Issue No.23 2012
FREE to a good home
The Official voice of Northumbria Students’ Union www.mynsu.co.uk/nulife
Your Monthly Students’ Union Magazine Filled with News, Gossip and Advice from around Northumbria Campus.
Plus Spotted, Horoscopes, Fashion and loads more. Your Union, Your University, Your Magazine. (cover image DJ Fresh)
NORTHUMBRIA
STUDENTS’ UNION
SUNDAY 22ND - SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY 2012 SUNDAY 22ND JANUARY
‘I AM NSU’ BIG FAT QUIZ OF THE WEEK
8pm in Habita
MONDAY 23
RD
JANUARY
THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY
GLOBAL FAIR
11am - 3pm in Escape
Celebrate the richness and diversity of life at Northumbria.
GET INVOLVED FAIR AT COACH LANE
GOING GLOBAL
It’s never too late to join one of our many societies and volunteering opportunities with a Coach Lane twist.
SO YOU WANT TO BE A SABB Or Lay? or Equality Rep?
11am - 2pm Locations TBC
10pm - 2.30am in Reds
POSTGRADUATE SOCIAL
FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY
6pm in Stage 2
MATURE STUDENTS & PARENTS LUNCH
12pm - 2pm in Escape
TUESDAY 24 JANUARY TH
WELCOME BACK PARTY
GET INVOLVED FAIR
10pm - 3am in Reds
It’s never too late to join one of our many societies and volunteering opportunities.
SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY
WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY
10pm - 3am in Reds
10am - 3pm in The Base
TH
Flex
YOUR UNION YOUR VOICE WINNING FOR STUDENTS
11am - 3pm
Come along and see how NSU wins for YOU!
STUDENT COUNCIL
5pm in Domain
Be a part of democracy in action!
QUESTION TIME
7:30pm in Stage 2
Find the answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
We have a weeklong of exciting events and activities for all students so please come along and get involved, we have something for everyone, day and night! Full details can be found on our website www.mynsu.co.uk/iamnsu
contents NSU NEWS SU:News 4-5 Oh! What’s Occurring? 6-7 Sabb Banter 8-9 It’s the New Year So try something new! 10 Hot & Not 11
FEATURES Volunteer Northumbria Week 12-13 Camp America 15
GET INVOLVED Society Spotlight 16-17 Discuss: Strip for cash? 18-19
editor’s words Hey Everyone!
Happy New Year! And welcome to the first edition of nu:life 2012. Even though it’s a new year all your fave features are still spilling out of the Mags pages as well as loads of added extras. Worried about all those exams creeping up? It’s not too late! Nu:life has been working hard to find you the best last minute exam tips on page 22. Good Luck!
LIGHT RELIEF Bad Romance 21 Exam Panic? - Destroyed! 22-23 Spotted 24-25 Horoscopes 26 WriSoc serial - Part 5 27 Academic Advice 28 The Agony Aunt Team 29
STUDENT CULTURE Hot Topic - Initiations 30-31 Is winter really still here? 32 Strapped for cash 33 New Year’s resolutions gone wrong? Never fear! 34-35 Surviving January Sales 37 Campus Style 38-39 2012 Flicks 41
TEAM NORTHUMBRIA Netball Superleague 42-43 Northumbria Sports Writing Opens Doors for Media! 44-45 Northumbria Waterpolo 46
With a new year comes resolutions, and if your anything like me, yours went down the drain during the New years day Hangover. But never fear, page 34 is here with some great resolutions to start late, trust me I’ve got an eye on one or two myself. As always the Mag is filled with things for every student to enjoy, but if you think there’s something missing, email your article to holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk and you might see it in these pages soon. Have a great semester! Love Holly x Contributors SU:News/ Exam Panic? Aurelie CREGUT New Year - Try Something New! Laura Ewing Hot & Not/Campus Style Rachel Sturdy Camp America Lydia Burnside-hughes Society Spotlight Carmel Lawless Discuss Errin Kerr Bad Romance/ WriSoc serial/winter Kate Taylor Horoscopes Minele Huremovic The Agony Aunt Team Amy Terri & Anna Scatchard Hot Topic Michael Potter & Kate Taylor Strapped For Cash Sophie Thurlow Resolutions Gone Wrong Julia Bond & Sophie Spaldin Surviving January Sales Catherine Allan 2012 Flicks Callum Gibson
Special thank you to; Kim Buffery for Academic Advice & Vikki Myerscough for sorting my dreadful spelling! Editor Holly Seabrook holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUCommsOfficer Design www.ellenlonghorn.co.uk
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NSU News
WELCOME BACK! Here we are again, back to Uni…This is the beginning of a new semester for everybody; whether you were here last year, abroad, or at another university, we are all back here together. Remember when you first arrived? Might seem like a long time ago now. You didn’t know anyone; your flat mates, your Course Mates, Your Lecturers, the city, the campus, each time you changed lectures you got lost? However, you managed to survive!
New Student? So you’ll soon discover (if you haven’t yet) that you have a lot to do before your lectures start, and not a lot of time to do it! Between buying all the things you’ll need for your accommodation, getting ready for your lectures, finding the nearest supermarket and calling your family to say you are okay… you will be exhausted by the end of the day! But you are not alone. We know it can be hard especially when English is not your first language, and you’re not sure if people will understand you. But, don’t worry; most people just want to help. The Students’ Union organizes trips around England to visit the best places. There is a society for everyone. There is even one called the “Official Northumbria Erasmus student society”!! If you want to get to know new people, speak English with native people, or speak another language with a native, go out with new friends, talk to people who know what you are going through, or just have an excuse to go for a pint at the local… the Union and it’s societies are for you!
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Here are a few tips to ensure your time at Northumbria is the best! • Make a list of all the things you want to do while you’re here: places you want to go, activities you want to try… Everything!! This way, you’ll be sure not to forget anything!! • Start your assignments as soon as possible. You don’t want to be stuck in the library in the summer when everyone else is out having fun! • Remember that this experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so enjoy it and make the most of it! • “One day, your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it’s worth watching!” Enjoy this New Year!! By Aurelie CREGUT ia mbr r thu Nor membe m e o e fr - and r ing new m o k loo rst welc nion So ents U y lost your fi ht n d g Stu u see a member the ri in e if yo ents, r them d stu nd help ction. a dire day,
NSU News
Student Wins British Architects President’s Silver Medal Award 2011
Master of architecture student, Jonathan Flavin, has secured a runners up award in the Royal Institute of British Architects President’s Silver Medal Award 2011. The RIBA President’s Medals are the most prestigious international student awards for architecture and have been awarded since the 1850s to recognise outstanding achievement in the field of architecture. Jonathan’s project, a pyrolytic power plant in Blyth, is an architecture tour-de-force that derives its architectural language and monumentality from the region’s industrial landscapes. The scheme addresses the regional issue of energy security and fuel poverty, whilst employing innovative carbon neutral infrastructures that are integrated into the local community and economy. The project also includes remediation proposals for a large area of brown field land, for food production and energy crops. Jonathan’s work is currently being exhibited at the RIBA gallery, Portland Place in London.
Oliver Brunt wins “Next Generation Automotive” award Oliver Brunt, a design for industry student, recently won the prestigious Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award 2011. Run in partnership with Courland Automotive and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, the award is backed by McLaren Automotive, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Peugeot and Skoda and designed to identify, support and develop automotive talent of the future.
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NSU News Oh! Whats’s Occurring?
So you want to be a
Sabb?
A Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer is a Student who takes a year out of their studies either during or afterwards to run their Students’ Union. Any Student can run in the elections in March and can have the chance to run the Award Winning Students’ Union of 2011 for a whole year
GET PAID £16,000 for the pleasure.
Sound interesting but still not sure? Never Fear - The Students’ Union is putting on some sessions for you to come along and get to understand the role a bit more, ask questions, and find out which Sabbatical role really suits you. 06 nu:life
Sessions (all in training room 1 in the SU): Thursday 19th January (6pm) Thursday 26th January (6pm) Wednesday 1st February (6pm) Thursday 9th February (6pm) Monday 13th February (6pm) Monday 20th February (6pm) Tuesday 28th February (6pm) Come along and find out more about each of the five Sabbatical roles as well as the other positions we are electing for, including Equality Reps and Lay Student Councillors.
NORTHUMBRIA
I am NSU Week 23rd January - 27th January A week to celebrate all that is Northumbria Students’ Union.
STUDENTS’ UNION
From Society fairs to Cultural Awareness days, this week is truly going to showcase what being a student at Northumbria is really about. So come down and get involved, there’s loads to do. The Big Debate - Wednesday 25th January, 7:30pm, Stage 2, Free. Starting at 7:30 pm you have the opportunity to ask your union, your university, your national union and the local council anything about the future of higher education and the impact on the local community. Come along to watch or join in as we spark the biggest debate of the New Year.
scripts and your grubby little
Edge Magazine Launch; 25th January The Edge Magazine are proud to launch their brand spanking new edition jam-packed with Northumbria’s best creative writing, poetry to get mitts all over.
