Reggie Yates & Kate Lawler - Northumbria Students Union ...
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Issue No.8 November - December 2009 FREE F to a good o home ho home<br />
The official voice of <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong><br />
<strong>Reggie</strong> <strong>Yates</strong><br />
& <strong>Kate</strong> <strong>Lawler</strong><br />
at Your SU<br />
Student Internships<br />
LGBT<br />
www.mynsu.co.uk
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EDITORS WORDS<br />
It’ that time of year again! Itttss<br />
CHRISTMAS! Well, nearly. The shops<br />
are decorated, and the weather is<br />
defi nitely chilly. For me Christmas<br />
is my favourite time of year, ask<br />
my friends; there’s a particularly<br />
embarrassing story about me getting<br />
a little over excited at seventeen<br />
years old. But who couldn’t like it!?<br />
Presents, giving, receiving, food,<br />
family, parties, traditions and the<br />
rest of it! Granted to those of you<br />
who don’t celebrate Christmas our<br />
traditions may seem a little odd (as<br />
fairly pointed out on p11 Ho! Ho!<br />
How Embarrassing!) but it’s all good<br />
hearted fun.<br />
On my wish list this year will be sleep,<br />
rest, a break, peace and quiet and<br />
not working my fi ngers to the bone<br />
in the SU. Myself and all the other<br />
Sabb’s have had an awesome fi rst<br />
semester representing you guys as<br />
students and we will continue to work<br />
just as hard come semester 2.<br />
Well I leave you here in 2009 and we<br />
will be back in 2010 for a bang tidy<br />
January edition. Till then, kisses and<br />
best wishes. Happy Holidays!<br />
Alison x<br />
NSU NEWS<br />
Editors Words & Contents 3<br />
Your Sabb’s 4-5<br />
SU News 6<br />
Oh! What’s Occurring? 7<br />
Hot or Not 9<br />
FEATURES<br />
Ho! Ho! How Embarrassing 11<br />
Student Internships 13<br />
GET INVOLVED<br />
Society Successes 15<br />
LIGHT RELIEF<br />
Spotted 16-17<br />
Centrefold 18-19<br />
Horoscopes 20<br />
Lauren West Knows Best 21<br />
STUDENT CULTURE<br />
Student Street Style 23<br />
Hot Topic! 24-25<br />
LGBT 27<br />
Gig Goers 28-29<br />
TEAM NORTHUMBRIA<br />
Just Jump On 30-31<br />
BUCS Media Intern 32<br />
V Project 33<br />
Shuttle Service a Huge Successr34<br />
Clash of the Titans 35<br />
Contributors<br />
Front Cover Photography - Aaron McConkey<br />
Hot and Not – Miles Chambers<br />
Ho! Ho! How Embarrassing! - John Taggart<br />
Student Internships - Josie Bramhall<br />
Society Success - (NUTS), Carl Shooter (LINKS) & Craig Wood<br />
Spotted & Centrefold - Aaron McConkey & Matt Dinnery<br />
Horoscopes - Catherine Allan<br />
Agony Aunt - Lauren West<br />
Student Street Style - Charlotte Jackson (photography & text)<br />
Gig Goers - Danni Mustardi & Andrew Rawson<br />
Team <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
Just Jump On - Laura Gutfreund-Walmsley<br />
BUCS Media Intern - Ashlie Tridgell<br />
V Project & Shuttle Service a Huge Success - Simon Rushworth<br />
Clash of the Titans - Mark Kelly<br />
03<br />
Design www.thearchitectshop.co.uk<br />
ontents nu:life
NSU News Your Sabb’s<br />
Your Sabb’s -<br />
Ho! Ho! Ho!<br />
Well the Sabb’s have<br />
made it through their fi rst<br />
semester doing their best<br />
to make the SU the best<br />
place for students. So<br />
how has it been? We’ve<br />
achieved a lot so far and<br />
are all pretty exhausted.<br />
Even sabb’s need a<br />
Christmas break!<br />
Follow us on twitter or join the<br />
offi cial Facebook fan page to<br />
keep up to date with what’s<br />
occurring in your SU. If you<br />
have any ideas about your SU<br />
then contact any one of us on<br />
our e-mail addresses below.<br />
G t an<br />
opinion?<br />
E-mail us!<br />
We love it.<br />
No seriously,<br />
it’s our job to.<br />
04 nu:life<br />
Adam White<br />
Vice - President<br />
Academic Affairs<br />
Highlight of the Month? The<br />
highlight of my month this time<br />
around has to be the amazing<br />
Course rep conference we held<br />
at St James Park and the day out<br />
to Kirkley Hall with the awesome<br />
team of school reps.<br />
What have you achieved for<br />
students this month? I have<br />
achieved more course reps<br />
trained than ever before which<br />
benefi ts all students as their reps<br />
are better equipped to succeed.<br />
We are also in the process<br />
of recruiting Post-Graduate<br />
Taught reps. Furthermore I<br />
have been (along with the other<br />
sabb’s) cracking on with the big<br />
campaign, Anonymous Marking<br />
which if successful will have a<br />
huge impact for students<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to? I am most looking forward<br />
to beginning campaigning for<br />
around anonymous Marking and<br />
ultimately a long, relaxing rest<br />
over Christmas.<br />
What are you asking for Xmas?<br />
For Christmas this year I would<br />
love for someone to pay off all<br />
my student debt but I’m guessing<br />
Santa’s not that generous with the<br />
credit crunch and everything!?<br />
I hope you all have an amazing<br />
Christmas and get everything you<br />
hope for.<br />
a.white@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Becky Warburton<br />
Vice - President Activities<br />
& Development<br />
Highlight of the Month? Holding<br />
several really successful RAG<br />
(Raise & Give) meetings with the<br />
whole RAG committee. We’ve<br />
been planning and plotting to<br />
make this year’s RAG the most<br />
successful yet. Look out for it!<br />
What have you achieved for<br />
students this month? Along<br />
with Pete I was representing<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> students at a NUS<br />
conference in Manchester getting<br />
our voice out there!<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to? I’m really looking forward to<br />
Festive Fling and of course RAG!<br />
It’s not far away now!<br />
What are you asking for Xmas?<br />
A well needed break!<br />
becky.warburton@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk
Dave Wright<br />
President<br />
Highlight of the Month? Holding<br />
a hugely successful Course Rep<br />
Conference at St. James’s Park<br />
training this year’s Course Reps.<br />
What have you achieved for<br />
students this month? Backing<br />
from key members of staff in the<br />
University staff in the University<br />
for our Anonymous Marking<br />
campaign. This is a great<br />
achievement and demonstrates<br />
the excellent working relationship<br />
that we have with the University<br />
which means that you as a<br />
student are getting the best deal<br />
from both sides.<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to? My Birthday!<br />
What are you asking for Xmas?<br />
A brand new <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong><br />
building.<br />
dave.wright@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Pete Woodward<br />
Vice - President<br />
Welfare & Equality<br />
Highlight of the Month?<br />
Speaking and representing<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> students at the NUS<br />
Zone Conference for Welfare for<br />
training and getting the best deal<br />
for our students.<br />
What have you achieved for<br />
students this month? Secured<br />
funding form the University to run<br />
a Christmas safety campaign with<br />
Student Services.<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to? Running a fantastic week of<br />
events for SHAG Week (Sexual<br />
Health & Guidance Week) 30th<br />
Nov-6th Dec.<br />
What are you asking for Xmas?<br />
For no increase in tuition fee for<br />
students…and a camera.<br />
pete.woodward@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk<br />
NSU News Your Sabb’s<br />
Alison Jones<br />
Vice - President<br />
Communications<br />
& Involvement<br />
Highlight of the Month? Training<br />
Course Reps Course Reps at the<br />
