The Courier 1204

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THE

C OU R IE R THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF NEWCASTLE STUDENTS

Issue 1204 Monday 8 February 2010 www.thecourieronline.co.uk

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In the shadows: head bowed and mouth downturned, Trevor Jackson hears his fate from Judge Lancaster at Newcastle Crown Court last Friday. Tony Hawks of the defence admitted that Jackson “had everything to lose�

‘Perverted’ Jackson jailed Paedophile lecturer imprisoned for four years and nine months after sex with a child she was willing throughout she was still very young and confused, and entitled to the protection of the law. “She was only 13. You were aware of this. When the relationship ended she was still only 14.� He also told the court that the complainant had said she felt she got too deep into the situation to pull out of it, and that the consequences for her had been “grave�. Speaking more broadly in his closing remarks, the Judge commented that: “This case sadly shows the dangers of unsupervised use of chat rooms by young people. “This demonstrates how easy seduction of a child by an adult can be and how easy it is for a man such as you to contact young females who would otherwise show no interest in them.� Jackson’s formerly glittering career was remarked upon both by

the defence, Tony Hawks, and by the Judge, who told Jackson: “You are well educated and have ability LQ \RXU FKRVHQ Ă€ HOG \RX ZHUH ZHOO thought of. Sadly, your career is effectively now over.â€? He was not deemed at risk of reoffending, and he was given credit for his plea and the remorse he exhibited. He will now remain on the sex offenders register for life, and all the images and computers involved in the case will be destroyed. During the sentencing, details of the case not formerly released were heard. When describing the process of grooming that took place through chat sites MSN and Zorpia, there was clear emphasis in the prosecutor James Adkin’s voice when describing the child involved as “13â€?; a “school girlâ€? who thought the man

she was speaking to was “about 19 or 20â€?. The prosecution told that court that the complainant had said Jackson asked during an early online conversation, “I’m a little older than you – do you mind?â€?, and that when entering the Grand Hotel in Jersey where the meetings took place, “Should I pretend to be your uncle?â€? It was also revealed that the girl had lost her virginity to Jackson. There was information given about how the allegations came to OLJKW LQ $SULO Ă€ YH \HDUV DIWHU the meetings occurred. It was said that the complainant wrote a letter to her mother, detailing what happened, explaining why she had not said anything sooner and how she felt about it. The complainant’s mother then went to the police, and Jackson was

arrested on June 2 2009. The complainant herself then picked him out of a line-up. A subsequent search of Jackson’s room at University uncovered underwear on which the complainant’s DNA was found, and a search of his home address uncovered a laptop and hard drives containing child pornography. This included a video of level four severity on the COPINE scale. The prosecution told, and later reconĂ€ UPHG WR WKH FRXUW WKDW SRUQRJUD phy of this level shows penetrative sexual activity between and adult and a child. He described it as “seriousâ€? and a “rather long clipâ€?. The nature of the video was also detailed by Tony Hawks, who described the “misfortuneâ€? of a colleague who had had to watch it in the process of the case. Continued on page 6

Downing Street

Controversy on campus

Are you there God?

The Guide

BUCS blow for Newcastle

Newcastle student, Frances Revel, travels to Number 10 to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown as part of the Backing Young Britain Campaign News, page 9

6WXGHQW 6XSSRUW 2IÂż FHU 3HWH 0HUFHU hits back as the fall out from the Union’s vote against a ‘no platform’ policy for the BNP rages on Comment, page 10

Pastafarianism, Googlism and Jedi. Alexandra Maxwell explores the emergence of new world religions and their impact on today’s society Life & Style, page 16

Get the low down on all the music, arts, FOXEELQJ DQG ¿ OP HYHQWV KDSSHQLQJ in Newcastle this week with The Courier’s day-by-day pull-out guide Culture, page 22-23

University Performance Sport Director Fraser Kennedy speaks out on an unfavourable BUCS draw for his sides as the knockouts kick-off this week Sport, page 42

Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Former Newcastle University lecturer, Trevor Jackson, was sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment last Friday for child sex offences and child pornography. Jackson had already pleaded guilty to all charges at hearings in November and January, which include having sex with a 14-year-old girl he groomed over the internet and met on a number of occasions whilst she was only 13. His head was bowed and his mouth downturned as His Honour Judge Lancaster described him as: “A man who has a longstanding, unhealthy and perverted interest in teenage girls.â€? With regards to the case at hand, /DQFDVWHU VSHFLĂ€ FDOO\ FRPPHQWHG that: “You were determined to have sex with the complainant, although

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2

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

University funding cuts announced

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

Comment Pyjamas banned Is it right to impose a dress code for supermarkets? Page 11

Life & Style Sex up your Valentine’s day Underwear to get you in the mood Page 14-15

Culture Scoobius Pip Joe Skrebels talks to the godfather of alternative hip-hop Page 28

Sport NUSSC triumph in Cas Newcastle University’s all conquering skiers and snowboarders continue success Page 44

Meetings Timetable: Monday Sport - 11am, Committee Room A News - 12pm, Committee Room C Comment - 12pm, Committee Room C Photos - 2pm, Committee Room B Tuesday Life & Style - 12pm, Committee Room A Wednesday Film - 12pm, Committee Room A Music - 1pm, Committee Room B Thursday 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 ‡ 2QOLQH (GLWRUV *RUGRQ %UXFH -HVVLFD Monson and Laura Walker ‡ 3URRI (GLWRUV 5XWK $OVDQFDN &ODLUH Childs, Kath Harmer, Lucy Houlden, Anna Kenolty, Charlotte Loftus, Emma Peasgood and Claire Russell

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.

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

> Page 4-5

Looking to the future: Newcastle University research ‘has transformed my life’ Elliot Bentley *URXQG EUHDNLQJ UHVHDUFK E\ PHP bers of Newcastle University’s Biomedicine department has led to the restoration of sight in partially-blind patients. The project, led by Dr Sajjad Ahmad and Francisco Figueiredo, used stem cell techniques to re-grow the outer surface of the eye in ten patients who had suffered chemical burns. The condition, known as limbal VWHP FHOO GHĂ€ FLHQF\ OHDYHV WKRVH DI Ă LFWHG ZLWK LPSDLUHG VLJKW DQG LQ tense pain in the eye each time they blink. 2QH VXFK SDWLHQW ZDV 5XVVHO 7XUQ bull, 38, who was attacked with an ammonia spray on the way home from a night out in Newcastle sixteen years ago. His cornea - the clear outer surface of the eye - was severely damaged, and it left him partially blind. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: ´,W UXLQHG P\ OLIH DQG , ZHQW WKURXJK D UHDOO\ GLIĂ€ FXOW WLPH %XW WKHQ WKLV WUHDWPHQW FDPH DORQJ , FDQ¡W WKDQN WKH VWDII DW WKH 59, HQRXJK ´, KDG D ORW RI DQJHU LQVLGH PH IRU D ORQJ WLPH DIWHU WKH DWWDFN , ORVW P\ MRE EHFDXVH RI LW DQG , KDG DOZD\V EHHQ D NHHQ MHW VNLHU ZKLFK , ZDVQ¡W able to do.â€? 2I KLV FRQGLWLRQ KH VDLG ´, ZDV LQ XQEHDUDEOH SDLQ ,W ZDV OLNH ORRN ing through scratched perspex... it burned my eye shut.â€? The novel treatment involved taking a small sample of corneal stem cells from the Mr Turnbull’s healthy eye and growing them within a laboratory. His damaged cornea was then cut out and replaced with the DUWLĂ€ FLDOO\ JURZQ FHOOV DQG ZDV DO most completely restored within six months. ´,W KDV WUDQVIRUPHG P\ OLIH Âľ VDLG Mr Turnbull. “My eye is almost as good as it was before the accident. ,¡P ZRUNLQJ , FDQ JR MHW VNLLQJ DJDLQ DQG , DOVR ULGH KRUVHV

Dr Ahmad’s stem cell research helped restore Russell Turnbull’s eyesight after an attack left him partially blind

´, KDYH P\ OLIH EDFN WKDQNV WR WKH operation.â€? Dr Ahmad hopes the procedure will become available to the general public within the next few years. He told The Courier: “Until we’ve JRW D VXIĂ€ FLHQW QXPEHU >RI VXFFHVV ful treatments] we can’t take it to 1,&( ZKLFK DVVHVVHV ZKLFK WUHDW

ments can be funded on the NHS in the UK.� He said that interest in the treatment had already been expressed by those suffering from limbal stem FHOO GHÀ FLHQF\ LQ RWKHU SDUWV RI WKH world. As for applying stem cell research to re-grow other regions of the body,

'U $KPDG ZDV RSWLPLVWLF ´,¡P VXUH WKDW¡OO KDSSHQ LQ WKH QH[W WHQ WR Ă€ I teen years. We’ll see a huge explosion in diseases we weren’t able to cure before being treated successfully.â€? Details of the treatment have been published in the American journal, Stem Cells.

NUS: ‘Student votes hold key to Number 10’ James Brown Students at many of the country’s leading universities could hold the NH\ WR WKH *HQHUDO (OHFWLRQ DFFRUG ing to the National Union of Students. Many residential areas popular with students happen to fall in key marginal constituencies in the upcoming general election. The NUS President Wes Streeting told the BBC last week that students could hold the key to victory, and have swung elections in the past. Streeting and the NUS have launched a campaign to get all MPs, and particularly those with seats in the twenty “student battlegroundsâ€? KH LGHQWLĂ€ HG WR VWDWH WKHLU SRVLWLRQ on tuition fees at universities. The current tuition fee rate of ÂŁ3,225 is the subject of a cross-party review in Parliament and looks likely to be increased to ÂŁ5,000 or even ÂŁ7,000 a year. The twenty “student battleJURXQGVÂľ LGHQWLĂ€ HG LQFOXGH ODUJH cities Newcastle, Manchester, LivHUSRRO 6KHIĂ€ HOG %LUPLQJKDP %ULV tol, Leeds, London and Nottingham, and smaller cities and towns across

England such as Southampton, 5HDGLQJ 2[IRUG &DPEULGJH /DQ caster, Norwich, Lincoln, Brighton, Plymouth and Exeter. Among those twenty cities are the constituency seats of four current government ministers, including Environment Secretary Hillary Benn’s seat in Leeds, Communities 6HFUHWDU\ -RKQ 'HQKDP¡V 6RXWK ampton patch and Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw’s Exeter constituency. -HVPRQG DQG +HDWRQ DUH SDUW RI the Newcastle East constituency, currently held by Labour MP Nick Brown. Nick Brown was the former $JULFXOWXUH 0LQLVWHU LQ WKH Ă€ UVW %ODLU FDELQHW DQG D FORVH DOO\ RI *RU don Brown. The Newcastle East MP is currently the government’s Chief Whip in the House of Commons, responsible for guiding government legislation through parliament. The Liberal Democrats, a party often popular with students for their stance against university fees, could pose a particular threat to the reelection of Nick Brown, especially as the constituency boundaries have

been redrawn recently and Brown’s FRQVWLWXHQF\ QRZ LQFOXGHV -HV mond. Newcastle University Liberal DemRFUDW 6RFLHW\ 3UHVLGHQW -DPHV +ROOLV LQVLVWHG WKDW WKH Ă€ JKW LQ 1HZFDVWOH East was a straight race between the Liberal Democrats and Labour. He said: “The Conservatives have never been strong in Newcastle and don’t even have a single elected councillor on Newcastle City Council.â€? But the Chief Whip may not have WR ZRUU\ WRR PXFK DOWKRXJK -HV mond’s population has consistently elected Liberal Democrat candidates LQ ORFDO HOHFWLRQV LQ *HQHUDO (OHF tions the people have voted Labour for decades. The recent resignation of Liberal 'HPRFUDW &LW\ &RXQFLOORU *UHJ Stone from the race to become Newcastle East’s MP has helped Brown. Stone was forced to withdraw after posting offensive remarks about MPs online, leaving the Liberal Democrats in disarray and in need of a new candidate. The Conservative candidate Dominic Llewellyn is hoping to capi-

talise on Labour’s unpopularity nationally. He told The Courier that he thought students in Newcastle are being let down “by Lib Dem councillors who seem content to write anti-student propaganda to shore up the vote from other residents. Universities are being let down by a Labour govHUQPHQW WKUHDWHQLQJ WR Ă€ QH WKHP IRU taking on more students.â€? He said the Conservative policy on fees was to wait for the outcome of the parliamentary review. The University’s Labour Society 3UHVLGHQW $OLVRQ 2UODQGL WROG The Courier ´2YHU WKH ODVW \HDUV WKH Labour Party have delivered for students - Labour has re-introduced grants, raising the income threshold and making them more generous; under Labour no student has to pay any up-front tuition fees and will only have to start re-paying their fees when they are earning over ÂŁ15,000 per year. “Newcastle University Labour Society last year launched a campaign across campus in which students signed our petition to stop the raising of the cap on tuition fees.

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

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News

His Royal Highness The Duke of York GHFODUHV .LQJ¡V *DWH RIĂ€FLDOO\ RSHQ Jessica Tully News Editor His Royal Highness The Duke of York was in Newcastle UniverVLW\ ODVW ZHHN WR RIĂ€FLDOO\ RSHQ WKH King’s Gate building. 7KH Â… PLOOLRQ SURMHFW ZDV FRPSOHWHG ODVW DXWXPQ DQG KRXVHV WKH University’s student services including the accommodation service and careers service. Prince Andrew arrived at the University after a visit to an indusWULDO SODQW LQ *DWHVKHDG HDUOLHU WKDW morning. +H ZDV JUHHWHG E\ VWDII DQG VSHcial guests including the Newcastle Mayor and Newcastle University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Brink. 7KLV ZDV IROORZHG E\ D VKRUW SULYDWH EULHĂ€QJ IRU VSHFLDO JXHVWV RQO\ chaired by Professor Brink. In his VSHHFK %ULQN RXWOLQHG WKH RYHUall aims of the University and exSODLQHG KRZ WKH QHZ .LQJ¡V *DWH building acts as a “front door to the Universityâ€?. 'U -RKQ +RJDQ 5HJLVWUDU RI 1HZFDVWOH 8QLYHUVLW\ VDLG ´$W 1HZFDVtle University we are committed to SURYLGLQJ RXU VWXGHQWV ZLWK D KLJK VWDQGDUG RI VHUYLFH DQG VXSSRUW during their time with us. “Bringing all of our student services together in a single location means that we are able to deal with student enquiries much more quickO\ DQG HIĂ€FLHQWO\ Âľ )ROORZLQJ WKH SUHVHQWDWLRQ +LV 5R\DO +LJKQHVV WRRN D SDUWLFXODU interest in Newcastle’s international students and enquired about any SUREOHPV WKH\ HQFRXQWHUHG ZLWK what he described as the “Draconianâ€? Borders Agency Control. 7KH 3ULQFH VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ DVNHG WR EH NHSW XSGDWHG DERXW DQ\ IXWXUH issues or concerns Newcastle International students encountered with the Borders Agency Control. The Duke then made his way to /HYHO 7ZR RI WKH EXLOGLQJ ZKHUH KH met with Newcastle students using WKH IDFLOLWLHV SURYLGHG Chemical Engineering student $SLSRQJ 3XWNKDP ZDV PHHWLQJ ZLWK ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6XSSRUW 6WDII ZKHQ WKH 3ULQFH DSSURDFKHG KLP He told The Courier ´+H WRRN D genuine interest in what we were GLVFXVVLQJ DQG DVNHG PH KRZ KHOSful I found the services. “I couldn’t believe he came over DQG DFWXDOO\ VWDUWLQJ WDONLQJ WR XV , H[SHFWHG KLP WR MXVW KDYH D TXLFN look round. It’s nice to see him taking a genuine interest.â€? 7KH /RUG 0D\RU RI 1HZFDVWOH ZKR ZDV DOVR WRXULQJ WKH EXLOGLQJ WRRN WLPH WR VSHDN ZLWK VWXGHQWV and staff as well. Newcastle University ViceChancellor Chris Brink said students now have one GRRU DQG RQH Ă€RRU for all the services they need

7KH WRXU WKHQ SUHFHGHG GRZQVWDLUV WR /HYHO 2QH RI WKH EXLOGLQJ ZKHUH VWXGHQWV ZHUH WDNLQJ SDUW LQ DQ ,GHD *HQHUDWLRQ :RUNVKRS +LV 5R\DO Highness interacted with student JURXSV DQG SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ VWXGHQWV¡ discussion. -DFN 3D\QH D &LYLO (QJLQHHULQJ JUDGXDWH VSRNH WR WKH 3ULQFH +H told The Courier ´+H ZDV UHDOO\ friendly and asked us lots of ques-

WLRQV ZKLFK , ZDVQ¡W DFWXDOO\ H[SHFWLQJ KLP WR +H VHHPHG WR NQRZ his stuff.â€? 7KH 'XNH RI <RUN¡V YLVLW Ă€QLVKHG ZLWK DQ XQYHLOLQJ RI D SODTXH WR commemorate his visit. +H VDLG ´, FDPH KHUH ZHDULQJ WZR hats; one as a member of the Royal IDPLO\ FRPLQJ KHUH WR RSHQ D YHU\ LPSRUWDQW EXLOGLQJ DQG WKH RWKHU DV D SDUHQW “A great deal of vision and effort has gone into creating this building DQG LW LV D SDUWLFXODUO\ SOHDVXUH IRU me to be here because I recognise KRZ LPSRUWDQW LW LV IRU D XQLYHUVLW\ WR VXSSRUW LWV VWXGHQWV Âľ Professor Chris Brink also gave WKDQNV WR KLV SUHGHFHVVRU 3URIHVVRU &KULVWRSKHU (GZDUGV ZKR SOD\HG D PDMRU UROH LQ WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI WKH King’s Gate building. +H VDLG ´7KLV EXLOGLQJ UHSUHVHQWV DQ LPSRUWDQW EUHDNWKURXJK IRU RXU VWXGHQWV EHFDXVH WKH\ QRZ KDYH RQH GRRU DQG RQH Ă RRU IRU DOO the services they need.â€?

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Will Apple’s latest gadget revolutionise the way we read? Comment, page 11 %HIRUH KLV GHSDUWXUH 3ULQFH $QGUHZ ZDV SUHVHQWHG ZLWK D SDLQWLQJ of The Arches in King’s Walk as a souvenir of his visit. Newcastle UniYHUVLW\¡V &KDLU RI 8QLRQ &RXQFLO /LO &ROOLQJKDP SUHVHQWHG 7KH 'XNH with his gift. She told The Courier ´+H ZDV YHU\ JUDWHIXO IRU WKH SDLQWLQJ DQG asked me questions about my role and what I did at the university. He seemed interested and said he would love to come back and visit the university again.â€? 3ULQFHVV (XJHQLH ZDV QRW SUHVHQW at the ceremony as it is believed she was away from the city at the time. The Duke was visiting the city in KLV UROH DV WKH 8.¡V 6SHFLDO 5HSUHsentative for International Trade and Investment. His Royal Highness exclusively told The Courier ´8QLYHUVLWLHV VXFK DV 1HZFDVWOH DQG PDQ\ RWKHUV DURXQG WKH 8. SOD\ DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH LQ VXSSRUWLQJ %ULWLVK 7UDGH “It is essential for British Trade and ,QGXVWU\ WR KDYH SHRSOH WUDLQHG LQ D ZLGH UDQJH RI VHFWRUV DQG XQLYHUVLWLHV FDQ VXSSRUW WKLV WKURXJK WKHLU GLYHUVH UHVHDUFK DQG GHYHORSPHQW SURJUDPPHV ´8QLYHUVLWLHV DUH DQ LPSRUWDQW VRXUFH RI LGHDV ZKLFK FDQ KHOS stimulate the economy in terms of QHZ LQYHQWLRQV DQG WKH GHYHORSment of cutting edge technology. “I’ve seen for myself today the YHU\ LPSUHVVLYH ZRUN WKDW LV EHLQJ GRQH KHUH DW 1HZFDVWOH WR KHOS VWXdents gain the skills they need to be WKH HQWUHSUHQHXUV RI WRPRUURZ Âľ Newcastle University has a long WUDGLWLRQ RI 5R\DO RSHQLQJV ,Q .LQJ (GZDUG 9,, RSHQHG 7KH $UPstrong Building and The Duke of <RUN¡V JUDQGIDWKHU .LQJ *HRUJH 9, RSHQHG WKH .LQJ *HRUJH 9, EXLOGLQJ in 1939. ,Q 7KH 'XNH¡V JUDQGPRWKHU +HU 0DMHVW\ 4XHHQ (OL]DEHWK 7KH 4XHHQ 0RWKHU RIĂ€FLDOO\ RSHQHG WKH PRGHUQ 0HGLFDO 6FKRRO ZKLOVW PRUH UHFHQWO\ +HU 0DMHVW\ 7KH 4XHHQ RSHQHG WKH *UHDW 1RUWK 0XVHXP LQ 1RYHPEHU

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Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

News

University funding slashed further in move threatening to ‘cripple the sector’ Laura Heads The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) has announced more funding cuts for universities in the UK. The announcement comes just little over a month after Peter Mandelson announced a ÂŁ300 million funding cut to universities in England from 2010-2011. This leaves the total budgetary cuts to universities at ÂŁ449 million less than was expected and more than ÂŁ500 million less than they received last year. 7KLV LV WKH Ă€UVW WLPH WKDW XQLYHUVLties will have to cut their spending budgets since Labour came into power in 1997. Over the next three years a ÂŁ950 million loss to universities’ funding is estimated, which top universities and research institutions warn will “cripple the sector.â€? Wendy Piatt, Director-General of the Russell Group, told the BBC: “Our leading institutions cannot continue to be internationally comSHWLWLYH SURYLGH D Ă€UVW UDWH WHDFKing experience and offer generous support to disadvantaged students without access to increased funding.â€? Allying with this idea Professor Steve Smith, President of Vice-Chancellors’ Group Universities UK, said the cuts could and would impact on the quality of teaching and warned that this in turn would increase competition for places amongst all universities. The grant allocated for teaching by the Government will fall by a substantial ÂŁ215 million, and within that ÂŁ40 million will be withdrawn from the funding allotted to maintenance of old and historic buildings; features of many campuses up and down the country, especially New-

castle. It isn’t just undergraduate courses that are suffering; accelerated and intensively taught postgraduate courses are also losing ÂŁ24 million and another ÂŁ24 million will be taken from funding for the newly formed two-year foundation degrees which the government ironically proposed before Christmas as a way to help ease the funding crisis. It appears however that these cuts did not sneak up on universities by surprise. Richard Dale, Newcastle University’s Director of Finance, told The Courier: “Whilst any cuts in public funding are naturally disappointing, HEFCE’s announcement is in line with what we were expecting after Lord Mandelson’s letter to them just before Christmas.â€? Emma Budge, the University’s EdXFDWLRQ 2IĂ€FHU UHLQVWDWHV WKLV YLHZ commenting: “The budget cuts have not come as a shock to universities across the country and whilst it is frustrating, Newcastle University is capable of dealing with the issues that this causes imminently.â€? Despite Higher Education Minister David Lammy stating that the fears amongst many Vice-Chancellors that university places will become more competitive was “scaremongering,â€? Mr Smith, Vice Chancellor of Exeter University, said: “Last year about 160,000 students who applied didn’t end up going to university. This year, we already know that there are about another 75,000 applying for university.â€? This in total could potentially result in 200,000 able students missing out on valuable places at university. The Russell Group of leading research universities, of which Newcastle is a proud part, warned that the series of budgets cuts could lead to universities and courses closing

and a much higher ratio of students to teachers, damaging the “gold standardâ€? universities beyond repair. Many undergraduate places for degrees beginning in September 2010 are already promised to those students who missed out last year DQG XQLYHUVLWLHV KDYH EHHQ Ă€QHG Â… million for over-recruiting students due to the high level of applications and the cap on the number of places, coupled with a funding shortfall in September 2009. Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the University and College Union, noted that if these cuts were to go ahead, the hopes of thousands of students who are consistently pushed to apply to university by the Government will be crushed, marking another ironic turn of events for a Government that were so keen on pushing students to university. She told the BBC: “Massive funding cuts will have a massive impact. The sector simply cannot do more for less. Our higher education system is already creaking under the SUHVVXUH RI JRYHUQPHQW HIĂ€FLHQF\ savings.â€? Despite this, Lammy remains SRVLWLYH FRQĂ€GHQW WKDW +()&( can achieve the budget cuts with minimal impact to universities and teaching. Richard Dale agrees. He told The Courier: “Clearly funding will be more constrained in the future, and we have to take this into account in our strategic planning. However we are not planning any extreme measures in response to the latest news.â€? Overall this spells relatively good news for the University and the impressive teaching standards that it upholds so tightly. However the GHĂ€QLWLRQ RI ÂśH[WUHPH PHDVXUHV¡ LV yet to be determined.

Cutting back: Peter Mandelson originally announced Higher Education funding cuts in

Emma Budge added: “There is a feeling across the sector that universities should be invested in more, and not be on the receiving end of cuts. As students you are one of the

country’s best resources and for this WR EH VDFULĂ€FHG LV KLJKO\ GLVDSSRLQWing.â€? Second year Law student Katy Carr told The Courier: “I haven’t re-

Newcastle University researchers conduct ground-breaking research to combat life threatening fatty liver disease Samantha Hockney Researchers at Newcastle University are conducting ground-breaking reVHDUFK LQWR ÀJKWLQJ D SRWHQWLDOO\ OLIH threatening disease which shows no symptoms. The study aims to detail plans into lifestyle choices which can help control non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and will publish its results in the summer. 7KH UHVHDUFK WKH ÀUVW RI LWV NLQG involves monitoring fat build-up in WKH OLYHU WKURXJKRXW D VSHFLÀF H[HUcise regime. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects one in three of the adult population and is linked to leading a

poor lifestyle, unhealthy eating and too little exercise. There are no signs or symptoms to the common disease, so the patient will usually not know they are a sufferer. It is often only picked up when a patient undergoes standard blood tests for another problem and GRFWRUV ÀQG OLYHU HQ]\PHV LQ WKH blood. The disease can look similar to the effects on the liver of excess alcohol consumption, yet, left untreated, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cirrhotic liver or even liver cancer. The research is looking at using weight training to reduce the buildup of fat in the liver. The aim is to

SURGXFH SODQV RI ZKDW VSHFLĂ€F H[ercises, and in what quantities, can help the condition the most. “Sit around and eat too much and your body will begin to develop metabolic problems, including fatty liver disease.â€? Dr Mike Trenell, Diabetes UK Fellow

Dr Mike Trenell, a Diabetes UK Fellow at Newcastle University, said: “It is a simple but important message – sit around and eat too much

and your body will begin to develop metabolic problems, including fatty liver disease. “The very positive aspect of this research is that you can potentially reverse these changes in metabolism very quickly with exercise without having to lose any weight,� he added. Researchers are looking for people who either know they are suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or those who have Type 2 diabetes to take part in their studies. MRI scans will be carried out to measure the initial amount of fat in the liver and the participants will then follow an exercise regime of around three workout sessions

a week. Preliminary results show liver fat reducing by up to 30% but IXUWKHU Ă€QGLQJV ZLOO EH SURGXFHG LQ the summer. Senior research physiotherapist Kate Hallsworth said: “It’s such a prevalent disease, but people are unaware they have it. At the moment, there is no treatment or cure. ´:H¡UH WKH Ă€UVW WR ORRN DW ZKHWKHU different types of exercise can reduce the liver fat – as far as we know it hasn’t been done before. “We’re looking at exercise like a drug – how much each day is needHG WR VHH WKH EHQHĂ€WV 2XU JRDO LV VR GRFWRUV FDQ ORRN DW LW DQG VD\ ÂśWKLV LV how much you need to do’.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

5

News

The Government’s trying to maintain a skills based society ‘on the cheap’ Jonny Pickering Commentary The announcement by Peter Mandelson on December 22 of an extra ÂŁ135m worth of funding cuts to Higher Education revealed the Government’s disgraceful plans for Higher Education. In a letter to the Higher Education funding body HEFCE, Mandelson made it clear what he wanted to see in the sector: more business control over education, “fast trackâ€? stripped-down deJUHHV DQG LQWHQVLĂ€HG FRPSHWLWLRQ for funding between universities. These changes go hand-in-hand with a jobs massacre in the sector. Before Mandelson’s latest announcement, the University and College Union calculated that over 6,000 jobs were at risk in Higher and Further Education across the UK. With these additional cuts, WKDW Ă€JXUH LV FHUWDLQ WR JURZ In his letter, Lord Mandelson calls for the creation of two-year degrees. He calls this “diverse provisionâ€? – in reality it is a way of maintaining a business-friendly skills base in society on the cheap, and will be paid for in higher class sizes, greater workloads, and a dumbed-down, exam-driven syllabus. In addition, the letter is explicit that the content of courses needs to be more directly determined by business interests. It calls for clearer signals from business on what skills employers want in

their workers, and for “a mechanism to redeploy funds, on a competitive basis, to those institutions that are able and willing to develop‌ provision in these key areas.â€? In other words, the Government wants to force institutions of learning to provide only the courses that businesses want to see, or to have funds withdrawn. The cuts and restructuring that have been taking place since the introduction of fees are now set to intensify in the wake of the economic crisis. The student movement and the unions that organise education workers have to get themselves in shape – fast – to resist these attacks. We need unity between staff and students, a realistic programme of industrial and political struggle in the immediate term, and a willingness to take radical direct action RFFXSDWLRQV XQRIĂ€FLDO DFWLRQ DQG secondary action all need to see a comeback in the education sector. Newcastle Free Education Network is a group of students, lecturers and staff opposed to tuition fees, job losses and course cuts at our University. NFEN believes that education is a right, not a privilege. Universities should be run in the interests of students and staff, not the interests of business. Organising meetings are held every Monday at 5pm in the Student Union building – Committee Room C. The group is also holding a public meeting on Monday February 22 – details are set to be FRQĂ€UPHG

Student suspended at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall over hoax A level claims

December last year prior to the Higher Education Funding Council’s controversial announcement last week

ally noticed any cuts at the moment with new computers in the Robinson, the new Kings Gate building and subtle upgrades across campus. I think that with this however the

University may have to dramatically cut back on its spending when these resource cuts start to take hold and I dread to think where these will come.�

,QGHHG ZH ZLOO QRW ÀQG RXW H[DFWO\ KRZ H[WUHPH WKHVH FXWV ZLOO EH XQWLO universities receive the breakdown RI ÀJXUHV DQG IXQGLQJ FXWV E\ XQLversity and subject in March.

Charlie Oven $Q 2[IRUG VWXGHQW KDV EHHQ VXVpended over allegations that he IDOVLĂ€HG KLV DSSOLFDWLRQ GHWDLOV Parmbir Gill is accused of duping the college Lady Margaret Hall into offering him a place. It emerged that interviewers failed during the lengthy application process to question his claim that he had ten grade As at A level and 14 A*s at GCSE. College tutors only became sus-

picious when Mr Gill, 21, began to struggle on the highly selective economics and management course. Rory Tierney, a third year student DW 2[IRUG VWXGHQW WROG The Times: “People are really surprised; nobody thought he was making it up. But then again [that many] A levels does look a bit suspicious. ´,W¡V SUHWW\ UHPDUNDEOH WKDW KH JRW through the whole admissions process without anyone checking the facts.â€?

Northumbria and Newcastle computer scientists solve ÂśVKRXOGHU VXUĂ€QJ¡SUREOHP ZLWK QHZ Âś&RORU5LQJV¡ WHFKQRORJ\ Nicholas Fidler Computer scientists at Newcastle University, in partnership with colleagues from Northumbria University, appear to have cracked the growing problem of so called ÂśVKRXOGHU VXUĂ€QJ¡ RQ WRXFK VFUHHQ phones and tablet PCs. 7KH H[SORVLRQ RI PRELOH LQWHUQHW connectivity coupled with the rise of low cost smart phones has enabled mobile e-commerce en masse in a manner previously unseen. The drawback is that as more people shop or bank with touch screen phones, the more people are becomLQJ YLFWLPV WR ÂśVKRXOGHU VXUIHUV¡ VS\ing bank or credit card pin codes.

Numerous technologies such as JD]H WUDFNLQJ DQG GLJLWDO Ă€QJHUprinting software are increasingly available to supplant the traditional four digit pin code but so far none have proved capable of being retURĂ€WWHG WR H[LVWLQJ KDUGZDUH DQG necessitate the purchase of new and H[SHQVLYH KDUGZDUH Hence the breakthrough at NewFDVWOH LV VLJQLĂ€FDQW LQ WKDW LW FDQ EH HDVLO\ LQVWDOOHG RQWR H[LVWLQJ VPDUW phones and tablets, removing the hitherto prohibitively high costs of such security. 7KH Âś&RORU5LQJV¡ V\VWHP RSHUDWHV E\ SUHVHQWLQJ WKH XVHU ZLWK D PDWUL[ of icons, in which four of the icons will correlate to their pin code. The

user is then required to drag four coloured circles over the correct icons to validate their pictorial pin code. However, each coloured ring is ODUJH HQRXJK WR HQFLUFOH XS WR VL[ icons, which prevents a ‘shoulder VXUIHU¡ EHLQJ DEOH WR VS\ WKH FRUUHFW code, as each set of four rings can potentially contain 1296 different combinations. Hence, even a spy dedicated enough to observe multiple logins would still have to quickly memorise dozens of different potentially correct icons and combinations each WLPH ´,W¡V VLPSOH IRU WKH XVHU EXW FRPSOH[ IRU WKH DWWDFNHU Âľ VD\V 3DP Briggs, a psychologist at Northum-

Complicated: new phone technology

bria. This development is indicative of the growing trend toward touch screen phone security. With many handsets costing upwards of £500 on pay and go arrangements, some developers are throwing resources into blocking illegitimate access to any of the SKRQH¡V RSHUDWLQJ IHDWXUHV DQG QRW merely commercial functions. Google G1 and G2 phones can only EH XQORFNHG WKURXJK D [ JULG LQ which the user sets a combination pattern somewhat similar to join the dots. This presents a potential thief with literally hundreds of thousands of options, and only one correct pathway.

