Courier 1364 by The Courier Online

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Monday 19 February 2018 Issue 1364 Free

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Fashion The Grammys are upon us, but will they affect the high street? Page 8

Science Norway shows Britain how to properly recycle Page 31

Puzzles Joey has a proposition for you, but are you up to the challenge? Page 33

BNOC launches The independent voice of Newcastle students

"Best Neighbours On Campus" to be rewarded £1,000 for the winners of the monthly award The scheme is set to start in March 2018 Esther Michel-Spraggett After a year of collaboration and preparation with the city council and local communities, the University and the Students’ Union presents a new student competition to find the Best Neighbour on Campus. The project, launched on Monday 5 February, aims to reward students who have been active members of their community and respectful neighbours. "Students get a bad press because of the loud parties, the noise, or the litter and what this competition is about is actually showing that the majority of students are really decent people", said Marc Lintern, Careers Service Director. A diverse judging panel, including residents, council representatives and Nick Brown, in order to determine the winners of the title and prize, will assess each month, nominated student households. The Best Neighbour on Campus will receive up to £1,000 worth of contribution to living costs. The winning household will be able to choose whether the prize should be a contribution to rent, utility bills or food, excluding alcohol and tobacco. The prize is a real incen-

tive for students to make an effort to get to know their neighbours and live in consideration of them. To be eligible, households must be nominated by local residents with case studies of good work and consideration. Activities range from community volunteering to helping out a neighbour with small tasks to simply being considerate. For example, if a house party is planned, giving neighbours a few days’ notice and managing the volume of the music after a certain time is respectful. The Students’ Union GoVolunteer programme will be able to suggest local projects for students to get involved with.

“Students get a bad press because of the loud parties, the noise, or the litter, and what this competition is about is actually showing that the majority of students are really decent people" Marc Lintern, Careers Service Director

“Any residential area where our students are living can be involved” Students do not have to be living in a popular student area such as Jesmond to be included. Any Newcastle University student household can be nominated. The initiative also appreciates that student households neighbour each other

so residents could live across the street from active students. Newcastle University stated that the aims of the campaign were to: ‘It will promote among residents the many good things which students are doing, which residents often don’t know about’ to encourage students to ‘think about things which could improve the relationship which they have with their neighbours’ and to ‘have an opportunity to meet with residents and other members of the judging panel, and discuss how things are going.’ Ultimately they aim is to remind students of social responsibility and to “build on some bridges”, improving relationships between students and local residents. As representatives of the university in local areas, students have a chance to demonstrate respect and belonging to communities, and the scheme not only encourages but provides opportunity to do this. Ronnie Reid, President of Newcastle University Student Union commented: I do hope that BNOC will be a great success, and illuminate much of the great work that students do when going above and beyond in the local community. Often students get a bad wrap in Jesmond and across the city, but with a 16% decrease in anti-social behaviour, things are certainly moving in the right direction. The awards will run from February through to May and depending on the success of the initiative, awards will start again the following academic year. Each winning household of this year will be invited to the Pride of Newcastle Awards Ceremony held at the Civic Centre on 7 June.

Vice-Chancellor hosts strike open forum Isabel Sykes News Editor On Friday afternoon, the Vice-Chancellor Chris Day held an open-forum discussion about the strike action expected to begin on Thursday 22 February. The session began at 3:30pm in the Herschel building and was well attended. As people entered, students were stood outside the lecture hall handing out UCU leaflets and other material supporting the strike. At the start of the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor made it clear that the session would be filmed and recorded for ReCap for all students who were unable to attend. The Vice-Chancellor Chris Day began by expressing how difficult the current

situation was for all involved. He outlined his view of the economic origins of the issue and explained the university’s position on the matter. This was chiefly that a decision had been made that universities could not afford the contributions the UCU were suggesting, and that they are not sure more money would solve the problem. Day then raised the issue of the impact of the strike dispute on students, saying: “If I’m sitting in your shoes, the questions are: what effect is this going to have on me?” He then opened the session up to questions from the audience, which lasted just over an hour. To begin with, one student stood up and spoke passionately against the University’s stance on the strikes, defending the lecturers’

position, which received applause from the audience. This was followed by a brief but quite heated exchange between the student and Day, before another audience member turned the discussion specifically onto the potential impact of the strikes on students. Many students expressed fervent concerns over how the strikes would personally affect their work and asked how the university planned to deal with this, with some calling specifically for financial compensation. Consistently, the response was that it was difficult to plan, but that the University would endeavour to ensure the impact on students’ degree experience was minimal. Day said: “I believe that common sense on both sides will prevail in the end.”

Est 1948 Image: Leo Ma

Birthday celebrations: The Angel of the North turns twenty Arts Online Inside today >>>

St Mary's bus route revived

PTO Resignation

Following Ronnie Reid's motion, Newcastle University will trial a free bus from St Mary's College News, page 5

Former Marginalised Genders Officer Emily Sherwood's resignation statement is published in its entirety Student Voice page 10

Shadow of the Colossus

Nipple censorship

The PS2 favourite returns to the gaming scene with a stunning PS4 remaster Gaming page 28

The female body is at the centre of attention after Manchester Art Gallery removed a revealing painting Arts, page 27

the courier

thecourier 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/about for more information. Editor James Sproston Deputy Editor Alex Hendley Online Editor Jared Moore Copy Editor Laura Staniforth Current Affairs Editor Sunil Nambiar News Editors Valentina Egorova, Hanson Jones, Louise Hall and Isabel Sykes Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken and Alexandra Sadler Life & Style Editor Izzi Watkins Lifestyle Editors Sophie Henderson, Jaymelouise Hudspith, Lauren Sneath and Victoria Young Fashion Editors Chloe Bland, Sophie Schneider and Zofia Zwieglinska Beauty Editors Laura Greatrex, Lois Johnston and Susanne Norris Travel Editors Charlotte Hill and Talia Gillin Culture Editors Zoë Godden and Ciara RitsonCourtney Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland and Carys Thomas Music Editors Toby Bryant, Charlie Isaacs and Ally Wilson TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Joel Leaver and Alex Moore Film Editors Helena Buchanan, Daniel Haygarth and Christopher Wilkinson Gaming Editors Gerry Hart, Georgina Howlett and Richard Liddle Science Editors Jack Coles, Christopher Little and Ciara Ritson-Courtney Sports Editors Mark Sleightholm, Courtney Strait, Tom Shrimplin, Sydney Isaacs and Matt Proctor The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT 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.

From the archives

17 YEARS AGO

Compulsory computers concern

Fears abounded in the Courier in 2001 that students could soon be required to buy their own laptops or face being forced out of university. Newcastle bosses “refused to rule out” following the example of Warwick University, which had just announced plans to make laptops compulsory for its students by 2003. Warwick University, reported the Courier, believed that “the thought of going to a lecture without a laptop will soon be similar to going to an exam without a pencil”. Student representatives from the NUS and at Newcastle denounced the scheme, arguing that it would produce another barrier to higher education from students from poorer backgrounds, especially given their expensive tuition fees, which came in at £1,000 per year at the time.

Fire threatens the Students’ Union

63 YEARS AGO

‘What’s wrong with Durham’

...asked the Courier in 1955. After apparently extensive research, the paper found that everything from a “rather sickly interest in religion” to attempts at mimicking the pranks and drunkenness of Oxbridge, to a desire to wear academic gowns, was the matter with the University. While what is now Newcastle University was then still formally part of Durham, there was growing rivalry between the two divisions of the University, going all the way down to their student newspapers. The staff of Durham’s Palatinate paper didn’t take too kindly at the arrival of Courier staff distributing their own paper proclaiming everything that was wrong with Durham University. The following issue of the Courier boasted that scuffles had broken out and “several husky characters” pushed them to the snow-covered ground, before – since this was Durham, after all – politely offering them a warm bath and some tea.

CROSS-CAMPUS NEWS Oxford Tories’ ‘Port and Policy’ party

Allegations of sexual harassment and misogyny have been levelled at members of Oxford University’s Conservative Association following their “Port and Policy” event. Several leading members for the society have publicly criticised their fellow committee members for ignoring or dismissing numerous claims of harassment out of fear of bad PR for the society. Attendees of the party are also said to have shouted “Buller, Buller, Buller” in a nearby pub, in reference to the infamous Bullingdon Club, along with statements such as “I’ll buy their families” and “my castle’s bigger than yours”. The OUCA, which counts among its alumni three prime ministers and 13 cabinet members, now faces an investigation by the University over the allegations.

NUS in turmoil over bullying claims

39 YEARS AGO

The Winter of Discontent made a dramatic appearance in the Students’ Union when piles of rubbish left by the building’s back entrance went up in flames. Students drinking in the building on Thursday evening helped staff to extinguish the fire, at one point directing a fire hose from a higher floor out of a window. “Members of staff tried in vain to control the fire with fire extinguishers,” the Courier reported, “but these became exhausted before the flames could be stopped.” The fire brigade were eventually able to extinguish the fire but the rear of the building – the part which is now Venue – was blackened and several windows had cracked under the heat. The rubbish had been stockpiled behind the Union because of a refuse collectors’ strike, one of many to affect Britain in the “Winter of Discontent’ of 1978-79. Although the cause of the fire could not be determined for certain, one of the Union’s permanent members of staff believed that it was a “reasonable assumption” that it had been started deliberately, especially given numerous recent incidents of attempted arson in the building.

Monday 19 February 2018

The outlandish stunts of the 1950s gave Rag a bad name Image: The Courier

All 20 NUS officers were told not to come into their office for over a week after claims of bullying that have left people feeling “unsafe”. NUS President Shakira Martin, a moderate who ousted the controversial Malia Bouattia last year, has faced widespread allegations of bullying and abusive language, although she disputes these claims. Meanwhile numerous other NUS officers are accused of bullying and abusive behaviour, with reports of a “toxic” atmosphere in the office, leading to a major investigation into bullying at NUS’ head office in London. Simon Blake, the NUS’ Chief Executive, banned all 20 of the NUS’ elected officers from the office on 31 January as the investigation gets underway.

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the courier Monday 19 February 2018

@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news Current Affairs Editor Sunil Nambiar News Editors Valentina Egorova, Hanson Jones, Louise Hall & Isabel Sykes

Durham student dies in incident outside club Hanson Jones News Editor A student of Durham University has died after suffering a ‘serious head injury’ outside a nightclub in the city. Olivia Burt, a natural sciences student in her first year of studies, died in an accident involving a metal barrier, which fell onto her outside the nightclub Missoula. A large number of people were said to have been pushing to enter the venue, which holds a popular weekly event, when the incident occurred. The barrier fell onto the 20 year old student just before midnight outside the nightclub in the popular Walkergate area.

One witness described the panic as one of the security staff ran over to Burt Witnesses described panic as Burt was hit by the barrier amidst a large group of students waiting to gain entry into the venue. It has been reported that the student was on a night out with the Durham University Sailing Club. Security staff and paramedics made desperate attempts to resuscitate Burt,

however she was pronounced dead outside the venue. One witness described the panic as one of the security staff ran over to Burt and used his shirt in an attempt to slow the bleeding. He also said that the barrier may have been pushed by the people in the queue.

Olivia Burt was described as an excellent student and an “all-round lovely soul”

Isabel Sykes News Editor The image of packed streets and enormous queues outside nightclubs is a familiar one at night in Newcastle’s larger city centre, and ensuring the safety of club-goers in this environment is a difficult and increasingly pertinent issue. Queues outside popular nightclubs frequently turn into crowds of people pushing and spilling out onto main roads despite barriers and other measures designed to ensure the safety of club-goers. Although some clubs try to stop

people pushing barriers and each other, for example by having bouncers patrol up and down queues, this is not always successful. Other nightclubs appear less concerned about what happens outside their club, with bouncers focusing more attention on the behaviour of people already inside. Durham students have been calling for more control and more bouncers outside nightclubs following the death of Olivia Burt outside a nightclub in Durham. This might prompt us to consider if more can be done in Newcastle to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. Having more bouncers controlling

Another witness discussed people being evacuated from the nightclub shortly after the incident around midnight. Olivia Burt was described as an excellent student by Professor David Held, master of University College, Durham, who had an “outstanding academic record and was an exceptional sportswoman”. Her friends described her as an “allround lovely soul”. An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances and causes of the incident. It will be headed by Durham Constabulary and Durham County Council, in conjunction with the venue.

queue flow, more robust and betterplaced barriers, and making space for people to queue inside clubs might all be possible moves towards creating a safer environment for club-goers. However, it must also be considered that there is a limit to how much nightclubs can control what happens outside their premises. Behaviour in a crowd of intoxicated people can easily become irresponsible and aggressive and there is a limit to how much clubs could prevent this. Crucially, the situation outside a nightclub and the safety of the people there depends both on the behaviour of individuals and the efforts of the club itself.

Busy nightclub, often prone to accidents Image: pixabay

Jane Robinson’s lecture captures Hearts and Minds Zoe Crowther

Jane Robinson spoke about the struggle of women suffragists Image: Martin Farr

Newcastle University’s Insights Public Lecture programme welcomed Jane Robinson on Thursday 8 February, to talk about the real-life story behind her recent book, Hearts and Minds. Robinson is an author and social historian who specialises in women pioneers across various fields, and has written material on individuals, women’s institutions, and most recently, the story of the suffragists. The talk began by highlighting the generalised view that most people have of the fight for female suffrage: “Votes for women: it’s all about the suffragettes. As you may know, it’s slightly more complicated than that. Campaigners for the vote have suffered from generalisation, stereotyping.” By researching and writing about the suffragists and the ‘Great Pilgrimage’ of 1913, Robinson hopes to shift the emphasis away from the more militant suffragettes and towards campaigns which were conducted peacefully and democratically. The march of 1913 began in Land’s End and culminated in 50,000 people arriving at Hyde Park in London. This mass demonstration included women from every walk of life, from peeresses to mill workers, showing soli-

darity between ordinary women who wanted the same democratic rights as men. Taking the audience through the detailed narrative of the march, Robinson brought a personal touch to a highly politicised history. “It’s been so exciting and revealing to find untouched diaries, unseen letters, keepsakes and souvenirs of a personal and political revolution. It’s in forgotten notebooks like these that one learns the tricks of the suffrage trade.”

“Votes for women: it’s all about the suffragettes. As you may know, it’s slightly more complicated than that” Jane Robinson Author of Hearts and Minds

Robinson not only revels in the peculiarities and specifics of the women involved, but also brings in her own personal touches of humour. This was particularly palpable when she described the opposition and reactions which the suffragists faced:

the concept that “if women used their brains too much, their wombs would wither” and the report that “Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, no champion of women’s suffrage, replied, albeit rather doubtfully, that yes, he supposed women were people after all.” These moments of light relief were met with much laughter from the audience. Robinson stressed that women’s campaigning for the vote was one very long narrative. Tracing it back to the 1832 Great Reform Act, which excluded women but increased the male electorate, she argued that this began “a steady progression through the next few decades towards votes for women on the same terms as they were granted to men.” In the Q&A session following the lecture, Robinson answered a variety of questions, ranging from the effect of the First World War and the position of women across the British Empire, to how current affairs and gender equality have been shaped by these events of the past. One hundred years on from the Representation of the People Act, Robinson quoted one of the suffragist pilgrims in order to summarise the significance of the ‘Great Pilgrimage’: “We’re just representatives of every woman on the long walk.”

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Monday 19 February 2018

Rise in international applications to UK universities Anna Savage UCAS has reported a rise in applications to UK universities from EU students, despite the fears that Brexit would discourage applications from outside the UK.

For many students who are unable to afford to pay international fees this may be their last opportunity to study in the UK Last year, the fall in the number of EU applicants was blamed on the decision to leave the EU, but this year the number of EU students applying to study in the UK rose by 3.4% to 43,150. The number of international applications has also risen to 58,450, a record number. This rise has been attributed to the government’s commitment to continue the financial aid currently given to EU students for those that apply for courses beginning in 2018, even if the course concludes after the UK’s exit from the EU. For many students who are unable to afford to pay international student fees this may be their last opportunity to study in the UK. Currently, EU students are eligible for home fee status for undergraduate, master’s, postgraduate and advanced learner courses, and receive access to the same financial aid as UK students. Besides the guarantee of financial sup-

port, many have pointed to the weakness of the pound for drawing EU students to the UK. The Director of External Relations at UCAS, Helen Thorne, has said: “The weaker pound makes the UK a cost effective place to study and the Government’s confirmation that EU students starting courses this autumn will be able to benefit from the existing financial support arrangements will have been beneficial.” This may allay some of the fears that Brexit would result in a vast decline in EU and international students coming to study at UK universities, costing universities millions in the loss of fees and also reducing the diversity of the student body seen in universities at present.

This may allay some of the fears that Brexit would result in a vast decline in EU and international students Yet, it remains unclear what future application rates will look like, as Theresa May has recently suggested that her stance towards international students has softened, admitting that they have no long-term effect on migration numbers. However, she maintained that they should not be taken out of the official migration statistics. The probable loss of the current financial support for EU students is leading many to assume that applications to UK universities from the EU will fall in future years.

The Union Flag Image: Flickr, Rian Saunders

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Monday 19 February 2018

St Mary’s free bus service officially back on the road Alex Hendley Deputy Editor Transport between St Mary’s College accommodation and Newcastle University campus is set to go under a significant improvement, thanks to a motion put through student council. The Newcastle University Students’ Union resolved that students at St Mary’s should be issued with a bus pass which grants them access to the number 36 and 63 buses which take students to Newcastle City centre, dramatically reducing the time and effort taken to reach campus.

Currently, there is no courtesy bus taking students between the accommodation and the university The accommodation is popular and provides residents with bike storage, free car parking, a communal area with pool, snooker and table tennis tables and the usual commodities, but is renowned for being a considerable distance from campus. Harrison Saunders, 4th year Medicine student, spoke about his time at the residence: ‘Whilst I enjoyed my time out at the Scottish Borders in St Mary’s, the journey to and from Newcastle Uni made Frodo’s trip look like a walk in the park. A new bus service will be warmly welcomed.’ Currently, there is no courtesy bus taking students between the accommodation, which is located in Fenham, and the university buildings, a journey which takes over 35 minutes. The demand for the bus service was compounded when rental prices at the

halls remained the same despite the removal of the service, which had previously existed. At council, the argument in favour of the bus run, proposed by NUSU’s President Ronnie Reid, was based on these rent prices, the ease of access of campus and that Northumbria University’s transport system to and from their central campus was deemed as superior. Since the motion was passed last year, the Accommodation Services have been working with the Students’ Union to review the existing travel between the two locations, which have led to talks with Stagecoach. Harry Parsons, who has visited St Mary’s, and had to take a taxi home, told the Courier, ‘It makes me proud that my university is listening to the opinions of students and respecting the things voted on by the student council.’ These negotiations have resulted in a planned pilot scheme, which will be implemented after Easter in order to approve improved and affordable public transport for the residents. Speaking on the matter, Reid said, “Making Newcastle University more affordable has been one of my main commitments this year, and this Sabbatical Officer team has made real, noticeable differences for students in this respect. “This complimentary bus service will ensure that students that live in St Mary’s College are no longer out of pocket when going to and from University. I’m extremely proud to have been involved in this reform, and I think it offers one of many examples of the effectiveness of Sabbatical Officers to make positive change. “I also thank Student Council and in particular Sam Cooke for supporting my motion in November which gave wider student backing to this proposal. Overall, I think this is a great victory for the student voice.”

St Mary’s College, location of the free bus service Image: Newcastle University

Newcastle launches fourth annual LGBT+ week Zoë Godden From 19 to 23 February, Newcastle University Students’ Union will host its fourth annual LGBT+ Awareness Week.

The campaign has seen a wide acclaim and engages a large portion of students in a variety of talks, panels, and interactive stalls The week, organised to coincide with celebrations for LGBT+ History Month in February, is a collaboration of the combined efforts of Hannah Fitzpatrick, NUSU’s LGBT+ Officer, and the LGBT+ Society. Since launching in 2015, the campaign has seen a wide acclaim and engages a large portion of students in a variety of talks, panels, and interactive stalls. The purpose of the campaign is to give LGBT+ students the opportunity to showcase what they love about the community and its diverse history. On Monday, students can attend Artists Beyond the Binary, a discussion of the artists and musicians who transcend the gender binary, and the importance of nonbinary and gender-non-conforming visibility and self-representation. Tuesday will see discussions on asexuality, and toxicity in queer spaces, looking at how discrimination such as sexism, transphobia, and racism, inside the LGBT+ community can affect its

members. The week will also have a screening of ‘Paris is Burning’ in collaboration with the BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethic) Society, a documentary chronicling the New York drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on drag balls, voguing, and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality. The Working Class Students Network will also be hosting a joint discussion, entitled ‘Solidarity Forever’. This talk will look at the legacy of the Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners group, and the intertwining of the working class and LGBT+ movements. Thursday will additionally see an LGBT+ and Politics panel, whereby LGBT+ committee members of the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat societies will be quizzed on why their parties are the best for LGBT+ students. Finally on Friday, students can chill out with a Self Care 101 workshop, including crafts, discussions, and snacks. Last but not least, all students are invited to attend the popular Queer Question Time, a panel of LGBT+ students from across the university to take audience questions about all things gender, sexuality, and anything in between.

All students are invited to attend the popular Queer Question Time If you’re interested in attending any of the events, or want to help volunteer, contact Hannah Fitzpatrick via lgbt.union@ncl.ac.uk.

Flying the LGBT+ flag high with pride Image: Newcastle University Fashion Society

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news

Monday 19 February 2018

Dangerous road divides Science Central from campus Mark Sleightholm Safety concerns have been raised over Wellington Street, the road next to the new Urban Sciences Building, with many students unaware of its use by vehicular traffic. Since the Urban Sciences Building opened last summer a large number of staff and students have crossed Wellington Street to enter the building from the city centre. The building is the latest to open on Science Central, a partnership between the University and Newcastle City Council to develop a large area of land in the west end of the city. The street separates the Urban Sciences Building, home to several university departments including the School of Computing, from student accommodation sites such as Liberty Plaza and Verde. It’s paved road surface, however, disguises its use as a through-road for traffic between Barrack Road and St James’ Boulevard. Sunil Rodger, a PhD student who works with wheelchair users on urban accessibility, and who is based in the USB, explained some of the problems with the current set up: “Several factors make this area dangerous for pedestrians, starting with the use of the road as a rat-run: many cars exceed the speed limit of 20mph by a large margin. “Benches and other physical aspects of the design go right up to the edge of the road itself, which restricts where people can cross and mean that there is no refuge for them if a vehicle appears.” The safety of the road has attracted attention beyond students at Science Central. NUSU President Ronnie Reid plans to address the issue through a Student Council motion and with the University directly. “I, like many others are concerned by Wellington Street and the risk that an unregulated crossing poses

to our student body,” he explained. “On Monday I will raise this specific issue with the highest governing body of the University, and I remain confident of making progress on this important issue.” Reid has been working with the University’s Estate Support Service (ESS), who in turn have been liasing with Newcastle City Council to improve safety on the road. Clare Byrne, Director of the ESS, said: “Last week we submitted a report to them that we commissioned from a highways specialist consultant which made some recommendations. “The Council is considering this and will respond. They are commissioning a road safety audit.” The PGR school rep for Computing, Timur Osadchiy, said: “I know that the traffic lights are being negotiated with the city administration but the area has been occupied by students for quite a few years now and the time it takes for them to resolve this is shocking to me.” Joanna Marsden, an MA student who is based in the building, added: “the drop down pavement, new building works obscuring vision and cars going through the cut through at high speed makes an accident inevitable. “The University are aware of this, and had said that they will deal with it, however this was in September, and nothing has changed since.” Indeed, staff from Computing Science, who were the first to occupy the building when it opened, were told that the issue would be resolved before students arrived. Byrne described how Open Lab, a human-computer interaction research group based in the USB, is gathering data about use of the road by pedestrians and traffic to share with the Council. The USB itself was designed as a ‘living laboratory’ which would collect data about how buildings are used. A PhD student based in Open Lab, Se-

bastian Prost, feels that the road should be closed to non-essential traffic, or a pelican crossing installed. He felt that speed bumps would be insufficient to stop the traffic “as cars simply tend to speed up between them”. “I think it’s quite dangerous how cars race down Wellington Street,” he said. “It’s a 20 miles zone, but not enforced by any means and hardly any drivers follow this rule.” Meanwhile, Josh Spindler, the UG school rep for Computing, felt that a zebra crossing could prove an effective solution, or, failing that, a set of bollards to close the road He said: “It is ludicrous that the Council will not pay for a crossing of some form to be installed, particularly as any form of bollards will likely need planning approval which takes up time due to consultations and paperwork. “Adding to this is that the investment put into Science Central will positively impact Newcastle’s economy, so the outlay for a crossing to improve safety will be massively offset by the improvement to the economy brought by the new students and jobs at Science Central.” Spindler believes the issue lies in the presentation of the street, which is paved and does not immediately appear to be a road. Byrne explained that the appearance of the road is a result of uncertainty over its future use. She said: “The street was landscaped by the Science Central Partnership and it was always understood that the future status of the road would be reviewed once the development plans were known and whether it would be a bus route or not. “Depending on the latter, if it is not to be a bus route we would like to see the road closed to through traffic and have asked the Council to consider this.” Since the road is the Council’s responsibility the University is unable to do anything itself.

The roadworks on Wellington Street are contributing to dangerous traffic Image: Hanson Jones

Best Neighbours on Campus Refreshing showcase News Editor Louise Hall comments on Newcastle Uni’s upcoming BNOC campaign A response to front page While the idea of rewarding students for good behaviour in popular Newcastle suburbs may sound like a very wholesome and positive concept for everyone involved, in reality how practical and effective is this campaign going to be? The university keeps continually advocating the advantages of this scheme, its logistics and practicalities seem to have been somewhat neglected.

Will local households care about nominating students for an award with no actual benefit for themselves? Newcastle University’s representative states that non-student households will be made aware of the campaign through the distribution of leaflets and information of the city council’s Facebook page. But is there a limit to how successful this distribution can actually be? Even if residents do manage to be made aware of this campaign, will local households really care about nominating students for an award with no actual benefit for themselves? Also due to the nature of the award relying on nominations built on per-

sonally subjective opinion, it could be vulnerable to exploitation or manipulation, with neighbours pressured or asked to nominate households for the scheme or nominating based solely upon individual bias rather than community. The campaign doesn’t seem to specifically state how the distinction is drawn between students and ‘permanent residents’. Do students from other universities like Northumbria University count as residents? Do non-student tenants living in a rented accommodation not?

The scheme may create an unhealthy power dynamic, putting neighbours in a position of judgement and superiority over surrounding students. And if other students are classed as residents from the perspective of the campaign, there could be the opportunity for bias, as peers in the area simply nominate friends in for the award without cause. And while the initiative aims to improve the relationship between students and permanent residents, it

could also be argued that the scheme may possibly create an unhealthy power dynamic, putting neighbours in a position of judgement and superiority over surrounding students.

It seems unrealistic that busy residents will have time or event care about giving students a ‘pat on the back’ for not keeping them awake It seems unrealistic that busy local residents will have time or even care about giving students a ‘pat on the back’ for not keeping them awake till 4 am or putting their litter out properly. Or that busy students will put lots of effort into community project in the name of a slim chance of being nominated for an award that their neighbours may or may not have heard about. While this initiative may be a very nice idea, and looks great on paper for the university and their attempts to combat student disruption in local areas, its ability to actually have a serious impact on the inevitably terse relationship between students and locals is ultimately questionable, and remains to be seen.

of clubs and societies

Erin Holley Refreshers Fair, which took place last Tuesday, was a fantastic opportunity to have another look at the various sports clubs and societies that Newcastle University has to offer. This was particularly helpful for those who may have missed the initial Freshers Fair back in September, or for people who chose not to sign up for any societies or clubs and are starting to feel bored with the lecture, work, Netflix or sleep cycle. Actually having the opportunity to chat with members of the club or society can really help give a flavour of what taking part would involve.

160

Newcastle Students’ Union has over 160 societies on offer for students to get involved in

I am always very impressed by the number of different activities and societies that are available, and although the fair was rather dominated by sports clubs, there was also a great deal of opportunities catering towards students who aren’t as interested in team sports or fitness. The University has various political societies that are extremely important in getting younger people interested and active in politics, as well as societies

that focus on pressing social issues such as the Sexpression society, who promote the importance of sex education is schools and colleges.

Having the opportunity to chat with members of the club or society can really help give a flavour of what taking part would involve The fair was helpful to revisit some of the societies that didn’t appeal to me so much at the beginning of the year. Also several new societies and clubs have been founded since September, so the fair was the perfect chance to gain new exposition. Several clubs and societies are again offering taster sessions in lieu of the Refreshers Fair, so students can feel free to try their hand at any intriguing activity without the pressure of having to pay for membership immediately. Though it can be quite overwhelming to be asked if you are interested in so many different clubs and societies, overall the fair was a success. Refreshers’ Fair was a great showcase of the many different activities that go on within the University.

the courier

news

Monday 19 February 2018

Students at Go Green week working to save the planet Mark Sleightholm Everything from air pollution to sustainability in the fashion industry came under scrutiny last week, as Go Green Week reappeared on campus. RenewCastle, the student sustainability society, organised the week in partnership with several other societies and NUSU.

During each day a stall outside the SU provided passers-by with information about various environmental topics As in previous years, each day centred around a particular theme connected to sustainability. Evening events included a talk from green activist Sophia Lysaczenko, film screenings and discussions around ethical investment policies. During each day a stall outside the SU provided passers-by with information about various environmental topics, such as the effects of air pollution on human health and ways to reduce the amount of plastic we use. Joanna Marsden, a member of RenewCastle who ran the day themed around air pollution, said: “Given David Attenborough’s exploration of ocean plastic and the general interest that has sparked has made it even more important for students to have a presence on campus, highlighting what individuals can do.” Wednesday saw RenewCastle team up with the student-run Newcastle Food

Co-op to put on a Valentine’s Day vegan bake sale, to raise awareness about the benefits of a diet that includes less meat and other animal products. Alongside this the food co-op’s regular stall, selling organic and ethicallysourced food, helped to promote a more environmentally-friendly diet as well as providing students with a cheap way to get organic and ethically sourced food. The Fashion Society got involved on Thursday to highlight the environmental problems caused by the current fashion industry and promote more sustainable solutions. The society also made baskets out of old t-shirts to demonstrate innovative ways old clothes can be reused. Go Green Week concluded with the focus turning to environmental issues closer to home. In light of an ongoing campaign against a proposed open-cast coal mine at local beauty-spot Druridge Bay, the company behind the mine, Banks Mining, have proposed another mine at Bradley in County Durham. On Friday RenewCastle used their Go Green Week stall to raise awareness of the mines and the environmental damage they could cause.