conference this month. I had two<br />
sessions to teach and both went<br />
really well with everyone taking<br />
part and joining in.<br />
What have you achieved for<br />
students this month? I’ve begun<br />
the legal processes for NU:TV.<br />
There’s a heck of a lot more to<br />
take into consideration of than I<br />
thought there would be but it’s<br />
coming on, slowly but surely!<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to? Fling, Christmas and<br />
Referenda.<br />
What are you asking for Xmas?<br />
A Mustang GT 500, in red. But I’m<br />
not sure Santa can carry one so<br />
socks will do.<br />
alison.jones@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk<br />
nu:life 05
NSU NEWS SU:News<br />
SU:NewsNovember<br />
- December 2009<br />
You Said, We Did -<br />
Drinks Prices!!<br />
It’s simple and it’s to the point, drinks prices<br />
are down, wayyyy down. After listening to what<br />
you had to say, here at the SU we have done<br />
something about it and reduced our drinks prices<br />
to make you happy. So may I present to you our<br />
NEW Happy Hour drinks promos:<br />
£1.50 PINTS<br />
£2.50 DOUBLES<br />
2 COCKTAILS FOR £5<br />
(Mon, Weds, Fri from 5pm, Sat & Sun from 12pm)<br />
06 nu:life<br />
Bull Street<br />
Style<br />
Yes it sounds very similar<br />
to an article in this months<br />
NU:Life, but Red Bull street<br />
style is quite different.<br />
Newcastle was just one<br />
of the many stops on the<br />
nationwide Red Bull Street Style tour which gave<br />
you the chance to showcase your freestyle football<br />
skills. The competition was the fi rst of its kind<br />
and players had to abide by three simple rules.<br />
3 minutes on the clock, 2 players in the ring and<br />
1 ball to show your talent. <strong>Northumbria</strong> students<br />
along with others from around the region got<br />
their chance at the day event held at the Baltic Art<br />
Gallery to show their best ball juggling tricks in the<br />
Newcastle regional heat. The prize? The chance<br />
to get to the World Finals in South Africa, 2010.<br />
The British fi nals will be held on the 21st Nov in<br />
Camden, London. Game on!<br />
Read all about it!<br />
Read all about it!<br />
Read all about it!<br />
Student Written<br />
Submission (SWS)<br />
It doesn’t sound like the most interesting of<br />
topics but it’s great news, it’s part of a massive<br />
audit. Over the past several months managers<br />
and Sabb’s in the SU have been interviewing<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> students’ opinions about what they<br />
think about the University. Its part of a massive<br />
audit on the University and the <strong>Union</strong> is here<br />
to listen to what student’s opinions on the Uni<br />
are. And the University takes note! Big time!<br />
They want to hear what you have to say and we<br />
produced a nicely sized document called….<br />
you guessed it, the Student Written Submission.<br />
Overall, good comments, good feedback and<br />
the University is pleased with the outcome. They<br />
ARE listening to what YOU have to SAY.<br />
They Did The Mash,<br />
They Did The<br />
Monster Mash.<br />
Granted it strange to be writing<br />
about a Halloween event in the<br />
Christmas edition of NU:Life,<br />
but with such a success it can’t be<br />
mentioned. Witches, ghosts, corpse<br />
brides and even the odd robot<br />
came out in full force to attend<br />
the SU’s Monster Mash<br />
Halloween party. A good night<br />
was had by all. The day before<br />
saw a monster pumpkin carving<br />
session in the SU for both home<br />
and international students to get<br />
that Halloween feeling. Good effort.
Occurring?<br />
Oh! What’s<br />
Business as Usual<br />
Come the beginning of December your SU<br />
will be under some massive construction as<br />
we continue to make your SU the best in the<br />
country. The front entrance of the building is<br />
next on the list for redevelopment as we are<br />
getting a shiny new entrance for the SU! This<br />
means front entrance will be out of use for the<br />
next few months but we are defi nitely open as<br />
usual with the temporary entrance on the side<br />
of the building through the red doors. Bit of<br />
a nuisance but in 6 months’ time you will be<br />
glad of the change.<br />
Elliot Minor<br />
Another night, another gig. This time we<br />
have Elliot Minor gracing our stage. The fi ve<br />
piece band prides their success on their<br />
classically infused rock style and has had<br />
numerous successes as well as appearing on<br />
Radio 1’s live lounge. The band enjoyed the<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> crowd so much that they are<br />
back to play again on Sat 21st November.<br />
Tickets as always are available at the SU<br />
Welcome Desk. Perfect as an early Xmas<br />
present.<br />
NSU NEWS Oh! What’s Occurring?<br />
Festive Fling<br />
It’s here! It’s Huge! It’s<br />
happening! Festive Fling<br />
is on its way. Those<br />
second and third years<br />
know this event is one of<br />
the highlights of the year.<br />
First years prepare to<br />
be impressed. We at SU<br />
think that each semester<br />
should be signed off<br />
with a bit of a party. And<br />
by ‘a bit of a party’ we<br />
mean a 15 hour long party in the SU. Expect<br />
entertainment, goodies, freebies, t-shirts and<br />
a lot of banter. The event is ticket only so<br />
remember to get yours from the Welcome<br />
Desk in the SU.<br />
Give Blood,<br />
Save A Life<br />
Want to give something<br />
back? Christmas<br />
presents will potentially<br />
be saving someone’s<br />
life which is pretty high<br />
up there. The National Blood Service will be<br />
coming to NSU on the 24th, 25th and 26th<br />
November and gives you the chance to save<br />
a life. It takes no time at all, it’s right on your<br />
door step and it’s an awesome cause. It’s<br />
the perfect chance to do a bit of good. It is<br />
Christmas after all!<br />
nu:life 07
MON, WED, FRI FROM 5PM<br />
SAT & SUN FROM 12PM<br />
£1.50 selected PINTS // £2.50 selected DOUBLES<br />
2 PREMIUM Habita COCKTAILS FOR £5<br />
AMAZING DRINKS<br />
OFFERS<br />
www.mynsu.co.uk<br />
www.drinkaware.co.uk<br />
WINNERS OF ‘BEST BAR NONE’<br />
CLUB, PUB & LIVE MUSIC VENUE AWARDS 2009<br />
TOP CLUB NIGHTS // TOP TALENT // LIVE BIG SCREEN SPORT<br />
LIVE GIGS // PREMIUM DRINKS AT LOW PRICES<br />
STYLISH COCKTAIL LOUNGE // SMOKING AREAS
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER!<br />
This sitcom is even better than<br />
Friends. Yep, you heard me!<br />
Go discover it for yourself if you<br />
haven’t already, it’s truly awesome!<br />
When you too see its genius,<br />
come meet us at the bar - and<br />
suit up!<br />
NORTHUMBRIA’S 24 HOUR<br />
LIBRARY! I sound proper lame<br />
don’t I...well, it comes in handy<br />
around now when you realise<br />
you left all your assignments for<br />
the last week and can’t afford to<br />
buy books because your student<br />
loan’s transformed into trebles.<br />
GREGGS! There’s actually one<br />
round every corner! Literally! One<br />
day maybe, when I’m really, really,<br />
really bored, I’ll count them all and<br />
stand with my hands on my hips<br />
grinning in smug self-satisfaction.<br />
Or maybe not. Well, it’s the<br />
thought that counts.<br />
GOING CHRISTMAS<br />
SHOPPING I mean, I’m all for<br />
yuletide joy, but doing it during the<br />
worst recession on record? On<br />
grey, rainy Saturdays?! With swine<br />
fl u supposedly peaking as you’re<br />
stuffed in swarming shops?!?<br />
Ahhhhh, the wonders of eBay.<br />
TWILIGHT FILM Yes, some won’t<br />
agree *cough, most girls*, but<br />
c’mon, it’s overrated. It’s like High<br />
School Musical for teenagers.<br />
Granted I’ve “heard” that the<br />
books are half decent but the<br />
fi lm was just boring!<br />
UPDATING FACEBOOK<br />
STATUS’ VIA MOBILE: -<br />
“...OMG this club is amazing”,<br />
