The Courier 1198

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Fit for a Queen: Her Royal Highness visits Newcastle to open the Great North Museum News, page 3

Issue 1198 Monday 9 November 2009 www.thecourieronline.co.uk

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The face of guilt Lecturer Trevor Jackson admits to sex sessions with 13-year-old girl News, page 4

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Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

The Union Society, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940

Charity on the catwalk

Comment Poppy Power The Debate: Are you wearing a Remembrance Day poppy? Page 11

> News, page 6 News Editors: Simon Murphy and Jessica Tully - courier.news@ncl.ac.uk

Graduate unemployment at worst rate yet Jack Stevenson

Life & Style Winter blues Why half a million people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mild form of depression Page 14

Culture Happy faces Interview with indie favourites The Maccabees Page 24

Sport Off the mark Men’s rugby seconds beat /RXJKERURXJK WR FODLP ¿ UVW SRLQWV Page 41

Meetings Timetable: Monday Sport - 11am, Function Suite News - 12pm, Function Suite Comment - 12pm, Function Suite Photos - 1pm, Function Suite Tuesday Life & Style - 12pm, Committee Room A Wednesday Film - 12.30pm, Committee Room A Music - 1pm, Committee Room A Thursday TV & Radio - 11.30am, Committee Room A Arts - 12pm, Committee Room A Editorial Team: ‡ (GLWRU 'DYLG &RYHUGDOH ‡ 'HSXW\ (GLWRU )UDQ ,QIDQWH ‡ 1HZV (GLWRUV -HVVLFD 7XOO\ DQG 6LPRQ Murphy ‡ &RPPHQW (GLWRUV &DUROLQH $UJ\URSXOR Palmer and Nicholas Fidler ‡ /LIH 6W\OH (GLWRUV /DULVD %URZQ $OH[ Felton and Ashley Fryer ‡ &XOWXUH (GLWRU $OLFH 9LQFHQW ‡ $UWV (GLWRU 6WHSKDQLH )HUUDR ‡ )LOP (GLWRU )UDQFHV .URRQ ‡ 0XVLF (GLWRUV 0DUN &RUFRUDQ /HWWLFH DQG Chris Mandle ‡ 79 5DGLR (GLWRU $LPHH 3KLOLSVRQ ‡ 3X]]OHV (GLWRUV 6X]L 0RRUH DQG 1HG Walker ‡ 6SRUWV (GLWRUV 3DXO &KULVWLDQ -DPLH *DYLQ DQG 7RP -DPHV ‡ 'HVLJQ (GLWRU 9LFWRULD %HOO ‡ &XOWXUH 2QOLQH (GLWRUV *RUGRQ %UXFH DQG -HVVLFD 0RQVRQ ‡ 3URRI (GLWRUV 5XWK $OVDQFDN &ODLUH Childs, Kath Harmer, Lucy Houlden, Anna Kenolty, Charlotte Loftus, Emma Peasgood and Claire Russell

*UDGXDWH XQHPSOR\PHQW KDV reached its highest level in 12 years. ,Q WKH ODVW \HDU LW LQFUHDVHG E\ according to recent research. The Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HESCU) found that 7.9% of students who left university LQ ZHUH RXW RI ZRUN LQ -DQX ary 2009, up from 5.5% the previous year. The organisation also revealed that the situation could be even worse for those graduating this year. ,W KDV EHHQ SUHGLFWHG WKDW RQH RXW of every 6 graduates who left university in the summer of 2009 will QRW À QG D MRE E\ WKH VWDUW RI QH[W year. The recession has hit the graduate MRE PDUNHW KDUG $URXQG D À IWK RI entry level vacancies have been lost in the past two years, excluding vocations such as teaching and medicine, increasing competition dramatically amongst new graduates. The worst affected areas mirrored those which have fared worst out RI WKH À QDQFLDO FULVLV LQFOXGLQJ building and architecture, with unemployment in these sectors nearly tripling in a year to 8.5%. Civil Engineering graduates have also suffered, with unemployment rising from 2.4% to 7.5 %. ,W LV QRW DOO EDG QHZV KRZHYHU graduate employment in the public sector actually saw an increase, with a rise in those being employed as WHDFKHUV DQG VRFLDO ZRUNHUV VSHFLÀ cally, as well as in health care. :LWK UHFHQW À JXUHV VKRZLQJ WKDW the recession is continuing in the

J. WHITTAKER

UK, the situation is expected to get ZRUVH 8&$6 LV H[SHFWHG WR FRQĂ€ UP in the near future that universities have increased the number of places available to undergraduates by 100,000 in just 3 years. This means that, even when those who will drop out of university are accounted for, up to 80,000 graduates will be competing for jobs in 3 years from now. For those who are getting jobs, however, things do not look so bleak. The chief executive of HESCU, Mike Hill, told The Guardian: “Despite unemployment increasing, for those who have found a job, salary levels are holding up.â€? Head of the Newcastle Careers Service, Nick Keeley, said of the rise in graduate unemployment: “44% sounds horrendous and, let’s be honest, it’s not good news.â€? However, graduates from Newcastle are doing better than the national average, with a smaller 6.5% being unemployed. The Careers Service has seen a marked increase in interest, and in direct response to the economic situation has opened its service to alumni who attended Newcastle up to 3 years ago. Keeley told The Courier ´, ZRXOG be really concerned if more students were not coming to see us because it would suggest a ‘head in the sand’ approach. “The good news is that there are still lots of employers recruiting graduates; lots of them are directly targeting this University and many are even reporting to us that they are looking to increase their graduate intake this year.â€?

Shortage of university places available for sixth formers Charlie Oven An early increase in university applications, coupled with a shortage of places has meant that sixth formers are facing the toughest competition yet for university entry. Although the deadline for submissions to the university admissions service for next year is not until -DQXDU\ OHDGLQJ XQLYHUVLWLHV DUH DO ready reporting high rates of return on UCAS forms. So far, The Guardian estimates that across all universities applications are up 11.6% to 71,883 from 64,438. )XUWKHUPRUH DSSOLFDWLRQV IRU 2[ ford, which traditionally have an HDUO\ GHDGOLQH RI 2FWREHU WK KDYH also seen an increase of applicants by 12%. The overall rise in applicants is arguably explained by a summer

of recession and shortage of jobs. ,Q UHVSRQVH WR WKH UHFRUG QXPEHUV schools are urging A Level students to send their applications early in the hope of snapping up places. However, admissions tutors are warning prospective students to prepare themselves for disappointment. The Guardian reports that some 139,520 students did not get a place at university for this current academic year. 7KHVH SDVW Ă€ JXUHV RIIHU OLWWOH UHDV surance for those applying for next autumn, particularly within the context of an increased number of applications. Commenting to The Courier, a media spokesperson for UCAS argued that: “the service is well equipped to process the record number of apSOLFDWLRQV :H KDYH DQ HIĂ€ FLHQW KHOS system, detailed on our website that

aims to respond to challenges that may arise from applying to higher education.â€? ,I DV 8&$6 VXJJHVWV DSSOLFDWLRQV DUH EHLQJ SURFHVVHG HIĂ€ FLHQWO\ FRP petition for university places arguably cannot be explained by administrative errors on UCAS’s part. This suggests other factors are open to consideration. The news of rising applications has sparked renewed calls for ministers to increase the number of places available. Speaking to The Telegraph David Willetts, shadow universities secretary claimed: “Ministers are sleepwalking into another University entrance crisis. ´7KH *RYHUQPHQW KDV VKRZQ LWVHOI to be woefully ill – prepared; they have failed to match our plan for 10,000 additional university places in 2010.â€?

The notion of an expansion of university places is shared by Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students. Streeting told The Guardian ´*LYHQ that tens of thousands of people lost out this year, the government must look immediately at an expansion of places.â€? The calls to expand the number of places at university arguably seems the logical solution to a rise in applications. Nevertheless, it is clear that a stable infrastructure is needed to match such a proposal. Speaking to The Times, Alistair -DUYLV IURP WKH JURXS RI UH search intensive universities comPHQWHG ´2XU ,QVWLWXWLRQV ZRXOG like to meet the extra demand but they need government funding to do so.â€?

Students opt for online university learning to save money The Courier is printed by: Harmsworth Printing Limited, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW. Tel: 01332 253013. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent Student Newspaper of the Union Society at the University of Newcastle-UponTyne. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Union Society or the University of Newcastleupon-Tyne.

Catriona White Martin Bean, recently appointed 9LFH &KDQFHOORU RI WKH 2SHQ 8QL versity, suggests more middle-class teenagers are taking up remote learning because they cannot afford to go away to university. +H FODLPV *RYHUQPHQW SROLF\ LV discriminating against these parttime students. A record number of students are starting higher education this term, but thousands of these teenagers

cannot afford to live away at university, or to study full-time. This has fuelled the rise in distance learning, with part-time students now making up 42% of all students. The issue, Bean states, is that hardO\ DQ\ À QDQFLDO VXSSRUW LV JLYHQ WR part-time students; they are unable to qualify for student loans and receive only minimal hardship grants. He stresses Ministers must provide funding immediately if Britain is to recover quickly from the recession. Mr Bean is lobbying for the introduction of a credit-based transfer

system, where students would take parts of degrees, and pick up their studies later or at different institutions, receiving funding throughout. He welcomed the imminent review of higher education funding, which is due to start in November and conclude next summer. With his most recent role as manager of Microsoft’s worldwide education strategy, Mr Bean comes from a more technological than academic background. He believes teaching should be as

relevant to the 21st century as possible, and that traditional methods DUH QR ORQJHU VXIĂ€ FLHQW WR VDWLVI\ demands for higher education. This ‘technological teaching’ is exempliĂ€ HG LQ WKH XSORDGLQJ RI XQLYHUVLW\ lectures onto iTunes, with about a million downloaded each month. At Newcastle face-to-face teaching continues, while the expanding Blackboard system, along with remote application system (RAS) allow module information and lecture notes to be accessed online, on and off campus at any time.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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NEWS

Students to rate lecturers online Katie Sibson

Leading the way: Her Majesty the Queen leaving the Great North Museum, closely followed by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and her granddaughter Princess Eugenie, a Newcastle student

Royal seal of approval for Great North Museum Jessica Tully News Editor Her Majesty the Queen was in NewFDVWOH ODVW ZHHN WR RIĂ€ FLDOO\ RSHQ two of the region’s newest attractions; one of which is part of Newcastle University. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh as they visited Newcastle’s new City Library as well as the Great North Museum on the University’s campus. Dressed in a bright pink coat, matching hat and black gloves, the 82-year-old started off her tour of WKH FLW\ LQ :DVKLQJWRQ RIĂ€ FLDOO\ opening a new ÂŁ19m school, before making her way to Northumberland Street. A stretch of the street from outside Fenwick’s to Blackett Street was cornered off to make way for the Royal car. Her Majesty and the Duke left the car for a few moments to greet well-wishers before making their way to the City Library. The new library, the Charles Avison Building, was opened to the public in June following a multimillion pound rebuild. The modern glass building, on sevHQ Ă RRUV RFFXSLHV WKH VDPH VLWH DV the old library in Princess Square. David Fay, City Libraries’ Manager told The Courier: “It’s a huge honour to have the Queen visit us.

“It can be shared with all Newcastle residents and the City CounFLO ZKLFK KDG WKH FRQĂ€ GHQFH WR JR ahead with the library project, the largest UK public library building in the last 40 years. “The Queen’s visit helps to cement Newcastle as a forward thinking, viEUDQW FLW\ ZLWK D VLJQLĂ€ FDQW FXOWXUDO offer at its heart.â€? $IWHU EHFRPLQJ WKH Ă€ UVW SHUVRQ WR sign the new library’s visitor book, Her Majesty and the Duke set off for the Great North Museum for a planned tour and lunch with local dignitaries who have been closely involved in the building’s ÂŁ27million redevelopment. Newcastle University led the project, in partnership with Newcastle City Council, the Natural History Society of Northumbria, the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. Professor Paul Younger, Pro-ViceChancellor of the University told The Courier: “It is the ultimate accolade for the Great North Museum to be opened by Her Majesty the Queen. It is especially gratifying that the Duke of Edinburgh is accompanying the Queen on this occasion. “They often travel separately, to maximise the Royal presence in a wider number of events, but for really important occasions they will decide to make visits together.

“We are privileged that the opening of the Great North Museum is recognised as an event of such high importance�. The Queen was led on a tour of the museum by Alec Coles, Director of Tyne and Wear Archive Museums, before breaking for a lunch of autumn leaf salad, herb crusted cod and poached pears where she was joined by her granddaughter, and Newcastle University student, Princess Eugenie. After lunch, the Queen and Duke were each presented with a gift, before unveiling a plaque to commemorate their visit. Newcastle University Students’ Union President Andriana Georgiou was lucky enough to be tasked with presenting the Queen her gift - a replica of the museum’s gold Aemelia Ring, believed to be one of the earliest Christian artefacts found in Britain Georgiou told The Courier: “I can’t believe I actually met the Queen. She was really small, but very sweet. She asked what my role was and thanked me for the gift. “I was also on the Duke’s table for lunch. He was really friendly and was making conversation with everyone at the table.� Thomas Whiteley, third year English Language and Literature student was working at the event. He told The Courier: “I was asked

if I could work on Friday morning and thought why not?! It’s not exactly everyday you get to see the Queen.� The Great North Museum occupies a prominent position on the corner of the University campus and holds wider ambitions to vastly improve the inclusivity of the ‘learning community’ that the University is part of. A delighted Professor Younger said: “I am extremely proud of what the University has achieved by working in partnership to deliver the Great North Museum. “A few years ago, the old museum was slowly decaying, and it has been ages since any modernisation had occurred. “Some institutions might have let it decay till it had to be boarded up, or maybe sold off for some non-educational purpose but thanks to the vision of our previous Vice-Chancellor Professor, the very opposite has happened.� The museum has already attracted more than 500,000 visitors since it opened its doors to the public in May. They were overwhelmed by the response from the public on its opening week with huge queues trailing down from the front doors of the museum all the way down Claremont Road.

The Conservatives announced last week that if they were to form the next government, students would have the chance to rate their lecturers online. They aim to be able to offer forthcoming students better information about their future courses such as salary information for each degree, experiences of higher education and the quality of teaching by individual lecturers. David Willetts, the Shadow Universities Secretary, is currently working alongside Microsoft to get the website up and running and believes it will push universities into improving teaching standards before tuition fees can be increased. Currently, the National Student 6XUYH\ DVNV Ă€ QDO \HDU VWXGHQWV to rate the quality of the teaching of their course but doesn’t provide enough information for future students on what to expect. The new online format will allow individual students to give their views of teaching standards and the quality of their work. 2WKHU QRQ RIĂ€ FLDO VLWHV LQFOXGH “ratemyprofessors.comâ€?, which provides information to future students. The current system fails to do this. David Willetts, however, claims that such sites can be unpleasant and intrusive, featuring comments from “bit of a legendâ€? to “this woman is a total jerkâ€?. Willetts told The Times: “We need more places for this kind of information in a way that is properly monitored.â€? Hannah Bond, 3rd year Linguistics student, believes she ZRXOG KDYH EHQHĂ€ WHG IURP WKH proposed website when she was choosing universities. She told The Courier: “When I applied for my course I didn’t feel I was provided with enough information to judge which course would be best for me. It would have been helpful to know about individual student experiences rather than relying on league tables. “Saying that, I don’t believe ratings of lecturers would have altered my view as my experience of lecturers has been very good.â€? The proposed website aims to offer more detailed information than universities currently publish. At Newcastle University, however, students are able to share their views on modules online through computer system Blackboard, to help lecturers improve the module for future students. The online module evaluation questionnaire allows students to rate their module based on work load, quality of teaching, teaching environment and materials provided.

Inside today >>>

Prospective Lib Dem MP speaks out News, page 7

Culture Chat with Stephen Merchant Culture, page 35

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Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

NEWS

Shamed lecturer set for prison after child sex scandal Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer & David Coverdale Editor Disgraced Newcastle University lecturer Dr Trevor Jackson is facing a lengthy term in prison after admitting having sex with an underage girl he met on the internet. The 46-year-old, who only resigned from his post at the University on 14 October 2009, pleaded guilty DW 1HZFDVWOH &URZQ &RXUW WR Ă€YH counts of meeting a child following VH[XDO JURRPLQJ DQG Ă€YH FRXQWV RI sexual activity with a child. As reported in last week’s The Courier, Jackson was arrested earlier this year after his secret sex trips to Jersey between September 2005 and )HEUXDU\ Ă€QDOO\ FDPH WR OLJKW The Biomedicine lecturer had hotel meetings with the 13-year-old child he had groomed on a website RQ Ă€YH VHSDUDWH YLVLWV WR WKH LVODQG and last week admitted in court to having sex sessions with the underage child on each occasion and full intercourse twice with the girl after she had turned 14. Jackson will hear his sentence on January 22, after Judge Tony Lancaster adjourned the case for further reports. These reports are to be prepared E\ D SUREDWLRQ RIĂ€FHU VSHFLDOLVW sex offender treatment experts and a psychiatrist - originally chosen to be a fellow Newcastle University employee. Judge Lancaster said: “Although I am adjourning for these reports you have to face the inevitability you will be going to prison for these offences.â€? In the meantime, the academic has been granted bail but under stringent new conditions, which includes surrendering of his passport, reporting weekly to Newcastle’s Market Street police station and staying only at his home in Lyndhurst Avenue, Jesmond. He was also made to immediately sign the sex offender’s register, with Judge Lancaster warning that: “Any failure on your part to comply with any of the conditions of bail will result in your immediate arrest.â€? A sombre looking Jackson appeared at Newcastle Crown Court

last Wednesday. Wearing an open necked shirt and dark blue jumper with a poppy pinned to the centre; he spoke only to answer his name and plead guilty to all ten counts against him. The court heard that on all counts, Jackson had no reason to believe the child was aged over 16. Jackson’s expression and voice was notably different in his plea to the ninth count - sexual activity with a child, aged 14, involving sexual touching and penetration of the vagina - with the lecturer wearing the look of a man who knew that his distinguished career was crashing down in front of his eyes. Tony Hawks, defending said: ““He knows he is going to receive a substantial term of imprisonment. “But he would like the opportunity to put his affairs in order before he is sent to prison in the new year.â€? Jackson also faces further charges at a hearing on 14 December. These charges relate to indecent images of children – not the 13-year-old in question – which were found on his computer when it was seized during the enquiry. Hawks said: “They are level one images. It is not subject to a trial, he [Jackson] will plead guilty at the Ă€UVW RFFDVLRQ 3V\FKLDWULVW UHSRUWV can start. He has been charged and will admit.â€? Following the court hearing, Mick :DUZLFNHU +HDG RI 3UHVV DQG &RPmunications at Newcastle University, gave the following statement: “Newcastle University has co-operated fully with the police throughout. “As the police investigation proceeded, it became clear that Trevor Jackson could not be allowed to continue to work at the University. “He began working from home in June 2009 and was suspended in August 2009, prior to his resignation in October. “Obviously, Newcastle University deplores the offences he committed. However, it should be pointed out that we have almost 5,000 staff and 19,000 students, and serious criminal offences are rare compared to society as a whole.â€? The convictions bring a damning end to what had been an esteemed

career. Jackson had worked as a senior lecturer at Newcastle University since 2002 and earned an international reputation as head of a team working on treatments for leukaemia and prostate cancer. Jackson had also been a specialist advisor to Cambridge Research Biochemicals. When contacted by The Courier, a shocked spokesperson for Cambridge Research Biochemicals admitted that they were previously unaware of the situation but did FRQĂ€UP WKDW KH ZDV QR ORQJHU DQ DGYLVRU +LV SURĂ€OH RQ WKHLU ZHEVLWH was later removed that day. 7KH SURĂ€OH ZKLFK DSSHDUHG RQ the site showed a glowing record. It listed the positions Jackson held, including head of the Newcastle Cell DQG 'HYHORSPHQWDO 3K\VLRORJ\ 5Hsearch Group. He also founded the Newcastle Cancer Cell Bioimaging and Bioinformatics Consortium. Whilst working at the internationally respected Babraham Institute in Cambridge from 1990-99, he was also a NATO Visiting Scientist to the Neuroscience Research Centre in the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL. Jackson’s academic career began at Oxford University where he obtained an undergraduate degree in ELRFKHPLVWU\ DFKLHYLQJ KLV 3+' from the Medical Research Council Centre at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge in 1988, three years after completing his studies at Oxford. The news of Dr Trevor Jackson’s conviction has caused shock and outrage amongst some of his former students. Those he was personal tutor to found out in the summer that he would no longer be taking that role, but no students were aware of why he had left the University until they saw the report in The Courier. On timetables given out at the start of the semester, Jackson was scheduled to take lectures. On the online timetable this has now been FKDQJHG WR ÂśWR EH FRQĂ€UPHG¡ The Bio-Med Society declined to comment, but several students who had contact with Dr. Jackson were willing to talk about him.

One former personal tutee said: “He seemed like a really nice guy, dead helpful with everything. I was really shocked when I read the front page.â€? ´,W GHĂ€QLWHO\ FKDQJHV WKH ZD\ , think about him, obviously. You don’t want to be around someone like that. “Just because it doesn’t directly affect people at the University doesn’t matter. It’s not the kind of person you want working at a uni.â€? Another third year Bio-Med student to whom Jackson was a personal tutor echoed these feelings, telling The Courier: “I was shocked when I found out, couldn’t believe it. “I last saw him at the end of last year, just after February. I found out in late September that he wasn’t going to be my personal tutor this year due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’. “It’s hard to make judgements

when you see people for ten minutes once a term.â€? -DFNVRQ DOVR OHFWXUHG Ă€UVW \HDU medical students in haematology. Looking back on their experiences of Dr Jackson, a fourth year medic remarked that: “Some of his mannerisms were quite strange but he was really just an average guy. I was really shocked to hear about this.â€? A second year added: “He dressed really young, as though he was trying to appear younger.â€? Jackson’s students were well aware of his position and reputation; something which seems to have increased the shock felt by the students. One commented: “He was very knowledgeable and was clearly interested in research. “You don’t want to hear anything like this about someone who is supposed to be respected in society.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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NEWS

Government unveil university courses food-labelling system Joshua Shrimpton-Dean University courses are to be rated using a model taken from the foodlabelling system. Prospective students will have acFHVV WR ÀJXUHV LQFOXGLQJ GURSRXW rates, graduates’ likely future earnings, the number of seminar hours they should expect and the type of assessment used. The measures, unveiled by Universities Secretary Peter Mandelson last week, are part of a new framework for higher education aimed at improving the university experience and offering better value for money to students. The steady increase in tuition fees since their introduction in 1998 has led students to adopt a more consumerist approach. The independent body that oversees complaints from students, the 2IÀFH RI WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW $GMXGLcator for England and Wales, announced last month that complaints made against universities had doubled since 2005. Universities are lobbying to be able WR LQFUHDVH WXLWLRQ IHHV VLJQLÀFDQWO\ above the current £3,225 per year, arguing that the current capping system is preventing them from continuing to offer a high-quality teaching experience.

Both Labour and the Conservatives are involved in a stand-off over who will announce a fees review ÀUVW ZLWK DQ\ SURSRVHG VLJQLÀFDQW increase likely to dent hopes of success in any forthcoming general election. Business and industry are expected WR SOD\ D PRUH VLJQLÀFDQW UROH LQ WKH funding of corresponding university degrees. It is assumed they will asVLVW LQ ÀOOLQJ WKH JURZLQJ EODFN KROH in public funding for higher education institutions.

The measures are part of a new framework for higher education The framework, which has taken almost two years to construct, also aims to make university more accessible to a wider section of society. More emphasis will be placed on courses aimed at mature students and those taking degrees part-time. Lesley Braiden, of the Marketing and Communications Directorate at Newcastle University said: “Our student community has routinely EHQHĂ€WHG IURP WKH UHJXODU LQWDNH of mature students. They add to the diversity of our student body, and

their broader life experience is of EHQHĂ€W WR RWKHU VWXGHQWV Âľ The government wants to develop more routes into higher education whilst A-levels are no longer being considered adequate to give an indication of aptitude and potential. As part of the framework, the government are addressing the issue of social mobility by commissioning a report on how those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are able to access top universities. Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Brink, has previously said: “Ability should be able to access opportunity regardless of circumstance.â€? Lesley Braiden added: “Our undergraduate admissions policy and processes are based on principles of fairness, integrity and individual consideration. When considering applications, our admissions tutors try to take account of any relevant contextual information which might have had an impact on an individual student’s achievements or progress.â€? However, Newcastle University was criticised by the National AuGLW 2IĂ€FH ODVW \HDU IRU IDLOLQJ WR hit benchmarks for admissions of students from lower social backgrounds.

Alex Bishop Commentary Plans to give students greater transparency of the quality of their prospective university courses are very promising. That this news is coming from Business Secretary Lord Mandelson’s consumerism approach to education is less so. Social mobility and the introduction of the private sector into universities will draw most attention from the overhaul of university policy unveiled last week. But more direction and information given to students heading for higher education is needed, even if only considering the magnitude of both students applying and courses on offer. Yet the consumer context in which Mandelson has dressed the issue is quite telling of what some see as a worrying merging of business and educational responsibility that he has. The ‘food labels’ themselves are mostly very logical. If students knew how much contact time they were to expect from tutors or how likely people were to drop out of the course, they would of course make a much more informed decision on application. Mandelson says students, as

consumers, must demand more from their education. Few current students would disagree with this claim on the surface. One friend told me recently he’d happily have twice as much contact time, calculating his lectures this year at around ÂŁ50 each. But the NUS have rightly pointed out the potential risk of contact hours subsequently being watered down, with fewer small seminars replaced by more large lectures. But what would these crucial strands of information cost? Surely not even logical proposals such as indicating dropout rates and average graduate earnings are ELJ HQRXJK Ă€J OHDYHV RYHU DQ LPpending raising of tuition fees. It is the motivation behind the plans for universities in a ‘knowledge economy’; a phrase, which as well as cringe-worthy is also at odds with what Sally Hunt of UCL, describes as a “worrying agenda that is focused purely on trying to justify the cost of a degree.â€? Mandelson has said by taking a consumer approach, students will be more demanding and it will bring about a positive culture and attitude. However, perhaps more importantly, price increases are something that all consumers come to expect.

Universities set to face major 6WXGHQWÂśV VH[ ÂżOP cuts for historic buildings causes controversy Sophie McCoid The Courier reported last week how research conducted by the University had revealed that historic buildings in Newcastle help to improve the mood of the city’s inhabitants. The future of these buildings has now been called into question this week, after proposals to cut funding for the maintenance of historic university buildings were announced. Earlier this year, John Denham, the University Secretary asked the fundLQJ FRXQFLO WR Ă€QG Â… P VDYLQJV LQ 2010-1. This year’s budget is facing a ÂŁ65m cut. The proposals will save The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) ÂŁ40m. They attribute the plans in part to Lord Mandelson’s order to the council to make savings wherever possible. Newcastle stands to lose over a million pounds and currently it is unclear as to where funding to cover WKLV GHĂ€FLW ZLOO FRPH IURP (PLOLH 6XJJLWW D Ă€UVW \HDU (QJOLVK student, said: “Newcastle is such a historic city; to lose some of its heritage unnecessarily would be tragicâ€? Much of the student population cites the city’s traditional feel and the classic buildings as a reason for choosing Newcastle. First year student Laura Grace said: “It’s sad to think that these buildings may not survive due to a lack in government funding, surely the money can be found from somewhere for such an important part of the University’s history.â€? Newcastle is not the only university to face cuts; Manchester, Leeds

and Bristol are also set to have their budgets slashed. The time-honoured universities Oxford and Cambridge are perhaps the biggest casualties of these proposals. Last year they collectively received ÂŁ9.16m to maintain their

infamous architecture, such as OxIRUG¡V %RGOHLDQ OLEUDU\ 7KLV Ă€JXUH LV VHW WR EH GHFUHDVHG VLJQLĂ€FDQWO\ leading to serious concern being expressed by both universities concerned.

Still standing: Newcastle University’s Armstrong Building may be one of the buildings under threat

Chris Mandle A recent graduate on Newcastle University’s Fine Art programme KDV FDXVHG D VWLU ZLWK D VKRUW Ă€OP depicting two friends having sex. -RVHSK 6WHHOH KDG KLV Ă€OP shown as part of the week-long Easyrider exhibition, as featured in The Courier a few weeks ago. Joseph admitted: “I wanted to shock people and people said it did just that.â€? 6WHHOH¡V FRQWURYHUVLDO Ă€OP ZDV LQ national newspapers last week with RQH SDSHU UHIHUULQJ WR WKH Ă€OP DV D “sex showâ€?. The exhibition was held at the Hangar 51 gallery in the Ouseburn Valley, an area renowned as a hub for the arts and creative industry. It ran from October 29th until November 5th, and was founded by Steele and fellow graduate Tom Whitty. The crowds were forewarned of any explicit content during the exhibition, and the two have ensured WKDW WKH Ă€OP LV RQO\ RQ GLVSOD\ GXUing certain periods so as to ensure it is not viewed by under-18’s. Volunteering for his piece, titled Joseph Steele: That’s Why They Call It Art (Baby), were two of Joseph’s friends, who are currently in a relationship. Steele told The Courier: “I socialise with them a lot so it is strange now having seen them have sex. “Inspiration for the title came from Andy Warhol, who put together D FRQWURYHUVLDO HURWLF Ă€OP LQ WKH 1960’s. Third year Fine Art student David 0F'RQDOG VXSSRUWHG WKH Ă€OP SUDLV-

ing Steele for displaying the work in an artistic context. He told The Courier: “To be honest, what Joe did isn’t anything particularly new. “Had the same piece been displayed in New York or Berlin, or come from a more widely known artist, I imagine it would have gardened far less interest.â€? However, Louise Thorpe, third year Business Accounting & Finance, didn’t like the idea. She commented: “I think sex is something personal that I only want to share with the other person, not someone Ă€OPLQJ LW DQG HYHU\RQH ZDWFKLQJ DW an exhibition!â€? Despite the media swarming DURXQG -RVHSK¡V PLQXWH Ă€OP LW wasn’t the only controversial work on display at the exhibition. Tom Whitty, co-stager of the event and fellow graduate, featured the BNP in some of his work, and another piece invited guests to smash up a car present at the event.

Inside today >>>

Are airport taxes too high? Comment, page 13

7UDYHO JRHV WR .HQ\D Life & Style, page 19

6

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

NEWS

No platform policy debate Union, 7pm, Tuesday 10 November >>>

Walk this way: students hit catwalk for cancer charity Samantha Hockney Two Newcastle University students have raised over £5000 for charity by organising a sell-out fashion show which was held last Tuesday. Third year students Alicia Rawlings and Georgie Fowle set up the event in order to raise money for The Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust, a charity set up in the memory of their close family friend. Over 400 guests attended the show at Lineker’s bar to see fashion labels such as Canterbury, French Connection, Oxfam and Mint Couture featured. Newcastle University graduates also were given the opportunity to showcase their fashion designs and encouraged to sell their lingerie and jewellery on the night. The top labels were modelled by Newcastle students, friends, and cancer sufferers from the Children’s and Teenager’s Cancer Ward at the

1HZFDVWOH 5R\DO 9LFWRULD ,QĂ€UPDU\ There were emotional scenes at the end of the night when those donating massive sums of money came face-to-face with the brave models who are battling cancer. Co-organiser Alicia said: “Everyone was in tears with the children, it was truly touching. It makes the stress of it all worthwhile. It took a lot of determination to make the night an absolute success. “Every time someone hung up the phone, or said no to our plans, it just spurred us on to never stop trying. To raise this amount of money for a cause so close to our hearts means the world to us,â€? she added. The Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust was set up in the name of a young cancer sufferer, with the ambition to raise funds for the children’s oncology ward at the Leicester Royal ,QĂ€UPDU\ Robbie Anderson was just 12 years

old when he was diagnosed with Metastatic Angiosarcoma, a rare form of cancer which attacked his liver, vertebrae and pelvic bones. After a long 15-month battle with the disease, he passed away aged just 13. Simon Haggart, Trustee of the charity and a close friend of the Andersons’ said: “It is both refreshing and inspiring to see the amount of hard work and dedication, not just of the organisers, but of the participants themselves, who have willingly given up their time to raise money for such a worthy cause. I know Robbie would have loved to have been part of this brilliant event. “To have the involvement of young people from the Newcastle area, some of whom are also battling cancer, is all the more humbling.â€? The fashion show success tops that of the debut in April, which raised over ÂŁ4000 for the charity.