Attenborough’s exploration of ocean plastic and the interest that has sparked has made it even more important for students In partnership with local residents opposed to the mine, several students headed down to Durham on Friday afternoon to protest outside Banks’ head office.

Go Green’s team selling ecofriendly products outside the Union Image: Mark Sleightholm

Newcastle’s University challenge team makes history at Semi-Finals Hannah Vernon Newcastle University is a step away from entering the semi-finals of the BBC Two show, University Challenge. Leading the 2017/18 team is Jonathan Noble from Newcastle, who has recently graduated with a PCG in Mathematics. Jonathan will be joined by three other Newcastle representatives: Adam Low-

ery from Sunderland, studying a PHD in chemistry; Molly Nielsen from London, who is in her fifth year of studying medicine; and Jack Reynard, from Leeds, a third-year medicine student. The four each secured their places in the team back in November 2016 and have been brushing up on their facts ever since in preparation for the Challenge. Having triumphed against Sheffield Hallam University in the first round last

September, the team were off to a flying start. Their success continued into 2018 with a win against Southampton University, which secured them with a place in the quarter-finals. Luther’s Bar was jam-packed with students wanting to show their support as the first round of the quarter-finals was aired. Showing support and smiles through-out, the team came together to bag their highest point-score yet this se-

ries- an impressive 225-130 win! The quarter-finals run on a format of ‘double elimination’. To reach the semifinals for the first time, Newcastle will have to win 2/3 matches. Those who followed the team’s journey will remember that they were eliminated at this stage, after suffering a disappointing defeat against St. John’s College and Liverpool. Hoping to beat last year’s record, the team is “excited yet apprehensive” for

Newcastle team Photography: BBC 2

the second round. The UK is famous for its love of quizzes, from daytime TV Quiz Shows to the countless pub-quizzes that take place across the country.

To reach the semifinals for the first time, Newcastle will have to win 2/3 matches. The team is hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals on the 26th of February, beating the University’s record. What’s special about University Challenge is that it allows a whole institution to engage in the quiz culture, while celebrating some of the UK’s brightest minds. Contestant Jack Reynard told The Courier, “There’s nothing I like more than learning new stuff, that’s why I personally love university challenge”. The show’s celebration of learning and knowledge is what Newcastle is all about, making it a fantastic event for the University to be part of. The team is hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals on the 26th of February, beating the University’s record. In preparation for the next round, the four Newcastle representatives have been building team spirit through pubtrips and practising questions out of books.

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the courier

Monday 19 February 2018

@CourierComment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken & Alexandra Sadler

Metro price increase: End of the line? As Metro fares continue to rise, our writers discuss whether the service is value for money, and the faults of public transport Laura Bolden

ow more than ever the Metro systems seems to be extremely un-reliable. It feels like every day a different issue occurs whether it’s a lift out of service or a train that has been removed from service, yet we are paying increasingly more for our tickets. Last month the price of an Inner Newcastle Student Ticket increased from £25.20 to £26.10, and while 90 pence might not sound like a lot of money it is one of many gradual increases that have occurred over the past few years. I don’t mind paying a little bit extra to get around if it means a good service is maintained, but this does not seem to be the case with the Metro.

When will we see these changes? Are we even getting value for money? Metro is a publicly owned system meaning the money they gain from tickets is re-invested into the system such as new

trains and cheaper fares for young people among other improvements. The question is when will we see these changes? Are we even getting value for money? There is no denying that the easy access to the Metro is perfect for us students, it’s a quick way to get to campus and can save a lot of time especially in the rush to make a lecture on time. For that reason, and because the thought of walking in the cold and rain is extremely un-appealing, I will continue to pay my monthly pass, but I am failing to see how the increased prices are justified. Last year it was also announced that a £337 million grant was given to Metro to replace the trains, but the new trains won’t be running until 2021. With a large grant and fare increases it means there is plenty of money to to better the system. Hopefully we will see an improved service sooner rather than later and maybe the constant ‘essential maintenance work’ will be worth it in the end.

Joe Holloran

s anyone who takes the Metro into university will tell you, the average price for a ticket has in-

creased. While there is good news for kids and college students, who will see a slight drop, the rest of us will yet again have to justify spending even more money. Although many students live close enough to simply walk or cycle, for some of us, the Metro is the most convenient way into the city. So, what is to be done? Interestingly, North East is one of the least railreliant urban areas in the UK; with just 1% (9,845) of people in our region using the train daily to commute to work, as opposed to around 24% in London. Surprisingly, 978,856 people reported that they got the bus to their destination each day. That is nearly ten times the number of people who take the Metro. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, I thought the current administration was committed to being the greenest government in British history. So, logic should dictate that they introduce incentives throughout the country that promote public transport use that is not reliant on fossil fuels. Nexus and their shareholders seem keen to constantly remind us that they are updating their services, which of course, costs money. This money comes directly from the commuter’s pockets. Many economists on the left and right have called for nationalisation of the

nation’s railway infrastructure, in order to provide cheaper, better service. This debate will continue to rumble on down the line for years to come, with no end in sight for price rises. But, as with many things, it is still better to be in the North than the South.

The student budget is being squeezed The increase in Metro prices does affect all students and is not specifically punitive. Nexus knows that the student budget is one that year on year is being squeezed by these measures and it is they who suffer the most from it. My view on the matter is simple, nationalisation of both close circuit and national rail services. Currently all three main centre-left parties (Labour, Lib Dems and Green) and some Tories see the economic and social sense in this. I know that a couple of extra pounds means little to the executives who made the decision, but to the modern student those extra pounds are a sign that they are an afterthought.

The 3: see no, hear no, speak no evil

Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg. Every flavour of depravity? We tempt fate and discuss their leadership chances Rory Cameron

ichael Gove, Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg? It’s like asking if you would prefer death by drowning, being burnt alive, or by being hacked apart. In fact, Conservative Party policy of cuts actually suggests that the latter is most likely. For the rest of us, with a choice between Gove, Johnson or Rees-Mogg, there is no optimistic choice.

There is no optimistic choice Michael Gove’s previous agenda in the education sector appeared to be a policy of delinquency, delinquency, delinquency for future generations. With Gove at the helm of the Conservative party, there may not be much of a country left by the time

our moronic children grow up. It will all have been sold off, we will be living in the Nestlé Nation, or perhaps the G4S Security State. Boris Johnson, fresh from his recovery of being stabbed in the back by Gove at the last leadership election, is also expected to make another bid for the top job. No, not the bid which made David Cameron nervous, calling a referendum on the EU in order to consolidate his place within his own party. We all know how that went. Then again, the impassioned Brexit proponent also had an unpublished article in support of the Remain vote leaked not long after the referendum, so a U-Turn is not out of the question from the flappy-armed Etonian. Finally, we have the new posterboy of the Right, their answer to Corbyn-mania lying with the conviction politics of Rees-Mogg, a man so antiquated, that one struggles to imagine him exist in the present, let alone in the future. Outdated attitudes towards civil liberties and economics paint him as more Dickensian character, but he’s the wild card, and in the Trump era of personality politicians, he’s the one my money is on.

Sidney Pinsent

he year is 2019 and Theresa May has just handed in her resignation form as dark clouds linger over Parliament. Three men – one posh, one tall and posh and another posh with grey hair – scramble for the vacancy. This is the Conservative party and they need a new leader to lead the country to a victorious, independent future. So, will it be Rees Mogg, Davis or Gove? The ambitious Gove plans to continue his previous work in the education sector and hopes to fully privatise education. He is reportedly considering a plan to privatise knowledge itself saying “knowledge will become an important commodity of which our European friends will be in short supply. We hope to sell it back to them for a tidy profit”. He then begins to laugh evilly. David Davis hopes to use his power to lead Britain to a more cautious Brexit. His plans for a soft

Brexit were silenced as “unrealistic” so he hopes to wrap the entire British economy in bubble wrap. The move will ensure long term prosperity for Britain’s thin plastic manufacturing industry after figures show catastrophic losses after the introduction of the 5p plastic bag charge.

Gove is reportedly considering privatising knowledge Jacob Rees-Mogg is more absurdly optimistic in his post-Brexit plans. He hopes that Britain will once again ‘rule the waves’ and suggests sailing Britain round the world using a sail made from Union Jack knickers. The vote takes place just a week after Boris Johnson died in a freak accident after 3 knives fell in his back.

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comment

Monday 19 February 2018

Lecturers: It’s a strike!

Cuts to, and marketisation of, staff pensions has provoked a strike, but what do students think? Fred Hunt

everage is one of the essential elements of capitalism’s self-proclaimed ability to remunerate people based on what they deserve. If a worker or workforce demand a payrise, employers have to make a judgement based on whether they can afford to lose these employees permanently and seek alternative candidates. Much like the how the supply-demand balance dictates the value of products, this is how supply and demand extends to wages and recruitment. Whether you’re a docker, coal miner or engineer, it is broadly regarded as legitimate to exercise this right and to reap the rewards if your leverage is sufficient, because if it is you are regarded as deserving of this remuneration. The difficult facet of this discussion however is in the case of certain professions, such as medicine or education, where strike action could harm patients and students. Instead of condemning these professionals as irresponsible and self-centred, we should simply recognise the fact that they have a very significant amount of economic leverage. Teachers, lecturers, doctors and nurses are a crucial component of our society, and they should be payed accordingly – not made to feel guilty for simply requesting what is theirs by right. If this unfair guilt-driven discourse is discarded by people in this country, we would certainly begin to see a much fairer treatment of the people in our society on whom we rely.

Amanda Yap

hen the news of the impending staff strikes first broke on The Tab, I shrugged and cancelled the page. Strikes are a common occurrence in the United Kingdom and I assumed it was just a cycle of waiting until matters blow over till the next strike. However, it slowly dawned upon me that the impact of the strike this round was more drastic on graduating students who are in the midst of preparing for their final-year dissertations, which is the situation I am in. As much as I sympathise with the staff on the overall impact they will face regarding pension overhauls, the party that should be pitied and looked out for the most is the graduating cohort. The uncertainty of not getting the necessary support for a month adds undue pressure to the overwhelming burden that a graduating student must shoulder during the critical last lap of university. This scenario is like of a war, where the civilians are the ones who suffer the most. In the case of this conflict between Universities and the UCU (University and College Union), it is the students who suffer. The bitter truth is that even if we throw up our hands in defeat and make excuses of how we are not getting enough support due to the staff strikes, the one held accountable for our grades at the end of the day is still us. Who will have our backs then?

Georgia Corbett

he strikes on campus are certainly the hot test topic at the minute, splitting opinion widely among the more politically active members of the student population. Students find themselves split between those who feel empathy with the lecturers and would go as far as to join them on the picket, and those who feel their lecturers are committing a massive injustice to us as students. I myself would be in the category of the former. There is no doubt that we are paying a lot of our own money towards our education. Despite this, we are potentially now in a position whereby we are cheated of lectures. Of course this is emotive. But the situation stands that our lecturers have earned their pensions, they have worked incredibly hard and they are about to be cheated of the security they rely on in old age. According to the UCU, this would leave the average lecturer up to £10,000 worse off annually. The union decision last Thursday was more than a vote, as Emily Sherwood, former marginalised genders officer, said in their resignation statement. It was a decision tantamount to the SU being ‘a union which acts like one and supports on-campus struggles, or an institution which functions only in the interests of university management’. Neutrality is better than turning our backs, but it still feels like betrayal.

Hunt-ing for leadership... In the midst of yet another NHS winter crisis, Caitlin Disken argues that Hunt must do better

f you ever feel like achieving your dream job is impossible, then just remember that Jeremy Hunt, the arrogant, shambolic excuse of a Health Secretary, is somehow clinging onto his role. His time in office has been characterised by junior doctors strikes, slashes to nursing bursaries, and now this: the worst winter crisis the NHS has ever seen. On 3rd February, thousands took to London’s streets to protest NHS funding shortages. Donald Trump tweeted that the march was a result of a universal healthcare system ‘going broke and not working’, holding up the protest as a reason why private healthcare was the way forward. Yet, whilst his claim that the NHS was ‘not working’ may not be fully wrong, he completely misread the British public’s reasons for marching. We are not standing up and advocating for change because we want to scrap free healthcare, but rather because we love the NHS. Personally, the NHS is one of the few reasons I am proud to be British. It is the hallmark of a progressive society. Who wouldn’t want the security of knowing any illness you may encounter will be treated regardless of your wealth, and you won’t be left out of pocket following a hospital trip? The NHS has undoubtedly saved lives since its conception in 1948, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so.

We are advocating for change because we love the NHS That’s why seeing the recent headlines about the NHS winter crisis is so heart-breaking. At the beginning of January, emergency medicine consultants from 68 hospitals wrote a damning letter to Theresa May stating that patients are dying because the underfunded NHS simply cannot cope. Yet, instead of Hunt and May working to alleviate the problem, their apparent apathy has only seen the problem spiral further out of control. Official figures released last week show that more than a thousand patients were left 12 hours or more in trolleys whilst waiting for a hospital bed. For an apparently developed country, this is shocking. Those patients were someone’s grandmother, someone’s father, someone’s daughter, all seriously ill yet denied the quality care needed and expected.

However, it is not the fault of healthcare professionals. Overstretched and overworked doctors and nurses, regularly working eight to twelve-hour long shifts, are also victims of the structural failings of today’s NHS. Their cries for help have been repeatedly ignored by the deliberately ignorant Hunt, who instead of ploughing more funding into the NHS, has instead implemented further austerity measures. Indeed, his recent announcement that nursing postgrads will no longer be exempt from tuition fees will clearly only exaggerate the problem. His attitude towards hardworking NHS employees can be summed up by his recent statement that ‘when they signed up to go into medicine they knew there were going to be pressurised moments.’

Cries for help have been ignored by the deliberately ignorant Hunt This stance is so indifferent that it is almost unbelievable. The Health Secretary should be supporting healthcare workers, not undermining them by blaming their passion for medicine as a reason why they are stressed and unable to cope. Considering his background, this attitude is hardly surprising. Graduating from Oxford and subsequently working as a m an age me nt consultant before founding a PR company,

Hunt has never had to deal with the intensely stressful working conditions of healthcare professionals. Indeed, whilst the starting salary for a junior doctor is around £22,000, Hunt personally gained £14 million when selling his business in 2014. I’m not disputing his work ethic, but for someone with such wealth and privilege, it is hard to see how he can truly appreciate the work that doctors do. Lacking first-hand experience of hospital life, his lasting appointment is indicative of a government who no longer cares. At this stage, rumours of a cross-party Royal Commission into NHS funding are apparently Hunt’s only actions in resolving the crisis. Yet, this could all just be a hollow rumour. Even if a Royal Commission occurred, it could simply be masking lack of real-world action with talks that lead to nothing, putting off any real action for NHS for another day. Hunt needs to stand up and take action now or accept that his position is no longer tenable and resign – for the good of everyone.

SOAPBOX COMMENT’S HOME OF WEEKLY RANTS Filing For 2018

Jack Coles

he Internet’s a wonderful thing, right? It has made so many things that much more convenient. Unfortunately, the university seems to have gone a little overboard with the different sites for their content. Consider submitting your work. We’ve all had to submit it through Turnitin as a physical copy. Unless you’re an MRes student, in which case you need to use NESS instead. S3P is used for administration stuff, except for when it isn’t. Blackboard is the worst. One module might put slides in “teaching materials” while another files it under “lectures”. As for finding an assignment, it might as well be in fucking Narnia.

Sometime Is No Time

Louis Vanderlande

ou know what you hater of Valentine’s Day, we all know it’s a corporate holiday built around the concept of consumerism and the teddy bear industry. We know this, we get how you’re above it all and wouldn’t dare be seen getting a rose or a box of chocolates for your loved one as it would go against your beliefs. Now listen.... closer....closer...shut up. Valentine’s may be the product of a bunch of company big wigs but the sentiment and feelings felt by so many are not fake. Get off your high horse, enjoy being with your loved one and celebrate them. We have far too few days a year to appreciate those that are closest to us. At the end of day, the most important part of our lives are those we choose to spend it with. So, smile, buy a little flower and make sure you have a happy Valentines. P.s. To the singles out there, go spend it with your mates (they’re no less important).

Insincere Internships Scott Houghton

hate unpaid internships, not just them in general but also the idea behind them. The idea that you have to work for free, and that, because you’re young or inexperienced your time is somehow less valuable. Whether you’re a highly skilled doctor or a new graduate – that’s still time off your life you won’t be getting back. This doesn’t mean that everyone should all have to be paid the same. But what it should mean is that everyone’s time, work, and energy should be compensated for respectfully. What I find especially disgraceful are government or intergovernmental internships which expect you to cover the full costs by yourself. Many international organisations expect people, where most will be young people, to foot the cost of an international internship on their own. This is contradictory to the values they themselves purport to believe in, and flies in the face of the many organisations who supposedly believe in equality. If you’re lucky enough to have that kind of money or have rich parents you can pay. But are those the only kind of people we want to be calling the shots? Ordinary internships should be paid as a mark of respect for their work and time, but especially by governmental organisations who apparently hold political values.

the courier

student voice

Monday 19 February 2018

PTO Resignation: Emily Sherwood A

s you may have heard, I resigned from my position as Marginalised Genders Officer in Thursday’s Student Council. I’ve decided to do so due to the lack of support from Newcastle University Students Union, and the toxic culture that has developed within it. During my time as a part-time officer I have struggled to get any real support from the union. Part-Time officers are often not treated like colleagues and their work is often not fully acknowledged. These are some of the most marginalised student workers in the union, and the possibly hardest working; simultaneously getting through a degree and trying to manage with other issues they are more likely to experience. A lack of acknowledgement of this (often emotional) labour goes towards showing the way in which the union functions.

They were naïve to think that this would intimidate me The response from members of the union (particularly that of the President and the Sabbatical Officer team) which has condemned the upcoming industrial action over the axing of staff pensions was the final straw. The motion I brought forward to council as part of a larger group of students supporting the strike was critical in deciding what sort of union NUSU is and aims to be: either a union which acts like one and supports on-campus struggles, or an institution which functions only in the interests of university management. Before council, members of the sabbatical team suggested that the motion would not get through to council, making up convoluted reasons why it wouldn’t. I even received an email from Ronnie

Reid suggesting this. They were naïve to think that this would intimidate me. Ronnie also released a statement using official NUSU social media platforms on behalf of the Sabbatical team just days before council in favour of the changes to staff pensions. Even worse, this statement promoted in screens during council. As well as Ronnie throwing false claims without trustworthy sources and misgendering me whilst I was standing at the podium arguing for the support of the union, the Welfare and Equality Officer used student wellbeing as a tool to support the axing of academic staff ’s pensions. As a student who uses student wellbeing services and has a fair share of mental health difficulties, I find this disgusting. The wellbeing of staff directly affects their teaching conditions. Their teaching conditions are our learning conditions. We should not be pitted against each other but working alongside each other in our struggles. I’m not sure what my career will look like in ten or twenty years, but I know that these changes could affect not only my future, but the future of friends and fellow students who want to go on to pursue careers within higher education. As well as our learning conditions being affected now, this could affect our mental health in the future. The most I can do to support my fellow marginalised students right now is encourage them to look after themselves, just as I’ve chosen to do. I also feel like I can be more proactive in supporting on-campus struggles outside of NUSU. Not only by supporting staff members who are facing attacks, but also in helping with the everyday struggles of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students. I feel like by continuing I would be pushing aside my principles, and many have already shown their respect for my decision. I’m so grateful for all the support I have received from the part-time officer team, fellow students, and workers at this time.

Layla Xie thrills us with the second volume of the plight to stay in the UK of Margaret, the last Chinese overseas student Volume 2: Workin’ ‘ard or ‘ardly workin’

fter the end of the course in lately August, Margaret found a part-time job as a salesclerk in a chain store run by a Chinese boss. She worked 9 to 12 hours a shift, 5 punds per hour, twice a week. At the biginning, everything went well. However, later she found that the storekeeper’s exploitation on staffs became more and more unreasonable and severer. Eventually, once the boss imperatively asked four part-time staffs worked for the whole night from 10pm to 6am the next morning, with no wages. They demanded an answer from the boss but his only imperious reply was that if you want the wages then lose the job. Margaret thought the storekeeper did not treat them as equal human beings. Her English fellows were all shocked by her experience, but other elders in China all told her that they contended this was normal and deemed that it was the staffs’ fault as they “did not generate more profits for boss”. Margaret said, “if I can throw my esteem away by myself, have I learned the books so many years for naught?” She chose not to tolerate the humiliation and quit the job.

Other elders in China all told her that they contended this was normal and deemed that it was the staffs’ fault After her resignation Margaret went through the toughest time during her stay in UK. With no income in bank account, she had only one meal every day, sleeping all the day and basically not going out except went to the Christian fellowship twice a week. She attended the fellowship as a

truthseeker, but not a Christian. She was dejected and filled her mind with negative thoughts, feeling that she was wasting life but was not able to cheer up or make any changes. She even deemed herself as a useless person. However her roommate criticized her that she was just idel and bore too much in mind.

Margaret stopped suddenly, and found that there was peace again in her deep mind Finally, December came, together with graduation ceremony. Margaret got to be busy. She made so many friends in UK both native and international students. She continually met different people everyday, helping them with their commencements, having dinner and catch-up, taking pictures, accompanying them to the airport, also organizing her own graduation ceremony. After sending all her friends away from university campus, being busy for such a long while, Margaret stopped suddenly, and found that there was peace again in her deep mind. Margaret started to enjoy her last time in UK again, quietly and earnestly, like a fresher. Margaret’s course is related to transport, but she is not really into the business. She calls herself as a little foodie and enjoys baking. She brings her handmade cookies to the Christian fellowship every week, sometimes also fairly delicious cheese cakes. Margaret puts the food in pretty box, which becomes a fixed sharing every week in her group. However when talking about whether consider baking as bywork in the future, she doubts that she might can not insist on it. She said, “I don’t know what I want to do”...

life & style

the courier Monday 19 February 2018

@CourierLifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Izzi Watkins Lifestyle Editors Sophie Henderson, Jaymelouise Hudspith, Lauren Sneath & Victoria Young

Blind Date

Robert Robinson, 20, 3rd Year English Lit

Robert on Hannah

First impression of Hannah? Friendly. She was extremely open and it was like catching up with an old friend so that was handy. I thought she had an Essex accent but she was Southern and I don’t think she fully got mine.

Tell us a little about the date. Where did you guys go? We went to Creams for Crepes because it was Shrove Tuesday. Funnily enough, it turned out we were both researching where to get pancakes so great minds! After having crepes we went to The Strand for a couple of drinks which was chill. The bar was loud behind our but we had good conversation. Do you think it went well? Why/why not? I think it went well! There were no awkward silences and we really bounced off each other. We both had quite an odd sense of humour which definitely helped. The conversation was deeper than I thought it would be for a first date.

How was the conversation? Interesting? Yeah. Like I say we really clicked conversation-wise. She made a joke about tossing the salad early on which definitely cleared the air - it was risky but it paid off. From then on we discussed overanalysing people, exes (which was weird) and being honest. What was her best quality, in your opinion? She had no filter which put me at ease. Really easy to talk to. After the date, would you swipe left, right or superlike? Swipe right.

VERDICT: ROBERT ON HANNAH She made a joke about tossing the salad early on

Personality

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Fancy a date? We’ll set you up. Find us on our 2017/ 2018 Facebook page or email at c2.lifestyle@newcastle.ac.uk

Hannah Hughes, 23, 3rd Year English Lit

Hannah on Robert

So, how was the date? Where did you choose to go? He suggested that we go to Creams, that sleezy looking desert place so that we could get pancakes. He’d been before so I knew we were in safe hands though. Had some very sickly sweet pancakes then headed to The Stand for a drink Are you pleased with how it went? Yeah platonically though! I think we’re at ‘different stages in our lives’ n im a bit old for him Did you like Robert when you first met him? Yeah he had great chat about helping his elderly neighbours out with their Kindle Fire and we both agreed old people are

like timelords... What came up in conversation? Just basic small talk really: losing your virginity, the legacy of the Vietnam war, white male privilege etc. Light. Any red flags? He told me how many calories were in my pint as I was buying it. If I’d wanted to know that I would have taken us to a spoons mate. What was the most interesting thing you found out about him? He knows the difference between a crepe and a pancake. That was hot. Would you go on another date? No but I would deffo show up to flares to cheer him on if he decided to do his poll dancing bit again After the date, would you swipe left, right or superlike? Swipe right.

VERDICT: HANNAH ON ROBERT We both agreed old people are like timelords

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the courier

life & style lifestyle Your Horoscope for this week

Monday 19 February 2018

Save cash with your phone Alex Firth shows us all how to get back on financial track, using apps on our smart phones

Aries

21 March – 19 April You have surprised your friends by your efficiency and calm control over demanding hurdles – but that’s just how you do. Uranus passing through your sign over Valentine’s Day has you prancing about in an emotional flurry, enjoy the positive energy.

Taurus

20 April – 20 May Up to your old bull in-a-china-shop ways, Taurus. Try to reign it in slightly or else you may push away your nearest and dearest. Use your time to plan some exciting trips, as the next month could be the start of something very big for you.

tudents are no strangers to money struggles, stretching their overdrafts, and constant financial panics, it’s important to save money wherever possible. Unexpectedly, your smart phone may be the key to getting back on financial track, here are three great apps, that will help save some cash. ‘Monzo’ is a London startup, offering a new type of bank. They give you a new debit card linked with a great, budgeting-friendly app. The app gives you a birds-eye view of your money, with an easy to read graph, that shows you how much you’re spending, and more importantly, how much you have left!

It gives you a birds-eye view of your money, with an easy to read graph

Gemini

21 May – 20 June After the storm comes the calm, Gemini, don’t forget it. This period of chaos will soon be over with help from a caring Capricorn. Steer clear of Pisces this week, as their romantic interests may clash with yours; make a move on someone who seems keen for an adventure.

Cancer

21 June – 22 July Those early morning trips to the Robbo are getting you down a bit, aren’t they, Cancer? A positive change to your working routine may be a good solution. Why not try working from home for a little bit? Unlimited amounts of tea and snacks!

Leo

23 July – 22 August The decisions you make this week in an irritable head space will hinder your ability to make thorough progress. A loving relative could give you some advice on how to calm your temper. Look out for the number 19 this week.

Virgo

23 August – 22 September Virgo, ever the analyst. Unfortunately, there is no scientific explanation as to why the period between the lunar and solar eclipse has made you feel peculiar. The fruits of your hard labour are seeking some rewards; give yourself a welcome break this weekend.

Libra

23 September – 22 October Your best day of the week is Friday and colours to look out for include calming yellows and blues. However, expect a shaky few weeks, as drama and upheaval awaits…

Scorpio

23 October – 21 November If you lower your expectations, Scorpio, you won’t be so easily disappointed. This week you will build good rapport with a friend; even if romance isn’t on the cards, this is a valuable friendship.

Sagittarius

22 November – 21 December Be prepared for some emotionally shocking news from your friends (a Capricorn?) as the value of their friendship will enter new heights. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself this week.

Capricorn

22 Dec – 19 January The stars are looking a bit muggy down your end, Capricorn… Sorry, nope. No horoscope for you this time.

‘Monzo’ also have a great ‘pots’ feature, which is effectively a digital piggy bank, allowing you to set money aside and save for something. Another great feature is the ability to freeze your card in app, so if you lose it, there’s no need to ring anyone, or order new card, simply freeze, and unfreeze! Not to mention it’s unique features including a drunk mode to stop you overspending on nights out - something every student can relate to. There is a waiting list to join ‘Monzo’, however, if you’re serious about saving, it’s well worth the wait. If you have some money to spare, and you’d like to start saving, try ‘Chip’. The app analyses your bank

account and calculates how much you can afford to save. It even takes into account your overdraft, so if have a fee-free overdraft, it may be able to set some aside, and pay you for doing so. ‘Chip’ offers 1% interest, however for each friend you refer, you get an extra 1%, up to a maximum of 5%; meaning your savings could rapidly stack up! The app is really simple to use, and you can withdraw your savings at any time, making it an effective tool for money saving. The final app is for all of you money moguls who have multiple bank accounts and credit cards is ‘Emma’. ‘Emma’ acts as your personal account manager, operating as a mission control for all your bank accounts. Not only does it provide a live balance for your different accounts, but it allows you to break down all your expenses, for all your accounts, in one place.

Emma acts as your personal account manager, mission control for all your accounts ‘Emma’ will remind you when you’re going to overdraft, and even predict if bills are going to clash, and put you in the red, and help you find a solution. If you have multiple accounts, ‘Emma’ is a must have app. All these apps are available for iOS and Android, so there’s no excuse. Get tech savvy and start saving money, it has never been so easy!

Image: Emma-app

Make your February a fun February Hannah Hughes says good riddance to our January blues and tells you how to have fun in Feb

ebruary. It’s that time when you realise your new year’s resolution hasn’t even lasted a month, that you’re still very single (or is that just me?) and that there really is such a thing as too many pancakes. In short, you’re feeling crepe; that’s my first and last pun I promise. To see you through this existential nightmare, here is my comprehensive guide to the month head. To start with, let’s support our local talents in the toon and head over to the North East Rising Poetry Social at Ernest on the 12th. Headlining the event is poet and editor of Zarf magazine, Calum Gardner, its a fun night and is a great way to get involved in Newcastle’s rich literary scene. Go on, feel cultured. Plus, wine tastes nicer when you’re listening to poetry, trust me. Mmm fruity…. Want to participate in capitalist society’s commodification of love whilst still feeling counterculture cool? Yes/No/At a loss? Me too. Anyway, find your ‘other half ’ and ‘feel complete’ on the dance floor of Worldies this Valentines. Offering wall to wall funk, soul and disco, Soul Jam is a guaranteed good night out. So let the hanky see the panky and get yourself a ticket. If

Aquarius

20 January – 18 February Use your wicked sense of humour to your advantage this week, it may give some friends the push they’ve been needing. You also need to stop putting off work and make sure your projects are in on time.

Pisces

19 February – 20 March Eating more fish was never a bad idea, particularly for you, Pisces. The changes to your diet will make a big difference to your emotional wellbeing. Antonia Coleman-Harvey Image: Souljam_uk

Image: theclunynewcastle

you don’t pull, you can clumsily chow down your cheesy chips in peace and rejoice in having your bed all to yourself. It’s a no brainer. If you’re feeling wholesome you can do a lot worse than the Jesmond Food Market, which offers a smorgasbord (yes, I have always wanted to use that word) of delicacies and is hosted on Armstrong Bridge on the 17th. You will probably see my flatmate at a stall trying to push his organic condiments. Ignore him and head to the Ugly Duckling for ‘scran’ or The Pink Lane Bakery; their vegan beetroot brownie makes plant-based life bearable. In the evening sashay your way to the Cluny for a dose of reggae roots vibes from London’s ‘The Hempolics’. The perfect antidote to those January blues which definitely last into February. You may recognise the band’s sultry ‘Boss Clock Me Style’ from the radio, it’s the hot mellow hip mover that you’ll be chilling to in the park for our obligatory three-day summer. Indulge yourself with their craft beers whilst you’re there. I’d recommend the Ginga Ninja by

Fierce Beer, a recent addition to The Cluny’s bottle range: ‘a very dry pale with big hits of ginger and lemongrass’. Sounds good for your winter sniffles if nothing else.

