However, NUSU Education Officer Chris Duddy has noted that “all universities who took part in TEF1, and those that intend to take part in this year’s TEF2, have been guaranteed that they will “meet expectations” if they take part in the initiative. I personally do not see how a measure of excellence can be
NUSU, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940
The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. It’s never too late to get involved in the paper, whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer. Just visit thecourieronline.co.uk/getinvolved for more information.
awarded automatically.” Due to the controversy of the TEF, it is now under review, meaning that this part of the legislation has been delayed. Due to this, universities are able to hike up tuition fees annually based on inflation, regardless of tuition quality and standards, until 2020, when the TEF is introduced. This comes merely weeks after an announcement stating that due to the UK triggering Article 50 and leaving the European Union, a rise in inflation could lead to interest on student loans rising to 6.1%, almost a third higher than prior to the EU referendum. Under current rulings, graduates are
to be charged interest on their loans using RPI – 3% of their annual earnings plus up to 3% depending on their earnings, meaning that a graduate earning under £21,000 will be on a lower interest rate of 3.1%, and those earning more than £41,000 will be on the full interest rate of 6.1%. Fears had initially existed that this bill could lead to further privatisation of higher education, and a shift towards profit rather than education within current UK institutions, due to a section of legislation in which all institutions are granted these powers, rather than having to wait four years. The bill has been amended thoroughly, however, and the Office for Students must request “advice” prior to awarding any institutions with the ability to grant
“Implementation of this legislation will “seriously risk damaging the global reputation of our universities”
Editor Jade Holroyd Deputy Editors Ollie Burton and Daniel Robertson News Editors Liam Carson Valentina Egorova, Louise Hall, Kotryna Kairytė and Helena Vesty Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad Corkett-Beirne and Sunil Nambiar Culture Editors Jack Oliver Parker and James McCoull Lifestyle Editors Ana Beretsos, Antonia Coleman-Harvey, Ruth Loeffler and Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward Fashion Editors Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins and Zofia Zwieglinska Beauty Editors Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent and Ellen Walker Arts Editors Johnathan Hastings, Meg Holtom and Tamsin Rees Music Editors Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj and Ben Grundy Film Editors Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden and Simon Ramshaw TV Editors Luke Acton, Dominic Corrigan and Alison Scurfield Gaming Editors Errol Kerr, Jared Moore and Jordan Oloman Science Editors Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer and Ciara RitsonCourtney Sports Editors Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin and James Sproston
degree certifications. The General Secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, feels that the implementation of this legislation will “seriously risk damaging the global reputation of our universities.” Hunt writes in a Huffington Post UK blog that this legislation “will simply become a box-ticking exercise on the way to achieving the high-stakes fee regime which the government desires.” In spite of this, the President of Universities UK, Dame Julia Goodfellow, had a more positive slant on the implementation of the bill. Commenting that it could provide “stability at a time of great uncertainty”, the final bill had been “significantly improved” due to the engagement of MPs, peers and government officials. In spite of this, student and academic populations are in uproar, with frequent use of the hashtag #HEBill alongside their comments to centralise their dissent.
The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
The Courier
news .3
Monday 8 May 2017
Students eager for General Election By Elizabeth Steele A recent study has found that UK students are welcoming the forthcoming General Election, as they believe the current government does not pay enough attention to the views of young people. The Student Room surveyed more than 1,000 students after Theresa May announced the snap election last month. The survey found that 72 per cent of respondents felt positive about the Prime Minister’s decision to hold an earlier election. This seems to stem from the fact that many students are unhappy with the current a d m i n i s t r at i o n . 80 per cent of those surveyed felt that the current government does not personally represent them. The survey also found that the most popular party amongst students is the Labour party - 42 per cent said that they were planning on voting Labour. This is compared to 27 per cent who intend to vote for the Conservatives, and 16 per cent for the Liberal Democrats. This finding reflects similar results from the 2015 General Election, where 43 per cent of 18-24 year olds voted Labour, compared to the 27 per cent who voted Conservative. With over a month to go until the election, surveys such as this reveal
where politicians might be falling short in their campaign - and where they could improve in order to win over the youth vote. The director of community at The Student Room was quoted by TimesHigherEducation as saying: “This will help shape manifestos to match the genuine need of young people, bucking the trend that politicians don’t care about their opinions.” Government figures show that more that 177,000 people under the age of 25 registered to vote in the week following May’s election announcement. Whether this translates into actual votes remains to be seen. The under-25 turnout is almost always outshone by older demographics. In 2015, the voter turnout of the over 65s was almost double that of the 18-24s. Following a tumultuous political year, not least defined by Brexit, young people have more cause than ever to make their voices heard. One Newcastle University Media said that the UK’s exit from the EU weighed heavily in her decision, as she intends to vote for pro-EU candidates who will “keep the Conservatives in line” during the Brexit negotiations. Meanwhile, a Psychology student at the university told The Courier: “In the wake of the EU Referendum, I feel that Theresa May is a better leader than Jeremy Corbyn, especially for getting through Brexit.”
“80 per cent of those surveyed felt that the current government does not personally represent them”
Students campaigning Image: Adam Scotti @ Flickr
Equipment sharing database launched in North East By Liam Carson News Editor A new equipment sharing database has been created to promote connectivity, efficiency and the sharing of publicly funded research assets, amongst eight of the North of England’s largest universities. The N8 Equipment sharing database is a project that will allow northern universities to share equipment; a move which is hoped will enable universities to save significant time and money. The database is an online programme which the universities of Newcastle, Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and York will all have access to. These universities are regarded as the ‘region’s most research intensive universities.’ Updates to the database will be daily and the search facility it supplies will be freely accessible to anyone, which includes funding bodies, researchers, research managers and policy makers. The system will use a very simple three tiered system. This will begin with categories of ‘Class’, ‘Order’ and ‘Genus’, which will classify the equipment by its primary research function. This simplifies the system to a level on which it can be browsed using merely key words. The results can be further specified and refined by pinpointing the equipment’s location, for example or even by a
classification term. All equipment included in the database will have contact details alongside it, in order to ease the process of any subsequent external use of the equipment. The facilities of the universities will also be listed alongside the equipment in order to provide information about the technology, expertise and important university contacts. This will allow those who require a service rather than a specific piece of equipment to also gain some benefit from the database. Dr Nick Goldspink, N8 project manager, who has been leading the initiative, said: “This is a massive boost to academics and to Northern industry, which will save money, boost efficiency and aid research. “It is unique in the region and demonstrates the strength of N8’s commitment to promote the sharing of publicly-funded research assets. “Each university has provided a comprehensive list of all the equipment it feels other universities will benefit from. It is a fully searchable online database. It can be used to locate and request access to research equipment and facilities across the partnership.” The Horiba Raman Spectrometer at LabRAM in Newcastle University, a confocal microscope, which allows the user to obtain the most detailed of images and to construct analyses with great speed and confidence, is just one of the many facilities that Newcastle University has already put forward for the database.
“It is a fully searchable online database”
Newcastle University campus Image: Sarah Cossom
4. news
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
‘Safer Partying’ film launched by City Council By Isabel Sykes On Tuesday 25 April, Newcastle City Council hosted the official launch of their Safer Partying film at the Council Chamber, Newcastle Civic Centre. The film, made up of several shorter videos, shows the possible dangerous consequences of hosting out-of-control parties in student houses. The film is the result of a collaboration between Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service, and North East Ambulance Service. The film uses student actors and depicts six dangerous house party scenarios. These include a fire breaking out while the windows and doors of the house are blocked, the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, a sexual assault, a drugs arrest, and a fatality. The videos are aimed at second year students who have left university halls and are hosting large-scale parties in private rented housing, with Jesmond being the main problematic area. Nick Kemp, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation, spoke of the rising concerns that contributed to this project. He said: “We all know that students like to have a good time and party but we are increasingly concerned about the nature of some parties.” “They are being held in terraced houses and attracting hundreds of students through social media. Add to that large amounts of alcohol, drugs and doorways blocked with settees, mattresses
and furniture and we have potentially a very dangerous situation. “These videos are designed to show the consequences of what can go wrong. We want students to watch them and think twice about their behaviour so they don’t put themselves and others at risk.”
“We all know that students like to have a good time and party but we are increasingly concerned about the nature of some parties” The fears for student safety that motivated The Safer Partying Film are compounded by the increasing frustrations of local residents. In November 2016, The Courier reported increasing tensions between students and residents in popular student areas such as Jesmond. Recurring issues were noise complaints, overturned bins, and reports of anti-social behaviour. Reports show that in the two-month period from September to November 2016, the University had already dealt
with noise complaints involving 401 students from 84 different properties. More recently, a post on ChronicleLive from the 28th of April this year displayed photographs of destruction on a street in Jesmond following an outof-control party. It reported that gatherings like these are “making Jesmond residents’ lives hell”. The Safer Partying film aims to make students aware of the dangers of hosting large-scale house parties and encourage safe and responsible behaviour. Northumbria Police’s Chief Superintendent Neil Hutchison expressed his views: “We don’t want to be seen as the fun police but students need to recognise that lives are being put at risk. Alcohol, drugs, loud music and hundreds of party goers is a recipe for disaster. “It can only be a matter of time before we are talking about a tragedy and this video is about educating people in how to enjoy parties in a safe and responsible manner while showing respect to the local communities in which they live.” Newcastle City Council, along with several authoratitive bodies across the city, are set to share the videos on their social media channels. The Council believes that this is the most effective way to reach students and achieve the greatest impact on the target audience. Both Newcastle University and Newcastle University Students’ Union have stated that they support the larger messages behind the film.
Local Jesmond residences Image: Trevor Littlewood @ Geograph
The Courier
news .5
Monday 8 May2017
Students raise a glass for teachers at TEA’s By Jade Holroyd Editor Last Thursday Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) hosted its annual Teaching Excellence Awards. NUSU Education Officer, Christopher Duddy, organised and hosted the event which was held at Venue at the Students’ Union. The event celebrated the exceptional work of Newcastle University staff who have exceeded e x p e c t at i o n s in terms of enhancing the academic student experience. Commenting on the event, Christopher Duddy said: “Not only did we receive more nominations than ever before, but the detail and quality of each nomination was astounding. It made the shortlisting process both a difficult and daunting task, but being able to see the delight on the winners faces last night made the hard work more than worth it! “We’ve had fantastic support from students and staff from all of our University’s campuses, and we are delighted that the TEAs have been able to recognise fantastic practice across both regional and national boundaries. It is our students who have nominated and shortlisted the excellent entries that we’ve received and I really want to thank them for their support.”
The Newcastle University Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards Winners 2017 are: Taught Supervisor of the Year - Dr Adél Pásztor (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology); Research Supervisor of the Year - Dr Luca Panzone (School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development); Outstanding Contribution to Teaching (Humanities and Social Sciences) - Professor Rachel Woodward (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology); Outstanding Contribution to Teaching (Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering) - Dr Alison Graham (School of Biology); Outstanding Contribution to Teaching (Faculty of Medical Sciences) - Dr Laura Delgaty (School of Medical Education); Outstanding Contribution to Teaching (Global Campuses) - Dr Kenneth McKeegan (NUMed); Professional Services Staff Member of the Year - Mr Michael Percival (School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials); Postgraduate Student Who Teaches of the Year - Mr Benjamin Coulson (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology); Outstanding Contribution to Pastoral Support - Dr David Walker (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology); Outstanding Contribution to Feedback - Mr Simon Hacker (School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape); Outstanding Contribution to Innovation - Dr Eleanor Holmes (School of Medical Education).
“Not only did we recieve more nominations than ever before, but the detail and quality of each nomination was astounding”
Students and academics celebrate at 2016 TEA Awards Image: NUSU
Indonesian celebration sweeps campus By Ollie Burton This past Thursday, the university quad bore witness to the fourth annual Discover Indonesia campaign exhibition, run by a collaboration of Indonesian Society students from both Newcastle and Northumbria. Neysa, co-director of the joint society efforts and a second year Interior Architecture student from Northumbria University, said that the ultimate goal was to “show the international community about the beauty and culture of Indonesia.” As the world’s largest archipelago
made up of more than 17000 discrete islands, the country boasts a wealth of beautiful natural scenery and a rich collection of distinct cultural practices, including styles of cooking associated with individual islands. Neysa estimated that there were approximately 200 Indonesian students in the area, from undergraduate through to PhD level, many of whom are residing in the UK on full academic scholarships. A variety of stalls were available for passers-by to engage with, including a small market selling a range of Indonesian foods, and another exhibiting a traditional cracker-eating game, known
as ‘lomba kerupuk’, wherein a cracker is suspended above your head on a string and you must attempt to consume it without using your hands. Students were also encouraged to try and pin on a map where they thought Indonesia was geographically located (often to very limited success). Additionally, a small band of students played Indonesian street music for passers-by. The event is run by two crews of 35 students from Newcastle and Northumbria, and culminated in a traditional performance on Sunday night at Domain, in Northumbria students’ union.
The indonesian festival in full swing Image: Ollie Burton
6.news
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
NUSU’s Media awards to celebrate creative students By Ollie Burton This next Thursday will see Venue host the eighth annual Student Media awards here at Newcastle University, to celebrate the accomplishments of students that volunteer their time and energy to produce entertaining and engaging content for their fellows. A range of prizes will be awarded across the Union’s media ventures, including The Courier, NSR and NUTV. Hundreds of students are involved each and every week and the awards evening serves as a fantastic platform for recognising their hard work. Mark Sleightholm, winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Student Media award and Press Association Prize for Excellence at last year’s ceremony said ‘The Media Awards are the perfect way to celebrate everyone’s contributions to student media, and I was honoured to be able to present well-deserved awards to such Courier legends as Calum Wilson and Dan Robertson at last year’s awards. I was also delighted to win the outstanding contribution to student journalism award and the Press Association’s Prize for
Excellence; that was a very special moment in my time with The Courier. Of course involvement with student media is rewarding in itself, but it’s always nice to have a party!’ The event will take place at 7pm Thursday 11 May in Venue. Tickets are available from the NUSU website at £2 each and are available to anyone, regardless of your involvement with student media. Tickets will also be availiable on the door. Two Courier alumni will be giving speeches at the event. Gemma Davies Editor of The Courier from 2007 to 2008. Gemma will be talking about her career at Sky and her new role starting this month at the production company Engage Sports Media. Also speaking at the event will be 2009/10 Editor of The Courier, David Coverdale. David currently works for The Sun as their North-East football reporter. Speaking about the event current Editor, Jade Holroyd, said: “I’m extremely excited for the Media Awards. We’ve had a fantastic year in terms of media this year, with The Courier, NUTV (formerly TCTV) and Newcastle Student Radio (NSR), all growing to new heights”.
“Hundreds of students are involved in student media each and every week and the awards evening serves as a fantastic platform for recognising their hard work”
2015/16 Editor, Victoria Armstrong at the 2016 Media Awards Image: NUSU
The Courier
news .7
Monday 8 May 2017
Student’s climb to the top in local charity project By Yoana Cholteeva Two Newcastle University students, Will Thompson and Oliver Grady have been using their passion for sport to incite positive change throughout the community. Through climbing activities they are helping to fundraise for two charity organizations, doing research into cancer therapy and SADS (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.) SADS can cause cardiac arrest by bringing on a ‘ventricular arrhythmia’, a disturbance in the hearts rhythm, even through the structure of the heart is intact. The students were moved by the loss of a close friend - Alex Wardle, who sadly passed away last year as a result of the same condition, have set themselves the goal of climbing 1km indoors for the charities, to raise money and awareness for this cause. On 11th June 2017 the duo will attempt to climb the height of 1000 meters indoors at Sunderland wall, in support of ‘Climbers against Cancer’ and ‘The Alex Wardle Foundation’. The task requires a 10- hour continuous climbing throughout the day with very few breaks and they have been training for the event since the end of January. The height is equivalent to the Dawn Wall route in Yosemite National Park
in USA, which has been climbed only twice. Will Thompson shared with The Courier: “I have been involved in a charity run event before, but this feels more personal. Alex was into sports like rugby and the gym and a sporting charity event is just the best way to remember him, I suppose.” In honor of Alex, his parents and friends have organized and currently support ‘The Alex Wardle Foundation’, created to spread awareness of the disease in hope that screening for cardiac abnormalities prevents further deaths from SADs. ‘Climbers Against Cancer’ was set up in 2012 by the climber John Ellison with the aim of uniting the climbing community to raise funds to combat cancer, and since then has become an internationally known charity among the climbing community for research into cancer therapy. Besides supporting the team on June 11, the boys encourage people to take the opportunity to make donations through the two web pages ‘The Alex Wardle Foundation’ and ‘Climbers Against Cancer’. The students also shared with us that the wall manager in Sunderland has promised to donate £50 if they complete the climb. Will and Oliver have even created another page on JustGiving to promote the cause, where except donations they are getting encouraging feedback as well.
“The duo will attempt to climb the height of 1000 meters indoors at Sunderland wall, in support of Climbers against Cancer and The Alex Wardle Foundation”
Support climbers Image: tiziano deromedi @ Flickr
New Buisness School Director appointed By Louise Hall
Newcastle Universtiy Buisness School Image: Andrew Curtis @ Geograph
Professor Sharon Mavin has recently been appointed as the new Director of Newcastle University’s Buisness School. While currently the Director of the Business School at the University of Roehampton the Professor will be transferring to Newcastle University as the new academic year commences in September 2017. Mavin, an international scholar in gender, leadership and organization studies and Fellow of the British Academy of Management will be acting as chair of the Chartered Association of Business School’s Diversity Committee and the University Forum for Human Resources and Development in the coming year. Mavin is particularly qualified for the role, having previously been employed as a former Dean and Associate Dean of Research at Northumbria University’s Business School. In these roles the Professor has made a significant contribution to business engagement, research capacity and securing international and professional accreditations in both of her previous leadership roles. Professor Mavin commented: “I am delighted to be joining a world-class civic University and leading the Business School at such an exciting time in its development. “I’m looking forward to working with colleagues to build on the Business School’s success in academic excellence, innovation and in developing openminded and socially responsible graduates.
“I am thrilled to be working with colleagues and organisations in the region where the Business School is at the forefront of positive economic and societal impact, as well as enhancing our exceptional global reach.” Being one of the 21 Triple Accredited Business Schools in the UK Newcastle’s Business school has a strong trackrecord for world-leading research and teaching in the fields of entrepreneurship and sustainability, business history, economics, workforce demographics, and industrial logistics. The addition of Professor Mavin to the Business School’s team is expected to help the University maintain and add to these impressive merits. Mavin is also currently leading an evaluation project of the international Board Apprentice scheme which aims to increase diversity on company boards. Professor Julie Sanders, Pro-ViceChancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University, added: “We are really excited that Sharon is joining us. She brings with her integrity with ambition and an impressive commitment to equality and diversity both in her practice and her research. “She shares our commitment to aspirational values that are grounded in social responsibility. Under Sharon’s leadership and guidance Newcastle University Business School has a very bright future.”
news .9
NEWSTACK Cambridge
Encouraging black applicants The Cambridge University AfroCaribbean Society has shared an image of its members, outside the University, in an attempt to encourage more black youngsters to apply to join the University. Just over 1% of those accepted by Cambridge University during the 2015/16 academic year defined themselves as black - 38 out of 3,449. The picture, which was taken outside the famous St Johns College, has since gone viral receiving more than 2,000 likes on Facebook and has been shared across social networks by celebrities such as Stormzy.
Folajimi Babasola, 20, an engineering student at the University, who is also in the photo said: “The aim of the picture was really to encourage more black students to apply here because many people get discouraged by a particular image or stereotype of a Cambridge student that they have in their mind, thinking that they won’t fit in or be accepted.” While being one of 27 universities part of the Race Equality Charter (REC), Cambridge only applied in March for the REC Bronze award – an award which demonstrates a ‘solid foundation for eliminating racial inequalities and developing an inclusive culture.’
Coventry
Sink defecation
The University of Coventry has begun an inquisition into the discovery of human faeces, in the sink of a student accommodation block. Images of the sizeable droppings have been posted upon the doors of the accommodation block alongside notices, which describe the incident as ‘absolutely disgusting’. The affected block has not been named and as of yet, the mystery defecator has not been identified.
In a statement following the incident, the University stated: ‘The vast majority of our students behave in a respectful and considerate manner both on and off campus.’ ‘We do not tolerate anti-social behaviour and will take appropriate action after investigating this incident.’ The investigation has since been handed to the University’s residence team.
Reading
Wrong exam papers leave students fuming The University of Reading has been left red-faced after handing out the wrong exam paper to students. Students were left fuming when it was noticed that the papers being handed out were from the previous year, just with the date changed. The papers included topics that had been on a previous syllabus, so as chaos ensued, a mass walkout was triggered. One student stated: ‘I am disappointed that an administrative error may be responsible for negatively impacting my grades and may have hindered my chances of achieving the classification I
feel I deserve.’ ‘Also, knowing that I have paid tens of thousands of pounds in tuition fees just rubs salt in the wound.’ Students siting the exam were studying Speech and Language Pathology at the University, as part of their final year module. In response to the error, Professor Laurie Butler, Head of the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at the university said: ‘Upon realising the mistake, we immediately apologised to those students affected for the distress and confusion caused.’
Aberdeen
Granite city to Doha
The University of Aberdeen has opened its first campus in Qatar with courses set to commence this autumn. The multi-million pound campus in Doha is in partnership with the AlFaleh Group for Educational and Academical services (AFG) and is set to offer mainly business degrees. The University is only set to offer around 120 students in its first year however, there are plans to expand the course offerings to include science, technology, engineering and maths degrees.
University principal professor Sir Ian Diamond said: “The opening of the university’s campus in Qatar is a significant milestone in our history, and I am proud to be working alongside our partners AFG to increase educational opportunities for Qatari citizens. “In the years to come we hope to expand the range of opportunities available for students, so that as many people as possible can benefit from the worldclass educational experience for which the university is renowned.”
By Liam Carson News Editor
10.
Comment
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Sinéad CorkettBeirne & Sunil Nambiar courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment
Trumpduggery: 100 Days Class divides, as ever
Errol Kerr lays down the law on Trump’s presidency Kelly South shows how not all students have silver spoons
S
o. Donald. It’s been a hundred days already, I know it’s flown by, what with all your stress. I know it’s been so important for you to take breaks to go golfing, and I can only imagine how that White House must be – it must be so claustrophobic and lacking gold, so I can’t blame you at all for wanting to head back to your holiday home. But, I’m just going to have a look at what you’ve accomplished already, double-check if our fears about you were justified!
“Are you going to bomb North Korea or what?’’ I mean, right. Let’s look at your pledges. You’ve not managed to build that wall on the Mexican border and according to the Washington Post, you’ve had to delay funding from the construction until September to avoid the Government shutting down. You have placed a travel ban on Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya… oh no, wait, that was rejected the first time. Your second executive order for this also, well, flopped. It seems like you’ve forgotten that people are actually pretty vocal about politics. Mind you, I’ve got to give you credit, you seem to have managed to fuck with the Affordable Care Act, known affectionately (mainly by Republicans as an insult) as Obamacare, enough that anyone with “pre-existing conditions” – we call them disabilities and chronic illnesses in places where your life isn’t based on insurance – are royally screwed. Mind you, we can buy guns again, which is wonderful, except w h e n you consider that that might just up suicide rates. Oh, and again I must commend you on signing off reversing d i s t r i but i ng funds to P l a n n e d Parenthood. Seeing as it’s one of the few legislative
things you’ve actually managed to do, you just had to go and sign it off in private, didn’t you? Your international relations, looking at what you think of Mexico and of the Middle East, are certainly…reclusive. It’s 2017, not 1917, just a quick hint. Withdrawing from TPP in order to promote “American jobs” will do great for your economy, I’m sure. Also, are you going to bomb North Korea or what? I’m really confused as to whether you’re actually going to start the thermonuclear apocalypse, and the psychological distress I’m facing at the possibility of it is probably going to give me more health problems than the radiation. Not only that, but China are kind of worried. And I don’t think making the Chinese concerned is going to do you very well – you’ve already done enough trying to tell them they’re messing around with
“It seems like you’ve forgotten that people are actually pretty vocal about politics’’ global currencies. Just a thought – you’re considering leaving the United Nations? Let me tell you, as a UK citizen, leaving a large group of international proportions doesn’t really do you any favours. Believe me. As it stands, you’ve not really… done much these past 100 days, Donald. All of those pledges, all of those promises. All you’ve really done is scare the hell out of us. But you’ve genuinely got us thinking as to whether you’re going to go ahead with it. You certainly seem like you want to.
I
f you ask any working class students if their class plays a role in the opportunities they’ve had up to now, and if they expect it to affect their chances in future - when applying for internships, graduate roles, and even their choices when finding homes and planning families - they will answer with a resounding ‘yes, obviously’. Many middle class students are likely to admit they’ve never thought much about it. What do you mean not everyone has a driving license, not everyone has holidays abroad several times a year, not everyone was encouraged to go on exchanges or trips in secondary school, what do you mean ‘the bank of Mum and Dad’ isn’t ever available to some of us?
‘‘There are countless remarkable ... students who will never receive [the same] opportunties” In the UK a third of our MPs attended fee-paying schools, but only a slim fraction of the general population are privately educated. Government policies clearly reveal a misunderstanding of the needs of the working class, even a bias against us. The Conservative party is actively hostile to those born without a silver spoon: benefit cuts in the name of austerity has been proven to lead to the suffering and death of chronically ill and disabled citizens (if you’re at all sceptical about this, I suggest
you Google #CripTheVote during this upcoming election). The elimination of student grants means that for thousands of young people we have to choose between a terrifyingly high amount of debt, that we might never be able to afford to pay off, or not entering further education at all. There are countless remarkable, hard-working, insightful students who will never receive a fraction of the opportunities or praise lauded upon their middle class peers.
‘‘A third of our MPs attended feepaying schools” We can’t afford the best clothes for interviews without borrowing money from more fortunate friends or maxing out our overdrafts, our fathers aren’t connected to business leaders, our mothers couldn’t drive us to open days let alone provide us with the funds to learn to drive ourselves. It shouldn’t be this way, the socio-economic status of our relatives shouldn’t prescribe a difficult life for working class students and a glistening life for middle class ones, but ultimately it does. Claiming otherwise would be ignoring facts, and insulting.
Uber: Privatising gains, socialising ethical disasters Jordan Scudder addresses the malpractice of the Uber car company, and how they’re profiting from vulture tactics
T
ransportation company Uber has been making multiple headlines in recent weeks and not in a good way. The San Francisco based tech firm has been under heavy fire for a multitude of reasons. Some of these have been ongoing issues with regards to paying its drivers, which they only refer to as “contractors” to utilize legal loopholes on workers’ rights, pay and hours. In February, an investigation was launched when a former engineering came forward allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination and more. She also claimed her complaints were repeatedly dismissed by management and she was threatened when she tried to raise concerns. Only 3% of the company’s workforce is women, though they refuse to disclose more statistics. The CEO has also previously faced backlash over his sexist remarks when he reported made a joke about “women on demand” and calling them “Boob-ers”. Per surveys, 60% of women in Silicon Valley say they experience sexual harassment. In march a group of Uber executives left the
company. Uber President Jeff Jones left his post after just six months in the job. Top engineering executive Amit Singhal left just a few weeks before after only five weeks on the job. The same week the Vice President of Product & Growth resigned, and their top Security Researcher also left to join a Chinese competitor.
‘‘60% of women in Silicon Valley say they experience sexual harrassment” Things then got worse when, in Seattle, a firstin-the-country law allowing drivers of companies such as Uber and its competition Lyft to unionize over their pay, conditions and lack of rights. In response Uber is threatening to leave the city if it cannot stop the election. However, many of theirs are reportedly hoping they do so., with many reporting they are required to work twice as many hours for Uber as would for a traditional taxi company, to bring home the same amount.
Uber has then been accused of dirty tactics to try and get this bill overturned. They apparently have a pattern of turning on surge pricing during the hours that the union is holding meetings for drivers, even when demand is low. More bizarrely, they have also been offering their drivers free fried chicken right before union meetings. However, Uber has denied that these incentives for drivers were timed to coincide with such activities.
‘‘Waymo are alleging that Mr Levandowski downloaded and stole 14,000 documents from their secure servers...” The beginning of April saw the app become banned entirely in Italy. A court in Rome ruled that the company contributed to traditional taxis facing unfair competition. They were then threatened with a 10,000 euro fine for each day they defied the ruling.
The company has then been accused of stealing technology from Google’s self-driving car company, Waymo. The lawsuit centers around LiDAR, the system of lasers that autonomous cars use to see their surroundings and Anthony Levandowski, a Google engineer and prominent figure in the field of autonomous vehicles. Anthony left Google in 2016 to found Otto, which was then acquired by Uber. He was then promoted to head of Uber’s selfdriving car program. Waymo are alleging are that Mr. Levandowski downloaded and stole 14,000 documents from their secure servers before he left the company. It is also said that he held secret meetings with Uber months in advance of his departure. If the injunction goes through, then Uber will be forced to stop development of their vehicles. This would be fatal for Uber, as they are desperate in their endeavor to commercialize selfdriving vehicles to increase their profits. It is evident the company is currently in stormy seas, but the question is, can the company endure, or is it too late for this sinking ship?
Benjamin Eckford
The Courier
T
heresa May has based her campaign on a fundamentally wrong assumption. Starting the campaign so far ahead in the polls, she assumed that the people loved her and despised Jeremy Corbyn, therefore all she had to do was call the election and the voters would take care of themselves. Her campaign has been a disaster so far.
‘‘Tory support is very hollow and fleeting” If the voters truly hate one thing, it’s complacency. Her decision to eschew the TV debates was ample proof of this. Instead of engaging with the opposition party leaders and setting out her government’s position on a wide variety of issues that matter to voters, like the NHS, wages and living standards, she has tried to remain above the nitty-gritty of actual campaigning. Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, is a born campaigner. He has looked at his strongest during the two leadership campaigns he has fought. In between then, he has looked sub-par. Now though, with an election
Scott Houghton
imminent, he has thrown himself into what he does best. It is no surprise therefore that Labour has already cut the Tory poll lead by 10 points. As Sean O’Grady wrote in The Independent last Monday, May is trying to fight a Thatcherite campaign, purely on the issues of Brexit and leadership. And she is fighting even that pitifully narrow campaign in a lazy and incompetent manner.
between her and Corbyn. She wishes to appear as strong and decisive, will defeat the terrorists and will be tough in negotiation with the EU. She has over-used the phrase ‘strong and stable leadership’ so much it has been parodied and ridiculed. But in refusing to debate Corbyn, she appears as though she is scared of facing him and the other opposition party leaders.