you’re on Facebook on your<br />
phone in a club...yeah, seems<br />
like it!<br />
“…...is driving right now”, breaking<br />
the law and boring me, good job.<br />
“…...just left Primark – didn’t buy<br />
anything“, no-one cares you tool!<br />
You heard of Twitter?!<br />
By Miles Chambers<br />
NEWS Hot! or Not!<br />
nu:life 09
www.mynsu.co.uk<br />
The<br />
STOCK EXCHANGE<br />
experience<br />
FRIDAY<br />
13 NOV & 11 DEC 09<br />
@REDS BAR
Ho! Ho<br />
How Embarrassing<br />
“It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid”,<br />
not true! Even if you aren’t as cynical as me<br />
hopefully by the end of this article you will be more<br />
than convinced!<br />
To put it lightly we let a lot slide at Christmas time,<br />
fi rst and foremost I wouldn’t usually get excited<br />
about a raisin pudding and would ordinarily be more<br />
suspicious of an old bearded man with a love for<br />
children - but it’s parcelled up as Christmas so it’s<br />
okay! Let’s remember this is the same time that you<br />
hang raggy socks up, a man breaks into your house<br />
and worshipping a tree isn’t considered to be weird<br />
behaviour! It’s all just the magic of Christmas!<br />
Although an aspect of Christmas feared by<br />
most is that of the family gathering - a hotbed of<br />
awkwardness and embarrassment. It is here where<br />
countless “uncles” claim to know everything about<br />
you - much like a crazed stalker, they claim to have<br />
pictures of you in their house although you have<br />
never seen them, but they are family…apparently,<br />
which makes it all right! Also at these events<br />
numerous stories are told seemingly to make you<br />
the focal point of everybody’s laughter - for me the<br />
story re-told every year is the time I sat in a corner<br />
and I ate a whole packet of sausages to myself<br />
- thanks Gran. I don’t remember this happening<br />
- I was fi ve. So every year I cry into my snowfl ake<br />
jumper and hope people forget.<br />
FEATURES Ho! Ho! How Embarrassing!<br />
At Christmas the price of presents can quickly<br />
mount up; there is always the economy route of<br />
buying a box of 100 festive cards from Poundland<br />
- but if you do go down that road, guilt and shame<br />
are your only friends…so yet again you fork out way<br />
too much for something they probably don’t want<br />
anyway! Of course you get to receive presents, but<br />
gone are the days of fl ashing lights, space sounds<br />
and karate chop actions, I’ve lost faith. Instead I get<br />
socks - the joy!<br />
Tradition is a central part of the festive season,<br />
although unfortunately this year I won’t be partaking<br />
in certain activities. Apparently at 18 years of age<br />
it would simply be “not right” for me to put carrots<br />
outside for Rudolph and his friends, or even leave a<br />
sherry and a bit of cake on the mantelpiece for Santy<br />
when he arrives…if they don’t turn up this year I’ll<br />
know who to blame.<br />
John Taggart<br />
Ho! Ho! man me no<br />
reindeer, but I won’t<br />
say no to some<br />
crunchy carrots...<br />
Ho! Ho! Me reindeer,<br />
Me RUDOLF!!!<br />
nu:life 11
SU<br />
northumbria<br />
Advice and Representation Centre<br />
Get your<br />
PECs out!<br />
Claire Rasul is the Education<br />
Caseworker in the Advice and<br />
Representation Centre. Here<br />
she answers your questions….<br />
I know it’s only the fi rst Semester but I have<br />
been really ill for two weeks now and it has<br />
defi nitely affected how well I’ve been able to<br />
study. I haven’t attended some lectures and my<br />
assignment which is worth 50% of that module<br />
is just all over the place. Should I drop out and<br />
come back next year? I really want to get the<br />
best mark I can.<br />
The fi rst and easiest thing to do is speak to your<br />
guidance tutor or another tutor you feel you can<br />
talk to. It’s important to keep the University updated<br />
when you’re ill so they can give you the support you<br />
need. If you really feel that you want to withdraw<br />
for the rest of this year and come back next, it may<br />
be a possibility but you should also think about<br />
whether this is really the best option - if you’re<br />
feeling better now, could you catch up with the work<br />
you’ve missed?<br />
If you decide to carry on and submit your<br />
assignment, you could also submit a PEC (Personal<br />
Extenuating Circumstances) form. The important<br />
thing about this form is that to fully explain not only<br />
your circumstances (in this case your illness) but<br />
that you make explicit how this actually affected<br />
your work - missing lectures for example.<br />
COURSE REP<br />
MEETING<br />
You will also need to provide evidence to prove the<br />
circumstances you are describing. In this case, a<br />
doctor’s note would be something you could use.<br />
In other situations, students may have to think<br />
about what evidence they can provide to show what<br />
happened.<br />
Sometimes tutors can grant Late Authorisations<br />
(extensions) and this may help you get caught up<br />
with assignments however it is usually only possible<br />
to be given either PECs or Late Authorisation to<br />
prevent making up for the circumstances twice.<br />
Later in the year, your School may have deadlines<br />
for submitting PEC forms so make sure you check<br />
when this is. You PEC form will go to a board to<br />
be considered. Your marks will never change but<br />
decisions about you may - eg a change in your<br />
degree classifi cation or allowing another attempt at<br />
an assessment.<br />
Contact us!<br />
We can help fi ll in PEC forms and can speak to your<br />
School on your behalf. You can get in touch for any<br />
‘on-course’ issue The Advice and Representation<br />
Centre provides a professional advice and<br />
casework service.<br />
Call 0191 2274810 or drop in (1st Floor,<br />
<strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong>) for quick enquiries or to book an<br />
appointment or email Claire at<br />
claire.rasul@northumbria.ac.uk
STUDENT<br />
INTERNSHIPS<br />
A How To Guide<br />
The past few summers I have returned home to a<br />
tedious summer job in order to pay off the hefty<br />
overdraft. I’ve spent my precious pennies on the<br />
usual: bills, food, going-out, rent etc and each<br />
summer I pay the price. This summer, however, I had<br />
something a little different in store.<br />
I managed to obtain a couple of weeks working for<br />
Waitrose Food Illustrated Magazine down in London.<br />
The idea excited and scared me to the point when<br />
I wondered why I was putting myself through it, but<br />
I gritted my teeth and made the trip down from my<br />
small Yorkshire town to the bustling capital.<br />
I was working with the editing and publishing team<br />
and my fi rst day consisted of shredding over two<br />
thousand competition entries, not the most inspiring<br />
task. Don’t let this put you off though, for every<br />
wearisome task there was an exciting one ready and<br />
waiting. I was given the opportunity to do a small<br />
bit of writing and I helped with research tasks for<br />
articles. I was allowed to sit in on meetings which<br />
provided me with an insight into how the concept<br />
of fl at plans and how the whole magazine came<br />
together. It was also interesting as they were putting<br />
together the Christmas issue so I got into a very<br />
festive mood in the middle of August!<br />
Josie Bramhall<br />
FEATURES Student Internships<br />
Overall my experience was one I’ll never forget and<br />
I would defi nitely recommend it to anyone who is<br />
interested in this area of work, it provides you with<br />
inside knowledge about how the magazine comes<br />
together and the work involved.<br />
How Did I Do It?<br />
In order to gain an opportunity like this<br />
you need to:<br />
a) Send your C.V. and cover letter to as many<br />