Indulge yourself with their craft beers, the Ginga Ninja by Fierce Beer Later in the month Newcastle’s is hosting its ‘creative quarter’ in Ouseburn, it is a night celebrating synth bands at the Ship Inn. Expect an evening of new wave grooves from the ultimate heavyweights Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and Human League amongst others. Looks like a great alternative night out and if that doesn’t sway you its also free! So, there you have it, February’s finest. Stay saucy!

the courier

Monday 19 February 2018

Getting your life together Lifestyle Editor Sophie Henderson helps us to achieve stability through self-care techniques

hen my bedroom starts to feel like a bomb-site, the rest of my life swiftly falls out of place. It’s a common theme - tidy space, tidy mind - but no one can balance Uni and life to perfection. If you happen to be feeling extra crazy, block out some me-time to get things back on track. A bit of self-care can help you to understand what your strengths (and weaknesses) are, what you want to achieve, and just how much you’re capable of. It can also help manage the symptoms of many mental health problems, and help to prevent some problems from developing or getting worse.

1. Start by focusing on your surroundings, but don’t get rid of everything

Your Uni room is a slice of home, so fill it with things that inspire you. If you’re not a typically organised person, tactically declutter and detox to make more room for peace, creativity and productivity. Whilst doing so, think of your primary senses, and do not underestimate the power of scent. Our olfactory response is linked to the emotional centre of the brain, and certain scents are proven to relive the likes of stress, anxiety and depression. Lighting a nice candle could improve your quality of life and sleep.

2. Establish a regular sleeping pattern

Perhaps the hardest step of all for a student nights out and 9ams can destabilise your sleeping pattern. I know how hard it is to wake up for an early morning lecture, especially if its a one-off. Notice just how much sleep your body needs to properly function, and try your best to establish a regular sleeping pattern. Gradually wake up earlier each day, and form daily habits to make things

easier. A way to care for yourself is to not press snooze… since when?

3. Take time to replenish your motivation

It’s good to want things for ourselves and to have high expectations, but its unrealistic to think we can be on and operating at our full capacity at all times. Have that ‘night-off ’ to thoroughly enjoy the little things. Genuinely appreciate a bubble bath or a face mask, read a non-course related book, order your favourite food and binge watch a TV series (something we don’t need to be told to do). Especially amongst assignment pressure, take a bit of time out to enjoy things that are guaranteed to make you feel happy.

4. Write everything down

If you’re a massive worrier, you’re probably well accustomed to the to-do list. It doesn’t work for all of us, but for those of you bundling it all up in your mind, give writing things down another chance. Get a cup of tea, sit at your desk and brain dump your feelings on a piece of paper. List your intentions and motivations, set out goals you want to achieve and feel that relief when you scratch off a lurker - a job thats been there for absolutely ages. It’s a habit that takes time, but listing definitely pays off, helping to create a nice balance between your social life and Uni.

ment is sometimes all you need. Unplugging from social media can also be helpful, even if it is just for a few hours a day.

6. Lastly, pay it forward

A lot of people would leap out to live out your worse case scenarios, so try to remind yourself of the situation you’re in. Smile at a stranger, hold the door open or give compliments to those around you. By forcing yourself to project a sense of contentment, you’ll soon forget that you’re faking it. So when you find yourself stuck, or lost, or paralysed, take everything back to the bigger picture. Don’t doubt yourself, just try your best to shift your frame of mind. Call the process what you like - be it self love, self care or self worth - but understand that you have to comply with it in order to get your life together.

5. Value your free time

Besides that ‘recharge’ moment, the rest of our free time is a reflection of our priorities and values. Focus on your own personal development, and when faced with a choice, try and stick with the best option for you. Stay social and organise activities with friends, try to exercise, work in a coffee shop as oppose to your room - a change in environ-

Image: Instagram

Decorating tricks for homesickness Feeling homesick? Alicia Brittle shares her top tips for making you room feel like your home M oving away can feel overwhelming at times. From time to time you crave some home comforts and can’t seem to shake off the feeling of homesickness. Despite there being nothing quite like your mum’s cooking or your own bed, there are some tricks you can use to transform your s uni room and make it feel a little more like home.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize

Decorating is a must for making your room feel more like home. Soft furnishings including cushions, throws and blankets provide a bit of comfort and make everything feel so much cosier. Opt for patterns and warm-toned, bright colours to add some liveliness to the often dull décor of your uni

room.

Light plenty of candles

You can pick up a pack of scented tealight candles from Primark at an affordable price and they’re so affective. Candles add a glow to your room which creates a warm atmosphere and it’s a bonus if you can pick up a scent which reminds you of home. If you’re in first year uni halls just make sure that candles are allowed, if not then opt instead for battery-operated candles, fairy lights and a reed diffuser for the same effect.

Scatter the room with pictures of your loved ones

your pin board, get a few framed or decide to fill an album to keep on your bedside table, pictures are a great way to decorate your room at a relatively low cost. Having the faces of your loved ones around helps to remind you of happy memories and gives you a boost when you’re feeling lonely.

Put some music on

If you’re feeling homesick music is a great way to distract you and put you in a better mood. Whether you go for something upbeat to peak your mood, or you choose something more relaxing, music is a great way to escape. Have some alone time letting loose having a dance or a good sing-along!

Whether you decide to put some pictures up on

lifestyle life & style Rant of the Week: Nightmare Neighbours

espite still recovering from a very heavy night, one of my housemates once decided to do us all a favour and take the bins out. Whilst outside, a middle-aged Geordie gave him a helpful heads up that the binmen wouldn’t take our rubbish if the lid didn’t fully close. What started as a casual piece of advice then quickly descended into a torrent of abuse aimed at all students, who she saw as a scourge on her otherwise sublime suburb.

Being called a ‘stupid student pr**k’ is the last thing anyone wants on a hangover from hell Whilst being called a ‘stupid student pr**k’ is the last thing anyone wants on a hangover from hell, she does have a point. Anyone familiar with Jesmond on a Monday morning will be used to the tactical weaving needed to dodge between the few clear patches of pavement among the carpet of smashed glass and questionably coloured chunder. Worse still, I opened my curtains one morning to find some silly sod had kicked over half the bins down the backstreet and turned the rest into a barricade across the road. I’m sure this seemed hilarious at the time, but it doesn’t do much to help relations with the locals – or with other students for that matter. It’s not just students who need to learn to look out for their neighbours. The house next door to me has a habit of leaving their full (often leaky) bin bags halfway down their fire escape, so whenever there is a strong breeze our garden gets a delightful showering of their mouldy food and empty wrappers.

It’s not just students who need to learn to look out for their neighbours Perhaps this is purely accidental, or perhaps this is a subtle act of retaliation for being woken up at some ungodly hour in the morning. Either way, if we want relations between the locals and students to improve, then maybe we should all start treating each other - and the area around us – with a little bit of respect. Alex Moore

The graduation checklist!

Lifestyle Editor Victoria Young talks us through the preparations for graduation day

f you’re in your final year of study (and if you’re anything like me) you’ll be dying to complete your last term of uni - no more assignments, no more 9am lectures and no more endless education - and, with this comes the all important, all exciting graduation! With summer graduations quickly on the horizon, here’s some tips and things to consider as you pre-empt and prepare for the big day:

Make sure you pass!

Newcastle University has released a graduation checklist which stresses the importance of your eligibility. It states that you must complete your course and appear on the pass list by Friday 29th June. This means that, even though your dissertation is probably driving you up the wall right now, and the dread of upcoming exams is chilling your bones, be sure to pace it right and do your best you only get one shot at a £27,000 University degree so... Make sure you pass!

Book your tickets

If you don’t want to attend your graduation, be sure to visit your school office and fill out a form...

but, as most people usually do, be aware that you’ll need tickets. Your own graduate ticket and up to two other guest tickets are free, but if you want additional tickets for Granny, Grandpa, the best friend, the boyfriend and the dog, these come in at an additional £10-£15 per ticket.

Hire your gown

Newcastle University students do not get a full cap and gown. Ever since we got our independence and threw our caps into the river wear, now undergrads are knitted out with only a simple black gown. Now, you may think that gown collection will be a simple process, but like every other process in the Uni, it is not. Newcastle Uni’s academic dress must be hired via the University Robemakers - Gray & Son - which, despite our split from Durham, is in Durham and must be collected from Durham.

Get your outfit sorted

This may be a consideration for more females than males on campus... You don’t want to leave it too late to find a simple dress or graduation outfit which will fit alongside your black robe. Too close

to the occasion and you may not be able to find one, or even pay an extortionate price. Now is the time when pre owned, worn once and unworn dresses appear on sites such as depop and eBay, and now is the time that stores begin to stock in for summer proms, balls and... graduations! Get it sooner rather than later, and this will knock one more thing off your mind as you endeavour to finish off the final semester.

Be prepared for life as a graduate

After graduation there are a number of things that you may want to consider - getting an internship or funding a year out, doing a masters degree or getting a full time job - and you don’t want to graduate without having considered these things, or you’ll have little time to fix your lack of planning. Before graduation maybe take the time out to plan your next stage in life, whether that’s applying for courses, sending off CVs or looking for placements. The future is yours! Seize it!

Image: WikiCommons

@Courier_life @courier_lifestyle

1. Awareness is key. Asking the questions and actively look for where a company’s clothes are sourced from will help make an informed choice. This is not always on the label which is why a little research can go a long way. 2. As is the case with food, the FAIRTRADE Mark on clothes confirms that the product has been ethically produced. It guarantees that the organisation producing it is FLO-CERT inspected, as is the supply chain. Also, how the workers are treated meet the criteria on the rights of workers, including collective bargaining, freedom of association and no discrimination. 3. The human cost is not all we should be worried about; some clothing can have a damaging effective on the environment. Therefore, organic products or those that are stated to made from recyclable material, such as organic cotton, industrial hemp, tencel and W00l, are ideal. 4. A call for transparency is what will really make a difference. Insisting fashion outlets reveal who their suppliers are will better help identify ethical brands from those cutting corners. The Fashion Transparency Index, created by Ethical Consumer and Fashion Revolution to rank companies according to how transparent their supply chain is, identifies ASOS, Topshop and Adidas, in their top 40 of offenders. By making a concerted effort to think and shop ethically, collectively we can make a difference in the mistreatment and exploitation of garment workers in other countries, as well as protecting the environment around us. Ethical shopping does not have to be noticeably more expensive or less trendy. It just requires a little extra effort in educating yourself so that when it comes to making decisions in the shops, you are buying from companies you trust and who share the same values as you. Phoebe Bower

Instagram: @fairtradeuk

he exciting news of the celebrated English pop band ‘Spice Girls’ reunion has everyone talking, their last performance being the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. Six years later, it has been confirmed following much speculation this month that the girl band will be performing once again on a tour that will include both the UK and the US, as well as possibility of releasing a greatest hits compilation and a succession of talent shows... We can’t wait! Geri Horner, one of the lead vocalists, organized an afternoon at her home in Hertfordshire with her former group members and discussed female empowerment, a message that has continuously been central within the Spice Girls. It is as a result of this constant notion of girl power that persuaded Victoria Beckham to accept the proposal of a reunion, however the £10 million potential earning from the reunion may also have pulled her strings. Despite Victoria’s firm decision in the past of not wanting to return to the band, her change of heart was prompted by the #TimesUp and #MeToo campaigns that have brought about a global influential change on sexual harassment, in response to the Weinstein effect. In an interview, The Evening Standard reported Victoria, recognized as Posh Spice by fans, being inspired to contribute to the movement. “My career has always focused on empowering and celebrating women, so the momentum that these movements brought

only makes me even more determined and passionate in my beliefs.” There has been reports of tension between the group, especially surrounding who will be the dominant figure, however we all have our fingers crossed the reunion will run smoothly!

The most iconic to date is Ginger Spice’s union jack dress worn during one of their performances With headlines striking on almost every social platform, fans have been reminiscing the best moments in the girl band’s career and we have revisited their most iconic styles from the past decades. The most iconic to date is Ginger Spice’s union jack dress worn during one of their performances. She rocked the British nationality whilst incorporating her diva-ship with sequins and sparkles, leaving the outfit in the memories of every audience member. Scary Spice’s coordinated cheetah patterned jumpsuit and boots is equally a classic 90s trend, and with the 90s making such a comeback in the fashion i n d u s t r y , the spice

girls continue to rock the high street and fashion world. Their looks are timeless. Another outfit is Baby Spice’s purple sequined dress and violet eye shadow, something she is renowned for when it comes to unique make up looks, similar to the time she sported red blusher on her eyes rather than on her cheeks. Posh Spice has commonly been seen with high heel shoes snaking up her legs with the best match being her bright yellow spiral bandeau dress. Victoria Beckham especially has become a part of the fashion industry, with her brand consisting of high-end smart styles, her heels being particularly popular with buyers. The items may be pricey, but they are as classy as Mrs. Beckham herself. In contrast to the other girls’ distinctive looks, Sporty Spice remained more casual, conforming to her name and label as being ‘sporty’, that sees her mostly wearing tracksuits and oversized Adidas jackets. However, our favourite look over the years is exclusively the Pepsi matching outfits that the girls fashioned at an event to promote the brand as they hold up Pepsi branded cans. Amid a reunion that has been long awaited now in prospect, we cannot wait to see what distinctive looks they will put together next in addition to the way the Spice Girls will positively contribute to worldwide movements. spicegirlsnet Instagram: @

What we pay for is representative of our values and, ultimately, actions do speak louder than words

Federica Mazzilli relives her favourite trends of the Spice Girls after their announced reunion

girlsnet

think it is safe to say that for many of us when shopping, our priorities are not finding out where our clothes are coming from or who is making them. Instead, our minds are on the colour, the cut and the style. However, ethical clothing is becoming more of a trend in our society today. Many of the goods we buy today, including food and clothing, are relatively cheap but there is a reason for this. Somewhere, someone down the line is making up the difference in price, there is always a human cost. This is exepmified through an incident at Rana Plaza factory which led to the death of just over a thousand men and women, after they were threatened with a loss of pay to re-enter a dangerous building to work. This highlighted the ultimate price workers were paying in other countries for our cheap clothing. The choice to buy cheap clothing from outlets known for using sweatshops, such as Primark, is an endorsement of how they were made. I know as students it is hard to actively choose to spend more money when there is a cheaper option available, but what we pay for is representative of our values and, ultimately, actions do speak louder than words. These are 4 things you can do to make sure you are shopping more ethically.

the courier Monday 19 February 2018

Spice up your wardrobe

: @spice

LET’S GET ETHICAL Unconcious ethical choices

c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Chloe Bland, Sophie Schneider and Zofia Zwieglinska

Instagra m

life & style fashion

Instagram: @spicegirlsnet

Latex: Is it daring or tacky? Natalya Baranovskaya discusses whether this risque fashion has a place on our high street

ometimes fashion challenges our rational thinking and taste, which is exemplified by Balenciaga’s “Shopper bags” which could be compared with an Ikea cotton fabric tote you can find in stores for 99p. Equally, latex which has made a comeback to the highstreet mainly through the Fifty Shades of Grey inspiration, and will continuously be contentious and cause for controversy on the catwalk. Of course, nothing attracts our attention more than latex’s shiny stretching texture with lightreflective surface. Which is intrinsically ‘risque’ as it’s skin-tight fabric exposes the underwear you may wear underneath. The most appealing thing about latex is its popularity on the red carpet, amongst celebrities such as Rita Ora, Bella Hadid, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and even the Kardashian Klan. It is difficult to disagree that the tightness of latex does highlight your curves. But, whilst shopping with friends or with your date, we may question whether we would actually wear latex clothing in real life. Yes, it looks good, but what about the practicality of moving in it, or going out, and even attempting to dance with it on? We still could label latex as a ‘tacky’ type of clothing which would cause scorn the catwalk and be useful material for ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 days’. Wearing latex clothing during the day-time, for example, like going to a café, would look incredibly cheap and inelegant. We also always forget that famous celebrities and supermodels prioritise wearing this type of clothing, as they are financially endorsed to wear a designer’s clothing to advertise

the particular brand. Someone perhaps would argue that “the beauty requires sacrifice”. In this case, I would suggest if you

Instagram: @latexchic

want to rock latex, you need a hell of a lot of confidence, and the fabric might be extremely intimidating for some women. Secondly, it is important to choose latex clothing which actually allows you to move, such as latex leggings with the latex top or mini dress. That outfit, for example, will not limit your movements as much as the tight latex dress. The last thing is, of course, the choice of color which would create an impressive and expensive look such as black or burgundy, whereas we could suggest that a bright red latex may be too much of a hint towards Fifty Shades. So, I would say that if you want to look fashionable and stylish, you need to carefully choose your outfit, and picture yourself in it in different social places. Also, ask yourself whether you can put in the effort to make the statement, or if it is better to put it back on shelf and to leave the decision for the other ‘fashionable’ customers in the boutique.

the courier

@CourierFashion c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk

Monday 19 February 2018

fashion life & style

Zara’s new skirt design... or a Lungi? Rashida Campbell-Allen discusses another awkward case of cultural appropriation with Zara

K, so here’s the dilemma. We live in a society that advocates cultural freedom, diversity and inclusion, and whilst this is all well and good, there seems to be a grey area of ambiguity over the extent of this practice, which seems to only surface when the tails of the public are ruffled-triggering an onslaught of interpretations and critique. Hence, we are then faced with the question, what exactly differentiates cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation?

The problem seems to be not a design fault but a lack and neglect of origin accreditation The fashion industry seems to be a prime offender and recently Zara has been in the firing line. Here’s the situation in brief; the Spanish fashion brand has released a new spring season 2018 collection featuring a particular checked skirt which has an uncanny resemblance to the traditional ‘lungi’ skirt worn by men across Southeastern Asia. The wrap-style skirt is a relatively inexpensive, day-today garment, a cloth draped and tied around the hips-yet in Zara it is being retailed at £69.99! As a fan of Zara myself, I personally cannot deny the fact that Zara have yet again tripped themselves up (side note: Zara has previously been under fire after launching garments with a pepe the frog motif which is associated with the alt-right as well as a

children’s top which many believed resembled the uniform of the holocaust). As ever social media has pounced onto the fashion giant and accused them of cultural appropriation, failing to acknowledge the inspiration. There is even a level of hypocrisy given that Zara’s suppliers and manufacturers are based in India is somewhat ironic and some may argue relatively exploitative, given the controversy over how much they pay the workers. The fashion industry is grounded in inspiration, abstract and novel ideas. The very premise of design is the process of taking ideas from an external source and then using this to provoke and create something new and fresh, a display and presentation of multiculturalism, thus fashion could be described as a visual palimpsest of cultures. Be that as it may, here, the problem seems to be not a design fault but a lack and neglect of origin accreditation. Cultural appropriation is subjective and relative,

Fashion could be described as a visual palimpsest of cultures for example the extent to which the design is embedded in a culture or even societal factors, meaning that if it comes from minority cultures, designs and styles can be labelled as culturally appropriated more severely, especially against the backdrop of a predominantly white-western social model.

Identity and tradition seem to be ignored by these companies which is unfortunate, disappointing and quite frankly shocking as it illuminates the activity and practice occuring behind the scenes. It seems bizarre that given the today’s postmodernism, in which people are unapologetically practising their agency and challenging corporations and institutions, that nothing was flagged up in relation to the potential reception of the skirt. Does this perhaps suggest an unequal

Cultural appropriation is subjective and relative representation of cultures and backgrounds within the fashion industry? Or perhaps situations such as this and cultural appropriation in general, is just our PC (political correctness) society exaggerating the reality of fashion styles which inevitably will bear similarities? To date, Zara have not yet officially responded to the public accusations and arguments but by taking this example of a simple skirt could perhaps be a manifestation and microcosm of the fashion industry, highlighting deeper issues within the business. Cultural appropriation is on a spectrum and it is a near impossible feat to distinguish between what is inspiration or replication? Ignorance or negligence? Admiration or exploitation of culture? Image: Zara

A glimpse at the 2018 Grammys

Deborah Akun shows us the best looks from the Grammy Awards and how they will forecast fashion hitting our high street this season

everal stars showed up in the Big Apple ready to receive their awards, to enjoy some good live performances and why not, to bring in their most exclusive looks. The 60th annual Grammy Awards took place last month (January 28) and welcomed several artists in New York City, where the ceremony usually takes place. This year, the looks that were seen on the red carpet, on stage and among the audience totally showed a higher level of fashion trends. As we all know, the Grammys are a bit of a moment to shine and let others watch you and take photographs of you whiles you’re doing it. A variety of looks and attire were seen at one of the biggest music award shows, putting the artists, some more than others, under the spotlight. The stars dressed differently in colours, shapes and

materials. Some artists chose the classic and simple ceremony look, wearing outfits in tones like black and white. Others went for the princess look, with big gown dresses in pastel colours, whilst others choose a more extravagant and edgy look. To be fair, no outfit resembled the other.

The looks on the red carpet totally showed a higher level of fashion trends Sorry for the male artists, but the women stole all the attention as usual. The artists that turned more necks were: Lady Gaga in her ‘epic’ all-black

puffed gown with a see- through long sleeved corset, mum-to-be Chrissy Teigen, who totally eclipsed husband John Legend beside her by wearing a sparkling silver maternity dress. She probably made her pregnancy the best accessory to complete her look that night. Others didn’t get eyes on the red carpet but still managed to standout, on stage or seated as part of the audience. Rihanna looked unique and edgy as she collected her award on stage wearing a leathered plum colour head-totoe outfit, which included a pair of alternative high knee boots in the same colour. According to ELLE magazine’s comprehensive guide for spring 2018, some of the biggest trends for this year will be: the rubber kind of look, puffed shoulders and fringes- rapper Cardi B’s dress was definitely a good example of these, exposed briefs, like the looks chosen by Heidi Klum and Giuliana

Rancic, asymmetrical and square necklines, pastel colours and many more. Trouser suits appear to be another trend that will be popular this year. At the awards night Cindy Lauper and Keisha definitely slayed their tailored trouser suits. To complete their looks, many stars wore white roses in support of the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment. Now, the after party looks also seem to have forecasted this year’s main trends. Some artists went for a more comfy and simple change after the main ceremony, whilst others continued to slay. More shiny outfits were seen at the post-awards as well as bright colours: Rita Ora and Iskra Lawrence chose more see-through and shiny looks, whilst Camilla Cabello and many others went for the faithful little black dress. As with the awards ceremony, many celebrities kept their white roses with them at the after party.

Instagram: @badgalriri

Instagram: @ iamcardib Instagram: @ giuliananricic

Instagram: @chrissyteigen

Instagram: @ladygaga

Instagram:@ marmania

life & style beauty

the courier

courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Laura Greatrex, Lois Johnston & Susanne Norris

Monday 19 February 2018

Beauty comes at a price Erin Holley investigates the reasons behind why some of our favourite make-up products are costing more than they used to

pikes in make-up prices are often unexpected and frustrating to consumers. When it comes to high-end cosmetics that are already pricey, we could all do without the additional bump up. Make-up lovers were taken aback when one of the best companies for brow products, Anastasia Beverly Hills, ratcheted up the prices of their massively popular dip-brow. Many customers have expressed their annoyance and disappointment as they found that the product was no longer ‘affordable’, forcing customers to shop for certain

Image: @anastasiabeverlyhills

beauty products elsewhere. Companies such as MAC annually increase the price of their makeup as they are a subsidiary company owned by Estee Lauder and therefore are obligated to follow certain guidelines set out for them. However, in the US this increase has been noted to be around $0.50, unlike the £8 price jump of the ABH Brow Definer from £16 to £24. This came after Anastasia Beverly Hills reportedly told UK sellers such as Beauty Bay and Cult Beauty to increase their prices, as the UK ABH website was increasing their prices. Customers remain mystified as to the cause for

such a sharp mark-up in price, and as the company has not publicly announced anything regarding their price increase, it seems ABH lovers are just going to have to speculate and splash out for their favourite items. The US dollar to GB pound exchange rate is a key dimension of price increases and can often cause customers buying in the UK to lose out financially, more so than buyers in the US. Yet, the fact that the exchange rate could cause such a significant price increase is still being debated. The increase in RRP could perhaps have something to do with the brand’s cult popularity status, with a plethora of celebrity users such as Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Ashley Tisdale and many other influential individuals. Celebrities attract a great deal of media attention, particularly from women’s fashion and beauty magazines, and this can work almost as free advertising for a company such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, as readers are more likely to buy a product that is an essential of a favourite celebrity of theirs.

It seems ABH lovers are just going to have to speculate and splash out for their favourite items High-end products are often a favourite of social media make-up gurus like Carli Bybel,

NikkieTutorials and Jeffree Star can often be seen using make-up brands such as Urban Decay, ABH, MakeUp Forever, Tarte and many more. This exposure of high-end products in their videos can lead to an increase in sales, and as the product gets more popular, the company behind it has more incentive to increase the price due to the high demand (as was the case with Urban Decay and their bestselling setting sprays).

£8

is how much Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer has risen in price, from £16 to £24

Some cosmetic companies consciously change the prices of their products (more often higher than lower) to prevent what is known as fixed-pricing. In some areas, this is illegal as it can be damaging to the growth of an economy. Yet these changes usually go unnoticed remaining under £1 in most cases, to avoid what Anastasia Beverly Hills is now having to deal with - a sudden loss of customers who simply cannot afford to buy their products on a regular basis as they did before the price increase. It is unlikely that price increases of make-up are going to be a one-off thing, as every year more and more people are contributing towards a booming beauty industry. However, there are many different dupes to replace any essential cosmetic, that are often cheaper and almost identical to the high-end original, so you will never have to be without your favourite items.

Failing filters Fabulous filters

Is Snapchat changing our natural perception of beauty? Laura Buckle argues against their always distorting nature

t first, it seems pretty difficult to find flaws with Snapchat’s revolutionary filters. In all seriousness, who doesn’t want a cute dog nose, bunny ears or to be digitally gifted that goddess glow that really nobody apart from Beyoncé has. Now, Snapchat has not only emerged as a new form of communication, but also as a whole new way of taking “selfies” so forget Instagram’s ‘Valencia’ filter because 2017 was the year of Snapchat filters and it doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon. Whether you opt for a complexion fixing, buttonnose creating, eyelash-extending filter or a more humorous, warped filter to make your friends laugh, it’s reasonable to suggest that everyone has used a snapchat filter at some point in their life. And yes, they have the ability to work wonders. Had a late-night? Snapchat filter-it. Hungover? Snapchat filter-it. Or just having “one of those days”? Snapchat filter-it. Some that we’ve seen over the past year have transformed our faces in ways that makeup can’t even manage. No matter how much highlighter, mascara or powder you use, sometimes a Snapchat filter is easier or “just needed” and with Snapchat making both front and back cameras available for filters, the trend doesn’t just end at “selfies”. Nowadays, many people can’t take a photo without one of these beauty-enhancing filters and even Instagram and Facebook profiles have become infected by this filter obsession. Musicians, actors, actresses, YouTubers, the Kardashian’s, students and even parents: just about everyone is a fan of snapchat filters. Even those size 0, beauty models we all shamelessly stalk on Instagram are lovers of the trend; just when we thought they couldn’t get any more attractive. *Self-esteem levels drop by 80%*. However, it is this ‘self-esteem’ factor which questions whether Snapchat’s latest phenomenon is really all that revolutionary or is it just a whole new venture for the guys at “Catfish: The TV Show” to get their teeth into. With these snapchat filters changing the majority of our face structure, eye colour or even gifting us an angelic halo, many of us look completely different to our original self;

maybe a positive for that post night-out “selfie” but not so much when you’re the “queen/king of snapchat filters” and caught on ‘a bad day’ in Eldon Square. A snapchat filter might get you a few great selfies for your Instagram profile but essentially, it not only really creates unrealistic expectations for other people but can also reproduce a whole new wave of self-comparison and anxiety for ourselves. Obviously, very few have glowing skin, primed eyebrows and plumped lips just 10 minutes after waking up on a morning, which unsurprisingly doesn’t take a genius to work out, but that is the straight-up impression that Snapchat filters can give. Although many of us using these filters are ‘au-natural’ post “selfie”, Snapchat is pushing an ideal of ‘what you should look like’ without makeup when really, everyone should be able to feel comfortable in their own skin without the pressure to look how you do with the help of Snapchat’s digital filters. Asif the pressures from Instagram weren’t already enough! To many, it isn’t really ‘that’ deep. Snapchat filters can be harmless, fun ways of distorting your face to look like the Hulk or yes, to give yourself a new complexion, but to some, snapchat filters have created a whole new wave of ‘au-natural’ attractiveness that we’re now expected to meet online. Yet, whether this effect will keep us from using them is another story. “Snapchat, when’s the dog filter coming back?”

Image: @kimksnapchats

Are you a fan of Snapchat filters? Maddy Raine loves them too and discusses why everyone should embrace them

ver since its creation in 2011, Snapchat has become a worldwide phenomenon gripped by hundreds and thousands of individuals intrigued by its simplicity yet addictive nature. Throughout the seven years, Snapchat has expanded exponentially and is now recognised as one of the main media platforms alongside Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Snapchat filters are becoming an increasingly popular feature, with each week providing at least one new face to transform the normal human visage. Popular filters often begin to emerge during key national and international events such as the world cup and the Olympics. Face filters ranging from the English flag to that of Germany and France not only allow its users to support their own country, but encourage the successes of its neighbours. With not only national but also international support transgressing all backgrounds and social sectors, Snapchat has proven a key app in encouraging a multicultural society. In this aspect, Snapchat is becoming an important cultural media platform in its encouragement of unity and support. Another popular feature of this app is its newly founded geofilters. Its users are now able to announce their location, celebrating both home life and holiday excitements. Whether you’re cruising the Mediterranean with your other half or starting a new job, these filters give life and energy to any snap that you send. The location accuracy of this app also aids in the promotion of local and

Image: @amb_d

national businesses as well as charitable events and appreciation days. World Cancer Day is a prime example of the power that this app conducts upon a whole nation. The extent of support people gave just by posting a selfie with this filter quickly escalated to a worldwide phenomenon, and has not ceased yet. The main attraction that Snapchat has for its millions of users, however, are the filters that can be applied to anyone at any time with generally a wide variety of themes. Filters range from animals to airbrushed filters which give the air of a new face. The choice between a single filter or those that can be shared with others is a great way to encourage community and a means by which many promote friendships. These filters are perfect for those who are in a rush or don’t quite fancy spending that extra half an hour on a morning to apply make-up. With one click false lashes and lipstick are applied presenting an on-the-go look for those who may still be in bed! With one click you can promote the air of someone who has spent hours when really it was a quick-second photo. The advancement of many of Snapchat’s filters can also often encourage new make-up ideas. Ranging from bright pinks and oranges to darker colours of brown and black make this suitable for anyone of any style. Whatever the age, Snapchat is suitable for anyone and everyone. Comedic faces for the younger generation and news articles for the older make this app something that is universally accessible and enjoyed.

the courier

@CourierBeauty thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty

Monday 19 February 2018

Creative collaborations

Nimra Rafique is an expert in all things regarding beauty collaborations. Here she shares with us her favourite pairings, what’s hot on YouTube, and the newest ranges you should invest in

t’s always fun when beauty brands decide to do collaborations with celebrities or influencers, as that person adds their own personal touch to products they have passionately helped create with brands we all know and love. Beauty collaborations usually allow us to gain insight into that celebrity or influencer’s ideal products, their creation is made containing all the elements they favour. I bet we’ve all imagined what a beauty product would be like if we created it, what shades you would have, texture, even packaging. Usually we follow influencers we not just admire but also relate to. Therefore, their beauty collaborations will probably be something that suits our tastes. That’s what makes beauty collaborations so popular, they are made by people we have grown to know and respect.

