nu:life Issue 30

Issue No.30 2013

FREE to a good home

The Official voice of Northumbria Students’ Union Your Favourite Student Magazine

www.mynsu.co.uk

Filled with News, Gossip and Advice from around Northumbria SU

COULD YOU BE A SABB NEXT YEAR? Has UniLad gone too far?

Valentines Day

VN WEEK IS COMING...

Plus: Northumbria Overheard, Advice, Spotted and everything you need to get involved!

Your Union, Your University, Your Magazine!

c ntents NSU NEWS Sabb Spotlight 4 - 5 SU:News 6 Upcoming Events 7

editors words Happy New Year everybody!

I hope you’re all okay and settling back in after the Christmas break and congrats to everybody for surviving the apocalypse but unfortunately now there’s no excuses for not doing your work. However, we all know the university experience isn’t all about work so why not get involved with Volunteer Northumbria week in February or take a huge step and run in the Students’ Union elections for a Sabbatical, Lay or Equality Rep position?

We’ve got articles about those New Year’s Resolutions that you’ve probably already failed (I’m so optimistic), a review of 2012 and an article about that favourite pastime ‘milking’...along with this we have old favourites such as Agony Aunts and Northumbria Overheard.

Happy Reading, Mike xxx

FEATURES The Big Debate: Lad Culture 8 - 9 Why You Should Stand In The SU Elections 10 Hot Scale 11 Assessment & Feedback 12 - 13 GET INVOLVED Volunteer Northumbria 15 Council 16 Experience ECONSU 17 Not If But When 18 LIGHT RELIEF Northumbria Overheard 19 Spotted 20 - 21 Newcastle Semester Resolutions 22 - 23 Academic Advice 24 Agony Aunts 25 STUDENT CULTURE 2012 26 - 27 Team Kenya 28 Uganda 29 Who to look out for in 2013 30 Milking 31 Budget Date 32 Recipes 33 CAMPUS SERVICES Team Northumbria Player Q&A 35 Mad As Hatters 36 - 37 Futal Be Back! 39

Contributors Big Debate, Hot Scale, Assessment & Feedback Suzie Harker Experience ECO NSU Lizzie Cliff Resolutions, Milking Julia Bond Agony Aunts Julia Bond & Emily Sait 2012 Beth Long Team Kenya Amy Waugh Uganda Tori Dunford Two Thousand and Thirteen Selcuk Cem Bulut Budget Date Izzi Surridge Recipes Emily Sait

Special Thank you to; Lee Halpin for a second proof read Editor Mike Potter - mike.potter@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUCommsOfficer Design www.ellenlonghorndesign.co.uk nu:life 03

NSU News SABB Spotlight

SABBSPOTLIGHT Sabbatical Officers work tirelessly for you to ensure the Union is the best it can be. As the Union is independent from the University, the Sabbs are here to represent you to the University, whether that it is in committee meetings, giving student opinion on everything imaginable or mentoring student volunteers in order to achieve so much. They are elected each year and this years team are now halfway through their Sabbatical year.

Could this be you next year?

JO RHODES President What is your role?

Leading the Students’ Union and representing you on whatever you think is important!

What is your biggest achievement in your role so far?

Definitely improving the bursary package for 2013 entrants (sorry to those that are already here!) Although the library extension was pretty close – this just pips it! Due to lots of hard work at the Students’ Union, new students will get up to quadruple the financial support in cash bursaries! Winning!

Students with a household income of less than £16,000 will now get £4,000 cash bursary every year that they never have to pay back!

What do you plan to do before the end of your Sabbatical Year?

Find out who is going to take over from me! Very exciting! I’m also hoping to ensure that the next 5 years of the Students’ Union are what you want, so taking the Students’ Union Plan - Our Big Ideas to vote in March, so make sure you vote on it!

NICOLE PEGG Vice-President Academic Affairs What is your role?

I represent you on anything education related, take the lead on academic campaigns and mentor all the wonderful academic reps.

What is your biggest achievement in your role so far?

There’s too many to name, I’d say campaigning on the standard of feedback and training many course reps face to face!

What do you plan to do before the end of your Sabbatical Year?

I plan to successfully help launch the student led teacher awards, review the printer credit system and campaign for longer opening hours for city campus east. That’s if there is enough time left anyway.

What was your New Years Resolution?

I don’t have a new years resolution really, maybe to keep defying what is more commonly known as the ‘sabb flab’. Oh and to tell all the marvellous students what I’ve been doing a bit more. nicole.pegg@northumbria.ac.uk me

What was your New Years Resolution?

Tidy my desk? Such a mess! jo.rhodes@northumbria.ac.uk me

NSUPres

Remember to drop by our Coach Lane Office and see us at our second home Mike Monday Afternoon Andy Tuesday Morning Nicole Tuesday Afternoon Hannah Wednesday Morning Jo Wednesday Afternoon 04 nu:life

NSUAcademics

MIKE POTTER Vice-President Communications & Democracy What is your role?

I work with the marketing department to make sure you know what’s going on in the Union and the impact that the Union has on your lives. I also look after Student Media such as this magazine and the excellent NU:TV. Student Council and the Elections also fall under my remit.

What is your biggest achievement in your role so far?

It’s hard to pick just one! Getting Northumbria Students on NSR (Newcastle Student Radio) is something I’m really proud of and pleased to see how much the volunteers are getting out of it. I’m also thrilled about changing the voting system of Student Council meaning that Councillors vote ‘privately during the meetings so they are able to vote on behalf of their students.

What do you plan to do before the end of your Sabbatical Year?

So much! I want to launch Online NU:Life which is something I’ve been working on for a while and is going to be amazing, allowing you to get your fix of nu:life so much more and it’ll massively increase opportunities for student writers.

What was your New Years Resolution?

I said I’d give up checking my emails on my days off to enjoy my time off. I failed on the 2nd. I’m just far too dedicated to students. mike.potter@northumbria.ac.uk me

NSUCommsOfficer

HANNAH HORNE Vice-President Welfare & Equality

ANDREW CHEUNG Vice-President Activities & Development

What is your role?

I work on initiatives, campaigns and policy to make positive change across the University on discrimination and issues such as housing, health, crime & safety and finance.

What is your role?

I oversee all of student activities, so Societies, Welcome Team, Community Volunteering (Volunteer Northumbria), Environmental Volunteering (EcoNSU), and Fundraising Volunteering (RAG). I work with all the leadership committees that are made up of students, and work with volunteers to deliver programmes of volunteering for students. The development side of my role, is to look at student development, whether that’s through volunteering or not! So things like employability, getting volunteering recognised on your degree transcript etc.

What is your biggest achievement in your role so far?

Increasing the amount students will get in bursaries in 2013 and beyond was a particular highlight! Others include setting up the emergency taxi scheme and NU:Lets!

What do you plan to do before the end of your Sabbatical Year?

Lots and lots to do! I aim to set up a Nightline service, write an accommodation report on the Halls, review the faith space provision and introduce a University wide pregnancy/maternity policy.

With only 6 months left I best get cracking!

What was your New Years Resolution?