6

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

News Continued from front page Hawks was keen to stress Jackson’s remorse and the lack of pattern to his behaviour, as well as his academic record. He praised his “frankness and courageâ€? and went on to add that: “Whilst everyone has something to lose, this man had everything to lose: his home, his career, his relationship.â€? He said Jackson was “not a wicked, nasty manâ€? and that there was “another side to himâ€?. Two letters were handed to the Judge before the hearing started, one fairly short from his current partner, who attended the sentencing, and one from a former work colleague, Dr. Scully, a letter said to be “highly impressiveâ€? and which described Jackson as a “loss to the academic community.â€? Hawks said: “It is a grossly sad state of affairs when a man of forPHUO\ JRRG FKDUDFWHU Ă€ QGV KLPVHOI in this state of affairs. It is a damn waste as a result of his own behaviour.â€? There was discussion about whether Jackson should have his passport taken away as part of the sexual offences prosecution order, with Hawks emphasising his desire to “continue some kind of workâ€? once released and commenting that this FRXOG EH GLIĂ€ FXOW LI KH ZDV XQDEOH WR travel abroad. Hawks said that his relationship with the girl from Jersey “appears to be a one-offâ€? and that there was “no suggestion that this behaviour forms a patternâ€?. He described his possession of photographs as “sporadicâ€?, and said that whilst they did not improve his position they were “what one would expect from a man who has a problem with teenage girlsâ€?. He also emphasised that it was “quite clear that he is genuinely

Privately educated students dominate leading universities Annabel Robertson

Judge Lancaster said Jackson had an “unhealthy� interest in teenage girls

remorseful, well over and above feeling sorry for himself�, and that he had “insight� into what he had done. He also remarked upon the defendant’s “naivety�. Jackson seemed calm throughout the hearing and prepared for the sentence he would receive. The defence remarked early on in the proceedings that “plainly there is going to be a prison sentence of some considerable length� and that Jackson was “under no illusion about sentence, nor under any illusion of the regime a sex offender is likely to endure in a custodial environment�. A spokesman for the University said: “Obviously, the University deplores the offences Trevor Jackson committed and we have given the police our full co-operation throughout their investigation. We suspended Jackson in August 2009 and he resigned in October. “We would like to point out that Newcastle University has almost 5,000 staff and 19,000 students, and serious criminal offences are rare compared to society as a whole.�

In a recent Mandelson inquiry, it was found that independent and grammar school educated students still dominate the country’s leading universities. The social mobility charity The Sutton Trust has claimed that this is due to the “stark inequalitiesâ€? which exist between the independent, grammar and state school sectors. The Trust has also found that 38% of university students come from these elite schools in 2007, and in Oxford and Cambridge they amount to 44.4%. Commentators say several factors DFFRXQW IRU WKH Ă€ JXUHV KLJKOLJKWLQJ the expectation within elite schools that their students will attend university, whether it be suitable for the student or not. Lord Mandelson has also asked Martin Harris, the former vice-chancellor of Manchester University, to write up a guide for universities on increasing their numbers of state school educated students. The trust has proposed that they should create new places, reserved VSHFLĂ€ FDOO\ IRU WKHVH DSSOLFDQWV 7KLV UHSRUW ZLOO Ă€ JXUH LQ %URZQ DQG Mandelson’s “aspirationâ€? agenda for this year’s general election, but some are concerned that this will IRUFH XQLYHUVLWLHV WR Ă€ [ DSSOLFD tions. The fear is that this could lead to “handicap systemsâ€?, whereby university makes allowances for appli-

cants from schools with poor GCSE grades. There is agreement over the use of talent-spotting schemes in underprivileged schools on the basis that intake should always come down to the individual, and not their school. John Morgan, President of the Association of School and College Leaders, commented: “I don’t think any of us are happy with the idea that if you go to a particular school \RX DUH JLYHQ PRGLĂ€ HG SRLQWV RU D lower offer.â€? The Sutton Trust also examined the attendance in three different university groups – Oxford and Cambridge, the Russell Group (which comprises the UK’s 20 top research universities), and thirteen institutions of its own selection. Here they found similar results; students coming from elite schools greatly outnumber those coming from state schools. In response, the Director General of the Russell Group Wendy Piatt emphasised the Groups attempts to “widen access and improve results in schoolsâ€? and make “inroads into the stubborn problems of educational disadvantageâ€?. The master of Magdalen College Oxford has disagreed saying: “With funding cuts on strategic subjects such as science and engineering, of which we are the key providers, this situation will only become more pronounced. “What is required is honest attention to problems in our education

system which have been government induced, not ineffectual social engineering.â€? Newcastle University is also involved in various inclusion schemes, such as the Group Thirteen project, in which “talented students who are least likely to attend university are helped into the higher education systemâ€?. (GXFDWLRQ 2IĂ€ FHU (PPD %XGJH told The Courier however: “Newcastle University has always attracted a great number of students who have been educated at private schools and grammar schools. “The University is working actively to encourage students from all backgrounds to apply to study here and is currently running some fantastic inclusion schemes.â€? We are currently leading the way on the Group Thirteen project, which is a national program whereby talented students who are least likely to attend university are helped into the higher education system. There is also the Partners programme, a summer school which gives local students a step up in their application process to Newcastle University.’ She also warned that because ‘Labour has set itself some high targets in the past relating to widening participation, which unfortunately it has not met. The likely result is that this will worsen due to the threat of increased fees and the lack of a fair bursary scheme.’

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

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News

Girls on top: survey reveals gender gap continues Mary-Beth Frater Findings of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) have shown that women are more likely to attend university, further exposing the palpable gap between genders at all stages of education. $FFRUGLQJ WR UHFHQW ÀJXUHV around 40% of 18 to 19 year old girls will advance into higher education, D VLJQLÀFDQW ULVH VLQFH WKH PLG V compared to only 32% of males. This follows ongoing studies into the difference between genders in education. It is not limited to a select

few; the issue is evident in Universities nationwide. A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) in 2007 found that women also have higher rates of participation in the majority of subject areas, most notably in the Arts, Languages, Law and Medicine amongst others. Men on the other hand remain dominant in mathematics, computer science and engineering, the technologies and architecture. The Hefce has assured the public that “the present Labour Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the talent to go to

university and the ability to succeed should be able to do so, whatever their gender.� However, the HEPI report places concern with the differing aspirations of males and females. Organisations such as Aim Higher seek to inspire young boys to attend University to improve job prospects. This, however, is not limited to those from less advantaged backgrounds. Greater success achieved by women in gaining a place at University extends across the different social classes and ethnic groups. Considered with the fact that women also outperform men at all stages of the

education system, questions have been asked why the system seems WR FDWHU PRUH HIĂ€FLHQWO\ WR IHPDOHV rather than males. Newcastle University’s Undergraduate Admission Policy for 2010, in section 16, states that: “places are to be offered on the basis of academic achievement, ability and potential to succeed, regardless of genderâ€? and the like. One admissions tutor told us that: “We are only allowed to judge an applicant by their individual merits. The issue of gender, ethnicity or the like is not a relevant factorâ€?. Other universities across the country have J. WHITTAKER

similar stipulations. Hefce director for education and participation, John Selby, said of the ODWHVW Ă€JXUHV ´LW LV HQFRXUDJLQJ WKDW the gap between men and woman seems to have stopped widening in recent years. Nevertheless, participation between women and men remain very largeâ€?. Whilst efforts are being made to encourage further male participation in higher education, this problem falls alongside issues of equality of ethnicity and social background. Thus balancing the gap between men and women remains an issue \HW WR Ă€QG D VROXWLRQ Tarren Smarr Commentary Though there are fewer males in university at the moment, I say, go girls! There are many possible reasons that there is such a discrepancy between the male and female university population. As of the past few years, girls have been getting higher marks on their exams. It says good things for universities that are admitting students based upon academic merit as opposed to their gender or their race. During the past 5 years, universities in the United States have endured a great deal of criticism for their “quotaâ€? restrictions. Though universities in the US have denied the quota scheme, the freedom of information act has outted several “big nameâ€? universities for having to meet a quota for race, gender, and even economic background. England should be proud that their university system is not based upon similar so-called quotas. The best students obtain a spot at the university. It shows that Universities value their educational system as well as the system in Britain. +RZHYHU WKHUH LV RI FRXUVH D Ă LS side. Some may claim that those who live in areas that are in the lower socio-economic bracket do not have access to means of “good education.â€? Though that may be partly true, it is no excuse to not work hard and attempt for good marks, whether male or female. If it is girls that are earning top marks, universities should offer them the places. There was a time where women could not even attend university, and this is women making up for lost time by working hard.

Unite Against Fascism controversy continues on campus Tom Saunders Last Tuesday, Unite Against Fascism (UAF) held a meeting in response to the news that British National Party politician Andrew Brons had been invited to take part in a debate hosted by Durham University’s debating society. Mr Brons, elected in June as a Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and Humber, has been invited, along with his Chief of Staff and Leeds City Councillor Chris Beverley, to debate the issue of a multicultural Britain. At the meeting, which included members of regional UAF branches, it was pointed out that Brons was a member of the National Front in the 1970s and 1980s, and the debating group, the Durham Union Society (completely independent from the University and Union itself), was roundly condemned for extending the invitation. Dismissed as a “stupid, provocative publicity stunt� by a represent-

ative of UAF’s North East branch, various demonstrations were being arranged in the run up to Friday’s debate, including a petition to be offered to students across the North East against Brons and Beverley’s inclusion. Representation of the BNP has been hotly debated this academic year. Demonstrations took place across FDPSXV ZKHQ OHDGHU 1LFN *ULIĂ€Q appeared on BBC’s Question Time in October, and last week The Courier reported UAF’s disappointment that a ‘no platform’ policy had been rejected by the Union Council. 7KUHH RIĂ€FHUV ZKR WRRN SDUW LQ WKH vote were in attendance in order to show their frustration at a comment piece in last week’s The Courier, written in response to that decision, that labelled the Council ‘undemocratic and unrepresentative’. Newcastle University Union President Andriana Georgiou told the meeting: “We wrote the motion in WKH Ă€UVW SODFH DQG ZRUNHG KDUG WR

try and get it passed. The most frustrating thing about this whole situation is that energy is being directed negatively at the Union, rather than at the BNP. “This kind of student activism is exactly what we aim for, and it’s a shame that it has been put across in this way.â€? The policy was written by both the President and Student Support OfĂ€FHU 3HWH 0HUFHU ZKR UHIXWHG DQ\ notion of the Council as undemocratic. He told The Courier: “I want to make clear, we’re not defending ourselves, and this isn’t an argument. We went in order to set the record straight, and let people know that some things in the article were unacceptable on the basis that much of it was unfactual, in some cases implying the exact opposite of the truth. “UAF should have contacted us [with more support for the motion]. We tried to resolve the problems they had with the decision, but the article was submitted anyway. Once

this is reconciled, should they want to engage with the Council in future, then we are always open. We have proper democratic structures they must engage with us through.â€? Members of the meeting expressed regret that the article had caused ofIHQFH DQG SXW WKH FRQĂ LFWV GRZQ WR problems of communication rather than differences of opinion. On the issue of the Durham debate itself, Mercer expressed his disappointment: “Personally, I totally disagree with the decision to allow the BNP to be present. ‘No platform’ or not, inviting open fascists into a place that protects the welfare and identity of its members is highly irresponsible. “Having said that, given it’s a separate entity from Durham’s Union LWVHOI , V\PSDWKLVH ZLWK WKH GLIĂ€FXOW position they are in.â€? Jonny Pickering, a second year Politics student, chaired the meeting and welcomed a move to draw a line under the disagreement. He told The Courier: “It’s good that it’s

been resolved, and that we’re all on the same page. It’s been an unfortunate lack of communication from both sides, and it’s great that it’s been cleared up. We can now focus RQ Ă€JKWLQJ RQ WKH VDPH VLGH DQG that is against fascism. “If people are against a ‘no platform’ policy then that’s their right, it’s a good debate to have and we need more of them. “An important part of what we are doing here at Newcastle is both campaigning for this motion to be passed by the Union, and also taking students to Durham to directly protest against the fascist BNP being given a platform in another University.â€? Andrew Brons and Chris Beverley will be part of a four person panel debating the motion that ‘This house believes in a multicultural Britain’ at Durham Union Society on the February 12 at 8.30pm. A demonstration will take place on the night, meeting at 6pm, Palace Green, Durham.

8

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

News Moves to curb ‘student ghettoes’ Charlie Oven Landlords wishing to rent out houses to three or more tenants, who are unrelated, will in future have to apply for planning permission. Councils will also be given new

powers to license and regulate landlords in certain problem areas. The new powers announced by John Healey, the Housing Minister, are designed to stop the spread of areas dominated by students.

Relieved family hope to bring injured Southampton student home The family of a Southampton student who suffered life threatening injuries after falling from a balcony in Mexico say they are hoping to bring him home next month. Philip Pain was in a coma after fallLQJ VHYHQ Ă RRUV IURP D EDOFRQ\ 6R far, doctors have told his family that

WKH\ UHPDLQHG FRQÀ GHQW WKDW WKH year old student will regain the use of both of his legs which were broken in the fall. So far Philip’s recovery has amazed doctors, after he escaped serious damage to his organs and his brain.

Two men appear in court over fatal stabbing of city student Two men have been charged with the murder of a teenage student in West Yorkshire. Siu Tunge Ho died from multiple stab wounds. The body of the 19

year old was found by police at the house where he lived in Grantham Road, Bradford. The two men appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court yesterday

charged with murder, Section 18 wounding and robbery. They were remanded in custody and are due to appear at Bradford Crown Court on February 10.

A level students launch ‘unfair’ exam protest Thousands of teenagers launched an online protest last week about a biology A level exam paper they say was unfair. More than 3,000 students have sent furious messages to a Facebook

group about the recent AQA exam. Pupils have described the exam as a “disgrace� and fear it could jeopardise their chances of a University place. A common complaint amongst A level students was that

the exam bore no relevance to specimen papers. AQA said it would take students’ worries into account when marking and awarding grades in the subject.

Students storm tuition fees probe The Government’s tuition fee inquiry in London was disrupted by angry student protesters declaring it a “farce�. With chants of “no ifs, no buts, no education cuts�, the group attempted to storm into the public hearing at Goldsmiths University in South London to demand students are not

forced to pay higher fees. As the panel, led by former BP boss, Lord Browne, began the hearing, one activist, Rheem Al – AdKDPL PDQDJHG WR IRUFH KHU ZD\ past security guards. She confronted the panel shouting: “Where is the Student voice?�

UK border control Suspends visas Student visa applications from Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh have been temporarily suspended by the UK border agency following a jump in numbers. In the last three months of last year, there were 13, 500 applications

from Northern India alone, compared with 1,800 in the same peULRG RI %ULWLVK RIĂ€ FLDOV VD\ WKH system has been overwhelmed and there are concerns that many cases are not genuine. Deptford Town Hall, part of Goldsmiths University in London, where angry students questioned paying higher tuition fees

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

9

News

‘Next stop the White House’: hard work pays off as Newcastle student meets Prime Minister at Number 10 Simon Murphy News Editor One Newcastle student is working her way to the top. Frances Revel got an added surprise when she was told she was to meet senior ministers as part of the JRYHUQPHQW¡V %DFNLQJ <RXQJ %ULWain Campaign. The marketing student was VWXQQHG WR Ă€QG VKH ZRXOG PHHW 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU *RUGRQ %URZQ DW Downing Street. Frances said: “It was a terrifying thing, I was shaking – I thought I was going to babble incoherently. %XW LW¡V RQH WR WLFN RI WKH OLVW ² QH[W stop the White House. ´)DFH WR IDFH KH >*RUGRQ %URZQ@ is actually quite a nice guy, regardless of political allegiances he’s just D KXPDQ EHLQJ <YHWWH &RRSHU ZDV lovely as well.â€? Frances is currently working in /RQGRQ IRU ,%0 LQ D RQH \HDU SODFHment before completing her studies at Newcastle next year. The 21-year-old was among employers and young people invited to 10 Downing Street to celebrate the ODXQFK RI WKH %DFNLQJ <RXQJ %ULWDLQ Campaign, which promotes the employment of young people. Frances, who is from Morpeth, VDLG ´0\ SODFHPHQW¡V Ă \LQJ , VWDUWed in July – I feel like I’ve grown up a lot. “Hopefully when I go back to NewFDVWOH WR Ă€QLVK P\ GHJUHH ,¡OO DOUHDG\ have a feel for the real world – the tax certainly feels like it. I’ll look forward to the lie ins as well – although , KHDU Ă€QDO \HDU LV TXLWH KDUG Âľ The new government scheme ensures that every young person who has been unemployed for at least six months will be guaranteed an offer of a job, training or work experience. Frances is well aware that the job market is tough for many graduates

Vacancies www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/vacsonline The Careers Service provides information and advice on developLQJ \RXU VNLOOV ¿QGLQJ D SDUW WLPH 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: Activity Coordinator Employer: European Care Group Business: Independent provider of health and social care in the United Kingdom Salary: £6.10 per hour Basic job description: Meadow View Care Centre in Gateshead currently has a vacancy for an Activity Coordinator. You will be required to arrange and accompany residents on visits into the local community and wider area, arrange and attend social events, arrange activity sessions either one to one or group sessions with residents who have a dementia type illness. This permanent post is for 20 hours per week, and the workLQJ KRXUV PXVW EH ÀH[LEOH KRXUV per day over 5 days. Location: Kibblesworth, Gateshead, NE11 0YJ. Please note that this YDFDQF\ LV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ PLOHV south of Newcastle University, and so your own transport may be necessary.

All in a day’s work: Newcastle student Frances Revel chatted to PM Gordon Brown

despite projections of unemployment being lower than expected. She said: “I know so many people who have graduated and are strugJOLQJ WR Ă€QG MREV ² WKH\ HQG XS JHWting bar work and things like that. “They are talented people but it’s GLIĂ€FXOW DW WKH PRPHQW 7KDW¡V ZK\ I’m trying to make the most of the opportunities I’ve got. “It’s very useful to be able to apply what you are learning to work,

especially with such a vocational degree. ´<RX PLJKW Ă€QG LW KDUG WR PDNH that transition – if you’ve got a year under your belt it will help and it will look fantastic on my CV.â€? The Prime Minister and Frances shared a laugh when he asked how her placement was going as she joked: “It’s hard, really long hoursâ€? also adding that it was “rewardingâ€?.

Job Title: Weekend Receptionist Employer: Fawdington Ltd Business: Motor Dealer Closing date: 15/02/2010 Salary: ÂŁ5.92 per hour Basic job description: Fawdington Ltd is an authorised BMW Dealer for Newcastle and the surrounding area. They are currently looking for a Weekend Receptionist who will be required to answer the busy multi-line switchboard, meet and greet customers and to undertake database work. This vacancy is for a permanent year round contract, starting immediately. The hours of work are Saturday 9am WR SP 6XQGD\ DP WR SP DQG %DQN +ROLGD\V DP WR SP Person requirements: ([SHULHQFH LV preferred for this post but full training will be provided. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 /(

Employer: Nevisport Ltd Business: Outdoor Store Closing date: 12/02/2010 Salary: £National Minimum Wage Basic job description: Nevisport Ltd is the UK’s premier outdoor store. There is currently a vacancy for a Shop Assistant to work weekends in the centrally located Newcastle store. This position is for 12 hours per week, on weekends. Person requirements: To provide a high level of customer service applicants MUST have an interest in and knowledge of outdoor activities such as climbing, hiking or skiing. Applicants MUST be available to work in Newcastle all year round. Location: Saville Row, Newcastle City Centre. Job Title: Care Worker Employer: Northumberland County Council Business: Local Government Salary: … SHU KRXU Basic job description: There is currently a vacancy for a Care Worker to provide sitting service for a four year old child in their own home. The purpose of this post is to enable the child to access age appropriate leisure and social activities in the community. This post is for 6 hours per week. Person requirements: The successful applicant must: be open minded towards disability; have an awareness of interests and activities appropriate to this age group (e.g. music, media, etc.); have a good sense of humour; EH ÀH[LEOH EH ZLOOLQJ DQG DEOH WR XQdertake training (which is provided) to be able to assist this child in relation to their medical needs; be willing to carry out personal care tasks as required; to ensure the young person’s personal safety at all times and be willing to undertake other such duties as may be deemed appropriate, commensurate with the nature, level and grade of the post. You must have a driving licence and access to a vehicle. An Enhanced CRB disclosure is required and the cost will be met by the employer. Location: Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay. Please note that as this vacancy LV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ PLOHV QRUWK HDVW of Newcastle University your own transport is essential.

Job Title: Shop Assistant

8QLYHUVLW\ VHFXUHV HPHUJHQF\ Ă RRGLQJ UHVHDUFK IXQGLQJ Joshua Shrimpton-Dean Researchers from Newcastle University have secured emergency funding to investigate last year’s Ă RRGV ZKLFK GHYDVWDWHG PXFK RI Cumbria’s west coast. The team, led by Drs Andy Large and Andy Russell of Newcastle University’s Earth Surface Processes Research Group, are working in partnership with Durham and Northumbria universities to study the impact of a month’s rain falling in just over three days. A total of 372 mm fell between the 18th and 20th November, shattering the previous UK record of 279 mm. ´7KH UHVXOWLQJ Ă RRG ZDV WKH PRVW severe recorded in the region, and had major consequences for the population and infrastructure over a large area, as well as sadly involving loss of life,â€? said Dr Russell. Hundreds were displaced as power supplies were severed and roads rendered impassable around Workington, Cockermouth and Keswick. Damage to homes and businesses saw a repair bill that is running into hundreds of millions

of pounds. Event took a tragic turn ZKHQ D SROLFH RIĂ€FHU GLHG GLUHFWLQJ WUDIĂ€F ZKHQ WKH 1RUWKVLGH %ULGJH collapsed into the River Derwent in Workington. The funding, supplied by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), totals ÂŁ70k and will take advantage of aerial photos of the Ă RRG DIIHFWHG DUHDV SURYLGHG E\ NERC’s Airborne Research and Survey Facility. “Due to its huge impact, the recent Ă RRGLQJ SUHVHQWV DQ XQSDUDOOHOHG opportunity to gain insight into the LPSDFW RI DQ H[WUHPH Ă RRG ZLWKLQ both upland and lowland parts of a large area,â€? said Dr Russell. The team will carry out the majorLW\ RI WKHLU ZRUN LQ WKH Ă€HOG H[DPining the River Derwent from its source at England’s highest point, 6FDIHOO 3LNH GRZQ WR %DVVHQWKZDLWH Lake and onto the lowland agricultural and urban areas of the west coast. However, the researchers will need to work quickly, as much of the eviGHQFH RI WKH Ă RRG¡V HIIHFWV LV DOUHDG\ disappearing. Last November, Chris Kilsby, Pro-

fessor of Hydrology and Climate Change at the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, told The

Courier that urgent action was required if the UK’s infrastructure is to cope with future weather extremes.

It is hoped that the latest funding will help to identify just what action might be required. “It is urgent that engineers now formulate a strategy for adapting our infrastructure – buildings, bridges, road, rail, and water and power networks - to make it more resilient in the face of possible changes in extremes,â€? said Professor Kilsby in the ZDNH RI WKH Ă RRGV Dr Russell added: “Greater unGHUVWDQGLQJ RI Ă RRG SURFHVVHV DQG impacts is crucial if we are to acFXUDWHO\ LGHQWLI\ Ă RRG KD]DUG DQG mitigate risk within ever-changing river systems.â€? Twelve weeks later, the clean-up operation continues in Cumbria. Insurance companies have so far paid out over ÂŁ200m whilst many home and business owners are still waiting for their property to dry out, a process which can take months. Recent extreme snowfall across the UK has served as a stark reminder that unusual weather conditions are having a more dramatic impact. As many look forward to winter loosening its grip, some will be wondering what to prepare for next.

10

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

The right to die? Terry Pratchett joins the debate Comment Editors: Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer and Nicholas Fidler - courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk

> Page 13

BNP ‘no platform’ policy was a democratic decision Pete Mercer 6WXGHQW 6XSSRUW 2IÂż FHU

In response to Rowan Rheingan’s comment in last week’s The Courier on ‘Whose Students’ Union?’, I’d just like to set the record straight. First of all, and most crucially, the claim that ‘the BNP is now free to organise and recruit on campus’ is patently false. For a start, the University itself certainly won’t tolerate party political canvassing on its grounds. Moreover, even without a ‘no platform’ policy for fascists, the Union Society, as an organisation that (as Rowan quite rightly points out) should be ‘standing up for students’ welfare and rights to freedom from harm’, would never tolerate the spreading of, as she puts it, ‘racist ideas in the student community’. Under our Equality of Opportunity and Anti-discrimination policies, there is no way that we, as elected representatives, would allow this, constitutionally, dutifully or morally. To say that ‘the BNP is now free’ implies that there has been some kind of change. There hasn’t. This is massively misleading. The Union has never had a ‘no platform’ policy (for the reasons we saw at the last Council meeting, one can only assume). It’s not as though students here had some kind of protection that has been irresponsibly removed. It’s quite simple – a ‘no platform’ policy was proposed, we debated it for a while, the students voted, and it fell. Rather frustratingly, all this was explained by both me and the President on numerous occasions before the article went to print. As far as we were concerned, we’d listened to this particular complaint and made the reality of things very clear. The next important thing that I should point out is that the ‘no platform’ for fascists policy that we’re hotly debating here was actu-

Hope not hate: the Union hosts an anti-racist campaign last summer promoting equal rights on the University campus ally formed and proposed by none other than the Union President, cowritten and seconded by myself. On these grounds alone, I think it’s highly audacious to claim that our ‘politically engaged students’ (referring to yourself I assume?) are ‘ignored by our elected representatives’ and I also resent being told I should ‘be embarrassed’ and

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor I was thoroughly disappointed by last week’s article, ‘Whose Students’ Union?’ (Edition 1203, page 10) in which Rowan Rheingans’ piece espoused yet another unsubstantiated and tired rant from the anti-BNP camp. Although in this case I don’t feel my criticisms are actually that relevant to the BNP per se but the conditions through which Rheingans frames her article. She misguidedly implies that admission of BNP politics at Newcastle will inexorably result in “harm on campus�. What, are the BNP mugging people at universities these days? Has anyone actually heard of or seen a BNP member or group on campus? The Union’s refusal to institute a ‘no platform’ for the BNP policy (a massive victory for democracy - well done Union

Council, I tip my hat to you) comes XQGHU XQGHVHUYHG Ă€ UH “Our Union exists to protect all our rights and liberties on campus.â€? No it doesn’t; it doesn’t protect a single right or liberty of its students. The Union isn’t the European Court of Human Rights or NATO or the police or the high court; it’s a representative embodiment of students with an administrative and social mandate and it reserves no judicial functions whatosever. To suggest it protects our liberties is absurd; if it’s true then I’d like to know who protected Rheingans’ rights before she came to university? Perhaps I had a reading week when Newcastle University started policing the city. She then turns to erroneously and needlessly slam neo-liberalism as a concept, which “preserves one kind of freedom at the cost of all the others.â€? I don’t think bringing

‘ashamed for not standing up for students’ welfare and rights’. These accusations are pretty seriRXV $V D 6WXGHQW 6XSSRUW 2IĂ€ FHU this is my job – it’s what I’m passionate about and what I currently dedicate my life to. But hey, if anyone doesn’t think we’re doing a good enough job, a judgement only you guys can

call, then by all means run in the March elections – and I mean that sincerely. What’s next? ‘Our Students’ Union is undemocratic and unrepresentative’. Pardon? Unrepresentative, I can just about accept as a statement of opinion – if someone was to give me the magic key to being wholly ‘representative’ (Rep-

in a key stage one understanding of political philosophy really helps her argument here. I’d recommend F.A Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom and The Constitution of Liberty (both available at the Robinson Library) be read before neo-liberalism is seriously discussed with any credibility. Neo-liberalism, properly understood, wouldn’t be so arrogant to claim it knows what’s best for people and goes out of its way to protect the freedom of individuals to do as they wish in life. Instead of protecting only one form, it protects almost every variant of freedom by leaving people to get on on their own. The assertion that it is antitheical to freedom, when it is manisfestly it’s raison d’etre, holds no water and achieves nothing other than to demonstrate a clear lack of RheinJDQV¡ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ LQ WKLV Ă€ HOG Her entire argument appears to rest on this sacred ‘debate’ about a ‘no platform’ policy held before Christmas. To be fair, she does

appreciate that it was unrepresentative, but then goes on to pour scorn upon the Council’s decision not to embrace ‘no platform’, which was arrived at due to the very same unrepresentativeness of the debate she herself acknowledges. , ZRQ¡W GHOYH LQWR WKH Ă€ QLWHV RI Union politics but I can say with absolute conviction that the Union Council is a million times more representative than any group of students who simply got together, held a debate and then attempted to impose their unquestionably righteous view upon the wider student body. However large the majority within the attendees, 50 (unelected) VWXGHQWV DV D Ă€ JXUH LV FRPSOHWHO\ negligible; less than 0.3% of the student population. Further still, what could be a better demonstration of prejudicial and tautological behaviour than holding a debate entitled ‘no platform for the BNP’ instead of a more unbiased ‘should we embrace a ‘no platform’ position’? That’s

resentative in what sense? And according to whom?), then I’d gladly grasp it. But undemocratic? Despite what some may think, we actually bend over backwards to make everything we do democratic, and have the proper structure in place to facilitate this. Just because you don’t agree with the decision that was voted, that doesn’t make it undemocratic – quite the opposite, actually. I personally didn’t agree with the Council’s decision either; but that doesn’t give me, or anyone else for that matter, the right to start making false accusations about our (remembering that it is all of ours, collectively) Unions’ legitimacy. /HW PH Ă€ QDOO\ SRLQW RXW WKDW WKH ‘unrepresentative’ body that Rowan refers to, Union Council, is actually made up of a relatively diverse cross-section of the student body, IURP SDUW WLPH RIĂ€ FHUV EHDULQJ LQ PLQG WKDW XV VDEEDWLFDO RIĂ€ F ers can’t even vote) to sports club and society execs, from Hall Rep Presidents to community volunteers – we even have a number of open places elected for ‘ordinary’ students who just want to get involved. The student movement is in no way homogenous, politically or otherwise, and that’s what makes it so interesting and dynamic – but just because someone may not agree with your political leaning, for example the hard left, that GRHVQ¡W PHDQ \RX FDQ¡W Ă€ QG FRP mon goals. 7KH WULFN LV WR Ă€ QG VWUHQJWK LQ collectivism (though not necessary agreement) and collaboration, as Rowan correctly points out; but more often than not in order to do this you have to use the system and play by the rules, not bite the hand that feeds you. If you’ve got something to say, we want to hear it: so come to Union Council, join a committee or take part in Union events. And if you’re not sure how to, then speak to us – we always want to hear from you. And that, along with everything else I’ve said, is the truth. For more information contact Pete Mercer on support.union@ncl.ac.uk or President Andriana Georgiou on president.union@ncl.ac.uk not a debate, it’s a predetermined outcome likely to only attract those Ă€ UPO\ LQ RSSRVLWLRQ WR WKH %13 DQG inevitably give a one-sided debate and a foregone conclusion. What’s the point of even attending such an obviously one-sided event if you don’t agree with its premise? Finally, Rheingans feels compelled to needlessly append her anti-BNP diatribe alongside calls against tuition fees. This reinforces her clearly anti right wing position in that once again, the middle classes are simply expected to pick up the bill through taxation for free education. If she desires high quality valueadding services such as higher education, it is borderline criminal for her to demand it should be provided free of charge. Not everyone who holds a right wing disposition is a fascist, and not everyone with money feels they have a duty to give it to those without. Yours sincerely, ADAM MILLER

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

11

Comment

Apple’s newest toy the iPad: IXWXUH RU À FWLRQ" Future Daniel Rawcliffe

And the man held aloft the tablets and looked upon the multitude gathered there. And it was in that PRPHQW ZLWK WKH FRPPDQGPHQWV written in the tablets before him that he began to speak‌ iSpeak about the iPad. Yes, that friendly man (who, despite the borderline religious nature of this DUWLFOH LV QRW 0RVHV 6WHYH -REV has returned from his hideaway in WKH PRXQWDLQV RI 6LOLFRQH 9DOOH\ to present to the world something ZKLFK PDQ\ KDYH FDOOHG ÂśWKH future’. +DQJ RQ WKRXJK ÂśWKH IXWXUH¡ hasn’t happened yet so what does WKLV JHHN NQRZ WKDW ZH GRQ¡W" 'RHV KH KDYH DQ L&U\VWDO EDOO &RPHV LQ RU *% EODFN ZKLWH JOLWWHULQJ EOXH RU KDV KH VSRNHQ WR WKH /RUG $OPLJKW\" Or is he just some bloke with a seemingly pointless giant iPhone ZKLFK GRHVQ¡W FDOO SHRSOH " 7KH answer is simple: maybe. $SSOH LV D FRPSDQ\ ZKLFK LV QRW D FRPSDQ\ ,W VHOOV FRPSXWHUV ZLWK RXW VHOOLQJ FRPSXWHUV $QG PRVW importantly, it makes an awful lot of money. 1R TXHVWLRQ DERXW WKDW ,W GRHV DOO RI WKLV WKURXJK WKH SRZHU RI VXJ JHVWLRQ ZKLFK LV ZK\ DQ\ DWWHPSWV WR GHQ\ LW¡V IXWXUH VXFFHVV DUH LQ WKH ZRUGV RI VRPH Ă€ FWLRQDO URERWV ÂśIXWLOH¡ 7DEOHW FRPSXWHUV DUH QRW D UDGLFDO

LGHD WKHUH KDYH EHHQ D QXPEHU RI WKHP UHOHDVHG RYHU WKH \HDUV DLPHG at business types. $SSOH LWVHOI ODXQFKHG D SURGXFW known as the Newton sometime LQ WKH ODWH V DOWKRXJK WKH GHYLFH ZDV D WRWDO Ă RS WKLV ÂśJUDQG IDWKHU¡ RI WKH L3KRQH FOHDUO\ ODLG WKH ZD\ IRU LWV WHFKQRORJLFDO SURJHQ\ WR FHPHQW $SSOH¡V VWUDQJOHKROG RQ WKH WRXFK VFUHHQ WHOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV market. And the joke here is on us EHFDXVH ZH DOORZ LW WR KDSSHQ 3HRSOH RIWHQ WDNH LW XSRQ WKHP VHOYHV WR ULGLFXOH $SSOH 6ODPPLQJ DQG VQDNLQJ LWV ÂśFRRO¡ DG FDPSDLJQV IHDWXULQJ D SHUVRQLĂ€ HG 3& FRPSX ter arguing against a relaxed and, WR VRPH EHWWHU ORRNLQJ $SSOH GH YLFH 3OD\HG RXW E\ 'DYLG 0LWFKHOO DQG 5REHUW :HEE UHVSHFWLYHO\ Shout all you like. Apple will VKUXJ LWV FRUGXUR\ FODG VKRXOGHUV DQG PRYH RQ WR LWV QH[W ELJ LGHD 7KH VXEWOH JHQLXV RI $SSOH OLHV LQ its ability to take an idea, pepper LW ZLWK PLFURSURFHVVRUV SDFNDJH WKH ORW LQ D FOHDQ VOLYHU RI VLOLFRQH and market it to the masses who WKHQ HQGRZ LW ZLWK TXDVL UHOLJLRXV praise. And as with all matters of UHOLJLRQ WKHUH PXVW EH KHUHWLFV 7KRVH ZKR RSSRVH WKH ZLOO RI -REV DQG KLV EDQG RI KDSS\ JDGJHW ZL] DUGV GR QRWKLQJ H[FHSW HPEROGHQ him further. 6R ZLOO WKH L3DG 'D]]OHG E\ WKH LGHD DV , DP LV WKDW QDPH UH DOO\ QHFHVVDU\" IRUP WKH VKDSH RI WKLQJV WR FRPH ZKHUH KDQGKHOG FRPSXWLQJ LV FRQFHUQHG" 3HUKDSV Perhaps not. Regardless of ZKHWKHU \RX ZDQW RQH , GR RU LQ IDFW QHHG RQH , GRQ¡W WKH L3DG LV SUHVHQW ,Q WKH VDPH ZD\ WKDW WKH L3KRQH WKH L3RG DQG WKH L0DF ZHUH present before it. $QG LW ZLOO EH UHSOLFDWHG E\ LWV FRPSHWLWRUV E\ ZKLFK WLPH $S SOH ZLOO KDYH PRYHG RQWR LWV QH[W idea‌maybe.