Usually we follow influences we not just admire but also relate to MAC Cosmetics is known for frequently collaborating with various celebrities and influencers such as Fleur De Force, Nicki Minaj and Patrick Starr, to name a few. The famous beauty brand has recently launched a collection with American fashion designer and creative director of Moschino, Jeremy Scott. The collection, which includes an eyeshadow palette, a lip palette, cheek products and various makeup brushes, stays

true to his exquisite taste for all things bright, bold and beautiful. Scott’s collection includes an impressive 29-shade eyeshadow palette, which alongside everyone’s favorite neutral browns includes beautiful bright and vibrant hues that Scott is known for. As well as expressing himself through the actual products Scott also uses the packaging to show his unique style as the products are ‘specially packaged in cheeky tribute to the days of mixtapes, boomboxes, new music and unhinged creative expression taking root on city streets’ which clearly shows his bold, fun, retro-like flair. A beauty brand renowned for their range of highlighters is Anastasia Beverly Hills. There is a choice for everyone with all the Glow Kits ABH has in their collection, whether you want a beaming bronzy glow, a fluorescent pink shine, or even an icy blue glaze, ABH has it all. 2018 has only just begun and the brand is already spoiling us with their latest collaboration with Amra Olević, better known as Amrezy; the pair have created a beautifully blinding golden highlighter, which was released to the public on Valentine’s day 2018. Of course, the ABH team sent out the highlighter to the lucky people on their PR list, and we got to have a sneak peek at all the demos and reviews scattered all over Instagram and YouTube. With ABH’s reputation for creating amazing highlighters and Amrezy’s beauty expertise it’s no doubt that this highlighter is going to be a hit. Gigi Hadid collaborated with the drugstore makeup brand Maybelline at the end of last year, and launched her limited edition collection (which is still available, so get it while you can). Gigi thought of everything when making this collection from mascara, highlighter, lipstick, eyeshadow, -

you need for the perfect glam look. The products are sold separately however they have been placed into one of two categories, East Coast Glam Collection and West Coast Glam Collection. East Coast Glam products can be used to create chic, city life day-to-night looks, whereas West Coast Glam is tailored for those who want to achieve Gigi’s golden, sun-kissed beachy glam with a bold lip. I like the clever idea of attaching products onto the East or West Coast, both of which hold great significance to Gigi, and help add a personal touch to her collection.

Image: @anastasiabeverlyhills

Beauty routines: facedown Ever wondered what order you should apply your make-up in? Poppy Couling and Chloe House take it in turns to tell us what products they use and why their way is the right way Poppy’s Beauty Routine

After my morning shower my skin is always dry, so I cleanse with my Malin + Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil (£30) and then reseal my pores with the Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Moisturiser (£39). Particularly during the winter, I find my skin appears increasingly dehydrated and dull, and previously I had always worn BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream in Ginger 06 (£28). However, the cream did not sit well on top of my moisturiser, and I found it became congealed around areas of breakouts. For the last two weeks, I have used the Bobbi Brown SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm (£40) which provides a really natural glow and medium coverage. After applying this with my clean fingertips, I simply buff my Soleil Tan de Chanel (£36) onto my cheek bones, nose and forehead with Petit Pinceau Kabuki brush (£40), and have been thrilled with the sheer and velvet finish it gives my skin.

(£12.50) in Summer Berry to smooth and hydrate my lips, while tinting them with a natural cherry hue, and curl my lashes with my Shu Uemura Eye lash Curler (£15). A lick of my Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes mascara (£25) and a smear of my Kevyn Aucoin Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss (£31) on my lids, and I’ve achieved my natural, dewy look!

Glossier’s Boy brow shapes my brows and adds a natural looking tint Chloe’s Beauty Routine

I’ll always prep my skin before putting on makeup. I use the Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Light Day Cream (£26) and once it has gone less tacky, I prime my face with my Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (£30). Whilst I wait for the primer to dry, I go and wet my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£5.99) which I use to put on my Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation (£35). Depending on if I have tanned or not I will mix this with a lighter or darker foundation to match my skin, or just use the foundation alone.

have. Then, using a big fluffy brush, I apply Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Setting Powder (£29) all over my face. After this, with my Nars Bronzing Powder (£29), I’ll contour my face a bit. I then put a tiny bit of blusher on my cheeks; I am using the Too Faced Sweetheart Blush (£24) at the moment. Then I apply my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter (£32) on the tip of my nose and along the top of my cheekbones.

I’ll always prep my skin before putting on my make-up Once my face is done, I use the Benefit Brow Zings Brow Shaping Kit (£26.50) to fill in my eyebrows and the Benefit 3D Browtones Eyebrow Enhancer (£20) to give them a bit more volume and set them. After curling my lashes I’ll put on mascara; I really like the L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara (£10.99). After doing all this, I’ll set my face with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (£24) then I’m ready to go!

beauty life & style Big - up beauty brand lovin’

have always taken a great interest in skincare, but had previously struggled to find a brand that remained effective, as, depending on the weather, my skin changes from dry to oily. Last summer I began to use the Malin + Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil (£30) and Vitamin E Moisturizer (£39), and my skin was quite literally transformed. The cleanser’s active ingredients of eucalyptus and lavender really help to reduce pores and calm any redness as the product develops from an oil to a milk when rubbed into a damp face, whilst the moisturiser dried quickly without remaining tacky. After some time of prepping my skin this way every morning, I decided to invest in the Clarifying Clay Mask (£38). This you must allow to set and dry, before massaging it into skin with wet fingers, turning the Kaolin clay into an active exfoliating treatment. I became immediately obsessed with this product and used it habitually twice a week as it truly made my skin feel softer and more radiant than ever before, although I always ensure that I reseal my pores with the moisturiser after. As I noticed the occurrence of my breakouts became seriously diminished, I chose the 10% Sulfur Paste (£18), applied with a Q-Tip, to target the few that do appear, and have found it the most effective spot treatment I have ever used. I also apply the Salicylic Gel (£18) during the day to discreetly calm any angry spots. Finally, I bought the Detox Face Mask (£32) once I came back to university at Christmas (given the reintroduction to late nights and early mornings!), and was absolutely thrilled to find that, once applied as a thick gel, it quickly foams up on the skin, drawing out further residues of makeup and dirt.

I became immediately obsessed with this product and used it habitually twice a week as it truly made my skin feel softer Needless to say, this brand quickly became one that I recommended to all my house mates, all of whom have extremely different skin types, including combination, eczema prone, and acne- prone that resulted in the necessity of beginning a course of Accutane. After deciding to put my beloved products to the test, I spent an evening steaming all seven of the girls’ faces, and applying all these products in this very order as a form of facial (I know, what a great housemate I am!) I was ecstatic with the results, as every girl woke up with a transformed complexion and proceeded to request the same treatment the following weekend. Since then, they have all invested themselves in the 10% Sulfur Paste and the Detox Face Mask, as they found both these products were extremely useful when pressed for time but in need of speedy purifying and clarifying fix. Since then, I have additionally treated myself to the Mojito Lip Balm (£10). Poppy Couling

Laura Mercier Image: @oceanblue2012

Glossier’s Boy Brow (£14) in Blonde shapes my brows and adds a natural looking tint, and a smudge of Glossier’s Cloud Paint (£15) in Beam injects a subtle colour to my cheeks, and glides on top of my tinted moisturiser beautifully. Finally, I apply my new Mac Lip Scrubtious

Laura Mercier calls herself the pioneer and creator of the ‘flawless face’. She focuses on a French aesthetic and what makes her consumers ‘unique’

Image: @lauramercier

I then use Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (£24) to highlight under my eyes, on my nose and on my forehead. I will blend that in with the beauty blender and then use my Laura Mercier Secret Concealer (£21) to cover any blemishes I may

Image: @malinandgoetz

Image: @panna_palmer

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life & style travel

courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors Charlotte Hill & Talia Gillin

Paradise Caves

@Courier_Travel thecourieronline.co.uk/travel

Helen Stevens recalls the beauty of her trip to Asia’s Vietnam

ietnam is a typical ‘gap yah’ destination, but with good reason. It’s my favourite country because of the people, the food, the history, and the diversity. I spent 3 ½ weeks there and visited 9 different places, but I have narrowed it down to the 2 most unmissable spots. Firstly, in northern Vietnam sits one of the most beautiful natural creations I have ever seen, called ‘Halong Bay’. It is famous for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone karsts, making it a unique place to visit. The Vietnamese like to ask if you would like the ‘scientific’ or the ‘Vietnamese’ version of how the bay came to be (the Vietnamese one is much more interesting). According to an old legend, the Vietnamese were fighting invaders when the God’s sent a dragon down to help them. The dragon began spitting out jewels which formed the karsts and provided a fantastic wall as protection, allowing them to win the war. To see the bay in all its glory most tourists stay on a boat for a few days. During these few days you can kayak, explore the many caves hidden in the karsts, visit the fishing village, and sleep under the stars.

Secondly, north of central Vietnam is a national park called ‘Phong Nha Ke Bang’. For anyone who loves exploring caves, this place is a must-see. It is home to the largest cave in the world ‘Hang Son Doong’ (which is big enough for a Boeing 747 aircraft to fly through) and was only re-discovered in 2009. I would recommend going on a tour here because of the sheer scale of the place. We began the tour by visiting temples dedicated to the people who had hidden and died in the park during the Vietnam war. Then we hiked up to see ‘Paradise Cave’, which was beautiful and went on for 7km. Afterwards we got into swimming costumes, strapped torches on, and ziplined our way into the ‘Dark Cave’. Here you can slide down muddy banks, swim in what I can only describe as being exactly like melted chocolate, and by the end of it you are covered head to toe in thick mud. The rest of the day you can spend kayaking, attempting obstacle courses on the lake, or having a leisurely swim, followed by a Vietnamese lunch in the rainforest amongst the wildlife. Vietnam offers a unique and amazing travelling experience – go see it for yourself!

the courier

Monday 19 February 2018

Wikimedia Commons

Climbing the heights Gabrielle Kennedy sets herself a challenge for the new year

ringing on 2018, it is easy to come up with crazy resolutions or ideas of how to make the most the year- experiencing new things and challenging yourself. I myself have fallen into this trap, being pulled into climbing a mountain with a friend of mine this upcoming summer. Not being the most athletic person out there, I find it hard to imagine myself being able to achieve such a thing. However, it is important to remember anything is possible once you put your mind to it, and if you have the opportunity to do something, it is usually worth the risk. The mountain that we plan on tackling this summer is Mount Kinabalu, located in Sabah, Malaysia. It is one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia with an elevation of 4,095m. The climb is expected to take two days, where climbers trek 6km to Laban Rata on the first day, before climbing the summit early on the following morning. Not being too much of a trek, it does seem suitable for first-time climbers like myself. Following the unexpected and devastating 2015 Sabah earthquake, it is easy to worry about what might happen during the trek. This earthquake was the strongest to affect Malaysia since 1976

with a magnitude of 6.0, triggering massive rock avalanches and destructing infrastructure where 18 lives were lost. Earthquakes are not usually common in this area as Sabah sits several hundreds of kilometers away from where the Pacific Plate, Philippine Sea Plate and other smaller tectonic plates are actively smashing into the Eurasian Plate (the summit trail has since reopened). Furthermore, other worries that I face with the climb are the injuries I may encounter. Being inherently clumsy and not having the best balance is not the best combination for mountain climbing… However, there are many rewards associated with climbing a mountain: the sense of fulfilment, the tick off the bucket list, and the breathtaking views throughout the climb. It is truly important to step away from pressures of everyday modern life to take time to appreciate mother nature and all it has to offer. Overall, climbing a mountain is definitely something that one should do if they have the opportunity. The whole process of disconnecting from our hectic lives and putting away our material possessions could provide a life changing experience.

Brexit and studying Yoana Cholteeva explores the possible academic effects of the political phenomenon we just can’t stop talking about

B exploresondoong.com

Top skiing destinations Rowena Tylden-Pattenson reports on the world’s best slopes

he winter Olympics are here, and so is the itch to get out on the slopes and do some skiing. Admittedly, I’m one of the few that finds cross-country skiing fun- perhaps the less popular sport because it’s less commonly known- after a rare snow event near my house as a kid. Three hours of picking myself face-first out of the snow and back onto my Dad’s too-big skis perhaps doesn’t romanticise the sport, but it’s the one that’s always stuck as a memory.

Tignes is open for much longer than most other resorts Most probably think of the slopes. Although England offers little in the way of skiing, Scotland’s not so bad in the Cairngorm mountains near Aviemore. If you suddenly have a free weekend and not enough money to fly out to somewhere a bit further, Scotland’s not so far away, and there are plenty of ways to check out the snow conditions. At the moment there is snow at all levels, so what are you waiting for?

Further afield, the Alps call. If you’ve not organised anything yet, or are looking for a late-season ski trip, Tignes is open for much longer than most other resorts, and you’re pretty certain to get snow. Val Thorens, also in France, is also popular for lateseason skiing due to it’s altitude of 2300m. It’s also huge, so offers loads of activities off the piste- fancy ice-diving? Sounds a bit cold, but a sled dog ride is a bit more to my taste. If you want to get out to the slopes now, Livigno, Italy, might be a good choice. Flights to Milan can sometimes come cheap, and the resort is in a dutyfree zone, so relatively inexpensive as well. There are 30km of trails for Nordic skiing, and opportunities to try rifle shooting if the thought of a biathlon has ever crossed your mind. I can’t say it has for me, but I’ll try anything once. There’s also Europe’s highest brewery, which definitely sounds like something to go and experience. Jasna, Slovakia, is another cheap option, located in the Tatras Mountains, which are beautiful all year round. Flights go to Bratislava or Poprad- both great cities- and pints are less than a euro when you get there. If you get really lucky you might see the critically endangered Tatras chamois as you go skiing past, which would really be something to remember from a holiday!

rr… exit? ‘Britain exits’ or ‘breaks it’, as often presented in press coverage over the globe, has undoubtedly become an essential part of every small talk’s agenda. It is now positioned alongside, weather talk and Trump’s inappropriate behaviour and is regularly brought up even in pub environments. This is well justified when you consider the uncertainty Brexit generates among students and institutions. When it comes to the conditions for foreign oungsters willing to go on a course in Britain, the picture has not majorly changed yet, but despite that, the percentage of those choosing to study elsewhere is already declining. A Ucas report announced a 4.4% drop of EU student applications, compared to those in 2016, which might not be a result of the practical changing conditions, but the lack of explanation surrounding Brexit consequences. Karoliina, a Finnish second-year student at Newcastle University, is concerned about the lack of information for the future of the European students in the UK. She argues: ‘Not many changes have yet taken place (at least on a personal level to me) but instead there’s so many speculations on what might or might not happen.’ There is a bunch of possible outcomes, which are still unconfirmed and only build up tensions amongst society. One thing is for sure, people who voted in favour of Brexit were tempted by the solemn promises of campaigners. This is what reinforces the popular notion that this vote was a very strategically played, relying on Englishmen’s inherent call for pure Britishness and the proclamation of the independence idea.’ However, a detail that seems lightly neglected when reporting the Brexit results is that, according to YouGov, the significant 71% of under-25s stood behind the decision to remain in the European Union. This may be associated with university experience and students’s acquaintance with foreign students in that environment. So, if you ask someone of this age group it is highly possible that they oppose leaving the EU, and are more conscious about the economic, cultural and ideological consequences, accompanying the already taken decision. A major flaw in the post-Brexit process might

be the possibility of putting students and young people off coming to Britain for legitimate reasons, especially those willing to study here and explore the local culture. It is unclear whether we would be able to enroll university courses the same way as we do now, which is a pity, but the hovering uncertainty does not seem to attract foreign students.

Britain will lose many intellectually gifted individuals With regards to Europeans, they generally understand Britain’s reasons to leave the EU and they also realize the potential drawbacks the country may experience. Oliver, a secondyear student with a dual nationality (Italian and English) focuses on the people attracted to the UK because of its opportunities for development. He argues: ‘Britain will lose many intellectually gifted individuals that knew they could shine to the best of their potential in the UK, simply because they were limited in their own home country. It won’t make too much of a difference for the same individuals (they’ll probably find another place in which they can export their talent/intelligence. We hope that whatever the consequences are, they are as harmless as possible to both sides and this decision does not stop people from looking beyond the ‘closure of the British doors’’. As an EU student, I am particularly grateful for the opportunity I was given - to obtain a highstandard education, while gaining unique, soulstirring experience. It is not the end of the world, and no matter what Brexit determines, I dare all of you, who are too bold to stay where you were born, to not stop travelling and discovering foreign lands. This life-changing experience can only benefit your emotional intelligence and outlook on life. What is more, stepping out of your comfort zone as much as you can is one of the best ways to gain independence, learn a new language, develop yourself and become more tolerant to others.

the courier Monday 19 February 2018

student activity

culture What’s on 19

editor.union@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk Culture Editors Zoë Godden and Ciara Ritson-Courtney Student Activity Editor: Alex Hendley

NSR SHOW OF THE WEEK

Stan Calvert Live Coverage Throughout the week

With Stan Calvert’s non-stop fixture list, NSR will be present at all the biggest and best events to bring you live commentary, punditry and coverage of the sports that you want to hear about. At 10am this Monday, dressage will get the top quality coverage that it deserves, with its sistersport show jumping going live on Wednesday. There’s a triple bill of sport on the 21st, as the show jumping is joined by swimming at 12pm and basketball gets underway at 6pm. The competition’s newest sport, Korfball, is getting its own show with build up and commentary of the 7pm game on Thursday, before the heavy weekend of varsity action. Our Saturday show comes from Kingston Park to watch the rugby league, before we base ourselves at Sport Central for updates on all Sunday’s action.

POETRY IN ACTION POEMS OF THE WEEK ‘In a world of wailing voices waiting to be heard, Willingness to listen Is revolutionary’ ‘They dedicate themselves to our futures, Yet we seem happy to sit by And watch theirs go up in flames’ ‘As we sit on the fence Counting the few pence we’ve lost Clamouring injustice, We forget about those who truly support us’

Union University Campaign Society Monday 19 February

5.15pm GIAG: Golf Meet: Outside Hatton Gallery 6pm LGBT+ Week: Artists Beyond the Binary Location: Bamburgh Room, NUSU 7.30pm Stan Calvert: Water Polo Location: Sport Central

Tuesday 20 February

12.30pm GIAG: Body Pump Fitness Class Location: Sports Centre 1pm LGBT+ Week: The Ace Talk Location: Bamburgh Room, NUSU 5pm Postgraduate Research Workshop Location: History Room, NUSU 6pm LGBT+ Week: Toxicity in Queer Spaces Location: Bamburgh Room, NUSU

Wednesday 21 February

9am Virtual Reality goes to Primrose House Volunteer: email volunteer.union@ncl.ac.uk 1pm LGBT+ Week: Behind Closed Doors Location: MLK Room, NUSU 5.30pm Big Culture Conversation Volunteer: Great Hall, Discovery Museum

Student spotlight STAN CALVERT 2018 Events: Fixtures run until Sunday 25 February With results starting to trickle in, the Stan encouraging friends of competitors and Calvert Memorial Cup really kicks off this fans of sport and the city rivalry in general week with fixtures running almost every to turn out in their droves. day until a whole plethora of match ups A popularly attended game is always the take place on Sunday 25 February. rugby league at Kingston Park, with the With Northumbria dominant in recent mens’ first teams playing at 2.15pm. Other years, Team Newcastle will need as many stand out events will be the equestrian, of you as possible to turn out in support of korfball, basketball and football. the team in order to help bring back the For more information, updates and news trophy. on the competition, the Courier’s sport So far, five fixtures have taken place and section, NSR and NUTV will be your the results have seen Northumbria take an ports of call, including live coverage and early lead, despite Newcastle taking the interviews. points in the very first fixture, American A full preview of the cup (including Football, back at the end of January. Geoff the Lamb’s flawless predictions) Over the next few days, the T-Shirts and along with some reviews of events that advertisements for the varsity competition have already taken place is available on will be seen across the campus, page 36 and 37.

6pm Cinematography Workshop with Film Society Location: History Room, NUSU 6pm LGBT+ Week: ‘Paris is Burning’ Screening Location: Bamburgh Room, NUSU

Friday 23 February

LGBT+ Week

1pm LGBT+ Week: Self Care 101 Location: MLK Room, NUSU 5.30pm-8pm Model United Nations Society Activities Location: See Facebook page 6pm LGBT+ Week: Queer Question Time Location: History Room, NUSU

Monday 19 February - Friday 23 February

Saturday 24 February

This year’s LGBT+ Week begins this Monday and kicks off a week filled with advice, get-togethers, film screenings and much more

10am-9pm Model United Nations Society Activities Location: See Facebook page 2.15pm Stan Calvert: Rugby League Location: Kingston Park

Thursday 22 February

Sunday 25 February

1pm LGBT+ Week: Solidarity Forever Location: Bamburgh Room, NUSU 6.30pm LGBT+ Week: LGBT+ and Politics Location: History Room, NUSU 7pm Stan Calvert: Korfball Location: Sport Central

10.30am-5.30pm Model United Nations Society Activities Location: See Facebook page 9am-5pm Stan Calvert: Super Sunday Location: Kingston Park

culture music

c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Toby Bryant, Charlie Isaac & Ally Wilson

On Campus MUSSOC OUTREACH: Thomas Wailing Academy

Justin Timberlake’s Not-So-Sexyback Super Bowl Danny Aspinall reflects upon the popstar’s flashy, yet forgettable, Super Bowl LII halftime show

ustin Timberlake took to the field at half time of Super-Bowl 52 with a back catalogue of hits and an extravagant production that had the potential to promise a half time show as exciting as the game itself. Yet the final product was a lacklustre performance disguised in the robes of flashy lights and extensive choreography, creating a disappointing and instantly forgettable addition to the historic half-time tradition. Timberlake began the performance with his new single, ‘Filthy’, beneath the stage in a nightclub-like setting that immediately established the performance as one primarily focused on visual rather than audio. Upon his emergence onto the stage, the popstar smoothly navigated around the field whilst performing an energised medley of his early hits, ‘Señorita’, ‘Rock Your Body’ and ‘Sexy Back’. These heavy hitters reminded us all of his dancefloor filling catalogue and got the feet moving of both the fans in the stadium and the millions of viewers around the world.

Audio mixing problems between the live and pre-recorded vocal hindered the show

Image: Newcastle University Music Society

n the 6th of February, Newcastle University’s Music Society outreach team partnered up with Thomas Walling Academy in West Denton to run a very special instrumental workshop for ninety young people. As part of the Academy’s commitment to musical teaching for all, every child from the age of seven is given the opportunity to learn an instrument, ranging from violins and cellos to clarinet and ukulele, and those in years five and six were able to take part in this workshop.

Not every child has the same opportunities for music making In order to encourage these young people (and the staff!), we brought along eighteen of our own world-class musicians to create a joint student orchestra, playing music from Beethoven and Greig, with the man in the middle, Sir Tom Edney leading the proceedings. Much laughter and learning took place, with our musicians providing the support for the children to show off what they can do in a welcoming, inclusive environment. The Music Society’s outreach team, led by Glenn Bruinewoud, has had a varied year so far, holding more traditional school workshops exploring the rich musical heritage of our communities, aiding in medical research through performances within the Royal Victoria Infirmary, as well as outreach work with the more elderly in the run up to Christmas. As an outreach team, we feel it is important to encourage the musical aspirations of any person, child or otherwise, that wants to learn and grow, whether singing, playing an instrument, or even through non-musical activities such as playing recorder! In being able to play alongside these young people we hope to give them, and many others like them, the encouragement and support that many of the Universitiy’s students received themselves when they were younger, and continue to do so through the many performance opportunities that MUSSOC provides. Not every child has the same opportunities for music making and in a climate of budgetary constraints and reduction of across the board provision, outreach activities such as this have never been more important. Young people learn best when they are having fun, and that was certainly what happened at the Academy. Long may it continue!

the courier

Monday 19 February 2018

Sadly, the performance would peak here. Audio mixing problems between the live and pre-recorded vocal hindered the show, but not as much as the extravagant choreography routines, that often came at the expense of a strong vocal. As such, much of the performance consisted of Timberlake, albeit well, simply dancing along to the radio-edits of his own song; this is hardly the live music extravaganza we’ve come to expect from a half time show that has featured the likes of (at the risk of

Image: Wikimedia Commons sounding like a grumpy old man three times my age) Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Tom Petty and Prince. The latter does make an appearance in Timberlake’s half time show, with the music icon being projected onto a fluttering sheet as Timberlake performed a cover of ‘I Would Die 4 U’. Whilst the cover itself is passable, the entire segment reeked of inauthenticity, with the tribute a rather tacky attempt at winning over Prince’s hometown crowd of Minneapolis. Justin went on to perform mid-career hits such as ‘Mirrors’ (to a painstakingly predictable reflecting mirror routine). He then ended with the thoroughly deflating recent hit ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’, accompanied by a Coldplay-esque array of primary colours that created a closing routine almost as boring as Coldplay themselves. Timberlake caps off the performance taking selfies with a young child in the stands, an ending rather metaphorical of the show as a whole. There

was no political message, no musical triumph and no artistic statement; instead, the show represented the play-it-safe hedonism of commercial pop. This is not to take away from Timberlake’s undoubtable talent as a mainstream pop artist, but upon comparison with many half-time performances, this one becomes almost instantly forgettable.

Image: YouTube

Do we Wannabe re-united?

After the announcement of a potential Spice Girls revival, James Davies asks if this is what the music industry needs, or whether they should cut their losses and simply stay in the noughties?

have a memory, a distant one granted, of the 2012 Olympics. The closing ceremony saw huge names such as Queen, and indeed the Spice Girls. One thing that confused me though, was why were the Spice Girls so big? There’s only really one notable song, as far as I’m concerned, that is almost reasonable (that being ‘Wannabe’). The rest of their songs are, well honestly, trash. Even ‘Wannabe’ isn’t a particularly good song. The lyrics are completely meaningless. Perhaps it’s because I really listen to the lyrics and almost use them to change my mood. When you hear songs such as ‘I Have Nothing’ by Whitney Houston, a complete classic, you begin to understand that the artist has put serious passion into the song. ‘Wannabe’, in comparison to a song such as one of Whitney’s best, doesn’t even come close to the amount of lyrical meaning. I can only really name three of the Spice Girls. Victoria Beckham obviously, Mel B and Geri Halliwell (that’s without using Google). Victoria Beckham has a somewhat failing fashion business, Mel B, I believe, is a judge on America’s

Got Talent, and Geri Halliwell, well I’ve no idea. None of them have been very successful. I always find it a good way to confirm how successful a group is by how successful the individuals are as solo artists. None of the Spice Girls have actually successfully gone back into music. Mel B’s most listened to song on Spotify only has around 500,000 plays, while Victoria Beckham barely got over 400,000.

In honesty, I could see them playing in Pop World if they did end up reuniting

selected by a newspaper and formed into a girl group, which is great, but none of them really have any talent. So why on earth are people so obsessed with them? Can’t we just leave them back in 2000? I’m not saying modern music is any better, and I’m certain the Spice Girls will be remembered, even if not fondly, but maybe we could leave them where they split 20 years ago. In honesty, I could see them playing in Pop World if they did end up reuniting. My point is, they have no real talent. Why would anybody want a talentless bunch of people to reunite? I’d far rather Queen reunite (which they have), because they have actual talent. It does beg the question though, will the Spice Girls really be properly remembered in another 20 years’ time, or will ‘Wannabe’ just be another artistless song that’s kind of catchy?

Perhaps it’s partly, as well, how the Spice Girls were formed. They were

Glenn Bruinewoud

@nclmussoc

@Courier_Music @TheCourierMusic

Images: Wikimedia Commons I m a g e :

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@CourierMusic thecourieronline.co.uk/music

Monday 19 February 2018

Technology DON BROCO

dmittedly, I’m not as much a DON BROCO fan as I am a fan of Dominar Films, the geniuses behind most of Technology’s accompanying music videos. ‘Everybody’ was already a good song, but it’s best experienced alongside its video, in which a cowboy cult induces Stockholm syndrome through line dancing. Technology doesn’t manage to exemplify the same kind of weirdness, but it’s still stylistically daring compared to the quartet’s previous output.

The titular track does not open with the bang this album deserves. Actually, the album’s track ordering baffles me. Similar sounding songs are placed in pairs, like non-identical twins - and of the two, there’s clearly a favourite child. ‘Technology’ is a solid song, but its songwriting relies too much on cliché, and I’m vexed by the edgy lyrical attempts to explicate the frustrations of modern society, which unfortunately continue through the whole release. ‘Stay Ignorant’ is stylistically parallel, but it’s obvious that the band have pushed themselves far more: the laddish, half-chanted verses are minimally arranged against a thumping dance beat, making unlikely but endearing bedfellows with the chorus and its greater

rhythmic and harmonic complexity. The sequence of ‘Everybody’ followed by ‘Greatness’ is another offender. Both rely on tight bass grooves, an interplay of syncopated guitar and vocals, an elegant, catchy melody, and, most importantly, the right amount of cowbell. But while ‘Everybody’ is a dance-rock anthem and a masterclass in how skilful arrangement can make a good song great, ‘Greatness’ is like its underdeveloped reprise, marred by the ad nauseam repetition of its weaker hook, which can’t be hammered into memorability no matter how many vocals are layered on top of it. There are however several moments of genius, like the way the poppy, intentionally superficial sheen of ‘Come Out to LA’ is followed by the heavier ‘Pretty’, the latter of which is another example of impeccable arrangement and production. Some tracks don’t commit to the feeling they’re trying to provoke, like ‘T-Shirt Song’, ‘Something to D r i n k’ a n d ‘Got To Be Yo u ’, which all cynically ride the pop rock wave

Here Come The Runts

Someone Out There

Similar sounding songs are places in pars, like non-identical twinsand of the two, there’s clearly a favourite child

WOLNATION’s third album, Here Come the Runts, is 45 minutes of alternative, guitar driven energy. The title track grasps listener’s attention with its almost cinematic approach. An eclectic mix of techniques is then applied, with variation particularly audible in ‘Sound Witness System’. ‘Handyman’ and ‘Seven Sticks of Dynamite’ delicately move to incorporate a slower acoustic element, which provides contrast to the in your face and grungy songs such as ‘Passion’, ensuring engagement throughout.