I don’t have one this year, instead I’ve written a list of things I want to achieve by the end of the year. Top of the list is get myself a job as I leave in July! If you want my job come see me hannah.horne@northumbria.ac.uk me

NSUWelfare1

What is your biggest achievement in your role so far?

It’s been a very busy term! We’ve managed to deliver Welcome Week, organise and deliver RAG Week! But one of the biggest achievements so far, with help of some of the staff at the SU, is getting the university to agree to put the Students’ Union Volunteering Awards onto students’ Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which is an electronic document issued by higher education institutions to students on graduation, and provides a detailed record of a student’s academic and extra-curricular achievements to supplement the traditional degree classification.

What do you plan to do before the end of your Sabbatical Year?

There are a few things that I want to achieve that I haven’t had time for in Semester 1, due to the busy nature of organising Welcome Week and RAG Week! I’m going to be working with Hannah Horne on trying to get the University to commit to building a bigger facility for students with faiths and beliefs, as currently it is over capacity! I also want to try and get volunteers skills recognised and endorsed by employers. And also review the volunteer policy.

What was your New Years Resolution?

To get fit again and go back to participating in some of the hobbies that I have! andrew.cheung@northumbria.ac.uk me

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NSU News SU:News

NSUNews

BIG IDEAS The Students’ Union recently released a survey which asked students to prioritise what they thought the Students’ Union should be doing in the next 5 years. After a lot of work and even more work between now and when the plan goes to Referenda in March for students to approve, the Union has been striving to ensure that the aims and objectives of the plan will be appealing for Northumbria and the future students of Northumbria. The five key themes that the Union think are most important are:

STUDENT VOICE EMPLOYABILITY COMMUNITY WELLBEING INTERNATIONAL 06 nu:life

NUS CONFERENCE DELEGATES In the mostly highly contested NUS Conference Delegate elections in history at Northumbria, students battled to be your megaphone at national Conference in April in Sheffield, ensuring that they’d all give a voice to Northumbria students.

Congratulations to Mike Potter, Hannah Horne, Cameron Giles, Tim Patchett, Andrew Cheung, Sarah Price and Hamish Yewdall on being elected to go to Conference. They are currently in the stages of drafting policy to submit to Conference which will hopefully create massive changes at Northumbria and Nationwide.

NSU News Upcoming Events

Upcoming

Events MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITIONS Musical Theatre Society is holding auditions this January for their next show Spring Awakening. After putting on The Wedding Singer in December they are looking for new members to audition.

The Tony Award winning best musical Spring Awakening appeared on Broadway with cast members including Lea Michele (Rachel from Glee) and Jonathan Groff (Jesse St James, Glee). However, this musical is no soft pop. It’s a gritty rock musical based on the original German Play.

If you’re interested in finding about auditions join the ‘Northumbria Musical Theatre Society’ Facebook group.

EMPLOYABILITY CONFERENCE 30th January It’s a tough job market out there, so make sure you do everything you can put yourselves above the rest. Whether that’s by showing your dedication by volunteering your time, or just by learning what skills you need to focus on to put you ahead. Come along to our Employability Conference on the 30th of January from 10am.

ELECTIONS Do you have what it takes to run the Students’ Union next year and earn 16k as an added bonus?. This years Sabbatical Officers will be holding talk to tell you exactly about the role. No better way to learn about the job than from the horses mouth or so to speak.

THE DATES OF THE SO YOU WANT TO BE A SABB TALKS ARE ON PAGE 10.

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FEATURES The Big Debate: Lad Culture

HOT ORNOT The Big Debate: Lad Culture ‘Lad Culture’: Harmless fun or out-and-out bullying?

THE STORY ‘Lad Culture is a Black Mark on University Life’: a recent headline used by big name broadsheet The Independent, and they are not alone in their negative views on the “banter” currently known as ‘lad culture’.

against women. In response to this, UniLad promised “an immediate change in material”, but the site is up and running again and back to its pressuring, laddish, immature themes.

The Independent describes the average student environment today as being completely dominated by gender stereotypes. Websites such as ‘UniLad’ and Facebook’s latest craze: ‘Confessions of a uni student’, are seen by many as harmless fun, but for reporter Hazel Morgan these are pressure groups creating myths that university should be spent a certain way. As Morgan puts it, the tendency to ‘flaunt heterosexual conquests’ on these sites (I’m sure I don’t need to translate!) is both completely degrading to female students, and also alienating to men who feel a pressure to fit in to this culture against their will. It has been argued that the modern student is living in a world defined by pictures of objectified women, tips and tricks on how to objectify these women themselves, and why alcohol is such an essential and spectacular phenomenon in all of this.

Feminist Laura Bates has released a number of articles analysing sexism within the culture of universities today, and in a specific article based on freshers’ week she refers to fancy dress themes such as “pimps and hoes” and “slag ‘n’ drag” as being extremely offensive and completely demeaning to women. Laura also indicated in this article that it is during freshers’ week when these sexist themes are most prevalent; a time when most students are away from their parents for the first time and feeling vulnerable, making them easily influenced and targetable.

If this is all “harmless banter”, why did predominant lad culture site UniLad get shut down at the beginning of 2012?

The site caused a furore after an article which indicated rape being justified, jokingly named ‘sexual mathematics’.

And it didn’t stop there; an extremely insensitive article on abortion was released, with graphic descriptions of violence

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A 2010 study conducted by the National Union of Students revealed that of a nationwide sample of 2000 female students, 14% had been seriously physically or sexually assaulted, 68% were subject to sexual harassment and nearly a quarter had experienced unwanted sexual contact whilst at university - the result of ‘lad culture’ mentalities portraying this as okay, perhaps?

As The Independent so convincingly put it, surely we are at university to build a future, not to condone a culture that demeans both men and women.

So can we really place blame on the creators of sites such as UniLad for the growth of ‘lad culture’,

THE OTHER SIDE So, if this ‘lad culture’ is degrading, pressuring and promoting all the wrong things for students, why is it an ever-growing phenomenon? UniLad’s tagline: ‘The fastest growing student magazine in the country’ says it all. So many students, both men and women, are continually amused and intrigued by stories of excessive alcohol consumption and encounters with the opposite sex.

UniLad’s Facebook page has racked up 344,000 ‘likes’ over just two years, and aforementioned ‘Confessions of a Uni Student’, which has only come to light this academic year, has an impressive 191,000 likes after only a few months in action.

Of course it can be argued that not all of the stories on these pages are derogatory or promoting any taboo behaviour.

Alongside the more offensive themes are guides to festivals, inoffensive anecdotes about general uni life, and jokes and puns which have no distasteful content whatsoever. The creators of UniLad explain how it simply started as a group of friends sat in the pub exchanging stories, an enjoyable pastime which sparked the idea to take it online and make this harmless hobby bigger, and consequently better. So can we really place blame on the creators of sites such as UniLad for the growth of ‘lad culture’, or is it the hundreds of thousands of followers who have truly created these spaces of sordid tales and distasteful images alike?