Fiction iSpeak about the iPad. Yes, that friendly man Steve Jobs has returned from his hideaway in the mountains of Silicone Valley to present to the world something which many have called ‘the future’

Fever pitch excitement surrounded the sleek and shiny gadget; The Guardian and tech bloggers the world over practically creamed themselves with anticipation. What would it do? How big would the screen be? Would it cure world hunger?

James Brown

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Tarren Smarr

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A Tescos in Cardiff, Wales, has banned customers from shopping in their pyjamas after a string of complaints

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12

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Comment

The scanning scam goes too far Sophie McCoid

Terrorism has been around in some form or another for many years. The terrorism that has characterised the last decade, however, is something new entirely. Never before has such hysteria gripped the nation. Previous to this decade, terrorism was something that people feared and thought about, but not something that characterised and affected their daily lives. This changed, however, as soon as the events of 9/11 occurred. On that day, terrorism became something real and extremely dangerous. $O 4DHGD DQG 2VDPD %LQ /DGHQ became household names, and the mention of their name nowadays SURYRNHV D VLJQLĂ€ FDQW UHDFWLRQ within people. As terrorism became an increasingly prevalent threat, seen by WKH -XO\ WK /RQGRQ ERPELQJV so the governments of the world, especially the United States and our own Government, introduced increasingly radical measures to try and combat the spread of such a dangerous force. The most recent attempt to combat terrorism is the introduction of body scanners into UK airports,

namely Heathrow and Manchester. The introduction of these scanners comes after an attempt over Christmas to blow up a plane over Detroit by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The scanners use Electromagnetic waves that are beamed onto passengers to create a 3D naked image. The use of scanners is a highly controversial one and shows just how radical the anti-terrorism movement has become. Serious questions are being asked about the usefulness of such a device, because to infringe upon people’s privacy in such a pertinent way they must surely be extremely effective in dissuading and preventing terrorism. This, however, is not the case if reports from a variety of sources are to be believed. Politicians such as a Tory MP warn that the scanners would be “unlikelyâ€? to detect many of the explosive devices used by terrorist groups. Ben Wallace, who used to work DW GHIHQFH Ă€ UP 4LQHWL4 RQH RI WKH companies making the technology, said the scanners would probably not have detected the failed Detroit plane plot of Christmas Day, or the liquid bomb threats of recent years. When fears are being expressed by the manufacturers of the technology about its actual worth in preventing terrorism, it is surely time to question the introduction of such intrusive devices. 7KH VFDQQHUV ZHUH DW Ă€ UVW QRW allowed to be used on children un-

der the age of 18, but this has now being lifted by the Government. This I believe, and many would agree, is wrong, not only does it place children in danger from paedophiles, who may somehow obtain the images, but it is also morally wrong, and a sad sign of the times we live in, when innocent children are subjected to rigorous anti-terrorist checks that should be reserved for adults alone. I am not against taking measures to prevent terrorism; on the contrary, I believe it is highly important that we do. 7KHUH LV D À QH OLQH KRZHYHU between taking preventative measures and invading upon people’s privacy in such an obvious and unnecessary way. The scanners, in my view, will hinder travellers, who are already subjected to a variety of long security checks, for no real reason. If the scanner really was an amazing device that could really HIIHFWLYHO\ UHGXFH WHUURULVP VLJQLÀ cantly my views may perhaps be different. It is not amazing however, and WKH … WKDW HDFK PDFKLQH FRVWV could be used more effectively to educate extremists and combat terrorism head on, I believe. Something does need to be done against the terrorist threat; however, the use of full body scanners is not the way to achieve it. More should be done to change attitudes, to prevent extremist views from emerging, and thus to reduce the threat considerably.

Music to our ears: keeping celebs away from causing any real damage Nicholas Kershaw

Another tragedy; another bout of musicians release their charity singles. It is becoming a time-honoured clichĂŠ, and we are expected to feel guilty for not supporting their attempts to make the world a better place. As soon as there is a cause, there is musician rolling out a cover of some sad, downbeat song undoubtedly written in a minor key. Simon Cowell has led the way in

the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. Why you would want to revamp the beautifully agonising REM song ‘Everybody Hurts’ is beyond me. You undermine such a powerful song by sanitising it with every singer known to man being given one line each as an opportunity to show they truly care. It is an embarrassing attempt to look sympathetic. I cannot imagine those suffering worst from this tragedy are comforted by the news that a group of wealthy singers have gathered in a nice warm recording studio to let them know that everybody does in fact hurt. Oh really? I, for one, would rather be Susan Boyle living alone with my cats than suffer the incompre-

hensible pain each and every HaiWLDQ LV À JKWLQJ WKURXJK ULJKW QRZ It is a rather unconvincing, if not stunningly patronising sentiment. Yet, I must confess, there are still positive externalities; money and awareness is raised for a shocking and tragic event. In times of need, all people must use their own talents to aid others – even if this talent can be questionable. Singers can sing, actors can act and doctors can go about saving lives – this should remain the same. I cannot imagine anything worse than being in dire need of medicine SRVW HDUWKTXDNH WR À QG WKDW Cent had taken it upon himself to DGPLQLVWHU P\ À UVW DLG Picture the poor Haitian who

goes to a United Nations food disWULEXWLRQ FHQWUH WR À QG -/6 KDQGLQJ out the food – whilst teaching HYHU\RQH WR GR EDFN à LSV Or perhaps Susan Boyle is present, letting everybody know that she is no longer dreaming her dream, but living it. As sickening as it is, the best option is clearly to keep celebrities as far away from people in need as possible – which means we must take the punishment of listening to them massacre some perfectly good music. However, it is fair to say we get the better end of the deal in this regard. There is no end in sight for the charity single; it has proven effective at raising money and I would be a rather mean-spirited

chap to criticise such a thing. We all need to do our bit in such times, and if scientists are to be believed, there will be plenty more natural disasters on the way. Since there is a certain inevitability about such events, perhaps we should set our songwriters the task of pre-emptively writing charity singles. This way we can avoid the need to cover songs that have been enjoyed by the public prior to the disaster in question. Or perhaps irony is what we are looking for; KRZ DERXW D FRYHU RI ´/HW¡V 7ZLVW Againâ€? by Chubby Checker after a tornado‌on second thoughts, maybe not. If the charity single clichĂŠ must continue, let us at least try and make it original.

When it comes to children, good intentions are no excuse for poor execution Fran Infante

Until recently I would have argued that there was a fairly massive GLVSDULW\ EHWZHHQ WKH VHOà HVV WDVN of international aid work and the sickening exploitation of child trafÀ FNLQJ But terrifyingly, amidst the catastrophic destruction of Haiti, not only can the former be used as a convincing cover for the latter, but furthermore good intentions, if poorly executed, can see individuals standing trial for crimes they would never dream of. Even if the Americans accused of smuggling children out of Haiti are found innocent, the short sightedness of their attempt is simply astounding. How they can think it appropri-

DWH WR Ă RXQFH LQWR D IRUHLJQ QDWLRQ already imbued in its own crisis, and remove children for whom they have no legal responsibility or rights is unthinkable. Admittedly the group from New /LIH &KLOGUHQ¡V 5HIXJH KDUGO\ Ă€ W WKH SURĂ€ OH RI OLNHO\ FKLOG WUDIĂ€ FN ers, being half composed of women and teenagers. Yet even if we are to assume that their intentions were motivated from the best possible humanitarianism, there is still the question of what future they intended for the Haitian children set to grow up in a foreign country with no birth FHUWLĂ€ FDWHV SDVVSRUWV RU SURRI RI their identity whatsoever. The long-term effects, so completely overlooked by the group, would be that these ‘orphan’ children become nameless, stateless young people, lost entirely in the system. A situation at least as bad if not worse than that which they faced at home, and all frankly because a group of do-good Americans

thought they knew better. /DVW 0RQGD\ WKH %%& UHSRUWHG that amongst one of the children taken was a young girl who upon being brought back to Port-au3ULQFH WHDUIXOO\ WROG RIĂ€ FLDOV WKDW she was not an orphan, that she had parents and that they believed she was being taken to a boarding school in the Dominican Republic, not an orphanage. Whether or not the children they took were, as one member of the group claimed ‘in need of God’s love’ is extraneous. The laws of international adoption are there to protect children who have already lost the primary protectors to which they are naturally entitled. To disregard this system of safeguards is shocking in its arrogance and destructive in the way it casts a shadow of suspicion over the work of genuine, and (it has to be said) better-informed aid agencies. Ground zero is not a place to get swept up by emotion or rhetoric. These children, and indeed these communities, do not need God’s

love, they need drinking water, food and shelter; all necessities that were conveniently and unsurprisingly ignored by the middle-class Americans who sought naively to save them from circumstances which they cannot comprehend. The whole case has a stench of embarrassment. The Americans involved failed entirely to appreciate that the two are very different nations, which share the island of Hispaniola and that therefore, the transfer of people between the two is documented and controlled just like any other international border. The arrogance that ignores this, together with the questionable EHQHĂ€ WV IRU WKH FKLOGUHQ WR EH raised in a completely different culture, language and nation than their own at such short notice, only increases the cringe factor of the entire episode. 8QLFHI¡V RIĂ€ FLDO SROLF\ WKDW children should remain in their country for a minimum of 2 years after a disaster to allow time to accurately trace their relatives,

demonstrates just how ridiculous these children’s removal within 2 weeks of the disaster really is. I’m not saying that these people should be imprisoned for their actions; I think it is becoming more apparent every day that they had no perverse intentions for these children. Yet surely there must be some penalty for those who rush headlong into what is already a highly complex social environment, and whose ill-planned strategies ultimately prove a hindrance rather than help. The money and time spent unravelling this debacle would have been far better allocated to larger and more cohesive attempts at alleviating suffering. Grudgingly I give them brownie points for trying to take some action rather than dialling in their donations; yet what I think is quite clear is that it would have been LQÀ QLWHO\ PRUH SURGXFWLYH WR WKH cause if they hadn’t.

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

13

Comment P. DIXON

Can’t we all MXVW JHW DORQJ" James Stubbs Columnist

Best-selling author Terry Pratchett, who suffers from Altzeimer’s disease, supports euthanasia, offering himself as a test case for assisted suicide tribunals

I will survive, and so will everyone else Daniel Rawcliffe

Getting told to go to bed when you were younger was horrendously unfair; all day you were engaged in fun. Running around, falling over,

climbing stuff and doing things you know you’d get told off for. All of that only to be sentenced WR EHG DQG IRUFHG WR VOHHS 2EYL ously now we can look back and view sleep as a necessary part of growing up. In the same way that death is a necessary part of life. “Assisted suicide�, “euthanasia�, “helping someone pass/kick the bucket�, no one is able to decide on one term for this process; other

than that it is a contentious issue, especially now. Kay Gilderdale, the mother of Lynn was cleared last week of the DWWHPSWHG PXUGHU RI KHU GDXJK ter and is now calling for the law surrounding assisted suicide to be FODULĂ€ HG What precisely is permitted when it comes to asking a loved one to KHOS \RX VKXIĂ H WKURZ GULQN \RXUVHOI RII WKLV PRUWDO FRLO" %XW more importantly, why is the law so interested in regulating what VKRXOG EH D SULYDWH GHFLVLRQ" They’re not interested in what you’re having for dinner or what drink you’re ordering at the bar. So why, should you ask for a cocktail of lethal chemicals, are they so UHOXFWDQW WR REOLJH" You need to be terminally ill to begin with. A poll carried out by Panorama showed that 70% of people agreed that the relatives of those who were terminally ill should be allowed to assist them LQ G\LQJ 7KLV GLVFRXQWV DQ\ QRQ WHUPLQDO LOOQHVV VXFK DV FOLQLFDO GH SUHVVLRQ PDQ Ă X DQG $O]KHLPHU¡V Author of the Discworld novels, Terry Pratchett, was diagnosed with this degenerative disease in 2007 and has since become a vocal campaigner about what he calls ‘the common sense solution’. That is, if someone wishes to die on their own terms, in their own time and surrounded by those who love them, then society should do everything it can to ensure this is possible. However, despite death being a QDWXUDO HYHQW DQG XOWLPDWHO\ QHFHV sary, the animal instinct to survive does not give up so easily. :LWK OLIH H[SHFWDQF\ LQFUHDV ing thanks to a combination of KHDOWKLHU OLIHVW\OH FKRLFHV DQG DG vancements in medical science, this instinctual drive has been boosted to an almost supernatural intensity. We must live because as the

world turns there is apparently a lot more to live for. The popularity of dirty sexy vampires (take a bow Edward Cullen) has as much to do with teenage infatuation as it does with immortality. To live, and to live forever, is the only option. Yet when that life is not what you expected, when pain and sickness and inertia gang up on \RX ZKDW WKHQ" 6ROGLHU RQ XQWLO Death slinks out from behind a lampshade and intones “This way SOHDVHÂľ" +RZ ORQJ PXVW \RX NHHS RQ OLYLQJ" $QG KDQJ RQ D PRPHQW ZKR DUH \RX OLYLQJ IRU" The survival instinct is so strong that it eliminates, in others, the slightest suggestion that another person could voluntarily wish to cease living. 3HRSOH EHFRPH VR Ă€ [DWHG RQ WKH art of survival that those seeking to die must be labelled insane or ‘not of sound mind’. This desire to VHH RWKHUV VXUYLYH LV XQGHUVWDQGD EOH EXW XOWLPDWHO\ VHOĂ€ VK DQRWKHU¡V life is another’s life. ,W LV ZKHQ WKH LQGLYLGXDO VHHN ing death must enlist the help of another in achieving their goal that things get very complicated. Lynn Gilderdale told her mother, Kay, before she died that she was afraid, not for herself but for what would happen to her mother when she was gone. Although Kay was eventually not charged with the DWWHPSWHG PXUGHU RI KHU GDXJK ter, one can’t help but think her daughter was right to fear for her. 'LIĂ€ FXOW WKRXJK LW LV WR LPDJLQH a mother who would acquiesce in their daughter’s plea to die, Kay’s actions could not be said to be motivated by anything other than love; true love which places the needs of others before one’s own. In a BBC Panorama documentary Kay stated “I had no right to force KHU WR VWD\Âľ D GLIĂ€ FXOW VHQWLPHQW to articulate, yet one which is incontrovertibly true.

After a recent evening news binge that turned out to be fairly gloomy, I had a look on the BBC North East QHZV ZHEVLWH DQG , FDQ VHH Ă€ YH particularly violent stories that have stood out over the last couple of days: ‘Striker’s daughter found KDQJHG¡ Âś&KDULW\ Ă€ QHG RYHU VWDE bing death’; ‘Man charged over house death’; ‘Two men arrested in rape enquiry’, and ‘Victim hit with own walking stick’. <HV WKLV LV EDG EXW LW¡V QRWK ing new; we see real violence in reports on the TV all the time, but its distance makes it sort of ok; ok enough to watch over bowls of Corn Flakes and while the ads are on during Come Dine With Me anyway. Something that you don’t get much of in Newcastle, I’ve found, is a similar sense of threat that you’d think these stories might make us feel. In my three and a bit years here I’ve never been PXJJHG VWDEEHG QRU VKRW )DQ tastic. However, you only have to walk down Bigg Market on a Saturday night for a little bit before you come across the occasional pool of blood amongst the spilled kebabs and smatterings of sick. There is an undeniable rise in police presence, and more often than not you can see an incoherent pisshead with a bloody nose being led away. Again, this is nothing new and no indictment of Newcastle; the same is true of Saturday nights in town centres up and down the country. I know; I’ve seen Street Crime UK‌ So why am I never the bleeding JHQW RQ WKH Ă RRU" In an old episode of South Park, the protagonists get unwittingly mixed up in a group of people ZKR ZDQW WR IUHH D WRGGOHU PXU derer. When asked what is so good about murdering toddlers they can only reply in childish innocence that it’s good because it’s easy. “Yes‌â€? replies the interviewer under his breath, “it is easy‌â€? Very good. But the point is that it often takes two to start something, DQG WKDW JRLQJ IURP D GLVDJUHH PHQW WR D Ă€ JKW LV WRR HDV\ DQG WKLV can all be simply resolved over a pint and bag of pork scratchings. In the summer I saw three guys doing a dance on another’s face in a pub. Police arrived and questions were asked, which then made the whole pub close up well before closing time. We just wanted a drink; very inconvenient for all involved, especially the man whose face got smashed in. , OLNH WR WKLQN ,¡P QRW WKH EOHHG LQJ JHQW RQ WKH Ă RRU EHFDXVH RI my generally passive nature, but having said that, I do live in a nice part of town and tend to go to less WKUHH WUHEOHV IRU D Ă€ YHU QLJKWV down Sinners after United have lost these days. Common sense dictates that: If , VSLOO VRPHRQH¡V GULQN ,¡OO RI fer them a new one, if I step on someone’s foot I’ll apologise, and if someone attacks one of my friends when we’re leaving a trebles bar, well, that’s easy‌ but it’s never happened yet.

14

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

The truth about the pill > Health & Beauty, page 19

Life & Style Editors: Larisa Brown, Alex Felton and Ashley Fryer - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

fashion Sexual heeling From t-shirts to teddies, Aimee Philipson looks at the most intimate fashion of all: nightwear

T

here are two types of women’s nightwear in this world; nightwear you want to sleep in and nightwear you don’t want to sleep in. You might think nightwear \RX GRQ¡W ZDQW WR VOHHS LQ GHĂ€HV WKH point of wearing it to bed, yet babydolls, teddys (not cuddly bears) DQG OLQJHULH FRQWLQXH WR Ă \ RII WKH shelves so some of you must like the odd bra or suspender strap digging in all night - or a continuous wedgie every time you move in those lacy teddies. So with Valentine’s Day looming it might be time to rethink your bedtime attire, whether as a treat to yourself – there’s nothing like slipping into silk pyjamas – or to spice up your evening endeavours. Firstly, the nightwear you might actually get a good night’s sleep in,

because let’s face it this is probably what you will want to wear most nights. You can’t really go wrong with a traditional pair of PJ’s, though not the sexiest of garments, they are warm, stretchy, loose and soft. There are all sorts of patterns, colours and fabrics to choose from – Primark does a good novelty range inFOXGLQJ à RZHUV SHQJXLQV DQG RWKHU animals in soft cotton but if you fancy a treat, Next always have a good selection of pyjama sets in satin, silk and cotton to suit all tastes. You can branch out with your comfortable nightwear too, with styles such as shorts and camisoles, night dresses and nightshirts. The latter is the female version of wearing your boyfriend’s/male housemate’s shirt to bed but it’s XVXDOO\ LQ EULJKWHU FRORXUV ÀWV better and the buttons don’t leave marks on your skin after lying on them all night. Nightdresses can be a bit more of a problem though, as the new trends include lots of lace, tiny straps and very short hemlines – not exactly cosy and warm but you do feel pretty and girly so it’s a tossup really. As for uncomfortable nightwear,

what’s hot Romance The loved up feel of the month has well and truly spread to the fashion world. Embrace Jane Eyre as your muse with à RDW\ FKLIIRQ and pretty pastels.

it’s more of an occasion thing really. Whether you’re into the full stockings, suspenders and basque or just want to surprise your man with a new lingerie set, these products are rarely made with comfort in mind but they do have the sex factor. You can even spice things up with a pair of bedroom heels - the higher the better. It’s not like you are going to be on your feet for long... The obvious places to shop are La Senza, Ann Summers and Knickerbox but nowadays high street stores such as New Look, Top Shop and the big department stores are begin-

Sugarbomb %HQHĂ€W KDYH ZRZHG us yet again with their latest four part blusher WR KHOS \RX DGMXVW complexion through the seasons.

ning to stock their own ranges of seductive nightwear. Ann Summers has the added advantage of selling fun dressing-up RXWÀWV LQFOXGLQJ D PDLG D FKHHUleader, a nurse and the all important High School student, and La Senza has a less expensive range of babydolls and chemises if you want to avoid the realms of the indecent. +RZHYHU , KDYH PDQDJHG WR ÀQG a few places which successfully mix the sex factor with comfort, espeFLDOO\ HWKLFDO ÀIWLHV LQVSLUHG GHVLJQer Enamore (www.enamore.co.uk). I don’t want to leave out the guys

what’s not Preggings That’s patterned leggings to you and me. Yeuch.

Jumper Dresses These pretty yet practical cover-ups are here to stay.

Ski chic Absolutely loving the knitted headbands, fur gilets and snow boots we’re rocking out. Thermal wear GHÀQLWHO\ JRW LWV PRMR EDFN

here though. It’s safe to say most of you probably sleep in your keks or an old t-shirt but why should you miss out on the joy of luxury nightwear? More to the point, why should a woman go to the trouble of buying silk nightwear when she has to sleep next to a holey Dangermouse t-shirt all night? It’s interesting that men’s nightwear is usually referred to as ‘loungewear’ – is this just because they don’t often wear anything in the bedroom or is it because they wear their nightwear around the house all day? Anyway, check out www.asos. com for some simple, comfortable t-shirts and ‘lounge pants’ as well as designer pyjamas and vest tops or, if you’re feeling adventurous, there’s always the novelty thongs at Ann Summers and a t-shirt which deserves a mention, featuring the slogan ‘Last Night a BJ Saved My Life’. As most of you are students though, I know you will probably ignore this article and sleep naked, nabbing a one-night stand for warmth, just to save money. But if there is a special someone this Valentine’s Day, why not buy them a special night time treat? And GRQ¡W EH VHOĂ€VK XQFRPIRUWDEOH nightwear might make you smile when they wear it, but comfortable nightwear will mean they wake up smiling.

Harem Pants Why would you want to resemble a dodgy pantomime Aladdin?

Crop tops Are we in Ibiza? I think not.

Armadillo’s Let’s hope these lobster-claw 10-inch heels worn by Lady Gaga in the Bad Romance video are a one-off shoe mare Pamela Mardle

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

15

Fashion Life & Style

Marisa: Bra, Topshop,£20 , Jeans, Topshop, £25, Ed: Jeans, Nudie, £100, Boxers, Calvin Klein, £25

Josh: Jeans, Zara, £45, Boxers, Diesel, £20 Kath: Bra, Marks & Spencers, £30, Jeans, Topshop, £35 Ed: Jeans, Abercrombie, £60, Boxers, Calvin Klein, £25 Marisa: Bra, Topshop, £16, Jeans, Topshop, £35Ed: Jeans, Nudie, £100, Boxers, Calvin Klein, £25

Kath: Bra, Topshop £20, Jeans, Arrogant Cat, £150, Headband,ASOS, £7.95 Josh: Jeans, All Saints £85 Boxers, Calvin Klein, £35

Models: Kath Little, Marrisa McGary, Josh Rose, Ed Yarnton Make Up: Fiona Brunt Photograhy: Claire Hall Styling: Addy Pope, Claire Hall

16

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Life

life J. WHITTAKER

The Penny Pincher Lesson Eleven: Health Rowan Taylor Columnist Treatment: Thankfully our NHS provides most treatment for free, except for: prescriptions, dental treatment, wigs, sight tests and glasses. For those on a low income, even these costs can be met by the NHS. Students do not automatically qualify, but many will be entitled to DQ +& FHUWLÀFDWH IRU IXOO KHOS RU DQ +& FHUWLÀFDWH IRU SDUWLDO KHOS Pick up the somewhat lengthy HC1 application form from pharmacies and GPs. The pharmacy by Tesco Jesmond stocks them. Dentist: It can be easy to forget dental appointments when your mum is no longer booking appointments for you. Not all dental practices carry out NHS-priced service; check the NHS website and sign up with one that does. Students under 19 will then get treatment free of charge. Older than that and you get NHS-subsidised prices, and a check up of your pearly whites will cost … 7KH +& +& FHUWLÀFDWH comes into play here. Optician: Those of a four-eyed persuasion are saddled with having to buy expensive glasses. Instead of looking at the well-sighted masses with jealous hatred, they should take their recent prescription online. After trying some frames in a high-street optician, make a note of the model. Glassesdirect.co.uk is my pick of the retailers; they offer a free 7-day home trial of 4 frames to evaluate in your own time, as well DV RII \RXU ÀUVW RUGHU DQG Quidco cashback. Even if you need to return to an optician to make sizing adjustments, you can still H[SHFW WR VDYH … … Toiletries: Perfume is the ideal product to buy over the internet – small and high value, with typically KXJH SURÀW PDUJLQV <RX FDQ VDYH even more with tester bottles and lid-less perfume bottles, from sites like fragrancedirect.co.uk. Sport: The cheapest way of NHHSLQJ ÀW LV WR XVH WKH FLW\ DV your gym. Going for a run around Jesmond Dene or across the Town Moor costs nothing and is far more interesting than pounding a treadmill. Some people demand a more constant climate for exercise though, and the Uni sports centre gym is the cheapest gym membership available. Next week Lesson 12: Music Deals of the Week: 1. Cravendale 2L milk: £1 @ Tesco Be quick with this deal, it runs out on Tuesday. This milk lasts for weeks, so stock up while you can. 2. Tefal 24cm frying pan: half price to £9.99 @ Argos These pans work so well and last ages – I use one myself. Besides, it’s Shrove Tuesday on the 16th FebruDU\ VR JHW à LSSLQJ WKRVH SDQFDNHV 3. iPod nano 2nd generation dock: 90% off to £2.99 @ play.com This dock is not for the current nano, but the previous tall and thin metal one. It makes your nano, and your desk, look well smart, with ports at the back to connect to your computer and speakers.

May the Force be with you: religion turned on its head From Pastafarianism to Googlism, Alexandra Maxwell discusses the extremeties of religion and their impact on society

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ver the last 10 years there has been much debate about the decline of religion in Britain. Although organised religion remains strong in the USA and the Islamic World, Britain has seen a rise in spirituality-based faith and new religious movements to take over from traditional beliefs. The secularization of our education system, dropping numbers of church attendees and the rise of the ‘pick and mix’ approach to religious belief are going to have enormous impact in the near future. Most prominently in March 2011 – the next British Census. The 2001 Census was an enlightening example of how Britain views IDLWK <RX ZLOO UHPHPEHU LW ZDV WKH religion of ‘Jedi Knight’ which was heavily featured in the press. ‘Jedi’ is still considered the fourth biggest religion in Britain today acFRUGLQJ WR RIĂ€FLDO VWDWLVWLFV DKHDG of Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism. 390,127 people in England and Wales claimed this mix of TaoLVP DQG %XGGKLVP DV WKHLU RIĂ€FLDO religion, believing in the existence of ‘The Force’ in everyday life. 0DQ\ SHRSOH RQO\ EHFDPH RIĂ€FLDOly ‘Jedi’ in protest at the ‘religion question’ being included. Some chose this religious path to annoy people and some even just to show their love of Star Wars. Although some only completed the census in order to answer this question, this ironically improved its quality.

This protest has had lasting impact however and, with no new Star Wars movies released in the last couple of years, it lacks popularity compared to 2001 levels. Could this mean it may be a new ‘religion’ which replaces Jedi for the next 10 years? There are certainly PDQ\ ZLOOLQJ WR Ă€OO WKH JDS -HGLLVP has left behind. One possibility of census inclusion is that of ‘Pastafarianism’, the worship of the ‘Flying Spaghetti 0RQVWHU¡ \HV VRPH VSDJKHWWL DQG meatballs with eyes‌ it truly is a GHLW\ ZKLFK EHFDPH ZHOO NQRZQ during the 2006 Australian Census.

The Pastafarian belief of heaven contains a beer volcano and a stripper factory, while Pastafarian hell is similar, except that the beer is stale and the strippers have sexually transmitted infections Originally created in Kansas, USA, in protest to ‘evolution’ being taken out of the Curriculum, its popularity has spread worldwide and it is now followed by hundreds of thousands of people. The Pastafarians claim that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world ‘after drinking heavily’, that Pirates are ‘divine beings’ KHQFH WKH\ FHOHEUDWH Âś,QWHUQDWLRQDO Talk like a Pirate day’ on September WK DQG WKDW WKH )60 DSSHDUV WR people, touching their lives with his ‘Noodly Appendages’. The Pastafarian belief of heaven contains a beer volcano and a stripper factory, while Pastafarian hell is similar, except that the beer is stale and the strippers have sexually transmitted infections.

Amusingly, the Pastafarians claim that fundamental Christians only have a problem with them because they have had to accept that ‘our God has larger balls than theirs’. Another option for ‘new religions’ in the census is one I believe all students can truly relate to – Googlism. Many people will admit to being a ‘Google-junkie’ and its overuse and our reliance is often discussed. The word ‘Google’ has replaced the word ‘Search’– ‘Just Google it’and students have even prayed to the ‘God of Google’ for last minute help with work, job hunting and their social life. Though numerous VWRULHV H[LVW RI SHRSOH Ă€QGLQJ IDLWK through a simple Google search, this has been taken a step further. The new ‘Googlist’ movement ZZZ WKHFKXUFKRIJRRJOH RUJ KDV appeared, believing Google IS God, praying to ‘her’ via searches and claiming September 14 as a religious holiday. Their website has caused astonishment, outrage and even incredible joy, listing nine reasons we should consider her a deity including omQLSUHVHQFH DV VKH LV DYDLODEOH HYHU\ZKHUH RPQLVFLHQFH DV VKH YLVLWV ELOOLRQ ZHE SDJHV DQG UHDVRQing there is more evidence of her existence than any other God worshipped today, so, why not? Interestingly, the word ‘Google’ is searched more than God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism combined! Google has mail, maps, books, a shop and even a 3D model maker – why not a religion too? Though haters claim ‘there are some things that cannot be answered by Google’, the Googlists tease ‘then try a different key word’. Following Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Rock’n’Roll is my religion and my ODZ¡ TXRWH RI 0HWDO +DPPHU magazine has now launched their own campaign for recognition in

the 2011 Census. Starting with an article, which has developed into numerous faFHERRN JURXSV ÂśKHDY\ PHWDO LV P\ Religion’ and even ‘le metal est ma UHOLJLRQ¡ 0HWDO +DPPHU KDYH UHcruited Saxon’s Biff Byford as their ‘world metal peace ambassador’ to represent the ‘Church of Heavy Metal’ in an upcoming British tour. In an attempt to relive the ‘glory GD\V¡ RI WKH ¡V ZKHQ RYHU D PLOlion people in the UK were metal heads, this ambition to get heavy metal recognised as a religion is another rebellious act against ‘sterile and manufactured pop music’. Does this then mean that the 2011 census may become the next stomping ground for the British public to rebel against the norm? Like Rage against the Machine stormed to Christmas number one after a successful facebook campaign, will the Google search engine become the publics next ‘Killing in the Name of’ protest? If it does though, what effect will this have on already declining numbers of genuine religious believers? Already, less than half the British population believe in God and over 66% of our population have no actual connection to any religion or church. The number of churches is foreFDVW WR IDOO IURP QRZ WR 39,200 by 2030, which Church leaders say will destroy focal points of towns and ruin communities. Without even mentioning the rise of religions such as scientology, especially prevalent because of its SXEOLFLW\ ZLWK KLJK SURĂ€OH FHOHErity believers, there seems a devastating move away from our Christian past and into an age without traditional faith. Seeing as our entire justice system is based on the 10 commandments, what effect will this have on our country in the next few years?

