Issue No.11 Summer 2010
FREE to a good home
The official voice of Northumbria Students’ Union www.mynsu.co.uk
Hottest Edition of the Year Festivals, Sex & Summer Sport
Scrumptious food
Opening Hours Monday to Friday 8.30am until late Saturday and Sunday 12pm until late Why stay at home when you can get amazing offers at the Students’ Union! Remember all the money you spend in the Students’ Union is recycled into better facilities and services for YOU!
Starbucks Coffee Delicious premium cocktails at Student prices Funky resident DJ’S Big Screen Sport Outside sun area Quizzes, Karaoke and more...!
Check out our amazing
JANUARY SALES DRINKS PRICES?!*
Note: Alcohol served from 11am weekdays
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Editors Words 3 Sabbs’ Info 4 - 5 SU News 6 Oh! What’s Occurring? 7 Hot or Not 9
FEATURES Photo Competition 11 Burlesque 12 - 13
GET INVOLVED
EDITOR’S WORDS I don’t know how to break this to you, but this is the last NU:Life of the year. Whilst this is a sad occasion, you will be consoled by the awesomeness of this month’s magazine. Filled with the best articles to date, this NU:Life will leave you begging for more. I want to say thank you to every single student who has written for NU:Life this year. We seriously raised the bar on the standard of articles and have had the most successful year to date. I wish all the luck to my predecessor (at time of print we still don’t know who that is). For me, it’s onwards and beach-wards. Alison x
General Elections 14 - 15
LIGHT RELIEF Hot Topic - Pornography 16 - 17 Centrefold 18 - 19 Spotted 20 - 21 Lauren West 22 Horoscopes 23
STUDENT CULTURE Ask Claire 24 Summer Blockbusters 26 - 27 World Cup Ones to Watch 29
contents
NSU NEWS
TEAM NORTHUMBRIA
Best Fut Forward For Football Stars 30 - 31 Pigeon Is Flying 32 - 33 On The Road To Success 34 Stan Calvert 2010 35 Contributors Hot & not - David Graham Burlesque - Emma Oakley - (Photos - Paul Gallagher) General Elections - Sarah Hellawell & Ronald Appleby Hot Topic - Miles Chambers & Danni Mustarde Centrefold - Matt Moore Lauren West - Lauren West Summer Blockbusters - Miles Chambers World Cup Ones to Watch - Phil Moore Team Northumbria - Simon Rushworth, Andy Spoors, Tom WillIiams & Nimesh Patel
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Design www.thearchitectshop.co.uk
NSU News Sabbs’ Info
Your Sabbs’ 2009/10 End of the road...
It’s the end of the Dave Wright road for the sabb’s of President 2009/10. We’ve had a What’s your ONE biggest busy year, but what have achievement for students this we achieved for you? year? Read our highlights from Getting hoodies made with the the past year and see Northumbria crest on. our answer for the most What’s been the highlight of topical issue of all… your year? Speedos!
Speaking at the war memorial service for Holocaust survivors.
Got a question for us? We are here till July and we need something do to when you lot break up for summer. So why not e-mail us. See our addresses below. 04 nu:life
What are you doing this summer? Get my head around having to go back to Uni to complete my course! Speedos. Yay or Nay? I look great in Speedos. dave.wright@ northumbria.ac.uk
Alison Jones Vice - President Communications & Involvement What’s your ONE biggest achievement for students this year? Giving students their very own TV station, NU:TV What’s been the highlight of your year? Publishing so many student articles for NU:Life What are you doing this summer? Sunning myself and hopefully moving somewhere new. Speedos. Yay or Nay? Aussibum YAY alison.jones@ northumbria.ac.uk
NSU News Sabb’s Info
Becky Warburton Vice - President Activities & Development What’s your ONE biggest achievement for students this year? Seeing societies blossom, they have really developed over the last couple of months and I’m really proud of all of them. What’s been the highlight of your year? Welcome Week. Talk about a baptism of fire! It was an absolutely amazing week which started my year off on such a high and introduced me to some fantastic people who I know I will be friends with for a very long time. What are you doing this summer? Hopefully sunning myself on some beach somewhere and getting a long deserved rest.
Adam White Vice - President Academic Affairs
Pete Woodward Vice - President Welfare & Equality
What’s your ONE biggest achievement for students this year? Securing Anonymous marking within 5 schools taking the total to 7/9 across the university.
What’s your ONE biggest achievement for students this year? Winning in the fight in our local community, for student housing, representation, and provisions in the city for students.
What’s been the highlight of your year? Everything! I’ve loved every minute. Ultimately it has to be working with such a wide, diverse range of students every single day. What are you doing this summer? Hopefully going to go to a couple of festivals, maybe a holiday in the sun? Speedos. Yay or Nay? Speedos??? Definitely not, although Pete Woodward looks amazing in them (so I’ve heard)
What’s been the highlight of your year? Bringing SHAG Week back to Northumbria made me smile What are you doing this summer? Maybe I’ll try saving my wages for once and getting out of England? Speedos. Yay or Nay? You’ll see me in my banana hammock at Fling! pete.woodward@ northumbria.ac.uk
a.white@northumbria.ac.uk
Speedos. Yay or Nay? NAY!!! However Daniel Craig walking out of the sea definitely gets my vote. becky.warburton@ northumbria.ac.uk
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NSU NEWS SU:News
Summer 2010
Crest Hoodies
School Reps 2010-2011
Last year we passed a referendum on whether we should produce hoodies with our University crest on. Most Northumbria students won’t know what the University crest looks like until they see it on their degree certificate. But we do have one! Look out for your new Northumbria hoodies with crest in store by the end of the year!
The Students’ Union will soon be recruiting School Reps for next academic year! If you fancy a challenge and would like some great experience for your CV then you need to get in touch! We recruit two or three for each School, you will earn £300 for the year and everybody has to re-apply (current Reps go through the same process next year). You can find out more at www.mynsu.co.uk/schoolreps or e-mail steven.meyer@northumbria.ac.uk if you’re interested.
Fair Trade Before Easter we celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight for all that is great about making cotton trade better for farmers in India. I met with local Indian, cotton farmer Si in our very own design building to see what our fashion students have produced from Si’s Fair-trade cotton. All the shirts made were equivalent to what you’d find in high end shops, which brings home the point that we, as a country, really should be buying in to this versatile and underused resource. Si and Fairtrade ambassador James Redmond (of former Hollyoaks and Casualty glory) tell me that the benefits of counties like England buying into Fairtrade doesn’t just benefit one farmer, but the entire community. With money pooled into health, schools and development, the benefits can be felt right at home.
