Issue 1448 by The Courier Online

Issue 1448 Monday 23rd October 2023

Free

Est. 1948 thecourieronline.co.uk

What do students really think of Lutherspoons?

Society Spotlight: Quiz Soc Getting quizzy with it - Take a look at

one of Newcastle University’s newest societies! Lifestyle | page 15

Dr. Martin Luther King said he had a dream, but was it £3.99 lunch deli deals?

Best horror games to play this halloween

Campus Comment | page 7

Spooky Season! Gaming | page 26

Scary games to boot up this

A neighbourhood divided: inside Jesmond’s traffic transformation Sam Norman - Head of Current Affairs

The Courier investigates how Jesmond residents are responding to the Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

n 6 March, Jesmond became the fourth neighbourhood in the City of Newcastle to be designated a low traffic zone. Measures were installed with the Council citing aims to restrict rat-running and create safer, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods. These restrictions included blocking traffic from cutting through residential streets between Osborne Road and Cradlewell. The trial scheme, that has run six of its expected 18 months, has ignited a wave of outrage leading to a circulating petition opposing the move that has garnered over 4,000 signatures. The Courier explores the root cause of Jesmond’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) and its impact on Jesmond’s student and wider community. SPACE for Jesmond is an organisation, with counterparts in Heaton and Gosforth, consisting of residents of the neighbourhood who support the LTN. SPACE have campaigned and called for stricter measures in Jesmond since 2020 where their first meeting occurred; a detailed timeline of their work can be found on their website. The Courier reached out to SPACE in order to gain further insight into their stance on the LTN. SPACE expressed “as campaigners for active travel we do support the trial;” the group have consistently urged the council to improve the traffic standard within Jesmond. Divisive opinions have continued to emerge, leading to the public consultation on the scheme extending five weeks, now ending 15 October. Councillor Jane Byrne said: “we want to make sure everyone who wishes to

comment on the scheme has had a fair opportunity to do so. There’s already been a great deal of feedback, which we welcome, and a significant number of requests for information, which we are continuing to respond to.” Residents will be curious to see if the Jesmond scheme follows a similar path to its Fenham counterpart, where the scheme did continue for the full 18 months trial, but was scrapped following. Imogen, a Newcastle University postgraduate, told The Courier “I moved from Jesmond to Fenham a few months ago [...] I was glad to move to an area without these unnecessary restrictions.” Imogen continued: “traffic flows well through Fenham and everywhere is very easy to navigate. Jesmond became hectic and difficult to navigate and I was glad to move to an area without the unnecessary restrictions.” She noted “new students moving [to Jesmond] were unaware of changes” due to SATNAVs having not being updated, leading to several cases of confusion. The Courier enquired SPACE’s perspective on the Fenham

case: “like many Fenham residents we were disappointed that the scheme didn’t work out.” They added “as we understand the council can only legally modify a scheme like this in the first six months and it can’t extend it past the 18-month trial.” SPACE summarised “if a scheme doesn’t work as intended, they are legally required to remove it, and if they want, restart the process.” There has yet to be any updated on a revamped Fenham scheme. The Jesmond scheme has attracted controversy surrounding the Northumberland Police, after One Jesmond’s, a campaign group against the LTN, freedom of information (FOI) request to the police. The revelations outlined the police’s belief the “implementation is likely and has increased the time taken to deploy to incidents in the area of Jesmond.” The FOI highlighted concerns around Operation Oak – the police-led initiative which is funded by both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities in order to combat student-related anti-social behaviour. The FOI disclosed “due

to restrictions in place, this is adding additional traveling time to officers who may need to travel from East to the West of the area and to do this use the main arterial roads as opposed to utilising the previous through roads. Not only will there be added time attending incidents due to the restrictions, but our fuel consumption will be greater.” The concerns of Northumberland Police are echoed through residents of Jesmond, with the circulating petition of 4,000 signatories demanding the bollards removal. Responding to an open survey created by The Courier students expressed strong views towards the LTN. Olivia, a third year at Newcastle, stated “it’s caused more traffic on the main Jesmond Roads that cause other roads around it to be blocked up. A five minute journey has took me over an hour to complete – that is not environmental.” Similarly, Araminta, a third year, answered “it’s increased traffic at rush hour and caused traffic at off peak hours, which in turn creates more carbon emissions. Also, the barricades have caused Uber

Image Credit: Peter McDermott

prices to increase, and they refuse trips because of the inconvenience.” Nonetheless, multitudes of students have expressed support for the scheme. Anthony, a fourth year, responded to The Courier’s survey stating: “there will be a net benefit to residents, providing extensive research and thoughtful planning are followed.” He adds his “hope is the scheme is successful to act as an example to other neighbourhoods around the city that they can be a positive thing.” A common reoccurance from the survey was the sentiment the scheme is a starting point, but requires some development. An Anonymous third year agreed the LTN is “a good scheme” that “needs to be made bigger.” SPACE’s envisionment of these improvements include “the potential to get some planters installed or to create more social spaces like pocket parks.” Though added they added “[planters] need looking after though” and keenluy expressed “it would be great to see Newcastle University adopt one or two of them.” SPACE remain optimistic following the six month trial – “we don’t think it’s realistic to expect decades of carcentric management of Jesmond’s streets to be reversed in a short trial, but the Council’s interim monitoring data showed a noble uptick in walking and cycling and we’d expect that to increase as the measured bed in.” SPACE noted “the West Jesmond Primary bike shed is now full every morning” as well as the “council’s consultation page reporting that the neighbourhood is much safer and more sociable feeling.” Recognising the petition, SPACE told The Courier “it’s not clear how many of the signatories of the petition are local, but there are 20,000 residents in Jesmond. The silent majority may not be in favour of the scheme but nor do we think they want to rip it all out and go back to thousands of cards driving down residential streets every day.” Notably SPACE, acknowledged the importance for the Council to “listen to all voices” and are “waiting for the council’s monitoring data for a fuller picture.”

A note from your Editor...

ello again lovely readers! Well, here we are the first print edition made by the whole editorial team. When I was doing my interviews back in July, I knew we would have a fantastic team by the time I was done. I'd seen their work in countless papers last year, and knew we were in for a good year based purely on the standard of applications. And boy was I correct! It's been so nice to have everybody in the office over the last two weeks, and an absolute pleasure to watch everybody flourish and learn new skills such as Adobe InDesign and

Photoshop. The speed at which the team has picked up their skills has been incredible, and I am so proud of each and every one of them. Without a doubt, the team this year is strong, and this is just the beginnning. I also want to give a big shout out to my senior team. Without them, I'd think I'd have been 10X more stressed than I was. They've proven to be a truly amazing bunch that I can trust and lean on, and can't wait to watch them grow within these roles. Since the Freshers' Issue, we've also seen the return of Student Media Afternoons, and welcomed back old writers whilst opening our arms to new ones. Thank you to all of you who picked up articles this week. It's been an abolsute pleasure to see what you've

Want to get involved?

f you're interested in getting involved in student media, come along to our weekly Student Media Afternoons (SMAs)! You'll be able to meet the team, hear from our SMO, attend workshops and pick up as many articles as you'd like! We alternate between article SMAs, and Workshops, where you'll have the chance to learn new

Hi everyone! My name is Gabbi, all and absolute the passion is truly andwritten, I have the pleasure of seeping fromStudent the pages throughout being your media Officer this I hope you enjoyed writing and issue. Editor-In-Chief this year. Over for and continue do so in the the us, summer, I’ve to been working future. hard behind the scenes alongside With the change to fortnightly the Editorial team and NUSU to print, gotten of takingissue. used bring it's you thisa bit Freshers’ to theonly new routine, I think we're Not will youbutfind loads of getting there.articles I've thoroughly incredible written enjoyed by our watching paper come you’ll together, so fantastic this sub-editors, also Ifind hopeayou enjoy reading much as one-stop guide it toasFreshers’ we loveincluding making it!an introduction to week, the Freshers’ week assistants who Stay havegroovy, put together an amazing

Gabbi

skills and become an even better writer. Our SMAs are open to all, regardless of previous experience, and we would love to have you. If you can't make the SMAs, left over articles will be posted to the sections' facebook groups, so keep an eye out! OUR NEXT ARTICLE SMA Wednesday 1st November 1:30pm Bamburgh Room, NUSU

Image Credit: Instagram - @thecourieronline

THE COURIER SECTIONS

Inside 23rd October 2023

Deputy Editors

Editor

Current Affairs | Opinion "Simply being gay or a woman" isn't enough reason to claim asylum, says Suella Braverman We reflect on the Conservative's tough new immigration rules| Page 9

Life & Style | Relationships Black History Month: My relationship with race at uni Samantha Seidu discuses the complexitiesof navigating race and identity at university | Page 13

Life & Style | Travel Halloween across the world Your one-stop guide to the best places to celebrate the spooky season around the world | Page 19

Culture | Arts Black History Month: Basquiat! Can I bag that? We investigate the real radical artist behind the iconograph| Page 27

Sports| Features Spinning the stigma of pole on its head How an hour of pole dance changed our writers' views | Page 31

Rachael McCreanor and Ross Bennett R.Mccreanor2@ncl.ac.uk / R.Bennett3@ncl.ac.uk

Gabbi de Boer mediaofficer.union@newcastle.ac.uk

Website

Social Media

Heads of Online: Anthony Welsh A.J.Welsh2@ncl.ac.uk

Heads of Social Media: Paige Rutter and Jess Bradbury P.E.Rutter1@ncl.ac.uk / J.L.Bradbury2@ncl.ac.uk

Current Affairs Senior editor: Sam Norman S.Norman3@ncl.ac.uk

News

Amana Khan Rhys James Izabela Kirschnerova Tommy Atkinson

Campus Comment

Libby Griffiths Grace Boyle Mia Dale

Opinion

Adelaide Dodson Rosie Brennan Margaux Martinez

Science

Elisabeth Gores Matthew Barratt

Sport

Senior editor: Arthur Ferridge A.Ferridge2@ncl.ac.uk Mitchell Hall Castor Chan Raff Tindale Dan Balliston

Life & Style

Senior editors: Daisy Harrison D.M.Harrison3@ncl.ac.uk Samantha Seidu B.S.Seidu2@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships

Rebecca Wright Adriana Newbury

Blind date and Agony Aunt: Charlotte Lee

Lifestyle

Zahra Hanif Jay Barber Marina Snyder

Fashion & Beauty Lana Free Ivy French

Travel

Charlie Reid Ollie Withers

Food & Drink

Roseanna Leconte Anna Nix

Upcoming RAUCOUS REVIEW REFRESH Workshop: Wednesday 25th October 1:30pm The History Room, NUSU

Culture

Senior editors: Imogen Smillie I.C.Smillie1@ncl.ac.uk Lucy Bower L.A.Bower2@ncl.ac.uk

Music

Poppy Bedford Madeha Ali

Ella Townson Jenica Davis

Film

Jess McKeown Olivia Carter Ned Carter-Owen

Gaming

Adam Lovegrove James Kellett

Arts

Sarah Tunstall Laura Kasongo

Puzzles

Katie Siddall K.E.Siddall1@ncl.ac.uk

Come along to our second workshop of the year to hear from our Culture team about how to perfect your review-writing skills. All are welcome!

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova, Rhys James and Tommy Atkinson

News

Think tank finds part-time work at university increases inequality Tommy Atkinson - News sub-editor

One of our writers discusses the inequalities that working alongside university brings.

study by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), has found that 55% of students are now doing paid work in some form, an increase of 10% from the previous year.

“48% of the 140 university websites who are members of Universities UK now promote part-time work" The research also found that 48% of

the 140 university websites who are members of Universities UK now promote part-time work and many hosting jobs fairs, including Newcastle University, who held theirs on the 3 and 4 October in partnership with NUSU. Josh Freeman, Policy Manager at Hepi said "While some students have lots of funding options, others must work upwards of 20 or 30 hours a week to fund their cost of studying.” "The problem risks exacerbating inequalities between those who don't have to work, and those who can't study without it." He told "and it's not just students' studies that are affected. When money is tight, extracurricular and social activities are the first things that students give up." "It's so much harder to feel part of a community when you're spending hours and hours a week off-campus. These students may already have given up on getting a rich student experience." Freeman went onto say that many universitiess have undergone a “sea change in attitudes” as they now encourage part-time work. Additionally, “employers like the skills part-time work offers and it can often

help people decide about what future career they might enjoy or be good at. "The money can also help not just with living costs but also allow students to experience a fuller social life while at university."

“When money is tight, extracurricular and social activites are the first things that students give up" "The general advice from universities, however, is that students who do parttime work shouldn't do more than 1520 hours per week to prevent it affecting their studies." However, a recent survey from the National Union of Students has found that of the students who do part-time work, 18% do more than 20 hours. Furthermore, student workers are being paid less on average too. The National Minimum Wage for 18–20-year-olds is £7.49 per hour, while mature students

Image credit: Exampaper Plus on Flickr

The latest on the Sycamore Gap saga Adelaide Dodson - Opinion Sub-editor

16-year-old and 69-year-old released on bail regarding the felling of Sycamore Tree.

moon and on a night with little wind – where perfect for the job, but that he is innocent.

"No more arrests or leads that have been made public knowledge"

he Sycamore Gap tree, made iconic by the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, was recently felled in an act of vandalism. The tree, which has stood in Northumberland for 300 years was one of the most photographed trees in the world. The act took place overnight on the 27th of September and since there have been several developments as the police and The National Trust investigate and respond to the incident.

"A sixteen year old boy and 69-year-old farmer have been released on bail" Two people were very quickly arrested regarding the event, a sixteen-year-old boy and a 69-yearold farmer Walter Renwick, although both have been released on bail. Renwick has since spoken out about the incident saying he understands why people suspect him as a former lumberjack and a man who’s recently been evicted, even agreeing the conditions under which the tree was felled – by full

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The problem with convicting anyone is that the felling occurred in an area with officers thin on the ground. Officials attest that every tactic is being employed to find the person who did this but so far there has been no more arrests or leads that have been made public knowledge. Regarding the tree, it has been confirmed there’s no chance at saving it or it eventually being restored to its

former glory. At best the stump will sprout several stems and look like a small bush. Nothing like the impressive landmark that pre-existed this. Public response has generally been one of anger and astonishment; unsurprising when the tree is considered a landmark of the Northeast. As the case develops attention has turned from the tree to Hadrian’s Wall itself and on the sixth of October it

was revealed that a preliminary inspection has shown that the wall has been damaged. Hadrian’s Wall is protected as a scheduled monument. This makes the destruction not only senseless but lasting as its damaged the historical monument permanently.

"Kieran Chapman planted a sapling sycamore next to the original" In the spirit of hopefulness however Kieran Chapman, a young man who intended to walk his dog past the sight over the weekend, made the treck to the sight with a sapling sycamore and planted it next to the original. Although the act was kind it is against the law to alter a UNESCO World Heritage Site without government consent and as such the sapling has been removed. There were also concerns about the wall being damaged when the sapling grew. The National Trust has recognised the act as one made in good faith and are reportedly in discussions with Chapman to find a more appropriate spot. The general outpouring of feeling has been very heartening to see in light of the events. The investigation will continue and hopefully something will come up or the person responsible will own up to cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree. Currently The National Trust are asking people to leave the site alone so police can conduct their investigation.

Sub-Editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova, Rhys James and Tommy Atkinson

Monday 23rd October 2023

News

THE

COURIER

Rishi Sunak’s British Baccalaureate: The Advanced British Standard Beth Davidson

A look at Rishi Sunak's new plan for post-16 education.

ishi Sunak has a plan to overhaul the post16 education system in Britain (or at least England, as education is devolved, which means that Sunak cannot enforce change in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland). The Prime Minister announced his first change – compulsory maths for students until they are 18. The policy that was criticised in many educational circles.

"He intends to alter the provision of 'rip-off ' degree programme." Sunak has also made clear he intends to alter the provision of ‘rip-off ’ degree programmes that he does not view as leading to commendable employment

prospects. The establishment of an English Baccalaureate is the latest policy shift, as Sunak aims to raise the quality of post-16 education in Britain, to compete with international standards. At the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Sunak asserted his plan to guarantee students leave school ‘literate and numerate’. The Advanced British Standard comes after the Times Education Commission recommended a new qualification in 2022, modelled on the International Baccalaureate (IB), to ensure students are studying a wider range of subjects, including ‘some form of maths and English.’ The Advanced British Standard would see a combination of A-levels and T-levels in a new qualification. Pupils would study a minimum of five subjects, instead of the standard three, to provide a ‘broader understanding’, ideally expanding the options open to students post-18. The qualification would also increase the number of hours a student would spend in a classroom with a teacher. This has been criticised as potentially prohibiting students from accessing a particular university or achieving good enough UCAS points to gain a place

on a course. For example, a student may excel in maths and science, yet struggle in the humanities. However, their overall grade on the Advanced British Standard would include their merits on all subject areas. As a result, the student then may not be able to gain a placement on a science course that accurately reflects their ability in that specific discipline.

"The Prime Minister announced a tax- free bonus for teachers in key subject areas." This policy shift still remains in its infant stages. The Prime Minister has allowed for ten years until it will be enacted, rendering it unlikely unless Labour also take up the plan (as they are predicted to win the next General Election). It will also require more teachers; the Prime Minister announced a tax-free bonus of up to £30,000 for teachers in key subject areas in the first five years of their career, yet it is unclear where the funding for this will come from, and how successful it will be.

Image credit: 14995841 on Pixaby

Interest rates reach 15-year highs... is the economy heading for an all time low? Benjamin Moore

One of our writers discusses the economic situation in Britain and how it will affect students across the country.

n the 19 March 2020, Boris Johnson, then PM, in a historic address to the public, announced that students would have to put their education on hold, that socialising would end, and that COVID-19 would change all normal activity as we know it. Johnson declared that ‘we can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks’. On that same day, the Bank of England (BOE) lowered interest rates to the lowest level ever (0.1%) to prepare the government for huge amounts of borrowing and to provide liquidity to the economy to prevent an economic disaster.

the highest in 15 years. How did we get here, what does it mean for the economy and what impact will this have on students? Since the start of the pandemic a substantial increase in quantitative easing along with major geopolitical tensions has led to some of the worst inflation in decades. With prices rising rapidly, central banks feared for a 1970s inflation scenario, where sustained inflation led to a decade of economic hardship. So, central bankers across the world concluded that the only way

“Students, who have struggled in the cost-ofliving crisis, could have to face continually high inflation."

So far there is disagreement over how well this strategy has worked, in the US the inflation peaked at 9.1% and is now down to 3.7% (still well above their 2% target). In the UK the situation is much worse, with inflation still at 6.8% (down from the 11.5% peak). Now the public are feeling the squeeze from both sides, with higher inflation eating away at their wages and higher interest rates increasing the possibility of recession and job losses. For students, this is daunting for multiple reasons. On one hand, the possibility of recession would be a major blow to the already fiercely competitive graduate job market. On the other hand, students, who have struggled in the cost-of-living crisis, could have to face continually high inflation, eroding the value of their maintenance loan and part-time wages.

expected to stay, ‘higher for longer,’ as US Fed Chair Jerome Powel has said. Determined to tackle inflation, the Central Banks will continue to push the cause of higher rates, even at the expense of rising unemployment or potentially a recession.

“Interest rates are to be expected to stay, ‘higher for longer,’ as US Fed Chair Jerome Powel has said."

“As of October 2023, the BOE base rate stands at 5.25%, the highest in 15 years." In contrast, as of October 2023, the BOE base rate stands at 5.25%,

to curb inflation was to use the blunt tool of rising rates to hammer economic demand.

Image credit: Geralt on Pixaby

The other factor students are worrying about is their student loan. For most cases, student loans rates are directly linked to RPI (retail price index) inflation, meaning the longer inflation lingers the more will have to be paid. Currently, the rate is around 7%. At this rate student loan liability will double every 10 years. What is next for the economy is unknown. Based on the attitude of central bankers, interest rates are to be

Image Credit: 401k Calculator on Flickr

THE

COURIER

Sub-Editors: Amana Khan , Izabela Kirschnerova, Rhys James and Tommy Atkinson

Monday 23rd October 2023

News

UNESCO Chairholder awarded Cultural Protection Ambassador Rhys James - News sub-editor

How Professor Pete Stone's work earnt him recognition from IAASF.

rofessor Pete Stone has been awarded the Cultural Protection Ambassador Award by the International Arts and Antiques Security Forum (IAASF). Professor Stone received the award in September at a conference by IAASF, for his dedication to saving historic monuments, works of art and archaeological sites, during times of conflict. The IAASF is an international organisation dedicated to supporting and educating audiences worldwide on the protection of arts, antiques, and cultural heritage. The annual IAASF conference brings together experts in fire, flood, disaster, theft, terrorism, and conflict security. Professor Stone gave a keynote address during the conference, where he addressed the impact that

conflict has on cultural heritage. As the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace, Professor Stone works with both national and international armed forces, as well as the humanitarian sector to encourage the idea that the protection of people cannot be achieved effectively without protecting their heritage as well.

"Peter was nominated by the UK National Comission for UNESCO." In a Newcastle University Press Office report, the Chair of the IAASF Awards Committee, Andy Davis, said “We were delighted to present Professor Peter Stone OBE with the Cultural Protection Ambassador Award. Peter was nominated by the UK National Commission for UNESCO for his dedication to cultural heritage working closely with UNESCO and the Blue Shield.” Upon receiving the award, Professor Stone said “It is a huge honour to receive this award from the IAASF as it underlines the need for partnership and trust to be developed between what many may seem like unlikely

bedfellows…I accept the award also on behalf of my close colleagues Emma Cunliffe and Michael Delacruz. Together we make up the UNESCO Chair team at Newcastle University “. During his career, Professor Pete Stone has published a lot of work regarding heritage management, interpretation, and education. A lot of his recent research relates to the protection of cultural property during armed conflict; in 2003 Professor Stone was asked by the UK Ministry of Defence to help identify and protect the archaeological cultural heritage in Iraq.

Image: PICRYL

Director for Freedom of Speech makes first public appearance

Beth Davidson

Cambridge professor Arif Ahmed gives his first address following Rishi Sunak's conference speech.

ambridge professor, Arif Ahmed, the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students (OfS) gave his first major address this month, following his appointment to the role in June of this year. In his speech, Ahmed asserted that the culture of suppressing free speech at English universities is a “serious cause for concern” and pledged to protect all views. Under his responsibility for academic freedom, he reaffirmed his commitment to this cause, citing the UK’s recent decline in international rankings on the Academic Freedom Index. Ahmed reinforced the necessity of freedom of speech in higher education providers as it empowers students to consider different points of view, a fundamental factor to many degree programs.