The album of a strong alternative artist Necessary respite is provided by the 30 second interlude of ‘A Little Luck and a Couple of Dogs’ which structures the album, marking a melodic progression into ‘Table for One’ and ‘My Molasses’, tracks which clearly emphasise a focus on Aaron Bruno’s eccentric vocals. Placed at the forefront of the mix, his lyrics are electronically untainted, yet significantly reverberated, producing an enriched sound. Regardless of the keyboardist (Kenny Carkeet) and bassist (Marc Walloch) departing in late 2017, the album clearly maintains the band’s characteristic as a strong alternative artist. Further, it evidences a development in the band’s style and focus. It builds on the electric sound of their first studio album, Megalithic Symphony in 2011, which notably featured their most streamed hit ‘Sail’. Here Come the Runts unquestionably shows another side to AWOLNATION, whilst still ensuring the opportunity to provide an inevitably vigorous live show. The American and European tour begins on February 11th, including a date in London on the 22nd April.

Bruce Skelton

Image: Nerve Media with little in the way of new content. ‘Pretty’ isn’t like that; it works because it’s unapologetically simple, and because it has full confidence in its main riff. It’s a smooth blend of electronic and rock, exploiting lead vocalist Damiani’s massive stylistic range. Likewise, ‘Potty Mouth’ concludes the album with a real sense of resolution: the synth and bass which were in dialogue for the previous tracks are finally in unison. This song also features the best rendition of the Marmite vocalisations and playground chants previously used on ‘Porkies’ and ‘Good Listener’. I have to give credit to the boys down south: while not all of their risks pay off, their most memorable tracks are the ones which dare to do something new. There isn’t the space to sing any more praises about the tracks in question, but be sure to give ‘¥’ and ‘Blood in the Water’ a listen if you weren’t taken with the singles; both absolutely embody DON BROCO’s newfound experimental spirit.

ach week, The Courier’s Music Editors are working with Newcastle Student Radio to bring you the best new tracks from the week before...

he challenging and experimental brand of pop Rae Morris produces is certainly worthy of note. Whilst her debut album demonstrating some of tonal diversity of which she is capable, Someone Out There runs with this ability. Forcing vocals into different shapes, she considers the boundaries of pop and takes chances on the way these are formed. It seems Morris has, to some extent, detached herself from the ballad form that featured in her first album. The dramatic, conventional sounding characteristics of Unguarded have been let go in order to emphasise her investigation of this altpop. Aptly named, song ‘Reborn’ demonstrates the clear evolution of her vocals, utilised to make more of an impact, with interesting conglomerations of sounds and rhythm demonstrating a newfound territory.

A long-awaited and appreciated change ‘Atletico (The Only One)’ shows vocals that take off, only to land instants later – though the journey was still made. Sharp and interesting slices of notes emerge forcefully, only to disappear under interesting manipulation of her voice. And while I am not the biggest fan of the delay and reverb, its fleeting use is often of value. Also of note is the synth pulses from underneath the light and playful lyrics of ‘Do it’ – though the lyrics are not so affecting, the track is bouncy and honest. ‘Someone Out There’ is a welcomed shift down a gear, striking a contrast that momentarily returns the album to the ballad-sound of her debut. The vocals linger, and sustain a sense of delicacy amongst the busyness of this exciting and interesting album. While different to the promising sound of Unguarded, Someone out there is a long-awaited and appreciated change. Rory Ellis

music culture

Editors’ Picks

Rae Morris

AWOLNATION

‘You Could Have Been The One’ Coasts After supporting The Hunna on their sold-our tour, Coasts are back with this tropically-tinged take on their infectious indie-rock sound. We covered their ever-so-slightly underwhelming Riverside gig in September last year but with this new sound is a huge step in the right direction.” Toby Bryant, The Courier ‘Getting Along’ The Magic Gang Having seen these guys support Sundara Karma late last year, I knew they had potential. With this upbeat indie classic being the taster of their recently announced upcoming album, this new young band shows great promise for the future Ally Wilson, The Courier ‘S.I.A.’ GUM Australia is currently in the midst of a Renaissance of psychedelic music; this latest single from GUM (solo project of Jay Watson of Tame Impala and Pond) puts a futuristic and thoroughly infectious twist on the sound. Charlie Isaac, The Courier ‘Cheetah Tongue’ The Wombats An NSR favourite, appearing on the weekly playlist almost instantly, The Wombats’ fourth album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life is worth the wait. These modern day anthems are sure to get stuck in your head, with first track on the album ‘Cheetah Tongue’ offering interesting psychedelic vibes. Meg Smith, NSR ‘Surface to Air’ Django Django ‘Surface to Air’ is a synth-pop delight and definitely a stand-out track on Django Django’s third album Marble Skies. The song features the dreamy vocals of Self-Esteem - the first vocalist from outside of the band to feature in one of their tracks. Amy Woods, NSR

here comes a time in every performer’s life when they must ask themselves why they peed on the Alamo whilst wearing a dress. On this day, February 19th, in 1982, Black Sabbath frontman and bumbling brummie John Michael Osbourne (aka Ozzy) did just that, under the influence of what this intrepid journalist believes to have been a metric tonne of drugs and alcohol.

Image: Wikimedia Commons So blitzed was Ozzy that wife ‘SHARON!’ hid all of his clothing in hopes of keeping him from heading out intoxicated. Unfortunately, she left her fashionable peignoir hanging on the door and Ozzy saw no shame in throwing the old thing on and going for a walk. He headed to the Alamo Mission – the pride of San Antonio – and decided that was the spot to take a piss. Oz’ would say he thought it was a pile of rubble, perhaps mistaking it for the AT&T Centre (am I right Mavericks fans?). Ozzy’s wee mistake would cause him to be banned from playing in San Antonio for ten years.

Ozzy’s wee mistake would cause him to be banned from playing in San Antonio for 10 years Also on this day in 1995: allegedly swastika tattooed, wife beating class act and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee married large chested ‘actress’ Pamela Anderson, on a beach in Cancun, Mexico. Famous for the bridal wear (she wore a white thong bikini) and infamous for the wedding tape (the tape... the famous tape... that tape…), the event(s) are perhaps more relevant for setting a sad precedent for the years to come, where fading and tasteless celebrities would have sex tapes ‘leaked’ and engage in shotgun weddings, to ensure they found column inches in the turn of the millennium paparazzi press. Lee and Anderson would have two children before divorcing three years later (he assaulted her), then would briefly reunite after his release from prison (for attacking a Jewish photographer). Finally, on this day in 1996, a jet-lagged Björk was videoed making an unprovoked attack on a journalist upon her arrival in Bangkok. She apologised, and any regret is considered ‘possibly-maybe’ (see what I did there?) Callum Costello

Image: Wikimedia Commons

@Courier_Music @TheCourierMusic Newcastle Student Radio: nsrlive.co.uk @NSRlive

culture TV

the courier

c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Joel Leaver & Alex Moore

Monday 19 February 2018

Why do grown-ups still watch cartoons? From the iconic Simpson family to Rick and Morty, Beth Chrisp explores why so many adults are addicted to animated TV

n an article recently published by the BBC it was suggested that adolescence now lasts from 10 years of age up until 24, rather than 19 as previously believed. Could this be of some explanation as to why ‘adult cartoons’ are more popular than ever? Or is something else afoot? ‘Adult Animation’ (we need to find an alternative term for this guys, something less risqué) has blown up in recent years with shows such as BoJack Horseman, Bob’s Burgers and Archer. We must, of course, pay a little trip to Springfield to trace the roots of this movement. The Simpsons led the way with high quality comedy and drama, setting a trend which would be followed in both TV and film. You only have to look at Pixar and DreamWorks to see evidence of The Simpsons’’ influence, both animation giants managing to create top quality entertainment that resonated on a number of levels, delighting both kids and adults.

tent, Rick and Morty for example, is an Adult Swim production and is given a UK platform through Netflix. Not to mention the animated series’ being produced by online streaming services such as the superb Bojack Horseman on Netflix. With streaming services, of course, came the rise of binge-watching, most animated shows run at around 2 0 - 2 2 minutes, a very binge-able chunk of time. I don’t

want to be a traitor to my generation but we aren’t renowned for our attention span, guys… Finally, and most convincingly I believe, the quality of animation currently available is unparalleled and enticingly diverse. The last few years have welcomed some incredible entertain-

‘Random Reviews’ Kung-Fu Panda Awesome Secrets - Callum Costello

hen the dice of Netflix randomness was rolled by Team Courier TV Section my near-thirty year old, Film Theory and Practice MA, BA Media Production First Class Honours film scholar heart pined for anything but Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father. Ask and ye shall receive; a Kung-Fu Panda film spin-off series. I’ve actually seen Kung-Fu Panda as I took my then much younger sister to see it at the cinema after working a sixteen hour nightshift. I liked the opening five minutes and enjoyed the music in the credits when she woke me up at the end. It’s the kind of film I could like - hell I’ve studied Bergman, Lynch, Chaplin, Lang, Fellini and Godard but my film is still Ratatouille. So gimme the series, in all it’s Jack Whitehall free glory - I can make this work can’t I?

Image: YouTube

Well not really, as it’s a spin-off from a film I haven’t seen and it’s for people much younger than me. I love Asian storytelling, mythology and culture, but in a time where we question the insensitivity of Western appropriation it does feel wrong seeing a predominantly white American voice cast tell a Chinese story. The respect is there, but it fundamentally is whitewashing and that is distracting. The animation is as gorgeous and cartoonish as DreamWorks SKG always is, the stories are interesting and I can see a pre-teen version of myself laughing at all the silly jokes. Jack Black is bursting with energy as lead Po and the transition to a Flash based two dimensional animation style for flashbacks is striking. There are worse things on Netflix to watch, but there are better also. If you’re remotely curious I’d direct you to Laika Animation’s fantastic film Kubo and the Two Strings instead.

The quality of animation currently available is unparalleled and enticingly diverse In animated television, right now, there is something for everyone; Rick and Morty offers high-concept sci-fi and pitch-black humour, Bojack Horseman places itself firmly in the ‘sadcom’ category and Bob’s Burgers offers classic animated sitcom humour through endearing underdog characters. Animation has the advantage of being able to do things that aren’t possible for live-action entertainment and this is being explored with fervour right now, much to the delight of its ever-expanding audience. Or it could be the fact that the world is a really terrible place and we just want to look at the pretty colours for 22 minutes apiece? Such pretty colours…

Most animated shows run at around 20-22 minutes, a very bingeable chunk of time In 2001 Cartoon Network launched Adult Swim with shows such as Cowboy Bebop and Aqua Teen Hunger Force,, which ran on Cartoon Network throughout the night in the US. Adult Swim was launched in the UK on CNX but lasted little over a year. This was animation made very specifically for adults, rather than trying to incorporate humour for all ages. Sometime in the intervening years our taste for adult animation has increased in the UK, perhaps the reason is variety and accessibility? With online streaming services taking over we have access to so much more overseas con-

ment in both TV and film, with The Red Turtle in 2016, a complex and innovative animation as well as the hugely popular, mega-hit Rick and Morty debuting in 2013.

Images: YouTube

Is it right to mourn TV stars who did bad things? In light of Mark Salling’s suicide, Charlotte Boulton discusses the morality of mourning stars

s television watchers, whether we are avid fans or more of a casual viewer, sometimes we have to make tough decisions about supporting those we see on screen. If a celebrity is revealed to be somehow undesirable it can cause many fans to turn off the screens and their support. However, when death becomes part of the story of a disgraced star, it becomes more complicated.

It feels fair to grieve for his character and what that may have meant to you growing up Mark Salling, who played Puck in Glee for five seasons, recently died in an act of suicide. Without any of the surrounding context, it feels natural for fans to mourn the death of an actor they likely grew up loving. However, a moral dilemma is present due to the discovery in 2015 of Salling’s child pornography collection. Police were informed by one of Salling’s ex-girlfriends, and he was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty in September 2017 to the charges, and was registered as a sex offender and instructed to enter a treatment program. Salling’s sentencing date was scheduled for March 2018, where he faced between four and seven years of prison time. He had also been ordered to provide £35,000 ($50,000) of compensation to each of the victims who had been featured in the material.

I was growing up. It was so important to me understanding my sexuality and was my favourite show in my early teens. Discovering that Salling had been charged with this disgusted and shocked me. It seemed impossible that an actor I knew of and had enjoyed in Glee was capable of these actions. In a way, he died in my mind when I unfollowed him on social media and decided I didn’t want to know anything further. I couldn’t support someone who had done what he did, and that was that. The death of Salling raises many questions of what is the right thing to think, feel and say in these circumstances. Many

people on social media expressed joy over Salling’s death, justifying that his terrible actions meant he deserved it. Others saw it as justice for his victims. I would argue that surely a better form of justice would have come from serving his time, and compensating the victims and their families. With talks of his court case being dismissed, and his legally required payout becoming irrelevant, the situation is further complicated. Perhaps the correct response is somewhere in the middle of joy and grief. It feels fair to express support for his loved ones, who are dealing with the loss of someone close to them. Regardless of his actions, his family will still be grieving in their own ways. It feels fair to express anger over the potential legal outcomes of the death, and the unfairness of the victims being forgotten. And it feels fair to grieve for his character and what that may have meant to you growing up. But perhaps grieving who Salling was as a person just isn’t right. For some, what he did strips him of all right to any grief in any form. This is a tough moral question, which I’m not sure I can truly answer.

SALLING FACT In 2016, ex-grilfriend and Glee co-star Naya Rivera spoke about Salling’s arrest, stating that she ‘just always felt like there was something he was wrestling with.’

Image: YouTube

Personally, I had been a huge fan of Glee when

Images: Kristin Dos Santos (flickr)

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@CourierTV thecourieronline.co.uk/tv

Monday 19 February 2018

TV culture

Year of the Woman: Wynonna Earp

Amy Gildert brings us another show centred on an empowered female protagonist, this week focusing on the titular character

fter being disappointed by supernatural and action television for so long, Wynonna Earp has filled a hole in my heart that I didn’t even know I had. Gone are the days of queerbaiting and plots that circle around themselves like dogs chasing their own tails. Amongst a proliferation of good television to choose from, Wynonna Earp should definitely be on your radar.

utter destruction wherever they go. Wynonna has intertied the job of sending each of these revenants back to hell with an aesthetic revolver named Peacemaker. If she fails and is killed before she can send them all back, then each revenant she put down will be resurrected. From the premise of this show alone, the stakes are high. And although Wynonna Earp is not currently a show with a big budget, it certainly doesn’t shy away from fight scenes between Wynonna and the revenants, which are always If you’re looking for satisfying and perfectly a strong leading lady, choreographed. While superWynonna is definitely natural dramas the gal for you are aplenty these days, it is the The show revolves around the character of characters of Wynonna Earp, the descendent of infamous Wynonna Earp gunslinger and western sheriff, Wyatt Earp. But that really make it turns out that Wyatt was no ordinary sheriff. it stand out. If His hometown of Purgatory lies within the you’re looking Ghost River Triangle; a cursed area of land for a strong which is haunted by all of the outlaws that leading lady, Wyatt killed. Resurrected as revenants, the Wynonna is outlaws want nothing more than to break definitely Image: YouTube out of the Ghost River Triangle and wreak the gal for

Reviews

The Grand Tour

Brittania

Amazon Prime

Sky Atlantic

you. Kick ass and wiseass, she swings a punch and knocks back a shot in the same move. Yet while she fights against an uprising of demons, she is also undeniably real in a way that few female characters are allowed to be. She is awkward and clumsy, tripping over her words and winging it as best as she can. And while she may on occasion dress like the femme fatale, she gets stuck in her dress as she attempts to take it off. Little moments like this come together to create a character that is utterly real as a result of her being allowed to have flaws. This is a quality that is continued over the rest of the characters, and it must be noted that three out of five principal cast members are women, which is a pleasantly surprising fact when the majority of film and television gives us one female character surrounded by a cast of men.

Did You Know?

When I first began watching, I was prepared to witness the baiting of a romantic relationship between two of these female characters, similar to the treatment of Dean and Castiel in ABC’s Su-

‘Year of the Woman’ is a new weekly feature to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of women receiving the vote. Although restricted to women over 30, the vote is a landmark in UK history and we want to commemorate this. Each week we want one writer to discuss a show with particularly empowering, bad-ass or strong female leads.

Black Mirror

Altered Carbon

The show is based on a comic book series by Beau Smith and was recently renewed for its third season

Netflix

Image: YouTube

s the second series of Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour comes to an end, it must be time for all of us former Top Gear fans to admit that something about the trio still isn’t working away from the BBC. Season two of the Clarkson, Hammond and May led motoring show saw relatively big changes from the first series. The giant studio tent stayed put in the Cotswold Hills rather than travelling to a new iconic location each week, the cringe-inducing celebrity cameo was replaced by a more familiar ‘versus’ celebrity interview and a timed race round a track, whilst the tone of the show felt less false and slightly more natural. The sequences, challenges, video montages and track tests felt slicker, more inventive and slightly more like those made under the watchful eyes of the BBC. The continued use of the mega-budget that Amazon provides means the direction, the editing and the cinematography are unrivalled by any non-Attenborough piece of factual programming. Yet despite this, season two delivered a series of unimpressive challenges with uncomfortable scripted dialogue. Scenes we used to take for granted, like the opener of a used car challenge where the hosts have to try and seem disappointed with each other’s car choice, remained forced and uncomfortable. Clarkson and May seem unsettled but it is Richard Hammond that is trying the hardest (and least successfully) to fit in to their new home. Yet it’s not all bad news, as highlights of theseason include a classic race across New York State with a Clarkson powered Ford GT against May, a chartered flight, public transport and a hobbling Hammond making palatable entertainment. However, with one more season guaranteed under the Amazon Prime deal it must be time for producer Andy Wilman, who jumped with the trio from the BBC to Amazon, to step aside a season earlier than he is contractually obliged and let another producer have a crack at making these three men-children work on the internet stage.

ritannia is the currently airing historicalfantasy collaboration between Sky and Amazon. The show takes place in 43 AD, with the Roman General Aulus Plautius (played by David Morrisey, who many will recognise as The Walking Dead’s fearsome Governor) leading the Ninth Legion in hopes to succeed where Caesar failed 90 years earlier: conquering Britain. There have been many series and films focussed on the might of the Roman Army. The difference with Britannia is that it also allows us to see the power of the Celts and Druids, the tribes who the invaders were up against.

harlie Brooker’s hit Netflix drama Black Mirror returned to our screens in time for the New Year, as anxious as ever about the moral implications of our technological future. Or is it now the present? Just before the episodes were released, a YouTube trailer indicated that this season would address contemporary concerns, with Donald Trump deliberately placed in the centre of a montage of images combining previous episodes of Black Mirror with news clips from current events. Yet series four fails to deliver on this promise. Rather than directly tackle the very real effect technology is having on the politics of today (granted this has been explored previously in Black Mirror but these episodes are now years old), Brooker remains on the existential ‘can artificial-intelligence eventually be human?’ motif, no doubt bolstered by the success of last season’s award-winning episode ‘San Junipero’.

Harry Parsons

Beautiful scenery, great set design, compelling characters and a little bit of magic The show follows a few different characters, including a feisty little girl named Cait who’s determined to find and protect her father, Kerra, a princess of the Cantii tribe who seeks to protect her people despite being shamed for her ounce of Roman blood, and Divis, a strange outcast who believes himself to be on a special mission set by the Gods themselves. The cast is made up of great actors, and the stories and characters intertwine effortlessly from the first episode, each of their stories equally as interesting and entertaining. Although it would be easy for the show to fall into mindless violence and endless battles, the writers have taken the opportunity to include several cultural aspects of British life before the Roman influence set in. We get to explore the politics of the Celtic tribes and their tentative alliances, watch the ceremonies and rituals of the Druids with the same touch of supernatural eeriness shows like Vikings are known for, and learn some ancient history along the way. If you’re looking for shots of beautiful scenery, great set design, compelling characters and a little bit of magic with your next historical drama, give Britannia a go - you won’t be disappointed. Chloe Bent

Finally [...] some healthy queer relationships on screen With so much television available at our fingertips, it’s easy to see the same sort of shows repeated and remade. But Wynonna Earp is a completely new twist on both the historical legacy of Wyatt Earp and the supernatural genre. And although it’s not perfect (as no show is), the representation it gives us definitely makes it worth a watch.

Image: YouTube

pernatural. But for once, you don’t need to worry about this. The relationship between the characters is handled amazingly, and I would just like to shake someone’s hand for finally having some healthy queer relationships on my screen.

The series has already addressed the same theme multiple times This is unfortunate because otherwise excellent episodes such as ‘Hang the DJ’ are tempered by the fact that the series has already addressed the same themes multiple times. Apart from the admittedly brilliant ‘Arkangel’ the only two other episodes that do not focus on AI, ‘Crocodile’ and ‘Metalhead’, are hampered by surprisingly lazy scripts featuring payoffs that feel unearned. Whilst never a perfect show, for the first time in its history Black Mirror feels stale. Yet overall it is still a fantastic piece of entertainment. The characters in ‘USS Callister’ and ‘Black Museum’ are enjoyable and often hilarious (in a dark way, of course) and the technical elements of the show such as the cinematography remain consistently good throughout. Black Mirror is one of the best Netflix original series going, and I look forward to series five. It is just a shame that the show famous for subverting expectations fails to take any risks this season. Daniel Pye

Netflix

Image: YouTube

here do I even begin with this series? I mean wow! Wow, as in I’m not even sure I know what just happened. Let’s talk about what it is first. Altered Carbon is an American series about a future world where death is no longer a worry as people shed their bodies, just as easily as a snake sheds their skin. Set in a world where the rich are immortal due to their disposable clones, and the poor get given bodies that are available, whether they like it or not. The series revolves around a terrorist, Takeshi Kovacs, who had been given an indefinite sentence due to his crimes. Kovacs has been in storage for 250 years until a rich man brings him out to solve his murder. As the series goes on it tends to raise more questions than it answers. This ultimately has you hooked because part of you wants to know the answers, but the other part is just trying to keep up with the story line. But fear not because the final two episodes answer all of these questions and deliver an epic and emotional finale. So, if you are looking for a new series to binge

8.5/10

Altered Carbon’s rating on IMDb.

watch, I’d highly recommend this one. It’s only 10 episodes long but do not be fooled, it is full to the brim with action, violence, emotion and surprisingly a lot of nudity. There is so much going on in this series, which even I couldn’t figure out the ending of, which is slightly annoying but oddly satisfying. It’s a brilliant piece of work, and I can see why it achieved its high ratings on IMDb because it is totally deserving of them. But don’t take my word for it, give it a watch and thank me later. Danielle Brier

@thecouriertv @Courier_TV

culture film

c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors Helena Buchanan, Dan Haygarth & Christopher Wilkinson

Golden Oldies

the courier Monday 19 February 2018

Contenders for this year’s Supporting Oscars Jack Gill fills us in on the character actors destined for glory at this year’s Academy Awards

Harold and Maude (1971)

arold and Maude exists within that golden era of New Hollywood, sometimes referred to as the Hollywood New Wave, which started with films like Bonnie and Clyde or Easy Rider and ending with Star Wars and Jaws. New Hollywood was important because it marked the beginning of the director as king (in America, anyway) and a new style of film emerged. The director of Harold and Maude, Hal Ashby created his films within this movement, but he made his a little differently from the frenetic, cocaine-fuelled film sets of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese et al.

n a shift from the conventional phenomenon of the Oscars sweep, this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable yet. For the elusive Best Picture nominations which are currently dividing critics, choices range from The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to the wildcard nominee of Jordan Peele’s Get Out. The awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress are equally diverse this year. For the former, the array of roles ranges from Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project, to corrupt billionaire Christopher Plummer in Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World. For the latter nominations, Mary J. Blige sets the milestone for being the first woman to be nominated for both the acting accolade and ‘Best Original Song’ (‘Mighty River’) for her contributions to Mudbound, As is the case with both categories, the award is anyone’s game.

For the supporting actor category, the attention given to independent films is expectedly small, with Willem Dafoe’s nomination for The Florida Project being the only recognition. In a favourable decision, Richard Jenkins marks his place in the thirteen nominations obtained by Guillermo Del Toro’s The Shape of Water. The equally successful Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was also highly favoured, and received nominations for Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. While these roles adhere to director Martin McDonagh’s charismatic drama, film fans were quick to note the snubs of other actors deserving of a nomination - for example, Armie Hammer missing out for Call Me By Your Name. Further criticisms came for Christopher Plummer’s role as John Paul Getty in Ridley Scott’s All the Money in The World, a role that he was

Maude’s humanist approach to life invigorates Harold The chemistry between Cort and Gordon is astounding. Their relationship, tentative at first, is beautifully crafted. Ruth Gordon deserves a mention here, her joy-filled Maude is something to behold, her humanist approach to life invigorates Harold and the audience too. She shows Harold how much beauty and love there is in the world, and I defy the audience to finish watching Harold and Maude without a warm, fuzzy feeling and a desire to look at the flowers more often. Beth Chrisp

Janney stands out in her balanced performance between villainy and comedy In a similarly impressive run of form, Allison Janney has been dwarfing fellow nominees in recent Oscar precursors for her role as Tonya Harding’s dominating mother, LaVona Golden. In a category which sees some particularly subsidiary roles being recognised, such as Octavia Spencer’s role in The Shape of Water, Janney stands out in her balanced performance between villainy and comedy. In a successful year for online streaming heavyweight Netflix, Mary J. Blige’s nomination for her role as pain-stricken mother, Florence, fits with the Academy’s acknowledgement of Dee Rees’ epic, Mudbound. Furthemore, despite the equally compassionate maternal performance coming from Laurie Metcalf in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. Janney’s performance strikes me as one which will see her grab the upcoming BAFTA and Academy Awards. Much like Rockwell, Janney’s recent success at the Golden Globe awards establishes any other potential result as a sure upset.

Ashby is like the hippie Dad to Wes Anderson A hangover from the hippie movement, Ashby’s films are concerned with kindness, friendship and living against the grain, he places happiness and compassion above all else. His influence is evident in modern filmmaking, especially with filmmakers like Wes Anderson, who were clearly heavily inspired by Ashby and this film in particular. He’s like the hippie Dad to Wes Anderson, and all those indie filmmakers giving it up for the outcasts. Harold and Maude is a May to December romance featuring teenager “Harold” (Bud Cort) and 80-year-old “Maude” (Ruth Gordon). There’s so much about this film that is brilliant: the Cat Stevens soundtrack which simultaneously fills you with joy and breaks your heart, the deadpan humour (especially from Bud Cort who is incredible in this film) and the humanist ethos which pervades the narrative. It’s hard to talk about this film without giving too much away, but I’ll give it a go; Harold is a troubled, neglected and wealthy teenager who finds a friend and a comrade in Maude. Their relationship is treated with such compassion, it’s hard to imagine another director who would treat the relationship between a teenager and an 80-year-old woman with such deference. In fact, this is alluded to in an excellently funny and uncomfortable scene in which a priest tries to warn Harold off the sins of the flesh.

shoehorned into after sexual abuse allegations surrounded previous lead, Kevin Spacey. Nonetheless, Sam Rockwell’s superbly comical role as the dim-witted police officer Dixon in Three Billboards that has him poised as the favourite; the actor has already received over ten awards for this part. Of all of these accolades, the Golden Globe victory usually forecasts more wins come the Academy Awards; I see this year as no exception.

Canadian behind the camera: Xavier Dolan

Scarlett Rowland looks at Xavier Dolan, Canadian director, designer and all-round film hero

avier Dolan is a young French Canadian director and actor whose films focus on queer relationships including family and friends. I only managed to stumble across him after his film Mommy was featured on Netflix. This 2014 film concerns the relationship of a problematic child with his mother, after a new law is brought in allowing parents to hospitalise their children, transferring the duty of care to the state. Though perhaps not his greatest work, his film was the perfect introduction to his true to life story telling and utterly raw characters combined with such gorgeous cinematography.

As an openly gay director, Dolan lives his craft After watching Mommy,, I immediately ordered a collection of his earlier films, J’ai tué ma mère, Les amours imaginaires and Laurence Anyways. As soon as they arrived I watched them all back to back. This collection of queer love, friendship, and life was warming to my soul, even though each story came with its own lingering sadness. As an openly gay director, he lives his craft explaining why each any every film he has had a hand in creating is an astute look into queer lives. This explains why, J’ai tué ma mère, written when Dolan was 16, has been described by Dolan as semi-autobiographical. J’ai tué ma mère follows the life of a young gay man understanding his sexuality and how it effects his relationship with his peers and family. Even though this was his first film, the level of praise he received was like someone who had been in the industry for life - receiving a standing ovation at its premier and received a plethora of international film festival awards. Lawrence Anyway tells the

heartbreaking story of a love destined to fall apart, when one part of the couple who has been living as a man making the realisation of their true self, a woman. Whilst not a typical coming of age film, this film could be described as such, with the lead role Laurence (played by Melvil Poupaud) discovering their new life and coming to terms with their true identity. If foreign film really isn’t your thing, you’re in luck! This year Dolan will be making his debut into English language film with The Death and Life of John F.