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NU:TV
After receiving a very respectable sum of money from the University, from September NU:TV will have video cameras you can use to film what you’ve got going on. Whilst you’re at it, if you’re travelling this summer, home or abroad, get it on film and we will put it on NU:TV. That’s right, we want to see what Northumbria students are doing with their summer this year, so if you are going off whether for a week or a month, film it. We want to see it.
Oh! What’s New Sabb Team At time of print we are in the midst of finding out which students will be running your SU next year. Which does mean, out with the old, in with the new! Ha. So, depending on the election result, you may have a few of us from last year plus a couple shiny new faces OR an entirely new team altogether. Look out for you new team and what they can promise you next year.
Final Fling Never mind exams, get ready for the biggest goodbye party you have ever experienced! Final Fling has arrived! The biggest, longest and most epic party you could want, to say goodbye to University work for the summer. Spend over 15 hours partying to summer music, whilst sitting in hot tubs and sipping cheap drinks. What more could you want.
Bing, Bang, Bosh Building Works At last! We can finally see some progress on the SU! The new entrance has risen from the ground in glorious fashion and our theatre is transforming into a replica of the Royal Opera House itself. Work will soon begin on tearing out the old stairs in the building and knocking through walls on the ground and first floor to make a series of stunning spaces in your SU. When you return in September, prepare to be amazed! As a reminder, the SU is still open for business as usual so come in and enjoy.
Naughty Knitwear Ever wanted that perfect Christmas jumper, but could never find the right one for you? Tired of paying high street prices for quality goods? Well this is the right place for you! Coming soon to Newcastle is the cheekiest, naughtiest knitted jumpers and cardigans from across the world, handpicked for quality and style. For more information check out www.thenaughtyknitwearcompany.co.uk or search on Facebook.
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Hot!
NEWS Hot! or Not! SUMMER HOLIDAYS’ Its summer and exams are wrapping up which means no more cramming until at least Christmas! That’s six months of freedom. No work to catch up on, no Blackboard to check or no backlog of reading to fight your way through. Bliss!
BBQs Although cooking indoors seems to suit us from September to May, once summer hits it’s all about the BBQ. Sausages have never tasted so good than when they are burned to a crisp by your dad!
THE BEACH
. So HOT!..
Not!
Admit it, although you are twenty building sandcastles still brings a smile to your face! And it’s not officially summer unless you’ve had at least one trip to the seaside and been treated to an ice cream cone or two.
SOCKS AND SANDALS So we know it’s a given that the socks and sandal combination is a no go area, but for some reason a select number of men over forty seem to think that it looks fine. No it really doesn’t.
HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD For three months all we see on the news is how the current summer is the hottest since records began. Hardly! Now shut up and just enjoy the sunshine while it lasts because by the time you know it, we’ll be enduring the coldest winter since records began.
So NOT!...
HAWAIIAN SHIRTS Unless you want to look like you’ve been thrown up on by a pineapple, leave the brightly coloured shirts where they belong – at the back of a darkened wardrobe!
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Will you be a Northumbria student in 20010 / 2011? The Students' Union is recruiting around 60 staff in the following areas:
•Bars / Catering •Marketing and Promotions •The Welcome / Information Team •NUS Extra Assistants •Advice & Representation Pick up an application pack from: The Students' Union Welcome Desk Coach Lane Shop Careers and Employment Service or www.mynsu.co.uk/jobs We offer good rates of pay (currently £5.90 p/h), flexibility and lots of fun! We also have an extensive rewards package
(includes free access to regular events and some concerts), which is included in full in the application pack.
If you submit an application you will automatically be invited to an assessment day on Saturday 8th May at 10am - please ensure that you reserve this date.
Closing date for applications is 4pm on Tuesday 4th May 2010 Northumbria Students' Union, 2 Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8SB I 0191 2274757 I su.enquiries@northumbria.ac.uk
Features Photo Competition
PhotoCompetition Have a look at what you could have won! Last month we set a competition out to you, to submit your most summery photos to be on the front cover of NU:Life. We obviously have our front cover winner, so here is a selection of those of you who o came a close second.. C Congrats and keep on truckin’.
nd nd ir - Thailala Joonnyy We
Jonny Wei r - Jump ing
ther Kelly Ma
Kelly Mather - Thailand and an and
Alice - Sydney
Jo Rhodes Tanzania
HHolly ol Seabrook - Ho AAustralia us nd Fuller Au a on J , Tomqquuiissttaar Bus
Ho SkylldyivSingeabrook in Aus
Redbemr un Kelly M Eno ath
Petra - Jorden Friends DannEi voalundtion at
Hololly lllyl Seabro Austtryra ralia lilia r okk -
Bin and Beer - Spain
FISH FI
del Mar Hannah Horne m -za Caffe Toom - Ibiz
rulle Spain F id in nu: nu:life nu u::lli u lif iiffe 11 11 Davunch n L
Feature Burlesque
Burlesque Guide to...
Notorious fetish model and old flame of Marilyn Manson; Dita Von Tease was quoted saying burlesque is ‘not about seducing men, it’s about embracing womanhood.’
Recently the rise of burlesque has been clear in the UK but the question is what is burlesque? And more importantly what does it stand for? Commonly people believe burlesque is about girls performing risqué-routines for a male audience. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes burlesque is often based around strip-tease but there is a lot more to it than just that.
The art of burlesque itself has evolved a great deal since the beginning. Although it still uses tongue in cheek titillating humour with choreographed performances alike it did back in the early years it has become a sexy, sultry phenomenon thanks to the new breed neo-burlesque. Until lately it was an underground scene but it has leaked into the mainstream thanks to successful performers and clubs opening up virtually everywhere.
Burlesque dates back to as early as the 1800’s. Originally defined as ‘entertainment of bawdy and parodic humour’ with comedic value being its central notion, striptease started to become incorporated into burlesque in order to appeal to an essentially adult market; this was the start of something completely new.
Burlesques reception is mainly positive but however some religious and feminist groups are against it and thanks to its controversial nature certain areas in the UK must have licenses for putting on burlesque shows.
Nowadays with the encouragement of size zero thanks to media coverage women resort to yo-yo dieting and many girls are developing severe eating disorders. With this in mind it is uplifting to look back to the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s where womanly curves were celebrated. This time was considered the golden age of burlesque. Betty Page is a reoccurring role model among burlesque performers. Her curvaceous figure led her to be crowned queen of pinup and she was one of the very first ‘playmates’ for Ledgendary Playboy magazine.