“As long as a view can be legally expressed, [it is acceptable]." - Arif Ahmed This comes in the wake of the controversy of the Prime Minister’s statement at the Conservative party conference regarding transgender people: “a man is a man and a woman is a woman.” In a culture of growing transphobia, it came into question whether views such as this should be

expressed on university campuses, to which Ahmed responded that “as long as a view can be legally expressed,” it is acceptable.

"Universities now have a duty to promote the importance of freedom."

LGBTQ+ Society argued that the professor’s views were transphobic and objected to her invitation to debate this. Rishi Sunak said that the talk should be allowed to go ahead, stating “students should be allowed to hear and debate her views.” Arif Ahmed concluded his speech by affirming his commitment to protecting students’ rights to express their opinions on topics such as Brexit, statues, pronouns, colonialism, abortion or animal rights whilst clarifying that harassment or incitement of violence is not protected by freedom of speech.

In an interview with the BBC, Arif established that the OfS is “completely politically neutral” and wished to emphasise that these complaints come from “all sides of the political spectrum.” New legislation passed in May of this year states that universities now have a duty to not only ‘secure’ freedom of speech, but also ‘promote its importance’, and in order to ensure this, a new complaints scheme is being put into place, that could see universities facing sanctions, such as fines if they are deemed to be breaching their free speech obligations. This scheme is set to be implemented by August 2024. This legislation was seemingly in response to the Oxford Union protests against gender-critical academic, Kathleen Stock, earlier this Image: WikiMedia Commons - Scoula Normale year. The Union’s Superiore

Student Council, Vol.1: passed motions with no commotion Sam Norman - Head of Current Affairs

Hear everything that went down at the first Student Council of the year!

hair of Council George Wood opened the meeting introducing the significance of the Student Union Council and their role for the student body. This was followed and echoed with new Newcastle University Students' Union's (NUSU) new Chief Executive Lindsey Lockey, expressing her excitement to return to NUSU and be in the role. The minutes of the previous meeting passed as the first order with no objections evading the decision. Chirag Kumar, NUSU's Postgraduate Officer, spoke on behalf of two motions. Both were constitutional motions that required 2/3 of the vote in order to pass. Chirag defined the first motion that would change the voting systems - but no in relation to the summer elections - as an "aim to ease timing to get through the elections really quickly." The second, concerned vacant roles and the filling of these by Student Council. Both motions passed with the former with 92.3% and the latter 85.7%. Eight vacant councillor positions were available with seven members selected to become permanent voting members. Each nominee expressed a desire to extend their knowledge in student voice. Two liberation officer positions were available, however, both went without nominations. The Scrutiny, Steering and Disciplinary meeting report were all passed without objections. NUSU President Shah Yaseen Ali gave the State of the Union report reflecting on the current progress of NUSU's Sabbatical Officers. He expressed he is looking at legal support for students, as well as exploring ways for students to "hold their landlords to account." The President also declared he is looking into creating a scheme for emergecy food vouchers. The President cotninued giving brief insight into the progress of fellow Sabbatical Officers. "Alex, Activities Officer, is preparing for the Festival of Culture;" "Gabbi, Student Media Officer, has launched the first edition of The Courier and is preparing the second;" "Chirag, Postgraduate Officer, is working with schools on assessment feedback;" "Lucy, Welfare Officer, is decorating the LGBTQIA+ safe space as well as chairing campaign development" and "Kimiko, Athletic Union Officer, is completing group training." . Following, all Sabbatical Officers were invited to accept any questions from members. Due to no objections before the Student Council meeting, all officer reports and executive comittee minutes were passed.

Chriag then presented a business motion that had passed with no objection prior to the Council. The motion covered the steering comittee, and the review of overlapping policies. The Chair then moved to Constitutional Motions. Welfare Officer Lucy Leeds' motion aiming to firmly state NUSU as a "victim/ survivor centred organisation" passed with 93.55%. Lucy said the motion would help "survivors lead in their own journey.". Jonathan Lee, current BAME Officer, introduced his motion to rename BAME Officer to Ethinic Diversity Officer. He claimed the motion would align with the "approach adopted by the government and other sectors in the UK" as well as the important sentiment ethnic minorities have "expressed a dislike to this term." The motion passed with 93.34%. Gabbi de Boer, current Student Media Officer (SMO), proposed her motion for updates to the current Student Media Constitution. Gabbi stated this would allow Student Media to hold their own AGMs and EGMs, "giving more power back to Student Media." The SMOs motion passed with 93.75%. Postgraduate Officer, Chirag, passed a motion with a 96.77% acceptance to introduce mediation as an option in complaint's procedured. Chirag outlined mediation is often the best option to solve disputes, but "only to be used when all groups are in agreement.". Chirag noted this would not be used in cases of gross misconduct. A Constitutional Motion was introduced by President Yaseen who wanted to dissolve the Student Life committee, in favour of a mandate on the President to work with Reslife and other organisations. Yaseen's motion passed with 90.63%. The last Constitutional Motion was introduced by Disability Officer Leo David, who worked with other Liberation Officers to update the job description of the role. Leo stated the old descriptions were "hard to read" as well as "included things we don't really do anymore." Leo's motion passed with 93.75%. The President proposed an ordinary motion that would mandate Sabbatical Officers to conduct a cross-campus poll on potential UCU industrial action. The Welfare and Student Media Officer reiterated their support, as Yaseen stated "campus wide ballots are the best way to gage opinion" and the sabbs can "use results to lobby the University and show them what students think." This motion passed with 93.33%. Positions on several comittees were filled at the council, including Finance and Risk, Disciplinary, Scrutiny and Welfare. In the closing statements for student notices, President Yaseen informed his recruitment for a Student Advisory Board regarding the changes to King's Gate. NUSU Representative Project Intern also reiterated feedback on NUSU's current survey.

Sub-Editors: Grace Boyle, Libby Griffiths and Mia Dale

Campus Comment

Monday 23rd October 2023

THE

COURIER

University students more at risk of anxiety and depression than non-university students Sophie Storey

Are students more likely to struggle with their mental health? Does this have a correlation with the cost of living crisis?

n the 29th September 2023, Rachel Hall published an article in The Guardian discussing a study that highlighted a rise in anxiety and depression amongst students in comparison to those who went straight into industry. This study, printed in the Lancet Public Health, is the first to identify recent economic pressures may be at the root of the problem. As a focus point, Hall zooms in on ‘unprecedent rent rises’, claiming that they have averaged at an 8% increase; a desperately disproportionate figure when aligned with the student maintenance loan that those attending university can receive. She is not wrong to unify horrifying rent prices with depression amongst students. Starting my first year in

September 2021, I signed into a flat in Park View student accommodation, agreeing to pay £144 a week. Now, in my third year, I would be forced to pay £164.50 a week for the same accommodation. That is just over a 14% increase in the mere two years I have been a student at Newcastle University. Quite a staggering figure when you also account for the rise in food prices that students must also finance for themselves.

“The cost-of-living crisis has negatively impacted student's mental health" It is fair to say that the cost-of-living crisis has negatively impacted students’ mental health, but this is an economic emergency that has affected a nation rather than one specific group. The question remains, why are students so at risk? It is fair to assume that young people attending university may have never handled their own finances before, thus their inexperience at budgeting may lead them to overspend and resort to living off beans and toast for the last two weeks of term. Nonetheless, another illustration of

students’ susceptibility comes from a publication in Universities UK. Here it is outlined that ‘record proportions of the most disadvantaged students began a full-time undergraduate course in 2000’. The link is clear; those who were already more vulnerable have now become subject to student financial pressures, hence the rise in rates of student depression. The research paper additionally identified an increase in anxiety and depression amongst students who undertook paid work during term time. The cycle continues. More disadvantaged students are attending university. They become anxious about finances as the cost-of-living crisis has affected them more. They decide to get a job to pay their way through university, but this only worsens their mental health, undoubtedly because balancing work and studies in incredibly challenging. So where does this leave us? It is clear that students are left alone to navigate this crisis when they hardly know what colours are safe to put in the wash together. Surely society would benefit from their 18–22-year-olds being happy whilst obtaining their degree? After all, it is us who are the future of tomorrow.

Image credit: Pixabay_R-region

Extinction Rebellion's city protest calls for climate accountability Ross Bennett - Deputy Editor

Activist group Extinction Rebellion made their voices heard in an explosive march for change around Newcastle.

ith a goal of holding Newcastle University accountable for its connections to the fossil fuel industry and other sources of environmental destruction, the Extinction Rebellion Society did a damn good job of pointing out our university and government’s failures to uphold its sustainability policies.

"Newcastle still has a hell of a long way to go as Extinction Rebellion (XR) pointed out." Once heralded as the most sustainable university in the UK (8th most in the world), in the most recent QR sustainability rankings Newcastle University has slipped to 4th in the UK and 18th Worldwide. While relatively impressive when put amongst other universities, Newcastle still has a

hell of a long way to go as Extinction Rebellion (XR) pointed out. However, this University seems to be doing miles better than Rishi Sunak’s current government.

“... students ranging from Amnesty Society to Feminist Society were there." An issue incredibly pertinent to the climate agenda of our country in these times is the development of Rosebank Oil Field, the largest untapped oil reserve in the United Kingdom. In an application made by Norwegian energy company 'Equinor', the suggested plans to drill for oil would be supported by Tax Breaks the British public would be paying for. This is when there are no current plans for this increase in oil to lower fuel prices in the UK. Finances aside, the greater cost would be the damage this would cause to our planet. Burning the oil and gas at Rosebank would produce over 200 million tonnes of Co2, more than combined yearly CO2 emissions of all 28 low-income countries in the world – more than what is produced by 700 million people. When asked about the aims of the march, the president of the XR society – Roxanne Clarkson – had this to say: “We are already in a state of climate emergency; the government allowing the Rosebank oil field project to go ahead

is a clear display of irresponsibility and complete disregard for our future." This was not simply an Extinction Rebellion protest though, those from all walks of life

attended as noted by Clarkson: “It wasn’t just Extinction Rebellion Society protesting, students ranging from Amnesty Society to Feminist Society were there, as well as those not in societies and other community groups from Newcastle”. With an issue so dire and with our planet’s future at stake, it’s no wonder so much fuss was kicked up. The

Image credit: Erin, XR Member Image credit: Sanni Ratamo

scrawled caricature of woke and angry students protesting against pollution has been so ingrained in our minds by the Conservatives, that the British public has almost drifted off to slumber whilst our world is pillaged by fossil fuel egoists. Well, thankfully we have Extinction Rebellion to kick us up the arse and say what’s needed to be said: Not on Our Watch. Hopefully, the government will not ignore us this time.

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Grace Boyle, Libby Griffiths and Mia Dale

Campus Comment

Work hard; study hard! Working The Fresher's part-time whilst at university FOMO Sophie Jarvis

As Freshers week settles and the routine of university steadies after a long summer away, lots of students may find.

ccording to the 2023 Student Money Survey, results found the average students’ maintenance loan fails to reach living costs by £582, meaning part-time work whilst juggling a full-time degree could be inevitable for the vast majority of students.

“Knowing your availability and sticking to your boundaries is crucial.” Regardless of whether you need the extra cash or are just looking to build your CV, there are many important factors to take into account when

finding a role compatible with your study schedule. If you’re anything like me, you struggle with being a people-pleaser. Anytime I’m asked to stay overtime or cover a colleague’s shift, the answer is typically a hesitant “yes”. Which often leads to writing seminar prep after getting home from work at 2am. Knowing your availability and sticking to your boundaries is crucial. Understand how much time you need for your studies and make sure you're not putting too much on your plate.

working with someone who lives at the same accommodation as you, or even a course mate.

"It's easy to put too much on your plate." It’s easy to put too much on your plate, working alongside uni can be difficult.

Especially with the stress with academic responsibilities anyway, but if you tailor your routine to your own needs, you can effectively compartmentalise the two. Working alongside studying benefits future employment and time management skills, prioritise finding a role that works for you. Maybe you can get yourself some nice treats every once in a while with the pay checks!

"Consider all options when job hunting especially location." Whilst having a busy schedule promotes productivity, make sure you're prioritising free time to avoid overworking and the long term effects that can come with it. Make sure to reserve time for hobbies and socialising. Remember, resting is productive. Consider all options when job hunting— especially location. Working locally is also a great cheat in making new friends, especially in a student city like Newcastle. You may end up

Image credit: Pixabay, StartupStockPhotos

How are students really reacting to 'Lutherspoons'?

Grace Boyle - Campus Comment Sub-editor

When Dr. Martin Luther King said he had a dream, do you think he was thinking about £3.99 lunch deli deals?

he student’s union bar has reopened its doors and is back in business, introducing the new and shiny Luther’s Wetherspoons. With more seating, over 150 drinks to choose from AND a fabulous food menu, Luther’s is the new hot pick student pub in Toon. Imagine getting a hangover fry up brekkie on campus and then heading to your 9am? The dream right? Like every Spoons you go to, its a more affordable alternative - but with additional student deals, the pub is very cost-ofliving friendly. Who wouldn’t choose a cheap hot meal over an expensive Coop meal deal? Being open all day, Luther’s Bar is a great spot to take a break, socialise with friends and is a perfect mid-lecture study spot. The hiring of students too, is an added bonus if you are needing to find some

part time work with flexible hours. The potential debate floating amongst the student population is whether the University and the Student’s Union should have chosen Wetherspoons to partner up with for the rebuild. Why this chain when Five Swans is five minutes away? And should they have tied the University's history with MLK to student drinking culture? Here are some students opinions: Faith Kelly: ‘I think it is a fair judgement of what the students want. I’ve seen more people there than when Starbucks [was] previously there. It’s more social and catered to the student ethos’. Sam Norman: ‘Putting a Wetherspoons on campus strips away a lot of character from the student union and the University itself. I think paring the two has made it borderline comical. The point of the SU bar was to connect to the University’s values and history; MLK and his honorary degree fits that. Adding the ‘Wetherspoons layer’ just

commercialises it’. Libby Griffiths: ‘Luther’s before it became Wetherspoons has always sold alcohol with MLK as the figurehead of the venue. If there is an issue now since Luther’s has partnered up with Wetherspoons- I think there’s an element of classism to add to the discussion’. Ross Bennett: ‘Dr. King was an icon of the civil rights movement and stood for more than £5 for three Hooches. It is especially inappropriate for Dr. King’s likeness to be used to advertise a chain ran by famous Brexiter Tim Martin’. So what do we think? Overall, the popularity of the campus We t h e r s p o o n s has been hugely successful but is

Image credit: Mia Dale

commercialising the relationship and history of the University the right choice made by the CEO of NUSU? We hope you all enjoy the discounts.

Scarlett Davies

Does University's fresher's week live up to the expectation?

reshers Week has been coined as one of the most exciting, party-centric parts of university- but is that really true? For students moving out of home for the first time, Freshers Week seems paradisiacal. Moving to a new city opens so many new doors, from being near shopping centres and cinemas to trying new bars and getting involved with societies. Freshers is a never-ending cycle of opportunities: free food vouchers being handed out from every direction, Freshers Wristbands offering hundreds of new activities everyday and the Newcastle city centre being only a stone’s throw away from the accommodation. It’s a great opportunity to get to know new people and the city, and the induction week allows for the students to get to grips with their course while still enjoying the freedom of no lectures. But for students who don’t consume alcohol- whether for moral or religious reasons- the Freshers social scene is often considered quite an isolating experience. Most of Freshers week is centred heavily around a drinking culture that has become normalised in order to socialise with others, focusing mainly on clubbing.

“This routine leaves out underage, mature students and those with jobs and responsibilities.” Many students might feel left out or unwanted, particularly in a week where everyone feels pressured to find their footing and make friends immediately. Failure to do that, when everyone else is partying, often leads to anxiety and added stress during a time where everything is new and uncertain. So does Freshers Week live up to the hype? If you’re prepared to spend a lot of money on wristbands and Jäger bombs, yes. The week is designed to help students settle into their new life and get to know other people along the way- but it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t work out that way. As the weeks go on, students tend to get closer to people that they never would have met on a dancefloor; there’s a place for everyone at university, whether you like to party or not.

Image credit:Pixabay_OpenclipartVectors

Image credit: Instagram @ newcastlesu Andrew PYLE

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Adelaide Dodson, Rosie Brennan and Margaux Martinez

Opinion

THE

COURIER

The growing populists of Europe

Jude Ventress

lovakians went to the polls this September electing the populist and two-time prime minister Robert Fico, giving him the opportunity to form a government. At the end of last month Robert Fico won the Slovak parliamentary elections with his party Smer winning a plurality of the vote with 22.94%. The president, Zuzana Čaputová, has now invited Fico to form a coalition. The leading party of the previous coalition government, OL’aNO’s vote share has diminished significantly from 25% to 8.9% after a no confidence vote caused their coalition to fall apart. Allowing for the populist party Smer, Progressive Slovakia, and the social democratic party Hlas all to gain popularity in these elections with Smer achieving the largest vote share.

"The potential kingmaker is Hlas, a party led by former PM Peter Pellegrini." Smer, having won 42 seats in this election, does not have the 76 seats required for a majority in the National

Council, the Slovakian parliament. The potential kingmaker is Hlas, a social democratic party led by former PM Peter Pellegrini, with the third largest vote share - although Pellegrini remains cautious of a coalition with Fico. Populists across Europe are gaining traction A key issue of this campaign was the question of continuing or cutting aid to Slovakia’s neighbour Ukraine. Fico ran a campaign with the proRussian stance of cutting aid to the war-stricken nation, similar to Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, who recently decided to stop sending weapons to Ukraine. Contrastingly, Progressive Slovakia, a pro-European party, advocated to maintain support for Ukraine and a more pro-Ukrainian approach. In wider Europe, this proRussian position is seen as controversial, especially since Slovakia is a member of both the European Union and NATO. Populists across Europe are gaining traction. Fico seems to be the latest of this trend currently sweeping the continent. Other populist figures and movements such as, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni (leader of the party, Brothers of Italy), and the growth of the far-right party, Alternative for Germany, have all exemplified the growing electoral success of populism in Europe. Fico’s success is yet another victory

for populism in the EU, degrading the democratic culture of politics on the continent, and for Ukraine, a nation at war in need of all and any allies it can get.

sult of internal negligence, is staggering. Not to mention that historically speaking, the British Museum board has not exactly been receptive towards public outrage about why it still contains so many relics of other cultures. While the necessity of protection and preservation is acknowledged, I am sure I am amongst many who feel that we have no place holding onto these items, let alone parading them as art that we are proud to possess. The Elgin Marbles is one such example that has had renewed interest as a treasure to be returned and yet, it remains in the British Museum. Even its more commonly used name of reference is a cause for frustration, as Lord Elgin was the one who stole the sculptures, as op-

posed to them being more widely known with allusion to their origins as the Parthenon Sculptures. The BBC has reported that the treasures in question were not acknowledged by the museum as missing, until over a year after initial concern and I think this speaks volumes about what the British Museum values the most - its reputation. They chose an avenue that ultimately resulted in more lost items, did not mitigate the situation with an adequate inquiry and now are inviting the public to take partial responsibility for the recovery of treasure that should never have been lost in the first place. I fail to see why this should be a matter for public concern; the plea is utterly tone deaf.

"Populism may seem to be a foreign concept to us, but it is alive and kicking in the UK." Populism may seem to be a foreign concept to us, but it is alive and kicking in the UK. Not so long ago we had a populist prime minister, and populist figures like previous leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, and home secretary Suella Braverman are gaining traction. Popu list sensationalism is growing from being just a whimsical trend to a concerning feature of political systems across the globe. Image credit: Wiki Commons

Image credit: Wiki Commons

The British Museum Bradley's legacy: how far is too far? under fire for stolen art Scarlett Calverley

The public is being asked for help in recovering stolen art from a British museum.

can’t be the only one that is simultaneously unsurprised and hacked off by this particular story. The oblivious arrogance of the British Museum attempting to make the loss, damage and theft of 2000 artefacts the responsibility of the British public, especially after the severity of the situation being a direct re-

Image credit: pixabay_hurk

Shuliang Xu

ale Houghton, 31, has pleaded guilty to a public order offense in court for showing an enlarged photograph of Bradley Lowery to opposing fans on his phone during a confrontation following a game between Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland. Dale Houghton could receive a jail sentence as per the legal provisions. Gemma Houghton, Dale's mother, condemned his unacceptable behaviour. According to her, the photograph was an insult to Bradley's dignity and emotionally damaging to those coping with cancer-related obstacles. I strongly criticize Dale Horton for his insensitive actions and reprimand him. During Bradley Lowe's brief but impressive life as a juvenile suffering from cancer, he inspired numerous individuals with his bravery and positivity in battling the condition and imparted the sig nif icance of hope and persistence to others. Specifically,

his intimate bond with Germaine Defoe altered society's perception of ailment and adversity. Nonetheless, it is unacceptable for anyone to ridicule his departure.

“The photograph was an insult to Bradley's dignity." Regarding Bradley Lowe's harassment case, the UK authorities and judiciary have firmly stated their humane stance: any form of discrimination or ridicule towards individuals who are vulnerable or have health issues will not be accepted. This not only serves as a protective measure for the victim but also upholds the core values of British society. The bravery and determination of Bradley shall never be forgotten and this event will be used as a prompt to always respond to suffering with kindness and empathy, providing comfort and assistance to those who are fighting cancer.

Image credit: flikr_frankreid

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Adelaide Dodson, Rosie Brennan and Margaux Martinez

Opinion

"Simply being gay or a woman" isn’t enough reason to claim asylum says Suella Braverman Charlotte Stobart Trigger warning: violence, homophobia

A reflection into the Conservative's tough new immigration rules.

ember of Parliament Suella Braverman’s recent statements about asylum seekers fit well within the Tory party’s continually dismissive and divisive immigration policy. It makes sense that such a polemic statement would come from the same party whose policy proposals include sending refugees to Rwanda and ‘turning back the boats’.

“No one is claiming asylum simply because they are gay.” It should be evident to a politician that socially salient characteristics like gender and sexuality have extensive impacts on people’s lived experiences. No one is claiming asylum simply because they are gay. They are claiming

it because they have faced persecution for their sexuality in the country that they are fleeing.

“Only 2% of asylum seekers included sexual orientation as a reason for needing protection.” For example, in Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is punished by execution, flogging, or chemical castration. In Russia, there are no anti-discrimination or hate crime protections for gay people. Braverman’s statement is deliberately obtuse, putting the onus on the individual, constructing them as the issue, rather than the repressive, homophobic, or sexist societal structures that they may be escaping. In 2022, only 2% of asylum seekers included sexual orientation as a reason for needing protection, so it is interesting that Braverman is putting such emphasis on this issue. I would argue that it is another example of an LGBT related issue being blown out of proportion to fearmonger within the (small c) conservative right and capitalise on their fears. It dually

exploits conservative preconceptions of gay people exploiting their identity to get things, and of swathes of illegal migrants, who could feasibly be someone else’s problem, entering the UK for comparatively negligible reasons.