To get hold of it first make sure you down at Blake, just along Grey’s Street at 8pm on the 25th of January for the full launch of the new and improved Edge Magazine! The launch will include readings, talking with the contributors, team, mingling and general banter. We hope to see you all down there for some wine and a chat. Speak It’s Name; 13th February Speak It’s Name is a night of alternative love poetry on 13th February. It is inspired by the late Ugandan civil rights activist David Kato who was tragically killed because of his sexuality in January and takes place on his birthday. Organising the event are third year English and Creative Writing students Hannah Seddon Purkins and Jane Robertson in conjunction with the Writers’ Society. Details are TBC. For more information please contact speakitsname@yahoo.co.uk.
NSU News Oh! Whats’s Occurring? LGBT History Month - February As you may or may not know it is LGBT History Month in February and the LGBT society is planning a whole host of different activities which people are all welcome to get involved in. LGBT History Month is to raise awareness of the difficulties that people have had to strive through to get to the point we are at today. What the LGBT society has planned: 2nd February - Quad To raise awareness of the purpose of LGBT History Month, there will be a bake sale, giant twister/chess, posters and magazines from different LGBT organisations and a van which will be covered in post-it notes so that you can show your support to those who suffer bullying because of their sexual orientation. So make sure you pop along for games, information and to help show your support to the “It Gets Better” Campaign! 6th February - Mae Martin - Comedian Come along and be tickled by Mae’s great comedic talent! With tickets as little as £2 you can’t complain! Mae is a Canadian comedian who has done numerous shows around the topic of being an LGBT member. She is sure to raise your spirits and put more than a chuckle in your step. 16th February - Cabaret night Incorporating a few classic numbers combined with some humour which is not to be missed! It is sure to be a night full of entertainment and tickets are a mere £3 for members and £4 for non-members. It really is cheap and cheerful! So come down and get involved by either taking part in one of these amazing activities or merely showing your support by writing on a posit.
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NSU News Sabb Banter
SABB
BANTER
After a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year your Sabbatical Officers are back at work and ready for the most hectic semester of the year! Remember to check our fortnightly Sabbatical vlogs at: www.mynsu.co.uk/sabbaticals
JO RHODES President What is your role? I’m the President so I lead the team, spend a lot of time representing students at the top University level and anything else that happens to come my way!! It’s a busy job but I do love it! What has been your best moment this month? Seeing everyone come back after Christmas refreshed and ready for another term - bring it on!!! What are you most looking forward to this term? Seeing I am Northumbria Students’ Union week turn from a dream into a reality! I’m so incredibly proud of it and I hope it helps you get involved and learn how the Union works as a representative body! There really will be some excellent highlights - make sure you come along to the Big Debate and the Global Fair as well as everything else!! Sell your Role in ten words: The most amazing, challenging, rewarding and diverse job ever. FACT! What is your New Year’s Resolution? To keep my desk tidy!! And to make sure 2012 is as good as, if not better than, 2011! Cheese alert!! jo.rhodes@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUPres
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HOLLY SEABROOK Vice-President Communications & Involvement What is your role? I get too look after the amazing-ness that is this magazine, as well as overseeing all the other media tools which come out of the SU. I also get to ensure the smooth running of Our Unions Democracy including Student Council and the elections. What has been your best moment this month? Completing and being a part of periodic review for post-grad Business was defiantly a highlight, the whole review was fascinating and the school is just such an amazing place. It really was a great point in my own personal development too. What are you most looking forward to this term? I won’t lie, I’m so excited for the elections, I have been working tirelessly to make sure they are the best two weeks in the unions calendar and I can’t wait for the energetic buzz of the voting days! Sell your Role in ten words: Editing, Reading, Reviewing, Meeting, Liaising, Innovative, Creating, Leading, Empathising, Loving. What is your New Year’s Resolution? Save, Save, Save. holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUCommsOfficer
KATE BRADSHAW Vice-President Academic Affairs What is your role? I represent you on all academic issues throughout the University, be it timetabling, placements, group work etc. I also mentor all of the amazing Academic Reps and lead on all things Coach Lane related. What has been your best moment this month? Seeing the paper I have written about utilising the Library Skills Programme more finally begin to make it’s way through the committees in the University. I am so passionate about it and it’s been a long time in the making so it’s nice to see it begin its journey. What are you most looking forward to this term? Probably watching my reps continue to blossom in championing the education policy. It’s a great piece of work with the potential to really improve things here at Northumbria and it’s amazing how easily the reps have taken to it and built it into their roles. Visit the website if you would like to read more about the policy. Sell your role in ten words: My job changed my life; challenging, empowering, skills building. FUN! What is your New Year’s Resolution? To see my friends more, last semester was so busy it flew by and I didn’t spend as much time with the people I love as I could have. I intend to flip that around this year.
HANNAH HORNE Vice-President Welfare & Equality What is your role? My role is to promote the diversity of our students, along with looking after students’ welfare! This can be making sure you have a good experience living in Halls or the Community, promoting good health, delivering safety messages and much more! What has been your best moment this month? Seeing all of our planning for I am NSU week come together – it’s going to be a great week to celebrate the diverse range of students we have here at Northumbria. What are you most looking forward to this term? I am looking forward to seeing all my Rep’s campaigns and activities come to light! I think International Womens’ Day will be a particular highlight! Sell your job in ten words: It’s always fun, often challenging, fast-paced and so worth it! What is your New Year’s Resolution? To finally learn how to drive! 2012 is the year! (Although I think I’ve said that for the past 2 years...)
hannah.horne@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUWelfare1
kate.bradshaw@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUAcademics
ANDREW CHEUNG Vice-President Activities & Development What is your role? I oversee all our Societies, RAG, Welcome Team, Volunteer Northumbria, as well as personal development of students. I also represent all our students, and sit on student council What has been your best moment this month? Seeing my Employability Awareness campaign being launched!! What are you most looking forward to this term? Volunteer Northumbria Week! It’s been reformed and will be the first time it is run the way it is this year. Make sure you sign up! Sell your role in ten words: It is intense, but worth it when you see the result! What is your New Year’s Resolution? I hope to get fit again and get rid of this “Sabb Spread”!!!
And if you have a question for us or just fancy a natter, shoot us an email or pop up and say hello on the first floor of the Students’ Union.
For all you Students at Coach Lane, don’t worry about coming to see us over here, we all like to come and visit you at Coach Lane once a week. Monday Afternoons: Holly Seabrook Tuesday Mornings: Andrew Cheung Tuesday Afternoons: Kate Bradshaw Wednesday Afternoons: Hannah Horne Thursday Afternoons: Jo Rhodes Just pop in and see us on your way into Coach Lane Students’ Union.
andrew.cheung@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUActivites1
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NSU News It’s the New Year - So try something new!
It’s the New Year So try something ‘New’ in Newcastle! So Christmas has come and gone... selection boxes, mince pies and mulled wine are now nothing but a distant memory... is it any wonder January is the gloomiest month of the year? Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say, and at least the student loans are back in the bank accounts! With that in mind, why not try something a little bit different. You probably spent most of semester one dancing the night away and partying until dawn this semester; why not spend your money on something totally new? As a student here in Newcastle, you really can’t miss the opportunity to visit St James Park (...or should I say, The Sports Direct Stadium) - the home of Newcastle United. Student tickets are usually very reasonably priced and the atmosphere inside the stadium is next to none! Newcastle also has an abundance of Art Galleries, Concert Halls and Museums - which are certainly worth a visit. Down by the Quayside The BALTIC is a super place to visit for Contemporary Art while the Laing Art gallery caters for more historic tastes. The Life Centre also, is truly amazing, here; you can visit the largest Planetarium in the North East or give the Deep Sea motion rider a go!
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The Theatre Royal, one of Britain’s oldest and most famous theatres is located right here in Newcastle! Whether you enjoy Drama, Ballet or Comedy - you are sure to be thoroughly entertained at the Theatre Royal! Newcastle is also home to some beautiful parks, such as Jesmond Dene, Heaton Park and Leazes Park. Jesmond Dene is a beauty spot and a lovely place to visit on a sunny afternoon. As well as the superb surroundings, there is a petting zoo, a coffee shop and a restaurant to keep you entertained! If you find the stress of coursework, or city life in general is getting a little too much, why not head to the coast for some rest and relaxation? Whitley Bay, is a quaint seaside town with attractions such as leisure pools and mini golf, you also can head further along the coast to Tynemouth, brave the icy waters and try some surfing or else take it easy and see what the aquarium has to offer! Whatever you get up to this month.... enjoy! And don’t spend your loan all at once! By Laura Ewing
New Year’s Resolutions
HOT
NSU News Hot & Not
A New Year, a new start. New Year’s Resolutions have been made, some will have been broken, but it’s the best time of year to make a change and achieve something on that never ending to-do list. Joining the gym, taking up a new hobby or society or even a trip to the library, you can do it!!
The buzz of presents The fascination with your new toys probably hasn’t changed much from your childhood. Whether it’s squeaky clean trainers, an on trend iPhone or new clothes to cope with the arctic conditions of Newcastle, the New Year will have us all showing off our much loved prezzies. Did you get what you’d hoped for this year?
Upcoming Fashion Week Just upon the fashion horizon is a prestigious week where all the best designers showcase their work for Autumn/Winter 2012. If you want a sneak preview of what’ll be hot later in the year, then take a look at the collections. Fabulous, outrageous or classic, LFW is unlikely to disappoint the style savvy students of Northumbria.