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Some people do still have a strong view on the burlesque industry stating that strip tease is degrading and even exploiting to women and that involvement in the industry is something to be ashamed of. Often burlesque is categorized alongside stripping in the adult sex industry but really it couldn’t be more further apart from this. Unlike stripping, the burlesque scene is predominantly ran by women and mainly for women. Notorious fetish model and old flame of Marilyn Manson; Dita Von Tease was quoted saying burlesque is ‘not about seducing men, it’s about embracing womanhood.’
Betty Page
The Beginners
Burlesque according to
Penny Whipworth Burlesque performer and organiser of successful NorthEast night; The Jeepers Peepers Club gives an inside view on the industry. Provocative Penny comments that ‘a mixture of living in London and seeing the different events going on with the huge subculture of burlesque and rockabilly along with being a none drinker made me turn to burlesque. People never went out to be entertained and the whole go out and get drunk scenario did not appeal to me either so the only solution was to create something different for people to look forward to and embrace.’ Her club night at the kitsch Cluny in Newcastle has been going for five whole years and never fails to fill the venue. When asked ‘How does burlesque make you feel as women’ Penny blushes ‘I never do it to make myself feel good as a performer, it is always for the crowd. I realized the other day I have never owned or done a fan dance (see dictionary of burlesque) I guess this is because I find being funny more sexy then being ‘sexy’.’ When I enquired about her thoughts on the strong feminist views of burlesque she quickly responded: ‘if it was disrespectful to women at my night there would not be an even if not greater ratio of women in the audience, men would not come with their partners and women would not get in contact to find out how to get involved in what we do!
I went on to ask what a burlesque performance should be: ‘A great act should bridge the gap between striptease and theatre. When you get described as a stripper you think would you ever laugh out loud at a girl dancing in a strip club?! But at a burlesque performance you Laugh.... Shout...Clap...Hoot and sometimes Sing along! It’s just true entertainment.’ Our conversation moved along to the subject of lessons ‘I also get asked a lot about teaching classes but I think it is something you can’t teach. Penny continued telling me how each girl has her own performance style, and that’s the beauty of burlesque. ‘Burlesque is about embracing yourself, your curves...or no curves...and your own style; I don’t think that comes out of a mould with feather boas and corsets in a class of 25! It’s very personal to each performer.’ If you’re keen to learn more about Penny and her troupe, The Jeepers Peepers Club check out their facebook group www.facebook.com/#!/group. php?gid=8538638670&ref=ts
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General Elections
Get Involved General Elections
May 5th. It should have been in your diary for the last year as rumour has it that we are expecting a little general election! If you’ve been moaning about tuition fees, if you’ve been upset about tax bonuses or if you are sick of waiting and just want to have your say, the general elections is your time…VOTE. Students hold one of the strongest voting powers in the country (yes you tax dodgers!) and when calculated recently, the number of students in the country mean they have enough power to sway the decision. Ultimately, students can decide our future government. Read the arguments from the three main parties and decide who you’re backing. Or go to
www. voteforpolicies. org.uk for a very interesting and accurate way to see which party best suits you.
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Why Vote conservative? In a year of headlines dominated by recession, MPs expenses and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan there’s no wonder that most young people turn off at the mention of Politics. Many students feel powerless, but the 2010 election promises the chance for change. It’s widely recognised that the “student vote” could completely change the composition of Parliament and the Conservative s are fighting for your votes. Why vote Tory? Although many of us are too young to remember a Conservative government the ghost of Thatcherism lingers: privatisation; miner’s strikes; and the Falklands to name but a few of her controversial policies. That was the Conservative party of old. Cameron’s party has undergone a serious revamp, fresh PR campaigns and a revitalised youth movement. Conservative Future claims to be the largest political youth organisation in Britain; the Tories are taking your views seriously.
Regional Chairman of Conservative Future in the North East and Northumbria student, Emma Carr explains that the party is reaching out to young people: • • •
offering incentives to pay student loans back quickly; pledging to fund 200 000 apprenticeships over the next two years; promising to create extra University places in 2010.
But their main qualm is the apathy of first time voters and so they are ‘cleaning up’ politics. To restore confidence in politicians they will cut ministerial pay and the size of the House of Commons; encourage more referendums on local issues and to make Parliament more representative introduce sixty new female MPs. Only time will tell if it is enough and with the clock ticking on this year’s General Election can the Tories count on your vote? www.conservatives.com www.conservativefuture.com
Lib Dems
Labour
The forthcoming elections are going to be important. As students, we have the chance to vote on how our lives are handled for the next five years. Below are just three out of the numerous reasons why you should vote Liberal Democrat. For the other reasons please visit www.libdems.org.uk
Three Reasons to choose the Liberal Democrats:
Students have the biggest voting power in the country and the Labour party respects that power and genuinely value what students will bring to our economy. We have policies in place which specifically benefit students which other parties seem to gloss over. Read below or visit our website at www.labour.org.uk •
1. Scrap Tuition Fees When you graduate you are going to be with thousands of pounds worth of debt thanks to tuition fees. Liberal Democrats believe that a university education should be free and you should not be put off by the cost. That is why we will scrap tuition fees for full and part-time students taking their first degrees and we have a fully budgeted plan to do this over a six year period.
•
3. Green Action on Climate Change Climate change could destroy our way of life. Liberal Democrats believe we can get out of this recession by a huge investment programme in renewable energy sources. We will invest in the green technologies of the future delivering hundreds of thousands of new and better jobs in the years to come.
Everyone has the Opportunity to go to University not just the higher classes We will increase our Aimhigher program which sees more people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds entering higher education through support in vocational courses.
2. Lowering Taxes & Creating More Jobs We propose to raise the threshold at which people start paying income tax from current levels to £10,000, cutting your income tax bill by £700. Also, currently 1 million of all those unemployed are aged under 25. To combat this, the Lib Dems will introduce schemes such as 800,000 paid internships to enable us to get work experience to allow us the best possible start.
More Opportunities for Graduates We will be providing 20,000 additional postgraduate places as well as 29,000 graduate-level volunteering places and 3,000 extra places for graduate entrepreneurship and help with business start-ups.
•
Tuition Fees The majority of Labour MP candidates have signed a pledge from NUS saying that tuition fees will not raise and will be capped. We believe that students should have to pay more for the same and will take measures to ensure students are faced with huge fees” Labour has the peoples interests at heart and is responsible for sending more first generation students to University, more diverse backgrounds of students are now going to University, an affordable education for all and giving more people better job prospects. If you want to see this fair system continue, then vote Labour
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LIGHT RELIEF Hot Topic
MILES CHAMBERS NORTHUMBRIA STUDENT Yeah, I know, a guy arguing against porn is strange right?