‘‘In refusing to debate Corbyn, [May] appears as though she is scared of facing him and the other opposition party leaders’’
‘‘Politicians... should be in contact with the public as much as possible”
The voters want a wider debate, and May is handing voters to Labour on a plate. The Tories have been consistently and strongly ahead in the polls since May 2015. But that support was insubstantially based. It was not premised on any love of the Tory party, but only Labour’s failure to capitalise on the government’s repeated mistakes. Now that the issue is really being to the voters, we’re finding out that Tory support is very hollow and fleeting. The TV debates are the strongest example of her flawed strategy. From the day she ascended to the top job, she has sought to portray the contrast
Like Gordon Brown in 2010 and David Cameron in 2015, the incumbent prime minister should be expected to defend their record in public debate. Debates are good for engagement, and therefore good for democracy. Politicians, particularly party leaders, should be in contact with the public as much as possible, especially in an election. The reason May doesn’t want to debate is she knows she will not appear strong compared to Corbyn, because she is no stronger than him, and her poor record as PM will crumble under the spotlights.
THE SN AP GENERAL --
theSTUDENT PERSPECTIVE
I
comment .11
Monday 8 May 2017
ELECTION 2017 Scott Houghton and Benjamin Eckford give us their thoughts on the current snap general election initiated by PM May last month
t has only been two years since the last General Election in 2015. Now there’s already another despite Theresa May’s insistence on ‘stability’ in the hours after winning the Tory leadership. That makes it four years in a row that we’re faced with an election or referendum. Firstly, we had the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, followed by the 2015 General Election, then the EU referendum last year, and now another General Election. Who knows we might even have another Scottish independence referendum soon too not even counting all the nail-biting local elections. Even aside from UK politics we’ve had the tumultuous elections in the United States, The Netherlands, Austria, the Italian Referendum, and now French and German presidential elections this year. And even then, that’s not the least of our worries when you look a t what’s happening in Syria and Iraq, or Venezuela, Ukraine, and North Korea.
‘‘Another election is the exact opposite of ‘strong and stable’” Indeed, as the famous viral Bristollian, Brenda made clear in an interview with BBC News: “You’re joking,” she exclaimed. “Not another one. Oh, for God’s sake. Honestly, I can’t stand this. There is too much politics going on at the moment. Why does she need to do it?”. I think this sums up the mood for many people. We’ve been inundated with political and geopolitical concerns for years now, however for good reason. They’re becoming ever more serious and worrying; making some of our own problems pale in comparison. That’s what makes the decision to call another election even more self-interested and needless. What the UK needs now is ‘strong and stable’ government, but if only the people who were proclaiming it so much actually did it. Theresa May wants an election so that she can boost her majority whilst Labour are low in the polls, thinking that it will boost her negotiating strategy with the EU (it won’t) and having a mandate to implement some her own policies. This makes little sense to delay two
SOAPBOX COMMENT’S HOME OF WEEKLY RANTS
VOTE FOR TOMORROW
L
Alexandra Sadler
et’s be honest, the youth vote is dismal - we exercise our right to not vote while neither knowing who to vote for, or why we need to vote. However, just because our age group is less likely to vote, it doesn’t mean that our vote is any less important. Remember, it is our generation that will grow up with the impact of successive governments and referendum results - voting is of special relevance to us. Many of us turn to online platforms, such as social media, to show our support for, or opposition to, policies and announcements. Stating that ‘millenials’, and young people in general, are completely disinterested in what is going on around us is untrue, but knowledge about who to vote for doesn’t just fall into our laps either. There are plenty of sites online that summarise candidates and parties’ policies, and many more that suggest who your views best align with, simply by answering a few questions. Yes, you could exercise your right not to vote, but ultimately it’s our decisions and our votes that will have a resounding impact upon our futures. It’s in your hands.
BI-ERASURE
months of negotiations with the EU for the sake of her own party, where she’s putting her party’s short-term goals ahead of the long-term prospects of the country. David Cameron won the 2015 General Election on that manifesto, Theresa May should stick to it and continue with the EU negotiations. Calling another General Election is the exact opposite of ‘strong and stable’ now. In fact, it is the opposite.
‘‘Four years in a row that we’re faced with an election or referendum”
Even as a politics obsessive I’m demoralised by the decision. One, because it seems obvious Labour are going to take a beating, but as well by the decision to hold one given the precariousness of global politics at the moment. Any true ‘strong and stable’ leader would continue as steadfastly with the EU negotiations as Theresa May is so steadfastly hiding from the public.
B
Georgia Corbett
isexuality: a word meaning sexual and romantic interest in two or more genders. Simple enough right? You would think. If I got a penny every time I told someone I was bisexual and they immediately assumed they knew something deep about my sexual patterns, promiscuity or my ‘greed’ I don’t think I would need to be at University. Bisexual men are considered weaker, or to be gay men that are too afraid to come out and say it – yet, to be gay is more ‘ACCEPTABLE’ among both the hetero- and homosexual communities… so something doesn’t quite add up, right? Same again with bisexual women, aren’t we just doing it to appeal to men? Or maybe it is my appearance! I am not attractive enough to just go for men so I must expand my pool or something like that. Ignoring completely that some lesbians and straight men alike detest me for my ‘choice’ that was never a choice to begin with. Sexuality is a beautiful spectrum and I personally wouldn’t change a thing.
A STEP TOO FARRON
I
Greg Rosenvinge
t’s safe to say that Tim Farron has had a tumultuous few weeks. He’s managed to rubbish all of his liberal credentials. Firstly, there was the clash of his Christian views towards homosexuality against his liberal views of inclusion and diversity. By failing to answer whether being gay, and then later gay sex, was a sin (until he rather belatedly did so when the damage was already done), a ill-thought hypocrisy was painted of him: how could a man mark himself as a progressive and promote liberal politics if he refused to accept people’s freedom to have sex with who they want? Then he added fuel to the fire by recently branding himself as a Eurosceptic, in a clear contrived attempt to win over Leave voters even if it completely undermines his party’s staunch pro-Remain stance. The Lib Dems had prided themselves as the one party clear in their direction come June 8th - so much for that.
12.
Culture thecourieronline.co.uk/culture
The return
Foody Foddy
Emma Foddy is back, reviewing new restaurant Arta SM!
A
rta SM has recently opened in Byker (I know, I know, but please keep reading). It is a Middle Eastern restaurant not far from Byker metro. I want to say it’s on the high street but just know it’s on a road with lots of shops and you can’t miss it because the front of the restaurant is glaringly orange. I went there for lunch the week it opened not knowing what to expect, but it was B-E-A-UTIFUL. The restaurant itself is decorated quite plainly but has a friendly atmosphere and there are pretty mosaic lampshades dotted about. As you walk in you pass the counter where all the food is displayed, giving the place a slight deli feel. In the corner there is a rotating spit - I googled this to see if I could find a more appealing way to describe it but the only thing that came up was ‘vertical rotisserie’. Personally I feel this is a bit of a fancy pants way to be talking about kebab meat (not that I have anything against kebabs, believe you me). The menu offers an impressive variety of hot and cold mezzes, grilled dishes (including the Emperor Mixed Grill – I vow to try this one day), Lebanese wraps and meals consisting of lamb or chicken, rice and Middle Eastern spices. When I went, I had a wrap which was absolutely delightful – succulent pieces of lamb along with onion, herbs, fancy spices and garlic sauce wrapped in warm freshly baked Lebanese bread. I wasn’t even in the mood for a wrap at the time but I ordered it because it was only £3.50 and I am knee deep in my overdraft but it was one of the best choices I have ever made. Even now I think about it and give myself a pat on the back. (Heads up at this point – I should mention the wraps are strictly a lunchtime portion. Do not order as your main meal or you will be bitterly disappointed and achingly hungry).
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Culture Editors: James McCoull & Jack Oliver Parker Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline
Go for gold with Galette
Missing your Mum’s home cooking already? Hope Coke is back with a new recipe to ease you back into student life without blowing all your student loan in your first food shop
P
eople tend to be a bit scared of pastry, but because this is olive oil pastry there’s no labour intensive rubbing butter into flour and it’s very pliable and forgiving. So fear not, pie is your friend! Although this is more specifically a galette, which is a fancy french word for a slightly easier, lazier, free-form pie, baked flat on a baking sheet rather than in a pie tin. The sweetness of the butternut squash and red onion works perfectly with the saltiness of the feta, and the spelt flour lends a subtle nuttiness to the pastry. But if you can’t find spelt flour, plain should work fine too. Because the method is pretty simple it shouldn’t be too hard to get it looking pretty with the folded over edges, but don’t worry too much if it ends up looking a little ahem - rustic; it’s all part of the charm. Makes one medium sized galette (serves 2) Ingredients: -Pastry: -150g spelt flour (or plain would work too) -3 tbsps olive oil -4 tbsps cold water -1 tsp dried rosemary -1/2 tsp salt Filling: -1/2 a butternut squash (about 400-500g), diced into 3cm chunks -1 red onion, peeled, halved and cut into wedges -2 tbsp olive oil -1 tsp ground cinnamon -2 tsp dried rosemary (or a couple of sprigs fresh rosemary if you can get it) -1/2 tsp salt -a good pinch black pepper -60 g feta cheese
Directions: Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. Then make your pastry. Put the flour, rosemary and salt in a large bowl and mix with a fork or whisk until well combined, then add in your olive oil and water. Begin by mixing with a fork or spoon but you’ll find it will soon all start sticking together, at which point it’s easier to get your hands in there and use kneading motions to incorporate the wet and dry ingredients to a dough. Once you’ve got the dough into a ball, form it into a fat disk, wrap in clingfilm and put it in the fridge to rest for at least half an hour, while you make your filling. Take your chopped veg and toss together on a large baking tray with with the olive oil, cinnamon, rosemary salt and pepper, then put in the oven to roast for 15 to 20 minutes. You want the butternut squash just cooked but still firm with a good bite,
because it’s going to have more time in the pastry. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly before you put it on the pastry. Take your pastry out of the fridge, and sprinkle a clean work surface with flour. Unwrap the pastry, sprinkle each side with a little flour then put the disc between the sheets of baking paper and begin to roll it out with a rolling pin (or a wine bottle or similar if you don’t have one), stopping and rotating the dough often as you go so that you’re rolling it out in all directions to keep it’s circular shape. Keep going until you’ve got really quite a thin circle, about 0.5cm thick and the size of a pizza. Then peel off the top sheet of baking paper and move the pastry base still on the bottom sheet to a flat baking sheet. Now it’s time to assemble the galette, so start by heaping the butternut squash and onion in an even layer all over the pastry base but leaving a couple of inches of bare pastry at the edges, because this is going to be folded over the edge of the filling to keep it all in. Then crumble the feta in chunks on top of the squash. Now it’s time to fold over the outer crust, which you do by lifting and then pressing down the pastry onto the edge of the filling, folding a small section at a time then rotating the galette slightly and working your way round so that you get a kind of pleated appearance where the folds overlap. Once all the edges are folded up over the filling, place the galette in the oven to cook for about 35 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and golden brown, the vegetables are soft and the feta is gently toasted. Once it’s cooked, remove from the oven, cut into wedges and serve hot. I like this with a salad or some cooked greens, but it’s also great as it is. Although without something else alongside I would be tempted to change the ‘serves 2’ to ‘serves me’.
Graduation grub guide
“I had a wrap which was absolutely delightful with succulent pieces of lamb along For those of you poor, unfortunate souls who will be leaving the toon this Summer, Sam with onion, herbs and garlic Blackburn has some ‘alternative’ ideas for the traditional farewell meal. Do the toon proud sauce” ith students on their final year of their deLastly though, I decided to go for my personal
For those of you who like your pastry, a selection of savoury pastries are freshly baked. I’m not really a fan of pastry myself so won’t harp on about these but even I can appreciate that they sound tasty – some are stuffed with minced lamb or cheese so what’s not to like. The other thing that deserves a special mention is the fruit juice. They offer various flavours including mango, which I recommend. You would be forgiven for expecting a normal half pint measure of juice but what I was presented with can only be described as a stein. I was bouncing off the walls afterwards but hey, at least I wasn’t dehydrated. Milk shakes are also offered which looked YUMMY. The service is very friendly – they make a huge effort and can’t do enough for you. In terms of cost, main meals are mostly around the £8-10 mark. If you’re not already hanging out in Byker and can’t bring yourself to make the ten minute journey (on paper that comes across as sarcastic but believe me – you have my deepest sympathies) then they offer their private delivery service and can also be found on Just Eat. Delivery is until 11pm for all those who fancy a late-night Lebanese (I can’t believe I just referred to 11pm as late-night – I am such a grandma). They have a 5/5 rating on Just Eat and can I just say – they completely deserve it. Foody Foddy thoroughly recommends. 128 Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1DS
W 1
grees, graduation is a day which is looming around the corner. Unfortunately, I still have another year at University, but despite this I still believe that I can inform all graduates on the best place to have a meal, being the foodie that I am. The first place I would like to suggest is a little-known restaurant called “Burger King”. As advertised in the title, Burger King does the best burgers. Be it a single whopper, a double whopper, a double whopper with cheese or a double whopper with cheese and bacon, you cannot be disappointed with such fine and rich cuisine. What makes this restaurant even better though is the one on Northumberland Street has a drinks dispenser in which you can pour unlimited drinks (if you don’t get caught) as well as featuring so many different flavours of Coca Cola. This is definitely a place to go eat at with mummy and daddy who’ve made the long trip up to Newcastle from Berkshire.
3
2
My second suggested place is a little bit more up market. In the hollow lands between Newcastle University and Newcastle Zoo (also known as Northumbria University), there lies a fine restaurant where the kings and queens of the North East eat. This a little place called “The Five Swans”. The best thing about this restaurant? Despite being the drinking hole of the elite, you don’t need to reserve a table! You can just walk in and sit at the nearest beer soaked table. Even better though, there’s no annoying waiters who come by and keep on asking you questions about if you want more drinks, what food you want to order and so on. No, no, The Five Swans treats its customers with respect, allowing them to independently order their own food and drinks at the bar. What says “I’m an independent adult who will no longer use daddy’s money” more than independently ordering your own food at a bar!
favourite, the Greggs on the big market. Does this Greggs have the biggest seating area in Newcastle? You’re damn right, meaning you can fit all your family and friends in to sit down and feast upon many fine dining options. Maybe you’re a corn beef pasty person, a stake bake gal or a baguette boy, the options for cuisine are never ending. Don’t forget about the amazing deserts too, a sprinkle filled sugar strand donut, a gingerbread man or even the ever so famous spikey mikey biscuit! Either way, no matter what you get, you’re going to have a fine meal whilst you reminisce on all of the times you puked up on the Big Market during your time at Uni because your middle class liver couldn’t handle the harsh drinking environment of Newcastle. There are many more restaurants worth going to for your graduation meal, I mean there’s two McDonald’s and we’ve had a KFC here for a year now, but I feel that these three places stand above the rest.
The Courier
.13
Monday 8 May 2017
Anastasia Beretsos 3rd year Biomedical Sciences meets Lochy de Klee, 2nd Year Earth Science
Ana on Lochy
Fancy a date? We’ll set you up. Contact us! Lochy on Find us on The Lifestyle Writers 2016/17 Facebook page
Ana
Hey Ana! Where did you go on your date last night? We went to Pitcher and Piano, and then he tried to make me go to Soho but instead we went to Pleased To Meet You. He just said meet me at 8.30 so I was like ooh, didn’t really know what to expect. I’m not used to people being direct so it was a nice surprise. It was quite nice for a stranger to be forward. That’s cute. What was your first impression of him? Did you like what you saw? Yeah! He holds himself well. He was well spoken, very friendly. Was he dressed to impress and were you? I don’t even remember haha! Yes! In fact I do remember, I liked his shirt. I kind of made an effort, stole some of my flat mates clothes. What do you think his first impression of you was? Oh God knows, probably a weirdo... I’m sure that’s not true! At Pitcher and Piano what kinds of things did you talk about? Talked about where we’re from, the fact he has 92 cows... My flat mates, when I got home said, “ooh you can be the 93rd!” Talked about families, talked about courses, random stories between us like how when I crashed my car into my front gate and when the police came because he couldn’t park. Any fun facts about him? Urm, he has a gun license!? Pretty cool... Interesting.. to shoot what? Whatever?! Dunno! Hopefully not his brother haha. Were there any awkward moments between you? Considering I’m an awkward person, not that I thought of. Was there a spark there? Did you fancy him...? I don’t know... I genuienly don’t know! Would you go on a second date to find out? Yeah.Cos even as just friends we got on. It wasn’t awkward. How was Pleased to Meet you? We just had lots of drinks. I introduced him to an espresso martini which he really liked. Talked about Rugby, I support Wales, he supports Scotland so that was an interesting conversation If Lochy was an item of clothing what would he be? (The f*ck?! haha) A.... Like an accessory or something. All I can think of is those, um... I’m torn between something that’s really posh, or something Scottish. He didn’t come across Scottish though, he sounds very Southern, so a kilt is too obvious. So perhaps something subtly Scottish? Yeah! A subtly Scottish item of clothing! A tartan scarf or something. That would be Lochy. What would you rate the date out of 10? Er 7 or 8?! It was a pretty good date. How did the night end? Just got a taxi back to Jesmond. That’s not what I mean! Any cheeky...? No haha. Don’t do that on a first date. We stayed out for 5 hours though so I mean, we had a nice time together. Just drinking and talking. 5 hours?! Wow! Must have really liked each other? Yeah we got on really well! We’ll see what happens, we’ll see what he says first. Even if we just become friends. Wonderful! Sounds like a success! Thanks Ana!
Fancy a date? We’ll set you up. Contact us! Find us on The Lifestyle Writers 2016/17 Facebook page
Hey Lochy! Where did you take Ana on your date? We went to Pitcher and Piano, from Monument. Was that your decision? That was indeed my decision, I’d pre-arranged that that was where we were going so, kind of a surprise for her I suppose. We then considered going to Soho, thought that it’d be full of desperate Freshers so we didn’t go there... So we went to Pleased To Meet You. Sounds nice, did you just have drinks? Yeah just drinks, it was nice. Did you like Ana when you first saw her? Yeah, perfect, yeah. Had you dressed up? Um.. I was going to go in a sweatshirt and sports shoes but I was told by all my housemates to dress up because it’d be unfair so I did, I wore a nice shirt. What sorts of things did you talk about? Um, we’ve both got very dysfunctional families, living in Scotland, going to boarding school. She wanted to go so wanted to know what that was like. Uhh.. what else did we talk about? We talked about loads! My mind’s just gone blank at the minute. She had bar training so she was judging every drink we got. She recommended an espresso martini which was actually incredible so is now my drink of choice. Cool, were there any awkward moments? I hope not! I didn’t find any moment awkward haha. Don’t think she did either. Aww. What was your favourite part of the date? Favourite part...? Umm. Well I had an exam the next day so it was quite funny contemplating going to Soho and then not going and then going to Pleased To Meet You. Then eventually going to bed about 2.... Sorry that doesn’t really answer your question... The best part of the date... I dunno, it was all really good! Very cheesy actually don’t put that in! Haha it’s fine! Would you like to see Ana again for a second date? Yep. She’d have to arrange it all though. Okay... Why’s that? Well, ‘cos I did the first one! Okay fair enough. Did you fancy her, was there a spark? *awkward smile* It’s quite hard to gauge from one date I guess, probably will be able to tell after a second date. So you’re keen to go on a second date? If she asked me to go on a second date I would. If Ana was an item of clothing what would she be? Ooh. F*ck.. Umm... I actually don’t know. Well she goes to the gym a lot but I don’t really want to say like a tank top cos that’s like... or crop top cos that’s both pretty weird! Oh dear... *long pause* Underwear is far too sexual... *laughs* Or if she was some sort of accessory I’d go for a dumbell. Excellent, okay. How did you end the night? Did you kiss? Well we went for a Gin&Tonic at Pleased to Meet You. No kisses. Not to my knowledge! What would you rate the date out of 10? I’d rate it highly! At least an 8. Would you recommend Blind Date to a friend? I absolutely would and I hope that in coming weeks my housemates do it too. Success! Thanks, Lochy!
14.lifestyle
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Ana Beretsos, Ruth Loeffler, Antonia Coleman-Harvey & Brooklyn Shakeshaft Ward
Horoscopes from Astrological Antonia Our resident mystic Antonia Coleman-Harvey guides you through your week Aries March 21- April 19
The week ahead is looking hopeful for you, Aries. Whilst Mercury is in it’s retrograde you will be running around like a little busy bee but take care not to make any brash decisions. A step backwards will earn you much insight for the future.
Are you feeling festiv-al?
Lauren Sneath is here with a little insight into festivals around the country this summer Bestival rab your wellies and your bum-bag; this is not a drill. Festival season is almost upon
G
us, and key preparations must be made to fill long student summers with muddy fun. But with so much choice when it comes to UK festivals, and as the line-ups this year are all looking incredible, the question of which festival/s to attend plays upon the mind of almost every financially wrecked yet recklessly enthusiastic student in the UK. In order to help narrow down these key decisions, here is a comprehensive guide of three key festivals, detailing who’s playing where, what makes each festival unique and how much of your precious student loan you’ll actually have to shell out to have a good time.
Taurus April 20- May 20
Loyal, rock solid, and sensual. All sorts of magical and mysterious people will work their way into your life this week, Taurus, make sure you show off your best qualities. Your astral configuration certainly will give you much to think about about that special someone.
Gemini May 21- June 20
The Easter break definitely recharged your batteries - you’re on your usual top form once again! Make sure not to get distracted by all the catching up your sociable self desires, work first.
Cancer June 21- July 22
You’ll feel at peace this week, Moonchild, as stresses will melt away and you’’ll soon feel at one with the Universe. As a spiritual sign, take the time so connect with your surroundings. A nice stroll will do you some good. Your monetary planet is urging you to reward yourself, so splash the cash!
Leo July 23- Aug 22
Loving Leo. Your zest for life is certainly attractive. To some. To others, you need to tone it down a bit. Confidence could very easily be perceived as arrogance, so be weary not to step on people’s toes this week.
Virgo Aug 23- Sep 22
Feel like you lost your stride last week, Virgo? Fear not, with Mercury’s direct turn today you’ve got that bounce right back. You feel powerful, so don’t be afraid to show the world what you’re made of. Important people are watching so don your sexiest clothes and get on with it.
Libra Sep 23- Oct 22
Ruled by Venus, the planet of love, it’s no lie to say you’re a hopeless romantic, Libra. And today’s love match is Gemini... Although this is likely to change by tomorrow. Snooze you lose. Expect surges of impatience this week, but keep your cool
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21
Go ahead and be the charming self you know you can be, even if you have to act. You won’t get your foot in the door by refusing to speak to the person you admire. Be cautious of anxiety in the air, you don’t want to overreact to a situation that normally wouldn’t phase you.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21
You’re flexible and adaptable to the point where people often forget you do have a backbone, Sagittarius. Don’t let people think they can easily control you; you are your own boss. The planetary transit will increase your chances of finding someone that extra bit special this week.
Glastonbury
Leeds/Reading
Historically renowned for promoting alternative bands and new music, and notorious for drug use, this year Leeds is putting on a real show. Headliners include Kasabian, Muse and Eminem, and the Bramham Park festival doesn’t stop there. The comedy acts, huge arena and general atmosphere all merit a trip to the North for the weekend, and the ticket comes in as cheaper than Glastonbury£213 for the weekend, or £233 for early entry. However, prepare to be searched pretty vigorously upon entry, as the festival creators attempt to eradicate Leeds’ reputation for illegal drugs and legal highs- furthermore, this year there will be undercover narcotics officers patrolling the campsites and arena 24/7.
Boasting Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, The XX and Stormy as headliners, the original UK weekender is a force to be reckoned with. When you head down to Somerset, prepare for not just an arena, but an entire town of colourful marquees and varying sections, such as The Circus and Silver Hayes. Glastonbury has something for everyone, but prepare to pay a hefty price for all the fun you’ll be having. Tickets have sold out on the official website, going for £243, and can’t be found much cheaper. Bear in mind the cost of transport there- a return fare on a coach from Newcastle is advertised at £87 on the Glastonbury websiteand any food and (especially) alcohol once there, which is sold at astronomical prices.
Makin’ Bakin’ Pancakes 3 ingredient banana pancakes? Rebecca Jayne Doneghan has her tips on how to make these delicious treats and what to put them with... what are you waiting for?!
I
t is clear that gorgeous supermodel Karlie Kloss is not just a pretty face – she’s intelligent, a businesswoman, and who knew, also a top baker! She regularly posts tasty baking tutorials on YouTube, and the one that has become my favourite; three ingredient banana pancakes. I make them regularly, and felt it was only fair to share the recipe with the rest of the world, especially students on a budget with minimal time to cook. They’ve have allowed me to procrastinate during times of high stress, and have saved me from hangovers. It’s the food equivalent to a Buzzfeed quiz, but you actually get a meal out of it – what’s not to love?! Perfect for students! All you need is one egg, one banana, and one handful of oats, which I’m sure everyone can afford.
Begin a discipline now of healthy practices. A diet of low carbs and plenty of water along with physical activities might reveal to you the source of natural inner peace. You’re anxious to start looming projects, but you will do better with a strong, balanced mindset.
You should indulge in the romantic, dreamy feeling in your aura this week, Aquarius. It’ll certainly respark a light you thought was dimming,
Pisces Feb 19- March 20
Your career match this week is Libra, but you aren’t feeling co-operative, Pisces. And you will have to come out of your under water shell in order to interact with others. Deep breaths... You might even find you relate to someone’s strange quirks.
“They have allowed me to procrastinate during times of high stress, and have saved me from hangovers” Method First, use a fork to mash up the banana in a large bowl. Then, beat the egg in a separate bowl using a fork or whisk, then add the egg to the banana. Whisk together. Next, add the handful of oats (I use porridge oats) to the egg and banana, and again, whisk together until all of the ingredients are mixed well. I have a small obsession with cinnamon, so often add a few shakes of it into the mixture too.
“Something syrupy...to finish them off with an extra taste of sweetness”
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18
Brace yourselves; you’re about to enter another world. Bestival is the quirkiest festival around, and this year acts like THE XX, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, PET SHOP BOYS and nadia rose will grace its stages. With tickets for students ringing in at a mere £171, you’re practically making money, so hop on a bus to Dorset and soak up the southern sunshine as you wander around the Lulworth Estate. Bestival is more than just music, too; there’s an inflatable church, for starters, and parades all night with incredible dancers and performers. Plus, you can get a free haircut. What’s not to love? So drag out your corset tops and too-short shorts from their winter hibernation, check weather forecasts religiously (even though it will inevitably rain) and get the whole gang to book tickets; no one wants to miss out on the mudsmothered paradise of UK festival season.
Next, warm a frying pan on the hob. I usually add coconut oil to cook the pancakes in, but I’m sure oil or one-calorie spray (or something similar) will do the same job just fine. Once the pan is hot and the oil (or alternative) has melted, use a tablespoon
to place the mixture onto it. I tend to make each pancake with two tablespoons of mixture, and can normally fit two into the pan to cook at once. Keep the heat lower once the mixture is in the pan, as this seems to cook the pancakes better, in my experience. Each side should only take a few minutes. Flip with a spatula when each side is done, and once you think it is cooked through, transfer to plate and pile high. What to eat with them In terms of what to have with this glorious food, fruit is best, in my opinion. Pile on the strawberries, grapes, orange segments, apple slices; whatever your heart or hangover desires! Cinnamon often tops my pancakes as well as being used in the mixture, but nutmeg works too. I highly recommend also something of the syrupy kind, like honey or maple syrup, to finish them off with an extra taste of sweetness. Pancake Day was a wonderful day this year; I managed to make homemade cinder toffee, not to brag, to add to the fresh strawberries and lemon infused honey that covered my delicious pile of pancakes. I haven’t yet attempted to match any savoury flavours with this recipe, but if anyone achieves any savoury deliciousness, get in touch and let me know! I’d love to give any ideas a try.
We have come to the stressful point of the year... Dissertation deadlines! You will find the third years living in the library, most likely crying and looking like they have never seen the sun. It’s a time where emotions are high but then all of a sudden they around campus doing a photoshoot with their freshly printed babies that they poured their blood, sweat and tears into. So why not get an instagram worthy picture of the occasion? There have been some odd topics floating around! (That guys dissertation was on old peoples’ piss) Hats off to all that completed them-- especially if you had any sanity left! Have you seen something weird and wishes someone else saw? We’d love to know who/what you’ve seen around campus that has made you chuckle. The weirder the better. Just Facebook us and let us know, because chances are we’d love to have a chuckle too.
Spotted on campus!
The Courier
lifestyle .15
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierLifestyle
Strong enough to say see you later to social media? What would happen if we abandonded social media forever? Amanda Yap talks us through why she believes a break from social media could just be the key to our happiness
Jolly holidays Ciara Clarke shares her top tips to bagging a banging holiday deal Avoid Peak Times
E
xam season is on the horizon, so it’s a proabably a good time to re-evaluate our relationships with our phones. Social media has become, to some, as important as food, water, sunlight and oxygen. Thus, to even suggest disconnecting or deleting one’s social media profile is like an abomination for this generation of technology-driven, social media-plugged in university-going robots. We just would not last half a day without being able to see what other people are up to with their lives because our own is just plain boring. However, if stepping away from the screen could be the best thing for you! Firstly, you’ll see an increase in your positivity and productivity. Being on a social media hiatus would definitely take some getting used to but once you’ve gotten used to it, you are no longer being reminded by your friends’ awesome adventures swimming in Maldives or having a shopping blast in Taiwan. This means you’ll feel the joy of sharing news face-to-face without having to worry about the number of likes you are getting per photo. Now, you can focus on getting more work done rather than wasting time scrolling through your newsfeed
and watching random animal videos and then lament about how you have been unproductive for an entire day. Time and tide waits for no man…
“Without social media you won’t feel the need for online validation...” You’ll probably have less need for validation, and find happiness within yourself. Social media has evolved to a point where the number of likes equates to how likeable we are and the level of selfconfidence we derive from it. When we reach an all-time low of likes, we choose to delete the posted photo and pretend it never existed because we feel that we are not as ‘likeable’ online anymore and we will get judged for it. Without social media, you won’t feel the need for online validation, you can finally concentrate on the people aroundyou who genuinely care about your well-being. You won’t have to prove something about yourself to others. You can form your own ideas and opinions without getting influenced by the online world. Admit
it, while scrolling your newsfeed, we are exposed to various comments and reactions on our social media platforms. Unconsciously, we absorb others’ opinions which more or affects our opinions in ways we don’t even realise. Without the interference of social media, we are able conceive our own perspective without blindly agreeing with the masses. Ultimately, a diversity of ideas is more welcomed than the mass majority who only know how to echo the thoughts of others around them. Finally, you’ll cultivate a deeper appreciation for life and enjoy it! Let’s be real, how many of us wake up mid-sleep and scroll through our newsfeed? Is it out of habit or is it the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) that causes us to do this? Without the notification chimes, we can relish and live in the moments instead of being worried about how we are going to ‘capture the moment’ so that we can post it on social media for all and sundry to see. There is no way to replay a moment once it passed. They say that those who are mostly absent on social media are the ones whose lives are more exciting than those who are constantly on social media.