January ‘jumble’ sales After juggling uni work and Christmas shopping, the thought of sale shopping at 5am boxing day morning is enough to make you crawl back under the duvet till February. The good stuff ’s generally gone in an hour anyway so is it really worth fighting over sizes of something you never really wanted in the first place? It’s funny how a sale sticker can change your mind! Top tip: hunt out what you like before Christmas, then order online on boxing day whilst indulging in a mince pie!
Early Easter eggs The Christmas tree has been taken down, we’re now resorting to the dregs of the Roses tin, so is it too early for the return of the crème egg? With about three months to go, the countdown starts again. At least we can ponder the infamous question...how do you eat yours?
The awkward Valentine’s day moments
NOT
Whether it’s soppy or cheesy, a teddy, flowers, chocolates or even a card from your Mum, it has to be said that Valentine’s gifts are definitely not the best! Why not treat your other half with a gift or day out that they’d actually like? It’s got to be better than ‘the awkward moment you have to fake liking a rubbish present!’ By Rachel Sturdy
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for y d a e r Are you
? K E WE Don’t be surprised when NSU turns green next year, as you’ll see us launch Volunteer Northumbria Week - 7 days of non-stop do-goodery in our local community. The fun runs from Saturday 18th until Friday 24th February 2012, as part of Volunteering England’s National Student Volunteering Week. Volunteering England is an independent national charity dedicated to supporting and celebrating volunteering in all its forms. For the past eleven years, it’s run the week as a way to not only bring communities and students together, but to show the nation just how much students are able to achieve - and how much students can get out of their volunteering too! We’re looking to do the same thing here on campus, with a week of volunteering opportunities, chances to get out and about in the community, and workshops and skill sessions to help boost your employability. Throughout the week, we’ll be running our Greener Streets project. Our volunteers will be manning stalls on campus and in the city to collect not cash, but tinned foods! The NHS estimates that the UK throws away 8.3 million tonnes of food and drink each year that could
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have been eaten, so we’ll be out encouraging residents to recycle, not to refuse, before donating our mountain of tins to local soup kitchens to feed those in food poverty. Of course, we’ll have plenty of other opportunities to get involved with. Each day will see a big event for volunteers to get stuck into - everything from music and decorating at a Tea Dance, to playing cupid at Fast Friends, to our Garden Makeover Marathon. But don’t worry if you’ve not got the time to attend a whole event, we’ll have drop-in volunteering available at the Students’ Union, City Campus East and Coach Lane too, as well as spot of quick e-volunteering in The Base. We’ll make sure you’re thanked and rewarded for all your hard work too. Drop by the Base to get your £30 Ticketmaster voucher, care of Orange Rock Corps, for just four hours of volunteering - or grab a vInspired certificate to record just how many hours you’ve given. For a thank you here and now, attend our nightly socials, and if you just want to gloat, take on our sneaky secret team challenges! If you’re still not quite sure what type of volunteering is right for you, then be sure to visit the Students’ Union on Thursday 23rd February for our Volunteering Fair. You’ll have the chance to talk to staff and other volunteers about what NSU can offer you, as well as local, regional and national charities that are eager for you to start volunteering or fundraising with them.
FEATURES Volunteer Northumbria Week
dy for
? K E E But whether you choose to volunteer or not, you’ll always have the chance to attend our employability workshops – chances for you to practise specialist skills and to see how your volunteering makes you more attractive to employers. We’ve got everything from a marketing master class to learning leadership skills, event planning to presenting and public speaking even a CV session or two. We’ll also be looking for the bravest of volunteers to enter our Dragons’ Den, but they won’t be pitching a business idea - they’ll be pitching themselves as an employable graduate. Make your speech before the steely, scowly gaze of our dragons and answer their questions until you hear those magic words... “You’re hired.” We finish our busy week with the Volunteer Northumbria Awards. You’ll have the chance to put in your nominations for VN Team of the Week, Best New Volunteer, Best New Project and other awards, and then see who gets to takes home the prize. We’re aiming to achieve 1,500 hours of volunteering in one week - it’s a lofty task and there’s a lot to do, but we reckon we’re up for it.
Find out more about Volunteer Northumbria Week online at mynsu.co.uk/vnweek or pick up a flyer from The Base. If you’re up to the challenge, you can join the VN Team or apply to be a VN Team Leader on the Volunteer Database!
We’ll make sure you’re thanked and rewarded for all your hard work too. Drop by the Base to get your £30 Ticketmaster voucher, care of Orange Rock Corps, for just four hours of volunteering
So, I’ll ask again - are you ready for Volunteer Northumbria Week!?
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Visit mynsu.co.uk/volunteer Log on to the Volunteer Database Scroll down to Community Volunteering Click on ‘VN Team Member’ or ‘VN Team Leader’ Click sign up and you’re on the team! mynsu.co.uk/vnweek
Camp America It’s the New Year and everyone’s made, and probably broken some New Year’s resolutions by now. Have all my work done by the start of term, no! Try to limit the alcohol intake, no! Have the summer of a lifetime this year – there’s still time! I’m sure loads of you have heard of Camp America, there’s bound to have been chatters in lecture halls or you’ve overheard the people in the booth behind you in Habita raving about it! And now it could be YOUR time. So what is it? It’s a chance to do something different with your summer and spend it in the USA; living & working either with children as a ‘counsellor’ (who are basically activity leaders) or ‘behind the scenes’ as support staff, on an American Summer Camp.
FEATURES Camp America
Don’t worry if you don’t think you are qualified enough to do it, there’s no such thing! I got hired as a Wellbeing specialist and taught yoga to 7-16 year olds for 2 hours every day all summer and I’d never done so much as a taster yoga session at a gym before my staff training week! I made amazing friends and have some unbelievable memories of my time at Camp. Each year over 7,500 young people take the opportunity... so will you be one of them? Visit www.campamerica.co.uk or contact me to ask for more details! The recruitment fairs are in Edinburgh, Manchester and London this January! By Lydia Burnside-Hughes
Last year just before Christmas I was bored of lectures and assignments, fed up of dragging myself out of bed on freezing cold mornings and wanted something lined up for the summer to keep me going! So, whilst procrastinating from reading some textbook or another I visited the Camp America website and signed myself up! I attended the ‘recruitment fair’ in Edinburgh, which is where loads of Directors of American Camps come over to chat to you – and you could get hired on the spot! I spent the day chatting to loads of Directors and found the Camp perfect for me; an all girl YMCA camp with an all-boy camp ‘just across the lake’ that did every activity you can imagine from kayaking to pottery. It was like something out of a film (and believe me, when you’re there it feels scarily like Parent Trap!) I talked about why I wanted to work at a camp and what I could do and ended up being hired then and there. nu:life 15
GET INVOLVED Society Spotlight
Society Spotlight
A Night Fantastic Reds Bar, NSU
Trent Cannon, VP of the Writers’ Society (WriSoc), greets me with a warm handshake and an excited smile dappled with apprehension. Tonight will be an evening of prose, poetry and performance where the audience is warned to expect the unexpected and asked to “remain in your seats to avoid getting hit in the face”. It’s the second year the society has been part of the Newcastle Winter Books Festival, which this year featured big names such as Skellig author David Almond and Simon Donald, the Geordie co-founder of Viz magazine.
wardrobe change from suit to sport) bringing the story of martial arts to life by precariously twirling his stick (not a euphemism) and pointing it at the audience with a look of such intensity you half expect him to shout “Expelliarmus!” Fortunately he maintains control of the weapon (seriously, not a euphemism) and the audience is left with eyes intact.
“We’ve tried to make the night more interactive and more immersive than simply reading the piece to the audience like ‘Hello. My. Name. is. Brian. This. Is. My. Dog.” Explains the society’s secretary, Danny Stones, in a robotone voice. “It’s about much more than just reading, it’s performance too.”
The peace is soon interrupted, however, as Emma Collingwood takes to the stage to perform her gruesome tale “The Kindness of Strangers”, with such imagery as ‘rotting carcasses splattered across the walls […] as blood congeals” lovely stuff! Emma tells me she was aiming for “creepy creepy creepy!” and she’s pretty much nailed it with her chilling account of a scorned-lover-turned-murderous-psycho, peppered with undertones of ‘stay safe’ advice for girls in short skirts out on the town. Certainly a cautionary tale for our time.