YES
HARMLESS
Straight off I ought to say, I’m no feminist and I’m going to avoid sounding like a douche bag that hates porn. I’m not saying pornography shouldn’t exist; I’m just explaining how access to it and the exploitation of unaware “stars” make porn super bad.
Pornography A HOT TOPIC IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. PORNOGRAPHY; THE TABOO OF BRITAIN. THE MAJORITY OF US HAVE SEEN PORN AT SOME POINT. WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN KEENLY SURFING THROUGH THE MANY PAGES AVAILABLE TO US ONLINE OR UNWILLINGLY EXPOSED TO IT, PORN HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. But has porn gone too far? Is it a healthy hobby or a habit which objectifies both the men and women on screen? Does it ultimately destroy meaningful sex and make us obsessed with seeking pleasure before people? We see a girl write in favour of porn and a guy write against it.
“PORN - HARMLESS OR HARMLFUL?”
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During my “research” for this article (is now the right time to make a joke about how hard it was? Maybe later...) I found out porn has been around for ages, like since the Greeks at least. It explains why those statues have men clearly waggling around their dongles for all to see; humans have always been fascinated by sex. But access to sexual images on the internet nowadays is insane! Adult shops aren’t allowed to advertise visually what’s inside there; but you click on a dodgy link on the internet and all of a sudden there’s pop up after pop up of that weird anime porn where everyone looks like they’re out straight out of Pokémon. Although it isn’t normally a big deal - more of a laughable nuisance - you’ve got to admit it’s pretty screwed up that kids can stumble across stuff much, much worse than that. Porn exploits women. I don’t mean the way that feminists argue they’re exploited as objects, no, I mean the way videos and pictures are put onto the web for all to see without any consent whatsoever. There are literally millions of girls who’ve had their most intimate moments plastered all over the internet. I’m betting the majority would be massively embarrassed and humiliated if they found out they were effectively homemade porn stars. Guys, what if a video of you failing to get it up appeared on the internet for all to see? And girls, what if one of your ex-boyfriends posted those steamy pictures you sent to his phone online? Chances are you’ll never know, and surely it isn’t right this can happen. Well I hope some of you see now that porn isn’t as great as it seems. Its existence is fine, I’m cool with that but surely its countless negatives outweigh the obvious benefits it can have. Maybe next time you and you’re hand get the urge to ‘stumble’ across Redtube when you’re in the mood, think twice. Or you could always do the much less dodgy and much more fun alternative: go get laid!>
“I found out porn has been around for ages, like since the Greeks at least. It explains why those statues have men clearly waggling around their dongles for all to see; humans have always been fascinated by sex.”
DANNI MUSTARDE NORTHUMBRIA STUDENT
LIGHT RELIEF Hot Topic
NO
Okay, before you all label me HARMFUL nymphomaniac of the year, I usually don’t spend my nights watching Red Tube over a bowl of popcorn, and can safely say for me, pornography is purely comedy gold. However, without wanting to generalise, we all know what most of our male flatmates enjoy doing alone in their room (or as a group, over beers in the communal kitchen as I’ve come to learn). The point, pornography isn’t going anywhere any time soon, and I do think that pornography has its rightful place in our society... but just where this is and where we draw the line is another question. Of course, Pornography most definitely has a dark side. There are a vast amount of films out there ranging from feet fetishes to older woman (oi oi), and in that mix there’s some pretty rough material including themes such as kidnap, extreme violence and even rape, which is certainly not something I agree with. It is also worrying how easily accessible material such as this is. In a programme Channel 4 recently ran called ‘The Sex Education Show’ it was revealed that a shocking number of young people had viewed some extreme pornography, as well as your average “Why, what’s wrong Mr Police Officer?”. After admitting to being avid pornography viewers, the school students were shown a gallery featuring different images of breasts, nine being real pairs and one being fake and were then asked to choose which they preferred. As expected, like bees to the honey pot the students chose the fake pair, however it wasn’t just the lads, the girls also chose the fake breasts, showing that they were also affected by exposure to pornography. This highlights just one of the ways the industry can have a negative effect on younger people, often giving them a distorted view of the human body. Ease of accessibility, the objectifying of women and giving young people distorted views of the body... phew, with pornography there are definitely just a few problem areas. If there was a way to ensure young people didn’t have access to explicit material and if the industry started introducing more average depictions of the male and female body maybe a few of these problems would be resolved. If this were the case then pornography could be the ‘healthy bed time hobby’ that it is for the majority of people who choose to use it, however, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen just yet. However, despite the problems it can cause, this doesn’t mean that pornography can’t be a healthy activity for adults who can appreciate that the images of bodies in the material do not depict the ‘average body’. It can be a way for consenting adults to safely enjoy their sexual fantasies and ahem... unload, as it were. It is in this context that I am for pornography, however the lines of this argument are heavily blurred, so next time you’re watching ‘Saturday Night Beaver’ enjoy it but just remember, it’s all a bit of fakery really.
“Pornography most definitely has a dark side. There’s a vast amount of films out there ranging from feet fetishes to older woman (oi oi), and in that mix there’s some pretty rough material...“
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LIGHT RELIEF Centrefold
Summer Su ummer of of
Festivals
Whether your part of a group of party savvy lads, glitzy glamour girls or an Adult attempting to replenish their lost youth, it seems the British Festival is the new way to spend the Summer. The growth in Festivals can be put down, mainly to its popularity, and its popularity can be put down to a number of things. Maybe it’s the escape from the real world, spending a weekend with your closest friends, or just watching your favourite bands whilst heavily under the influence, either way the Festival is definitely the best investment you could make this year, and here is a quick guide to a number of them:
EVOLUTION
OXEGEN
Date: 30-31st May Location: Newcastle Quayside Headliners: Paolo Nutini. Enter Shikari. Cost: £25
Date: 10-12 July Location: Naas, Ireland Headliners: Eminem. Muse. Jay-Z. Cost: €224
Taking place ten minutes from the University, this non camping festival is a great way to spend a cheeky weekend post-exam period. With a number of events going on all the way along the Quayside, and the low cost of £25, there is no excuse not to go. Each year it hosts a number of acts, spanning various genres, ensuring that there really is something for everyone.
ISLE OF WIGHT Date: 11-13th June Location: Seaclose Park Headliners: Jay-Z. The Strokes. Paul McCartney. Cost: £150 The prestigious Isle of Wight Festival has once again shown its ability to dazzle with its great line up. Personally, my favourite set of headliners, this Festival boasts some of the best and biggest currently around, from Blondie to Bombay Bicycle Club.