Restaurant review: House of Tides
Prepare for food envy as Fashion Editor Zofia Zwieglinska gives her tastebuds a treat and makes a visit to Newcastle’s very own Michelin Star restaurant, The House of Tides
W
The ‘House of Tides’ restaurant may not be well known to many students who do not venture out of the comfortable high street selection and are not wellacquainted with the art of fine dining. However, with graduations, end-of-year celebrations and more formal occasions, you should definitely splash out and treat yourself to a meal at House of Tides. Michelin star restaurants in the UK are mostly based in London so it is unusual to see that the ‘Masterchef: The Professionals’ finalist, Danny Parker, to choose to be the head chef of a restaurant in Newcastle. The restaurant is owned and managed by Kenny Atkinson who has had extensive chef experience and has previously won Michelin stars at ‘St Martin on the Isle’ and ‘The White Room’. So trust me when I say that these are some very talented people making the food! The restaurant itself is housed in a beautifully restored 16th century merchant building, and when you head upstairs you can still see the original ceiling relief work.
“If you like unusual cocktails, their elderflower and gin one is lovely and herbal”
I recently visited the restaurant myself with my date for an early dinner, and I was not disappointed with the menu, as it was very seasonal. Beginning with cocktails and small dishes in the downstairs area, the menu and the guests then head upstairs to continue their meal with wine, the main courses, cheese and then dessert and coffees. They also provide a vegetarian menu, so everyone is accommodated for. If you like unusual cocktails, their elderflower and gin one is lovely and herbl. This cocktail is also a great palette cleanser to go with the small dishes at the beginning. The small plates menu went as follows: coated and pan fried duck hearts, pastry-covered mackerel, truffle and onion wafers with a creamy sauce and carrot meringues. After we headed upstairs
and we were given wine, and the main courses proceeded as follows: we had Lindisfarne oyster with ginger, cucumber and caviar followed by a light and crisp crab and pickled apple salad. After this there were some meatier dishes, with pan-fried sea bass, asparagus and the most delicious mussels, then lamb and hen of the woods belly and lovage. For desserts, we had gariguette strawberries with curry leaf and cream, which was followed by a todie-for chocolate mousse cake and delicate hazelnut ice cream.
“The dishes were all delicious but I think the one that stood out most to me was the perfectly fresh oyster”
The dishes were all delicious, and but I think the one that stood out the most to me was the perfectly fresh oyster. The oyster tasted like the sea and the beautifully seared lamb with lovage that tasted like the perfect Easter dish. We were given small chocolates at the end and coffee, which let us rest to enjoy the buzz of the restaurant which had gradually filled up while we were having our meal.
“The dinner tasting without the wine pairing is £70, which is quite reasonable for a Michelin-starred restaurant”
The dinner tasting without the wine pairing is £70, which for a Michelin-starred restaurant is quite reasonable. After eating at this restaurant I’d definitely make another visit and I would also recommend you to do the same. If you are stuck for nice, quiet places to eat in Newcastle where the food will be out of this world, definitely try to get a table at The House of Tides, which makes great, seasonal and coastal food.
One key advantage of being a student is the long haul summer breaks. With exams finished way before the schools break up, holidays are at a low price before July hits, so get browsing! Try and fly off peak too as many airlines will bunk up the price on popular days for work, the cheapest flights tend to be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as most people don’t like flying midweek
Downsize to hand luggage If you’re planning a short trip away to a city or the beach, try downsizing to hand luggage as this comes completely free! Most flights allow you to have one decent sized handbag plus carry-on luggage which can carry much more than you think. If you’re going as a group, share things like hairdryers, even cases if you can’t fit everything in just one. Most liquids can be bought abroad too so no need to worry about not having enough.
Choose a Package Holiday Not always for the pensioners, package holidays can save you loads of cash on flights and hotels. Most companies will also cater to the party animal in you and have ideal sesh holidays. Plus, it takes care of your travel and, in some cases the food, which brings me to my next point…
Sacrifice the All-inclusive The thought does sound appealing but something as simple as sacrificing paying for lunch and drinks can save you hundreds of pounds on some package holidays. Even if you’re off on a drinking holiday, most reps will have some sort of drinks package anyway. As long as you’ve got the hangover breakfast, what more could you need?
Look for last minute deals Now, even though it’s always better to book in advance, the spontaneous of you out there can find some mega savings if you leave it are willing to leave it until last minute. Again, going with package holidays should take out a lot of hassles and still get a decent holiday for less. If you’re flexible on dates, times and location have a small party of people, last minute holidays can be a lifesaver for students.
Research Research Research Comparing flights and hotels has never been easier with the internet. With flight prices changing every day, get bargain hunting and look around for the best deals. That extra bit of time put into looking could save you heaps of money- plus it’s a good way to procrastinate from revising!
Try Student discounts Some travel companies like STA and Student Universe can offer some great student discounts. Also, it can pay to bring your student ID with you. NUS cards work abroad as well as the UK as well as offering deals on some travel companies. It’s always best to check before you travel for discounts, but you never know.
16. beauty
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Beauty Editors: Miranda Stoner, Ellie Trent & Ellen Walker
Get ready with me: Summer ball edition
Lois Johnston is here with some top tips on how to master your special occasion beauty look
I
t’s that time of year again: Ball Season. When everyone emerges from the Robbo to swap the red bull for wine and Adidas superstars for 5-inch heels. Obviously, we know that the most important part of the whole night is the getting ready. Unlucky if your ball is on a weeknight because that means your getting ready time is being eaten into, but fear not because we have the best tips and tricks to help you prepare. So the night before, you want to do all of the preparation. If you’re planning on using fake tan, this is the time to apply it. You need to wash your hair, shave, exfoliate – the whole lot. Then, if you want to tan, sleeping in it is the best option for not smelling like biscuits for the whole following day – but this step is optional.
“For your base, if you have opted for fake tan, be sure that your foundation matches your new glowing skin tone”
Maybe you’ve curled or straightened your hair, maybe you’ve put it up or maybe you’re going au natural – but whatever you’re doing, just make sure it’s going to be able to withstand the whole night! I strongly suggest using a generous amount of hairspray or other hair crèmes designed for curl hold or with anti-frizz factors (because let’s be honest, rain is a possibility). The next and probably most vital step is the make-up. For your base, if you have opted for fake tan, be sure that your foundation matches your new glowing skin tone. Also if you have the option, it’s advisable to go for a foundation which doesn’t contain SPF as this is what causes that white ghost face when the flash goes off in photos.
“I would strongly advise against using this occasion as your opportunity to experiment with make-up”
For the rest of your skin, take it to whatever level you feel necessary. This probably one of the few times you’re going to be away from the library for an extended period of time for the next month so you can pile on that highlighter and glow to your hearts content. For the eyes, I would say that it depends on your outfit and what will go best with the colour and style. I would strongly advise against using this occasion as your opportunity to experiment with make-up. For example, steer clear of the fake eyelashes and winged eyeliner if possible. Stick to what you know, unless you’ve been practising! If you’ve gone for simple eyes, this is your chance to have a really bold lip. Maybe linking the lip shade in with your accessories and outfit. On the other hand, if you went for it on the eyes, go for an understated nude, or lighter coloured lip for a super simple and chic look. Finally, all you should need to do is pop on your dress/jumpsuit/skirt and top combo and throw your keys, money, phone, ID and ticket into your bag and let the exceptionally early pre-drinks begin!
The Courier Beauty loves “If you’ve gone for simple eyes, this is your chance to go for a really bold lip”
Faking it to making it Scarlett Carroll talks us through her views on whether make-up can give you confidence
A
s someone who has certainly been a slave to makeup, I have an interesting relationship with my confidence. I started wearing makeup when I was in Year 9, and from then until I came to university I genuinely cannot remember a time that I left the house without. As a spotty, greasy and awkward tween, I envied all of my friends who’s parents would let them wear makeup or who had lovely skin. When my mum finally started to come around to the idea of me finally wearing makeup, she took me to the No7 counter for some loose powder. In my mind, I was hopeful that by wearing makeup I would finally feel like I fit in with them. I went to school the next day feeling, as lame as it sounds, super cool. Even though no one noticed, I could feel myself becoming more comfortable around my peers. For the next few years, I started to dabble in other
tors like GlamLifeGuru, JKissaMakeup and Qcknd
Instagram: @benefitcosmetics felt like my big sisters, since I had no skill, helping me out with the makeup tips and sharing advice on products. But along with this, these creators also promoted not wearing makeup and skin care. They spoke of feeling confident with a bare face, but I did not even consider it. So bound by the products, I felt like makeup provided me with the only beauty I had. At this point all of my friends had started to wear full faces of makeup and once again the feelings of inadequacy returned.
“Now at University, I am surrounded by women who rarely wear make-up”
From this, I took a strong look at opinions of my own self worth. I had always believed that it was the makeup that was boosting my confidence, but in fact it was feeding my insecurities. I knew that at the end of the day when I took my makeup off at the end of the day, I would not look the way I wanted to. I still craved to look as good as my friends did. The environment that my peers had created, the unspoken rule that everyone had to wear makeup through fear of judgement had destroyed my confidence in my appearance. I needed an environment that I felt comfortable to being embracing my own skin. Now at University, I am surrounded by women who rarely wear makeup. It has been a totally liberating experience. Women who make last minute decision to go out having previously been ready for bed. Women who wake up with 2 minutes and still go to their lecture. These women comfortable in their own skin, are now who I feel empowered by and who who I aspire to be.
“Even though no one noticed, I could feel myself becoming more comfortable around my peers”
products and my makeup started getting heavier and darker. There a couple years of my makeup history that I wish were committed to damnatio memoriae: black eyeliner melting out of my waterline, eyebrows totally abandoned and unblended incorrectly matched Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. Even at the time, the videos I discovered on YouTube were all about how to do the best winged eyeliner. I had so much confidence because, to me, my makeup was so much more impressive than my friends. It was a few years before I discovered makeup artists and influencers on YouTube that I really understood. They were truly my saving grace. Crea-
Sultry, subdued and subtle for Spring Tilly Parry gives us the lowdown on her 5 fav products to creating a natural Spring look
Find the product Amika natural blush powder
N
o-one likes being sweaty and bright red in an unexpected heatwave. But a controlled flush to your cheeks with a subtle blush powder gives a fresh, natural feel to your look. The e.l.f studio blush range is affordable and blendable.
Natural Blush
Make sure to mattify your face with setting powder before applying powder blush to make sure the product glides on smoothly, and don’t bring the blush further than the outer corner of your eye to keep your cheeks rosy rather than over-rouged!
Instagram: @amikasshop
got2b beach trippin’ waving spray
Glossy lips Summer is all about the natural, moisturised look, and this goes for lips as well. Glossy lips have just done the rounds on the runway (with some make-up artists even adding a touch to eyelids for the extreme shine!) but the key is finding one that avoids the dreaded windswept hair stuck to your lips. Vaseline is always a good bet, especially with its protective properties, but for extra shine, I recommend the MAC lip glosses, which are creamy without being sticky.
“My personal recommendation would be for a gradual moisturiser which creates a more even, glowing look” Fake Tan
Instagram: @Got2bUSA
No.7 skin illuminator Instagram: @No7uk
Fake tan can be intimidating for even the most experience of us but I’m a big believer in it. The bronzed look is a staple look every summer, but overexposure to the sun can have damaging consequences that don’t seem worth the fiver you can spend at Superdrug. My personal recommendation would be for a gradual moisturiser which creates a more even, glowing look. It’s far more subtle than
the orange streaks some products can leave! Make sure to also invest in a good body scrub or exfoliator, however, to make sure you clear any dead skin and fend off any patchiness.
Tinted Moisturiser
For a natural summer look, too much foundation can be too heavy for the everyday, and will prevent the vitamin D reaching your skin in the rare instances of sunshine in Newcastle! So, a BB or CC cream, or tinted moisturiser is ideal for light coverage as well as SPF protection. The No7 range is great quality, and you probably have some vouchers for it if you’ve ever shopped in Boots, but lacks in colour range. A good BB cream should provide good coverage alongside fantastic skincare, which is why I would recommend the Garnier BB cream, one of the first European products of its kind. I love the Garnier moisturisers, so I find this perfect for a simple, natural look that also helps my skin.
“These hair products give volume and texture, and are more lightweight than most mousses and hairsprays” Salt spray
For those of us who aren’t jet-setting to any hot, foreign beaches this summer, never fear: you can fake the look of tousled beach curls with a good quality salt spray. These hair products give volume and texture, and are more lightweight than most mousses and hairsprays. The got2b salt spray is ridiculously affordable and long-lasting, but it might be best to invest in the slightly pricier OGX equivalent if you already have naturally dry hair. Just flip your head upside down, and start spraying whilst scrunching up sections of your hair for an easy textured look. Alternative, add it to your curling routine for volume without backcombing.
The Courier
beauty.17
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty Instagram @courier_beauty | Twitter @CourierBeauty
Say hello to your beauty coach Sian Dickie on how to channel her own top picks of the looks from the Coachella festival
I
nstagram has been alight with festival looks from Coachella, with lots of inspiring hair and beauty trends to try out for festival season this summer. Here are some California inspired looks to bring the Coachella vibe to the UK. Hair accessories take a more minimalistic approach this year, with many people ditching the floral crowns of yesteryear. A natural curl with small braids underneath the hair, gives a subtle bohemian vibe, while looking effortless amongst the crowds. Ashley Tisdale was seen wearing this look at Coachella, cutting her hair into a Lob for a modern twist.
‘Neon eyeshadows are definitely in this year, with many celebs and brands promoting the look”
Something which has gained popularity since last year are braid clips, which can be bought from Primark for £1 or Topshop also has a great range of clips, and floral twists which look way cuter as an alternative to a hair tie. A regular festival favourite of mine is the Batiste dry shampoo collection, which is great for volume and for keeping greasy hair at bay. Splitting the hair into two sections, spray in down the middle part and backcomb to blend in, not only does this make the hair easily to manipulate into shape but it also keeps it looking super fresh! Loose Dutch braids would be great with the clips and dry shampoo to give that worn in bed hair appearance and a grungy vibe. Neon eyeshadows are definitely in this year, with many celebs and brands promoting the look. NYX cosmetics have caught the essence of Coachella with the Ultimate Shadow Palette in the shade “Brights.” Full of gorgeous canary yellows, electric blues and tropical pinks. This palette would be
extremely versatile in a festival environment making it easy to switch up your look. At £16 for 16 different shades its a bargain compared to MAC’s Fruity Juicy palettes which are priced at £25 for six shades. Keeping the eyelid plain apply a heavy sweep of colour underneath the brow bone for a pop of colour. A light application of mascara is best to avoid looking to cakey. Due to the eyes being the focus of makeup this year, many people like Coachella queen Vanessa Hudgens and vlogger Fleur De Force, have returned to all natural glowing skin. A simple way of achieving this flawless appearance is by using either a tinted moisturiser or alternatively just using small amounts of concealer to hide those problematic areas. A good BB cream for this is the Rimmel Radiance cream, which maintains the look of perfect skin, while keeping a natural dewiness to the complexion. With SPF 20 in this product looking after the skin on more sunny days and the price being £6.99, for me its a no brainer to take this to a festival over a more expensive foundation. To make the BB cream last all day a good tip is to apply translucent powder to the skin before the cream. Which may sound unusual at first but it does calm any redness or discolouration, giving an even base for the cream to be applied to.
Instagram: @lovehaosdesigns
Instagram: @ljaneemilymakeupx
Instagram: @lfestivalvvibs
Instagram: @coachella
Susanne Norris shares her verdict on the 19-year-old millionaire beauty fanatic that is Kylie Jenner and her latest make-up, to help us decide whether they are worth the dollar
I
postage and custom fees, but you can’t put a price on feeling beautiful, right?! These new lipsticks have the total go ahead from me. Kylie also released blushers earlier this month, which I must sadly admit I was less impressed with. This could be unfair though as I am quite honestly addicted to highlight so often forfeit blusher or opt for a pink highlight instead. However, I still feel these blushers were overpriced and not as great as they could be.
“I had no desire to imitate the looks created with them sorry Kylie, but your blushers get a no from me”
kyliecosmetics.com: Velvet lip kit in Charm
“I can’t think of one liquid lipstick I’ve seen that offers the exact same shade”
‘Kimberly’ is your traditional nude, ‘Kim’ and ‘Kiki’ are gorgeous light pinks and ‘Kimmie’ is a richer pink. Whilst NYX’s lip lingerie collection could probably help you find a similar looking dupe, I can’t think of one liquid lipstick I’ve seen that offers the exact same shade. With this said, this is coming from a girl who delays uni work to ogle at Beauty Bay. Kylie and Kim’s new colours are expensive once you add on
kyliecosmetics.com: Blush Bundle
W
hen deciding your hair-look for a ball, there are so many things to considerup do- or up-don’t. Curly or straight? Sleek? Textured? Leave it in its usual mess? There can be so many choices that the temptation to avoid all stress by just chopping it all off, becomes a viable option. Here are some more sustainable tips on how to avoid hair despair. First of all I always find it best to wash your hair the night before the event with a wash out shampoo and then conditioner. Make sure it is thoroughly combed through and detangled without using any excess products and allow to air-dry. Washing it the night before gives the hair some time for the natural oils to emerge and produce a soft shine without being greasy. If you wash it hours before the event you can’t tell what texture your hair will be and may not allow it to dry properly. Which can be a problem if you are heat styling.
“Washing it the night before gives the hair some time for the natural oils to emerge”
Styling, Kylie-ing, living it up t’s been a good few months at Kylie Cosmetics. As per usual, Kylie’s products sell out pretty much as soon as they drop, so what’s better than dropping new (amazing) lipsticks and new (slightly disappointing) blushers in the space of a month for the 19 year old millionaire. I’ll be the first to admit, when it comes to Kylie Jenner products I am always looking for dupes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a massive fan of the Kardashian and Jenner clan (I watch ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians every week religiously) but just can’t justify the prices of Kylie’s cosmetics. That was until the KKW x Kylie liquid lipsticks dropped. In the iconic words of Kim herself, I was ‘shook’. The normal issue a lot of people have with Kylie lipsticks is the matte style of them makes them very obvious and flaky. Thus, a gasp came from the makeup world when Kylie announced the KKW range would be a crème formula. I must admit the idea of the crème formula had me tempted before even seeing the colours, but oh my god they are to die for. Inspired by Kim’s go to look of nude lips, these four lipsticks are everything and more you’d want from nude shades.
Hairstyles special
Beauty Ed Miranda Stoner shares her secrets to avoiding last minute hair drama
“Face gems and unicorn styled glitter will tick all the boxes”
Finally to top this all off glitter is the way to go! Face gems and unicorn styled glitter will tick all the boxes. These can be bought from Primark for as little as 50p for a pack or from Newlook in a small kit for £4.99. Dotted above the brows or in the corner of the eyes adds a cool 90s vibe to the beauty looks that are popular this year. Think Gwen Stefani circa No Doubt. I would definitely recommend to applying with a small amount of eyelash glue to make them last the day.
Be the Belle of the Ball:
It only took me a few minutes to find dupes, with even drugstore brands like Sleek offering good dupes for the shades ‘X-Rated’ and ‘Virginity’ at a fraction of the price, not to mention the fact there’s no delivery charge or custom fees either. I feel like the names of these blushers (they all relate to sex somehow, original) were simply a ploy to make very average blushers seem edgy and more sellable. Whilst I’m normally trailing beauty sides as soon as Kylie’s products come out to find dupes, these blushers didn’t make me want to do that. I had no desire to imitate the looks created with them - sorry Kylie, but your blushers get a no from me. So, there you have it. In little more than a month Kylie has given us two new ranges, once of which was a giant success and the other of which flopped in my opinion. My advice would definitely be to grab yourself the KKW lipsticks, just make sure you steer clear of the blushers whilst on the Kylie Cosmetics site. I hope if you decide to go with the nude lipsticks they give you as much joy as I get watching Keeping up with the Kardashians.
Always use a heat protection spray, apart from the obvious fact that it caused less damage to the hair in the long term, which helps you to achieve a healthier head. A heat protection spray also helps the style for the duration of the night and beyond, meaning tomorrow’s hang-over will be alleviated by the fact that your are still- aesthetically anywaykilling it. I always spray my hair in a light mist and allow it to settle whilst applying my make-up, then I get onto the heat styling. In terms of whether to go curly or straight, this is obviously a personal preference, however for me it wouldn’t be a ball without bouncy waves. I achieve these with hair straighteners. First section the hair into 8 partitions. With the straighteners, clamp your hair then turn the iron 180 degree in the direction away from you and guide the hair through. There are tonnes of tutorials on Youtube for a visual guide to this, but what is most important to remember is to let the hair through slowly, so it has enough contact with the heat, but not to clamp the hair too tight as this results in straightening and not curls. What’s more, when you have made the curl, twist it with your fingers to release the full potential. When the whole head is finished spray the air with hairspray, shut your eyes tight and walk through the mist.
“Be wary of hair-accessories; although they look great in the first few photos, ask yourself: are they really practical?” Be wary of hair- accessories; although they look great in the first few photos, ask yourself: Are they really practical? Chances are by the end of the night if they haven’t fallen to the floor in disrepair they will join a pile of things you paid a lot of money for and only used once. Hair can be naturally styled to achieve so many looks- tiny plaits can take the place of hair bobbles and French braids are a great alternative to a headband- not only are they cheaper but they are also more likely to stay in. Don’t’ be afraid to ask a friend. You don’t have to be an expert in hair-styling to be able to make a parting. The human body just isn’t designed to be able to see the back of the head. Therefore, ask a friend, a flat mate a neighbor- anyone for help in achieving the neatest of partings.
Monday 8 May 2017
18. fashion
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Liz Rosling, Izzi Watkins & Zofia Zwieglinska
Enningful for British Vogue
Mules: The Perfect 90’s throwback
Zofia Zwieglinska brings this hibernating trend out into the summer world of fashion
Sophie Schneider on the new editor-in-chief of the British fashion magazine
If you ever wondered what trends could come back from your childhood, look no further than the summer of 2017. Some of the most daring 90’s fashion trends are coming back in a big way this season and one of these is the mule! The mule is a slip-on shoe, preferably with a slight heel that can take your outfit effortlessly from office to crazy throwback disco parties the next. If you are on the lookout for a cleverly minimalist shoe that is both easy to wear and doesn’t have the uncomfortable straps of heels, then this is the shoe for you.
A
lexandra Shulman is the longest standing Editor of British Vogue. She’s edited the magazine for a quarter of its 100 years of existence, and has overseen the elegant and stylistic transition from the treasured paper copies of Vogue you would longingly glare at in WHSmith’s to a global digital brand. In 1992, she was appointed as the editor of Vogue, the dream job of every fashionista everywhere (many hours I have spent writing my name in italics followed by, Editor British Vogue magazine). Shulman modernised and completely transformed the magazine; it’s now time for the brand’s next step in evolving the fashion world. To take over from the most successful editor of British Vogue ever is Edward Enninful, who was confirmed as the successor on the 10th of April. Enninful is multiple ‘firsts’ for British Vogue, as he’s both the first male and first black editor at the magazine. It’s about time for a change too. The fashion industry has diversified over the years with more racially diverse models and brands embracing gender fluidity. However, there remain problems with brands accepting global casting, which was the case with the AW 2016 fashion shows. 75.25% of the models were white, a staggeringly high figure for a self-acclaimed ‘modern’ industry. Demna Gvasalia, the designer of Vetements, has been heavily criticised for the lack of ethnic diversity in his AW 2016 show. He replied with a bitterly weak claim: ‘our criteria for choosing models was purely based on the idea of diversity of character’. How can you be enriched by a ‘diversity’ of character if you’re fishing from one,
“Despite the stagnant movement in reaching complete diversity in the industry, Enninful has facilitated so much progression with this issue”
Topshop Novel Square Toe Mules, £56
This year, its varying shades of pink, with anything from a dark raspberry to just the palest of pastels. Their un-fussy design makes them ideal to pair with anything, but if you want to push the 90s trends further, why not try wearing them with some jeans and a spaghetti strap top?
Topshop Jackson Kitten Heel Mules, £52
Don’t know what shoes to take on holiday? These mules in a capri blue can take you from beach to restaurant in a flash, and their low heel makes them perfect for sight-seeing in the city as well. The double strap provides some stability, making this pair more akin with a sandal than a 90’s mule.
Kitten heels don’t have to be girly and cute. These understated ones with a pointed toe could be the ideal companion to more formal suits or coats, and the beige colour makes them the chameleon of your outfits, changing each one in turn with that wonderful exposed heel.
Topshop Alexa Slipon Mules, £32
Zara Heeled Mules with Bow, £25.99
Want the ultimate, glam, no-effort shoe? This one is it. These slip-on mules can take any outfit to the next level with the brocade detail and the gold bit feature on the front. Worn with ripped jeans, these mules would automatically give your second-hand jeans the elevated tone of a pair of custommade Isabel Marant ones.
These shoes are definitely more ladylike and look more like they were worn in Marie Antoinette France than the 90’s. The pale blue colour and kitten heel make them work equally well with some more avant-garde looks, like culottes and a breton top.
Festival fashion: fad or valuable expression? Hannah Lockyer shows us that the realities of festival fashion are like night and day
T
he words ‘festival fashion’ brings to mind two images, the first is Vanessa Hudgens (A.K.A the Queen of Coachella) dressed in some sort of bohemian-princess-rocker-extraordinaire outfit, and the second is an image of my friend Lucy at Leeds festival 2016. Lucy had decided to drink a lot of vodka and then belly flop down a muddy slope – I should probably mention at this point that the festival had become a sort of bog-like swamp land after 3 days of continuous rain. As expected, Lucy resembled a drenched rat for the rest of the festival.
“I bought silver sparkly press on studs for my face and spent my month’s wages on some overpriced Hunter wellies” However, it got me thinking, was it necessary to try and dress up so much to stand in some sort of field miles from civilization (Ok, besides the point Coachella is in sunny California), when all we
really want is some good summer memories with our mates – Perhaps, belly flopping down a hill is a bit toooo much fun though. Now, I will admit, the week before Leeds fest I spent hours trawling through the internet and putting together my ‘festival looks’ and deciding my ‘fashionable style’. I bought silver sparkly press on studs for my face and spent my month’s wages on some overpriced Hunter wellies. All my sparkly studs fell off from dancing but mostly from my boyfriend flicking them off my forehead. Though, most regrettably, I forgot to pack ANY type of sock – Did I forget to mention that it rained ALL THE TIME?! A year later I still have the welly burn to prove it. Most surprisingly, I don’t even remember what I wore. I chucked on whatever was the least damp/ smelly/least muddy. It involved lots of shorts, simple t-shirts, a pair of sunglasses, fresh knickers, an over-sized waterproof and the most stylish item of all: The Bum Bag. Now, I’m not sure what happened between Leeds suburban fields and the Californian desert but the bum bag rarely seems to make a celebrity Coachella appearance. Yet, Rihanna needed a lilac fluffy
coat for 30-degree heat and Victoria Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio thought it was appropriate to wear a Native American-Indian head dress? Erm, how about a simple flower crown love? Through social media like Instagram we are in-
“Through social media like Instagram we are infiltrated with these ‘fashionable’ festival images for weeks on end” filtrated with these ‘fashionable’ festival images for weeks on end, which make us all feel a little daunted when heading to any sort of festival, be it Glastonbury, Reading, Latitude or even my beloved Leeds. Dance until 2am, see some of your favourite artists, drink too many Koppabergs and spend as much time with your friends. Of course, the inevitable question always rolls around ‘What the hell am I supposed to wear?!’. I’m going to keep this advice simple: Socks! Remember socks!
Instagram:@hemapersad_
white, American-sweetheart dominated pool? Despite the stagnant movement in reaching complete diversity in the industry, Enninful has facilitated so much progression with this issue. At the age of 19 (yes, younger than most readers, prepare to feel immediately depressed) he became the fashion editor of i-D magazine: the youngest ever to be named as the editor at an internationally renowned fashion brand. What I know him for is his beautifully poignant ‘All Black’ issue of Vogue Italia in 2008. This featured an all-black cast of models that sold out in less than 72 hours. The issue aligned with Obama’s election and was so incredibly raw. Enninful, among other contributors to the issue, was criticised for dressing black women up as white women: every last Afro frizz and black kink were airbrushed out of the frames, as well as the skin tone being lightened. The black author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks about the importance of embracing natural black hair as a way for self-liberation for black women, and indeed since the 2008 issue, natural black hair styles are cropping up more frequently on the runway and on the glossy pages of Vogue. In 2016, Enninful was awarded an OBE for services to diversity in fashion. Naomi Campbell (among other friends of the new Editor) defined this as a ‘historic moment’ for fashion, and one step closer to ending the industry’s refusal to accept racial diversity. Enninful’s appointment as Editor of British Vogue will commence 1st August, and I expect that the magazine will undergo a transformation similarly to Shulman during her time there.
River Island Blue Twostrap Mules, £24
Instagram: @followingfestivals
Instagram: @asosmarketplace Instagram: @festivalface
Instagram: @leticacampbell96
The Courier
fashion .19
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion
Red carpet rundown: Met Gala ‘17 Jo Bentham picks her belles of the ball at this year’s Rei Kawakubo themed event in NYC
: @Doutz
en
Instagra m: @JLo
Nicki Minaj looked seductive in her H&M bodysuit fit with a train and belt featuring Rei Kawakubo’s face. I mean what better way to pay homage to a designer than to actually turn them into fashion? The train was without a doubt my best-loved aspect of her feisty outfit though; the silver embellishment and black rose-shaped ruffled edges were just dreamy. Last but not least, it’s Doutzen Kroes. Now, in all honesty, I have to admit that like J.Lo’s, I don’t really think Doutzen’s gown fit the theme all that well. That being said, it was absolutely stunning. She almost went for a ‘dressed down’ kind of look, with natural make up and her hair left messily hanging. The Victoria’s Secret model’s Brock Collection dark red off the shoulder gown is simple, refined and sophisticated. Looking like an angel, she absolutely makes you forgive that it’s not entirely theme-fitting. So, to round off, fashions favourite get together was a success, and there were so many more amazing looks it broke my heart not to mention. But until next Met Gala Monday, I leave you with the dreamy thoughts of this year’s best.
