Issue 1215 - The Courier

THE
Page 4
COURIER
Issue 1215 Monday October 25 2010 www.thecourieronline.co.uk
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF NEWCASTLE STUDENTS EST 1948
FREE
‘Don’t think that
you’re invincible’
Simon Hales was just like any other ordinary
student enjoying university, until one booze
fuelled night changed his life forever.
News, pages 4 and 5

2 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
News Editors: Simon Murphy and Charlie Oven
Have you got a news story for
The Courier? Email us at:
courier.news@ncl.ac.uk
University leading the way in giving
deprived students a top education
Rising to the top: Partners Scheme gives deprived students chance to reach their potential
Fran Infante
Editor
After months of speculation Professor
Michael Kehoe has resigned
from his post at the University, having
been found guilty of child pornography
offences in June.
As The Courier reported earlier
in the year, the 56 year-old Kehoe
pleaded guilty at his trial at Newcastle
Crown Court to possessing
232 indecent images of children
but denied two further charges of
viewing animal porn. The court accepted
these two later pleas but as a
result of the former charge imposed
a three-year community order and
placed him on the sex offenders’
Rachael Day
Nick Clegg recently announced a
fairness premium designed to make
better education more accessible to
disadvantaged children. Considering
this scheme, Newcastle University
can already be seen to lead the
way.
It is more than ten years since Newcastle
University introduced a revolutionary
new scheme to admit local
applicants with lower A-level grades
to its degree courses. This was following
the student’s completion of
a summer school to assess their ability.
The innovative Partners Scheme
is designed to give poor students
from disadvantaged backgrounds
a top UK university.
Newcastle’s Partners Scheme is
currently involved with 117 participating
institutions from Low Participation
Neighbourhood areas around
the North East, Cumbria and West
Yorkshire. In its debut in 2000, with
just 45 participating institutions, 41
Partners students were accepted to
Newcastle. The number of students
grown, with 654 Partners students
having just started their degree last
month.
Speaking recently, former head
of Newcastle Law School and last
year’s winner of the Supportive Academic
Colleague Award for his support
of the Partners Scheme, Ashley
Wilton told The Courier: “The Partners
Scheme is both valuable and
successful. It is valuable because it
gives an opportunity to students
from less advantaged backgrounds
to attend Newcastle University, a
highly regarded university with
immense pressure on applications
“It is successful in that despite the
lower A-Level entry standard applied
to Partners students, they ben-
also instructed to pay £1200 in prosecution
costs.
Mr Kehoe, who is one of the nation’s
leading microbiology professors
at the university’s Institute of
Cell and Molecular Biosciences was
year when his Morpeth home was
raided by police. More than 200
indecent images of children were
found on his personal computer. In
January, he was suspended from his
work at the institute after the University
was informed of the formal
charges made against him.
Originally from Ireland, Kehoe
Newcastle University and has contributed
to multiple academic publications
relation to microbiology.
The scandalous revelations about
the behaviour of Mr Kehoe followed
shortly after the arrest and sentence
of former biomedical lecturer Trevor
Jackson, who was sentenced to four
years and nine months in prison
by the same court in February, for
travelling to Jersey on multiple occasions
to have sex with a thirteen
year-old girl. The allegations against
both men continued to run throughout
most of the last academic year
until the conclusion of Kehoe’s case
on June 11.
At the time of sentencing the Uni-
face disciplinary measures, however
with university standard work and
learn about life as a university student.
This enables them to show the
potential for success at university
The recent government pledge
appears to seek a similar goal.
Initially devised to give primary and
secondary schools funding to enable
them to take in a higher number of
the poorest students, Nick Clegg’s
fairness premium has been extended
to include the funding of university
education for these pupils, too.
However, in light of Lord Browne’s
review of higher education which
recommended a vast increase in the
cost of student tuition fees, it is inevitable
that Clegg will face allegations
that he is diverting attention away
from the contentious proposals.
Mr Wilton went on to comment
about the recent government initiative:
“The Government’s proposals
to target and help disadvantaged
similar ambition to that of the Partners
Scheme, but at an earlier stage.
The announcement that the scheme
will also assist at the university
of Newcastle’s pioneering scheme
Lucy Backhurst, Head of Undergraduate
Recruitment and Admissions
at Newcastle also commented
on the proposals, stating: “Schemes
such as the Partners Programme will
be increasingly important in helping
to encourage and support students
from under-represented groups in
It is clear that the government’s recent
pledge is a much-needed step
towards achieving equality in accessing
good education, particularly
at a time when the future costs of
getting a degree remain uncertain
and threaten to penalise the poorer
students. However, with its Partners
Scheme, Newcastle University has
been moving ahead in this direction
for over a decade now.
Paedophile professor avoids jail sentence
he appears to have cut these procedures
short by tendering his resignation
last month.
A spokesman from the university
told The Courier; “The welfare of our
students is always of paramount importance
and the University co-operated
fully with the police throughout
the investigation of Michael
Kehoe.
Mr Kehoe was suspended from
the University as soon as the formal
charges were brought against him
and he did not return to his post
prior to resigning on 10 September
2010 before the University could
The Union Society, King’s Walk, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940
Comment
Will a rise in tuition
fees result in a
drop in applicants?
Our comment
writers debate
the contentious
issue of the week
Page 10
Life & Style
Pamela Mardle
discusses the
hardest part of
any relationship
for a girl; meeting
“the lads”
Page 16
Culture
Chapel Club; in an
with Ben Travis
the rising indie
rock band reveal
of life on the road
Page 31
Sport
An eventful
opening week for
BUCS; our sports
team reports on
the highs and
lows from last
Page 42-43
Meetings Timetable:
Monday
News & Comment- 12pm, MLK, at the Union
Sport- 1pm, MLK, at the Union
Photos - 12pm, Committee Room C
Tuesday
Life & Style- 12pm, MLK, at the Union
Fashion - 12pm, MLK, at the Union
Film - 1pm, Committee Room B
Wednesday
Arts- 12.30pm,MLK, at the Union
Music - 1pm, MLK, at the Union
TV & Radio - 1.30pm, MLK, at the Union
Editorial Team:
Murphy
Heads
Kat Bishop
Lynsey Fawcett
Wills Robinson
Hicks, Elliot Bentley and Colin Henrys
Childs, Katy Lawson, Hannah Davey, Verity
Cunningham, Freya Marks & Gemma Farina
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Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully
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The design, text, photographs and graphics
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individual writing, and not of The Courier, the
Union Society or Newcastle University.

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 3
News
One student and his sad loan-ley story
Bethan Brown
Where’s my money? Student Jordan Turnbull cuts a disconsolate figure after not receiving his maintenance loan for a third succesive year
For the average student, maintenance
loans are an essential means
of survival. Forgive the alarmist
tone but quite frankly tins of baked
beans and tuna won’t subsidise
themselves. After speaking with
third year Biology student Jordan
Turnbull about the vast array of
problems he faced with his student
began to feel incredibly lucky to
have had such an easy run with my
year, Jordan applied for a full student
loan through Student Finance
UK. The difference is, he didn’t actually
receive a penny until after
away from home, Jordan had con-
him. He had to eat into his overdraft,
which wasn’t a student one. The impoverished
student also had to borrow
money from family members.
Jordan revealed: “I had to borrow
money from my granddad.”
His second and third years have
less. Jordan commented: “It’s in late
every year’. Hence, for poor Jordan
it is a situation he is familiar with.
The problem seems to be the complicated
online application process,
where there are sections for parents
mented: “The complex process has
been particularly hard for my parents
because they are not computer
literate.” A pressing concern is that
with the onset of individual universities
being given the freedom to
decide on tuition fees, the system is
going to become even more complicated.