V FESTIVAL Date: 22-23rd August Location: Chelmsford/ Staffordshire Headliners: Kings of Leon Kasabian. Cost: £160 V Festival, now in its third year of holding two simultaneous events, is the ultimate pop/indie cross over Festival, with acts ranging from Doves to Pixie Lott. V, renowned for its great luck with the weather, is the Festival for both new and experienced Festival goers.
GLASTONBURY
READING & LEEDS
Date: 23-27th June Location: Glastonbury Headliners: Muse. U2. Stevie Wonder. Cost: £200
Date: 27-29th August Location: Richfield Avenue/ Bramham Park Headliners: Guns n Roses, Blink 182, Arcade Fire Cost: £195
Now in its 40th year, Glastonbury promises that the finalised line up will be the best ever. With a slow release of the line up, anticipation is really in the air. However, Glastonbury is the Festival goers Festival, normally not being about the line up and more about the event itself, it is host to over 200 hundred stalls, and crazy nightlife, going all the night through.
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Starting only in 2004, Oxegen has quickly become one the biggest and most popular festivals around. This year, it has one of the biggest string of headliners that can be found, and although working out over £200 after fees, it definitely is worth that extra little bit of cash, with funfairs, shows and cinema screens.
These two brother festivals are two of the most popular about today. Selling out every year in record timing, line ups are becoming greater and greater. Plus with Blink 182, Arcade Fire and Eminem apparently in the pipeline, 2010’s Bank Holiday weekend looks like it could possibly be the best line up yet.
LIGHT RELIEF Centrefold
BESTIVAL Date: 11-13th September Location: Robin Hill Park, Isle Of Wight Headliners: Prodigy. Roxy Music. Cost: £140 Bestival is soon becoming a massively student orientated festival, with cheaper rates for students (in previous years) and compulsory dress up days. Last years theme was space, but this years will be ‘Fantasy’. With its great combination of classic indie and new electro, Bestival is the perfect way to end the British Festival Season.
Away A way From From Home. Home. Although the British Festival is becoming bigger and bigger, the European Festival Market is expanding at an even faster rate. With more diverse and wacky festivals being set up every year, it seems if you are willing to go a little bit farther a field, there will be something suited more for you, whether it is German pop music or just a nice beach that you are looking for.
OPEN’ER FESTIVAL
SOUNDWAVE
Date: 1-4th July Location: Babie Doly Airfield, Poland Headliners: Pearl Jam. Klaxons. Kasabian. Cost: €86
Date: 23-25th July Location: Croatia Headliners: TBC Cost: £75
Heineken’s 8 year old festival, lies on the North Coast of Poland and has quickly developed from a one day event, to a 4 day festival, showing some of the best dance/indie/ pop acts around. This incredibly cheap festival (working out around £70) is definitely my choice for the Summer abroad festival.
Recently voted Time Out magazines, “Most Beautiful Festival”, this reasonably new Festival is set in the heart of the scenic Croatian beach life, being host to midnight raves, beautiful white sands and boat parties.
PUKKELPOP Date: 18-21st August Location: Kiewit, Belgium Headliners: TBC Cost: £120
BENICASSIM Date: 16-19th July Location: Valencia, Spain Headliners: Prodigy, Kasabian, Calvin Harris, Cribs Cost: £155 approximately After last years chronic flooding, Benicassim organisers have promised an incredible event this year. Last years freak weather is certainly no reason to be deterred, as Valencia usually boasts some of the nicest surroundings, best acts and warmest weather.
With a staggering attendance of around 180,000 people, this is one of the largest festivals in Europe. With a cheap 3 day festival ticket, Pukkelpops popularity can be easily explained. Plus, not only do they have over 150 bands, they have a number of DJs and also over the choice for you to vote what bands you want to see on their website. By Matt Moore
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LIGHT RELIEF Spotted
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LIGHT RELIEF Spotted
RAG WEEK During the cold month of February when many of you didn’t dare to venture outside, a devoted team of Northumbria students hit the mean streets of Newcastle to raise over £12,000 for charity. Not bad for dressing up as a fairy and going on a few nights out.
Look like fun to you? Sign up for Welcome Week 2010 and experience this for yourself
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LIGHT RELIEF Lauren West Knows Best
LaurenWest knows best Dear Lauren,
Dear Lauren,
I’ve got a problem in that I put some money down on a house for next year, but I no longer want to live with the people I’m supposed to be living with. They are completely disgusting, we don’t have anything in common and they listen to the most awful music 24/7. I can’t live with them next year, what do I do?
I’m going on holiday with the lads this summer to Malia. Everyone’s single except me and they’re all keen on pulling when we’re away. I know they are going to pressure me to do it as well and I don’t want to be left out! Should I finish with my gf before I go or stick it out for the week?
Thanks, stressed but lovely housemate
Cheers, Irresistible Guy
Hi Stressed but Lovely,
Dear Irresistible Guy,
I understand your issue and I think you can tackle this in two ways. First, see if you can reintegrate yourself with your future housemates. Find some common ground such as going out for dinner or to the cinemas and build from there. Secondly, although it’s hard you’ve to try and chillax a little bit. Student living is all about the freezing cold house where you can listen to your music without your parents telling you to turn it down or having the freedom to come home whenever you like. It can be the best time of your life if you let it. Its character building!
Firstly I think you need to get over yourself. How do you
Love Lauren xxx
think your girlfriend will feel knowing you were going to finish her for a week with the lads where chances are, nothing will happen! You need to think about whether you actually want a girlfriend in the first place. Or she should dump you before you get there first. If you finish with her for the holiday then it should be for good, not just so you can go off “with the boys”. Have a think and I hope you make the right decision. Love Lauren xxx
Should I dump him Should I first? finish with her?
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I don’t want to be left out!
LIGHT RELIEF Horoscopes
ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL
LIBRA 24 SEPTEMBER - 23 OCTOBER
Listen to what others have to say, as dull as it might be, you know you really should.
If you’re single, careful when trying to impress others when operating machinery – cars and can openers both apply. If you’re a couple, try and make an effort this month with the in-laws.
TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 AUGUST You may want to go on holiday with the guys/gals, but if you’re attached, ask the other half first. Its only polite.
GEMINI 22 AUGUST - 21 JUNE Take part in activities which can be exerted by two young people and old man. The outcome will be favorable.
CANCER 22 JUNE - 22 JULY Get away from those who you go to Uni with, work or live with. It will cause problems later on and it’s easier to just stay away from it.
LEO 23 JULY - 23 AUGUST Try to stop spending as much or else you’ll end up in an embarrassing situation. Think walk of shame crossed with no taxi money.
VIRGO 23 AUGUST - 23 SEPTEMBER Use your unusual circumstances this month to meet some eccentric people. You will have a great time with them!