On a positive note, a project to investigate this ‘lad culture’ is currently taking place at Sussex University, which has been funded by the NHS. Therefore it can be argued that actions are being put in place to discover how harmful this behaviour truly is. The results of this study will either be a catalyst for change, or not if the research comes back that women are not being as affected by ‘lad culture’ as articles such as The Independent’s suggests during their student experience.

The truth is, we can comment on, sneer at and even protest against these sites and the overall phenomenon of ‘lad culture’ until we are blue in the face, but until we can gather an army as full as that in support of this university culture which is rife today, we will be fighting a losing battle. So next time you ‘like’ that story about last night’s antics, consider whether condoning or promoting this kind of behaviour is actually okay, and whether you really want the guilt of making a fellow student, male or female, feel pressured, disrespected or objectified on your shoulders.

Suzie Harker

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FEATURES Why You should Stand In The SU Elections

Why you should stand in the SU Elections Fancy being the figureheads of a multimillion pound organisation from July onwards? It sounds like a daunting idea but trust me, it’s the potentially best step you could take in your life. I’d been involved with the Union since my first year but don’t let that put you off – you could you offer a completely fresh perspective to the Union’s direction?

We have 5 Sabbatical Officer Positions up for grabs, 5 Lay Student Councillor roles to sink your teeth into and 12 Equality Rep positions to ensure that everybody is catered for whilst at University. If you’re interested in any of these roles then speak to a current Sabbatical Officer (their contact details are on the Sabb Spotlight Page) or pick up a Nomination Pack from the Welcome Desk in February.

The skills that you can gain whilst being a Sabbatical Officer can equate to 15 years of experience so being able to leave and be an a level par with candidates in their forties is quite an appealing prospect especially with getting a graduate level job being so difficult at the moment.

If you’re interested in any of the roles then speak to a current Sabbatical Officer (their contact details are on the Sabb Spotlight Page)

Want to find out more about what the job entails - come along to one of our ‘So You Want To Be A Sabb’ sessions!

WHEN

TIME

Monday 21st January 1pm - 2pm Tuesday 29th January 11.30am - 12.30pm Monday 4th February 11am - 12pm Monday 11th February 5pm - 6pm Monday 18th February 2pm - 3pm Thursday 21st February 5pm - 6pm 10 nu:life

WHERE Coach Lane, SU Committee Room Training Room 3 Training Rooms 1 & 2 Training Rooms 1 & 2 Coach Lane Training Rooms 1 & 2

FEATURES Hot Scale

&

NOt

Assessment & Feedback

k Feedbac Sales Yes we’re missing Christmas, yes the weather is bleak, but what better solution than some retail therapy?! Look out for the things you wanted to buy last year at half the price!

We’re all bound to get one slightly disappointing mark and some feedback which we’re not too happy about, and even if the marks good the nervous walk to collect the result is nightmare enough!

Discount vouchers

Valentine’s Day

Our bank balances can look slightly depleted postChristmas, and yes loans have just come in, but I know for most of us we barely see it before it gets passed onto the estate agent! So websites like ‘voucher codes’, ‘discount vouchers’ and ‘wowcher’ are great places to find fab deals on food, freebies and days out.

Loved up couples and a sudden outbreak of PDAs? No, thanks. Why is there no ‘celebrate singleton’ day to match?! And if you are in one of the aforementioned loved up couples, “Where shall we go?” “What shall we do?” “We have no money” etc. etc.

Light nights I know this seems a bit premature, but I always notice the difference at the end of January.

We can begin to say goodbye to 3pm sunsets and begin to say hello to holiday planning and slightly warmer weather (temperatures in the positive numbers!).

New Year’s Resolutions Yours out of the window already? – Mine too! Oh well, maybe next year…

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FEATURES Assessment & Feedback

Assignment & Feedback: TOP TIPS to turn those negative comments around!

So it’s January, we come rolling back to Uni after consuming our body weight in mince pies and turkey, we are feeling refreshed and recharged after a lovely, relaxing Christmas break, yet this amazing feeling disappears in seconds at the sound of one word… Results.

Whether you are really pleased, pleasantly surprised or slightly disappointed with your January results this year, I am hoping that this article will help you get your head round that feedback, which can often be confusing, a little better. I have dug out some feedback of my own over the past three years, and looked at some friends’ feedback from different courses, to find the most common critiques amongst lecturers and attempt to help you get around them for next time…

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“Not enough depth” A regular for myself. Try not to jump between theorists too much. You could make a really good point, and the lecturer is desperate to find out more, but then you move on to something else before you give yourself chance to really explore the idea. Try and explain your ideas fully and clearly.

“Covered too much” The opposite issue. I know it’s difficult when you’ve done a lot of reading and want the lecturer to know how hard you’ve worked, but trying to put too much information in can become extremely confusing for the reader, and can send your structure off course.

Try and stick to your strongest ideas and build upon them rather than trying to squeeze more in.

Covering too much is also risky for the word count, which you can get marked down for if you don’t stay within the given boundaries.

“Work on punctuation/style/ structure” If you don’t get these right, it can really put lecturers off taking the actual content of your essay seriously.

If you know you struggle, there are some great guides in the library. And if you’re still in first year, don’t worry too much, writing a university level essay is definitely something which comes with experience, you’ll get there!

FEATURES Assessment & Feedback

“More reading needed” Thinking you can just read the blurb of a couple of books isn’t enough, I’m afraid! I can tell you from experience, lecturers know when you haven’t done serious research in any sort of depth. If you can show you have taken a genuine interest into the texts on your reading list it is really impressive and will push you into those top grade boundaries.

“Be more critical” If you’re good at moaning, you’ll love writing a good essay. Lecturers will favour a student who has pulled apart a theorist’s ideas, pinned them against different authors, and concluded this process with a definitive position themselves.

Put your own stamp on your analysis of existing texts, and seem really interested in them, even though some of them are as draining as the Sunday library session you spend reading them!

Suzie Harker

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GET INVOLVED Volunteer Northumbria

VOLUNTEER NORTHUMBRIA WEEK

National Student Volunteering Week was established in 2001

by Volunteering England and is celebrated at Northumbria each year during our annual Volunteer Northumbria Week!

During the week, organisations from all sectors are brought together to celebrate volunteering by students in Further and Higher Education and to showcase what students are able to achieve. We highlight the way in which volunteering plays a vital role in enhancing personal and professional development, and creates cohesion between different communities and sectors – so good all round!

Here at Northumbria, we strive to create a great week that does all this and more, with one-off volunteering opportunities, chances to get involved in long-term projects, workshops and talks on volunteering and employability, and of course plenty of rewards for our volunteers to say thank you for their hard work.

The week is always finished with our Volunteer Northumbria Awards - a night of congratulations, certificates and celebrations.

The only question left is: How much can you give? nu:life 15

GET INVOLVED Council

COUNCIL Student Council was formed to ensure that every single student has somebody to represent them in the Union. That’s why it’s so important to vote in March for your Sabbatical, Lay and Equality Reps so you can pick exactly who you want to be representing YOU. Here are your equality reps so feel free to contact them if you have anything that you think should go to Student Council or that you think the Union should act on then, contact your relevant equality rep.