The other main problem is the lack
of communication with regards to
customer support. Jordan gave a
damning assessment of Student Finance
arguing: “There’s no interaction
with people if you need to ask
them questions”.
In 2009, BBC News reported 50,
000 people would start university
higher education without the loans
they expected. The organisation,
Student Finance UK, blame the
sharp 16.7 per cent rise in university
loan applications, which culminated
in 120,000 new applications in a period
of just four weeks.
It is clear that Jordan is not alone in
having problems with the reliability
of student loans. However, such a
story highlights that this issue requires
urgent attention to prevent
similar recurring problems in the
future.
On yer bike: graduates ride to success with WhipBikes
Joshua Shrimpton Dean
Deputy Editor
Flat tyres, broken chains and dubi-
the past this winter, as a pioneering
pay-as-you-ride bike scheme begins
to paint the campus green.
Civil engineering graduates Rob
Grisdale, 23, and Jack Payne, 24
have answered the perennial problem
of student bike ownership with
the introduction of 150 cycles at various
‘docking stations’ around the
grounds of Newcastle University.
Launched during Freshers’ Week,
WhipBikes offers a hassle-free alternative
to the perils of buying, maintaining
and storing your own bike.
Registered users are invited to send
a text message containing their chosen
bike’s unique ID number, which
is then followed by an immediate
reply containing an unlock code.
At around 50p per ride, the scheme
allows students to collect a distinctive
green and black bike from locations
across campus or halls of
residence and return it to a different
docking station once they have completed
their journey.
Speaking to The Courier, one half
of WhipBikes’ entrepreneurial duo,
Jack Payne, told of his plans to roll
the scheme out to more locations
across Newcastle.
He said: “We’re working with the
council to get racks out in Jesmond,
Heaton and Sandyford. So hopefully,
very soon, we should be able to
offer a service to most of the student
population.”
Payne revealed his surprise at
the council’s warm reception to his
scheme with a refreshing lack of
red tape: “They [the council] actually
came to us because they heard
about our work through one of our
awards, so we’ve been working with
them for a few months now. They’re
interested because it’s a green transport
scheme for the city itself. There
are so many students in Newcastle
who have cars, so it might take a few
off the roads.”
Awards have been coming in thick
and fast. Even before launching,
Payne and Grisdale have notchedup
prestigious recognition and
funding from initiatives including
Shell Livewire, Santander Business
Incubation and Enterprise Challenge.
The pair’s idea was the result of a
module in which they were required
to produce a business plan. Realising
they were on to something, the
proposal was quickly turned into
reality.
Payne said: “We came up with
the business plan, won the award
for it and then found we were being
given money by people who know
about business.
“There are not many jobs out there
and civil engineering has been pretty
hard-hit; a lot of our peers graduated
with a good degree, but have
ended up just doing part-time jobs
around Newcastle.
“We thought we would just give
our idea a go.
“We can probably do it without
any major bank loans, and if it works
it could be a really big thing. A year
later, here we are.”
Much of WhipBikes’ likely success
rides upon the selling of advertising
space on ‘mini billboards’ which
cover the back wheels of the bikes.
“The beauty of the scheme is that,
because we are providing this green
transport scheme for the university,
they are basically giving us the
golden ticket to advertise, which
you’re not normally allowed to do
on campus. So far we have interest
from graduate recruiters, letting
agents and insurance companies. So
many people want to get to the students
and these things follow them”
said Payne.
Healthy organic growth has given
Payne and Grisdale reason to be
Wheeler Dealer: Rob Grisdale, one half of WhipBikes entrepreneurial duo, models one of the pay as you ride bikes seen around campus
“We see Newcastle as the pilot
scheme. If it works at Newcastle
University, then why not elsewhere?
We have thought of other places,
such as Sunderland, Northumbria
and Newcastle College.
“But if we want to expand to other
universities we’ll need more investment.
Hopefully we can grow in the
coming years.”
Further information, including details
of how to register, can be found at http://
www.whipbikes.com

4 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
News
A mother’s plea:
Be careful, don’t
think it won’t
happen to you
Simon Hales’ mother has issued an emotional appeal to
students to take care on nights out after her son’s near
fatal injury. News Editor Simon Murphy reports
Abrain damaged student’s
mother has issued
a stark warning to
undergraduates about
the dangers of binge
drinking. Simon Hales suffered permanent
brain damage after falling
20ft while trying to sneak into a club
after being thrown out last October.
Jane Hales has pleaded with students
to be cautious on nights out.
She said: “Don’t think that you’re
invincible.
“Be careful, think sensibly – don’t
think that it won’t happen to you
when you’re a university student.”
The second-year Agricultural stu-
following the accident and spent a
further two months in a brain injury
unit.
“He wasn’t a baddy, he was just on
an ordinary night out with the Agrics
and he’d obviously had a few
drinks,” Jane said.
She added: “The thing is – I’ve got
two other boys – all of them just
think it won’t happen to them but
Simon was just an ordinary guy.
“It’s young men doing stupid
things like Simon was. The girls
don’t do it.
“Simon’s friend Hattie, on the
night of the accident, said to Simon
on the phone ‘Just come home, just
leave it and come home’.
“But did he? No. Girls are far more
sensible.”
According to Headway, a brain
injury charity, men are two to three
times more likely to have a traumatic
brain injury than women.
likely in the 15-29 age range.
Dr Chris Record, a leading liver
specialist, lecturer and consultant at
Newcastle Freeman Hospital, said:
“The harm that people come to from
acute intoxication is from other factors
– it’s from accidents and from
inhalation of vomit.
“The commonest cause of death in
young people, students for instance,
is alcohol.
“They drink too much, they’re sick
and they inhale vomit and that suffocates
them, or they go and fall under
a bus or like this fellow Simon
Hales they fall from a great height,
and they kill themselves.”
Warning: Jane Hales wants students
to be cautious and think sensibly
Friends and family rallied around
Simon while he was in a coma
Sarah Fearns, the Union’s Welfare
importance of responsible drinking.
“In no way do we expect students
not to drink at all, but we encourage
them to be as careful as possible
when they choose to.
“Whilst this case is tragic, I certainly
hope that our students will heed
its warning and make sure that they
are enjoying alcohol responsibly
without putting themselves at risk.”
More than two million people
tuned in to watch the documentary
My New Brain which chronicled Simon’s
story in August.
Camera crews followed the 21-
year-old as he woke from his coma
and had to learn to swallow, talk
and walk again.
While Simon was in a coma, friends
and family rallied round to show
their support, creating a Facebook
group called ‘Wake up Simon’.
Jane praised the strong response
received from the student community.
She said: “The Agrics have been
really good – they’ve been fantastic.
“They all had a party for him when
he came back to Newcastle – that
was really good. Several of them call
in to see him on their way back for
the holidays.
“I think the whole Facebook thing
is brilliant because he can stay in
touch with people.”
One particular challenge for Jane
and her two other sons, George, 17,
and Tim, 19, was dealing with Simon’s
personality change since the
accident.
“It was like the Simon we knew
had gone and we didn’t know how
much of him we would get back,”
Jane said.
“He’s doing all right but he’s still
really struggling with his temper.
It’s really out of character compared
to what Simon used to be,” she added.
Simon is currently sharing a house
with four other young men under
the supervision of a warden.
He returns home every weekend
and occasionally does shifts as a
waiter at the Barnsdale Lodge Hotel
– where Jane also works – near his
home in Leicestershire.
His recovery is ongoing but it is
Above: Simon Hales, 21, and his mother Jane. Below left: Simon with brothers
accident last October. Far right: Dr Chris Record said the commonest cause
unlikely he will ever return to his
studies at Newcastle.