Donovan, another film focusing on the relationship between mother and son. Not being one to be afraid of rocking the industry boat, Dolan recently went public with his decision to cut A-list celebrity Jessica Chastain from this film, stating that he felt the subplot which her character was a key part of did not end up fitting the rest of the film. Despite this being perhaps a bold move for a still up and coming director, I am sure that Dolan, who sleeps, breathes, and eats queer film, has made the right choice and we will be presented with a thoughtful film post production. Having throughly enjoyed his Quebecois films, I am highly looking forward to his debut into a new language.

the courier

@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film

Monday 19 February 2018

50 Shades Freed (18)

film culture

International Film Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)

Carys Rose Thomas gives her take on the concluding chapter of the infamous

fter dragging myself through the utter slog that was the other two films in this trilogy, I expected 50 Shades Freed to be nothing less than hilariously shit. My memories of the previous two films was chuckling and squirming my way through awful sex scenes and cheesy one-liners that should have stayed locked away in Gray’s Red Room. It seems that with my memories of the previous films I have remembered how hilariously bad they were, and airbrushed out all the underlying slightly sinister sexual politics of the stories, and how they play into its skewered representation of healthy relationships. I didn’t take the same pleasure

in despising this film as I did the other two, probably because this one was about a marriage, and immediately that sets off all kind of alarm bells about possession and dominance. They feel like far more realistic struggles many women face within marriage, rather than the sensationalised luxurious drama of a relationship which is portrayed in the previous two films. I cringed with genuine discomfort watching Ana

tiptoe around her husband in order to live her life. The film tried to depict this as some sneakily mischievous and defiant act, cutesieing her supposed rebelliousness. In actual fact it just felt like watching a teenager sneaking out from under their parents’ noses to have a few tinnies in the park, only to be discovered by their mum with sick on their shirt and beer on their breath when they make a racket arriving home at 1am. If I had to find some sort of redeemable features to the film I guess it had a good soundtrack and I enjoyed playing ‘drink every time you see Ana’s nipple’ which I would average is about every 5 seconds, but to truly summarise the film: the sex was shit, the relationship was upsettingly abusive and the supposed action within the film (a car chase, kidnapping) was vapid. I got about as much joy from the hour and a half I spent watching this film as one usually gets from scraping dog shit off their shoe - perhaps even less.

When We First Met (12)

The 15:17 to Paris (12A)

The Mercy (12A)

he Lives of Others is the 2006 Oscar-winning debut film from German writer/director and two-time winner of the prestigious ‘Most German Name’ TM award: Florain Maria Georg Christian Graf Henckel von Donnersmark. The film has continued to garner widespread critical acclaim from, but has yet to reach the heights of some other great European films in the domestic markets of the English speaking world. This may have to more to do with the film’s setting than its fantastic story. I get it; the suggestion of sitting down to watch a film set in 1980s East Germany could be hard work. How wrong I was. The story centres around four main characters. Two dour Stasi (East Germany’s KGB) officers, Gerd Weisler (played fantastically by the late Ulrich Muhe) and his supervisor Lt. Grubitz. The latter assigns the former to monitor the work and home lives of loved-up playwrights Christa-Maria and her boyfriend, the allegedly anti-Communist satirist, Georg Dreyman. The story then follows Weisler and his covert monitoring of the couple from his privileged position over the next six years, until the fall of Soviet power in Germany in 1990. The film is set thirty-years ago, but like all great works of art, it still resonates in today’s surveillance culture, where the line between state monitor and voyeur is blurred.

The best non-American thriller of the 21st century so far

hen We First Met is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. I’ve just finished watching it and I’ve already forgotten most of what happened. Every character was hollow, it was emotionally, thematically and morally bankrupt. The film was poorly made, the script was dreadful and it deeply upsets me that more people will watch it than the litany of other far superior films available to stream on Netflix, including Groundhog Day, which is also on the platform and of which When We First Met is a complete rip off of the lowest possible quality. The film concerns Noah (Adam DeVine) who is in love with best friend Avery (Alexandra Daddario) who is set to marry Ethan (Robbie Amell). When Noah learns that a vintage photo booth can send him three years back to the night he met Avery, he sets about trying to win her heart and rescue his future history. The film is a platform to launch Adam DeVine as a credible romantic lead and fails because his character is loathsome and he has one mode; turned up to eleven. He would struggle to pass as a credible romantic lead in a good film - let alone this rubbish, which steals horribly from the aforementioned Groundhog Day, La La Land, Back to the Future, every Judd Apatow and every John Hughes film. The characters are painfully hipster in an unaware and irritating way. There is no depth of any kind in the entire film. There’s a gratuitous amount of cut aways to generic city establishing shots because it’s too long and boring to look at. Jokes fall flat, the time travel stuff is overused and the two love interests are forgettable. People probably got paid to work on this film; extras, crew etc. and that’s the only good thing about it.

Callum Costello

his real-life thriller charts the story of the terrorist attack on an Amsterdam to Paris train in August 2015, which was foiled by three courageous Americans (Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos), who play themselves in the film. Clint Eastwood’s latest film continues his focus on true American stories, which brought him success in 2014 with American Sniper and in 2016 with Sully. Unfortunately, this is not replicated with The 15:17 to Paris, which is comfortably the worst film of the veteran director’s career. Eastwood’s decision to cast the three real-life heroes as themselves does not pay off. While they are hindered by a sub-soap opera screenplay, which is loaded with awkward dialogue, none of the three possess any acting ability or screen presence. Even Judy Greer and Tony Hale, two of the film’s established actors, struggle through the dire writing. A particuar highlight occurs when Greer delivers the film’s appalling humdinger of ‘My God is bigger than your statistics!’ Most crucially, the film is insufferably dull. Its purposeless middle section, which follows the three men on their European interrail, consumes a large amount of the running time, offers nothing to the story and feels like flicking through an endless album of holiday photos. Scenes of the men drinking beer, sightseeing and awkwardly chatting to women appear to be in constant rotation as the film trundles to its destination. When they eventually arrive, the events on the titular train journey are shot and edited with as much panache as a Crimewatch reconstruction and do not justify the tedium of the preceding seventy minutes. Uneventful and utterly bizarre, The 15:17 to Paris is a career low for Clint Eastwood as a director. Its dud-ridden script and truly amateur acting mean that the film fails to honour the three men’s incredible courage in an appropriate or gripping manner. Dan Haygarth

he drama revolves around Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth), a family man, inventor and amateur sailor, who risks his home and business for glory in a 1966 sailing race round the world. Hoping his sailing inventions would help him finish the race quickest, he built his own boat leaving two months later than the rest of the competitors. The boat was made hastily and with little money - the sail was destined for disaster as soon as he left. The story is an underdog sensation and the film’s focus is largely on Crowhurst’s press officer, played by David Thewlis, whose role in it is to drum up media attention, as he constantly pressures Crowhurst’ family for a story while he is away. Surprisingly, the conflict is lessened the day Crowhurst leaves. The characters on land are self-interested and rightly focused on the race, with land and sea never combining to form an unfolding plot. The drama then rests on the puppy dog murmuring of Colin Firth, who hasn’t quite left his role from The King’s Speech behind. Unfortunately, Firth doesn’t have the range to play the mental trial suffered by Crowhurst. He is too much of a mum’s favourite, too familiar to play a man falling into a mental chasm of certain doom. James Marsh, the director, tries his best to carry the story with scenes of hallucination and hope but once again a clash of styles leaves it unconvincing. The Mercy is desperate to be a story of mental struggle but is constrained by its own obligation to be a historical drama; the domestic 1960s setting clouds the drama, while efforts to show Crowhurst as a family man only hinder the film’s attempts to look into the nuances of mankind’s struggle with isolation. Still, your mum will like it.

Sid Pinsent

Having recently re-watched the film, it shocked me to learn that FMGCGHvD has only gone on to direct one other feature length film, 2010’s The Tourist. That film is so unbelievably awful that I’m not sure even the huge pay checks given out to its leads Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie was enough to bury the shame they must have felt at the premiere. Well, the laws of physics dictate that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and well, the pendulum swung back big time from the heady heights of 2006. So, maybe FMGCGHvD is destined to be a one hit wonder out of Germany, like ‘Axel F’ or ‘Mambo No.5’. Personally, I hope not, for The Lives of Others is for my money the best non-American thriller of the 21st century so far, able to grip both those who understand the film’s context and those who do not. It does not matter. Whether you like historical dramas, political thrillers or even tragic romances, then be sure to hunt down The Lives of Others ASAP. Joe Holloran

the courier

c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Monday 19 February 2018 Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland and Carys Thomas

@CourierArts thecourieronline.co.uk/arts

Plain censorship or a deeper message?

Ella Williams discusses the issues of representation, censorship, and female bodies in art after the outrage caused by Manchester Art Gallery’s decision to remove a Victorian painting

Image: Wikimedia Commons

ries of censorship and safespaces have blared conspicuously over the art-consuming world in recent years. The outrage of exclusion is an ever widening issue, but the soreness of hidden or prohibited content is only felt in the visibility of its absence: a speech cancelled or a website blocked. More quietly, the world we are shown is constantly shaped by a process of selection. In the case of art, museums and galleries are the result of careful construction by their curators. This fact has been emphasised at Manchester Art Gallery in recent weeks when they temporarily took down ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’: a Victorian painting by J. W. Waterhouse depicting a male lover being lured by naked adolescent girls. Its removal was part of an initiative by artist Sonia Boyce, who left a notice in its place encouraging debate as to how such artwork should be selected and presented in the modern day. The response - an irritated bouquet of sticky notes arranged in the area of the canvas - has ranged from a dismissal as “prudish” to “feminism gone mad!”.

What’s On: Let Us Make It Up To You @ Alphabetti Theatre, 20 Feb, 8:00pm

Open Heart Theatre presents quality improvised comedy from the North East and beyond.

However, this noisy aversion to “censorship” seems to overwhelm the initial scheme for discussion; the question is not one about the particulars of this specific painting, but of the necessary decision process that occurs at the root of every art collection. Simply, Boyce has uncensored the hidden curatorial process: what do we think?

From racism to sexism to fascism, only with awareness are awe able to challenge inconspicuous societal norms One key difficulty that has arisen from the question of banning art is in defining the lines of acceptability. Campaigns such as #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo attempt to do this by amplifying the voices of the oppressed against the racist or sexist “standard”. But while one might look at the painting as “mildly erotic”, another might see it as “romanticising voyeurism and the objectification of children”, depicting poedophilic allusions that are not at all

The Vagaries and Misconceptions of the Modern Man @ Vane Gallery Figurative in the broadest sense, the sculptural works engage with difficult material, whether concerned with political unrest, sexuality, violence or male body image.

@TheCourierArts @thecourierarts

The experience of a gallery or an art collection is shaped just as much by what we do not see as what we do see The controversy only exists in so-called “hard” censorship, when a work is removed or discontinued from an already open exhibition. Here is where the dispute happens. As in the case of Waterhouse’s painting, now viewers can see the gap… In other words, the decision of Manchester Art Gallery was not one to conceal a controversial painting, but to expose the empty space. WThe experience of a gallery or art collection is shaped just as much by what we don’t see as what we do. Don’t censor censorship! From racism to sexism to fascism, it is only with this awareness that we are able to recognise and therefore challenge the most inconspicuous societal norms. Image: Wikimedia Commons

A Seventh Comedy Night That Passes The Bechdel Test @ Alphabetti Theatre fun poems were intersected by her own entertaining commentary. She ended her set by encouraging the audience to harmonise on the happy birthday song for the show, and led us to the interval feeling excited for more.

omedy is a rather male-dominated field of entertainment, and it’s always refreshing to see some comedy that goes against this. This comedy night celebrated its birthday after a year of production, the brainchild of Liberty Hodes and Lauren Stone. They are two women in their 20s, and they are hilarious. The best double act you’ve seen since Ant and Dec (and maybe even better), they carried the show with brilliant awkward pauses and jokes that verged on ridiculous. The show began with a literal slice of toast being raised, and that set the tone for the night. The night featured four performers alongside the hosts. The only male performer of the night, Ben Lowes-Smith, followed Lauren’s excellent introductory set. He gifted a DVD about trains to an audience member, with no explanation; I enjoyed the almost nonsensical style of his performance and general weirdness. He was followed by Jenni McDermott, a comedic poet who wrote about her love of her cat, onions and easy peel fruit. Her short,

arts culture

SWEET COLUMN

CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTUALISM ELENA TRAYANOVA

n the reality of 2018 with all of the social, political, economic, and all other kinds of controversies, people have felt the need to creatively express their feelings, thoughts and opinions. It is quite inevitable for major global events to become a part of our personal lives and for everyone to feel prompted to try hard for their voices to be heard. Contemporary conceptualism is a significant part of today’s art culture. It is the idea that the creation of and the concepts behind the art are just as essential as the artwork itself and play an important role when it comes to the artwork being criticised. Conceptual art can relate to so many different disciplines a lot of people are concerned about and affected by, it could serve as the voicing of a personal opinion, a representative of the ideas of a certain community or even as the mouthpiece of a movement. It is a highly significant concept in times when political, social and cultural hierarchies need to be approached and confronted. It goes to show that art can be, and is vocal about important issues that concern everybody. In that way, through art people can participate and be socially active, they can use their biggest strengths in order to move the world closer to a positive change. Contemporary conceptualism and its spreading popularity also put pressure on many artists to engage in such universal conversations in order to “stay relevant” in their spheres. However, art being involved with ideas and discourse that is relevant to a lot of people also draws more attention to art as a broader concept and entices the interest of a larger audience. It is important for art to not stay neutral and voiceless in times when every display of opinion can make a difference. Image: Wikimedia Commons

PHOTOBOX

Charlotte Boulton reviews the female oriented comedy night

The Cult of Dave @ Alphabetti Theatre, 21 - 23 Feb, 7:30pm

After five Sell-out Edinburgh Fringe runs, three National Tours and one TV special Magician Dave Alnwick brings his hit Magic Show “The Cult of Dave” back to his home city.

mild. Another might be enthused by the delicate brush strokes used to outline Hylas’ right nipple. Perhaps it could be presented differently, in an exhibition that challenges the historical objectification of women at the male gaze. Alternatively (as in a previous work by Boyce) it might only be viewed through peepholes that make viewers aware of the act of looking. As with the discussion prompted by its removal, this uncovers and challenges societal norms by bringing them to the forefront of our consciousness: the precise opposite of censorship, surely? The actual criteria for what constitutes “censored” art it not hardline, either. Visual arts curator Paco Barragán makes the distinction between “soft” and “hard” censorship, where the former describes that which occurs before the exhibit is released to the public sphere. At this stage, the exhibition remains to be a mere possibility that has not yet been legitimised by the crucial element of an audience; its malleability is a necessary part of everyday curatorial practise.

SWAN HOUSE SUBWAY CALLUM COSTELLO

The best way to describe the show is eclectic, fun, and lighthearted Katherine Tanny and Catherine Scott followed the interval, both with brilliant performances discussing everything from christenings to diabetic comas. Lindsay was the final performer of the night, and possibly my favourite. Her eclectic collection of bits was begun by walking across the stage in various outfits to ‘There She Goes’ – as funny as it was bizarre. The best way to describe the show is eclectic, fun, and lighthearted. The next show will be at the Alphabetti Theatre in 30th March, and I encourage everyone to pick up a ticket and go along for a hilarious, strangely intriguing show!

ewcastle is a city of layers. The famous T. Dan Smith vision for a future world reaching for the sky is hidden in plain sight across urban centre. If you go low you’ll find steps, scraps, wonky buildings and ruined heritage. If you go high you’ll find blocks without personality, walkways of concrete and dimly lit subways. They’re all over the centre, hard to keep clean and with constantly drying paint. I like them because they’re a timewarp - connecting old to new, tucked out the way and used only through necessity.

the courier

culture gaming courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Monday 19 February 2018 Gaming Editors Gerry Hart, Georgina Howlett & Richard Liddle Top 5 Loot Hiding Spots Chris Wilkinson tries out the long-awaited remaster of this PS2 classic of titanic proportions

Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) review S

5. Behind a locked door This is an absolute classic of a hiding place, not just in games, but in real life too. Seriously, the amount of good stuff you can find behind a locked door is – actually, I’ve just been advised by my lawyer to not finish that sentence. But anyway. Locked doors represent a challenge in most situations; sometimes that challenge is getting past the lock-picking minigame, sometimes that challenge rests on whether or not the loot locked behind a “very difficult” puzzle will be worth it. The number of times I’ve unlocked a door to only find six gold pieces and a human skull…

4. On a hard-to-reach platform Jump puzzles (or, as my flatmate Andrew calls them, “juzzles”) are a major part of many actionadventure games. In games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted, finding a collectable on a platform could be considered the “meat” of the game, while Doom (2016), Skyrim and even Metal Gear Solid V feature the occasional hidden object that you need to climb to. As you might expect, Borderlands 2 has parodied these jump puzzles in Tiny Tina’s Dragon Keep (one of the most subversive DLCs I’ve ever seen).

3. Past a secret wall It’s like a locked door, only it doesn’t look like a locked door. It looks like a wall. Sometimes a bookcase. The first three Harry Potter games are champions of the secret wall method, which you could usually spot because the textures didn’t line up right with the rest of the room. Dark Souls 3 also has these, but I don’t like them as much as they are indistinguishable from regular walls. It’s one thing to observe how a secret wall works in the early game and recognise them from there; it’s quite another to have to systematically wallop the wall every two metres.

2. Under the stairs I’m always slightly bemused when I find good loot under some stairs. Over the years I’ve been in six different cupboards found under stairs, and all I’ve found was vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens from the 1990s, and dead mice. I’m not entirely sure if I’ve broken some sort of law by not filling these storage spaces with weapon upgrades (looking at you, Deus Ex: Human Revolution) or, I dunno, particle effects or something. Whatever, it’s a staple for hiding loot to the extent that I’m surprised nobody’s created a race of staircase dragons or something.

1. Behind a waterfall

hadow of the Colossus is a game with a simple story. But it is a story simple enough to be able to touch upon themes of love and adoration, of hubris and corruption, of nature and destruction, and is able to do so in one of the most beautiful environments ever created for a game. Its ability to do this has cemented it as one of the most popular and influential games in modern gaming history, bringing a completely new and unexampled gaming experience to a whole generation of gamers. So, the idea of remastering the masterpiece has unsurprisingly become a popular one, and the overall result has far exceeded anyone’s expectations. Unlike the PS3 remastering – a simple touch up of quality with no huge improvement – the remaster for the PS4 has been a project essentially rebuilding the game from the ground up, elevating the game into the next-gen era. What results is possibly the most gorgeous game I’ve ever played.

What results is possibly the most gorgeous game I’ve ever played Firstly, however, let us talk about the story. A young man, ‘Wander’, enters a cursed land on a horse accompanied only by a dead girl. He takes her to a temple, places her on the altar, and hears a mysterious and indistinct voice. Before long he has bargained with this voice. If he travels through the cursed land and destroys its 16 inhabitants – the monstrous but beautiful colossi of the title – the girl will be given life again. With only his faithful horse, his sword and a bow and arrow, he sets off on this trial. The original creator of the game, Fumito Ueda, is a firm believer in the

minimalist approach to art. Scrape away the inessentials and the meretricious and when you finally reach the core of things that’s where real emotional development takes place. This is the

The idea that Wander is isolating himself from nature by destroying these colossi is much more observable rule of thumb for the entire game, from plot to environment to gameplay, and in the remastered version this is essentially unchanged. But there is something about the remastering which allows this rule to reach new levels. As beautiful as the scenery is, its sparseness is only emphasised. As detailed as the mountains a n d waterfalls are, it only highlights y o u r

Image: IGDB

What I’m Playing: Bloodborne Richard Liddle takes a trip to Yharnam in search of eldritch knowledge (but mainly just dies)

he first thing Bloodborne teaches you is that you’re going to die. A lot. It does this by starting the game with you waking up in a creepy hospital with no means of defending yourself and a bloody massive werewolf thing just down the stairs waiting to rip your throat out. It’s only after you get thoroughly murdered that you gain access to the Hunter’s Dream (the game’s hubworld) and a choice of starting weapons with which to go back and exact some gory revenge on your furry nemesis. That handily encaptures the second lesson of the game - every death is an opportunity to improve. Here it’s by actually having something more than puny fisticuffs to defend yourself with, but in the game at large, it’s a steady cycle of die, learn, advance, repeat (or as Souls veterans usually put it, “gittin gud”). This being my first Souls game, I did a lot more dying than learning and advancing in my first few hours (it took me a frankly embarrassing amount of time to even reach the first boss), but

once the rhythm sets in it’s a gameplay cycle that really gets its hooks into you. The combat itself is extremely satisfying, once you’ve got the hang of it. You’re armed with both a melee weapon and a rnaged weapon. The melee, or “trick”, weapon can switch between two different forms (eg. a sword that turns into a whip), opening up various versatile combos. Your firearm, meanwhile can be used to stagger an enemy if you hit them right before they attack, opening them up for a super-bloody Visceral Attack which does huge damage. It’s a fairly simple but deep system that rewards precise timing and aggression to keep your enemies on their toes. In terms of story, Bloodborne takes a wonderfully minimalist approach of essentially dumping you in the middle of the gothic, beast-infested city of Yharnam and leaving you to work out where to go on your own, with a few cryptic messages and mysterious NPCs hinting at the bigger picture of what’s going on. There’s talk of a disease sweeping the city and turning people into monsters, a Healing

I don’t know who first had the bright idea to hide some loot behind a waterfall, but every developer and their dog has done the same since then; it has gotten to the point where I am seriously surprised when a waterfall doesn’t contain a new weapon or a Wizard Card. It’s such a cliché at this stage that Borderlands 2 even had an in-game achievement for finding some stuff behind a waterfall. Twice, if you include its DLC. Jack Coles

Image: IGDB

distance from them. The idea, then, that Wander is isolating himself from nature by destroying these colossi is something much more observable in this version. But there are critics, otherwise known as ‘purists’, who believe that the sharpness and detail detracts from the original atmosphere of the game. The damp and flooding light that is so prevalent in the original is almost non-existent here, and the general haziness of the game has been replaced with a fine attention to detail. One wonders, however, whether this saturation of light and haziness is really necessary in a game where the minutiae of a world can be worked over in such intense detail. Personally, I find that the game is pretty much what I expected from its legendary status, but I won’t lie and s a y I didn’t rage over its infuriating controls. At times your faithful horse can be your real enemy, and in some respects the ease of fluid control mechanics have been sacrificed for cinematic effect. But then again, the satisfaction of overcoming the controls and finally killing your enemy, when mixed with the sadness of the actual m on s t e r’s death, is one of the most important aspects of the game.

Image: IGDB

Church dabbling in forbidden experiments and the mysterious “paleblood” you’ve been told to seek out, but mostly you’re left to piece together what’s going on yourself.

It’s a narrative decision that works extremely well in building a sense of mystery and foreboding It’s a narrative decision that works extremely well in building a sense of mystery and foreboding as things get progressively darker and, for want of a better phrase, absolutely fucked up. What really makes this shine is the Insight system; each time you discover and defeat a boss or find some sort of secret, your Insight stat will increase. When it crosses certain thresholds, elements of the game world will change to reflect your character’s newfound occult knowledge - new enemies appear, old enemies will act differently and you’ll hear and see things you couldn’t before. It’s a genius system, leading to possibly my favourite “what the flying fuck” moment in any game ever when you cross the 40 Insight threshold - I won’t spoil it here, but it changes your perspective on the world dramatically and flips your understanding of the story so far on its head. If the main game isn’t challenge enough there’s the Old Hunters DLC, which drops you in a nightmare filled with hunters who’ve gone insane from bloodlust and provides further background on Bloodborne’s lore, not to mention some inventive new weapons (the buzzsaw-on-a-stick and exploding hammer are my personal favourites). I’m approaching the end now, but Bloodborne has easily been one of the best games I’ve played in a long time. It’s got me hooked enough that I can’t wait to get started on New Game+ to see what secrets of Yharnam I might have missed the first time around.

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@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming/

Monday 19 February 2018

gaming culture

Are paid online services justi�ied or a cash grab? For the first time, Nintendo, Xbox and Playstation are all charging for online multiplayer on their consoles - but are gamers

getting their money’s worth? Richard Liddle and George Boatfield get into vs. mode and make their cases for and against They’re a necessary evil, but the freebies sweeten the deal

have to admit, I’ve never been keen on having to pay an extra charge to play online. It’s partly the fact that you’re essentially paying a second time to play a game you’ve already bought on a console you’ve paid several hundred quid for. It’s also partly because as a Yorkshireman I’m genetically inclined to be a tightwad, but let’s not get into that. Having finally got my hands on a PS4 near the end of last year and subsequently signing up for PS Plus, though, I’ve found my opinions on the matter changing. If it were simply a charge to access online features and nothing else, then the £50 a year price tag would seem fairly ridiculous. But with the added extras that come with the subscription, I’ve started to see it as a much more worthwhile investment.

Console games have always been more expensive than on PC, so this amount of priceslashing is welcome With PS Plus, you get two or three games for free each month, usually consisting of a few smaller or indie titles and a bigger blockbuster title. This is a great way of expanding your library with both bigger games you might not have gotten around to buying yet and more niche titles you might not have given a chance otherwise. More to the point, the overall value of these games is probably more than what you’re paying in subscription fees, so you’re definitely getting bang for your buck. Your subscription also opens up a host of extra

Image: Flickr discounts on the online store, again letting you get hold of big titles at sometimes ridiculously good prices (over Christmas I picked up both Wolfenstein: The New Order and The Old Blood for £7 altogether, and before that Bloodborne and its DLC for something like £12 - bargain!). PC gamers are probably used to this sort of pricing thanks to Steam sales, but console games have always been more expensive to get hold of, so this amount of price-slashing is a welcome addition. Xbox Live Gold similarly offers free games and discounts at a cost of £40 for a 12 month subscription. The page advertising the service on Xbox’s website also shines a light on a reason that online fees are probably becoming something of a necessary evil in the modern gaming age - the “hundreds of thousands of servers” powering Xbox Live (and likewise with Playstation’s online services). Running and maintaining such an extensive network can’t come cheaply, so it only makes sense that the company finances these costs with a steady income from the people actually using the service rather than relying on sales profits which change from month to month. Bundling in freebies and discounts sweetens the deal for players and helps to justify the cost to them, making it a win-win for both consumer and provider. So in the grand scheme of things, paid online services are a lot more worthwhile than they might first look. Richard Liddle

Image: Wikimedia Commons

They’re a confusing paywall in an already expensive hobby

what people actually get for their money. Take the recent release of Fortnite as an example; for many, it has become the only game they are playing online. However, the majority of these players will be unaware that a PS Plus subscription is entirely unnecessary for Fortnite (along with all other free-to-play games). Instead of choosing to renew the subscription at a later date, many are therefore paying for something that they are not using for months at a time. The soon-to-beintroduced fee for the Switch online service also adds further confusion for more casual users. After months of enjoying free multiplayer, many will be questioning the need for a paywall once it’s put up.

Look instead at the structure of PC multiplayer and it’s clear to see the thriving online ecosystem

ollowing the month-long PlayStation Network outage in 2011, some Sony fans attempted to spread a message excusing the blunder. They did so by claiming that, because PSN was free, something as reliable as Xbox Live shouldn’t and couldn’t be expected on PlayStation. Regardless, seven busy Christmas seasons later and the services seem as ropey as ever. Both are now blocked off behind a paywall (not just Xbox Live) and the platforms go into meltdown for the days following an influx of new users. If this is the case, are customers getting any tangible improvements to the online service for the hefty price they pay?

There’s confusion in what people actually get for their money Perhaps surprisingly to many, there are still certain free aspects of online play on both PSN and Xbox live. The only problem is that most players are unaware of this, which introduces confusion in

Look instead at the structure of PC multiplayer and it’s clear to see the thriving online ecosystem. Not only are new games available to play online at no additional cost, but communities can keep their favourite retro multiplayer alive with fan-run servers long after official services have been shut down. With a pastime that is already so expensive, the extra fees for playing online leave a bad impression. When many people are already paying so much money for new games, DLC and loot boxes, it seems disingenuous to lock a multiplayer portion of a game behind yet another paywall. That said, microtransactions are not going away anytime soon, so it also seems likely that paid online is the new norm of the industry. George Boatfield

Nintendo Switch’s full Why do we dismiss games as “dead”? online service launching Errol Kerr looks at why we’re so quick to call a game “dead” - and how best they can recover

ive me a minute, and I’ll be able to make a list full of ‘dead’ game franchises from the past year. Mass Effect, Need for Speed, Star Wars: Battlefront, Destiny, Titanfall, Halo; all of these games have been proclaimed as ‘dead’ across the wider gaming community. Whether it’s YouTubers, bloggers or websites, so many games have quickly been shoved into a makeshift coffin by gamers, shunned as ‘bad’ games, undeserving of time, effort, and most importantly - money. I’ve been on and off Bungie’s new foray into the Sci-Fi genre since Destiny’s release in 2014, and over three years later, I’ve seen them release another somewhat buggy yet promising game in Destiny 2. Within weeks, it was slated as a bad game. Someone had ‘killed’ Destiny. Whether it was Bungie, Activision, or someone else, it was ‘dead’.

This avoids asking a very important question: is this death permanent? Similarly, look at EA’s Star Wars: Battlefront II. A fun game to say the least, but flawed. Similar to Destiny, its lack of content, focus on microtransactions and lack of complex enemies have earned it much controversy over the past few months. Thing is, this avoids asking a very important question: is this death permanent? I mean, Sonic the Hedgehog managed to recover from the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) which was most definitely slated as the killer of an iconic franchise. Sure, Sonic Forces from last year was not the best outing – most definitely worse than Generations or even Colors, but Sonic Mania revitalized the franchise, proving it’s got more life than once thought. For the first time in years, I’m excited for new content from the franchise. Not only that, but so many franchises have recovered from this premature ‘death’. For example,

Ubisoft’s MMO-third person shooter hybrid, Tom Clancy’s The Division released in 2016 to relatively average reviews due to a lot of strange game design choices. However, after tweaks, changes and content releases, two years later, The Division is stronger than ever. The same can be said for Rainbow Six: Siege, also developed by Ubisoft, releasing to huge criticism about lack of content, microtransactions and quite weak AI in both allies and enemies.

The criticism is almost identical: microtransactions, poor AI, lack of content Over two years have passed since its release in December 2015, and this game, much like The

Division, is stronger than ever, with a slew of refreshing content, a wide variety of maps and gametypes, and timed events incoming over the course of the next few months. If you didn’t notice, the criticism gained by Rainbow Six: Siege is almost identical to the ‘dead’ games before now. Microtransactions. Poor AI. A lack of content. However, that game’s most definitely still going. And at least Battlefront II is operating in a similar fashion; with free releases of new maps, weapons, characters and content throughout its lifetime. Why are the once-‘dead’ Tom Clancy games alive now? I’m as sick of corporate greed as much as the next person, and sick of poor quality games, but we’re becoming incredibly quick to declare games dead when paths to recovery not only exist in updates and later games. I’m not saying ‘give companies a second chance’ but if I have a word of advice: don’t count your chickens until they’ve been patched.