And he ain’t lying! The opening act is a reading by two members of Stage Right, one of Northumbria’s drama societies (WriSoc are big on collaboration). They annunciate perfectly and project their words effortlessly - but this is more than ‘just reading’ and so they are accompanied by Trent (with a brief
A brief interval gives us a chance to calm our nerves at the bar before being treated to Domestic Blisters, a genuinely funny skit of marriage guidance for deities, written by Hannah Seddon Purkins. Although originally written as prose, the piece lends itself perfectly to performance and Trent (back
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GET INVOLVED Society Spotlight
again!) and Rebecca Cowden entertain the crowd with accusations of infidelity with a swan (“how could you? She lays eggs instead of giving birth!”), amongst other problems faced by your average married couple. As the night unfolds, Dominic White shows us how it’s done with an impeccably well-delivered poetic piece, although he later admits he’s had considerable experience of public speaking as the chaplain for both Northumbria and Newcastle University. “I’m surprised they let me join as I’m not actually a student but the whole society has been very welcoming” said Dominic, who is predominantly a composer, has a background in classics and recently completed a Theology masters in France, so you can see why they’ve let him sneak in. As the last act is due to come on, a scraggy haired lad wanders into the spotlight armed with a nearempty bottle of scotch as his fellow writers scowl at him for pandering to the stereotype of the troubled artist. But oh wait! It’s part of the act and he takes his place as the play’s author, scribbling away at a desk whilst narrating the scene unfolding in front of him. Phewph. Between gulps of liquor (it’s fine
now we know he’s acting), he tells us of Prometheus who, according to Greek mythology, stole fire from the Gods and gave it to us mortals, whilst being subjected to incessant grief from passionate WriSoc president Kate Taylor, who personifies the fire in Prometheus’s liver (he’s gone a bit loopy you see). Unfortunately Zeus didn’t like Prometheus playing with fire and subjects him to having his liver eaten by a giant black sparrow that seems to have the face of a koala but hey, this is mythology. Afterwards (or should that be afterwords? Ho hum), the writers seem pleased with the evening as they mingle with the audience, and rightly so (writely so?! Sorry, I’ll stop). Afterall, this is the society that won Best Creative Society and Society of the Year in 2010. The night seems to be over disappointingly soon - although I realise it’s actually been two hours and I’m already looking forward to the society’s next event, which will be a literary festival in the Students’ Union on March 9th. Can’t wait until then? The WriSoc anthology is available for £9.99 by emailing su.writers@northumbria.ac.uk, or search “NSU Writers Society” on Facebook. Write on! By Carmel Lawless
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GET INVOLVED Discuss: Strip for cash?
DISCUSS:
Strip for cash? Would you strip to pay your way? It has become a popular phenomenon, young women selling their bodies in strip clubs and lap dancing bars, not to pay for an expensive drug habit, or to experience the love and desire missing from their lives, but to pay their way through university. But does that make the act itself ok? Does the fact that it is young intelligent girls with their heads metaphorically screwed on that are out their shaking their butts in return for a quick buck make it more socially acceptable than if they were uneducated vulnerable girls with nowhere else to go? There are two main schools of thought that exist on this issue, and from talking to a cross section of the student population I’ve found that both schools have a great deal of support. I would say that our opinions as young women are split. We don’t really know what we think of objectifying ourselves for money because we’ve been bombarded with opposing arguments in recent years. The first school of thought includes those who argue, why not? Why not use our bodies to make money, it isn’t our fault that society sees us the way it does, it isn’t our fault that men are so gosh darn attracted to us that they are willing to part with their money just to cop an eyeful of breast on a Thursday evening. This school of thought (in more extreme cases) even includes those who argue that stripping is a feminist act. These girls argue that
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feminism has come so far that we should be taking advantage of the opportunities we as women have to make a quick dollar really by doing nothing but flashing our flesh. It’s society, these girls argue, that should answer the bigger questions about the sexualisation of women and the harmful effects that could be having. We’ve come so far, that we have the power to take advantage of men, our bodies are our property and we can (thankfully) do what we like with them. We have become empowered, rejoice! The other school of thought states that any argument in favour of women being objectified is a direct attack on feminism, and equality for the sexes. Caitlin Moran, in her book “how to be a woman”, says that many young women have admitted to paying their way through education by stripping, “clever girls are doing it - in order to become middle class professionals with degrees! Ipso facto GIRL POWER!” However, she goes on to argue that until we see men engaging in the same sorts of activities and on the same scale, then there is still a problem, “if women are having to strip to get an education, in a way that male teenage students are really notably not – then that’s a giant political issue.” But to be honest, I don’t subscribe heavily to either school of thought, women should be free to pursue whatever they wish unhindered by society, the views of men, or importantly the views of other women. If anyone reading this is thinking about making money this way, their primary focus should be their safety, and not the opinions of others.
Sophie Milner I think in the right circumstances its ok. I don’t think I wouldn’t be comfortable with it, but If you are and you have access to a controlled and safe environment where you aren’t at risk, then yeah go for it! The only concern I have is that some girls might not realise the consequences of what they’re doing until its too late. Anonymous I genuinely understand why girls feel the need to get involved with stuff like this, the cost of living as a student isn’t taken into consideration enough. Most of the time when you have paid your rent, there isn’t much money left to live off. You could get a job, but the amount of hours that a student would have to work at min wage wouldn’t come close to the money that can be made this way. Laura Bereckon I think I would consider doing it if I was really skint. Girls are probably more likely to get into the industry at uni because they aren’t in their home towns anymore. I know I wouldn’t even consider it at home.
Kristi Lennon I don’t see anything wrong with it, it’s a profession just like any other, it isn’t any different to working in a shop. By Errin Kerr
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DON’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES. LIBRARY NOW OPEN FOR 24 HOURS. NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS’ UNION
OUR VOICE YOUR FUTURE www.mynsu.co.uk
BadRomance
LIGHT RELIEF Bad Romance
Valentine’s Day. It probably brings up associations of hearts and flowers and other nice things. That is if the faceless, soulless corporations who invented and continue to fund it have done their jobs right. If you’re like me then it probably brings associations of misery and pain. Okay, maybe I exaggerate. But for every one who loves Valentine’s Day there are probably two who don’t and a third pretending to be sick when their back is turned. Why does this one day provoke such strong feelings in so many people? Is it the cloying sense of expectation on couples to be romantic? Is it the way single people become twitchy around the start of February, as though everyone is judging them? Maybe, but I have a theory that Valentine’s Day and our attitudes to it are the symptom of a larger cultural phenomenon. Today’s media is saturated with romance. Films such as the Twilight series (I refuse to use the word saga) present an increasingly strange view of romance and even action films increasingly have a tacked on romantic subplot. Reality shows are never more talked about than when there’s a chance that the contestants might hook up. Even Mystery Inc is embroiled in complicated romantic relationships in the Scooby Doo reboot, which makes the subtext and sets up not only Daphne with Fred but Shaggy with Velma. After all, it’s not like they have mysteries to solve or anything. To cop out and paraphrase a better writer; does art imitate life? Or is life imitating art? In other words, do we write about love because we’re fascinated by it or are we fascinated by it because we’ve been brought up cutting our milk teeth on a diet of happily ever after Disney weddings before moving onto nice bite-size romantic comedies. I’m not saying that love is a bad thing. In fact I think it’s pretty integral to our survival as a species. But I don’t see why romantic love is any more important than the kind of love people have for their families and friends. When was the last time you saw a film that really explored a friendship with the same depth as a pair of friends who happen to fall in love? Or read a book about a mother’s relationship with her daughter? My closing message? Don’t worry about it if you’re single this Valentine’s Day. Firstly you’ll save a ton on novelty chocolate. Secondly, and more importantly, being single is not the same as being unloved. By Kate Taylor
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LIGHT RELIEF Exam Panic? - Destroyed!
Exam Panic? -
January is exam month. Unfortunately, January is right after Christmas AND New Year!! This means that we probably haven’t done all the revision we should have done. Between Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year eve, family and friends to visit and to reconnect with, holidays to be enjoyed… who could have had time to prepare properly for the exams coming?
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I know the next week(s) are going to be really hard, but not impossible! So to help you go through this, here are a few tips! Every minute counts! That means stop spending hours on Facebook, or texting your friends to find out where they are going tonight!! You are not going anyway!! Remember? Save it till when you have completed your exams, it’ll be worth it. Stop drinking - And when I say that, I mean drinking alcohol of course, not drinking at all!! Whether you feel the difference or not, your brain can’t function at 100% with alcohol!!...
LIGHT RELIEF Exam Panic? - Destroyed!
Sleeping hours - I’m not going to say to you when you should go to sleep and when you should get up (I’m not your mum and you’re all big girls and boys). But, having fixed times to go to bed and get up really helps during revisions!! Beside, at our ages we “only” need six to seven hours of sleep by night. Plan your time: getting up, having breakfast, starting working, lunch break, afternoon work… Everything! And decide now what you are going to do and when, this way you won’t waste time when you change modules or subjects. Plan some breaks! Your brain is not 100% efficient after four hours working. Breaks shouldn’t be too long or too often (still a lot to do!), but 15 to 20 minutes every two hours should be fine.
Revive the most important stuff when you are feeling your best. I know this seems pretty obvious, but you never know. Everybody has their own way, so it is up to you to know when you want to study and how! Nobody can really focus seven or eight hours a day and be 200% efficient during that time. So watch the “burn out” issue. To prevent it, when you feel like you’re phasing out, just stop and do something else! Take a break, go to Sport Central, or talk to someone… Just change the scenery; if possible get out of your room!! If you follow everything here, then you have a chance of getting through your exam month unharmed. Good luck!! By Aurelie CREGUT
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Here is an eclectic mix of lots of different events which have been going on in your union in Semester 1. Could you be spotted at them this Semester? Photos Provided by Dan Graham & Pippa Staples
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LIGHT RELIEF Horoscopes
HOROSCOPES Aquarius 20 January 18 February It’s the start of the New Year and it means a huge change to your routine. Surrounding yourself with your best friends means that you find yourself leaning towards different ways to spend your time which are just as fun as partying! Celebrity: Justin Timberlake January 31st Pisces 19 February - 20 March You’re feeling the pinch after the big Christmas splurge but think about the easy ways you can save money and you’ll never be skint again! Aries 21 March - 19 April If you’re not impressed with your haul this Christmas, do the generous thing this year and donate to charity. They’ll appreciate the gifts more than you do! Taurus 20 April - 20 May You can’t stop daydreaming and your friends are finding it hard to have a conversation with you, but don’t worry, it’ll soon pass. Gemini 21 May - 20 June After an amazing holiday season, you’re feeling as though you can take on the world. Try something you’ve always wanted to do and this month, you won’t fail!