However, Simon may be touring
different universities to talk to students
about his story and give advice
next year.
In April, Jane and three colleagues
will be trekking along the Great
Wall of China to raise money for
Headway – the brain injury charity.
They are hoping to raise £15,000
for the charity.
If you would like to make a
donation please visit: http://
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/
BarnsdaleLodge
Dr Chris Record is calling
for a ban on supermarkets
selling cut-price
alcohol.
The senior Newcastle
University lecturer and liver specialist
believes cheap booze is fuelling
a wave of binge drinking across
campus.
He also branded student bar crawls
“absolutely irresponsible”.
He said: “They promote this attitude
of alcohol excess.
“Alcohol is not an ordinary product.
If you buy too much alcohol it’s
a dangerous product – it’s a drug

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 5
News
George, 17, and Tim, 19. Below right: the family has had to overcome Simon’s huge personality change since the
of death amongst young people is alcohol; he is also campaigning for a ban on cut-price booze in supermarkets
and it shouldn’t be possible to promote
it in the way it is at the moment.”
Dr Record has campaigned tirelessly
for the introduction of a minimum
price of 50 pence per unit for
alcohol sold in supermarkets and off
licences.
“All the supermarkets are selling
alcohol at knocked-down prices,”
he said.
“What they’re doing is charging
more for everything else we buy in
supermarkets – fruit and vegetables,
tial
products.
“They’re charging more for those
products to subsidise alcohol.”
He added: “Society condones alcohol
intoxication, they think it’s fun
– everyone does it and it happens
from time to time.
“Society is very permissive towards
alcohol and alcohol excess
– and that’s what we’ve got to
change.
“Now people don’t condone tobacco.
You go back 40 years and 70
per cent of the population smoked
– you couldn’t go anywhere without
people smoking.
“What we’ve got to do is the same
with alcohol. We’ve got to get a
change in public behaviour so that
society no longer condones alcohol
abuse.”
Dr Record also wants greater
awareness across campus concerning
the dangers of drinking in excess.
He wants posters with information
about the effects of binge drinking
displayed in public areas around
the University.
Last week, an inquest revealed
two Leeds University students
died within days of each other after
drunken nights out.
Alcohol: like the saint
and sinner sitting on
either shoulder
Luke Callow
Commentary
Alcohol is much like the
saint and sinner sitting
on either shoulder.
Generally, you’ll
sip from the angelic,
low-percentage yet intoxicating
substance and have a merry
good time. Occasionally though,
you’ll glug paint stripper from the
devil’s cauldron then die in the
bottom of it. The trouble is, after
increasingly vulnerable to the
boozed up gremlin on your other
shoulder, who after a few pints
looks quite attractive.
Then things start to get a bit
Lionel (Messi, for the non football
fans); and this is supposedly the
culture we live in today, a culture
of control and crash landed as a
scar on the memory of our ancestors
who, to quote, “did things
differently in their day”.
I think it’s fair to say that people
can get a bit carried away on a
night out, but to label an entire
generation as teenage alcoholics
may be pushing it. We have only
just recovered from accepting
the ‘Most Teenage Pregnancies’
award.
However, a noticeable percentage
have highlighted the worrying issue
that some people are drinking
just to get drunk. This mentality to
be owner of the strongest liver can
be dangerous and rarely leads to
anything good.
All the stats you’ll read will say
how the number of units consumed
and the frequency with
which they’re consumed have all
increased. I don’t understand how
they form these stats and wouldn’t
trust any conclusions formed from
questionnaires.
Nevertheless, one statistic which
I imagine is correct is that males
are involved in more drink related
accidents than girls. As a gender,
we are more reckless, aggressive
and competitive; it’s the reason for
our higher rates of car insurance
and a second point to the ladies
helps explain our drunken antics.
Drink is a useful social tool
and using it to loosen the tongue
and relax goes beyond national
“Something has to
change before it just
becomes a rite of
passage for every teen”
boundaries. There are obviously
healthier ways to socialise; but
the most pressing issue is the
mentality towards drinking. Once
people realise it’s not worth the
3am spewing it should calm, but
something has to change before it
just becomes a rite of passage for
every teen.
Then, drink won’t just be seen
as the cause and solution to all our
problems, or the most expensive
headache ever.
Right, I’m off out.
Police warn students
to beware after attacks
Rosie Libell
Police are urging students to be
more vigilant, following a spate of
attacks on young people.
A 21-year-old woman was robbed
in Jesmond on October 15 at around
1am. The victim was approached by
a man asking for cash at the junction
of Holly Avenue and Osborne
Road.
After the woman had shown him
there was nothing inside her purse,
he took the purse from her when a
second man joined them.
The victim’s handbag was grabbed
by one of the two men and during
the struggle she fell into a wooden
fence post which caused a minor facial
injury.
Both men ran off with a small
amount of cash after discarding the
purse and handbag in a nearby garden.
Detective Constable Jason Hazell,
Jesmond and Heaton CID, said:
“This was a distressing experience
for the young woman involved and
we’re doing all we can to trace these
two offenders.”
On October 16, a 21-year-old man
Eazy Street, a bar on Clayton Street
West.
A man, aged around 40 with balding
hair and some teeth missing, approached
the victim. The victim suffered
several cuts to his face, which
are believed to have been caused by
a pint glass, and was taken to Newcastle
General Hospital for treatment.
Detective Constable Billy Johnson,
from Newcastle CID, said: “We are
currently piecing together exactly
what happened during this assault
and enquiries are underway to locate
the offender.”
An assault also occurred inside
OHSO club in Bigg Market last
month.
A 21-year-old man was assaulted
with broken glass and suffered
wounds to the eye and facial area
and was taken to the Royal Victoria
A spokeswoman for Northumbria
Police said: “Newcastle is a great
place to live and study.
“It’s also one of the safest cities but
crime does happen.”
Sarah Fearns, Welfare and Equal-
sity
Students’ Union, said: “We are
lucky enough to live and study in
one of the safest cities in the UK.
“Whilst stories such as these should
not scare students, they should certainly
make them think about their
own safety more carefully.”

6 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
News
Enough is enough: institute paves way for greener living
Tarren Smarr
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The
world has enough for everybody’s
need but not for everybody’s
greed.” This quote could almost
be prophetic in light of the depletion
of natural resources and the
increase in human demand.
In the attempt to combat this increasingly
important problem,
Newcastle University is once again
leading the way.
The Newcastle Institute for Research
on Sustainability (NIReS)
brings together the leading experts
lutions to global problems.
The institute is driven by people
who want to make an impact on the
environment. The research and development
work undertaken by the
institute will have a lasting effect
on the North East of England.
The main focus of the institute
includes addressing important key
National charity Diabetes UK
has awarded a grant to Newcastle
University researchers for a
groundbreaking study into the development
of foetuses in diabetes
patients. The new research will
analyse information gathered from
pregnant women with diabetes in
the North East, in order to identify
the best practices for preventing
complications in the womb.
issues such as energy needs and
consumption, water management,
food security, and overall protection
of the environment.
Professor Paul Younger, Director
of the NIReS, agrees that one of the
best ways to tackle these worldwide
problems is to do so head on.
“This is about coming up with solutions
before it’s too late.” The institute
has also adopted the slogan
“Enough, for all, forever”.
Research to be undertaken includes
developing biofuels to generate
both heat and electricity, as
well as developing and maintaining
sustainable farming techniques
that could not only ensure that
there will be enough food for the
growing world population, but also
in doing so reduce our reliance on
pesticides and other food related
chemicals.