Image: IGDB

in September

Image: Wikimedia Commons

intendo has confirmed that they have delayed the release of their long-awaited Switch online service to September 2018. Initially set to launch late last year, the service is set to introduce a more robust online infrastructure that comes at a monetary cost to the user. Currently, Nintendo’s online infrastructure offers a bareboned friends list and online play system with voice chat provided through a smartphone app. Many users have been hoping for the implementation of voice chat functionality and more substantial social features within the console itself; the new online service could potentially bring these advancements. Priced competitively against Xbox Live and PS Plus’ $60 per year price tag, Nintendo’s online service will cost users $20 per year or $4 per month. While Sony and Microsoft’s services include a selection of recent games that refreshes on a monthly basis, Nintendo will provide one of their classic games each month with updated features including online leaderboards and multiplayer. Until this point, online play will continue to be free for Switch users which, for now, means that it is the only leading console of this generation to offer online play at no cost. If the integration of classic Nintendo titles into the online service is any indication of the timeframe we can expect for the release of the Virtual Console, then it may be more than just the Switch’s online service launching in September. George Boatfield

science & technology

Are you Tech-ing the piss? Brain-Computer Interface

magine the possibilities in a world where the actions of a computer could be controlled by simply using your mind. No more typing, no more buttons, no more screen-tapping. Just you; your mind; and a computer. While this technology sounds like something straight from Black Mirror, it may soon be more than science fiction. Have you ever struggled to get out of bed to turn a light off? Have you ever failed to take the perfect selfie because you couldn’t quite reach the capture button? Have you ever wanted to just move your hand again after being paralysed from the neck down? Well, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) may offer a solution to all these problems. When you think about doing something, anything, y o u r br a i n

emits tiny elect r i cal signals relating to this thought process, these signals are the result of neurons firing and communicating with each other. This activity can be viewed using an electroencephalogram (EEG). Don’t worry, I’m not sure how to pronounce that either. Certain patterns of activity produced can be associated with unique thought processes (eventrelated potentials or ERPs). If someone sits and repeatedly thinks about performing a physical action, machine learning can be applied to understand the patterns of brain activity produced. When the pattern and all its variants are understood, the intended action can then be passed on to another machine to perform the event. The pioneering force behind the development of this technology stems from research into giving life-long paraplegics back the ability to move. Bill Kochevar’s life was changed seemingly forever when he was paralysed from the shoulders down following an accident. After nearly a decade of being unable to even perform the simplest of tasks for himself, his future looked bleak. That is until 2017 when he was fitted with an invasive EEG sensor that monitored the electrical activity from his brain. Then over a four-month period, Mr Kochevar trained the system by thinking about specific movements, such as turning his wrist or gripping something. Then 36 muscle-stimulating electrodes were implanted into his arm and hand, he could control its movements simply by thinking about what he wanted to do. Within weeks, he could feed himself again. Providing him with a new lease of life.

He could control its movements simply by thinking about what he wanted it to do Research teams are also working on mind-controlled wheelchairs (that’s some serious Professor X sh*t right there), and on using sensors to allow people who are completely paralysed to give yesand-no answers through the power of thought. A company called Neurable has recently adapted a VR headset to be fitted it with an external EEG. They’ve created a simple game that demonstrates how this technology can be incorporated. Microsoft recently filed a patent for a machine learning system that would use EEG waves to launch and control computer applications. Nisan is even looking at integrating BCI with the control systems of their cars to allow for pre-emptive manoeuvres to reduce road traffic accidents. Of course, one thing that is holding back sophisticated uses is the need to use externally mounted electrodes, not everyone will want to opt for having electrodes implanted in their brain. These implants are risky and expensive, making them suitable for only the most life-changing applications; this is where we will first see this technology come into its own. Conor Newton

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courier.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Jack Coles, Christopher Little & Ciara Ritson-Courtney

Monday 19 February 2018

A bit of cryptocurrency Tom Atkinson gets his thinking cap on to decipher the confusing world of cryptocurrencies

ryptocurrency is, as the name suggests, a form of currency. But what exactly makes it tick? Well, unlike ‘ordinary’ currency, it has no central bank controlling it or issuing it. Anyone – anywhere – can buy and sell the currency for goods, services or money itself. As the name may also suggest, it is based on encryption: specifically, the algorithms surrounding it. In the ‘olden days’, most currencies were backed by gold reserves or other reserves of a known value. Nowadays, currencies like the Sterling have become currencies of promises. Their value comes from the fact they have value to people. Cryptocurrencies have never had backing from a reserve. A central bank in a conventional currency scenario can choose to increase or decrease the amount of money in circulation. So-called ‘quantitative easing’ has been used recently in the UK during the 2008 economic crisis, but almost always results in inflationary pressure. Simply put, the more money there is the less valuable it is. An algorithm regulates cryptocurrencies. There is a hard upper limit on the volume that can be produced. Bitcoin, the current largest cryptocurrency, has a maximum volume of 21 million units. This limit is enforced as a by-product of the means of the currency’s production.

A computer must solve a mathematical puzzle that gets exponentially harder the more currency is in circulation With normal currencies, an actual note must be printed or coin stuck to represent a unit of that currency. With cryptocurrency, a process called ‘mining’ must take place. As part of this process, a computer must solve a mathematical puzzle that gets exponentially harder the more currency is in circulation, and stops when the set limit is reached. The exponential nature slows down production as more coins are produced, ensuring scarcity is

maintained. This is how cryptocurrencies get their value, the scarcity is the value. So, back to hashing in depth. An underlying technology deployed in all cryptocurrency applications is called blockchain. Again, to put it in simple terms, it is an incorruptible ‘ledger’ of transactions that have taken place which is distributed across umpteen different nodes to guarantee neutrality. T o add a

block to this chain (and hence verify a given transaction’s authenticity) the mining machine must complete a cryptographic calculation which produces a value called a hash. The chain cannot be corrupted, as if a block is altered the hash created when it was added won’t match its current hash value and the chain will collapse. Each block can store many transactions, so your transaction is queued until a block is mined which can take it. This means during slow days your transaction could take a long time to clear (people have waited multiple days). Also, these miners need paying. The transaction fee for Bitcoin peaked at around $55 but is now down to about $5 per transaction. Still, this is a pretty penny to pay for your morning croissant.

This makes cryptocurrencies currently very difficult to use for everyday payments.

An underlying technology deployed in all cryptocurrency applications is called blockchain So why the fuss? Well, they make an excellent item to trade with. Their volatility makes it possible to make big gains if you’re careful about how you invest, but it comes with many risks. Bitcoin ‘futures’ have been traded for a few months now. Futures are simply contracts you purchase which promise you a value at a given point in time. They can be bought and sold, but you don’t need to worry about moving actual cash around or trying to put it in a big cryptocurrency wallet (the computer program used to store units that are not being used) as it’s held somewhere else. After recent volatility, however, wariness of the prospect of trading in cryptocurrencies is picking up. One of the most notable benefits of cryptocurrencies is not in fact cryptocurrencies, but rather blockchain. Savvy technology firms are repurposing blockchain to be used in a number of diverse applications, such as creating an unchangeable record of where your fruit and veg has been and actually using it to monitor the movement of normal currency.

$55

The transaction fee for Bitcoin peaked at around $55

Blockchain can be deployed wherever a reliable record needs to be maintained. We could even see it deployed in the future to authenticate your degree as being valid. No matter the current climate, it’s clear that cryptocurrency and blockchain will have a significant impact on finance and many other industries in years to come.

Are you a Mini Cheddar?

Cutting-edge DNA analysis reveals secrets of first modern Britons, explains Christopher Little

ave you heard about the dark skinned immigrant who was found in a cave in Somerset? It caused quite a stir in the media, and sent many Daily Mail readers into a bit of a meltdown. He’s a mysterious fellow, known only as the ‘Cheddar Man’. Apparently he’d been hiding there for quite a while – around 10,000 years to be precise. You see, ol’ Cheddar is one of the first modern Britons, and the reason he’s causing a furore is because he’s helping us reconsider the genealogy of our ancestors. The Cheddar Man is Britain’s oldest complete skeleton; he was actually discovered back in 1903, from an area in Somerset called Cheddar Gorge (hence the name). He stood around 5ft 5in, led a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and died in his early twenties; with fractures on the surface of his skull suggesting a potentially violent demise. Up until recently, it was believed he had pale skin and fair hair, but a new groundbreaking scientific analysis has shown otherwise. Researchers from London’s Natural History Museum extracted DNA from Cheddar Man’s skull and used it to map his genome. Their results produced the most comprehensive sequence for a genome from the Mesolithic period of European history – also known as the Stone Age. They then worked with the University College London to analyse the data and found that the early Briton had dark curly hair, blue eyes, and skin that was dark brown or black.

Specialists in paleontological model-making worked with researchers to create a forensic reconstruction of Cheddar Man. The results are stirringly lifelike and will be shown in their full glory in the Channel 4 documentary First Brit: Secrets of the 10,000 Year Old Man (which will have premiered before The Courier goes to print, but you can catch it on All 4).

10%

Around 10% of the British population share genetic ancestry with this migration

It is believed that Cheddar Man was part of a migration that took place around 11,000 years ago, following the Last Glacial Maximum (the last worldwide glacial period). His ancestors would have left Africa and moved to the Middle East, before eventually walking across a landmass known as Doggerland, which once connected Britain to mainland Europe.

Image: Designed by Vexels.com

Whereas Britain had been intermittently populated before this, the vast sheets of ice that swathed the land during the ice ages forced these populations away. Since the arrival of Cheddar Man, however, Britain has been continuously populated ever since, and around 10% of today’s population shares their genetic ancestry with this migration. A number of factors have caused skin pigmentation to be lowered over the past 10,000 years. This includes a move to agriculture and a cereal-based diet. This lifestyle would have created a Vitamin D deficiency in the population and meant that people developed lighter skin as a means to absorb more sunlight, which is used by the body to produce Vitamin D. A further migration of people also arrived from the Middle East around 6,000 years ago: these had pale skin and brown eyes and would have integrated with the existing population. This isn’t the first time attempts have been made to analyse the DNA of Cheddar Man. Twenty years ago tests were carried out to see if there was a DNA link between the modern day residents of Cheddar Gorge and the Mesolithic man. One such link was found in Adrian Targett (who funnily enough is the history teacher at the village school). Targett has blue eyes and quite dark skin, and – in his opinion – also shares the same nose and hairline as Cheddar Man. But more astonishingly, he lives less than a mile away from the cave where his long lost Neolithic grandfather came to rest more than 10,000 years ago.

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@CourierScience thecourieronline.co.uk/science

Monday 19 February 2018

science & technology

Coming in with the Tide(Pod) Jack Coles considers what would happen to the human body if it indulged in this Internet craze

y the time this article comes out, the Tide Pod craze may well be over. It was January’s darling meme for a time (and it has indeed been a great month for memes), but now the hallucinogenic euphoria has drained and we are left (metaphorically speaking) lying naked in the basement after a bath salt binge, wondering why most of our fingernails h av e dropped off. So, what would happen if you did, in fact, eat a Tide Pod? For those of you unfamiliar with these items, they are capsules of liquid det e rge nt sold chiefly in t h e US, but you can b u y them here too through Amazon. There’s a blue and an orange swirl over a white spheroid, all bound up in shiny plastic. There’s also variants where the whole thing is pure white, but the broad strokes are pretty much the same. The first thing you would notice from eating a Tide Pod is that the plastic coating itself is very bitter. This is due to denatonium benzoate, and just looking at the structure would make a chemist’s taste buds crawl. The two nitrogen atoms and three phenyl rings of this ionic compound are the same sort of things y o u would find in other bitter chemicals, like the alkaloid chemicals in coffee. But suppose you do manage to push past that bitter taste, you

can chomp into the laundry pod, squirting gooey goodness into your mouth and down your throat. Wait no, I wrote that wrong. I actually meant “filling your oral cavity with detergents and causing massive cellular death”.

If you swallow some of this detergent it’ll burn all the way down your oesophagus Detergents a r e

surf a c t a nt s , meaning that they can reduce the surface tension between fatty acids and water. “Big whoop”, I hear you cry with my FBI bugging technology. It is indeed a big whoop; cells are protected from their environment by a layer of phospholipids (special cellular fatty acids) which get disrupted and torn away by the detergent. This kills cells in your mouth as well as anywhere else detergent may touch, causing burns. (Except for the skin, but that’s because the upper layer of your skin cells are dead anyway.)

This kills cells in your mouth as well as anywhere else detergent may touch But things keep getting worse from there. If you manage to actually swallow some of this detergent it’ll burn all the way down your

Norway or the highway Norway shows Great Britain how to recycle, explains Yi Min Ng

ei, folk! Hvordan har du det? Good to be back on Geordie land. By now, I’m sure many of you have read the news that the government is contemplating the adoption of the Norwegian bottle recycling scheme (sometimes referred to as the Scandinavian scheme) in light of current plastic crisis in the UK. In order to have a better understanding of the recycling scheme, over the weekend, I have taken a short trip to Norway on behalf of The Courier to interview a few local Norwegians. Known as ‘Panteordning for flasker’ in Norway, the scheme works in similar fashion as the Deposit Return Scheme that was once in place to encourage glass bottle recycling across Europe and in the UK. Under the scheme, additional surcharge (charges range between 10 to 25 pence equivalence depending on the size of the bottle) will be incurred on the consumer whenever bottled drinks are purchased. When the used bottles are returned to the specialised self-service machines, which can easily be found in most supermarkets, the surcharge will be refunded to the customers. The scheme has been in place in Norway since the early 1990s and is partly funded by unclaimed deposits and drinks man- u facturers (who will enjoy a tax reduction if they are voluntarily involved in the scheme). Recent official statistic have shown that the scheme has successfully recycled 97% of plastic bottles in

Norway. Considering the fact that less than 50% of plastic bottles made it to the plastic waste recycling plants in the UK, we have to agree that the Scandinavian scheme is indeed simple yet extremely successful and effective.

97%

Norway recycles 97% of their plastic bottles; whereas the UK recycles around 50%

However, if the UK were to adopt a similar scheme, lots of money and time will first have to be invested in order to provide the specialised machines which are capable of recognising so many different types of bottles in the market. Hence, it may take a while for such a scheme to become as successful and effective across UK. While it may be expensive and timeconsuming, considering the harms that are brought upon the environment by plastic wastes, this scheme is definitely worth investing in. Before the scheme (or any similar scheme) is in place, I guess the best thing that we can do now is to try the 4Rs – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – to reduce plastic waste and save our dear mother Earth. Hope to bring you all more exciting news next time. Until then, ha det bra!

oesophagus (or gullet), and then burn a second time when you invariably throw up. If you take an anti-emetic (and why the fuck would you), these detergents will disrupt all sorts of cellular structures, wrecking your intestines and destroying your anus. And as a great man once said, “but w a i t , there’s more!” These burns create what we immunologists like to call “necrotic cells”, meaning they release a lot of nasty proteins that bring in leukocytes, and those cells mean business. In a normal heat burn, the area is usually sterile, so you don’t have excessive inflammation as long as you whap a bit of cling film on it. That’s not the case with an oral burn, which will have bacteria and maybe bits of detergent hanging about, causing the immune system to think something is really, seriously wrong there. You might go into anaphylaxis, or you may just have severe burns for weeks if not months; either way, nowhere near as pleasant as being shot in the face, as then at least you get to die. I n short, eating Tide Pods is a deeply silly thing to do, but nothing I say is going to stop those who want to eat Tide Pods from eating them in the first place. Personally, I can only afford Te s c o’s own nonbiological tablets, and those are much too big to swallow, so I have to dissolve them like an enormous Berocca.

Word of the Week:

Prophylaxis

he news is flooded with claims of an impending antibiotic apocalypse, the NHS is crumbling under the largest patient load it’s ever had to cope with… and dentists are expensive. Although seemingly negative, all of these things have something in common: they involve the use of prophylaxis. From the Greek ‘phulaxis’ (which means ‘guarding’) and the English ‘pro’ (as in ‘before’), this weird phonetic phenomenon literally means ‘to prevent’. For example, I could take prophylactic antibiotics before surgery to prevent infection; I could be given prophylactic hormone replacement therapy t o prevent bone disease, or I could go to the dentist and get my teeth cleaned to prevent any tooth decay (should my bank account allow it). Perhaps more topically, I could lock myself in a room with no communication to the outside world to prevent my brain from imploding – which will happen if I hear anymore about May’s Brexit deal. See? Prevention is good. Although with prophylaxis, it’s usually in the context of healthcare. Natalie Farmer

Mythbusters:

Do bigger hands mean bigger...

he old adage goes, the bigger your shoe size, the bigger your socks. It’s something that guys love to boast about. It’s big. It’s H U G E. It sounds like Donald Trump describing a list of his redeeming qualities. It’s also something, like Trump, that many guys tend to overestimate. As a regular courier writer however, I can confirm that I am trustworthy and more than capable of revealing the truth over this popular urban myth, with a generous supply of column inches.

Interestingly, attitudes towards the size of the male appendage have actually changed significantly over time Interestingly, attitudes towards the size of the male appendage have actually changed significantly over time. The Romans, Ancient Greeks and even Renaissance figures actually believed that a larger penis made you less civilised, and such a barbaric trait was not desirable at all: this is why all contemporary statues and portrayals of heroes and high-society men have such tiny penises. I mean, have you seen Michelangelo’s statue of David? Puberty appears to have neglected his nethers. Then again, marble can be quite a cold material... Maybe he is a ‘grower’ and not a ‘shower’? Whether you are a 16th Century Italian masterpiece, or a 21st Century Newcastle Uni piece, it is true that homo sapiens does have significantly the largest penis sizes within the great ape family- both relatively and outright. However, human males come up woefully short, compared to many other males of the animal kingdom. There are of course, horses, elephants and whales that we’re up against, but did you know that ducks, squids and sea turtles are all far better endowed than just about anyone you will have slept with? Sea turtles posit a respectable penis to body length ratio of 1:3, while squid penises can be as long as their entire bodies, with ducks penises being larger than their bodies in entirety. Now I’m not one for kink shaming, but before you consider bedding a handsome duck you meet in Jesmond Dene on Valentines Day, be warned that duck penises also are corkscrewed in shape so that they can hold their mates before entering the, forcibly. Yeah, I didn’t want to know about that either. Cats and foxes infamously have barbed penises too, which makes Mr. Tigger back home just a bit less fluffy and cute. Horrors of evolution aside, the of the star of today’s penis parade, goes undoubtedly to the common sea barnacle whose member can be up to 500 TIMES it’s own body length.

1:3

Sea turtles posit a respectable penis to body length ratio

Now as far as I’m aware, most of the animals mentioned have either very small feet or hooves, or no feet at all. I’m yet to see a squid in Foot Locker trying on a pair of New Balances. So the theory that the larger your feet, the larger your penis appears to only be possible for human beings. I have realised that I have not yet properly tested the theory of this article. I did some experiments with an experimental group sample size of one, so any scientific proof on that basis would be unfair. (On a side note, if anyone can recommend any specialist shoe shops for large feet and good tailors for roomier trousers that would be greatly appreciated.) Ultimately, I would like to use this platform to invite smaller-footed readers: fear not! Whilst they may say that bigger is better, it is also true that it’s not the size of your boat, but the motion o f the ocean.

Rory Cameron

puzzles

the courier

Monday 19 February 2018

Puzzles Dictator Joey Barton Puzzles Editor Alex Hendley Puzzles Copy Editor and Snake Consultant James Sproston

CROSSWORD Across

3 Why’s the rum always gone? (6) 6 Written about the deceased (8) 8 Chemical symbol of silver (2) 9 English rock band featuring Phil Collins (7) 13 Every one (3) 14 Studying a particular topic (8) 18 President Lincoln (3) 20 A small orange (9) 23 Farmers suffer for having a bad one (7) 24 Opposite of ‘ja’ (4) 26 Seafood capital of Scotland, sits on the Firth of Lorn (4) 27 A secret supply (5)

IT’S A ROLLOVER! None of you cretins came to collect the Grand Prize Parcel, could none of you manage it? Was it too tough? WAS IT? It’s about time you lot pulled your finger out and brought to the office a fully completed puzzles page so I can give back to you, my eternally loyal subjects. This week there’s a Super Sudoku, and even a maths puzzle that I sent to Lawro for confirmation that it actually has an answer and he just said, ‘Arguably, Joey, arguably I’m the last person in the world who could answer this, so, yeah.’

8 9

12 13

14 16

Puzzles Grand Prize

18 19

1 You’re off the booze (5) 2 Dense vegetation (6) 3 Fiery pile of wood (4) 4 Poulet ____ (4) 5 _________ Humperdinck (9) 7 Nickname of Lincoln City, magical creatures (4) 10 Acronym: you probably went out (3) 11 It hurts (4) 12 Largest hot desert in the world (6) 15 Burn (6) 16 Ringed gas giant (6) 17 Leader of the realm (4) 19 Sleeping disturbance (5) 21 Get off your chest (4) 22 ____ Redding, American singer (4) 25 Opposite of ‘yes’ (2)

Minus 1 that’s 3 quick maths

Down

20 21

23 24

25 26

x -

11 +

+ -

-54

-4

Difficulty: SUPER (1-9, A-F) 2

15 -

SUDOKU

-47 -4

Name that snake

8 E 6 C 1 A C 5 7 6 8 1 6 9 1 5 3 A 3 8 5 A B 7 D 0

3 1 D

5 9 2 0 9 F F 1

E 0 B 0 4 E E 7 D 9 2 F 8 1 2 6 1 6 8 A 9

D B 3 A 4

E 1 8

7 E 6 6 B A A 1 E 4 8 9 B 0 5 A 7 F 2 B 1 D E 6 2 8 9 3 7 2 4 B C 8 5 D 4 F 9

the courier

sport

Monday 19 February 2018

Blades battle through the night for charity fence-athon Mark Sleightholm Sports Editor 24 hours of solid fencing saw Newcastle’s Fencing Club raise money for charity and introduce the sport to a wealth of new fencers. The marathon session took place at Newcastle Fencing Centre, a large, cold warehouse in Benfield Business Park. The event was held to raise money for two charities: the Newcastle Fencing Trust and the Lee Spark NF Foundation. The Foundation aims to support and raise awareness around necrotising fasciitis, a bacterial infection that can cause serious damage to skin tissue and the body’s organs. A quarter of the money raised will go to the Fencing Club itself, to support their beginners' programme and encourage more people to take up the sport. The rest of the money will be split between the two charities. The Club decided to donate money to the Lee Spark NF Foundation because of the illness of former club-member Laura Mason, who also served as Newcastle’s Athletic Union Officer from 2012-13. Aside from a £10 entry fee, the marathon was open to anyone. Max Sharp, the club’s president, explained: “We’ve opened it up to anyone so they can come down and try fencing and get involved if they want to.” Normally beginners’ sessions for the club are held in the Sports Centre, and members only head down to Benfield when they’re in a squad. The marathon, therefore, gave them a chance to try out

the sport with electric equipment and dedicated fencing facilities. “It’s really good experience,” explained Sharp, “it’s one of the best fencing centres in England, so it’s great for a university to be able to use it.” As well as encouraging beginners along, the Fencing Club used the marathon as an excuse to engage with the local community. From 8:30 on the Saturday morning under-13s took to the piste, and other sessions were arranged for different ability levels.

The marathon session took place in a cold warehouse in Benfield Business Park A big part of the marathon consisted of tournaments to keep the club members going through the tough night shifts. Navneet Kandhari, a longstanding member of the Fencing Club, won the foil competition, while Matt Dugher won the sabre. Seven core members kept the marathon going through the night, with “lights and a smoke machine set up”, copious amounts of haribos and even a Pitbull hour from 3-4 in the morning. By the time the marathon was over the exhausted club members were torn between going out to celebrate their success or going home to bed. Several members tried both and napped in the pub.

The marathon gave beginners a chance to try out the sport Image: Newcastle Blades

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sport

Monday 19 February 2018

Vikings propelling invasion of handball into UK

Sport Editor Mark Sleightholm spoke to some of the students helping to bring the popular European sport to a new audience For a sport that's so popular in the rest of Europe, handball has a surprisingly low profile in the UK. But just six years after its foundation the Newcastle Vikings Handball Club boasts a men's and a women's team, alongside junior teams, and counts several Newcastle students among its members. Handball's popularity elsewhere in Europe and further afield explains the club's high number of international members, and Newcastle University students such as Maren Liane and Emily Bjerk joined the club after growing up playing the sport in Norway. Fellow Norwegian Pål Jakobsen had limited experience before arriving in the UK, but was a keen follower of the sport and now enjoys playing for the Vikings. Liane explains the sport as “a mix between football, basketball and rugby,” with the simplicity of football combined with the pace and high scores of basketball. “Everyone plays defence, and everyone plays attack, so everyone runs the whole court,” she continued. “You also have tackles as well, so it's a bit more physical than basketball in that sense.” Indeed, the lack of protective clothing is deceptive; handball can be a brutal sport. The Vikings, however, tend to play in a more friendly manner, making the club a good starting place for beginners. The unlimited subs in handball makes it relatively easy for beginners to gain match experience, and Vikings members are more than welcome to just attend training sessions. These sessions are held twice a week: Monday evenings in South Shields and Wednesday evenings in Benfield, just next to Walkergate Metro. For those looking to get a bit more competitive, the club holds training matches and competes in handball leagues. “There's a few people who started off with just doing training,” Liane explained, “and then they joined the training matches and now they're playing the league.” The men’s team currently sits at the bottom of the National North division,

All ages are welcome at the Vikings Image: Newcastle Vikings

but is more concerned with gaining experience and having fun than racking up a string of victories. “We’re quite new; we have a mix of abilities,” Jakobsen explained. “We know we're not going to be the best in this league, and therefore there's not much complaining either. We're there to develop and have fun, basically.” The women’s team is currently a division lower, in the Regional North league. Like the men, they want to win but their main motivation is the fun of playing matches.

If handball's moment has finally come in the UK, the Vikings are at the forefront of this expansion The club was set up in the aftermath of the London 2012 Olympics, where the appearance of a British handball team sparked a wave of interest in the sport across the country. Team GB crashed out of the Games after losing every single one of their matches, but their presence helped to introduce handball to a British audience. The Vikings' membership consists of a mix of students – particularly those such as Liane and Bjerk who played the sport before coming to the UK – and locals. While setting up a handball club in Newcastle University's Athletic Union could help to attract more student members this would also require a lot of work and dedication from its founders, so for the time being the Vikings are the main source of Tyneside handball action. “I think quite a few people are keen when they come to university to try something new, to do something they've never done before,” Liane explained. But unlike the AU clubs' ability to advertise their sports at freshers' fair, the Vikings are not part of the University and so can't benefit from this kind

The team in action Image: Newcastle Vikings

of publicity. “It's a challenge with us being an outside club,” she continued. “Because it's hard to get in contact with students unless they know about handball beforehand.” One of the club’s main aims going forward is to reach out to junior players. By building connections with local schools the Vikings can introduce handball to a new generation of players, and ultimately encourage more British kids to take up the sport. The junior teams have their own training sessions and can take part in under-16 competitions if they want to. The three students are keen to spread

the word about their beloved sport. Liane summarised a typical encounter with English students: “everyone that I've explained it to is like, 'Oh that sounds really cool. Why do we not have it?' and I think with it being an indoor sport as well, it's quite nice for England! “The basic rules are quite easy to get into, it's a bit like football in the sense that as long as you have a ball you can start to play, which is good for beginners.” Anyone is welcome to join the Vikings and try out handball. The club offers three free taster sessions for newbies, and Bjerk points out that a great way to find out more about the sport is to tag

along to a training session. “If there are people who don't know what it is they can also come by and just watch and see what we're doing, she explained. “They don't have to train, they can just sit and watch how it works.” If handball’s moment has finally come in the UK, the Vikings are at the forefront of this expansion. Their mix of competition and fun and welcoming attitudes towards beginners makes the club an important part of the development of handball in the UK, and the Norwegian students hope that their enthusiasm for the sport will be shared by more of their fellow students in Newcastle.

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sport

Stan Cal Women's previews Football We have comprised for you previews of a number of the hottest looking Stan Calvert matches taking place next week. Most of them are free to watch and promise to be exciting, so choose your contests, slap on some face-paint, grab your banners and head out to support team Newcastle. Regardless of the result, the varsity matches always have an electric atmosphere with some savage yet goodhumoured banter, plenty of lyrically humerous anthems and a quater-century old rivalry that sees quality athletes push themselves to their absolute limits. The more support we have, the greater our teams chances of smashing the poly and returning the Stan Calvert Memorial Cup to it's rightful home.

WHERE: WHEN:

Coach Lane Campus W1 - Sat 24 Feb, 12pm W2 - Sun 25 Feb, 11am

The Stan Calvert Cup attracts the fans of women’s football from both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities.

Monday 19 February 2018 The students are keen to find out of which team is going to win the prestigious cup this year. Newcastle University’s both 1st and 2nd women football teams play in the Northern division. The 1st women team is currently ranked at the 4th position at the Northern 2B league, while the 2nd team is ranked at the 3rd place in 3B league. The Northurmbria’s women first football team is currently playing in the Premier North league, while standing at the 2nd place, and the 2nd football team is ranked in the 2nd position in the Northern 1A division. Both teams have demonstrated good shape and consistency during the sea-

son, with statistics showing that the physical form of Northumbria’s football teams has been exceptionally great. Although, both the Newcastle women’s football teams had to admit defeat last year, the 1st football team losing the match 0-4, and the 2nd team resulting 1-4, they still have a strong desire and willingness to win and be the best. Despite the league and statistical differences between the rival sides, the rabbits of Ouseburn farm were insistent that the overall Stan Calvert women’s football result would be 1-1, meaning that one of the Newcastle teams will claim victory. Both matches will take place at Coach lane at the end of Febru-

ary. The women’s 1sts will play on Saturday 24 February and the 2nds on the 25. Let’s wish the best of luck for both of the teams and hope for some great results! Egle Vaitekenaite

Rabbits reckoning Image: Sydney Isaacs

Poly vs Posh

Korfball Stan Calvert celebrates 25th anniversary WHERE: WHEN:

Sport Central, Upper Hall Thur 22 Feb, 7pm

Newcastle's newest club will make history on 22 February when korfball makes its Stan Calvert debut at Northumbria's Sport Central. The sport was developed in the early twentieth century in the Netherlands but has started to grow in popularity in the UK, and Charles Baker of the Newcastle Nighthawks hopes the Stan Calvert fixture will help to raise the sport's profile further. A high-energy but limited-contact sport, korfball bears some resemblance to netball, although it stands apart from other more mainstream sports in that teams are made of four male and four female players. Newcastle's club was only established in the autumn, and have had a mixed bag of results in their competitions so far, although went 5-1 up in the first five minutes in a recent match against Edinburgh, going on to win the match 10-7. Northumbria, with a more established side, beat the Nighthawks 10-2 in a recent league match, but Baker is still confident his team will prevail in Stan Calvert. This is in spite of his team having to skip a training session this week because their training venue, Newcastle High School for Girls, was shut for half term. As the club grows in the future they hope to be able to move into the Sports Centre, and a win at Stan Calvert would help establish them as an exciting and promising part of the AU. Mark Sleightholm

Netball WHERE: WHEN:

NU Sports Centre Sun 25 Feb, 3:30pm

The netball match to look out for this weekend is the Netball 2s, acting as one of the two finales this year, over at Newcastle’s Sports Centre. Both teams ply their trade in Northern 2B, though Northumbria sit two places above Newcastle, having beaten their crosscity rivals 54-34 back in November. However, Newcastle 2s Captain Mia Day believes that her team have a decent chance of winning: “We just need to stay calm because they try to play really fast, but if we try to play fast then we’ll slip up. We need to remember to play our own game, and not get drawn into playing theirs. Their team is more vo-

Mark Sleightholm Sports Editor The Stan Calvert Memorial Cup celebrates it’s 25th anniverary this year and the competition is already underway. The varsity match has been held annually since 1994, and after a run of six wins on the trot Newcastle relinquished the title in 2014, with Northumbria victorious every year since. A smattering of fixtures which started in late January will lead up to the final showdown on Sunday 25 February, with over a dozen sports in action across the city. Several wrinkles in the schedule were ironed out in a process of sometimestense negotiations between the two universities. Fresh on the tails of the Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang, the Silksworth Ski Slope in Sunderland has this year hosted some Stan Calvert skiing.