magazines and newspapers as possible or<br />
use a website such a www.gorkana.com<br />
which provides a list of all internships and jobs<br />
within the industry.<br />
b) Literally sell yourself! At this stage you have<br />
nothing to lose!<br />
A Few Handy Tips to end on for when<br />
you’re there:<br />
Be confi dent<br />
Ask questions<br />
Get involved<br />
Let them know your interests<br />
nu:life 13
14 nu:life
NUTS SOCIETY<br />
Ever fancied jumping out of a perfectly good<br />
aeroplane?<br />
Well here’s your chance of a lifetime!<br />
Here at NUTS (<strong>Northumbria</strong> University Trainee<br />
Skydivers) we’re offering you that golden opportunity<br />
at a ridiculously discounted rate. Now fi rstly, don’t<br />
panic as the courses we provide are for those with<br />
no skydiving experience whatsoever. So if you think<br />
you’re diving in at the deep end, then relax because<br />
there’ll be 11 other people on your weekend course in<br />
the same position as you.<br />
What we offer is an 8 hour training course, BPA<br />
membership, free kit hire and your fi rst jump for free.<br />
Sounds expensive but that’s £80 cheaper than normal<br />
and each jump after that only costs £22 including free<br />
training and kit hire.<br />
LINKS SOCIETY<br />
LINKS is a joint<br />
society between<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> and<br />
Newcastle, and is the<br />
student side of St John Ambulance.<br />
The idea is simple - you join LINKS, then take one<br />
of 2 routes: 1. We train you for free, we give you all<br />
the support and skills you need, and we give you the<br />
opportunity to practise these skills at various events.<br />
2. You just come to the Thursday meetings, learn<br />
fi rst aid without going on courses, and come to the<br />
amazing socials!<br />
We have about 150 members, 50 of which are fully<br />
trained and attend duties such at football at St James’<br />
Park & The Stadium of Light; gigs and concerts<br />
- recent ones including Take That, Oasis, Maxïmo Park<br />
and events such as The Great North Run.<br />
GET INVOLVED Society Successes<br />
Your fi rst jump, you exit the plane by yourself at<br />
3,500ft. However, your parachute will be on static line<br />
(i.e. your parachute will automatically open as soon<br />
as you exit the plane) so there is no need to panic or<br />
worry. If you choose to stay on after your fi rst jump,<br />
then each £22 jump will teach you more and more<br />
skills, so that you can move onto pulling your own<br />
rip cord, performing somersaults in the air and fi nally<br />
qualifying.<br />
However, the fun doesn’t stop there! After qualifying<br />
you can progress onto formation skydiving, freefl ying<br />
and so much more.<br />
So what are you waiting for? Check out our website<br />
at www.sunuts.co.uk or join our facebook group<br />
‘<strong>Northumbria</strong> University Trainee Skydivers’ and if<br />
you’re up for the challenge then give us an<br />
e-mail at SU.NUTS@northumbria.ac.uk to join the<br />
next course!<br />
With LINKS, you get out what you put in. I personally<br />
have been on over £600 worth of courses, attended<br />
conferences, leadership weekends and some amazing<br />
events, all for free. But LINKS isn’t just about fi rst aid,<br />
we also have some fantastic socials, such as the<br />
annual “Pink Pubcrawl”, where you dress pink, drink<br />
pink and (if you can) eat pink!<br />
We meet every Thursday 7:30-9:00pm, although as<br />
it is a joint society, the venue changes between the<br />
Universities!<br />
At the moment we’re putting on “give it a go”<br />
sessions at both Coach Lane (4th Nov) and City<br />
Campus (18th Nov), so if you want to know more,<br />
why not come along? Or email me at<br />
chief@newcastle-links.sja.org.uk<br />
Carl Shooter - <strong>Northumbria</strong> Chief - Newcastle LINKS.<br />
& Craig Wood<br />
nu:life 15
LIGHT RELIEF Spotted<br />
16 nu:life Photography by Aaron Mcconky, Full Moon
OH THE FUN AND<br />
FROLICS OF FOAM!<br />
WHAT IS IT ABOUT FOAM<br />
PARTIES WHICH MAKE<br />
US REGRESS BACK TO<br />
BEING SIX YEARS OLD<br />
AND GETTING SOME<br />
SERIOUS EXCITEMENT<br />
OVER BUBBLES!?<br />
Who knows but throw in some banging tunes,<br />
an outstanding venue and some very happy<br />
students and you have yourselves a foam<br />
party. If you wanted to stay clean in your shirt,<br />
if you didn’t want your mascara to run or if you<br />
wanted to keep your hair straight, this party<br />
was not for you! Throw me a towel, I’m done.<br />
LIGHT RELIEF<br />
Spotted<br />
nu:life 17
LIGHT RELIEF Centerfold<br />
Think sexy.<br />
Think Ibiza.<br />
at the STUDENTS’ UNION, DOMAIN working the decks.<br />
A night to remember or one to forget. <strong>Kate</strong> is quite a character,<br />
refusing to let me talk to her until I had a drink and relaxed. Not<br />
what you’d expect from her reputation, quite relaxed and down to<br />
earth who hit the clubs in Newcastle after with the Rough Hill crew.<br />
If you get a chance to meet her, buy her a drink and have a chat.<br />
Hers is a vodka cranberry.<br />
Words & Photography by Aaron McConkey<br />
18 nu:life
LIGHT RELIEF Centrefold<br />
A night to<br />
remember or<br />
one to forget...<br />
www.katelawler.net<br />
nu:life 19
LIGHT RELIEF Horoscopes<br />
SAGITTARIUS<br />
22 November - 21 December<br />
Nerves try and get the better of you, but stay focused.<br />
Success will be achieved if you base decisions on<br />
practical thinking. Don’t rush into anything!<br />
CAPRICORN<br />
22 December - 19 January<br />
You may want to get in touch with someone from<br />
your past or they may contact you. Be sure to check<br />
your messages/email.<br />
AQUARIUS<br />
20 January - 18 February<br />
You’re starting to feel more generous. Directing<br />
this towards individuals who could really use your<br />
support will change the way you feel about giving.<br />
PISCES<br />
19 February - 20 March<br />
You’ll fi nd yourself wanting to be more like someone<br />
you admire. The way they approach life seems to get<br />
results. Use their admirable qualities as inspiration.<br />
Stay true to yourself!<br />
TAURUS<br />
20 April - 20 May<br />
You are now able to see something that has been<br />
going on right in front of your eyes. What you do with<br />
this new found information is entirely up to you.<br />
20 nu:life<br />
ARIES<br />
21 March - 19 April<br />
You need help and now is a time to realise that you<br />
have to ask. We all have our pride, but remember<br />
that you are only human.<br />
GEMINI<br />
21 May - 21 June<br />
Feelings of inspiration can occur as you<br />
experience creative ideas. Make sure to have pen<br />
and paper handy as these ideas will be short-lived.<br />
CANCER<br />
22 June - 22 July<br />
You have to make decisions, which could have<br />
important consequences for your future. When you<br />
can’t make a choice, it is best not to choose, but<br />
let it play out.<br />
LEO<br />
23 July - 22 August<br />
You may feel the urge to get back at someone.<br />
Hang onto your self-respect and just go on as if they<br />
didn’t exist without giving a second thought to it.<br />
VIRGO<br />
23 August - 22 September<br />
Everything feels in sync and those around you are<br />
making you feel wanted. It would be nice to feel<br />
this way all the time, but it would only distract you.<br />
LIBRA<br />
23 September - 22 October<br />
The right attitude will make all the difference.<br />
Though you may not feel like putting on a happy<br />
face, giving it that little bit extra will pay off.<br />
SCORPIO<br />
23 October - 21 November<br />
Going with your gut feeling will pay off in a big way.<br />
Others will try to change your mind so be sure,<br />
listen to your instinct.<br />
L
Money, money, money<br />
Must be funny In the<br />
rich women’s<br />
world...<br />
aurenWest<br />
knows best<br />
Dear Lauren,<br />
With Christmas coming up it’s a pretty<br />