Bogus foreign university applicants Union to debate slipping through the net, says report no platform policy Nile Amos Questions were raised last week DERXW WKH HIÀFLHQF\ RI WKH LPPLJUDWLRQ RIÀFH ZKHQ LW FRPHV WR ÀQGLQJ and identifying false applicants to British universities. British airports are seeing a large LQà X[ RI IRUHLJQ VWXGHQW KRSHIXOV throughout the whole year, and fresh concerns regarding the system that assesses their eligibility to live and study in the UK have surfaced as a result. The problem, claims a BBC report, is that there are simply too many students passing through the doors for staff to carefully identify. Whilst the vast majority of students are genuine, the pressure of maintaining order throughout the day means that applicants who have more suspect credentials can slip over the borderline for the sake of clearing a backlog at arrivals. On top of this, the use of false qualLÀFDWLRQV LVVXHG E\ +RPH 2IÀFH accredited institutions overseas has EHFRPH D VLJQLÀFDQW FKDOOHQJH LQ identifying phoney applicants. 'HVSLWH WKH QRWLRQ WKDW WKH +RPH 2IÀFH KDV FKHFNV XSRQ WKH 1RQ (8 FROOHJHV WKDW FDQ DZDUG TXDOLÀFDtions to foreign hopefuls, it appears that even these agencies have the capability to casually mark-up grades for a named price. This news comes with particular relevance to Newcastle University, who expelled 50 foreign students in November 2008 after it was discov-

ered that their admission had been secured via the use of forged documents. In this particular case it was reYHDOHG WKDW HQWU\ TXDOLĂ€FDWLRQV KDG been manipulated to show higher grades than had actually been achieved. It was results in subsequent English language tests that DOHUWHG 8QLYHUVLW\ RIĂ€FLDOV A spokesperson from the Student Progress Service told The Courier: ´/DVW \HDU ZDV D YHU\ GLIĂ€FXOW H[perience for the University and we hope never to repeat it again. Certainly the admissions team learned from the experience and are now alert for a certain pattern in an application. “One of the most important things we did was to post a list of approved agents on the web. Also, around Easter 2009 we wrote to all international students who may potentially have been applying for further study in the UK, reminding them that they can apply for further study for free and do not need to use an agent. “The University took the autumn 2008 event very seriously. We now have to ‘sponsor’ international students into the UK and we must be FRQĂ€GHQW WKDW WKHLU DSSOLFDWLRQ LV FRUUHFW ,W LV YHU\ GLIĂ€FXOW WR EH 100% sure about this, but we must take this duty seriously and do what we can. We must also remember that the overwhelming majority of applications to study at Newcastle University are genuine.â€?

The Union is set hold a debate on whether they should have a no platform policy for extremist parties, such as the British National Party. The debate will start at 7pm on Tuesday November 10 in the Function Suite. Speaking in favour will be Student 6XSSRUW 2IĂ€FHU 3HWH 0HUFHU DQG &RPPXQLW\ 2IĂ€FHU 'DYLG +LFNling. Speaking against the no platform policy will be James Hollis, Sarah Farnham and Quinta Chapman. The audience will be actively engaged with the debate, being allowed to ask questions and contribute throughout. Convenor of debates, James O’Sullivan said: “The subject of 1LFN *ULIĂ€Q¡V DSSHDUDQFH RQ 4XHVtion Time a few weeks ago has been one that has sparked intense and widespread debate across the country. “Should someone who is openly racist, believes that the UK should be occupied only by its indigenous peoples, and who denies that the holocaust happened, be allowed onto national media, put in the spotlight and have his voice heard?â€? He added: “Some argue that it was the right thing to do as many people have been able to see what he really stands for, while others worry that by giving them a platform no matter whether it is in positive or negative light is going to help them running with the belief that all publicity is good publicity.â€?

Strike a pose: student models took to the catwalk in aid of The Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust last

University scientists pioneer new method to prevent premature labour Verity Cunningham Newcastle University scientists have developed a new method to prevent premature labour. This is a major breakthrough for the 50,000 babies born early each year. Premature birth is the largest single cause of death in infants, and predisposes the surviving infants to disabilities like blindness, deafness, and cerebral palsy. In an attempt to reduce the occurrences of deaths and disabilities, research funded by Action Medical Research has shown that a drug called Trichostatin A can help to prevent premature labour. A widely used compound, Trichostatin A has been used as an antifungal antibiotic, and more recently as an anti-cancer drug. The team, led by Professor Nick Europe-Finner, tested the drug on human tissue samples taken during Caesareans at the Royal Victoria InÀUPDU\ 7KH UHVXOWV VKRZ WKDW PXVFOH FRQWUDFWLRQV ZHUH VLJQLÀFDQWO\

reduced by between 50-60%. Current methods to delay labour are ineffective and can cause heart problems, making the new method a major breakthrough. According to Professor Jane Norman of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG), “we only have drugs that delay [birth] by 24 hours or so – not enough to deliver the baby safely.� Experimental use of Trichostatin A on pregnant mice revealed that it delayed birth for two to three days. Professor Europe-Finner informed The Courier that: “this equates to between two and three weeks in humans.� Investigations were then started on human tissues. 'U <RODQGH +DUOH\ IURP $FWLRQ Medical Research, said: “results showing Trichostatin A can inhibit contractions in the uterus mean it could have a role in preventing premature birth. Finding a new treatment for early labour would be a major step forward.�

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

7

NEWS R. MAIR

Tuesday, raising over £5,000 at Lineker’s bar in front of an audience of hundreds

Bethany Sissons

Students demonstrate over gay blood ban Last Tuesday lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual students protested against the National Blood Service’s policy which forbids gay and bisexual men to donate blood. The protest was organised by the NUS in order to destroy the myth that AIDS is a “gay disease.� The current policy is discriminatory according to the NUS; currently, no man who has ever had anal or oral sex with another man is allowed donate blood.

Bouncers guard war memorial after it was urinated on by student Extra security was organised for 6KHIĂ€HOG¡V LQIDPRXV &DUQDJH SXE crawl last week after images of a drunken student urinating on a poppy wreath caused national outrage. Bouncers and barriers guarded the

war memorial in the centre of ShefÀHOG LQ RUGHU WR SUHYHQW DQ\ LQGHcency. The extra security was considered WR EH FUXFLDO IRU &DUQDJH LQ UHVSRQVH to student Philip Laing’s drunken behaviour two weeks ago. The nineteen year old student was caught on camera desecrating the memorial. Laing was arrested and charged with outraging public decency after he was found laughing in a gutter after a night of binge drinking. /DLQJ ZLOO DSSHDU DW 6KHIÀHOG 0DJLVWUDWHV &RXUW QH[W PRQWK

Cambridge students set up tabloid newspaper $ JURXS RI &DPEULGJH XQLYHUVLW\ students have set up their own tabloid newspaper, complete with ‘page three’. ‘The Tab’ appears online and includes pages on the latest celebrity gossip and sporting news as well as ‘Tab Totty’. It is a popular read ZLWK KLWV LQ LWV Ă€UVW ZHHN DQG is allegedly the most read publicaWLRQ DPRQJVW &DPEULGJH 8QLYHUVLW\ students.

However, some are outraged by the ‘Tab Totty’ section of the newspaper, which depicts scantily clad female students. ‘The Tab’ also includes a feature called ‘Bra-vo’, which discusses the ODUJH EUD VL]HV RI &DPEULGJH ZRPen. ‘The Tab’s’ creators have been accused of exploiting females and therefore they have responded by promising to feature a ‘hunk’.

Study shows white students do better than Asian and black peers A study published this month shows the widening gap between the degree results of white, Asian and black students. 7KH (TXDOLW\ &KDOOHQJH 8QLW FDUried out the study to promote equality and diversity in higher education. The study was based on more than 1.8 million students living in the 8. ZKR DOO SHUVRQDOO\ LGHQWLÀHG their ethnicity. The results revealed that in 200304, 63.1% of white students obtained D ÀUVW RU LQ WKHLU XQGHUJUDGXDWH

degree in contrast to 35.5% of black VWXGHQWV ZKR DWWDLQHG D ÀUVW RU 7KH ÀJXUHV SRUWUD\ WKH GLVWLQFW difference between the results of white students and ethnic minority students.

UK students encouraged to work during holidays

In order to see the world, experience new culture and earn some money, UK students are being encouraged

to go and work in the US during the summer holidays. Real Gap, a gap year organiser, stress that there are many great opportunities for students who want to work and spend some time living in the US. The work can be outdoors, involving customer contact, sales and maintenance. It is hoped that these summer work placements will provide an answer to the increasing problem of student debt, as many students want to travel but cannot realistically afford to. Gap year organisers can help to arrange work placements and accommodation. Also, casual work visas for the US are readily available for EU students who have already enrolled on their course.

8

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

NEWS

Prospective Lib Dem MP: ‘We’re not trying to move students out of Jesmond’ > News Editor Simon Murphy talks to Liberal Democrat candidate for Newcastle East, Greg Stone, about the City Council’s recent controversial housing strategy, ahead of next year’s general election The Liberal Democrat led council wants to ship students out of Jesmond into purpose-built complexes isolated from the rest of the community; won’t this just make relations worse between students and locals? It’s not about re-housing students – that’s one of the key things. I’ve been on Heaton Council for the last ten years so I’m there in it in the middle of a student area as well so I know what it’s like. I think one of the big things that we have been hearing on the ground, from the students as well as from the residents, is that we need a proactive approach to accommodate students – it’s about having a balance. The back story on this is really

that over the last ten years student QXPEHUV KDYH JURZQ VLJQLÀFDQWO\ across the board nationally and also in Newcastle and during that time there was a big expansion of the private rented sector, and in my days – this going back to the early nineties, there was quite a spread of students across the city. What I think has happened over the last few years is that the student population has been gradually concentrated into a smaller and smaller area around Jesmond, Sandyford and Heaton and that has put some pressure, I think it’s fair to say, on the existing communities. I don’t want the message to get across [that we’re planning to relocate students], and I don’t think that it’s true and I know landlords have

felt threatened by this but what the council is trying to do is say ‘look, what we can’t just do is let the free market decide on this because the way it’s going there will be more and more pressure being put on Jesmond and areas of Heaton as well.’ We’re saying because there have been about 10,000 extra students in the city, we need to start building some extra accommodation for them. Students don’t pay council tax; isn’t that why the council wants rid of them? :HOO LW¡V QRW DERXW WD[ Ă€UVW DQG foremost but here is a big growth in the population of people in Newcastle but that is not necessarily ac-

Raising the bar: Greg Stone says extra student accommodation is needed in Newcastle

counted for in the funding formula. We’re not saying we want to move people out of Jesmond – that’s not the case at all, but we need to create some head room for people to move into and the logical thing as far as the council sees it is to try to build PRUH VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ IRU WKH Ă€UVW \HDU population, close to the university campuses whether that is in the city centre, or by the Northumbria campus somewhere close by. That is the logical place for the new accommodation to go. We’re not trying to move students out of Jesmond. We just can’t let the rates of change keep going as it is at the minute whereby families and permanent residents are moving out of the areas and more and more properties are being turned into four, Ă€YH VL[ EHGURRP UHQWHG SURSHUWLHV We have to say no. We have to put some restrictions on that. It’s not about trying to get students out of Jesmond and Heaton; we know that they contribute an enormous amount to the shops, the nightlife, and everything else in those areas. We’re just saying we need to build in some extra capacity to that. The council’s housing strategy isn’t RQO\ WDUJHWLQJ Ă€UVW \HDUV ,W¡V PDGH to think second and third year students are going to want to stay in student halls for the entire duration RI WKHLU XQLYHUVLW\ OLIH 6XUHO\ WKH council is segregating students by pushing them into these purposebuilt housing complexes? I don’t think it’s about segregation and I do think some of the language used has been quite unfortunate, about student ghettos and about apartheid and about that sort of thing and that’s really unhelpful language. I’ve spoken to a lot of landlords DQG WKH\¡YH KDG D YHU\ SURĂ€WDEOH comfortable ride the last few years and they’ve been cashing in on that, and they are concerned because they can see a bit of competition coming through now. I take your point on second and third years though; I don’t think many second and third years would KDYH WKHLU Ă€UVW FKRLFH EH RQH RI WKH student halls-type complexes. Although I think some of the things that are coming through now are quite different in terms of quality than the little institutionalised Castle Leazes-type of stuff.

4XDOLW\ FRPHV DW H[SHQVH WKRXJK The cost of student accommodation at Newcastle University has ULVHQ ZHOO DERYH LQĂ DWLRQ WKLV \HDU ,VQ¡W KDYLQJ PRUH H[SHQVLYH KDOOV just going to increase the pressure RQ VWXGHQWV ZKR DUH IDFLQJ Ă€QDQcial hardship? :HOO WKDW LV DQ LVVXH RI VWXGHQW Ă€nance, but what we had is a situation where student numbers were growing in the region of 20-30% over the last few years; accommodation wasn’t keeping pace with that. Economically that would inevitably lead to rising rents because there was then more demand than there was supply. What we hope is that by increasing supply it will lead eventually to a fall in rent costs. Do you think it’s right for the University to take advantage of the rising rates of rent in the housing market? Well it’s not just the University, the landlords are taking advantage already, and they’re already cashing in being able to dictate their own terms in renting agreements. But that doesn’t make it right for the University to cash in too and match private landlords’ greed just EHFDXVH WKH\ FDQ JHW DZD\ ZLWK LW At the minute the council can’t dictate the rents that are charged but by increasing the supply of accommodation we hope that will lead to more of an equilibrium coming into place and hopefully a fall in rents over time, because we do appreciate that the cost of living for students is a severe issue at the minute. In terms of the second and third year issue, okay, they will over time prefer to be in rented accommodation elsewhere rather than in halls, EXW ZLWK UHJDUG WR WKH Ă€UVW \HDU PDUket and the overseas student market, they want to be in this type of accommodation and we think this will help in that respect. In the last few years certainly there haven’t been enough beds in halls. These measures are trying to help the situation rather than dictate where people can live. Have your say on the council’s housing policy by visiting www.thecourieronOLQH FR XN DQG Ă€OOLQJ RXW WKH KRPH SDJH poll

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

9

NEWS

Union Society Editor: David Coverdale - editor.union@ncl.ac.uk

Only fools rush in This year, Pete Mercer the Union 6WXGHQW 6XSSRUW 2IÂż FHU Society at support.union@ncl.ac.uk Newcastle University is launching a new campaign to advise students who are thinking about looking for their accommodation for next year to take a bit of time to think about what they’re doing. ,I \RX¡UH LQ \RXU Ă€ UVW \HDU WKHQ chances are you’ve only really NQRZQ \RXU FXUUHQW Ă DWPDWHV friends a matter of weeks. A lot can change between now and next summer - it might be that you have a massive fall-out in February. So are you really ready to commit to being with them for another 20+ months?! Think carefully before

making a decision. Don’t be pressurised. Remember you will be legally liable for 12 months. Just because you know some people have signed up, do not jump on the bandwagon and make a panic decision. This can cause so many problems down the line. Contracts can be difÀ FXOW WR JHW RXW ZLWK DQG WKHUH FDQ be a whole host of other problems that you could encounter in doing so - for example getting that deposit back. Circulations of lettings magazines and whispers going around halls would have you believe that you need to sign by December in order to get a good deal. It is a myth that if you don’t sign up before Christmas you will not secure anything. Remember that there is a surplus of accommodation across the city, so

do not believe the hard selling tactics of agencies. Property will not run out, nor will you “miss out� on a good deal. I chose my house just a few weeks before moving in this year and I managed to get an amazing house for a really good price in a great area. Letting agents only want you to sign up early so that the fees and the deposits you pay sit in high interest accounts earning them more money, and also so that they don’t miss the boat with the market, not you. You are a target group for these agencies and they will try very hard to get you to sign up. So take it easy and shop around. Most importantly, don’t believe the lies and don’t give in to the pressure.

Top ten student housing tips 1. DON’T PANIC As mentioned in the article above, there is no need to rush into signing for a house now. 2. CHECK YOUR CONTRACT OVER Whilst it may all seem legitimate and reasonable on the surface, it really is crucially important that you JR WKURXJK \RXU FRQWUDFW ZLWK D Ă€ QH tooth comb. Look out for disclaimers and unfair terms as landlords can try to slip these in to avoid responsibilities. Once you’ve signed it, you’re stuck with it. Even if your plans change you may still have to honour your rent obligations. So if in doubt, get the Student Advice Centre (SAC) to check it over. 3. GETTING THINGS IN WRITING Verbal agreements are still legally ELQGLQJ EXW PXFK PRUH GLIĂ€ FXOW WR establish in the case of a dispute, so make sure that anything you agree on is put in writing, including things like agreements on furnishing and repairs or decoration prior to your moving in. There should be two original copies which both you and your landlord sign and date at the same time, for you both to retain. Make sure you keep this in a safe and secure place as you may need to rely on it. 4. KNOW YOUR LANDLORD It is vital that you have the landlord’s full name and address and, if it’s different, the address to which you must send formal and legal noWLĂ€ FDWLRQV You should have a contact telephone number too, and make sure you get “out of hoursâ€? details for emergencies. 5. LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY All tenancies are automatically Assured Shorthold Tenancies, so for

a full, essential explanation of the legal rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, see the free Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) ‘Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies: A Guide for Tenants’. This can be found on the web. 6. DEPOSIT PROTECTION Under new legislation (April 2007), deposits have to be protected under a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. You should be provided with information about and proof of the relevant scheme within 14 days of giving your deposit. Furthermore, it’s crucial that you insist on obtaining a signed and dated receipt of your deposit. Your deposit should be returned to you promptly, in full, at the end of your tenancy, subject to any legitimate deductions for damage or rent arrears. Damage is the most common cause of disputes so if you think you’ve been charged unfairly then go see the SAC for advice, unless you choose to seek professional legal advice elsewhere. Joint tenants are equally responsible for damage so make sure you uphold a united front if a dispute occurs. For more detailed information, go to www. GLUHFW JRY XN WHQDQF\GHSRVLW 7. YOUR PRIVACY Your landlord does not have the right to enter your home without your permission. Also, your landlord is legally required to give at least 24 hours’ notice, and at reasonable intervals, of visits when coming round for inspection, for example. The only exception is in the case of a genuine emergency. 8. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS Although this should already be contained in the contract, you VKRXOG JHW ZULWWHQ FRQĂ€ UPDWLRQ WKDW all “white goodsâ€?, such as washing machines and driers, are the responsibility of the landlord. And whilst it’s your responsibility

to take good care of the property, the landlord should “maintainâ€? the property and its installations and is legally obliged to carry out necessary repairs. On arrival, make sure you take note of any pre-existing damage, complete with photographic evidence, and notify your landlord of them immediately so you’re not held accountable for them later on. And during your tenancy, inform them in writing straight away if anything breaks or if you have any other problems. 9. HEALTH AND SAFETY You certainly shouldn’t have to live anywhere where your personal health is put at risk. This can be anything from unsafe electrical sockets to wobbly banisters – but you’d be surprised just how many undetected violations there can be in a property. If you suspect that you are being put at risk and your landlord refuses to do anything about it then call environmental health: they will thoroughly inspect your accommodation and pick up on anything dodgy – a report from them simply won’t be ignored. To get really clued up, take a look at the ‘Housing Health and Safety Rating System –Guidance for Landlords and Property Professionals’ – this can be found on www.communities.gov.uk 10. NEGOTIATION Communication really is the key to resolving any dispute. Whilst having things in written form as proof is essential, face to face contact is better for getting your message across DQG QHJRWLDWLQJ DQ\ FRQĂ LFW ² SUR vided you can restrain yourself. As with all social situations, refrain from being threatening, aggressive or emotional in any way, as this won’t solve anything and will only cloud a potentially rational and valid point. $W WKH VDPH WLPH EH Ă€ UP ZLWK \RXU landlord and hold them accountable to all their responsibilities.

Vacancies www.careers.ncl.ac.uk/vacancies The Careers Service provides information DQG DGYLFH RQ GHYHORSLQJ \RXU VNLOOV ¿ QGLQJ a part-time job, work experience, supporting business start-up and (when the time comes) exploring graduate opportunities. For more details about these and other vacancies, including details of how to apply, visit their website at www.ncl.ac.uk/careers. Vacancies brought to you by the Careers Service: Job Title: Temporary Christmas Crew Members Employer: Spudulike Ltd Business: Baked potato restaurant Closing date: 20/11/2009 Salary: NMW (depending on age) Basic job description: Spudulike aim to provide high quality fresh and healthy food. The Eldon Square store is currently looking to take on temporary Crew Members to work over the busy Christmas period. Duties of the post include: till work, serving customers, food preparation and general restaurant duties. There are various hours available for this post. Person requirements: Experience is not necessary as full training will be provided. You must be willing to work, with good customer service and sales skills. You MUST be available to work in Newcastle over the Christmas vacation period. Location: Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Job Title: Temporary Sales Advisors Employer: Cruise Fashion LTD Business: Designer fashion retailer Closing date: 13/11/2009 Salary: To be discussed at interview Basic job description: They are currently looking to take on temporary Sales Advisors to work over the Christmas period. You will be an ambassador of the Cruise Brand, and you will ensure that the ultimate Cruise shopping experience is maintained at all times. You will be required to provide support to ensure the store operates successfully. This post is for a minimum of 8 hours SHU ZHHN KRZHYHU \RX PXVW EH À H[LEOH ZLWK your availability as you will be required to work evenings and weekends. Person requirements: Sales experience

is preferred, however, personality is the most important aspect as you must be able to interact with customers. You must have good customer service skills and you MUST be available to work in Newcastle over the Christmas vacation period. Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, City Centre. Job Title: Magicians and Circus Themed Entertainers Employer: Azzuri Restaurant Business: Italian Restaurant Closing date: 25/11/2009 Salary: To be discussed (+ food included) Basic job description: They are looking for talented Magicians, or Circus Themed Entertainers to perform to a large crowd this New Year’s Eve. The salary will be discussed upon interview, however there will be bonuses including free food and an invitation to stay all evening. Person requirements: You must have an entertaining talent which you wish to show off to a large crowd of people in an up market restaurant. Location: Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Job Title: Information Centre Advisor Level 1 Employer: Age Concern North Tyneside (ACNT) Business: Registered Charity representing older people in and around North Tyneside Closing date: 13/11/2009 Salary: ÂŁ16,538 pa pro rata plus pension Basic job description: Age Concern North Tyneside works with and supports people aged 50 and over to lead independent, fulÂż OOLQJ DQG SURGXFWLYH OLYHV E\ OLVWHQLQJ DQG responding to their needs and aspirations. We are currently looking for an Information Centre Advisor to lead a team of volunteers SURYLGLQJ Âż UVW FODVV FXVWRPHU VHUYLFHV WR DOO visitors to the 50+ Information Centre. You ZLOO EH WKH Âż UVW SRLQW RI FRQWDFW IRU WKRVH seeking advice and will refer appropriately to our skilled advice team. This post is for 20 hours per week. Person requirements: You must be enthusiDVWLF FDULQJ DQG Ă€ H[LEOH 7KLV SRVLWLRQ ZRXOG suit an individual who thrives on a busy ‘front of house’ environment. We welcome application from all sections of the community to join our team so that together we can achieve our goals. Location: North Tyneside

10

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

Losing their innocence? Comment Editors: Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer and Nicholas Fidler - courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk

> Focus, page 12

Not a prevention, but no cure either Danny Kielty The sacking of Professor Nutt, the now former President of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of 'UXJV ODVW ZHHN KDV \HW DJDLQ H[ SRVHG WKH PLQHÀ HOG WKDW LV *RYHUQ ment drugs policy. The former president’s claims that alcohol is in fact more dangerous than the class B drug cannabis have led to another bitter clash between VFLHQWLÀ F HYLGHQFH DQG SROLWLFDO agenda. 7KH +RPH 6HFUHWDU\ $ODQ -RKQ son’s decision to re-classify the drug from class C to B has provoked consternation amongst the members of the council, and now considerable embarrassment for the Government. Spin aside, which approach should be taken towards cannabis? As ever, the politics and the science make for no easy answer. J. WEEDEN

It is clear that cannabis, especially its much stronger form, skunk, has some potentially serious effects. Firstly, it is clear that the cannabis of today is much stronger than that of the free-loving days of the 60s, ZLWK SROLFH Ă€ JXUHV VXJJHVWLQJ WKDW the most potent form, skunk or ‘sinsemilla’, now accounts for a staggering 80% of all cannabis seized. In addition, serious side effects VXFK DV DQ[LHW\ SDUDQRLD DQG HYHQ psychosis are more likely to occur from smoking skunk due to the chemical Cannabidiol (CBD), which has anti-psychotic effects, gradually being ‘bred out’ to increase potency. As well as the psychological effects, the drug also promotes addiction through long term usage, as it replaces and reduces the natural neurotransmitter Anadamide in the brain, thereby creating dependence. Figures from the National Treatment Agency in 2007 published a Ă€ JXUH RI FKLOGUHQ XQGHU having been treated. Combine this with the fact that our brains don’t Ă€ QLVK GHYHORSLQJ XQWLO RXU V DQG the risks are clear to see. So then, with an apparently evergrowing number of young people taking the drug, are current measXUHV MXVWLĂ€ DEOH RU HYHQ HIIHFWLYH LQ stemming the tide? A quick look at the penalties for possession of a class B drug tells me otherwise. People caught in possession of

FDQQDELV FRXOG IDFH XS WR \HDUV LQ SULVRQ RU DQ XQOLPLWHG Ă€ QH RU both. It seems clear to me that imposing such measures on young people is counter-productive and draconian. When we look at the role of legal drugs in society, cracks and contradictions start to appear in the current Government line. Gordon Brown’s comments that cannabis is ‘lethal’ are incredible. If Mr Brown took the time to rediscover his battered old budget ER[ WKH VWUDLQ DOFRKRO SXWV RQ RXU society would give the Government some perspective. In 2008, WKH 1DWLRQDO $XGLW 2IĂ€ FH SXW WKH cost of alcohol abuse to the NHS at Â… EQ DQG WKLV \HDU D JURXS RI 2[ ford University researchers put the Ă€ JXUH DW Â… EQ )RUJHW WKH Ă€ JXUHV IRU D PRPHQW It’s not hard to see the strain one too many on a Friday night puts on ambulances, A&E nurses, the police etc. So, with all this cost on public services, why does the Government not slap a class B on alcohol too? 7KH DQVZHU OLHV LQ WKH WD[PDQ Each year smokers pay over ÂŁ9bn LQ WD[ DQG WKH Ă€ JXUH IRU DOFRKRO LV also set to rise, helping to prop up the economy and pay for the effects of alcohol and smoking on the NHS (as well as the odd banker’s bottle of bubbly). $ODQ -RKQVRQ¡V UHWRUW WKDW ZH “cannot have a Chief Advisor VWHSSLQJ LQWR WKH SROLWLFDO Ă€ HOGÂľ is grossly mis-informed. Tell me; is the legalization of alcohol not a SULPH H[DPSOH RI SROLWLFV VWHSSLQJ into science? Patrick Hargreaves, a member of the ACMD, said of the Misuse of Drugs Act in a statement: ‘if people are looking to it as a tool to gauge harm, tobacco, alcohol, volatile substances and most medicines should be included.’ I’m not suggesting alcohol should be banned, but it is downright wrong to start sacking people over what is clear, factual evidence. So, whilst social desirability and KLJK WD[ UHYHQXH NHHS DOFRKRO Ă€ UPO\ LQ WKH VKRSV FDQQDELV SRV session is cracked down upon. I am not saying society should sit back DQG OHW WKH JUHHQ ÂśJDQMD¡ Ă RZ EXW I can guarantee most of us have KDG VRPH H[SHULHQFH ZLWK WKH GUXJ whether it be through someone we know, or otherwise. )URP SHUVRQDO H[SHULHQFH , KDYH met many young people from a wide range of social backgrounds who have taken the drug, so this cannot be labelled as merely a ‘problem of the poor.’ In my opinion, the stigma associated with the drug is essential, but the ‘scare tactics’ currently employed by the Government are hopelessly naĂŻve and grossly misjudge the attitudes of youth culture. ,¡P H[WUHPHO\ VFHSWLFDO WKDW FDQ nabis will ever be totally removed from youth culture or society as a whole, but I do believe that proper education in schools, colleges and XQLYHUVLWLHV LV FUXFLDO LQ GHĂ DWLQJ peer pressure and alleviating ignorance to the drug and its effect. Coercion will not create a cure.

No Gods, no masters Samuel Weaver It doesn’t happen too often, perhaps biannually or maybe even quarterly. It’s that truly fascinating and most peculiar of events. A time when we hear the hyperbolic outcry and furore of a wounded religious sect when one of their own someaningful symbols lays battered and beaten in those treacherous DQG XQIRUJLYLQJ EDWWOHĂ€ HOGV WKDW ZH so lightly call our classrooms and workplaces. 7KH FUXFLĂ€ [ VNXOOFDSV YHLOV DQG burkhas, all religious tokens, trinkets and symbols that are foisted upon us everyday by people, buildings and even in the media: Do they still have a place in a modern and developed society? In September we saw the widely covered case of the NHS nurse who WKRXJKW LW ULJKW WR Ă RXW DQG GHI\ WKH rules of her employers by wearing a QHFNODFH WKDW ERUH D FUXFLĂ€ [ This nurse was not told to remove it because other patients and staff were affronted and disgruntled by the symbol of death that hung around her neck whilst she took care of the sick. She simply had to remove it because it was a health and safety issue. However, in true Christian style she took this as a blazing attack on her faith and human rights, enlisting the Christian legal council to KHOS Ă€ JKW WKH EDWWOH² SRZHU WR WKH proselytisers! Surely it’s my absolute right not WR KDYH WKH UHOLJLRXV Ă DXQWLQJ SUR moting and publicising their immortal gods right in front of me. It makes me jealous. 7KLV ZRPDQ GRHV D GLIĂ€ FXOW DQG noble job, and of course the stresses

and strains of it may impact her life, and to overcome this she turns to God, truly and undeniably understandable. +RZHYHU WKLV FDVH LV D SULPH H[ ample of the ruinous, detrimental and gloomy effects that the religious and their allegorical choice of accessories can have on a working environment. 2QH KLJK SURĂ€ OH FDVH ZDV WKDW RI a young Muslim girl who rebuffed the call for her to remove her coverall burkha if she wished to attend Burnley College. Her argument was the same old incessant, inane drivelling gibber that we always get in these cases: “we are in the 21st century and we get people from all walks of life.â€? First of all, yes we are in the 21st century, well spotted. Secondly, perhaps that should mean we need to start wising up and living like we are in the 21st century. This means not covering your entire body and face in an already suspicious and sceptical country. Show people your face, who you are and speak about what you embody and stand for; don’t force people to shy away from you through fear of offending. :H VHH KLJK SURĂ€ OH PHQ IURP -DFN Straw to Nicolas Sarkozy criticising this mode of representing one’s faith. ,Q -DFN 6WUDZ WRRN D EUDYH risk, making a controversial profession that the burkha was a: “visual statement of separation and difference.â€? This should have an apt and penetrating meaning in a society where we all want social cohesion, rationality and understanding. Nicolas Sarkozy spoke out claiming the burkha reduced women to servitude and undermined their

dignity. Voicing his opinion he said with vigour: “it will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.â€? $ WUXO\ KDUG\ H[SUHVVLRQ RI IHHOLQJ and idea. Without causing offence he underlined the thoughts of the majority, and Islamic headscarves have been banned in French state schools since 2004. I understand and sympathise with this young girl. Surely the power religion can hold over people is steadfast and strong. The religious must feel compelled and dragooned into following even the most absurd of obligations. Nonetheless, in the majority of casHV WR Ă€ QG \RXUVHOI LQ VXFK D SRVLWLRQ is down to your own actions and it is your duty, if you so choose, to see the light. Put down and march yourself away from those objects of religious servitude and join a society that doesn’t need religious factions to function and be whole. It will be a society that is whole because of mutual understanding of spirituality, not fear and apprehension about each other’s faiths. Religion is a personal private matter and should remain so. If it needs to be practised it should be done so at home or in places of worship but to bring it onto the streets and into the lives of others, preaching LGHDV RI HWHUQLW\ DQG IHDU LV Ă DW RXW wrong. This is not an assault on the religious, more like a plea to them; leave objects and emblems of the faith by the front door before you leave for the day. Help our country and world become a more secular society, untouched and innocent to religion.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

11

COMMENT

$UH SRSSLHV PDQGDWRU\" YES Elliot Bentley Regardless of what meaning has been attached to the poppy since the First World War, its original reminder - of the slaughter of innocent young men for no reason at all - is a SXUHO\ SDFLĂ€ VW PHVVDJH This completely undermines any argument saying that wearing a SRSS\ JORULĂ€ HV WKH YLROHQFH RI ZDU November 11th is Armistice Day; the poppy clearly represents war ending, not its continuation. ::, ZDV WKH Ă€ UVW WUXH SRVW LQGXV trial revolution war where the use of machine guns and chemical weapons stripped the men of honour or dignity (to quote Wilfred Owen) “for these who die as cattle.â€? Such a watershed moment in history is surely worth reminding ourselves of once a year to prevent a similar tragedy from ever occurring again. Putting aside the poppy’s symbolism for a moment, one factor that is often overlooked is that the money paid for a poppy goes to the Royal British Legion. This is an independent charity WKDW DVVLVWV H[ VHUYLFHPHQ LQMXUHG both mentally and physically at war through a range of services, includLQJ Ă€ QDQFLDO VXSSRUW SURYLGLQJ carers and legal representation, and RUJDQLVLQJ WRXUV RI EDWWOHĂ€ HOGV IRU schools. It is truly a shame that such charities have to exist because the Government cannot care for their exservicemen adequately without external help. In fact, in recent years the Government has been reducing compensaWLRQ SD\RXWV IRU WKH LQMXUHG DV SDUW of budget cuts, making the Royal British Legion’s work more crucial than it has ever been. Poppies sold for Remembrance Day are undoubtedly their biggest source of income, hence their heavy promotion. And lest we forget why supporting British soldiers is important; these men are laying down their lives for our country. I’m certainly not the nationalist type, but I can see the truth in such an argument. We live comfortable, peaceful lives

because of the work done by the military over the years, most obviously during the Second World War. Seen by some as one of the few WUXH MXVWLĂ€ DEOH ZDUV RI WKH ODVW FHQ tury, many young men laid down their lives for what was arguably a very good cause. True, not every war has been fought for such noble reasons, but if you fail to agree with the reasons for going to war, at the very least the courage shown by these men is commendable. Surely they deserve our support? After all, they are only following orders; it is the government who should be blamed for any unneces-

Passers-by had to look twice. The poster read “For their sake, prosecute Blair.� Had the Royal British Legion suddenly become crudely political? No. Instead, anti-war protesters had neatly defaced a number of Poppy Appeal posters across *LOOLQJKDP .HQW ODVW ZHHN 7KH ELOOERDUG VL]HG LPDJH GHSLFWV war widow Hester Wright, and son

sary warmongering. As such, once the troops have been deployed it is important for the public to show this support, and the poppy is an easy and effective way. At the end of the day whether or not to wear a poppy is your personal choice - and if politicians and newsreaders choose to wear a poppy in public, they are very much within their rights to. As charity fund-raisers go, Remembrance Day is surely one of the most important; not only for its worthy cause, but also for its reminders of the horrors of war.