Lauren Sneath looks into the frustrations behind unpaid internships
iminaj
Top to Bottom: Nicki Minaj wearing H&M, Jennifer Lopez wearing Valentino, Doutzen Kroes wearing Brock Collection and LaLa wearing Thai Nguyen Atelier
Instagram: @lala
LaLa on the other hand, provides enough boldness in her gown to slay every other VIP in attendance. Probably my number 1 favourite look from
“Nicki Minaj looked seductive in her H&M bodysuit fit with a train and belt featuring Kawakubo’s face”
k m: @nic Instagra
“Rei Kawakubo’s designs are bold, unique and quirky, which means the celebs attending the gala were expected to follow suit and dress to fit the theme”
the night, she took the simple, elegant black dress and made it rock again. LaLa definitely opted for sexy, in her sheer embellished gown by Thai Nguyen. This is the kind of look I LOVE, she took the theme to heart but made it fashionable, and I mean WEARABLE fashion. Unlike some, *cough* Katy.
Instagra m
T
he first Monday of May is significant for one insanely glamorous reason: it’s Met Gala Monday. One of fashion’s biggest parties, the Gala is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where the world’s biggest celebrities, designers and other VIP’s descend to celebrate the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition. This year’s Met Gala theme was Rei Kawakubo/ Comme Des Garçons. Rei Kawakubo’s designs are bold, unique and quirky, which means the celebs attending the gala were expected to follow suit and dress to fit the theme. One A-Lister who definitely paid attention to the theme this year was Katy Perry, her ensemble was certainly quirky, but it just didn’t do it for me. There must be a point where it stops being called fashion and starts being called crazy, right? Four people who I think got it very, very, right however, are LaLa, J.Lo, Nicki Minaj and Doutzen Kroes. Let’s start with J.Lo. As the absolute Queen of never looking older, Jen looks gorgeous in everything she wears. Opting for a less sexy look than usual, she absolutely smashed it in her Valentino, Elsa from Frozen inspired, pastel blue gown. So floaty. So elegant. With her hair slicked back into a tight ponytail and her glitzy Harry Winston bling, she has all the makings of a Disney princess. But does it fit the theme? I’d have to say no. It’s absolutely beautiful, and definitely one of my favourite looks of the night, but bold and quirky? Not so much.
Worst dressed list woes
Izzi Watkins explains why we should banish worst dressed lists and red carpet battlefields
A
my Poehler, Whoopi Goldberg and Lady Gaga may sound like the ultimate girl gang, but last year they were banded together under a far less enticing guise. All three women fell victim to the vicious tongue of the ‘Oscar’s Worst-Dressed’ lists, and, as a result, faced a barrage of judgments from the press and public alike. While we’re sure the likes of Whoopi and Gaga have better things to do with their post-Oscar mornings than dissect tabloid trash, the question remains, how is this archaic ritual still hanging about in the 21st century?
“Ultimately ‘the worst dressed’ diminishes these womens’ achievements, and transforms a platform for celebration to a red carpeted battlefield, where only a select few can win” The format is a familiar one, in the early hours following any big Hollywood event the internet begins to fill with various commentators and their analyses of the evening’s events, and, of course, the fashion. While the palpable interest in what the stars’ don down the red carpet is understandable, the meticulous level at which they are judged for every crease, crevice and curve is worrying. The criticisms focus less on the actuality of the dress, and more on the subject’s ability to wear it. Unsurprisingly then, those that feature more regularly on these lists are not the six-foot-tall runway models à la Elle Macpherson and Cara Delvigne, but those comedians and actresses that look not unlike ourselves (well ourselves on a good day with the help of some fake tan and flattering lighting). Ultimately ‘the worst dressed’ diminishes these wom-
ens’ achievements, and transforms a platform for celebration to a red carpeted battlefield, where only a select few can win. And ‘winning’ by the standards set out is no easy feat. For every Meryl told she looks frumpy, there’s a Kim K that looks too slutty. The pervading judgement is that a dress’s primary function is to ‘show off ’ a figure to the best of its ability, and if it can’t do that, well let it burn, and let the celeb and their stylist go down with it. Funnily enough, men very rarely feel the wrath of the ‘slideshow of shame’, that is of course, unless the woman ‘on their arm’ (seriously The Daily Mail?!) is letting him down by exposing a bra strap- cue reader actually fainting from the pure scandal of it all. Intersex competitiveness while at first viewed as a branch of Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’, has in more recent times, been understood to be yet another internalisation of the patriarchy (surprise!). Noam Shpancer, explained in Pschycology Today that “As women come to consider being prized by men their ultimate source of strength, worth, achievement and identity, they are compelled to battle other women for the prize.” In a time of pussies that grab back these media outlets seek to undo our hard work and further ingrain the idea that a woman’s worth lies not in her achievements, but in her ability to be a sex symbol. And it doesn’t just start and end at Hollywood’s glossy gates either; this pitting of women against one another has come to pervade every aspect of our lives, and is something I myself am guilty of. I can’t help but look back at my obsessive search for the perfect prom dress (even the postman was alarmed at the sheer number of ASOS orders) as centred not on my desire to feel good about myself, but my desperate need to do well in the inevitable rankings that would follow. Luckily, as a 16 year old from a rural village in the middle of nowhere, the general population had little to say about my
Unpaid Internships: The bane of the industry
final choice (a metallic number). For the attendees of the Oscars however, its a very different story. Thanks to twitter anyone in the world has a voice that can be heard by anyone else in the world, and as powerful as that is, it’s also scary. The shaming of these celebs no longer stops at the gossip sites, but reaches each and every corner of the web… its inescapable and we’re all guilty of it.
“The shaming of these celebs no longer stops at the gossip sites, but reaches each and every corner of the web… it’s inescapable and we’re all guilty of it”
So what can we do to ward off the worst-dressed lists? We can start at home, building up not only ourselves but those around us; be that a fire emoji on your bestie’s selfie or a smile at the girl in Topshop’s changing rooms. The truth is, when we click on these articles, when we RT Perez Hilton, when we smirk at an Instagram post, we are saying ‘this is ok, this is acceptable’, and its not. So next time you’re scrolling through the Daily Fail’s column of shame (we’ve all done it) remember that to tear someone else down, is an act of violence against yourself, and you deserve better.
Instagram: @ ybdfashion
E
very young person aspiring to one day have a role in the fashion industry, in one of the endless roles including buying, designing and retail, will at one point in their academic career see themselves turn into a weak, house-elf-esque version of themselves in order to advance under the tutelage of a fashion leader in an internship. They will meekly struggle under piles of Starbucks and scarf samples, in the manner of eternal doormat Anne Hathaway in her role in “The Devil Wears Prada”. It’s bizarre that the dream of most young fashion graduates is to out away their newly learned talents and shiny skills in favour of completing menial tasks. and to make things worse, it’s for incredibly egotistical, selfish rich people who don’t care about the futures of their young, overly enthusiastic minions. The worst part about these internships is that they are essentially 3 or so months of glorified slavery, as they are so often unpaid. These large fashion conglomerates seem to think it an honour for innocent young graduates to work horrendous hours at tasks far below their standard of talent, for little to no pay.
“It’s bizarre that the dream of most young fashion graduates is to out away their newly learned talents and shiny skills in favour of completing menial tasks” Fashion houses such as Urban Outfitters are offering these unpaid placements as “valuable work experience”- sorry, but I don’t think I need to slave away for months on end to learn how to make a decent cappuccino or use a photocopier. Please forgive me, fashion industry, for assuming that the endless work we students do in order to gain the necessary qualifications to contribute to your businesses should be shoved aside so that we can be at your beck and call. It was stupid of me to assume that young, qualified people should be paid to complete jobs well below their station. It may be the fierce and perhaps slightly aggressive egalitarian in me, but I find it most sickening that this common occurrence within the industry perpetuates the unfair advantage of wealthy, well connected young people over those without these useful relationships but often with just as much talent and drive. It is not a question of ability anymore, it is a question of who’s daddy knows the CEO of which company, and who can afford to work unpaid for months whilst living in expensive cities like London or New York. There will be no mobility within the industry until this hierarchy is abolished, and sad though it is, the Anne Hathaway’s of the world will continue to tremble in front of their dictators- sorry, bosses- and those lucky enough to have rich relations will continue to achieve that which others, given the opportunity, could prosper at just as easily.
20. arts
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Arts Editors: Tamsin Daisy Rees and Jonathan Hastings Online Editor: Meg Holtom
Quentin Blake: Inside Stories
Amy Baird spent a sunny afternoon at The Laing Gallery’s highly anticipated exhibition
The Guardian’s Gargantuan cock up Charlotte Hill
T
he National Portrait Gallery in London sees the annual return of the BP Portrait Award, which is pretty much the Bees Knees in a world of portraits where knees are the best part of the bee. Which is why many readers (or more accurately, skimmers) of the Guardian would have been delighted to see its headline, stating, “BP portrait award shortlist offers up all-female line-up”. Especially when you consider that this award isn’t just available for women, initially this appears to be great news. Yay! Women in art! Successful women in art! Yay for empowerment! Yay for progress! Yay for reaching equality! Yay fo- hang on a second, I didn’t think Thomas was a woman’s name? Come to mention it, neither is Benjamin nor Antony.
“And this is where the Guardian made, what is quite frankly, an embarrassingly painful mistake” And this is where the Guardian made, what is quite frankly, an embarrassingly painful mistake. Because what they meant to say was not that the award shortlist offers an all-female line up of contestants, but rather an all-female line up of subjects- those featured in the portraits. The artists who painted these women are in fact men. Oh dear. Now this is where it gets tricky. Firstly, there is quite blatantly a distinct lack of equality. Out of all of entries, three candidates were chosen and they were all men; where is the celebration of the abundance of incredible female artists that we have? Could we also argue that this is just another example of how we are still facing issues with the male gaze and objectification of women? Are we still worth less than the sum of our parts, a visceral symbol, existing mainly for the observation and recrafting of male artists? That’s maybe to do with it. I don’t think that’s the full story, however. I don’t want to be too critical on the artists themselves. After all Benjamin Sullivan painted his wife breastfeeding his child, Thomas Ehretsmann also painted his wife, and Antony Williams his close friend. I doubt that to the artists, these women were merely a sexualised being they felt inspired to replicate for little more than their physical appearance. They have bonded relationships with their subjects, and I imagine, like an artist in any form of media, they felt inspired to capture a person rather than purely ‘a woman’.
“Could we also argue that this is just another example of how we are still facing issues with the male gaze” I am not dismissing that objectification is still more than present, in fact rife, in media and art. But I think rather than a process of over-sexualisation by the artists themselves, this occurs later through the manner in which these portraits are presented within the media. There seems to be a strange collectivisation of female subjects, where their culmination sadly deflates any personality or individuality that was attempted to be expressed. Whilst to the artists, these subjects are close friends, partners and people, to the media and consequently the general public, they are ‘women’. They do not deserve to be on the shortlist in any form other than paint, which, according to the Guardian, is sufficient.
T
he Laing Art Gallery, founded in 1901 by Newcastle businessman Alexander Laing, is not only home to an internationally renowned collection but also regularly hosts changing exhibitions. The last time I visited the Laing was in June last year for their ‘Alice in Wonderland’ exhibition, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so when I heard about ‘Quentin Inside Stories’ (March 11th – July 8th) I was immediately excited and expectations were high.
“I was immediately excited and expectations were high”
Sir Quentin Blake played a very special part in capturing my childhood imagination. I have always loved to read and so have a special affinity to Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, alongside Blake’s charming illustrations the story was brought to life in a way my imagination alone, could not. After reading Matilda I went on to read other Dahl classics, delighting at his and Blake’s seamless partnership, as I am sure many others have. Whilst admiring each of Blake’s perfectly sketched and distinctive drawings I felt sure I’d seen his artwork in a story I’d had as a smaller child. Eventually I worked out that one of my favourite bed time stories, ‘The Story of the Dancing Frog’ was also part of Blake’s repertoire. In fact, in preparation for visiting the
exhibition I dug out my carefully stowed away and battered childhood copy of this story and at 22 years old still marvelled at Blake’s handiwork.
“Fathers and children, boyfriends and girlfriends sat side by side at the drawing stations; noting Blake’s pearls of wisdom”
The exhibition was of course perfection, yes I may be somewhat biased as a book worm and geeky Museum Studies MA student, but looking around the gallery children and adults alike were admiring the images, and enjoying the opportunity to view Blake’s images in the flesh. Fathers and children, boyfriends and girlfriends sat side by side at the drawing stations; noting Blake’s pearls of wisdom that ‘a drawing can fulfil its purpose and still be scratchy and instinctive and badly-behaved.’ The sample of art works on show were an ardent selection of Blake’s drawings. The first section featured young children stories, and contained images from Blake’s own ‘Story of the Dancing Frog’, ‘Cockatoos’ and ‘Clown’ as well as images from both Blake’s partnership with John Yeoman in creating ‘The Wild Washerwomen’, and Rus-
sell Hoban in ‘How Tom Beat Captain Najork’. The second section featured a quirky reading corner as well as samples from ‘Danny Champion of the World’, ‘The Twits’ and ‘Matilda’. Here visitors were warned that the next section featured images from two books designed for an older audience. The final section had images Blake had created for Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ and Michael Rosen’s ‘Sad Book’. I had never heard of either before so enjoyed seeing something new. ‘Sad Book’ left a lasting impression – a book written by the author based on his own life, explaining his feelings following the death of his son.
“Children and adults alike were admiring the images, and enjoying the opportunity to view Blake’s images in the flesh” Honestly, the exhibition exceeded my expectations, I had a lovely afternoon ambling around the gallery, and for a little over £5 a ticket, it was a more than pleasant and affordable way to spend an afternoon - I recommend a visit.
Gabrielle Woods’ Spotlight: mu’ud Specialising in experimental, analogue photography, Gabrielle uses urban and rural landscapes, and conflicting objects to convey ambiguous narratives as portraiture, through her bizzare personal logic If you would like to see more of Gabrielle’s work, please follow her at http://gabriellewoods.tumblr.com/
The Courier
arts .21
Monday 20 March 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | Instagram: @CourierArts
Shia LaBeouf proves he can just DO IT!
SU Review
Sam Blackburn and Chris Wilkinson discuss Shia LaBeouf’s artistic retreat to Lapland
S
o Shia LeBeouf went off to a cabin in Lapland to work on his “art”. Well if it’s anything like his cringe worthy “He Will Not Divide Us” video then it’s best off for our sanity he stays there. But has he really gone off there to work on art? Or is he hiding from the backlash of trolls who’ve been on his case since Donald Trump become president? What could his art be though? If anyone hasn’t seen his “He will not divide us” piece, it was essentially a livestream outside an article where both himself and other people would keep on saying the message, “He will not divide us” repeatedly. It was quite funny, as he was preaching to the world to not be divided over something
S
kipping past all the platitudes about modern day culture, it goes without saying that people in our time are subject to a level of scrutiny previously reserved only for Plantagenet royalty, and other victims of Shakespearean smear campaigns. With far less skill and far more fervour, people have attempted to shoot down our strange-hued star in the sky, Shia LaBeouf, and with myW own limited skill I feel it is my duty to defend him.
“He is simply an actor who has fallen into an existential crisis, much like every English student when they first read The Waste Land”
Let me be the first to say that Shia is not a visionary performance artist, he is simply an actor
as stupid as having conflicting political ideologies, he ended up getting arrested for assaulting someone. Now in all fairness, some of the stuff the trolls did went a little bit too far, but by lashing out aggressively at people who were obviously trolling him seems like a recipe to divide people.
“This is clearly just a case of a spoilt millennial actor treading where he is not welcome”
go all the way to Finland in a secret location to work on art? It sounds like LeBeouf ’s preaching has landed him in some trouble with the merciless folks at 4chan. Sure, I think there’s much better things to do than troll an actor and I don’t agree with a lot of the political sentiments that 4chan make, yet I do find it funny just how much this has back fired on him. Look, I’m sure Mr LeBeouf is a lovely person who loves his family very dearly, but this is clearly just a case of a spoilt millennial actor treading where he is not welcome. Sam Blackburn
The fact that he has gone all the way to Lapland to work on his art is interesting though. Why who has fallen into an existential crisis, much like every English student when they first read The Wasteland. One of the largest problems when dealing with Shia is that people expect far too much from him, when in action all that Shia has done is simply experiment with his own reputation. Far from the work of people like Marina Abramovic, the essential element of LaBeoufs work is that his own reputation is being hammered apart in order to see what really is underneath the invented crust of celebrity culture. In this sense, LaBeouf is the only person from the top exploring this facet of society. In deconstructing his own image, he is allowing us to see how celebrity culture is both perceived and conceived, and the fact that so many people treat him with scorching fury because of this itself gives us a little look into how we want our idols to be and how to behave. His criticism proves his point, and even though we may find his stunts slightly humorous and
sometimes farcical, they reveal more than we would like, just like when we look behind the fridge. Does anyone remember when he watched all his films back to back? When he wore a paper bag to the Oscars, ‘I’m not famous anymore’ painted over the front? He is a satirist if anything, and I don’t care what anyone says, Even Stevens will always be a banger. Chris Wilkinson
REVIEWS
Distant Neighbours @ Tyneside Cinema
Helena Buchanan examines the refugee crisis and people facing the end of the world
U
nless you have been living in some sort of bunker for most of your life you have probably seen/heard something about the refugee crises. Unless your empathy has dramatically diminished through lack of vitamin D, or an overdose of canned beans because of your bunker-dwelling, you hopefully give a shit about this crisis. Wood’s exhibition offers an interesting perspective on the current situation, not focussing on the people most often brought to the attention of the public—children coming off dinghies or being dragged out of vans, or victims of racial attacks somewhere nearby. Instead she looks at the lives of displaced farmers, relatively well-off in their previous lives, now forced to move from rural Syria to Jordan, often to large cities which they are ill-adapted to.
The exhibition comprises of a few television screens showing interviews with these farmers, all around a large screen of a donkey moving around
“Unless your empathy has dramatically diminished through lack of vitamin D ... you hopefully give a shit about this crisis” a camp of some sort. The interviews are shot dispassionately, the questions do not appear to be designed to provoke a dramatic emotional response, rather to find out what these people have gone through, and what they can hope for the future.
The question of these men’s futures is an interesting one—I remember being told that within my lifetime the world would be at war over food. These men do, perhaps, the only work which needs to be done, farming and feeding the people, yet because of the conflict they cannot. This, perhaps, shows us the beginning of the end of the world—because of war they cannot farm, because there is no food there will be more war, once fertile lands will be ploughed by bombs rather than tender hands. One comment “We used to water the ground… it was the most beautiful thing” will stay with me above all. This exhibition isn’t big, though the cushions you can lie on while you watch the interviews are—I would highly recommend a visit.
Lizzie J Klotz To Suit @ THE BALTIC Carys Rose Thomas serendipitously became one with the birds and their sexy dance I actually stumbled upon Lizzie J Klotz’s ‘To Suit’ in The Baltic by accident, thinking I was going to see something entirely different. What I ended up seeing was a brilliant piece
“It showed two people helping each other, but also using the other to move themselves forward”
of live dance-theatre, exploring the relationship between men and women. The two performers were outstanding. It was evident that they were dancers, but not in that über pretentious showy-offy way. Their movements varied from graceful leaps across the room to the kind of embarrassing hand-jive moves your great uncle whips out after two bottles of wine at your
cousin’s wedding. This variation made the moves feel almost accessible, in the sense that you looked at them dancing and thought “I could do that”, knowing deep down you 100% did not have the stamina or ability it takes to make something so skillful look completely effortless. The two’s dance resembled some sort of bird mating dance which I found interesting, as it boiled all the trivial politics of human relationships to being not all that dissimilar from a mere bird mating dance. One really interesting chunk of the performance involved the two facing the audience and making various improvised chirping/panting/laughing sounds, bouncing off each-other in order to figure out what noise to change to and when. This bit seemed to show a different side to the relationship between man and woman. It showed two people helping each other, but also
using the other to move themselves forward. It showed an alliance and equality between the two genders that I would be more than happy to see emulated more often in real life.
“It boiled all the trivial politics of human relationships to being not all that dissimilar from a mere bird mating dance”
The performance was a funny, thought provoking and beautiful one. I’d definitely recommend you go have a look at a recorded version of it on Youtube, it will not disappoint.
Stand-up Comedy from Lee Ridley a.k.a the Lost Voice Guy Chris Wilkinson
O
n Tuesday evening, I very reluctantly sat down in the lower levels of the Students Union. In my hand a plastic cup of tap water, my friends beside me having chosen Lemonade and Beer. Thin waves of water fell over the lip of my cup and splashed my crotch, giving the effect I had urinated myself. Although no one had noticed, it certainly was not a good start to the night, as I was about to engage in something I generally try to avoid watching. Stand-up comedy is something I usually associate with the screeching of Michael McIntyre or the doughy, powerful unfunniness of Roy Chubby Brown. But after an hour of watching Lee Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy), I gained some solace from the knowledge that there are some people in this country who are using comedy for its noblest purpose, its power to educate. Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy for his inability to speak, an effect of his cerebral palsy) came to Newcastle as a part of Disability Awareness Week - the 4 day long event which, as you may have seen, has been advertised around campus.
“But after an hour of watching Lee Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy), I gained some solace from the knowledge that there are some people in this country who are using comedy for its noblest purpose, its power to educate”
In an extremely candid performance, Ridley demonstrated beautifully and personally the week’s catchphrase that ‘starting conversations breaks down barriers’. Moments of touching reflection were followed by merciless piss-taking, and his double-edged sword spared none as he exposed the laughable anti-people policies of the Conservative government whilst also ridiculing the oversensitive types, who by gentle insistence degrade the disabled by offering to be a 5 minute carer at every discernible opportunity. This was balanced, however, by relating to the general frailties of the British Public – to our social and sexual awkwardness – and understanding that he has all the right to be a ‘bastard’ as the rest of us.
“Needless to say I had involuntary urinated myself at the end anyway thanks to Lost Voice Guy” Needless to say I had involuntary urinated myself at the end anyway thanks to Lost Voice Guy, which I imagine was his intention the whole time; he doesn’t want your pity or your sympathy, he wants
22. music
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Music Editors: Sophie Ahmed, Serena Bhardwaj & Ben Grundy
Preview: Evolution Emerging 2017 Toon In
Music Editor Ben Grundy talks to Palace frontman Leo Wyndham and guitarist Rupert Turner about student bands and The Cluny So coming off the back of a show in Newcastle – how did you find the city as an experience from a band’s perspective? Leo Wyndham: It was really fun. It was a wicked venue. BG: The Cluny, right? Rupert Turner: Yeah a really cool venue – awesome. LW: The building’s wicked and the whole area is amazing. We sat outside in The Ship Inn and had a nice civilized pint before the show. The gig itself was great too, everyone was really nice. It’s always fun playing in a cool city like Newcastle. Unfortunately, we didn’t get enough time to explore as we’d like but maybe next time. BG: Well, at least you found a pub. RT: Yeah that’s the most important thing! For those less aware of your story, how did it all start? LW: It all just started for fun and we’ve known each other since we were 13. We’d all been playing instruments from a young age and thought it’d be a fun thing to do in the evenings. It wasn’t really for anything – just for fun. Then we put a couple of songs out online and we got picked up really quickly – when we had only two songs online. Following that, we just started gigging constantly in London. At the time as well, Rupert was in like five other bands or something crazy so we all were all doing our own kind of things. It happened quite naturally I guess. Everything has been a bonus as we never thought it was going to go anywhere – we certainly didn’t expect it to so it’s all been a surreal blur.
“We’d all been playing instruments from a young age” Is there advice you’d give to our student bands from what you’ve been through so far? LW: Trust your own voice. RT: Trust what makes you happy as well. Don’t try and make it sound like another band. LW: I’d like to say I write from an honest place. It’s okay to assume a character with lyrics but, for me, the things I connect with the most are based on my own experiences. So, all that and work hard. Also, don’t get stressed out by your instrument. I remember when I was first learning guitar and, at the beginning, you just think “this sucks” but, eventually, it clicks. Just keep going and get your music out there to spread the word. In terms of the album So Long Forever, how was that as an experience? RT: A weird one really. It partially fell together but then took forever to finish. We’d never been in a position where we’d had such time constraints and pressure. It was good as it made us work hard though. LW: It took like 3 months of 7 days a week in tiny rooms so we were almost losing our mind. At the same time, it was a great experience as we learnt so much and got to work with a proper producer. The producer made it fun as well – he was pretty cool with the same sense of humour as us. On the days it wasn’t going well, we’d end up watching weird comedies on Youtube and then go home – it was great! In terms of the album, we were pleased with the results and it was nice to tick off the first album.
“It was nice to tick off the first album”
Do you feel any pressure following on from your initial success? LW: I guess you always put a little bit of pressure on yourself and that’s a good thing – as long as you don’t let it get into your head too much so it changes your writing style so it’s more self-conscious. We just continue doing what we do every day – working through and fleshing out ideas and it seems to be working out pretty well.
Make sure you follow us on Spotify at https://play.spotify. com/user/thecourierdoesmusic
Sam Blackburn gives us all the info on this year’s Evolution Emerging festival, which takes place in 10 venues in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle, on the last Saturday of May
E
volution Emerging is the latest form of the Evolution festival which has been going on for many years now. Evolution has seen itself go from a Free festival with some decent acts on like Maximo Park to a cheapish weekend for the Youth of the North East to explore alcohol, while simultaneously sharing the latest local talent. So who’s on the bill? Lulu James is one of the headliners. Admittedly, I’d never heard of her but after listening to a few tracks on Spotify, she seems alright. Personally, it didn’t rock my world, but it wasn’t bad all and probably decent if you’re into that type of music. The next headliner is the band I’d nominate for the most pretentious name of the bill, Coquin Migale. I gave them a little listen on Spotify too. Yet again, not my cup of tea music wise, but if you’re into well-dressed people singing indie rock, you’ll certainly enjoy them. The final headlining act is the band Eat Fast. Some nice guitar work in their music, very grungy vibes too. If you’re going to go to see any of these headliners, make sure it’s these guys, they seem pretty talented. Songs such as ‘Fenham Dreadlock’ and ‘Byker Drone’ highlight their focus on the local scene and they have been doing shows at venues such as Tyne Bar and The Cluny in recent times.
ing said, I was quite disappointed that Shamu was a band made up of a few kids and not the whale.
“Evolution Emerging looks worth a visit to support the local scene” Evolution Emerging looks worth a visit because it’s really important to support the local music scene and the artists within it. The North East has been crying out for a big artist to get behind for a long time and Evolution Emerging could be where they arise. I must admit personally I reckon there’s a few amendments i’d make - why not get MC Rockeye, MC Stompin, MC Tazo, etc up there and let them do a set of the New Monkey? It’d be a change to the alternative/indie music and would be brilliant - or at least it is in my dreams.
My only issue with Evolution Emerging is its emblematic of the music industry in general. We lack bands with a unique identity. Hopefully, this year is the year we unearth some quality acts we can really get behind and promote around the North East’s venues.
“Tickets are a meagre £10 and this could be the year we unearth some quality local acts” Evolution Emerging 2017 takes place on Saturday 27th May and tickets are a meagre £10. Basically, the price of a couple of pints so why not pop down if you’ve got an evening free to spend in the infamous Tyneside sunshine?
“If you’re into well-dressed people singing indie rock, you’’ll enjoy Coquin Migale” After those three, the rest of the acts didn’t catch my eye and I had to google pretty much every single one of them. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth a visit though - imagine the hipster value of being able to say you unearthed your love for a new band in the depths of Ouseburn Valley. That be-
Record Store Day: does it need a re-vinyl?
Following the recent record store day excitement, Alice Wilson questions whether the scheme is simply a money-making ploy or instead a sincere celebration of all things music
I
t’s 2017- the world has never been more globalised, trade has never been more efficient, you can travel to the other side of the world in a matter of hours, and within seconds everyone in the world can know what your lunch looked like via Instagram. So why is it that, walking past HMV in Eldon, I see in the window the latest releases’ artwork, Ed Sheeran’s Divide and Gorrilaz’ Humanz, displayed not on posters or even CDs, but on the sleeves of huge vinyl records? Surely in a world with regular missions into space and hair transplants, a diamond pick up running along the grooves on a polyvinyl chloride disc is slightly outdated?
“It’s arty, it’s ‘cool’, it’s ‘edgy’” Well, apparently not. Statistics show that vinyl sales in the UK have increased five-fold since 2009, with the increased popularity leading to huge amounts of investment in record pressing facilities across the world. So why the new obsession with something that costs double what you’d pay for a CD or download and is completely impractical and immobile? Well mostly, it’s arty, it’s ‘cool’, and it’s ‘edgy’. I know it’s more cringey than a sock-and-sandal clad father trying to be down with his daughter’s male friends, but it’s true. Vinyls (especially vinyl sleeves) are just cool. The artwork, especially of the classic albums (Rumours, The Dark Side of the Moon, Abbey Road, Four Symbols) can be found covering the walls of every middle-class semi in the trendy part of any city. This could also be put down to the fact that the kind of places selling them aren’t just junky second hand stores or specialist music shops, but places like Urban Outfitters, John Lewis and even ASOS, all promoting the sale of them in all sizes and colours. And of course, what with vintage Instagram filters making every photo taken look at least twenty years old, a vinyl record just fits in beautifully with this new surge of old-school coolness in our culture.
But surely this fashion movement has just been exploited by record companies who, wanting an excuse to make more money are deciding to rerelease albums in vinyl form at 200% the original asking price? Well, yes. But this is only exploitative in the same way that making posters out of impressionist paintings or re-selling a series of books with cover art from the movies is. And having said that, when inflation is taken into consideration, they really are a lot cheaper than they would have been to a 1970s teenager. Aside from this is the fact that the quality of sound achieved from the vinyl is far superior to that of anything that can be achieved
on an MP3 file. Don’t get me wrong, there are some excellently mastered CD albums out there, but any musical engineer will tell you that it’s the vitality and texture of the songs permanently imprinted in the depths of the grooves makes the vinyl sound so special, unlike the dynamically restrictive digital methods more commonly used today.