"The Tory party's increasingly , chillingly right wing, discriminatory agenda." In the same speech, Braverman raised some important questions around the suitability of the 1951 Refugee Convention in the modern age, and whether it needs to be updated or adapted to mesh with current circumstances, but unfortunately, she muddied her own argument with her close-minded, reductive statements. Braverman’s statements fit into the Tory party’s increasingly, chillingly right wing, discriminatory agenda, which targets and scapegoats racial, sexual, and gender minorities alike, and does not bode well for the future of living in this country, for any of us. Image credit: UK Commons on Flickr

Why this, why now, why Truss? Dear politicans: learn

Cory Gourley

The former PM is back to a familiar face for better or for worse?

he was Prime Minister for just 45 days, but a year on from Liz Truss being banished from Number 10, there is a sense of excitement surrounding her return to the political word, so given fact that she left ‘Broken Britain’ in an absolute state, I ask why this, why now? We must start by putting her awkward GB News stints, tabloid interviews and lack of guilt aside because her presence at the most recent tory party conference was definitely felt, it was almost like your favourite Granny turning up at Christmas with a tub of Quality Street and everyone ambushing her, leaving your other Granny, in this case Rishi Sunak, twiddling their thumbs with a bag of Cough sweets. So, is she back because her party want her back?

over the past 30 years, will not allow the economy to develop.

“Tories are fed up of Tories." Not only that but now tories are fed up with tories, some must be feeling a case of post Partygate, post Brexit and post Pandemic fatigue. Truss doesn’t represent that branch of Etonian Head Boys who are always running the shop, her and her ideologies are a breath of fresh air within the Tory bubble, which is full of politicians gasping for air and for them Truss is an oxygen mask, in their eyes ready to breathe new life into the country with her anti-low

economic growth policies, if only she knew how to implement these policies properly and let’s face it, she’s already had her chance and blown it, so again why does she deserve a second chance now? Personally, I find Truss cringe, her lack of shame delusional and I find her about as politically insightful as the turnips her deputy Thérèse Coffey tried to force feed us and yet somehow I want to hear what she has to say, this beige, political enigma, who vampirically sucked the life out of the economy in a matter of weeks, intrigues me every time. Perhaps we want an apology, perhaps we want to know what shampoo she uses or perhaps we’re just desperate for solutions to fix ‘Broken Britian’.

when to declare victory

Sam Norman - Head of Current Affairs

Following a Polish political scandal, it's time to look at the ethics of elections.

hockwaves have been sent through the Polish political landscape following Donald Tusk, the Polish opposition leader, declaring victory in the country's upcoming election whilst the rest of the country awaits the final results. The voter turnout in the election was unprecedented with more Poles casting their ballots than in the historic 1989 election that marked the end of

“She left 'Broken Britain' in an absolute state." I mean she did cause the crash of the Foreign Market, Stock Market and the Bond Market, they weren’t so much crashes, in fairness, but more absolute catastrophic pileups, and she did it all within a month but I believe it is not Liz Truss people are excited about but the ideology that she represents, she acknowledges that taxing and borrowing, something that has carried the state

Image credit: wikimedia_simondawsonhurk

Image Credit: European Parliament on Flickr

communist rule. Whilst the right-wing Law and Justice party garnered the most votes, they fell short to amount a majority. They amassd 36.6% of the votes, with the Civic Coalition heralded by Donald Tusk captured 31%. "Poland won. Democracy has won. We have removed them from power" Tusk claimed in his 'victory' speech. The matter of how Tusk plans to assemble his majoirty or coallition is irrelevant in this case, but following a tumultous and tense election, leading with such strong impulse in declaring elections is not okay. - it must be a thing with Donalds. Another iteration in the political world of leaders behaving without class, strength or leadership is a terrifying case for the future of politics. The 2020 election set an alarming example of leaders leading with sensationalist and soap opera politics; this should not ever be what voters want.

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Your Liberation Officers Jonathan Lee, BAME Officer Hi! My name is Jonathan Lee (Rong Sheng) and my pronouns are he/him. I'm a stage 3 Chemical Engineering student, and I am your Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E) Officer for the upcoming year. My goal for this term is to make all students from B.A.M.E. backgrounds feel welcomed, represented, and valued on campus through the initiatives and events we organise. Fun fact: Malaysian through and through!

Leo David, Disability Officer

I'm Leo (they/he) and I'm a third year Zoology student.

I'm your Disability Officer this year which means I'm here to represent all students with disabilities, mental illnesses, neurodivergencies, and other chronic conditions, so if there's anything I can do to support you, please let me know!

Image Credit: Laura Linceviciute

Albena Zhelezova, International Students Officer Hiii, I'm Albena Zhelezova, the new International Students' officer.

Image Credit: Albena Zhelezova

A bit about myself: my pronouns are she/her, I'm doing Combined Honours in History, Politics and Classics (2nd stage), and I genuinely enjoy having little debates – even when I was 7, I argued with the tour guide at a planetarium about the existence of aliens. As a Liberation officer, my main goal this year is to provide international students with more opportunities to socialise.

James Hall, Faith and Belief Officer Hello, I am James Hall, your Faith and Belief Officer. I am a second year student, studying Music and Classics under the aegis of Combined Honours. I am here to make sure that your views regarding faith and belief are represented on campus. In order to do so, I of course need to be aware of your views, so please do get in touch using the email 'nswfbo@newcastle.ac.uk' (if you would copy in 'j.hall27@ ncl.ac.uk', I shall probably see it faster). I'd love to hear from you whether you have a particular problem or if you merely wish to introduce yourself!

Image Credit: Laura Linceviciute

Tom Wilson, LGBTQ+ Officer Hi! My name’s Tom Wilson, my pronouns are he/him.

Image Credit: Laura Linceviciute

I’m currently doing Masters course in International Relations. Before I used to be a BA Politics student also at Newcastle Uni, so Newcastle feels like home to me :) I’m the LGBTQ+ Officer for this academic year and my main goal is to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ students inside my school building which is the Henry Daysh Building.

Lewi El-Hawary, Chair of Scrutiny

Hi, I'm Lewi, your Chair of Scrutiny.

A bit about me! I'm a Law student from Brighton, and am heavily invested in activism. I'm also President of Amnesty (come along!!) where we focus on making a change on campus and in local communities. I decided to stand for this role to ensure that students have a Chair of Scrutiny that is actually involved in NUSU, I believe that I can successfully ensure that Sabbatical Officers and the running of NUSU is fully scrutinised, ensuring that NUSU is ran for the students, by the students. Please contact me if I can do anything (scrutiny.union@newcastle.ac.uk)! Although not a Liberation Officer, Lewi's role is key to ensuring the smooth and democratic running of the Union.

What do we do?

Now you know who your Liberation Officers are for the coming year, here's a bit more about what they do...

Image Credit: Jonathan Lee

This year, one of my main aims is to better raise awareness about disability through campaigns and training sessions. I'm also president of DMaN Society and on the wheelchair basketball team, so you'll probably see me around there a lot!

Image Credit: Lewi El-Hawary

iberation Officers are a group of students who volunteer their time to represent a liberation group. They are elected by the student body to represent and advocate for various marginalised communities. Liberation communities are communities that are defined as students who self-identify as one of the following communities: • being LGBTQ+ • being of a marginalised gender • having a faith and/or belief • having a disability • having caring, parental or guardianship responsibilities • being an international student • being Black, Asian or another minority ethnicity (BAME) . Some students may self-identify as more than one of these communities, and therefore it is important that the Liberation Officers work together and consider how these communities intersect. The officers also work closely with the Welfare and Equality Sabbatical officer, Lucy Leeds, as well as the Accessibility and Inclusion Co-ordinator and other NUSU staff to provide an intersectional approach to representation and liberation community engagement. This means that the Liberation Officers are actively involved in and assist with work the Students' Union undertakes including implementing policies to improve the student experience, raise awareness of issues that affect the liberation community, and promote awareness of national events amongst other student outreach activities. They are also actively involved in Student Council, presenting a summary of their undertakings at each meeting to ensure they are taking on feedback and keeping open communication with these communities.

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Matthew Barratt and Elisabeth Gores

Science

THE

COURIER

Mole Day! Celebrating Earthworms contribute more Avogadro's Constant grain output than Russia Anthony Welsh - Head of Online

hat is a Mole? Not to be confused with small furry underground dwelling mammals, you may remember moles from chemistry lessons in school. Put simply, a mole is a fundamental unit devised for measuring; it's like counting things in a super-special way! It's a quantity of anything that is equivalent to the number of atoms present in 12g of carbon-12. That's a lot of atoms, and and this is Avogadro's Constant, or NA. It's roughly 6.02 x 10^23. We use the mole to measure

Image Credit: Wiki Commons & Anthony Welsh

just about everything in the known universe, except for energy, forces, fields, and sub-atomic particles. Mole Day as a celebration is thanks to Maury Oehler, a retired science teacher from Wisconsin, who in 1991 created a holiday to celebrate the mole. In an interview with NPR, Maury explained, "In chemistry, the mole is probably the most important concept." Mole Day is celebrated on October 23rd because 10 to the 23rd power is Oct. 23, and it lasts from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. It's a day filled with chemistry fun and learning! The official Mole Day website, moleday.org, describes it best: "For a given molecule, one mole is a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the molar mass of the molecule. For example, the water molecule has a molar mass of 18, therefore one mole of water weighs 18 grams. In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro's Number of molecules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was first discovered by Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1858) and he received credit for this after his death." You could have a mole of anything. You could have a mole of an actual mole (common Eurasian mole Talpa europaea).

Matthew Barratt - Science Sub-Editor

A new study reveals that earthworms contribute 6.5% of global grain output.

o put things into perspective, the worldwide production of corn is just over 1.2 billion metric tons; the output of wheat is over 778 million. Earthworms aid in the production of grains such as maize, wheat, barley, rice etc. Additionally, they are also responsible for 2.3% of the world’s legume production. Combined, earthworms produce over 140 million metric tons annually. This is 20 million more tons than Russia, which is expected to produce 120 million tons of grains this year. Earthworms themselves are known to have many benefits to the prosperity of soil. For example,

the casts left behind by earthworms post-digestion include nutrient dense compounds full of nitrogen, thus enriching the soil that it manifests within. Regarding the production of grain, the pure existence and subsequent migration of worms throughout the soil is enough of a catalyst to enable the growth of crops. The simple act of an earthworm burrowing into the soil they inhabit will create a small channel of air, promoting circulation. This is another addition to a growing catalogue of studies focusing on soil composition, shedding light on an unresearched but vastly significant sub-section of the earth’s biodiversity. Discussion has arisen regarding the enhancement of soil biology, as it may result in a reduction of the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals used in mass crop-production. However, this would only be applicable to geographies that already have a large population

of earthworms that already help promote crop output. Places like Latin America, according to the study, rely on earthworms which reproduce using manure or waste food to aid in the production of 8% of its grain yield. The global south in general seems to adhere to this pattern as earthworms contribute to 10% grain output in Saharan Africa. The study of the small but mighty earthworm and its essential role in the biodiversity of our environment is another small leap towards the broadening of our knowledge with regards to the undervalued sector of soil-based research. Image Credit: Pixabay, PortalJardin

Scientists recreate the Only a matter of time: the Aztec 'death whistle'

search for life beyond Earth Vibha Gaddi

A new space race underway, scientiststs are consdering the inevitability of life beyond Earth.

pace exploration and the search for life is an important part of progressing human knowledge and helps address some of the fundamental questions about our place in the universe, where we came from and where we are headed. It is also one of the key factors contributing to advancement in the technology of telescopes and new equipment. To find life as we know it, scientists have narrowed down the search to the 'Goldilocks Zone', also known as the 'Habitable Zone', the distance from a star, which allows a planetary body to have the right conditions for an Earth-like atmosphere and liquid water thus having the potential to sustain life.

"The outlook for telescope technology is very promising given recent leaps in advancement" The search for signs of life has driven scientific development exponentially, especially in the field of telescope technology. Techniques such as transmission spectroscopy significantly expanded

our observational capabilities to find exo-planets. This method detects light from the exoplanet, and this is used to find the composition of the exoplanet's atmosphere. Analysing the composition of the atmosphere could reveal strong indications of the presence of life. The outlook for telescope technology is very promising given recent leaps in advancement. Researchers say that if the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was pointed towards Earth from a distant star, it would detect all the properties we look for today. This is an encouraging sign that advancements in our technology have the potential to find more exoplanets even further from our solar system which may possess habitable conditions.

"Thanks to rapidly advancing technology, we can certainly anticipate future breakthroughs"

The JWST has already made some exciting breakthroughs including detection of methane and carbon dioxide on an exoplanet 120 light years away from Earth. It also may have detected a molecule (dimethyl sulphide) which on Earth, is only produced by life. However, researchers do make it clear that more data is required to make any claims or confirm its presence. To navigate the challenge of imaging exoplanets which are so far away and much dimmer to their surrounding objects, astronomers use coronagraphs. Although this is still undergoing development, this instrument would be used to study the physical properties of exoplanets with greater accuracy and obtain pictures with more clarity of distant objects. Thanks to rapidly advancing technology, we can certainly anticipate future breakthroughs this could bring for the study of exoplanets and the search for life as we know it. Image Credit: Pixabay, Luminas_Art

Joe Keeble

Scientist's recreate the terrifying sound 24 years after the ceremonial whistle was initially uncovered.

-D Printing has enabled the unearthing of new knowledge surrounding Aztec tribes, allowing for recreations of ceremonial and religous instruments like the dreaded 'death whistle'. In the 1990s, archaeologists excavated an Aztec temple underneath Mexico City and found a human sacrifice to the Aztec wind god Ehactl. In the hands of this sacrifice, musical instruments were found with the skeletal face of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec God of death and the underworld, etched upon their surface, becoming known as 'Aztec death whistles'. These whistles were used exclusively by the Mexica, the Nahuatl-speaking people of the valley of Mexico who in part ruled the Mexico empire and from which the modern nation of Mexico draws its name.

"This led people to develop theories that they were used in battle to psychologcially intimidate their enemies" Scientists used a 3-D printed replica to recreate the instrument’s sound, which when played sounded shrieklike and uncannily human. This led people to develop theories that they were used in battle to psychologically intimidate their enemies, feeding on cultural preconceptions of the Aztecs to form this theory. However, this theory is not substantiated well, with the

reproductions of these whistles being much larger in size than those excavated. When size-accurate reproductions of these whistles are played, they sound much closer to atmospheric wind or ambient noises. Based on its location at the base of a temple to the wind god, its deathrelated imagery, and the lack of whistles discovered at battle sites or in warrior graves it is much more likely that it was used in a religious and ceremonial capacity.

"They operate in a way entirely different to Western wind instruments" Based on a document known as the Codex Borgia, a Mesoamerican manuscript detailing Aztec customs and religious beliefs, it is believed that Ehactl and Mictlantecuhtli guarded the underworld back-to-back with these gods being intimately linked. Thus, the idea that they were used in a religious capacity makes far more sense since they were whistles with the death God's face, held by a human sacrifice to the wind God. They are still fascinating instruments though, as they operate in a way entirely different to Western wind instruments (such as trumpets or flutes), entirely unique to pre-Colombian America. Flutes that could play multiple tones at once, Ocarinas shaped like animals, and many other fascinating instruments have also been found in separate Aztec excavations which alongside the discovery of the death whistle, adding to the increasing evidence of preColombian America as a supremely advanced musical culture. This further counters the modern and heavily westernized preconception that they were somehow less advanced than contemporary Western societies.

THE

Monday 23rd October 2023

Blind Date Co-Ordinator: Charlotte Lee

Blind Date

COURIER

Hosted by Las Iguanas

Rate the Date What were your first impressions? When we first met he seemed nice and had kind eyes. What sort of topics did guys talk about? And what did yiu have in common We talked about food, travel, family and sport. As Ryan recently moved to the UK from Hong Kong I was quite interested in finding out how he was finding the transition. We both liked to travel, meet new people and learn new skills. How was the restaurant and what meal did you have? We met at Las Iguanas, where I had a Brazilian curry called a Moqueca de Palmi Describe your date as one cocktail from the menu and why? Salted caramel martini. Classy but with a fun twist. Do you think you will see each other again?

Megan, 23, Medicine

In a romantic sense probably not but I did have a fun time.

Rate the Date What were your first impressions? When I just met Megan, I thought she was a friendly and talkative person. What did you talk about? And what did you have in common We talked about our daily life, habits and different things about our home town. I thought that it might be quite difficult for me, as an introverted person, to talk with another person for such a long time, but not, which is unexpected. I think that Megan and I both like to play sports and prefer to go to a pub rather than a club. How was the resturant and what meal did you have? The lighting of the restaurant is romantic and I think it is quite suitable for dating, but the music is a bit loud and sometimes we can't hear each other. Describe your date as one cocktail from the menu and why? I would say Bull in a tequila shop, which we both like. Although the cocktail is mixed with four different wines, you can not find the taste of alcohol, just like dating, Do you think you will see each other again? I think I will see her again if she wants to..

Ryan, 23, Msc Engineering

Agony Aunt returns to The Courier Charlotte Lee

Flatmate getting on your nerves? Want some advice on how to handle uni life?

our dilemma of the week:

Hi, I’ve just started my first year and I’m having trouble keeping up with my friendships from home. I'm scared that because I was constantly seeing them at home and now we’re so far away that we will lose the friendship we once had. Any advice? In my first term this was a big worry of mine. I’d gone through school and sixth form with such a close group of friends that I panicked when I got to uni. I was so worried that we would not talk as much and that even if I tried I would that I would not find that same level of friendship with anyone here. And, while it was completely normal for me to feel like this, I did have to remind myself that all of friends from home were in the same boat, they were probably also just as

scared as I was about losing them. Agony Aunt says:

Firstly, I would suggest that you talk to your friends from home and express that you miss them and that you are worried about not speaking to them as often. I'm sure that they will be able to reassure you that your friendship hasn't changed and it is the physical distance that is

" Talk to your friends and tell them that you miss them" making the gap between you all seem so vast. I would also bring up to your friends the idea of a fun and light hearted group activity that you guys can do virtually. A few weeks into University my friends and I did a power point evening over zoom where we all presented power points about our first few weeks of University and got to tell each other the questionable things we had all seen or experienced during freshers. Even though we were so far apart from each other it reassured me that nothing had really changed

and we were still just as close friends; we just needed to adapt to having more adult friendships. My overall advice would be to not shut yourself off, whether that be from your old friends or the possibility of making new ones at uni. Your new friendships at University will not be the same as the ones you had at school but that is what makes them so special; you get to experience new things and new stages of your life with brand new people, but you will always have your friends from home and the memories you had with them. And as they always say absence makes the heart grow fonder, you will most likely find that when you're back home for

Christmas it will feel as if you have never left each other.

Image credit: pixabay

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Rebecca Wright and Adriana Newbury

Relationships

To ghost or not to ghost? Black History Month: My Nadia Gustab

Leaving creepy people on read: when is it okay to ghost and should we feel bad?

ith Halloween creeping up on us, so are the creepy people you don’t remember adding from the night before. With about a million “Hey sexy” and “What are you doing tonight beautiful?” message notifications, you begin to think; when can I ghost them? You see, this is more complicated than it seems, because as relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein said, women have been “socialised to be pleasing and deferential to men”, which is why we always have a harder time telling people 'no' and feeling like we don’t want to upset them. To make it easier for you guys, here are some signs that will tell you when it is finally time to leave that creepy person from Market Shaker on read... 1. Firstly, they are sending unsolicited messages that are definitely not being reciprocated. This includes replying to every single one of your stories with unwanted and out-of-line sexual compliments, to sending explicit pictures and expecting them back.

2. If they begin to spam you with the previous literal harassment to the point where it becomes quite draining. 3. When they aren't getting the hint and so ghosting is the only option (as ‘no’ clearly isn’t one for them.) 4. Lastly and especially, if they become quite aggressive towards your rejection and are very disrespectful and rude with their messages. However, just remember that these are a few basic guidelines when handling these situations. The most important thing is to keep yourself safe, and never to feel like you owe any creepy people anything. If ghosting someone will make you feel comfortable, then it is the best decision to make and it is always warranted. I know that sometimes it is hard, but it is necessary, so do not feel bad for it!

Image: Source (pixabay) @Schmidsi

Feel yourself up! Emma Hunter

Why it’s so important to check yourself the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

here are so many things to think about in these crazily busy lives of ours, and unfortunately I’m going to be the one to urge you (at least, if you’re a person with breasts) to add another thing to your frustratingly long todo list. Fortunately though, it’s quick and easy, and most importantly, it’s potentially lifesaving. It’s a reminder to check your boobs regularly. As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now is a better time than ever to start. It’s important because it increases the likelihood of early detection of breast cancer, and the sooner treatment begins, the greater its chance of success. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but thankfully its risk can be minimized – through lifestyle changes, and principally by checking yourself often.

It’s recommended to perform a breast self-exam once a month, which means feeling your boobs and nipples and looking at them directly and in the mirror. Look for any changes in size or texture, lumps, swelling, tenderness or discharge. As you do it you’ll get to know what is normal for you, so you’ll be able to recognize anything unusual. And if you do, it’s vital to talk to a healthcare professional about it. This article isn’t to worry anyone; most abnormalities aren’t cancer, and many (often benign) things can cause breast changes. In fact, focusing too much on potential health issues can affect your quality of life too – but that’s a topic for another article. This one, however, is about taking precautions, because it’s better (within reason) to be safe than sorry, right? Once a month, check your boobs, move on to something else, then don’t think about it again until next month. Easy. Happy self-examining to you all. Image: Source (pixabay) @rosangera_1

relationship with race at Uni Samantha Seidu - Head of Life & Style

Race and identity are always complex to navigate, especially at university.

oming to uni for the first time is often a challenge for everyone. Moving away from home, trying to make new friends, adjusting to a new learning and studying style, it can be very intimidating. One thing, however, that is overlooked but adds to this pressure, is race. Generally speaking, I have had a very complex relationship with my race and ethnicity. I am a Ghanaian by ethnicity and grew up in the multicultural city of Leicester. I spent most of my time in predominantly white schools and villages, which meant that I had been exposed to racism and microaggressions from a young age. This naturally wore down on my self-esteem and confidence, but with a few years of work and a lot of self-reflection, I was able to restore the equilibrium in my identity. Being in places with little to no racial and ethnic diversity is a feeling I am too familiar with, so I hoped that coming to uni would at least allow me to mingle with more people of colour.