Josh, holding a picture of her late husband. The posters originally bore the slogan “For their sake, wear a poppy.â€? $ Ă XUU\ RI FRPPHQW HQVXHG RQ the Daily Mail’s website, with one reader describing the perpetrators as “state scrounging losers who have nothing more than this tripe to contribute to society.â€? The Royal British Legion’s response was more reserved: “We would say to whoever did this that we hope they feel they have had their bit of fun. We would never discuss the ULJKWV RU ZURQJV RI FRQĂ LFWV Âľ

NO Joshua Shrimpton Dean

This is the problem though; the public are all too aware of the rights DQG ZURQJV RI FRQĂ LFW 7KH UHFHQW follies in Iraq and Afghanistan have created the most opinionated and divided public seen in recent history. Couple this with the blank canvas of the internet and a more liberal PHGLD DQG \RX Ă€ QG WKDW WKH SUDFWLFH of poppy-wearing becomes questioned. Many may support the troops on the ground, but disagree with the government policy that drives them. Others don’t even want to be seen supporting the troops. Then there’s the media’s role in cementing this discourse. The BBC VSHFLĂ€ HV D GDWH ZKHQ SUHVHQWHUV DUH to start wearing poppies. This year it was 24th October at 6am. Perhaps in a shallow attempt at one-upmanship, ex-minister Tony McNulty appeared on the BBC’s Daily Politics on 14th October donning a poppy RQ KLV ODSHO EHDWLQJ ODVW \HDU¡V Ă€ UVW sighting by a full week. This obligation is not limited to the current affairs suits though; somehow EastEnders’ Billy Mitchell manDJHG WR Ă€ QG WKH IXQGV IRU D SRSS\ despite having no home and limited means to provide himself with any breakfast last Monday. Is wearing a poppy an obligation drenched in BBC political correctness, rather than a genuine recognition of those who have lost their OLYHV LQ FRQĂ LFW" It doesn’t stop at the poppies though. BBC News in particular will devote hours of rolling coverage to commemoration ceremonies on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. This is wholly unacceptable. It is not news. Nothing has actually occurred. Nothing is unresolved. There are no repercussions. The publicly-funded BBC appears stuck with a moral obligation to provide this kind of coverage. But can you imagine the uproar if it were reduced? You can always trust Channel 4 to stir things up though. Jon Snow did MXVW WKDW LQ ZKHQ KH UHIXVHG to wear a poppy on the left-leaning Channel 4 News; citing a belief that nothing should be worn on air that represents any kind of statement. Does this rationale question the BBC’s supposed impartiality? Wearing a poppy can be a remark of respect, but often it is an obligation born from the scorn of going without.

,I DW Ă€ UVW \RX GRQ¡W VXFFHHG Nicholas Fidler Comment Editor In purely economical terms, it is a poor investment decision that bears little or no return. In the case of Afghanistan, a whopping eight years on, I think it’s time we seriously assessed our return on this investment. Of course, the British armed forces are not an investment bank, but we, WKH WD[SD\HU DUH RI Ă€ QLWH UHVRXUFHV and patience. The news yesterday of a trainee $IJKDQ SROLFH RIĂ€ FHU VODXJKWHULQJ Ă€ YH %ULWLVK VROGLHUV LQ FROG EORRG DQG LQMXULQJ D IXUWKHU VHYHQ VHUYHV as a barbarous end to a season of brutality. The Presidential election, that soldiers fought and died to facilitate over the summer, turned out to be D MRNH ZLWK FRUUXSW OHDGHU .DU]DL

securing re-election on a second run KDYLQJ IRXQG WKH Ă€ UVW HOHFWLRQ WR have been fraudulent) despite lackLQJ WKH XQLW\ RU FRQĂ€ GHQFH WR OHDG effectively. The usual ageing rhetoric stemming from Westminster and the White House is that Britain and the US will remain in the region “until WKH MRE LV GRQHÂľ %XW ZKDW LI LW FDQ¡W be “doneâ€?? How many more British men and women will have to die at the hands RI WKH 7DOLEDQ EHIRUH ZH Ă€ QDOO\ UHDO ise our prescription of constitutional democracy overseas is wholly inappropriate? In a country where people live in mountainous regions with no notion of civility or modernity, tribal ties run very deep. This is a very sticking problem. Of course, not wanting to sound too much like a cultural relativist, I do have to admit that there are

whole chasms separating the West from places such as Afghanistan. :H FDQ¡W MXVW SUHWHQG WKDW RXU HV tablished democratic order can be copied and pasted abroad. The gradual ascent into liberal democracy was achieved through the Enlightenment in Europe and the Industrial Revolution which spawned modern capitalism, allowing democracy to à RZ IRUWK Such events did not occur in the region and hence, Afghanistan possesses few of the preconditions for a fruitful functioning democracy, namely, a sense of national unity glued together by economic prosperity. Without this, our attempts at imposing democracy will end only in further violence and displacement. Indeed, whilst the perpetrators of September 11th should be brought WR MXVWLFH E\ DQ\ PHDQV QHFHVVDU\ the scale of the operation in Afghan-

istan has changed so dramatically WKDW EULQJLQJ WKH DJUHVVRUV WR MXVWLFH QRZ DSSHDUV WR EH DQ LQDGH TXDWH MXVWLÀ FDWLRQ IRU RXU FRQWLQXHG presence there. It took a very long time for America to realise it had no place in Vietnam and kick its heels off back home. I only hope that both Britain and the US have learned that lesson, and we decide to cut our losses in Afghanistan before we descend into another nightmarish military quagmire. We may leave a mess behind us, with our pride battered, but is it not rational to accept this now, rather than prolong the facade of progress? Continuing military presence will only leave an equally large mess in RXU ZDNH LQ ZKDWHYHU \HDU ZH À nally decide to withdraw from Afghanistan, having spent incalculably many more millions in doing so.

0RUDOV DQ\RQH" James Stubbs Columnist

Pride’s a funny thing. Ask different people what they think it is and you’ll probably get a lot of similar answers. Most think of it in the positive sense; a feeling you have when something you’ve done or something you feel a part of turns out well. On the other hand, some might consider pride a bad thing; a lack of humility or the inability to curb your own sense of achievement. Not having a great deal to be proud of myself, I’m more interested in this latter form. Since childhood I’ve always been fairly fascinated by friends, classmates, colleagues etc. telling me how great they are, be it LQ D SDUWLFXODU Ă€ HOG RU MXVW JHQ erally great. As I grew up the number of people doing it went down. After all, kids will be kids and with time and practice we learn to stop unashamedly talking ourselves up, mostly because it makes us look like idiots if we don’t. When I was a little boy I revelled in a glorious sense of completion when I got my 200 metre swimming badge earlier than my contemporaries, telling whoever would listen that I was “skill at itâ€? and way better than them. But that was when I was a little boy, and the thought of doing anything like it now makes me squirm. There are some people that don’t know how to turn it off, but thankfully I don’t know any of them; they’re few and far between because by the age of about 18 most people have stopped. What happens when we grow up is instead we let these little snippets of pride out in tiny, blink and you’ll miss it bursts. , UHDOO\ HQMR\ VHHLQJ WKHVH PR ments come and go and always let out a little grin when I see it happen, as it reminds me of a time when I would get into heated arguments about who got more in a spelling test or who had the better yo-yo. Just the other night after some drinks I harboured mixed feelings when I heard Spaced is now being shown on Dave - I really like Spaced and I’ll love being able to watch it on T.V again, but then again a nation full of idiots is now going to take away something cool and original that I liked to think had a cult following. I held it above them. They weren’t there in the beginning. Neither was I really. It’s about as ridiculous as those leathery gurning wrecks in clubs telling you that you know nothing about music because you weren’t getting mashed in a Ă€ HOG E\ WKH 0 LQ WKH V I’m as guilty as the next man when it comes to saying self promotional things once in a while; it’s human nature. So the next time you want to, MXVW OHW LW RXW QRERG\ UHDOO\ cares anyway. And if you’re on the receiving end of some solid boasting, VLW EDFN DQG HQMR\ WKH SULGH (sorry), it might even be quite interesting.

12

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

COMMENT

Focus: youth culture

Wii violence Nick Kershaw It is a good thing that fatherhood remains a number of years away for PH ,W WHUULÀHV PH I am sure it will be the greatest moPHQW RI P\ OLIH EXW LW VWLOO WHUULÀHV me. Those who know me would say that I have a small tendency to be a complete control freak. How do I teach my child to be a good person when they are surrounded by people and a world that cannot be controlled? The extraordinary increase in video games is just one of the unconWDLQDEOH LQà XHQFHV , ZRXOG KDYH WR battle against. Video games are a lot of fun; I must confess to holding numerous makebelieve press conferences after another awesome signing on Football Manger. , OLNH WKH ZD\ VSRUWV JDPHV ÀUH XS my imagination. They let me dream of what could have been if only my talent had been spotted at a younger age! The video game industry does not seem to reward the great sports simulations out there. Instead it waxes lyrical about games that make death as gory and as gruesome as the pixels will allow – the more bodies spewing out intestines the better. In these games we are encouraged to act out violence in such a repetitive fashion that it becomes second nature. I am in no way saying that because someone plays a violent video game they get the instantaneous idea to rob a gun store then use the huge arsenal they have acquired on innocent passers-by.

That is preposterous. However, I believe that the normalisation of violence by these video games will, in time, have an adverse affect on future generations. How could it not? My aforementioned child will grow up surrounded by the imaginary world of video games in a way that none of us have. We are no longer just pushing buttons; new technology means we are aiming virtual guns at virtual humans with our own bodies. 9LGHR JDPHV GLIIHU IURP Ă€OPV EHcause they are interactive. The gamer is not an observer; they are the central character in a virtual world of death and brutality. We can pass it off as escapism but that is because we grew up when ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ was the height of gaming technology and only a few people owned the Sega Megadrive. The world has moved on since then- games today are far more immersive and realistic. The language that you hear when people are playing these violent games is astonishLQJ ODXJKLQJ DQG FKHHULQJ Ă€OOV WKH room as you put a bullet through a man’s skull from a mile away. Laughing? Cheering? Our children will grow up in a world where this is an acceptable form of entertainment. I have a bad feeling about this. We cannot let gratuitous violence into our living rooms, worse still into a child’s bedroom, and expect a good outcome. We are kidding ourselves if we think otherwise. As for my children; let’s just hope they hold no aspirations to be the coolest kids at school.

The XXX Factor Tarren Smarr Britney, Miley, Girls Aloud. We live in a world where pop princesses rule the air waves. But it’s one thing to hear these divas and quite another thing to see them. Sorry boys, not trying to leave you out, but the role of males in pop land is rather minor in comparison to girls. Yeah, I know there are boy bands and male performers, but they are not singing for you, they are singing for the ladies. In the current industry, it is a known fact: sex sells. Sex sells everything from designer perfume to the latest pair of shoes that teens and tweens alike “will die without.â€? Marketing and promotional staff are not dumb. Exhibit A: Britney Spears in the course of 6 CDs has gone from sweet innocent teen, to sex icon, to our favourite train wreck to watch, and back to semi normal celebrity. In our technology savvy days, it is almost too easy to follow pop stars. Their over-accessibility makes it easy for our youth to know everything about them and desire to emulate their every move. We followed Britney’s train wreck loving every minute and secretly hoping that younger kids wouldn’t turn out the same. 6R ZKDW LV WKH LQĂ XHQFH RI XVLQJ pop princesses on the youth of the world? It is one thing to entice an adult with sexual innuendos, but are kids today growing up too fast and causing their parents worry because they want to be like their favourite celebrities?

Critics say yes: our youth is growing up too fast and pop star role models are to blame with their provocative demeanour and ability to LQà XHQFH WKRVH ZKR VHH WKHP LQ DFtion. I remember back last year when Miley Cyrus (groan!) was caught in a whirl wind of controversy over the photos that were taken of her for an issue of Vanity Fair. People were furious! Looking at the situation, what are we so scared of? Is it the fact that the girl is growing up and trying to shed her Disney days? Is it the fact that girls between the ages of 5-15 look up to her? Or is it because we have seen this roller coaster before (cough...Britney)? It’s time for us all to take responsibility. Yes, pop stars are responsible for their actions. Whether they like it or not, people will look up to them. But like normal people, sometimes, they make mistakes, wear an inapSURSULDWH RXWÀW RU VD\ VRPHWKLQJ dumb. However, this does not exclude lack of parenting. Parents need to step up and be involved with their kids’ lives. Stop blaming pop stars. Stop blaming music. Stop blaming everyone but yourself. It’s time for us all to save our youth by taking an active role. Stop complaining about pop stars and give your kids a new role model: you. Look, I dressed like 90s Madonna, worshiped both Michael and Janet Jackson, had a mum that checked in on me and I turned out OK.

Antisocial networking Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Comment Editor The protection of childhood, and that of the children themselves, is a pet topic of the social reformers of our time. Delaying sex education is often touted, contradictorily, as the answer to our high teenage pregnancy UDWH EXW ZLWK WZR KLJK SURÀOH FDVHV of young girls groomed through the internet in the press is the real danger to childhood being missed? It’s rare to meet anyone at university who doesn’t have at least one VRFLDO QHWZRUN SURÀOH $QG PRVW had one long before they came to university. Combine this with passing for 18 in clubs long before you had legal I.D and there are inevitably online meetings between underage girls and older boys, or men. Often the men think these girls are 18. Sometimes they just think they’re over 16. And sometimes men knowingly target underage girls, using the social networking sites we use to update our friends on how drunk we were the night before to do so. It’s a tiny minority of people. And as such it’s tough to regulate. You want young girls to have independ-

ence and not to live in fear that every man who speaks to them is trying to rape them. Age restrictions seem unfair when LQWHUQHW SURÀFLHQF\ LV OHDUQW HDUOLHU and earlier; you can’t stop young people from using the sites, as they are mainly used for legitimately talking to school friends. Even if age restrictions are applied some simple maths can fool them. So what is the answer? I think that the answer is more education, not less. Ashleigh Hall, 17, was killed last month by a man she met on the internet It’s not greater discussion of sex that has ruined children’s innocence and meant they engage in these kinds of dalliances. It’s a lack of openness and teaching that means girls don’t have the FRQÀGHQFH RU WKH NQRZOHGJH WR DUP themselves against these threats. If young people have a greater understanding of sex it will lead to greater self-determination and thus they will be less easily led by inappropriate advances. Even knowing how to recognise

these advances would go a long way to help children avoid them. If we were less ‘British stiff upper lip’ about sex then maybe children would feel able to approach their parents or a teacher if they were worried about conversations they were having online. 7KHUH¡V DOVR DQ LVVXH RI FRQĂ€GHQFH As much as it is a T.V ratings gimmick, Gok Wan’s campaign to teach VHOI FRQĂ€GHQFH LQ VFKRROV FRXOG make a real difference to how children react to abusive advances. ,I D JLUO LV FRQĂ€GHQW DQG KDSS\ LQ herself she is much less likely to be ZRQ RYHU E\ WKH Ă DWWHU\ RI D SDWLHQW listener on the internet. Some might feel that teaching children about sex and the danger of paedophiles robs children of their childhood. But the girls who are abused by men, and increasingly groomed by them on the internet, have their childhoods destroyed. They cannot EH WKH VDFULĂ€FLDO ODPEV RI D JHQHUDtion. Sexual innocence is not the only marker of childhood, and we can prevent children from being sexually ignorant and protect them without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

13

COMMENT

A small price to pay Zoe McNamee Summer is dead. It hung on for as long as it could, but now nature has taken over and we’re in coat-andgloves territory again. For those of us who don’t like battling disaster-movie type weather every time we go to the shops, now might seem the perfect time to get away. It’s quieter at the airport now that the kids have gone back to school and, with Ryanair offering single Ă LJKWV WR 3UDJXH IRU Â… LW¡V FKHDS Of course, anyone with any sense knows that if something is ‘too good to be true’, it usually is. Add in baggage charges, booking fees and transport to and from the airport and in all likelihood you are looking DW D Â… WLFNHW Nevertheless, in a country where a train from Newcastle to London can FRVW GRXEOH WKDW EXGJHW Ă LJKWV WHQG to offer us a good deal. The problem with such low prices is that it doesn’t take much of an increase for the customer to really feel it. On the 1st November, a new airport tax was introduced which will DGG XS WR Â… WR WKH SULFH RI DQ HFRQomy class ticket. This had the media up in arms. They know that we, the public, love a good story; so they gave us one. While we were lamenting our tight budgets and muttering vaguely about human rights, the Government carried on with its plan for airport taxes. Its persistence paid off. We have calmed down and - shock! - we have realised that the papers were not telling us the whole truth about the Â… WD[ 7KH IXOO Â… WD[ VXUFKDUJH ZLOO EH

DSSOLHG WR Ă LJKWV WR Âś%DQG '¡ FRXQWULHV WKDW LV Ă LJKWV WR $XVWUDOLD 0DOD\VLD 6LQJDSRUH DQG 3HUX This means that the new tax adds only seven or eight per cent to the original ticket price. Tickets to Australia start from Â… VR LW LV QRW WKH NLQG RI SODFH you would visit on a whim. For the kind of short getaways that most of us go on during the holiGD\V WKH WD[ ZLOO EH Â… $QQR\LQJ yes, but it shouldn’t be enough to make anyone cancel their plans. Instead of complaining about civil liberties, consider this; maybe the taxes actually aren’t enough. We all know about the environPHQW %\ QRZ Ă DW VWDWLVWLFV DUH more likely to bore us than to make us change our ways. We feel guilty, EXW Ă \ DQ\ZD\

It is about sensible DFWLRQV EHLQJ YLOLĂ€HG because they make it OHVV HDV\ IRU XV WR GR VRPHWKLQJ WKDW ZH ZRXOG feel guilty about anyway Flying is bad for the planet; we don’t need the gory details. Cheap Ă LJKWV DUH ZRUVH WKDQ H[SHQVLYH Ă LJKWV EHFDXVH WKH\ FKHDSHQ WKH LGHD RI Ă \LQJ Taking a plane used to be an event; now it’s an entitlement. This is wrong. There is no ‘right to Ă \¡ )O\LQJ LV D SULYLOHJH QRW D ULJKW and the more we are reminded of this, the better. ,I WKH FRVW RI D Ă LJKW PDNHV XV WKLQN - even for a second - about whether

we really need it, the Government levy will have done its job. $ %RHLQJ FRVWV DURXQG Â… million to buy. For that huge outlay, it seems bizarre that budget airlines can charge just pennies for tickets, but they can. And they make money. Companies like Ryanair and Easyjet take the ‘mass-market’ approach. This means that the product may not be good (no reserved seating, no free food and a tiny baggage allowance) but it is cheap enough for people to want it. Think of that episode of The Simpsons where Homer eats a tin of out-of date plankton (“but it’s so cheap!â€?). Lots of passengers paying a little VWLOO DGGV XS WR D KHIW\ SURĂ€W MXVW WKLQN RI KRZ 3RXQG /DQG LQ WRZQ looks on a Saturday afternoon. In other words, cheap is not alZD\V JRRG :KLOH D FKHDS Ă LJKW LQ itself might be alright (passengers are not expecting The Ritz, after all), what budget airlines do to our sense of value is not. This argument is not about tax. It is not about whether it is right for the Government to impose yet another expense when many people are trying to cut back. It is certainly not about ‘civil liberties’, whatever they are. It is about VHQVLEOH DFWLRQV EHLQJ YLOLĂ€HG EHcause they make it less easy for us to do something that we would feel guilty about anyway. Everyone cares about the environment, but no-one can resist a bargain. The only thing that the Government can do is to reign in the budget airlines. Then maybe we’ll get back our sense of perspective.

Response

Why all the fuss about Twitter? /DXUD +HDGV Twitter: possibly one of the world’s fastest growing online mediums. %XW ZKHQHYHU D IDPRXV PHPEHU threatens to leave do we really need to know about it? 'RHV LW UHDOO\ QHHG WR EH KHDGOLQH QHZV RQ WKH %%&" ,¡P JRLQJ WR SXW my view right out there and say honestly, I think not. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was a little surprised to see ‘Fry ponders leaving Twitter site’ as headline QHZV RQ WKH %%& ODVW ZHHN And I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who believed there was much better, more reportable news to inform people of; do we really need to know Steven Fry had an argument with someone he’s never met before and is now threatening to leave Twitter? Honestly? Fry is what we like to call a ‘national icon’; he is, apparently, of interest to us all. I get it. That doesn’t necessarily mean however that the %%& QHHGV WR ORZHU LWV VWDQGDUGV and become one with the tabloids, reporting each little thing a celebrity does as front page, headline news now though does it? Agreeably Fry has possibly one of the largest followings on TwitWHU VRPH RGG ERWK KHUH DQG across the world. %XW WKLV VWLOO GRHV QRW DGG WR P\ desire to know every little thing to do with the site and its millions of users. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t add to the desire of the apparently ever decreasing minority of the population who don’t use the site either. Now along with Tom Lowenstein, ZKR ZURWH WKH DUWLFOH Âś0\)DFH Twitter Tube’ in this very paper two weeks ago, I will agree that Twitter

does have its uses and from time to time can be used to help report headline news; after all who can forget the role it played in the initial reporting of the Hudson River plane crash? Stephen Fry threatened to quit Twitter last week after being called “boringâ€? However contrast this with the breaking news that Stephen Fry is pondering to leave, and subsequently a day later decided against leaving, Twitter, and you will see where I’m coming from. Stephen Fry even later admitted himself that the whole situation had gone overboard and that the thousands of ‘haters’ who were subsequently attacking the poor man who dared to voice his opinion should really stop and leave him alone. 7KH %%& LW VHHPV SLFNHG XS RQ this and went back to reporting the news that Fry had decided to stay in the entertainment section of their website and not on the front page headlines usually reserved for more grave matters. What worries me the most is the fact that this type of headline news DSSHDUV WR EH ZKHUH %ULWDLQ LV KHDGing. No longer does it appear that we care about the countless bombings in Iraq, nor the scandalous claims IRU PRQH\ PDGH E\ DQ 03 LQVWHDG we chose to read about the various goings on in Twitter, Facebook and other such social networking sites, HQJXOĂ€QJ WKHP VR DV WR KDYH VRPHthing to talk about with house or work mates.

LHWWHUV WR WKH (GLWRU Intra Mural ref speaks out against “inaccuracies� 'HDU (GLWRU I am the referee who refereed the match reported by Colin Henrys on , DP QRW KDSS\ DW DOO E\ WKH inaccuracies in his article which basically imply that I’m incompetent. 7KH WK SDUDJUDSK DERXW WKH VW sin binning is what I am unhappy about. Fair enough if he disagrees whether it was a yellow card or not but to say that “even the touch-judge disagreed� when he doesnt even know what was discussed between me and my touch-judge is wrong. In fact you can let him know that the touch judge also signalled for a high tackle and it was the touch judge who provided me with the number of the player to sin bin. Its not right that your reporters can just slag off and report inaccurate information about referees when we have a hard enough job already, and we can’t even defend ourselves.

comment on the incident, although I must stress that our reporters would never deliberately victimise any ofÀFLDO DQG WKH\ DUH WKHUH PHUHO\ WR report on the game. I apologise that on this occasion, the reporter appears to have made a mistake and, I’m sure if he had heard the conversation with the touch judge he would have reported the incident differently. 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ UHIHUHHV DW WKDW OHYel do not have microphones and as \RX FDQ DSSUHFLDWH LW LV GLIÀFXOW WR get everything spot on. I must also stress that sport is about opinion and our reporters are entitled to comment on referees decisions as they wish. That, unfortunate as it may be, is the nature of the job. I know Colin, and as a valued Courier sport reporter, I know there was no malicious intent to imply that you were incompetent.

Regards

Apologies and kind regards,

08+$00$' .$=,0 .$1$1,

-$0,( *$9,1 632576 (',725

'HDU 0XKDPPDG .D]LP I realise refereeing is a very tough job, and I apologise for the inaccuracies in the reporting of the game. As I was not there, I cannot possibly

Emails in response to articles should be sent to the Editor at editor.union@ncl.ac.uk

14

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

Have you Googled Jenna? > Sex & Relationships, page 18 Life & Style Editors: Larisa Brown, Alex Felton and Ashley Fryer - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

Health & Beauty Claire Hall

Blame it on the weatherman J. WHITTAKER

Harri Borg-Bartolo As October comes to a close and the clocks have been changed back allowing for a much-celebrated extra hour in bed, it seems that the British winter is well and truly upon us. There is much to look forward to with the incessant pummelling of November Ă€UHZRUNV DQG RI FRXUVH WKH LQHYLWDEO\ premature hype and chaos in the run up to the big C Day. Regardless of how scrooge-like some of us try to be, the approaching prospect of cosy evenings in, away from the biting cold or the annual family gatherings that always bring the best out of the relatives is something to look forward to. However, it is this time of year that proves the hardest for a number of people. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has come into the spotlight increasingly over the last few years, being blamed for a mild form of depression that hits an estimated half a million people in the UK alone. Most commonly recognised during the months from December to January, symptoms could start to appear from as early as September, continuing right through until the early months of spring. The symptoms are fairly in keeping with general forms of depression and include negative thinking, low selfesteem, disruptions to sleeping and eating patterns, anxiety and even a low sex drive. As an inevitable effect of these symptoms, an individual would feel irritable, tense and lacking in energy. All quite understandable, as the majority of us would be a little worse for wear if we weren’t getting enough shuteye. So, what makes experts believe that there should be a label attached to these issues? Surely, these are just pretty standard side effects of a busy week at work or being snowed under with never-ending essays. The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA) attributes these increased cases of depression to ‘a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter.’

2. Work out your ‘lid’ cycle. Do you wash every other day or once each week? Once you have solved this million-dollar question then begin to time the peak of your cycle, mid cycle, with Perdu for maximum effect 0DOH PDNH XS LV GHĂ€QLWHO\ D bit taboo; however TouchĂŠ ĂŠclat the international best selling concealer has released a male version. A winner for late nights and excessive drinking 4. To get rid of the beginning of the cycle frizz, add a bit of coconut oil for natural grease. 5. A scent is essential wear; a quick whip round from our house has revealed Calvin Klein ‘Crave’ as a hot and reasonably cheap scent of choice. 6. Monobrows are never acceptable when they can be so easily avoided. You have been warned‌ 7. A general rule would be that guys stay away from fake tan, but if it is felt to be necessary, approach the situation with utter secrecy and caution. The hypothalamus is responsible for registering light changes to the retina of the eye, and as a result adjusts the functioning of body mechanisms such as sleep, mood and appetite. Dr Rob Hicks for BBC Health estimated that ‘up to one in 20 people are believed to be affected by SAD, with women three times more likely to be affected than men. Younger people, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 40, are more likely to suffer.’ It has even been suggested that the further north you go, the more likely an individual is to suffer from the condition due to the decreased hours of daylight. %HIRUH DUWLĂ€FLDO OLJKWLQJ ZDV XVHG ZH would work during the hours of light

and therefore rest when it got dark. This natural cycle has been unsettled with the onset of our 24-hour lifestyle and nocturnal activities and routine. As a result of the extensive research into this condition, experts have found methods of how to ease the effects of SAD. Light Therapy ensures that sufferers increase the amount of ‘daylight’ that they are exposed to by using a ‘light box’ for up to four hours a day. The box contains a light bulb stronger than that of a normal household light, and requires the user to sit two to three feet away allowing the light to shine through the eyes. The SADA claims that this form of therapy is almost 85% effective. Anti depressant drugs are also commonly used,

How to... get a perfect foundation base Poppy Gardner *HWWLQJ D à DZOHVV IRXQGDWLRQ EDVH LV RQH of those things that seem a lot easier than it often is. However, with a few simple steps you can have a complexion as perfect as this month’s Vogue cover girl. The most important thing to do before applying foundation is to apply moisturiser (preferably a few hours earlier so that the skin is not too shiny, but sticky enough to help create a smooth base). Ideally, the next step is to use a skin primer. While these can be expensive,

1. If you’re blessed with extensive facial hair, take advantage. Grow a strong beard; it screams ‘girls I’m all man’. Think more Justin Bobby from The Hills WKDQ &UDLJ 'DYLG¡V MDZ GHĂ€QLQJ trim.

there are some available by cheaper brands from Superdrug and Boots, which are really helpful for smoothing over skin imperfections and minimising the appearance of pores. While applying foundation, the best way to ensure good coverage is to use a broad foundation brush and apply outwards from the middle of the face. Once foundation has been thoroughly applied, concealer should be used on top, to lessen any areas of redness or uneven skin tone, or under eye bags. To ensure that your face stays shine free and perfect it is important to set the

base with powder. To enhance bone structure and distribute colour evenly, a contoured brush can be used around cheekbones and the temples A great investment is translucent powder, which has no colour but when apSOLHG RYHU D ÀQLVKHG PDNH XS EDVH RQFH again helps set it. An expert tip for a night out is to spray hairspray on your face which really sets make up for clubbing, so once you’ve got your face sorted you can have a stress free night and forget about constant dashes to the ladies’ for touch ups!

with the most effective ones containing Serotonin balancers, being combined with the Light Therapy. However, there is much criticism that surrounds this form of depression, with many disapproving of categorising these symptoms into yet another condition for people to label themselves with. The winter months are inevitably more demanding and we don’t need yet another excuse to hide behind when times are tough. It is plausible that our surroundings and environment will affect our mood, but by formalising the condition so much, is it just encouraging people to overreact and slip into a state of hypochondria?

8. Every guy’s favourite shower gel, Mint by Original Source, now has an even stronger big brother, XXX strong black mint. Knock yourself out. 9. The 1920’s slicked to the side look is back; to get ahead of the crowds look to Chuck Bass in season 4 of gossip girl, or equally your great grandpa when he was 21. 10. Hit the urbangent.blogsSRW FRP WR EHFRPH WKH QH[W à Dvour of the month

We asked you... How often do you masturbate? BOYS

GIRLS

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

15

Fashion

LIFE & STYLE

View Askew

Fashion

Kathy Jackman Columnist

Campus Style Larisa Brown Life & Style Editor

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16

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

LIFE & STYLE

Sex & Relationships

Sex & Relationships

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David Leslie In this age of economic decline, the entertainment industry has taken a hit: CD sales are almost non-existent, DVDs are selling terribly due to video piracy and internet streaming, but the porn industry is going from strength to strength. I wonder why? It could be the acting. Or of course the sets are often very elaborate (white sheet draped over a couch). Or maybe it is the girl who is much prettier than anything you have ever had, performing acts which you wish you have and if it’s up to your girlfriend, will ‘NEVER’ do. This is the everlasting USP of porn and one which has lead to the word porn being typed into Google more often than the word love. But before I digress onto the crux of this piece, let me share some facts. There are an estimated one trillion unique porn websites. Porn is more popular than eBay; the

word ‘porn’ is typed in more than ‘news’, more than the word ‘music’. Thankfully we are still more concerned with facebook than porn. Society can breathe again. Internet porn usage is seasonal: after a slow opening to the year where people are busy ‘re-inventing’ themselves and swearing that ‘this year it will be different’, the demons seem to get the better of most post-valentine’s day. The spring and summer are the industry’s low points, as the majority of the world is basking in the better weather, and maybe even having sex of their own. The Google hits still topple ‘cheap Ă LJKWV¡ KRZHYHU DQG FRQVLGHULQJ WKH time of year, that is no mean feat. Interestingly enough though, the word ‘sex’ is typed into Google the most over the Christmas period; it appears all the talk of virgins and ho ho hoes is a little too much for the majority of us. It is also interesting to monitor different regions’ activity, as Manchester leads the way in

‘sex’, and the population of Brighton is, not surprisingly, far more interested in ‘anal’. These facts may entertain, but in this modern age, the ease of access to porn is bordering on sinister. If in ten years’ time the country does provide free wireless everywhere as experts predict, the UK will be plunged into a pornographic pandemic. For example, men or women who get their kicks from public sexual acts will be able to sit on a laptop at any park bench, and access porn directly. This should be deeply worrying to all readers who within this ten year period will probably be thinking about parenthood. If you have a penis (or indeed a vagina) and a modem then the pornographic world is at your dirty little Ă€QJHUWLSV :LWK RYHU D WULOOLRQ ZHEVLWHV there is simply no limit to porn. 6H[ DORQH ZLOO QR ORQJHU VXIĂ€FH 7KH movies get longer and dirtier, the girls get younger and, surprisingly enough,

dirtier still. The cocks get bigger and they are put in places that I’m sure were not designed for such insertion, at least not primarily. I will close with a word to those who worry about the fact that ‘porn’ is searched more than ‘love’. Porn represents an escape, a surreal vehicle that tends to all and none of your desires. It is simultaneously exciting and depressing, and people who become addicted are, more often than not, starved of human emotional contact. No matter how many times the girl on screen says ‘I’m doing this for you’, she only exists in the bizarre world that is the porn industry. And also, do you really want to be dating a guy who sits and types ‘love’ into Google. If so, all the best, I have heard same sex relationships can work very well.