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Cancer 21 June - 22 July If you’re single, you’ll attract lots of attention this month but keep your eyes out for someone special. If you’re settled, it’s going to be a fab month for your relationship.
Leo 23 July - 22 August You just can’t find the motivation for going out, going to uni or anything these days. Don’t worry though, this’ll pass and you’ll be back to normal in no time. Virgo 23 August - 22 September This month is perfect if you’re trying to arrange appointments or meetings. For some reason, you can make anything happen and you won’t be hearing any bad news either! Libra 23 September - 22 October You’re spent after a fun-packed month so just let yourself and your purse strings relax. You’ll feel more refreshed and richer by the end of this month! Scorpio 23 October – 21 November Don’t be tempted to blow your student loan on this week! Be sensible with your money and you’ll be thankful at the end of this semester! Sagittarius 22 November – 21 December After all the indulgent holiday food, you’re not looking forward to cooking again, browse some cookbooks and try some more daring recipes to tempt your taste buds. Capricorn 22 December - 19 January The cold weather may not be your cup of tea but warm yourself from the inside by spending time with your friends and family. After all, there’s no place like home! By Minela Huremovic
LIGHT RELIEF WriSoc Serial - Part 5
WriSoc Serial [part 5]
‘Go?’ I asked. ‘Where? There’s only one way out. Isn’t there?’ I looked around as if I expected to see a flashing neon sign marked ‘exit’ but there was nothing except shelf after shelf of strange books. ‘There’s only one way out,’ Natalie confirmed. ‘And Professor Vesper will have the place surrounded.’ I looked around the dimly lit room. ‘Couldn’t we stay?’
‘Take it,’ Natalie said. ‘It’s a gift.’ She looked as though she could barely stand so I slipped the paper into my bag with one hand and supported her with the other. By the time we got out of the library she was leaning on me more and more, her head hanging as though lifting it was too much effort. ‘Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?’ I asked as I manoeuvred her through the turnstiles. ‘Uh-huh,’ she nodded, eyes half closed with effort.
‘No!’ Natalie shook her head, aghast. ‘Some of these books are over a thousand years old, others are only copies that even exist any more. Some of them can think. We’re just two people. If this library burns-’ There was a terrible noise, like the wind blowing through a forest of paper, or a library trying to scream. ‘If this library burns,’ Natalie repeated more calmly. ‘Then it’ll be like a light has gone out. We’ll lose whole disciplines of magical theory... I won’t let that happen.’ I looked at Natalie, she was grey faced and barely able to stand without leaning on something: I didn’t fancy her chances any more than mine. But I’d heard the library scream and that kind of thing stays with you. ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Let’s go.’ ‘Thank you,’ Natalie swayed as she tried to move, her hip knocking a lectern. The book on it (a small, calf skinned grimoire, edged in gold leaf ) fluttered its pages in an eerily deliberate kind of way until one drifted loose and floated to the ground at my feet.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked timidly. ‘Used too much magic,’ Natalie groaned. ‘It’ll wear off.’ ‘If you say so,’ I said, guiding her through the revolving library doors. ‘But don’t you think-’ I was cut off, rather rudely, by a ball of lightening. It knocked me to the floor and left me gasping for air. It only took a second to work out what was wrong with that picture: Natalie could hardly support herself: how hadn’t she fallen on top of me? I looked up to see her suspended in the ball of silvery light, her hair and clothes floating around her as though she was underwater. Aesop was perched smugly in a branch by her head. ‘Foolish mortals!’ the professor’s voice boomed out of nowhere. ‘You have fallen into my trap. I am Vesperian, creature of the night and I claim this woman as my unholy vampire bride.’
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LIGHT RELIEF Academic Advice
Acdemic Advice ACADEMIC PROBLEMS LARGE OR SMALL, OUR KIM CAN FIX THEM ALL! KIM BUFFERY IS YOUR EDUCATION CASEWORKER, ENSURING YOU ARE ALWAYS WELL REPRESENTED WITHIN ACADEMIC ISSUES.
Hi Kim,
Hi Kim,
I’ve got so far into my programme and I just don’t think I can go on! My dissertation’s due this week, three other assignments the next. At the same time, I’ve been going through a terrible time at home and I’ve started getting migraines. Is there anything that can be done?
I struggle with writing in English because it’s not my first language. Recently I copied some sentences from an article because they expressed what I was thinking perfectly.
Jenny Dear Jenny, Yes - but they have to be done quickly: • Speak to your guidance tutor - it might be possible to arrange extensions because of the deadline ‘bottle neck’. • Alternatively, he/she might be able to arrange an extension based on your personal issues.
Then, my lecturer told me I should’ve written in my own words, even if I write badly! I’ve always done this and nobody’s said anything - and if I put everything I copied into quotation marks, the whole essay would be in quotation marks! Surely my lecturer’s not right on this? Hakeem Dear Hakeem,
• Or he/she might recommend you put in a Personal Extenuating Circumstances form. Find out the deadline from your School Office. But above all - do something!
Your lecturer is 100% right on this, I’m afraid. Copying without referencing even if you’ve used your own words) is plagiarism – the point is, have you written something that isn’t your own work, as if it were your own work.
If you leave it until after the submission deadline, there’s almost definitely nothing that can be done and - if you do worse than you hoped in your exams - you may be on your own UNLESS you can demonstrate a good reason for not putting your PEC form in.
This can be especially tricky for international students– which is why it’s so important to seek advice if you’re not sure, either from us in the Students’ Union or Library and Learning Services (who run sessions in academic writing skills).
Please don’t be one of the many students I saw this summer who didn’t put in a PEC form and then had to appeal their results later!
The penalties for academic misconduct can be very serious (ranging from capping your essay mark at 40 to expelling you from University) so it’s always better to be safe than sorry! Look out for our upcoming Academic Misconduct campaign!
Kim
Kim
If you have an academic problem...
you would like to discuss with me just shoot an email to su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk and I will be back in touch with you within 48 hours. Alternatively pop to the base information desk on the ground floor and the staff will arrange a good meeting time for us. Or Pop in and see me at Coach lane 10-11am on Wednesdays! 28 nu:life
LIGHT RELIEF The Agony Aunt Team
The AA Team Amy & Anna To the rescue Dear AA Team,
Dear The AA Team,
I am so worried and feel so guilty. I don’t know what to do.
Over the festive period I have put on loads of weight and now I am really conscious about the way I look and I am getting really nervous about going out with my friends on nights out. I know I should probably go on a diet but I find it really hard and lose focus.
Before Christmas my boyfriend of three years came up for a night out with his brother and they both stayed at mine. So we went out and had an absolutely amazing night, but my boyfriend got extremely drunk and when we got in he passed out on the sofa. Thinking nothing of it I said his brother could just stay in my bed, with me, as over the three years we had become quite close friends. In the night he started kissing my neck and then one thing led to another. We didn’t sleep together but were very close to and now I feel so guilty on my boyfriend and spending Christmas with his family was horrendous! Love Anonymous Dear Anonymous, As we have said before, honesty is the best policy. Yes, what you have done is wrong but if you are honest with your boyfriend we think he would respect you more than avoiding it. You seem to know that what you have done is wrong which is the first step to overcoming the guilt you are feeling. Don’t forget that you are not the only one in the wrong; his brother will be racked with guilt too and is probably worried about how his family will react to his actions. It will be difficult, but we’re sure your relationship is strong enough. Love Amy and Anna x
What can I do? Please help. Love Sarah Dear Sarah, You are definitely not alone when saying this, we are sure that everyone puts on a bit of weight over Christmas with all of the chocolates and the Christmas dinner so please don’t fret. Make sure you eat a balanced diet, don’t go stuffing your face with the rest of your selection box chocolate but do give yourself a little treat each day to keep you going. Ask one of your housemates to join the gym with you as a ‘new year’s resolution’ and get them to motivate you - it’s more fun when you go with a friend. Keep positive and you will be back to your old self in no time! Love Amy and Anna x
If you have a problem that you want us to answer, please email The AA Team at su.problems@ northumbria.ac.uk and we will be more than happy to help you! nu:life 29
STUDENT CULTURE Hot Topic - Initiations
HOT TOPIC: Initiations
With many universities banning them outright sports initiations are a truly hot topic. There’s no denying they’re deeply unpleasant, but is banning them a step too far? Is it the university’s place to protect potentially vulnerable students or to protect their rights as freethinking, autonomous individuals? Our NU:Life writers Kate Taylor and Michael Potter take on this controversial issue.