One major role of the organisation
is to help re-engineer Newcastle
and Gateshead as examples of how
sustainable techniques can work
Although problems associated
with diabetes are well-known,
there is an additional risk to the
foetuses of diabetes patients, which
fer from birth defects such as split
spine, where the spine and nervous
system fail to develop correctly,
and heart and kidney defects. Such
anomalies can lead to lifelong disability
or death of the infant.
Dr Ruth Bell, a senior lecturer at
trial cities.
“Sustainability is now absolutely
crucial,” comments Younger, “We
have to get into the habit of reducing,
reusing, and recycling.”
Leaders of the institute have
pointed out that humans have
used resources under the assumption
that they will never become
depleted. However, now it is time
to think of the generations that will
come after ours and consider what
can be left behind for them.
Younger mentioned: “The pursuit
of a ‘knowledge economy’ is much
talked about in academia and government.
“We want to go a step further,
pursuing a ‘wisdom economy’ in
which knowledge is tempered by a
principled commitment to ensuring
that all beings - human and non-
resources in perpetuity.”
Newcastle researchers given grant to investigate diabetes breakthrough
Elliot Bentley
Newcastle University and the leader
of the research team, told The
Courier: “It’s important that current
research is compiled and used to
help further our knowledge in this
able to help inform future intervention
studies aimed at improving the
outcomes of pregnancy for women
with diabetes.”
She claimed Newcastle University
was well placed to carry out the
Propelling ahead: pioneering team will solve global sustainability problems
research, due to unique registers
only carried out in the North East
in which all pregnancies in women
with diabetes are recorded.
The director of research of Diabetes
UK, Dr Iain Frame said: “With
one in 250 pregnancies occurring
in women with diabetes, it is the
most common pre-existing condition
cared for during pregnancy.
Therefore vital research is required
to ensure these women are provided
with the best care and support
they need.
“Many of the risks women and
their babies face can be reduced if
they receive the appropriate preconception
care and are supported
to achieve good blood glucose control
during their pregnancy. This is
why Dr Bell’s work at Newcastle
University could have such a positive
impact.”

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 7
University responds as Osborne
wields his axe over higher education
Rose Akehurst
Bethany Sissons
Commentary
The cuts to higher education
funding might not
affect me directly as a
third year student, but I
believe that other young
people should be able to have
the same experience at Newcastle
University as me.
The fact that the government
thinks it acceptable to cut higher
education funding to the point
where future undergraduates will
have to pay approximately £6000
a year in tuition fees is absolutely
ludicrous.
I am already worrying about
the debt I’ve found myself in by
coming to uni, but the thought
of future students having to pay
back twice this amount is frightening.
At the moment we have access
Following Lord Browne’s spending
review this week, an email leaked
to the BBC News website suggests
universities in England face funding
cuts of £4.2bn in the coming
spending review; this is almost four
times the cuts universities had been
expected to make by the previous
government.
Universities UK head Professor
Steve Smith wrote to vice-chancellors,
saying this week’s Browne Re-
out worst fears”, signalling a £3.2bn
or 79 per cent cut from teaching,
and £1bn from research in next
week’s Spending Review.
So, what does this mean for New-
tle
University will continue to give
students the best possible experience
of higher education, whatever
actions the Government decides to
implement from the Browne Review”.
A main concern for students following
these impending cuts will
be the introduction of unlimited
and uncapped tuition fees in universities’
attempts to make up for a
loss of state funding.
President of the NUS Aaron Por-
coalition government this week
is to strip away all public support
for arts, humanities and social science
provision in universities and
to pass on the costs directly to student’s
bank accounts”.
When asked to comment on this
statement, Mary Taylor, an English
student at Newcastle agreed it was
an unfortunate situation but also
sort of seem logical to charge those
tion,
i.e. the student, rather than say
the tax payer”. This increase in fees
will inevitably drive increases in
student expectations for what they
are paying for. Mary also admitted
that if she were to pay higher fees
to all kinds of student services,
careers advice and good quality
learning resources. With funding
cuts the university will simply
not be able to provide these.
Prospective students will either
be crippled by the debts accumulated
from attending university,
or they won’t even bother applying.
Where does this leave the
future generation of adults?
The £4.2 billion cut will mean
that 79 per cent of funding for
teaching will be axed in 2012. The
BBC reports that universities will
only get £700m of funding when
the cuts are introduced.
It’s the students who are going
to have to bail out the universities
and make up for the lack of
government funding.
Emily Robson, a third year History
student, told The Courier: “I
only have four hours of seminars
at the moment so I’m already
of resources provided by the university,
for instance help paying for
books”.
However, Ella Ritchie, Pro-Vice-
Chancellor for Training and Learning
at Newcastle University, said
in the annual government grants to
universities and we must not therefore
assume that increased fees will
drive an overall increase in our
available resources.” She hastens
the University is committed to investing
in excellent teaching and
learning facilities, and this policy
will continue. We are determined
to remain at the forefront of higher
education and maintain our position
as one of the most popular universities
in the UK.”
Newcastle University’s Executive
Director of Finance, Richard
Dale told The Courier
make any decisions until we have
had chance to assess the Comprehensive
Spending Review as well
as the Browne Review.” Following
up his comments on the initial
expect any change to that position”,
in response to one of the concerns
voiced by the UCU lecturers’ union
on the possibility of university closures
due to the cuts.
not going to rush into any quick decisions.
We need to time to fully understand
such a momentous change
to the shape of higher education in
this country and its impact on student
experience.
with all our stakeholders including
the Students’ Union and our staff as
their views will be very important
for us.”
government could not comment,
not wishing to add to speculation
at this early stage.
The coalition should be investing in a future generation of graduates,
not lowering the glass ceiling to exclude those who can’t pay
paying a huge amount for each
hour of my contact time. We’ll be
paying more for our education
and receiving the same quality of
teaching.
“I can’t believe that the government
expects young people in the
future to pay double the amount
for such a small amount of time
with a lecturer.”
With the cuts, it’s our student
services that will go before anything
else. The Union Society is a
huge asset to the student experience
at Newcastle and without
it my time at university would
Where would all the societies get
their funding and support from?
Any extra curricular opportunities
would be taken away from us
and isn’t this what employers are
looking for in graduates?
Without the Union and Athletic
Union students will lose the ability
to develop into employable
adults.
I truly believe that the government
should be investing in the
opportunities of future generations,
not taking them away.
Excluding people who cannot
afford to fork out thousands of
pounds for a degree is unfair. Admissions
to university should not
be admitted on their academic
abilities.
University is supposed to provide
the best learning and extra
curricular activities to students
in order for them to succeed in a
growingly competitive employment
sector.
How does the government
expect our economy to improve
if the country’s debt is simply
pushed onto student bank accounts?
Our overdrafts certainly
can’t cope.
News
Education:
not for sale
Fran Infante
Editor
and education is not for sale” Vice
Chancellor Chris Brinks unequivicaly
told The Courier
interview since the release of the
Browne Review 10 days ago.
When asked how the changes to
higher education funding would
affect Newcastle students he said:
should be seen in the context of a
clear line that we have already taken
about the kind of university that
we are and the kind of values that
-
business then your arguments are
based on a bottom line and that is
expressed in terms of pounds and
that is not what the idea of a good
university is about.
language of investment rather than
debt. The choice every university
will have to face is what kind of
experience they are going to offer
for what kind of fee level and the
choice of each individual student is
what kind of investment does that
student want to make. ”
When asked about the potentially
damaging effect that the rise in interest
rates would have on the actual
amount repaid by students over
their working lives, Brinks was
in other places, you repay loans at
what bears a market rate comparison”
he said.