Amy McAllister Students’ with Caring Responsibilities Representative amy.c.mcallister@northumbria.ac.uk Rebecca Farren Disabled Students’ Representative rebecca.farren@northumbria.ac.uk Max Krawinkel European Union Students’ Representative max.krawinkel@northumbria.ac.uk Aaron Bergin Mature Students’ Representative aaron.bergin@northumbria.ac.uk Mark Thorn Part Time Students’ Representative mark.thorn@northumbria.ac.uk Jackson Douglas Coach Lane Students’ Representative jackson.douglas@northumbria.ac.uk Carl Johnson Students Living at Home Representative carl.johnson@northumbria.ac.uk

Want to be the next equality rep next year?

Contact mike.potter@ northumbria.ac.uk for more information about what being a Student Councillor entails

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GET INVOLVED Experience ECONSU

EXPERIENCE ECONSU “I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that.

Then I realized I was that someone” A few years ago “somebody” decided they wanted to make a difference. They liked the local park, the beach and the sea and they loved new clothes, eating scrumptious food and they especially loved animals.

But that “somebody” read the newspapers and listened to the radio, and they realized that their perfect world would not last forever if they didn’t do something about it. Eco NSU was born.

Small things make a big difference and our projects help those in our university and local community. We are all a “somebody”, what will you do?

Have you got the winter blues, want to build up your CV or simply just need to escape the flat after all that revision? Why not get involved in one of the many ECO NSU projects that are run by students for students.

Whether you want to work just within the university with ‘Grow Your Own Grub’, work with local charities such as ‘Beach Clean’ and ‘Garden Makeover’, help out at a local farm with the ‘Ouseburn Farm Project’ or even work with national charities through ‘Your Planet Needs You’ and so many more; there is something here for everyone. Each project works within the Newcastle area to improve, help and build up relationships with locals.

However, if you have a passion to start your own project which could help improve the environment, we can provide you with everything you need to be successful.

If you are interested, please feel free to sign up on the volunteer database at www.mynsu.northumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Lizzie Cliff nu:life 17

GET INVOLVED Not If But When

STUDENTS BEING WARNED

POLICE ARE SUPPORTING A STUDENT CAMPAIGN AIMED AT REDUCING BURGLARIES IN NEWCASTLE. Volunteers from Northumbria and Newcastle Students’ Unions were joined by Newcastle Area Command Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Police Cadets in the Jesmond and Heaton areas.

As well as speaking to students, giving them advice about crime prevention and burglaries, balloons were also handed out directing people to the Not If, But When website.

Balloons were put through any windows which had been left wide open by householders – the idea being that if there’s enough room for a balloon to get through the window or door then there’s enough room for a burglar.

Residents are also being spoken to about the campaign.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about student accommodation burglaries in Jesmond and Heaton and just how preventable most are. 70% of the student burglaries between September and November were entry via open doors and windows.

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Newcastle East Neighbourhood Policing Team, together with Safe Newcastle, are backing the campaign.

Neighbourhood Inspector Louise Cass-Williams said: “Many of the burglaries we’ve been called to have involved the thieves getting in through insecure doors and windows.

Sometimes these have been left wide open.

“It’s vital people realise opportunist burglars will take advantage of this kind of open invitation and we’re pleased to be backing students at the university who’ve been running a campaign to raise awareness among their peers.

“By having a high student and police presence in the areas with the balloon campaign we hope to raise understanding and interest from all residents living in the neighbourhoods which will all help towards reducing the number of offences taking place.”

The balloons used will point people in the direction of the Not If, But When website where there is crime prevention information to reduce the risk of burglaries. www.notifbutwhen.co.uk

70% of the student burglaries between September and November were entry via open doors and windows.

LIGHT RELIEF Northumbria Overheard

Overheard in the Design School “I think his family were quite religious” “What religion?”

“Scottish”

Overheard in Ellison Building “I don’t eat carrots or anything else that’s green for that matter”

Overheard in Pandon Basement “Why didn’t Frodo just take the ring to Cash4Gold?

Overheard in the Base

“This tuna sandwich tastes of fish”

Heard something stupid and want to humiliate your friends? (anonymously, of course) drop an email to mike.potter@northumbria.ac.uk or tweet me at @NSUCommsOfficer with hashtag #northumbriaoverheard

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Do you have what it takes to stand in the

Students’ Union elections this year?

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Nominations open 1st - 22nd of February Nomination packs available from the Welcome Desk or online

Your Voice, Our Future... ŠHarry Marshall Photography, www.marshallphotos.com

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Falling off the resolution bandwagon?

I will go running at least three times a week.

(Jan 2011 – May 2011) I will learn the guitar. (Jan 06, 07, 08, 09) I will not leave my deadlines so late that I have to pull all-nighters (Jan 2011 – Jan 2011) I will give up smoking (Jan 2010, I didn’t even smoke… I did by the end of that year) I see myself as quite a determined person, but for the life of me I can never stick to a New Year’s resolution, possibly because I set myself some slightly outlandish ideas to what I can fit into my already quite busy schedule, or that I think that I can actually run.

I think the old ‘I will lose weight’ is just to justify laying around for two weeks and stuffing yourself with everything which it is now acceptable to buy because ‘it is Christmas’ then realising your jeans don’t fit. I always manage to lose the weight…well most of it then I get distracted generally by chocolate and the fact I like food.

I have always wanted to learn the guitar, however my parents decided the Piano was more appropriate, which is why I saved from age 14 to 15 and bought myself the cheapest guitar set I could find and tried to teach myself to play. I can say, I failed most miserably and I will never be as good as Matt Bellamy, Eric Johnson, Slash or Brian May, predominantly as I know five chords and play very badly, so much so that the guitar has been packed away in the loft to save people’s ears and I have been instructed only to ever play guitar hero…or pay for my own lessons. The only slight comfort of this utter failure, is that I can beat my brother at guitar hero. nu:life 22

I’m not even sure why I thought running was a good idea. It was freezing cold, I generally looked out of breath, red and bedraggled as it’s England and the weather is never favourable to the runner in early January. After each run I’d stumble back into my house and collapse on the floor hoping for some sort of relief. I did enjoy running up and down the quayside with my flatmates and being able to run 5K was quite a nice feeling, but after one too many pulled muscles, the prospects of exams and the lure of biscuits I did neglect that resolution quite severely. However, I have been able to take some parts of hope from this failure and have discovered The Gym. Where you are surrounded by other red faced people and it has nicely regulated temperatures so you don’t risk losing limbs to hypothermia and since failing my resolution I have become a lot healthier and fitter and generally go between 3 - 4 times a week… so overall I’d count it as a half failure.

This year my resolutions are slightly more grounded and less ambitious, so I have resolved to have some kind of job after graduation that gets me on my way to my career plans in the future, which makes me feel like a very old sensible third year. The others are get my dissertation done, to keep going to the gym and to finish a bottle of tequila that I bought in second year (priorities and all). For the bold few who refuse to partake in this whole resolution ‘façade’, you don’t know what you’re missing out on!