2 AGAINST Looking back over my teenage years, I have distinct memories of people trying to get me to do stuff because ‘everyone did’. Every so often I’d have people - not my close friends - try and talk me into going out drinking with them because in their own words it would be funny. More specifically, I would be funny. Not wanting to spend my Friday nights throwing up in a gutter for someone else’s entertainment I refused and ended up not drinking until Fresher’s week, that magical time when no one knows who you are and someone is always drunker than you. The funny thing is, the further I look back, the more peer pressure there is. From “you’ll be my best friend if you give me X” to “I’ll let you in my gang if you do Y” childhood is one long power play. Which is fine. Because at the end of the day they’re only children and will eventually grow out of it. The problem comes when those children grow up and start organising sports initiations. To clarify: they grow up physically. Mentally they’re still childish and immature with some extra adult cruelty and inventiveness thrown in. Don’t believe me? Look up Dick and Dom’s latest gross-out kid’s show and then Google sports initiation practices. You’ll be
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From “you’ll be my best friend if you give me X” to “I’ll let you in my gang if you do Y”
stunned at the similarities: gloop of dubious origins (I heard a mix of dog food, raw eggs, anchovies and goldfish), bodily fluids (usually but not always vomit), the ingesting of the same, the pleasure in others’ misfortune... And that is basically the point. I’m not going to add to the uproar around this subject by calling the initiations dehumanising and indicative of a sociopathic group culture (though I believe they are). I am not going to feed the conception the people responsible have of themselves as anti-heroes victimised by the system for offending the board of trustees. I am going to end by calling them out as pathetic, overgrown children indulging in institutionalised bullying because they can’t stand to give up the pitiful amount of power it gives them. And why would anyone want to be part of a group like that? By Kate Taylor
STUDENT CULTURE Hot Topic - Initiations
3 FOR
University is the most adventurous time of people’s lives so as long as it is not bullying or stupidly dangerous then why should it be prohibited?
Although university initiations are often degrading, foul and dangerous, they are often misunderstood and perceived to be an act of bullying. Although, often taken too far much of the activities are meant to be about team building and creating a bond between the team, but sometimes it is the complete opposite and ends up humiliating the new students segregating them from the rest of the group. However, as long as we are safe when conducting such activities it is not that different to other nights out when people choose to drink to excess. If you are the type of person who succumbs to peer pressure easily, then maybe this is not for you but personally I wouldn’t be willing to do anything obscene if I weren’t although considering it so know that I wouldn’t be able to be coerced into anything. Initiations have been a long standing tradition at many universities, although it’s a tradition that is now dying out because it is being banned. Northumbria has a no initiations policy which I can’t fault because I know how dangerous they can be.
However, maybe we should attempt to find an alternative so that we can still have a team bond. Obviously nobody should be forced to binge drink or do anything that is disgusting. Team bonding is key to any successful team so why sacrifice this opportunity when they first meet? University is the most adventurous time of people’s lives so as long as it is not bullying or stupidly dangerous then why should it be prohibited? Bar crawls are fully accepted within the uni community and forfeits are rife and accepted, so as long as we ensure that everything is safe and nobody is at risk of physical or mental abuse then I don’t see anything wrong, and not to condone binge drinking but as long as it’s not outside of any individual norms then I don’t think there’s anything too bad. However obviously some of the “unspoken” rituals that are associated with initiations I cannot accept as they are ridiculously cruel and people have died doing such stupid things. By Michael Potter
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STUDENT CULTURE Is winter really still here?
Is winter really still here? As strange as it may sound to some of you, winter is some people’s favourite season. Not only is there Christmas to look forward to there’s the possibility of snow, rich winter foods and hot mulled wine. Even the sharpness in the air can come as a nice change after the unseasonably hot autumns we seem to be getting lately. There is no reason why the start of winter can’t be an exciting time. Less so for February. December has Christmas. January has New Year and all the fresh faced hope of New Year’s Resolutions. And of course there are various other religious festivals around the winter solstice, a time when everything was getting dark and miserable and people just generally needed a party to get their spirits up. But by the time you get to February all that enthusiasm has worn off. Maybe you put on half a stone over Christmas, or gave up on your New Year’s resolution embarrassingly early. Even the weather turns from crisp, frosty days to raw, wet weather that soaks your jeans up to the knee and seeps into your toes. It’s especially hard on students, who have got over the excitement of seeing their friends again over Christmas and starting new modules (or is that last one just me?) and whose deadlines are now starting to bite. And of course there’s the added bonus of Valentine’s Day, which is stressful for couples and single people alike. Most people spend the last dregs of winter thoroughly miserable, waiting for the rain and sleet to go away and Spring to begin in earnest. This year though, I have a plan. I’m swapping jeans for leggings and doing all my reading over Christmas. That way, though the world might decide to throw rain and wind and sleet and hail and cold at me, at least my feet will be warm and my library sessions minimal. By Kate Taylor
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STUDENT CULTURE Strapped for cash
STRAPPED FOR
So Christmas is finally over for another year. Your New Years Eve outfit was probably something you could have lived without but you just couldn’t resist? But now you’re strapped for cash and counting down the days until the next instalment of your student loan? Well don’t worry, there’s still plenty of ways and ideas to have fun during January whilst on a budget: Get all your friends together and have dinner in. Granger Market is great for cheap meat and vegetables and splitting the cost between a few of you works out much cheaper and you don’t end up eating the same meal for three nights in a row! Why not look up some new recipes to try out and scratch up on your cooking and baking skills.
See what Newcastle has to offer and try being a tourist for the day! The Baltic museum on the Quayside is free and always has new and interesting exhibitions on display. The Hancock Museum is also free and is worth having a look around. Get out and get active. The uni gym membership is cheap for students and has loads of fun classes included in the price if the gym isn’t your cup of tea. Go with friends and try a Zumba class or limber up with yoga. If you don’t want to join up to the membership, the pool is available to use as you wish and you just pay when you go. Join websites such as groupon.co.uk and wowcher.co.uk and look out for deals on all sorts of things. By Sophie Thurlow
Why not have movie nights with popcorn and what’s left of your Christmas sweets and chocolates? There’s a fab new DVD shop opened in Eldon Square (by the M & S entrance) with loads of cheap DVD’s. Alternatively, just watch the ones you got in your stocking. Treat yourself to a cinema date but make sure you go on a Tuesday when Empire cinema does cheap ticket prices, or Wednesdays with an Orange Two-for-One code. Remember to take your student card for extra discount and take your sweets and drinks with you rather than buying them at the cinema. Some upcoming films to be released this month include Contraband, Joyful Noise and Declaration of War, so keep an eye out for them at the box office.
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STUDENT CULTURE New Year’s resolutions gone wrong? Never fear!
New Year’s resolutions gone wrong?
Never fear! HELP! I’ve already broken my New Year’s resolution! Now I don’t know about you but every year I start off a new silly resolution, which I manage to convince myself I’ll keep up to the following January. The task of 2011 was going for a run at least three times a week, was perhaps a little over enthusiastic for a self confessed lazy sod, amazingly I lasted until May. Then exams hit and I got distracted by procrastinating, biscuits and a bit of revision. From what it appears an initial spurt of activity seems for everyone to last the first few weeks then dwindle into nothingness, leaving Januarys’ 6 month gym membership stealing your money month by month and leaving you feeling generally disgruntled and lazy. This seems to happen, because we set ourselves goals that are not achievable! This year be realistic by setting feasible goals. Winning The Grand Prix, for example, is probably out of your grasp. (Sorry). Break down large goals into smaller ones, so for loosing weight join a gym or a weekly weigh in club to boost your morale. For giving up smoking go talk to your doctor about the different options if you can’t face the idea of going cold turkey, grab some patches and wean yourself down.
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Or instead of giving up something, take something up! Volunteering; a job, getting involved with the union, hospital radio, painting, language classes, learn how to cartwheel, going to the theatre once a month, taking time to call your mum/dad/siblings/grandparents (just so they knows your alive), eating a piece of fruit once a day, learn how to make origami cranes – the list is literally endless. And you don’t have to do it by yourself why not organise something with your flatmates like cooking together as a household once a week or month or just eating together more. This year I was inspired by a friend, who puts little notes up in the bathrooms of her university offering positive messages to those that see it. For 2012 I’m taking up random acts of kindness, one spontaneous act a week. These things could be anything giving someone a pound, baking a cake for a friend or just simply calling people more often.
Student Resolution Ideas Whether you have already broken your New Year’s resolution or simply forgotten to make one in the first place – it isn’t too late, so don’t give up yet! A New Year’s resolution is a great opportunity to make a change. However, the hard part is sticking to it; fortunately this guide to New Year’s resolutions should help you with that part! 1. I will not leave my deadline until the day before to start it - It’s really just not worth the all nighters and the faff of running to SASC in your slippers. 2. I will stop counting Alcohol with fruit in it, condiments and garnish as part of my 5 a day - Eating healthily is difficult with the temptation of the toon’s multiple takeaways. But, your skin, mind and body will suffer. Pick up an apple perhaps? 3. I will change my bedding - well if you’ve managed to get them that far you don’t want them to leave at the sight of it. Once every two weeks minimum. (Boys take note especially). 4. I will not end up being filmed drunk (again) - Once is enough. Twice is shocking. Three times… 5. I will change out of my pyjamas every day - sadly onesies do not count as clothes however warm they are. The only person allowed to way Pj’s all day is Hugh Hefner – FACT. 6. I will make sure my house is fit for human habitation - If you’re embarrassed enough by it to not let your friends come round – why haven’t you cleaned it!
9. I will not spend my entire student loan within a week of receiving it. - I know the call of January sales are tempting and this massive amount of money demands you act irresponsibly, but do you really want a repeat of living off value baked beans for over two weeks? 10. I will stop choosing bed over lectures - Unbelievable as it may sound, attending a 9am lecture once in a while is not beyond the realms of possibility. No honestly - give it a go. 11. I will not indulge in drunken texting/phoning/ facebook poking - fantastic idea at the time, but the next morning you will regret it. Delete all numbers of you have no self-control or give your phone to your friends - but don’t tell them your password! 12. Go to the gym - If you want to be fitter in 2012 actually go. If you follow these helpful tips you should be able to succeed, however, remember that you also need to have some willpower! By Julia Bond & Sophie Spaldin.