SCORPIO 24 OCTOBER - 22 NOVEMBER Go get that new hair cut. Go buy that new shirt. Whatever you’ve wanted to change this month go ahead and do it. You’ll feel so much better for it.
SAGITTARIUS 23 NOVEMBER - 21 DECEMBER That best friend of yours is making you feel a little claustrophobic lately. Sneak out for a bit of fresh air……then do a runner!!
CAPRICORN 22 DECEMBER - 20 JANUARY Uh oh, looks like somebody’s caught in a triangle! But try not to comfort eat whilst your in it, wont help the situation.
AQUARIUS 21 JANUARY - 19 FEBRUARY Don’t let that mean Queen put you down, stand up for your ideas and stick to your guns. You’ll thank yourself later.
PISCES 20 FEBRUARY - 20 MARCH Plan a head this month because its goin to lead you on to bigger, better and sunnier things afterwards.
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STUDENT CULTURE Ask Claire
Ask Claire! Dear Claire,
Take breaks
It’s coming up to exams - I have loads and I have other work due in before that too. All my mates seem to be managing ok and I don’t think I am. Arrrghhhhhh! Help?! James , 3rd year
Don’t Panic!
Hi James, Here are my top tips for less stress. Hope they help!
Take control • Make yourself a (realistic!) revision timetable • Get notes you’ve missed • Get your stationery together
Keep the momentum • get a study group together for encouragement • don’t be disheartened if you don’t stick with your original study plan - make it flexible and get back on it asap. • Keep distractions to a minimum those cupboards haven’t been cleaned all year, don’t start now…
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• Spend a few hours each day doing something fun • Take regular breaks every hour or so – take 5 for a drink/snack/dance around your room
• Easy for me to say ay? If panic gets you in exams, practise breathing and keep positive thoughts - write them on post its, stick them up and say them out loud - “I WILL SUCCEED!” repeat before and during exams. • If panic and anxiety are a real problem affecting revision, work or exams, get yourself to the GPs and/or the University’s Counselling Service to see if there are any longer term solutions for you.
Whether you’re sinking or riding high on the waves… Everyone’s in the same boat this time of year - I bet your mates are concerned about exams too really. Enjoy being around calm people panicking is contagious so don’t let anyone stress you out more.
Get your PECs out! If you’re experiencing any unplanned circumstances beyond your control which are affecting your work/revision make sure you fill in a Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) Form to make the University officially aware something has affected your work.
Healthy body, healthy mind • Tempting as caffeine is while you’re revising, it’s actually not good for you or your work - it can make you anxious and make it difficult to sleep. Try fruit juice and water as alternatives to keep your energy up. • Sleep’s vital for your mind to cope with the workout you’re giving it. • Talking of workouts - get to the gym/out for a run/get your mates to the park for a kickabout. This counts as having fun, taking a break, seeing your friends and being healthy! Good luck with getting started and for those exams! Claire Education Caseworker (Advice and Representation Centre)
For more info on exams or any other education-related queries, telephone the Advice and Representation Centre on 0191 2274810 or contact Claire directly at claire.rasul@northumbria.ac.uk or you can find us on 1st Floor, Students’ Union building, City Campus - Call in for quick enquiries or to make an appointment. nu:life 13
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STUDENT CULTURE Summer Blockbusters
summer Blockbusters MAY
Iron Man 2
The first blockbuster of the summer has arguably the most star-studded cast too. Robert Downey Jr (a class Sherlock Homes last year) reprises his role as Tony Stark – the character he nailed in the first film - alongside Mickey Rourke, Samuel L Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle...and the list continues. Anyone who’s seen the trailers will agree this is setting up to be an impressive sequel, and as long as the supporting cast aren’t overshadowed by Downey Jr’s awesomeness it’ll be a proper good start to the summer. Blockbuster Buzz 5/5
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times
Other blockbuster releases this month:
Most videogame adaptations are lame to say the least - or in Hitman’s case, utterly, utterly dogger. Prince of Persia is hoping to reverse that trend though, being made by the same chaps who were behind the Pirates of the Caribbean films. It’s a little weird that the main character is an arabian with British accent played by an American actor (Jake Gyllenhaal) but considering they managed to make Johnny Depp a convincing pirate I’m sure they can pull it off. Blockbuster Buzz 3/5
Robin Hood & Sex In The City 2
JUNE
Get Him To The Greek Remember the surprisingly funny Forgetting Sarah Marshall? Remember Russell Brand owning the movie as rock star Aldous Snow? Well this is a spin-off of that film, focusing on Jonah Hill’s character (confusingly completely unrelated to his role in FSM) attempting to shepherd Snow to LA in time for a gig. Although sounding like a slightly lacklustre premise it’s actually meant to be quite good. Cameos supposedly fly in left, right and centre but hopefully it won’t detract from the on-screen chemistry between the two leads. Blockbuster Buzz 2/5
Toy Story 3 Other blockbuster releases this month: When In Rome Jonah Hex Knight & Day
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It’s been absolutely ages, but Toy Story is back on the big screen. The third entry follows the lives of the gutsy toys after Andy goes off to college and they’re dumped in a nursery. If Pixar can match the imagination of Up or be as speechlessly amazing as Wall-E then they’re onto a winner; although I guess if it ends up like Cars – easily their worst film, though still not exactly a travesty – it’s no big deal for its box office as kids will flock to it regardless. Blockbuster Buzz 4/5
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Let’s be honest people: Twilight’s naff. A big, moping pile of naff. Maybe the books are good, I dunno, but the films are unbearably boring. Mind you, it’s not going to stop hordes of “Twi-hards” (basically girls who get amusingly damp underwear whenever they hear the names Edward or Jacob) rushing out to watch two hours of cheese in the hope that Robert Pattinson will come out of the screen and whisk them off somewhere.