“I have been able to take some parts of hope from this failure and have discovered The Gym.”

LIGHT RELIEF Newcastle Semester Resolutions

THE BEST NYR SUCCESSES (SO FAR) Hannah, ‘‘Random Acts of Kindness’ I put up little notes up in the bathrooms of University offering positive messages to those that see it, such as ‘you’re beautiful’.’

Sam, ‘Call my mum once a week, to let her know I’m still alive.’

Kate, ‘Do whatever makes me happy.’

THE BEST NYR FAILURES Phoebe ‘Made a new year’s resolution to not make any more new year’s resolutions and I have succeeded at that like a boss.’

Mikey, ‘Gave up smoking...lasted a week.’

Alex, ‘Learn how to cook at uni. I’m still living off a mixture of Dominos and soup in my third year.’

Julia Bond

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LIGHT RELIEF Academic Advice

Dear SU Advice, I would appreciate your help. I am an International Student living in Newcastle during my degree. I find myself unwell before the assessment period and had to go to a walk-in centre to get medication.

I am finding it hard to revise whilst I am unwell and I don’t want it to affect my marks. Is there anything you can suggest to help me?

Our Education Caseworkers Kim Buffery and Ashleigh Blackwood are here to advise and represent on academic issues.

This month our Advice and Representation team welcome our new Student Advice Reps (STARs) to our service. The STARs will be working across the Northumbria campuses, assisting the Caseworkers to help students with issues that arise during their studies.

Dear SU Advice

Markus

I need help! I am struggling with some coursework and my tutor is away. Where should I go to get help?

Dear Markus,

Sally

The first steps to take would be to go online or pop into the Student Office of your Faculty and get a Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) Form. This will allow you to declare your circumstances to the University so that when marks are collated and decided, your situation will be accounted for. We would advise you speaking to your Guidance Tutor, just so someone knows what is going on at the moment. Keeping them up to date is important and they will be able to provide further support specific to your subject. There is a section on the form where you can input that you have spoken to staff also. A PEC also requires evidence so in the case of illness, speak to your GP. If you have not registered with a GP surgery in Newcastle, we would always advise doing so for circumstances such as these, where you cannot access a GP who may be some distance away. Once you have all elements of the form in place, hand it in to your Faculty Office!

Dear Sally,

Ashleigh 24 nu:life

If you are feeling out of your depth with assessment and feel that you need support, it is always worth talking to someone. The assessment work has to be your own and your tutors may stress this, but a few worries on your plate can make a huge difference. You can either get in touch with your Programme Leader or Guidance Tutor who may point you in the direction of specific expertise or may be able to answer your queries themselves. If you are unsure of who either or both of these are, your Faculty Office will be able to tell you.

Ashleigh

If you have an academic problem you would like to discuss just shoot an email to su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk and I we will be back in touch with you within 48 hours.

Alternatively pop to the base information desk on the ground floor.

LIGHT RELIEF Agony Aunts

Julia & Emily say ‘Ask Us Anything’!

My flatmates are really noisy and I can’t get them to understand that I have lectures at 9 and need some sleep before 5am on a morning. What can I do?

Gem It’s a difficult situation. If you are in Halls, I’d complain to one of the members of staff at reception they may be able to do something or even get you moved into another flat if possible. However, if you are living with them in private accommodation, you may have to take matters in your own hands. In that instance I would call a flat meeting and air everything at once, they might not realise you felt this way or didn’t realise the impact of their actions. If this fails, guerrilla action may be required, unplugging sound systems, taking the fuses out of things, however we would say get some earplugs or noise cancelling headphones or perhaps sound proof your room instead as it can get pretty messy.

I’m in my third year and everyone around me is applying to graduate schemes, MA’s, PGCE’s and other schemes, but I don’t know what I want to do or really where to start. I’m not entirely sure if I like my course and I don’t know if I really want a job using the skills that it has provided me with. Help?!

Mike

You really have two options, sit about moping for ages and before you know it it’ll be graduation and you’ll be really screwed. Or, get yourself down the careers centre and book yourself an appointment. Look through career books in the library, online, look at graduate schemes in areas you think you might be interested in.

Look for things that you think you may enjoy as you may have the all-important ‘transferable skills’ that employers are looking for. Further study may be helpful in this instance as it will give you more time to define what area you may want to work in. Getting work experience or doing voluntary work may also help you to decide what you want to do. So, pull your finger out and do something.

Emily Sait & Julia Bond

My flatmates are really noisy and I can’t get them to understand nu:life 25

STUDENT CULTURE 2012: The Highs And The Lows

2012:

THE HIGHS & THE LOWS 2012. Well, what a year. We have had so many reasons to celebrate and just as many reasons to not celebrate. When Big Ben chimed at 12am on the 1st of January 2012, we had so many expectations of the year. Expectations that also brought anticipation and excitement of what the year would bring. Here are some of the reasons why 2012 has been an amazing year, but like anything, there are always the bad things.

2012 has had so many highs, many events that we have not had the chance to experience before in our lifetime. Like the Queens Diamond Jubilee, an incredible 60 years as our Monarch. Most of us will remember the Queens Golden Jubilee but we were probably too young to understand the extent of what we were celebrating. But this year, we were able to understand how big of a deal the Diamond Jubilee was. We possibly may never experience another Diamond Jubilee again, so this made it extra special and a true reason for us to celebrate as a nation.

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In the summer, amongst the street parties and Jubilee concerts, there was another reason to be patriotic. The 2012 Olympic games landed in London, and laid our doubts and fears to rest. For 7 years we wondered if all the money that had been put into holding this prestigious event, would be worth it. By the end of the summer, we knew that the Olympics was the best thing that that has happened this year. We showed the world that even though we may be a small island, but we are indeed a great one.

More recently, after the hype of the jubilee and the Olympics, we heard that there is going to be another addition to the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced that they are expecting a baby. As if the Royal Family could not get any bigger, but along with her Jubilee, the Queen will be welcoming her third Great-Grandchild into the eate not cr y h family early next summer. w , s

lp If it he s rota that to? e e r a cho e can agre n o every

Besides the fact that Great Britain has had some great moments, across the Atlantic have had something to celebrate as well. Barack Obama was appointed President of the United States for another four years, after a landslide win in the elections against Mitt Romney. It seemed that we were more excited about the US presidential elections rather than our own.

So, 2012 has been a great year for both the UK and the US. However, both countries have had some substantial lows throughout the year that have devastated many. There have been a lot of celebrity deaths this year, that has left us grieving some of the greatest celebrity legends we have ever seen. In February, Whitney Houston died in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, where she was found dead in a bathtub.

The death of Whitney Houston has had a monumental effect on the music industry; as Whitney was one of the greatest female solo artists. The UK has also lost one of our musical greats, Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb. As one third of a family band, Robin Gibb was a much loved singer/ songwriter who died at the age of 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Not just musical legends have unfortunately died last year. The first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong died on August 25th at the age of 82, after complications following a surgery.It is not just deaths that have given us some low points to the year. Something a little closer to home has led a certain group of people to resent

2012, because of the rise of tuition fees. Yes, any student starting University from 2012 will now be paying almost treble of what a student pays who started University in 2011, which clearly is unfair and just rubbish! The rise in tuition fees has led to many young adults deciding not to go to University, purely because they cannot afford it, regardless of their academic ability. From this, students now have to prioritise money over education, making University a privilege and not a right.