“This is only exploitative in the same way re-selling a series of books with cover art from the movies is” And what’s more, as the vinyl charts will prove, the likes of Adele and The 1975 are alongside David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac in the bestselling vinyl LPs of 2016, keeping the magic wholesomeness of the vinyl record alive, whilst reviving some of the greatest albums of all time in their original forms. Bravo.
The Courier
music .23
Monday 8 May 2017
Humanz
S
o, Humanz, the first album from Gorillaz since 2010, was released on 28th April. Once again, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett reunite animated members Murdoc, 2-D, Noodle and Russell alongside a host of reallife collaborators ranging from De La Soul to Kelela and Noel Gallagher. Speculation about the band’s return built after ‘Hallelujah Money’, featuring Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine, was released on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. A deeply powerful, but somewhat disappointing song, it sets the political undercurrent running through the album. Humanz was begun long before the US election and Trump’s theoretical ascension was a source of inspiration for the album, explaining much of the darker, ominous atmosphere. Nonetheless, post-election Albarn confessed he edited out any reference to Trump as he didn’t “want to give the most famous man on earth any more fame” – a fair claim, if slightly hypocritical.
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk
by Gorillaz deliver. Despite working with Gorillaz on the Grammy Award winning ‘Feel Good Inc’, De La Soul’s input on ‘Momentz’ disappointingly lacks the flow of the former or the witty fun of ‘Superfast Jellyfish’.
Did You Know...
Despite having a few too many ‘Zs’ in their names, the tracks are generally a welcome comeback from Gorillaz. With an intro and interludes (including a ‘Life of Brian’ moment in ‘The NonConformist Oath’) Humanz thankfully feels more like the older albums than The Fall. The album is a real mix, covering many genres from Indie Rock to R&B, with Hip-Hop and some Dub in between. However, it’s the jazzy beats of ‘Strobelite’ (feat. Peven Everett) that really get Humanz going, whilst the melodic ‘Andromeda’ (feat. D.R.A.M.) and ‘Busted and Blue’ provide welcome relief from a slightly terrifying Grace Jones in the otherwise dull ‘Charger’. Unfortunately, the album does not consistently
The two-disc deluxe edition comes with five new tracks, including a far more optimistic end with ‘Circle of Friendz’. It also has a super stylish cover, unfolding to feature the characters in photorealistic style and to face you with the powerful proclamation ‘Those who fear music are dangerous’. The release of Humanz is just the start of an entire multimedia campaign. Prior to its release, the album was available to be streamed in certain locations via their app, which also features augmented reality versions of its characters. Gorillaz have announced a US tour and they will be headlining their own festival on 10th June in Margate’s Dreamland amusement park (yes, you
DAMN
That’s Your Lot
Kendrick Lamar
Blaenavon
A
“A sea of messy, personal contradictions and confessions, deliberate in its conceptual looseness” DAMN. represents a significant moment in Kendrick’s discography. It’s less honed conceptually than its predecessors, but that’s partially the point. Kendrick is a man of his own flaws and struggles; he’s not the black messiah, the African-American saviour. But by God, he’s most certainly the best in the game. Gregory Rosenvinge
can go on all the rides). Called ‘Demon Dayz’, it will be their first live show in the UK since 2010’s ‘Escape to Plastic Beach’ tour (sadly tickets sold out within hours). A ten episode Gorillaz TV series has also been announced, airing next year. Hewlett has revealed that despite their recent 3D CGI depictions and dabbling with interactive 360° visuals in the video for ‘Saturnz Barz’, the band will be animated in their traditional 2D style. Humanz is a satisfying revival for Gorillaz, moving the music in a slightly new direction. It rarely feels as clever or catchy as Demon Days, but for an album inspired by the scary thought of Donald Trump ruling the most powerful country in the world, perhaps it doesn’t need to. It’s a bleaker reflection of modern times, but one that entertains almost every step of the way and promises far more to come. Alex Moore
“Inspired by the scary thought of Donald Trump ruling the most powerful country in the world”
fter the incredible success of 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar’s follow-up album DAMN, seems to be a concerted effort to subdue his messianic status within contemporary music. Gone are the sweeping, overarching concepts of the analytical socio-economic journey through Compton in good kid, m.A.A.d city and the politically-tinged free-jazz and African-American call to arms of TPAB. Instead, Kendrick’s lyricism turns more inward, raw and chaotic, almost determined to demonstrate his vices and struggles to a fanbase who think he could do no wrong. Lines such as ‘I got dark, I got evil, that rot inside my DNA’ seem to confess to his audience that he isn’t the saviour that TPAB’s rallying cry of black pride and inspiration suggested (‘The world is endin’, I’m done pretendin’’). Rather, DAMN. is a sea of messy, personal contradictions and confessions, deliberate in its conceptual looseness following TPAB’s crowning near-perfection. Despite this, the album’s biggest flaw is its instrumentation. Tracks such as YAH. sound stale, whilst LOYALTY. and LOVE. are examples of commercially-minded instrumentation where Kendrick isn’t really playing to his strengths- they are more than listenable and enjoyable, it’s just you can’t help but feel that Kendrick is above this.
Ska Happenings
I
...that Damon Albarn is the coolest Dad there is? His daughter, Missy is a massive fan of Danny Brown and Vince Staples, so he only went and got the rappers to feature on his new album. Another fun fact is that Missy is named after Hip Hop legend Missy Elliot , who Damon is supposedly a big fan of.
Memories...Do Not Open The Chainsmokers
E
“The LP has restored my faith in British indie”
verybody loves to hate The Chainsmokers but I’ll say it from the start – this album is good. In terms of global success over the past year there are few artists who can challenge The Chainsmokers’ stratospheric rise to stardom. Memories… Do Not Open is a confident effort, superb in fact when considering it is a debut album. The Chainsmokers have honed their sound somewhere between the hard EDM beats of Skrillex or deadmau5 and the over-produced pop of Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber – something which has led to criticism from EDM purists. Tracks such as ‘The One’ and ‘Last Day Alive’, featuring American country duo Florida Georgia Line, are slow ballads that succeed in being lyrically touching and vulnerable which is where previous singles ‘Closer’ and ‘Paris’ did fall flat. There are also songs that hold more of an EDM presence. ‘It Won’t Kill Ya’ with French singer Louane is one of the standout efforts on the record with a heavier drop and ‘Wake Up Alone’ follows suit. This mix of sounds adds a charm to the record and highlight the group’s undeniable versatility.
After the beautifully sombre solo piano of ‘Let Me See What Happens Next’ it’s as if someone hacked the turbo switch on lead singer Ben Gregory’s emotions as what actually does happen next is an outpouring of angst and passion in some of the most immersive post-rock flavoured music I have heard from a British band since Foals’ Total Life Forever. ‘Alice Come Home’ is the turning point where the trio seem to forget about that optimism and launch into heavy guitar-driven epicness. This continues right through to the end, where the synth and angelic backing vocals reverberate through the crescendoing ‘Swans’, an 8-minute piece which is the true gem of this album. The LP has restored my faith in British indie and has wedged their foot firmly in that door. Adam Stratton
The best previously unreleased track on Memories… Do Not Open has to be ‘Break Up Every Night’, which has already amassed over 15 million plays on Spotify. Listeners shouldn’t be confused by the song’s painfully simple (yet annoyingly catchy) intro as verses verging on rock begin thirty seconds in to make an upbeat head-bopper. What The Chainsmokers have done over the last year may be a plague to the world of EDM - they were even called the “Nickleback of EDM”, and exactly what is wrong with the music industry right now - but who isn’t a sucker for catchy tunes that are more infectious than Basement’s trebles? Anyway, Nickleback aren’t that bad… are they? Toby Bryant
f you’re at all unconvinced that a band’s debut album is the most important and most painstaking they’ll ever produce, these four words will assure you - “It’s here! Our baby!”. Probably among a collective “oh go on then, just one more single” from their management, half of That’s Your Lot dribbled its way onto Spotify before release and with a few listens I was a bit dubious that that cry of delight from this budding Hampshire band would seduce me into listening to their album. Oh boy, was I in for a surprise. This is a record that progresses like you’re writing an essay at a casual pace and then suddenly stampede through it when realising you only have half the word count and 3 days to submit it. The first half greets you with the optimistic hooky pop of ‘Orthodox Man’ and happy-go-lucky ‘Lonely Side’ as pleasant, easy-listening indie, but really it’s the second half where, to put it as bluntly as possible, shit gets real.
“Catchy tunes that are more infectious than Basement’s trebles”
Jack Coles educates us on an explosive dispute in the Ska-Punk world, between Streetlight Manifesto and Victory records
S
treetlight Manifesto are a band that arose from the ashes of Catch 22. They play a type of ska-punk that has real 60s jazz elements to it. If you don’t recognise the name, then try listening to ‘Would You Be Impressed’, ‘Point/ Counterpoint’, or ’Keasbey Nights’; those are possibly their three most famous songs. Back in 2003, Streetlight Manifesto released their first album, Everything Goes Numb, via label Victory Records. They then signed a contract with Victory, where Streetlight would produce three more albums, and Victory would take care of distribution and pay royalties. And as any struggling band will tell you, getting signed is a pretty big deal. However, cracks in the relationship with Victory Records started to show. Victory had planned to re-release the first Catch 22 album, Keasbey Nights, with little more than updated cover art. Thomas Kalnocky (Streetlight frontman) said in interview that: “If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when a CD is re-released untouched sonically, with a new cover and maybe a live video, and kids are duped into buying this new edition of something they already have.”
“Cracks in the relationship with Victory Records started to show” This interview was later transcribed in a textto-speech format, and laid over the end of the final track of Keasbey Nights, a little “fuck you” moment to Victory Records. Tensions between Streetlight and Victory continued to rise with Streetlight’s third original album, The Hands That Thieve. Deadlines passed, and the album was pushed back nearly a year. Streetlight sold pre-orders of the album, but Victory refused to release it to them. As an apology to fans, the band sent off blank CDs with an extensive booklet full of pictures and poems. Victory also banned Thomas Kalnocky from releasing both his solo acoustic version of The Hands That Thieve, and the live EP that the band had recorded as a further apology to the fans. The acoustic version of the album was leaked anyway, and the CD contained a text file entitled ‘Fuck Victory.txt’. Over time, some bands (such as A Day to Remember) complained that Victory Records were very bad at paying them the appropriate royalties, a problem that Streetlight also encountered. Lawsuits flew around the label, some initiated by Victory, others merely instigated by them. In 2015, Streetlight Manifesto fell foul of Victory Records because of a dispute on whether or not an album full of covers (99 Songs of Revolution vol. 1) counted as part of their quota of four. Victory sued, with most media coverage stating that the amount of money they wanted was $1m. Streetlight later corrected everyone, saying that the lawsuit was actually for $5m.
“Victory sued, with most media coverage stating that the amount of money they wanted was $1m” The future of the band at that stage was uncertain for two years. Then, with literally no prior warning, on the 19th of April, 2017, the band announced that the dispute with Victory had been settled out of court. In exchange for an undisclosed sum of money, the band had complete ownership of the rights (including distribution) to all of their music. Details are few and far between, as neither Streetlight Manifesto nor Victory Records have been willing to comment. But given the fact that Kalnocky posted ten gifs of people dancing after the agreement, they are evidently pretty pleased with the outcome. Streetlight has been given a sock; Streetlight is free. Go follow us on intagram for live gig updates, fun pictures and the latest music gossip-
24.television
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
TV Editors: Luke Acton, Alison Scurfield and Dominic Corrigan
Throwback
Sam Blackburn on one of the most infamous moments in WWE
NUTV on tour
NUTV’s Head of Production, Haaris Qureshi, talks about the society’s trip to the National Student Television Association Conference, with stars galore!
O
This article discusses necrophilia and torture uring the Easter Break I made the decision to subscribe to the WWE Network to watch old episodes of Raw, Smackdown and matches featuring the greatest wrestler of all time, Chris Benoit. When I heard of the Throwback section in The Courier, I decided it would be a great time to give you readers a throwback to something a little bit different, the Katie Vick series of Monday Night Raw episodes. Picture this, it’s October 2002, both The Rock and Austin’s careers are pretty much done leaving Triple H as the guy to be the top star on Monday Night Raw. Triple H was the World Heavyweight Champion and playing the role as a heel (bad guy). Burn victim, brother of the Undertaker and murderer of both parents, Kane was somehow going through a run as babyface (good guy) being put into a feud with Triple H for the title. Sounds like any other episode of wrestling, right? Ah well this is where things get a little interesting.
D
“Most people cite this as the most infamous moment in Raw history, with good reason”
In true bad guy fashion, Triple H decides to bring up Kane’s crooked past. Of course, we all know this is going to be pretty juicy saying as Kane was meant to have killed both of his parents in a blaze. Triple H decides to bring up a girl from Kane’s past, known as “Katie Vick”. Katie Vick is revealed to be the ex-girlfriend of Kane who died after Kane crashed drunk driving home from a party with her. So this is a pretty dark storyline, somewhat uncomfortable, but after all wrestling is staged. A week later things took a turn for the worse. Triple H, wearing a Kane mask, went to the funeral home where Katie Vick’s coffin was. Triple H stepped over what was meant to be an effigy of her and start pretending to have sex with it. Most people cite this as the most infamous moment in Raw history, with good reason. The feud eventually died down after Triple H defeated Kane at the No Mercy PPV at the end of the month and Triple H went on to be a multi time World Champion and Kane went on to later bury his own brother alive, electrocute Shane McMahons manhood and let’s not get started on how he got Lita pregnant back in 2004… Although Necrophilia hasn’t been an idea used for storylines in the WWE since, there has still been some controversial angles like the aforementioned Kane and Lita storyline, Mohammed Hassan having masked men try and behead Undertaker the same day of the 7/7 bombings and the worst of all, the time when Randy Orton told Rey Mysterio that recently deceased friend, Eddie Guerrero was in hell. In the summer of 2008, the product entered a new PG era after years of edgy content. The product is still very much in this form, with wrestlers starting to show blood in matches only very recently. The closest thing to a cringeworthy segment was the recent House of Horror’s match between Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. It wasn’t cringey in an offensive way, more in the fact that it was awful. Fun fact, the guy who played Kane, Glenn Jacobs is actually now running for mayor of Tennessee. Typical politicians, having skeletons in their closets… Sam Blackburn
n the last day of March, NUTV sent two delegates, myself and News Executive Producer Karishma Joshi, to the 2017 National Student Television Association Conference, hosted this year by Guild TV, University of Birmingham’s student TV station. After arriving for the welcoming proceedings, the afternoon was spent socialising with the delegates from other stations, meeting their executive and comparing notes on everything from station operations, SU management and even NUS politics (Northumbria had a fun time gloating at me about how they stayed in the NUS while we disaffiliated).
“The use of framing a shot, positioning your subjects and especially focusing can all subtly change the story of your film”
The real activities started the next day, with numerous workshops, talks and panels – we attended the two double-hour workshops provided by the BBC Academy, the educational arm that the BBC runs. The morning workshop was called Smartphone Storytelling and was led by Senior Trainer Deirde Mulcahy. After giving a brief reminder on the rule of thirds, Mulcahy moved onto the interactive practicals where attendees used their smartphone to conduct interviews. Whilst we were shown some tips in doing so (such as AE/AF locking, being mindful in lighting and using the microphone on the headphones), the more important message of the workshop, despite the name, was not about how to use an iPhone to film with, but to ensure that everything you make
has a story. The use of framing a shot, positioning your subjects and especially focusing can all subtly change the story of your film. After a buffet lunch, we went to the second BBC Academy workshop, NaSTA does Newsround, where the attendees were split into two production teams, with each member filling in as one of the many roles in an average news show. Karishma volunteered to act as the director in our group, ensuring all the presenters kept to a strict time, everyone knew the running order and that the crew of around 15 knew what they were doing. She directed a mocked-up live Newsround episode, while I used my background as a presenter on NSR in my own role as the continuity announcer, introducing the show. As soon as the sessions had ended, it was a quick dash back to the hotel to get ready for the NaSTA Awards ceremony, held in University of Birmingham’s Great Hall. We got a chance to have a quick chat with TV journalism legend Fiona Bruce, but that would not be the last icon of the night.
Sharing a table with the lovely Torch TV from Hull, the entire hall was collectively thrilled to discover that the host of the evening was none other than Lizo Mzimba, who many of us grew up with watching on CBBC Newsround, and is an alumnus of the university. Mzimba led the awards with his engaging and entertaining style, leading up to the moment of the night when Fiona presented the Best On-Screen Female Award, prefaced by her pointing out that nearly all of the speeches given by stations receiving an award when both a male and female representative came onto the stage were given by the male delegate, before encouraging all the women in the room to get their voices heard, and not be silenced by men ‘who haven’t even started their career yet’, a sentiment that received standing applause. Sadly NUTV did not receive an award this year, though both The Courier Fashion Halloween Special (our collaborative project between the fashion section of this paper and ourselves) and Saffron Kershaw-Mee were shortlisted in their respective categories, representing the top five nominations. The night was capped off nicely by the opportunity to meet Lizo Mzimba, who came down to have quick chats with the stations after the ceremony The glamour of the conference over, the final order of business was the NaSTA AGM, before heading off home. The conference was an overall pleasure to attend, complimented with the chance to meet with our counterparts from other stations and the privilege of being given industry-level training sessions and networking opportunities with media figureheads. If you want to have a chance to work with NUTV next year, be it on an existing show or your own new idea, and possibly even to attend the 2018 conference in Sheffield, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@NewcastleUniTV) and watch out for announcements!
Rick and Morty’s anti-April fools Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon don’t give a fuck about you - Jacob Clarke
A
pril fools once again came around this year. No spectacular prank or public spectacle appeared to make its way into my news feed that day. To me, it was just another unproductive day of the Easter holidays, or so I thought. (cue Rick and Morty opening sequence). It turns out throughout the whole day, despite my constant focus on the internet as usual, I had been completely ignorant to the utterly impossible. To put this into some context, imagine Nathan Fillion went on live TV to announce Firefly season 2, or imagine that Gabe Newell (hailed creator of valve and steam) announced that Half-Life 3 is be made instantly available. These events have a miniscule probability of occurring. Arguably what happened April fool’s day 2017 was even more unlikely… Rick and Morty season 3 episode 1 was released… and somehow, I was oblivious.
“They announced one of the most anticipated shows of the last few years on the day when we least expected”
Dan Harmon and his cronies delivered the biggest anti-April fools days’ prank that it was possible to pull off. They announced one of the most anticipated shows of the last few years on the day when we least expected. We should have known better, this is Rick and Morty after all. Actually, we really should have known better. They actually told us it would be released at this time of year in an afternote of the season 2 finale. We were reintroduced to a fan favourite (Mr Poopy Butthole) who says we can expect the next season “in about a year and a half ”. This was just played off as teasing the audience, due to the nonchalant nature of the an-
nouncement within the clip. However somehow it took us all by surprise.
“This constant teasing has been intrinsically tied to season 3’s release” This constant teasing has been intrinsically tied to season 3’s release, with vague release rumours and Harmon’s own twitter teasing the fans. It got to the point where memes have been created about the release of season 3, overexaggerating the length of time it is taking to release it, in a similar way to half-life 3 memes. But did I manage to watch it in the end? Thankfully yes. I was rudely awoken at 3am by a constant barrage of messages emanating from my phone.
My friend declared that season 3 episode 1 was released yesterday, of course my instant reaction was disbelief. But once I realised this was no prank I scrawled the internet in search of the improbability. I ended up watching a twitch loop of the episode. It looked like versions of the episode were beginning to be shut down, so I was in luck. I managed to survive Harmon’s trickery this year. However, could Harmon pull of yet another stunt like this? He has proved his ability in recent years to be the king of the meta in his works (see community). And the recent proposal from Rick at the end of the episode suggesting he wants 9 seasons and simply wants to locate McDonalds Szechuan sauce has suggested another stunt has already begun with McDonalds promising to bring the sauce back all due to Harmon’s meddling.
The Courier
television.25
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
The Get Down Netflix
A
year on, the second part of Netflix’s 5 starrated musical drama, The Get Down, is now available to stream. With Disco, Hip Hop and 1970s New York City in the mix, a great time is guaranteed. Baz Luhrmann is the show’s producer, and whilst this is his first venture into TV, its cinematography is as vibrant and enchanting as the feature-length likes of Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby.
“One criticism of the show is the fact that Disco is presented in a bad light”
The show concerns a defining period in musical history, documenting the transition between Disco and Hip Hop through the bright eyes of a fictional group of teenagers living in The Bronx. In Part 1, viewers followed the initiation of Zeke Figaro (Justice Smith) into Hip Hop after meeting DJ Shaolin Fantastic (Shameik Moore), converting his love of poetry into one of rap and earning himself the moniker “Books”. Zeke and Shao eventually form a Hip Hop group alongside friends played by Jaden Smith, Skylan Brookes and Tremaine Brown Jr., which is inspired by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. We also follow the journey of Zeke’s childhood sweetheart Mylene Cruz, who dreams of being a Disco diva, and despite the aversion of her pious Pastor father played by Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame, she makes it with her debut single ‘Set Me Free’. Tensions rise in Part 2, with Zeke’s dilemma between pursuing music and applying to Yale, the music industry’s efforts to sexualise Mylene, and her father’s explosive fate…
“The parallels between fiction and fact are undoubtedly strengthened by the cast’s training Rap legends Grandmaster Flash, Curtis Brown and Nas.”
Throughout both parts, Hip Hop and Mylene’s success are threatened by “baddies” Fat Annie and
Peter Kay’s Car Share BBC iPlayer
T
he long awaited return of Peter Kay’s BAFTA winning Car Share came last month, after a two-year break from our screens. The series, this time just four episodes, was released in full on BBC iPlayer after episode one aired, perfect for the serial binge-watchers among you. Series two picked up where the first left off, with John (Kay) driving, listening to Hear’Say’s ‘Pure and Simple’ from the Now 48 CD gifted to him by Kayleigh (Sian Gibson) on their last car share home. With Kayleigh now living with her sister Mandy and family, we see her commuting through Manchester, all the while talking to John on the phone. Eventually, he picks her up on his way to work and we’re back to the same brilliant dynamic we all fell in love with in the first series. Who knew it was possible to become so emotionally invested in the lives of two colleagues
her son Cadillac, gangsters and owners of “Les Inferno” nightclub. One criticism of the show is the fact that Disco is presented in a bad light through the characterisation of this duo, but the edge is taken off by soulful scenes of Disco dancing soundtracked by classics like ‘(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Rock Steady’. And obviously this isn’t worse than how irritating Jaden Smith is. People on Twitter have commented on how the character of Dizzie is ‘just like’ Jaden in real life, and trust me, that isn’t a good thing. His psychedelic scenes with love interest and fellow graffiti artist Troy are pretty corny, and don’t contribute anything to the show’s overall purpose. T h e r e’s no gett i n g a w a y f r o m the fact that old school Hip Hop and Disco were cheesy, but we still love tracks like The Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Apache (Jump On It)’ and Earth Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ decades on. This explains The Get Down’s charm. Whilst I did retch at one scene in Part 2 where Zeke plays a 70s Romeo and does this ‘Mylene, Mylene, my butterscotch queen’ poem on his girlfriend’s
balcony, you do eventually accept the soppiness after growing emotionally attached to the characters. The best thing about The Get Down is its blending of gripping fictional storylines with historical a c - curacy. If you watch Netflix’s documentary Hip Hop Evolution afterwards, this all becomes clear. The parallels between fiction and fact are undoubtedly strengthened by the cast’s training by Rap legends Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and Nas. Details of another season haven’t been confirmed but it could be on t h e (turn)table as Part 2 has left the futures of Zeke and Mylene ambiguous.
traveling to and from work together each day? Memorable moments from episode one include John being cut up by a cyclist who stopped for a rest, placing his water bottle on the roof of John’s car. After exclaiming, “It’s a car, not a coaster!” John found himself the victim of a YouTube remix, showing him hurling abuse at the cyclist, which ended up going viral. The romance between John and Kayleigh is immediately amped up this series, with the will-they, won’t-they tension becoming almost unbearable. In episode two, we join John and Kayleigh driving to and from their work’s annual staff party. With Harry Potter fancy dress, cheesy 80s love songs provided by Forever FM and more of Gibson’s hilarious drunk acting which we saw in series one, what more could you want? We also finally met Kayleigh’s new best mate, ‘Elsie off deli’ in this episode, played by Conleth Hill, better known as Game of Thrones’ Varys. The romance between John and Kayleigh was upped even further in this episode, with them very nearly kiss-
ing, interrupted at the last moment by Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ blasting out of Kayleigh’s phone as Elsie rang to conveniently check if she’d left her inhaler in John’s car. Damn it.
Sophie Ahmed
Manage your speculations
T
Game of Thrones
here can be no denying that Game of Thrones is the big one. Since its release back in 2011, fans of the show have long debated and argued on theories and spoilers for the show based on secret pictures and original material form the books. But now, we are in a whole new territory as the series has filmed quicker than George R. R. Martin can write (not that hard to do, but still). With Nikolaj CosterWaldau saying that true spoilers are “out there” already, we’ve picked out some of our favourite fan theories in order to decipher what could happen in season 7.
“Could this series finally be the one where Danny takes the Iron Throne?” One big starting point is the new release of onset pictures from the show, which gives away some idea of what we can expect. One picture shows Daenerys Targaryen and co. landing onto, what we can assume is Westeros. The end of last season saw Dany FINALLY set sail for Westeros along with her allies Tyrion Lannister, Grey Worm, Varys and Missandei. Could this series finally be the one where Dany takes the Iron Throne? Some have speculated this picture could be them arriving at Dragonstone, the original home of the Targaryens. Either way, it will be good to finally see some more conquering action from Dany in this season.
“Heart-warming and hilarious in perfect balance [...] Peter Kay can do no wrong”
From the looks of social media, episode three proved a viewer favourite, with Kayleigh convincing John to bunk of work and have a day out at a safari park. Hilarity ensues once John’s red Fiat enters the monkey enclosure, with one monkey ending up on the back seat wearing a seatbelt, after escaping the park on the top of John’s car. As hilarious as this is, it is the only moment where the show begins to veer away from the observational realism Kay’s work is renowned for. This is perfectly saved, however, by the line “It’s like some shit comedy”, which both ackowledges and justifies the ridiculousness of the situation. In the final episode, viewers were desperate for something to happen between John and Kayleigh. The final ten minutes were a whirlwind of emotions. John, reluctant to share his feelings, eventually admitted Kayleigh’s romantic gestures “scared the shit out of [him]” making him “feel things [he’d] not felt for ages”. The final heartbreaking moments came with Kayleigh leaving the car, admitting, “I love you. And it’s killing me that you don’t feel the same.” Although it wasn’t the ending we hoped for, it kept viewers hooked right to the last moment, with John’s simple final line, “Yeah, I’m done” providing what seemed to be a rounded ending to the show. Last week, Kay confirmed this is the end of the road for Car Share. As sad as this is, it is a wise decision, as too many sitcoms are spoilt by running too long. It’s better to leave them at their best, which this series of Car Share absolutely was. Over the last few years it has without doubt become my favourite sitcom of all time. Heart-warming and hilarious in perfect balance, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Peter Kay can do no wrong. Alison Scurfield
“Is winter here at last? It certainly looks that way as even show runners have confirmed that filming took place later in order to get frostier weather.”
Another point to notice in these photos, is how everyone is dressed a lot warmer. Even the Hound has wrapped up a bit warmer than usual. Is winter here at last? It certainly looks that way as even show runners have confirmed that filming took place later in order to get frostier weather. With the arrival of winter comes talk of another fan theory, that the White Walkers will come into Westeros in this series. We’ve already seen what they’re capable of (remember ‘Hardhome’?) but could the biggest battle of them all be about to take place? If this were to happen, will the North need the help of Daenerys and her dragons to defeat them? This is looking a popular theory as Jon Snow and Daenerys would make the ‘Song of ice and Fire’- the name given to the entire book series. Back in King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister now sits on the Iron Throne. With no children to keep her sane, could she be the new ‘Mad Queen’? And if so, are we going to see ‘King slayer’ Jaime betray his own sister? It’s a popular theory considering
“With the end of Game of Thrones drawing in, the series is set to crank things up a notch”
Jaime’s history but we will have to wait and see. There are countless other fan theories out there, far too many to mention and none of them confirmed, but one thing is for certain, with the end of Game of Thrones drawing in, the series is set to crank things up a notch with the last two seasons and we cannot wait. Ciara Clarke
26.filmfeatures
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Film Editors: Emma Allsopp, Zoë Godden & Simon Ramshaw
Oh snap, we’re in the thick of it
After the ‘shock’ announcement of a snap general election, Joe Holloran prepares us for June 8th by looking back at cinema’s most notorious balloting blunders
H Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) Is third time always a charm? Kitty Marie thinks so, as in this week’s superior sequels column, she argues how the first Terminator film lacking James Cameron is actually the best one
O
f course the first Terminator was an epic movie, only bested by its own sequels; it has action, love, and clever scientific ideas, but there are at least three reasons why the third instalment of the Terminator series knocks the first down to third. Firstly, Terminator 3 has more destruction, carnage and relentless chases in it than the previous two put together. In the space of five minutes, two Terminators and John Connor manage to destroy an entire town with just one crane truck; it is the most destruction during a vehicle chase that has ever been committed to screen. Rumours were once spread that director Jonathan Mostow and crew made an entire fake town just to get destroyed by the ferocious femme fatale terminator T-X model. This is a film that will be adored by lovers of any type of vehicle, as almost every kind is included in this film; a pet shop van, a fire truck, a police bike, a Saleen-Modified Ford Mustang police cruiser and many more.
“The film says “Screw You” to its predecessors’ ideas of saving the world from the nuclear attack” Not only is destruction caused by vehicles, but also by the Terminators themselves as we get to see an entire fight scene with Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, and the very first Terminators - the T-1s. Obviously, any self-respecting Terminator fan would know that the T-1s appear in the battle scenes with Kyle Reece and co. in the future, but because Terminator 3 was released in 2003, this meant better graphics could be used to truly bring these sleek machines to life. Secondly, Terminator 3 has the balls to kill off main characters. Following the death of Sarah Connor, John must get along by himself - this is brilliant! This means viewers don’t have to put up with that annoying scene where Sarah has to stop to tell John she loves him, or the agonising scene where Sarah reveals she would do anything for John, including getting killed. Well Sarah, you did get killed and we fans are happy for you. Bye bye irritating idealistic sentiments.