2XU XUEDQ P\WK SXOO RXW SUD\ Michelle C. Alister :H¡YH DOO EHHQ WKHUH JHWWLQJ IULVN\ ZLWK that special someone only to discover you are sans condom. Having decided tonight is not the ideal time to start a family, will withdrawing at the crucial moment be enough? Known as the “Pull & Prayâ€? technique, the guy simply withdraws his penis before ejaculating, and you both pray you aren’t with child. Hand in hand with abstinence as the oldest form of contraception, even when practised perfectly every time this method has a 4% fail rate per year; condoms fail 2% of the time.

Typical usage has a 15-28% fail rate. :K\" 6XUHO\ LW LVQ¡W WKDW KDUG WR SXW \RXU ass in reverse when it comes to the crux of things- or is it? During sexual arousal, the penis emits SUH FXP D YLVFRXV à XLG OXEULFDWLQJ WKH urethra in preparation for the semen to follow. Pre-cum may contain sperm from a previous ejaculation, especially if the guy has not urinated between sexual acts. Pulling out could leave you with Chlamydia or one of its nastier chums as this method offers no protection against STIs whatsoever, wreaking havoc if unchecked and untreated. Unless you are certain you are both disease free (a nice

salacious conversation for any taxi ride home) coitus interruptus should not even be considered. Even having passed the tests as perfectly healthy, with so many versions of contraception widely available, why resort to withdrawing? Religious beliefs aside, no one should be relying upon the withdrawal method as their principle method of effective contraception. If you’re thinking of having sex, adequate precautions need to be taken not only to prevent unwanted pregnancies but also infection. If a partner is allergic to rubber, latex free condoms may be an option. Some think the condom free ride just ‘feels better’, but is this pleasure seeking

slutty attitude just plain irresponsible? Even with effective contraception in place such as the coil or the pill, withdrawing may unexpectedly leave your ODG\ IUXVWUDWHG DQG GLVVDWLVĂ€HG ZLWKRXW WKRVH Ă€QDO WKUXVWV ,I \RX¡YH MXVW SXW your thumb through the last condom, she forgot to take today’s pill, her coil is at the cleaners, and that drunken haze is still persuading you to have a good time, is withdrawing better than nothing? +RZ PXFK VH[XDO IXOĂ€OPHQW ZRXOG \RX EH ZLOOLQJ WR VDFULĂ€FH IRU SHDFH RI PLQG" I personally would prefer a good spooning and a night of worry free slumber every time.

&RQIHVVLRQV RI a masochist

Ashley Fryer Life & Style Editor No, not the scary kind. Think less Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary, more crazy drunk girl dry-humping the poles in %RRP RQ D :HGQHVGD\ QLJKW 2K \HV that would be me. Imagine being me on a night out for ten seconds – for one thing, you are probably drunk. For seconds, you are probably wearing a dress that shows rather too much cleavage. $QG \RX DUH DOPRVW GHĂ€QLWHO\ FOXWFKing onto your nearest friend/bouncer/ stranger for dear life while you repeatedly tell them how much you love them, and how much you admire their compassion/patience/hairstyle. Oh and that drunk girl that is crying into her McNuggets is probably me too. Damn, I wonder why I’m still single. My only conclusion thus far is that I must be some sort of masochist. Every time I go out, I spend an hour or so getting ready; putting on makeXS Ă€QGLQJ WLJKWV ZLWK QR KROHV LQ DQG weighing up the pros and cons of heels vs. Ugg boots (sadly the Uggs often win – hey, this is the North, it’s bloody cold out there!). I shimmy around my house with a glass of wine in hand and beautify myself with my housemates, feeling sexy and chic and believing I can take on the world. An hour and four trebles later and I ZLOO EH Ă LUWLQJ DQG ODXJKLQJ ZLWK VRPH absolute scrotum of a man while my friends look on in horror/amusement, and before I know it (and I really don’t know how this happens) I will have my face mashed into his and be generally engaged in what can only be called face-rape. Thankfully, this is generally as far as it goes before I wander off to grab people I haven’t seen in a while and shriek at them whilst simultaneously hugging them and telling them I love them. Oh, and did I mention I have this weird habit of touching people’s faces a lot? That’s a great ice breaker if you don’t know someone well – just touch their face a lot as if you have been friends/lovers/enemies for years and they will feel right at home. Until the restraining order arrives in the post. It’s not like I ever set out to be such an enormous douche bag – remember when I was in my house with my glass of wine and my poor choice of footwear? Every night I say the same thing to my housemates – oh yes, tonight is going to be good, I can feel it! And more often than not, it’s true. But sometimes, just sometimes (ok, two or three times a week), I will go out and make a complete arse of myself. Genuinely. It is as if someone who hates me takes over my body - someone who thinks sambuca and tequila work in a mixer, someone who gives my number out to cretins in McDonalds and someone who basically knows the Midnight Bakery man’s life story. I feel sorry for the nice guys – you know, the ones that like you but are deemed ‘too nice’ to ever truly consider. Maybe if I accepted one of these rare breeds I might not feel the need to drink ethanol punch and stumble around with whatever nobody that shows me more 30 seconds of interest. If you’re out there and I haven’t noticed you, seriously, come and save me from myself!

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

17

Sex & Relationships

Ask SeĂąora Rosa

Our own latin lovely is back from a Halloween house partay in Wigan to answer your questions on sex and relationships. If you have questions, worries, problems or dilemmas that need to be answered, you can email her at courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

Seùora, I love my girlfriend but things have been getting really boring in the bedroom. She won’t go on top because she says she hates her stomach, she won’t do it doggy because she says she hates her bum and every other sex position VHHPV WR EH XQà DWWHULQJ WR VRPH XQ known body part. We are stuck doing missionary in the dark and despite my protestations, she refuses to do anything else. What should I do? Why not suggest lighting some candles around the room – this is a compromise between lights on and lights off, and is E\ IDU WKH PRVW à DWWHULQJ OLJKWLQJ WR EH seen in. It’ll also add a romantic vibe, so will hopefully get your girl a little hotter under the collar. Also make sure that you’re constantly reassuring and complimenting her, as she’ll never play by your rules if she feels unloved. Short of telling her to get down to Leg, Bums and Tums more often, the only other thing I can suggest is bondage – perhaps she could blindfold you, which I’m sure would be a kinky turn on, as well as preventing you from getting an eyeful of anything she wishes to hide... a perfect negotiation, no?

SeĂąora,

SeĂąora,

SeĂąora,

My boyfriend and I recently shared our sexual fantasies with one another in a bid to make our sex life more exciting. I was all prepared for some typical threesome fantasy, or some light bondage, but it turns out that all he wants me to do is pee on him. I can’t think of anything less sexy but he insists it would really turn him on. Is this normal!? And is it even safe??

I have been with my boyfriend for a month now and we still haven’t slept together. It’s not that I’m a virgin, it is just that so far, he hasn’t made me feel sexy enough to brave ditching the clothes and having a naked romp. I am really self conscious about my body, especially as my man has only ever dated skinny women before. He never FRPSOLPHQWV P\ Ă€ JXUH RU HYHQ WHOOV PH I look sexy – I just get told I am ‘cute’. Should I tell him how I feel, or should I just get drunk and go for it?

My housemate keeps leaving pubic hair on the toilet seat. It is truly disgusting and despite the fact that we tried to have a house meeting to tell ‘whoever it is’ to stop, we all know who it is. We have even left a note on the wall in the bathroom reminding ‘everyone’ of the importance of toilet aesthetics, not to mention hygiene! It is getting ridiculous now, should we confront him as a group or continue to suffer in silence??

Very, very sadly, speaking from experience, this is not a pleasant encounter. Whilst asleep in bed, I was lucky enough to be the victim of a drunken boyfriend’s full bladder‌and let’s just say he didn’t get lucky for a long time afterwards. True, I was the (unwitting) receiver not JLYHU RI WKH H[SHULHQFH EXW , VWDQG Ă€ UP , wouldn’t advise it. Tell your boyfriend to think about the logistics of it – waiting for your bladder WR Ă€ OO PD\ SURYH D OLWWOH GXOO DQG ZKHUH would this joyous event take place? Saving yourself an expensive dry cleaning bill by not taking it anywhere near the bedroom would be advisable, yet how would your housemates take to you peeing in their bath or shower? %HVLGHV , IUDQNO\ WKLQN LW¡V SODLQ VHOĂ€ VK for your boyfriend to demand a fantasy that makes you feel this uncomfortable.

It bizarrely seems like the shoe is on the other foot in this relationship – most girls complain that their man thinks they’re too easy and is only with them for sex, whereas you’re the opposite! No wonder we women get abused for sending mixed signals; all this guy is probably trying to do is be a gent and wait until the perfect moment, yet you’re berating him for it! Take it as a compliment that your guy may actually like you for who you are, and doesn’t possess a single track mind; after all, a month really isn’t that long! All you need to do is wait for the perfect moment. However, if after another month you still haven’t got any results, I would make sure that your gay-dar isn’t faulty – I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but being labelled as ‘cute’ sounds suspiciously reminiscent of a GBF (Gay Best Friend).

You say this as if your housemate is doing this deliberately! I’m sure this isn’t the case, I’m sure he’s not hiding round the corner with a camcorder, giggling as you wipe down the toilet seat. If it’s the occasional pube then you should probably just stop being so anal and get over it – however, if it feels like snuggling down into a deep pile rug every time you sit on the bog, then it may be worth mentioning. If you’d rather not say anything though, why not have one last ditch attempt at subtlety and buy your housemate some waxing treatments? This is the 21st century – we’ve got hair dye for men, guy-liner, and man-kinis – if us women have to go through the monthly agony of a Brazilian to keep in shape, I don’t see why the bushier men out there can’t bite the bullet and do the same.

Emma Chandler 2nd year Modern Languages Email courier.life@ncl.ac.uk to nominate your friend L. BROWN

Taboo or not taboo? Katherine Bannon Tweed jackets with leather elbow patches, corduroy trousers and suede loafers. Battered briefcases with combination codes in the Fibonacci sequence and milk bottle bottom glasses with tortoise shell frames. Far too much facial hair and that damp, musty smell which occurs when you don’t leave clothing out to dry for long enough. That’s what a University lecturer used to be. Now they’ve evolved into a new breed, attired in metallic blue suits teamed with ragged converse, or Levi’s and openneck shirts. They listen to Fleet Foxes, own the entire collection of Scrubs and have more friends than you on Facebook. So, as far as dating goes; is there a potential for seduction or is it destined for destruction? The student/lecturer relationship has always been a stigmatized subject, and one that most frequently conjures images of the doe eyed female student and slightly haphazard, questionably attrac-

tive male tutor. It’s the allure of exuding intellect that appeals, or maybe just the statistics of geographical accessibility. The surrounding regulations vary from university to university but a general rule of thumb works as follows; as long as they’re only assessing your skills in the bedroom and not your coursework, you’ll probably get away with it. But should there be more policies put into practise to prevent any sort of oncampus sexual liaisons? Or should it just be construed that as legal adults, both students and lecturers can do what they want when they want? Sod the system. The differing positions of power tend WR FURS XS DV WKH PDLQ VRXUFH RI FRQà LFW The emotional and psychological impact, effect on studies, lifestyle, potential heartache‌ Hell, it is a relationship. Power and control are the cards that are played. Maybe engaging with a lecturer will immediately put you one step ahead of the game. Or perhaps another general rule of thumb should work as follows: Don’t do it, it’s too weird.

LIFE & STYLE

Sex and the Univer-sity Vanessa Costello Columnist ‘Do you have to play games to make a relationship work?’- Another column, another Sex and the City episode to be analysed, but this time I noticed that Carrie asks the question then completely avoids answering it. In fact, she rarely addresses it at all; she’s too busy playing Twister with Bon Jovi. It’s a game, fair enough, but if we’re talking about those kind of games, 1. That wouldn’t make a very interesting column and 2. I recommend Cranium, it’s a good allrounder. This week, I am completely on my own... Turning to my best source of information, my seven other female housemates, I got the perfect quote, ‘I shouldn’t play games, but I do.’ This got me thinking about when you should be allowed to play games in a relationship. It’s a well known fact that most girls over-analyse everything after swapping those all important phone numbers. They time how long it takes a boy to text back; they play the all important waiting game themselves and don’t even get me started on the amount of ‘kisses’, It’s a very complex thought process! Oliver Wood, in last week’s Courier gave us an insight into a boy’s method of texting. He stated that if a boy doesn’t text back for two hours, they’re probably playing football (fair enough) and he complained about how annoying it is when a girl waits the same length of time to then text the boy back (or is it?). Boy’s may think that they really don’t care how long a girl takes to text back but games are all about affecting the sub-conscious. No girl wants the ‘psycho’ title from speedy, frequent and constant texts; there must be a reason why the age old saying ‘treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen’ is so often adhered to. Yes, at the start of pretty much all relationships, games are played, even if they are too subtle to notice. It’s a way of enticing the other person; you want to create an air of mystery, intrigue, excitement about yourself; you desperately want the other person to like you. However, as much as I approve of these (inevitable) games, they should GHĂ€ QLWHO\ RQO\ RFFXU DW WKH VWDUW RI WKH relationship, whilst you’re still trying to suss each other out. If the games don’t eventually die out then how can you ever claim to be a part of a mature, stable relationship? Can you imagine your mum consciously waiting an hour before she texts your dad back about what they’re having for tea? Games are great at the start but they just don’t work later on. So, back to Carrie; the only thing she gave me was the idea of a relationship being like a game of chess. Is this really the case in a successful relationship? Constantly having ‘one up’ on your partner does not sound healthy to me. Should a good relationship be like a game of chess? As in a chess game...someone always has to lose.

Inside today >>>

-DFNVRQ Âż OP UHYLHZHG Culture, page 29

Culture Chat ZLWK Reverend and Makers Culture, page 31

18

LIFE & STYLE

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

Going Out

The Penny Pincher

Going Out P. DIXON

Rowan Taylor Columnist

Lesson Five: Studying

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over to the club’s behind-the-scenes Ă€UVW DLG WHDP ZKR FRQFOXGHG WKDW WKH combination of projectile bleeding and WKH VWUDQJH SRLQW\ VKDSH P\ NQHH KDG adopted meant that there was someWKLQJ PRVW OLNHO\ JODVV HPEHGGHG LQ LW DQG WKDW , ZRXOG QHHG WR PDNH DQ DSpearance at hospital. :HOO VXUHO\ HYHQ WKLV ZDV EHWWHU WKDQ D night with Lagrange Multipliers? 2QFH , ZDV RQ WKH ZD\ KDYLQJ LQVWUXFWHG WKH NLQG VWUDQJHUV WR FDUU\ RQ DQG HQMR\ WKHLU QLJKW , UDQJ P\ Ă DWPDWH 6HQVLEOH -DFN ´-DDDDFN Âľ ´3ULG"Âľ ´-DFN ,¡P LQ DQ $ ( YDQ Âľ $FTXLHVFHQW SDXVH ´6RUU\ ZKDW"Âľ ´,¡0 ,1 $1 $ (((((( 9$1 Âľ $QRWKHU VLOHQFH ´'R \RX PHDQ DQ DPEXODQFH"Âľ ´<HDK DQ $ ( YDQ Âľ $IWHU DQRWKHU WHQ PLQXWHV RI QRQVHQVH ZH DVFHUWDLQHG ZKHUH , DFWXDOO\ ZDV DQG DORQJ ZLWK &ODUH 7KH 0HGLF 6HQVLEOH -DFN DJUHHG WR PHHW PH DW 1HZFDVWOH *HQHUDO 2QH ZKHHOFKDLU IRXU SDFNHWV RI YHQGLQJ PDFKLQH FULVSV WZR FKXQNV RI JODVV DQG D IHZ KXQGUHG WHDUV ODWHU P\ HQWRXUDJH DQG , WD[LHG EDFN WR 5LFN\ 5RDG WKHP WDNLQJ DGYDQWDJH RI P\ GUXQN

Restaurant Review Belle & Herbs, Heaton Ashley Fryer Life & Style Editor 1HVWOHG DZD\ LQ WKH KHDUW RI +HDWRQ OLHV %HOOH DQG +HUEV ² D FDIp VR ZHOO ORYHG E\ Newcastle students that it barely warrants a review. Whether you’re nursing a hangover ZLWK EDQDQD SDQFDNHV RU WXFNLQJ LQWR RQH RI WKH JLDQW IXOO (QJOLVKHV % + LV WKH RQO\ SODFH WR EH RQ D 6DWXUGD\ PRUQ-

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$PHULFDQ ² D JLDQW SODWH RI WKUHH EXWWHUPLON SDQFDNHV PDSOH V\UXS WZR HJJV WZR UDVKHUV RI EDFRQ WZR KDVK EURZQV DQG WZR VDXVDJHV ² DQG QR , KDYH QHYHU EHHQ DEOH WR Ă€QLVK LW DORQH Other popular dishes include the blueEHUU\ SDQFDNHV VHUYHG ZLWK QDWXUDO yoghurt) and the various variations on HJJ\ EUHDG EULRFKH DQG WKH WUDGLWLRQDO IXOO (QJOLVK Prices are very reasonable considering WKH DPRXQW \RX JHW EXW LI \RX DUH IHHOLQJ VWUDSSHG IRU FDVK \RX FDQ DOZD\V share a big plate with a friend. %HOOH DQG +HUEV UHDOO\ LV RQH RI WKH Ă€QHVW FDIpV LQ 1HZFDVWOH ² WKH DWPRVSKHUH the friendly staff and the food all attest to its well-deserved reputation in the student community. 6HULRXVO\ WKLV LV RQH SODFH \RX FDQ¡W DIIRUG WR PLVV

It’s often the study costs that are the hardest to stomach. These are the amounts we grudgingly spend while telling ourselves it’s for a good cause. It doesn’t have to be this way. ‡ ,W¡V D PLVWDNH WR DXWRPDWLFDOO\ EX\ HYHU\ ERRN WKDW \RXU OHFWXUHU KDV GULS fed to you on the reading list. Far betWHU WR Ă LFN WKURXJK VHYHUDO DQG EX\ a few you will actually read. If you DUH UHDOO\ RUJDQLVHG DQG FDQ JHW LQ EHIRUH HYHU\RQH HOVH UDLG WKH OLEUDU\ That way you need never spend a penny. ‡ %RRNVKRSV OLNH %ODFNZHOO DQG Waterstone’s may be temptingly FORVH WR FDPSXV EXW WKH\ FKDUJH D hefty premium. Waterstone’s even DGGV WR WKH 553 RI ERRNV DV UHSRUWHG in The Courier ODVW ZHHN 8QOHVV LW¡V XUJHQW RUGHU IURP WKH internet. Just recently Amazon removed the minimum spend for free GHOLYHU\ EXW HYHQ VWLOO WKH\¡UH QRW DOZD\V FKHDSHVW %H VXUH RI WKH EHVW SULFH ZLWK FRPSDULVRQ VLWH %RRN%UDLQ FRP ‡ )RU WKRVH KRUULĂ€FDOO\ H[SHQVLYH WH[WERRNV H%D\ FDQ EH D VDYLRXU LQ DOO IDLUQHVV ZKR UHDOO\ FDUHV LI D VWXG\ ERRN LV VHFRQG KDQG ,W PLJKW HYHQ VDYH \RX VRPH HIIRUW ZLWK UHDG\ written annotations. Last year’s stuGHQWV DUH OLNHO\ WR VHOO ERRNV FKHDSO\ WRR VR PDNH WKRVH FRQWDFWV DQG FKHFN those notice boards. ‡ $W WKH HQG RI WKH DFDGHPLF \HDU RQFH H[DPV DUH SDVVHG VHOOLQJ RQ H%D\ FDQ KHOS \RX UHFRXS VRPH RI your initial investment. Call it recycling. ‡ 6WDWLRQHU\ LV D ERULQJ H[SHQVH LVQ¡W LW DQG UHWDLOHUV OLNH :+6PLWK and Paperchase are all too happy to ULQVH \RXU ZDOOHW EXW WKH VPDUW VKRSSHU FDQ Ă€QG EHWWHU YDOXH DW :LONLQVRQV RU VXSHUPDUNHWV ‡ ,I \RX WKRXJKW SHWURO ZDV H[SHQVLYH WU\ EX\LQJ SULQWHU LQN ² UHSRUWHG WR EH WKH PRVW H[SHQVLYH OLTXLG PRQH\ FDQ EX\ 7KRVH KRPH UHĂ€OO VHWV DUH PHVV\ DQG PDNH \RX ORRN OLNH \RX¡YH MXVW EHHQ DWWHPSWLQJ DQ LQN\ DUW DWWDFN ,QNUHGLEOH FR XN VHOOV FRPSDWLEOH FDUWULGJHV IURP Â… HDFK with free delivery. 1H[W ZHHN /HVVRQ 7UDQVSRUW

'HDOV RI WKH :HHN 1. ÂŁ5 off when you spend ÂŁ10 on ERRNV # :+6PLWK 7\LQJ LQ QHDWO\ ZLWK WKLV ZHHN¡V WRSLF D SULQW YRXFKHU LV YDOLG IRU Â… RII DQ\ ERRN RYHU Â… *R WR WLQ\XUO com/yem7hta to print the voucher. There is actually no limit on the number of times you can use it. 0LFURVRIW :LUHOHVV 2SWLFDO 0RXVH Â… GHOLYHUHG # 3OD\ FRP 6WRS Ă€GGOLQJ DURXQG RQ \RXU ODSWRS WRXFKSDG DQG XVH D SURSHU PRXVH My housemate uses this very mouse for architectural computer drawings and apparently its accuracy is top QRWFK +H SDLG Â… IRU LW WKRXJK /* &RRNLH 9RGDIRQH 3$<* FOHDUDQFH Â… GHOLYHUHG # ( 6DYH com This is one of the most popular WRXFKVFUHHQ SKRQHV \HW *HW Â… FDVKEDFN YLD 4XLGFR FRP WRR PDNing this the cheapest way to pretend you’ve got an iPhone. /*¡V LQVLVWHQFH RQ QDPLQJ PRELOHV after confectionary is as odd as ever.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

19

Travel

LIFE & STYLE

KENYA

An African adventure Pamela Mardle After years of watching the Discovery Channel wishing I was David AttenborRXJK , DP À QDOO\ WUDYHOOLQJ WR WKH KRPH ground of the safari. Nine uncomfortable hours of switching between commercial planes and Kenyan Airways’ rickety old biplane (a white knuckle ride which I honestly considered could be my last) was a small price to pay for this once-ina-lifetime experience. 7KH MRXUQH\ WR RXU À UVW VDIDUL ORGJH took us through the most deprived parts of Mombasa, where dead goats and emaciated cows line the pathways, as commonplace as bins and parking meters in England. Shacks made out of corrugated iron and old boxes serve as homes for the most privileged natives and children carrying huge buckets of water or vegetables smile and wave to you as you drive by. This is one of the most heart-warming things about Kenya: even those living in the most desperate of situations still

seem to have an incredible zest for life. The Maasai tribe are a perfect example of this. We were lucky enough to stop off at a traditional Maasai village and be shown around by the tribal people on our way to the lodge (meaning that they live smack-bang in the middle of a safari park, with lions and elephants as neighbours). We were greeted by a traditional dance from the whole tribe and invited to join in and take pictures (a very embarrassing experience as my attempts at joining in with their chants involved making noises that resembled a rhino in labour). However, this was a very warm welcome and a great way to break the ice. Their huts are made from cow dung and house an entire family of about 8. Well, I couldn’t turn my head for fear of knocking down a wall but apparently families cook, eat, sleep and play in them. Enkai, the medicine man, showed us how to make traditional remedies for a number of diseases, telling us that he was 100% successful in curing ma-

laria. However, when I asked what the biggest killer of the Maasai was, his response “malariaâ€? left me doubting the effectiveness of his methods slightly. The Maasai were such hospitable and warm people that I was almost tempted at their offer of staying the night, although when one over-amorous warrior offered twenty cows to keep me as his wife I quickly declined, realising the nature of this proposed stay was not as LQQRFHQW DV , Ă€ UVW WKRXJKW Dinner was served “on the balconyâ€?, a raised platform beside a watering hole where hippos, giraffes, ostriches and elephants had gathered for their evening tipple. Mount Kilimanjaro provided a particularly breathtaking backdrop to the landscape. The hyperactive monkeys provided top-end entertainment, throwing themselves off trees, slapping each RWKHU DQG SOD\ Ă€ JKWLQJ , ZDV LQ DZH DO though also slightly anxious upon hearing that whilst tourists were having their breakfast that morning, the lions also

enjoyed an early morning snack of zebra only ten feet away. Following a mother lion and her two FXEV RQ WKHLU Ă€ UVW KXQW ZDV D SDUWLFXODU KLJKOLJKW RI WKH KROLGD\ 7KH\ GHĂ€ QLWHO\ had an extensive buffet laid out for them, with every African animal you could think of roaming the barren plains of Amboseli National Park. It was an incredible scene, with the lions slinking around the packs of zebras DQG ZLOGHEHHVW DQG WKH WHUULĂ€ HG VWDQFHV of the bravest animals at the front of the pack upon realising there was a cat amongst the pigeons. I couldn’t help but keep drawing parallels to The Lion King, and wondered why “Oh I just caaaaaaan’t wait to be Kingâ€? kept popping into my head. A safari is an experience which I would recommend to absolutely everyone, and it may be once-in-a-lifetime but the memories and photos are ones which will never fail to take your breath away.

Photo of the Week Graeme MacGilchrist - 4th year Maths ,W ZDV WDNHQ RQ WKH LVODQG RI 3HQDQJ 0DOD\VLD LQ 7KH WZR Âż VKHU men are from Bangladesh. Send your travel pictures to courier.life@ncl.ac.uk and you could win ÂŁ10 worth of photo prints as well as your photo printed and framed.

Jack Porteous Despite being told by everybody I knew before I came to China that it would be “a massive culture shock sonâ€? or “they live really different out there y’know ladâ€?, I don’t think I ever really believed it. Surely day to day life can’t be so alien? :HOO \RX¡G WKLQN EXW SHD Ă DYRXUHG LFH FUHDP DQG EUHDG FRYHUHG ZLWK D Ă€ QH dusting of shredded meat both attest to the fact that the Chinese do things very, very differently. One of the most initially disconcerting differences is the lack of respect for personal space or privacy in any way, the most obvious manifestation of this being staring. Take toilets, for example; I have been stood at a urinal next to a Chinese man who, with no regard for the direcWLRQ RI KLV HIĂ XHQW SURPSWO\ WXUQHG to stare at me. I managed to avoid the oncoming barrage of liquid, but was quite uncomfortable for the rest of my visit. And ladies, don’t think you’re immune to inappropriate bathroom eyeballing! My female friends inform me that many toilets are not equipped with doors, so a crowd commenting on your urination techniques is not entirely out of the question. The most obvious shock, however, was food. We thought chicken was a safe bet, although it would have been useful to know that we had in fact ordered chicken skin served on a bed of chillies. Besides the outright weird, most meals in China are based on one of two things: rice or noodles – tasty but tiresome. An alternative? Our Chinese friend suggested rice noodles were a worthwhile solution. Spitting in public is unpleasant at the best of times, but I didn’t think it was possible for an entire nation to collecWLYHO\ Ă€ QG D ZD\ RI PDNLQJ LW ZRUVH A combination of smoking (partially government enforced) and pollution no GRXEW FRQWULEXWHV WR WKH SKOHJP Ă€ OOHG hoiks that happen, well, all the time. I’ve almost got used to the noise now when walking in the street, but people VSLWWLQJ RQ WKH Ă RRU LQ UHVWDXUDQWV VWLOO sends shivers down my spine. There are plenty of other differences that aren’t as noticeable and are just Chinese curiosities, for instance the hundreds of people who seem to be employed to stand in shop entrances just to bow at customers as they enter or leave the shop, or occasionally to shout something at potential customers on the street outside. And Chinese interpretations of anything western are always worth a look. Cakes, for example, instead of being Ă€ QLVKHG RII ZLWK FKHUULHV DUH WRSSHG with cherry tomatoes (just one example of how the sweet-savoury boundary is unnecessarily breached). Having read back through this, I have given a slightly negative and thoroughly weird view of China. This is unfair, as Chinese people are the most friendly people I have ever met, and nothing that I have mentioned here is done in a way that is meant to cause offence. This is, I suppose, the culture shock I was told to expect. Things are different, but this is something I am certainly glad about because it seems that too much of the world is becoming a monotonous mass of commercial brands, something that is, unfortunately, happening in China too. Whilst it still exists, however, I’m going to enjoy the difference and the experience, and would recommend that you visit the Middle Kingdom, should you ever get the chance.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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This is it? Michael -DFNVRQ À OP UHYLHZHG ! )LOP SDJH Culture Editor: Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

Have your say: public debates come to Newcastle *HPPD )DULQD The new City Library is the latest development in Newcastle’s seemingly endless stream of modernisation projects which aim to place the 7RRQ Ă€ UPO\ RQ WKH FXOWXUDO PDS The six-storey new building, with its imposing glass exterior, proves that the library won’t be left behind in Newcastle City Council’s bid to ‘take the city forward’. Not only is the new building impressive, so too are the wide range of heritage events and debates which will be on offer over the coming months. )ROORZLQJ WKH 4XHHQ¡V RIĂ€ FLDO opening of the new library last week, the variety and frequency of cultural happenings taking place promises to renovate not only the outside of the building, but the way in which the library is able to provide a rich source of knowledge to the people of Newcastle. The wide spectrum of events gives us a chance, in many cases, to explore the developments from the historical past to the vibrant New-

castle that we, as students, experience today. Let’s be honest - how much do we actually know about the dynamics of the city we live in? On the 14th November (that’s this Saturday), the City Library, in conjunction with the Newcastle Philosophy Society, will be hosting a special event looking at the concept of ‘Geordie Culture’, questioning whether or not the conventional image of the working-class, rough and ready ‘likely lad’ can be reconciled with the decisions being made on cultural development in Newcastle. The event will be in the form of a discussion, led by Roy Sturgess, and is guaranteed to bring out some strong opinions given the topic in question. And I’m certainly intrigued to see how those who’ve lived here for decades perceive the massive regeneration scheme which has taken place, from the Millennium Bridge to the Sage, and now the very venue where this debate will take place. The discussion will be held in the Bewick Hall in the City Library, Saturday 14 November, 1pm.

Does Geordie culture rely too much on London’s values? &KULV 6WRNHO :DONHU The wind whistles down the nearvertical roads of Consett this time of year. Bitter cold and stuck right in the north of County Durham, it’s a town of 27,000 people all indebted to coke, iron ore and limestone. A mining town still, years after all the mines closed and gave way to golf clubs and Co-Ops, they’d tell you that the North East has a culture – a heartbeat – of its own. The Pitmen Painters wasn’t set in Consett (it was another mining town, Ashington, that formed the location of that play), but owes it a great deal. Several miners formed an art appreciation class in 1934 which began an artistic movement of its own. Their works were displayed around the country, and heralded as northern culture at a time when the majority view was that everyone north of the Watford Gap was an oik in a à DW FDS Those pitmen painters began a book by William Feaver, which was turned into a play by Lee Hall, which is now traversing the country having played in London at the National Theatre. %XW WKH FXUWDLQ À UVW URVH RQ 7KH Pitmen Painters at the Live Theatre,

a small performance space tucked behind the Newcastle Law Courts on the banks of the Tyne. If you walk out of the Live Theatre, turn left and up the gradient away from the river, you’ll come to an abandoned warehouse with a unique cylindrical entrance. These are the famed City Road Studios, halfway between central Newcastle and the roughneck streets of Walker and Byker. (YHU\ )ULGD\ IRU À YH \HDUV LQ WKH 1980s, Jools Holland, Leslie Ash and Paula Yates would introduce the hottest new bands to a live television audience on The Tube. For a period of time, it was the rest of the nation whose cultural eye was focused on Newcastle. Bloodaxe Books is perhaps the nation’s most prominent poetry publishing house. Set up in 1987 in Newcastle, it has since moved slightly out of the city centre, but remains a local enterprise promoting more than just local poets. The Sage Gateshead, The Baltic, The Laing Art Gallery, The Theatre Royal, Northern Stage, The Great North Museum and The Shipley Art Gallery are just some of the cultural highlights big and small that WKH WZHQW\ À UVW FHQWXU\ 1HZFDVWOH Gateshead partnership has to offer to the nation. Antony Gormley, proud son of

Newcastle’s cultural development: is it time to cast away Geordie stereotypes?