expensive time of year. I’ve already exhausted<br />
my loan and I’m still to buy all my presents<br />
for friends and family. The thing is, my new<br />
friends at Uni get extra money off their parents<br />
and spend so much I can’t keep up with them<br />
and my bank account is suffering! How can<br />
I suggest doing something else apart from<br />
going out on expensive nights without looking<br />
cheep? ANY ideas would be great.<br />
Thanks, Soph.<br />
Dear Soph,<br />
I know this is quite a common problem, it’s so<br />
easy to power through your loan and not realise<br />
what you are spending. Have you considered<br />
taking on any part time work? There are some<br />
recruitment agencies in Newcastle such as<br />
Direct Recruitment which offer you work via<br />
text which you can accept or decline and you<br />
aren’t tied down to do anything, which is good<br />
for students. You could also maybe suggest<br />
doing things like having a dinner party, or a<br />
house party which would mean you could stay<br />
and drink in the house instead of paying into<br />
clubs, taxis and overpriced drinks. A lot of the<br />
time house parties are just as good craic as a<br />
night out if not better, I think so anyway! About<br />
Christmas, I am sure you’re family won’t mind<br />
if you just buy them small presents, and if they<br />
do, tell them they could have had better ones if<br />
they gave you money! In a nice way, of course.<br />
Good Luck!<br />
Love Lauren xxx<br />
LIGHT RELEIF Lauren West Knows Best<br />
Dear Lauren,<br />
I have an issue with my fl atmates, well I think<br />
it’s an issue. I’ve been noticing stuff going<br />
missing from my room, it started with small<br />
things like pens but now I’m sure books and<br />
DVD’s have gone also. I’m pretty sure I haven’t<br />
mislaid them but I don’t want to start a huge<br />
argument with my fl atmates as we get on quite<br />
well. How should I go about this?<br />
Cheers J<br />
Hi J,<br />
Regardless of what it is that is going missing, it is<br />
still a big issue and you should really approach<br />
them about it, even if it does cause an argument,<br />
stealing is not just a problem, it is also a crime. If<br />
your fl atmates get a bit arsey when you mention<br />
to them, or if you don’t want to approach them<br />
yourself, you should take it up to a higher level,<br />
and speak to the accommodation staff, who could<br />
then launch an inquiry, which could hopefully fi nd<br />
the guilty culprit, and then they would be punished.<br />
Don’t feel bad about bringing it up both because<br />
the one who is stealing from you is much more in<br />
the wrong, and you have a fair point! In halls also, it<br />
is easy for people to come in and out of fl ats, so try<br />
to make sure your door is locked when you aren’t<br />
in, to make sure, and will also give you peace of<br />
mind when you are out. Anyhow, good luck with it.<br />
Love Lauren xxx<br />
nu:life 21
The new Student<br />
<strong>Union</strong> housing service.<br />
19 of the finest letting agents are now in your Student <strong>Union</strong>.<br />
Pop in and take your first steps to stress less house hunting.<br />
Be ahead of the game... Use the new House Hustler lettings points<br />
in the Student <strong>Union</strong> and search through over 2,000<br />
properties from 19 letting agents. look at pictures,<br />
get descriptions and reserve viewings of<br />
properties you like.<br />
Your perfect student home is finger tips away.<br />
In a rush? View all these letting agents properties and more at<br />
www.househustler.co.uk, the biggest student property portal in Newcastle!<br />
WWW.HOUSEHUSTLER.CO.UK<br />
The quickest way to find a house
Big statement boots<br />
Ankle roll up jeans<br />
tudent<br />
treet<br />
tyle<br />
Chunky layered knits<br />
The catwalk was bursting with wearble trends for<br />
this winter. Think sequins, studs, leather and fur on<br />
eveything and anything. Chunky statement boots<br />
are a must have aswell as oversized knits, thick<br />
tights and lots of layering. The new coours are reds<br />
and blacks and fabrics are velvet and leather. The<br />
silohuette as all about strong shoulders so girls<br />
don’t fear the shoulder pad. For guys try a quilted<br />
jacket over a lumberjack shirt or jumper with a cool<br />
print and an tan satchel. Turn ups on jeans and<br />
trousres give a new life to the skinny for both boys<br />
and girls. Happy shopping.<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Student Street Style<br />
We’ve been out and about<br />
around campus to see what<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> students are<br />
wearing...<br />
Studs embelishments and fur<br />
Quilted jackets<br />
Knee and thigh high boots<br />
Double breasted blazers<br />
nu:life 23
STUDENT CULTURE Hot Topic<br />
Hot Topic gives you, the student, a voice to big<br />
issues affecting you. They are current questions<br />
surrounding you and your life and raise the<br />
awareness of the topic.<br />
“ARE STUDENTS GETTING<br />
THEIR MONEY’S<br />
WORTH OUT OF<br />
LANDLORDS?”<br />
John Henderson<br />
DIRECTOR ACORN<br />
PROPERTIES<br />
There are two types of deposit schemes with<br />
Assured Shorthold Tenancies. Firstly, insured<br />
where the landlord holds the deposit but can’t<br />
touch it without your permission. Secondly, the<br />
Deposit Protection Service where the money is held<br />
separately and it needs both the landlord and the<br />
tenant to agree the refund. If there is any argument<br />
the issue is dealt with by the arbitration service. If<br />
your rent is over £25,000 per property per year then<br />
you are outside the scheme and the landlord or<br />
agent would hold the deposit.<br />
The deposit schemes work around your inventory;<br />
this is a list of all the items in your property and the<br />
condition they are in when you move in. When you<br />
move out you will be “checked out by your landlord<br />
using the same document so any changes can be<br />
noted. If it’s damage you pay. If it is just wear and<br />
tear the landlord pays. Simples!<br />
There are good and bad people, that includes<br />
tenants, landlords and letting agents. Therefore<br />
it is really important that you choose your agent<br />
carefully right at the beginning. If you are a student<br />
24 nu:life<br />
YES<br />
This month we are looking at housing and<br />
landlords. It seems that every year landlords<br />
are pushing students to put down deposits on<br />
houses to rent earlier and earlier, potentially<br />
stirring up a hype to get students to sign<br />
contracts to rent a house for the following year.<br />
Furthermore a lot of students feel they aren’t<br />
treated fairly by their landlords or letting agents.<br />
But on the other side, are students a nuisance<br />
to landlords? Here we see Director of Acorn<br />
Properties lay out the truth on how landlords are<br />
here to help students, and also how one student<br />
really feels about the situation.<br />
and need advice go to the agent you got your<br />
property from if you have a dispute they should be<br />
able to advise you and help you. Always choose<br />
an accredited agency after all; they are going to be<br />
looking after your fi rst month’s rent and deposit, for<br />
at least a month, often longer before you move in.<br />
If you just give your money to anyone who is to say<br />
it is still going to be there when you move in?<br />
Choose wisely, always ask for advice and always<br />
check that your letting agent is accredited. That is<br />
always a good sign that if they are prepared to be<br />
audited and vetted by an independent regulatory<br />
authority, then they should be a good source<br />
of information and advice for tenants as well as<br />
landlords. ><br />
THERE ARE GOOD AND<br />
BAD PEOPLE, THAT<br />
INCLUDES TENANTS,<br />
LANDLORDS<br />
AND LETTING<br />
AGENTS.