Thirdly, the end of Terminator 3 is not what anyone was expecting at all. The film says “Screw You” to its predecessors’ ideas of saving the world from the nuclear attack, and instead decides to make the bombs drop after all; it is one of the best anticlimaxes in film history. All of the chasing, fighting and crying across the three films is for naught as nothing was prevented, nobody was saved, everybody dies anyway. Don’t you just love it when you find out that all your life’s training to fight Terminators and destroy Skynet to prevent the end of the world was for nothing? Well done Jonathan Mostow!
ere we go again. After only two short years, the British people have been asked once again to put their faith in a new fixer. With the realistic choice of the next Prime Minister being an old Trot’ or Thatchter-lite, you would be forgiven for thinking Britain had been time warped back to the late 70s. Still, there is always film to prepare us for the upcoming barrage of sound-bites and smear campaigns. So, let’s take a look back at how the silver screen portrays general election campaigns both here and abroad. Politics plays a role, either blatantly or subconsciously, in many films from outright propaganda pieces to allegorical works like 1984 or They Live. Sometimes however, the process of an election itself becomes the crux of a movie around which all other plot and character is constructed. This can first be seen in one of the greatest movies of all time, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, which shows how money and influence can rise you from an outspoken blowhard into a political leader.
“Surprisingly given our naturally cynical and satirical nature, Britain hasn’t produced a great number of films about elections” Since that time elections and political ambitions in Hollywood cinema are often shown in a comedic manner with films like The Campaign, Man of the Year and Bulworth. These like so many others attack the manner and form of political campaigning in general, while steering away from outright criticism of either candidates or even
political parties. Whilst American politics is a fertile ground for these kinds of stories, it is not the only country where these tales can be told. In 1998, the late Sir Christopher Lee started in Jinnah, which told the story of the founding of the new nation of Pakistan and the rise and election of its fist leader Muhammed Ali Jinnah in 1947. In 2013, Idris Elba gave a commanding performance as Nelson Mandela in the biopic Long Walk to Freedom. Both films are perfectly fine, but only portray the side of the leaders that they wanted us to see; both are highly hegemonic in unstable political climates. The Hollywood system seems to be naturally warier of elections and potential leaders and this shows in their films, with rare exceptions like the Oscar-winning Milk. Surprisingly given our naturally cynical and satirical nature, Britain hasn’t produced a great number of films about the election process. Of the ones that have been produced, two stand out. Firstly, Ralph Thomas’s No Love For Johnnie, which tells the story of Labour MP Johnnie Burke and his struggle between his public persona and personal obligations. The end result is both a sympathetic look at the
life of a good-intentioned MP while also heavily criticizing the system in which he operates. The second is not so generous is its portrayal. The Rise & Rise of Michael Rimmer was written by and stars John Cleese and Peter Cook, taking a scathingly brilliant look at the role of ‘spin’, opinion polls and PR in the upcoming General Election, with the left’s Harold Wilson and the right’s Enoch Powell as their targets. Having said all of that, I do encourage you all to vote if you are on the fence or ambivalent about it, because whilst the world of Whitehall may seem distance and uncaring, it does now and will into the future effect your lives and futures. R o l e on June 8th.
London calling to the Sundance towns The full lineup for Britain’s take on America’s largest independent film festival has been announced. Helena Buchanan gives us the lowdown on what’ll be screening on June 1-4
I
am a massive fan of Sundance film festival. I’ve never actually been, but the line-up generally dictates a few day’s illegal downloading, or at least several hours of trailers and interviews if I’m not feeling up to committing to an actual film. The festival offers a huge range of films which won’t (you hope) be an actual waste of time, and is a great platform for independent films and lesser known companies to get their voices out into the world. Specific awards for foreign films and documentaries hopefully also encourages people to explore beyond the usual parameters of their cultural intake. So: the London Line-up. This is a refined selection of the original entries for those willing to fork out on a four-day pass at picture-house, AND live in London or have the money to get there. OK, yes, we all know that the arts are inherently elitist blah blah, but we can dream eh? The great thing about the line-up is how topical many of the films feel, especially as these films were (duh) not made RIGHT NOW so their apparent commentary on the issues at the forefront of politics and the world RIGHT NOW highlight how long these problems have been occurring. Sometimes it just takes a while for the not-artists to notice these problems.
“The great thing about the lineup is how topical many of the films feel”
One particularly topical piece, Beatriz at Dinner follows a dinner party of America’s elite and one Mexican-American immigrant. Looking at the total lack of understanding between the classes in a hard-hitting yet humorous manner, the trailer alone makes you want to laugh, scream and punch someone really, really hard. “Aw it’s like Snow White”, “Ever dance in Vegas?” and “It’s good you’re contributing” are some snippets to fuel your rage. Also on the line-up is The Big Sick which is cur-
rently making me a little sick with its elusiveness: it doesn’t have a trailer, and it sounds amazing. This rom-com concerns a Pakistan-born and an American writer in New York; emphasis on the com and the difficulties of navigating their cultural heritages and lives as artists. Sounds the perfect combination of light yet pertinent but why isn’t there a trailer?!?.
“The short film section contains further potential gems, including Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut”
Another rom-com, The Incredible Jessica James also deserves a watch with its fab cast - Jessica Williams (listen to the Dope Girls podcast) and Chris O’Dowd. Say no more.
If Sundance is supposed to push the boundaries, show the films of tomorrow the re-thinking of old genres, updates to make them more appropriate to our time or simply the attempt to avoid clichés is interesting to see. A Ghost Story, for example, where the ‘ghost’ walks around in a sheet. In Bushwick, the apocalyptic takeover of the New York suburb is undertaken by the alt-right. The winner of the documentary prize went to Dina, a romance about an ageing couple both on the autistic spectrum. The short film section contains further potential gems, including Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut - love or hate her, her attempts behind the camera will be interesting to see. So get your self some Sundance; dance not in the sun but the fluorescent glow of your computer screen as you desperately sift through download websites which haven’t been shut down yet. I
hope it’s worth it.
The Courier
reviewsfilm.27
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/film c2.film@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Film
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (12A)
Golden Oldies Presents... Danny Boyle’s
T
he fifteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 follows the group’s exploits, as the truth behind Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) parentage is revealed. 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was Marvel Studios’ biggest risk to date. Based on a bizarre 1970s comic that very few had read, or even heard of, the film was tipped to be the point at which Marvel’s ambition had outmatched its ability. However, director James Gunn somehow managed to capture lighting in a bottle, as the film’s confidence, idiosyncratic characters, and strong sense of humour made it one of the studio’s biggest critical and commercial hits to date. Gunn returns to write and direct this sequel, which is a decent successor to the first film, but doesn’t quite manage to replicate its brilliance. Whereas Guardians of the Galaxy wasted no time on extensive origin stories or world-building, instead maintaining focus on its characters and concentrated story; Vol. 2 is harmed by an expanded scope. This results in a critical loss of momentum during its rather languorous second act. Strangely lacking in plot or a serious narrative direction, the film sorely misses the impetus and urgency of its predecessor and suffers from a sense of pointlessness, as it contributes very little to the series or its characters. Nevertheless, the cast are universally excellent. Chris Pratt further cements his place as one of
Fast & Furious 8 (12A)
L
Hollywood’s most charismatic and sharp leading men. His bickering with Rocket, superbly voiced by Bradley Cooper, supplies numerous comedic moments, while his chemistry with Gamora (Zoe Saldana) provides some emotional depth, which is complimented by the appearance of Kurt Russell as Quill’s father, Ego. Additionally, Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) is frequently amusing and never jarring, but it is Dave Bautista’s Drax who is the film’s best asset once again. The former wrestler’s superb comedic timing is amplified by his character’s perennial literalness and sizeable selfconfidence, providing him with many of the film’s best lines. The action is solid, although none of the set-pieces come close to the exhilaration and style of Captain America: Civil War’s airport sequence – the zenith of Marvel action scenes. A rather generic, overblown final act provides little that has not been seen before in the studio’s blockbusters, although the ego clashes and bickering between the group
does enhance their skirmishes. The film’s aesthetic, however, is dazzling. After last year’s city-bending wonder of Doctor Strange, there was potential for the Guardians’ worlds to appear underwhelming, yet the special effects and production design are spectacular. Its appearance and tone borrows much from science-fiction lore, including a Blade Runner-inspired neon locale and a central paternal complex that invites many comparisons with Star Wars. This merges with the retro-pop soundtrack to amplify the series’ gloriously nostalgic charm. Visually stunning and witty, but lacking in the narrative direction and efficiency of its predecessor, Guardians 2 is a middling entry in the Marvel canon that provides more amusement, but fails to reach the heights of the original. More like this: Time Bandits (1981) Dan Haygarth
Mad Max: Fury Road Black & Chrome (15)
The Handmaiden (18)
I
ook, I’m a guy to give credit where credit’s due, especially when it comes to the colossal Fast & Furious franchise (2 Fast 2 Furious is one of the most misunderstood masterpieces in the history of cinema), but there’s not an awful lot I can give to its eighth instalment. Fast & Furious 8 (or The Fate of the Furious, which is its far more exciting US title) is what a bursting bubble of gasoline looks like; it’s corrosive, flammable and it stinks. The action kicks off when team leader Dom (becoming less and less intelligible it goes along) inexplicably betrays his apparent ‘family’ for villainous hacker Cypher to help her steal a number of devices that could well start WWIII, and the action keeps on kicking off until there’s no more kicking left to be done. Now, if you’ve been following the franchise over the last 16 years, you’ll know that family is the lifeblood of the series. Every instalment brings in at least one new member and they all have a BBQ, Coronas in hand, and it’s all fine and dandy. See, the problem with F8 is that it prioritises the concept of family over many things, including light themes like, oh, I don’t know, GENOCIDE. When all is revealed about Dom’s betrayal, it’s not only total narrative fluff, but also staggeringly idiotic and absolutely selfish. It’s difficult to talk about this situation without spoiling the plot, but heck, once you realise the direction this wild ride is going in, it’ll annoy you. Sure, the action’s still competent, it opens with arguably the best street race of the franchise, and our very own home-grown hot potato Jason Statham gets a solid John Woo reference in the finale, but this is a ridiculous film beyond all logical and moral belief. It exists on a plain so far beyond realism that all we’re paying for is empty explosions and a deepseated distance from actually sadistic sequences of death and destruction. ‘Fun’.
When George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road first burst onto our screens in 2015, we were greeted with a novel concept and a truly likeable masterpiece of the new millenium. In our cynical world, we’d forgotten the beauty of a movie which doesn’t over think, looks artistically incredible and has a simple plot. Max is a drifter, captured by renegades who seek his blood, forced into servitude. A tyrannical dictator named Immortan Joe holds several women captive in the hopes of conceiving a suitable heir, their beauty and purity unmatched. Max and Joe collide, the women in both their lives suitably liberated and the pursuit is on. At its heart, Fury Road is a, well, road movie. Everything from Max himself to various cameras to the metal guitarist (now perhaps more infamous for refusing to help inaugurate Donald Trump) is strapped firmly to a hood. In this new edition released some 24 months later, we’re treated to a picture entirely converted to ‘black and chrome’ (more in keeping with the film’s ‘shiny and chrome’ aesthetic than black and white), something that creates a unique opportunity to have a reevaluation of a modern blockbuster. While it’s impossible to say exactly what effect this monochrome effect has on modern film precisely, we can say that it looks incredible in its usage here; the darkness is more effective when it needs to be and there’s a sinister edge of horror comparable to the opening gambit of Mad Max 2. By removing the colour from our screens, the director has created a violently drawn image which is utterly transfixing. It’s art. Like Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Stirling before him, Miller has purposefully chosen to avoid color, feeling that his choice of black and chrome may add that additional character the movie has been seeking. Miller calls this his superior version, and while I’m likely to agree, would remind viewers that the “original” version is just as good.
t’s that time of year when everyone is kneedeep in essays and revision, so I admittedly didn’t have time to research The Handmaiden before seeing it. I did watch the trailer, but to be honest that left me just as clueless. All I had to base my expectations of the film on was having seen another of Park Chan-wook’s films, Oldboy. I hoped his most recent film would live up to the standards he set in Oldboy. Not only did it live up to them, it exceeded them by miles. Surprisingly adapted from Sarah Water’s British period novel, Fingersmith, what set itself up initially as slightly comical but sad romance, became a twist-filled psychological thriller and the best film I’ve seen this year. It manages to take heartfelt and heartless, romantic and brutal moments, placing them all side by side without a single second feeling out of place. I never really thought something that sounded as bland as an assortment of grand Victorian-style wallpapers could bring me such joy, but the film’s Victorian-esque aesthetic paired with carefully crafted cinematography and beautiful shots of Korea make it a visual masterpiece as well as a brilliant narrative. The film managed to do what many fail, simultaneously expose the ugly and perverse male gaze whilst also presenting female sexuality in a frank but beautiful way, and as something that definitely does not exist for the satisfaction of men. The female lead characters Sook-hee and Lady Hideko never let men shut them down or get the better of them, showing female solidarity at its best. I knew nothing about this film before seeing it, and my biggest piece of advice to you would be to read no more on it. Whatever you do, do not get it spoiled for you. Go and see it as soon as possible, with no idea what you’re in store for or what is going to happen. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.
More like this: Need For Speed (2014)
More like this: Neon City (1990)
More like this: Boogie Nights (1997)
Simon Ramshaw
Wayne Madden
Carys Rose Thomas
Trainspotting In a world where now have two Trainspotting films, Greg Rosenvinge revisits the legendary film instalment. Is it (Princes) streets ahead of its belated sequel, or has it lost its lust for life?
Trainspotting is many people’s favourite film of the 90s, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a film that stylistically jolts your senses and lures you into an escapist world not necessarily for us, but for the characters themselves. Irvine Welsh’s original novel was set in late 1980s working-class Edinburgh, with the evident effects of rampant unemployment that arose during Thatcher’s reign shaping the characters in their anti-establishment attitudes. The iconic ‘Choose life’ scene epitomises, where main character Mark tells the audience he’s gonna be just like you just as he comes into money. The social commentary from this is simple yet cutting: it’s easy to choose life when you have the gift of money, to choose against drug addiction and being apart from society. This is especially significant when considering how much of the film is framed around Mark’s many attempts to break off his use of heroin, but with each attempt society bites back at him through unemployment, derision and isolation, something of which he cannot cope without the numbing effect of heroin.
“Watching it on the big screen personified how it must have felt seeing it in the 1990s” Much of Trainspotting rests on this; all of the main characters to differing degrees represent a rebellious attitude to society’s pigeonholing of aspirations and dreams through a neoliberal lens, and that despite the framing of their demographic as lazy and unaspiring, ‘heroin is a full time business’, an occupier of their life in a way the Thatcher agenda did not understand.
Aside from the more thematic successes of Trainspotting, Danny Boyle’s feverish direction, perfectly complimented by a star-studded soundtrack featuring Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Underwold, perfectly complements the drug-addled narrative, and have a group of characters ever experienced such cult status as a collective than Rent Boy, Spud, Sick Boy, Begbie and Tommy? The fact that their reunion in T2: Trainspotting was feverishly celebrated by not only the youth to which Trainspotting came out to in the 1990s, but also by today’s in near equal fashion, demonstrates just how iconic they were. Whilst Ewan McGregor has enjoyed success since, as well as Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller in a more muted fashion, Ewen Bremner and Kevin McKidd are still very much seen as Spud and Tommy, such was their characters’ impact. This was the second time I watched Trainspotting, and it was definitely improved upon watching it on the big screen - it personified (albeit only) slightly how it must’ve felt to cinema-goers back in the 1990s. Whilst I was not privy to the shock of its success, its boldness still strikes me in spite of knowing the expectations beforehand.
28.gaming
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Gaming Editors: Jordan Oloman, Errol Kerr and Jared Moore
GameMyth: Fallout 4 Synthtastic! Credit: Bethesda
Is the player character in Fallout 4 a Synth? Jack Coles peers down the apocalyptic rabbit-hole
D
id you know that when Myrna asks you if you are a synth, saying “no” makes you a dirty great liar? It’s all true! Probably. Spoiler warning: contains spoilers on Fallout 4 and its DLC, Far Harbour. First off, we’ll start with the Far Harbour DLC character, DiMA. If you are not yet familiar with DiMA, he is a prototype synth that suggests that you, the player character, may also be a synth. He suggests that the reason behind this is that you have one specific memory from before you awoke in the cryogenic capsule (the day the bombs fell), but nothing else. No memories of your first kiss or anything like that. Just that one, single memory. Secondly we have the fact that everyone in Vault 111 is dead after the second thawing, besides you. It could be that you were the one person there that had a strong enough body to survive, but I make Endurance my dump attribute most of the time so that hardly seems plausible. What makes more sense is that the Institute killed everyone else – including you – and put your synth body (made from Shaun’s DNA) in the cryogenic capsule so that you don’t question your surroundings when you are activated.
“you have one specific memory from before you awoke in the cryogenic capsule [...] but nothing else”
Then there’s the fact that you upgrade in sudden jumps – like software updates. You can heal using any blood pack you find, despite other people having to worry about their blood group (some Gunners tattoo it on their foreheads). You can eat corpses to heal and get no ill effects, while the Trappers on Far Harbour probably have some nasty prion diseases from doing the same. You also never get cancer, despite wandering into nuclear fallout zones, and treating addiction is as simple as having a Refreshing Drink. The most damning piece of evidence, however, is VATS. VATS just shows up at the start of the game with no announcement, it’s just like “hey, you can shoot things in slow motion if you like”. And it’s not part of the Pip-Boy software – you can use it in Vault 111 before you get the Pip-Boy. I’ve tested it myself. Where does it come from, then? The Institute. In the Robotics lab, one of the terminals contains a description of a “unique project”, where a synth can be upgraded to perceive time as being slower than usual while detecting the percentage odds of hitting a target with a ballistic weapon. Like, come on, that’s a dead giveaway!
“VATS just shows up at the start of the game [...] like “hey, you can shoot things in slow motion if you like””
So why would the Institute make you a synth? I’d suggest it’s to do with creating free will. The Institute is all about improving humanity – their motto is “Mankind, redefined”, and want to repopulate the world with more resilient humans. Many Institute scientists claim that the synths are biologically superior to humans, but not capable of free will. If you go ahead and destroy your creators, you prove yourself to have complete autonomy (a bit like The Talos Principle). Of a sample of Fallout 4 players on Reddit, 65% of these destroyed the Institute. 65% of these were an experimental success. After its destruction, it could well be that the Institute had a remote server that uploaded your personality to every Gen3 synth in the Commonwealth. Of course, it’d be very easy to spot synths then. Just look for the people carrying silly amounts of duct tape.
Review:Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Georgina Howlett buckles up in the driving seat this week for Mario’s Switch debut I t has been just over a week since the release of one of Nintendo’s most anticipated games for its newest console, the Switch – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – and it was well worth the wait. Containing the original Wii U game, all prior DLC characters and racecourses, and a wealth of new additional content such the improved Battle mode, five new immediately playable characters (King Boo, Dry Bones, Bowser Jr., Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl), an unlockable secret character (spoiler – Gold Mario, you unlock him by completing every 200cc cup) and assist features such as Smart Steering and Auto Acceleration for new players, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is undoubtedly the definitive Mario Kart game of the moment that everyone should be picking up.
“Spoiler - Gold Mario, you unlock him by completing every 200CC cup” Perhaps one of the most striking features of the game is, firstly, just how well it plays in both the docked and portable Switch modes. Compared to games with known framerate and lag issues such as Breath of the Wild and Fast RMX, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe suffers from barely any hiccups even when racing on the global and regional online multiplayer modes, and input delay is at a delightful minimum – even in Battle mode where one wrong move could be your end. With various control options available – such as an individual Joy-Con (motion controls or not), both Joy-Cons together, the pro controller (with or without motion controls) – etc. – the Switch is equipped to cater for any preferred play style, and is ultimately accessible for players of all abilities and ages. The controls are highly responsive and intuitive, coming naturally to the seasoned Mario Kart player and easily learnable for newcomers, making Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a wonderful experience for all playing. The visuals and graphics of Mario Kart 8
Deluxe, too, are stunning on the Switch, and I must admit this is one of the first things I noticed when completing my first Grand Prix. No matter whether docked or portable, each racetrack looks crisp and vividly coloured, the characters and vehicles intricately detailed and integrated flawlessly into the overall picture even whilst in motion, and the menus and interfaces are easy to navigate and welcoming in every aesthetic sense. Even the online waiting room is a joy, with the Mii characters of all involved interacting with each other in hilarious and quirky ways. In terms of visual design, I can fault very little, though updated imagery and loading screens wouldn’t have gone amiss to give the game a bit of a fresher feel and divergence from its Wii U incarnation. By far, though, some of my favourite features of the game are those small changes which players who did not play the Wii U or even older games will not miss or think twice about – for instance, you can now hold up to two items when driving around, making for a more tactical and fun experience when playing against friends (or strangers) both locally or online. There are now three stages of drift boosting – blue, yellow, and pink – each of which grants you an increased speed boost, and gives you an edge if timed right, and returning items from even older Mario Kart titles such as Boo (who steals another player’s item for you and makes you invulnerable whilst doing so) and the Feather (allowing you to perform a
huge jump) introduce further variety and fun to the game. For me, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is already a definitive Switch title, and one which I will continue to enjoy for many months to come. So here’s to falling off Rainbow Road again, and again, and again…
Credit: Nintendo
Memory Card: Banjo-Kazooie Sam Blackburn makes a steady return to the nostalgic world of Rare’s bear and bird
W
ith the recent release of Yooka-Laylee being the closest thing to Banjo-Threeie we’ll ever see (cheers Microsoft), I feel now is the best time to go back to the N64 classic. Funny that I mention it being on the N64, because I never actually owned this for said system. I remember going to my friend’s house back in 2001 - such great times: Newcastle United were a half decent team, WWE was still WWF, and the N64 was the only console me and my friends cared about. I didn’t own one at that point, so going around my friend’s house was the best time to both watch and play, but mostly watch them playing great games like Goldeneye and Ocarina of Time. There was one day I headed there, probably after school or on a weekend, to see them playing this marvellously colourful game oozing with charm and personality. Said game was Banjo-Kazooie. I always used to get a true sense of wonder watching them play this game, I don’t know what it was. Maybe the excellent score by Grant Kirkhope, the colourful graphics (games used to have colour, for those who are too young to remember) or the eerie vibe Gruntilda gave off, taunting the player whilst creeping through her lair. Fast forward to 2008, and after making a brilliant decision to get a Wii instead of a proper console, I was in the midst of deciding on what to get between both the awful hardware of the Xbox 360 and Credit: RARE expensive online
subscription, or the pristine classy concave beast of a machine, the Playstation 3. I was sold on the PS3 until one fateful day when I bought an Xbox 360 magazine. This was the day I found out that
there was a Banjo-Kazooie 3 (later to be renamed Nuts and Bolts) in development, and that both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie would be coming out for on Xbox Live Arcade. I decided that despite wanting a PS3 for months on end, finally being able to play that wonderfully colourful platforming game would be so much better than playing amazing titles like Lair, Haze and Folklore.
“this marvellously colourful game oozing with charm and personality [...] I always used to get a true sense of wonder”
So what do I think of the game? I got my Xbox 360 around November 2008, just over a week before Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and Bolts and Banjo-Kazooie would come out. I enjoyed Nuts and Bolts, but as soon as the XBLA rerelease came out, I didn’t give that game any attention. I remember sitting on Banjo-Kazooie, collecting jiggies, notes and jinjos in amazingly well-crafted worlds like Treasure Trove Cove, Rusty Bucket Bay and Click Clock Woods for months on end. I remember every Saturday night, my 14 year old self would sit up in the gaze of a bright TV screen playing Banjo-Kazooie. This was at the time when people were getting in trouble with the police outside of school for underage drinking, yet the school were on my back for enjoying a little bit too much B and K…
The Courier
gaming.29
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming
What I’m Playing:
Alex Ridley concocts an incredible cocktail of cyberpunk proportions in VA-11 HALL-A
V
A-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartending Action is a game that feels as good to play as its name sounds, a truly ludicrous but engaging visual novel experience wrapped in a fantastic, fully controllable soundtrack. It’s not for everyone by any means and the writing is occasionally too silly for its own good, but it’s a truly innovative spin on the visual novel genre that I enjoyed pretty much the whole way through. You play as Jill, bartender at the eponymous dive bar in the slums of Glitch City. It’s a pretty stereotypical cyberpunk world: the president is hilariously corrupt, recessions have ruined the economy and the streets are patrolled by a government-funded army of ‘White Knights’, the setup for your standard near-future freedom fighting a la Final Fantasy VII. The twist is, unlike your Cloud Strifes who spend their time battling robots and blowing up reactors, Jill, her co-workers and her customers are regular people who just have to deal with living in a crappy dystopia. It’s telling that your first objective in a world with mind control nanomachines is to pay Jill’s subscription
fee to a VR porn website. The world outside rarely intrudes into your bar and the action almost never leaves it. Conversations with your patrons move from civilian casualties to pop music, terrorism to bear wrestling with all the bluntness of a Facebook feed. The game is stronger for it: VA-11 HALL-A’s patrons and staff are interesting precisely because they aren’t leading revolutions or battling tyranny. They’re just people, coming to your bar to get blind drunk and forget everything outside.
“It’s not for everyone [...] but it’s a truly innovative spin on the visual novel genre” This focus on the prosaic extends to the gameplay, too. The real gameplay, as you’d probably guess from a self-proclaimed bartending simulator, is to make drinks from various combinations of five ingredients and a handful of preparation methods. The in-game console ensures you’re
always supplied with the methods to make these drinks – there’s no need to hastily scribble down the chemical composition of a Fringe Weaver – but what you actually serve is up to you, and as customers become regulars you can start reading between the lines of their orders. Do you keep serving a tough guy customer the bitter, manly drinks he orders, or the sweeter, more refined drinks he actually wants? Customer tastes are one of the main ways you interact with the characters, too: if you get them drunk enough to start yelling about their love lives they may crash hard the next day… VA-11 HALL-A’s title screen suggests that it’s best played comfortably with a drink to hand, and it’s right. It’s a light, engaging few hours spent with a gorgeous soundtrack in the company of an interesting cast of characters, from cyborg wrestlers to a girl who livestreams her entire life, and after a long day of coursework it’s an easy way to take your mind off the world outside.
Top 5: Mentors in Gaming
Credit: Blizzard
Gerry Hart may be the Kourier Kid, but who is his Mr. Miyagi? 5: Class Trainers – World of Warcraft
The old class trainers in WoW are a relic of a bygone age. In times past, you would visit them in order to learn new spells upon levelled up. This was changed in Mists of Pandaria, when learning new spells became automatic, but you can still find them offering to reset talent points in a bid to stave off unemployment. Not that this has altered their attitude, particularly if you’re not the class they cater for. Oh, I don’t possess the mental acuity to learn the secrets of the arcane do I? Well screw you nerd, I don’t need no education!
4: Toriel – Undertale Despite being more of a motherly figure, Undertale’s Toriel is arguably the logical conclusion of many video game mentors. After first encountering her early in the game, she proceeds to coddle you throughout much of the tutorial, often literally solving puzzles for you before warmly seeing you off. Or, if you’re on a genocide run, you can add her to your growing list of victims which I initially did before realising my mistake and save scumming like the responsible adult I’m not. Not that Undertale forgets such transgressions so remember kids, think twice before you go brutalising friendly goat people.
3: Marcus – Rome: Total War
Credit: Sukeban Games
Autopsy: Mass Effect: Andromeda Gerry Hart delves deep into Andromeda this week, but was it all a Mass Mistake?
B
efore we start, I don’t believe “SJWs” ruined Mass Effect: Andromeda. BioWare has traditionally been a socially conscious developer and what little I’ve been able to read indicates a particularly troubled development. That said, let’s dive headlong into this squirming bag of dicks. Mass Effect: Andromeda contains a litany of regressive design decisions. Like Dragon Age, Mass Effect has gone open world (because why fucking not) with objectives dispersed across large, dead maps boring maps, effectively resurrecting the Mako segments from ME1. Combat’s a shitshow. You no longer have any meaningful control over your squadmates and the increased mobility of combat doesn’t lend itself well to Mass Effect’s cover based shooting. This is compounded by dreadful platform puzzles which don’t have you interacting
with the environment so much as wrestling with it. Also, the fucking planet scanner’s back.
“Like Dragon Age, Mass Effect has gone open world (because why fucking not)”
Then there are the characters. I particularly disliked Liam for his compulsive need to be witty, resulting in some of the worst one liners the medium has produced. Had he been alive in the 21st century he’d be one of those people whose conversational repertoire is limited to cheeky Nandos jokes and whatever he’d seen on the LADBible. Not that he’s the sole offender. Most of the major characters are simultaneously unremarkable and irritating. Even the protagonist (whom I made resemble the frontman of a shitty
early 00’s post-grunge band) gets on my nerves for their own relentless witticisms. This ties into problems with the main story which, though brief, is padded with the aforementioned Mako bullshit. The worldbuiling in Andromeda is also pretty lacklustre. The final boss in particular was felt like something out of a saccharine Saturday morning cartoon, to the point where I wouldn’t have been surprised if one of my Scooby-Doo squadmates ripped his mask off to reveal it’d been Director Tann all along (and he would’ve gotten away with it too). Mass Effect: Andromeda isn’t the worst game I’ve played, but in comparison to its predecessors it’s unforgivably tepid. I get the impression Andromeda was created to keep BioWare’s cash cow going just a bit longer, in which case it might’ve been better just to end the franchise when it was riding high.
Rome: Total War’s Marcus isn’t really a character so much as a presence, providing advice in the heat of battle like a heavily armoured Navi, with his input often just as useful (no Marcus, I don’t think my terrified peasant soldiers I recruited on the cheap are a match for that fast approaching unit of elite cavalry). What irks me most however is his accent. I’m no expert on the Ancient Romans but I didn’t envisage them sounding so…Australian. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but I struggle to imagine Caesar crossing the Rubicon saying “the die is cast, mate”.
2: Bottles – Banjo-Kazooie In lieu of the recent nostalgia around BanjoKazooie, it’d be remiss of me not to mention Bottles, the bespectacled mole who helps Banjo and Kazooie through their home invading adventure. Like pretty much all the characters in Banjo-Kazooie, Bottles is surprisingly talkative for someone who only communicates in bizarre looped mumbles. I used to wonder how he could be an affective teacher communicating like this but as a Politics student I think I understand now. Given contemporary events I sometimes feel the lecturers are only a few policy announcements away from teaching their modules via manic, pained screaming.