Despite the outcry from the student
population the Vice Chancel-
of the Browne Review proposals
students, this is not about what will
happen to you as a student at the
moment or even next year – this is
a societal concern, what happens to
came out of an environment where
it was pretty much an unregulated
system with no caps and no quotas,
so universities could recruit according
to their own strategic plans and
they could charge whatever they
like. My experience is that it does
shake out by itself.
The future for post graduate students
is more uncertain. The Vice
Chancellor described the lack of
recommendations on what should
hole in the Browne Review” and
as such it will be months before the
outcomes of the Comprehensive
to a level at which decisions as to
the funding options available to
universities become clear.
When asked what he would say
to students concerned about the futures
of their younger siblings who
could be affected by the fees, he
the notion of debt, this isn’t debt in
the sense that it will stand against
your name even if you don’t have
the Browne Review has been quite
clever in the mechanisms that it
proposes.”
He was quick to reassure students
that no changes will be made in
more time and to do things right”
-
think it is important to keep in mind
our commitment to widening participation
and our commitment to
students getting a formative educational
experience, not just acquiring
skills but also acquiring and understanding
your role as a citizen and
the role of the university in society.
That is what we will be putting for-

8 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
News
Controversial student ‘ghetto’
construction gathers pace
Miranda Dobson
scheme will transform a site adjacent
ing in Jesmond and Heaton.
Despite an initial backlash from
students and Labour councillors in
suite student bedrooms, spread
across three buildings and will rise
feet will be dedicated to a retail area
ber.
ing, told The Courier
lessened since the original proposal
site for.
The scheme is also a concern to
ing business to the purpose built
blocks. Phil Cannon, Manager of
tial areas such as Jesmond, and into
will demonstrate their preferences
Professor: cuts will
damage the region
Olivia-Marie Viveiros
a report on the nationalisation of
Northern Rock, has warned its
demned the cuts.
ing plan was put in place which led
said.
impact as Northern Rock had on the
North East.
bode well for the future of a region
economic times.
liquidation.
Thousands of shareholders, staff
and customers were rescued from a
cal posts is threatened.
blow to Northern Rock staff who
Newcastle Work Experience
(NWE)
NWE offers project based work
placements in local companies.
Placements are for 100 hours to be
period, and students are paid
and check the ‘Newcastle Work
opportunites.
Job Title
ence – Media Coordinator
Employer
ing
Closing date
Salary
Basic job description
promotional materials to promote
Person requirements
editing and Powerpoint.
Location: Newcastle
Job Title:
Employer: Gedanken
Closing date:
Salary:
Basic job description:
Person requirements: Marketing
and internet marketing knowledge.
Location: Sunderland
Job Title:
ence – Marketing Coordinator
Employer:
Closing date:
Salary:
Basic job description:
a marketing brochure.
Person requirements: An academic
ing, communication or design is
preferable.
Location:
Part-time:
Job Title: Census Collectors
Employer: Census
Salary:
Basic job description: Census
Collectors are required to contact
householders to follow up on the
questionnaires.
Location: UK Wide
Job Title:
sadors
Employer: Retail Marketing Group
Business:
tion
Closing date: Ongoing
Salary:
Basic job description:
promote and demonstrate market
leading brands for their clients
tion sector.
Person requirements: Successful
applicants must be well presented,
Location:
Job Title:
Dining
Employer:
Business: Market Research
Closing date:
Salary:
Basic job description:
engage with staff, make a purchase
and complete a questionnaire
afterwards.
Person requirements: Sharp
reports.
Location: Newcastle
Job Title: Note Taker
Employer: Clear Links Support
Business: Specialist Academic
Support
Closing date: Ongoing
Salary: £10 per hour
Basic job description: A reliable
to produce an accurate, full and
legible record of the content of
lectures, seminars etc
Person Requirements: Applicants
Location:
Campus
Job Title:
Employer:
Business:
Closing date:
Salary:
Basic job description:
CSS.
Person Requirements:
Photoshop
Location: Gateshead
Job Title: Street Reporters
Employer
Closing date
Salary
Basic job description: The work
cameras before and after football
matches or music gigs.
Location: Newcastle
Edinburgh
student scoops
top poker prize
Charlotte Loftus
Proof Editor
come the highest earning Scottish
the London round of the European
The Student
York criticised
over accommoda-
dergraduate accommodation. The
This could total an additional
charge of around £1600 for those
Anti-toxic alternative
discovered
nents can be found in items such as
sound equipment.
tential to perform the same function
as its lead counterpart.
Cambridge cow
dies
One of the three cows which belong
onset of an infection caused the calf
to be stillborn and the death of the
mother.
One student at the college told
Cambridge student newspaper Varsity
Birmingham student
cashes in on
apps
app for the iPhone, making himself
thousands of pounds in sales. Greg
their iPhone with their computer
connection cable. Since launching in
success had affected him, he told
Redbrick:

Charlie Oven News Editor
radical set of recommendations was
published last week.
spokesperson for the group said:
“Increasing and varying the contribution
made by graduates is the
wha they give back.”
help a leviate panic spreading in the
from 2012.
by more than 40 students.
£6000 a year would lose a portion of
their fees to the government. she said.
should be used to enrich society.”
adopt Lord Browne’s recommenda-
stricted in their pricing structures.
not wish to speculate at this very
early stage. ’
Continued on page 4 and 5
The potential cost of tuition fees for a
single year of study at the University
Inside today >>>
The Newcastle graduate who is
running a presidential campaign to
govern his native Sie ra Leone.
Discipline and regulations are a
corner stone of a civilised society, but
how do we know when the powers
of control have gone too far?
Wan to explore the area but are limited Sir Alan Sugar’s sidekick Nick Hewer Fresh from their election at last week’s
by time and money? No problem. speaks to The Courier about a l things AGM Kat Bannon introduces your new
Jessica Gibson explores a trip to the Apprentice and how he wi l cope AU Executive Commi tee and hears
beach that anyone can enjoy this week. without co league Margaret Mountford abou their goals for the year ahead
Lif & Style page 18
Culture, page 34
Sport, page 37
THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 9
Comment Editors: Laura Heads and Danny Kielty- courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk
Merkel misses the point on multiculturalism
George Sandeman
Water and oil don't mix – they are
immiscible. It wasn't quite Enoch
Powell's 'Rivers of Blood', but German
Chancellor Angela Merkel certainly
hooked the sound-bite she
was angling for. She described multiculturalism,
or 'multikulti' in Germany,
as having “utterly failed.”
These words have been played
throughout the German media as
Merkel looks to retaliate against
claims that she isn't conservative
enough for her Christian Democratic
Union party, as they prepare
for elections in early 2011. There has
been heated debate within Germany
recently as to how successful, or unsuccessful,
the integration of immigrants
has been. It was sparked by
the resignation of Thilo Sarrazin, a
he made that, “no immigrant group
other than Muslims is so strongly
connected with claims on the welfare
state and crime.”
However, Sarrazin may have overlooked
some valuable contributions
to his national football team with
such a broad statement. Fulcrum
players such as the mercurial Mesut
Özil and the industrious Sami Khadeira
are all of Muslim lineage, with
the former well known to recite
verses from the Qur'an before he
goes on to the pitch. Without wanting
to descend into pub talk; I have
a hard time believing the Germans
would have been so successful at the
You, The Courier
Tarren Smarr, postgraduate
Sociology
student reviews the
last edition
T
he last edition of The
Courier provided readers
with just what they
would expect from the
University.
News hits it right on the nose
providing a look at national outcry
from the threat of a fees hike, as
well as cleverly including the University’s
steady climb up the world
league table. The bits and pieces
on student life and the feature on
the aspiring Sierra Leone president
highlight a multitude of student
achievements.
issue approach with debates over
alcohol and a look into student accommodation.