Philip Harrison<br />
NORTHUMBRIA<br />
UNIVERSITY STUDENT<br />
As a fi rst year student I have recently come to<br />
realise the fi nancial hardship of actually being a<br />
student. Something I have noticed in particular is<br />
the cost of Student accommodation; I understand<br />
that we all get student loans in order to help<br />
us along with this. That being said, speaking<br />
personally, my loan fails to cover the full amount of<br />
accommodation fees never mind the essentials;<br />
food, drink ect. I also know that I am not the only<br />
one in this position, many of us seem to be fi nding<br />
it hard to juggle new, expensive student fees with a<br />
new exiting social life, and because lets face it we<br />
are here to have a good time too.<br />
Some would simply tell us to ‘get a job’, however<br />
that’s not as easy as it sounds and recent studies<br />
show, ‘45% of students with a part time job feel<br />
distracted from their studies’. Figures also show<br />
that student rent had increased by, ‘23% between<br />
2003 and 2007’. Not to mention extra charges and<br />
losing deposits over already existing problems, for<br />
example a friend was charged for a broken towel<br />
holder which was hanging off when she moved in!<br />
Another option for us would be to choose private<br />
housing, something which we are expected to do in<br />
our latter years. That being said is that really a better<br />
option? Speaking to friends, some landlords from<br />
private housing seem to be rather harsh and unfair.<br />
Several people have told me stories about broken<br />
appliances, extra charges and deadlines which<br />
have not been met. Two close friends who failed to<br />
get a placement in student halls found themselves<br />
in houses which weren’t ready for their arrival and<br />
had to suffer without the necessary appliances. I<br />
have also been told the cost for each deposit for<br />
members of the household is pricey; often over a<br />
month’s rent which a lot of students or parents just<br />
cannot afford that! How are we expected to pay for<br />
our current rent, and then also pay close to £600<br />
deposit for somewhere else?! As a consequence<br />
NO<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Hot Topic<br />
students are often left with the pressure to come<br />
up with the money by landlords or left with the poor<br />
choice of the last accommodation. Landlords are<br />
pushing students to early to sign for expensive<br />
letting agreements that sometimes students just<br />
cannot afford.<br />
Again, examples of students loosing their deposits<br />
for issues that should have been settled with the<br />
previous tenant seem to be a common occurrence,<br />
as well as what feels like “tricks” in order to gain<br />
money from us. It can’t be just me who thinks that is<br />
totally unfair. What do you think?<br />
HOW ARE WE EXPECTED<br />
TO PAY FOR OUR<br />
CURRENT RENT, AND<br />
THEN ALSO PAY CLOSE<br />
TO £600 DEPOSIT FOR<br />
SOMEWHERE ELSE?!<br />
As a consequence students are<br />
often left with the pressure to come<br />
up with the money by landlords<br />
nu:life 25
STUDENT CULTURE LGBT Shag Week<br />
SHAGWeek<br />
A degree, new friends,<br />
and great memories<br />
are all things students<br />
at <strong>Northumbria</strong> receive<br />
each year. But too often<br />
Chlamydia, Syphilis, and<br />
other sexually transmitted<br />
infections (STIs) are<br />
now joining that list.<br />
Helping you enjoy your<br />
time at <strong>Northumbria</strong>,<br />
the <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> is<br />
hosting SHAG (Sexual<br />
Health Awareness and<br />
Guidance) Week from<br />
the 30th November - 6th<br />
December. The week<br />
aims to help educate<br />
students on STIs,<br />
promote safe sex, and<br />
encourage students to<br />
get checked regularly.<br />
Don’t be intimidated by<br />
the topic - we know it<br />
can be daunting to talk<br />
about our own sexual<br />
activity, let alone our<br />
sexual health but having a<br />
healthy attitude to sex and<br />
knowing the right steps<br />
Always wear<br />
protection...<br />
to take when engaging in sexual activity is something that<br />
everyone will benefi t from.<br />
Throughout the week, our team of ‘Condom Fairies’ will<br />
be distributing condoms and lubricant for free to students<br />
so take advantage and stock up on your supplies! The<br />
programme of events throughout the week includes visits<br />
from the staff of Newcastle’s sexual health clinic, tackling<br />
the issue of HIV on World Aids Day (1st December),<br />
and unique tie-ins to <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong><br />
entertainments. Test your knowledge of sex and sexual<br />
health at “Sexually Challenged” (Quiz Night, Sunday 6th<br />
December) and get the chance to win some cash! If you<br />
see yourself as the next Alexandra Burke or JLS then see<br />
if you have the SEX-FACTOR at SHAGaoke (Karaoke,<br />
Thursday 3rd December). There truly is something for<br />
everyone.<br />
I’m also delighted to announce that the LGBT are hosting<br />
their Winter Ball during SHAG Week on Friday 4th<br />
December. <strong>Northumbria</strong> LGBT society continues its great<br />
reputation for being THE place to go as a gay, lesbian,<br />
bisexual, or trans student. This reputation includes a record<br />
of fantastic events and socials that cater not only<br />
to exclusively LGBT students, but all students<br />
regardless of sexual orientation.<br />
Pete Woodward & Hannah Cassidy<br />
nu:life 27
STUDENT CULTURE Gig Goers<br />
THE<br />
KUSH<br />
Currently<br />
taking over<br />
the North East<br />
with their mix<br />
of Funk, Rock,<br />
Psychedelic<br />
and Blues,<br />
here NU:Life was lucky to grab a few<br />
minutes with band members Johnny<br />
and Pete before they disappear off into<br />
the world of big lights and even later<br />
nights...<br />
WHO ARE ‘’THE KUSH’’?<br />
Parky - Vocals<br />
Johnny ‘Blue Hat’ - Sax<br />
Pete Bennet - Guitar<br />
Ade Scarlett - Bass<br />
Ben ‘Firestix’ Kindlan - Drums<br />
WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF THE<br />
BAND’S NAME?<br />
Pete: The band’s name originated from<br />
a song that Ade and me wrote named<br />
“Hindu Kush.”<br />
Johnny: It also means ‘Great’ in<br />
Geordie.<br />
WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC DO YOU<br />
CONSIDER YOUR WORK TO BE?<br />
ANY MAJOR INFLUENCES?<br />
Johnny: We’re the newest type of<br />
Rock & Roll, playing good time party<br />
music with infl uences such as Oasis,<br />
Rolling Stones, Beatles, Blues Brothers,<br />
Led Zeppelin and The Prodigy.<br />
28 nu:life<br />
WHO WRITES YOUR SONGS?<br />
Johnny: We all write the tunes, and simply chip in<br />
with our own bits.<br />
WHERE HAVE YOU PERFORMED?<br />
Pete: The furthest we’ve toured is Amsterdam, but<br />
that was just too messy to talk about. We played<br />
World Headquarters last week, that’s my favourite<br />
venue as far as Newcastle’s concerned.<br />
HAVE YOU HAD ANY WORD FROM RECORD LABELS?<br />
Pete: We did a bit of a verbal agreement with Primary Talent<br />
in London - they’re one of the biggest booking agencies in<br />
the world, looking after people like Led Zeppelin, Oasis and<br />
Kasabian.<br />
ANY FAMOUS LAST WORDS?<br />
Both: COME TO A GIG AND<br />
GET YOUR PIG OOT.<br />
www.myspace.com/thekushlive<br />
Danni Mustardi<br />
Jonze’s new fi lm.<br />
THE KUSH<br />
NSU DEC 4<br />
@ Disco Down.<br />
Tickets £4 @<br />
Welcome Desk.<br />
KAREN O & THE<br />
KIDS - WHERE THE<br />
WILD THINGS ARE<br />
Karen O, famous for her<br />
fashion sense as much as her place<br />
in Grammy nominated band the Yeah<br />
Yeah Yeah’s, ventures out on her own<br />
to release the soundtrack to Spike<br />
O’s backing band for this endeavour isn’t exactly a bunch of<br />
kids though, it’s a who’s who of the American Indie scene.<br />
Brian Chase (yeah yeah yeah’s), Dean Fertita (the Raconteurs)<br />
and Bradford Cox (Deerhunter) all lend their expertise in<br />
creating this charmingly stripped down soundtrack to the<br />
Where the Wild Things Are motion picture.<br />
Where the Wild things Are is a story of where we go as<br />
children, to fi gure out the world we live in and O captures this<br />
innocence with perfectly crafted songs that are both playful<br />
and tender.<br />
“I wanted something really simple, but memorably and<br />
seamlessly woven into the movie” says O of the album. As a<br />
body of work that stands up on its own, it will be interesting to<br />
see if O has achieved her goal when it all comes together with<br />
the UK release of the fi lm on December 11th.