7. I will not meet my parents sporting last night’s fancy dress and a hangover. - Enough said. 8. I will not leave my Facebook logged in. - Unless you fancy a change of picture, gender or sexual preference, log out.
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NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS’ UNION
WHAT’S ON JAN/FEB
Big Phat Quiz of the Year Every Sunday (Starting 29th Jan) Habita 8pm Free
Celebrity Bingo Mondays Fortnightly (Starting 30th Jan) Habita 8pm Free
Habita Horse Racing Tuesdays Fortnightly (Starting 31st Jan) Habita 8pm Free
Skates
Shop & Rock
Every Tuesday (Starting 31st Jan)
Sunday 19th Feb
Reds 10pm - 2am Free before 11pm £3.50 after
Karaoke Every Thursday (Starting 3rd Feb) Habita 8pm Free
Reds 11:30am - Late £3 Day/Night £5 All Day and Night
Ben Howard* Monday 20th Feb Domain 7:30pm £13
Theory of a Deadman* Welcome Back Party Saturday 28th Jan Location TBC TBA
Brighton Beach* Saturday 4th Feb Reds 11pm - 3am £5 Adv/£6 Door
Wednesday 22nd Feb Domain 7:30pm £13
STUDENT CULTURE Surviving January Sales
Surviving
January After the stressful season of Christmas shopping for family and friends, comes the time for a little self-indulgence.. Sale shopping. The January Sales are a peculiar phenomenon: where sensible, good-willed people join the hordes of flocking bargain-hunters, stripping shops bare and spending a fortune on one too many ‘bargains’. While some fashionistas will have already beat me to it - huddling outside Next at 5am on Boxing Day just isn’t my style - for those who’ve yet to embark on this month-long shopping extravaganza, here’s a few tips... Make a list. Be that a new season trend you’re dying to try out or those items you’ve been mooning over for months – regardless, go in with a clear idea of what you’re after. And, easier said than done, try and stick to the list! Remember, it’s only a bargain if you would’ve bought it in the first place.
-Be savvy with your shopping outfit. Think about the outfit you wear to sale shop. Skip the mile-long changing room queues by wearing leggings and a vest that are thin enough for you to try things on over. Get next year’s cards/gift wrap/presents! Christmas 2012 may seem a life time away, but now is the best time of year to stock up on Christmas cards and wrapping paper. You’ll pay a fraction of the price you will later on! Also, if you’ve got birthdays coming up, now may be the ideal time to bag a bargain! Check the refunds policy. Beware; some stores won’t give full refunds on sale goods. Check at time of purchase so you’re not stuck with any unwanted, spontaneous buys. Or.. just stay home? If the thought of making a trip into town is too much for you then there is nothing better than sitting at your computer and making the necessary purchases online. You’ll have to pay postage/packaging, but its great not having to get caught up in the crowds! Plus, the discounts that you get off items will contribute to the postage and packing costs. Win! By Catherine Allan
Set yourself a budget. I may sound like a killjoy, but with a credit/debit card in your hand, sales can bring out dangerously impulsive behaviour. After the expensive Christmas season, the last thing you want is to get into (more) debt. Also, pay attention to the PRICE, rather than the ‘reduction’ as these can be misleading.
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L & ISABE SOPHIE sychology ge to rP 2nd Yea d Isabel still mana day,
STUDENT CULTURE Campus Style
CAMPUS STYLE
Now the Christmas break is over, and Semester Two is upon us again already Northumbria students are back and bang on trend as usual. Easing back into University life and fighting the holiday blues with bargain buys from the January sales and the prospect of showcasing JESSICA gorgeous Christmas gifts for the first Science al edic Biom Year 3rd time. Our students are oozing style with a a down Jessic hunt to ged mana We collaboration of their unique and quirky in the Students’ Union. As a lover of items and the new trends for winter vintage, Jessica combines a stunning 2012. It is essential to wrap up warm vintage cardigan with leopard print in these wintery months, especially in ngs, complementing the outfit Newcastle! But our students managed to leggi with a leopard print scarf ; she pulls do this remaining sleek and fashionable. off the double animal print look We certainly were not disappointed in perfectly. With a vibrant pink T-shirt s our style hunt this month. Take a look: and classic tan brogues, Jessica exert
n ry Sophie a ous on a bluste ith e rg o g k ic style w h loo c k c ro a d g e in ir c a p ra emb ckets leather ja jeans and tailored ny in sk o ig finish with ind umps. The girls p ng le si b ri ra o o ss d a cce l outfits a bags, stil d off their n a h d e iz s e rs e rv v a o with h fur sc cosy wit keeping s must have! n er this seaso ie - leath uy: Soph b ss te re ri d u Favo ht red bel - brig skirt, Isa the buying in l you be ie - new il w t a h W ph sales? So fur collar, January et with k c s ja r e leath ir of jean good pa Isabel - a
fabulous style.
B E C KY 2nd Ye ar
Favourite buy: Vintage leather What will you be buying in the January sales? Ideally a pair of s! studded leather Christian Louboutin
Law Rushin go caught ff to a lecture our eye Beck y , mana wrap u gin pw combin arm with sty g to le es two major tr . She season ends th with a c is hunky snood knit an legging d knitted burg ted s. The m undy of this season ust have colo ur ! Pa a navy swing c iring this wit h oat tha beautifu t ha l Becky ra velvet bow d s eta diates a style. girly ye iling, t trend y Favouri te buy: H shorts igh wais ted What w ill you b e buyin January g sales? L ots of c in the lothes! 38 nu:life
TOBY 3rd Year English Language
th big A simple outfit wi lour block results. Toby’s co ns and jumper, classic jea effortless ate cre s mp pu black the for ct rfe pe is style that A fan of . lls ha re library or lectu by describes To ty, ali du ivi ind of everything his style as a bit piration ins g xin he likes mi stel and Noel from Simon Am Fielding. er Island Favourite buy: Riv irt white tsh buying in the What will you be pefully some January sales? Ho . es th clo p chea
CHERITH
2nd Year PR Accessorising a bold purple scarf with, in our opinio n, the perfect fur coat and ankle boots Ch erith is bang on trend and definitely stoo d out from th e crowd. We loved how sh e incorporated colours into a the bold classic chic st yle. Cherith displays a qu irky and excit ing style thes bright colour e s definitely br ightened up a wintery day. We loved it. Favourite buy: Black leather boots - they go with everyt What will you hing! be buying in the January sales? A good black blazer.
SARAH 2nd Year Biom edical Science
An absolute lo ver of Vans, Sarah teams her fave shoe s with a pair of rolled up jean s and a pattern ed jacket. Contrasting le ather trims and a warm sh earling hood means this co at is perfect fo r the season. He r short cut an d hair bow adds the fashionabl e finishing touc hes to a fantas tic outfit. Favourite buy: Vans What will you be buying in the January sales? Black leather Topshop ankl e boots.
A SHAKER iomedical B r a e Y 2nd e c n ie c utfit for S et cool o
y A comfy Shakera follows t ry, the libra with black velve ds le b a n the tren io s and fash t for the legging ke r wax jac e outfits. u o rb Ba daytim in te a ultim k with g the loo e really Finishin sh s, e u g ro n stylish b he tarta wrong. T k can’t go lements her loo p scarf com y. all fantastic our Wax buy: Barb te ri u o v a F Coat buying in l you be ssential E What wil s? le ary sa the Janu . p make u
ALEX 1st Yea r
Mixing Law pa with bri tterns, Alex c re g for kee ht scarf and h ates a fun loo ping w k eadban arm in Access the win d, perfect orising te in r month chelsea style w s. it b comple oots and a sa h on trend tchel b tes the ag, she look pe rfectly. Favouri te What w buy: the esse nti ill sales? A you be buyin al LBD g nother fur coa in the January t.
We’re now in the full swing of winter and the cold is probably taking its toll, if not draining your bank balance in heating bills. If you haven’t already, it’s time to indulge in some of this season’s best accessories to protect you from the elements in the most stylish way possible. Fur is this season’s must have accessory. The favourites at the moment are fur collars, headbands and boot toppers in all shades from cream to black. You could give your wellies a makeover or add an expensive looking collar to your coat! The fashion team would like thank everyone for being part of style on campus and our style hunt this month. Make sure you look out for us on campus because you never know, you could be the next style superstar of NU:LIFE By Rachel Sturdy & Stacey
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STUDENT CULTURE Festive Flicks
2012 FLICKS
Christmas is over; the presents have been opened, the trees have been taken down, and Fenwick’s window has once more become nothing but another window. It’s all very depressing. Where before the snow was white and crisp and festive, now it’s just grey, sludgy, and massively irritating. Ayuh, the holiday blues are setting in badly. Combat them with a trip to the flicks. Here are a few things you should think about seeing.