1: Deckard Cain – Diablo Franchise To round the list off I thought it only fair I include a character with some academic acumen, so without further ado meet Deckard Cain, last of the Horadric order and Sanctuary’s resident busybody. Though he appears in the first game, Deckard establishes something of a routine in Diablos’ 2 and 3 where, after rescuing from whatever demonic entity he’s pissed off, he thanks you by lecturing you about the game’s lore with a teaching style akin to a supply teacher by way of Abraham Simpson before sending you on life threatening errands. Bet he doesn’t use ReCap either.
Credit: BioWare
Credit: Blizzard
30.science&technology
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Science Editors: Matthew Byrne, Natalie Farmer & Ciara Ritson-Courtney
On this day
8th May 1886 Anuradha Ponnapalli takes a cool refreshing look into the day Coca-cola was invented, and today’s repercussions
T
his year, Coca-Cola celebrates its 125-year anniversary. This soft drinks giant has managed to establish a worldwide presence over this period. At a time when obesity levels are rising and there is great talk about ‘healthy eating’, does Coca-Cola have a part to play in declining health? Coca-Cola is essentially a caffeinated sugar drink, not exactly the most natural combination of ingredients. The brand is one that claims to “share happiness”, while public health experts hold the opposite view. They are under the impression that the intake of sugar in such large quantities has terrible consequences for public health. In order to tackle this belief, the company have employed tactics formerly used by the tobacco industry. This includes doubting the scientific evidence, claims of a ‘nanny state’ and placing responsibility on the individual. This is important for soda companies like CocaCola as lots of evidence shows a positive correlation between regular intake of sugary drinks and poor health.
“In order to tackle this belief, the company have employed tactics formerly used by the tobacco industry” The public (especially children) are suffering as a result of consuming large amounts of soda; it has led to a sharp increase in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes and obesity. These two chronic diseases cause a great strain on the individual and can be very difficult to treat. Contracting such a disease can have devastating consequences for a person’s quality of life. Dubious efforts have been made by Coca-Cola to refute these claims through funding scientific research to prove soda has no impact on obesity. They suggest the individual is accountable for the exercise they participate in and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It was recently enforced that nutrition journals must declare where funding was secured from in scientific research. Coincidentally, 83% of studies funded by Coca-Cola came to the conclusion that there is no harm in consuming sugary drinks. On the contrary, the same percentage of studies funded by the government or independent bodies found that there is a clear link between soda and chronic diseases. This antagonistic information can make it difficult for the public to make a confident decision regarding their lifestyle choices. In the USA, Coca-Cola has been found to be sponsoring lunch-time meals, encouraging children to become accustomed to the drink. This can result in students continuing this unhealthy habit of consuming more than the recommend allowance of sugar a day well into adulthood. Coca-Cola has used numerous marketing tools to sell their products, including celebrity endorsements, sponsoring major sports events and even associating themselves with Santa Claus. This has enabled them to appeal to a mass audience and target different demographics worldwide. Testament to this it the fact that “Coca-Cola” is the second most understood term globally, after “okay”. Though this iconic drink is adored by millions, scientific evidence suggests that the public should think twice before they pick up their next bottle. As one of the world’s most well-known drinks, the company has (whether it chooses to acknowledge it or not) a great responsibility regarding public health.
Welcome to a meat-lover’s paradise
Science Editor Natalie Farmer sinks her teeth into the latest trend in the food industry: making animal products without the animals - and worry not, it doesn’t just stop at meat
C
ould you imagine a future where you wake up in the morning, rub your eyes, sleepily pad into the kitchen, brew your coffee… and then head to your keg to harvest the meat you’ll need to make that juicy, mouth-watering fry-up? Yes, you read that right.
“New Harvest - a non-profit research charity based in the United states - is revolutionising the field of celluar agriculture” It doesn’t seem like the words ‘keg’ and ‘meat’ belong in the same sentence, but New Harvest – a non-profit research charity based in the United States – is revolutionising the field of cellular agriculture. Their mission involves making milk without cows, eggs without hens, and beef without cows to make food both more affordable and also more sustainable – a vital aim, given our ageing and ever-expanding population. Cellular agriculture describes the production of substances that usually come from plants or animals (such as eggs, leather and wood); the only catch is that, instead of being made from their ‘natural’ source, they come from a culture of cells grown in a lab. For
example, milk can be made from yeast, effectively bypassing the need for a cow. “Milk without cows!?” I hear you scream in outrage. It’s actually really simple, but involves the genetic modification of the yeast cells. The β-casein gene is added to the yeast cells, such that they make a protein called casein, which is present in mammalian milk. This gene is read in exactly the same way by a tiny yeast cell as it is by a cow, and so the product is ultimately identical – all except the way it was made. Since cow’s milk is usually made by prolonging the female’s lactating state (before eventually sending the poor thing off to slaughter when her milk dries up), this method completely avoids any possibility of mistreating animals.
“Cellular agriculture describes the production of substances that usually come from plants or animals; the only catch is that, instead of being made from their ‘natural’ source, they come from a culture of cells grown in a lab”
It becomes a little bit more complicated when it comes to meat. The original cells must be derived from stem cells, usually harvested from the animal itself (either when it is living or fresh from the meat in the slaughterhouse). This is then scaled up in the lab by providing the cells with the nutrients they need to grow; however, what is basically produced is a luscious hunk of muscle – and not even a thick luscious hunk of muscle, since providing enough
nutrients to sustain that many cells is more complex (and more expensive). Previous attempts at making meat have been somewhat successful by growing multiple specimens and lumping them together.
“The meat we’re used to eating is a delicate balance between both muscle and fat; recreating this balance in the lab is easier said than done” Furthermore, the meat we’re used to eating is a delicate balance between both muscle and fat. This sounds obvious, but recreating this balance in the lab is easier said than done, and there will no doubt be many taste tests and tweaks in the future to discover that heavenly mix of protein and cholesterol. I don’t know about you, but the thought of biting into a lab-made collection of cells that claims to be a steak just doesn’t sit right with my stomach. But, back in 2013, the first ‘manmade burger’ was tasted and described as “close to meat, but not as juicy”. Given the many barriers that scientists in this field are facing, I don’t think that sounds half bad (although don’t sign me up for any taste tests!). Scientists predict that this way of synthesising animal products may become the norm in the next few years. Culturing avian meat (such as chicken and turkey) has been more successful, so if I were you, I wouldn’t expect to be nibbling on a prime rib made by cellular agriculture. As of 2016, New Harvest have been investing money into producing turkey meat on a large scale, which can be done in a vessel such as a bioreactor. Or a keg. …And you thought I was joking.
Cassini’s celestial crash Science Editor Matthew Byrne’s eulogy to NASA’s beloved spacecraft orbiting Saturn
I
n April 2017, NASA decided on a final farewell mission for one of its most trusted spacecrafts: Cassini. The death knell will sound on September 15, 2017 as Cassini burns through Saturn’s Atmosphere. Cassini-Huygens, consisting of the Cassini spacecraft and the Huygens Lander, was launched in 1997 and since then it has been on a twenty year journey through our Solar System. It had a lonely journey only consisting of flybys of Earth, Venus, and Jupiter, and it wasn’t until 2004 that it entered Saturn’s orbit. After arriving, it deployed the Huygens lander onto the surface of Titan. Using Cassini as a relay, the lander transmitted data to Earth; the first time this had been done in the outer solar system.
“Among its contribution to Science was the discovery of new moons orbiting Saturn and data concerning Saturn’s rings” Cassini’s mission was to identify the structure of Saturn’s rings, observe Saturn’s gaseous atmosphere, and identify Titan’s surface and clouds. It has now transmitted more than 500 gigabytes of
data and has lead to the publication of thousands of research papers. Among its contribution to Science was the discovery of new moons orbiting saturn and data concerning Saturn’s rings. It demonstrated that Titan had a water cycle similar to Earth’s, consisting of rain, rivers, and seas, and also that Titan had a Nitrogen dense atmosphere. Cassini, was only expected to last for four years and completed its primary mission in 2008. However, powered by the radioactive decay of 32.7kg of plutonium, there was no stopping Cassini and it powered on. NASA extending its mission to include another 155 orbits around Saturn and 65 flybys of Saturn’s moons. Here it discovered bizarre radio waves, which no one is sure of and it’s unclear what they are, and a spectacular hexagonal cloud at Saturn’s pole. However, Cassini has now truly outlived its lifeexpectancy, and NASA has decided on it’s last final mission, the ‘Grand Finale’: to descend into Saturn’s atmosphere. It is not a simple mission, however. Cassini, has been tasked with multiple orbits to allow scientists a better look at Saturn’s furthest ring, the mysterious polar hexagon, and through the geysers of one of Saturn’s moons: Enceladus. After this, Cassini will begin its descent into Saturn. It will use the rest of its fuel to orbit closer and closer to Saturn. At which point no other satellite will have been closer to Sat-
urn. Here, Cassini will gather further measurements from Saturn, looking at its rings, magnetic field and gravity. NASA will then squeeze all it can out of Cassini, asking it to send back data as it dives into Saturn’s gaseous atmosphere.
“The death knell will sound on September 15, 2017 as Cassini burns through Saturn’s Atmosphere” But why all the effort? Why not leave Cassini in orbit around Saturn for the foreseeable future? Especially considering Cassini cost the US and EU taxpayers $3.2 billion. Cassini could send back valuable data by continuing its orbit, and so it was an attractive option to scientists. However, Cassini will inevitably run out of fuel. After which point, it would be at risk of crashing into one of Saturn’s moons. This would be problematic as microbes may still be living on Cassini, despite being in orbit for 20 years! Scientists worry that these microbes may then contaminate any water on the moons, which may disrupt any future searches for life on these planets. Although I think NASA forgot about the lander they left on Titan...
The Courier
science&technology.31
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/science
Your very own trip Advisor
Mythbusters:
Do electric fans cause hypothermia ? Ollie Burton reaches the heights of LSD culture and says ‘high’ to the dragon in the room SD, like many of the best acronyms, is an LSD/alcohol solution and consumed that way. temperature are very common, alongside dizziOur resident mythbuster increasingly common recreational drug Furthermore, there are modern reports of users ness, numbness and mood swings. Users can often known for its psychedelic effects, which ingesting purified powders and capsules, which be unstable and feel vulnerable while under the ef- Jack Coles blows this chillhave in the past been used to increase the inten- may contain far larger doses of active substance. fects of LSD and other psychedelics, so it can be sity of spiritual experiences. Originally isolated After consuming LSD, the most common ef- wise to act with caution while around them. While ing myth out of the water from the ergot fungus in 1938, it was controver- fects are seeing false images, hearing non-exist- it can be detected in urine after use, it only has a
L
sially used in a series of secret experiments by the CIA to test its potential for mind control purposes. While LSD is not addictive, it can have strong side effects including paranoia, delusions and severe anxiety – but how does it actually work? When in the bloodstream, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide for the chemistry nerds) binds well to receptors for serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, among other molecules. These are all types of neurotransmitter, which are required for communication within the nervous systems of animals to perform functions such as muscle movement and regulation of temperature. Hallucinogenic drugs tend to display their effects most strongly in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for mood, perception of surroundings and cognition (essentially use of the senses and acquiring knowledge).
“It’s produced as a crystal, and then usually re-dissolved and subsequently sprayed over some sort of ingestible medium such as a sugar cube”
Doses are usually very small, on the order of 20-60 micrograms in current popular usage (for reference, a single particle of baking powder weighs approximately 1 microgram). Manufacture requires significant experience in organic chemistry, and because the masses of reagents involved are so small, tracing production facilities can be very difficult for authorities. It’s produced as a crystal, and then usually redissolved and subsequently sprayed over some sort of ingestible medium such as a sugar cube. Most commonly LSD will be seen in the form of brightly coloured tablets, although examples have been seen where blotting paper is dipped into an
ent sounds and the perception of sensations that have no basis in reality. It seems very difficult to predict exactly what each person will experience during a given ‘trip’, but typically these events are described as a psychosis – disruption of the ability to think clearly, observe the world properly and communicate with other people.
“You will have no doubt heard incredible stories from those who have dabbled with the drug, such as feeling at peace or sensations of great clarity” You will have no doubt heard incredible stories from those who have dabbled with the drug, such as feeling at peace or sensations of great clarity. Many famous musicians in the late 1960s including guitarist Jimi Hendrix consumed the drug due to an association with greater creativity for their song writing. The same is often true of psychedelic artists. However, ‘bad trips’ are also commonplace, which can be deeply disturbing and nightmarish to users of LSD, often fixated on the thoughts of anxiety, despair and death. Besides these mental incapacities, there are other more striking physical effects on the body. Heightened blood pressure and body
Let’s get horny
Errol Kerr swipes right into the heart of environmental conservation and the irreparable damage we have done
T
inder is a wonderful thing, sometimes. Whether you’re swiping right for sexual and romantic interests, self-gratification, or just shits and giggles, the app provides a nearendless stream of faces for you to swipe left and right on with reckless abandon. Some of you, however, might have stopped when you noticed a rhino on your profile. No, this isn’t someone putting a rhino as their photo in the same way people put cars, dogs, or other people in their main photo in an attempt to fool you – no, this is a real, goddamn white rhinoceros on Tinder. Of course, he’s looking for other rhinos, so, what makes said Rhino join a human “social” app? (We know what you use it for.) Sudan, 43, is the last remaining male northern white rhino on the planet. Whilst he lives with two female northern white rhinos, they’re finding it incredibly difficult to breed – Sudan’s sperm count is incredibly low due to his age, and the two females, Najin, 25, and Fatu, 15, are finding it difficult to breed. The three of them currently live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in Kenya, under 24-hour armed surveillance, due to the fear of poachers and the damage that repeated civil wars have done to the country and animal population. After attempting to relocate rhinos to Australia, hiring snipers to defend these animals
plasma half-life of 5.1 hours, meaning levels will be less than 10% of the dosage in the blood after 24 hours. It’s currently treated as a Schedule 1 Class A drug. With no accepted medical usage, unlicensed possession carries a 7-year sentence with unlimited fine, extended to life with trafficking. So kids don’t do drugs!
against poachers and attacking international crime networks, it seems that taking to the internet might be the only way to save the northern white rhino. So to attempt to change this, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy partnered with Tinder in late April in order to raise awareness of Sudan’s plight. See, if you swipe right on Sudan, he’ll explain the situation and direct you to a campaigns page. This campaign aims to raise a significant amount of money - $9million, to be precise – to work on creating pioneering reproductive technologies in order to save the white rhino species. The aim would hopefully be to create in-vitro fertilisation equipment for the northern white rhino, using Sudan as a father and Najin, Fatu, and potentially, 17,000 other female southern white rhinos, as mothers. This would hopefully allow for an expansion of the species and a reintroduction of the northern white rhino into the wild, rather than their current position under armed guard. Next time you’re swiping for “social” reasons, perhaps consider giving Sudan a shot? He’s supposed to be “the most eligible bachelor” on the planet, with armed bodyguards and a starring role in many documentaries. You never know – might end up saving a species whilst you’re at it.
Word of the Week:
Gossypiboma Toby Bryant dissects this skin deep issue
I
f you’ve come across the word “gossypiboma” before, it is likely that you weren’t all too pleased with your doctor. Gossypiboma is the scientific word for surgical complication caused by foreign bodies being found in a patient. Most commonly these are surgical sponges or similar pieces of equipment that are left inside a patient’s body during treatment. The term is derived from Latin where “gossypium” means “cotton” and the suffix “-oma” means a “tumour or growth” – the likely result of an incident of gossypiboma. The situation is rare, those needing abdominal operations the most likely to be affected, but there are suggestions that gossypiboma is a little more common than appears. Hospitals and doctors are likely to be reluctant to report an incident of gossypiboma for fear of legal repercussions or other prosecution. However, it has been estimated that it occurs once in every 3000 to 5000 abdominal operations, so don’t cancel any appointments yet!
O
K, let’s have a bit of background on me, mostly because it’s relevant (for once). I used to live in southern Spain, and during the summer it would get really, stupidly hot. The fact that our house trapped heat well was a problem, and usually meant that I’d be going to bed in 25°C temperatures. Not exactly comfortable for an eight-yearold. Whenever it was too hot, I would borrow the fan from dad’s office and set it up by my bed, and go to sleep with it running. The fact that I am still alive and capable of typing these words without using a Ouija board attest to the fact that modern electric fans do not kill you in your sleep. Admittedly, it dehydrated me quite a bit, to the stage where I’d sometimes wake up and have to chug a litre of water. But still, not dead. The origins of this myth come from 1970s South Korea, where someone allegedly died in their sleep while having a running fan in their room. Conspiracy theorists suggest that this story was manufactured by the government in order to decrease electricity use. Then again, conspiracy theorists suggest things like the World Trade Centre was a hologram, so maybe best not think about these things too much. Before this, there were a couple of instances of “fan death” in the 1930s, back when Korea was under Japanese control. The gist of the story was that one drunkard died in front of a running fan, and the authorities or the press connected the two without taking any time to actually figure out the real cause of death. Even as early as 1927 there were warnings on fans causing a shortness of breath due to a lack of oxygen.
“The real nail in the coffin for the concept of fan death is that South Korea is the only country where this belief is widespread”
Having said that, fans cannot possibly kill you from oxygen starvation because they do not consume oxygen, unless you’re burning coal to run it, which would be utterly pointless for cooling down. Even if you’re in a hermetically sealed room, the fan will actually help prevent oxygen starvation by speeding up diffusion of gases. While it will cool you down by evaporating your sweat, it will actually increase the temperature of the room by a small amount from the friction between moving parts and from heat generated in the motor. The real nail in the coffin for the concept of fan death is that South Korea is the only country where this belief is widespread; no-one in Spain ever questioned my choice of using a fan at night, because a lot of people also did it. You also never seem to hear of fan death rumours in other hot countries, like India, Mexico, or Hell. Besides, it hailed today (at time of writing) and I’m wearing a jumper, despite it being late April. So while I could accidentally kill myself with hypothermia induced by a fan, I don’t think its going to happen any time soon. It’s simply too cold. I’m going to warm myself up using this paraffin lamp in a poorly ventilated room instead.
The Courier
puzzles.33
Monday 8 May 2017
Puzzles
Puzzles Editor: James McCoull 1
3
2
4 5
6
Down
Across 1 Popular lager originating in Denmark (9) 6 A chain of bars known for their emphasis on beer, as the name implies (10) 7 A particularly messy night might end here; a really messy one wouldn’t end (abbreviation) (2) 9 Period of time late in the day, often favoured for drinking (7) 12 Popular fruit garnish for drinks containing a mixer (5) 14 The quality of being easily breakable, such as glass (7) 17 Generic brand-free name for a common mixer, especially paired with rum, vodka, etc. (4) 19 Outdoors area of a pub, thriving around this time of year and less so in winter (4, 6) 20 A state of dizziness or disorientation, chemically-induced or otherwise (4) 21 Pinot ___, red wine variant of 16-down (4)
2 Dutch brewery bought out by Heineken in 1982, named for a river (6) 3 Iconic vodka distillery originating in Russia, now worldwide (8) 4 Large, sometimes metal container primarily used for drinking (lots of) beer (5) 5 A blended Scotch whiskey produced in the north-east of Scotland (4, 6) 8 Archaic term for a party, especially a largescale one (5) 10 Alcopop favoured for a quick hit of sugar and alcohol (two acceptable answers) (2) 11 An alcohol-and-mixer combination favoured for its low calorie content and refreshing taste (3, &, 5) 13 Spirits company best known for their white rum (7) 15 First people through the doors of this local event get a free can of Red Stripe (who could resist?) (5) 16 Pinot ___, white wine variant of 21-across (6) 18 One of many nicknames for ale of a middling (actually ‘pale’)complexion (5)
7
9
8
10
11
12 13 14 17
16
15
18
19 20 21
Completing this Puzzles page will show off your impressive and/or troubling knowledge of modern drinking culture. Bring proof of your, uh, ‘achievement’ to the Courier office where you can select a handful of alcoholically-inclined editors to head out for a bag of cans in the sun with the lads.
34. sport
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston
These girls definitely can! We take a look at some of Newcastle’s most decorated female athletes The ‘this girl can’ campaign aims to get women nationwide getting active and participating in sport at all levels and disciplines. To mark the AU’s ‘this girl can’ week, we’re lauching our newcastle based ‘this girl did’ campaign to show that girls definitely can. from commonwealth games participants to national finalists and international stars, newcastle certainly has a host of talented individuals. Image: Jo Gascoigne-Owens
Image: Amelia Pettitt
AMELIA PETTITT 22 MEng CHEMICAL JO GASCOIGNE-OWENS ENGINEERING CROSS 38 RESEARCH FUNDING COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
AQUATHLON
2013 Aquathon World Champion Achievements “Winning my first world aquathlon championship was pretty special. The race is quite complicated so I had no idea that I was in the lead until I heard the commentator announce it as I ran to the finish line. My whole family was there to watch, which was brilliant! Another amazing moment was winning my ‘home’ running race for the first time. The Northumberland Coastal Run finishes on the beach right near my house and it had always been a secret ambition to win it – that was pretty special for me. I should say, though, that what I’ve gained from sport is far more significant in my life than what I’ve achieved.”
“What I’ve gained from sport is far more significant in my life that what I’ve achieved” Appearances “I have represented Great Britain in aquathlon (swim-run) in my age-group at the World Championships in 2013 and European Championships in 2015 and 2016. On each occasion I won the event. I was also a member of the Great Britain Elite team for the World Aquathlon Championships in Chicago in 2015, finishing 8th. I represented England Masters at Cross Country Running in 2015. I ran in the elite field
of the Great North Run in 2014 and 2016. I was 19th in the Berlin Marathon in 2016, and first British woman. Newcastle University has really supported me in achieving all of this, through its Elite Athlete Programme.”
2015 & 2016 Aquathon European Champion
When did you start playing? “I started playing when I was 13 years old. Fenton’s curling rink (the only dedicated curling rink in England) is situated close to where we live. My dad had his 50th birthday party there and enjoyed it so much that he took me along to try it. I was doing a lot of gymnastics then, so enjoyed the balance and strength aspects required. As soon as I started, I fell in love with the sport.” How did you get into competitive curling? “I started off playing in the junior training sessions twice a week. I brought one of my school friends along to try out curling and she loved it too, so we travelled to and from training together. There were other girls who were also quite good at the time, so the five of us started going to an elite session where we were coached separately. After about a year we were told that the England Curling Association were going to be sending a junior team to the European Junior championships. As we were the only team around at the time, we took hold of the opportunity. Our success grew from there.”
Why should more girls should get involved in sport? “I think the most important thing for women and girls to appreciate about sport is that it is something that we are completely in control of. No matter what sport we do, everything about it is our choice. We can be slow or fast. We can wear baggy trousers or lycra. We can be obsessed or do it for a laugh. We can use it to travel the world or do it in our back garden. We can use it to make friends or do it alone to clear our heads. We can use it to get out of our comfort zone or to relax. We can take part in an event with 30,000 others or we can do it with a DVD in our lounge. We U21 European Curling can do it for charity or we can do it for ourselves. We can get a lot from it and Champion we can give a lot back. There is a place for all of us in sport. It can be whatever We saw that you competed at the Euwe want it to be.” ropean U21 Curling Championships, was that your first tournament with British woman in the the national squad? “This was actually our seventh time atBerlin Marathon tending the under 21 European Championships, which was held in Prague. For the last seven years, myself and my “There is a place for all childhood friend Hetty, have played in the England junior team. Our current of us in sport.” team has now been playing together for
1st
Achievements Ran for England at the British Athletics Cross (finished 6th); Ran for GB at the World University Cross Country Championships (finished 17th and Team GB won the silver overall).
“If you have a goal, you will find a way of getting there, even if the path isn’t clear at first” How did you get into cross country? “Since the age of 10 I have been involved in Athletics, training at my local running club and competing. I was I was keen for this to continue when I joined Newcastle University. In freshers’ week I sought out the Athletics and Cross Country team and got stuck in with their training schedule, making great friends in the team through competing at races all over the country. My chemical engineering degree took me on a placement year in Middlesbrough where I was surrounded by male engineers in the workplace. It was a completely new area of the country for me, yet I was keen for my running to continue. I joined a local running club looking for a team to train with similar three years, so we know each other well, which definitely helps team dynamics. We won all of our first five games, which meant we were top of the table and therefore qualified automatically for the quarterfinals, where we beat Latvia. We then played a tough game against Hungary in the semis, which we also won, and then had a pretty easy win against Turkey in the final to become U21 European Champions. Last year we won Bronze, so winning the Gold this year was a real achievement for our team. This is also the first time that any U21 England team has won the
to my university one. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to find a club with the same age of runners. However, I joined a very friendly club who welcomed me and helped me train competitively for the competitions I had ahead including BUCS XC, which was the World University Cross Country trials. Despite the only runners at the club my pace being middle aged men I loved training with the group with my goal to try and make the Great Britain Cross Country team. I was committed to my training schedule every week, and it paid off when I finished fourth in the trials and was selected for the championships in Italy.” Why should more girls get into running? “I would like to emphasise that throughout both my running and my studies I have been outnumbered by a male presence and new situations. Not letting this put me off has led to my success. If you have a goal, you will find a way of getting there, even if the pathway isn’t clear at first. Keep persevering, and never let negative thoughts, people’s comments/views or obstacles alter your goal or desire to reach it. Being part of a club or society is also a great way to increase your friendship group and self esteem.” Europeans, which meant that we qualified for the World U21 Championships in Estonia.” What other major tournaments have you taken part in? “In 2013, I got selected to play in the Women’s (over 21s) England team, where we won bronze in our first major European competition in Norway. I have also competed in the England Mixed team (consisting of 2 men and 2 women), where we played the Europeans Mixed Championships in Turkey in 2012.”
Image: Naomi Robinson
NAOMI ROBINSON 22 BSc GEOGRAPHY
CURLING
The Courier
sport .35
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Instagram thecourierImage: Lucy Hyde
Image: Nic Robinson
Achievements Representing Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Water Polo Championships, and currently captaining the Wales team.
5
th placed finish for Wales in the CWPC
LUCY HYDE 24 MB BS MEDICINE
ULTIMATE
Achievements Vice captain of the GBu23 Women’s team who competed at the u23 World Championships in 2015. Captained Newcastle Women’s team for two years, achieving third place at University Nationals and also playing for some very good club teams including Relentless and SMOG.
6
years playing for Newcastle Pies
Why should girls play frisbee? “I joined the Newcastle University Ultimate Frisbee Club in my first year,
having never heard of it before. Frisbee just required weekend commitment (and the odd training), which I could manage with my degree, and I fell in love with the sport pretty quickly. It’s fast-paced, involves a lot of skill and encompasses all the things I loved about netball, tennis and athletics into one. Plus, there are opportunities to play both Women’s and Mixed, which is very different to most sports. The big bonus on top of all of that is how incredibly friendly everyone is; I have friends all over the country and further from teams I’ve played against and with. I could not recommend it more!” Image: Steve Ashworth
HARRIET ROBINSON 24 MSc CLINICAL SCIENCE
WATER POLO
Achievements 8 Marathons in 8 Days for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Starting with Manchester Marathon on April 2nd and finishing with Brighton Marathon on April 9th. Ran her own Marathon every day in between around the country.
“All you need is a pair of trainers and almost everyone can do it” “It probably sounds really cliché but it truly was the hardest 8 days of my life but I absolutely loved the experience and would recommend it to anyone. Before this challenge, I didn’t have a huge amount of running experience. I had run 1 marathon (in 1 day) so logically thought the next step from there would be to increase it to 8 marathons
in 8 days. At the time I didn’t realise how ridiculous a challenge I had set myself, after having read about Ben Smith who ran 401 marathons in 401 days, I thought 8 couldn’t be too difficult! I was very wrong. Looking back on my achievement now, I still can’t believe how I managed to finish it but I couldn’t have done it without all the amazing support.” Why should girls get into running? “Running is amazing! It’s so cheap, all you need is a pair of trainers and almost everyone can do it. For women in particular, it’s an empowering way to exercise given that historically, women were never allowed to participate in organised races because no one believed they could physically do it. Parkrun is a great place to start if you need a bit of motivation/inspiration.” Image: Holly White
DAISY BAGGS 23 BSc AGRICULTURE
TRIATHLON Achievements Women’s Winner of Triathlon X – the world’s hardest Triathlon. 3.8km Swim in Lake Windermere. 180km Fred Whitton bike route in Lake District. Marathon up and over Scafell Pike.
17
hours taken to finish Triathlon X
Why should more girls get involved in sport? “Playing water polo has given me so many opportunities. It has allowed me to keep fit, make friends and learn skills that can be used in all sorts of situations. As well as studying my masters part time I also work full time, training a couple of evenings a week allows me to relax and forget about work for a few hours. I’d recommend everyone gets involved in sports of some sort, check out local teams, and give yourself a chance to socialise and keep fit at the same time!” Image: Gabby Withrington
GABBY WITHRINGTON 23 MB BS MEDICINE
TRIATHLON Achievements Representing England in the UK and Ireland Schools Swimming League.
“Swimming has given me the confidence to branch out”
HOLLY WHITE 28 MRes/PhD CANCER RESEARCH
SWIMMING
Image: Lucy Nehring
Achievements Tokyo final at Olympic trials 2016 and at world trials 2017; swam for England at the French open in Vichy 2016. Why did you get involved in sport? “I used to do lots of sports when I was younger including dancing, tennis and gymnastics. My teacher suggested I try for a swim club and I did. Now I have now been swimming competitively for around 8 years.”
LUCY ELLIS 20 BSc SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SCIENCES
SWIMMING
Why do you stay in sport? “I think the reason I’ve stuck with swimming so long is because it’s hard work and challenging- sometime you wait years to scrape a hundredth of a second off your personal best, but it’s worth it because you know how much you sacrificed for it. Swimming has taught me to be resilient, to be organised and good at time management, to push myself as far as possible, and
Why should girls get involved? “I started swimming lessons at a young age, simply to learn how to swim. I absolutely loved the social element of being in a team and have ever since enjoyed an active lifestyle. Being involved in swimming has given me the confidence to branch out into other sports in more recent years and has enabled me to have good health and focus in other things I do. Ultimately, sport should be fun and, whether female or male, we ALL need more fun! I think the first steps that girls should take to get involved in sport is try out different sports and activities to find out what they enjoy doing the most.” to keep pushing even when you think your body can’t do anymore and your brain is telling you to quit. It’s also taught me new skills, such as strength and conditioning exercises and Olympic lifting, as well as given me opportunities to meet new people.”