JULY
Blockbuster Buzz 5/5
Inception Total secrecy in the lead up to a film’s release is practically non-existent nowadays, so when one directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) has so little known about it it’s guaranteed to gather huge anticipation. The only thing that’s known about the plot is it’s a science fiction movie set in “the architecture of the mind”, whatever that means. Can it replicate his Batman success? The trailers made my brain hurt with confusion but let’s hope so. Blockbuster Buzz 4/5
The A-Team Some people aren’t looking forward this film?! I pity the fool!! Yeah, I had to get that in. It seems that progression into a new decade hasn’t hindered our obsession with the 80’s. Normally this sort fare turns out mediocre but this film has some sweet acting chops, most noticeably the lead guy from District 9 (Sharlto Copley). It should be interesting to see if the man replacing Mr T’s iconic role can make the grade as BA Baracus too. The A-Team just about beats The Expendables (out in August) to being the macho blockbuster of the summer. Blockbuster Buzz 3/5
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The poster has the tagline, “An epic of epic epicness” at the bottom...now I’m not normally a sucker for marketing but I’m totally won over this time: this film is looking immense. It’s being directed by the same guy (Edgar Wright) who did Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and his track record suggests he won’t mess up on this on either. Michael Cena looks to have been finally given the leading role he deserves, instead of the usual soppy, gooey stuff we associate with him. Epic! Blockbuster Buzz 3/5
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Other blockbuster releases this month: Predators Shrek Forever After Dinner for Schmucks
AUGUST Other blockbuster releases this month: The Last Airbender The Expendables Salt
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STUDENT CULTURE World Cup
WORLD CUP Ones to Watch
WORLD CUP
Four years of waiting, four years of dreaming, four years of anticipating the greatest show on Earth, and no it’s not the general election. The World Cup is back and for one month in South Africa, between the 11th of June and the 11th of July, 32 teams will battle it out to become World Champions. The favourites being knocked out, the prevailing underdogs and the inevitability of England getting knocked out on penalties: it all builds to the drama that ensures every boy, man and girlfriend (who is forced to watch the football by their boyfriend) in the country becomes absorbed in the greatest show on Earth.
ENGLAND WOES
ONE TO WATCH - SPAIN This year, the favourites for me have to be Spain. The current European Champions possess slick passing and fast movement and can part defences like Moses parted the red sea. Add in a strike force of Torres and Villa, they will sail through to the next round. However, they do have a difficult route to the final, with the possibility of playing Portugal, Italy and Argentina in the later rounds. ONE FOR ENTERTAINMENT - BRAZIL Another team you can’t rule out are Brazil, the five time champions. With their attacking flair and flamboyancy, they are always a favourite with spectators. Now with a more balanced team and a solid back four, their opponents will have to park the bus in front of the goal to stop them from scoring.
A World Cup always has its drama, and that couldn’t be truer for England. Beckham ruled out, Gerrard and Lampard still not clicking and with John Terry and Ashley Cole playing away from home, it doesn’t look good. However, hope is not lost and there is still a chance for England. It’s called Wayne Rooney. Rooney has been on fire this season for Manchester United, and with service from a creative James Milner, I feel these two are all England have got against the world’s best. WHO’S MY MONEY ON? If England gets a good run, they could make it past the quarters. However, the likelihood of meeting Brazil in the Semi Final means winning the tournament will be too much of an ask. Spain’s potentially difficult run to the final, coupled with Brazil’s balanced and attacking team, means my money is on the Brazilians to win the 19th World Cup.
2010’S DARK HORSE This year’s dark horse could be Ivory Coast, although they have a difficult group. They are a strong, physical team, and with Didier Drogba upfront, they could spoil the party for Portugal and cause an upset.
By Phil Moore
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TN Best Fut Forward For Football Stars
BEST FUT FORWARD FOR FOOTBALL STARS There is no better place to play football if you’re a female student than Northumbria University - its official! It was third time lucky for coach Gaz Lee’s women when they clinched a dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Leeds Met to become the 2010 BUCS title winners. And less than 48 hours later many of the stars of that Bramall Lane super show played key roles in scooping the BUCS Futsal title. As 11-a-side and indoor football champions Northumbria can now lay claim to being the best university in Britain for developing and nurturing emerging female talent. And after a disappointing start to 2010 for the women’s game in the North East - with both Newcastle and Sunderland missing out on Super League franchises - this month’s success is a welcome shot in the arm for local football.
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“We had lost out in successive finals in 2008 and 2009 at Queen’s Park Rangers and we were hoping a change of scene would do the trick,” said Lee. “And there’s just one word to describe how I felt after the Bramall Lane victory - ecstatic! “I was speechless but it’s exactly what my players deserve. They 100% deserved to win.” Northumbria got off to a flying start when Rachael Furness smashed the post just seconds into the game. Leeds Met responded but Lee’s battling defence kept them at bay until 20 minutes in when the Yorkshire club broke the deadlock. Northumbria, despite dominating, struggled to convert their chances before the break. And Team Northumbria chief Gareth McKenna added: “We had more shots on goal and we were the better team. “But we just needed to make sure we went out and scored first in the second half.”
TN Best Fut Forward For Football Stars
Lee added: “Even at half-time I was feeling confident as we beat them in the league and the girls were really focused and ready to win.”
And they bagged the trophy in style with a thumping 7-1 win against Manchester Met - a side they’d failed to beat in two previous attempts.
Heading into the second half and Northumbria changed their tactics in search of the equalizer.
“It’s just incredible,” said Northumbria Sports President Mark Dobinson. “The girls did so well considering the lack of experience they had before this season.
After a corner from Jessica Havelock, Furness slipped the ball out to Ruth Sutcliffe who, after one touch, fired the ball into the back of the net 25 minutes into the second half. Extra-time followed but neither team could find the killer goal - sparking a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Leeds Met had missed their second penalty and it was all over when Steph Bannon sank Northumbria’s fifth from five attempts. “I feel very proud and very privileged, there was a lot of pressure but I had to do it for the girls and it’s such a good feeling,” said captain and Sunderland FC star Bannon And just two days after scooping the big BUCS football prize Northumbria’s silky skilled stars did it again. Less than a year after tackling the unknown quantity that was Futsal - an indoor game developed in Brazil - Furness and co. stormed to yet another title.
“It really is a magnificent achievement.” A 5-2 semi-final victory against Brunel - featuring a Furness hat-trick - teed up a final with old foes Manchester Met. Two draws in qualifying against the North Western club suggested a tight clash mirroring the 11-a-side final 48 hours earlier. But there was no last-minute drama on this occasion. In-form Furness said: “I’m so proud of the team. Two trophies in as many days is an unbelievable achievement. “It was tough but we deserved this. 2010 was our year and I’m just so proud of everyone.” For more information on Northumbria’s groundbreaking women’s football programme and the sports scholarship opportunities available contact Gareth McKenna at g.mkenna@unn.ac.uk
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TN Pigeon Is Flying
PIGEON IS FLYING Be part of the community! Get yourself to Exhibition Park every Saturday morning to participate in a free 5km timed run courtesy of Northumbria student Niyckhola Pigeon.
“The aim of building local communities through running regardless of age and ability made me determined to set one up in Newcastle. “It took me around six months to get the Parkrun organised after liaising with the event sponsors and Newcastle City
The final year Psychology with Sport Science
Council. But it’s been worth the all the hard work!”
student’s relentless hard work has paid off in successfully setting up Newcastle’s very first
Newcastle Parkrun was officially launched on 16th January
Parkrun.