No worries friends,
it you haven’t had enough of these
debates yet, more will come.
Continuing the path of the introduction
to university life, the Life
and Style section offers students
World Cup in South Africa without
the presence of immigrants, including
those of Polish ancestry Klose
and Podolski.
Merkel has taken a cheap shot at
the immigrant community. Despite
the fact she later adjusts her tone,
and goes on to talk about how important
and welcome immigrants
are in Germany, it doesn't detract
from the fact that she publicly
bashed the most down-trodden in
her country for the sake of a rather
unimaginative politically motivated
one-liner.
As for Sarrazin, history all over
the world shows immigrant populations
to be the poorest in society;
Fashion attempts to keep students
up to date with all of the “in” clothing
that’s all the rage. It is a shame
that people don’t take notice and
still wear tights as leggings.
Sports is well, sports. Intra Mural
and BUCS covered the section this
week with a few bits and bobs about
(gasp) sports other than football!
The change in the pages is a nice addition
to the usual.
Best bit has to be the middle section.
A week full of activities and
fun ways to get involved with uni-
Annie Mac
Campus
outcry as
fees report
published
Issue 1214 Monday October 18 2010 www.thecourieronline.co.uk FREE
Newcastle students have reacted
with fury against the prospect of a
link between what a student gains
from a university education and
Lord Browne’s review of higher In response to the independent
education funding ca ls for the cur-
report an open talk was hosted by
rent £3290 cap on tuition fees to be
abolished; meaning a l new undergraduate
students at Newcastle
could face unlimited tuition fees
wi l be a tapered levy designed to ist with Newcastle Free Education
discourage universities charging
more than £6000 annually. Universities
that do charge more than students even further into debt.
review. “The proposals wi l push
Ed-
The university has refused to clarify
its position on the review. Profes-
for Teaching and Learning at Newcastle
told The Courier: ‘‘We can’t yet
make any decisions on tuition fees
on the Browne review and would
The Russe l Group – of which the
university is a member – has open-
Presidential candidate
OURIER
Third year History and Politics
While it is understood the coalition
government is not bound to
towards a free market in higher
Big Brother is watching . Ten minute travel
Nick Hewer reveals a l
View from the AU
from Hispanics in the USA to the
swathes of Indonesians, Thai and
Vietnamese working in the UAE.
They go to the worst schools, live
in the most crime-ridden areas and
have the least access to quality public
services. So, the fact that Muslims
have a disproportionate connection
to crime and welfare handouts, as
may be the case in Germany, is not
but rather of their poor circumstances
- circumstances yet to be
adequately alleviated by the German
government. As Merkel points
out, Germany since the 1960s has
lackadaisically welcomed immigrants
for their labour, regardless
the government’s public spending
cuts, Greater Manchester Police,
spent 24 hours “tweeting” every
incident it dealt with last week. The
realities faced when policing one of
England’s biggest cities was thus
disclosed to the public. Was this
a waste of precious police time, or
will the government take into account
the GMP’s public exposé of
Manchester’s police demand and reconsider
their Spending Review?
Within the brief 24 hours, GMP
updated its Twitter page 3205 times,
giving the public an accurate account
of the considerable workload
Manchester. Furthermore the GMP
3000 followers to more than 14,000!
Accordingly, the message projected
Will higher tuition
fees deter new
students?
> Page 10
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has controversially made the claim that multiculturalism in German society has “utterly failed.”
Exclusive interview
£6,000
THE
Dark times ahead: Newcastle students
protest cuts at Tory conference
of their ability to speak German, so
how can they be surprised that the
proceeding decades have led to selfsegregation
and ghetto-esque communities?
Self-segregation itself isn't anything
new. It's why places like 'Chinatown'
exist in a great many European
cities and why you have 'black'
and 'white' neighbourhoods in middle
class America. The pattern is a
case of surrounding yourself with
people you know or like and, as an
immigrant, you're probably more
your own country rather than with
the people whose country you're
in. Of course, this doesn't stop you
by the police was heard loud and
clear, but was it enough to make a
difference to the government’s proposed
budget cuts?
What this social experiment revealed
was how much time the police
had to spend dealing with social
problems. It turns out the enforcers
of the law are social workers too. The
bulk of calls received and reported
on Twitter were of mundane incidents,
for example: someone rang
to complain that his builders had
turned up two months late; a person
rang up about their television not
working, a woman had just missed
her last bus home, and a woman
called about a car she abandoned at
tank with the wrong fuel.
Of course there was also a stream
of incidents reporting crime scenes
and disputes - calls much more relevant
to the police service. Nevertheless
the public was shown the alternative
side to policing and it was
made plain: less crime doesn’t mean
less work. It is unbelievable how
Manchester’s community are so reliant
upon on their local police of-
from integrating, but it explains
why such communities have grown
up all over the world.
In particular, the Turkish community
has been the source of much ire,
so much so, that Turkish PM Recep
Tayyip Erdogan visited Berlin just
a few weeks ago where he joined
Merkel in pledging to improve integration.
German President Christian
Wulff, a largely ceremonial role,
states Islam is a “part of Germany”,
as much as the more commonly
practised Christianity and Judaism.
In the wake of Merkel's speech he
said that he was “against any blanket
judgement.”
Thilo Sarrazin isn't exactly scared
of courting controversy and in his
new book – Deutschland schafft sich
ab (Germany is doing away with itself)
– he talks of how Germany is
becoming more stupid because of its
poorly educated immigrants. “The
failure of integration in Germany
is due to the attitude of the Muslim
immigrants,” he writes.
The failure of integration in Germany
is not solely the fault of its
new arrivals, but the lack of a coherent
policy to help involve them
in German life when they got there.
The state is there to provide a safety
net to society's most vulnerable and
if they need to be taught German
then the state should teach them
German. It's not easy or cheap but
far better than proclaiming that
your people and my people cannot
“live side-by-side” and that “we
kidded ourselves for a while.” A
20th Century Argentinean revolu-
of nations” and I believe the same is
true of race.
Bobbies tweet on the beat
Georgie Cossins
necessarily come under their job
title, and it was important to make
the public aware of this.
The saddest part of this story is
how in these tough economical
times, our public sector now feels it
has to prove its worth to the public
eye. In an interview, Chief Constable
Peter Fahy stressed the importance
for politicians to be made
aware of the kinds of incidents the
police service has to handle. Much
of police time and money is spent on
incidents “not recognised in league
tables and measurements”, and consequently
are not considered for the
Spending Review.
It seems unfair how the government
make cuts on services unfairly
weighed, and it does cause one to
wonder how other cuts in our system
have been surveyed as well.
Nonetheless the question remains:
will this social experiment carried
out by Great Manchester Police succeed
in its intentions? Only time will
tell.

10 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Comment
Gap year students should get real on the value of travelling
Stephanie Ferrao
The travelling student has long
the eruption of mass-tourism, students
in the Sixties and Seventies
enjoyed the golden-age of the gapyear,
when travelling was a chance
to experience other cultures and
broaden one’s mind. These days,
many students utilise it as a tactical
adventure. With university spaces
slashed, more people are taking gap
years - which are often embarked
upon with neither planning nor real
purpose beyond getting smashed
and posting the evidence on the internet.
Taking as many memory cards as
changes of clothes, many students
are taking photos of themselves
rather than the surroundings, thinking
about how they’d look on Facebook
and what their friends will say
when they see them. Rather than
a few funny candids, Facebook is
indistinguishable photos. I have to
admit I’ve yet to come across someone
with the desire or attention-
albums of India snaps. The rise of
the Smartphone has only added to
this, allowing for unlimited broadcasting
of smugness from anywhere
in the world, at any time. Travelrelated
Facebook statuses remain
a mystery to me. Fretting parents
aside, they are of no use to anyone
else, stir up envy rather than admiration
and practically speaking,
preciate the “AMAZING views”
from Table Mountain when you’re
stuck at home.