"It came as no surprise when I walked into my first lecture to find that I was the only black person on my course" On arriving in Newcastle, I realised that I would probably run a similar course to when I was at home. Newcastle is not very racially or ethnically diverse compared to the Midlands, London or Manchester. There aren’t as many Afro-Caribbean shops like there are at home and there aren’t as many people of colour, all of which gave me a sense of comfort. So it came as no surprise when I walked into my first lecture to find that I was the only black person on my course. It is something most people don’t have to think about, but the feeling of being the only person of a racial group in a space is incredibly isolating and also adds a huge amount of pressure that was never asked for. What makes this worse is that it feels as though only you are experiencing this and the knowledge that trying to explain it would often end in gaslighting that makes you doubt yourself more. Regardless, of the anxieties, I pushed through similarly to how my parents

would have done when they first arrived in England. I will admit, it has been tough, being the only black person everywhere I went meant that I would have to defend my identity and that of other ethnic minorities due to ignorance and misinformation, I would have to have very difficult conversations with peers who had quite racist perceptions of ethnic minorities, frequent microaggressions, and most of all, tokenism. I will always remember finding it comical how I was contacted on numerous occasions during Black History Month of first year to write articles and co-host radio shows (which I did do because they were great opportunities and a lot of fun) only to never have that again once it ended. The most difficult thing I have found, however, is promoting my course to prospective students (especially those that are ethnic minorities), due to the lack of ethnic diversity and urgency regarding the matter.

"My experience has given me stories to tell and unique perspectives to offer when it comes to race, racism and identity" With all that being said, it hasn’t all been so bad. Being the only black person has meant that I have been able to bond with other ethnic minority students over a similar struggle. Joining the Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS) also helped immensely as I could interact with people from across the African diaspora who have shared cultural values as me. Finally and most importantly, my experience has given me stories to tell and unique perspectives to offer when it comes to race, racism and identity. Being a person of colour in Britain is not the easiest experience, and yet, it isn’t something I would trade for the world. With all the bad things, are also the good; the friends I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learnt and the experiences I’ve had are all invaluable and things I will carry with me for the rest of my life. So for those of you that were in a similar rut to me: it gets easier and it gets better! Don’t let your race and identity hold you back but allow it to propel and motivate you in everything you do, this way, you will find more commonalities with people that you realise. Image: Source (pixabay) @OpenClipart-Vectors

Boo! Hook-up culture at Halloween Megan Lazenby

An exploration into why Halloween has become synonymous with hook-up culture.

alloween, whilst always carrying a reputation for being a night of mischief and deviance, didn't always fall into the category of being ‘sexy’ - or did it? When did this innocent ‘trick or treat’ holiday become “adult”, and take a turn from dressing for horror like a dead bride, to a sexy mouse duh? (Hope you caught that Mean Girls reference…)

Halloween is the one night of the year where people can dress however they want and be applauded for it. Women can go out scantily dressed and be seen as sultry instead of slutty, a night to flaunt your sexuality outside of societies norms. It's a liberating night, where everyone can celebrate together and be someone else for the night. The idea that you can be someone else gives people a sense of freedom, both when dressing provocatively and sexually. With a full face of makeup, is the person you end up with really going to recognise you another day? It's a night to throw caution (and costumes!) to the wind and let your inner self loose. Although it might be a trick-ortreat the next morning when you wake up next to someone who’s not your usual type… But is there another reason why people engage

in hookup culture on Halloween? Newcastle University lecturer Chris Haywood believes that Halloween’s Pagan origins now contribute to it being seen as an ‘adult holiday’, especially in terms of the rituals that used to be performed such as dancing naked around a fire to prepare to have sex with the devil! Haywood also comments on the UKs sexual norms being quite rigid and traditional, thus “Halloween becomes a space where they can be contested, challenged and upturned. And you get this porous boundary between what’s sexually acceptable and not starting to break down”. He has also commented on Halloween becoming a consumerist holiday with the “eroticisation of horror”, with vampires in the 1970s being presented as quite bisexual and the recent Twilight franchise taking off and making a connection between vampires and sex. All in all, creating an

atmosphere over Halloween where the norms and values of everyday life become blurred. However, whilst this night often has people wearing less clothing than usual, it shouldn't be taken for granted, by either party, that the other person wants to hookup. The usual rules of consent must obviously still apply.

Image: Source (pixabay) @OpenClipart-Vectors

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-editors: Zahra Hanif, Jay Barber and Marina Snyder

THE

COURIER

5 Lifestyle Newcastle's dark history: The Witch Trials 14

Karolina Janikova

Unravelling Newcastle's historic secrets - the North East witch trials.

n the year 1650, Newcastle entered a haunting chapter steeped in tension, led by Mayor George Dawson and Sheriff John Lodge. This era was marked by superstitions intertwined with witchcraft, with the entire nation caught up in pervasive dread and faith during a time of persecution and execution of accused witches. A petition, dated March 26th 1649, was documented in Newcastle's common-council records, presumably signed by the town's residents. This petition earnestly requested the apprehension and subsequent trial of individuals suspected of practicing witchcraft.

"This petition earnestly requested the apprehension and subsequent trial of individuals suspected of practicing witchcraft" In response to this plea, a Witch-Tryer was summoned from Scotland, claiming to possess the knowledge necessary to identify witches. This mysterious figure conducted public examinations of those accused of witchcraft within the confines of the town hall.

The method employed to scrutinize the suspected witches was nothing short of shocking. The Whitelock’s Memorial reveals that these accused individuals were openly stripped, with the witch-tryer "taking a pin and thrusting it into the skin in various parts of their bodies." If they were insensible to this, it was used as proof against them. As a result of these harrowing witch trials, numerous women were declared guilty and subsequently summoned to face trial at the assizes. Among them, one wizard and fourteen reputed witches hailing from Newcastle met their tragic fate with execution on the Town Moor near Newcastle upon Tyne on that fateful day of August 21st, 1650.

"The information employed in this article provides us with a glimpse into this ominous chapter of Newcastle's history" The information employed in this article provides us with a glimpse into this ominous chapter of Newcastle's history. It is sourced from the 1789 publication by the British antiquary, topographer, educator, and curator John Brand, titled 'The History and Antiquities of the Town and Country of the Town of Newcastle Upon Tyne.'

Image credit: Pixabay

Life in plastic, is it's 'People pleasing' and its message too drastic? unhappy consequences Hannah Mercer

Plastic doll to progressive icon - is the Barbie Movie really 'anti-men'?

arbie; a plastic, blonde-haired doll. Who would’ve thought a movie about a toy could spark such outrage? The film follows Barbie on a journey of self-discovery, bringing with it themes of girlhood, identity, female friendship, encouragement and more. It celebrates femininity and what it means to be a woman, arguably something we are not used to seeing in cinema. But does this seemingly pro-female stance automatically make Barbie anti-men? Well, some men believe so. Warning against the ‘alienating, dangerous and perverse film’, men like Ben Shapiro went as far as lighting Barbie dolls on fire in reaction against the film. But I find this reaction to be quite ironic as it encapsulates another major theme of the film, which isn’t anti-men – it’s anti-patriarchy.

are everything Ken becomes when he is tainted by the system in the real world. But these men, unlike Ken, don’t yet understand what it’s like to live on the periphery, so leave the film without understanding its main message.

“Don’t yet understand what it’s like to live on the periphery, so leave the film without understanding its main message” Barbie isn’t anti-men, but it isn’t just profemale. If anything, the film is pro-female and pro-men because one of its main messages is the anti-patriarchal idea of the need for equality. In the end, Barbie realises that Ken should be more involved in Barbieland, and they need to live equally together, something we could all benefit from.

Eliska Janska

which can escalate to anxiety or stress as you won’t have the energy to do things that make you happy as well or prioritise yourself in the way you need to.

“Not leaving time for yourself can have a massive impact on your mental health”

Why you need to focus on 'pleasing' yourself above all else.

veryone has probably experienced that awkward moment, when you feel like people are automatically expecting you to agree on something. It could be tomorrow’s meeting in a café or helping them out with their homework - and so to not cause any misunderstandings or disappointment, you say ‘yes’ to whatever they ask you for. Being a people pleaser does not only mean feeling guilty about telling others ‘no’. It can also mean apologising for things that aren’t your fault, pretending that your opinion corresponds with others and what people think about you, and prioritising that over your actual feelings – if you have noticed one of the mentioned above within yourself – you might just be a people pleaser. It's a vicious cycle.

“If you have noticed one of the mentioned above within yourself – you might just be a people pleaser”

“It encapsulates another major theme of the film, which isn’t anti-men – it’s anti-patriarchy” As Ken is corrupted by the patriarchy in the real world, he becomes increasingly powerhungry, turning against Barbie. But, as Barbie starts to suffer in the ‘Kendom’, so does Ken, suggesting that really, what the film is trying to show us, is how harmful the patriarchy is to everyone. What makes men like Shapiro’s reaction so ironic is that it is a result of the patriarchy. They Image credit: Twitter @barbiethemovie

Some may argue that it's about being kind and making other people happy, hence the 'pleasing' in the title, which sounds like a nice concept. But you actually 'pleasing' others means you ultimately end up neglecting your personal needs. Not leaving time for yourself can have a massive impact on your mental health. You might feel frustrated,

At the end of the day, you are the one who you go to bed with, get up with, and who is never gonna leave you, whatever happens. You must be your priority. Your life, your ambitions, your health, your happiness are all important, so it is also important to act like it. It might sound scary, and it might be difficult at the beginning, but once you start trying to break the people pleasing cycle, you will definitely feel the relief. People who want to stay in your life will respect your decisions, and people who won’t… forget about them. Look in the mirror at the person who truly understands your qualities and treat them well.

Image credit: Pixabay, StockSnap

THE

COURIER

Sub-editors: Zahra Hanif, Jay Barber and Marina Snyder

Monday 23rd October 2023

Lifestyle

Black History Month icons: Jackie Robinson Arthur Ferridge - Head of Sport

In honour of Black History Month, our Head of Sport showcases one of his personal heroes.

s far as Black icons go, it is difficult to look past the sporting icon that is Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first African American player. Widely credited with breaking the colour barrier in American sport, Robinson was a true trailblazer, clearing the way for countless Black athletes to make their names. Born in Georgia in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers, Robinson did not have an easy route to the top tiers of professional baseball. He got his start in athletics, learning from his two older brothers, one of whom was an Olympic Silver Medallist. He competed on four varsity teams in High School, excelling at American football, basketball, athletics, and, of course, baseball, while also establishing himself as a regionally notable tennis player.

“Robinson was a true trailblazer, clearing the way for countless Black athletes to make their names.”

He later enrolled at UCLA, becoming the first athlete in school history to achieve varsity status in four sports, competing in the same four sports as he did in high school, while also meeting his future wife and earning a semi-professional football contract in Honolulu, at one of the nation’s first integrated teams.

“He later enrolled at UCLA, becoming the first athlete in school history to achieve varsity status in four sports” His football career would unfortunately be cut short by a 1942 draft letter, which saw Robinson spend two years away from athletics. Upon his discharge, however, he was drafted by the Kansas City Monarchs to play minor league baseball in an all-black league, all the while searching for a major league spot but facing significant bigoted backlash. He was eventually scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers, where a sympathetic, pro-integration front office pulled strings to find him a spot in the side, bringing an end to sixty years of segregation i n Major League Baseball. Throughout his eventual eleven year playing career, Robinson faced incredible racist backlash, but silenced his critics with a World Championship win, a consistently impressive batting average, and a string of dominant performances on the pitching mound. Since his retirement, Robinson became a prominent advocate for integration and the civil rights movement, also leaving behind a great

legacy in the world of baseball, where he is known for pioneering the “long ball” style of play. In 1999, he was named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, alongside Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks. He passed away in 1972, leaving behind a legacy not just as a fiercely talented athlete but also as a civil rights trailblazer, and is a definitive sporting icon for Black History Month.

Image credit: Twitter @KeneAkers

Image credit: Twitter @dgs_sport

Society Spotlight: Wholesome or tiresome?

Let's get quizzical! Romanticising autumn Jay Barber - Lifestyle sub-editor

Find out more about one of Newcastle University's newest societies, Quiz Society!

ho doesn’t love a good pub quiz? Quiz Society, one of Newcastle University’s newest societies, understand that there’s no joy quite like getting to show off your pointless trivia knowledge. I was able to attend their taster event and chat to the committee about their plans for the year. Evie, the society president, tells me that Quiz Society emerged after the committee spent most of their second year either attending or hosting pub quizzes as a group. The next logical step was to set up a society of their own, with the hopes of hosting bigger events for a wider range of students who share their love of quizzes. Judging by attendance at their first event, the demand for the society was there – the event was so popular that the society plans to host another taster session for those who couldn’t attend once the venue’s capacity was exceeded.

“Quiz Society emerged after the committee spent most of their second year either attending or hosting pub quizzes as a group”

Their first quiz took place at Holy Hobo and included everything you’d want from a quiz and more. Alongside the pub quiz essentials of music rounds, general knowledge and picture rounds, attendees were faced with an ‘all-or-nothing’ final round, where one incorrect answer meant a grand total of 0 points for the section. Another highlight of the event was seeing how the committee ensured nobody was left out – this ranged from ensuring that solo attendees were put into groups, to congratulating the losing team with the prize of a squeaky rubber chicken.

“Another highlight of the event was seeing how the committee ensured nobody was left out” As for the future, Evie tells me that there are a number of plans in the works, including Halloween and Christmas quizzes, collaborations with other societies, and plans to host charity quizzes to raise money for good causes. They also hope to host quizzes in a range of venues across Newcastle, giving attendees a perfect excuse to try out a new pub. To keep up to date with all things Quiz Society, you can find the society on Instagram at @nclquizsociety and buy membership on the NUSU website for only £5.

Image credit: Instagram @nclquizsociety

Nadia Gustab

In a world of Gilmore Girls and pumpkin spiced latte posts, is the media's portrayal of Autumn too romanticized?

umpkin spiced latte, Ugg boots, cinnamon scented candles and cosy blankets whilst watching Gilmore Girls in a fairy-lighted room; when it comes to romanticising seasons, autumn is the clear favourite of the media. Seemingly, Autumn is the season that manages to outgrow its incoming holiday in the media: Halloween. Sure, winter has Christmas and Summer has vacations, yet autumn is romanticised as the perfect combination between the hotness and coldness of the other seasons (with no allergies that come with spring!).

“Autumn is romanticised as the perfect combination between the hotness and coldness of the other seasons”

The answer is simple, new trends. Through the development of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, new ideas and trends emerged and were shared that inspired and invited a community of people to resurface their feelings and recognise the beauty in the fresh beginnings of Autumn. From reimagined mood-boards to aesthetics, the joy of digging out your favourite sweater from the previous year and indulging in past childhood traditions and rituals, such as watching seasonal movies and going on autumnal walks with your autumn playlist playing, returned alongside a handful of cherished memories According to psychologist Lee Chamber, the media romanticises the past rather than the present through Autumn, as the “seasons have specific rituals and anchors that we can attach to them, which can foster feelings of nostalgia and take us back to emotions of the years gone by.” Therefore, come autumn, from back-toschool memories, rewatching your favourite shows and movies, and repurchasing your favourite seasonal coffee from Starbucks or Costa, there is nothing quite like the indulgence into your sentimental feelings and autumnal romanticisation.

I asked several people in their 20s on how media romanticised Autumn for them, and the answers can be narrowed down simply to two feelings: comfort and nostalgia. These feelings, however, have been developed with the media over the last decade. As new social platforms formed, the internet initially began to exult in the meme of labelling autumn as a “Christian white girl” and “basic” season. Yet, how did this change? Image credit: Pixabay, Castleguard

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Lana Free and Ivy French

Fashion & Beauty

Influencers take over fashion week: Is 'iconic' being substituted for five-minutes of fame? Anuska Banerjee

Has the fashion age of glamour and charm been replaced by an age of viral fame?

ho remembers the 90’s supermodel? She was iconic, she was bold, she was a celebrity and voice to reckon. Now, all it takes is one viral video on TikTok or Instagram to turn you into a runway model.

“Inviting influencers to a show is guaranteed promotion for designers, saving them a fortune on marketing.” You have brands and agencies trying to get a hold of you for one post, and most importantly, you have the doors to fashion week open and ready to welcome you; those same fashion shows that once had a veil of certain elusive mystery and only the crème-de-le-crème of the fashion industry were so privileged as to get access to. And while we may view this change as a good departure from the rather elitist culture that pervaded the fashion scene back in the day, it is certainly up for debate.

Inviting influencers to a show is guaranteed promotion for designers, saving them a fortune on marketing. You invite one TikTok influencer to your show, and you have a full behind-thescenes coverage on their channel, garnering millions of views which is sure to translate into a minimum of a couple hundred sales.

“Are they simply plaguing their own legacies in a bet to become more relatable and popular?” We might even argue that TikTok has made luxury fashion much more accessible and relatable. Someone who used to be a nobody rises to immeasurable fame overnight because of social media and is everywhere on the runways next season. Take for instance, the latest viral sensation, “Tube Girl” - one viral video, and she is walking for Christian Cowan at Paris! Therefore, this trend of hiring influencers is sure opening up a plethora of opportunities for many such talented people who would probably never even get this kind of a spot-light in the 90s. But what is undeniable is that somewhere in this age of viral fame, we have gone from the undisputable glamour and charm of the likes of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss to an Ariana Grande look-alike at the recent New York Fashion week, who could barely even walk in her high heels, making fashion week more of a

Breaking in Dr Martens Jade Woods

Jade Woods shares top tips on breaking in your Dr Martens this Autumn.

r Marten shoes, known as “Docs”, have been popular for decades. These shoes last for actual years once they have moulded to the shape of your foot. But there lies the issue: once they have moulded to the shape of your foot. Everyone knows about the infamous breaking-in of Docs. From bandaging bleeding heels to having to wear sliders for a week because you physically cannot bear to put on a shoe that will touch your foot, breaking in Dr Martens is not for the faint hearted. However, lucky for you, I have a few tips that will make the process significantly easier, and perhaps you will still have your heel at the end of it. First of all and probably the least effective is leather conditioner. Leather balms supposedly soften even the hardest of leather and ensure that the material stays soft, so conditioning your boots with a product like the Docs Wonder Balsam shoe protector can help. Apparently well-treated leather will be easier to break in, however, I wouldn’t put all your eggs in this basket. Blister plasters can also be also surprisingly effective, if you put them on pre-blister. Those fancy hydrocolloid gel ones act as a great cushion between your heel and the shoe so you don’t get as many blisters. However, saying that, in my experience you put them on, and a blister just pops up in another place. Socks are quite literally your best friend. A thick pair of socks or even multiple pairs of crew-length socks will do the trick for stretching out the shoe while shielding your feet, especially around the ankle area. Whilst trekking around with fuzzy pink bed socks under your Docs isn’t exactly ideal, this will help in the leathersoftening process in the beginning. Your thickest socks will do the trick just fine, but Dr. Marten and Amazon have special socks that have extra padding on the heel, ankle, and arch if your thick socks aren’t doing the trick.

Something as simple as a hairdryer can also work. Running heat over (not too hot or close to the shoe as you’ll burn the leather) will soften them, making it easier to stretch them out.

“The most important advice would be to take your time, wear them around the house, or for a short walk and build up your wear-time.” Finally, my personal favourite, the silicone heel protectors. You wear them under socks and they go around your ankle and over the ball and arch of your foot. They serve as a better version of blister plasters because it covers the entire back of your foot and ankle. My only criticism would be you have to get the positioning just right or they’ll slip when you’re walking and you'll end up with blisters. The most important advice would be to take your time, wear them around the house, or for a short walk and build up your wear-time. Don’t plan a trip away or a whole day out and commit to wearing a brand-new pair of docs, I can almost guarantee it will end badly. Every pair of Dr Martens are different, and some are significantly worse than others (shout out to the Jadon platforms, I don’t think I will ever break them in). Try everything and don’t give up straight away.

Image credit: Instagram @drmartinsofficial

disaster fodder for trolls than true iconic moments that would live on timelessly for generations. We don’t get drama at fashion week anymore, that used to rule the tabloids for weeks: like Alexander McQueen shocking in his Fall/Winter '96 show with a skeleton placed next to fashion critic Suzy Menkes, then going on to comment after the show "If I get someone like Suzy Menkes in the front row, wearing her fucking Christian Lacroix, I make sure that lady gets pissed on by one of the girls." All we get now, more often than not, are forgettable moments that might get a million views but would rather classify as comedy; most certainly not as fashion. The question thus remains: are runways at New York, Paris and Milan really evolving with the times, or are they simply plaguing their own legacies in a bet to become more relatable and popular; destroying the very rich fabric of the runway culture by replacing real models with TikTokers, consequently substituting iconic moments for five-minutes of fame. Image credit: Keaton Rich - Instagram @sabrinabahsoon

To be nude or not to be nude? Amelie Baker

At what point does nudity simply leave the body vulnerable to capitalist and patriarchal consumption?

hilst nudity has become almost a sure-fire way of hitting the fashion world’s headlines, does it belong in the fashion world? Although nude fashion might not be an everyday clothing choice - especially for those of us suffering British weather and with a decided lack of glitzy award shows to attend nudity can certainly make a statement. The style exudes a sense of daring and rebellious sexuality, from Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 diamante nude dress to Vivienne Westwood’s raw, deconstructive street fashion which centred on and celebrated the human body as a work of art and a politicised statement.

nakedness to celebrate her identity as an AfricanAmerican woman, the first to win best actress. Berry purposefully used her body as a politicallycharged fashion statement on a public stage, choosing to be naked. And what is fashion if not making a statement? It exists as a portable form of expression, liberation and art - a choice to express both our individual and collective identity, whether that be in the exposure of the body or in its concealment. To be naked or not to be naked, then, is certainly a powerful choice.

“To be naked or not to be naked, then, is certainly a powerful choice.” Nakedness, however, also comes with vulnerability. The fashion world is, unfortunately, rife with harmful ideologies (yes, I’m looking at you, male gaze) so at what point does nudity simply leave the body vulnerable to capitalist and patriarchal consumption? Kate Moss’s iconic sheer slip worn to a model agency in 1993 remains a highlight of nude fashion, but in interviews surrounding the risque choice she admitted not knowing the extent to which her body was on display, raising the question: is nudity just another way for others to exploit the body? And yet nudity can also be used to challenge social structures and their exploitation. Halle Berry’s 2002 Ellie Saab Oscar dress used her

Image credit: Rex Features, British Vogue

Sub-Editors: Roseanna Leconte and Anna Nix

Monday 23rd October 2023

Food & Drink

THE

COURIER

Celebrating World Food Day Warming Anna Nix - Food & Drink Sub-Editor

As World Food Day is celebrated internationally, our sub-editor reminisces on food from her home country.

ater is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind’ is this year’s theme for World Food Day which takes place on 16 October. It annually celebrates the importance of food and tries to promote the awareness of hunger. This year, the focus is on water and its importance in our life, as well as our responsibility to manage it wisely. The way I am celebrating this year is remembering, and introducing you to, the food from my country, the Czech Republic.