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

17

Travel

Life & Style

travel A Portuguese paradise: more than just sun, sea and sangria Fran Infante explores the palaces, the people and the praias

I

f you’re studying on the continent, you tend to get a bit blasé about borders. Ok, so now we’re technically in Portugal, so what, it’s all more or less the Mediterranean isn’t it? All sun sea and sangria? Not as we found out… By the time we found ourselves arriving in the northern Portuguese town of Porto, a mere 14 hour bus ride after we had left our surrogate home of Granada in Spain, all illusions of the proximity of the two countries both in distance and in culture had thoroughly faded. Porto is truly an underrated city. With a population of just over 200,000 it is manageable to explore thoroughly on foot and offers spectacular views over the Rio Duoro upon which it sits. So beautiful is its historic riverside barrio that it has been awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it deserves it. Next stop could only be the nation’s capital, Lisbon and here we were greeted with a charming mix of antiquity and new industry, a wealth of beauty and excitement in this bustling city. Though massive progress has been made in improving the infrastructure and modernizing public services in Portugal since the anarchy which characterised the revolution in the 1970s, it still lags far behind its western european neighbours. Despite the aggressive hissing and shouting from the Portugeuse men, mostly in line with the irritating but harmless chauvinistic slime exhibited by many Mediterranean men towards foreign women, several delightful days were spent cheerfully roaming the city. Having tried the local pastry delicacy known as ‘pasteis de Belem’ ² WKLQN OLWWOH VZHHW ÁDN\ FXVWDUG tarts- much time was dedicated to prowling the ‘pracas’ in the quest for the perfect Belem and accompanying coffee. Incidentally the winner was the outdoor café at Placa Do Principal Real; worth the trip to Lisbon in itself, and with the male waiting staff only serving to add to the sweet treats on offer. The great cliché of any image of Lisbon is that of the antique-looking yellow trams that worm their way

top five

photo of the week

across the steep inclines of the city. They are also a novel and practical way to get around, much more scenic than the metro and cheap too. If you can establish which way they are running and therefore which side of the street you should stand on to board them. We couldn’t. Which, in a way, added to the novelty of the experience because of the unexpected triumph when ZH UHDFKHG WKH ÀUVW VWRS DQG UHDOised we were actually travelling in the direction of our desired destination.

Porto is truly an underrated FLW\ VR EHDXWÀXO LV LWV historic river that is has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site No trip to the area is complete without what became the crowning glory of our trip – the fairytale town of Sintra. Just a twenty-minute train ride out of the city, it is more like a visit to never-never land than a suburb of a modern metropolis. Over the years it served as the summer retreat to generations of Portuguese kings and Moorish rulers before them, leaving the verdant hillside literally dotted with exquisite palaces and ancient fortresses built as monuments to and creative demonstrations of the power held by their owners. Moving southwards once again on the gradual progression back towards Spain, we stopped at the backpacker happy seaside town of Lagos. I think my hearing is still permanently damaged from the squawks of so many drunken Aussies, and the town was tacky to say the least (our hostel warned us of their policy on vomiting as we checked in) but it was a fun place to be beach bums, and the beaches really were amazing. The most impressive was undoubtedly the famous Praia de Dona Ana, backed by vast cliffs that drop straight down onto sand and further to crystal clear water; quite literally breath taking. The aim of our trip was a capsule glimpse of Portugal; it was brief but from port to palace and barrio to beach, what we discovered was an infectiously beautiful country that I know I will need to go back to time and time again.

Ros McVey - 4th year Speech and Language Sciences Send your travel pictures to courier.life@ncl.ac.uk and you could win £10 worth of photo prints as well as your photo printed and framed.

Romantic destinations

Just in time for Valentine’s weekend Harri Borg-Bartolo explores some of the world’s most erotic and exotic resorts

the town’s exotic markets during a stroll around the colonial Port Louis, or visit one of the island’s lavish chapels that sit high in the mountains.

rich scenery provides an immense backdrop to a wealth of outdoor activities.

1. Mauritius

2. Switzerland

This tropical island offers vast stretches of white, sandy beaches and crystal waters, creating an idyllic setting for a tranquil getaway for two. Immerse yourself in the bustle of

If your steamy getaway won’t be hampered by the colder temperatures, Switzerland offers some good February snow. The Jungfrau Region provides a plethora of resorts, where love can blossom on and off the slopes. The

Whether it is contemporary Italy that takes your fancy, or the traditional market square life that you are after, Florence offers both in abundance. Get lost in the maze of cobbled streets and step it up a gear with the stylish nightlife that provides the fashion elite with afterhours entertainment.

3. Florence, Italy

4. Hoar Cross Hall, England

5. Gozo

For something a little closer to home, a luxurious spa break can be enjoyed in the stately and sumptuous surrounding of Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire. There is something for both of you with activities such as cycling, tennis and archery all within the abundant grounds of the house. Spa, holistic and therapeutic treatments allow for an escape to a serene and peaceful utopia.

Just north of Malta, this sleepy Mediterranean island still remains relatively untouched by holidaymakers. 3HDFHIXO ÀVKLQJ YLOODJHV DQG VHcluded beaches make this a perfect destination for those who prefer to be undisturbed. Tucked away in the villages, local restaurants and taverns provide the clichéd setting of a romantic escape for two.

18

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Sex & Relationships

sex & relationships Two Girls & A Coffee Shop Kath Little & Fran Swan Columnists “I can’t believe you had lunch with her‌No, I don’t care that she was only up for the day. I don’t care that you have known her your entire life. I don’t care if it’s terminal and I certainly do not care that she is your sister. It is just not acceptable for you to lunch with other girls!â€? Heard these psychiatric demands before? Read on, dear friend, read on. So, how do you deal with it when your partner’s once endearing care for you transforms into pathological jealousy? It’s surprisingly common, especially in new relationships with the added intensity of university life/ Jesmond PRUH VSHFLĂ€ FDOO\ Relationships that dwindle into nothing more than twice weekly arguments all over petty jealousy barely amount to relationships at all. Often, the envious partner is being ridiculous. Of course there’s nothing going on with anyone else, let alone your sister, and having WR FRQVWDQWO\ FRQĂ€ UP WKLV WR \RXU sobbing, shaking other half is rather burdensome to say the least. We cannot stress this enough. This is not normal. Or, there is absolute reason for their distrust. If this is the case, get out now. You are twenty. If you already want to get with other people, there is absolutely no point in trudging on. Here are some classic examples: His phone is in reach and you know that the length of time it takes for him to shower is the exact length you need to browse (and scrutinise) his entire inbox. Obviously with a wary (or venomous) eye for messages from girls‌. housemates and family included. Not to sound incestuous, but one can never be too careful. “Honestly, she’s just a friend of the familyâ€? my arse! Feel free to apply this situation to Facebook/Twitter/OWA/ notes left to his cleaner alike‌.any social networking medium will do, right? Stop. Stop right now. ,I \RX IHHO \RX KDYH WR ULĂ H through his personal and private correspondence then you clearly do not trust him. So what is it that the two of you have? Because it’s not love. Until you feel complete trust and no need to sieve through his MySpace, you are in the wrong relationship. You don’t deserve to have to feel this way and he doesn’t deserve to be subjected to 24hour surveillance. Similarly, if he loves you, that friend you’ve banned him from seeing will not be a threat. If you get nervous every time he goes on a night out without you/ passes by any of your blacklisted girls while nipping to Tesco, you have got bigger issues. Having said all this, there is room for a natural over-protectiveness for the one you love, especially when that tall, beautiful, stunning Swedish model from his seminar drapes her JROGHQ Ă DZOHVV OLPEV RYHU KLP Here, we give you permission to scowl venomously from the other side of the room. 3HUKDSV Ă RXQFH GUDPDWLFDOO\ from the computer cluster. Granted, she was only reaching for a book. Sure. You get the picture. There’s no need to be with someone who doesn’t trust you or who you don’t trust. Either with or without reason, distrust will eventually decay your relationship from within.

Email courier. life @ncl.ac.uk if you want to go on your very own Blind Date

blind date 6DUDK )HOORZV 6LPRQ +ROGLQJ She said: When The Courier provided me with the opportunity of going on a blind date and sharing the details for all to see, I was a little hesitant- by that I mean I spent all of three minutes debating with myself whether or not I actually wanted to do it. I had to ask myself “am I willing to look publicly desperate?â€? I answered myself with a resounding YES! Safe in the knowledge that I myself know that I am not desperate, honest. I thought it would be good craic, and I wanted to pretend that I ZDV LQ D FKLFN Ă LFN I met up with my blind date, Simon, in Scalinis on Osborne Road. We were both quite nervous and had a bit of an awkward hello; we had one of those hugs where you’re not sure whether or not to hug each other, you know the kind. We talked about a whole array of things, although he did talk about football a lot; he’s on the University team which is a bonus in a date as far as I’m concerned. I’m not really D IRRWEDOO IDQ EXW , GHĂ€ QLWHO\ DP D footballer fan. He was very generous and just quite lovely; he paid for my dinner and then for my drinks in Spy bar as well as a taxi to take me home. It appears gentlemen do exist, although I can’t help but be suspicious that his generosity could well be motivated by the desire for a good write up- I’ll give him the EHQHĂ€ W RI WKH GRXEW WKRXJK Our night ended with a less awkward hug and a kiss on the cheek. I went home feeling happy due to an evening in good company, or maybe it was the gin I consumed in Spy bar that left me feeling so

cheerful. Either way, I had a good night; however, when my Mother asked how it went I did tell her not to go and buy herself a wedding hat. He said: Being more of a fan of Jeremy Clarkson’s journalistic style as opposed to BBC-esque restrictions, I will try and be as honest as possible in my Bridget Jones escapade. The idea of a blind date always À OOHG PH ZLWK GUHDG 7KH LGHD RI spending time with a complete VWUDQJHU À OOHG ZLWK DZNZDUG silences, is not my idea of fun. However, when Cilla gave me a call after exams, and being in a spontaneous mood, I suddenly

found myself in this situation. Left with a random phone number that could’ve been anyone from Shrek’s Princess Fiona to Megan Fox, I thought I would go for the ‘old-school-classic-cant-go-wrong’ meal followed by a few drinks. I quickly reminded myself of the number of messages I had received on Match.com, exactly none, and left the house. I awaited the blind date’s arrival in the chosen restaurant and on her appearance was pleasantly surprised to have found a happy medium on the previously mentioned looks scale. The conversation slowly started, and as the number of awkward silences became less, the experience was actually enjoyable. It became a

bit more apparent later on that we didn’t have too much in common but the conversation was still well above average. Blind dates are something you should do for the experience but would be better avoided. It is a better experience to go on a À UVW GDWH ZLWK VRPHRQH ZKR LQWHU HVWV \RX LQ WKH À UVW SODFH WKDQ EHLQJ thrown in to the pressure cooker of a blind date. It was a worthwhile experience and a nice way to spend a Thursday evening. Will there be a second date I hear you say? Well she has my number but if not, plenty more À VK LQ WKH VHD

Either way, their childish behaviour needs to end. Have a frank and upfront talk with them, and tell them to stop being boys, and start being men. Stand up to them; tell them how you feel. After all, they might not even know they’re hurting you. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to resort to more extreme measures. Take a kick-boxing class and teach them a lesson.

be catastrophic. Deep emotional attachments can be really tough to break, and someone is bound to get hurt. And don’t be so sure it’ll be her. You’re going to want to brace yourself for an emotional backlash, especially if somewhere down the line you ask yourself, ‘Did I make a mistake?’ It would be wise to sort out the reasons why you want to HQG WKH UHODWLRQVKLS Ă€ UVW EHIRUH making the plunge back into singlehood.

ask seĂąor jose

6HxRU -RVH LV EDFN IURP FRQVROLQJ :D\QH %ULGJH RYHU DW (DVWODQGV <RX FDQ H PDLO KLP DW courier. life@ncl.ac.uk SeĂąor, ,¡P VKDULQJ D KRXVH ZLWK Ă€ YH RWK HUV RQH RI ZKRP , FDQ¡W VWDQG 6KH KDV WKH PRVW VFUHHFKLQJ YRLFH DQG ERVVHV XV DOO DURXQG VKH¡V WRR GH PDQGLQJ +RZ GR , FRQYLQFH P\ RWKHU KRXVHPDWHV WR NLFN KHU WR WKH FXUE QH[W \HDU DQG Ă€ QG VRPH RQH HOVH" ,¡P VXUH WKH\ 0867 IHHO WKH VDPH DERXW KHU

Problem housemates are not uncommon. The question is how you wound up living with her LQ WKH Ă€ UVW SODFH ,V VKH D IULHQG or were you just put together? Whatever the case may be, you’re all going to need to sort something out. Confrontations are never fun, but perhaps you all need to have a house meeting to discuss living arrangements for next year. Not only will this alleviate any potential lingering resentment she may have if you were to chuck her out by the end of the year, it will also get her to think about where to go from here. If you can put up with her for the rest of the year, WKHQ DOORZ KHU WR Ă€ QG QHZ DFFRP modation with some different, perhaps more masochistic people. Deal with this as soon as possible! SeĂąor, , OLYH ZLWK WZR ER\V DQG ,¡P Ă€ QG LQJ LW UHDOO\ GLIĂ€ FXOW (YHU\ QRZ DQG DJDLQ WKH\ VXGGHQO\ NLFN PH RU SXQFK PH RU WKURZ EDOOV DW P\ KHDG DQG LW UHDOO\ KXUWV 0\ RWKHU KRXVHPDWH LV D JLUO DQG WKH\ VRPH WLPHV SXVK KHU RYHU LQ WKH VWUHHW :KDW VKDOO , GR" If this were primary school, I’d tell you they probably have crushes on you. But as this is uni, they either see you as equals, and this is their strange way of expressing it; or they see you as a lesser being, and want to humiliate and hurt you.

SeĂąor, , KDYH EHHQ LQ D UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK D JLUO IURP KRPH IRU WZR \HDUV EXW , IHHO OLNH WKH VSDUN ZHQW RXW D ORQJ WLPH DJR +RZHYHU LW VHHPV LPSRVVLEOH WR EUHDN XS ZLWK KHU GXH WR WKH IDFW QRW RQO\ DUH ZH DW WKH VDPH XQL EXW DUH RQ WKH VDPH FRXUVH DQG ZH VKDUH WKH VDPH IULHQGV , IHHO VWXFN EHFDXVH , UH DOO\ OLNH P\ EHVW JLUO IULHQG ZKR , VKDUH D KRXVH ZLWK EXW VKH¡V VOHHSLQJ ZLWK P\ EHVW PDWH $OVR , VOHSW ZLWK DQRWKHU JLUO UHFHQWO\ VLQFH , DP QRW JHWWLQJ DQ\ IURP P\ JLUOIULHQG +RZ GR , HQG WKLV UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK DV OLWWOH SDLQ DV SRVVLEOH" Sometimes, the only way to end a relationship is by breaking someone’s heart. If you really think it’s not working out, the best course of action to take is to tell her how you feel, and end it swiftly and quietly. Drawing it out will not only add undue stress on both you and your partner, but the end result will

SeĂąor, , DP LQ D ELW RI D SLFNOH ,¡YH VRUWHG OLYLQJ DUUDQJHPHQWV ZLWK P\ EHVW IULHQG DQG WZR JX\V QH[W \HDU EXW HDFK RI XV WZR JLUOV KDV VOHSW ZLWK RXU WZR ER\ KRXVHPDWHV 5HJDUG OHVV RI WKH IDFW PRVW RI XV DUH DWWDFKHG WKLQJV DUH JHWWLQJ FRP SOLFDWHG ,¡P JHWWLQJ HPRWLRQDOO\ DWWDFKHG WR WKH KRXVHPDWH , DP VOHHSLQJ ZLWK EXW KH KDV D ORQJ WHUP ORQJ GLVWDQFH JLUOIULHQG , ZDQW WR EH PRUH WKDQ D ERRW\ FDOO Love triangles amongst friends often lead to disaster, so consider whether it’s such a good idea to all move in together. The pangs of jealousy are already burning in your gut. Do you really want to enter into a living arrangement where this will be a daily occurrence? It is in your best interest-as well as the interests of the men LQYROYHG DQG \RXU IULHQG WR Ă€ QG someplace else to live.

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

19

Health & Beauty Life & Style

health & beauty

The truth behind the pill The dilemma that faces half the world. Is it better to take medication and run the risk of potential side-affects but be certain of contraception or don’t? Olivia Mason uncovers the truth

T

he pill has become one of the most popular contraceptives among women, providing a very simple and effective way of preventing pregnancy. Taking one pill a day which provides 99% effective contraception and removes the issues of fumbling about in the dark for a condom, to many people, seems perfect. However, taking a pill that controls your hormones and may potentially have health implications is something that should not be taken lightly and seen as an easy contraceptive, so here’s a quick whirlwind tour of everything you need to know about the secretively-named pill. Firstly, there are two types of pill, the combined pill and the progestogen only pill (POP). The combined pill contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen which are synthetic versions of the hormones normally released from the ovaries. These two hormones act in three ways to stop you becoming pregnant: stopping eggs being released, WKLFNHQLQJ WKH Á XLG LQ WKH QHFN RI \RXU ZRPE PDNLQJ LW GLIÀ FXOW IRU sperm to enter and thirdly decreasing the thickness of the lining of your womb so an egg cannot grow in it. The combined pill is taken every day for 21 days before a break of seven days when you have your period. You are protected for this 28 day period and if taken correctly it can be over 99% effective. The second type is the progestogen only pill, often called POP, which does what it says on the tin and only contains the one hormone, progestogen. The POP has to be taken every day within a 3 hour time period and works by thickening the mucus LQ WKH ZRPE PDNLQJ LW GLIÀ FXOW IRU sperm to enter it, and thinning the lining of the womb so an egg cannot implant there. The progestogen only pill is recom-

mended for women who have high blood pressure, are over-weight, or susceptible to blood clots as oestrogen has been linked to DVT. Therefore if you are a smoker the POP is usually recommended. One of the major advantages of the combined pill over the POP is that you have a 12 hour time frame in which to take the pill and still be protected; with the POP it has to be taken within a 3 hour slot each day.

product placement Valentine’s Day is a tricky proposition for all of us girls DQG À QGLQJ WKH ULJKW IUDJUDQFH LV DOZD\V D PLQHÀ HOG Certainly for women, and seemingly also for men, an enduring question of identity lingers in the air. This question is: “What is the right perfume for me?” 6FLHQWLÀ F VWXGLHV KDYH SURYHG that attractiveness is detected by pheromones and that cosmetic scents change when on different people. We decided to try out a range of popular women’s perfumes and record several different opinions. The results are as follows: Poppy Gardner

1

Both have disadvantages though, which you must be made aware of EHIRUH GHFLGLQJ WR WDNH LW À UVWO\ LI you are vomiting or have diarrhoea the pill may leave your system, leaving you unprotected. Migraines, breast tenderness and lighter periods are further common VLGH HIIHFWV $ KLJK SURÀ OH ULVN IDF tor of the pill is cancer, with breast cancer found slightly more often in women who take the pill.

However, there is evidence to prove the pill has been found to protect against ovarian cancer. But both these claims have not enough evidence to be basing your opinion on. 2QH À QDO WKLQJ WR UHPHPEHU LV WKDW although preventing pregnancy the pill does not protect against STIs and thus caution should be applied when with a new partner where a condom is always safest.

Perfumes Chance by Chanel £43.93

3 Cinema by YSL £35

4 2

Issy Miyake Spring £36

Flora by Gucci £31

5 l’artisan parfumeur orchidee blanche £110

View Askew Gigging It Kathy Jackman Columnist

I’m at a bit of a loss this week. By the time you read this I will have been to a Rammstein gig in Manchester, (and boy does my computer hate the word Rammstein) and obviously this is what I really want to write about. But I can’t, because at the time of writing this I haven’t actually been. Christ, where’s Doctor Who when you need him? This shit makes my brain ache. Anyway, I guess I’ll stick with the gig theme in anticipation for next week’s account of Industrial Metal Goodness (or IMG), because right this minute I’m too excited to think about anything else. 7KLV ZLOO EH WKH À UVW DUHQD style gig I’ve been to since I saw Nightwish way back in April 2008, which was a mindblowing experience, but the fact of the matter is I don’t go to big gigs very often. This may seem strange given that I’m a rock and metal fan and I can’t resist a good headbanging session, but I do suffer from a mild case of claustrophobia. It’s not really serious, but I do get a bit short of breath and nervous in big crowds. I can just about handle it, but a certain amount of mental preparation has to go into it before I go. At past gigs I’ve been lucky enough to get to the front, but there’s always the risk that I’ll end up slap bang in the middle of a very large, excitable and sweaty crowd of strangers. It’s one of those times when being small is a real pain in the arse; when you’re in a crowd, everyone seems to be taller than you. It’s like being in a forest of giant Redwoods which you know might collapse on you at any moment. Another thing is that I bruise easily. Peaches have nothing on me, and I’m not even kidding when I say that. A lot of the time I just have to look at a sharp object and it’ll LPSULQW LWVHOI RQ P\ WHQGHU Á HVK somehow. I might as well wear a sign on my head that reads, in huge red letters, ‘PRIME INJURY FODDER, DESTROY!’, because by the end of the night my bruised and broken body tends to resemble a map of Europe, but a lot more colourful. And don’t get me started on the bloody tinnitus. Oh, the tinnitus… But the weird thing is, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Yeah, the gig experience can be a strange one, but at the same time it’s never dull. I only really go sporadically because I’m a bit of a wimp, and those bruises take a seriously long time to heal up, but when I do, I always have an amazing time. Going to a metal gig is like a grand scale version of Mosher’s Neck; ok, so it can be painful, but it’s worth it for that adrenaline rush, for the sheer, furious joy of seeing a band you love play live in front of you.

20

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Food & Drink

food & drink

:KDW¡V FRRNLQJ JRRG ORRNLQJ" From naughty Nigella to jammy Jamie, Polly Randall mulls over the life and career of a celebrity chef

I

f in the worst case (but looking ever more likely) scenario that I fail my degree, my plan then has always been to re-train as a chef. However, when I imagine myself as a chef, do I see myself working all the hours god sends, in the middle of the night, in a basement, sweating and cursing due to the stress of cooking food for unappreciative middle class bores who wouldn’t know a VKULPS IURP D VKHOOĂ€ VK" 1R I see myself in a stylish kitchen, perhaps with some French doors opening to a herb garden, dressed as the perfect reproduction as a 50s housewife knocking up a crème brulee for the impromptu dinner party I had decided to hold. 2U LQ D IXWXULVWLF DEDWWRLUHVTXH kitchen, ordering around minions and frying the occasional steak. It’s safe to say, these impressions have more than likely been created from the numerous cooking shows I cannot help but watch, so it’s also safe to say if I were to become a chef my imagined career is unlikely to correspond too closely to reality. But even so, TV chefs, how we love you; we watch your shows, buy your books, follow your advice, maybe even purchase your own brand of cooking utensils. But are we any better cooks as a UHVXOW" That’s debatable; however, their pockets are becoming fuller than any of the stomachs belonging to guests at my dinner parties. I know that my own parents own DW OHDVW WKUHH -DPLHV WZR 1LJHOODV and numerous Delias. All prime money making machines, Jamie (my own personal favourite) however, is the perfect example. Starting back in 1999, as that cheeky lovable cockney geezer who made culinary adventures acceptable to alpha males, his prominence has grown as rapidly as his bank balance. 1RZ UHYHUHG DV D QDWLRQDO KHUR GXH to his endless exploits at promoting

reviews

healthy eating, he is owner of an immensely successful company which earned him a place on The Sunday Times’ richest Britons under 30. When you consider that he began as merely the face of a new cooking show, promoting simple recipes, no restaurant or Michelin stars to his name, there has to be more to his appeal than his expertise in the kitchen. The same can’t be said for Gordon 5DPVD\ GHÀ QLWHO\ QRW P\ IDYRXU

ite) who rose to prominence through KLV TXHVW IRU FXOLQDU\ SHUIHFWLRQ awards and a delightful use of the English language. With 12 Michelin stars and numerous eateries, he represents the high end of TV chefs, taking his so holy of advice to the uneducated, inevitably hopeless and more often than not detestable owners whose restaurants he transforms from used mutton to fresh faced lambs. But with the somewhat ironic and

hilarious discovery that he too is a cuisine criminal using ready made meals in some of his outlets, the tides have perhaps turned against his brand of haute cuisine. Enter the best thing to have happened to day time TV, perhaps ever. Come Dine With Me says goodbye to those personalities and instead alORZV SHRSOH VXFK DV P\VHOI WR IXOĂ€ O notions of our own hidden abilities to cook as well as the best of them. Is the British public now so sick

of being lectured on the merits of fresh, local ingredients by celebrity chefs that they would prefer to be given advice by a dentists’ assistant from Wolverhampton who just loves to cook spinach roulade for KHU JXHVWV" Either way the cooking show will always hold a dear place in my TV schedule, if only my own kitchen ZDV LQ D FRQGLWLRQ À W WR SUHSDUH food, and my back door led to a herb garden, not a rat invested yard.

Cafe 1901

1901 has a very personal, relaxing and intimate atmosphere. The low level lighting and brown wooden theme creates a very rustic look to the place. Minor touches such as a standing coat hanger, wooden cabinets, books available to swap, and big cushions make the cafÊ much more homely. Also, although not a follower of FODVVLFDO PXVLF , IRXQG LW ERWK À W ting and calming to be playing in the background while I sipped on luxurious Green & Blacks hot chocolate‌ The menu: just as you’d expect for lunch- a selection of soups, paninis and sandwiches served with crisps and salads, priced around £3.90, a variety of salads for £4.50, and jacket potatoes priced at £3.50 if you opt to eat in. My friend and I decided to UHTXHVW WKH VSHFLDOV XQGHU UHFRP mendation. , HQMR\HG D EXWWHUQXW VTXDVK dish with pine nuts and red onion, served with salad and brown crusty

seeded bread, £5.95. I could tell the LQJUHGLHQWV ZHUH DOO À QH TXDOLW\ DQG that it was all freshly made, just as promised. My friend tested the chicken and vegetable homemade soup, £3.95, which she said was really fresh, WDVW\ DQG À OOLQJ Afterwards we were given little white chocolates to sample, which you could taste the delicate high TXDOLW\ LQ , SHUVRQDOO\ KDYH D VZHHW tooth so found this a perfect end to the lunch. All dishes are freshly made, but the biggest thing they take pride in at CafÊ 1901 is their coffee, which is freshly ground just seconds before being served. We were told they believed it to be the best coffee in England, so I think you better go try it out for yourselves! The opening times are 9am – 7pm Monday to Sunday.

Jesmond Overlooking this authentic beauty is a big mistake. Hidden in between the Methodist Church and Jesmond library, CafÊ 1901 commonly goes unnoticed, but step inside and you will feel as though you have been transported out of the little village! The cafÊ has a rather European feel WR LW À OOHG ZLWK TXLUN\ DQWLTXHV DQG ornaments collected from all around the world. I couldn’t stop staring at all the unusual features - a pair of skis hung on the wall, the original vintage leather chairs, the stylistic lamps, the gigantic oil paintings - amazing but unfortunately drastically out of my price range‌ Run as a family business, CafÊ

Danya Bazaraa

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

21

Piers with the PM in TV’s pick of the week Culture Editor: Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

> TV & Radio, page 32

Cultural Awards: just a load of arse? As the award ceremony season gets thoroughly underway, Culture writers discuss the extent to which trophies have an LPSDFW RQ WKH Ă€ OPV literature and music around us Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor Amongst the glitz and glamour of your Hollywood bashes, the worlds of art and literature are far from strangers from the back-slapping frenzy that is the modern-day awards show. Admittedly, the kind of attention you get at these affairs is rather different to the fashion parade of the Oscars – if you’re lucky, the more up-in-the-clouds literary types may remember to put on a shirt without too many coffee stains on. But they still provide an interesting litmus test of not just how the creative industries regard themselves, but how the wider popular culture sees them. The Turner Prize, for example, has become a focal point for the battle between modern conceptual art and more traditionalist and/ or dissenting voices – the controversy when Martin Creed’s piece The Lights Going On and Off won in 2001, or when the K Foundation, an offshoot of dance-pop propagandists the KLF, created their own ‘Anti-Turner Prize’ in 1993, where they threatened to burn ÂŁ40,000 (double the Turner Prize award), awarded to the winner of the real Turner, Rachel Whiteread. Even the more genteel world of the Man Booker Prize has often been a cause of upset, accused by its critics of a bias to British writers and novels, and of being more of a promotional tool for publishers and booksellers than a real mark of quality. So while the television coverage may not be equal, these awards still affect the world we live in. For better or worse, the Tracey Emins and the Salman Rushdies of this world would never have reached the same level of fame without these awards, and as such the culture we live in would be entirely different. Polly Randall Award ceremonies will always be popular, due to the essential human instinct to classify things, and the pleasing sense of self worth achieved by anyone who wins an award, no matter its value. This perhaps explains why there are just so many of them - the MTV awards in all its various guises, the Grammys, the Brits, the NME Awards: this season in particular is awash with smiling celebrity faces being reassured of their own greatness. It must be particularly encouraging for those acts who get nominated three or four times in a single award ceremony. If the NME awards are taken as an example, the

list for Best British Album closely mirrors that of Best British Band and Live act – Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian both being nominated for all three of these awards. The popularity of these acts is undoubtable, considering they are nominated for the awards due to the revolution of public voting; however that is not to say that because they are so popular, other acts should be discounted. Maybe this is why the list for the 0HUFXU\ 3UL]H UHà HFWV LQVWHDG WKH broad spectrum the British music scene has to offer. The winner is often unexpected, and it’s one of the few awards that still holds a real sense of prestige. So, if the media was not so saturated with countless ceremonies, some of which have seemingly endless categories, they could retain a greater importance in deciding what is a real high point from the musical year. Jonathan David Lim There is no denying that Hollywood is more than an industry; it’s a money-making machine. And nothing better caps off another

lucrative year than the annual Academy Awards. As can be expected, viewers will be treated to another long and tedious ceremony that celebrates the Ă€ QH DFKLHYHPHQWV LQ Ă€ OP UHOHDVHG GXULQJ WKH Ă€ QDO TXDUWHU RI WKH \HDU Many of the awards will be handed WR DFWRUV DQG GLUHFWRUV RI Ă€ OPV \RX probably have not seen, either due to limited release or better marketLQJ IRU RWKHU Ă€ OPV Of course, this is not to say the Ă€ OPV XS IRU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ DUH EDG ,Q IDFW ZLQWHU UHOHDVH Ă€ OPV DUH often very good. However, it is the tunnel-vision employed by the Academy in FKRRVLQJ Ă€ OPV WR EH QRPLQDWHG that really kills the Oscars. Not to mention the highly selective nature of the panel of judges, ranging from actors and directors, to Academy executives. Thankfully, other awards do exist. The Golden Globes is less high-brow, more down-to-Earth, allowing nominees to range from the beginning of the year to the end. Makes sense to me. And then there are the ever-beloved Raspberry Awards, or ‘Razzies.’ These YLHZHU QRPLQDWHG Ă€ OPV DUH JLYHQ consideration to be the year’s worst

UHOHDVH IURP ZRUVW À OP WR ZRUVW actor and actress. By the end of the day, however, the Hollywood machine will keep on ticking. DVD and Blu-Ray releases will be plastered with selfpraise, in earnest attempt at making even more money. Perhaps a few of them earned it, but for the most part, it is really just another ploy to get you to fork over your cash. Helen Atkinson The dresses, the tears, and the bad jokes. Fasten your seatbelts, awards season is upon us‌ Don’t get me wrong, awards ceremonies deserve credit for honouring the very best in the business. They recognise talent, and for this they are an asset. Take the Mercury Music Prize, which aims to honour the best British album of the year. The award is often unpredictablefor instance last year’s favourite Florence & the Machine lost out to the relatively unknown Speech Debelle. However, awards ceremonies like these are a minority. The sheer amount of ceremonies which fun-

damentally honour the same thing (TV Quick/ TV Choice, etc) is ridiculous, not to mention a very slim excuse for the cast of Hollyoaks to GUHVV LQ WKH FKHDSHVW ORRNLQJ RXWÀ W possible before parading in front of the camera. The fact remains that the majority of award shows aim to please the PDLQVWUHDP , À QG LW D WUDYHVW\ WKDW lad’s favourite Pixie Lott has three Brit Award nominations this year, whereas the arguably more talented Little Boots was left in the dark. This year’s Golden Globes were no exception - the overwhelming PDMRULW\ RI À OPV DQG WHOHYLVLRQ shows awarded were somewhat predictable (Avatar, Up and Glee). Like it or not, award shows shape public opinion - it’s a shame we seem to base our cultural choices RQ KRZ VXFFHVVIXO D À OP ERRN HWF has become, instead of thinking for ourselves. In my opinion, the commerciality of many awards shows often discredits them (too ostentatious, predictable and just plain tedious). I am not asking you to boycott the Brits or neglect the Oscars - just don’t be afraid to think outside the ER[ RIÀ FH

(QWULHV PXVW EH UHFHLYHG E\ SP RQ Friday 12th February

What radio station does Mark appear on with Simon Mayo?

The Tyneside have got three pairs of tickets to give away for this event. To be in with a chance of winning, just email your answer to the questions below to courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

competition

The Cochrane Lounge, 19.00, free

Homemade Jam

union

Featured on the soundtrack for Twilight: New Moon, the Southampton rockers hit one of Newcastle’s most intimate venues, with support from local acts Love %LWHV %UXLVHV DQG 7KH 9DXGHYLOOH Class.

The Cluny, 20.00, ÂŁ6 adv

Band of Skulls, The Vaudeville Class, Love Bites & Bruises

music

It might not make you look cool, but if you win you’ll certainly look clever. With live music.

Tyneside Cinema, 19.00, ÂŁ5 per team

The Great Tyneside Cinema Quiz

film

monday

Above: The Millennium Bridge at night by Helen Hayes. Have you got a picture that epitomises Newcastle for you? It might be your favourite city view or a picture that shows your best night out with your friends. Whatever it is, The Courier wants to see it. Send your photos along with a short description RI ZK\ WKH SKRWR VKRZV œ0\ 1HZFDVWOH¡ WR HGLWRU XQLRQ#QFO DF XN 7KH EHVW SKRWR RI WKH \HDU ZLOO EH FKRVHQ WR EH WKH IURQW cover of the 2010/11 Alternative Prospectus.

my newcastle

The Learning Revolution continues to wield intellectual prowess with plenty of entertainment this week, by bringLQJ ÀOP DIÀFLRQDGR DQG FULWLF 0DUN Kermode to our very own Tyneside cinema. You would be forgiven for not knowing the name straight off, but Kermode KDV PDGH D SUROLÀF FDUHHU RXW RI EHLQJ a movie geek. As well as reporting for various publications and co-presenting The Culture Show, Kermode has had his fair share of adventures along the way, resulting in his new book, It’s Only a Movie.