The neo-colonialist tourism on
South East Asia’s Banana Pancake
trails is another example of latent
student self-indulgence. The onceremote
Koh Phangan was, like other
islands, a destination for students to
travel to in Thailand to experience
a completely different culture and
way of living. Now infamous for its
alcohol-fuelled Full Moon parties,
the surrounding area is congested
with internet cafés where hungover
students can instantly upload pictures
of themselves and their fellow
glow-paint-smeared Brits vomiting
and passing out all over the island’s
beaches. Well-mannered, bright students
from the UK travel abroad to
take pictures, tweet and Facebook
message about the beauty of a coun-
donism and return with the assumed
smugness of being “well-travelled”.
Oxford graduate Matt Lacey made
the case for this in his viral YouTube
“Gap Yah” video, developed as a
“satire on the great number of people
who seem to be leaving these
shores to vomit all over the developing
world”. That his character Orlando
spends the entire clip boasting
on the phone about said gap
year illustrates the prevailing opinion
among students that travel is an
achievement in its own right. For
me, it’s something that should be
treated as a reward, particularly if it
was hard-earned. Without wanting
to moralise, it is apparent that the
tradition of gap years have lost their
focus, thanks to the dawning age of
social network narcissism. Perhaps
as the generation who grew up with
the Internet, the urge to broadcast
everything you’ve ever done is a
subconscious one. However, for
those who are more often the recipients
than purveyors, having your
smug Facebook statuses is hardly
an incentive to keep in touch. While
simply irritating for fellow students,
gap years are now being scrutinised
in the world of employment.
Careers advice websites are encouraging
students to call their gap
years “bridging years” to distinguish
those who use their year as a
productive break from study from
those who travel without purpose
or cultural interest. If employers are
now picking up on these distinctions,
perhaps self-absorbed student
travellers should spend less time
tweeting and more time getting under
the skin of the places they visit.
Will a rise in tuition fees result in a drop in applications?
No
Helen Culley
Before I begin to explain my reasons
for disagreeing that students will be
deterred from going to university
by the proposed tuition fee hike, I’d
like to stress that I don’t endorse the
Browne report, my political views
couldn’t be less blue, and I don’t
get my kicks from thinking that
anyone lacking millionaire parents
should be forced to stack shelves
their whole life. However, I do think
that it’s profoundly blinkered of students
to ignore the reasons behind
the suggested rise in fees.
In late 2007, panicked whispers
regarding the recession began to
develop into the current economic
crisis, with its effects still reverberating
across Britain today. People lost
their jobs, their homes and their dignity
and, in order to restore normality
to the lives of families across the
UK, changes need to be implemented.
Like it or not, we’ve got to rely
on the Lib-Con coalition to do that.
As tax increases have been decided
against, public spending needs to
be slashed from somewhere, and
although burdening students with
the effects of the recession is unfair,
without it, other institutions will
be hit even more destructively. The
NHS in particular cannot afford to
lose any more funding.
Although there is no conclusive
put a student through university,
we can be in no doubt that the fee
of £3290 per year currently paid
doesn’t come close to covering it. In
order for degrees to remain relevant,
particularly the sciences, facilities
within universities constantly need
to be improved and updated. With-
of British students will undoubtedly
suffer and graduates from the UK
won’t be able to compete with their
worldwide counterparts. Professor
John Holman of the National Science
Learning Centre even prophesises
that smaller universities will
struggle to maintain the teaching of
science degrees at all due to lack of
funding.
In additions to this, there has been
particular media attention on the
competition to get into university
over the last few years. Students
are forced to produce elaborate
exam results, and, if possible, build
an orphanage or two in Kenya in order
to secure a place at their chosen
institute.
“In order for degrees
to remain relevant,
particularly
the sciences, facilities
within universities
constantly need
to be improved and
updated.”
If the propositions in this report
are implemented, popular universities
will be able to accept more
students and, if they’re willing to
pay the inevitable extra costs, students
will be able to study in the
establishment of their choice, reap-
working life. Furthermore, whilst
at university, the fee rise shouldn’t
have a massively detrimental effect
on students. Fees won’t have to be
paid up front and loan repayments
will only commence when graduates
begin earning £21,000 or more
per annum. Considering that having
a degree vastly increases your
earning potential post-graduation;
university education despite the increased
expenditure. I believe that if
young people now can see the value
of entering higher education, future
students will be able to as well; even
if this means having a heavier burden
of debt to bear.
Yes
Nikki Doherty
Most of us, as students, are scrap-
Nandos for McDonalds, Topshop
for Primark, even Andrex for Tesco’s
Finest. All to scratch and save
our way towards a degree, and on
the way live the unique lifestyle and
take advantage of the exclusive opportunities
university offers us.
So what happens when the ominous
cuts occur? What happens
when fees explode through the
roof? Will applications for university
continue to be at an all time high
of 660,953? Call me a pessimist but
the simple answer is no. I can’t help
but ask myself the question: would I
have made this life-changing move
if I knew that the quality of service
was slowly dipping? Sadly again I
probably have been skimming
through the jobs column straight after
receiving my A-level results.
I count myself lucky to be able
to begin my degree before the cuts
that will undoubtedly destroy the
reasons universities are thought of
so prestigiously. They are notorious
for up to date, cutting edge research,
respected for their state of
the art technology, and celebrated
for the unique learning opportunities
they offer students. So when
the cuts snatch away university’s
appeal, why would a student still
be propelled to further their education?
With fees on the rise, it would
be madness for people to dive head
diocre university experience. The
standards of university may go
down, but it is unlikely people’s expectation
will mirror this.
Rather than investing thousands
of pounds into a poorly funded institute,
they will choose to opt out.
Funding cuts will trigger a domino
effect on university standards, starting
with pioneering courses closing,
ble. Furthermore, vital research will
have to be conducted on a smaller
scale. Newcastle University in particular
is considered a leader in the
country for research, belonging to
the prestigious Russell group. However,
will ‘Russell’ be replaced with
‘rusty’ concerning its research when
“Cuts will trigger a
domino effect.”
the cuts have occurred?
Not only will these leading universities
suffer but they will be unable
to compete with the best uni-
students pursuing their education
elsewhere. Currently only second
to the USA, Britain is proud to offer
such high quality of higher education,
yet it is virtually impossible for
this standard to be maintained on a
lower budget. To stick the knife in
further, cutbacks could also lead to
posts overseas. After all, leading researchers
cannot explore the realms
With all this in mind, consider the
prospective students looking at joining
the downward spiralling institutes
of Britain. In the current poor
economic climate, university is possibly
not the right way forward for
them anymore.
So next time you check your bank
tears, think of your situation as a
blessing - future generations face
tougher times.
Higher tuition fees: The Browne Report removes ceiling on fees - will this put students off making the decision to go to University?

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 11
Comment
The North - South divide: myth or reality?
Is the legendary divide between the North and the South really all it’s cracked up to be?
Mind your manners
Katy Covell
Columnist
Luke Callow
Just over three weeks ago I set off
heading to the vague destination
that is ‘The North’.
It’s easy to understand why a
southerner’s knowledge of anywhere
above their home town is
limited when even the signposts
simply call it ‘The North’.
found it; there are no more signposts
above me now, just kilted scots on
mountains protecting the border.