North London, has gradually gravitated northwards to put an angel LQ D À HOG RII D PRWRUZD\ D SLHFH RI monolithic modern art which has lasted in the public consciousness whereas a Millennium Dome in a carpark off the Thames has faded away into obscurity. There was, until recently, a longstanding belief in the region’s business sector that to truly make it big you had to head south. London was where everything happened. That notion has worn off LQ WKH SDVW À YH \HDUV ZLWK WKH 1RUWK East being heralded as the place to begin in national newspapers this summer. As for the arts community, it’s never existed. Just ask any Consett pensioner with a throaty, coalinduced cough who is a dab hand with a paintbrush.

H-Bomb: interrogating the sixties 0DUN &RUFRUDQ /HWWLFH Music Editor Time for some honesty. When you think of the sixties, does anything beyond clichÊd images of stoned hippies and even more wasted rock bands come to mind? In the popular imagination, this most tumultuous of decades has taken on a peculiarly narrow set of associations, as if it was ten years of muddy music festivals and long hair. That, of course, is hardly the truth of the matter. At the under-appreciated, underused jewel that is The Literary & Philosophical Society on Westgate Road on Thursday 12th November at 6:00 pm, there’s an opportunity

to dig beneath the surface and learn a bit more about this remarkable period of recent history. Hosted by Dr John Charlton, ‘Do You Hear the H-Bomb’s Thunder? : the Start of the ‘Sixties’ is a lecture that promises to investigate the context and the pre-history of the decade, and uncover the deeper concerns and fears of the period that have become forgotten amongst an ill-remembered nostalgia. Free to any members of the library (for which student membership is only ÂŁ20 by direct debit) and only ÂŁ2 to non-members, it’s sure to be a unique and mind-opening evening.

CULTURE

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Photos

Photos

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

Photos by Ruth Mair

HALLOWEEN WIRED

Photos

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CULTURE

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Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

3am Girls

with The Maccabees > Alice Vincent talks to the band’s frontman, Orlando Weeks, about cheese rolling, unicorns and late 80s kids’ stuff In the last eight months or so, The Maccabees have become THE home grown band of recent times. Their second album, Wall Of Arms, was summer’s biggest indie release, a stratospheric festival season has seen their tracks move from Zane Lowe’s playlist to Topshop’s, and yet, despite all of this, they’re still incredibly grounded. After a rushed soundcheck, and a force-feeding incident with a Geordie dinner lady, Culture sat down with lead singer and indie pin-up Orlando to chat about it all, and a few other things besides. This year’s been crazy for you! It’s been lovely. We’ve got to go to new places, and play in slightly bigger venues where we can have a few more people come along, and go to new cities. Considering your last release was the scary second album, it really couldn’t have gone much better‌ Everyone seems think it was a good progression, and that was key for us, that we’d made an effort to step it up a bit. You must have noticed a change in fan base after the summer? A bit. The age range is a little wider. It’s nice that people have the option now to like as many different music genres as possible. The video for your last single, Can You Give It, is brilliant (it’s a documentary on Gloucester Cheese Rolling festival, check it out on Courier Online). Were you there? No, but that’s a main reason behind the video. We wanted to be but

we had to play a gig in Belfast, and we thought we would document it and the timing was right for the release. Did you meet the guy in the video at all? No, we were hoping he was coming to our Bristol gig but I don’t think he was that fussed! I think he’s retired, actually. That was his second year winning in a row and he thought he’d just go out on a high. You can’t get better than winning two giant cheeses, I suppose. Clearly not! It’s a funny contrast to the song, though. The Love You Better video that came before it was the only video with us in it, playing. We thought we’d do something as far removed from that as possible. I think there’s going to be a full-length documentary of the cheese rolling. Brilliant! With Love You Better as well, there is a resonating theme in your music of love and loss. I think LW¡V GHĂ€ QLWHO\ EHFRPH PDNH RXW music for indie kids. Really? I didn’t know that. Oh yeah, whenever it comes on in clubs people are snogging. It’s basically aural Viagra. Wow! That’s awesome. We should bottle it, like a tacky drug‌that’s alright, I can handle that. So is that the audience you make your music for‌? <HS 'HĂ€ QLWHO\ +RUQ\ WHHQDJHUV WKDW¡V D GHĂ€ QLWH FDWFKPHQW , WKLQN if we didn’t make it we wouldn’t have a job. It’s not for anyone speFLĂ€ FDOO\ What’s noticeable between (debut album) Colour It In and Wall Of Arms is that the lyrics have grown up, the cute nostalgia’s gone – although my Mum did compare No Kind Words to The Care Bears‌ I saw the Care Bears live in Woodbridge cinema! Did they LQĂ XHQFH No Kind Words? The Care Bears have LQĂ XHQFHG everything I’ve done since I saw them. There’s Rainbow, Star‌I

have a horrible feeling they may have been supported by My Little Pony‌

in Newcastle.

And Popples?

,W ZDV UHDOO\ JRRG ,W ZDV WKH À UVW time I’d seen Mystery Jets since the release of Twenty One, which was incredible.

Oh they were faces that you can reverse? See now you look back and that is just terrifying. It explains a lot. But yeah, the growing up thing between albums – was that planned or did it just happen? If you’re almost three years older between albums then it’s inevitable. I guess also...[prolonged pause as Orlando gets distracted by a unicorn drawing on a handbag and a long illustration-related conversation takes place] Sorry, I’ve completely forgotten what you asked me‌ It’s ok, let’s move on to Lily Allen! <RXU À UVW DOEXP ZDV OHDNHG VR \RX KDYH À UVW KDQG H[SHULHQFH RI WKH internet downloads she’s been getting all upset about. What’s your opinion on it? I’m in a tricky position because I wouldn’t know how to illegally download something. I can’t really be bothered to worry about it, there are so many other things I’d rather be bothered about. I don’t feel like it robs me of anything in particular, I don’t feel personally affronted, I just feel like it goes on and there’s nothing I can really do about it. It doesn’t damage me, I don’t care. I mean, if people are listening to it, isn’t that what you want? Yeah, and I’ve always found that if you like something enough, you’ll buy it anyway. People have shared music since it was made into something physical. My parents did it, and I listen to loads of music from the library – if I like it enough I buy it. I’m not sure I agree with a lot of ZKDW >/LO\@ VD\V EXW , GHÀ QLWHO\ DG mire her getting her opinions out there. It seems like you’re always playing up here! We’re touring all the time. We were once here for four days because Hugo was hospitalised – it’s a nice place to spend time. It’s a comforting accent, which is always nice when you’re not feeling well and no one ever seems to be feeling well

And how was Evolution for you?

Is there a connection between you and other London-based acts? Only in the sense that we’re close friends. We all started out together, toured in the same places and cut our teeth together. And do you still think you’re all relevant now? Jamie [T] is still very crucial. The gap between big pop stars and smaller ones is becoming ever wider. It’s not a bad thing, because I think it must be cyclical. Beyonce and Lady Gaga get further and further away from the smaller groups. But then you get your Florences every now and then. And yourselves – you got to number 13 in the album charts this year, that’s pretty mainstream by most standards. Yeah, I suppose‌ You’re being played in Topshop! Have you heard that? The last time I was in Topshop I was djing and I was like, “What am I doing? I’m in a trouser aisleâ€?. There’s no way you can sincerely play something off an Arcade Fire EP when you’re surrounded by purple jeans. It must be nice to know that when kids are in R.E. they’ll think of you‌ Wow, well yeah, we call ourselves 7KH 0DFFDEHHV WR WU\ DQG LQĂ€ OWUDWH every corner of the classroom. Well, according to you we’ve got the school disco. We could claim Latchmere as P.E‌ Care Bears. Care Bears as current affairs, or retro affairs. I’m sure you will continue on your curricular world domination!

Megan Sclater & Maudie Oppenheim Columnists +DOORZHHQ QRZ WKDW ZH DUH XQ IRUWXQDWHO\ EH\RQG WKH DJH RI WULFN or treating, provides us with a brilliant excuse to dress up and terrorise the streets of Newcastle. It is a chance to relive our youth, but instead of candy it is cocktails, which generally aren’t being given away by friendly neighbours. Damn. Nonetheless we were not going to let that stop us. Costumes , being an ever constant essential element of all hallows eve, allow, as Megan’s housemate put it so well, an excuse for girls to dress up slutty or scary. Sadly, neither RI XV PDQDJHG WR À W LQWR HLWKHU FDW egory. Usually we love an excuse to dig out the fake blood and get gory. This year however both our cosWXPHV ZHUH D ELW RI D à RS Megan was an utterly adorable fairy yes, but scary, no – not unless you count nearly having your eye taken out by her wings. It was let slide however because she’s American and apparently that’s what you do there. Maudie, on the other hand, had QR H[FXVH +HU XVXDO RXWÀ W RI KHDG to toe black and big boots was nothing to be afraid of, and although the fake blood coming out of all her IDFLDO RULÀ FHV KHOSHG WR XS WKH IHDU factor, it still wasn’t much of a fancy dress costume. :H VWDUWHG RII LQ RXU RXWÀ WV JRLQJ to a pre-house party house party, where a good effort was made decoration wise with a huge spider hung in one corner and a Halloween punch in a pumpkin bowl. $IWHU D IHZ URXQGV RI ULQJ RI À UH though we moved on to another house party. However, this was more of a Halloween-themed birthday party, with some of the most impressive costumes we have ever seen. There was a larger than life sized pumpkin, a homemade bunch of JUDSHV SXUSOH EDOORRQV D EURRP stick with twigs in her hair, and to top it all off, Dobby, complete in a pillow case. 7KH JLQ FRQWLQXHG WR à RZ WR WKH extent that by the time we tried to PRYH RQ WR WKH À QDO KRXVH SDUW\ putting one foot in front of the other was becoming an effort requiring the upmost concentration. The long walk, where one friend managed to walk right into a lamppost, was well worth the effort. In this house every wall was lined with bin liners, there was a dance room complete with strobe light, and jack-o-lanterns were scattered everywhere. We didn’t get a chance to stay long, however, before the taxis arrived and World Headquarters beckoned. After queuing to get in and paying the extortionate £8 from our penniless pockets, we walked into an autumnal wonderland. Dead leaves covered the ground and everywhere you looked there was someone dressed up in a costume far more fabulous than ours. We danced to our little hearts’ content, until our feet were so sore they could take no more, and we picked ourselves up and stumbled home to cover our clean bed sheets in make-up, blood and leaf debris.

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CULTURE

Get ready - it’s a monster of a week for partying Wax:On at Digital Friday 13th Christopher Hay After three hugely successful, soldout ‘Annie Mac Presents‌’ tours over the last three years, Radio 1’s achingly cool Annie Mac returns to Newcastle at Wax:On at Digital this Friday. And she’s not alone, bringing a “who’s whoâ€? of the most exciting DJs in the country along with her for the ride. While Annie herself will be bringing the night to its riotous climax with her trademark mashup of drum ‘n’ bass, hip-hop, electro and dubstep showcased on her radio

show, HervÊ, Doorly and Eskimo Twins are far more than just a supporting cast. First on the bill are Leeds-based duo Eskimo Twins, championed by the likes of Zane Lowe and Kissy Sellout for their energetic sets that combine house, rave and techno. Expect plenty of their own remixes – all done with a distinctive pop sensibility – in an electric start to the night. Doorly, now a veteran of the Annie Mac tours, is next on the decks. Having shared a stage with the likes of Chase and Status and Armand Van Helden, it’s safe to say he knows how to work a crowd. Hugely respected as a remixer, his takes on the likes of Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and Basement Jaxx are guaranteed to whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Last on before Annie Mac is HervÊ. Or The Count. Or Speaker Junk. Or Dead Soul Brothers. Whatever you want to call him, he’s currently producing the biggest electro-house tracks on the circuit. He’s one of the most sought-after DJs and remixers around, and never fails to live up to his enormous reputation live. So‌four incredible sets, one sweaty, raucous night of world-class mash-ups and remixes. Deal.

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Crossword and Sudoku Puzzles, page 37

with Richard MacFarlane Alice Vincent Culture Editor Something happened to Newcastle’s music scene at the start of 2009. Where the extent of the city’s live scene extended to local bands, NME’s latest favourites and samey DJs, PRMNT (permanent) VIBES brought in a totally new approach to nights out. VIBES’ creator Richard MacFarlane, Kiwi-export and freelance journalist, claims that the inspiration behind the company was selfmotivated: “I guess it was just a way for me to be able to see bands I’ve always wanted to see who never seem to come through Newcastle.� For a venture that’s in its relative infancy, PRMNT VIBES’ back catalogue is extensive. Showcasing an eclectic range of the hottest in underground, unusual and, well, un-

Geordie musical acts - from LA’s latest export Nite Jewel, Finland exports ES and Lisbon’s Tropa Macaca, WR OR Ă€ JDUDJH SV\FK GXR 6LF $OSV VIBES events have provided music fans with something different in the city. Despite the fact these bands are quite literally a world away from the North East’s local efforts, they’ve clearly been going down well. Richard explains, “I have noticed that bands that play up here say the crowds are always really enthusiastic, and better than somewhere, like, Leeds. Which is quite surprising.â€? Also surprising is that in a city as small as Newcastle every event draws a different crowd: “We had a gig at the Bridge a while ago and people just went crazy after this lokey drone stuff, which was encouraging.â€? The incessant parties aren’t stop-

ping as the nights draw in this winter, either. With a new conquest over The Culture Lab, located right next to Newcastle University’s Union, VIBES events are set to take a more curious turn. “[The Culture Lab’s] contrast of a big room and small stage is really nice. There’s a big potential for live recordings and we want to do weird Ă€OP QLJKWV DQG VFUHHQLQJV WKHUH too.â€? With listings, including the comSDQ\¡V Ă€UVW IHVWLYDO VWHPPLQJ ZD\ into 2010, Newcastle’s music scene is set to get even more varied in the new year – a perfect excuse to make the most of new venues, new bands and new vibes. Check out the full transcript of the interview with Richard on www.thecourieronline.co.uk

Inertia at WHQ Thursday 12th James Harper On the back of a sell-out show last month, which saw live dubstep duo Jazzsteppa take the roof off WHQ with some ridiculous bass (and added trombone), Inertia take a fresh direction by hosting local Funk and Soul act Smoove and Turrell this Thursday. These guys have amassed a loyal following after cracking packedout gigs at the Cluny and the Sage, and their distinctly modern twist on Funk and Soul grooves is guaranteed to get you moving. With upstairs at WHQ providing

PRMNT VIBES at WHQ Wed 11th & Sun 15th Mark Corcoran-Lettice Admit it, you’re at least a little bit LQWULJXHG E\ WKRVH SRVWHUV DQG à \HUV that have been popping up around Newcastle of late, full of strange band names, eye-grabbing, distinctive symmetrical graphics and, of course, that vowel-defying name, PRMNT VIBES. Set up by Richard MacFarlane, PRMNT VIBES is a unique new force in Newcastle’s live music scene, and this week’s events are a ÀQH H[DPSOH RI WKHLU GHGLFDWLRQ WR cutting edge music. First up on Wednesday (11th) at the Head of Steam, Los Angeles’ ÀQHVW SHUFXVVLRQ FUD]\ TXDUWHW )RRW Village will be hitting the north (as well as anything else within reach), supported by electronic experimentalist Jamie Allen’s Circuit Music and the softer, more delicate guitar wash of NARC magazine-approved locals Shift-Static (on only their second gig to boot).

a level of atmosphere and intimacy matched by few venues in the city, expect this to be a high-energy affair with some serious emphasis on the GDQFH à RRU Inertia residents are set to work their usual magic with genre-defying mixes that incorporate anything from funk, disco, electro, hip hop and dubstep – rest assured, this is a night that aims to push boundaries. Also, a four pound entry fee represents some genuine value for money considering the wealth of talent on display, building on the night’s reputation as a provider of affordable midweek fun for those who crave something different. Inertia’s huge October party will be a hard act to follow, but we know come Thursday these guys are set to deliver once again.

On Sunday (15th) meanwhile, PRMNT VIBES takes over our very own Culture Lab to present the remarkable pairing of free drumming genius and Bjork collaborator Chris Corsano with pedal steel wild-woman Heather Leigh, under the alias of Jailbreak. With an explosive self-titled debut LP set for imminent release and a history of remarkable separate work, this new duo seems set to provide one of the most visceral and stunning live experiences you’ll see this year. That your £5 also gives you local QRLVH DFWV 3OD\JURXQG DQG -D]]ÀQger, as well as the circuit-fryers of Massive Black Mountain, makes non-attendance a virtually criminal activity. With these two remarkable nights this coming week, as well as several exciting events already lined up for next year (including, quite enticingly, an appearance by Lucky Dragons next March), PRMNT VIBES could well be one of the most explosive things to happen to the Newcastle music scene in recent years. Long may our streets be covered in their disorientating posters.

26

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

Arts

Arts Arts Editor: Stephanie Ferrao - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk

Jumped-up dramatics Ciara Littler -XPS is a fast paced and witty dark comedy that’s making its English debut at the fantastic Live Theatre down by the Quayside. It’s New Years Eve in Newcastle, and we follow the lives of seven desperate characters who, after a series of coincidental meetings, end up having their lives changed forever. The plot unfolds after Ross and Johnny, a pair of novice hit-men, meet for a pint to prepare a one-off job to settle a debt too big for them to pay off. We also meet suicidal double-act Pearce and Gretta, who meet by chance on the High Level Bridge whilst considering their fates. The two couldn’t be more different; Pearce is a man on the run and Gretta is a twenty-something who appears to have everything to live for. And lastly there’s Marie, Dara and Hannah, three party girls toasting the madness that is Newcastle on New Years Eve. The three stories ultimately interlink, embroiling us in a grimy, gritty and darkly humorous look at the result of the unexpected relationships between these characters. The sharp, funny dialogue and the entertaining script means -XPS is a production that will keep everyone in the audience gripped. 7KHUH LV D À OP OLNH TXDOLW\ WR WKH show, and the story plays out like a Quentin Tarantino or Cohen Brothers movie. The clever writing takes an amusing look at a decidedly macabre situation, resulting in a raw and uninhibited observation of the lives

of young people living in Tyneside today. Everything in -XPS is connected; Northern Irish writer Lisa McGee has you enthralled throughout, keeping you guessing and almost drawing you into the situations she creates. She plays with time, place and narUDWLYHV DQG WKH à DVKEDFN VFHQHV DGG to the non-linear structure of the play. But this all adds to enhance the idea of the fragmented and somewhat shambolic crossings over of the character’s lives. You’ll have to pay attention in -XPS nothing should be forgotten, and the pace and style won’t allow your mind to wander onto that important issue of who you want to win The X Factor. -XPS was originally set in Belfast, and after becoming a hit over the Atlantic in New York, it has since been specially adapted for its premiere in Newcastle. Lisa McGee is an acclaimed writer both for stage and screen, and this explosive and darkly comic play is a À QH UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ RI KHU WDOHQW The renowned Live Theatre is known for showcasing new writing at its best, and -XPS stars some of WKH À QHVW ULVLQJ DFWRUV RI RXU JHQ eration, including James Baxter who has been in (PPHUGDOH for the last 18 months, along with Lauran Norton and Vicky Elliot who have both been hits at previous shows at the Live. Award winning artistic director Max Roberts, directs the play and tops off this impressive cast list. The Live is recognised as one of the country’s best showcases of new talent, so for those interested in be-

Jump! at the Live Theatre

coming involved in new theatre, or for those who just want to be thoroughly entertained, this is a mustsee show. Don’t miss a great opportunity to see new, exciting and thought pro-

What a beauty!

far more interesting things to wander off to. -XPS LV RQ DW WKH /LYH 7KHDWUH IURP 7KXUVGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU WR 6DWXUGD\ WK 'HFHPEHU

Art with an edge Lucy Johnson

Eleanor Wilson Combining world-class ballet with an age-old classic tale, Sleeping Beauty comes to Newcastle’s Journal Tyne Theatre. Russia’s famous Moscow Ballet La &ODVVLTXH KDV SHUIRUPHG DOO RYHU the world; from the UK to China and Australia, impressing audiences everywhere. Alongside theatres, the company performs in less likely venues and accordingly presents ballet to diverse audiences. Keeping things Russian, the sensational dancing is complemented by Tchaikovsky’s renowned composition, truly bringing to life this romantic fairy tale. The company is renowned for their colourful performances and stage presence so there should be a lot to see that will capture your attention on stage. 9ODGLPLU %RJRUDG LV /D &ODVVLTXH¡V music manager and conductor of the orchestra. Graduating with distinction from the prestigious Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, he has since conducted hundreds of shows, winning awards in Leningrad, Bu-

voking theatre on your doorstep. The North East is lucky to play host to -XPS and for all those culture loving kids out there treat yourself to a trip to the Quayside this winter; this production will give your mind

Dancers from Moscow Ballet La Classique perform Sleeping Beauty

dapest, Prague and New York. In these capable hands, the musical side of the performance promises to deliver impressively. For those who are unfamiliar, Sleeping Beauty is the story of a young princess who has a curse placed upon her by a wicked fairy. The curse means that by the time she reaches adulthood, she will SULFN KHU À QJHU RQ D VSLQGOH DQG GLH The curse is irreversible but a good fairy softens the effects; the spindle will only make her fall asleep, to be woken by her true love’s kiss. The theatre’s grand and sumptuous stage provides a breath-taking backdrop to the performance, complementing the traditional nature of the company’s dance style. The Journal Tyne Theatre has a

substantial capacity, allowing for a large audience. It is one of the world’s oldest working Victorian theatres as well as a Grade 1 listed building, so its style is still very much in keeping with the time-honoured practices of ballet. If you’re not a regular ballet-goer then this should be a good show to start with. The theatre itself is easy to get to, being just a short walk from Central Station and China Town, so make sure you book yourself a ticket to JHW \RXU IDLU\ WDOH À [ 6OHHSLQJ %HDXW\ LV RQ DW WKH -RXUQDO 7\QH 7KHDWUH RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHP EHU

This is the classic story of a studentdone-good: ex-Northumbria student James Carroll has been following in the footsteps of Andy Warhol with his ‘pop art’ style prints of icons and abstract artwork, making a name for himself in both Newcastle and London. By trade, Carroll is a partner in an online graphic design company which specialises in product and furniture design, web based graphics and website design. However, his primary passion and spare time is devoted to creating prints and paintings inspired by his RZQ WDVWHV LQ PXVLF Ă€ OP IDVKLRQ and architecture. Subjects include Blondie, The Stone Roses, Ian Dury, Marilyn Monroe (of course), Clint Eastwood, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jimmy Hendrix. He also takes personal commissions and has made representations of the Northern Soul logo and Newcastle’s Byker Bridge. His collection also includes abstract work of all colours and some in the style of optical illusions that are pretty mind-boggling! If you fancy purchasing a piece of his work or commissioning your own, he says, “I can do commissions from just about any image, whether

it be a family member, pet, piece of personal photography or even a favourite album cover.â€?Just get online and get in contact! Of his work Carroll says, “With my paintings I have taken a nostalgic look at the key images of my life DQG WKH PXVLF WKDW KDV LQĂ XHQFHG me over the years, capturing the very essence of the importance of these images in today’s culture.â€? So a very personal display can be expected at any of his past, present or future exhibitions. If you are a fan of Britain’s Next Top Model, keep an eye out for when the models move into the new house in the next season as Carroll’s work will be gracing the walls (the exact paintings that will be displayed are available to be seen on his website). It’s promising to see that programmes such as BNTM are supporting talented new artists from across the country. rather than solely London-based artists. He has also had an exhibition at the Ouseburn Valley’s popular pub and music venue The Cluny, where his artwork includes a dramatic range of black and white prints of famous faces. 7R Ă€ QG RXW PRUH DERXW -DPHV &DUUROO (GJH $UW RU WDF GHVLJQ JR WR ZZZ HGJH DUW FR XN

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

27

Arts

CULTURE

Is comedy an art-form? Joe Barton

A view from the Keep

H. BELL

Figure 8 show that group work is best Eleanor Wilson ,I \RX¡UH JHWWLQJ D WDG ERUHG ZLWK the big-name galleries and fancy VRPHWKLQJ D ELW GLIIHUHQW LW¡V ZRUWK popping down to the Red Box Gallery to check out the latest in fresh, new local art. 7KH JDOOHU\¡V FXUUHQW H[KLELWLRQ LV a collaboration of the work of four North East based artists; Harry Bell, Ian Bennett, Frank Briffa and Maureen Stephenson, otherwise known as Figure8. The four formerly studied at the Open College of the Arts with William Varley – the then Director of First Year Studies at Newcastle University. Gaining increasing popularity in the North East and further abroad,

recent exhibitions have been received well both critically and publicly. Working together as Figure8, their compositions share a bright, prominent quality and are inspired by a variety of stimuli, leading to a range of diverse and inspiring pieces. At the same time, each of the artists maintains their own unique style through their own pieces. %HOO¡V ZRUN LV VWULNLQJ DQG FRXOG EH recommended for fans of the work of David Hockney, as he works in bright block colours with attractive compositions. Briffa also works in a highly abstract fashion, creating pieces rich LQ WH[WXUH LQ VWDUN FRQWUDVW WR %HOO¡V work. If you enjoy hyper-realistic pieces, 0DXUHHQ 6WHSKHQVRQ¡V ZRUN GHDOV

with a variety of interesting conFHSWV ZKLOVW %HQQHWW¡V SLHFHV DUH vivid and individual. The group also exhibit individualiW\ VR LI WKHUH¡V D SDUWLFXODU DUWLVW WKDW takes your fancy, their work can be found in galleries across the North East and beyond. You can also look forward to SiPRQ 3DULVKHV œ6XUIDFLQJ¡ H[KLELWLRQ at Red Box in early December which displays a multitude of hyper-realistic paintings. His paintings are sourced from photographs, including travel photographs of his own and those found in newspapers and magazines, and capture the beauty in spontaneous photographs, such as a leaf caught in the handle of a car door. The Red Box gallery also prides itself on displaying the work of up-

and-coming North East based artists, exhibiting the most innovative and exciting work that the region has to offer. 7KH JDOOHU\ KROGV Ă€YH VKRZV D year, exploring mediums such as painting, photography, sculpture and video work. 7KH 5HG %R[¡V SURPLVH LV WR RIIHU ‘a different viewing experience with HDFK YLVLW ¡ As such, Red Box is an ideal source of inspiration for students studying Fine Art. Both Bell and Stephenson are graduates of Newcastle University and so the exhibition offers students an idea of what a career in art has in store. Figure8 exhibition runs at the Red Box Gallery until 20th November

Home grown comic back in Viz-ness Katie Hughes Thirty years ago, three Newcastle born teenagers published 150 copies of a brand new comic that was destined to be a nationwide phenomenon. Johnny Fartpants, Sid the Sexist and perhaps the most famous of all, The Fat Slags were about to become household names. In December 1979, Chris Donald started the creation that is Viz magazine. With help from his younger brother Simon and friend Jim Brownlow, the 12-page comic spread was produced on his bedURRP Ă RRU DW KLV SDUHQW¡V house in Jesmond. The comic was an instant success with the locals, and work began straight away on the next issue. After a few years of steady sales, mostly in the North East, circulation had grown to around 5000. The bedroom was exchanged for DQ RIĂ€FH LQ -HVPRQG DQG PRUH DUWists were hired. The ball was now rolling on what was to be an exciting creative venture. Even though the magazine was

building an ever-increasing fan base, the boys were reluctant to veer off their normal working pattern. There were no deadlines, other than perhaps a casual notion in mid-June that it might be worth having an issue out before Christmas. The comic itself was sold Big Issue-style, outside gigs and from one Newcastle pub to the next. Throughout the 1980s, Viz resisted every media trend. Unlike most othHU PDJD]LQHV DW WKH WLPH LW ZDVQ¡W produced in London. And unlike DQ\ RWKHU LW GLGQ¡W WDNH LWVHOI UHmotely seriously. There was no talking down to the reader or any attempt to make new friends. In fact, it treated them with a somewhat concealed contempt. ´7KH SDJH \RX ZULWH DQG LW¡V DOZD\V shiteâ€?, reads the slogan on the letters page. Regardless of this, in 1985 a deal was signed with Virgin Books to publish the comic nationally every 2 months. Sales exceeded a million by the end of 1989, making Viz at the time one of the biggest selling magazines in the country. It was eventually in the early 90s that sales started to steadily decline.

The shock factor of the magazine was wearing thin. But it is through the quality of the ruthless and uncompromising humour that the comic managed to keep its loyal readers hooked. And as proof to this, Viz is celebrating its grand old age of thirty this year with the release of the ‘Viz annual &RXQFLO *ULWWHU¡ Simon Thorp, Wayne Gamble, Graham Dury and Davey Jones $.$ WKH Âś(GLWRULDO &DELQHW¡ YLVLWHG +09¡V 1RUWKXPEHUODQG 6WUHHW VWRUH on the 29th October to meet fans and sign copies of the new annual. In addition, the team were also VLJQLQJ WKH Âś0DJQD )DUWOHW¡ DQG D special 30th anniversary issue of the comic. As part of the 30th anniversary festivities there will be an exhibition of their work at the Cartoon gallery in London in early November. And to take advantage of their time back in their hometown, the Viz creators have been involved with a credit crunch art project set to hit the high street later this year. With the collaboration of Viz magD]LQH¡V 6LPRQ 'RQDOG DQG SOD\wright Lee Mattinson, Globe City

Gallery have produced a series of new works. They again follow the ever popular theme of crude toilet humour and black comedy that take on global economic issues, which show the resilience of the north to withstand such major crises as the credit crunch. Over 160 people, ranging from all backgrounds and ages within the local area, including both creative individuals and major local businesses, took part in workshops over a period of three weeks. The scenes and scripts created from the workshops will be presentHG Ă€WWLQJO\ LQ EODFN DQG ZKLWH LQ D ODUJH HPSW\ VKRS LQ 1HZFDVWOH¡V busy city centre. Supporting the main spectacle in Newcastle City Centre will be an exhibition at Globe Hub in North Shields displaying further work from the project, including preparatory drawings, character-sketches and cartoon strips. And so it is with great pleasure that we wish such a successful and LQĂ XHQWLDO LI GRZQULJKW UXGH DQG insulting, locally bred magazine a very happy birthday.

,Q RQH RI 6WHZDUW /HH¡V PDQ\ VDUcastic stand-up routines, the comedian draws a circle of salt around himself before continuing to tell a joke. As he explains to his bemused audience, the salt circle is a traditional technique used by French clowns for centuries so, if he uses it, his work can be counted as a “concession to theatreâ€?, making his show “eligible for Arts Council fundingâ€?. As Lee goes on to dryly remark, without the salt circle, his routine is “just a stand-up show, and therefore, is of no artistic merit whatsoever.â€? Whilst the routine is loaded with typically Lee-ish bitterness towards the establishment, the man has a valid point; the Arts Council EngODQG¡V ZHEVLWH FXUUHQWO\ OLVWV GDQFH music, literature, theatre and visual DUWV DV IXQGDEOH IRUPV EXW WKHUH¡V DSSDUHQWO\ QR Ă€QDQFLDO VXSSRUW IRU comedy, stand-up or otherwise. So why is the art establishment not amused? It seems pretty unfair given that a quick romp through comedy history proves that it can be just as creative and clever as any other art form. ,Q IDFW IRU HYHU\ ÂśVHULRXV¡ DUW PRYHPHQW WKHUH¡V D FRPHGLF HTXLYalent, where the same ideas and techniques are used; Vic and Bob are just as surreal as Dali, and Ted &KLSSLQJWRQ¡V DQWL MRNHV FRXOGQ¡W be more Dada if he tried. At the same time as The Stooges were tearing up the pop music rule book, so too were Peter Cook and Dudley Moore defecating over the boundaries of taste, with their expletive-ridden Derek and Clive albums. So why is it that, when survivors of the seventies look back on the decade, the pogoing and gobbing of punk is treated to hushed reverence and exhibitions in museums OLNH 0DQFKHVWHU¡V 8UELV ZKLOVW Derek and Clive are dismissed with the kind of embarrassment usually reserved for bell bottom jeans and platform shoes? ,W FDQ¡W EH EHFDXVH FRPHG\ LV LQcapable of saying anything serious; IRU H[DPSOH 6WHZDUW /HH¡V IXQGDmentalist-baiting comedy musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera, was based RQ -RKQ 0LOWRQ¡V Paradise Lost and deals with all of the same weighty issues, such as free will, redemption, and‌erm‌chicks with dicks. Historian G.R. Elton, who once disowned his nephew Ben for writing Blackadder Goes Forth, went RQ WR SUDLVH WKH VKRZ¡V SRLJQDQW ending as one of the greatest representations of the futility of the First World War. ,I LW¡V QRW WKH FDVH WKDW FRPHG\ LVQ¡W DV ZRUWK\ DV RWKHU DUW IRUPV then maybe the problem lies in the self-deprecating effect of humour itself. 2QH RI WKH JUHDWHVW LQĂ XHQFHV RQ comedy as we know it today is Eastern European Jewish humour; a tradition that, from Sholem Aleichem to Woody Allen, has always had self-deprecation at its heart. If comedy takes pains to prevent us from taking it seriously, then SHUKDSV LW¡OO QHYHU EH HDV\ WR DEVHQWPLQGHGO\ VODS DQ ÂśDUW¡ VWLFNHU on it. ,Q IDFW SHUKDSV WKDW¡V WKH SURRI that comedy is, in fact, one of the greatest creative forms; rather than stroking a goatee or applauding politely, you can show your appreciation for its craft and artistry by laughing like an absolute idiot.