"Although originating from Vienna in Austria, the schnitzel is a core part of the Czech traditional cuisine" Czechia has many traditional plates that I could rave about, some even originating from neighbouring countries, but adopted by the Czech cuisine. We are definitely renowned for our thick sauces with meat, which are usually paired with dumplings. Be that the marinated sirloin that comes with a creamy sauce and is oftentimes paired with cranberries and whipped cream. Or my preferred one – goulash, which is a pork stew

that has a ton of onions in it and is usually paired with bread dumplings. A fun twist on the dumplings in the Czech cuisine are fruit dumplings, which are filled with fruit and can be served with crumbled farmer’s cheese, butter and sugar. However, I prefer to serve it with butter and cocoa powder, and yes, it is my comfort food.

"If I had to choose my last meal, it would be the chicken schnitzel with my mum's potato salad" Although originating from Vienna in Austria, the schnitzel is a core part of the Czech traditional cuisine, with many people turning to this delicacy as their Christmas Eve dinner (replacing the more traditional fried carp). Chicken or pork meat wrapped in breadcrumbs, fried and paired with potato salad, rings celestial harmonies in my ears. Fun fact is that there is no one way to make

a typical potato salad, as every family alters it to their own preferences and the recipes are passed down through generations. And as I am partial to my mom’s recipe, I could only advocate for that being the best version of a classical potato salad. If I had to choose my last meal, it would be the chicken schnitzel with my mum's potato salad. If I were to move away from typical food and give a small spotlight to drinks originating from Czechia, I would have to mention our beer, specifically then Pilsner, because it was the Czechs who created one of the most popular types of beer. And there you have it, goulash or schnitzel paired with Pilsner - you can’t get much more Czech than that. So, from my little cuisine to yours, Happy World Food Day!

Image: Source: Pixabay,

Battle of the supermarkets... Kate Egan

Co-op, M&S, Waitrose, Aldi which one comes on top?

hen it comes to choosing where to do your weekly shop, there are so many options to choose from in Newcastle. Everybody has their favourite supermarket, however when you become a student, various factors impact the practicality of shopping. For most of us, the weekly shop is not something that we cared about before arriving at university. Personally, the independence and freedom that I gained from my own shopping was such an exciting experience. Selecting the best supermarket for me consisted of a few things; convenience, quality and cost. Having a busy social life, spending time on your studies and sometimes having a job can often be quite a time management task. Luckily for Newcastle students, we have the benefit of having a Co-op situated in our Student’s Union. At the end of a long and tiring day of lectures many students will take a trip

Image: Source: Pixabay, ikon

here. However, this is more expensive than other shops, even if it is still by far the most convenient shop to grab something delicious to cook for tea, or to treat yourself to a scrumptious (and well deserved) snack for the way home.

"Selecting the best supermarket for me consisted of a few things: convenience, quality and cost" Many students may be used to a high-end quality of food whilst living at home. This lifestyle can in some cases still be achieved whilst surviving on a student loan. Just a short walk into Newcastle City Centre or West Jesmond, you’ll find the classy supermarkets Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. These premium supermarkets are often thought to be too far out of people’s price ranges, but this may not always be the case. Many people online have reported the bargains that they have found in M&S in both

the meat and vegetable departments. Sometimes you just have to dig a little bit deeper to spot the top deals. It’s also important to still spoil yourself as a student from time to time, with some of my personal favourites being the tubs of chocolates that both M&S and Waitrose sell. Indulging on the odd expensive treat never fails to make me happy when I find myself swamped with university work.

"Indulging on the odd expensive treat never to make me happy when I find myself swampped with university work" Some students will still argue that the quality of the food has to be sacrificed in order to fit the student budget. The majority of my shopping takes place in Aldi. Simply hop on the metro and travel to Gateshead stadium, it’s easy to get to and requires little walking. Whilst some will claim that Aldi products aren’t always up to the same standard, I would say that you can still have a healthy diet full of delicious, quality food whilst shopping at Aldi. Awarded with the label ‘cheapest supermarket’ by Which?, I believe that Aldi is the best supermarket for student shopping.

Winter Drinks

Karolina Janikova

ogi is truly a heavenly blessing bestowed upon this Earth. I'm not kidding! I had the chance to try this delightful beverage a few years ago, and it has been accompanying my autumn evenings ever since. To describe the flavour a bit more, I would say it is simply honey-flavored gingerbread in a cup. If your typical hot beverage choices include chai latte or masala tea, then Yogi is tailor-made for your tastes. I learned this recipe while working in a charming and somewhat mysterious teahouse in my hometown. When summer drew to a close, it became the preferred choice of every customer. Yogi isn't the quickest tea to prepare, so having a larger pot is advantageous, allowing you to savour it over an extended period! Ingredients • 4 cups of boiling water • 2 cinnamon sticks • 15 whole green cardamom pods • 10 cloves (perhaps a few less if cloves aren't to your taste) • 15 black peppercorns • 5 thin ginger slices • 1 leveled teaspoon of Indian black Assam tea (you can use any loose black tea or a tea bag) • 2 cups of whole milk (you can use milk alternatives as well) • 4 tablespoons of honey (I use a bit more, it depends on your taste) Step by Step Method 1. Add boiling water to a large pot and include cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom, and cloves. 2. Boil them together for 20 minutes, then add the slices of ginger. 3. Continue brewing on low heat for the next 10 minutes. 4. Remove it from the heat, add the teaspoon of Assam, and let it rest for 5 minutes. 5. Strain the prepared tea through a sieve into a large container. 6. Slightly heat the milk and pour it into the brewed tea. 7. As the final step, add the honey, and voilà! Yogi is ready.

Marketa Schulzova

he season of falling leaves and cozy sweaters is finally here which means our choice of drinks is shifting to more warming and aromatic ones. What are the hits of this season? Some would suggest the classics, such as pumpkin spice or ginger tea, but I recently found the gem amongst the others - Oat Chai Latte. It surprises you with the smooth and creamy taste, but thanks to the spices, it is also a firework of flavours. I found it quite by accident, but it quickly became my above-all favourite drink of the season. Oat milk has started to be a new classic and in combination with the chai tea it tastes outstanding. It nicely warms you up on your morning walk to university or later in the afternoon as you sit down in a café with friends. One thing I can guarantee - without trying it, you can't say for sure that you will not fall for it.

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Charlie Reid and Ollie Withers

Travel

Halloween across the world Sophie Psaila

Our writer takes us through her top recommendations on where to indulge in spooky festivities this Halloween.

t’s that time of year when the leaves turn brown, knitted sweaters are everywhere and pumpkins are scattered across every front door on the street. It’s officially spooky season! The month of October marks the celebration of Halloween, with countries all over the world embracing the North American tradition. Halloween originated in Ireland with the ancient Celts, who celebrated welcoming the harvest with people lighting bonfires and dressing up to scare away ghosts and evil spirits. This tradition has evolved and spread across the globe with different countries celebrating how they see fit. So, where should you spend Halloween weekend this year? Derry, Ireland Where better to celebrate Halloween than in the place it began!? When it started, people would mark this tradition by dressing up in animal skins to ward off ghosts - not quite the ridiculous morph suits or sexy police officers we see roaming the streets today. But today, the city of Derry in Ireland hosts the biggest Halloween festival in Europe; the Banks of Foyle Halloween Carnival. This four-day festival brings more than 40,000 people to Derry, ready to enjoy haunted houses, parades, and much more. With castles, tombs, and fright festivals galore, Ireland is a perfect place to celebrate Halloween in 2023.

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is widely known as the most haunted area in the United States, and is full of spooky locations and Halloween enthusiasts! During October the city is covered in decorations and ready for a party. Aside from having parades and parties galore, New Orleans’ French Quarter has various festive experiences just waiting to put you in the Halloween mood. From haunted museum tours that will leave you feeling uneasy, to ghost tours around the French Quarter, to the multitude of beautifully scary cemeteries, this city is geared up to celebrate Halloween in some of the most exciting ways. Salem, Massachusetts Famous for the 17th-century witch trials, it’s nearly impossible to separate Salem from Halloween. Each October, the town organises events spread across the entire month, starting with a huge parade and ending with an incredible fireworks display on Halloween night. Visitors can also participate in the Festival of the Dead and Witches Halloween Ball, where visitors can learn the history of the Salem witch trials and engage in ritualistic magic all whilst dressed up to attend the festivities. Transylvania, Romania Famous for housing one of Halloween’s most iconic figures, Count Dracula, Transylvania is filled with castles and numerous events that are a great way to celebrate the spooky season. You can party the night away at Dracula’s castle,

with a night tour and dinner at the castle included, or attend the Dracula film festival or Zombie walk. Romanians also celebrate the ‘Day of the Dead’ on November 1st which has many customs similar to Halloween. Mexico City, Mexico Halloween is a huge part of the culture in Mexico, but not in the same way it is celebrated in America, or most of Europe. Mexico celebrates Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Day). On this day, families and friends come together to remember their loved ones who they've lost, and it is believed the ones they have lost are celebrating with them. Festivities include colourful rituals, night-time parades, street stalls, and candlelight vigils. Travellers from all over the world are welcome to join the celebrations. So how do you plan on celebrating Halloween this year?

Image: Source : Pixabay

Flat airbed adventure Devon Russell

y June this year, I had spent almost a year living in Canada, having worked the summer. But there was still one place I had yet to explore, that had been a staple bucket list item for years Banff National Park, Alberta. One thing I quickly discovered about Canada, is that being wider than the Atlantic Ocean, it is a country best travelled by car. And so, we hired an SUV, threw an airbed in the back (our first mistake), stocked up on snacks, and took to the vast highways of Alberta. Our first stop was Lake Louise. We hiked up to a panoramic viewpoint, The Big Beehive, ascending around 560m to a spot nestled in the trees, overlooking the lake. The steep 10 km loop on a broken night of sleep (thanks to the continually deflating air mattress) was challenging. The incomparable views that rewarded us made it entirely worth it. After 2 long nights of our DIY car camping efforts, we drove an hour south to Kananaskis Village, in search of a decent night's sleep. We arrived at a rustic campsite, where we had booked a Yurt for the night. It was far from luxury, but there was incredible scenery and most importantly, a mattress that didn't deflate. We ended our week in the Rockies back in our makeshift camp-car, humbled by the inevitable 2am wake-up to a flat mattress.

The Road Less Travelled: the quest for authenticity

Weekend getaways in and around Newcastle

Focusing on Newcastle and the surrounding areas, our writer takes us through a number of trips to fill your weekend.

Jasmine Mallory-Shaw

’m going travelling’: the phrase brings to mind 8-bed hostel rooms in Eastern Europe, the mountainous terrain of Southeast Asia, driving a campervan along the California coast. Travelling is more than a holiday. It has become synonymous with the idea of self-discovery, overcoming challenges, experiencing life ‘like a local’. A quick Google search for travelling tips brings up hundreds of blogs aimed at ‘nomads’, with listicles about how to have the most authentic experience abroad. It seems we are all trying to escape our fellow tourists, to feel individual and different and special. And, for whatever reason, we are obsessed with struggling. There is certainly something fun about revelling in the challenges of travelling. Taking an overnight coach, carrying a backpack instead of a suitcase even if you’re not crossing uneven terrain, showering in sandals in a hostel bathroom to avoid contracting athlete’s foot: these sacrifices feel like hacking the system when they save you money, but there is also a sense of superiority in opting for inconvenience.

The most high-profile example that comes to mind is that of van-lifers, who tend to spend thousands renovating a van with plumbing, a cosy living area and a bed, choosing to live in a cramped space and hop from place to place with the aim of disconnecting from society and exploring the world. Similarly, WWOOFing (working on a farm in exchange for room and board) seems to have made a comeback, with a boom in social media content about finding the right farm for you and romanticising the opportunity to connect with nature.

"Perhaps we should interrogate where our sense of superiority around travel comes from" Our quest for authenticity is often innocent – Tiktoks promoting a little-known bakery or a beach frequented by locals – but perhaps we should interrogate where our sense of superiority around travel comes from. When we seek authenticity over all else, not only do we sacrifice the fun of travel, but we often end up trying on hardships that are some people’s reality.

Megan Hardiman

ewcastle, hailed as the fourth happiest place to live, emerges as a top destination or weekend escapades. Nestled in the heart of the Northeast, the city offers a myriad of activities and attractions, ensuring a delightful retreat from the bustle of studying. Malmaison: Urban Oasis on the Quayside In the city, Malmaison stands tall as the top choice. Perched on the picturesque Quayside, it offers beautiful views of the iconic millennium bridge, providing a refuge from the everyday buzz of the city. Just a leisurely stroll over the bridge lies the Baltic art gallery, featuring a viewing platform and ever-changing exhibitions spotlighting new contemporary artists. The rooftop gem, SIX, a fine-dining bistro restaurant, beckons visitors for memorable experiences, perfect for special occasions. Also found on the Quayside is the vibrant Sunday market, boasting local crafts and food stalls, making it a must-visit.

hand books under the roof of an old Victorian railway, enhanced by a miniature steam train chugging through the store. The town, steeped in quintessential charm, features stone buildings, cosy pubs, cafes, and charity shops. Coastal Thrills For the adventure-seekers, the coast is a metro ride away. Tynemouth Surf Co welcomes enthusiasts to ride the waves or master the art of paddleboarding, with lessons starting from £30. Alternatively, indulge in a classic experience by relishing fish and chips along the seafront at Longstands. There are family-run B&Bs dotting the landscape, and culinary enthusiasts can enjoy a range of independent restaurants. Itzuzu, a Turkish-Mediterranean gem on Tynemouth’s high streets, is my personal favourite. Unveiling Newcastle’s Weekend Retreats In Newcastle, the options for weekend getaways are as diverse as they are delightful. Whether you seek artistic inspiration, a brush with literary magic, sporting adventures, or culinary experiences, the city has it all. With a wealth of activities at every turn, a weekend in Newcastle promises an unforgettable retreat.

"A weekend in Newcastle promises an unforgettable retreat"

Image: Pixabay

Alnwick: Where Fantasy meets Reality For those craving a touch of magic, Alnwick calls. 35 miles from the city, Alnwick castle is renowned as a filming location for Harry Potter. You can take enchanting tours, whimsical broomstick flights, and a daring exploration of its poisoned gardens, housing over 100 narcotic plant species. In Barter Books, literary enthusiasts can lose themselves amidst the pages of countless second-

Image: Instagram @alnwickcastleofficial

Monday 23rd October 2023

THE

COURIER

Max O'Connell Prize 2023 The most incredible year of my life: Japan 20

Avika Sharma - Winner of the Max O'Connell Year Abroad Essay Prize

A year abroad experience that led to a deeper appreciation for the little things, especially as the seasons change.

local is defined as “an inhabitant of a particular place or region.” Despite moving to Tokyo to live there for a year, I definitely felt like a tourist at first. There were so many things to get used to: public etiquette, such as not eating on the street or making calls on the train, learning how to navigate the different transportation systems, which side of the escalator to stand on without blocking others, and more. However, as the months passed by and I became settled in this new life, I began to notice that I was slowly transitioning from tourist to local. I was no longer visiting Japan, but I felt like I was actually living there. I could give directions and advice to other foreigners, I would pre-empt the familiar “Irasshaimase!” (Welcome!) from convenience store staff, and when I had visitors, I could even plan an entire two-week itinerary with tips and tricks I had learnt over the months, including how to recognise and avoid tourist traps.

"The famous cherry blossoms and gentle rainfall accompanying quiet spring walks" Considering all of this, I would say there is one major aspect that began to stand out to me as I became more in tune with living in Japan, and it increased my admiration for Japanese culture. This

is the way in which Japanese people seem to respect all that the world has to offer them. Holidays have been created to celebrate a variety of things, for example Greenery Day, a day to appreciate nature, and staff treat every item they scan, wrap, and sell, with an intense consideration that I’d never seen before. Alongside this, there is so much more to Japanese culture than I can comprehend, but one of my favourite ways Japanese people show this type of respect is their relationship with the seasons.

"I can’t even begin to condense the most incredible year of my life in a few words" I really admire the pride Japan has for its four seasons. Of course, most countries experience four seasons, but they are almost nothing like the ones in Japan. I always thought that the stories I’d heard about how distinct each season in Japan is was merely an exaggeration, yet another way in which Japan has been glamourised by the internet. But having experienced them, I can confidently say that it’s all true. Any time I think of the seasons in Japan, I can see the marvellous red and yellow hues of autumn leaves floating down rivers, the deep snow that went up to my knees in winter, the famous cherry blossoms and gentle rainfall accompanying quiet spring walks through my university campus, and the sweltering heat and incredible firework displays of summer nights on the beach. Japan is noted for its themes and motifs about almost anything and everything, and the seasons were no exception. Every few months, it felt as if the country had transformed to match the time of year it was in. Handkerchiefs and hand towels were embroidered with seasonal leaves and flowers, and cafes would have themed drinks tasting of seasonal fruits. These changes in the year filtered my time living in Japan. Autumn represents my new beginning in a new country, starting university in

Tokyo, walking through valleys to see the beautiful maple leaves. Winter is Christmas illuminations, my first big trip out of Tokyo to see the snowy sights of Hokkaido, snowball fights with my friends down frosty hills. I associate spring with the Kansai region; seeing cherry blossoms in Kyoto and Osaka and feeding the deer in Nara, a bucket list item I finally ticked off. Summer was my farewell to Japan, fighting the heat to travel all over the country to see as much as I could before returning to the UK. Many will associate their trips abroad with food, souvenirs, and so forth. While I can’t even begin to condense the most incredible year of my life in a few words, I can definitely say that for me, the seasons of Japan were a standout backdrop to an exciting, adventure-filled, brief life within a life. Image Credit: Avika Sharma

Image Credit: Avika Sharma

Finding purpose and enjoyment in Columbia Maddie Mae Price - Runner-up of the Max O'Connell Year Abroad Essay Prize

Here's why you shouldn't let fear and stereotypes dictate where you take your year abroad!

“

Don’t go to Colombia! It’s not safe!” is what people told me for months leading up to my year abroad trip. I heard ‘why on earth would you go there?’ ‘Colombia is just drugs and cartels!’ ‘As a solo female traveller, you’ll be in danger’, but in reality, these couldn’t be further from the truth. When people think of Colombia, often the first thought is of Pablo Escobar, drug trafficking cartels, and guerrilla warfare. Maybe 30 years ago, some of this would have been correct, but Colombia has undergone a massive change in recent decades, and is actively trying to shake this unfair and stereotypical image.

with my heart set on returning as soon as possible. Spending time getting to know the native people, and living like a local, I’ve learnt the truth about Colombia, that the rest of the world is yet to truly see. I started in the city of Medellín, Antioquia, a cultural hub famous for being the home of Escobar, delicious food, and amazing street art. Quickly, Medellín became my favourite place on earth, and for good reason. Situated in a valley surrounded by lush, green mountains, Medellín, also known as the city of the eternal spring, has the perfect climate, and unforgettable views. Although it has a violent history, Medellín hasn’t erased this, but used it to create a culture of cohesion and charity. This is showcased beautifully in Comuna 13, a neighbourhood that was once one of the most dangerous areas in the world, due to drug trafficking, guerrillas, and paramilitaries. The locals processed this through art, and the murals here are what drive the tourism, with Comuna 13 seeing thousands of tourists every day. As a solo female traveller, naturally I was cautious, and a little nervous for my first few days. However, I quickly realised that many of the things I’d heard about Colombia were stereotypes, and if you’re sensible and have your wits about you,

"Quickly, Medellín became my favourite place on earth, and for good reason" After having awful luck, with two year abroad placements falling through, I dreamt of a summer abroad, and I had my sights set on beautiful Colombia. I spent seven weeks studying, exploring, and partaking in the beautiful, rich culture of different cities, and have returned home a truly different person,

Image Credit: Maddie Mae Price

Colombia is no more dangerous than any other big city. Think logically, make sure you listen to the advice of the locals, and you’ll be perfectly safe and set up for an amazing trip!

"Even though I’ve only experienced a glimpse, my eyes have been truly opened" Cartagena was next – a city on the Caribbean coast, known for its relaxed attitude, high temperatures, and food and drink infused with tropical flavours. The streets are never silent, with reggaeton and salsa filling the streets from every restaurant, shop, and bar. I was amazed at how different it felt to Medellín, almost as if I was in another country, just proving how diverse Colombia is. There is so much heritage and history, and a small town near Cartagena, Palenque, showcases the indigenous culture of the first free town in the Americas, founded by those who fled slavery in colonial times. There is so much to unpack here, and even though I’ve only experienced a glimpse, my eyes have been truly opened. If I was asked to pick my favourite thing about Colombia, I couldn’t pick just one thing. However, something that does stand out, is the wildlife. In every city I visited, the wildlife completely blew me away and I had so many unforgettable experiences. In Medellín, I rode horses in the luscious mountains of Rionegro. In Cartagena, I experienced a truly rare phenomenon by swimming with bioluminescent plankton, a once in a lifetime opportunity that truly felt like a dream. The streets of Cartagena are home to sloths, monkeys, and iguanas, and Cartagena also is only a short drive from the National Aviary of Colombia. This jungle like paradise houses Condors, Eagles, Toucans, Parrots, Flamingos, and so much more.

So, all in all, when people ask me, ‘were you scared in Colombia?’, ‘did you feel unsafe?’, I tell the truth. No. Not at all. Other than Newcastle, I have never loved another city as much as I loved Medellín. When I returned to the UK, I left a piece of my heart in Colombia and I will be forever yearning to return. For me, Colombia has it all. The people, the climate, the food, the views. The streets are alive and there was never a dull moment throughout my entire trip. Whilst living there, I felt I had a purpose and understood that life is for enjoying. I joined the Colombian people in embracing every second of this amazing life, and I wouldn’t have changed a single thing! So don’t let fear and stereotypes make decisions for you, truly explore and enjoy the world, because it’s more amazing than you could ever imagine!