CHASE &<br />
STATUS<br />
- END<br />
CREDITS<br />
Featuring Plan B, ‘End<br />
Credits’ is taken from the<br />
forthcoming Harry Brown<br />
fi lm starring Sir Michael<br />
Caine and is Saul and<br />
Will’s fi rst single release<br />
through Vertigo Records.<br />
Having performed some<br />
attention grabbing<br />
festival sets over the<br />
summer Chase & Status<br />
seem to be following<br />
the same path carved<br />
out by Australian DnB<br />
heavyweights Pendulum,<br />
as they look to go from<br />
underground favourites to<br />
mainstream successes.<br />
As you’d expect, the<br />
beats are still tough<br />
and heavy, but with a<br />
more lo-fi sound ‘End<br />
Credits’ is defi antly made<br />
for cinema. Plan B’s<br />
appearance on the track<br />
is neither here nor there;<br />
it adds none of his wit<br />
or anger that we see in<br />
his solo recordings. It’s<br />
as if his presence on the<br />
track is nothing more<br />
than to add another big<br />
British name in order to<br />
promote it.<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Gig Goers<br />
RISE AGAINST - SAVIOR<br />
“Just jump on”. The fi rst words Ruth Walter, national bronze<br />
medallist and jiu jitsu sensai (instructor), say to me were<br />
more than unexpected.<br />
I jump on her back and, by the power of upper body<br />
strength, manage to move to her front without touching the<br />
fl oor. Part of the warm up, this is crucial to break barriers<br />
between participants and ensure effective execution of the<br />
movements.<br />
A respectful rei (bow) on entering the training room<br />
- and toward your partner - before practicing techniques<br />
marks respect and is almost an apology in case you hurt<br />
each other. This is unlikely given the skill of <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
nominee Coaches of the Year 2009 Walter and David<br />
Chalton. Watching a demonstration between Chalton and<br />
an experienced member, I think ‘I can’t do that’, and then<br />
fi nd myself doing it, with encouragement from each and<br />
every person, regardless of grade.<br />
nu:life 29
TN Just Jump On<br />
JUST JUMP ON<br />
“Just jump on”. The fi rst words Ruth Walter,<br />
national bronze medallist and jiu jitsu sensai<br />
(instructor), say to me were more than<br />
unexpected.<br />
I jump on her back and, by the power of upper<br />
body strength, manage to move to her front without<br />
touching the fl oor. Part of the warm up, this is<br />
crucial to break barriers between participants and<br />
ensure effective execution of the movements.<br />
A respectful rei (bow) on entering the training<br />
room - and toward your partner - before practicing<br />
techniques marks respect and is almost an apology<br />
in case you hurt each other. This is unlikely given<br />
the skill of <strong>Northumbria</strong> nominee Coaches of the<br />
Year 2009 Walter and David Chalton.<br />
30 nu:life<br />
Watching a demonstration between Chalton and an<br />
experienced member, I think ‘I can’t do that’, and<br />
then fi nd myself doing it, with encouragement from<br />
each and every person, regardless of grade.<br />
By the time two hours are up, you feel ready to O<br />
Goshi (hip throw) an unsuspecting housemate,<br />
which is a real syndrome in jiu jitsu, apparently.<br />
Resist this urge.<br />
“I have had new recruits ask me if I’ve killed<br />
anyone” muses Chalton. “This is an attitude we<br />
discourage. Jiu jitsu is about self defence and<br />
confi dence, not looking for a fi ght.”<br />
This is echoed by other novices in the club. “The<br />
techniques become more natural after a few<br />
sessions,” enthuses Dan Richardson, a fi nal year<br />
Internet Computing student who plans to grip jitsu<br />
roots in Japan after graduation.
Despite my apprehension, there was a real feeling<br />
of people wanting you to do well and succeed<br />
despite an urge to slap, punch and throw them<br />
hard.<br />
Chalton says: “This is an unusual feature of<br />
jitsu, though crucial for progression through the<br />
gradings”<br />
The traditional gi (uniform) looks like a pair of pjs<br />
and a dressing gown, though is vital to perform<br />
grabs and throws effectively without ripping your<br />
favourite t-shirt. Although license and gi costs<br />
sound expensive, it works out cheaper than a night<br />
out, whilst increasing fi tness and stamina levels.<br />
David Lennon, assistant instructor, Dark Blue belt<br />
and committee member says: “Jitsu is one of those<br />
things that people just try because they want to do<br />
something new and then stick at, rather than rugby<br />
or football where they know what they want before<br />
looking.”<br />
TN Just Jump On<br />
At the moment<br />
our class is mostly<br />
made up of at least<br />
30 new<br />
starters...<br />
Ever popular, the club has grown to 10 times its<br />
size in 2004.<br />
“At the moment our class is mostly made up of at<br />
least 30 new starters,” says Lennon, which was<br />
encouraging to a complete newbie with no martial<br />
arts experience.<br />
Not only will you break a sweat and come away<br />
with a real sense of achievement, your social life<br />
will take an upturn. Regular visits for coffee at the<br />
Hancock after training, socials and competitions<br />
make the jiu jitsu club one of, if not the, friendliest at<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>.<br />
“I’ve learnt a lot about myself - I can hold my head<br />
up high and give a sense of confi dence,<br />
which may protect me more than the moves<br />
themselves,” says Kim Allinson, who achieved<br />
her yellow belt after a year in the club. Grades<br />
are accomplished in groups, which serves to<br />
signify team spirit in a solo sport. To prove to<br />
yourself you can do it too, contact jitsuclub@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk. Laura Gutfreund-Walmsley<br />
nu:life 31
TN BUCS Media Intern<br />
BUCS<br />
MEDIA INTERN<br />
HI THERE! MY NAME IS ASHLIE TRIDGELL<br />
AND I AM THE NEW BUCS MEDIA INTERN<br />
FOR TEAM NORTHUMBRIA.<br />
What that means is that you’ll see me popping up at<br />
various matches on a Wednesday afternoon looking for<br />
the best stories and the biggest wins.<br />
So if you see me around Coach Lane, Bullocksteads,<br />
Kingston Park or on the City Centre campus give me a<br />
shout with your breaking BUCS news.<br />
I’ve been studying at <strong>Northumbria</strong> for two years and I’m<br />
just entering into the third and fi nal year of my sports<br />
management degree.<br />
But more importantly I really enjoy watching all sports<br />
- even in the lovely weather the British winter throws at us!<br />
And those of you who saw me soaked to the skin at the<br />
BUCS Super 8s Rugby League last month will know what<br />
I’m saying…<br />
32 nu:life<br />
As I don’t actually play on any teams I<br />
quite often go along to watch matches and<br />
support friends. I already know how BUCS<br />
Wednesdays work and want to be a part of<br />
this season’s sporting success.<br />
Entering into journalism has not been<br />
something I’ve really considered as a future<br />
career. But after securing this fantastic<br />
opportunity I’m really looking forward to<br />
learning as much a possible about the world<br />
of sports writing.<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> University sports teams work<br />
so hard every Wednesday bringing in those<br />
all important wins and then there’s the Stan<br />
Calvert Cup. I can’t wait!<br />
Hopefully I’ll be able to give all those involved<br />
in Team <strong>Northumbria</strong> the recognition they<br />
deserve at some stage during the next eight<br />
months.<br />
I’ll be coming to watch different teams each<br />
week at their home fi xtures so look out for me<br />
and give me a shout. I’m your passport to<br />
hitting the teamnorthumbria.com headlines<br />