Tyneside Cinema, Wednesday

New book launch and Q&A

He’s also an apparently hilarious chap; and with anecdotes ranging from being shot during an interview to being thrown out of Cannes for heckling in French, it’s bound to be a lively evening. If you’ve ever been conceited enough to consider who would play you in a Ă€OP RI \RXU OLIH WKHQ WKLV LV D PXVW $V well as comprising a screening and a WDON IURP 0DUN LW¡V DOVR D 4 $ VR \RX can work out just how honest these Ă€OP KDFNV UHDOO\ DUH

tv

Free console and bar games

Mens Bar, 18.00, free

Just For Fun

union

BBC3, 21.00 Full preview, page 32

Underneath Newcastle’s streets lies a disused tunnel holding secrets of its history from the 1800s to its use in wartime, right up to the present day. This is a guided tour from a local professional. A must do for anyone interested in more than the nightlife of Newcastle‌ As there are limited VSDFHV SUHERRNLQJ LV HVVHQWLDO (PDLO (PLO\ DW DGF XQLRQ#QFO DF XN LI \RX fancy giving it a go.

Mens Bar, 15.00, free

Last Woman Standing

union

Victorian Tunnel

The critically-acclaimed experimental IRON GXR 09 (( KLW 1HZFDVWOH LQ D JLJ RUJDQLVHG E\ 35017 9,%(6 DQG 7KH 6WDU 6KDGRZ &LQHPD

The Star & Shadow Cinema, 20.00, ÂŁ5

PRMNT VIBES: MV&EE, The Doozer, Cath & Phil Tyler

0HWDOFRUH SLRQHHUV /DPE RI *RG KHDG out on a UK headline tour in support of their new album Wreath, along with a formidable support roster.

O2 Academy, 19.00, ÂŁ16.50 adv

Lamb of God, Job For a Cowboy, August Burns Red, Between the Buried and Me

The Cluny, 20.00, ÂŁ8 adv

Jon Allen, Dot To Dots, Lesley Roley

music

Tyneside Cinema, 20:15, ÂŁ8-ÂŁ10 See highlighted

Mark Kermode: It’s only a Movie Q&A

film

Newcastle’s newest indie-disco returns to World Headquarters for its third outing – expect alternative gems old and new.

ITV, 21.00 Full preview, page 32

What Katie Did Next

tv

The Cluny, 20.00, ÂŁ13.50 adv

Snowy White’s Blues Project

Newcastle Ceilidh’s very own brand of modern ceilidh restarts for the new VHDVRQ )HDW 0RQVWHU &HLOLGK %DQG ² Newcastle’s favourite feisty funky ceilidh band. DJ Rob Heron completes the line up. www.myspace.com/NewcastleCeilidh

Newcastle Students’ Union Basement 2, 20.30 - 23.30, £4-5

Monster Ceilidh Band

Dog and Parrot, 20.00, ÂŁtbc

Air Waves, O’Messy Life , Dick Bull

music

0LFKHODQJHOR $QWRQLRQL FRROO\ UHGHĂ€QHV California dreaming by subverting the tropes of 60s counterculture cinema. It tells the story of a young couple, one a handsome, plane-stealing, tight-jeaned hunk, the other a well-tanned hippy child that meet in the desert under bizarre circumstances, and whose free-spirited natures sees them instantly connect, only for them to be separated by tragic circumstances. A striking and provocative cult classic featuring a killer soundtrack that includes 3LQN )OR\G DQG -HUU\ *DUFLD

Tyneside Cinema, 21.00, free

Vitamin C: Zabriskie Point

Academy award nominated writer Harwood is one of the most celebrated contemporary dramatists. He wrote the script for Roman Polanski’s The Pianist (2002) which is being shown afterwards and is included in the price. Well worth the money to see this acclaimed writer, for anyone LQWHUHVWHG LQ HLWKHU ZULWLQJ RU ÀOP

Tyneside Cinema, 19.45, ÂŁ8-10

Ronald Harwood and The Pianist

film

World Headquarters, 23.00, ÂŁ4

Hard To Love

Lit and Phil – Mining Institute lecture theatre, 18.00, free

What Is This Thing Called Love?

arts

thursday

23

Culture

One of Britain’s foremost experimental acts, Reformed Faction, head a bill that also includes a rare solo appearance from IRUPHU :LUH PDQ %UXFH *LOEHUW

The Star & Shadow Cinema, 20.00, ÂŁ5

Reformed Faction, Bruce Gilbert (ex-Wire), Emergency Librarian

Legends, 19.00, ÂŁ15 adv

Faster Pussycat, Enuff Z’Nuff

music

In what sounds like a fantastically odd HYHQLQJ D ÀOP RI IRXQG 6XSHU IRRWDJH depicting life in Argentina will be accompanied by an improvised score of free rock, drone and psychadelia.

Side Cinema, 19.30, ÂŁ5-6

Alan Courtis & Aaron Moore Gig and Movie

film

Digital, 23.00-3.30, ÂŁ5

ZAP!

Tea, cake and wine...all for free. With a healthy dose of burlesque.

The Cluny, 20.00-1.00, ÂŁ6-8 adv

Jeepers Peepers’ Mad Hatters Tea Party

Northumbria Uni, 21.00-2.00, ÂŁ8/10

House of The Golden Lotus

The drum’n’bass specialists return, with Alix Perez joining the DV8 residents.

World Headquarters, 23.00, ÂŁ5-7

DV8 present Alix Perez

clubbing

The new gallery space above World Headquarters is playing host to artists Joseph Steele, Tom Whitty and Claudio Pascale. For one night only the trio will be bringing terror and mayhem to the Newcastle art scene. The Show features works using H[SORVLYHV ERGLO\ à XLGV DQG VH[ EXW WKH highlight of the night is being kept under wraps until the performance! If this hasn’t excited you enough there’s … ERWWOHV DQG )5(( HQWU\ WR :+4 DIWHU the show.

Former Globe Gallery above WHQ, 21.00, free

BLAST

arts

friday

The Cluny, 20.00, ÂŁ8 adv

Punishment of Luxury

The Star & Shadow Cinema, 20.00, ÂŁ6

Publicist, SDF, Onoma, Road to Rimini DJs

The Head of Steam, 19.00, ÂŁ4

Mabel Love

Cluny 2, 20.00, ÂŁ12 adv

An Evening with Martin Stephenson, Helen MacCookerybook, Gem Andrews

music

The Other Rooms, 23.00 - 3.30, ÂŁ8

Turbulence Presents: CLUB AUTONOMIC with D-Bridge, Instra:Mental, Phobia, Mikey G

As with their famed Halloween and New Year’s (YH SDUWLHV expect a truly unique clubbing experience for World HeadquarWHUV¡ 9DOHQWLQH¡V bash.

WHQ, 23.00, ÂŁtbc

True Romance: The WHQ Valentine’s Party

clubbing

The Irish Dance society present their anual show in the Newcastle University Student’s Union. Curtain will be at 7.30pm and the show will be followed by a ceilidh and Irish traditional music for all to enjoy. Tickets are available from any of the society members or alternatively remaning tickets will be sold on the door.

Newcastle Students’ Union Basement, 19.30, £5

Celtic Rhythm

arts

saturday

Pastoral pop quartet Stornoway appear ZLWK RQH RI WKH 1RUWK (DVW¡V FXUUHQW ULVLQJ stars, Beth Jeans Houghton, for a night of IRON\ GHOLJKWV DW 7KH 6DJH LQ *DWHVKHDG

The Sage Stage 2, 20.00, ÂŁ10.50 adv.

Twisted Folk: Stornoway, Beth Jeans Houghton

The Head of Steam, 20.00, ÂŁtbc

Fakeindielabel present: Eagle Owl, Chippewa Falls, John Edgell,

music

Hangar 51, 19.00, ÂŁ6

NUTS Present: Road

The London Philharmonic Orchestra PDNH WKHLU ÀUVW appearance at The 6DJH *DWHVKHDG with a fabulous programme of French music conducted by the young and dynamic Yannick NezetSeguin. Yannick Nezet-Seguin made his debut performance in the UK at 7KH 6DJH *DWHVKHDG ZLWK 1RUWKHUQ Sinfonia. Tonight’s amazing pianists will EH DSSHDULQJ DW 7KH 6DJH *DWHVKHDG MXVW D few days earlier with the thrilling version of Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring. The performance of Debussy - La 0HU ZLOO EH WKH ÀUVW LQ 7KH 6DJH *DWHVhead. This hugely evocative work was inspired by a seascape on the Sussex coast although you could imagine it could be Northumberland.

The Sage, 19.30, ÂŁ7-ÂŁ29.50

London Philharmonic Orchestra

A brand new comedy night for female comics, with headliner .HDUD 0XUSK\ 3OXV 6KDURQ Race.

The Telegraph, 20.00, ÂŁ4-5

Laughing Lasses Comedy Night

Celebrating the Year of the Tiger in traditional Chinese style, The New Year will explode into life against a soundtrack of Firecrackers, traditional Dragon, Lion 8QLFRUQ GDQFHV EDQLVKLQJ HYLO VSLULWV and making way for good fortune and prosperity.

Chinatown, Stowell Street, 11.00, free

Chinese New Year 2010

arts

sunday

Listings by Mark Corcoran-Lettice, Ciara Littler and Joe Skrebels - send your listings to courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

)RU D ELW RI LQWHOOHFWXDO FKDWWHU DURXQG 9DOHQWLQH¡V 'D\ MRLQ WKLV GHEDWH DW WKH 0LQLQJ institute on the meaning of love, where \RX Ă€QG LW DQG KRZ \RX NHHS KROG RI LW Book a seat by calling (0191) 232 0192

clubbing

Cluny 2, 19.00, ÂŁ6

NUTS Present: Amadeus

arts

Open mic night

Head of Steam, 20.00, free

Whose Mic Is It Anyway?

02 Academy, 19.00, sold out

Tinchy Stryder

An assortment of local bands, comedians and DJs team up to raise money for the victims of the Haiti HDUWKTXDNH &XUUHQWO\ FRQĂ€UPHG bands include Shift-Static and Our Imaginary Friends.

World Headquarters, 22.00, ÂŁ4

Inspirit: Haiti Fundraiser

music

New indie night offering a reason to go out on a Tuesday.

North Bar, 21.00 - 2.00, free

Output

clubbing

tuesday

wednesday

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

the guide: 8 february to 14 february

highlighted Mark Kermode

Culture

22

24

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Arts

arts art 7KH GDUN GD\V DUH RYHU Ciara Littler discovers the Hatton’s latest gem )RU WKRVH ORRNLQJ IRU D TXLFN KLW RI FXOWXUH GXULQJ WKH OXQFK EUHDN RU LI \RX KDYH DQ KRXU WR NLOO EHWZHHQ OHFWXUHV LW·V ZHOO ZRUWK FDWFKLQJ WKH FXUUHQW H[KLELWLRQ DW WKH +DWWRQ *DOOHU\ The Long Dark WDNHV -RKQ 5XVNLQ·V HVVD\ On the Nature of Gothic Architecture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¶WUXWKIXOQHVV· DQG D ¶XQLW\ RI IDFW ZLWK GHVLJQ· \HW WKHVH LGHDV FDQ EH WUDFHG IRUZDUGV DV ZHOO UHDIÀUPHG LQ WKH ODWHU GHYHORSPHQW RI WKH DOPRVW XWLOLWDULDQ VXJJHVWLRQV RI %ULWLVK DQG *HUPDQ 0RGHUQLVP :KDW DSSHDUV WKHQ LV D OLQN EHWZHHQ WZR GLIIHUHQW PRPHQWV LQ WLPH DQG LW LV WKLV OLQN WKDW 7KH /RQJ 'DUN H[SORUHV %ULQJLQJ WRJHWKHU DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO JURXS RI DUWLVWV EDVHG LQ %ULWDLQ DQG *HUPDQ\ The Long Dark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ÁHFWV WKH SROLWLFDO DQG VRFLDO DVSHFWV RI WKH WLPH 5XVNLQ DUJXHG WKDW DUFKLWHFWXUH ZDV D ¶GLVWLQFWLYHO\ SROLWLFDO DUW· KLJKOLJKWLQJ LWV LPSRUWDQFH LQ UHÁHFWLQJ D SDUWLFXODU PRPHQW RU SODFH LQ WLPH :KDW WKLV H[KLELWLRQ GRHV WKHQ LV OLQN DUW ZLWK KLVWRU\ DV WKH ZRUNV RQ VKRZ GLVSOD\ WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI KLVWRULFDO LGHDV DQG HYHQWV RQ WKH FXOWXUHV DQG DUW IRUPV RI WRGD\ 6KRZLQJ DW WKH RQ FDPSXV +DWWRQ *DOOHU\ WKLV LV D JUHDW H[KLELWLRQ WR VWLPXODWH WKH PLQG LQ D WKRURXJKO\ UHFUHDWLRQDO ZD\ ,W·V GHÀQLWHO\ ZRUWK WDNLQJ VRPH WLPH RXW WR VHH WKH JUHDW DUW DYDLODEOH IRU DOO 8QLYHUVLW\ VWXGHQWV WR VHH VR JHW LQYROYHG LQ VHHLQJ KRZ WKH FXOWXUH ZH OLYH LQ DIIHFWV DQG LQYRNHV WKH YHU\ DUW ZH SURGXFH The Long Dark is showing at the Hatton Gallery until 20 Feb 2010

Comic chronicler of modern life: Artists by David Shrigley

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THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

25

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

stage

From page to stage Lucy Hadley on the theatre adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel Jane Austen’s immortal line “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife,â€? introduced a book that has become one of Britain’s most loved, adapted and performed. This February Newcastle’s Theatre Royal presents Pride and Prejudice, transforming an enchanting literary classic into a play which has enchanted audiences nationwide. $OWKRXJK LW ZDV $XVWHQ¡V Ă€UVW novel, which she began to write in 1796, the timeless story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy retains its contemporary relevance for us, even in the 21st Century. The underlying moral of not judging others according to their social status and rank, and the ultimate union between two young people from very different backgrounds, has secured the longevity of the novel and its place in the literary canon. It is Austen’s witty and perceptive observations into the characters and relationships that make the story sparkle; the frustration, passion and chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth has made this love story one of Britain’s favourites. This comedy of manners intertwines characters that have been etched into literary history; the long-suffering Mr Bennet, dastardly Mr Wickham, ridiculous Mr Collins and the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, all complete the story of a young girl battling with the prejudices of Georgian England. As vivacity of character is crucial to the story, the cast list for the production at the Theatre Royal is suit-

the debate

DEO\ Ă€WWLQJ Led by national treasure Susan Hampshire as the marriageobsessed Mrs Bennet, the casting strikes a healthy balance between both veteran and upcoming actors. Hampshire, with her impressive (and Emmy Award Winning) perIRUPDQFHV LQ Ă€OP DQG WHOHYLVLRQ will be sure to tackle the matriarchal role with comedy and charisma. Seasoned actors Peter Ellis, Carolyn Pickles and David Beames appear as Mr Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Sir William Lucas respectively. Having performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starred in British TV classics including The Bill, Foyle’s War, they are all sure to bring gravitas to the production. Like the novel, the play follows WKH IRUWXQHV RI WKH Ă€YH \RXQJ %HQnet daughters struggling with arisWRFUDWLF PDQQHUV Ă€QGLQJ KXVEDQGV and discovering the “dangersâ€? of men. It is therefore natural that fresher faces are cast alongside veteran British actors. Directing Pride and Prejudice is 29-year-old Toby Frow, who has already been hailed as one of British theatre’s bright young things; he promises a fresh and vibrant take on this much-performed classic. This particular production, adapted by Simon Reade, has to contend with the audience memories of many other versions of Pride and Prejudice – most notably Andrew Davies’ 1995 BBC series starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as well as Joe Wright’s Ă€OP ZLWK .HLUD .QLJKWOH\ DQG

Looks good on paper: Pride and Prejudice at the Theatre Royal Matthew Macfadyen. As a nation, we have an insatiable appetite for this classic tale, and hopefully this production will offer a fresh theatrical take on an endur-

ing love story. It is the perfect night out to usher in the Spring; and with beautiful language, sumptuous staging and classic comedy, it is sure to prove

Is contemporary art the way forward?

Rachel Craig A few years ago on a visit to the Tate Modern, I remember being stopped in my tracks by a huge blank white canvas covered in multi-coloured polka dots. Not normally one to read all of the information boards for paintings, I GHFLGHG WR ÀQG RXW ZKDW WKLV SLFWXUH was all about. According to the small blurb on the board, these spots portrayed a serious, deep and meaningful message. To be honest, what this message was didn’t really stick with me. I am not normally a cynic, but although I think polka dots are pretty on a dress and look good on a teapot, how can they possibly hold a deeper meaning? On the other hand a primary school trip to the Monet gardens in France and the paintings I saw there are images I still hold on to, as is the postcard with the famous painting, Water Lilies. When I was younger it was simply something pretty. Now I can see it also shows a great respect for and interest in nature. I have no recollection of reading any information boards but I still appreciated it. I can see that it is not possible to argue the case for traditional art with

two examples, but what it shows is the lasting quality of the traditional and the transitory nature of the more modern. Everyone has an opinion on Damien Hirst’s art or the pieces collected by Saatchi & Saatchi but the comments are usually ones of disbelief or surprise and, especially in the case of the former, tend to gauge PRUH KRUULÀHG UHVSRQVHV Surely truly good art should do more than just shock a viewer? Don’t get me wrong, I think it should make you think and that it should stay with you, but that it should do so in a positive way. People seem to be more puzzled by modern pieces than appreciative of them. Art is surely supposed to express something, and this should be something the viewer can comprehend, even if this opinion is different to another persons. The modern pieces seem to pose WRR PDQ\ GLIÀFXOWLHV IRU LW WR EH DSpreciated. Hirst raises ethical questions, Banksy raises social ones. The traditional, whether seen as being Monet’s Water Lilies, Westminster Abbey or the Sphinx, is something which everyone can enjoy and it is for this reason that the traditional will outlive the modern.

Polly Randall It can often seem very easy to disregard most contemporary art under the assertion that it is meaningless and lacks any artistic skill or talent to produce. But this surely is taking a very narrow minded point of view on what is an incredibly broad subject. Really, what are the differences between contemporary and traditional art? Is it merely a notion of chronology that separates the two? Because if so, then contemporary art forms a natural progression of artistic experiment from those who are working in more accepted mediums. Or is the distinction that contemporary art is created out of a different set of values, and is not so much a progression but more a reaction against the painters of the 17th and 18th centuries? And if this is the case, then a reactionary movement in any cultural form is bound to happen – as in literature, modernism reacted against the moralistic writings of the Victorian age – the twentieth century saw a similar revolution in the art world. The last century saw massive developments in the artist’s as well as the public’s conception of what

makes art, Art. After Marcel Duchamp in the 1920s put a urinal in an art gallery, and labelled it sculpture with the title Fountain, there has been large scale controversy and debate over the merit of art of appropriation such as this. However, this debate is surely a good thing. Even though people do not agree with what constitutes art they are at least talking about it, meaning an increasing awareness of the culture that surrounds them and its potential. For the British art world after the dominance of the American Pop Art scene in the 1960s and 70s, the emergence of the Young British Artists (YBA’s) lead to artists being treated as modern day celebrities, receiving all the notoriety that went with it. Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst were among some of the most recognisable faces and soon reached high points in their careers - Hirst winning the Turner Prize in 1995. In a world in which, somewhat unfortunately, the popularity or skill a work possesses is judged by how much it receives at auction, the value of both of these artists implies that contemporary art is not to be dismissed off hand, and its varying forms have developed themselves to be as recognisable as traditional forms of painting.

that Pride and Prejudice is just as good on stage as it is on paper. Pride and Prejudice is showing at the Theatre Royal from the 15-20th Feb.

A Night Less Ordinary Surely no student of sound mind could possibly turn down the offer of a freebie? No! Well the Arts Council agree with you. They’ve teamed up with the Metro newspaper to offer under 26 year olds free theatre tickets. Yes, totally free! A nationwide initiative called A Night Less Ordinary was launched in February 2009 to dole out free theatre tickets to dramahungry students. In the North East, three of Newcastle’s most prominent institutions are participating: the Theatre Royal, the Live Theatre and the on-campus Northern Stage. Between the three venues, 50 tickets are offered up on a weekly basis for a range of theatre events including comedy, tragedies, musicals, dance, modern mime, plays and circus! A Night Less Ordinary tickets are released on the last Friday of each month. You can book tickets LQ SHUVRQ DW WKH ER[ RIÀFH RU RYHU the phone, so make sure you don’t miss out! For more information, go to www. newcastletheatres.org.uk or contact any of the participating venues. Stephanie Ferrao Arts Editor

26

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Film

film interview

so bad, it’s good

A Perfect Life Scot Williams talks about the release of his QHZ Ă€OP KLV career and his advice for aspiring actors in an interview with Frances Kroon Having just been released on DVD last Monday, Perfect Life is a psychological thriller that focuses around the life of two college students who Ă€UVW PHW ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH NLGV -HVVH 0HWFDOI LQ WKH OHDG SOD\V -DFN a hell raiser put through college through the charity of his friend, who having suffered a childhood of relative poverty, is now put through KLV SDFHV LQ WKH H[WUHPH LQLWLDWLRQ to gain a coveted place in a college IUDWHUQLW\ 6FRW :LOOLDPV LV VDLG IULHQG )UHGdie, an aristocratic Brit, who already in the fraternity, is eager to see his IULHQG DFFHSWHG $ VXFFHVV LQ WKH %ULWLVK DQG $PHULFDQ Ă€OP LQGXVWU\ 6FRW KDV DOVR EHHQ D VXFFHVVIXO ZULWHU +DYLQJ ZULWWHQ DQG VWDUUHG LQ KLV Ă€UVW SOD\ *URZLQJ Young to rave reviews in Liverpool, he has gone on to star in Backbeat, WKH FXOW FODVVLF %HDWOHV Ă€OP SHUIRUP LQ YDULRXV VWDJH SURGXFWLRQV DQG PRVW UHFHQWO\ VWDU DORQJVLGH Cent in Dead Man Running. 2YHU WKH ZHHNHQG 7KH &RXULHU FDXJKW XS ZLWK 6FRW WR DVN KLP DERXW WKH UROH WKH Ă€OP DQG RQ EHLQJ DQ DFWRU Being Scouse, Scot suggested that LW ZDV WKH $PHULFDQ¡V JHQHUDOLVDWLRQ RI WKH (QJOLVK DV EHLQJ ZHOO (QJOLVK DQG WKHUHIRUH +XJK *UDQW SUHVXPDEO\ DOORZHG KLP WR ODQG WKH UROH RI SRVK ER\ )UHGGLH LQVWHDG of being boxed into roles within the %ULWLVK Ă€OP LQGXVWU\ 7KLV DV ZHOO DV WKH IDFW WKDW KH ZDQWHG WR UHPDLQ LQ /X[HPEXUJ ZKHUH KH KDG SUHYLRXVO\ EHHQ Ă€OPLQJ Tempesta. :LWK UHJDUGV WR WKH Ă€OP DQG LWV PHVVDJH RQ PRGHUQ GD\ OLYLQJ 6FRW FRPSDUHG LW WR Fight Club, though WKLV LV VRPHZKDW DPELWLRXV WKHUH DUH VLPLODU VKDGHV RI WKH VDPH SRLQW

LQ WKHUH Scot describes the two lead characWHUV DV ´GLIIHUHQW VLGHV RI WKH VDPH FRLQÂľ DQG WKH Ă€OP¡V H[SORUDWLRQ RI WKH WZR OHDGV DV LPSORULQJ WKH DXdience to consider the possibility of WKH WZR FKDUDFWHUV EHLQJ WKH VDPH SHUVRQ PDNLQJ WKH Ă€OP D VWXG\ RI VFKL]RSKUHQLD 8OWLPDWHO\ WKRXJK WKH Ă€OP IRU 6FRW DVNV XV WR FRQVLGHU ´ZKDW LV WKH SHUIHFW OLIHÂŤ\RX¡YH JRW -DFN ZKR KDV QRWKLQJ DQG )UHGGLH ZKR KDV HYHU\WKLQJ EXW ZKR¡V ULFKHU"Âľ On his co-actor Jessie Bradford, :LOOLDPV UDYHV DERXW WKH \RXQJ DFWRU¡V WDOHQW DQG SUHGLFWV KLV VXGGHQ ULVH WR VWDUGRP WKLV \HDU KDYLQJ UHFHQWO\ ZRUNHG ZLWK VRPH KXJHO\ LQĂ XHQWLDO MXJJHUQDXWV &OLQW (DVWZRRG WR VD\ WKH OHDVW Obviously for all us ladies who ever watched Bring It On, he was always a star as the goofy guitarplaying brother‌though perhaps ZDQWV WR SURJUHVV IURP EHLQJ WKH WRNHQ KRWWLH ,W VHHPV :LOOLDPV LV PRUH IRFXVHG RQ WKH EDFNVWDJH VLGH RI WKLQJV DQG ZKHQ , DVNHG DERXW ZKHWKHU KH SUHIHUUHG DFWLQJ WR ZULWLQJ KH JDYH PH the useful analogy of a jigsaw: “as a writer you get to put the jigsaw toJHWKHU EXW DV DQ DFWRU \RX¡UH MXVW D SDZQ Âľ :LOOLDPV LV LQ IDFW FXUUHQWO\ SURducing a West End production he wrote, called A Bard Day’s Night, DERXW WKH %HDWOHV JRLQJ EDFN LQ WLPH WR PHHW 6KDNHVSHDUH DQG GHPRQVWUDWHG KLV IDPRXV 6FRXVH ZLW ZKHQ KH UHPDUNHG WKDW KLV :HVW (QG YHQWXUH ZDV D UHVXOW RI KLP ´ORRNLQJ DW ZKDW ZDV PDNLQJ SHRSOH YHU\ ULFK Âľ $QG ZLWK VRPH RI WKH ELJ :HVW (QG PXVLFDOV PDNLQJ PRUH WKDQ Titanic, KH¡V VSRW RQ 7KDW VDLG WKRXJK :LOOLDPV ZDV fairly honest about the fact that he wanted to be a big star originally: “I ZDQWHG WR EH 0DUORQ %UDQGR -DPHV 'HDQÂľ :LOOLDPV VD\V %XW OLNH DQ\ other job, priorities change priorities and you roll with the punches ´\RX GRQ¡W ZDQW DQ 2VFDU DQ\PRUH \RX ZDQW D JDUGHQ Âľ 3HUKDSV WKH EHVW LQVLJKW :LOOLDPV JLYHV LV KLV YLHZ RI ZKDW LW WDNHV WR PDNH D JRRG GLUHFWRU +H VXPV LW XS concisely saying, “a director who

Stephanie Ferrao on what is quite possibly the worst movie ever made

tells you what to do is bad, one who GHPRQVWUDWHV LV DYHUDJH EXW RQH that inspires you to really do what WKH\ ZDQW LV JUHDW Âľ 'LUHFWRUV OLNH &KDUOHV 0F'RXgall, (who directed Hillsborough and who has gone on to direct Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City DUH PHQWLRQHG E\ :LOOLDPV KHUH VD\LQJ ´\RX QHYHU IRUJHW GLUHFWRUV OLNH WKDW Âľ $V D PDQ ZKR KDV ZULWWHQ DQG SURGXFHG KLV RZQ ZRUN MXVW WR VWDU in it, you could say Scot is certainly VHOI VXIĂ€FLHQW His advice to the aspiring actors of Newcastle University follows a VLPLODU YHLQ RI WKRXJKW VD\LQJ ´\RX KDYH WR PDNH LW KDSSHQ \RXUVHOIÂľ and for all you RADA hopefuls, GUDPD VFKRRO LVQ¡W QHFHVVDULO\ JRLQJ WR KHOS \RX LQ WKLV UHVSHFW $V IRU 6FRW LW VHHPV WKDW KLV XOWLPDWH UROH LV RI FRXUVH WKDW FRYHWHG VHOI LQGXOJHQW EUDW RI 'HQPDUN +DPOHW PD\EH %D] /XKUPDQQ ZLOO PDNH WKH Ă€OP

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THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

27

Film Culture Film Editor: Frances Kroon - courier.culture-film@ncl.ac.uk

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28

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

Exclusive blogs and content>>>thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music interview

Scroobius Pip, he’s just a man The Essex alternative hip-hop icon talks to Joe Skrebels about politics, musical icons and the star power of facial hair Scroobius Pip is a man with a lot to say. Our short interview turned LQWR WZHQW\ Ă€YH PLQXWHV RI FKDW about everything from his new alEXP WR &\QGL /DXSHU %XW Ă€UVW RI all, he wants to apologise for not making it up to Newcastle on his upcoming tour. “It’s purely because with the ofIHUV ZH JRW LW¡V DOO ZH FRXOG Ă€W LQ If you look at our gig listings, we literally haven’t got a day off in between. But at some point I’m sure we’ll get back to Newcastle.â€? That’s that sorted then. It’s been clear from the outset that Pip’s love of talking leads him onto more serious subject matter in his songs, tackling everything from suicide to the concept of beauty on the last album.

“There’s a huge awareness that I’m a twenty-eight year old dude from Essex, you know? I don’t think I’ve got all the answers.� New single Get Better tackles some of the issues facing young people these days, and Pip makes it clear that he feels articulating society’s problems is an important matter for today’s music artist. “Green or political issues have become really fashionable for bands to talk about in interviews and then on their actual songs they just go and sing another love song.� “It’s always been my thought that if there was something I felt passionate about I’d put it in the songs, where it’s getting directly to the audience.� However, despite this direct style of message, Pip makes pains to stay clear of being a preacher. “There’s a huge awareness that I’m a twenty-eight year old dude from Essex you know? I don’t think I’ve

got all the answers. A lot of people have said, “You shouldn’t tell people what to think� and I’m not! I’m saying think for yourselves.� It seems that this self-awareness is what anchors Pip; even talking about his own music he’s unwilling to put himself alongside his fellow artists. “I still see myself as a hip-hop fan who just happens to have the chance to make the music and work with some amazing people.� Those amazing people include Posdnous of De La Soul, who recorded a new version of Pip’s breakthrough hit, Thou Shalt Always Kill, last year. Pip still sounds excited when he talks about the experience. “I listened to 3 Feet High and Rising at school and to have Pos covering one of our songs was amazing. It was just great hearing all that from a living legend.� When asked about whether he has any more legends itching to work with him, he sounds cagey but not entirely dismissive. “Through Posdnous we got details for people like Q-Tip [from A Tribe Called Quest]. It would be a dream to work with them, and now I guess it’s strangely achievable. You can sit there with the most ridiculous list of hip-hop legends and go, “well, it’s possible!�� Despite his new found star contacts though, Pip doesn’t forget to heap praises on the man who helped make him the act he is now, Dan Le Sac. “The reason I started working with Dan isn’t because of his name in the dance scene, it was just because I thought his work sounded awesome.� “Dance is the one thing I never got. I’d go to clubs at uni and people would be loving it and I’d just be going, “Nah, I don’t get it.� In that way, Dan’s opened the door for me.� But really, Pip puts his success

down to one other key attribute. “The beard has the power. I’d recommend any artist to grow one. In all seriousness, I get recognised when I’m out a lot and it’s not be-

cause I’m world famous, it’s just I’m easier to recognise than most bands. They’ve got that generic look, I’ve just got a massive beard.�

Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip release their new single Get Better on 1st March, followed by their new album The Logic of Chance on 14th March.

the debate Everybody Hurts, unless you’re Simon Cowell Alice Vincent Culture Editor Picking apart the motivations of Simon Cowell’s charity single project is much like looking a gift horse in the mouth. It shouldn’t really be done if it’s raising money for charity, right? You’d have to be pretty hardhearted to argue otherwise, and I’m not doing so. However, the ironies with which this project is riddled really can’t escape notice. Firstly, Cowell, a man who has made his name and fame by being cruel, ruining dreams and manipulating the British public into paying his wages is behind this whole scheme. Him, and Gordon

Brown. Enough said. It’s about time they did something for those less fortunate.

For Cowell, this could well be another exercise in networking and self-promotion However, the cynic in me just sees this as another massive publicity stunt. Gordon Brown certainly needs a bit of positive light at any time, and for Cowell the single could well be seen as yet another exercise in networking and selfpromotion.

If anything could sum up the lack of thought behind the single, it would surely have to be the choice of cover. Everybody Hurts will undoubtedly sell millions of copies despite the inevitable bastardisation of Michael Stipe’s genius - which, I suppose, is the point – however, it’s a song about bullying, suffering and being the underdog, and possibly not the greatest choice to associate with one of the world’s most down-trodden countries. Ultimately, it smacks of ignorance and a lack of consideration beyond the economic. I’d happily pay £3.99 for the single. I’d then happily take it down to the nearest charity shop.

Linsey Teggert In no way am I denouncing people’s desire to raise money for charitable causes, and the people of Haiti desperately need charity at this terrible time, but Simon Cowell’s Haiti single absolutely stinks of being another one of his self-promoting ventures. While no doubt it will raise much needed millions, the whole concept of the single is disgusting. First of all, having celebrities such as Mariah Carey, who are the ultimate symbols of overindulgence, sing about suffering while they have their every need pandered to, is just vulgar.

Secondly, Cowell’s choice of song is crass and highly inappropriate. Cowell has obviously chosen a tear-jerker, and tried to make it profound by taking its lyrics out of the original context. But choosing a song about high-school bullying is a slap in the face to the people of Haiti whose suffering is incomparable to anything most of us have experienced. Cowell and his celebrities should shut up, or perhaps pool together their wealth and write a big bloody cheque, rather than subjecting us to this utter rubbish.