Underworld: Awakening (Jan 20th/TBC) This is the second sequel to 2003’s Underworld (Rise of the Lycans was a prequel) and sees the return of Kate Beckinsale’s Selene for the first time since 2006’s Evolution. It all sounds like exciting stuff until you realize that the first couple of flicks were really rather dink. In all honesty they should be awesome, vampires versus werewolves and all, but for me something hasn’t quite sat right over the course of the series. Hopefully, with the return of Beckinsale and a screenplay by original director Len Wiseman (Underworld, Die Hard 4.0) this can be the instalment of the franchise that not only amuses long time fans, but also turns the opinions of none-believers like myself. And if all else fails you still have Beckinsale running around in a rubber catsuit, and for that you can’t help but be grateful. G-stars: 3
The Darkest Hour (Jan 13th/TBC) I first saw the trailer for this movie a little while back but, though I’m always up for a new alien invasion story, I was less than impressed with what I saw. That was, at least, until the end of the trailer when the producer was revealed. Yes, this is the brain child of director Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Day Watch, Wanted) so you know that it’s going to be a classy foray into territory that, although familiar, will be rendered in eye-popping detail. Couple this with the fact that it stars Emile I-get-better-withevery-film-I’m-in Hirsch, and I think we might have a winner.
The War Horse (Jan 13th/TBC) Anybody remember having to read The War Horse in middle school? Well, Stephen Spielberg does and it’s on the back of these memories that we get his first movie of the new year, not to mention his first ever flick set during the first world war. Packed to the gills with British talent that includes Emily Watson and David Thewlis, and based not only on the book but the award-winning stage-play as well, this promises to be something special, and also to leave not a dry eye in the house. G-stars: 4
nu:life 41 By Callum Gibson
TN Northumbria Netball Superleague
NETBALL
SUPERLEAGUE Netball Superleague action returns to Northumbria University this month as the nation’s top eight teams do battle between now and May. Sport Central hosts three vital phase one clashes in the next three months. And Team Northumbria boast a new look and a new coaching team as they bid to push for a top four finish. Lisa Stanley and Sam Holt take charge after Tracey Neville’s surprise departure during the summer. And the new pairing at the TN helm are determined to blend youth with experience in a bid to build on last season’s strong finish to the season.
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Stanley started last season as a key figure in the Sport Central club’s attack before old injuries caught up with the veteran shooter. But her absence allowed rising stars Darcie Worsdale and Toetse Kambatuku to come to the fore. Third year Northumbria University maths student Worsdale enters her third season at TN looking to realise her huge potential. And fingers are crossed that Namibian ace Kambatuku will ink a deal to resume her NSL career this month. “We’ve been looking at bringing Toetse back and we’re still finalising the squad,” explained Stanley.
“We have lost some of the players from last season but we’ve retained a core of experienced girls. “Sam is like a new player for us as she was injured for all of last season’s NSL campaign.
And in a new twist to the NSL the top four and the bottom four will then be split into mini leagues to determine final placings and clarify the 2012 playoff picture.
“And we have the likes of Vicky Burgess and Darcie who have been with the team for several seasons.”
Don’t forget to check out www.nusportcentral.com <http:// www.nusportcentral.com> for all the latest NSL news – tickets for all of TN’s fixtures are available in advance from Sport Central reception.
TN kicked off the 2012 campaign at the Fastnet Grand Prix earlier this month - taking on local rivals Loughborough, Northern Thunder and rookies Yorkshire Jets.
Team Northumbria’s Phase One NSL home fixtures:
The shortened form of netball was a huge hit last year when the World Netball Series took centre stage in Manchester.
January 28 versus Celtic Dragons (6pm start) February 18 versus Team Bath (8pm start) March 3 v Surrey Storm (start tbc)
And this month’s domestic version gave Stanley and Holt a golden opportunity to put their players through their paces before the NSL action gets underway. Four rapid-fire fixtures within five hours stretched the TN squad to its limits. But the club’s new coaching team is confident of a positive return to top flight action. TN’s first homecourt clash of the season sees Stanley’s charges tackle Celtic Dragons at Sport Central on January 28 from 6pm. Big guns Team Bath and Surrey Storm head to Tyenside before the end of March.
Simon Rushworth
TN kicked off the 2012 campaign at the Fastnet Grand Prix earlier this month - taking on local rivals Loughborough, Northern Thunder and rookies Yorkshire Jets.
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TN Northumbria Sports Writing Opens Doors For Media
NORTHUMBRIA SPORTS
WRITING OPENS DOORS FOR MEDIA! Team Northumbria Media Intern Jamie Durent attended last month’s launch of a new tie-up between the Teenage Cancer Trust and Newcastle United. He talked exclusively to Toon keeper Rob Elliot - touched by the disease when he lost one of his best friends. Rob Elliot wouldn’t have been the first name on a wish-list for Newcastle United fans. But having signed a five-year deal last August the former Charlton goalkeeper is keen not to waste the opportunity he’s been given. “Just through training with better players my game has improved,” said Elliot. “Tim has been doing fantastic in the team and with (Steve) Harper here too I can look at what they do well and know that’s the level I need to be at. “I’ve just got to work harder and harder in training so I’m ready if I get an opportunity. “Regardless of what happens in the future I’ll be a better goalkeeper through coming to Newcastle.”
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Elliot came through the youth system at The Valley and made his first team debut in 2008. And the 25-year-old assured fans he can handle the step up from League One to the Premier League. “The quality of players are obviously a lot better than League One,” Elliot said. “They’re quicker, stronger and faster.” “However the principles of playing football still apply and the biggest thing to handle is the pressure of playing in front of 50,000 people. “That’s exactly what you want as a footballer and coming to Newcastle gives you that chance. “Newcastle is a really nice area to settle in to and the lads have helped this feel like home even though I’ve only been here a few months.” Newcastle have surprised many with an impressive start to the campaign anchored by a much improved back four. Elliot is part of that group that works hard in training to strengthen their defensive game each week. “We work on our defence every week in training to neutralise the opposition’s strengths,” Elliot said. “Regardless of who plays at the back, we’ve all been diligent and we’re proud that even after facing United, City and Chelsea we still have a strong defensive record.”
Picture (left to right): Ryan Taylor (NUFC), David Haley (Teenage Cancer Trust), Rob Elliot (NUFC)
And he has no doubts that injuries will not derail their strong early season form. “We have a great bunch of hard-working lads here and the team spirit is evident to see,” said Elliot. “There are a lot of hungry players that have come in with a point to prove and I feel we’re the most united team in the league. “We want to keep working hard, defending properly and passing the ball well which will give us a league position we deserve. “Demba (Ba) has been fantastic up front scoring goals and Sammy (Ameobi) is a top prospect so despite our injuries we have the quality to replace them.” Elliot is supporting United’s new relationship with the Teenage Cancer Trust - with Newcastle backing the charity’s North East & Cumbria Board’s ‘Toon Council’. The stopper lost a close friend to cancer and is keen to support some of the region’s most seriously ill teenagers and young people.
Elliot is supporting United’s new relationship with the Teenage Cancer Trust - with Newcastle backing the charity’s North East & Cumbria Board’s ‘Toon Council’.
“It’s not something you should have to deal with as a young person and I know how it can affect families and their friends,” he added. “I am keen to visit the TCT unit at Newcastle’s RVI Hospital and the new unit they’re building at the Freeman Hospital. As a club we want to do all we can.” By Jamie Durent
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TN Northumbria Waterpolo
NORTHUMBRIA WATERPOLO
Team Northumbria set the seal on a promotionwinning campaign by remaining unbeaten in this season’s Championship Three playoffs. The Sport Central club headed to Blackpool on the back of a 100% record and with a place in National League Division Three already assured.
But TN refused to take their foot off the pedal as they bagged a 7-7 draw against Manchester Hawks before beating the University of Bristol 11-4.
“It’s been a fantastic season and I have to pay particular credit to our goalkeeper, James Kirkham, and our full back Rob Holland. “James has been in sparkling form for some time now and constantly frustrated the opposition in Championship Three. “Rob has gone through the whole season without committing a serious foul and for a full back at this level that’s unheard of. His commitment and concentration is outstanding. “He’s a Blackpool lad who’s been with TN for some years now and it was great to see him go back home and lift the Championship Three title.”
“For the last three months the focus has been on winning promotion and we’re delighted,” said veteran star Richard MacAlister.
TN will now compete in National League Three with the competition kicking off next September.
“It would have been nice to go through the Championship Three phase with seven wins out of seven but we’re not complaining.
Prior to that the cream of North East water polo will compete in a powerful Northern League with Division Two stalwarts Sheffield again favourites to lift the regional crown.
“We had the chances to kill off Manchester and they equalised for the last time with just a minute of the final quarter to go.
“We’ll use that competition as preparation for the National League and it will be an opportunity to test some new players,” added MacAlister.
“Bristol had nothing to play for in our final game so it was a bit of a dead rubber. But our attitude was first class and we didn’t allow them to get on the scoresheet until the third period.
“The focus has to be on moving onward and upward at the highest level and that’s what we intend to do.”
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BY Simon Rushworth
Move it. Lose it. Enjoy it. ...for a healthy and happy 2012 at Sport Central Get up to two months membership free*
Free access to over 70 Group Exercise Classes
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All at Newcastle’s brand new £30million Sport Central
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Student fitness, swimming and climbing memberships from just £99 valid until the end of summer 2012!* Contact us to join today 0191 227 4700 sportcentral@northumbria.ac.uk www.nusportcentral.com *Conditions apply. Memberships valid until 31st August 2012.
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