Image Credit: Maddie Mae Price

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Poppy Bedford and Madeha Ali

21 Music Rory's 'Sad Girl Album Review: 'Guts' Autumn' Playlist by Olivia Rodrigo

bridge that promptly collapses upon itself into an electrifying finale. ‘Making The Bed’ is just t takes about 52 seconds for the as eardrum-rupturing but artfully so, a wall of brilliance of Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘GUTS’ distortion enveloping Rodrigo as she painfully to hit. A delicately plucked acoustic dissects the uglier consequences of her fulfilled guitar and sweet, almost whispered wish to be a global superstar. vocals abruptly give way to a clatter There’s plenty of depth in the ballads, too. of drums and bratty, Avril Lavigne-esque ‘Lacy’’s production is strikingly pretty and vocals to match Rodrigo’s rage at ingrained ‘Logical’ features some of Rodrigo’s finest misogyny. ‘All-American Bitch’ makes for a lyrics, skewering the “roses are red” formula in high-octane tone setter, landing with all the the chorus and describing “falling for you like impulsive force of a teenager’s bedroom door water falls from the February sky”. The balladic slammed shut. jewel, however, is ‘Vampire’, a galloping tour de It’s a bracing opener for what should become force with its heart-tugging chord progression one of the great pop-rock albums of the and bell-clear belted high notes that cut decade. Where her generally excellent debut through the mix like a hot knife through butter. record outstayed its welcome by wallowing A volley of slammed piano chords signals the in the same formative breakup, ‘GUTS’ sees end of the most enthralling three minutes of Rodrigo venture (partly) beyond the world pop Rodrigo has produced to date. of misbehaving boys, in the process diving Throughout ‘GUTS’, Rodrigo deals with deep into the full-throttle punk music that the uncomfortable question of whether lingered within the highlights of the debut. committing her entire young adult life as an Gritty banger ‘Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl’ actor for Disney was wise. It all comes to a head unleashes a torrent of lyrics before on satisfying closer ‘Teenage Dream’ with the a restrained desperate line “they all say that it gets better / but what if I don’t?”, a sentiment that must resonate with millions of Gen Z-ers afraid of not n g of the up to high expectations o i s s living S as they enter the adult u world. Therein lies the 'Th eD great magic trick of e ‘GUTS’, an album that Wa ad C by has the raw intensity of Ro lking ome eK ' Rodrigo’s singular life apa experiences but also ra an uncanny ability to resonate with an entire generation. When Rodrigo sells out arena after arena on her upcoming tour, it will be wholly deserved.

Bertie Kirkwood

Aoife Horan

he Autumn favourite Gilmore Girls is the epitome of a cosy comfort show that has been devoured by many. There has been resurgence in its popularity as it was added to Netflix in 2016 and lots of the show’s fans re-watch the series during the cosy months of autumn. Alongside this, fans take inspiration from and relate to the shows main character Rory Gilmore, portrayed by Alexis Bledel. Rory is known to be the autumn ‘it girl’ and so I have curated a playlist entitled ‘Rory Gilmore’s Sad Girl Autumn’ for those who want to embody Rory this year. 1) 'Where You Lead I Will Follow' by Carole King My first pick is the classic theme tune. This song is a perfect pick for Rory and kicks off Autumn with a feeling of friendship and loyalty that she has with Lane and Lorelai, her best friend and mother. Image Credit: Instagram @carole_king

Image Credit: Instagram @taylorswift

3) ‘Cool About It’ by Boygenius This is great for Rory as it embraces the feeling of awkwardness and trying to be with someone who is emotionally unavailable, which she has a lot of experience with. Image Credit: Instagram @xboygeniusx

Image Credit: Instagram @noahkahanmusic

5) ‘My Love Mine All Mine’ by Mitski This is a song that feels very autumnal and focuses on knowing that you have control to love who you want and, finally, gaining the power to do so. Image Credit: Instagram @mitskileaks

6) ‘Not Strong Enough’ by Boygenius I chose this song because of the bridge. It captures a feeling of not being good enough compared to someone else, which Rory may feel with her mother, Lorelai. Image Credit: Instagram @xboygeniusx

7) 'Cherry Wine' by Hozier The penultimate song is Hozier’s ‘Cherry Wine’. When Rory loves, she loves hard, and this song embraces the feeling of when you find a love so rare, you feel lucky to experience it. Image Credit: Instagram @hozier

8) 'Lover, You Should've Come Over' by Jeff Buckley Finally, I added ‘Lover, You Should've Come Over’ by Jeff Buckley as it is a heart wrenching ballad with a huge ending that perfectly rounds off this playlist. Buckley’s vocals convey a begging-like quality and willingness to open his heart to someone but not receiving the same and the scariness vulnerability, ultimately, mirroring Rory’s

2) 'it's time to go' by Taylor Swift This song is about knowing when to leave someone or something, for the better, just like she learns with many of the boys she knows.

4) ‘Stick Season’ by Noah Kahan This portrays someone who is self-aware of their faults and, perhaps, has a feeling of not belonging in a certain place, much like Rory at Chilton and Yale.

Image Credit: Instagram @oliviarodrigo

Spooky songs to add to your halloween playlist

W Easy Jet vs Easy Life I

Image Credit: Flickr@James

Image Credit: Instagram @jeffbuckleymusic

Olivia Fee

n a surprising turn of events, EasyJet, the well-known British low-cost airline, has initiated legal proceedings against the indie pop band Easy Life over a trademark dispute related to their name. This legal battle has garnered significant attention in recent weeks and raises questions about the boundaries of trademark protection in the entertainment industry. The controversy revolves around EasyJet's claim that Easy Life’s name is too similar to its own, potentially leading to consumer confusion. EasyJet argues that the similarities between their brand and the band's name could dilute the airline's distinct identity and cause reputational harm. However, Easy Life counters that their name is entirely distinct from EasyJet's and that they are in completely different industries. The band's argument hinges on the idea that consumers are unlikely to confuse a low-cost airline with a band, especially given the stark contrast in their respective products and services. In a recent statement released on their Instagram,

Easy Life wrote a satirical comment, saying “for those of you that bought gig tickets and ended up on a budget flight to Tenerife, I apologise”. This attitude towards the case displays Easy Life’s disbelief in the almost comical legal action being taken against them. While trademark disputes are not uncommon in the business world, they are relatively rare in the music industry. Typically, bands and artists prioritize creative expression over potential trademark conflicts, making this case a unique one. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for future trademark disputes involving entities from different industries. Now the public will wait with anticipation to see how the court interprets the key factors in this case, and whether it rules in favour of EasyJet's claim of potential consumer confusion or Easy Life’s assertion that they are fundamentally unrelated. In conclusion, the EasyJet vs. Easy Life trademark dispute has brought attention to the complexities of trademark law and the potential overlap between different industries. As the case unfolds, it seems Easy Life fans are infuriated at EasyJet’s superiority as a huge company taking advantage of the indie pop band’s creativity in their name.

Daisy Costello

hich tracks make your Halloween playlist each year? For me, ‘Werewolves of London’ by Warren Zevon is a must - I will never not sing along to 'little old lady got mutilated late last night'. Then, there’s ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials (because what’s more haunting than Thatcherism?), and ‘Spooky’ by Dusty Springfield, which is just timelessly cool and sexy. Nina Simone’s bewitching rendition of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ is a necessity, as is the Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’. And let’s not forget the funkiest Halloween cut of all: Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’. The stone-cold classics can only take us so far, though. It's time to infuse your spooky season playlist with some newness; here are a few deeper cuts you'll want to add. 1. Spelling and the Mystery School - ‘Haunted Water’ (2023) ‘Haunted Water’ drowns the listener in thick, heavy, retro synth. In her wild, idiosyncratic vocal style – reminiscent of Kate Bush and Joanne Newsom, but very much her own– Cabral gives a foreboding warning: “it’s not enough/To build a bridge/Over/Haunted water”. These sparse lyrics curl through the song like smoke, while the synth, guitar and drums drive on in the background, darkly ever-present. 2. Helen - ‘Witch’ (1983) ‘Witch’ was released in 1983. All the best Italo disco came out in 1983. And, like much of the

best Italo, ‘Witch’ is charmingly clunky, driven by a thick, relentless drum-machine beat. The vocalist delights in the mystery of an enchanting woman who, as a spacey snippet of layered whispers tells us, is “a witch!”

3. Kate Bush – ‘Waking the Witch’ (1985) ‘Waking the Witch’ puts the listener through the terrifying experience of being witch hunted. The track gets off to a slow start before tugging the listener into a disorienting, dizzying whirlwind of ritual, rhyme, judgement and punishment. A sinister male voice booms through the track – not a demon, but a tyrannical witch hunter. 4. Backxwash and Devi McCallion – ‘Spells’ (2020) ‘Spells’ excellently evokes the experience of slowly sinking under the influence of some dark potion or powerful hex. McCallion’s low, throaty hook is woozy, potent, addicting. The hook is grounded by Backxwash’s moody, intense, cathartic rap verse. 5. Bat For Lashes – ‘Vampires’ (2019) ‘Vampires’ is the soundtrack to a movie that exists only in the imagination of Natasha Khan, the musician behind Bat For Lashes. ‘Vampires’, like the rest of the album Lost Girls, is inspired by Khan’s daydreams of a vampire girl gang roaming the Californian desert. The listener, though, can project their own haunting daydreams onto this brooding, 80s-infused instrumental track. During spooky season, atmosphere is everything. Saxophone is the star of 'Vampires' – just embrace it and the 80s B movie campiness it conjures.

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Ella Townson and Jenica Davis

Gen V: superhero spin-off Disney teases the new Ivy French Fashion and Beauty Sub-Editor

Creators of The Boys release their teenage spin-off Gen V full of even more chaos.

Content warning: Gen V includes depictions of self-harm, violence and eating disorders.

fter the massive success of the series The Boys, Amazon released Gen V: a show that focuses on a college for students with super abilities. Gen V ties the gore that makes The Boys stand out with the after-effects of Compound V on the new superhero generation. If you’re going to dive into Gen V, you probably want to start by watching The Boys. Spoiler alert, Gen V deals with the consequences of people finding out that they are not naturally gifted with powers, but were given Compound V as babies and often by their parents. To be a superhero is different from being a hero in the traditional sense. Individuals get powers they cannot control, or are useless in terms of doing anything remotely heroic. The accidental bloodshed and graphic depictions of this are what sell audiences on the brutal realities that these ‘superheroes’ face. Gen V manages to highlight real issues surrounding students, such as race, sexuality and gender within its storyline. To be a superhero in the world that Vought has created is to be an individual who will make money. With sponsorship deals, movies, TV shows and merch

campaigns, the students at Godolkin University are being taught how to best market their powers. The top 10 ranking system is all about who gets the most views and who the public loves. To be a relatable hero is to be transparent about real problems, with the script that Vought has provided of course. If you’re looking for a show that matches the energy of The Boys, then maybe Gen V isn’t for you. Four episodes in though, the writers have proven that the corruption and deceit that centres Vought is much deeper than seen in The Boys, and not in a way that feels like a generic cop-off.

Image credit: Instagram- @primevideopl

The Battle of the Halloween episodes: Pretty Little Liars Josh Hague

What are the most iconic and memorable Pretty Little Liars Halloween episodes date?

e’re officially in the thick of October, meaning it’s well and truly the season of Halloween TV. There’s nothing I love more than some spooky television, and nothing gets me in the autumnal, Halloween mood more than Pretty Little Liars. What made the Pretty Little Liars Halloween themed episodes so iconic was just how camp the creators would get: from the costumes, the settings, the dialogue, and situations the girls would get into. Then when Halloween came around, things would go off the rails. That is saying something, considering how wild the show could get when it wasn’t Halloween season. Take season three’s episode, ‘This Is ‘A’ Dark Ride’. The episode featured the girls on a ghost train, which becomes a dangerous ride when unwanted guests appear onboard. This would be a pretty regular episode for the show, but the writers decided to add a few extra layers of nonsense for our entertainment. Most notably the addition of singer Adam Lambert who, dressed as a vampire, spends his time on the train, performing in an undersized carriage and handing out advice to the characters. It’s this type of bizarre decision that took these Halloween episodes to the next level. However, while this wild ride of an episode makes for great viewing, the true Halloween gem of the show is of course ‘The First Secret’. This was the shows first ever Halloween themed episode from back in season two. This episode showed the audience what would be instore when Halloween came to town. The episode featured whacky costumes such as Mary Queen of Scots and two girls battling it out in different

iterations of Lady Gaga, plus jump scares to challenge a Wes Craven film. All of this showed that the creators had clearly put budget aside to make this episode an event and it was so fun to watch.

"The episode featured whacky costumes such as Mary Queen of Scots and two girls battling it out in different iterations of Lady Gaga..." What made the episode even better were the reveals it gave viewers. Shows will often use themed episodes as filler and some lighthearted fun for audiences to enjoy. This wasn’t the case for Pretty Little Liars and that’s what made these episodes so great. They felt vital to the story you would watch play out before and after. When you tuned into the episode, you came for the fun, campy atmosphere, but you’d stay for the revelations instore.

Image credit: Twitter @zxebella

Percy Jackson series

Hadia El-Gammal

Here's what we know so far about the highly anticipated adaptation...

Half-Blood, where we see Percy sword training as well as our first meeting of Annabeth. After that the trio learn of the quest they must embark on.

“With Rick Riordan’s involvement and the talented cast and crew, the show should be able to live up to the hype surrounding it."

veryone remain calm, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians trailer just dropped. Disney+ is adapting Rick Riordan’s well-loved book series into a television series that’s due to So far from what we can see, it seems to be fairly be released December 20th on the streaming accurate to the book series, with an age appropriate platform. The series will follow Percy Jackson cast and following the plot from the books, you (Walker Scobell) with his friends Grover (Aryan can see why fans of the book series are excited. Simhadri) and Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Especially with the disappointment of the Percy Jeffries) as they are on a quest to receive Zeus’ Jackson movies that were released in the stolen lightning bolt. 2010’s, fans have been manifesting Only two teaser trailers have been released this moment for years and begging so far but needless to say, it has garnered for another adaptation. plenty of excitement. The most recent The calls have been heard and trailer, released 19th September has over in comes the TV series, there is so 8 million views. It kicks off with a selfmuch hope and expectation for narrated approach from our protagonist, the it to do well whilst remaining loyal voiceover plays as we see snippets of his life to the source material. Whilst that is as a student in New York, then we see a lot of pressure, with Rick Riordan’s the discovery that there is more to involvement and the talented cast and the world than initially meets the crew, the show should be able to live eye. This is confirmed by his mum, up to the hype surrounding it. Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull), ‘ The stories I told you about Greek Gods and Half-Bloods… they are real.’ We then get a short but Image credit: Instagram @omelete sweet introduction of Camp Image credit: pixabay

Sex Education: “Is this Gen Z?”

Barbora Pacherova

fter a prolonged hiatus, Sex Education is back with its final season, following the stories of the group as they navigate their lives in new settings. This season follows the original gang in their own separate stories. It shows us the inevitable part of becoming an adult – change, as you try to find your own way in the world. Following the closing of Moordale High School, we see some of the original characters continue their studies at Cavendish – a ‘woke’ and supposedly all-inclusive school. Life at Cavendish is what one hopes to be a parodical depiction of Gen Z. Everyone is positive, queer…and unbelievably annoying. It is almost as though these characters have just seen the world outside of the internet for the first time. True to tradition, Otis (Asa Butterfield) plans to set up a sex clinic in school in order to continue helping people come to terms with their desires, insecurities and sexuality. This expectation is shattered when Otis realises that Cavendish already has a successful therapist named O (Thad-

Image credit: Instagram- @sexeducation

dea Graham). Meanwhile, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) finds himself split between his identity as a Christian and a proud gay man. He tries to find acceptance in his community without losing the core of who he is. Eric finds support from Cavendish’s most popular group, especially its leader Abbi (Anthony Lexa), who understands and relates to his struggles. This, along with Otis’ rivalry and their clear differences, creates a rift between the two best friends.

“The fourth season introduces countless new characters with their own storylines, but fails to make them memorable." Maeve (Emma Mackey) follows her dream of becoming a writer in the US, however she struggles being among highly privileged peers and a bitter mentor who is always ready to crush a young writer’s aspirations. This is while she tries to make it work long distance with Otis. Back at home, Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) continues her journey of healing from her sexual trauma and Adam (Connor Swindells) slowly starts building a relationship with his father (Alistair Petrie). The fourth season introduces countless new characters with their own storylines, but fails to make them memorable or properly developed. This results in half-assed plots, rushed stories and surface-level coverage of every character’s struggles. The well-developed story was sacrificed in favour of unnecessary characters, which felt unnatural and performative. Even the original characters lost their essence, becoming simplified versions of themselves. Still despite the lows, we can see the series end as it once was: on slightly anti-climatic, yet beautifully emotional note.

Sub-editors: Jessica McKeown, Olivia Carter and Ned Carter-Owen

Monday 23rd October 2023

Film

THE

COURIER

Past Lives: Celine Song's perfectly woven reflection of fate, love and loss Charlotte Thompson

How do you say goodbye to your past? Explore the complex relationship with time, identity and love in this review of Past Lives

eline Song’s directorial debut, Past Lives, is not only visually stunning but follows an incredibly intimate narrative of love and loss. It is a film that will make you miss someone you no longer know; whether that be yourself or a figure from your past. The film is segmented into a series of three goodbyes between two childhood sweethearts: Na Young (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo). Through her direction, Song explores the various stages of their fragmented relationship over the course of 24 years. At twelve years old, Na Young and her family emigrate to Canada from Korea, leaving behind her budding relationship with Hae Sung and their life in Korea. Twelve years later, Na Young- now Nora, is studying to become a playwright in New York and Hae Sung, an engineering student back in Korea. The two reunite over skype, instantly reigniting the spark that was present twelve years ago. However, neither are ready to up and leave their respective homes at this time in their lives, therefore, the calls

eventually stop. Another twelve years pass before they meet again, when Hae Sung finally visits Nora in New York and she is forced to confront feelings that she thought were left in Korea. Nora is forced to become Na Young again.

“Past Lives allows its audience to mourn growing up” Past Lives is not only a love story but a personal reflection on immigration. Song masterfully captures the unique sense of loss that accompanies building a new life in a different country. In the opening scene, Greta Lee looks directly into the camera, breaking the fourth wall. She welcomes the audience with a beautifully layered gaze and invites us to become part of Nora’s story, her unwavering eye contact makes us feel uncertain but somewhat reassured; setting the tone for the whole film. The plot is driven by quiet moments of intimacy between the pair; small gestures or long, meaningful stares. But, when viewing this film as purely romantic, we lose the means to consider the ‘what-if ’s’ and ‘could-havebeens’ through the lens of someone who is grappling with the multi-layered experience of immigration. Nora’s journey

being central to the narrative is important as she is “someone who leaves”. On the other hand, Hae Sung is the personification of the life that Nora never had, a future that she never lived out. He travels fourteen hours to New York in order to see her again one more time and in doing so, makes Nora realise she also needed closure; she needed to say goodbye to both Na Young and Hae Sung. He represents a part of her that can be found nowhere else but fondly stored away in his heart, a complexity that Teo Yoo carries brilliantly with every movement. Past Lives allows its audience to mourn growing up, alongside Nora, but simultaneously encourages us to reconcile with the child inside of us and to recognise that this is where we ended up, that this is where we are supposed to be. It highlights the endless possibilities when it comes to the direction our lives could head in and our capability to love people in one thousand different ways over one thousand different lifetimes. The film tackles the enormity of this concept with a quiet

understanding during their final goodbye Hae Sung and Nora share a silent embrace, Nora is finally able to accept the crushing reality that she cannot live as both Nora and Na Young, that she must let her go of a love that could have been and her increasingly distant childhood. Song builds a unique narrative that both celebrates and mourns the loss of a life left behind, the pair part ways with the devastating yet comforting promise of past and future lives, "See you then."

Image credit: Twitter @ taesdawn26, Pixabay

The Old Oak film premiere: A bitter-sweet Britain Ned Carter-Owen - Film Sub-Editor

The Courier film section has the privilege of attending The Old Oak premiere and interviewing some of its stars!

n Thursday the 21st, me and my wonderful photographer Jessica Bradbury, had the opportunity to attend Ken Loach’s The Old Oak premiere at Tyneside Cinema. It was the first time we had attended an event like this, and we were anxious to say the least, yet extremely excited to be a part of British film culture. Boy did it not disappoint. The Old Oak is a film that speaks to

contemporary UK social issues through a strikingly raw lens. It centres around the rehoming of Syrian refugees who are placed in a nondescript northern ex-mining town. Exploring the highly charged dichotomy of a local population who feel neglected by its own country and a group who have literally had to abandon theirs, the film showcases the messy relationship between these two sets of people as they are thrust haphazardly together by an uncaring British government.

“The film is truthful in every sense and one of the rawest I’ve come across” What transpires then is a series of clashes, but also an eventual type of bonding over their shared experiences of neglect. Whilst some characters immediately offer to help the refugees, others are far more resistant and, in some cases, hateful. Whilst in no way excusing racist behaviour, the film illustrates why people put up walls. It makes them human, not just classist stereotypes of northern racists, and that is what makes this film so important. Understanding the reasons for prejudice is how we can identify said factors and stamp them out. In discussion with the brilliant and friendly writer Paul Laverty, he revealed the choice to underpin the film with the symbol of a rundown pub was a way of “making the past a character”. In these forgotten towns, where public spaces are closing down, the pub acts as the last bastion of agency and discussion. It is a link to the past where the town thrived. Presently however, as Laverty continued, the “old oak, a symbol of England” is “falling to pieces”. Now even this pub, the only space for the loyal customers to commiserate together, is threatened by outside forces as TJ Ballantyne the pub owner (Dave Turner), agrees with Yara one of the only englishspeaking refugees (Ebla Mari), to turn the back room into an area where the Syrians and

Image credit Jessica Bradbury - Ebla Mari and Dave Turner

locals can come together. The film is truthful in Image credit Jessica Bradbury - Rebecca O'Brien left, Paul Laverty middle, Ned Carter-Owen right every sense and one of the rawest I’ve come across. Do not expect to come out of the cinema with dry eyes! Dave Turner himself attested to the emotional experience of shooting a film of such gravity, stating he felt “humbled by it”. A man who worked behind the bar for over four years, and even longer as a firefighter before that, Dave’s role as pub owner but more importantly a selfless asset to the community is exceedingly natural. Ebla Mari also spoke to the film’s importance. A Syrian herself who had to flee her home country, she felt incredibly strongly about its message, calling this film “the kind of art she believes in”. Despite being trained as a theatrical actor back in Syria and this movie being the first major filmed role she appears in, Ebla is seamless as its star. The Old Oak is an important film to see. It serves as a reminder of the strength of unity and the importance of empathy. Though of course a fictional movie, the characters that feature in this film are based on real people and their real problems. It’s a reminder to reject those dehumanising descriptions of refugees and to instead to see them for who they really are, people. Image credit: Pixabay

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-editors: Jessica McKeown, Olivia Carter and Ned Carter-Owen

Film

The Exorcist: Believer Non-horror Halloween A very Hellish Review r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s Liberty Storey

ith Halloween just around the corner The Exorcist: Believer has infiltrated cinemas at the perfect time. Ellen Burstyn's return has got fans excited for the new release, but has the 2023 edition lived up to its hype or has the director David Gordon Green failed to continue its legacy? The Exorcist: Believer follows two 13 year old girls, Angela (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine (Olivia O'Neill) who begin to show signs of demonic possession. Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), a single father, reaches out to Chris Macniel, played by returning actress Ellen Burstyn, for help as she is the only one who has experienced something as unusual as this before. The young girl Angela desperately wishes to communicate with her Mother, who unfortunately died before she was born due to an earthquake. Her Catholic friend Katherine creates a plan to go into the woods to help Angela communicate with the dead through a hypnosis ritual, which unlocks a dark spirit that possesses them both. The story observes Victor Fielding and his scepticism towards Catholicism and Spiritualism as he watches his Daughter become a host for 'Pazuzu' who was also the demon in the original Exorcist. American filmmaker, David Gordon Green, who has produced other Horror films such as three instalments for the Halloween franchise (Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) and Halloween Ends (2022)), has two more sequels planned after The Exorcist: Believer. However, is it going to do good enough in the box office for this to happen and are critics and fans implying that Green's idea shouldn't go

forward? Film critiques have reviewed the new film as lacking backstory and build up to the plot, saying that it needs more excitement and action. The young actors Lidya and Olivia did an amazing job at portraying two possessed children, however, the structure and storyline of the movie doesn't justify this and leaves room to think what could've been instead. Nevertheless the cinematography makes The Exorcist: Believer a great horror film to watch, as its unpredictable jump cuts, misdirection, and evil silence, make audiences paranoid and nervous. If you are looking for a classic scare factor horror this Halloween, The Exorcist: Believer is a fantastic film to go watch in the cinema with your friends, or on your own if you dare... Believer is a fascinating artifact of 2023. It highlights in a myriad ways how much the world has changed since the original's release. Personally I enjoyed The Exorcist: Believer; it was a scary and anxious film to watch. The actors included in this years addition conveyed each character surprisingly well. Even though critically I can understand that the Believer has various flaws in regards to the storyline , I think David Gordon Green created a short, easy to watch horror film for audiences to appreciate this year during Halloween.