28

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

Film

Film )LOP (GLWRU )UDQFHV .URRQ FRXULHU FXOWXUH ¿ OP#QFO DF XN

Hollywood vs. Bollywood > Should we branch out our horizons and look further east?

&DUH\ 0XOOLJDQ Jennie Mitchell

Alex Murray ,W·V FHUWDLQO\ QR VHFUHW WKDW FLQHPD LQ RXU (QJOLVK VSHDNLQJ ZRUOG LV GRPLQDWHG E\ WKH RXWSXW RI WKH PRVW IDPRXV À OP LQGXVWU\ LQ WKH ZRUOG +ROO\ZRRG But why is this so when its Indian FRXVLQ %ROO\ZRRG FKXUQV RXW PRUH À OPV SHU \HDU DQG KDV D ERRPLQJ array of talent to showcase its skill DQG FDSDELOLW\ LQ WKH À OPPDNLQJ LQ dustry? 7KLV ,QGLDQ HQWHUWDLQPHQW EXVL QHVV KDV D VLPLODU KLVWRU\ DQG JH QHULF RXWSXW DV PDQ\ RWKHU QDWLRQDO FLQHPDV :LWK VRPH RI WKH À OPV DG GUHVVLQJ QDWLRQDO LVVXHV DQG LQGL YLGXDO KDUGVKLSV WKH PRUH SRSXODU PRYLHV DUH IRFXVHG DURXQG À FWLRQDO HVFDSLVP ZLWK DOPRVW QR GLUHFW UHI HUHQFH WR SROLWLFDO RU VRFLDO LVVXHV :KHQ SHRSOH WKLQN RI ¶%ROO\ZRRG )LOPV· JHQHUDOO\ WKH\ WKLQN RI WKH ODWWHU FRORXUIXO PHORGUDPDWLF PX VLFDOV ZLWK VWHUHRW\SLFDOO\ ,QGLDQ FRQWHQW ZRPHQ LQ VDULV WUDGLWLRQDO ,QGLDQ VRQJ DQG GDQFH DQG VR RQ ,V this really the case? ,Q IDFW WKLV W\SH RI À OP ZDV PDLQ VWUHDP %ROO\ZRRG FLQHPD VRPH VHYHQW\ \HDUV DJR 6LQFH WKHQ WKH LQGXVWU\ KDV XQGHUJRQH D KLVWRU\ VSDQQLQJ D *ROGHQ $JH DQG QHZ PRYHPHQWV OLNH 3DUDOOHO &LQHPD DQG 0XPEDL 1RLU WKDW KDYH JLYHQ ZD\ WR 0RGHUQ &LQHPD /LNH +ROO\ZRRG WKH V EURXJKW OHVV Á XII\ URPDQFH À OPV DQG LQVWHDG VDWLVÀ HG D QDWLRQDO GHPDQG IRU DF

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THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

29

Film

CULTURE

Reviews This Is It Dir: Kenny Ortega Run time: 111 mins 6R this is it 7KH .LQJ RI 3RS LV EDFN IRU RQH ODVW PRRQZDON DFURVV RXU VFUHHQV LQ WKLV VFUDSERRN RI EHKLQG WKH VFHQHV UHKHDUVDO IRRWDJH IRU WKH LQIDPRXV SODQQHG FRQFHUWV DW WKH 2 $UHQD $YRLGLQJ WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI KLV GHDWK WKH FRQFHUW ÀOP LQFOXGHV LQ WHUYLHZV ZLWK GDQFHUV Á\ RQ WKH ZDOO UHFRUGLQJV RI -DFNVRQ GDQFLQJ DQG VLQJLQJ DV ZHOO DV FRPSXWHU JUDSKLFV PRFN XSV RI ZKDW WKH VWDJH VHW ZRXOG KDYH ORRNHG OLNH IRU WKH OLYH SHUIRUPDQFHV ,W·V FHUWDLQO\ QRW D WKULOOHU 'LUHF WRU .HQQ\ 2UWHJD IDLOV WR JHW XQGHU WKH VNLQ RI WKH PDQ ZKR GD]]OHG WKH PXVLF ZRUOG IRU GHFDGHV 2QH KRXU DQG PLQXWHV RI ZDWFK LQJ EDUHO\ VFUDWFKHV WKH VXUIDFH DV 2UWHJD SUHIHUV WR JORVV RYHU WKH FLQ HPDWLF H[SHULHQFH ZLWK GXOO FXWV RI

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9 Dir: Shane Acker Cast: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Riley, Crispin Glover Run time: 79 mins $ ORW RI ÀOPV GHDOLQJ ZLWK SRVW DSRFDO\SWLF WKHPHV KDYH FRPH RXW RU DUH VWLOO WR FRPH RXW WKLV \HDU %HWZHHQ Terminator: Salvation DQG 2012 HYHU\RQH ZDQWV WR HQG WKH ZRUOG :KLOH 9 LV QR GLIIHUHQW LQ WHUPV RI ZKDW WKH PRYLH KDV GRQH WR KXPDQ LW\ DQG RXU SRRU WHUURUL]HG SODQHW ZKDW VWDQGV RXW DERXW WKLV PRYLH LV WKH DWWHQWLRQ WR GHWDLO 7KH JUDSKLFV DUH IDQWDVWLFDOO\ UHQ GHUHG DQG WKH VFULSW WKH FKDUDFWHUV DQG WKH ZRUOG LV UHPDUNDEO\ ZHOO WKRXJKW RXW

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Dir: Phil Lord, Chris Miller Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan Run time: 90 mins $QLPDWHG NLGV· ÀOPV DUH WHQ D SHQQ\ QRZDGD\V HYHQ LQ WKH WUDLO HUV EHIRUH WKLV ÀOP , VDZ DGYHUWV IRU WKUHH PRUH FRPLQJ VRRQ 7KH QRYHOW\ RI WKH DPD]LQJ HIIHFWV RI WKH &*, ÀOP KDV ORQJ VLQFH ZRUQ RII DQG QRZ LW WDNHV VRPHWKLQJ D OLW WOH PRUH VSHFLDO WKDQ VSHFLDO HIIHFWV WR VHW D ÀOP RI WKLV NLQG DSDUW IURP WKH UHVW )UDQNO\ Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs LV MXVW WKDW ² VSHFLDO )URP WKH RIIVHW WKH VWRU\ RIIHUV VRPHWKLQJ IDU PRUH LQWHUHVWLQJ WKDW ZKDW ZH·YH VHHQ IURP PRVW &*, ÀOPV LQ UHFHQW \HDUV 7KH VWRU\ IROORZV )OLQW /RFNZRRG D PDQ ZKR KDV DOZD\V ZDQWHG WR LQYHQW VRPHWKLQJ LQ KLV ZRUGV ¶DZHVRPH· 'HVSLWH KLV GULYH DQG JHQLXV KH·V DOZD\V FDXVHG GLVDVWHUV DQG EHHQ ULGLFXOHG ZLWK HYHU\ QHZ DWWHPSW +RZHYHU ZLWK WKH LQYHQWLRQ RI KLV QHZ GHYLFH WR WXUQ ZDWHU LQWR IRRG KH WKLQNV KH·V RQWR D ZLQQHU DQG

Camila Tessler

An Education 'LU /RQH 6FKHUÀJ Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Skaarsgard, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson Run time: 100 mins %DVHG RQ WKH PHPRLUV RI /\QQ %DU EHU DQG DGDSWHG IRU WKH VFUHHQ E\ 1LFN +RUQE\ $ERXW D %R\ An Education LV D FKDUPLQJ FRPLQJ RI DJH VWRU\ VHW LQ WKH /RQGRQ DUHD LQ ,QWHOOLJHQW SUHFRFLRXV -HQQ\ SOD\HG E\ UHODWLYH QHZFRPHU &DUH\ 0XOOLJDQ LV RQ KHU ZD\ WR D ZLQ QLQJ D SODFH WR UHDG (QJOLVK DW 2[ IRUG ZKHQ KHU OLIH LV LQWHUUXSWHG E\ 'DYLG 6NDDUVJDUG DQ ROGHU PDQ ZKR WXUQV KHU ZRUOG XSVLGH GRZQ 'HVSLWH EHLQJ QHDUO\ WZLFH KHU DJH 'DYLG FKDUPV ERWK -HQQ\ DQG KHU SDUHQWV DQG VKRZV KHU D ZRUOG IDU UHPRYHG IURP KHU WUDGLWLRQDO XS EULQJLQJ ² D ZRUOG ZLWK JODPRURXV SDUWLHV DQG HOHJDQW IULHQGV %XW DV -HQQ\ EHFRPHV IXUWKHU HP EURLOHG LQ KHU DIIDLU DQG EHJLQV WR OHW KHU VFKRROZRUN VOLS WKH FUDFNV LQ KHU VHHPLQJO\ SHUIHFW UHODWLRQVKLS VWDUW WR DSSHDU 7KH ÀOP·V UHDO KLJKOLJKW ZDV WKH DFWLQJ 0XOOLJDQ KROGV KHU RZQ ZRQGHUIXOO\ DJDLQVW D SRZHUIXO DQG H[SHULHQFHG FDVW DQG SHUIRUPV WKH UROH RI -HQQ\ ZLWK ÁDLU DQG OLNHDELO LW\ 6NDDUVJDUG DOVR SHUIRUPV ZHOO PDNLQJ WKH UROH RI 'DYLG PRUH V\P SDWKHWLF WKDQ VOHD]\ 3LNH GHVHUYHV D SDUWLFXODU PHQWLRQ WRR IRU KHU FKDUDFWHU·V FRPLF UHOLHI ² DQ XQXVXDO WXUQ IRU 3LNH EXW QRQH WKHOHVV H[WUHPHO\ VXFFHVVIXO DQG HQJDJLQJ 7KH FRQYHUVDWLRQV EHWZHHQ -HQQ\ DQG +HOHQ DUH RIWHQ KLODULRXV DQG WKHLU FKHPLVWU\ RQVFUHHQ LV ORYHO\ WR ZDWFK RI FRXUVH WKHVH WZR SOD\HG VLVWHUV LQ Pride and Prejudice D IHZ \HDUV EDFN 0ROLQD WRR ZDV ZRQ GHUIXO DV -HQQ\·V ÀUP EXW FDULQJ ID WKHU $OO LQ DOO WKH ÀOP ZDV HQMR\DEOH ZLWK D ÀQH FDVW DQG DQ HQJDJLQJ VWRU\OLQH :RUWK D ORRN LI \RX IDQF\ UHPHPEHULQJ ÀUVW ORYHV DQG ÀUVW KHDUWEUHDNV RU LI \RX MXVW IDQF\ D JHQWOH DIWHUQRRQ DW WKH 7\QHVLGH

Joe Skrebels Ashley Fryer

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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Music

CULTURE

Music Music Editors: Mark Corcoran-Lettice and Chris Mandle - courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk

with Reverend and the Makers Lucy Johnson Just before their Halloween performance at the O2 Academy Newcastle, Lucy Johnson talked to Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure about touring, Twitter and Calvin Harris unsurprisingly, he had plenty to say! How’s the tour going? It’s been a huge success, absolutely amazing yeah, there’s been some very special gigs, long may it continue. ,W¡V >WKH QHZ DOEXP@ Ă€ QDOO\ VWDUWLQJ WR VRXQG DV JRRG DV WKH Ă€ UVW album live, people know it a little bit. I’m really happy with how it’s sounding. What music are you enjoying right now? I think the noughties have been a terrible decade for British music. I like black music to be honest; I’m not going to lie, not guitar music. Such a large proportion of the journalism stuff and the radio stations are run by white middle class men, which means they assume the rest of the country listens to what they like. We listen to 2Pac and Bob Marley and stuff; do you know what I’m saying? You’ve got this kind of discrepancy between the people who write about music and the people who make it. There’s a few good people in this country I like, there’s a good MC I like called Mike Righteous, he’s a British Iranian guy from Margate, he’s good. There’s a band from Manchester called Dirty North - they’re a bit rough around the edges, but they’re brilliant. Toddla T, he’s from ShefĂ€ HOG DQG WKHUH¡V DQRWKHU 6KHIĂ€ HOG lad called Shake a Leg. Have you embraced Twitter at all? I’m a big noise on Twitter, if you’re not following me get following me – I’m a serious contender, I don’t mess about. Do you think it’s a good way of getting yourself heard?

$EVROXWHO\ ÂśFDXVH , GRQ¡W KDYH WR put my words through journalists, and people go ‘Jon McClure’s controversial.’ No he’s not, Jon McClure tells the truth! Here’s an example; something came out in a newspaper as ‘Jon McClure doesn’t care about Jade Goody dying’. What I actually said to the journalist was this; I said, ‘It’s very sad she’s died, I wouldn’t wish death on anyone; also if girls have gone for smear tests as a result, brilliant. However, let us not forget - she was talentless and a racist, right, and at a time when Israel’s dropping phosphorous on little kids in Israel, and melting their skin off, I don’t think she deserves thirty days solid newspaper covers.’ That’s all I said, and all of a sudden I don’t care about Jade Goody – so Twitter, it’s my words. It’s perfect man, I can just articulate what I think without anyone trying to fudge it or anything. There’s so many problems with journalists; do you think for a second the NME want to forward new music or do you think they want to sell copies? That’s why they put the Kings of Leon on the front cover. Kings of Leon’s last album, right, I used to be a fan of theirs, that was like Bon Jovi - it was dreadful. They shouldn’t have put them on the cover. :KHUH \RX VWDQG RQ WKH ZKROH Ă€ OH sharing debate then? Here’s where I stand; I’d love for you to buy my album, ‘cause I need a new pair of curtains, but if you steal it, I hope you enjoy it, and maybe you’ll come and watch me live. $QG ,¡YH JRW D UHDVRQDEOH DPRXQW RI money - I’m by no means a millionaire and I never will be. How much money’s enough money? I heard on the radio the other day that you and Calvin Harris don’t get on too well‌ Is that on Chris Moyles? What’s he been saying about me? That you jeered him when he went on stage‌

A. NICHOLSON

Calvin Harris is so desperate to have chart hits; he’s a guy in his late 30s pretending to be someone in his 20s writing pop songs for 13-year-old girls. My issue with Calvin Harris is this; he said something not too nice about me on Twitter, so I played a festival he was playing at and I asked if I FRXOG VSHDN WR &DOYLQ $QG WKH\ told me he didn’t want to come out. I wouldn’t have minded if he said it to my face, I’m not a violent man; I wasn’t going to hit him. Desperate lad Calvin Harris, he just wants to be rich and famous - he doesn’t necessarily want to make good music.

and I hadn’t took them for a while. It’s like everywhere you look, there’s a door slamming in your face. I said some stuff to a newspaper about the NME and I had all these texts from musicians saying “Nice one mate! I’ve always thought that.â€? $QG , WKLQN ZHOO ZK\ GLGQ¡W \RX say anything? Why leave it to me? $QG 10( ZHUH VD\LQJ WKH\ ZHUH going to sue me and ruin my career, which they have, to a degree, so the whole industry just got me down.

Do you still want to quit the music industry then?

This tour - the Kasabian tour, got HLJKW Ă€ OPV FRPLQJ RXW , ZURWH D book, but now it’s being made into D Ă€ OP ² LW¡V EHWWHU ,W¡V DERXW WKH OLHV we tell each other. First one’s about Christmas, for instance like, saying why does Father

No, I only said that ‘cause I was down in the dumps and I get a bit up and down anyway. I have tablets that stop me from getting like that

What are your plans for the future?

Christmas come down your chimney when you haven’t got a chimney? Stupid things like leaving a glass of sherry and a carrot, like they know what he likes. 7KHVH Ă€ OPV DUH IXQQ\ OLIH LV IXQ ny. Like the tooth fairy - a bird who comes into your house, with wings, a small midget bird, who buys body parts off you! Imagine if the right wing press knew about that! Life’s mental isn’t it? Then I’ve got this thing where I’m RQ D EXV IURP 6KHIĂ€ HOG WR 6KDQJKDL and take some musicians and bands and record on the way, and make a programme of it. I’ve been asked to SUHVHQW WKLV 79 VKRZ ZKLFK , PLJKW do, I might not do. $QG ,¡P LQWR WKLV WHFK\ ZHLUG IX turistic stuff for a bit, rather than the guitar music - it’s going to sound mashed up.

Is the single overtaking the album? Joe Skrebels It’s clear now that the age of the download is in full swing. Using technology to get techno and dodging pop-ups to buy pop is now easier than it’s ever been, and with everyone being able to pick and choose songs, as well as bands increasingly preferring the digital single over physical releases, it seems that that humble thing, the single, which has been dead for so ORQJ KDV À QDOO\ EHHQ UHVXUUHFWHG But perhaps we should remember ZK\ LW GLHG LQ WKH À UVW SODFH $W WKH time, there seemed no place for singles; albums were better value and, well, just better in general. There’s no soul, no progression in

a one or two-track single, and that’s why a great album is so much more than a great song. So maybe that’s why I feel that the single is some digitally-reanimated zombie that has come to tear the brains out of our lovely, living-andbreathing, physical album. It’s a nice festive image, but it certainly doesn’t sound like something I’d like to see happen. Downloading songs may be the future, and singles may be the great white light for the music industry, but when they take over, spare a thought for our beloved album. R.I.P.

There’s no soul, no progression in a one or two track single Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor With iTunes and Spotify making it easier than ever to skip to your favourite tracks and completely ignore the tracklisting that your favourite band must have spent, you know, minutes deciding upon, it’s perhaps not entirely surprising that the single track and shorter releases are coming back in vogue.

For some bands, it does make VHQVH ZKLOH $VK KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ an impressive singles band, only 1977 really stands up as a fulllength album, making their new VLQJOHV RQO\ SROLF\ œ$ 9HU\ 6PDUW Idea Indeed’. For other genres, particularly the ever-expanding amount of underground dance sub-genres, the single has always been the optimum format for the sound –a quick, punchy blast, rather than a drawnout drag. But there’s a reason that not everyone’s on this bandwagon. Thom Yorke raised eyebrows with his suggestion that Radiohead were never to release a full-length album again, and with the series of stealthy, sin-

gle releases he made as both a band member and a solo artist. Yet they remain a consummate album band, whose records are carefully considered statement .LG $ ZRXOG QHYHU KDYH KDG DV much impact if it had been released track-by-track over several months, rather than as one glorious whole. Ed O’Brien has since revealed that the band are in fact set to record their eighth full-length this winter, casting doubt over Thom Yorke’s announcements, and when one of the world’s largest bands continues to return to the album format, the game’s not over for the LP just yet.

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Music

R. MAIR

Live Reviews Nine Black Alps The Cluny, October 30th

Los Campesinos! Union Basement 2, October 27th

Having seen Nine Black Alps play twice before, I was really looking forward to seeing them play again. But something was worrying me... I saw them at Leeds Festival in 2007 where they were high up on the bill for the second biggest stage. The second time was in 2008 in Leeds at the cockpit. So when I saw they would be playing in The Cluny, I wondered why the venues were getting smaller each time. However, my reservations were quickly put to rest. As the support act, a local group called Ambershift, left the stage, the venue was full at only around 100 people. But when Nine Black Alps started up, it felt like you might as well be at Leeds Festival. After navigating my way past a guy who spent the entire gig showering me with sweat, I was at the front of the crowd. Nine Black Alps rocked out the whole set, playing a good mix of old and new with plenty of crowd pleasers, resulting in energetic head-banging infecting the crowd. A personal highlight was watching the bassist fall over during the encore, then keep playing whilst OD\LQJ RQ WKH Ă RRU 5HDO URFN DQG roll!

Cardiff indie-pop band Los Campesinos! returned to live duties in the UK with a spirited performance in the Union’s Basement 2 venue , and although the room may have seemed small to start with, it provided host to a very special, intimate gig. Support acts Sparky Deathcap and Copy Haho kicked off the show impressing the audience, and after a long wait, the seven strong Los Campesinos! entered the stage, approaching their respective guitars, keyboards, violins and glockenspiels. Their 15 song set fed from their two 2008 albums as well as their XSFRPLQJ WKLUG UHFRUG 5RPDQFH ,V Boring, with the highlight of the gig being live favourite ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ which was exactly what the audience were doing. All songs were performed excellently and the audience were very lively, with lead singer Gareth Campesinos! engaging them during the songs (when he didn’t have his back to them, mind!). It was a very energetic gig with a very energetic audience and performance, epitomised by guitarist Tom Campesinos! leaping into the crowd to surf as the night’s last song -‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks’came to an animated end.

Chris Scott

Thomas O’Boyle

Alphabeat O2 Academy 2, Newcastle, October 27th

Little Comets O2 Academy 2 Newcastle, October 28th

)RU RQH QLJKW RQO\ WKH XSSHU Ă RRU RI WKH 2 $FDGHP\ ZDV Ă€ OOHG ZLWK swarms of pre-adolescent girls, accompanied by their trademark dayJOR RXWĂ€ WV DQG QRQ DOFRKROLF EHY erages, waiting to pounce on any given opportunity to scream their heads off at the mere mention of the word Alphabeat. To get the night underway, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool took to the VWDJH UHFRJQL]DEOH E\ WKHLU 5DGLR 1-adored new single ‘Dance the Way I Feel’, but the rest of their act consisted of posh toffs bashing away at synths, churning out tedious bass lines and shouting over the top. The girls in the crowd, needless to say, went mad. Alphabeat were a welcome relief with their effortless cheery pop. Anders, the lead singer, jumps, dives and dances all over the stage like a man possessed, but this only makes you feel automatically compelled to get on up there and dance along with him. The Danish band stormed through all the ‘classics’ with the crowd hooked on every single word or movement that the band produced, alongside tracks from their new album The Spell. Alphabeat proved they can produce pop, and if uncontrollably catchy pop is what you’re looking for, they certainly delivered.

Newcastle music never sounded so good. While support band Drive While Hiding win my award for campest thing on the planet since Dale Winton, the Toon’s very own Little Comets come on to a deservedly rapturous reception. Guitars - check. Drums - check. Hanging blue rope and dinner pan - check. After attending to the acoustics of the dinnerware and cutlery, Little Comets launch into new single ‘Adultery’ and the crowd are mugged by the most infectious, melodic and edgy indie-pop fusion I’ve heard in ages. 5RPSLQJ WKHLU ZD\ WKURXJK WKH charged drama of ‘Where Do You Go’, the anthemic chorus of cracking song ‘Joanna’ sends the energy in the room through the roof. Now, this could have been due to the fact that half the crowd was made up of prepubescent teenagers hyped up on sherbet lemon, but I beg to differ. ,I WKH .RRNV DQG 5D]RUOLJKW KDG a lovechild, then pumped it full of Newcastle Brown Ale, they might come close to achieving the stunQLQJ VRXQG WKLV EDQG KDV 7R Ă€ Q ish, the drummer pulls out a classic crowd surf, failing miserably. Exciting, fresh, and on our doorstep - you’d be mad to ignore them.

Olivia Mason

Daniel Kielty

To see what gigs are coming up at the Union visit: www.unionsociety.co.uk/events

Seen and Scene Star & Shadow Heather Whitmore

Joe Barton

Gordon Bruce Culture Online Editor

The early disbandment: a barrier to the masterpieces that could have been, and a tonic against the sad, dwindling demise which befalls many a band, even as they try to escape its clutches. Neutral Milk Hotel had a short career, releasing only two LPs: 1996’s On Avery Island and 1998’s In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, but in these few active years the band created music of enduring emotional intensity. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is beautiful, but not in a smooth Greek marble-perfection sort of way. Jeff Mangum’s expressive, pleading YRLFH UXQV WKH VKRZ Ă LWWLQJ EH tween notes like each one would cage his passion if he stayed with it too long. The instruments are similarly erratic; acoustic guitars, horns, and walls of fuzz follow Mangum’s voice in rapid, meandering pursuit. What is ostensibly a sprawling mess, however, melds into an album of focused stunners, such as ‘TwoHeaded Boy’ and ‘Oh Comely’. Whether Jeff Mangum ever fully resurfaces from his relative musical obscurity remains to be seen; as it stands, fans can be comforted that, with In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel went out on a blistering high.

Completely volunteer-run and cheaper than chips, the Star and Shadow Cinema is one of the many venues that comprises Newcastle’s musical Mecca, the Ouseburn Valley. As the name implies, the Star and Shadow is primarily a cinema, but it’s lovingly open-armed staff have welcomed swathes of bands over the years. Past events have included festivals hosted by Field Music, Maximo Park album launches, as well as a neverending list of obscure and eclectic bands. The homemade atmosphere and HWKLFDOO\ VRXQG EDU DUH GHÀ QLWH SURV as is its relative proximity to Manors Metro Station. If you want to get to the heart of Newcastle’s close-knit music scene, then there’s no better place to start than this intimate and right-on gem.

This week, we step outside of the comfortingly cold environs of Newcastle to review one of the largest tours of the year: the return of poppunk leviathan Green Day. Our reporter Stuart Edwards travHOOHG IDU DQG ZLGH UHDG 6KHIÀ HOG to give us the scoop on how they’ve brought their latest album 21st Century Breakdown to life at the Hallam FM Arena. We’ve also got an exclusive interview with the hotly-tipped Yes, Giantess from when they arrived in 1HZFDVWOH DV SDUW RI WKH 10( 5DGDU Tour earlier in the term, courtesy of Chris Hay. As well as all this, we’ve also got all of our exclusive blogs and our Ouseburn Sessions with NUTV just log onto http://www.thecouULHURQOLQH FR XN WR À QG DOO RI WKLV exciting coverage!

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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Record Reviews Codeine Velvet Club Codeine Velvet Club

King Khan & BBQ Show

Espers III

Cold Cave Love Comes Close

Taxi Taxi

The Fratellis? Yes, that Scottish lot that did that song that gets played after goals are scored in the lower regions of the football league and annoys the hell out of you, ‘Chelsea Dagger’. Well they’re back...sort of. Codeine Velvet Club is the side project of singer Jon Lawler: imagine The Fratellis, throw in a few trumpets, some strings, add a female co-vocalist, Lou Vickey, and a touch less lad rock and here we are. Whilst Codeine Velvet Club’s debut isn’t a disaster - don’t get me wrong, they’ve produced a couple of well written and nicely constructed songs, like ‘Hollywood’ and lead single ‘Vanity Kill’ - but the whole album just seems a little bit forced, as though Lawler and co. are trying just a touch too hard. Last year, fellow side-project The Last Shadow Puppets managed to successfully evoke memories of Scott Walker, but here Codeine Velvet Club have only managed to evoke memories of the Zutons, with a similar over reliance on their brass section. Weighing in at just thirty-seven minutes, the album isn’t intended to drag, but despite the quicker paced efforts, it’s boring and laden with overblown orchestral grandeur. Back to the lad rock then. Jon?

Having become an underground phenomenon for their rowdy live shows, King Khan & BBQ Show’s third album is a fun garage rock romp that’s equal parts soul and sleaze. The album is awash with American nostalgia: ‘I’ll Be Lovin’ You’ utilizes doo-wop rhythms and 50s rock and roll in the vein of Chuck Berry, while ‘Invisible Girl’ has a ramshackle rockabilly feel. As if to demonstrate King Khan’s skill in encompassing different genres, more traditional rock and roll tracks sit comfortably next to songs such as ‘Truth or Dare,’ a Black Lips style garage rock stomp. Some of the lyrics are questionable (notably ‘Animal Party’ with its nonsensical lines and hilarious animal noises), but this serves to reinforce the theatrical element of the King Khan persona, and they never descend to self-parody – they’re simply too good for that. Garage rock has become increasingly popular genre recently with many a scenester jumping on the scuzz bandwagon and churning out average albums, but King Khan & BBQ Show have managed to draw upon rock’n’roll tradition and twist it to create a brilliantly crafted record.

*DWKHU URXQG WKH FDPSĂ€ UH DQG GXVW off your old straw pipe, because psychedelic folk troupe Espers are back with their imaginatively titled third album. And what an odd beast they’ve produced. Their press release states that the band designed the album to contrast with the densely layered sound on their previous two efforts, EXW LW¡V D VWUXJJOH WR Ă€ QG HYHQ RQH refreshing, delicate arrangement. Instead, every instrument seems WR EH Ă€ JKWLQJ WR EH KHDUG DW HYHU\ moment. Gritty guitar distortion wrestles with plucked acoustic guitars whilst battling unnecessary violin swoops competing with wispy vocals throughout. In previous albums, each instrument was arranged beautifully, and it didn’t matter that there were twelve different kinds of antique lute playing - it all hung together. This only happens once here with ‘Caroline’, a gorgeous sound track to D VXPPHU¡V HYH Ă€ OOHG ZLWK Ă€ UHĂ LHV with nods to folk god Nick Drake. Elsewhere, it’s back to the sonic war zone. What’s so frustrating is that Espers just need to make their damn minds up. Either ditch the old sound completely or bring back the dense layers of curious instruments - this halfway house is killing me.

Love Comes Close is a record crafted from contrasts. The most immediate being the enormous difference between Cold Cave and front man Wes Eisold’s previous outings, inFOXGLQJ WKH LQĂ XHQWLDO KDUGFRUH RXW Ă€ W *LYH 8S 7KH *KRVW /HDYLQJ KLV punk rock roots behind, Eisold now treads the nostalgic path of 80s newwave synth pop. Sticking with the idea of contrast, the beauty of Love Comes Close is in its contradictory ability to be both bleak and uplifting at the same time. The ominous synths of title track ‘Love Comes Close’ evoke a stark, industrial landscape, yet the song also contains infectious pop hooks. The rest of the album carries on in this same vein – the ridiculously danceable ‘Life Magazine’ sits comfortably next to the claustrophobia of ‘The Laurels of Erotomania.’ Eisold’s morose baritone - at times reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan - is a world away from former Xiu Xiu member Caralee McElroy’s sweet, almost childlike voice. When paired together on ‘The Trees Grew Emotions and Died’, they create a bittersweet sensation. ‘Love Comes Close’ paints a picture of a cold, synthetic world, but it’s a world where you can’t help but dance.

Fierce Panda, the record company behind this LP, have been at the heart of several surprising breakthrough acts, most notable of whom include Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie and (perhaps less notably) The Blackout. So, is this another case of a band on the path to stardom? The short answer is unfortunately, no. The album languishes around unconvincingly for ten tracks of raw vocals backed by little more than a guitar strum here and piano note there. Described as ‘hauntingly upbeat’, the band’s music holds a style that perfectly encapsulates a nostalgic feeling of loss but which, considering the members are barely twenty \HDUV ROG VHHPV XQMXVWLĂ€ HG 7KHUH DOVR VHHPV WR EH OLWWOH UHĂ HFWLRQ RI such introspection in the lyrics, which simply do not hold the power demanded of them. They fail to establish a link with the listener, and at times become monotonously similar to Jack Johnson, and at others like a failed Ryan Adams. Despite this, a couple of the songs are enjoyable: the title track is the best of the album and the closer ‘Mary’ isn’t too bad either. Don’t expect to see Taxi Taxi becoming a household name any time soon though.

5/10

9/10

6/10

7/10

4/10

Tom Richards

Linsey Teggert

Gordon Bruce Culture Online Editor

Linsey Teggert

Joshua Wyatt

Invisible Girl

Still Standing at Your Back Door

Kraftwerk - 12345678: The Catalogue [Part 2]

Singles & Downloads

Although three of the members of Kraftwerk are well past their middle age (founding member Ralf Hutter is, incredibly, sixty-three years old), these last four remastered albums ensure that the Dusseldorf band’s electro sounds still sound fresh. During the 1970s and early 80s, Kraftwerk were pioneers of the synthesised polyphonic sound, but this collection of later albums sees them attempt to evolve their sound, and not always with glittering results. Across the four albums, there is a clear polishing of each song. When compared to the originals, each remastered song sounds a bit sharper, and generally each song has been improved. However, while some songs have had a complete makeover, others have seen little change. Of the four albums, 2003’s ‘our de France’ stands out as the best. The title track was originally created in 1983 to mark the 100th anniversary of the gruelling bicycle race, with Kraftwerk being notoriously keen cyclists who took up the sport as a EDQG 6R PXFK VR WKDW WKH Ă€ UVW UH lease used bike chains, brakes and cyclist’s breathing to compile their music. This version is much sharper though, and newer additions like ‘Vitamin’ and ‘Chrono’ are fantastic

Legendary US rockers Pearl Jam return with a double A-side single this week. ‘Got Some’ is an instant hit, with cool lyrics and unapologetically catchy hooks, contrasting with the laid-back and bluesy ‘Just Breathe’, which is classic introspective Pearl Jam. Closer to home, this week also sees Little Boots looking to keep up her chart success with her new radio-friendly single, ‘Earthquake’. If you haven’t heard it on the stations yet, think of a slowed down version of Basshunter’s ‘All I Ever Wanted’ and you won’t be far off the mark, for better or ZRUVH 7KH YRFDOV DUH GHĂ€ QLWHO\ better, though. Rounding up this week’s releases are solid tunes from Grammatics, with ‘Double Negative’, an admirable attempt at far-out psychedelic jangly pop with kraut-rock/1960s freaky undertones, and last but not least, I should mention that Frank Turner is out with a new one, the title track of his current album, ‘Poetry of the Deed’, which is about as anthemic a song that a singersongwriter can feasibly release.

energetic songs. Of the other albums, quasi greatest-hits collection The Mix is also notable. Standout tracks ‘The Robots’ and ‘Trans Europe Express’ fail to live up to earlier versions in the heavy, pounding versions found here, but they still provide satisfaction. Computer World as a whole remains great, with the remastering of the title track working well. Techno Pop (originally released as Electric CafĂŠ in 1986) is not saved by its remixed, reordered tracklisting WKRXJK UHPDLQLQJ Ă DW DQG UHSHWL tive. Overall, these last four entries in 12345678:The Collection impress. The digital alterations really give life to a sometimes ageing set of original productions. Kraftwerk have always moved with the times, ploughing their profits into updating their Kling Klang studio or developing new electronic devices and sounds. With this release, they have expertly exploited the technology available to them, HYHQ LI WKH Ă DZV LQ VRPH RI WKHLU later material still remain apparent.