A 5k fun run will be held on 24 February gives all students from each university the chance to take part Women’s rugby, American football and the equestrian events have also already taken place. The Courier Sport,

in partnership with NSR and NUTV, are providing extensive coverage of the competition, and plans are underfoot to livestream some of the final events. Most of the events will also be free to watch for students, with a majority of the venues located in the city centre. WwFor clubs such as swimming, Stan Calvert presents a unique opportunity to race head-to-head with another university team. Adam Sayedi, swimming president at Newcastle, feels the result this year will come down to performance in the relays, where Newcastle can put forward a strong team and hope to end the aquatic dominance shown by Northumbria in recent years. Whatever the result, however, Sayedi is confident the swimming will be an interesting watch for spectators. “It’s quite cold outside,” he pointed out, “and this is inside so it’s quite warm. There’s going to be quite a few topless bodies there, so if people want to go for that then that’s absolutely fine. “And the atmosphere gets really interesting, especially with the relays. It’s not a long drawn-out affair, it’s two minutes of pure action, pure excitement.” Much of the organisation of the competition has fell to the universities’ student sport officers, Clara Pettitt of Newcastle’s Athletic Union and Kerry-Anne Hastings, Student Sport President at Northumbria. Pettitt said “The process started last Summer and hopefully the hard work will have paid off and it’ll culminate in a fantastic tournament.”

The Stan Calvert rules agreed by both universities dictate that only teams entered into BUCS can take part in the competition, but this year a 5k fun run will be held on Saturday 24 February. Although the run won’t count towards the overall score it gives all students at each university the chance to take part. Registration for the run, which will take place at 11am on the Town Moor, is open now on the NUSU website.

"It means a lot more than just a competition. It's about pride in the Uni" Adam Sayedi, Swimming Captain

The fun run is the brainchild of Pettitt, who explained: “It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wouldn’t usually be involved in Stan Calvert to be able to represent Team Newcastle during the weekend. Hopefully it’ll get everyone in the mood for Stan Calvert Sunday when most of the fixtures take place.” On the more competitive side, Team Newcastle clubs have started training for the big day. Kitty Single, part of the victorious women’s lacrosse team from last year’s competition, explained how the event was exciting for club members. “I think the rivalry is there even if you’re a fresher, you know that it’s a

big game, it’s something that has a lot of buildup,” she said.While the women’s lacrosse team are feeling confident ahead of their showdown, tennis player Corey Chan is more cautious about his team’s prospects. “I feel Northumbria will be strong again this year, and it will be especially challenging because we’ve got quite a new team. “A lot of our players left last year, so the majority of our first team this year is made up of freshers, although they’re very good players, and experienced as well.” Chan acknowledged that Stan Calvert had a different atmosphere to normal BUCS fixtures, explaining: “there’s a bit more hanging on it than just the BUCS points. You’ve got a lot more support on the sidelines and you feel there’s a bit more on your shoulders.” Sayedi added: “All the support, the t-shirts, everyone talking about it on campus, it really means a lot more than just a competition. It’s about pride in the Uni, isn’t it.” 2018 marks a quarter of a century since the death of Stan Calvert, who joined Newcastle University as a lecturer in Physical Education in 1958 and became the University’s first Director of Sport in 1981. Since the first competition in October 1994 Newcastle have won 13 times and Northumbria nine times, with the 1999 and 2003 contests ending in dissatisfying draws. Keep up to date with 2018’s competition on the Courier Sport website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Stan Calvert results from the last 24 years: 1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Northumbria

Newcastle

Northumbria

Newcastle

cal than ours, but they get at each other when they’re not playing well; we’re a nicer team than that, so that could help us if we frustrate them.” The two sides face each other the Wednesday before Stan Calvert Sunday, which will be a good warm up for the teams. Day added: “They’re quite an aggressive team, so it’ll get feisty over the two games, but at training everyone really switches on during Stan Calvert, so that should help out in our BUCS game too.” After much deliberation, the Netball 1s fixture also made it into the Stan Calvert programme, as they face off at 2pm

Newcastle

Draw

Newcastle

in Newcastle’s Sport Centre. It’s not long since the two teams faced each other in the finale back in 2015, it was a tight fixture back then, and it will be again. The punters should back Northumbria in this one, but you can’t rule out Newcastle as underdogs. Finally, the Netball 3s fills the gap between the 1s and 2s. Having only beaten Durham this year, and having lost twice to their own 4s, Newcastle will be aiming for damage limitation in this one. Expect to see a repeat of the 55-33 defeat that Northumbria 3s inflicted on Newcastle back in November. James Sproston

Northumbria

Newcastle

Northumbria

Draw

Newcastle

Northumbria

The piglets of Ouseburn farm predict a score of 4-2 to Newcastle in Netball 2s Image: Sydney Isaacs

the courier

sport

Monday 19 February 2018

Futsal WHERE: WHEN:

Sport Central W1 - Fri 23 Feb, 7:30pm M2 - Sun 25 Feb, 3pm M1- Sun 25 Feb, 5pm

Along with netball, the men’s first futsal fixture will bring this years Stan Calvert to a close, at 5pm on the final Sunday 25 February. Following a convincing defeat in Stan Calvert 2016 the team only narrowly

missed out on victory the following year, running up their rivals to a 5-6 scoreline. This time round they remain the underdogs but are feeling confident that their strong BUCS season can give them the momentum they need as they face Northumbria, a team two divisions above them. Club member James Mckenna describes it as their “game of the season” and it presents a rare opportunity for them to test themselves against top-level opposition. Last year's futsal finale at Stan Calvert saw nearly 1000 spectators; the secondhighest attendance at a futsal match in the country. The fledgling Newcastle,

not used to playing such strong opposition, nonetheless performed well but were 6-3 down with five minutes left on

The underdogs are feeling confident that their strong BUCS season can give them the momentum they need the clock. Current club president Tom Crozier came out of goal as a fly keeper

and helped his team bring the score up to 6-5. Had luck been on their side they might have stood a chance of drawing level, but time was on the side of the hosts and Newcastle were denied the win. The game helped the club attract new support, but defeat by such a narrow margin has spurred club members on to fight even harder this time round. The match follows the women’s fixture on 23 February and the men’s seconds at 3pm on the final Sunday, where one of Newcastle’s newest clubs will have the chance to showcase their ability. Mark Sleightholm

Geoff the potentially psychic lamb predicts Stan Calvert result Sydney Isaacs Sports Editor

On 24 January odds were defied at Ouseburn farm in Newcastle as Lamby the ewe gave birth to healthy lamb. With the vast majority of lambs here In the UK born from the start of March to early may, the birth of the lamb, who was later named Geoff as the result of a Facebook poll, came as a delightful surprise to many. A livestock and project worker at the farm attributed the early birth to “Dave (Geoff ’s father) getting in their early”, but your team of sports editors here at the Courier believe that there could be more to it than that. It may just be a freaky coincidence that Geoff ’s amazing birthday fell just before Stan Calvert, or perhaps it is a sign that he possesses special psychic matchpredictive powers. The latter suggestion was so convincing and exciting that we decided to put it to the test. Last Tuesday we brought Newcastle student Mollie Smith and Northumbria student, Callum Housley to Ouseburn farm, each equipped with their respective newspaper, to pitch their side to Geoff and find out who he thought would take the trophy home this year. Nothumbria's recent logo change seemed to initially confuse little Geoff.

It is unclear whether at this young age he is able to see in colour, making the two logos look potentially very similar to each other, but after some deliberation Geoff attempted to launch himself towards the Northumbria student, indicating that his side would be victorious. Whilst Geoff refused to comment of individual fixtures, the other animals were keen to get involved. The piglets even insisted on reading the Courier in order to get as fully clued up as possible before making their predictions. The rabbits and cows also tried their paws and hooves at forecasting the results. To find out for yourself whether Geoff really is psychic, come along and support Newcastle at any of the fixtures listed on this page, or spectate at the final on the 25th.

Geoff stands in front of dad, Dave and mum, Lamby Below: Willow shows her support for Newcastle by licking a copy of The Courier Images: Sydney Isaacs

Geoff makes a decisive lunge towards the Northumbria student Image: Sydney Isaacs

WHERE: WHEN:

Sport Central W1 - Mon 19 Feb, 7:30pm M1 - Mon 19 Feb, 9pm W2 - Thur 22 Feb, 7:30pm M2 - Thur 22 Feb, 9pm

Newcastle Water Polo club have had a sensational season so far, with both of the seconds teams, as well as the men's first team, sitting at the top of their respective leagues. The women's firsts sit in a respectable fourth place of the premier league, hop-

WHERE: WHEN:

ing to make it to championship semi finals. Last years' Stan Calvert clash saw Northumbria take a 2-1 victory (Northumbria winning both mens matches ans Newcastle taking the women's 1sts match), but following the introduction of a Northumbria women's 2nd team to BUCS, Newcastle are hoping to even things out this year. First up are the women's 1st team, who have an unbeaten record against Northumbria for the past few years. The two are yet to face each other this year, but with Northumbria sitting a league below premiership side Newcastle, the team in red and blue are expected to easily defeat their team Northumbria counterparts. Next up are the men's 1st team, who despite being a league below Northum-

bria have seen victories in years gone by. With promotion on the cards for the Newcastle men, and their squad looking the strongest ever, this game could be where the Stan Calvert Water Polo title is lost or won. The women's seconds are the only team to have faced their Northumbria counterparts already this season. With one win and one draw under their belts, the seconds are predicted to be victorious in their first ever Stan Calvert. The men's seconds however may be a different story, with Northumbria's mens seconds team sitting a whole league above Newcastle. Having lost Stan Calvert last year, the same is predicted this year. However, following a fantastic season maybe a miracle is on the cards for Newcastle.

Stan Calvert Results so far: Score

Points

American Football

8 - 26

Rugby Union M1

15 - 14

Volleyball M1

3-0

Volleyball W1

3-0

50 - 0

Total

Rugby Union W2

Sports Central, Upper Hall Sun 25 Feb, 11am - 3pm

The only Stan Calvert fencing fixture will see the two men’s first teams go head-to-head on the final Sunday at Northumbria Sport Central. Northumbria’s first team currently plays in the Northern 2B division in BUCS, where they sit just ahead of the Newcastle seconds at the top of the table. Newcastle’s first team is currently two divisions ahead, in the Premier North, but facing relegation at the end of this season. Club president Max Sharp said: “I'm feeling really confident. Our second team lost to them by three points this season so our first team should absolutely smash them.” Indeed, Newcastle smashed their way to victory at last year’s Stan Calvert, where they won in the épée, foil and sabre in both the men’s and women’s competitions. With only the men taking part this year, expectations of an easy win are still high, but the fixture should still prove an entertaining lunchtime event for spectators. The three weapons all have slightly different rules regarding valid target areas on the body and rights of way, and each has its own pace and skills required, but anything less than domination in all three will be a disappointing result for the Newcastle Blades. Mark Sleightholm

Lacrosse WHERE: WHEN:

Piglets read The Courier to help inform their decision Image: Sydney Isaacs

Water polo

Fencing

Bullocksteads W1 - Sun 25 Feb, 11am M1 - Sun 25 Feb, 12:30pm

Newcastle's lacrosse men's and women's teams will be looking to defeat Northumbria at Bullocksteads on 25 February, Originating from North America, lacrosse has since spread to the English-speaking world becoming one of the most rapidly growing and increasingly popular sports on the BUCS programme, especially on the mens side of the game. Lacrosse is a team sport, using a lacrosse stick from which you can carry, pass, catch and shoot a small, solid rubber ball into the net. There are four different versions of the game, however in the main BUCS competition only field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played. Field lacrosse is the fast-paced men's outdoor version of the game with 10 players on each team with body contact allowed. While the women's version of the game features 12 players on each team, is also outdoors, and involves no physical contact between players Both Newcastle and Northumbria men's firsts are in the Northern 1A League in third and fourth place respectively, although Newcastle do also have a couple games in hand. While the Newcastle women's firsts are in 4th place in Northern 1A League, two leagues above Northumbria. The difference in quality between the men's and women's teams from Newcastle and Northumbria can be seen from the scores last year. The men's team will be looking to avenge last year’s defeat having lost 4-6 in a very tight game. Meanwhile, the women's team will be looking to be the victors once again having thrashed Northumbria by a score of 19-5 in 2017. So be sure to head down to Bullocksteads to see some exciting games of lacrosse on the final day of Stan Calvert 2018. Tom Shrimplin

the courier

sport

Monday 19 February 2018

Newcastle’s archers the best in the North

ARCHERY

Emily Henderson at Sunderland NEUAL, the North of England Universities Archery League, is an annual indoor competition between all the northern universities, offering all archers, of any ability the opportunity to compete within a competition setting, but in a much more relaxed environment. It is also a fantastic way to make new friends from local universities and experience the social side of archery (it isn’t uncommon to find us in the pub after the competition). The “North” spans from us in Newcastle upon Tyne all the way down to Keele University in Newcastle under Lyme and is split into Western, Eastern and Northern with Newcastle University falling into the Northern category alongside Sunderland, Durham and Teesside. The first match of the indoor season was held at home on 18 November, Newcastle hosted round 1 against Sunderland and Durham. Both the other universities have strong teams; however, we had the home advantage. Whilst the other teams have their nice warm sports halls to train in, we have a rather chilly shooting range, which over the training Newcastle at NEUAL North

Pos

Pts

Round 1

2023

Round 2

2010

Round 3

1933

Newcastle at NEUAL overall TOTAL

5966

sessions we have acclimatised to, giving us the upper hand and knowledge of how to shoot whilst shivering. We shoot a Portsmouth round which is 60 arrows, over 20 ends. After all individuals have shot and all the scoring has been added up the final scores are calculated, and individuals are ranked and then the top four scores for each team are added together to get the overall team score. In the individual scoring we had some fantastic scores: Team Captain Heather Flint came first and Won Ji Lee came second in the Ladies recurve category. Riki Kusuyama came a close second in the Gents recurve category. Both Jowan Barnes and Lizzie Booth came first in the Gents and Ladies barebow category, respectively. Finally, in the Gents compound category, Andy Johnstone finished first, although this score is not added to the team score. In the combined team score we had a total of 2023, which comprised the scores of Heather Flint, Riki Kusuyama, Won Ji Lee and Lizzie Booth, and we came first overall. This was a fantastic start to the indoor season. One match down, two to go. The following weekend we were headed down to Teesside University for round 2, against Teesside and Durham Universities. Again, our individual archers did extremely well: Alexandros Nathanailidis came first in Gents recurve, Won Ji Lee and Adele Pope coming first and second respectively in the Ladies recurve and Lizzie Booth coming third in the Ladies barebow. Our team score was made up of Alexandros Nathanailidis, Stylianos Hadjiforados, Riki Kusuyama and Won Ji Lee and totalled 2010 meaning we did it again, we managed another win. With

one more match, which was to be held at Sunderland University, we had our eyes on the hat trick, but we would have to wait until February to get there. With every possibility we could achieve another (and final) win, the pressure was on, and we turned up at Sunderland fighting and raring to go. Due to other commitments, our numbers were fewer than in the previous rounds but that was not going to deter us, we went there to win. Andy Johnstone, this time shooting recurve, came first in his category with Riki Kusuyama finishing a close fourth. In the Ladies recurve, Won Ji Lee came first and Emily Henderson took third. Jowan Barnes came first in the Gents barebow category.

Whilst the other teams have their nice warm sports halls to train in, we have a rather chilly shooting range Our final team was made up of Andy Johnstone, Riki Kusuyama, Won Ji Lee and Jowan Barnes, we scored overall 1933. After a tantalising wait, the other team’s scores were announced, Sunderland – 1832. Teesside – 1930. We had done it, we had our hat-trick, it was a very close competition, but that didn’t matter we had won. We could not have asked for a better start to the university archery calendar and with NEUAL Indoor champs and BUCS just around the corner we are ready to go fighting and keep up our winning streak.

The men’s badminton team in action at the Sports Centre Image: James Sproston

Badminton lads crash out of cup MEN’S BADMINTON

Newcastle 1sts Liverpool 1sts

0 8

Isabelle Cain at Tyneside Badminton Centre The semi-finals of the Cup. After the fun and exhilarating game which was the quarters against Newcastle men’s seconds, it was now for the men’s first team to face Liverpool. They arrived with a full team after a long journey. After a half hearted warm up from the home team, the match was underway. With a replacement for Dr Dye as he was in surgery, Hun stepped up as singles number 2. First the singles: The Beast Rex Lee had a thriller of a match, winning the first end 22-20. After some dodgy net shots from Liverpool then took the second and Rex saved his legs for the weekend nationals and lost the third to 13. The magnificent legs of a Hun Pu although so strong weren’t quite enough to win his singles.

The Beast, Rex Lee, had a thriller of a match but saved his legs for the weekend nationals Newcastles first doubles pair struggled to get going with an ill captain coughing and spluttering, their heads not quite in it, and lost in two. The second pair followed suit. 4-0 Liverpool. The next matches unfortunately followed suit as Rex saved himself again for the weekend and although Hun

The three teams in the final round (l-r): Sunderland, Teesside and Newcastle Image: Rebecca Ashby

had some great rallies, Liverpool took both singles games. In the doubles the Newcastle first pair took Liverpool to three and would’ve and should’ve won any other day, however luck was not on their side today. The team travelled back home, beaten and embarrassed about losing to Liverpool 8-0. The team decided to forget all about the match and move onto the nationals at the weekend where they hope to have a lot more luck!

Men’s Badminton Northern Conference Cup First round - 25 October 2017 Newcastle 1sts vs Leeds Trinity 2nds walkover to Newcastle Newcastle 2nds vs York 3rds Newcastle won 6-2 Second round - 8 November 2017 Newcastle 1sts vs Hull 2nds walkover to Newcastle Newcastle 2nds vs Liverpool 2nds Newcastle won 7-1 Third round - 22 November 2017 Newcastle 1sts vs Durham 3rds Newcastle won 7-1 Newcastle 2nds vs Sheffield Hallam 2nds Newcastle won 5-3 Quarter finals - 7 February 2018 Newcastle 1sts vs Newcastle 2nds 1sts won 8-0 Semi finals - 14 February 2018 Newcastle 1sts vs Liverpool 1sts Newcastle lost 8-0 Final - 7 March 2018 Liverpool 1sts vs either L’pool John Moores or Leeds Beckett

Edinburgh leave empty-handed after barrage WOMEN’S SQUASH

Newcastle 1sts Edinburgh 1sts

4 0

Charlotte Cooper at the Northumberland Club After Newcastle’s women’s first team placed third in the Northern 1A league this season, they faced the Edinburgh thirds in the first round of the Trophy Cup. With a home match advantage, Newcastle were determined to go out strong with the hope in a win to secure a place in the next round. The Edinburgh girls turned up to the Northumberland Club ready take on the challenge after placing fourth in their Scottish league table. First up was fourth seed player Tilly Humphreys who got stuck straight into the game with some tough rallies

managing to secure the first game 11/4. Feeling confident going into the second game, the Newcastle player stepped up the pace putting pressure on her opponent and taking the second game 1/3. The Edinburgh fourth seed started to slow down in the final game as Humphreys had a 7-0 lead. Newcastle’s determination to finish the match in three games was a success with the final game 11/2. This left Newcastle one-love up. Next to take to the court was the third seed player. Julia Crowther from Newcastle, known for her hard-hitting strikes she did not disappoint in her game against Edinburgh. With some fantastic drives and attacking shots Crowther took the first game 11/5. The Edinburgh players had a team talk in between games which spurred their number 3 player to step up her game.

Neither girl was willing to give up in a battling point-by-point game. Pushing that little bit harder as well as having more strength, Newcastle secured the game 11/9. Crowther’s drive kicked in in the last game as she dominated the court making her opponent do circles around her. The final score was 11/4 meaning another 3-0 win. Second team player, Katherine Wilkins was next on court. The pressure was off the Newcastle team and on for the Edinburgh girls who needed to win the next two matches to get a place in the next round of the Trophy Cup. Second team Edinburgh player Brunt tried her best to apply pressure and defend Wilkins shots but was not a match for the Newcastle player who took the first game 11/1. The second game got even tougher for the Edinburgh thirds

as Brunt went down 11/0. Eager to gain as many points for her team, the Edinburgh second player fought back putting in some great defending shots against some hard-hitting strikes. Unfortunately, this again wasn’t enough. Wilkins took the final game 11/2 meaning Newcastle were through to the next round of the competition. Despite Newcastle already securing their place in the next round, the first seed players were still to go on. At this stage Edinburgh’s number 1 had to get as many points as possible against Newcastle’s Charlotte Cooper. In the first game Cooper scooped out her opponent’s weakness and used this to her advantage. After the first few points and a 2-2 tie, Cooper was allowing no mercy. Her deception and accurate playing won her the first game 11/2. In the next

game, the Edinburgh player went on court with newly formed tactics to take on Newcastle. The Newcastle number 1 didn’t back down taking yet again another attacking form leaving Edinburgh on the defence. The score was 11/3. Cooper continued dominated the T in the third game and with some fantastic attacking cross courts the Edinburgh first seed didn’t stand a chance. The final game score was 11/1 with an overall match score of 3-0. With all four Newcastle girls winning their matches 3-0 and not dropping a single game, this meant that they secured their place in the next round of the Trophy Cup, where they will play Birmingham’s second team. This match will take place again on home ground at the Northumberland Club on Wednesday 21 February.

the courier

sport

Monday 19 February 2018

Double defeat for Stan Calvert volleyballers

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Newcastle 1sts Northumbria 1sts

0 3

Harry Parsons at the Sports Centre Newcastle women’s volleyball team failed to add two crucial points to the University’s Stan Calvert tally on Thursday 15 February at Newcastle’s

points earned by Newcastle across the three sets, not enough to secure the victory

Sports Centre. Northumbria took home the victory after an impressive three sets built on a solid blocking and impressive serves.

The first moments of the first set proved that Newcastle were ready to fight for the win with impressive counter play to a powerful Northumbria side. A timeout called by Newcastle backfired and gave Northumbria the opportunity to run away with the first set and win 25-17. Newcastle managed to close an 11 point gap in the second set but impressive play and powerful spikes from Northumbria gave them the win in the second set at 25-21. Sadly for Newcastle, despite fighting play in the third set, it was Northumrbia’s game to win as they walked away with the victory winning the set 25-10 and the match overall 3-0. Outstanding serves from both sides through the game made for entertaining and fast paced action and Northumbria’s blocks and defensive style was

truly impressive. The score doesn’t tell the full story of Newcastle’s evening, with impressive play and unlucky moments for the players in navy blue; an incredibly competitive match with moments that the team will be able to take away as a teachable moment. Northumbria will have left Newcastle Sports Centre with their heads held high but Newcastle’s women will be

point gap which Newcastle closed in the second set but were unable to capitalise on

able to do the same after showcasing the pace, excitement and thrills of their sport on an unlucky night for volleyball at the University.

Newcastle paddles away Image: David Stephenson

Boat Race of the North returns Matt Proctor Sport Editor

The question of who runs the River Tyne is soon to re-emerge as Newcastle take on Durham on the 17 March in the Boat Race of the North. Featuring both the male and the female teams, six races will determine who rules the waves in this prestigious, annual event. Following the first meeting in 1997, Durham dominated the early years, with Newcastle failing to beat their Northern neighbors until 2009. The tide has very much turned since the Toon’s first victory, with 2018 representing the 10-year anniversary of Durham’s last taste of success. The races are held over a 1500-meter course, which provides short, ex-

plosive competition under Newcastle’s famous bridges. Such excitement has meant that this clash has always attracted mass support to the Tyne and Millennium bridges. Indeed, despite the wind and the rain that swept over Newcastle last year, the enthralling competition was witnessed by hundreds, clearly buoyed by the prospect of witnessing Newcastle continuing their impressive winning streak over their rivals up the road. This is therefore a must-see event, for more reasons than one. Going completely against recent evidence, no doubt this year the sun will be shining down on the iconic backdrop that is Newcastle’s Quayside. What is more certain, is that the Newcastle team will be strong, and out to squash any chances of a Durham revival.

BUCS RESULTS BADMINTON

M1 v Liverpool 1sts M2 v Leeds Beckett 2nds W1 v Southampton 1sts W2 v Lancaster 1sts

BASKETBALL

M1 v Loughborough 1sts M2 v York 2nds

FENCING

W1 v Cambridge 1sts

FOOTBALL

M1 v Robert Gordon 1sts

Powerful play from Northumbria’s women saw them clinch the victory Image: James Sproston

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Newcastle 1sts Northumbria 1sts

0 3

Courtney Strait at the Sports Centre Team Newcastle faced a tall order in their matchup against Team Northumbria on 15 February, as the topranked team in the country took down Team Newcastle swiftly in three sets. Team Northumbria is atop both the BUCS Premier North Division and the National League, of which a number of players compete professionally in matches across the UK. Even though the home team put up a strong effort in all three sets, Team Northumbria’s high-flying offense was just too much for Team Newcastle.

FUTSAL

M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts The first set was full of energy as the rivals traded side-outs for the first handful of points. Once Team Northumbria captured a multi-point lead, though, they did not look back. The score was 12-16 in favour of Northumbria before their front line put together a string of impressive possessions to put the set out of reach.

Newcastle faced adversity, with one of their top attackers injuring his shoulder The visitors used the momentum

from the first set to finish the next two sets in similar fashion. In addition Team Newcastle had to play through adversity in the match following an injury to one of their top attacking players, who fell on his shoulder during the match and was unable to return to the match. Despite the loss, the Team Newcastle Volleyball Club has some positives to take from the game, including the much-anticipated return of standout Nathan Fullerton, who has been injured for the better part of Team Newcastle’s season thus far. In addition, the men still have a handful of games left, against Manchester Met University and the University of York, to gain BUCS points and add a few more victories under their belt.

GOLF

Mix2 v Hull 1sts

HOCKEY

M1 v Sheffield 1sts M2 v Leeds 3rds W3 v Teesside 1sts W4 v Bangor 2nds

LACROSSE

W1 v Nottingham 2nds W3 v Bradford

NETBALL

W1 v Chester 1sts W3 v W4

RUGBY UNION

W1 v Birmingham 1sts

SQUASH

0-8 W-W 8-0 5-3 57-80 60-39 67-145 57-80

M2 v Durham 3rds M4 v Durham 4ths W1 v Edinburgh 1sts

TABLE TENNIS

M1 v Edinburgh 1sts W3 v Durham 3rds (H) W3 v Durham 3rds (A) W3 v York 1sts W3 v Sheffield 2nds

TENNIS

W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v Sheffield 1sts

ULTIMATE

6-7

M1 v Durham 1sts

1-5

M2 v Chester 1sts W2 v Durham 2nds

WATER POLO

1-2 3-1 0-3 5-0 10-7 6-8 W-W 29-41 17-22

3-0 1-2 4-0 9-7 1-4 1-4 1-4 1-4 12-0 4-8 2-15 10-6 7-3

OVERALL BUCS POSITION Pos

University

Pts

Northumbria ■

Cardiff ▲

Newcastle ▼

1571

Notts Trent ■

1472

Oxford ▲

1413

1722 1603.5

sport the courier

Monday 19 February 2018 Issue 1364 Free @Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Sport Editors Mark Sleightholm, Courtney Strait, Tom Shrimplin, Sydney Isaacs & Matt Proctor

It’s all downhill from here for NUSSC

SKIING

Sydney Isaacs at Ski Rossendale It was a wet day in Rossendale last Saturday. When the NUSSC race squad and supporters arrived at the (ironically termed) dry ski slope, racer Claire Russel went as far as to describe conditions as ‘sopping’. Each competing team selected a team from the winter Olympics to dress as, and for Newcastle this was chosen to be the Jamaican snow sports team. The Kings’ contests take the format of a relay race down two parallel slalom tracks. Two teams compete at a time, and when each racer passes through the final gate, a flag is waved. Provided visibility isn’t too compromised, the next skier of that team will see this flag and set off. In the event that a racer falls or misses a slalom pole, they must make their way back up to it before setting off

again in order to avoid disqualification. This happened a number of times on Saturday in all teams. Team Newcastle consists of a mixed first, second, and third team, ladies first and second teams and snowboard first and second teams. Last Saturday’s event

“All teams were skiing great - Cameron Brown in particular was looking fast” Ryan Jamison, Race captain

was the fourth and final of the northern rounds, the results of which determine qualification for national finals. Fantastic performances saw Newcastle’s mixed first team win the round and steal back first place in the league from SKUM 1. Newcastle ladies asserted themselves,

also taking home first prize in the round and increasing their dominating lead in the league to six points clear of second place. The snowboarding 1s closely missed out on the victory in round four, but three previous performances gave them affordability to do so and they were able to secure their place in national finals with a joint first league position with Sheffield. Race captain Ryan Jamison said “all teams were skiing great – Cameron Brown in particular was looking fast”. It is also worthy of a mention that Ella Beresford-West performed astonishingly well for the mixed third team. Stepping in as a substitute at the last minute in the unforgiving conditions she was instrumental in the securing of their 20th position in the mixed northern league. Whilst they narrowly missed out on qualifying for finals this year Beresford-West and the team did the Jamaican flag proud.

Kings of the slopes: Newcastle mixed 1st team Image: Ben Smith

Beresford-West sports the Jamaican flag Image: Sydney Isaacs

Kings Northern League Overall Results Mixed

Ladies pts

Team

pts

Team

pts

Newcastle 1

SKUM 1

Sheffield 1

Lancaster 1

SKUM 1

Sheffield Hallam 1

Sheffield 1

Sheffield 2

Inside Sport today >>>

STAN CALVERT CENTRAL

Previewing the Poly vs. Posh showdown Page 36-37

Boarders

Team

HANDBALL ON THE RISE

The European sport is growing in the North East Page 35

NUSC SQUASHES EDIN. Newcastle tops Edinburgh in cup play Page 38