Image credit: IMDB, Pixabay

Sophie Austen

Horror films not your thing? Here's how to get through Halloween scarefree!

alloween is a great time of year characterised by pumpkin carving, costume planning, and of course…scary movies. However, horror films just aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re easily spooked, fear not. In this article, I’ll be rounding up 5 films from a range of genres that fit the Halloween vibe but won’t leave you staring at your palms for 90% of the runtime - no one has to miss out this spooky season! 1). Hocus Pocus Kicking off this list is Halloween fan-favourite, Hocus Pocus, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson – three (accidentally) resurrected Salem witches. Awakened after 300-years, the witches vow to terrorise the town and reclaim their youth. Hocus Pocus is the perfect cosy watch for those who want to embrace the Halloween spirit without facing the season’s typical heart-pounding scares. 2). Coraline I’m being deadly serious when I say this might be the scariest film on the list. I still remember the first time I watched Caroline, sorry, Coraline as a child – I have never been able look at buttons the same way since. Despite being aimed at children, this delightfully creepy film is just as entertaining for adults. It’s breath-taking stop-motion and thoughtful storytelling has established Coraline as a modern classic. 3). What We Do In The Shadows What We Do In The Shadows comes

from the minds of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. It is a mockumentary film following three vampires navigating the complexities of modern living. These vamps aren’t the stony, Dracula-esque vampires we’re all familiar with. Instead, What We Do In The Shadows asks the age-old question: what if vampires were real, total losers, and shared a flat in New Zealand’s suburbs? It doesn’t provide many scares, but this film is guaranteed to leave you cackling your way to an early grave. 4). Twilight Speaking of vampires…I just had to add this one to the list. I unapologetically love these films, plus you can’t get more Halloween-y than vampires and werewolves. Sure, it’s a little ridiculous, but that’s part of the charm! What’s more, our local gem Tyneside Cinema are hosting a movie marathon of The Twilight Saga on Saturday 11th November. So, grab some friends, buy yourself a ticket, and hold on tight Spider Monkey – you’re in for a treat with this one! 5). Donnie Darko Now we’re getting a little spookier. The final film on this list haunts the territory between psychological thriller and horror, but don’t let this put you off! Donnie Darko is a cultclassic that creates a haunting atmosphere with its flawless soundtrack and surreal visuals. It cleverly blends genres whilst delving into themes of time travel and mental illness. Donnie Darko is guaranteed to leave you thinking about it long after the credits finish rolling. Honourable mentions: Jennifer’s Body, Monster House, Ready or Not, Corpse Bride, Get Out, Beetlejuice, The Craft

Image credit: Pixabay

What should you rewatch this Halloween? Multiple Writers

Stuck for movies to watch this spooky season? See what our ghoulish writers have to suggest! The Witch (2016) For me, nothing *screams* Halloween more than scary movies, and my favourite one to watch this time of year has to be Robert Egger’s atmospheric horror, The Witch (2016). It’s not your ‘classic’ Halloween fright-fest, but in today’s age of mass produced, cookie-cutter ‘horror’ films, The Witch has become a welcome addition to the ‘renaissance’ of the horror genre. It doesn’t hide behind the predictable and tired tropes we have become so accustomed to. Rather, this ‘New England folktale’ focuses on tone and atmosphere to create a horrifying sense of helplessness. In 1630s New England, English Settler, William, his wife, Katherine, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb, and twins, Mercy and Jonas are banished from a Puritan Colony for William’s unspecified sins. They set up a farm at the border of a large forest but are soon plagued by failing crops and futile hunting trips. Over the course of the film, the isolated family becomes increasingly targeted by demonic powers intent on destroying them and are rendered helpless to these forces of evil and their own feverish paranoia. This film may not be packed with jumpscares, but it is dripping with evil. Whilst watching The Witch, you’ll surprise yourself with just how long you can hold your breath! Wouldst thou like to live deliciously this Halloween? Then go add The Witch to your spooky watchlist.

Sophie Austen

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

autumn vibe and older movies or you just never heard about this title, I truly recommend giving it a shot. You may be surprised how quickly you want to rewatch the movie again.

Ghosts and cemeteries - those things remind us that Halloween is around the corner. The time of the year when we, more than ever, like to be scared and so we turn to scary movies to level up the Marketa Schulzova atmosphere. Even if there are still the new ones to come, sometimes it is worthy to revisit the classics. The Haunted Mansion (2003) As a non-fan of horror movies this category could be more difficult for me to choose from. But If you, like me, love Halloween, if there should be one title which always comes but are less obsessed with to my mind when we speak about Halloween, its blood and gore, then witches, scary and mystique, I would say Disney’s classic 2003 film The Witches of Eastwick. The Haunted Mansion, It is a classic supernatural based on the iconic theme movie with the 80s vibe which park ride, is the film for tells a story of three women you. in the small town and one The Evers family uninvited visitor with a dark unexpectedly find history. The atmosphere themselves forced of the movie is very to stay the autumn-ish, as we get night at the a taste of the town. gothic Gracey With eerie music and M a n o r suspicious characters, after an the film gives you that attempte d uncomfortable feeling business which makes you deal and feel something bad s o m e is going to happen. untimely When I first saw this weather movie, I can say I had cuts short no idea how the story their family and end will look holiday like, which honestly, before it has is what makes it all even begun. interesting. Trapped in So, if you are a cobweb laden into more light manor house Image credit: IMDb (left image) and IMDb (right image), supernatural stuck in the Enchanted Solung, Pixabay comedy, a big fan of past, the family

come up against an evil butler, a haunted master (pun intended), singing statues, skeletons, uncanny portraits, a prophecy and a possessed (almost) corpse-bride; all of the fun of Halloween, and none of the gore. It’s ultimately a love story, filled with both creepy and comedic moments in equal measure and for that reason it’s one of my favourite Halloween watches that I come back to year after year.

Kirsty Dow The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

Curse of The Conjuring! This ones timeless… a favourite Halloween rewatch. James Wan and Michael Chaves' The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It took the world by storm making over $200 Million in its box office release in 2021. Let me; a completely biased opinion, explain why it’s the pinacol of rewatch Halloween cinema. The Devil Made Me Do It is the breakout film for The Conjuring Universe, masterfully destroying the barrier of its haunted house comfort zone. Viewers are cunningly compelled into exploring the caverns of Connecticut... as if a curse is upon us. Incomprehensible, horrifying power is central to this film, expressed brilliantly in its soundtrack, coming to a peak with Blondie’s iconic hit “Call Me”. Often, film universes of this size (nine films!) run dry, however, this film is a symbol of nostalgia for fans. The exhilaration felt when “This story is based on true events.” appears on screen with the iconic orchestral drop is unmatched.

Megan Grimston

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: James Kellett and Adam Lovegrove

Gaming

THE

COURIER

Best horror games this Halloween Memory Card: Multiple Writers

A selection of scary games to boot up this October!

Halloween just around the corner, a few of our gaming writers have recommended some of their favourite horror games to play this spooky

can save or doom the characters. There are dozens of endings, collectible clues and totems, and a variety of PS trophies to keep you replaying this slasher-monster game. Jessica McKeown

Resident Evil 2 Gaming is unique as an art form in the sense that it can evolve all of its elements more than any other medium of art. Red Dead Redemption 2 pushed the boundaries for what a sandbox simulator can be. The Last Of Us: Part I pushed the boundaries for storytelling. Resident Evil 2 pushes the boundaries of what features a horror game can use in order to induce a state of hypnotization that keeps the player coming back. The uniqueness of Mr. X is that he can cause immortal fear and terror whilst simultaneously captivating the player enough to keep us coming back, and there are very few other villains that capture us like this.

Outlast Of all the horror games I’ve played over the years, not many give me the chills like Outlast does. The landscape of Mount Massive Asylum is engrossingly eerie, with every corner you turn feeling like it could be your last. Your infra-red camera is both your best friend and your worst enemy, being the only way you can see in the Asylum’s darkest and most terrifying areas. If you’re looking for a challenging horror experience with a focus on an unsettling narrative, Outlast might be the game for you this Halloween. Taking breaks might be a good idea, though, as enough time playing this game almost makes me feel like one of the Asylum’s patients.

Jordan Collard

Adam Lovegrove

Until Dawn This Spooky Season why not play Until Dawn, the Playstation exclusive from Supermassive Games. Following a tragic night where twins Hannah and Beth went missing, their brother Josh and friend group return to the mountain lodge on the anniversary but soon find themselves being stalked by a mysterious stranger and something even more sinister in the shadows. With game controls taking advantage of the controller's motion sensor and framed around the concept of the butterfly effect, Until Dawn is a game where every choice you make

Five Nights At Freddy's 2 W i t h the film adaptation on the horizon, what’s a better horror game to play than Five Nights at Freddy’s? With lots of hidden lore to be found in the games, it means new

season...

Image: Flickr, @Addexia Protelli

secrets can be uncovered with every playthrough. Now, of course, there are plenty of games to pick from in the franchise, so there is the question of which one to play? The answer is obvious. The second game. It ramps up the stakes from the first one, with twice the number of animatronics, twice the number of cameras and no doors. The game serves not only as a great prequel to the first but also on its own merits. Abby Saunders

Spy-Thriller in the neon of Night City.

yberpunk 2077 has always had a fractured reputation following its release back in 2020 when it was pushed into the gaming landscape riddled with bugs, making it nigh on unplayable for many. Since then, we have witnessed CDPR’s three-year run of determination to redeem it following multiple patches and a considerably large investment to bring us to where we are now, the release of Phantom Liberty. This has been one of the few expansions I have eagerly been awaiting since I first heard about its development and it has been well worth the wait. The mission starts compelling from the get-go when V is contacted by a mysterious netrunner named Songbird, who promises to help save our dying merc from the relic in exchange for one thing: rescuing the president of the NUSA whose aircraft is about to crash land in Dogtown.

Image: X, @FNAFPLUS

society party and attempting to gain the trust of French twins’ mid-game of roulette while avoiding losing a boatload of eddies. You can’t help but love the tension.

“Phantom Liberty does a good job of leaving us torn in the morally grey landscape of Dogtown” Working alongside sleeper agent Solomon Reed (Idris Elba), a complex man who is loyal to a fault, also adds to the fun and of course, our favourite rocker boy Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves) is by our side and ready to offer his unruly insight along the way. The newly added gigs also feel more fleshed out compared to those in the base game. We all love it when an RPG contains missions that have us questioning the morality of our decisions, and Phantom Liberty does a good job of leaving us torn in the morally grey landscape of Dogtown. Ultimately, these choices have little impact however, the immersion is appreciated, nonetheless. After playing this expansion its release has left me extremely hopeful about the future Cyberpunk content CDPR intends to give us.

“A great extension of the base game and a superspy thriller we have all been waiting for” Sounds simple, right? Not really. This area of Night City is controlled by a warlord named Kurt Hansen, who initially appears to want the president dead. A few surprising twists later, you become entangled in a dangerous web of high-stakes operations, with the endgame being life or death, and not just for V. Image:: X, @CyberpunkGame

The cake is a lie!

alf Life. Team Fortress 2. Dota. Counterstrike. Some iconic gaming titles of the 2000s, and one developer is responsible for them all: Valve Corporation. Hidden amongst the illustrious portfolio of the Bellevue-based studio, however, one will find a dark horse for the ages, and that game is the 2007 classic: Portal. When I first played Portal back in 2019, I was bewitched. The combination of an otherworldly yet oddly believable setting in the Aperture Science labs, a cold nonhuman villain in GLaDOS, and mind-bending puzzles made for a gaming experience like nothing I had ever encountered. I have completed the game seven times since that first playthrough, and it has a special place in my heart.

Image: X, @IGN

Review - Is the game fixed? Phantom Liberty is a great extension of the base game and a superspy thriller we have all been waiting for. Some points even have a futuristic James Bond feeling, like sneaking into a high

Arthur Ferridge - Head of Sport

“From writing and world building, to graphics and level design, you'd be hard pressed to find another game quite like it”

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Ellie Ross

Portal (2007)

Portal is arguably one of the most finely crafted games in the history of the industry, with its overall quality on par with a Rolex watch or a Cesc Fàbregas through ball. From writing and world building, to graphics and level design, you’d be hard pressed to find another game quite like it. Portal received critical acclaim upon release, but what is it that makes the game so special? One of Portal’s greatest strengths is in its simplicity. It achieves one of the trickiest feats of game design: taking a very basic mechanic and using it as the foundation for a complex and interesting puzzle game. That mechanic is, of course, the iconic Portal Gun. Left click for a blue portal, right click for an orange one. Seems simple right? Besides movement keys, there are only really 3 buttons worth pressing, yet Valve’s expert level design transforms this setup from basic to brilliant, with iconic items such as Companion Cube helping to simply elevate the playing experience.

“Valve's expert level design transforms this setup from basic to brilliant” Aside from level design, the work done by writers cannot go unmentioned. With just one speaking character, Valve’s expert writers were faced with quite the challenge to write an interesting story, but managed it with the invention of GLaDOS, an AI supercomputer turned tyrannical mad scientist (if reading in 2023, try not to dwell on that sentence for too long). She lets snippets of both her story and yours go via Freudian slips, supplemented by classic Valve-esque dry comedy, leaving the player to piece together the twisted history of Aperture Science for themselves. Valve’s genius writers have also woven Portal into the wider Valve universe, meaning easter eggs and lore are abundant. Portal has it all. A perfect villain, a spooky setting, a mystery to unravel. Valve were truly ahead of their time with this one. If you are yet to experience Portal, there is no time like the present to give it a spin. For me, I think it’s time for my eighth playthrough.

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Sarah Tunstall and Laura Kasongo

Black History Month: Basquiat!Can I bag that?

Lonnie Bridge ou may have seen the art work of Jean-Michel Basquiat appearing on tote bags and T-shirts in shops such as Typo. However, have you considered whether these items introduce you to the transgressive, anticommodification artist behind the “brand”? During Black History Month, we reflect on his work in addressing the exploitation of Black voices. Basquiat was an American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. He lived in New York from his birth in 1960 until his death in 1988, and was always fully immersed in the city’s culture. His work rocketed to success during the 1980’s as a part of the Neo-expressionism movement. As a result, his art features the recognisable human body, as well as other objects, in a commonly abstract manner with rough lines and vibrant colours, reflecting the violent emotions and unrest of 1980’s New York. Modern inequalities, exploitation and the legacy of imperialism are at the forefront of Basquiat’s artwork. Works such as Untitled (History of the Black People) (1983), explore the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The piece Taxi, 45th/Broadway (1984– 85) reveals Basquiat’s personal experience of attempting to hail a cab in New York. He depicts a Black man as a slim, stick figure, fading into the dark background of the painting. This reflects the experience of Black marginalisation and systemic abuse in the 1980’s. The discrimination that Basquiat highlights is still a very real and present issue, not just in New York, but in the world. His art work is still politically relevant and speaks to marginalised

populations. Yet, this relevance is exploited through the capitalist culture in America, and Basquiat has been commodified posthumously. Not only are his paintings being sold for record breaking prices (Untitled, 1982 was sold for $110.5 million in 2017) but they have also been mass printed onto T-shirts, mugs and key rings for brands such as Gap, Amazon and Uniqlo. Whilst this new market breakthrough could be seen as a sign of Basquiat’s cultural cementation into history as a captivating artist, I feel it is in fact an exploitation of a Black individual. The political heart o f

“The radical voice has been silenced, and instead Basquiat is being used as an 'edgy' iconograph" Basquiat’s work has been ripped out. The radical voice has been silenced, and instead Basquiat is being used as an ‘edgy’ iconograph of the ‘cool’ 1980’s New York era. There is a deep and tragic irony in how, an artist who dedicated his short life to curating a powerful voice advocating for equality, has become the exoticized and exploited Black man in America. His legacy is being obliterated by capitalist greed. The printing of Basquiat’s work on T-shirts destroys the purpose of his work. I would even argue that it erases the Black man behind the art and silences his strong voice that called for equality.

Image credit: [Basquiat by Cultural Instinct.pixabay]

Reconsidering the father figure New exhibition by Beverley Bennett (Simon Says/Dada) opens tanding in Shieldfield. behind the black curtain,

the viewer is given a chance to emotionally prepare before being confronted with three screens in the main space. The first screen plays a video of an older man gardening, which is used as a metaphor for the paternal relationship loving, caring, patient, nurturing, neglectful. Or possibly Bennett is highlighting the absence of these qualities in the relationships between the contributing BAME women and their fathers. The middle screen displays fabricated family scenes, the dining table being the main symbol of family life. Bennett exemplifies how the communal act of eating together does not always bring a family closer through an emphasis on silence, tension, and averted eyes. The final screen shows the transcript of the audio which plays alongside the video. In the transcript, Bennett and many other BAME

What's on... Oct/Nov. 20-28 Mycelial @Northern Stage

Halloween: Scariest short stories short-list! Tabitha Diack 3. The Cats of Ulthar by H.P. Lovecraft Though the least scary story on this list and certainly the shortest, as a cat lover I had to give this perfectly ‘Halloween-esque’ fable a mention. Lovecraft’s darkly humorous telling of feline revenge and creepy children, plus cats, really, what more could you ask for? 2. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe A gothic staple: Edgar Allan Poe creates a chilling tale of duality, of the alive and the undead, of dilapidation and rot, adorned perfectly by the classic horror trope of twins. The unsuspecting narrator arrives at the less than welcoming house of Roderick and Madeleine Usher, soon learning that much greater forces are at work. Beware the undertones of female emancipation, they may frighten you! 1. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman A startling tale of female suffering, neglect and ‘hysteria’ depicting the horrors of an unravelling brain left to disintegrate in a curiously wallpapered room, the reality of which begins to blur. This twenty-page psychological thriller, accompanied by the true horrors of the female experience, is absolutely the perfect choice. Image credit: [Halloween stickers by Ireneomeurde.flickr ]

[Artwork by Inson Woods.flickr ]

Phoebe Clark

Arts

women and non-binary voices navigate and describe their complicated patrilineal relationships. The viewer’s gaze is divided between these three screens making it difficult to focus on everything at once. This mimics the split of love and attention between parents, children, and partners. There are numerous perspectives and testimonies

“Running from 15th of September to 4th of November, the new exhibition is showcasing at the NewBridge" in the artwork. Organised by Bennett, they conducted multiple gatherings organised across the UK to hear historically silenced voices. This makes the viewer reconsider their own paternal relationship. The stories shared are complicated and diverse; referencing grief, resentment, and admiration within love and how many different emotions and opinions can coexist. In my personal experience, it was a cathartic aspect of the film to consider the dichotomies within my own

relationship with my father. The smaller room within the exhibition space

“The stories shared are complicated and diverse; referencing grief, resentment, and admiration within love" only has one screen so the viewer’s attention is undivided. The beginning of the film shows domestic objects with no sound, while the camera’s focus blurs in and out. The start of the piece is slow, which I see as Bennett requiring the viewer’s assiduity just as a child needs a parent’s attention. In this way, the patience to watch the film simulates the time spent with a distant family member and the tolerance we must have for the people that we love and live with, even when the relationship isn’t easy. The audio paired with this film is a poem written by Bennett after the recording, referencing the creative process, making it feel as if we are looking upon a memory with nostalgia.

Henry Ashton

bleed it’s 2:50pm and I’ve decided not to write anything today. the leaves have all started to bleed into autumn and fill the alleys and gutters and doorways everywhere when the city is painted orange like this, we writers usually sing but there’s something missing. come back as soon as you can.

Image credit: [Blood by Blood Enchanted.pixabay ]

24-28 Metamorphosis @ Northern

28 Screen print poster making @

30 'Freshly Squeezed' open mic @

Stage

Cobalt Studios

25 Life drawing @ Cobalt Studios,

29 Art club, Wooley Mammoth

1 Sketch Slap by SoreSlap

Lion & Lilac: BHM Special

23-6 'Into the Woods' @ Baba Yaga's 26 'Out Of Your Head!' Poetry night

knitting club @ Star & Shadow

Puzzles

THE

Monday 23rd October 2023

Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

COURIER

Halloween Crossword 2

8 6

5 3

7 10

11 8

12 9

QR Code Do you want to create your own puzzle? Scan the QR code below to submit your very own creation. Also, scan the QR code for more info.

Across

Down

1. A Halloween film that was released in 1993 (5,5) 3. Jack-O-____ (7) 4. A TV series with Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer: “A Discovery of ___” (7) 10. A synonym for graveyard (7) 11. Complete the Edgar Allen Poe quote: “It is the beating of his hideous ____” (5) 12. What is Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter series (5) 13. A past tense verb for “to be frightened” or “scared” (7) 16. The Disney+ series: “____ Mansion” (7) 17. What type of tree is superstitiously known for giving you prophetic dreams and visions when you sleep underneath it (3)

1. What is the theme of this Puzzles spread (9) A 2. Some chocolates, like Twix and Twirl, come L in a ___ (4) 5. Spiders live in _____ (7) L 6. What do you collect whilst trick-or-treating (6) O you 7. An atmosphere would find in a graveyard W (5) 8. What month does All Saints Day fall inE(7) 9. What do, typically, children carve for E Halloween (7) 14. What is a typical Halloween mazeNmade from (4) 15. Hallows ___ (3)

Halloween Word Ladder Not your usual Word Ladder. This spooky Word Ladder holds clues for you to follow. Go down the ladder, read the clues and hopefully this TRICK will turn into a TREAT, if you play your cards correctly.