and making the pages of next month’s NU:<br />
Life.<br />
Finally I just want to wish everyone<br />
involved with TN a brilliant year of sporting<br />
achievement. And thanks for letting me be a<br />
part of it.<br />
Ashlie Tridgell
V PROJECT<br />
Team <strong>Northumbria</strong> staff and students have thrown<br />
their weight behind a new scheme aimed at offering<br />
talented teen leaders the chance to hone their skills.<br />
TN’s Community Sport team, headed by Jen Rudin,<br />
is working with pupils from across North Tyneside to<br />
offer volunteering and leadership experience.<br />
Within the groundbreaking ‘V’ volunteering project<br />
and in partnership with Sport Universities North<br />
East (SUNEE), Jen and her team hosted a day of<br />
skills-based sessions at <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s Kingston<br />
Park stadium.<br />
And TN’s SUNEE intern Andy Spoors told NU:Life<br />
the day was a huge success.<br />
“The kids who attended were from schools and<br />
colleges across North Tyneside and they were<br />
taught a wide range of skills based around event<br />
management,” said the third year Journalism<br />
student.<br />
“Issues around health and safety, marketing,<br />
promotion and media management were discussed<br />
and the same pupils will work on the Clash of<br />
The Titans rugby event at Kingston Park later this<br />
month.”<br />
The new North Tyneside Leadership Academy for<br />
Sport (NTLAS) has been launched with the aim of<br />
providing students involved in sport with relevant<br />
experience and possible career pathways.<br />
TN V Project<br />
And members of TN’s rugby squad joined the<br />
university’s Community Sport team in offering<br />
expert tips and advice to sports-mad students.<br />
NTLAS offers selected youngsters, who are<br />
already involved in leadership through coaching,<br />
captaincy or as offi cials, the opportunity to further<br />
develop their skills. And Jo Suddes, PE consultant<br />
with the School Improvement Service, added:<br />
“The Academy should provide opportunities for<br />
students to learn from their peers and help them<br />
achieve qualifi cations and awards to support their<br />
volunteering.<br />
“It’s a great chance for teenagers committed to<br />
sport to take part in a wide range of leadership<br />
and volunteering placements and projects and we<br />
provide mentoring on a group basis.<br />
“Ultimately we aim to celebrate, profi le and reward<br />
the contribution young leaders make to school and<br />
community sport. “<br />
TN is a well respected sports provider within the<br />
North East and the pupils involved in the scheme<br />
are learning from students and staff boasting a<br />
wealth of experience.”<br />
nu:life 33
SHUTTLE<br />
SERVICE A<br />
HUGE SUCCESS<br />
Budding badminton players from across the city<br />
fl ocked to a groundbreaking session at <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
University to get a free taste of a sport taking giant<br />
strides forward.<br />
Badminton England and Team <strong>Northumbria</strong> joined<br />
forces to deliver a day of action designed to attract<br />
everyone from absolute beginners to one-time fans.<br />
And badminton bosses were able to assess the<br />
power of social networking sites in promoting their<br />
sport after taking part in a national experiment.<br />
Junior England international Lauren Smith was on<br />
hand to offer expert tips and advice to all-comers.<br />
And Badminton England’s Regional Offi cer for<br />
Northumberland, Norma Waterfi eld, told NU:Life the<br />
day had been a resounding success.<br />
“This event was part of the Badminton England<br />
Facebook Challenge – a project designed to see<br />
how social networking can increase participation,”<br />
she said.<br />
34 nu:life<br />
TN Shuttle Service<br />
“It’s just one of the ways we’re looking at getting<br />
more people of every age playing the sport regularly.<br />
“Thanks to Team <strong>Northumbria</strong> we were able to use<br />
the university’s facilities to showcase badminton to<br />
a number of new players and people who hadn’t<br />
played the game for years.”<br />
Members of TN’s badminton club joined Smith in<br />
guiding beginners through badminton’s basics.<br />
And Stephen Fairley, in his second year at<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> University, said: “I’d hardly played since<br />
school but I thought I might like to play again.<br />
“In the end I stayed all day! It was really good and I<br />
enjoyed it so much I’ll be a regular at the university’s<br />
Saturday morning sessions.<br />
“Norma and the team made me welcome from the<br />
fi rst minute and the coaching was excellent.”<br />
Second year <strong>Northumbria</strong> student Glen Oxley, from<br />
North Shields, added: “I used Facebook and then<br />
saw a poster in the sports centre so I thought I’d<br />
check it out.<br />
“I played a bit of badminton last year but want to<br />
play regularly again. The whole day was fun, you<br />
know what would happen and when and it was a real<br />
social occasion.”<br />
Simon Rushworth
TN Clash Of The Titans 2009<br />
CLASH OF THE<br />
TITANS 2009<br />
Team <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s BUCS rugby guns<br />
are once again training for the fi ght of<br />
their lives as they prepare to face fi erce<br />
rivals Newcastle at Kingston Park.<br />
Possibly the one of the most exciting<br />
and hotly contested fi xtures in the TN<br />
sporting calendar will surely be marked<br />
by a packed out crowd at <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
University’s newly acquired stadium.<br />
And fi nal year Sports Development<br />
student Phillip Ludford is relishing the<br />
prospect of another epic encounter with<br />
the Poly’s oldest of foes.<br />
“Well we’ve been playing all our home<br />
games at Kingston Park this season but<br />
there’s always a lot of extra buzz when<br />
we play Newcastle,” he said ahead of<br />
the November 11 Clash Of the Titans.<br />
“The crowd tends to get very riled and<br />
there’s always some sort of drama.”<br />
“The lads are looking forward to it<br />
obviously. It’s always good getting one<br />
up on the old enemy and as for the<br />
fresher’s on the team - well it’s going to<br />
be fantastic for them to experience such<br />
a competitive setting.”<br />
Despite taking three of the previous four<br />
games with the red brick side, TN know<br />
exactly how unpredictable the scoreline<br />
can be under the pressure of the big<br />
match.<br />
And veteran forward Ludford showed<br />
plenty of respect for Newcastle – a team<br />
he has faced in countless battles during<br />
his playing career with TN.<br />
“We won our last few matches purely<br />
by playing simple rugby really,” he said.<br />
“We kept it solid, kept it safe and there<br />
was about 20 points in it by the end so<br />
if we can come away with a win like that<br />
then I’ll be happy.<br />
“I know they are going to be well drilled<br />
and their defence will be as great as it<br />
always is. They are such a hard team to<br />
break down - especially when they’ve<br />
got full support in the stands.<br />
“They tired pretty easily last time out<br />
and our fi tness will probably be a shade<br />
better because we’ve been training<br />
hard. But on the day, when adrenaline<br />
is pumping, I’m sure they will be able<br />
to match us. It’s going to be as close<br />
as it always is but we’ll be giving our<br />
absolute all as usual.”<br />
TN will host Newcastle at Kingston<br />
Park on Wednesday 11th November.<br />
Stay posted to TN.com for all the latest<br />
results as they come.<br />
Mark Kelly<br />
“We won<br />
our last few<br />
matches<br />
purely by<br />
playing<br />
simple<br />
rugby really”<br />
nu:life 35
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