2010 and, despite the pouring rain, 43 runners turned up to tackle the 5km course.
The final year Northumbria student had an epiphany on the train back from London in May
In the second week there was already an increase with 60
2009.
runners turning up and, despite the heavy snowfall for week four, 27 hardy runners still turned up.
“I had read an interview with Paul Sinton-Hewitt, who had won a ‘Heroes of running 2009’ award
Parkrun relies on fundamental community essentials -
for founding Parkrun and starting to span the
volunteers.
event all around the UK,” she said.
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TN Pigeon Is Flying
“It took me around six months to get the Parkrun organised after liaising with the event sponsors and Newcastle City Council.
But it’s been worth the all the hard work!”
Writing as an avid runner and current participant in Newcastle
“I am delighted with the way the launch has
Parkrun, the volunteers do a remarkable job in making
gone, “added Pigeon. “So far 19 running
sure the event runs smoothly and, more importantly, safely,
clubs within the North Tyneside region have
regardless of turnout in runners.
represented themselves along with many other unattached runners within three weeks of the
Newcastle Parkrun is a timed event and all you need to do is
launch period.
to register once at www.parkrun.com and then merely turn up to a choice of 30 Parkruns held nationwide.
“Hopefully more university students will take advantage of the event and help raise
There is none of the extra hassle such has ID, pins, or race
community awareness.”
numbers required - an added incentive for students to participate.
Help support Northumbria’s very own flying Pigeon for continued success by running -
And for those of you who are struggling to uphold your New
or perhaps volunteering.
Year’s training resolutions there’s no need to worry.
Email newcastlehelpers@parkrun.com
“The Parkrun provides an ideal progressive training tool that
Nimesh Patel
can be used to monitor performance,” added Pigeon. After completing the event runners are emailed their time and they can track their weekly progress on the website.
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TN On The Road To Success
ON THE ROAD
TO SUCCESS 2010 promises to be a great year for British cycling and here at Northumbria we’re keen to get in on the action! Mark Cavendish will have his eyes on the Green Jersey in this year’s Tour de France after the astonishing six stages he won in 2009. And last year’s fourth-placed overall rider, Bradley Wiggins, signed to an all new British team, will prove that the SKY’s the limit for our nation’s success. It will be great to get behind a team we can call our own. Team Sky Manager Dave Brailsford has shifted gears across to the road after dominance on the track - including guiding Northumbria University graduate, Olympic gold medallist and six-time World Champion, Victoria Pendleton to glory. So could 2010 be a great year for cycling at Northumbria? With a brand new £30 million sports centre opening in the city campus it is clear to see there will be sufficient training facilities to generate success. But right now the only cycling carried out at Northumbria is within the MTB Club. I, for one, would like to see a push towards a road cycling club as there is talent aplenty within the university with Ross Creber at the forefront. The Endura Team rider was the 2009 Scottish Road Race and 2009 Scottish Cyclo-Cross Winner as well as previously earning Silver in the British XC Championships.
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I have spoken with club captains at both Newcastle and Durham University who have each expressed an interest in competition coming from within the North East Region. The few cyclists already involved have competed in one event this academic year, the BUCS Hill Climb in Derbyshire back in October last year. Northumbria performed reasonably well - Annabel Simpson finishing seventh in the women’s event and Creber coming home 11th in the men’s competition. In the mean time, Northumbria’s cycling has gone to the nearby Gosforth Road Club, which I fully recommend to anyone reading this who might be interested. It is a large club, full of friendly people of all abilities, organising regular events from weekend club runs to training nights in mid-week and also frequent track days at the Manchester Velodrome. Membership for students is FREE so come along! For information about Northumbria Road Cycling Club Contact: Tom Williams (tomwilliams19@hotmail.co.uk) Or search ‘Northumbria Road Cycling Club’ on Facebook. For information about Gosforth Road Cycling Club Contact: Peter Harrison (petersan@btinternet.com) Or go tohttp://www.gosforthroadclub.com/ Tom Williams
TN Cold Comfort for North Star
STAN CALVERT 2010: NORTHUMBRIA 32.25 - 83.75 NEWCASTLE Another year gone and another year of disappointment for Northumbria, once again losing out to bitter rivals Newcastle in the fight for the prestigious Stan Calvert Cup.
There’s little reason to point the finger or play the blame game because as most fans already know those involved in a loss will be hurting. Such is the passion for sport at Northumbria all competitors, whether winners or losers on the day, will already be looking to SC11 and plotting their
With the showpiece rugby union clash cancelled due to
own revenge.
horrendous weather conditions, the phrase it never rains but it pours couldn’t be more apt.
Walking around Gateshead the atmosphere was palpable and any Northumbria student participating had the same
And the latest loss means an entire generation of
steely look of determination to deliver much needed points
Northumbria students will graduate having never seen their
to their side.
side lift the cup. And to most students the manner and margin of defeat is the biggest heartache.
In the women’s basketball seconds, the girls were quite literally willing to spill blood sweat and tears out on the court.
Northumbria University prides itself on its sporting prowess
And undoubtedly many others will be feeling the effects on
and to lose so heavily is a bitter pill to swallow. And the
Monday morning of a testing match the day before.
inquest will no doubt start now. However the reality of another loss to the posh poses some But it wasn’t all doom and gloom though with some brilliant
awkward questions. The former ‘focus’ sports pulled their
results at the end of the night bringing some cheer to the
weight with a hard fought victory for the fencers, some
Northumbria faithful.
overwhelming wins in football and brilliant performances in the hoops and netball.
Winning the cup was always going to be an uphill battle after making a sluggish start saw the Posh take an early
But what of the other teams? Is it time to focus on hockey
20-2 lead.
where a huge amount of points were on offer? Should there be a push behind cricket, athletics or American Football?
For every good piece of news and point the brilliant TN
And so congratulations should go to this year’s winners
media team could report, there seemed to be three go the
Newcastle but with it a word of warning. If you haven’t heard
other way with the red bricks firing on all cylinders.
already or have forgotten what a new building looks like over there, get ready.
Whether playing all the rugby matches or outdoor events that were cancelled would have made a huge difference is
In a matter of weeks one of the best sporting university
anyone’s guess. The football stars of TN gave the scoreline
facilities in the country will be completed and with it a
some credibility and the club of the day would surely have
huge statement of intent. As the saying goes “a change is
to go in that direction.
coming.” Roll on Stan Calvert 2011… Ansy Spoors TN Chief Sports Reporter
nu:life 35
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