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with pushing yourself and feeling proud of yourself for doing so” Why should more girls get involved? “More girls should get involved in sport because it’s good for you physically and mentally, it’s versatile and it can be really challenging but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with pushing yourself and feeling proud of yourself for doing so.”
36. sport
Monday 8 May 2017
The Courier
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston
Sport springs into action this Easter
With an exciting period of sport during the Easter we review just some of the many happenings and events
Joshua vs Klitschko
Leicester City However down and out they might seem, Leicester City Football Club refuse to go away. It’s been a hectic season as the King Power Stadium. Last year’s worldbeaters Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have looked lost, N’Golo Kante has remained a stalwart servant (shame that is for Chelsea) and halfway through the Premier League season, ‘dilly-ding dilly-dong’ Claudio Ranieri was gone. Over Easter, however, the Foxes began to make headlines for all the right reasons again. Since the start of March Craig Shakespeare’s side have taken 16 points from a possible 23 in a return to form that gives the club a shot at a top-half finish. This purple patch in form extends out of the Premier League as well. Whilst us students were either relaxing, eating chocolate or panicking over dissertations during the Easter break, Leicester City were showcasing their new and improved status in world football in the Champions League. Having breezed to victory in their Group Stage and overturned a 2-1 deficit in the second leg against Sevilla in the last 16, a spot in the quarter-
finals against Atletico Madrid was secured. The Foxes had their work cut out - Madrid, finalists in two of the last three years, are European giants where Leicester must still be considered minnows. The away leg on 12th April was a tense affair from which the Spaniards emerged 1-0 victors. It was all to play for a week later when Atletico rolled up to a bouncing King Power Stadium. Leicester fell 2-0 behind by half time, but a Jamie Vardy goal shortly after the break opened up the second-half. It wasn’t to be, Atletico’s back-line held firm despite Leicester’s best efforts, and Shakespeare’s team bowed out of the Champions League. It wasn’t another fairy tale ending for Jamie Vardy & Co. but the side’s Champions League effort was a valiant one that made all English football fans’ hearts swell with pride. Leicester City may not have lived up to last season’s high, but there is still no club in the world that can challenge The Foxes’ soul.
On the 29th April, Anthony Joshua took to Wembley Statium in London to make a second defence of his International Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion title, this time against Wladimir Klitschko. Lasting for 11 rounds, with a 90,000 strong crowd – the largest boxing audience in eighty years – Joshua managed to fend off Klitschko, hitting the canvas once in the sixth round. Joshua, 27, spent a significant amount of time on the defensive after his first knockdown in his professional career, dragging the fight through another five rounds to knock Klitschko, 41, to the ground twice,
firstly with an uppercut and secondly with a left hook, winning by TKO. Klitschko had held some form of the World Heavyweight Champion ranking from 2000 to 2015, and the Ukrainian was incredibly humble toward his opponent in the build up to the fight, with a relaxing lack of trashtalk and hostility pre-fight. The fight itself was long and intense, with the first four rounds used by the fighters to test each other, before Joshua’s domination of Klitschko in the fifth, followed quickly by the Ukrainian’s retaliation in the sixth, sending the Brit to the canvas. The four rounds after this short bout
were again cautious and slow, with both combatants on the defensive, until the final round in which Joshua unleashed an unrelenting stream of punch after punch, until the Russian was forced to involve the referee in order to stop the fight, as he was incapable of defending himself, resulting in a total knockout. Called “the biggest heavyweight fight since Lennox Lewis knocked out Myke Tyson” by ESPN, both combatants have indicated a great respect for each other and a willingness to take to the ring again to face one another. Errol Kerr
Toby Bryant
Sunderland After several seasons of starring in the Premier League’s relegation battle, Sunderland have finally conceded to a demotion. Relegation became a barbarous reality for the Black Cats after a bleak 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have survived the past decade in the Premier League, though with no real triumph. The club did come close to silverware in the final of 2014 Football League Cup, however those days appear only as a forgotten oasis, as Sunderland now sit deadbottom of the table.
“Sunderland’s relegation is hardly startling” Having won only 5 games so far this season and with 14 points between them and the safety-zone, Sunderland’s relegation is hardly startling. Sunderland are likely to be joined in the Championship next season by fellow Northeast football club, Middlesbrough. What is next for Sunderland? The club has had a scandalous recent history both in the realms of economics
Mark Selby has now the world title 3 times in the last 4 years Image: Wikimedia Commons
and criminality. Sunderland’s debt is currently sat at £150,000,000 and counting. Reports emerged of redundancies being made just hours after the relegation was confirmed. Last season Sunderland lost their chief executive, Margaret Byrne, as she resigned after the infamous saga regarding convicted paedophile, Adam Johnson. Clearly the club has been in a turbulent state, however they are not to be written off, having bounced back into the Premier League two times in 2005 and 2007. Whether Sunderland attempts this arduous feat with or without David Moyes is yet to be seen. In stark contrast, Newcastle United, Sunderland’s distinguished rivals and when all’s said and done, the superior football team, have once again earned promotion to the Premier League. Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan, Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan, Have you ever seen a Mackem, Ever seen a Mackem, Ever seen a Mackem in Milan? Harry Webb
Anthony Joshua’s professional record now reads 19-0 after battling Klitschko Image: Flickr
World Snooker Championship It was the 40th anniversary of the World Championship taking place in the Crucible, and the cramped, atmospheric venue proved to be a fitting setting for nearly 3 weeks of fantastic snooker action. The first round provided a massive shock as the bookie’s joint favourite Judd Trump was knocked out by Rory McLeod 10-8. While Stephen Maguire won his game 10-2 against Anthony McGill, having lost four consecutive first-round matches at the Crucible since his semifinal appearance in 2012. In the second round, the pick of the matches was five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan beating alsoformer champion Shaun Murphy 13-7. O’Sullivan had previously hit out at World Snooker’s chairman Barry Hearn, for bullying and intimidating him, but was focused and played well. However Murphy lived up to his nickname ‘The Magician’ after hitting the pot of the tournament. It was a stunning trick shot that bounced off three cushions to knock a red in to the pot. The quarter-finals were similarly exciting with 4 exciting games. 2016 runner-up Ding Junhui beat O’Sullivan 13-10, despite Ronnie hitting a 146. While John Higgins advanced to his
first semi-final since winning the 2011 World Championship, after defeating Kyren Wilson 13–6. Defending champion and number 1 player, Mark Selby alongside Barry Hawkins were the other semi-finalists after wins against Marco Fu and Ding respectively.
“Nevertheless after yet another setback, trailing by 16-15, Selby managed to take control of the game. ”
In the semi-finals, it was a close tactical battle between Selby and Ding in a repeat of the previous years’ final. However despite Ding managing to fight back and get the score to 16-13, the ‘Jester from Leicester’ ending up the victor, taking it by 17-15. The other semi-final match proved to be not quite as close however, as Higgins showed his quality, to stroll to a 17-8 victory against Hawkins. The final was a repeat fixture of the 2007 final which Higgins had taken 1813, and took an early lead 10 years on, finishing the first day 10-7 ahead. However the next day, Selby fought back
to win six from seven frames to lead 13-11 by the end of the third session. Both the Wizard from Wishaw and the Jester from Leicester were playing well despite the immense pressure, sharing the next six frames. The 31st frame proved to be highly controversial as the referee Selby to have not hit the black after gently rolling up to it. However it seems that the referee made the right decision, as what seemed to be the white ball nudging the black was just a trick of the light. Nevertheless after yet another setback, trailing by 16-15, Selby managed to take control of the game. With a clearance of 131 and then a break of 75, Selby took the title 18-15. Despite being behind at various points of the match, Selby showed why he was world’s number one. Indeed with his all-round skill and mental strength, Selby became the fourth player to retain the world title at the Crucible. While Higgins despite losing the close run game appears to be an enjoying a revival in fortunes. Overall, the tournament proved to be highly enjoyable, with plenty of shocks, trick shots and other good stuff. Tom Shrimplin
The Courier
sport .37
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Instagram thecouriersport | Twitter @Courier_Sport
Fencers battle hard for BUCS success Sports Editor, Lucy Brogden, spoke to the the women’s seconds, Isa Senica, Durda Vukajlovic and Rachel Wong
How many members in your club? We have about 70 paid members, but only about 40 members regularly turn up to training. Although we’re a mixed club, we are definitely more male- dominated.
3
Types of sword used
How many teams do you have? We have six teams in total: 3 male and 3 female. Teams have to have a minimum of three players, but there can be anywhere up to nine members. This is because each team has to have three individuals competing in each of the three sword types. Therefore, you can have three people competing in each sword, one person competing in only one sword, or any other variation. Typically, seconds have five members, but today, as we had three members, each of our team played three matches: one for each sword. So, is fencing a team sport or more of an individual sport? We compete individually, but all the scores are added together, so it’s very much a team sport. The scores are cumulative, and instead of starting each match from 0-0 you continue where the previous fencer left off, and hope to make up more points. Each match lasts for three minutes, or until the person reaches 5 points. Each fencer has three matches for each sword. Generally, this means that the winning team scores a
maximum of 45 points for each sword (there are 15 points on offer for each individual, and 45 altogether for each weapon).
Yes, you get to pick, and as the competition progresses you can suss out who their best players are. Generally, you leave your strongest player until last.
How do matches work? Points are awarded every time you hit the other player successfully. There is one point awarded for each hit.
“Most, if not all, of our athletes on our first teams are scholarship athletes”
What types of sword are there? There are three types of sword: épée, sabre and foil. Èpée is the only type of sword where you can be awarded double points (if two people hit each other at the same time). Èpée is the heaviest sword, with a flick blade which means it isn’t that flexible. It is the only sword that doesn’t use ‘priority’ marksmanship, and one point is awarded no matter where on your opponent you hit them. Sabre is the least flexible sword, and with it you use more of a slashing motion. The aim is to hit your opponent anywhere above the waist, which means you aim for the head and upper body. It uses priority marksmanship. The final sword is foil. This is the lightest sword, and points are awarded only if you hit someone on the torso. It uses priority. (Priority means that points are awarded to the person who made the attack.)
70 Paid club members
Do you get to pick who plays who in a match?
How many training sessions do you have? We have one two-hour official training session, but there are more sessions on
offer. Most people do 1-2 training sessions a week. We train at the fencing centre near Walkergate, which is owned by our coach, Ian Aberdeen.
Is anyone able to join the club? Yes, we welcome people of all abilities- we are a mixed ability club, and the majority of our members have never played before. However, our first team are made up of predominantly experienced fencers. We run specific beginners sessions for people who have never played before, and after a year of
this people then tend to compete for a team if they want to, and we provide all equipment. Fencing is one of the best performing BUCS teams at Newcastle. Why are you so successful? I think it’s mainly because most, if not all, of our athletes on our first teams are scholarship athletes.
“Points are awarded every time you hit another player successfully”
Newcastle duelling hard Image: James Sproston
38. sport
The Courier
Monday 8 May 2017
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston
Sprosdog’s Sport Section By James Sproston Sports Editor It’s been a long year of sporting success for Newcastle, but we’re now at that time where it’s all winding down. Over Easter we had a whole host of tournaments, finals and playoffs that Newcastle were represented in, from Big BUCS Wednesday to Nationals to international marathons. Turning our attention to the former, we had three teams head down to Bath for their respective finals. After getting a walkover against Cambridge in the semis, our Women’s Rugby Union 1s headed down for their Vase clash against Oxford. Touted as the underdogs from the outset, our girls were unlucky to come away with just a silver medal, but it’s been another impressive year for NUWRFC. The other two teams were both from the Water Polo Club. Whilst the Men’s 1s went down aiming to win the Trophy on the Tuesday, the Women’s 1s aimed to do themselves proud as they were put up against the top three teams in the country for the national crown on the Wednesday. Both came away with medals, as the men’s team clinched a tight victory against UCL and the women’s side came away with a bronze. Considering the quality of the other teams involved, it was a great result for the club all round. Over the Easter break there were also a number of teams in action at their respective national competitions. Amongst the most successful was the Pole Dancing Society, who both hosted and competed in the IUPDC Nationals, again coming away with that coveted first place. The Newcastle Wildcats also battled away, making it all the way to the semis in the Tier 2 of BUIHA Nationals, before bowing out against eventual winners Hull Ice Hogs. Special mentions have to go to Kirils Holstovs and Johnny Zagic for bagging 10 and 7 points respectively. Another strong Nationals performance was that of Newcastle Pies, our resident ultimate frisbee team. Having being seeded in Division 3, the highest position they could achieve was 29th. Throughout the weekend they proved their worth, beating Sheffield to claim the Northern Conference Cup, but losing out to Oxford in the National Conference Cup final. Following the Easter holidays, there have been a number of teams in action wrapping up playoff places. Having drawn the home leg against Leeds, the badminton club went on to smash their opponents in West Yorkshire, securing promotion to the Prem in the process. Lacrosse also competed for a Prem place, winning their first fixture against Birmingham. However, they lost the next match against Leeds Beckett in dubious fashion, crashing out in an 11-5 defeat that didn’t reflect the quality that the team possess. Another competition that saw Newcastle have a bit of success in was BUCS Regatta, in which the Boat Club represented the university. Unsurprisingly, BUCS Regatta was again hugely successful for the Boat Club, with their rowers claiming five gold, seven silver and five bronze medals between them. The Women’s Intermediate Coxed Fours and Freddie Strawson in the Men’s Beginners were particular highlights on a brilliant bank holiday Monday for Blue Star. So looking back, this Easter has been a hugely successful and fulfilling one. You can all be proud of your Team Newcastle representatives.
Takraw tourney returns to Newcastle Sepak Takraw By James Sproston Sports Editor Newcastle University’s sepak takraw club are once again hosting their tournament in the sports centre as it returns for a second year. After the resounding success of last year’s event, club president Niall Nagar had made plans to repeat the tournament, as he recently announced that the competition would take place on the 13th and 14th of May. Over the two days, teams from Newcastle will compete against each other and against touring sides to take home the coveted copper teapot. The teams are made up of three players on court, often with a substitute to play when needed. Each player has a role, either a tekong (server), feeder (playmaker) or killer (spiker). Just like in volleyball, between the team they can take up to three touches
to get the ball over the net. However, the rules of takraw allow for any one player to be able to take as many of those three touches as they want. In the Sepak Takraw Club’s tournament, they offer both doubles regu and traditional regu, which are two and three-a-side respectively. Both formats require players to have a quality first touch, but the doubles regu involves a lot more running.
who came as members of touring teams
“It’s this inclusivity that club president Niall Nagar would like to maintain this year” Last year Ruzaidi Bin Ismail took two gold medals, spearheading the Balai Malaysia B team in the traditional regu, and being one half of the London Durham partnership that won the doubles regu. Bin Ismail was one of many players
Worthy winners: Ruzaidi Bin Ismail collects the rtophy off John Haswell Image: James Sproston to the tournament, however Newcastle students took some silverware as well. Newcastle University’s A and B teams took bronze and silver respectively in the traditional regu, and similarly impressed in the doubles regu. Moreover, several other teams comprised of Newcastle students entered the competition. They included local heroes The Dreamers and 5-a-side legends Berocca Juniors, but neither side made it out of the group.
“Teams from Newcastle will compete against each other and against touring sides to take home the coveted copper teapot” Pak Men, made up of Newcastle students that weren’t part of the club, were inches away from making it to the semifinals, and it’s this inclusivity that club
Strugglers: Berocca Juniors didn’t make it out the group Image: Hannah Linaker
president Niall Nagar would like to
maintain this year. “Though we would always encourage participants to join the club, we’re more than open to new players trying the sport out on the big stage” Niall told the Courier. “Hopefully they’ll fall in love with the game and become a part of the setup here at Newcastle next year.”
2
years that the tourney has been running
With sepak takraw gaining global recognition, Niall wants to make sure that the sport remains available at Newcastle. “We want to make sure that students at Newcastle continue to have the opportunity to try out takraw. It’s a unique sport that people fall in love with instantly.” Having opened applications recently for the tournament, anyone interested can find the event on the club’s page on facebook. It promises to be spectacular.
‘Click to Kick’ App launched by students By Sude Kucukdeveci During the autumn of last year, based in the football hub of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2 students who are passionate about football couldn’t make the University team. They set out to find other ways to practice their passion. Together with university course mates, they came up with an idea- to connect with any other players in their area. This would provide an outlet for foreign stu-
Click to Kick will be released to testers at the end of June Image: Sude Kucukdeveci
dents to play football with others on a regular basis. Through this, the Muster app was born. As 1 of the 2 students was studying computer science, he thought of developing a prototype. To find out whether this idea even had potential, the Muster team conducted some market research to find out what prospective users thought. The research showed that many students in the area did not have issues with assembling a single team, but finding more players whom they could play
against. They were very open to the idea of connecting with strangers to play football with.
“The team decided on an app that would primarily help players connect”
With this knowledge, the Muster team began sketching out rough app designs and thinking of what would give the app a unique selling point. The team decided on an app that would primarily help players connect within a competitive (league) environment, similar to being in an actual football team. While this is the primary function, the app boasts a host of additional services that would delight not just football players, but also fans- the ‘Team Manager’ mode allows users to help in the formation of team tactics and strategy. This helps include football fans to help their player friends in their journey towards victory! While initially the app was to include additional features like drone footage of the games and bookable referees, missing funds had made this difficult and unrealistic for the first version of the app. Currently the prototype development is 75% complete, with hopes of completion by the end of June. While this outlook is a positive one, there were many struggles that had to be weathered before reaching this point, the development of an app by a single university
Image: Sude Kucukdeveci turned out to be no walk in the park, not to mention stresses like other deadlines. After the completion of the prototype, beta-users will be informed of the release. These users volunteered to be the first testers of the app, and will provide essential feedback prior to the official release in the iOS Appstore and Android Market. Testers will be able to see just how effectively teams can be mustered and facilities can be booked.
The Courier
sport .39
Monday 8 May 2017
thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Instagram thecouriersport | Twitter @Courier_Sport
Pole Dancers take home gold on home turf IUPDC Nationals
By Leah Williams at Newcastle College On the 25th March, Newcastle University Pole Dance Society took part and came away victorious in the largest university competition for our sport in the UK, the Inter-University Pole Dance Competition (IUPDC) 2017. This year, NUPD had the honour of hosting the competition finals at Newcastle College, making us the only Northern University to ever have hosted the competition since it began. After winning the competition last year, the pressure was on for us to deliver some original and technical performances. We went into the weekend feeling hopeful that we could pull something out of the bag. The event involved 9 universities; each of whom had to qualify through regional rounds in order to reach a place in the Final. Each university submitted performances in 4 categories (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Group) with a total of over 70 performers.
57
point NUPD lead over 2nd placed Glasgow
Performances were given in front of a theatre audience, along with professional pole dance judges, including a World Champion and two UK Champions: Bendy Kate, Sam King and Hannah Rose Kaynes. Each of our judges also gave guest performances throughout the day, featuring a cameo performance from our IUPDC organisers in Bendy Kate’s routine!
The entrants from our Society were Abby Gunn (Beginner Category), Eunice Goh (Intermediate Category), Nisha Kathrecha (Advanced Category), Leah Williams (Group Category), Cec Nichols (Group Category), Rosie McCallum (Group Category), Jessica Telsnig (Group Category), Hannah Hamblett (Group Category) and Kirsty Webb (Group Category).
placed overall 1st in the competition, and have the privilege of retaining the title of ‘Best University Pole Dance Society in the UK’ for the second year in a row! This means we will be able to host the competition again in 2018, and hopefully bring just as much talent with a new set of performances. We are really proud of our achieve-
ments, and cannot give enough thanks to those who were involved in helping to run the event, both during the planning phase, and the organisation on the day. Special thanks have to go to our IUPDC organisers, Alexanne Hood and Genny Godwin, who did an incredible job of putting on an event for NUPD to be proud of!
“This was a massive hit at the competition, featuring doubles, triples; and some newly created moves of our own”
For anyone who would like to see what NUPD is all about, we would love for you to take a look! We have our largest number of members ever this year, and we are hoping to keep growing as our society gains more and more success.
2
consecutive wins at Nationals for NUPD
Group routine: Hannah Hamblett, Kirsty Webb, Jess Telsnig, Rosie McCallum, Leah Williams and Cec Nichols take the top spot in the group category Image: Phil Cleary
Each of our performers showcased incredible routines, and all placed really highly. Our beginner achieved 2nd in her category with a beautiful routine to ‘Youth’ by Daughter. Our intermediate performer also placed 2nd after a sassy showpiece to “So Good” by Louisa Johnson. Despite facing some really strong competition, our advanced performer also did amazingly; reaching 4th place with her fabulous flex and floor work skills to “High for This” by the Weekend. Finally, our group routine performers created a routine to Disney’s Mulan. This was a massive hit at the competition, featuring doubles, triples, and some newly created moves of our own; we went on to place 1st in this category after a great reaction from the audience. In total, these scores meant that Newcastle University Pole Dance Society
Triathlons, Duathlons and Marathons Triathlon and Duathlon By Jordan Scudder
Team Newcastle Triathlon’s race season started this Easter. With only three BUCS events a year, the club also enters many other races to get their adrenaline and competition fix. The first of these was the Manchester Marathon on April 2nd. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and an amazing atmosphere. The race is only in its fifth year, though regardless of its infancy it’s incredibly well run with plenty of nutrition and aid stations to hand. Almost a dozen current and old members of the team raced with some amazing results on hand. Everyone got a new PB and a few of our members even qualified for good for age entry for the London Marathon; those being Harry Putnam, Danny Bluff, Leticija Petrovic,
Sara Tomassini, Gabby Withrington & Laura Bassett.
“Special mention must also go to Tim Bonham who ran an amazing 2hr 55minute race” Special mention must also go to Tim Bonham who ran an amazing 2Hr 55minute race but will be retiring due to health conditions. Tim has been an avid and inspiration member of the club for many years and his amazing attitude and performance will be sorely missed. For Gabby, Manchester was the beginning of her challenge to run eight marathons in eight days for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Despite running an incredibly fast 3hrs 37 she could power through and run a consecutive six more
All smiles: Jordan Scudder celebrates as he runs through suburban Manchester Image: Robbie Kingston
before finishing at the Brighton Marathon a week later. She raised over $1500 in the process! April 23rd saw the Stockton Duathlon Festival. This weekend of racing offered both Sprint & Standard competitions. There were two Sprint races as one was draft legal whilst the other wasn’t. A draft legal race is one in which you can follow the cyclist ahead of you, with a gap of only a few centimeters between you.
Bombing along: Louise McLeman completes her 25km stint on the bike at the Stockton Duathlon Image: Dave Charnley
8
/8 marathons completed by Gabby Withrington
This allows you use up to 40% less energy than the person in front of you as you ride in their slipstream. The respective distances for these were 5km run, 20km bike & 2.5km run & 10km run, 40km bike and 5km run. The draft legal sprint distance was also a qualifier Duathlon World Championships so competition was fierce. The bike course is incredibly technical, so competitors needed to pair skill with power to gain speed coming out of the corners. There were fantastic results in all three races. Louise McLeman came was the second woman across the line in the non-drafting Sprint distance, and Rachel Pearse was third. Sam Steele also came tenth in the Standard distance race. It was also the first race for a lot of our newer members and great practice with BUCS just on the horizon. April 30th was the penultimate event of the year; BUCS Sprint Triathlon at St Mary’s School just outside of Bath. This consisted of a 750m pool swim, 25km bike leg and rounded off with a 5km run. For a lot of the newer members this was their very first full triathlon, so a lot
of preparation was needed. Competitors set off in waves depending on their swim times behind heading into the first transition (also called T1) and getting on their bikes. The bike course was undulating and very scenic, though there was the occasional twist and turn so wits were needed.
“For a lot of the newer members this was their very first full triathlon” This then lead into the second transition (T2) before starting the final run. The move from bike to run can be difficult on the legs, so this is the hardest part of the race. The course was flat and fast and where the athletes truly needed to push themselves before reaching the finish line. The first wave was at 9am and the last
wave was at 2pm so there was a full day of racing to take in. The atmosphere was incredible with university teams from all over the country congregating and setting up banners, gazebos and more as makeshift Race HQs for their athletes. The final wave is the most competitive and filled with top tier triathletes. Last year saw the likes of Gordon Benson who raced alongside the Brownlee brothers in Rio last year. It was an exhilarating day and the club had some fantastic results. Thom Gilbert got the tenth fastest bike split out of almost two hundred competitors. Unfortunately, the skill level was incredibly high, so no BUCS points were earned. Later in the month will be BUCS Standard, the last and hardest event of year. It is also usually out most successful. Many of TNT’s members specialize in longer distance racing, so that should be their time to shine and hopes are high for BUCS points.
Sport
www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 8 May 2017 Issue 1350 Free
thecourieronline.co.uk/sport
Sports Editors: Lucy Brogden, Tom Shrimplin & James Sproston courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Twitter: @Courier_Sport | Instagram: thecouriersport
Image: Phil Cleary
Clauida Heggie sealed promotion in her last game for the club Image: @NCLBC on Twitter
POLE, P.39 Image: Ben Grayson
TRIATHLON, P.39 Image: Jo Gascoigne-Owens
Badders girls promoted Women’s Badminton Playoff Newcastle 1s
4 6 (10)
Leeds 1s
4 2 (6)
By Claudia Heggie at Newcastle University Sports Centre
THIS GIRL DID, P.34-35 Image: James Sproston
After an undefeated season, the women’s badminton 1st team faced premier play offs for a second year in a row. Narrowly missing out on promotion last year, the girls were hungry for a win. In a strange turn of events the girls had to play Leeds 1s twice, home and away, in two consecutive days. We started with the home fixture: a very nervy affair with Newcastle having lost their No.1 player Aika Nagai, as she had returned to Japan. First up was CiCi Lu, our sports scholar and undefeated singles player. To put it briefly, CiCi smashed it, winning 21-3 21-9 against Leeds’ Emily Fearnley. This is a girl who needs to be competing in the prem. Meanwhile, Maria Hall fought it out
24
/26 games won by CiCi Lu this season
SEPAK TAKRAW P.38
against Leeds’ No.1 singles player, Annie Karn. Very much the underdog in this contest, Maria battled it out taking her opponent to 3 ends and narrowly missing out in the third end 14-21. Next was the turn of the doubles, NUBC veterans Cara Vincenti and Claudia Heggie took to the court to play Leeds 2nd pair, Meg Anderson and Ashleigh Buck. Some early nerves saw
the girls lose the first end 25-23, a strong middle set of 21-16 wasn’t enough as the girls lost in three 16-21, vowing to win the next day. During this saga, Rebekah Puttick and Isabelle Cain delivered the goods beating the 1st pair of Jess Walker and Tilda Tierney comfortably 21-13 21-14, putting the match score at 2-2. The turn-around at the home game saw CiCi smash it once again, strolling round the court like a gazelle to beat Karn 21-8 21-9. On the court next door, Maria engaged in another epic battle, taking Fearnley to 3 ends once again and unfortunately repeating history being unable to clinch the third losing 15-21. The doubles turn-around saw a more comfortable Vincenti and Heggie take Walker and Tierney 21-13 21-13 in straight ends. The girls stretched off and watched the final game of Puttick and Cain against the Leeds pair of Anderson and Buck with the home crown in full support. Lightning fast reactions saw the girls one end up, a confident start. Unfortunately, the opposition upped their game with some powerful attack and the girls couldn’t keep up the tempo losing in three closely battled ends. With the home score tied at 4-4, it was
4-4
Draw in the home tie
all to play for away. As every game we won had been won in 2 ends and all games lost were lost in 3, we were 4-0 up on game difference. Any type of draw away would see the girls into the prem. The away day started the same as any other: spreading out the badders bags on the train and discussing team tac-
tics. After much deliberation, the girls took the bold decision not to change team formation believing they had been robbed the day before. CiCi Lu did her thing, winning with
“Izzy and Rebekah were playing better than ever”
an incredible margin against Emily Fearnley, in doing so confirming her status as a badminton goddess. Maria Hall faced off against Annie Karn, after some advice from the team not to tire herself out in her first game, Maria lost in 2 close ends 17-21 18-21, conserving her energy for the 2nd singles. Claudia and Cara took to court to face the 2nd pair of Meg Anderson and Ashleigh Buck that had defeated them the day before. The nerves were out of their system and they came with active feet, ready to dominate, winning in two straight sets 21-16 21-12. Meanwhile, Rebekah and Izzy played Jess Walker and Tilda Tierney, who had substantially upped their game from the day before. The girls couldn’t quite match the opposition whilst getting used to the away environment, they lost in three sets 21-16 14-21 18-21. Match score at turn around 2-2, a dangerously similar scenario to the day before. For the turn around, CiCi strolled onto court to complete her part for Team Newcastle. Always making it look easy, she barely broke a sweat and defeated Karn in two straight ends, ‘doing a CiCi’ as it is now called. Whilst CiCi was celebrating four wins from four, Maria Hall was looking for her first win of the play offs. She was hungry for it. The game was tight as Fearnley took the first set 17-21 and
Hall won the second 21-12, but Maria had just enough in her tank to claim the win, sealing it with a 21-19 victory in the third and final set. A monumental game for our captain who proved that she can take on premier singles too. In the doubles, a slow start from Claudia and Cara saw them unsuccessfully playing catch up to lose the first end 1521 against Walker and Tierney. The girls got their act together to win a close second end 21-18 before smashing through the third 21-16. A 100%-win record for Claudia’s last ever BUCS match after 5 years of service, a dream come true. With the match score now sitting at a comfortable 5-2, the girls were guaranteed the win. But Izzy and Rebekah were playing better than ever, determined to show Leeds exactly what they can do. After winning the first end 22-20, the girls struggled against the strong attack of Anderson and Buck in the second end, losing 18-21. Some inspirational words at the turn around and a team huddle led to Puttick and Cain smashing through their 3rd end with ease. Set score 21-16, match score 6-2, Team Newcastle domination away in Leeds. This is the first time that the girls
10-6
Victory across the two ties
have been promoted to the Premier League since the 2010-11 season, with them having a brief stint in league 2 in 2012-13. A monumental achievement for these girls and for Team Newcastle and a great way to round off a winning season.
Player of the Season:
CiCi Lu