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

29

Music Culture

Review of secret Feeder gig in Manchester >>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

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

gigs Jamie T

Northumbria University, 28 January Having had to wait for this gig since October after it was postponed due to illness, I would QRW KDYH EHHQ VDWLVĂ€ HG XQOHVV KH was on top form. Thankfully and unsurprisingly, it was well worth the wait. From opening with Man’s Machine, to the inevitable close with recent single Sticks ‘n’ Stones, he seemed genuinely pleased to be Ă€ QDOO\ WRXULQJ KLV VHFRQG DOEXP and the crowd were even more

Detroit Social Club Independent Sunderland, 29 January

After being advised by the editors to take a stab vest to this concert, it was with some trepidation that I boarded the Metro to Sunderland. $V JLJV JR WKLV RQH ZDV GHÀ QLWHO\ the smallest I’d been to since a former school friend’s attempt to be the next Chris Martin went up in à DPHV LQ P\ ROG VFKRRO VSRUWV KDOO The night didn’t begin well. A crowd of barely over a hundred had spent most of the night up to this point spread thinly around the HGJHV RI WKH à RRU EXW ZKHQ 'HWURLW Social Club launched into new single Kiss the Sun, the whole house

Daniel Kielty

Arthouse at Venue, 27 January 3OD\LQJ IRU WKH Ă€ UVW WLPH LQ 1HZ castle, Nadine Shah’s performance for the Arthouse club night was greatly anticipated. She paired simple piano arrangements with stories of heartbreak sung in a deep and husky Geordie accent with the odd colloquialism thrown in (look out for ‘nowt’). It was apt that she was headlining ‘Arthouse presents Acting’, as her set was an absolute performance, an emotion-fuelled half hour which left the previously chatty audience

O2 Academy Newcastle, 30 January Normally when you buy a ticket to a gig, it’s a high calibre musical experience you are expecting to receive. But in the case of Adam Green, of The Mouldy Peaches fame and a one man drinking machine, a free stand up routine and all round hilarity is included as well. Aside from the music, which wasn’t bad to say the least, I witnessed a man move in ways I have only previously been able to imagine, preach about the merits of Weatherspoons, and abuse an

Polly Randall

was dragged forward to the fringes of the stage by a seemingly unstoppable layering of aggressive guitars and rising percussion, as well as a frontman with more charisma than Barack Obama. After following up this intoxicating opener with Black and White, Rivers and Rainbows and Prophecy, I’m left with a strange feeling of embarrassment. The fact that a band this good are still playing to crowds no bigger than the population of Luxembourg (that’s about four) is an absolute travesty. The band’s fusion of Velvet Underground-esque 60s groove and slinging guitars reminiscent of an early Primal Scream genuinely blew me away. Perhaps the only thing that topped the set was the fact that I made it out alive‌probably.

Nadine Shah

Adam Green

grateful for it. Album tracks which I had previously passed over, although not without enjoyment, such as British Intelligence, were transformed live causing as rowdy a reaction as the singles. If You’ve Got The Money was the best of the older tracks, but none of them sounded worn out and the set worked in all the right ways. I was particularly pleased to see the inclusion of b-side Northern Line. There are only certain bands that make me forget my 19 year-old self and instead behave like I am 15 again, throwing my body around with a disregard for my health and appearance, but Jamie T was certainly one of them. And it was great.

audience member with taunts of his appearance being similar to that of Mr Potato Head. All the classic songs were brought out, including the delightfully inappropriate No Legs, which has lines I in no way want to repeat, as well as a raucous Dance with Me. Unsurprisingly, these were recognised more than most and the crowd shouted for little of the new album. In some ways, his trademark sound of New York anti-folk with its quirky lyrics and tuneful guitars that was popular early in the last decade has done little to progress since then, and his performance, although an enjoyable one, appeared trapped in an image no longer relevant to a new decade. Polly Randall

mesmerised. Listening to her music felt like hearing somebody talk about an entire lifetime of experiences; she is unique, soulful and believable. Although her performance on the QLJKW LV GLIÀ FXOW WR FRQYH\ WKH YHU sion of her song Dreary Town that can currently be found on the NME website gives a taster of the intensity and passion of her live sound. Shah joked that her song The Devil was the happy one in the set, which perhaps gives you an idea of the overall tone. Although she may not be the cheeriest performer, she’s certainly worth looking out IRU ([SHFW PDJQLÀ FHQW WKLQJV DQG remember to support the Arthouse night too. Anna Craig

30

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

Reviews of Charlotte Gainsbourg and White Rabbits >>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music singles

albums Hot Chip One Life Stand

Good Shoes No Hope, No Future

Blockhead The Music Scene

The Maccabees feat. Roots Manuva - Empty Vessels Just as they head out as headliners for this year’s NME Awards Tour, The Maccabees release this moody single, driven by Roots Manuva’s paranoid narrative. Not the most immediate tune in The Maccabees catalogue, but it’s a collaboration both sides can be proud of. Mark Corcoran-Lettice

Trademarked just as much as Winehouse’s martini-soaked drawl and the Mancunian Gallagher-croaks that propelled Oasis to stardom, Alex Taylor of Hot Chip has a distinctive vocal presence. A squeaky, sometimes harmonious voice that wavers over the band’s euphoric beats and moody, suburban thumps, it’s a sound many bands have emulated but never managed to surpass. Four albums in for Hot Chip though, and all that techno-splash and geeky electro has begun to wear a bit thin. Amongst the ten tracks on One Life Stand, there is no standout ’classic’ hit; nothing that will set the dance à RRU DEOD]H OLNH Over and Over or Ready For The Floor. It all seems a little bit more mushy - more so, Taylor’s cracking whinge can actually get quite irritating. Hand Me Down Your Love sounds like a Kylie Minogue classic, only penned by her stalker, while the eerie humming that opens the track Alley Cats is best left to the imagina-

tion. One Life Stand and Take It In display the thought-out minimalism of their previous record, with layered beats and transitioning bleeps, but it just isn’t as inviting as it once was. The band summed it up perfectly themselves two records back: the smell of repetition really is on them.

New Boyz Skinny Jeans and a Mic

Lightspeed Champion Marlene EP

Paperplain Entering Pale Town

Chris Mandle Music Editor

competition 7R ZLQ RQH RI À YH SDLUV RI JXHVWOLVW places for you and a friend for Hot Chip at the O2 Academy Newcastle on Thursday 18 February, e-mail us at courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk with the answer to the following question: What was the name of Hot Chip’s third album? Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 12th February.

The Big Pink - Velvet The latest single from The Big Pink could not be further from the song that most people will know them for, Dominoes. This song lacks the repetitiveness of the former and is all the better for it. A hauntingly melodic yet EURRG\ VFX]]\ WUDFN WKDW EXLOGV to a euphoric climax. Tom Richards Owl City - )LUHà LHV Owl City’s )LUHà LHV is an original and playful style of music, which makes it an interesting choice for the UK’s number one. The joyful upbeat rhythm, combined with the imaginative lyrics make it a perfect feel-good song that is easy to listen to and really stays in your head. Sally Priddle

It’s taken three years, but Good Shoes’ sophomore effort has now seen the light of day, and it follows in the footsteps of The Maccabees in offering a more mature sound than their debut. The album opens with The Way My Heart Beats, a sucker punch of driven energy, faster than anything the band have produced before, and then gives us Everything You Do, a gloomy affair, much slower than anything they’ve released too. It’s a bold statement of intent – this will not be a simplistic follow through from the last album. It’s this refusal to stick to one style that characterises the album; we have some arty, high-register guitar squeals on Then She Walks By that Foals would be proud of, and City By The Sea closes it all up with a beautiful lament while stumbling guitar echoes around. It’s not lyrically perfect (‘I know/I know/I know/Oh no’ isn’t the greatest foundation for D FKRUXV DQG WKH VWUDQJH Ă RZ RI the album sometimes doesn’t sit quite right, but this is an exciting, changeable album from a band that offers something consistently different from the usual indie FURZG DQG D GHĂ€ QLWH SRVLWLYH evolution for their second album.

Blockhead’s third album is what trip-hop would sound like had it been invented in Brooklyn, with head-nodding hip-hop beats, blues guitars, turntable scratches DQG WKH RFFDVLRQDO à XWH It’s an original take on a welltrodden genre, and sounds quite unlike much else out there. Unfortunately Blockhead often succumbs to the clichÊs of instrumental music, mainly the use of soundbites from various old records and movies, which feel like alien intruders on the album’s musical landscape. And often the tracks dissolve into easy-listening jams that go nowhere whatsoever. Ironically, Blockhead is at his peak when working with vocals, such as in It’s Raining Clouds and Four Walls. Sometimes the whole thing feels more like an exercise in vanity than a genuine musical project; an DSSURSULDWHO\ KLS KRS à H[LQJ RI Blockhead’s production muscles. Blockhead’s ultimate strength is throwing together disparate elements into a melting pot and producing something new. Even if he never quite manages to pull you into the subterranean New York depicted on the cover, BlockKHDG VWLOO PDQDJHV WR DPD]H ZLWK KLV WHFKQLFDO SURÀ FLHQF\

Artists that become famous beFDXVH RI WKH QHZHVW GDQFH FUD]H are, without question, terrible. DJ Casper, Soulja Boy, the person who did Macarena (seriously, who was that?): all travesties of music. 6R KHDULQJ WKDW / $ ¡V 1HZ %R\] come heralding the new jerkin’ fad, we shouldn’t hold out too much hope. Skinny Jeans and a Mic is a jerk music manifesto – minimalistic beats and synths accompanied by looping, laid-back hip-hop vocals. So far, not so bad. Unfortunately, there are two major problems with this album. First: every song sounds the same, and that sound is one that could easily turn into The Whisper Song at any moment (never a good thing). Second: jerk music is aimed at a primarily teenage audience. As such, the lyrics are some of the most wince-inducing, artless and gimmick-obsessed I’ve ever heard. Take this line from Way 2 Many Chickz for example: “Met this girl name Lanice, a freak but ugly/ She stripped for me once and her butt cheeks was mustyâ€?. Mix that with constant references to iPods, skinny jeans and, of course, jerkin’, and it becomes impossible to listen to after two or three songs. Save yourself the trouble, don’t listen to this album.

Looks like our little Dev Hynes has grown up: over the last few years, his fans have watched the tender, VSHFWDFOHG WHHQ IURP KLV Ă€ UVW DO bum, Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, morph into something stronger, bulkier and a little bit more sophisticated. Dev’s latest release, the Marlene EP, is a fully charged, powerful start, with more of an emphasis on Dev’s backing band, throwing in an electric guitar solo to complement the violin we’re all so used to. However this isn’t all Dev’s been up to whilst he’s been away, as Concerto.2 “So Long! So Longâ€? proves. The end result sounding like the love child of a period drama soundtrack and the closing scene IURP D ¡V URPDQWLF Ă€ OP ZKLOVW D cover of Serge Gainsbourg’s 69 AnnĂŠe Érotique, performed in his best French tones, adds an air of lust and romance to the collection of songs. He’s back at it again on TĂŞte Morte (roughly translated in English to dead head) as well, only this WLPH +\QHV Ă DXQWV KLPVHOI EHWZHHQ English and French lyrics, before Ă€ QLVKLQJ LQ VW\OH ZLWK D KDXQWLQJ and lyrical piano climax. On this evidence, things look good for the new album, Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You, out later this month.

Another month, another pretentiously-named twee solo-girl folk act. Paperplain’s mini album, however, Entering Pale Town, is actually better than most of the glut. Comparisons to Joanna Newsom are understandable – imagine if the harp-playing elf dropped her vocals an octave and a half but retained the sweet honesty, and you’re about there. Just spirited enough to rise above lift music, Entering Pale Town succeeds in its uncomplicated song structure, knowing lyrics and the fact that not every song sounds the same. The eight-track recording process (in her college bedroom, natch) adds charm rather than FKLQW] DQG \RX¡YH JRWWD JLYH WKH girl some credit for making the ‘Other Woman’ sound cute in Foreign Fingers. Pale Town is an unfortunate choice for album opener, the tune verging on annoying and plonking, and sometimes Paperplain bangs into the major criticisms of her genre. The inclusion of a ringing phone sound bite doesn’t help. The Trip, however, improves things somewhat, setting the tone for the rest of the album. All in all, it’s no masterpiece, but well worth picking up for a latewinter soundtrack.

Joe Skrebels

Elliot Bentley

Joe Skrebels

Tom Richards

Alice Vincent Culture Editor

32

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio soaps

tv highlights Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Gordon Brown

Coronation Street

Mon, Thurs, Fri on ITV1 Peter tries to apologise to Leanne but ends up turning to his own worst enemy – booze. Will his antics land him in rehab? Elsewhere, Sunita tells Dev her aunts are coming to stay and as they don’t know they’re divorced, Dev must play happy families to help out.

10.15pm Sunday, ITV1 He’s one of the most famous (or infamous) men in the country yet what do we actually know about our Prime Minister? Love him, hate him or don’t really care about him, this interview should be great viewing as Piers Morgan delves into Brown’s life - past, present and future. $V WKH À UVW HSLVRGH LQ WKH QHZ series of Pier’s Morgan’s Life Stories, it will be interesting to see what Piers manages to get out of the Labour politician. In his last set of interviews he reduced Dannii

Minogue to tears over the break-up of her marriage, pushed Katie Price to reveal all about her miscarriage and childhood abuse and discussed drug experimentation and rape with Katherine Jenkins so it’s difÀ FXOW WR LPDJLQH ZKDW WKH RXWFRPH of this one hour interview will be. Will Gordon burst into tears over the General Election? Will he admit to taking Valium at No10? Or will he answer questions with the usual vague, confusing politicians’ answers we’re all used to? Catch the interview on Sunday QLJKW WR À QG RXW

What Katie Did Next

Last Woman Standing

Dancing on Wheels

Supernatural

9pm Thursday, ITV2

9pm Tuesday, BBC3

9pm Thursday, BBC3

9pm Wednesday, LivingTV

Pick of the week

Eastenders

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri on BBC1 Sonia’s back in Walford for Bianca’s hen night but it doesn’t look like the usual lively oestrogen-fuelled affair. But perhaps the outbreak of E20 characters will liven up the party! Leon and Fatboy join the partying ladies while Heather and 6KLUOH\ À QG =VD =VD RQ WKHLU GRRU step. What does she want?

Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

Hollyoaks

Weekdays at 6.30pm on C4 Hannah is thrilled to be back together with Jamie, and immediately agrees to leave Hollyoaks with him so they can start a new life together. But what is Jamie not telling her? Meanwhile, Calvin asks Carmel to move back in with him, but what will she say when Cheryl lets slip about her and Calvin’s kiss?

Emmerdale

Weekdays, 7pm Ryan turns up at Home Farm to ask Natasha about his dad but what will Nathan do if he sees Ryan home? Nicola accuses Thomas of stealing her make-up (!) so he gets his own back. Meanwhile, Sam is PLVVLQJ OLYLQJ ZLWK 2OHQD DQG À QGV any excuse to see her.

Neighbours Britain’s biggest fame-whore is back. $IWHU JRLQJ EDFN WR ZKHUH VKH Ă€ UVW met ex-husband Peter Andre, she left early, refused a proposal from her cross-dressing boxer boyfriend and then proceeded, in true Jordan fashion, to get absolutely bladdered and made a fool out of herself. The show follows ‘what Katie did next’; only those with the wildest of imaginations would possibly be able to predict it. As far as I know, “stepping out of the limelightâ€? does not mean going FDPSLQJ ZLWK D Ă€ OP FUHZ 6KH DOVR taught the nation a valuable lesson – don’t ever, ever get someone’s name tattooed on your body. In fact, she’s a pretty good example of what not to do with your whole life. If you could do with a laugh, tune in to see why your life LV LQĂ€ QLWHO\ EHWWHU WKDQ ZKDW \RX sometimes give it credit for!

If you’ve ever thought about running a marathon, braving the Great North Swim, or any similar athletic feat, don’t miss this. Not content with honing their ERGLHV WR SHUIHFWLRQ LQ WKH 8. À YH female athletes embark on some rather more terrifying experiences, including water buffalo racing and rafting, in Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia. The athletes live amongst tribes and remote peoples and attempt to master their indigenous sports. Part Gladiators, part World’s Strongest Man, this series is a continuation of Last Man Standing. Competing against each other, as well as the local women, this will be a gruelling experience for the participants. So tune in this Tuesday for a chance to watch grown women wrestling (mud not guaranteed) and competing for the coveted title.

Dancing on Wheels is the latest dance competition to hit our television screens, but this is a dancing competition with a difference. One half of each couple will be a wheelchair user and the other half will be an able-bodied celebrity. Among the celebrities is singer Heather Small from MPeople, actress Michelle Gayle and Hollyoaks meanie Jake Dean. The judges are Ade Adepitan, a famous wheelchair basketball player who you might know better as the lead in the cool BBC1 advert of the wheelchair dancers, along with James and Ola Jordan, from Strictly Come Dancing. The competition is based purely on dance ability rather than the couples’ crowd pleasing skills because the winning couple goes on to compete in the toughest wheelchair dance competition in the world.

Jessica Bean

Shalini Nayee

Cordelia Rosa

ad of the week Simples advertising genius This is the meerkat advert to rival all meerkat adverts. Yes, car insurance is at the heart of it, but it’s advertising genius. The meerkat series is one of the most talked about pieces of advertising at the moment and the latest instalment is an epic. It charts the history of chief meerkat Aleksandr Orlov’s ancestors, who were forced to escape their

‘simples life’ in the Kalahari due to the ‘grub crisis’. The meerkats eventually sail to the promised land- Russia. The rest, as they say, is history. Don’t ask why the Compare the Meerkat adverts have such a huge following- it seems the hearts of us Brits have been warmed by a meerkat with a somewhat unexpected Russian accent.

Aleksandr Orlov’s Facebook page has nearly 700,000 members (I happen to be one of them, incidentally‌) - voila the power of advertising. I don’t know about you but the randomness of the entire Meerkat series does it for me every time. ‘Simples’ as that. Helen Atkinson

1RZ LQ LWV Ă€ IWK VHULHV RQH RI $PHU ica’s scariest and most adventurous shows returns to LivingTV. The show follows the lives of the Winchester brothers, Sam and 'HDQ ZKRVH MRE LV WR Ă€ JKW DJDLQVW the evil that nobody believed existed. In the last series Lucifer the devil rose and Sam and Dean have to race against time to stop him destroying the world. It’s not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure, and it tells the stories in a very spooky, atmospheric way, with the superb acting of the cast making it all the more enjoyable. Combined with the dry humour of the brothers, this show has a touch of excellence that goes way beyond the typical ‘scary’ drama. Starting with a double bill, so you can get a double dose, don’t miss it this Wednesday! Lynsey Fawcett

1.45pm and 5.30pm on Five After the last tear-jerking episode, when Susan lost the Fitzgeralds’ baby, get ready for another weepy as the family are still distraught. Dan decides to organise a memorial for his son ‘Sean Thomas’ because he thinks everybody needs a focus for their grief, but he is completely unaware that his wife blames him for what’s happened.

Home and Away

Weekdays at 2.15pm/6pm on Five Tattooed Mink is already causing a stir in Summer Bay as she swings a punch at John Palmer while staying at Summer Bay House with Miles. Meanwhile, Ruby is appalled when John is quoted in the paper saying he doesn’t believe refugees should get free medical care, so she decides to organise a rally in retaliation. Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

the vote Weakest Link vs. Eggheads Email courier.culturetv@ncl.ac.uk with your vote now Last week’s winner - Top Gear

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

33

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

Reid gets a foot up over Dane

catch-up tv Lost: Final series

Joe Mellor Columnist

9pm Fridays, Sky1, catch up on Sky1 website 2QH DUWLFOH LVQ¡W HQRXJK VSDFH WR explain Lost. To lay out the plot points like careful coordinates, to ponder the mysteries left unsolved, to appease WKRVH ZKR Ă€ QG WKH FRQFHSW ULGLFX lous; such things are perhaps out of my hands. Some ignored the show from the start, while others fell off the band wagon years ago, but on February WK 6N\2QH WKH Ă€ QDO VHULHV RI Lost begins. The beginning of the end, if you will (although true fans will recall WKDW Âś7KH %HJLQQLQJ RI 7KH (QG¡ was actually an episode in Series 4). Plane crashes on island. Island seems weird; polar bears, monsters

made of smoke and mysterious native people who love kids. Some people die, some people die and come back to life, some people seem to be close to dying but we NQRZ WKH\¡OO QHYHU GLH VR ZH GRQ¡W care that they nearly just died (Jack). Survivors end up getting rescued, sort of. Some get off the island while the rest seem to travel back in time, but then the ones who got off the island, no sooner than having duty-free Skittles and vodka, decide to go back. Somehow the people who left come back, but then they come thirty years too late; the people who stayed are partying like its 1977

(are you Lost yet?). Then Juliet fell down a big shaft and detonated a hydrogen bomb, on the theory that blowing the LVODQG XS ZLOO ¡UHVHW¡ WKH PHVVHG XS WLPHOLQH WKH\ Ă€ QG WKHPVHOYHV in (this was advised to them by a surgeon). Lost series six started on February

5th but catch-up now at http:// sky1.sky.com/episodes and search IRU œ/RVW¡ .HHS XS ZLWK WKH UHVW of the series on Sky1 on Fridays at SP +RZHYHU LW¡V ORRNLQJ YHU\ OLNHO\ WKDW ZH¡OO VWLOO EH ORVW DIWHU WKH series ends. Chris Mandle

news

Lost reduced live

Come Lie With Me

Lost returns to our screens this PRQWK ZLWK LWV VL[WK DQG Ă€ QDO season but in anticpation, an excitLQJ OLYH SURGXFWLRQ RI WKH Ă€ UVW Ă€ YH series has been commissioned by Sky1. The performance, by the awardZLQQLQJ WKHDWUH WURXSH WKH 5H duced Shakespeare Company, will celebrate the ongoing success of the US series and will offer a unique vision of the TV show which follows the story of the survivors of the LOO IDWHG 2FHDQLF Ă LJKW ZKLFK FUDVKHG VRPHZKHUH LQ WKH 3DFLĂ€ F The twist is that the show is limited to just ten minutes but somehow the creators have managed to FRQGHQVH WKH Ă€ UVW Ă€ YH VHDVRQV LQWR this tiny timeframe. 'RQ¡W OHW WKLV GHWHU \RX WKRXJK LI you suddenly feel that after spending literally hours and hours of

Wow. For the D-lists, Celebrity Come Dine with Me must be the number one priority for your agent to land you a job in. œ)RU ORJLVWLF DQG VHFXULW\ UHDVRQV¡ WKH VKRZ¡V SURGXFHUV KDYH EHHQ UHQWLQJ RXW SURSHUWLHV WKDW GRQ¡W actually belong to the hosts that are cooking! Presumably those security reasons must be the need for a secret location for Christopher Biggins to forPXODWH KLV $XQW\ 9L¡V WULà H ZLWKRXW anybody stealing the recipe. These days, Channel 4 has all the procedures in place to deal ZLWK VXFK œIDNLQJ LW¡ VFDQGDOV DV and when they come to light, and this revelation that more than one celebrity cooked for their guests in a purpose-rented house is a bit GHà DWLQJ LI QRW WKDW VXUSULVLQJ The fact that they waited for

your life watching all 103 episodes, you could have just waited for some guys to condense the whole thing for you. As a matter of fact Lost Reduced offers us a fresh and comedic spin on a show that for many has been compulsive viewing over the past À YH \HDUV Look out for Jack, Kate, Sawyer and many more fan favourites in what is a great appetiser in preparation for the concluding chapter of the show. The show was performed live on WK -DQXDU\ EXW LW ZDV UHFRUGHG for internet broadcast and can be caught now online at sky.com or on Sky Anytime on the Sky Platform. Imran Javed

somebody to expose the truth is just plain naughty. :DV 6KHUULH +HZVRQ¡V KRXVH QRW Âś:LVWHULD /DQH¡ HQRXJK IRU WKH viewers of Loose Women to see? Biggins actually pointed out a picWXUH RI -RDQ &ROOLQV RQ ÂśKLV¡ ZDOO IRU the other guests to admire. Impressive. But worth lying to the public about? Shame on you Biggins. The fact that the ‘slebs have to Ă€ QG WKH ULJKW KRXVH IRU WKHLU WHOHYL sion reputation says plenty. ,W¡V VLPSO\ PRUH LQWHUHVWLQJ WR JR into the house of somebody off the street and see what their life is like, which is one of the great things about the regular series. ,W¡V LQYDULDEO\ WKURZQ XS ELJJHU characters than Christopher Biggins in a panto costume ever could. Nile Amos

radio highlights Nobody’s Perfect

Brits Breakthrough Act Going the Distance

Sunday Love Songs

Monday, BBC R1

10-12.45am Monday-Friday, BBC R1

1.45-2pm Wednesday, BBC 1Xtra

9am Sunday, BBC R2

Presenters Edith Bowman, Trevor & Gemma, Dev and Nick Grimshaw go under the spotlight this ZHHN WR NLFN RII WKH 1RERG\¡V 3HU fect campaign tackling the subject of body image. The DJs will be photographed and airbrushed to demonstrate how celebrity pictures in magazines can be altered so much that they look FRPSOHWHO\ DUWLĂ€ FLDO

%%& 5DGLR OLVWHQHUV KDYH WKH opportunity to vote for the British Breakthrough Act of 2010 at this \HDU¡V %ULWV DQG DOO WKH QRPLQHHV drop by for a chat with Fearne Cotton this week. Listeners can vote online at bbc. co.uk/radio1 from 6-12 February 2010. Voting closes at 7pm on the 12th.

Long-distance relationships can be tough. The effort of trying to stay close even though it may be weeks before you see each other. But this show proves it can be worth it, with testimonies from those who have successfully got through the hard times including Paul who spent four years apart from his girlfriend at university but is now happily married to her.

.LFN RII \RXU 9DOHQWLQH¡V 'D\ ZLWK 6WHYH :ULJKW¡V Sunday Love Songs. Wright presents a special edition of the regular show for the most romantic day of the year – St 9DOHQWLQH¡V 'D\ – where romantic dedications are accompanied by the ZRUOG¡V EHVW QHZ DQG FODVVLF ORYH songs. Send in your own love messages to lovesongs@bbc.co.uk.

Quote...Unquote

Obama’s America

4pm Tues, BBC 4

1.30pm Monday, BBC R4

8pm Wednesday, BBC World Service

,Q %HQMDPLQ &RKHQ¡V GRWFRP EDE\ /DVWPLQXWH FRP ZDV à RDWHG on the London Stock Exchange. It was the end of his millionaire business and his teenage dreams. In this documentary, Benjamin discovers the fate of the other teenDJH ¡V GRWFRP HQWUHSUHQHXUV DQG he muses over what drove him to devote his teenage years to poring over business plans and agonising over venture capital equity deals.

A new series of Quote ... Unquote, the quotations quiz presented by 1LJHO 5HHV UHWXUQV WR %%& 5DGLR A new gang of celebrities will join Nigel to answer questions on the sources of a range of quotations and they will be asked for their own amusing anecdotes, sayings DQG TXRWHV WKH\¡YH SHUVRQDOO\ collected throughout their varied careers.

7KLV LV WKH Ă€ UVW RI D WZR SDUW VHULHV H[DPLQLQJ 2EDPD¡V $PHULFD DQG American foreign policy. The programme focuses on the Korean War, which marked the birth of the nation as a superpower and ushered in an era of expansive, interventionist foreign policy. Should the US act as a global sheriff or should it adopt a more hands-off approach, pursuing diplomacy?

100% Homegrown Mon-Fri, BBC 1Xtra BBC 1Xtra starts its three week celebration of the best in British black music talent from past, present and future. 1Xtra listeners can vote for their HomeGrown Hero in an online poll from a shortlist selected E\ 5DGLR DQG ;WUD '-V DQG WKH UHVXOW ZLOO EH UHYHDOHG RQ )HE 7KHUH¡OO EH LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK VRPH RI WKH 8.¡V PRVW WDOHQWHG EODFN PXVLF artists and live sessions with both established and emerging artists.

I Was A Teenage Dotcom Millionaire

On Friday 29th January 2010 Tony Blair faced the toughest test of his career, as he entered the auditorium. ‘His muscles were taught, his eyes bloodshot, his tan implausible, his mouth unsmiling. His hand visibly shook when pouring the water.‘(Jenkins in The Guardian, 30th January 2010, pg 1) The nation held its collective breath. As Blair looked into the eyes of his detractors, he answered slowly and precisely ‘I want Vinny to play PH LQ WKH Ă€ OP YHUVLRQ RI P\ OLIH¡ Now that Vinny Jones has only managed a paltry 3rd in Celebrity Big Brother, he might stoop so low DV WR SOD\ %ODLU LQ WKH Ă€ OP Blair My Story. This is a man who recently WXUQHG GRZQ VL[ Ă€ JXUHV WR SOD\ 6WDOORQH¡V VLGHNLFN LQ Rambo 18 (ok, , FKHFNHG LW¡V Rambo 5 +H LVQ¡W small fry. But why Vinny you ask? Well Blair knows the vegans and the anti-war protesters will turn up. The middle class will go because they are scared of drinking in town on a weekend, and desperately need something to do, and the next 1LFN +RUQE\ ERUH D WKRQ LVQ¡W RXW until August. What Tony needs is the Geezer demographic, and Vinny IS box RIĂ€ FH 2ULJLQDOO\ %ODLU ZDQWHG 5D\ Winstone to play him, however 5D\ UHFHQWO\ SOD\HG +HQU\ 9,,, DQG %ODLU GLGQ¡W ZDQW WR GUDZ FRP SDULVRQV ,Q WKH Ă€ QDO VFHQH RI WKH Ă€ OP DV WKH YHJDQV LQ DWWHQGDQFH use the last of their protein depleted bodies to shake their heads at the screen) Blair (Vinny) picks up Sir John Chilcot by his lapels and sack-beats him to death. He turns to the camera and without a hint of LURQ\ VD\V ÂśLW¡V EHHQ HPRWLRQDO¡ He leaves the room with Alistar Campbell (played by Dane Dowers AKA little chris/vinny) and they JR ORRNLQJ IRU WKDW ÂśJUDVV¡ -DFN Straw, the end. Anyway back to the real world of celebrities locked in a house for four weeks. The most talented individual during Celebrity Big Brother ZDV ZRRGHQ QR QRW 9LQQ\¡V DFWLQJ prowess) but the tree of temptation; a joy to behold. The most worrying revelation from this years show is that being ÂśRQH RI WKH ODGV¡ LV EDFN LQ YRJXH 7KH ÂśORFNHU URRP¡ EDQWHU IURP WKH pie and mash trio really was captivating. However, this is not taking anything away from Dane Bowers. He entered the house a washed up and insecure wreck but within four weeks he got his mojo back. That is the magic of Big Brother. I really want to see Dane make a comeback, not to sing obviously, but maybe a cookery show on ),9( 5HLG ORRNV RGGV RQ IRU D UH turn to acting (well maybe Widow 7ZDQN\ DW WKH 7KHDWUH 5R\DO ULJKW up his street). ,I WKDW ZDVQ¡W HQRXJK +HDWKHU Mils remains in Dancing on Ice (ITV, Sundays). A callous woman who was sexually abused a child, ORVW D OHJ LQ D KRUULĂ€ F DFFLGHQW moonlighted as a prostitute, saw KHU KXVEDQG¡V GHFHDVHG ZLIH¡V name every time she did the big VKRS DW $6'$ DQG LI WKDW ZDVQ¡W HQRXJK 5LQJR XVHG WR SRS URXQG for afternoon tea. A truly evil woman. We really are a forgiving nation. No vegans were harmed in the making of this article.

34

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio COURTESY OF MICHAEL SEGAL

interview Anna Richardson reveals her obsession with brunette actresses and Les Dennis’ belly You might have caught her controversial Sex Education show a few years ago, her presenting stint on the eye-opening Supersize vs. Superskinny series or more recently The Big Fat Diet Show where she tried to drop a dress size in two weeks, but what does journalist Anna Richardson enjoy on TV when she’s not on it? What was the last TV programme you watched? The last show I watched was Desperate Romantics on BBC2 - fantastic period romp into the love lives of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. I studied English and Art History at University so this has a special appeal for me. If you could guest star in any TV programme, what would it be?

I would absolutely love to be featured in Who Do You Think You Are? My family history is quite bonkers, with vicars, Jews, musicians and chimneysweeps - it’s like the cast of Mary Poppins meets The Sound of Music. What was your favourite childhood TV programme when you were growing up? I was obsessed with Charlie’s Angels. I wanted to be Sabrina, played by Kate Jackson. She was the sexy brunette with WKH ERE ZKR ZRUH WLJKW ÀWWLQJ ÁDUHV 6HH ,·P VWLOO REVHVVHG Which off-air TV programme do you wish they’d bring back? Do you remember The Games on

Channel 4 a couple of years ago? Watching celebrities be really really crap at Olympic sports used to leave me in tears. Les Dennis belly ÁRSSLQJ IURP D IW GLYLQJ ERDUG was a classic TV moment for me. You’re live on the radio, what song do you request and why? Handbags and Gladrags by the Stereophonics live from Glastonbury. By God, Kelly Jones can sing live - I remember watching it and his performance brought tears to my eyes. Anna Richardson’s new book ‘Body Blitz Diet: Five Rules For A Brand New You’ is available now in all good book shops and online at www.amazon.co.uk for £7.48. Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

what I listen to ...when I’m revising A radio station I discovered by FKDQFH ZKLOH ÁLFNLQJ WKURXJK WKH frequencies on my phone the other day is a gem called Spice FM. It proved to be a godsend to my revision this January. It’s fantastic to listen to when you really need WR FRQFHQWUDWH EXW ÀQG KDYLQJ WRWDO silence in the room an even bigger

nsr With NSR’s return this semester, we’ve looked to try and strengthen various areas of our broadcasting. One place where we thought this was especially important is Sports. Like a struggling mid-table football club in the January transfer window, we’ve attempted to bring in some new blood to strengthen our coverage and spoil all you sport loving VWXGHQWV $ORQJVLGH WKH ÁDJVKLS minute show, you can now get your IRRWEDOO À[ ZLWK ¶165 6SRUWV .LFN Off’ Monday from 11-12pm. Gavin Callaghan will look at the previous weekend’s action and speculating what lies ahead in the turbulent word of professional sport. Wednesday from 6-8pm is the time to log on for NSR Sport’s intramural round up. Here you can expect WR ÀQG H[FOXVLYH LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK members of Newcastle’s university WHDPV $V .HYLQ .HHJDQ RQFH VDLG ¶, will love it’ if you tuned in. Local music is another area we’re supporting this Semester. The loFDO VFHQH KDV VWUHQJWKHQHG VLJQLÀcantly over the past year and NSR is looking to play an increased role in showcasing this talent. Last week we played host to a live session courtesy of Little Comets which will be available later this week online. In addition to this we have both touring and local acts planning to record sessions for us in the coming weeks together with exclusive interviews from the likes of Adam Green, The Soft Pack and Johnny Flynn. Christian Allen Station Manager

distraction than noise. There is some DJ interruption but it never distracted me too much because I couldn’t understand a word of what was being sung or spoken. Spice FM is a new local Asian music station, so unless you know the words to Asian hits then you’re YHU\ XQOLNHO\ WR ÀQG \RXUVHOI GLV-

tracted from your work or revision by an impromptu sing-along. “Revision breaks” when singing to songs I know generally happen far too frequently for me to really claim that they are a productive way to rest my mind (especially if no actual work occurs between such breaks).