So, 2012 has definitely had its fair share of highs and lows, celebrations and grievances. But 2012 will always been known for the success of the Olympics and the Queens great achievement of 60 years as our monarch. What does 2013 have install for us? We have no idea, but as the great Ronan Keating said; life is a roller coaster, just got to ride it.

Beth Long

Barack Obama was appointed President of the United States for another four years...

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STUDENT CULTURE Team Kenya

VOLUNTEER WITH TEAM KENYA Ahh yes January! A month which begins with such optimism for the new experiences that lie ahead of you, an abundance of willpower for those unrealistic resolutions you make and general cheeriness for any future life changes. Sadly the bleak wintry weather and daunting coursework deadlines put a spanner in the works. All good intentions are probably reduced by the time you’ve picked this magazine up.

However all is not lost! This article tells you how you can make a difference to someone else’s life and gain experience for your own. Interested? Then read on!

Why Team Kenya needs help?

All this hard work is done solely by volunteers; every penny that is raised is spent on projects in Kenya. To ensure the charity runs smoothly and continues the vital life changing projects they run, volunteers are needed! So this is how your New Year’s resolutions of ‘helping others’ and ‘do more volunteering’ can be kept to. When second semester arrives there is a lot of pressure to keep on top of uni work plus participate in extracurricular activities to boost your C.V. Working with Team Kenya will provide you with responsibilities similar to employment.

So what can this be, I hear you ask...?

Team Kenya is an independent North East based charity, with partners, volunteers and supporters in the UK and Kenya. We aim to help and empower disadvantaged communities in Kenya to overcome poverty, injustice and inequality by providing a framework for self development.

The charity currently pays particular emphasis to girls and women who live in Ndhiwa, which is a remote rural Luo community in the Homa bay district of Western Kenya. The area is very poor with a per capita income at 80p a day; many families are struggling for survival.

How does Team Kenya help?

To help the situation in Ndhiwa, Team Kenya has launched various projects which are managed by the community themselves with advisory and financial help, these include: Karibuni Eco Cottages: - a sustainable community tourism initiative promoting environmental conservation and supporting local community projects in Ndhiwa.

Karibuni Women’s Development Initiative (KWDI):a forum for women’s empowerment through social and other education.

Girls Support Group: - used to develop girls essential life skills and self-esteem.

Girls Football Project: - tackles sexual health, abuse and exploitation through sport.

Don’t worry if you are unsure as to what you want to do as a career because the various roles Team Kenya has to offer can give you first-hand experience in many fields of work for example, environment, business and management, human and civil rights, international aid, and youth work. In these hard times, anyone interested in having fun and raising some funds is especially welcome.

So if you have an hour or two a week to spare this could be for you! If enough people want to get involved, we could even set up a Team Kenya group at Northumbria.

For more information visit the website at: www.teamkenya.org.uk, check out www.karibunicottages.com or visitwww.facebook.com/ teamkenyauk You will be very welcome at Team Kenya’s monthly Volunteer Drop-In, the first Monday of every month, 5.30 to 7pm on the top floor of The Mile Castle pub near the Academy. The Volunteer Coordinator can tell you more: anneteamkenya@gmail.com Amy Waugh.

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STUDENT CULTURE Uganda

STOP THE “KILL THE GAYS” BILL Sat 1st December 2012 Imagine if you could be killed for being with the person you love just because they are the same sex… Sounds impossible, right? In Uganda, this is about to become the reality.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is due before Parliament at any time.

The proposed law would further discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals by increasing the penalties for homosexuality to life imprisonment for a single offence and a MANDATORY DEATH SENTENCE for “aggravated homosexuality” which includes repeat offending!

If that wasn’t horrendous enough, any persons or groups who do not inform the authorities within 24 hours of an individual that they suspect of committing or attempting homosexual acts, they will be imprisoned or fined; mothers and fathers will be expected to handover their children.

Homophobia in Uganda is rife - David Kato, a well-known LGBTI activist, was murdered in 2011, shortly after winning a lawsuit against a magazine which had published his name and photograph identifying him as gay and calling for him to be executed.

Something needs to be done now and YOU CAN HELP! The Human Rights Society managed to obtain over 800 signatures to a petition calling on William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs to show the United Kingdom’s disgust at the Bill and to pile on the political pressure to stop the President of Uganda signing the proposed law.

But it’s not enough!

If you are shocked and outraged that such an abusive and discriminatory law can be passed in the 21st Century, please add your name the online petitions below.

Together we can make a change… http://www.allout.org/en/actions/uganda-now http://www2.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/campaigns/help-us-stopugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/news/article/2479/uganda-toofficially-pass-kill-the-gays-bill

Do you want to make a difference whilst at university?

As a society we campaign for human rights around the world to protect people wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied and fundraise for Amnesty International and other charities/organisations. Join the human rights society and our campaigns including an anti-drone campaign, a kite campaign for Afghan women, fundraising and a Holocaust Memorial Day event.

We meet every Monday in SU Training Room 1 Twitter: @NSUHRs Email: su.humanrights@northumbria.ac.uk Facebook: Northumbria Human Rights Society Website: http://mynsu.northumbria.ac.uk/ studentactivities/societies/a-z-of-societies/hrsociety nu:life 29

STUDENT CULTURE Who To Look Out For In 2013

The Year Two Thousand And Thirteen If you are reading this in 2013 it means that the warnings of mayhem and cataclysm were simply untrue. Sorry to disappoint those student doomsdayers that were stockpiling hobnobs and ample supply of beer in their rooms. So looking ahead, what can we look forward to in the year 2013? This article will look at the rejuvenation of talent in the music and film industries whilst also looking at gaming and lifestyle that will be with us in the New Year.

TOMB RAIDER & GRAND THEFT AUTO V, GAMES

QUVENZHANE WALLIS, ACTRESS Well you might be asking yourself, who on earth is she?

Well this 8 year old actress is incomprehensibly talented.

Quvenzhane Wallis was just five years old when she auditioned for the low-budget criticallyacclaimed film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). I was blown away by her intelligent, energetic and moving performance; this little actress is tipped to receive an Oscar making her the youngest Best Actress ever to receive the honour. You don’t know her now… but you will when she stars next to Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Benedict Cumberbatch next year.

WILLY MOON, MUSICIAN So it was a whole year ago when I heard Willy Moon’s I Wanna Be Your Man. I remember there being 618 views on this video with 64 likes on his Facebook page, fast-forward to now just under a million views and 20,000 likes and now this guy is being paraded by Apple’s iPod adverts. His hip-hop 50’s swing will be coming to a town near you when he starts touring this March.

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Lads, lend me your ears! Two of the most iconic gaming franchises are back next year. Enough said. Yet I refuse to get excited about Fifa 19 (I’ll still buy it though).