6/10 Henry Jones

Romain Chenet

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Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

CULTURE

TV & Radio

TV & Radio TV & Radio Editor: Aimee Philipson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk

TV Highlights The Execution of Gary Glitter C4, 9pm, Mon 9th

Digging up the Dead BBC4, 9pm, Mon 9th

COURTESY OF CHANNEL 4

COURTESY OF BBC

Octomom: Me and My 14 Kids C4, 9pm, Thurs 12th

River Cottage C4, 7.30pm, Fri 23rd

COURTESY OF CHANNEL 4

COURTESY OF CHANNEL 4

What’s happening this week in the land where anything is possible... Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

Coronation Street

As Maria demands answers from Roy, it looks like he’s about to reveal all about Tony’s confession. But at the last minute Roy decides he needs more evidence before he can tell Maria anything. Meanwhile, across the street, Kirk, Darryl, David and Zoe reGHFRUDWH QXPEHU À YH DV D VXU prise for Fiz.

It may be the news you’ve been desperate to hear, but don’t get too excited - Gary Glitter is still breathing. 7KLV RQH RII À OP LV VHW LQ LP aginary Britain where details of sex crimes against children lead to a call for the restoration of capital punishment. A million protestors descend on London to demand that the death penalty is reinstated and after a parliamentary vote, the Human Rights Act is amended. 7KH À UVW SHUVRQ WR EH WULHG under the new law is Paul Gadd a.k.a 1970s glam rock star Gary Glitter, for sex crimes against children. The drama opens with Gadd’s arrest and follows him through his police interview, incarceration in Pentonville Prison and trial at the Old Bailey. At the trial, the debate over capital punishment continues between the prosecution and the defence while outside in the glare of the media, human rights groups, death penalty supporters and politicians clash over their polarised opinions. If you want to get your views heard on the topic, the TV drama will be followed by an online debate about capital punishment at www.channel4. com.

When you think of Spain, what images are conjured up? In my case it’s paella, Barcelona and Fernando Torres. It’s certainly not the civil war from 19361939 which resulted in the rise of Franco and fascism in Spain. As part of BBC4’s War Graves Week, Michael Portillo travels to Spain and exposes one of the most popular tourist hotspots in the world as a nation in trauma. )RU WKH À UVW WLPH VLQFH WKH FLYLO ZDU RI WKH V 6SDLQ LV RIÀ FLDO ly examining its past by digging up over 4000 bodies from mass graves across the country. Portillo’s father fought in the civil war, DQG ZDV H[LOHG IRU À JKWLQJ IRU democracy, whic gives the show a very personal touch. During the programme, Michael travels to numerous Spanish towns, including his father’s birthplace Madrigal, and speaks to ordinary people about their desire to recover bodies of their loved ones. Many wish to give the deceased D GLJQLÀ HG EXULDO KRZHYHU RWK ers would prefer family members to remain at peace. As debate ensues around the country, Portillo examines whether the Spanish authorities are wise to dig up the dead, exposing old wounds from the civil war and Franco’s dictatorship.

Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

Helen Atkinson

This is a story that has caused great media controversy. Nadya Suleman was originally just a source of interest after IVF caused her to fall pregnant with eight children, but she soon provoked negative backlash when it was revealed that she already had six children, was their sole carer and was reFHLYLQJ EHQHĂ€ WV Anger has mostly circled around the issue of using public money to fund a woman with this many children, and PDQ\ KDYH FDOOHG KHU VHOĂ€ VK and ridiculous. It will be interesting to see how she is portrayed in this Channel 4 documentary. The debate will probably rage on, especially as it has been reported that she is being offered ÂŁ150,000 for telling her story to the media - though it is unclear who is offering this sum. I for one am very interested to see how she is managing to look after that number of kids and perhaps to get to the bottom of her motivation for having so many! If you miss out this time round, catch up on 4OD for up to a week later. Eleanor Wilson

The chef with the poshest name in cuisine (apart from Bernard Matthews) Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back. He might look like he gets his food from a soup kitchen, but believe me this man is to seasonal veg, what the bass player of Blur is to cheese. He is the least showy of the current band of ‘rock star’ celebrity chefs. Hugh is quite happy tottering around his Dorset retreat and welcoming you into his cosy world. It’s quite nice - a bit like an episode of mid-summer murders, without the homicidal maniacs. The new series of River Cottage is back to celebrate the very best that spring and summer have to offer - in November. Far from being an extenVLRQ RI FRXQWU\ Ă€ OH +XJK LQWHQGV to party this series, opening with ‘a sheep shearing party’. He conjures up the type of food I would if I had a farmstead and literally nothing else to do. I like hand reared lamb Hugh, but they were not on B.O.G.O.F at Tesco’s. So I went for the water injected chicken breasts. I also like gorse wine Hugh, however a can of Fosters really clears the palette. You get my point. He is what you would be if you cared, I mean really cared, about food. The show airs on Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4. Put on your wellies, bring your shears, and brandish a parsnip, things are going to get hectic. Joe Mellor

Eastenders with a twist Elizabeth Davies It seems like online soap series are the way forward in the eyes of the BBC. As the new soap The Cut is currently being aired on iPlayer, a new wonder is being born out of an old classic. Just when you were questioning how the BBC writers manage to keep rattling out such drab story lines, they have their worst idea to date - an online youth-targeted spin off of soap opera Eastenders. The show isn’t even written by

the people that present us with the marvels of the normal Eastenders, but thirteen new London writers between 17 and 22, as part of the BBC’s new talent initiative. The new show will be called Eastenders:E20 and is set to be launched online in January. Each episode of the 13-part online series is said to be between six and twelve minutes long and based around four new teenage characters in Albert Square in east London. The idea could go two ways. 7KH À UVW EHLQJ WKDW WKH VKRZ LV DV drab, boring and predictable as its

Eastenders

Ronnie and Owen share a cheeky VQRJ IROORZLQJ D Ă RRG DW WKH 4XHHQ Vic. Meanwhile, Peggy organises a happy hour, which Ian and Christian attend, but the chip shop king gets blind drunk and Lucy begins to worry he might be on the verge of a breakdown.

Hollyoaks

Hannah tries to convince Leila that giving Anita the diary was in her best interests, but she fails to persuade Nancy that she only wrote one letter to Jake while he was in jail. Little do they know that Loretta was writing to him the whole time he was imprisoned!

Emmerdale

David gets more and more suspicious as he sees Leyla speaking to Nathan, and he demands that she starts being honest with him. However, his fears that she is having an affair are far from the truth - which is about to shock him even more.

Neighbours

Elle discovers a huge amount of cash is missing from her bank DFFRXQW DQG DW À UVW EODPHV WKH bank. However, realising the money has turned up on James’s statement, she begins to smell a rat.

Home and Away

parent show Eastenders. Or, the second option is that the new writers prove they have more talent than the professionals and the show be-

comes a massive hit. I know which one I will be placing my money on.

Martha decides to run for council against John but has she got a chance of beating him? Her own past may be shaky enough, but is there something she should know about her ever-dependable boyfriend? Elsewhere, Miles brings up the idea of marriage with Kirsty, but she doesn’t seem too happy at the thought of spending the rest of her life with him.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

35

TV & Radio

CULTURE

with Stephen Merchant Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor What was the last TV programme you watched? The American drama series ‘Damages’. I’m a sucker for those glossy, fast-paced, tightly-structured American drama series like ‘24’ and ‘The West Wing’. I don’t tend to watch comedy on TV, I’m much more interested in drama. If you could guest star in any TV programme, what would it be? It would have been ‘Friends’. ‘Friends’ is sometimes dismissed as being schmaltzy but I think it’s often brilliant and has one of the

What was your favourite childhood TV programme when you were growing up? I had several favourite TV programmes when I was growing up, but I guess ‘Star Trek’, ‘Fawlty Towers’ and ‘Happy Days’ would top the list. I still idolise The Fonz.

If you appreciate good music, good music artists and love covers, then Live Lounge is the show to listen to. Every day at 11am Fearne Cotton hosts this absolute gem on Radio One and Jo Wiley takes over on a Saturday. Don’t be put off and think WKLV LV PHUHO\ MXVW D KLJK SURÀOH H[cuse for karaoke. Artists enter the Radio One studio with covers of their own new tracks, or previous releases, and often surprise covers of current chart hits and classics. It’s not just about the music: listen to up-close and personal interviews with the stars, catch what they’re XS WR DQG ÀQG RXW WKH ODWHVW QHZV on their current projects and future tours to keep your music knowledge well and truly up to date. If you miss the show because

’Thunder Road’ by Bruce Springsteen. It’s one of my all-time favourite tunes, an epic, cinematic love-song. And as I’m evangelical about The Boss, I love any opportunity to try and convert others to his greatness.

‘Twin Peaks’. What a thrill to see how David Lynch’s mind works when he has to operate within the

you’ve got a lecture, listen to the recordings of the performances on BBC-iPlayer for up to a week after. To top it all off, the highlights of Live Lounge have been captured on CD, including the new release of Radio One Live Lounge 4, last month! Some recent performances on the show which were an absolute treat to listen to included Mr Hudson’s performance of his new song White Lies, Jordin Spark’s acoustic session of her song S.O.S and Tinchy Stryder’s cover of Bodies by Robbie Williams. If you haven’t had chance to experience the wonders of Live Lounge yet then there are still a few artists performing this month who might catch your interest such as; Robbie Williams (11th Nov), Pixie Lott - 19th Nov Arctic Monkeys - 21st Nov Instead of tickling your taste buds, tickle your ears with some of the latest live lounge covers!

Stick to the day job? Eleanor Wilson It can either be a great decision to put a famous face behind the desk of a radio show, or a bit of an error. With Jarvis Cocker and David Tennant, hopefully the former will be true! Cocker has some experience in this Ă€HOG KH SUHYLRXVO\ EURDGFDVW RQ Radio 2 and guest edited the Today Programme, so his new slot on Radio 6 should be a smooth transition. Cocker said his two-hour show (starting Sunday afternoons in the 1HZ <HDU ZRXOG EH Ă€OOHG ZLWK “hare-brained schemes and beautiful, beautiful musicâ€?. He calls the hours the ‘limbo’ between one week ending and another beginning - his “dream slotâ€?. He will be taking over from Stephen Merchant and joins other presenters with a musical background, including Iron Maiden front-man Bruce Dickinson, Cerys Matthews (from Catatonia) and Tom Robinson (from the Tom Robinson Band). Across the radio waves, Tennant is to guest-host Absolute Radio’s breakfast show for a week in No-

You’re live on a radio request show. What song do you request and why?

Which off-air TV programme do you wish they’d bring back?

Live Lounge love-in Elizabeth Davies

FRQÀQHV RI 79 For die-hard fans like myself, the end of the show was premature and a little unsatisfying. Having VDLG WKDW WKH VXEVHTXHQW ÀOP œ7ZLQ Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ is amazing - even more disturbing than the TV series.

best casts ever assembled for a sitcom. I’d love to have been in a scene with those actors, exchanging that zippy dialogue.

‘The Tube’ is back in Newcastle Marian Phillips The Tube was an innovative pop/ rock television music programme that ran from 1982-87, boasting the launch of various bands such as The Proclaimers and Frankie Goes to Hollywood . In the music programming world of the 80s, the shows mainly consisted of miming “musiciansâ€? (TOTP hang your head in shame) but The Tube provided an alternative to that drivel, using live performances RI URXJKO\ IRXU WR Ă€YH EDQGV HDFK week. Over the course of its run, the show became a stage for the likes of Iggy Pop, Judas Priest, Madonna, R.E.M, The Stranglers and many, many more. Broadcast live from Tyne Tees Studios, the show was hosted by Jools Holland, Paula Yates, Leslie Ash and a group of co-presenters who RFFDVLRQDOO\ DSSHDUHG LQ WKH Ă€UVW two series. 7KH\ ZRXOG Ă€UVW JXLGH WKH SURgramme through a 45 minute “magazineâ€? section which would contain fashion, interviews, and showcases of the various upcoming comedians of the time, before introducing WKH EDQGV IRU WKH Ă€QDO SDUW WR WKHLU show. This format proved to be popular with the nation, so much so that

not only the bands gained a higher popularity status from appearing on the show. The hosts themselves, like the Ă LUW\ <DWHV DQG +ROODQG ZKR ORYHG to “accidentallyâ€? swear on the live shows, went on to enjoy TV careers due to this programme. Unfortunately, the mouth of Holland also lead to the downfall of the show. If you consider the fact the time the show was on (which was just after prime time children’s viewing) you can probably guess that his occasional use of colourful language was not to the liking of the producers. Telling children they would be “ungroovy (pl)uckersâ€? if they did not tune in, made a lot of viewers tune out. According to people close to the show though, The Tube was losing popularity anyway due to the watered down format, and they claimed that Holland’s stunt helped shut the lid on something that was already being closed. In celebration of the programme DQG LWV SURIRXQG LQĂ XHQFH RYHU WKH popular music of the time, The Discovery Museum in Newcastle will EH VKRZLQJ WKH YHU\ Ă€UVW HSLVRGH uncut, on the 24th November. The tickets are just ÂŁ5 on the door or can be found online at www. twmuseums.org.uk.

> Who lives at the bottom of your garden? Jessica Bean With only 13 episodes, The Poddington Peas is due a comeback, and boy is it coming! Characters based on every student’s favourite vegetable - with names that describe the character they belong to! Only a true genius could come up with word-play like that. Simplicity is the key to this much loved cartoon of the 80s, and like all things 80s you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it. With such fantastic voice overs, let alone the commentary; which most of us only get now when we unwittingly press the ‘audio for the blind’ option on our remote, who could possibly fault this programme? It’s coming back for the second time, and with a vengeance 3D! A far cry from its original fuzzy cartoon form, it looks as though it will be better than ever. The Poddington Peas does not only have genius storylines, it does a fantastic job of illustrating the diversity of society - rural, I know my neighbours so well I’m practically related to them, society. There’s Pop-Pea, the old man who’s a very “goodâ€? man, HipPea who keeps all of the other peas relaxed and happy, and of course Black Eyed Pea the creepy villain that makes things interesting at the bottom of the garden. The Poddington Peas played D VLJQLĂ€FDQW SDUW LQ VKDSLQJ P\ childhood and preparing me for things that could, and occasionally did, happen. For example, associating the fact that Dump-Pea was fat because he was so greedy ZDV GHĂ€QLWHO\ DQ H\H RSHQHU So, for those of you lucky enough to have a back garden this year, when you go down to the bottom, remember the Poddington Peas. Watch this space for Poddington Peas 3D coming soon!

Keeping it local at NSRLive YHPEHU LQ WKH UXQ XS WR KLV ÀQDO DSpearances in Doctor Who. He will be co-hosting the show with friend and regular presenter Christian O’Connell, so it will mean less pressure and hopefully a good, chatty atmosphere to the show. In interviews, Tennant always comes across as a friendly person, so a breakfast show should suit his nature! This opportunity might also help him to distance himself from the character of The Doctor, and to be able to branch out beyond Doctor Who. Both men should be entertaining to listen to and well worth checking out, but should they have stuck to their original jobs as actors and singers? Have your say online at www.thecourieronline.co.uk.

Christian Allen NSR Station Manager It’s been a few years since artists like Maximo Park and The Futureheads emerged from our local music scene, and such is the transient nature of hype that much of the excitement around these bands is long gone. Sadly with it has disappeared the enthusiasm for local music in general. Here at NSR we have our colOHFWLYH Ă€QJHU RQ WKH SXOVH RI ORFDO music and far from pronouncing it dead, we can see it readying itself for a resurgence. With the aim of showcasing our renewed excitement, we have designed a radio feature (tentatively entitled “Meet the Localsâ€?) of introductory interviews with the best

and most promising of new local artists. This feature is available both on our shows and on our website via the podcast. )RU RXU Ă€UVW LQWHUYLHZ ZH ZHUH lucky enough to have Dot to Dots LQ WKH VWXGLR WR GLVFXVV WKHLU LQĂ Xences, a mutual love of Billy Bragg, local music and their debut EP. Dot to Dots are a Newcastle-based three-piece whose well-thoughtout folk infused pop has charmed gig-goers across the region, and attracted much praise from local music media. Tune in on Wednesday from 7-8pm to catch ‘NSR introduces’ - a show which plays local music. Presented by Ben Lowes-Smith, guests this year have already included The Week That Was and Field Music’s Peter Brewis and local

acoustic artist Richard Dawson. The show looks to not only play their music, but to further underVWDQG WKHLU LQĂ XHQFHV DQG PRWLYDtion, a must for any local music fan.

NSRLive on BBC6 Music! Catch NSRLive on national radio station BBC6 Music as it is named Steve Lamacq’s Student Radio Station of the week! Tune in on BBC iPlayer to hear an interview with a member of the station and some tracks chosen especially from NSRLive’s playlist.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

37

Puzzles Editors: Suzi Moore and Ned Walker - courier.puzzles@ncl.ac.uk

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38

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

Royals’ second string get their BUCS campaign off the ground Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Gavin and Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

> Sport, page 41

BUCS RESULTS Badminton: Men’s 1sts 0 – 8 Loughborough 1sts, Men’s 2nds 0 – 8 Northumbria 1sts; Women’s 1sts 8 – 0 6KHI¿ HOG VWV Basketball: Men’s 1sts 47 – 71 Durham VWV 0HQœV QGV ¹ 6KHI¿ HOG Hallam 2nds, Men’s 3rds 57 – 49 TASC 1sts Fencing: Men’s 1sts 99 – 135 Manchester 1sts; Men’s 2nds 55 - 135 Northumbria 2nds. Women’s 1sts 49 – 135 Birmingham 1sts Football: Men’s 1sts 0 – 0 Leeds Met 2nds, Men’s 2nds 2 – 3 Northumbria 2nds, Men’s 3rds 0 – 2 York 1sts Golf: 1sts 3 – 3 Leeds Met 3rds Hockey: Men’s 1sts 3 – 2 Leeds Met 1sts, Men’s 2nds 4 – 1 Men’s 3rds, 0HQœV WKV ¹ 6KHI¿ HOG WKV Women’s 1sts 2 – 2 Liverpool 1sts, Women’s 2nds 1 – 5 Leeds 2nds, Women’s 3rds 4 – 1 Northumbria 2nds, :RPHQœV WKV ¹ +XGGHUV¿ HOG VWV Lacrosse: Men’s 1sts 16 – 8 Hull 1sts; Women’s 1sts 8 – 11 Loughborough 1sts, Women’s 2nds 1 – 17 Durham 2nds Netball: 1sts A – A Loughborough 1sts, 2nds 29 – 56 Hull 1sts, 3rds 32 – 43 Sunderland 1sts, 4ths 46 – 37 TASC 1sts. Rugby Union: Men’s 1sts 29 - 9 Nottingham 1sts, Men’s 2nds 24 – 19 Loughborough 2nds, Men’s 3rds 27 – 5 Northumbria 3rds, Men’s 4ths 14 - 43 <RUN QGV :RPHQœV VWV Y 6KHI¿ HOG Hallam 1sts walkover to Newcastle. Rugby League: Men’s 1sts A – A Cent Lanc 1sts, Men’s 2nds 0 - 42 TASC 1sts Squash: Men’s 1sts 4 – 1 Manchester 2nds, Men’s 2nds 4 - 1 York 1sts, Men’s 3rds 0 – 3 Leeds 3rds; Women’s 1sts 6 – 6 Manchester 1sts, Women’s 2nds 3 – 1 Keele 1sts Table Tennis: Women’s 1sts 5 – 5 Northumbria 1sts, 2nds 10 - 0 Northumbria 2nds. Volleyball: Women’s 1sts 3 - 1 York 1sts

Wildcats and Flames to face off > James Burns previews the forthcoming Stan Calvert ice hockey match at the Metro Arena The Stan Calvert ice hockey showdown faces off on 22 November at the Metro Arena Ice rink and the Newcastle Wildcats and all of Team Newcastle are looking for your support to help kick Newcastle’s Stan Calvert campaign off to a winning start. The Stan Calvert Cup is the most famous university rivalled tournament up here in the North East between Newcastle University and, the University of Northumbria. It’s contested by 40 teams in 22 events from football and rugby to fencing and tennis and all competed in February, capped off by the famous Gateshead International StaGLXP UXJE\ JDPH DV WKH Ă€ QDO HYHQW showdown. Newcastle have dominated the contest since the competition’s foundation in 1994, as they have been victorious nine times compared to 1RUWKXPEULD¡V Ă€ YH 7KLV \HDU 1HZ castle will look to win the trophy

for an unprecedented third time in a row. The Team Northumbria’s website claims: “The pressure is on us to reclaim the only piece of silverware which really matters,â€? which cleary shows what the competition means to their institution. Team Newcastle will be giving their all to retain the trophy in February, with the the ice hockey game later this month providing NewcasWOH ZLWK WKH FKDQFH WR JHW WKHLU Ă€ UVW points on the board before the end RI WKH Ă€ UVW VHPHVWHU Since 2000 the Wildcats have dominated the Flames in this competition, defeating them six times and narrowly missing out on a seventh last season, as they were defeated narrowly 6 – 5 with controversy on the eligibility of some of the Northumbria squad. Club president Ben Craighead said: “For the league game Northumbria have players from across the whole of the North East which can cause us problems sometimes. For the Stan Calvert however, players are only allowed to be pooled from the University itself and that’s when Northumbria show weaknesses and as the past has shown, it’s where we usually capitalise.â€?

“We’ve beaten the Poly two years previous to last season but last year they beat us just by one goal. “Later we found that some of their players weren’t eligible to play for Northumbria but it was never proven so even though we usually beat WKHP ZLWK HDVH ODVW \HDU ZDV GHĂ€ nitely a shock result for us and we’ll be out for revenge this year.â€? So this year the Wildcats are out for revenge and and help Team Newcastle on the road to overall victory in 2010. It won’t all be plain sailing for Newcastle as they face the Poly just a few weeks earlier in a Division 2QH OHDJXH PDWFK DQG MXVW Ă€ YH GD\V before the highly anticipated Stan Calvert face off, the Wildcats face an away game with league opponents the Nottingham Mavericks, leaving little recovery time for Craighead and his team. However, with the fantastic support of their loyal fans at Newcastle 8QLYHUVLW\ WKH\ DUH KRSLQJ IRU Ă€ UVW blood to be drawn by the Wildcats in the opening battle. “Tickets are on sale the week leading up to the game and are available for ÂŁ5 which also gets you in to see the Vipers game shortly after, so we’re looking for mega support

from the Newcastle fans this year,â€? stated Craighead. “Last year we took around 500 to the game at the Metro Arena, and the Poly only managed to bring around ten so this year were looking to go even further and get around 2,000 to 3,000 down.â€? The Wildcats are looking to join forces with Vipers in getting 5,000 people down to both games and making it the highest attended ice hockey varsity outside North America. $ FRQĂ€ GHQW &UDLJKHDG IHHOV KH KDV the team to succeed. He said: “There are many star players looking to shine this year. “First team captain Mike Hall is a key player for us and is looking to bag a few goals - he has played in West Michigan and his brother has also played in the NHL. “Another player to look out for is Fredrick Neeman who’s a professional from Sweden but has had a troubling knee injury. “He’s known as the ‘Swedish lady cupâ€? after borrowing kit when he Ă€ UVW DUULYHG DQG DFFLGHQWO\ XVLQJ D ladies’ cup instead of a men’s durLQJ D JDPH KH¡V GHĂ€ QLWHO\ RQH WR look out for.â€?

Sploshh is situated downstairs in the Union opposite Santander bank

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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SPORT

Catch me if you can Paul Christian Sports Editor Steve Catchpole has been refereeing in the University leagues longer than the average student pays off their loan. He knows a thing or two. A plumber by trade, I met up with the Longbenton born silver fox last week to talk about IM football, his tumultuous relationship with the Uni team and...er The Nutcracker. Alright Steve. It seems you’ve been around forever on the IM scene. How long have you been refereeing at University level and how did \RX Ă€ UVW JHW LQYROYHG" I’m a bit of a fossil. I’ve been refereeing at the University for 17 years QRZ , Ă€ UVW JRW LQYROYHG DIWHU , PDU ried the niece of a bloke called Jackie Orr. Jackie was a local character, everybody knew him. I owned a sports shop at the time and Jackie came in one day. He asked me if I wanted to do a bit of refereeing, and I thought aye why not. So I took it up and started to ref within the University on Wednesday afternoons. And after going URXQG WKH FORFN D ELW ,¡P QRZ Ă€ Q ishing at the University. How do you rate the current Intra Mural set-up in comparison to \HDUV JRQH E\" Intra Mural is better than it’s ever been. It’s more organised and a lot more professional than it used to EH <HDUV DJR ZKHQ , Ă€ UVW VWDUWHG refereeing, there wasn’t many good footballers about. There was a team called the Pumas - who were all sport students – and they just used to beat everybody every year. It’s went from that, to KDYLQJ IRXU RU Ă€ YH JRRG WHDPV LQ each league. The 3G has brought it to a new level. You very rarely get a game called off. How does University football comSDUH WR ORFDO OHDJXH VWDQGDUGV" A lot of student teams would hold their own in outside leagues. The University have a team in the Northern Alliance and Northumbria have a good side too. The standard is great. Student football has never been so good.

Royals make short work of 6KHIÀ HOG Women’s Basketball

Newcastle 2nds 6KHIĂ€ HOG QGV Naomi Jacobs at the Sports Centre

'R \RX HQMR\ LW" I love refereeing. You’ve got to enjoy it. I especially love doing games when I’ve got linesmen, but I enjoy the craic more than anything else. True, you don’t always make the right decision...in fact as I get older I get the impression I’m making more and more wrong decisions (laughs). But I still think I get more right than some of the refs going up the ladder. +RZ GR \RX À QG WKH VWXGHQWV RQ WKH SLWFK" The students are pleasant. Most of them are away from home which can be hard. As long as you come across as being honest on the pitch, and treat the ref with respect, I’ll treat them the same. I never make a dodgy decision. I mightn’t make the right one, but I’ll still not make a dodgy one. If I fall out with a student in one game, it’s totally forgotten the next game. We’ll start again from scratch. I like my football too much to hold silly grudges. You must see a lot of the same faces... The amount of students I see coming in as freshers, and then developing through the years is great. When it comes to their third or fourth year, they don’t want to leave. Then you see the lads who have stayed in the North East. You’ve seen them as teenagers, 18 or 19; all of a sudden, 10 years down the line, you see them as baldy lads with pot bellies. It’s funny because they still know your name, and they’ve got kids now, a job. Football is great for things like that. One student who I used to ref is now my doctor. I just hope I’ve never sent him off. I always check my tablets. What do you dislike about refereeLQJ" I hate people shouting at me. I don’t mind people getting stuck in, because that’s football. But I don’t like dissent. If the referee has made a decision, he’s made it for a reason. He’s not obliged to listen to anybody. Decisions are made and you get on with it. You need someone there to oversee the game.

Mine’s a pint: legendary Intra Mural referee Steve Catchpole

(YHU KDG DQ\ ERWKHU" In general I haven’t had too much bother although I did get attacked two years ago. I think there’s only EHHQ DURXQG Ă€ YH RFFDVLRQV ZKHQ I’ve been driving home and I’m thinking I might have got that wrong, you know. I’m talking about major decisions. That’s only about Ă€ YH WLPHV LQ \HDUV WKRXJK %XW I’ve never thought about chucking it. The harder the game the better. Some students would call you a FRQWURYHUVLDO Ă€ JXUH 'LVFXVV Controversial? Well, I’m not afraid, that’s for sure. In the past, if there was a crunch game in the Sunday leagues, they would give it to me because they knew I wasn’t frightened to make a decision. I make an honest decision whether it’s right or wrong. If it’s controversial, well that’s a matter of opinion. I don’t do as much running now because my legs wouldn’t take it. But from where I’m standing on the SLWFK , JLYH ZKDW , VHH Ă€ W Everyone’s got a different view of that tackle or that decision. Someone might say ‘I won the ball ref’, but if you go through the player to get the ball, then it’s a foul. Controversial? Nah. I’ve never wanted to be famous. Notoriety follows me. (Steve asks me to write a list of players who label him controversial ).

opinionated. No player should think they have more of a say than another because of what team they play for. 7KH UHIHUHH¡V GHFLVLRQ LV Ă€ QDO I’ll take advice off any student if KH FDQ LPSURYH P\ Ă€ QDQFHV EXW LI you can’t, get off my case. Simple as that. But they’re a pleasant bunch of lads on the whole. Although this year I’ve heard the 2nds and 3rds have been poaching players from other teams. If you take the good players out of the good Intra Mural teams, then it spoils the competitive edge. What’s the point of turning up every week and hammering teams 12-0? Last year was great because it was tight. Probably the most competitive I’ve ever known it to be honest. Tell us something about you we don’t know. There’s a lot you don’t know about me. I like Coronation Street. My alarm in the morning is the tune of The Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. I do a lot of volunteer work, helping out kids through sport and the like. Is that enough? That will do...do you see yourself sticking around University footEDOO IRU WKH GLVWDQW IXWXUH" Well, at 53 I’m not getting any younger. We’ll see what happens but, why aye...there’s life in these legs yet.

Describe your relationship with the University sides. It’s never EHHQ SODLQ VDLOLQJ KDV LW"

Steve, it’s been a pleasure. One last one...how do you keep that all\HDU URXQG WDQ"

A couple of years ago, they had a group of players who were very

It’s a side-effect from my Viagra tablets. Cheers.

University athletics team off and running Will Steel & Richard Champney Newcastle University Athletics and Cross-Country Club (NUAXC) has undergone a change this summer, capitalising from last season’s performances including Katy Wilson’s Silver in the hammer at the BUCS (43.63m), the women’s 4x100 reachLQJ WKH RXWGRRU %8&6 À QDOV DQG some very positive results in the last BUCS Cross-Country Championships. The club has reformed its training program, investing in top Great Britain Multi events coach Ed Griss. 7KLV \HDU IRU WKH À UVW WLPH 18 AXC hosted a taster day. Over 80

NUAXC freshers joined present members at Gateshead indoor institute of sport (GIS), where they could experience a range of events all culminating in an assault course contested by 4 teams. NUAXC welcomes members of all abilities, providing top coaching for all events. The Club competes in the indoor, outdoor and cross-country BUCS where competitors will have the chance to compete against the Nation’s top athletic talent (recent competitors include Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson and Montell Douglas, all of whom competed for Team GB in the 2008 Beijing Olympics).

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But there are also a wide range of other events catering for less competitive and recreational athletes such as various cross-country races, Thursday night opens in the GIS, as well as competing in the Northern Universities Championships. In addition, the club competes in smaller-scale inter-university competitions and hopes to compete in WKH 6WDQ &DOYHUW IRU WKH À UVW WLPH this year. Furthermore, there will be numerous individual opportunities in local competitions such as the North Eastern Championships and the North East Track and Field league. Alongside the training and racing

aspects, the club has an extensive social calendar including the upcoming bridge social against Northumbria University, which promises to be a good occasion. There are numerous socials on Wednesday nights throughout the year as well as one-offs such as the Christmas meal and the past versus present social. For photos from past socials search for ‘Newcastle University athletics and Cross Country 09/10’ on Facebook. If you would like to join or know more about NUAXC, contact Amy Wrigley at amy.wrigley@newcastle. ac.uk.