So Spice FM worked out to great advantage, I still had some good music playing – a nice mix of what you’d traditionally expect and modern songs that you might not anticipate. The frequency isn’t too wide, but on campus and in Jesmond I managed to get it on 98.8FM. It’s

GHÀQLWHO\ ZRUWK KDYLQJ D OLVWHQ even if you don’t think it’ll be your kind of thing! Eleanor Wilson

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

35

Puzzles Culture

puzzles crossword

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

7KH ÀUVW SHUVRQ WR FRPH WR The Courier RIÀFH ZLWK D FRPSOHWHG Crossword wins a free beer and burger at The Hancock.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Ebony and Ivory live together in this (7) 5. Children’s TV programme with Zippy (7) 9.This year’s sports personality of the year ---- Giggs (4) 10. Famous brand of jeans (4) 11. Parts of the body that you see out of (4) 12. Wireless internet connection (2-2) 13. Object (6) 14. Seek revenge (6) 15. Many (7) 16. Chicken; gold (6) 18. Sixth planet from the sun (6) 22. Well behaved (8) 23. Alternative name (8) 25. ------ Whitbread, Olympic champion (6) 27. The Hairy ------ (6) 29. Wart (7) 30. ASDA’s brand of clothes (6) 32. Desert in Egypt (6) 34. Small measure of length (4) 35. Pivot (4) 36. French, meaning ‘with’ (4) 37. You do this to call a number (4) 38. Adult male chicken (7) 39. Scottish city (7)

1. Type of spear (7) 2. Tropical fruit (5) 3. Bank (7) 4. The following event to placing an order (8) 6. Living creatures (7) 7. A brother’s daughter (5) &RZER\ ÀOP

17. Part of Tony the Tiger’s catchphrase ‘That’s ------‘ (5) 19. Accepted or habitual practice; the customary manner in which a language is spoken or written (5) 20. The last word of a fairytale; to bring to a conclusion (3) 21. Tonic’s complement (3) 24. Extravagantly funny (8) 25. Christina Aguilera was made into this through her experience of being bullied (7) 26. Mediocre (7) 27. One of the Seven Dwarfs (7) 'HVFULEHV D VXSHUĂ€FLDO SHUson (7) 2Q WKH Ă€IWK GD\ RI &KULVWPDV WKHUH DUH Ă€YH RI WKHVH LQ gold (5) 33. Ancient Greek underworld (5)

picture phrase puzzle

Answers to last week’s Crossword

wordtrail

Use the pictures to come up with a phrase, thing, place RU QDPH 7U\ WR ÀQG WKH FRPPRQ WKHPH.

Track the names of European Countries through the grid. You should use all of the letters in the grid but only once.

anagrams Unscramble these words to reveal some TV programmes.

1. EARED NESTS 2. A ED SWEETIES OVER PUSH 3. HERE WIT 4. INSHORE BUG

5. ALIENS FORM 6. BORE BRIGHT 7. SOMEONE LOW 8. RAMMED EEL 9. HOT HENS OWE

odd one out Which koala should be kicked out of the tree?

sudoku

answers

Keep you brain in shape by trying to complete these sums as fast as you can without using a calulator.

Solution to last week’s Sudoku

EASY

15

x5

-7

á4

+18 x3

-5

á20 =

MEDIUM

+9

35

x6 +16

4/7 of this

+9

Square 200% root of this

=

Cube this

=

HARD

25

x4.4

6/11 of this

+6

Halve Square it root

+1

7KH REMHFWLYH LV WR ÀOO WKH JULG VR WKDW HDFK column, each row and each of the nine 3×3 boxes contains the numbers 1-9 one time each. For the completed puzzle check the next edition of The Courier.

Picture Phrase Puzzle: Jack Nicholson, Ben Kingsley, Michael Douglas, Nicolas Cage. Common Theme - Best Actor Oscar Winners. Spot the difference: The middle NRDOD LQ WKH WRS OLQH KDV H[WUD à XII in its ears. Anagrams: 1. Eastenders 2. Desperate Housewives 3. The Wire 4. Neighbours 5. Life on Mars 6. Big Brother 7. Loose Women 8. Emmerdale 9. The One Show Ned’s Number Cruncher: 5, 26, 343. Wordtrail: France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland,

ned’s number cruncher

36

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Union

Get elected: how you can help The graduate job with a difference So why should you run in the Union’s March elections to become a VDEEDWLFDO RIÀ FHU RI WKH 8QLRQ 6RFL ety? Well, why not? Being a sabbatical gives you a unique opportunity to change the university experience of thousands of students and earn just under £16,000 in the process. Whether your interest is sports or welfare, societies or media, education or community, you can make a difference and help run the multi-million pound charity that is the Students’ Union. There are six full time sabbatical ofÀ FHUV HOHFWHG HDFK \HDU WR UHSUHVHQW the 18,500 student members here at Newcastle University. 7KURXJKRXW \RXU \HDU LQ RIÀ FH you will develop great relationships with your fellow sabbaticals as together you promote the Students’ Union and all its services. $V D VDEEDWLFDO RIÀ FHU \RX DUH DOVR a trustee of the Students’ Union, which gives you a great insight into

the running of a charity of this size as well as giving you a responsibility greater than any other graduate job around. If elected, you will be involved in the most exciting time in the Students’ Union history with plans for the capital development project being implemented during the next academic year. This means you will have a direct LQà XHQFH RQ WKH ORRN RI WKH EUDQG new Students’ Union building which is to open in September 2011. It will be one of the most challenging years of your life, but without a doubt, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable jobs you will ever have. You will get the chance to shape Newcastle students’ experience for the future, get involved in a variety of activities, bag loads of freebies and most importantly, gain the best CV enhancing skills imaginable. The six positions of Activities OfÀ FHU $8 2IÀ FHU (GLWRU RI 7KH &RX

ULHU (GXFDWLRQ 2IÀ FHU 3UHVLGHQW DQG 6WXGHQW 6XSSRUW 2IÀ FHU DOO EH gin at the end of June 2010 and last for a year, although you can run for re-election for the following academic year. You will earn £15,600 for this paid full time position, where you will ZRUN D à H[LEOH KRXU ZHHN All you have to do is pick up a nomination form from the General 2IÀ FH RQ WKH WRS à RRU RI WKH 8QLRQ and hand it in before Monday 22 February. This year’s election is run between Monday 8 March and Thursday 12 March, with the results announced on the Friday. You will receive more information when you pick up your nomination form, but for any further enquiries SOHDVH FRQWDFW WKH 3UHVLGHQW $QGUL ana Georgiou, at president.union@ ncl.ac.uk. See right for more details on the VL[ VDEEDWLFDO RIÀ FHU SRVLWLRQV IURP those currently in the roles.

Sabbatical team: Back row from left to right; David Coverdale, Emma Budge, Pete Mercer and Vicky Tyas. Front row; Andriana Georgiou and Georgia Morgan-Wynne

3DUW WLPH RIĂ€ FHU PRUH than just a volunteer 3DUW WLPH RIĂ€ FHU 372 SRVLWLRQV RI fer the chance to get involved in Union activities whilst continuing with a degree. The positions available cover a breadth of topics and key campaign areas. If you are passionate about a subject, it is likely there is a role to suit you. (DFK SRVW KDV LWV RZQ UHPLW GLI ferent responsibilities and a varying number of committees to sit on, often at Union and University level. %HLQJ D 372 LV D JUHDW FKDQFH WR LQ Ă XHQFH ZKDW LV JRLQJ RQ DW YDULRXV levels on campus. 372 SRVLWLRQV JLYH D SODWIRUP IRU individual action. If there are certain campaigns that interest you then the Union can help to set these in motion. %HLQJ D 372 DOVR RIIHUV WKH FKDQFH WR ZRUN LQ D WHDP ZLWK RWKHU RIĂ€ FHUV DQG VRFLHWLHV $OO 372V KROG YRWLQJ rights at Union Council and have a say in how the Union is run. Representing almost 20,000 students and having the ability to inĂ XHQFH GHFLVLRQV DFURVV FDPSXV DV well as the ability to take part in national and international campaigns PHDQV UXQQLQJ IRU D 372 SRVLWLRQ LV GHĂ€ QLWHO\ D ZRUWKZKLOH YHQWXUH And that’s not even to mention the social side... The following positions are available in the upcoming March elecWLRQV ‡ &DPSDLJQV 2IĂ€ FHU KHOS WR UXQ Union campaigns on everything from student safety to housing issues. Sit on Welfare and Citizenship Committee and help organise the Welfare and Campaigns Crew. ‡ &KDLU RI 8QLRQ &RXQFLO ² LQ volves being an objective chair person for Union Council which is held once a month. ‡ &RPPXQLW\ 2IĂ€ FHU ZRUN WR promote and defend students living within Newcastle. Attend relevant community meetings, work with loFDO UHVLGHQWV Ă€ JKW IRU EHWWHU KRXVLQJ standards and make the voice of the student community heard within the City. ‡ &RQYHQRU RI 'HEDWHV RUJDQLVH

8QLRQ 'HEDWHV RQ WRSLFDO LVVXHV WKDW are relevant to students. Work with and chair a debating sub-council who help you to do this. Also sit on the Welfare and Citizenship Committee which organises events on a range of matters affecting students. ‡ &RQYHQRU RI 'LVFLSOLQDU\ HQ sures that all disciplinary procedures regarding the Union are conducted HIĂ€ FLHQWO\ DQG IDLUO\ ,I D FRPSODLQW misdemeanour occurs then it is WKHLU MRE WR RYHUVHH WKH 'LVFLSOLQDU\ Board’s decision and advise on any subsequent courses of action. ‡ (WKLFV DQG (QYLURQPHQW 2IĂ€ FHUV - hold own forum and sit on various University Committees, offering a student point of view on ethical and environmental matters. Flexibility to run whatever campaigns are seen to be important within this context. ‡ ([HFXWLYH 2IĂ€ FHU ZLWKRXW SRUW IROLR SOD\V D JHQHUDO UROH ZLWKLQ the Union rather than representing a particular group of students. Allows you to get involved with a diverse range of campaigns and events within the Union. ‡ *HQGHU (TXDOLW\ 2IĂ€ FHU SUR mote equal rights across campus through campaigns and events ‡ /*%7 2IĂ€ FHU UHSUHVHQW DOO /%*7 VWXGHQW DQG UXQ FDPSDLJQV on issues that are important to the /*%7 VWXGHQW FRPPXQLW\ :RUN ZLWK WKH /*%7 VRFLHW\ WR HQVXUH there is a strong social group for /*%7 6WXGHQWV ‡ 5DFLDO (TXDOLW\ 2IĂ€ FHU UHSUH sent students of all ethnicities and promote racial equality across the campus through organising campaigns and running events. ‡ 5$* ² LQ FKDUJH RI RUJDQLVLQJ and running RAG week in order WR UDLVH PRQH\ IRU Ă€ YH GLIIHUHQW FKDULWLHV 5XQ 5$* UDLGV VWUHHW FROOHFWLRQV LQ 1HZFDVWOH DQG RWKHU nearby cities, as well as overseeing any other charitable events at the Union. There are also positions available IRU ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 2IĂ€ FHU 0DWXUH DQG 3RVW *UDGXDWH 6WXGHQWV 2IĂ€ FHU 6WXGHQWV ZLWK 'LVDELOLWLHV 2IĂ€ FHU DQG 6WXGHQW 3DUHQWV DQG &DUHUV 2I Ă€ FHU

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

37

Union

shape the student experience The positions explained by those in the role Georgia MorganWynne $FWLYLWLHV 2I¿ FHU DFWLYLWLHV XQLRQ#QFO DF XN

%HLQJ $FWLYLWLHV 2IÀ FHU PHDQV WKDW you are the student contact for societies at Newcastle and in charge RI RUJDQLVLQJ VRPH RI WKH 8QLRQ·V biggest events. You are responsible for coordinating all of the 150 fantastic societies. This involves training the FRPPLWWHHV KROGLQJ DQ HOHFWLRQ for Societies Executive who you will work with to ensure societies DUH UHSUHVHQWHG DWWHQGLQJ H[FLWLQJ HYHQWV DQG VROYLQJ DQ\ SUREOHPV VRFLHWLHV PD\ KDYH 7KLV \HDU ,·YH IRXQG VSRQVRUVKLS PDQDJHG EXGJHWV DQG RUJDQLVHG D YDULHW\ RI HYHQWV VXFK DV 8QLRQ GD\ 5H IUHVKHUV IDLU D :LQWHU %DOO DQG WKH PDVVLYH *UDGXDWLRQ %DOO ZKLFK LV FRPLQJ VRRQ &XUUHQWO\ ,·P ZRUNLQJ ZLWK WKH Careers Service to organise the ncl+ DFKLHYHPHQW DZDUGV DQG ZLWK WKH 5$* 2IÀ FHUV WR FUHDWH D \HDUORQJ SURJUDPPH RI IXQGUDLVLQJ HYHQWV LQFOXGLQJ WKH WUDGLWLRQDO 5$* :HHN ,·P DOVR SUHSDULQJ IRU WKH ,)$0 ZKLFK LV WKH ¶,QWHUQDWLRQDO )HVWLYDO RI $UWV DQG 0XVLF· 7KLV LV D QLJKW RI FXOWXUH DQG HQWHUWDLQPHQW SUR YLGHG E\ LQWHUQDWLRQDO GDQFH DQG PXVLF VRFLHWLHV This year has been challenging EXW ,·YH GHYHORSHG VR PDQ\ VNLOOV and had such fun doing it I would UHFRPPHQG WKLV MRE WKRURXJKO\ ,I \RX ZDQW WR FRPELQH KDYLQJ IXQ PHHWLQJ QHZ SHRSOH RUJDQLV LQJ HYHQWV UHFHLYLQJ IUHHELHV IURP PHDOV WR KRUVH UDFLQJ WLFNHWV WKHQ QRPLQDWH \RXUVHOI IRU $FWLYLWLHV 2IÀ FHU

Newcastle assisting the 57 sports club presidents in the running of their clubs. You are responsible for training WKHP DW WKH VWDUW RI WKH \HDU DQG WKHQ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK (PPD 0RVHV LQ WKH 8QLRQ·V $FWLYLW\ &HQWUH WR FR RUGLQDWH DOO WKHLU %8&6 HQWULHV As well as looking after the clubs \RX DUH DOVR UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH $8 À QDQFH DQG DOO WKH %8&6 H[SHQGL ture. 7KH MRE LQYROYHV ZRUNLQJ ZLWK )UDVHU .HQQHG\ DQG WKH 6SRUWV &HQWUH WR RUJDQLVH D QXPEHU RI KLJK SURÀ OH HYHQWV LQFOXGLQJ 6WDQ &DOYHUW WKH YDUVLW\ FRPSHWLWLRQ DJDLQVW 1RUWKXPEULD ZKLFK WDNHV SODFH LQ )HEUXDU\ You are also responsible for organising the highlight of the year WKH $8 %DOO DV ZHOO DV WKH OHJHQ GDU\ :HGQHVGD\ QLJKWV ,W LV \RXU MRE WR DFTXLUH D VSRQ sorship deal and work with the venue to create a night for all the VSRUWV WHDPV WR HQMR\ ,·YH ZRUNHG with Tiger Tiger this year on the :HGQHVGD\ QLJKW HYHQW ¶*DPH 2Q· ,·YH UHDOO\ HQMR\HG ZRUNLQJ ZLWK WKHP DQG WUXVW PH \RX ZLOO WRR DV \RX ZLOO EH WUHDWHG WR PRUH WKDQ D few free drinks. As well as working in the AcWLYLWLHV &HQWUH \RX FDQ VSHQG \RXU :HGQHVGD\ DIWHUQRRQV RXW RI WKH RIÀ FH HLWKHU ZDWFKLQJ RU SOD\LQJ %8&6 VSRUW ZKR FDQ FRPSODLQ about that?! I can honestly say this has been RQH RI WKH EHVW \HDUV RI P\ OLIH ,·YH KDG VR PXFK IXQ PHW ORWV RI QHZ SHRSOH LPSURYHG P\ HPSOR\DELO ity and bagged loads of freebies. , ZRXOG GHÀ QLWHO\ HQFRXUDJH DQ\ RQH ZKR KDV JRRG FRPPXQLFDWLRQ DQG RUJDQLVDWLRQ VNLOOV DQ DELOLW\ WR ZRUN ZHOO ZLWKLQ D WHDP DQG ZKR has an interest in sport at Newcastle to seriously consider running for the position.

Vicky Tyas $8 2I¿ FHU

David Coverdale Editor

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$8 2IÀ FHU $8 3UHVLGHQW ZKDWHY HU \RX ZDQW WR FDOO LW LW·V FOHDUO\ WKH EHVW VDEE UROH 7KH MRE PHDQV \RX are the student contact for sport at

)RU DQ\ EXGGLQJ MRXUQDOLVW À UVW MREV GRQ·W FRPH PXFK EHWWHU WKDQ editing a paper with a circulation RI DQG D UHDGHUVKLS RI RYHU

:KLOH WKLV \HDU ZLOO JR GRZQ DV RQH RI WKH KDUGHVW , KDYH HYHU KDG ZLWK FRXQWOHVV DP À QLVKHV WR PHHW WKH ZHHNO\ GHDGOLQHV LW ZLOO DOVR EH UHPHPEHUHG DV WKH PRVW IXQ EXW HYHQ PRUH LPSRUWDQWO\ WKH PRVW UHZDUGLQJ \HDU RI P\ OLIH There is no better feeling than seeLQJ VWXGHQWV UHDGLQJ DQG HQMR\LQJ 7KH &RXULHU RQ D 0RQGD\ PRUQLQJ DIWHU DOO WKH WLPH HIIRUW DQG VOHHS less nights it took to produce it the week before. And you have done it with your IULHQGV $ WHDP RI VWXGHQW YROXQ teers that you have selected to help you put together one of the best weekly student newspapers in the country. ,W LV GLIÀ FXOW WR VHH DQ\ RWKHU JUDGXDWH MRE ZKHUH \RX ZLOO OHDUQ the array of skills that you do as (GLWRU RI 7KH &RXULHU )URP WHDP PDQDJHPHQW WR WLPH PDQDJHPHQW SXEOLF VSHDNLQJ WR EXGJHW KROGLQJ WKLV LV D MRE WKDW WUXO\ VHWV \RXU &9 DSDUW IURP WKH RWKHUV $QG LW·V QRW MXVW DERXW SURGXFLQJ a weekly newspaper. As Editor you also have responsibility for producLQJ WKH 8QLRQ 1HZVOHWWHU WKH 8QL YHUVLW\·V $OWHUQDWLYH 3URVSHFWXV DQG WKH 8QLRQ·V $QQXDO 5HSRUW DV well as helping to run the Student 8QLRQ WKH ZD\ WKH VWXGHQWV ZDQW LW WR EH UXQ DORQJVLGH \RXU IHOORZ VDEEDWLFDO RIÀ FHUV 7KLV LV D MRE ZLWK DOO WKH SHUNV EXW DOVR DOO WKH SURPLVH DQG LV RQH WKDW , FDQQRW UHFRPPHQG KLJKO\ enough. Emma Budge (GXFDWLRQ 2I¿ FHU HGXFDWLRQ XQLRQ#QFO DF XN

(GXFDWLRQ 2IÀ FHU 2. VR LW GRHVQ·W VRXQG DV FRRO DV VRPH RI WKH RWKHU VDEEDWLFDO SRVLWLRQV DQG LW PD\ QRW VRXQG DV SRZHUIXO DV WKH 3UHVLGHQW but I assure you that it is not only fun and a chance to learn a great GHDO LW LV DOVR D SUHWW\ SRZHUIXO DQG LPSRUWDQW UROH $V (GXFDWLRQ 2IÀ FHU \RX DUH charged with representing all VWXGHQWV DW KLJK OHYHO 8QL YHUVLW\ PHHWLQJV FRPLQJ LQWR FRQ tact with well known and respected

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FHUQV DERXW WKH DGHTXDF\ RI \RXU teaching/supervision will also not EH FRQVLGHUHG EHFDXVH WKHUH DUH RWK HU SURFHGXUHV IRU FRPSODLQW RQ WKHVH PDWWHUV ,I SHUVRQDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV DIIHFWHG \RXU SHUIRUPDQFH \RX DUH XVXDOO\ H[SHFWHG WR FRPSOHWH 3&$3 IRUP LQ DGYDQFH ,W PD\ EH SRVVLEOH WR GR WKLV UHWURVSHFWLYHO\ EXW RQO\ on the above grounds. You cannot PDNH D JURXS DSSHDO EXW \RX FDQ UH IHU WR RWKHU DSSHDOV DERXW WKH VDPH RU UHODWHG PDWWHUV Where can I get further information or help? Contact the Student Advice Centre on 0191 239 3979 or visit www.unionsociety.co.uk/sac. Information for this Advice has been taken from the Student Progress Service $FDGHPLF $SSHDO 3URFHGXUH

8QLYHUVLW\ VWDII <RX DOVR FKDLU PDQ\ 8QLRQ PHHWLQJV DQG KDYH D YLWDO UROH RQ (OHFWLRQV &RPPLWWHH (GXFDWLRQ &RPPLWWHH DQG PXFK PRUH EHVLGHV <RXU OLIH ZRQ·W MXVW EH VSHQW LQ PHHWLQJV DV \RX GR JHW WR ZRUN with students. You are responsible IRU WUDLQLQJ WKH SDUW WLPH RIÀ FHUV and planning training for course reps. 2QH RI \RXU PDLQ UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV LV WKH FRXUVH UHS V\VWHP HQJDJ LQJ ZLWK HQODUJLQJ DQG UXQQLQJ LW ZKLFK LV D KXJH EXW HQMR\DEOH WDVN DQG \RX FDQ KHOS PDNH LW D VWURQJ DQG UHOLDEOH VFKHPH This role is a fantastic opportunity for any of you who are interested in PDNLQJ D UHDO GLIIHUHQFH WR WKH ZD\ WKH HGXFDWLRQDO VLGH RI VWXGHQWV· XQLYHUVLW\ H[SHULHQFH LV UXQ DQG WKH QH[W \HDU VKRXOG EH PRUH H[FLW ing than ever with talks of changing tuition fees and the changes being PDGH WR WKH 8QLRQ Andriana Georgiou President SUHVLGHQW XQLRQ#QFO DF XN

$V 3UHVLGHQW LW·V \RXU MRE WR UHS UHVHQW WKH 8QLRQ DQG RXU VWXGHQWV WR WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ WKH FRP PXQLW\ DQG LQ WKH PHGLD ,W·V DQ DPD]LQJ RSSRUWXQLW\ DQG one that gives you a great deal of responsibility and experience in a wide range of areas. 0XFK RI \RXU WLPH ZLOO EH VSHQW OLDLVLQJ ZLWK WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RQ WKH LVVXHV WKDW DIIHFW VWXGHQWV DOORZLQJ \RX WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR LPSURYH WKH student experience for everybody at Newcastle. )XUWKHUPRUH \RX·UH LQ FKDUJH RI RUJDQLVLQJ WKH 8QLRQ·V HOHFWLRQV SOD\LQJ DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH LQ 8QLRQ &RXQFLO DQG &KDLU WKH 8QLRQ·V Trustee Board. One of the best bits about being 3UHVLGHQW LV WKH FKDQFH LW JLYHV \RX WR ZRUN DV SDUW RI WKH RIÀ FHU WHDP ZKLFK FDQ VRPHWLPHV EH FKDOOHQJ ing but is always fun. 'XULQJ \RXU WLPH LQ RIÀ FH \RX ZLOO DOVR ZRUN ZLWK 186 TXLWH D ORW ZKHWKHU LW EH RQ QDWLRQDO FDP paigns or on issues affecting your 8QLRQ PHDQLQJ \RX JHW WR PHHW

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38

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Stan Calvert countdown Hurricanes feel The number of points the Loko-motion scored by Northumbia in

20

last year’s rugby league defeat to NURL

> Intra Mural Football, page 40-41

Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Paul Christian, JamieJamie Gavin Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk SportsEditors: Editors: Paul Christian, Jamieand Gavin and Tom James -- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

days to go

Diary of an England captain* *as imagined by Tom James

Thurs 28th Jan My lawyer is talking about court injunctions being lifted. I only know football and thought this must be something to do with tennis and that. He tried to explain that I’d been FDXJKW RIIVLGH DQG ZDV GHĂ€ QLWHO\ interfering with Bridgey’s missus but girls can’t play football so I’m a bit lost. I love ‘edders I do. Fri 29th Jan The gaffer dragged me into the ofĂ€ FH DW WUDLQLQJ WRGD\ ZKLFK ZRXQG me right up because I still hadn’t re-enacted my penalty from that time in Moscow like I do every day to prove that I’m not a bottler and never do anything wrong on or off the pitch. The gaffer said something about seventeen year old girls being too young and I thought that girls can’t play football so I don’t need to worry about them. But I agreed with him anyway even though I was a bit lost. He told me to use my head more and I was happy because I love ‘edders. Sat 30th Jan Played some right northern monkeys today. Their fans were singing some sort of knees up mother brown about me but I couldn’t understand the thick accent, they should speak like me, I’m not an idiot. Anyway, the lads had a right tin bath when they heard that lot from Burnington or wherever only get 15k a week. Cashley almost fainted when he found out. I scored the winner and it was with my ‘ed like the gaffer told me to do. Life couldn’t be any better. Sat 31st Jan Went down the paper shop for some space raiders, a milkybar and a panda cola for my weekly treat but they were out of pickled onion space raiders which put me in a right old two and eight because I had to get beef instead. My mug was all over the Sunday rags but I only look at the pictures and thought the girl next to me was a right bit of crumpet. Cashley rang to see if I was ok so I told him how there were no pickled onion but apart from that I was alright. He said he’d be there for me because

Captain not so fantastic: Terry was stripped of the England captaincy last Friday by manager Fabio Capello. He has been replaced by centre back partner Rio Ferdinand

he’d been there with Chezza. I always thought Cheryl would have been a discos girl but said thanks anyway. Lovely lad is Cashley. I watched Arsenal v. Man U in 3D and thought the world would be brilliant if we could see in 3D all the time. Mon 1st Feb Strange day. Had a note from the

trouble and strife saying ‘taken the kids to Dubai you scumbag.’ She’s always coming up with new pet names bless ’er. 7ULHG WR Ă€ QG 'XEDL RQ P\ PDS RI Landan but couldn’t see for looking. Lamps reckons it’s down the east end but anything he says or does is overrated. Loads of journos outside the manor this mornin’ asking me if I was ashamed. I said everyone misses a

peno now and again and it was two years ago so I’ve moved on (I still think about it every day). The lads weren’t really talking to me at training and Drogs asked me if I minded the ‘Team Bridge’ shirts people were wearing. I thought they were alright because we’re a team and play at the Bridge so I couldn’t see what the upset was all about so I just went and did some ‘edders.

Tues 2nd Feb Someone said that I had more baggage than Louis Vuitton but I’m a bit lost because I always use TESCO’s bags for life (they give you a free new one every time one breaks) and Mr. Capello is being told to take the England armband off me. I’m not sure what that means but I think it might mean I won’t be able to go swimming with the lads in Magaluf this summer.

Drop the debt and get involved in the Great North Run Tom James Sports Editor Newcastle students have been invited to join Newcastle’s mainly University team in the Great North Run, ‘The World’s Greatest Running Event’ on Sunday 19th September, running for Drop the Debt and HIV/AIDS. The team is organised by Jubilee Debt Campaign at Newcastle University, which is sponsored by the Union Society and all the staff unions, in association with Make Poverty History NE. Patrons of the campaign include Olympic Gold Medalist Jonathan Edwards. The University is offering gener-

ous concessions for students by providing a 50% or 100% rebate on cost of entry depending on funds raised. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the continuing campaign against severe global poverty, and to raise funds for Jubilee Debt Campaign and British aid agencies IRU WKH Ă€ JKW DJDLQVW +,9 $,'6 DQG the care of AIDS orphans, with each runner selecting their own agency. 2010 is a ‘red letter year’ for global poverty and development, since it LV Ă€ YH \HDUV WR JR EHIRUH WKH target date set for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Real progress has been made, particularly on debt relief and HIV/AIDS,

the twin targets of the initiative. However, enormous problems still remain. This year is also an important year for our own GNR initiative, with a real chance that the overall total will reach ÂŁ100,000. In 2009 the University raised about ÂŁ10,000, taking our total to over ÂŁ89,000. Professor Sir George Alberti, a former Dean of Medicine at Newcastle, and now NHS ‘Tsar’ for Emergency Access said: “Debt continues to have devastating effects on health care and education; debt relief is already bringing real help to many. “Combining support for Jubilee Debt Campaign with direct fund-

LQJ IRU WKH Ă€ JKW DJDLQVW +,9 $,'6 or what Carol Bellamy, Director of UNICEF describes as ‘the worst catastrophe ever to hit the world’, is the sort of intelligently compassionate response I applaud.â€? According to Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy UN Secretary General: “My own country Tanzania would not have been able to send hundreds of thousands of children to school and fund health services if not for the cancellation of debts. This would not have happened if citizens and faith leaders in the UK had not awakened the conscience of their leaders through the Jubilee campaign.â€?

Dr David Golding, Development Coordinator of Make Poverty History NE and Board member and Trustee of Jubilee Debt Campaign UK said: “I’ve organised a team in the Run every year but one since 2002, but to celebrate (if that’s the right word!) my 70th, I’m going to attempt to ‘Run the Run’ as well as Âś7DON WKH 7DON¡ IRU WKH Ă€ UVW DQG ODVW time this year. “Naturally, I’m hoping we will Ă€ HOG D Ă€ QH WHDP Âľ The General Ballot for places has now closed but if you already have a place and would like to run for ‘Drop the Debt’ then contact David Golding at d.w.golding@ncl.ac.uk.

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

39

Sport

British in victory, a Scot in defeat Jonathan Taylor On January 31st 2010, Andy Murray stood on the verge of tears, with KLV GUHDP RI EHFRPLQJ WKH Ă€ UVW British Grand Slam Champion since 1936 left in tatters. The British number one was once again thwarted on his quest to glory by the immaculate Roger Federer, the man who also defeated KLP LQ WKH 86 2SHQ Ă€ QDO 0XUUD\¡V RQO\ RWKHU Ă€ QDO DSSHDU ance to date. Federer swept aside Murray with relative ease, winning comfortably LQ WKUHH VHWV DQG IXUWKHU DIĂ€ UPLQJ his status as the greatest tennis player of all time. Federer has now won a remarkable 16 Grand Slam titles, and more impressively, reached a stunning 23 consecutive *UDQG 6ODP VHPL Ă€ QDOV Murray’s demise however has not been met with the same nationwide disappointment after Tim Henman’s infamous 2001 Wimbledon VHPL Ă€ QDO GHIHDW WR &URDWLDQ ZLOG card Goran Ivanisevic. At the turn of the century Henman enjoyed an enormous degree of public support, with British sports fans world-wide unanimously experiencing every emotion of his roller-coaster career with him. In contrast, the anti-Murray bandwagon is in full speed, indulging in his disappointments, and refusing to accept him as Henman’s heir. The anti-Murray campaign shows no signs of stopping, with over 4500 people now members of Facebook’s ‘I hate Andy Murray’ group. Interestingly in comparison, Roger Federer has over 3.2 million fans on the same networking site. The anti-Murray bandwagon was set in motion during the run-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which the British number 1 stated in an interview that he would “support anyone but Englandâ€? at the competition. Such a comment infuriated much of the British public, and as a result, Murray received large amounts of hate mail on his website by disgruntled fans. In hindsight, condemning the country’s biggest sport may not have been such a wise move for Murray, who at the same time was seeking to earn the respect and acclaim that his predecessor Henman boasted in abundance. Murray released a sketchy statement weeks later playing down his perceived ‘anti-English’ stance, insisting that he considered himself both “Scottish and Britishâ€?. The anti-Murray campaign was not solely as a result of an 18 year old’s passing comment upon the national football team however. Rather his perceived grumpy attitude, dull nature and inability to inspire may well have proved to be contributing hindrances upon his

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public image. The famous Henman Hill stationed outside of SW19 remained a fundamentally English site, left abandoned after Henman’s departure, with no desire of adopting a new British son. At 22 years old however, Murray is gradually beginning to make amends from his misdemeanours of the past. His interviews have become more eloquent, whilst his epic match with Stanislas Wawrinka under the centre court roof at Wimbledon last year has done much to show the British public the

WUXH QDWXUH RI $QG\ 0XUUD\ WKDW RI courage, graft and emotion. On the verge of tears after his defeat to Roger Federer in the Australian Open recently, Murray spoke commendably of his respect of his conqueror, saying how he “can cry like Roger, but it’s a shame I can’t play like him�. Such a comment in the heat of disappointment must be credited, and surely proves an outstanding lesson to all. Murray’s comments were widely praised, with an anonymous post on the BBC’s 606 forum saying how the British number one had “won

me over with his tennis and efforts over the last two weeks�. This was mirrored by Boris Becker, who offered his praise to the defeated Murray, admitting “there isn’t another player in sight from this country who can do what he did�. It may therefore be time for the anti-Murray bandwagon to cease. He has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last four years, growing in talent, physique, and admiration. By leaving behind his grumpy, ‘anti-English’ demeanour, Murray

has now made a giant step towards winning back the hearts and minds of the nation, and started his climb to the top of the tennis world. Murray’s recent actions have done much to change public perspective on the man. Whilst tucking in to some strawberries and cream this summer, I will be watching Andy Murray with great interest, hoping that he can surpass Tim Henman’s efforts by winning the Wimbledon title for Britain. However, to many, Murray will remain a paradox: a British hero in victory, and a Scot in defeat.