ALT-J, BAND An awesome wave released earlier in May, went very much unnoticed in the media… A shame really, as for six months many Britons were strangely unaware of this smart euphoric indie sound. Their 2013 UK tour is imminent so get buying.

I do feel however obliged to mention other artists emerging in 2013: Jake Bugg, Angel Haze, The Strypes, Japandroids to name a few.

ONE DIRECTION, CONCERT Just kidding, I really don’t understand the preoccupation and inebriation that fan girls and boys have for this band but I thought it would be helpful for those in the Toon to know what to look forward to in the New Year in terms of concerts and events.

So visit the Newcastle & Gateshead websites for more to find your type of event.

There will be a lot to look forward to in 2013 and you will be informed of them all. These are only small titbits of up and coming people and what we can expect from them but there is a world brimming with talent, prospects of new technologies and trends that will shape this New Year and many more years to come.

By Selcuk Cem Bulut

STUDENT CULTURE Milking

Milking?

What the…

Newcastle area pouring milk of themselves in various recognisable locations and ‘hilarious’ Milking is the YouTube ‘phenomenon’ that has swept nationwide cast into the limelight

by Facebook and the media, if you haven’t seen or heard of this video, it basically consists of a bunch of students from the Newcastle area pouring milk of themselves in various recognisable locations and ‘hilarious’ circumstances around the city.

These videos have been copied throughout the country by students hiding no doubt from the library, however they have been ‘one uppped’

by Durham who have pushed the boat out to ‘Porting’ and St Andrews, not being content to be out done had ‘Champagning’. Well they did until the students responsible for the latter we’re asked to remove their video by their university, all sounds a bit awkward if you ask me. The videos seem to divide opinions at Northumbria between two camps the first being, ‘what a waste of good milk’ and the second ‘it’s hilarious, obviously’.

My first reaction was ‘What’, and this continued to be these theme as I watched the videos in the ‘series’ and I personally am sitting firmly with camp one and think it’s quite ridiculous. The only benefits being possibly to dairy farmers and to the electricity companies who power the washing machines to remove all the sour milk from their clothes. One video made a cheap thrill, is there really a need for it to be copied?

And I could have made a serious amount of pancakes from all that milk.

The media has helped the video go viral with most responses to the videos seem to be appalled to the way students are acting, which probably does not help the tradition student stereotype, however the media forget that they incited this incident and the students are merely copying a stunt that was performed in London by a well-known radio station pouring milk over themselves for a forfeit. Are students to blame?

Or, once again is the media just blowing things out of proportion for students?

I asked some external sources for their opinions, Julia Bond Aimee, Durham - on ‘Porting’ ‘Why would you even waste Port like that?

Seriously!?’

Hannah, St Andrews – on ‘Champagning’ ‘To be honest I think it’s a bit silly and pointless, but if you are going to do it do it with something cheap like milk. Such a waste of good champagne! I don’t see why it’s caused such a fuss though, St Andrews uni has made them take the video down because it’s showing a bad stereotype and a waste of money. But it’s the student’s money! If they want to waste it away, they’re going to find a way of doing it!’

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STUDENT CULTURE Budget Date

Budget Date If you’re in a relationship, there is nothing sweeter than a romantic date on Valentine’s Day. Who doesn’t love roses, chocolates and a meal at a fancy restaurant? Some sparkly jewellery? Or a cuddly toy clutching a heart with ‘I LUV U’ stitched across it? The trouble is, even if we leave out the cheesy stuffed animal (most of us could probably do without that one anyway), romance can be a pretty pricey business…and that January loan is already looking a lot skinnier than we are after all the Nandos we spent it on a few weeks ago.

Luckily for you cash-strapped Casanovas, there is another way. Here are my top tips for doing Valentine’s Day in Newcastle on a budget:

Skating@Life Cost: £13.90 for 2 x student tickets The open air ice rink in Times Square is open until 24th February, so why not take your date for a romantic skate? Hold hands as you glide across the ice, or just laugh at people falling over. If things are going well and you’re feeling flush, you could even snuggle up over a hot chocolate in the café afterwards.

Ouseburn Farm Cost: Free!

Take a stroll down to Ouseburn and wander around the farm tucked away under Byker Bridge.

There are some cute animals, pretty plants and a tea room serving delicious homemade cakes if you fancy a snack.

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Afternoon tea @ The Wild Trapeze Cost: £12 for 2 The most recent addition to Heaton Road, The Wild Trapeze is all grand pianos and fairy lights, the perfect atmosphere for a cosy date. £12 gets you a selection of homemade sandwiches, scones, cakes and a choice of speciality teas.

The Laing Art Gallery Cost: Free!

For the more cultured among you, the Laing is just a few minutes from uni, making it perfect for a post-lecture date (well, Valentine’s Day is on a Thursday this year!) It’s also conveniently close to all the cafes and coffee shops in town, so why not take your date out for coffee with the pennies you’ve saved?

Jesmond Dene Cost: Free!

A little oasis in the heart of the city, Jesmond Dene is perfect for a romantic winter walk.

Check out the petting zoo and the ruins of a banqueting hall, a chapel, and a water mill.

Izzi Surridge

STUDENT CULTURE Recipes

The Valentines

Breakfast

Forget the slap up valentines meal, it’s all about the breakfast in bed! It is the most important meal of the day after all...

As well as being romantic it’s also one of the easier options if you’re planning to impress your other half with your cooking skills, and will gain you some serious brownie points! So this month I’ve come up with a full-proof recipe plan for that all-important day, even if you don’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend why not treat yourself?

Pancakes are so underrated in my opinion, they’re so wonderfully yummy and easy to make yet they’re only really ever seen once a year on their designated day. I created this recipe after I was inspired when I was travelling America this summer, they had this amazing idea of ‘stuffing’ them with all sorts of gorgeous things. Here I’ve used strawberries and chocolate for that extra bit of luxury, but you can add whatever you fancy blueberries, butterscotch, banana and walnuts all work just as well, so add to taste.

Chocolate & Strawberry Stuffed Pancakes For the pancakes 225g Self-raising flour ½ tbp baking powder 3 tbps Caster sugar 2 Eggs (beaten) 30g Melted butterscotch 300ml Milk A pinch of salt Icing sugar to taste For the topping 100g Chocolate chips – you can use your favourite type Punnet of strawberries (halved) 1. If you have an electric blender the best (and quickest) way to do this is to just beat all of the pancake ingredients together until well blended. However if not, mix the dry ingredients together first, then make a ‘well’ and add the wet. Mix well.

2. You should now have a thick batter; it needs to be thick to create the lovely spongy texture. If you haven’t already I would transfer the mixture into a jug as it’s much easier to pour it than spoon it. Melt a small knob of butter in frying pan until melted, and then pour the batter in making the pancakes as big or small as desired.

3. Lightly sprinkle the pancakes with some of the chocolate chips and spoon a little more batter over the chips, covering as best you can.

4. Once the top starts bubbling flip the pancakes over - this should only take a few minutes.

5. Once cooked all the way through transfer to a plate, add the strawberries over the top, and sprinkle with a little icing sugar to taste - serve immediately.