Newcastle started their season ZLWK D PDJQLĂ€ FHQW YLFWRU\ DJDLQVW ULYDOV 6KHIĂ€ HOG +DOODP Starting the match with intent, Newcastle Knights maintained a strong defence and fought hard throughout the game, rarely taking their foot off the gas. The Knights put pressure on 6KHIĂ€ HOG¡V GHIHQFH IURP WKH WLS off with Inès Grimal making several great breaks thanks to intelligent interceptions from Lois Mackley. 7KH Ă€ UVW TXDUWHU UHDFKHG LWV climax with a great basket from Lisa Wilson to make it 16-3. Newcastle refused to let up in WKH VHFRQG TXDUWHU DQG 0DULD Morcillo played hard, getting numerous speedy layups. Captain Jo Smith led the girls with strong defensive play, TXLFNO\ RXWZLWWLQJ 6KHIĂ€ HOG ZLWK direct passes. 6KHIĂ€ HOG IRXJKW EDFN ZLWK JRRG defence but this did not stop Newcastle bringing the score to 30-5 in only 5 minutes. Hope wasn’t lost though and 6KHIĂ€ HOG PDQDJHG WR JHW D IHZ shots past Newcastle’s strong defence to bring their score to 13. $Q DFWLRQ SDFNHG WKLUG TXDUWHU saw Newcastle maintain their dominance, despite a few unsuccessful attempts on the net from 6KHIĂ€ HOG With a great shot from Jen Bennett, Newcastle really put the game beyond doubt. 6KHIĂ€ HOG ZHUH XQDEOH WR NHHS XS ZLWK WKH TXLFN WKLQNLQJ RI Newcastle and began to lose heart. With 3 minutes remaining in the UG TXDUWHU 1HZFDVWOH VWHDPHG ahead to bring the score to 60-15. Hannah Kirk made a fantastic VKRW LQ WKH Ă€ QDO VHFRQGV VFRU ing Newcastle another 2 points. ,Q WKH Ă€ QDO TXDUWHU *ULPDO GH livered another amazing layup. $ Ă€ UVW UDWH VKRW IURP .LUN VDZ Newcastle’s score mounting further. Rosie Camburn fought hard in Newcastle’s defence with some outstanding blocks, sendLQJ 6KHIĂ€ HOG¡V VKRWV VWUDLJKW WR Newcastle’s attack. 7KH DZD\ WHDP NHSW Ă€ JKWLQJ to the end, and in an attempt to increase their score made a few shots, most of which were caught by Newcastle on the rebound, but they still managed to bring WKHLU VFRUH WR LQ WKH Ă€ QDO IHZ minutes. Newcastle became aware of their lead and complacency began to seep through the defence, DOWKRXJK 6KHIĂ€ HOG RQO\ PDQDJHG to make 2 more points. ,Q WKH Ă€ QDO VHFRQGV :LOVRQ made another incredible shot, EULQJLQJ WKH Ă€ QDO VFRUH WR Newcastle and only 22 to ShefĂ€ HOG +DOODP

Inside today >>>

)RRWEDOO Âż UVWV LQ ERUH draw at Cochrane Sport, page 40

40

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

SPORT

Goal shy Royals held at home Men’s Football

Newcastle 1sts Leeds Met 2nds

0 0

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Deadlock: a tight affair offered no goals as the Royals were held

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H. NEUENDORF

Poly comeback stuns second string Men’s Football

Newcastle 2nds Northumbria 2nds

2 3

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York end Royals’ unbeaten run Men’s Football

Newcastle 3rds York 2nds

0 2

Tom James Sports Editor at Heaton What happened to the team that EHDW 'XUKDP·V ÀUVW HOHYHQ" $IWHU D PDVVLYH FXS ZLQ WKH SUHYLRXV ZHHN WKH WKLUG WHDP ZHUH D VKDGRZ RI WKH VLGH WKDW KDG RXWSOD\HG 'XUKDP DQG ZHUH GXO\ EHDWHQ E\ D <RUN VLGH ZKR FDSLWDOLVHG RQ DQ RII GD\ IRU WKH WHDP 'HVSLWH HQMR\LQJ WKH OLRQ·V VKDUH RI SRVVHVVLRQ WKH 5R\DOV ODFNHG D FUHDWLYH VSDUN LQ WKH ÀQDO WKLUG DQG ZHUH PDGH WR SD\ IRU VRPH GLVWLQFWO\ DYHUDJH GHIHQGLQJ E\ D <RUN VLGH ZKR WRRN WKHLU FKDQFHV ZHOO DQG ended the thirds’ unbeaten start to WKH VHDVRQ $SSDUHQWO\ VWLOO KXQJRYHU IURP WKH SUHYLRXV ZHHN·V ZLOG FHOHEUDWLRQV WKH WKLUGV ZHUH EHKLQG LQVLGH WHQ PLQXWHV DV D FURVV IURP WKH ULJKW IRXQG <RUN·V OHIW ZLQJHU LQ PRUH VSDFH WKDQ FDQ EH IRXQG RQ WKH GDQFH ÁRRU DW ¶:LUHG ·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·V KLJKHU WHDPV $JDLQVW WKH UXQ RI SOD\ <RUN GRXEOHG WKHLU OHDG DQG DJDLQ WKH 5R\DOV ZHUH OHIW ZLWK WKHPVHOYHV WR EODPH 7KH UHIHUHH DZDUGHG D FRQWHQWLRXV IUHH NLFN MXVW RXWVLGH WKH DUHD DQG WKH FURVV IRXQG D PDQ FRPSOHWHO\ DORQH LQ WKH ER[ +LV ÀQLVK VZLYHOOLQJ RQ WKH YROOH\ DQG JXLGLQJ WKH EDOO LQWR WKH WRS FRUQHU ZDV VSHFLDO WKH GHIHQGLQJ QRQ H[LVWHQW ,W FRXOG DQG SUREDEO\ VKRXOG KDYH EHHQ WKUHH QLO VRRQ DIWHU DV D <RUN VWULNH FDPH RII WKH EDU DQG WKH EDOO ORRNHG WR EH RYHU WKH OLQH 6WDQG LQ OLQHVPDQ :HVWRQ 0XUDX SXW RQ KLV EHVW $UVHQH :HQJHU LPSHUVRQDWLRQ DV KH FODLPHG KH GLGQ·W VHH LW DQG WKH UHIHUHH ZDYHG SOD\ RQ WR WKH 5R\DOV· UHOLHI 6RPH KDUVK ZRUGV IURP VNLSSHU 0DWW *RXODQG DW KDOI WLPH JDOYDQLVHG KLV VLGH DV WKH\ GRPLQDWHG WKH RSHQLQJ SHULRG RI WKH VHFRQG KDOI 5DNVKL DOPRVW SXW 1HZFDVWOH ULJKW EDFN LQ WKH JDPH DIWHU VRPH JRRG DSSURDFK SOD\ EXW KLV VKRW ZDV GUDJJHG ZLGH 7KH 5R\DOV FRQWLQXHG WR SXVK EXW LW ZDVQ·W XQWLO WKH G\LQJ PLQXWHV WKDW WKH\ KDG DQRWKHU FOHDU FKDQFH DV D ZHOO GLVJXLVHG EDOO IURP 0XUSK\ RSHQHG XS WKH <RUN GHIHQFH DQG IRXQG 5DNVKL ZKR ZDV WKZDUWHG E\ WKH NHHSHU 7KH 5R\DOV PDGH FKDQJHV EULQJLQJ RQ FXS KHUR 7D\ORU DQG GHEXWDQW 5LWVRQ EXW <RUN KHOG RQ IRU WKH ZLQ DQG WKH 5R\DOV ZLOO KDYH WR LPSURYH LI WKH\ DUH WR FRQWLQXH WKHLU FXS MRXUQH\ ZKHQ WKH\ SOD\ DZD\ DW +XOO WKLV ZHHN

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 20099

41

Clash of the Titans: Newcastle v Northumbria Kingston Park, Wednesday 11 November >>>

SPORT

Late try seals dramatic ÀUVW YLFWRU\ RYHU /RXJK Men’s Rugby

Newcastle 2nds Loughborough 2nds

24 17

Jonathan Taylor at Cochrane Park Newcastle’s second string ended a four-match streak without a victory last week, beating Loughborough 24-17 courtesy of a tremendous collective team display. After last week’s disappointing defeat against Birmingham, the Royals were desperate to return to winning ways at a blustery Cochrane Park, and they did so with style, scoring four tries. The match started 20 minutes later than the scheduled 2pm kick-off, due to a late arrival by the visitors, and this set the tone for the rest of the game, with the hosts’ physicality at the contact area consistently proving too much for the beleaguered /RXJKERURXJK RXWÀW 1HZFDVWOH EHJDQ WKH JDPH FRQÀdently, showing considerable vision in attack, and gruelling resistance in defence. After good distribution E\ WKH IRUZDUG SDFN à \ KDOI 'DYH Lesley was able to control the pace of play with ease; a facet that boded very well for the hosts. The Royals will therefore have been desperately disappointed to OHDN WKH ÀUVW WU\ RI WKH PDWFK DIWHU ten minutes. After a rare period of possession by the visitors, Newcastle found themselves deep inside their own 22, and were unable to prevent WKH /RXJKERURXJK SURS ÀQLVKLQJ D

ÀQH PRYH IURP FORVH UDQJH The opening try saw a subsequent à XUU\ RI SRLQWV ZLWK D IXUWKHU WKUHH WULHV VFRUHG LQ RQO\ ÀUVW KDOI PLQutes. Immediately after the opening score by the visitors, Newcastle responded in a textbook manner; winger Andrew Binner touching down in the corner, with Tom Rainey adding the extras. After 18 minutes, the volatility of the score-board persisted, with Loughborough scoring their second try of the match to take a slender 10-7 advantage. After dodging two PLVVHG WDFNOHV WKH YLVLWLQJ à \ KDOI RIà RDGHG EULOOLDQWO\ WR WKH LQVLGH centre, who made no mistake with KLV ÀQLVK Amazingly, however - within three minutes - the Royals found themselves in front once more. After bravely opting to run a penalty rather than the guaranteed three SRLQWV à \ KDOI 'DYH /HVOH\ UHDSHG WKH UHZDUGV ZLWK ZLQJHU 'RXJ %ORJJ ÀQLVKLQJ D ZHOO ZRUNHG PRYH to restore Newcastle’s two point advantage. The remaining twenty minutes of WKH ÀUVW KDOI XQVXUSULVLQJO\ VDZ D much tighter affair. The respective packs remained locked in a war of attrition, with the swirling wind across Cochrane Park causing conVLGHUDEOH GLIÀFXOW\ IRU WKH NLFNHUV WR secure any extensive advantage. At half-time, the Royals were tightly edging an even match 12-10. With both teams attempting to play an expansive and positive running JDPH GXULQJ WKH ÀUVW SHULRG D VLPLlar second half was excitedly anticipated amongst the spectators.

The opening ten minutes of the second period developed to be idenWLFDO WR WKH HQG RI WKH Ă€UVW ZLWK ERWK teams struggling to exert sustainable pressure. This frustration was evident when, after good work from Royals’ lock Tom Bull, the game was delayed for a prolonged period RI œÀVWLFXIIV¡ 'LVDSSRLQWLQJO\ IRU WKH KRVWV mid-way through the second half, Loughborough began to provide quickly-recycled ball to their previously deprived backline. On the hour mark, after relentless pressure from the visitors, Newcastle conceded their third try of the match, with /RXJKERURXJK¡V VXEVWLWXWH Ă \ KDOI dissecting the host’s defence with a ZHOO WLPHG UXQ IURP PLGĂ€HOG With only 20 minutes left and trailLQJ E\ Ă€YH SRLQWV WKH 5R\DOV EHJDQ to play with more urgency, and were continually denied try-scoring opportunities by a visiting side who began to concede a copious amount of penalties. Such indiscipline was made even more frustrating by the referee’s refusal to punish such behaviour with a yellow card. With only ten minutes to go, NewFDVWOH Ă€QDOO\ PDGH WKH EUHDNWKURXJK which their performance justly deserved. After stand-off Lesley once again opted against a three-point SHQDOW\ Ă DQNHU 'DYH *UHJRU\ VHQW the home crowd into raptures after touching down after a strong Royals maul, which was successfully converted by replacement Stu Robinson. Loughborough’s indiscipline was Ă€QDOO\ SXQLVKHG LPPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU with the visiting prop binned for a

6HGFROH VWDUV LQ 5R\DOV¡ DZD\ ZLQ Men’s Hockey

Leeds Met 1sts Newcastle 1sts

2 3

Charley Wright Newcastle secured a vital win at Leeds Met which saw them climb to second in the BUCS league table. *RDOV IURP *HRUJH +HDWRQ 5HQshaw, Rollo Lewis and the impressive Mike Sedcole saw the Royals take the crucial points in what was an epic encounter. A miserable day in Leeds saw Newcastle looking for a result against a team that they had not managed to beat in three years with both the weather and the pitch conspiring against them. )URP WKH ÀUVW ZKLVWOH LW ZDV FOHDU that the game was going to be played at a high tempo, with the ball needing to be hit powerfully on an extremely slow and sandy surface. )RU WKH ÀUVW PLQXWHV WKH 5R\DOV dominated most of the play, getting the ball in the right areas and winQLQJ SHQDOW\ FRUQHUV +RZHYHU DV has been the case in recent weeks, these vital chances weren’t converted, giving the opposition the opportunity to get into the game. Five minutes later Leeds did just that on a fast paced counter-attack ending in a rebound off keeper Ed Cracknell falling onto the end of a Leeds Met forward who calmly placed the ball in the goal on his reverse. A period of nervy play followed for Newcastle who seemed all too aware that they needed to overturn

WKH RQH JRDO GHĂ€FLW TXLFNO\ This almost panicked play made the away side increasingly open to counter-attacks, with only Cracknell saving their blushes with some incredible saves. The half-time whistle came as a relief to the Royals who needed to re-group if they were to get anything out of the game. After the break it was clear that something had been said with Newcastle playing calm yet forceful hockey from the whistle. Club President Charley Wright played his part as the Royals beat Leeds Met Ten minutes into the second half Newcastle found a way back into the game when Mike Sedcole found 5ROOR /HZLV LQ WKH Âś'¡ ZKR WKHQ proceeded on a mazy run fooling the Leeds defenders into taking him down for a Penalty Stroke. Man of the Match Sedcole stood XS WR WDNH WKH Ă LFN VFRULQJ ZLWK aplomb past a clueless keeper to draw the teams equal. The equaliser awoke the home side who suddenly looked much more interested in the game with an important three points at stake. Continuing with their direct style of hockey the Leeds Met side created a few chances but were not clinical enough to score any. +RZHYHU VRRQ WKH KRPH VLGH KDG the best chance of the game. After a huge aerial pass that evaded the whole Newcastle team the Leeds

Met forward rounded keeper Cracknell to set himself up for a free strike at goal which he hit high and hard aiming for the roof of the QHW RQO\ WR Ă€QG GHIHQGHU &KDUley Wright’s stick on the goal line above his head blocking the ball away. 'HVSLWH WKH GHIHQVLYH KHURLFV WKH home side soon got their second, another counter-attack this time ending with a goal to make it 2-1. But Newcastle, showing their incredible spirit formed on a strong understanding, hit back immediateO\ WKURXJK D *HRUJH +HDWRQ 5HQshaw strike on the break bringing the scores level. With ten minutes to go the away side seemed convinced that they could grab a third, sensing the best opportunity in three years to get a win against a very strong side. Their cause was aided by some defensive errors, one of which brought about a penalty corner for the Royals. With a rare display of clinical play LQ WKH Âś'¡ 6HGFROH IRXQG /HZLV running in low at the back post. With the ball travelling at speed, all /HZLV KDG WR GR ZDV GHĂ HFW WKH EDOO LQWR WKH QHW ZKLFK KH GLG FRQĂ€GHQWly to put Newcastle 3-2 up. ,Q D WHQVH Ă€QDO Ă€YH PLQXWHV WKH away side could have got a fourth, Lewis spurning an easy reverse VWLFN FKDQFH IURP \DUGV RXW +RZHYHU WKLV HUURU GLGQ¡W FRVW WKH Newcastle side who were jubilant with their win at the sound of the Ă€QDO ZKLVWOH DIWHU D SHUIRUPDQFH WKDW 3HUIRUPDQFH 6SRUW 'LUHFWRU Fraser Kennedy described as “awesome.â€?

2II WKH PDUN 1HZFDVWOH UHFRUGHG WKHLU ÂżUVW ZLQ DW &RFKUDQH 3DUN

dangerous high tackle on the Royals’ full-back, who as a result was forced off with mild concussion. With victory in sight, Newcastle SXW WKH LFLQJ RQ WKH FDNH LQ WKH ÀQDO minute of the match, scoring their fourth try of the match, and secur-

H. NEUENDORF

ing an impressive 24-17 victory. The Royals’ players and spectators alike FHOHEUDWHG ORQJ DIWHU WKH ÀQDO ZKLVtle, and were visibly delighted with the team performance.

Drama after Lough late show Netball Round-up Kathryn Jones Netball Correspondent

Newcastle 1sts Loughborough 1sts

A A

After a strong display against Leeds Met last week, the Royals were high in spirits and ready to attack this week’s opponents, Loughborough. The match time of 6 o’clock came and went and Loughborough hadn’t arrived. Finally, they arrived, but there was no longer a court to play on. 'LVSXWHV UDJH RQ DERXW ZKHWKHU a walkover should be awarded to the home team. A win for Newcastle here would stand them in great stead to not only remain in the Premiership but be top three contenders. If Loughborough are penalised then their chances of retaining the BUCS Premier trophy will be in serious doubt, as their points for the remainder of the season will be automatically halved. Watch this space.

Hull 1sts Newcastle 2nds

56 29

Putting last week’s poor performDQFH DJDLQVW 'XUKDP EHKLQG WKHP the seconds psyched themselves up RQ WKH MRXUQH\ WR +XOO +DYLQJ HDVLO\ EHDWHQ +XOO ODVW \HDU

in the league it was safe to say there ZDV DQ XQGHUO\LQJ FRQÀGHQFH ZLWKin the team - although this was soon to be shattered. With a new coach and some new players, notably a 6ft 3in goal shootHU +XOO FDPH RXW VWURQJ Initially taken aback the Newcastle girls fell behind but pulled it back to D VPDOO GHÀFLW E\ TXDUWHU WLPH 6DVVD +DPLOWRQ DQG 6DOO\ %XUGHQ had their work cut out defending against the giant goal shooter, but they didn’t disappoint. Tipping and intercepting a number RI WKH +XOO IHHGV LQWR WKH FLUFOH WKH girls did exceptionally well. Frustratingly, in the second quarter the Newcastle girls had great GLIÀFXOW\ FUHDWLQJ VSDFH IRU HDFK other and bringing the ball from defence to attack so these interceptions weren’t capitalised on. $ UHVKXIà H VDZ /XF\ %DUNHU ZKR had been playing centre, move to ZLQJ GHIHQFH WR KHOS WKH à RZ RI WKH ball. This change was evidently a good decision with Barker getting player of the match for her performance and showing why she was so missed in the previous game while she took time out for some winter sun. The ball now moved much more à XHQWO\ IURP GHIHQFH WR DWWDFN EXW WKH +XOO GHIHQFH SOD\HG D JULWW\ solid game. ,Q WKH ÀQDO TXDUWHU ZKHQ WKH IHHGV to the towering goal shooter were more accurate - the Newcastle girls VHHPHG WR IDGH ORVH FRQÀGHQFH DQG let the home team run away with it. 7KH JDPH HQGHG D VOLJKWO\ unrepresentative score for a game that seemed much tighter.

42

Monday 9 November 2009 THE COURIER

SPORT

Champions out as Sedgwick strike sends Thistle to famous win Intra Mural Football Cup

Politic Thistle Garnett

2 1

Daniel Sedgwick at Longbenton The biggest cup upset of the day came at Longbenton on Wednesday, as last season’s Division One champions Garnett were left embarrassed by lower league Politic Thistle. 2Q VHHLQJ WKH GUDZ IRU WKH ÀUVW round of the Intra Mural Football Cup you could have been excused for making what appeared to be a rather obvious prediction. With Garnett lying second in Division One, having won three out of their four games this season, and with Politic Thistle having lost their last two games in Division Three, the result seemed as if it could only go one way. However, it wasn’t to go that way. The Thistle team battled away brilliantly for 90 minutes to secure what is undoubtedly the biggest shock of the cup this season. Having said that, with only 15 seconds played things could have gone very differently for the Thistle team. With a cross coming in from the Garnett right their centre-forward rose above his marker and sent a header goal-bound towards the far post but, somehow, the underdogs’ right-back Alex Snow acrobatically hooked the ball over his head and cleared the danger.

,W GHĂ€QLWHO\ ZDVQ¡W WKH WLJKW VWDUW Thistle would have hoped for and, if anything, it may have seen the Garnett side take their foot off the pedal as they eyed up an easy victory. Yet it was the division three side that had the better of the early exFKDQJHV DV WKHLU PLGĂ€HOG ZRUNHG tirelessly, pressing the Garnett side for long periods and restricting them to wasteful balls over the top. With neither keeper having been properly tested the breakthrough came after 20 minutes. Good work from Colin Duck saw the ball break free for George Fellows, who styles himself on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and KH Ă€QLVKHG DOLNH VORWWLQJ LW SDVW WKH keeper one-on-one with great composure. 7KH Ă€UVW KDOI SHWHUHG RXW ZLWK WKH Thistle defence holding tight and both centre-backs putting in fantastic performances. The second half saw Garnett change their attitude and style-of-play as they kept the ball much better and had long periods of possession but still with few attempts on goal. The Politic side were forced to dig in as Garnett started to control the tempo of the game but a brilliant counter attack goal saw the game go to 2-0 with about 70 minutes played. The lone Thistle striker was released behind the defence on the left hand side and as he turned on the byline he sent a perfect cross to the edge of the box to pick out the right PLGĂ€HOGHU 'DQLHO 6HGJZLFN ZKR had only come on moments before. 7KH PLGĂ€HOGHU VHQW DQ LQFUHGLEOH

Last ditch: Garnett’s Matthew Kilvington chases back to try and stop a Politic Thistle attack in his side’s embarrassing cup defeat last Wednesday

right-footed volley into the top right corner of the Garnett net to spark great celebrations for the Thistle team. Garnett were forced to push but incredibly Thistle nearly made it 3-0. A deep cross from the right was met at the far post which saw the

ball rebound off the underside of the crossbar and somehow the Garnett keeper kept the rebound out to keep his side in it. The Division One side continued WR SUHVV GRZQ WKH à DQNV EXW VWLOO RIfered limited attacking threat. 7KH\ GLG JUDE D ODWH JRDO ZLWK ÀYH

minutes to go as an in-swinging corner was converted at the front post but the Thistle side hung on to a deserved victory as Chris Smith and Andy Kempster put in faultless defensive performances.

Tub Boys bounce into next round after shock victory H. NEUENDORF

Intra Mural Football Cup

Tub Boys Real Mechanical

3 2

Ed Langford at Redhall Tub Boys stunned Division Two KLJK à \HUV 5HDO 0HFKDQLFDO ZLWK a late goal from substitute Mikey .QLJKW 5REVRQ WR VHDO D ZLQ LQ WKH ÀUVW URXQG RI WKH FXS The goal came with minutes to VSDUH DW 5HGKDOO FRPSOHWLQJ D VHFond-half comeback and ensuring the Division Four strugglers a place in the last 16. The FA Cup proper began this weekend and Tub Boys provided upset of their own, defying formbook and league standings to edge a scrappy affair and deservedly come back from 2-1 down to claim the spoils. 5HDO 0HFKDQLFDO KRZHYHU ZHUH OHIW to rue missed chances after twice taking the lead against seemingly weaker opposition. Tub Boys started the encounter

brightly and dominated the early exchanges, forcing early efforts on the Mechanical goal. However it was the Division Two side who took the lead through striker Phil Morton, who looped the ball over the helpless keeper from the edge of the penalty area midway WKURXJK WKH ÀUVW KDOI Tub Boys continued to press and were rewarded with an equaliser shortly after, when Joe Chapman bustled his way through the MeFKDQLFDO PLGÀHOG DQG VDZ KLV \DUG WRH SXQW à \ LQWR WKH WRS FRUner. The game began to even out as it edged towards the interval, yet Tub Boys could have been considered unlucky not to be going in with the ÀUVW KDOI OHDG Fergus Pack, shortly after his verbal attack on the Mechanical linesman, was hauled down just shy of the area and Dan Kilpatrick saw his HIIRUW GHà HFW DJRQL]LQJO\ ZLGH RI the post. The second half continued in the VDPH PDQQHU DV WKH ÀUVW ZLWK ERWK sides being drawn in to dogged batWOH IRU PLGÀHOG SRVVHVVLRQ

%XW LW ZDV 5HDO 0HFKDQLFDO ZKR gave themselves the advantage, taking the lead 10 minutes in. Niall Carey capitalised on some absent marking from Tub Boys to head home a touchline free kick from his captain. Mechanical were in the ascendancy and should have increased their lead further with both their goal scorers failing to convert chances inside the opposition’s penalty area. They would live to regret these opportunities as the underdogs regrouped for a second time to net WZLFH LQ WKH ÀQDO PLQXWHV Firstly Chapman converted Kilpatrick’s excellent low cross from six \DUGV EHIRUH .QLJKW 5REVRQ ODWFKHG onto a long ball and clipped the ball past the on-rushing keeper. The goal sparked mass celebration DW 5HGKDOO DQG JDYH 7XE %R\V D GHserved win against a clearly below SDU 5HDO 0HFKDQLFDO Captain Dan Kilpatrick, who had enjoyed a solid game in the heart of defence, was delighted with the win and optimistic about his side’s chances in the competition, fancying them to go all the way this year.

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

43

SPORT J. WEEDEN

Real cup upset for Politique Intra Mural Footballl Cup

Real Politique Dyslexic Untied

2 1

Dan Robinson at Close House Table-toppers Dyslexic Untied VWXPEOHG DW WKH ÀUVW KXUGOH DV WKH\ were dumped out of the Intra Mural Cup by Real Politique in a 2-1 defeat at Close House. In what was one of the highlight matches of the day, this was essentially a game of two halves, which came to a dramatic climax as Dyslexic missed a penalty at the death WR JR RXW LQ WKH ÀUVW URXQG It was Politique who dominated the opening period, as Dyslexic failed to match the opposition’s physical approach and found themselves being bullied out of the game. Although beginning as an open JDPH WKH ÀUVW FKDQFHV IHOO WR 3ROLtique who came close on several occasions in goalmouth scrambles, with Dyslexic keeper Josh Crawford called upon to stop them from pointblank range, to his side’s relief. The turning point came after twenty minutes when Crawford took a severe blow to his body in an aerial challenge, and with Dyslexic unable to call upon any substitutes, the goalkeeper was forced to continue without being able to offer his physical presence in the air. As a result, Politique bombarded the air with powerful long throws and crosses into the box, and this method soon proved effective with a TXLFN ÀUH GRXEOH MXVW PLQXWHV ODWHU 7KH ÀUVW JRDO FDPH IURP D ORQJ throw from the left, as poor marking left Jack Gravestock free to head across the keeper to put Politique in

front. With Dyslexic failing to raise the tempo in response, Politique doubled the lead when centre-back Eddie Greensmith rose to meet another long throw and send a looping header over the keeper. Dyslexic were in disarray and could have no complaints with the VFRUH OLQH EXW FDPH RXW ÀJKWLQJ LQ the second half and stood up to the physical challenge of Politique. They also found their ability to play football, with some neat moves creating pressure and taking the game to Politique. However, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances and came closest only from a long range Adam Conchie curling effort, which clipped the crossbar. Dyslexic were soon rewarded for their second half performance, though, as Ian Galway planted a free kick from inside his own half over the Politique defence, with Eddy Green controlling before lifting the ball over the keeper. With Dyslexic right back in the game, the pressure didn’t let up and Andy Matthews almost equalised. Latching onto a loose ball in the box which had evaded the Politique defence, he hit a left foot drive which forced a great save from the keeper to keep Politique in front. Dyslexic thought they had made their way back into the game with ten minutes to go, as Matthews was tripped in the box to set up a penalty. However, Adrian Bell found it wasn’t to be his day as last week’s scorer sent it over the crossbar. With time running out, Dyslexic threw everything at Politique but with eleven men behind the ball and some resolute defending, Politique held on bravely to set up what could be an exciting cup run.

Aftermath play their cards right to send Forsythe out J. WEEDEN

Intra Mural Football Cup

Boroussia Forsythe Aftermath

1 3

Robert Logan at Longbenton 'LYLVLRQ 7KUHH RXWĂ€W $IWHUPDWK shocked Division Two table toppers Boroussia Forsythe to send them through to the next round of the Intra Mural Cup. $ JRDO IURP %HQ 1LFKRODV LQ WKH Ă€QDO Ă€YH PLQXWHV VHFXUHG WKH YLFWRU\ for Aftermath in a game that was tightly contested throughout. Jamie Marshall’s contribution in WKH Ă€QDO WHQ PLQXWHV VHHPHG WR edge the game for the lower division team as his pace and dribbling skills unlocked Boroussia’s defence. He slotted home Aftermath’s second goal and contributed largely towards their third. In a game that was played at a very fast pace, players had very little time on the ball and began to tire in the Ă€QDO PLQXWHV DQG 0DUVKDOO¡V Ă€QDO bursts of acceleration proved lethal. The high tempo approach that both teams took up meant there were several astray passes and mistakes which, in turn, contributed to several chances. :LWKLQ WKH Ă€UVW WHQ PLQXWHV %RURXVVLD ZHUH DEOH WR Ă€QG WKH QHW through a neat piece of football.

Captain and centre-back George Bromley-Davenport lifted a ball over Aftermath’s defence into the path of Will Bowlby who used a combination of strength and timing WR HQVXUH KLV VZRRSLQJ VKRW à HZ into the top corner. Aftermath scuppered two chances WR HTXDOLVH 7KH ÀUVW ZDV EORFNHG E\

Boroussia’s keeper after their striker evaded his marker, and the second was a free-header in front of goal. In return, Boroussia also missed a good set of chances - the most notable of which was an open goal miss on 29 minutes after Aftermath’s keeper failed to collect the loose ball.

$IWHUPDWK ZHUH DEOH WR Ă€QG WKH JRDO EHIRUH WKH HQG RI WKH Ă€UVW KDOI when a goal-line scrap ensued. The ball ricocheted off a Boroussia defender and into the net only for the referee to spot an infringement during the confusion and wipe the goal off. The ferocity of play continued when the game resumed after halftime. It was much of the same initially until Aftermath’s goal shortly after the interval gave them the momentum. The goal came on the break after they successfully dealt with Boroussia’s corner. $ KRRI XSĂ€HOG SURYLGHG 'DYLG (Fcles with a one-on-one opportunity which he calmly converted. They then came close to their second goal only to be denied by a good defensive clearance. Poor clearances and passes were rife all game, so it was no surprise that Aftermath’s second was the result of a goal kick which landed straight at striker Jamie Marshall’s feet. In his form the outcome was inevitable, and Boroussia were left chasing the game. Ben Nichols ended any opporWXQLW\ RI D JUDQG VWDQG Ă€QLVK Ă€YH minutes from time when he nodded LQ WKH GHĂ HFWHG VKRW RI 0DUVKDOO¡V sending the underdogs through to the next stages of the cup.

Loko safely through Intra Mural Footballl Cup

Lokomotiv FC Pink Panthers

2 0

Colin Henrys at Longbenton Under a watery winter sun at Longbenton, Lokomotiv quelled any fears of a cup upset as goals from Dan Parkinson and Stee McLovin eased them past a battling performance from Pink Panthers. In a surprisingly end-to-end conWHVW ERWK GHIHQFHV KHOG ÀUP DQG few real chances were created during the opening exchanges. The Panthers, despite being without a win in Division Three so far this season, more than held their own and indeed it was them who looked more threatening in attack. A long-range effort by Harry Clapham was saved comfortably by the goalkeeper before striker Jack WhitÀHOG VKRW ZLGH PRPHQWV ODWHU Lokomotiv continued to push the Panthers though, and good pressing from McLovin forced several corners which caused confusion in the penalty area, and he nearly capitalised on one such chance himself. His shot from the edge of the sixyard box was charged down in front of goal. As the game wore on the Reds managed to take control of the game. Panthers’ striker Craig Mundy regularly fell foul of Lokomotiv’s disciplined offside trap, while at the other end McLovin continued to pose a threat, shooting high and wide after some good individual skill. Despite the resilience of the Pinks’ defence, Lokomotiv looked much PRUH OLNHO\ WR VFRUH ÀUVW DQG WKH breakthrough came after another corner was poorly dealt with. Parkinson took full advantage, disSRVVHVVLQJ &ODSKDP EHIRUH ÀQGLQJ the top corner from the edge of the box. The Panthers responded by increasing their direct counter-attackLQJ VW\OH EXW WKH GHÀFLW ZDV VRRQ doubled as McLovin grabbed a deserved goal from close-range. Lokomotiv began to dominate and had a string of chances to add to their lead before the break. Parkinson had a chance to double his tally but shot wide from distance, before the two goal-scorers combined once more, only for McLovin’s run to be halted by a good interception from the keeper. Half-time was signalled immediately afterwards but the interval did little to halt Lokomotiv’s relentless search for a third goal. Parkinson shot over from distance straight after the restart and McLovin couldn’t capitalise on a poor clearance by the Panthers’ keeper, shooting narrowly wide. Without a third goal to fully close the match out, the Panthers sensed a way back into the match and three glorious opportunities fell to Craig Mundy only for them all to be squandered. First his shot was saved by the goalkeeper’s legs after Clapham had intercepted a throw. Moments later Mundy was through again after a great ball from :KLWÀHOG EXW KLV ORZ VKRW à DVKHG across the face of goal before hitting the outside of the far post and going wide. Then, with time running out, he again burst through, but his looping header was plucked out of the sky by the Lokomotiv keeper. Those chances aside however, Lokomotiv’s lead never really looked in doubt and it was the Reds ZKR ÀQLVKHG WKH JDPH RQ WRS DV WKH ÀQDO ZKLVWOH ZHQW

THE COURIER Monday 9 November 2009

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Wildcats get set for Stan Calvert showdown > Sport, page 39 Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Gavin and Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk J. WEEDEN

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Body on the line: a Politic Thistle defender throws himself in the path of a stinging Garnett drive in the Division Three side’s surprise cup triumph

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