‘Right To Play’ initiative to be launched across universities William Robinson In March, alongside the other universities in the UK and in conjunction with BUCS, Newcastle will be WDNLQJ SDUW LQ WKH Ă€ UVW Âś5LJKW 7R 3OD\¡ PRQWK RUJDQLVHG E\ WKH RIĂ€ cial charity of the BUCS of the same name. The aim of the month is to help bring in over ÂŁ1000 to help promote sport to children around the world, with a huge range of events and activities giving all of Newcastle’s students a chance to get involved in some fundraising and volunteering. The charity, founded in 1994 prior

to the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, uses top athletes in over 40 countries, including the war torn Afghanistan and Lebanon, to promote how sport can be used to radically improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the globe. 7KHLU LQà XHQFH HQKDQFHG E\ WKH support of world renowned politiFDO À JXUHV VXFK DV WKH $UFKELVKRS Desmond Tutu and President of the International Olympic Committee Dr. Jacques Rogge, has even pushed their mission into the International Political Arena and onto the UN agenda.

Right To Play can also boast a partnership with Chelsea FC and UK Sport as well as Comic Relief. In the UK we take for granted the right to play sport. For some, there are so many opportunities in so many different sports meaning anyRQH FDQ JHW LQYROYHG IURP UXJE\ WR thai boxing and from football to ultimate frisbee. However, the right to play sport, along with the basic rights of education and health that the majority of us have enjoyed from a young age, is not experienced by many in Third World and war-torn countries. With the help of universities across the

UK, Right To Play is looking to radically change this. By working with some of the world’s most disadvantaged children across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, they are looking to use sport to encourage physical, mental and social development, foster peace and educate their citizens on the issues of disease awareness and prevention. There are many ways you can get involved in March. You can organise a fundraising event, you can donate online now at www.justgiving. com/Right-To-Play-Month, you can text ‘PLAY’ along with your univer-

sity name to 81400 (only throughout March), and can get involved with the BUCS competition on Facebook by checking out the BUCS Facebook page ‘Competition’ Tab. Beth Eyre, the charity spokesperson has said that as little as ÂŁ2 can help dramatically change lives in these affected countries. That’s only VDFULĂ€ FLQJ D SLQW DW WKH 8QLRQ RU D couple of pasties at Greggs. Not much to help promote the playing of sport to better the lives of children around the world. Keep your eye out for Right To Play events happening at Newcastle University and the Students’ Union.

40

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Sport

Pro Vice-Chancellor reveals Charles Harvey tells Sports Editor Jamie Gavin about ambitious plans for the future of sport at the University, and just how Team Newcastle FRQWLQXHV WR FRPSHWH ZLWK WKH FRXQWU\¡V Ă€QHVW sporting institutions “A small miracleâ€? is how Executive Board member Charles Harvey described the unprecedented success of sport at Newcastle University in recent years. The University currently holds a top ten place in the BUCS rankings, and year on year sporting participation and performance increases both in scope and standard. The phenomenon is even more impressive considering the University does not offer any sports courses, and maintains its high grade requirements, even for the most talented and dedicated athletes. But is the “small miracleâ€? set to continue? Can Newcastle build on the success of recent years and become a sporting force to compete with the very, very best? Harvey thinks they can. Coming up to his second year in the post on the University’s Executive Board, in which he has the extra responsibility of sport as well as his duties as Pro Vice-Chancellor of humanities and social sciences, Harvey outlined to The Courier his vision for Team Newcastle, and his ambitious plans for the future. The stand-out feature of these plans involves a new Performance Sports Centre, which would be dedicated solely to Newcastle’s top sport athletes and clubs. +DUYH\ VD\V WKH EHQHÂżWV of a new Performance Sports Centre would be enormous Harvey, along with Director of sport Colin Blackburn have cited Cochrane Park as a possible location for the Centre, which he described as a part of the “the Harvey-Blackburn planâ€?. The project would hope to have D WZR IROG HIIHFW Ă€UVWO\ DOORZLQJ performance sport to reach newer, higher levels, but also to free up the current facility on campus for the more recreational athlete. And whilst the funding and the location for the development are not yet set-in-stone, the plan would undoubtedly revolutionise sport at the University. “It would focus on getting all our athletes and coaching up to a top University level by European and North American standards,â€? explained Harvey. “This is the gleam in our eye.â€? “We’re very ambitious, location and funding are both very imporWDQW EXW WKH EHQHĂ€WV ZRXOG EH enormous, not only for performance Jamie Gavin Commentary There is no doubt that the recent achievements of the University in the BUCS rankings is phenomenal. The passion and drive of Blackburn, Kennedy, and more recently Harvey - as well as past DQG SUHVHQW $8 2IĂ€FHUV KDV SURpelled the University to new levels of athletic attainment; to a point where the University has become an increasingly attractive option for talented performers. However, reputation alone can

sport itself, but also because the enhanced facility would take an enormous amount of pressure off the [existing] Sports Centre.â€? So the new centre would inevitably see the very top athletes working at their own pace at another location, and give the rest of the student population a more available facility with a more recreational focus. But having a new facility will not necessarily gain BUCS points or increase participation without the talHQW WR Ă€OO LW 7KLV LV D IDFW +DUYH\ LV very aware of, and he was keen to point out the importance of attracting sporting talent to the University. This is a potentially controversial subject, with so-called ‘sporting institutions’ such as Loughborough and Leeds Met able to lower grade boundaries and offer extremely lucrative grant and scholarship deals to attract top talent. Newcastle on the other hand, whilst having some bursaries in place, relies largely on academic prowess and sporting reputation to attract talent. Harvey underlined the importance of the recruitment aspect, but he was quick to state that this would not involve the reduction of grade boundaries. “We wouldn’t want to go down any silly route of buying in talent – that’s not for us.â€? “It’s not realistic to radically reduce grades because it’s the academic standard which we pride ourselves in, so we’re looking for people who can do both. “It’s a tall order, but that is what we’re looking for, and by in large we have succeeded in this route - as RXU %8&6 SRVLWLRQ WHVWLĂ€HV “It’s the process of attracting good students and maintaining a level of investment that allows you to compete at a decent level. “What we’ve tried to do is to make it plain all applicants and all admissions tutors that we welcome top class athletes, but we don’t have the kind of formal scheme that they have at Durham. “My personal belief in this is that we still have a little way to go before we make ourselves a truly attractive proposition, but we are still attracting really good people. ´2QH WKLQJ ZH GHĂ€QLWHO\ GRQ¡W want to do is to lower the academic standards of Newcastle University because that’s what matters to everybody who comes here.â€? Attracting good student athletes is certainly one thing, but getting the same prospective talent to perform

for the University is another, and maximising talent has been somewhat of a strong point for the University in recent times. So this leads one to ask just how Newcastle University is able to get the very best from the talent it is able to recruit. Just how has the “small miracle� occurred, and what does Team Newcastle owe its unprecedented success to? Harvey attributed this element to “the combination of really good staff and high quality students being attracted to this University� and he singled out Performance Sport Director Fraser Kennedy and Director of Sport Colin Blackburn for special praise, commending their “determination and level of commitment�. But through all the success of recent years, there have been persistent fears that the University is effectively punching above its weight, waiting to be overtaken by those institutions who invest more in sport, and ask less academically of their

sporting students. $ GHĂ€DQW +DUYH\ WDNHV D GLIIHUHQW view, and he relishes the competition posed by other institutions, particularly that of close neighbours, Northumbria. With an evident passion, he vowed to compete with the very best, and he explained just how much he enjoyed other institutions “keeping us on our toes.â€? “It’s great having them as competitors, it’s great that they’re investing in it, we have to be pleased for them. “We’ll have better years where we go up a little, and we’ll have worse years where we go down a little that’s in the nature of competition, but we will compete - there’s no reason why we can’t.â€? Newcastle’s high position has not faltered, despite the aforementioned fears, and the University sits proudly nine places above neighbours Northumbria in BUCS. On top of this, the University is set to bid for

its third consecutive Stan Calvert Cup victory this month, and it is an event Harvey is very much looking forward to, after experiencing the RFFDVLRQ IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH ODVW \HDU The mere mention of Stan Calvert ignites a smile on his face - apparently he enjoyed it. More imporWDQWO\ KH¡V FRQĂ€GHQW 1HZFDVWOH FDQ make it a record third straight victory, and once again he’s thriving on the competition. ´,W¡V JRLQJ WR EH GLIĂ€FXOW 7KH\ DUH investing, they are good, they are highly respected, but we’re not going to lay down and die. “Were going to be in there, pitching and competing and that’s why we need our own vision for a bright future. “It won’t be the same as their vision, but it will be just as brighter vision.â€? A bright vision indeed, from an ambitious man who will undoubtedly hope there are many more successful years to come.

only take the University so far, and perhaps it is a little naive to think that the University can drive further into the top ten without the ability to slightly modify the grade requirements for the very best athletes, or begin to offer a course whereby the University can JDWKHU D VWHDG\ Ă RZ RI JXDUDQWHHG sporting talent - a Sports Science degree, for example. Whilst there is a strong tradition of professional rugby players, elite rowers and full hockey internationals that have attended top academic universities, the same cannot be said of sports such as football and rugby league, where

the best performers tend not to be the type of students who receive straight ‘A’ grades at A level – often because they are released at a late stage by professional clubs. Furthermore, top elite performers are likely to have dedicated a VLJQLĂ€FDQW SURSRUWLRQ RI WKHLU WLPH whilst at school or college to their sport, causing the academic side to suffer ever so sligtly as a consequence. Moreover, if a student is demonstrating the dedication and ambition to achieve in sport, then they are likely to carry this through into their studies at University. If the University was able to of-

fer even a slight leeway to an athOHWH ZKR ZRXOG KDYH D VLJQLÀFDQW and lasting effect on a particular sports club and Team Newcastle as a whole, then surely this is the next logical step to raise the bar even higher. In order to maximise the effect of present and future performance sport personnel and facilities, perhaps now is the time to make certain small concessions for selected athletes that can take the University to the next level. This, far from compromising the University’s academic prowess, may actually serve to enhance it, with greater sporting achievement

acting as a further tool to attract the very best minds to the institution. If a system was put in place in which a handful of applicants could be made more negotiable offers in certain ‘target areas’ - for those sports clubs more desperately in need of talent - then perhaps this or a similar route is the one which the University should consider. Has Team Newcastle come as far as it possibly can without more fundamental measures which would consistently attract the very top sporting talent to the University?

6WDWH RI WKH DUW +DUYH\ÂśV ORQJ WHUP SODQV LQFOXGH D QHZ 3HUIRUPDQFH 6SRUWV &HQWUH &RFKUDQH 3DUN SLFWXUHG DERYH KDV EHHQ FLWHG

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

41

Sport

vision for sporting success Harvey warns against sport ‘drinking culture’ Jamie Gavin Sports Editor University Executive Board member Charles Harvey said that the drinking culture surrounding University sport “has gone too far.â€? Sports clubs’ socials have received much scrutiny in recent months, with articles in the national press highlighting the dangers of the initiation ceremonies and binge drinking - often associated with University sports clubs. Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Harvey added his own concerns about the “excessesâ€? which seem to go hand-in-hand with sports clubs. “There’s a long-standing tradition of an element of high social revelry. You are talking about something which is deeply culturally entrenchedâ€? explained Harvey. “What you need to watch out for is excess. There’s now far more bars and clubs around that you can go to, and there are far more liberal drink laws and opening times. “The opportunity for abuse is far more considerable. And I just think it’s gone too far. I am reactionary in that respect. “I think it’s time for us all to pull back, to relax and realise that the SULPDU\ EHQHĂ€W RI VSRUW LV KHDOWK\ mind, healthy bodyâ€? Harvey’s comments come after the University Chancellor voiced his concerns about Britain’s drinking culture, club promoters, and peer pressure surrounding drinking to The Courier while at the University in December.

And the binge drinking culture seems to be even more exaggerated when it comes to the sports clubs, culminating on Wednesday nights when most clubs conduct socials. These socials often involve attending a number of bars in Newcastle, and the ‘peer pressure’ element can be strong, particularly for freshers being welcomed into clubs for the Ă€UVW WLPH The Courier reported on the Athletic Unions’ initiation crackdown in 2008, when the so-called ‘ceremonies’ were banned in an extensive and highly publicized campaign. This was continued at the start of the academic year by current AU 2IĂ€FHU 9LFN\ 7\DV ZKR KDV SHUVLVWently reminded AU clubs that sport should be free from intimidation, particularly for new members. But as the after-match socials continue, Harvey sent a clear message to clubs that the real reasons for getting involved in sport must not be forgotten: ´6SRUW LV DERXW EHLQJ JRRG DQG Ă€W and strong in yourself, to contribute the most you can to society and the world at large,â€? said Harvey. “It is not about abuse, and therefore there’s a difference between revelry and high spirits - which I’m all in favour of – and being controlled in what we do.â€? “I don’t really want to have some sort of moralistic clamp-down, but it’s about getting it into perspective and not overdoing it - being controlled in what we do.â€?

DV D SRVVLEOH ORFDWLRQ WKH JURXQG ZKHUH WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ÂśV IRRWEDOO UXJE\ DQG ODFURVVH WHDPV FXUUHQWO\ SOD\ WKHLU KRPH Âż[WXUHV

Newcastle set to host night of Muay Thai bouts Sarah Cotterill On Saturday 20 February a special event comes to the Students’ Union: an evening of Muay Thai in association with Northern Fight League and Newcastle University Thai and Kickboxing Club. Muay Thai is referred to as ‘the art of eight limbs’ as contact can be made using punches and kicks as in kickboxing, but with the addition of knee and elbow strikes, too. :LWK D Ă€JKW FDUG LQFOXGLQJ DPDWHXU IHPDOH DQG PDOH Ă€JKWHUV DV ZHOO DV D SURIHVVLRQDO KHDGOLQH Ă€JKW the evening promises to showcase a wealth of talent. )RXU RI WKH WZHOYH Ă€JKWHUV PDWFKHG up for the Saturday night event are Newcastle University students, and another who has recently graduated with a masters. Sam Bhatt, president of the Thai Boxing Club, explained the concept of Muay Thai, and looked forward to his third amateur bout in the sport: “Unlike kickboxing and other martial arts, there is no grading system in Muay Thai, therefore the best way to show how your efforts in training KDYH SDLG RII LV WR Ă€JKW 7KH RQO\ way to improve is to have something to work towards. ´$IWHU KDYLQJ WZR . Ă€JKWV RQH ZLQ RQH ORVV WKLV Ă€JKW ZLOO EH TXLWH different. The training is the same, EXW WKHUH LV D ORW PRUH WHFKQLTXH WR master in Muay Thai, due to the ad-

dition of clinching.â€? Lawrence Hares is also competing, and the biomedical science student explained how he got in to the sport. “I started Thai boxing at Newcastle University after watching Ong %DN ZLWK P\ Ă DWPDWHV DQG GHFLGing we were all going to be the next Tony Jaa. ´$IWHU WKH Ă€UVW VHVVLRQ , GHFLGHG , really liked it and carrying on would be a great way of combating all the alcohol I’d be drinking as a fresher. , KDG P\ Ă€UVW FRPSHWLWLRQ LQ 0DUFK at Leeds University and I couldn’t ZDLW IRU WKH QH[W FKDQFH WR Ă€JKW “I’ve been preparing since New Year, cutting weight (10kg) and tryLQJ WR JHW Ă€W HQRXJK WR FRPSHWH OLYLQJ XS WR P\ Ă€JKW QLFNQDPH RI /DZUHQFH ÂśWKH Ă RRG¡ +DUHV JLYHQ WR PH because of the amount I sweat while exercising. “I will be wearing pink shorts to Ă€JKW ERXJKW IRU PH E\ WKH FOXE DIter declaring if someone buys them, I’ll wear them.â€? Other competitors on the night will include Anette Fink, a Masters Graduate from the University, and RQH RI WZR IHPDOHV Ă€JKWLQJ IURP 7KH )DNWRU\ ,W LV KHU Ă€UVW IXOO FRQWDFW 0XD\ 7KDL Ă€JKW Juuso Toivonen, a History and Archeology Student, will also be Ă€JKWLQJ LQ 1RUWKHUQ )LJKW /HDJXH IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH EXW IRU *UDKDP 6FKROHĂ€HOG LW ZLOO EH WKH Ă€IWK 7KH Molecular Biochemistry PhD student is

Fight club: University athletes have been under the guise of head coach Craig Jose before the up and coming bout later this month

OLNHO\ WR SURGXFH DQ H[FLWLQJ Ă€JKW having enjoyed several victories through knockouts from head kicks and punches. 7KH Ă€JKWHUV KDYH VKRZQ D KXJH amount of dedication, training at both the University with head coach Craig Jose and ‘The Faktory’, in Benwell. Both gyms have been heavily linked with previous Northern Fight League, and the past two

events were held in the Basement of the Union. The Northern Fight League was started in summer 2008 by three Martial Arts enthusiasts: Craig Jose a Champion Muay Thai Boxer, Peter Falkous, a Leading Journalist, and Mark Jose a Serial Entrepreneur and Martial Arts Enthusiast. Currently, Muay Thai is going through a boost in popularity unrivalled by any sport in recent years.

The increase of media attention has been nothing short of phenomenal, EXW IHZ %ULWLVK ÀJKWHUV KDYH JDLQHG mainstream attention. &RQVHTXHQWO\ 7KH 1RUWKHUQ )LJKW League aims to promote the sport to a mainstream level, and make the sport accessible and attractive to a whole new audience, moulding the champions of the future. For ticket information please ring 0800 652 3370

42

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

Sport B. CRAIGHEAD

Puck and ruck LQ ÀHU\ FODVK Men’s Ice Hockey

Newcastle Wildcats Northumbria Flames

4 2

Ben Craighead Last Tuesday night saw the Newcastle Wildcats take on the NorthXPEULD )ODPHV IRU WKH WKLUG DQG Ànal time this season. In what turned out to be a highly charged game, the Wildcats kept their cool to come out comfortable 4-2 victors. With Northumbria missing key players through suspensions and injuries, a full strength Newcastle squad looked to continue their unbeaten season after an away draw with Edinburgh on Sunday night. 7KH ÀUVW SHULRG VWDUWHG RII EULJKW with two goals for Newcastle coming from team captain Mike Hall and JC Andre. Bradley Sullivan and Thaddeus Jackson Browne took the game to Northumbria, pressuring the Flames in their own end. A poor check on Thaddeus and a monster of a hit from Sullivan in retaliation saw the game spring into life as both teams showed the passion and commitment which have made their previous encounters so heated. Halfway through the second period a big hit from the Swede Frederik Nyman saw the game descend into chaos. Immediately, the Northumbria Flames’ coach came off the bench and on to the ice looking to take revenge on Nyman. $V WKH RQ LFH RIÀFLDOV WULHG WR VHSDrate the Flames’ players and their coach from Nyman, Flames’ star man Shane Hewitt (already in the penalty box for an earlier offence) let himself out of the penalty box to JHW LQYROYHG LQ WKH VFXIà H

Fifteen minutes after the initial hit the game resumed with Hewitt and the Northumbria team coach ejected from the game and the Wildcats went on a ten minute power play – something rarely seen at any level of ice hockey. With Nyman now out of the match IRU KLV RZQ VDIHW\ -DPHV +DGĂ€HOG VWHSSHG XS KLV JDPH Ă€QGLQJ WKH back of the net after a rocket from Mike Hall on the point rebounded into the slot. Chris Clapham made a huge breakaway save to deny Northumbria a third goal and keep the Wildcats ahead in the game. The score stood at 3-2 to Newcastle and both teams looked shaken by the extent of the drama which had occurred just minutes before. Stuart Tomlinson, having just recovered from a broken wrist, scored WKH IRXUWK DQG Ă€QDO JRDO WR SXW WKH game beyond doubt with eight minutes left to play. In total there were 164 penalty minutes recorded for the game, a new league record – 124 minutes of those penalties belonged to Northumbria who now have the worst discipline record in the league. Captain Mike Hall from Detroit, Michigan claimed the match “got out of handâ€? at one stage. “Once a coach gets on the ice, it’s stepping over the line.â€? The leading scorer in the country, Hall, summed up the brawl as follows: “Hits happen in Hockey. But not usually to that extent.â€? The Newcastle Wildcats remain at the top of Division 1 in the University Ice Hockey league and have DOUHDG\ TXDOLĂ€HG IRU WKH SOD\RIIV With three games remaining, the Wildcats are looking to go a whole season undefeated and clinch the national title.

Hall of fame: Detroit’s Mike Hall led his team to a 4-2 victory over the Northumbria Flames in a heated contest at Whitley Bay

.HQQHG\ XSEHDW GHVSLWH QLJKWPDUH GUDZ Paul Christian Sports Editor The Gods conspired against Team Newcastle this week as the postleague BUCS draw pitted clubs against the toughest opposition in the competition. The unfortunate Ă€[WXUH OLVW LQFOXGHV D WRXJK WULS WR Birmingham for the women’s hockey side and a formidable jaunt to Cambridge for lacrosse. Fraser Kennedy called it ‘the worst draw I have come across’ in his four-and-a-half year tenure as Performance Sport Manager, but tipped Team Newcastle to stand their ground in the face of adversity. It seems Newcastle clubs have become a victim of their own success. The women’s squash team along with men’s squash and women’s badminton squads have been rewarded for high league placements with ties against teams from the top division, which, if nothing else, will provide a taste of things to come should the latter proceed through the play-offs later this year. But for now, attention will turn towards meeting the challenge that will certainly arise from some of %8&6¡V Ă€QHVW VSRUWLQJ LQVWLWXWLRQV Kennedy, for one, is full of hope for Team Newcastle. “Don’t get me wrong; to say it’s a tough draw is an understatement. But to be the best, you have to beat the best. The teams have to go out there, give it their all and enjoy the RFFDVLRQ ,¡P FRQĂ€GHQW WKH\ ZLOO GR

that.â€? Amongst the draw is a gruelling trip to London for the fencing team. Short of funds and personnel, it’s possible the squad may have to withdraw from the competition through fear of unaffordable accommodation prices. The University has offered just ÂŁ10 per student to facilitate their journey, a sum that barely covers the cost of an Oyster Card in the country’s capital. Nevertheless Kennedy remained resolute that Newcastle can overcome what he labelled an ‘interesting’ draw. “The draw is supposed to be random. I’m not making any accusations; far from it. But certain universities tend to get the rub of the green. “We just have to go for it. If teams don’t progress, it won’t be through lack of effort, commitment or preparation.â€? Kennedy was quick to point out WKH GLIĂ€FXOW\ RI PDNLQJ WKH ODWWHU stages of both the Championship and the Trophy, and cited last year’s 7URSK\ Ă€QDOLVWV WKH *ROI 7HDP DV an inspiration. “It will be a rude awakening for some teams. You’re coming up against the Man United and Chelsea’s of each sport, but the golf team PDGH WKH Ă€QDO ODVW \HDU ,W FDQ EH done.â€? Still, while other universities have invested heavily in recruiting

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overseas players, specialist coaches and developing high quality programmes in recent years, Newcastle have struggled to keep up. The Strength and Conditioning Programme implemented last term,

has been running for several years at the likes of Northumbria and Loughborough. The hockey team, relegated for the Ă€UVW WLPH LQ D GHFDGH DUH D FDVH LQ point. Kennedy highlighted a lack of quality coaches. “Hockey’s one of our main sports. Relegation shouldn’t happen. 7KHUH¡V D WKUHH Ă€JXUH VXP WKDW JRHV towards coaches; but it is full-time coaches we need and the funds aren’t there. “Then you think they might have a stab at the Trophy, but they’ve been drawn against Loughborough seconds.â€? $PLGVW WKH HEE DQG Ă RZ RI KLV concern and optimism, Kennedy became the latest voice at the Sports Centre waxing lyrical about the current netball side. The girls, who face Exeter at home next week, have made unprecedented progress this year. “They’re living proof of the benHĂ€WV RI WKH 6WUHQJWK DQG &RQGLWLRQing programme. They’re stronger; not ‘Big Arnie’ strong but quick and sharp. It adds another dimension to their game and they will be full of FRQĂ€GHQFH JRLQJ LQWR QH[W ZHHN¡V Ă€[WXUH Âľ The Netball Team have maintained Premier League status for two years now and Kennedy openly expressed his disappointment at fellow Ladies’ clubs for not approaching the programme with similar professionalism.

“Lacrosse and hockey haven’t embraced the programme as well as we would have liked. They’ve gone to the sessions, but it’s been bit part. 7KH\¡UH Ă€W EXW FRXOG EHFRPH VKDUSer. It’s not good enough if they want to progress. “The hockey team will see the difference when they face Birmingham – a top team – next week.â€? Both the men and women’s squash teams face serial recruiters Leeds Met while hopes are high for the basketball side ahead of their match against Cambridge. Although unable to compete with the plethora of National League and international players boasted by local rivals Durham, the Knights are having a good season and will go into the game as favourites. However the nature of the draw remains an enigma to Kennedy. “I’m curious to see how the draw would be made. Through some computerised system no doubt, but it would be interesting to see how some of RXU ULYDOV KDYH PRUH FRQYHQLHQW Ă€[tures.â€? %H LW WKH *RGV IDWH Ă€[ RU DQ XQIRUtunate touch of a keyboard, BUCS has spoken; and as of next week with the exception of rugby union and league, whose leagues have \HW WR Ă€QLVK ² 7HDP 1HZFDVWOH ZLOO compete. Fraser Kennedy will be there, telling the teams what he told me: “In the face of adversity, we always pull through. Good luck to them all.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 8 February 2010

43

Sport

Mills leads from the wing in close encounter J. WEEDEN

Netball Round-Up

Newcastle 2nds 6KHIÀHOG QGV

38 34

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Raiders ready for ‘St. Valentine’s Day Massacre’ Tom James Sports Editor 2Q 6XQGD\ WK )HEUXDU\ DW SP ¶7KH 5DLGHUV· ZLOO WDNH RQ 1RUWKXP EULD LQ WKH 6WDQ &DOYHUW &XS ,Q ZKDW LV EHLQJ GHVFULEHG DV D ¶9DOHQWLQH·V 'D\ 0DVVDFUH· E\ FOXE SUHVLGHQW /HH 'DYLHV WKH WZR WHDPV ZLOO IDFH RII DW WKH *DWHVKHDG ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6WDGLXP ZLWK D FRYHWHG 6WDQ &DOYHUW SRLQW DW VWDNH

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LQJ DQ\ RI WKHLU RZQ $ 8QL YLFWRU\ ZRXOG DSSHDU D FHU WDLQW\ DV RQ SDSHU 1HZFDVWOH VKRXOG ZLQ %XW *ULGLURQ LVQ·W SOD\HG RQ SDSHU VR RQ WKH GD\ ZLWK WKH LQFHQ WLYH RI D 6WDQ &DOYHUW YLFWRU\ DQ\ WKLQJ FRXOG KDSSHQ $ FRQÀGHQW 'DYLHV VDLG ´:H·UH JRLQJ WR EHDW WKHP XS MXVW OLNH ODVW \HDU EXW WKH\ KDYH LPSURYHG VLQFH ZH ODVW SOD\HG WKHP VR ZH FDQ·W EH

FRPSODFHQW µ $OO VXSSRUW LV ZHOFRPH DQG LW·V IUHH WR JHW LQ RQ WKH GD\ VR LI \RX JHW WKH FKDQFH WKLV 9DOHQWLQH·V 'D\ JHW \RXUVHOI GRZQ WR *DWHVKHDG DQG LQ WKH ZRUGV RI 'DYLHV ´(QMR\ WKH VKRZ µ For more information check the Facebook group called the ‘St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.’

44

Monday 8 February 2010 THE COURIER

The secret diary of John Terry Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Jamie Gavin and Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

> Page 38

Ski stars triumph in Calvert contest First blood to Newcastle on day of double success for NUSSC in Castleford S. McKENNA

Paul Christian Sports Editor Newcastle’s ski and snowboarding teams stormed to a sensational win over Northumbria and captured WKH Ă€ UVW 6WDQ &DOYHUW SRLQWV RI WKH competition last Wednesday at the &DVWOHIRUG ,QGRRU 'RPH ,Q D GXDO HYHQW ZKLFK ZDV UXQ DORQJVLGH WKH %8,6& 1RUWK ,QGRRU &KDPSLRQVKLSV 7HDP 1HZFDVWOH GUHZ Ă€ UVW EORRG DJDLQVW WKHLU ELWWHU ULYDOV DQG NLFN VWDUWHG WKHLU TXHVW IRU WKUHH FRQVHFXWLYH 6WDQ &DOYHUW &XSV ,W ZDV D VXFFHVVIXO GD\ DOO URXQG IRU 1866& DV ERWK WKH Ă€ UVW DQG VHF ond teams were named Northern FKDPSLRQV 7KH 6WDQ &DOYHUW VNLLQJ HYHQW LJ nited the day’s proceedings and was determined by a relay style race NQRZQ DV WKH 'XDO 6ODORP :LWK WKH REMHFW EHLQJ WR JHW DOO Ă€ YH FRPSHWLWRUV GRZQ LQ WKH TXLFNHVW WLPH SRVVLEOH 1HZFDVWOH FUXLVHG WR YLFWRU\ ZLWK D PDQ WR VSDUH DV 1RUWKXPEULD IDOWHUHG RQ WKH VORSHV ,W ZDV D JUHDW PRPHQW IRU WKH WHDP OHG E\ &DSWDLQ %HQQ +DOO DQG LQFOXGLQJ DPRQJVW RWKHUV IUHVKHU $OH[ $EERWW 1866& KDYH VHW WKH VWDQGDUG IRU 1HZFDVWOH¡V 6WDQ &DOYHUW DVSLUDWLRQV DQG 3HUIRUPDQFH 6SRUW 'LUHFWRU )UD ser Kennedy was keen to outline the LPSRUWDQFH RI WKH WULXPSK “Once again the ski team have FRPH XS WUXPSV ZLQQLQJ WKHLU UH VSHFWLYH 6WDQ &DOYHUW Ă€ [WXUH 7KH\ DUH D IRUPLGDEOH RXWĂ€ W ´,W¡V Ă€ UVW SRLQWV RQ WKH ERDUG WR 7HDP 1HZFDVWOH EXW ZLWK DQRWKHU SRLQWV XS IRU JUDEV LW¡V JRLQJ WR EH D EDWWOH DOO WKH ZD\ WR WKH Ă€ QLVK OLQH ZKLFK , DP FRQĂ€ GHQW ZH ZLOO FURVV DV ZLQQHUV Âľ $V ZHOO DV WKH WHDP¡V RYHUDOO VXF FHVV LW ZDV DOVR D GD\ IRU LQGLYLGXDO PHULW ,Q WKH 0HQ¡V 6ODORP 6NLLQJ HYHQW 7HDP 1HZFDVWOH RFFXSLHG WKUHH RI WKH WRS WHQ SRVLWLRQV ZLWK Pete Bruton stealing the limelight in VHFRQG SODFH %HQQ +DOO Ă€ QLVKHG RQH SODFH EDFN LQ WKLUG ZKLOH -RHO %DGJHU WRRN D UH VSHFWDEOH VL[WK VSRW (OVHZKHUH LQ VQRZERDUGLQJ 1866& VXVWDLQHG WKHLU ULFK YHLQ RI IRUP ,Y\ 7D\ORU DQG 5\DQ 7D\ORU led the way with superb victories LQ WKH :RPHQ¡V DQG 0HQ¡V 6ODORP UHVSHFWLYHO\ ,Y\ 7D\ORU ZHQW RQ WR Ă€ QLVK UXQQHU XS LQ WKH :RPHQ¡V )UHHVW\OH

3LVWH RI FDNH 3HWH %UXWRQ FDPH VHFRQG LQ 0HQÂśV 6ODORP ZKLFK ZDV MXVW RQH RI D KRVW RI Âż QH UHVXOWV DV 1866& VHFXUHG WKH RSHQLQJ SRLQWV LQ WKLV \HDUÂśV 6WDQ &DOYHUW &XS

Notable mention should also EH JLYHQ WR +DPLVK /LYLQJVWRQH SODFHG WKLUG LQ WKH 0HQ¡V 6ODORP DQG %DUW /RDGHV ZKR WRRN VHFRQG VSRW LQ WKH 6NLLQJ )UHHVW\OH DIWHU VRPH JUHDW ZRUN RQ WKH UDLOV 3DXO .HQGDOO DOVR VXFFHVVIXOO\ ODQGHG DQ DPD]LQJ EDFN à LS RQ WKH GD\ DQG IUHHVW\OH FDSWDLQ 7RP %ODQ VKDUG D OLQN œQ¡ ORRS 1866& 3UHVLGHQW -DPHV 5XVVHOO

expressed his delight at the day’s HYHQWV +H VDLG ´,W ZDV EULOOLDQW WR FRQ tinue the great start we had at the 'U\VORSH &KDPSLRQVKLSV LQ 1R YHPEHU :H FDQ¡W ZDLW WR JHW WR WKH %86& PDLQ HYHQW Âľ $V 1RUWKHUQ FKDPSLRQV 7HDP Newcastle can now come back on 0DUFK EULPPLQJ ZLWK FRQĂ€ GHQFH IRU WKH 1DWLRQDO &KDPSLRQVKLSV

And the busy schedule continues IRU 1866& DV WKH\ UHWXUQ WR WKH $OSH '¡KXH] LQ )UDQFH WR GHIHQG WKH %8&6 $OSLQH WURSK\ WKLV (DVWHU 7KH\ ZLOO QR GRXEW ORRN WR EXLOG RQ WKHLU UHFHQW VXFFHVV ZKLFK KDV seen the University become the QXPEHU RQH UDQNHG LQVWLWXWLRQ IRU VQRZ VSRUWV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 7KLV DOORZV 1HZFDVWOH WR DWWUDFW WKH YHU\ EHVW WDOHQW RQ RIIHU LQ WKH

VSRUW ² D NH\ IDFWRU LQ PDLQWDLQLQJ SHUIRUPDQFH OHYHOV 7KH\ KDYH SDYHG WKH ZD\ IRU RWKHU $8 FOXEV WR EHOLHYH WKDW WKH 8QLYHU VLW\ FDQ PDNH LW WKUHH RXW RI WKUHH LQ 6WDQ &DOYHUW 1866& PHPEHUV FDQ QRZ ORRN RQ LQ KRSH WKDW WKH UHVW RI 1HZFDVWOH¡V clubs can produce similar results RQ )HEUXDU\ WR FUHDWH KLVWRU\ IRU 7HDP 1HZFDVWOH

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