THE

Puzzles Master: Katie Siddall

Monday 23rd October 2023

COURIER

Puzzles

Halloween Nonogram 7 5 1

1 5 7 8

9 7 5 1 9

3 1 11 1 5 5 5 5 7 7 8 8 1 4 6 7 8 12 4

Instructions

6 3 2 5 8 12 14 15 15 7 4 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 4 4 4 6 5 4 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 4 5 5 4 4 2

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

Notes

Issue 1447 Answers U

Crossword

E W

D I

E O

A A

14 1 1

1 1

1 14 18

3 14 9

14 2 5

14 2 3 14

1 14 11 11 3 11 5 11 11 11 7 11 11 11 14 2

C A

Nonogram

18 14 12

1 13 1

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sport

THE

COURIER

Bad as a Hatter: Will Luton Town break Derby's points record? Nathan Dove

Luton look to dodge an unwanted Premier League record.

nything can happen this season’. It feels like we hear this statement spouted at the start of every Premier League campaign by countless players, pundits, and press officers all across the country. However, in stark contrast to this somewhat naïve sentiment, it has also been proclaimed by almost every football fan in the nation that Luton Town will definitely finish rock bottom come May. Whilst the Hatters are clear favourites for an early return back to the Championship, it has also been speculated that the top-flight debutants could be destined for the title: ‘Worst Premier League Team Ever’.

“Luton Town will definitely finish rock bottom in May.” For Luton to claim this unwanted crown, they would have to break

the record for least points amassed in a 38-game season. Whilst recent performances from perennial premiership yo-yo clubs Norwich and Watford have set the standard for recent relegation misery, Derby County currently hold the unsought accolade of lowest points tally of all-time. The Rams managed to accrue an impressively terrible 11 points during the 2007/08 season, with the current League One club only managing to secure a singular win all year. Whilst Luton fans would’ve been hoping for a better start to life in the Prem promised land, they can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they have already equalled Derby’s abysmal win record, just six games into their debut campaign. This win came off the back of a draw against established premiership stalwarts Wolves and narrow one-goal defeats to London rivals West Ham and Fulham. Luton’s manager Rob Edwards stated after their victory over Everton, that the win ‘was a long time coming’ and believes that more points will come now that ‘the pressure [of the first win] is off our backs’. This optimistic prediction by Edwards indicates faith in his young squad mostly made-up of first-timers in the Premier League. Prolific Championship striker Carlton Morris looks to be continuing

his form after promotion, scoring three goals for the Hatters, including that crucial winner on Merseyside. On top of Morris’ goal contributions, Luton’s inexperienced side has been strengthened by several Prem veterans including, former Chelsea and England

“Luton's total market value is less than what Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire.” international Ross Barkley as well as Geordie legend Tim Krul betweenthe-sticks. All this is to say that Luton’s squad has considerably more talent than that lacklustre Derby side, who could only boast the ‘talents’ of Robbie Savage and Roy Carroll. Whilst life in the Premier League was always going to be hard for a club whose total market value is less than what Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire, Luton Town have shown some real promise during their tough start to the season. With the likes of similarly promoted sides Burnley and Sheffield United finding it difficult to adapt to the top-flight, as well as underperforming Prem regulars such

as Everton and Wolves being dragged into the early relegation scrap, it is not impossible to see a world where Luton Town not only avoid the shame of being the ‘Worst Premier League Team Ever’, but also survive in the relegation rat race. However, with all this being said, the old adage still stands: ‘Anything can happen this season’…

Image credit: Twitter @LutonTown

VAR under fire after Sela’s spectacular drone show: who Liverpool controversy is Newcastle United's new sponsor? Adam Symes

Liverpool's wrongfully disallowed goal is scrutinized as VAR's audio of the event was released.

n Saturday 30th September, the biggest match of the premier league weekend took place between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. This top of the table clash between two of the best performing teams in England ended up with Spurs being the victors in a 2-1 win. However, this result was to become shrouded in controversy as various off-field refereeing decisions overshadowed the game as a whole.

“This result was shrouded in controversy as various refereeing decisions overshadowed the game." Various choices made by the matchday officials certainly rumbled premier league fans. Such as Curtis Jones’ contentious red card, and Diogo Jota’s very debatable first yellow card in which Destiny Udogie was seemingly fouled by a gust of wind. Which eventually led

to Jota getting a second yellow card just a minute after his first, leaving Liverpool with just 9 men on the field. The biggest source of controversy however was Luis Diaz’ disallowed goal due to offside. The audio of this decision from the VAR team of this game was released by the PGMOL, and the contents reveal that officials knew the goal was onside but mistakenly told Simon Hooper that the goal should be disallowed. After the game restarted the officials felt they had no choice but to carry on with the game, whilst fully aware of the wrongful decision.

“The biggest source of controversy was Luis Diaz's disallowed goal due to offside." This understandably caused outrage amongst Liverpool supporters who feel robbed of at least a point from this game, which could have massively helped in their pursuit for the premier league title this year. Although, the audio of the VAR team that was released to the public again raises the longdebated issue of whether VAR will work within the premier league. As many fans and pundits were quick to point out the seemingly unorganised nature of the audio, which begs the question of whether the people in charge are capable of making the right decisions.

Paige Rutter - Head of Social Media

head of a historic night of Champions League football on the grounds of St. James Park, the sky was illuminated with the club crest, magpies, and player shirts such as Trippier and Tonali. The European competition returned to St. James Park for the first time in over 20 years hosting Paris Saint-Germain. On drone display was the front of a shirt that highlighted the sponsor ‘Sela’ clearly lit up in lights. Ibrahim Mohtaseb, the senior vice president of Sela, stated that they wanted the show to be “a little surprise for fans to celebrate the return of the biggest nights in European football to St. James’ Park”. The display included “We’re Back” lighting up over Newcastle. It’s been all change at the club, and during the summer FUN88 was replaced by a new Saudi sponsorship – Sela worth 25 million a year. It also was announced earlier in the year that Premier

League clubs would remove betting sponsors from shirts, starting in 2025. The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund is the main owner of Sela – the same fund that now has a high stake in Newcastle United. The company is involved in multiple major events and attractions in the Middle East. Following Newcastle’s return to European football, it is hoped that the partnership with Sela can reach a further global audience as the team advances further as a club. This new sponsorship was investigated regarding the Premier League's fair market value rules, clubs are not able to receive from the deal until this has passed. Given the position of the club, progressing into the Champions League, it was unlikely for this not to go through. CEO of Newcastle United, Darren Eales, stated: “Fan engagement is central to

what we do at Newcastle United and, in Sela, we are partnering with an organisation with shared interests.” This also comes at a time when the club has announced recent plans for a new fan zone at Strawberry Place, hoping to open a space in which fans can enjoy entertainment alongside food and drinks. This would be in collaboration with STACK and Sela, who are providing guidance based on their international experience. The successful show may have brought luck under the lights, where Newcastle struck 4 past PSG securing 3 points in the 4-1 win.

Image credit: Twitter (@Scottio200)

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Sport

Spinning the stigma of pole on its head Multiple Writers -Edited by Castor Chan, Sport sub-editor

How an hour of pole dance changed the views of our writers

aving joined Newcastle Pole and Aerial Club last year, I’ve quickly gotten heavily involved. But I've noticed a massive issue with misinformation - pole is dirty, it's not a real sport, anyone who does pole is a stripper. While it has its roots in sex work, it has evolved into such a multifaceted sport. So when this year’s tasters rolled around, I asked some of my fellow writers if they would like to give pole a go. Arthur Ferridge Going into my first pole dancing lesson, I had no idea what to expect. I couldn’t gauge how difficult it would be, what the lesson might involve, or how good I might be at it. With a sport as highly stigmatized as pole dancing, I’m sure I wasn’t alone in that mindset. With all these questions swirling, I felt that all I could do was go in with an open mind and no expectations, take it on the fly and see how it goes. All told, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. I found that the learning curve was not as steep as I had expected it to be. The environment felt relaxing and welcoming, which massively detracted from the daunting sensation of trying a new sport for the first time. Combine that with experienced and

patient coaches, the lesson made for a great experience. When I first came to uni, I can’t honestly say that I ever planned on taking a pole dancing lesson, but if you’re looking to get out of your comfort zone and learn a new skill, I’d definitely recommend trying your hand at Pole and Aerial.

“All I could do was go in with an open mind and no expectations” Mitchell Hall As a man on the larger side, I've never looked at the grace and control of pole fitness and thought "Yeah, I can do that, I should give it a go." How I ever ended up at a pole taster I'm still not entirely sure, but I can say that it is somehow both harder than I could have imagined yet far more achievable than I thought it might be. That sounds contradictory, but it's true - in just an hour I found myself on the edge of being able to invert myself and managing a few tricks, but hurting like mad. It took my core about a week to recover, but like any exercise that is something that would improve with practice and repetition. Jodie Steer Pole is a sport that has many misconceptions – some of which I have to admit that I bought into before I tried it for myself. After just one session, I can safely say I am in awe of the strength, discipline, and fearlessness that it

takes to do pole. The talent shown by the more experienced members of the club when demonstrating moves and positions that quite literally seem to defy all rationality of the capability of the human body was amazing to watch. I was unbelievably nervous leading up to the session – despite being an exdancer and gymnast, the thought of trusting a wobbling pole and a few crash mats to save me from limping home was a daunting one, especially as a plussized person. However, on completing the taster session I’m so pleased to conclude that pole is an empowering sport that pushes you to trust in your body to support you and to believe in yourself. The instructors made me feel so comfortable

“I'm pleased to say that pole is an empowering sport that pushes you to trust your body” and safe the whole time I was there, encouraging me to try things that I would never have dreamed I could do. Overall I couldn’t recommend giving pole a try enough, regardless of your shape, size, or experience. And, even with the aching muscles for a few days after the session, I’m looking forward to my next pole experience, feeling confident and excited to see just how much I can do.

George Brownless - NSR Head of Tech

Is time running out for Ricciardo and Stroll's racing careers?

nly one seat remains unfilled for the 2024 F1 Grid, and we sit, as ever in F1, on the precipice of history. If Williams decide to keep Logan Sargeant alongside Alexander Albon for next season, then the grid at the season’s end will be identical to the grid at the season’s start for the first time. Sargeant has been under pressure, exaggerated by crashes, from critics to perform, something that saw Nyck De Vries make way for Daniel Ricciardo earlier this season. But does Williams have an alternative? The team’s perspective is that they’d certainly like to keep Sargeant, as one of their academy drivers, they have put a lot of effort into developing him. The other options also don’t seem to make much sense for the team. Firstly, Liam Lawson. A driver who has been a fantastic stand-in for Ricciardo, after he broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix. However, Lawson is engrained in the Red Bull development program, and the noises from Red Bull suggest that there will be space for him in Red Bull or Alpha Tauri in 2025. Williams would be unlikely to want to take him for one season. The other names thrown around, F2 Champions Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich feel just as unlikely. So, a sophomore year for Sargeant, alongside Albon, could be

“What seems more interesting is that next season 75% of the grid will be out of contract come the season’s end.” A lot is also riding on Perez. Given the dominance of Red Bull’s RB19, anything less than runner-up in the championship will be seen as a missed opportunity by the team. A poor weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix certainly doesn’t help his case. While I don’t think they’d move to

BUCS RESULTS BADMINTON

W1 V Manchester 2 (A) M2 V Durham 1 (A) W2 V Leeds 1 (H) M2 V Hull Men's 1 (A)

5-3 5-3 2-6 4-4

BASKETBALL

M1 V Nott. Trent 1 (H) M2 V Liverpool JM 1 (A) M3 V Leeds 2 (A) W1 V Nott. Trent (H)

94-93 56-77 59-72 63-61

FENCING

M1 V Durham 3 (A) 116-120 W1 V Liverpool 1 (H) 135-72

FOOTBALL

M1 v Nott. Trent 1 (H) M2 V Sheff. Hallam 1 (H) W1 V Durham 2 (H) W2 V York St. John 1 (H)

5-0 3-1 2-0 6-1

FUTSAL

M1 V Northumbria 1 (A) M2 V Sheffield 2 (A) M2 V Lancaster 1 (H)

GOLF

1 V St Andrew's 1 (A)

Image credit: Hannah Thomas

F1 2024 Lineup: the looming gap at Williams and Liam Lawson's potential big break exactly what he needs. That would be my prediction of the outcome. What seems evidently more interesting is the driver market for next season, with 75% of the grid currently out of contract come the season’s end. Red Bull seems the most likely to cause chaos. Across the main Red Bull team and Alpha Tauri, they have 3 open seats, one at Red Bull alongside Verstappen, and a further 2 at Alpha Tauri. A 4-way fight awaits them for that seat alongside Max, with Lawson, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, and Perez all keen to work their way to either getting or staying in that seat. Lawson’s recent performances show he absolutely deserves a place on the grid, but does Ricciardo? Red Bull certainly believe so, with Ricciardo being chosen over Lawson to replace De Vries. Clearly, they have the data to show they are happy to give Ricciardo an opportunity to return to the front of the grid, but with only 2 races in his return so far, the jury is still out on whether Daniel can get back to his best. I certainly see it as being possible.

eject Perez immediately, it could really put Perez on the clock, particularly if Ricciardo returns and puts in some mighty performances for the rest of the season.

“...the jury is still out on whether Daniel can get back to his best” But where does that leave the rest? Given Aston Martin is partnering with Honda from 2026 as a works engine supplier, it seems likely they will try and bring Tsunoda into the Aston project. If Alonso does stick around to the new engine regulations in 2026, where does that leave Lance Stroll? Stroll has struggled up against Alonso this season, and given where they started this year, Stroll’s performances have not helped their slow decline down the championship standings, with McLaren next to jump past the Silverstonebased team. It’s unlikely also, based on these performances, that Stroll

would have a future at any other team on the grid. Only Mercedes (Hamilton and Russell) and McLaren (Norris and Piastri) have both their drivers tied down beyond 2024, alongside Verstappen at Red Bull. While the driver market this season has been very boring, next season is the one to watch, and I for one, will be watching it intently.

7.5-0.5

HOCKEY

M1 V Sheff. Hallam 1 (A) M2 V Leeds 2 (A) W1 V Edinburgh 1 (A) W2 V Durham 4 (A) W3 V Northumbria 1 (A)

3-2 1-1 0-4 1-0 1-0

LACROSSE

M1 V Nott. Trent 1 (H) W1 V Liverpool 1 (H) M2 V Northumbria 1 (H) W2 V Durham 4 (A)

NETBALL

1 V Durham 1 (A) 2 V Leeds 4 (H) 3 V Sheff. Hallam (A) 4 V Teeside 1 (A) 5 V York St. John 4 (H)

1-20 12-2 0-11 4-13 49-51 36-33 39-32 47-64 103-1

RUGBY LEAGUE

1 V Liverpool JM 1 (A)

22-6

RUGBY UNION

M1 V Strathclyde 1 (A) 20-26 M2 V Sheffield 1 (A) 33-40 M3 V York 1 (A) 3-19 M4 V Northumbria 2 (H) 34-21 W1 V Northumbria 1 (A) 32-17

SQUASH

M1 V Newcastle 2 (H) M3 V Durham 2 (H)

4-1 5-0

TABLE TENNIS

M1 V Nott. Trent 1 (H) M2 V Sheffield 1 (A) M3 V York 1 (A) W1 V Lancaster 1 (A)

TENNIS

15-2 13-4 17-0 0-5

M1 V Glasgow 1 (A) W1 V Leeds Beckett 2 (H) M2 V Northumbria 1 (H) W2 V Liverpool JM 1 (A)

2-4 1-5 6-0 6-0

M1 V Northumbria 1 (H) W1 V Northumbria 1 (H)

6-0 3-0

VOLLEYBALL

WATER POLO Image credit: Twitter (@lance_stroll, @LiamLawson30)

1-6 1-3 2-3

M1 V Durham 1 (H)

24-10

THE

COURIER

Monday 23rd October 2023

Sub-Editors: Mitchell Hall, Castor Chan, Dan Balliston and Raff Tindale

Sport

Newcastle Ski Club ready to freestyle after disaffiliating from Students’ Union Arthur Ferridge - Head of Sport

One of Newcastle’s biggest sports clubs has left the Uni...

ewcastle University’s Ski and Snowboard Club (NUSSC) is well known as one of the University’s most popular sports clubs. Founded in 1964, the society is one of Newcastle’s longest standing student organizations, best known for its international ski trips, busy social calendar, and its competitive winter sports teams, which won multiple awards in national competitions last year. Despite its unparalleled popularity and far-reaching influence among Newcastle students, NUSSC has recently decided to disaffiliate from the Students’ Union, opting instead to operate as an independent social club with no ties to the University. The decision, which was confirmed by a vote at the society’s annual general meeting at the conclusion of the 2022/23 school year, has seen the club rebrand to the “Newcastle Upon-Tyne Ski and Snowboard Club,” scrubbing all University motifs from its branding. With almost 5,000 Instagram followers, NUSSC is well established as one of Newcastle University’s most subscribed clubs, which makes their decision to disaffiliate all the more notable. NUSSC is not the only society to run independently from the Students’ Union, as seen by the Newcastle Medical Society. MedSoc claims to be the largest student led society in the UK despite their lack of official affiliation to Newcastle University. NUSSC’s motivations for disaffiliating are broad, though the bureaucracy of the Students’ Union proved to be a key point of contention. When asked for insight into NUSSC’s decision, the club’s newly elected president Tom Wighton told The Courier that “The past couple of years have seen the club’s member population increase rapidly, with record numbers of students attending weekly social events, trainings, and our trip. We found that, despite many

positive relationships with those who worked within the Athletics Union, the existing systems weren’t providing for a club of our size, output or budget needed.” The admin associated with merchandise and international trips exacerbated existing difficulties. “The extra step of having to work through the SU for transport bookings, merchandise sales and sponsorships took valuable time out of our hands,” Wighton continued. Despite the existing challenges, Wighton felt that the decision was still in the balance on the day of the AGM, with members of the club divided on the vote’s outcome. “We thought [that the AGM] would be a fantastic opportunity for the club to see what direction our members wanted the club to take, whether they felt we should remain within the SU or disaffiliate and operate independently,” said Wighton. “If I am honest, I’m unsure as to what outcome I was expecting on the day. I knew multiple people on either side of the argument so I genuinely thought it could go either way.” One factor which made the vote hard to call was risk, as the removal of the Students’ Union’s safety nets placed extra pressure on NUSSC’s executive committee. However, Wighton feels that the decision to disaffiliate has created a sense of liberation rather than trepidation among both the club’s executives and members.

“The decision to disaffiliate has created a sense of liberation rather than trepidation” Speaking candidly on the potential pitfalls of disaffiliation, he noted that the decision “comes with a lot more risk. Despite the risks, however, I think the club has really tackled its newfound independence head-on, which can only be seen as a massive positive for the current academic year and future years as the club seeks to reach its full potential.” He went on to add that “We have also incorporated much of the AU’s existing disciplinary and regulatory policy into our own and will commit

Image: Tom Wighton

View from the AU Kimiko Cheng - Athletic Union Officer

t’s been 4 months since I became the AU officer which means my friend was wrong about me getting cancelled in 5 days! You might be thinking what work could I have possibly done over summer?

“What could I possibly have been doing all summer?”

Image: Tom Wighton

to keeping high standards of behaviour and safeguarding our members,” acknowledging the potential new weight on the shoulders of the executive committee before reiterating that “I can’t see [behaviour] being much of an issue!” The new president made no attempt to hide his optimism for NUSSC’s future. Despite the loss of Students’ Union funding and support, Wighton has made it his mission to make the notoriously costly endeavour of winter sports as accessible as possible for the Newcastle student population. “This year, we are aiming to provide as much subsidisation as possible, continuing our aim to make snowsports accessible for all. We are pushing to host affordable freestyle sessions down in Castleford this year. This year’s trip is also set to be larger than ever, with some amazing artists in the works, and a booking price that remains affordable for all students! All will be announced via our social media channels early November, so anyone who is keen should keep an eye on our Instagram.” While NUSSC is enjoying its new freedoms, Students’ Union leadership has been left to pick up the pieces after the loss of one of its largest sports clubs, with plans already in the works to create a replacement winter sports club. Official plans for this club are yet to be announced, though one might expect that it’s social calendar, events schedule, and operations will be modelled heavily after those of NUSSC, which has set the standard

for sporting societies over the course of its nearly sixty years of operation.

“NUSSC set the standard for sport societies” NUSSC’s decision to disaffiliate will likely have been one of the first issues to cross the desk of Kimiko Cheng, the Students’ Union’s newly elected Athletic Union Officer. Charged with overseeing all Newcastle University sports clubs, the responsibility to raise a new ski club from NUSSC’s ashes will fall to Cheng. When asked for her thoughts on the situation, Cheng told The Courier that “Coming into this role, I was disappointed to hear that the Newcastle University Ski & Snowboard Club is currently dormant. The club they have formed no longer benefits from the support or insurance of the Students’ Union. Although this is disheartening, we are actively looking for students to form a new principal committee so we can continue the legacy of the club here at Newcastle.” It remains to be seen whether the Newcastle Upon-Tyne Ski and Snowboard Club will make the most of its members’ decision to disaffiliate, though at this moment in time they seem to show no signs of slowing. As NUSSC prepares for its first year loosed from the moorings of the Students’ Union, there will surely be treacherous waters to navigate, but those at the helm seem more than ready to steady the ship.

In my first week all the sabbs were taken on a residential to an elegant but isolated house in the Lake District with the task to bond. We had fun with pinatas and weightlifting gnomes, but we also had to learn about governance and decide on our main campaign priorities for the year which are Inclusion & Accessibility (that’s the one I’m co-chairing with Chirag!), Cost of living, Wellbeing & Support and Sustainability. A few weeks later I went to BUCS conference in Leeds where I met sports sabbs from across the country including a former Bake Off winner. To kick off the conference Leeds Rhino legend Jamie Jones Buchanan gave an energetic keynote followed by former England Rugby coach Clive Woodward. The line up on the next day’s agenda was just as impressive with talks from Paralympic equestrian Sophie Christiansen and FA Women’s Technical director Kay Cossington. Bringing down the curtains was former Lioness Ellen White, but I missed her talk to come back for my graduation while suffering from food poisoning from the BUCS barbecue. I prepared for committee training and delivered it successfully (if you can look past the fact that I put on the wrong presentation and tried to pretend everything was fine) and I passed three motions at the Athletic Union AGM. As you might’ve seen at Clubs & Societies fair and the Students’ Union’s Instagram there are quite a few photos of me, there are many, many photos that the marketing department have taken which could be used as blackmail. Over the summer I learnt so much and I’m excited for what the year will bring!

INSIDE SPORT THIS WEEK

Luton Languishing Can they avoid the dreaded Derby record?

Challenging stigma with pole and aerial Is Pole for you? Three absolute beginners have their say

2024 F1 Lineup Predictions Who will stay, who will go, and who will surprise us?