Remember - even if they don’t look perfect they will taste amazing!

It’s the thought that counts anyway... right? Happy Valentines Day! Emily Sait

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JANUARY

SA LE

*Four month inclusive Platinum membership packages, available to new customers only.

Rate advertised applies to the monthly pro rata cost of a Student Platinum membership package (ÂŁ78 total).

Terms and Conditions apply.

www.nusportcentral.com

CAMPUS SERVICES Team Northumbria Player Q&A

Player Q&A About You Describe yourself in five words or less.

An adventurous, kinda crazy American.

Whitney Phill ips

What is the best coaching advice you have received?

Your Team Y T Mates M

There is nothing you can do about the last play, all you can do is move on and prepare yourself for the next point.

Definitely Emmy Blouin!

How often do you train?

Anyone from the guy’s team.

We are on the court a minimum 3 times a week and we also do strength and conditioning 3 times a week.

If you had an extra three hours in the day with nothing planned, what would you do?

I’d love to go on an adventure and try out a new sport like horseback riding, kayaking, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, etc. Of course not all in the same day though, that would be too much adrenaline.

Who is the loudest teammate?

Who takes the longest time getting ready for a night out?

Who’s the funniest teammate?

Vanessa Dorismond – however, half the time she doesn’t mean to be.

If you were stuck on a desert island with one of your team mates, who would you choose and why?

I’d have to go with Emmy on this one! She has loads of entertaining stories and she’s pretty tough so she could look after me ; however I don’t know how well her Canadian blood would fair in the scorching desert.

Whitney Phillips is an Outside Hitter for Team Northumbria Women’s Volleyball Team. The former US player is gearing herself up for a challenging match against Portsmouth at Sport Central on Sunday 17th February 2013. Entry to the game is free of charge and doors open at 12.00 for a 12.30 tip off.

To stay up to date with Team Northumbria Volleyball please visit www.nusportcentral.com.

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CAMPUS SERVICES Mad As Hatters

MAD AS HATTERS Team Northumbria women have made history by reaching the final of basketball’s National Cup for the first time.

Josh Merrington’s side take on Sheffield Hatters on January 27 keen to make the most of their time in the spotlight.

And the fact that the showpiece EBL event takes place in the Steel City doesn’t faze the rookie coach and his ambitious players.

Sheffield are overwhelming favourites after winning every game to date this season. But TN will travel to South Yorkshire with nothing to lose and everything to gain as underdogs with a point to prove.

Merrington led his team to a fantastic semi-final victory at Sevenoaks Suns despite juggling a mounting injury list.

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And he said: “We are all so happy about making the final. It’s brilliant for us. Although we didn’t start off well defensively against Sevenoaks I could see the effort was there.”

“By the third quarter we really stepped up our intensity and our defensive game was much better. We won 29-12 in the third quarter which really made the difference in the game.”

“With 53 seconds to go Becky Lonsdale hit a crucial three pointer and even got an offensive rebound at the end!”

Merrington has been forced to field a weakened team all season after losing star summer signings Diana Voynova and Eivile Steikunaite to serious injuries.

But veteran US star Ta’Yani Clark has managed to contain her own injury to lead from the front and the versatile guard was instrumental in securing TN’s final spot against Sheffield.

CAMPUS SERVICES Mad As Hatters

Merrington added: “Kat Hulme shot excellently against the Suns and Ta’Yani Clark was as consistent as ever.”

“She was the highest scorer with 24 points but it was a real team performance and everyone contributed their very best.”

TN lost their final league game of 2012 against an experienced Barking Abbey outfit.

But Merrington was hoping to have both Voynova and Steikunaite back in contention this month.

The Bulgarian and Lithuanian players add significant height to a TN roster that has struggled to contain opposition offences all season.

And their inside presence will provide much-needed respite to Merrington’s stretched players.

“At times this season we’ve been really thin on the ground,” admitted Merrington.

“We’ve had terrible luck with injuries – nobody could have foreseen that we’d lose both of our ‘bigs’.”

“But its credit to the players who have been available that we’ve picked up a couple of solid league wins and made the cup final.”

“Reaching the final is their reward for staying committed to the programme in the face of adversity.”

For further information about Team Northumbria Basketball visit

www.nusportcentral.com

Or come along with friends to our next home game and support Team Northumbria Women as they battle Loughborough Riders in the VCARS National League on Saturday 2nd February.

Doors open at 15.45 for a 16.00 tip off, entry is just £2 and the event is open to all.

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Grabbing a late lunch?

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FROM ONLY £2.50 Available Monday to Thursday 13:30-15:00

CAMPUS SERVICES Futsal Be Back!

FUTSAL BE BACK! Northumbria University will be back at the women’s futsal BUCS Championships this season. The finale to another fiercely contested competition takes place in March and Northumbria will have the chance to avenge last season’s final defeat to Durham.

Mike Gunn’s side lost out to their local rivals in extra-time during 2012’s Championship clash but Northumbria beat Durham in last month’s Sport Central qualifying round in a revenge mission dress rehearsal.

The region’s leading women’s footballers converged on Tyneside with two places at the 2013 BUCS Championships up for grabs. Northumbria – under the watchful eye of coach Gunn – got off to a flier in front of a 100-plus crowd as they dispatched Sunderland 13-2 in the opening pool game.

Durham looked in equally fine form as they put 18 goals past a hapless Newcastle University. In the second round of fixtures Durham conceded four times – but racked up another double figure haul as they defeated Sunderland 16-4.

Northumbria responded with a 14-0 thrashing of derby rivals Newcastle to set up a mouth watering clash between the two undefeated sides.

Both Durham and Northumbria had already qualified for the 2013 BUCS Championships ahead of their evening kick-off. However, history dictated that there would be no quarter given in a clash that more than lived up to its pre-match billing.

Durham had defeated Northumbria 3-2 after extratime in the 2012 Championship decider and a repeat of that keenly contested final didn’t disappoint.

Tied at 2-2 going into the final stages there was nothing to choose between two fully committed teams. Goals from Northumbria pair Lizzie Fraser and Abby Holmes had been cancelled out by Durham duo Laura Stockdale and Ellen Fahey.

It looked as if goal difference would determine which side emerged top of the qualifying table but late strikes from home favourites Hannah Marshall and Becky Salicki bagged the win for Northumbria.

That meant the hosts sealed their place in the BUCS Championships where they will be joined by Durham and overall group winners Leeds Met. Team Northumbria are massive players in premier sporting competitions for students across the UK and we’d love to invite you to along to Sport Central every Wednesday to find out what BUCS is all about!

For further information about Team Northumbria Futsal or BUCS Wednesdays please visit

www.nusportcentral.com

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DON’T TAKE THE MICKEY...

Tell us what you think about your course

40 x ÂŁ100 prizes to be won Follow the survey link from your eLP or MyNorthumbria page: Ç National Student Survey (most ďŹ nal year undergraduate students) Ç Northumbria Student Satisfaction Survey (other students on taught courses)

21 January - 30 April 2013 Find out more at mynsu.co.uk/nss

NP O N I N O P N