“Another hint I have
uncovered in the
North is that I’m now
considered a southern
fairy by the majority of
the inhabitants”
Another slight hint I have uncovered
in the North, is that I’m now
considered a southern fairy by the
majority of the inhabitants…Joe
derwear changes a day growing up
in South Shields.
My knowledge of Newcastle had
been very limited before arriving.
Alan Shearer, Ant and Dec and Princess
Cheryl were the only glamour
sprung from its misty depths, plus a
once promising football team.
Having only been here for three
A Return to Tough Parenting: the right option?
Emily Sargent
Most of us are familiar with Jo
Frost, (Supernanny), our very own
Mary Poppins for the 21st century
- although less likely to arrive on a
South Westerly breeze in response
to the magical ashes of a nanny
wish-list; more likely that parents
have called Channel 4 after their
seventh hamster has been shaved
and set alight by little Jimmy who
is high on Sharpies. By all accounts,
she’s fairly successful at handling
the youth of today.
“I think it’s very im-
children from a young
age.”
This week, Labour MP Frank Field
has suggested that the “tough love”
style of parenting ought to be resurrected
if we are to help improve
children’s chances in life.
Regardless of income, studies
such as think-tank Demos’ have
shown parenting that maintains
weeks I’ve realised one thing
though; it is very North up here.
Someone should have told Edward
Cullen about this place because the
last time I saw the sun was…oh
yeah, two weeks ago.
As my pasty skin begins to dry and
nipples are hard enough to cut the
shards of my frozen tears!
I’ve got to give it up to the girls
though, who seem more than
equipped to handle a cold night out,
and they’re willing to show it…he
grins.
I’d seriously consider sending the
kids who need to toughen up a bit
to the North though, just walking
around you sense you become more
masculine and the girls don’t take
any rubbish. This is the place where
a lager top is considered a cocktail,
your Dad has to have worked in
a mine, and there’s an unusually
the ‘Angel’.
I say this sceptically though because
to me it looks more like some
sort of glider (and if we’re honest, it
looks a lot bigger in the pictures).
They’re a rough and ready bunch,
and if you need proof then stroll
into a local bar on a losing Newcastle
United match day (they’re fairly
regular) and ask for a shandy in
“Someone should
have told Edward Cullen
about this place
because the last time
I saw the sun was...oh
yeah, two weeks ago”
clear boundaries, combined with
“warmth and discipline”, resulting
in children who are “more likely to
be empathetic, more able to control
their emotions and bounce back
from disappointment, and more capable
of concentrating and completing
tasks”.
Speaking from personal experience
I think it’s very important to
age. I enquired as to whether my
Mother had ever found it necessary
to take physical action with me, she
said yes – only once.
On this occasion, I had simply de-
going to work for me with regards
to a dental check-up – I unfortunately
had a prior commitment with the
banister, and would be maintaining
my iron grip upon it for the foreseeable
future.
Attempts were made to prise me
off like some kind of ancient mollusk
from the underbelly of a boat
– however this did not sit well with
me, and so I promptly sank my teeth
into the offending arm like some
kind of rabid raccoon.
This resulted in a swift blow to
the head to release my teeth (which,
by the way, had drawn blood), and
good on my Mother I say.
Because of clear boundaries, I only
rarely employ that behavioural tactic
now when people try to persuade
me to go out against my will.
Field stated on BBC Radio 4’s
your best southern accent.
Of course, these are all the stereotypes
from the South and despite
the labelling, I love living it up in
the North.
In London, making eye contact
forces people to actually speak to
other humans, so I’m surprised Ray
sor of our capital; whereas here I’ve
never had so many conversations
with strangers in my life (once I
Woman’s Hour that there were children
starting school in his constituency
who “did not know their own
name, were not able to hold a pen or
to sit still for any time without hitting
another child”. I have had similar
experiences in early morning
lectures on occasion, but I normally
manage to refrain from happy slapping
anyone.
I think that Supernanny does represent
an era of parenting that has
been largely forgotten in recent
years.
The Western World has gone liberal-mad
in a lot of good respects,
but I’m not sure this should extend
to allowing your seven year old son
to make the decision for himself that
gar, and he will see you in the morning
when he’s back from an illegal
underground poker tournament.
to live under authoritarian rule, nor
under the total freedom of a ‘laissezfaire’
approach – a middle ground
must be achieved.
You might wonder at the relevance
of such a topic for students, but it
you think your parents’ methods
have affected your adult self.
I think we, as a nation, should be
reintroduced to the word ‘no’. It’s
not just children who are too used
to getting their own way; I would be
totally in favour of introducing the
naughty step as a standard addition
unscramble the peculiar way they
speak).
It’s also mind-blowing in that everything
is cheaper, so each time I
pay for a drink I get excited.
Here in the north there’s more of
a community feel, where everyone
looks out for each other, even
a southern fairy from time to time;
and let’s not forget, it was a dirty
Chelsea southerner who cheated on
the real Angel of the North.
“Supernanny does represent
an era of parenting
that has been largely
forgotten”
to the work place.
Can you think of anything better
than turning on Dragon’s Den to
see a sour faced Deborah Meaden
crouching behind Theo on a naughty
step? Or Louis Walsh sat on one
side-stage after daring to look Lord
Cowell straight in the teeth during
the ad break? No, because it would
be beyond great.
to be reintroduced to parenting, (the
subject of which I am of course not
It only takes a bit of observation
however, even from a 22-year-old,
to see that consistent boundaries
during upbringing promote desirable
attributes and mature young
adults.
I’m not saying bring back the cane
or tuck them under the stairs with
Daniel Radcliffe, but telling a child
me.
I have always considered trips to
the cinema as something of an exercise
in escapism.
A chance to sit back in a comfy
seat (complete with ingenious
drinks holder) for a couple of hours
and do bugger all. A situation in
which you can just let your mind
wander and your imagination run
free; where, shrouded in the dark,
it is not only socially acceptable to
ignore those next to you, but actually
expected that you will cease to
partake in conversation.
Imagine then my distress, when I
found myself unable to enjoy Julia
Roberts’ latest outing in Eat Pray
Love (which, by the way, earns an
to ever have managed the nigh on
impossible feat of making her appear
pretty unattractive) due to the
incessant sweet-talking and petting
taking place between a young couple,
sitting barely three seats away
from me.
I should explain that though I
take great umbrage with PDAs,
they form a whole subject on their
own and one that deserves (and
will get) its own article. So let us
instead focus on the verbal communication
that so impinged on what
should have been a thoroughly enjoyable,
if a tad un-taxing, cinema
experience.
I have had experiences when just
as I’ve sunk my behind into the soft
and velvety cushion of my seat, I
have realised, to my great horror,
that a fellow cinema-goer seated
close by has a taste for bottled aromatics
that, how best to say...does
not entirely tally with my own.
Now of course I believe that
everyone is entitled to their own
that on such occasions, I have had
to stop myself from undertaking a
long mental discussion on the probability
of my asphyxiating on the
noxious fumes wafting my way.
light watching Julia Roberts elegantly
hot-footing it across various
continents, I found myself repeatedly
wrenched from my totally
by this constant nattering to my
right. Made all the more infuriating
by the fact that the only time
this chatty pair put a sock in it,
was when there was nothing to be
heard...seemingly illogical behaviour,
I hope you will agree.
Even the moment where Javier
Bardem appears whizzing along in
his jeep, shirt unbuttoned and hair
cooing demanding my aural attention;
yet, being terribly English and
embarrassed, I still did not want to
have to tell the love birds to shut
up.
So instead, I decided to utilise the
death-stare or screw-ball technique
as I believe some people call it.
Unsurprisingly, this appeared to
go entirely unnoticed by the duo
in question, instead only succeeding
in making me feel like a perve
as I attempted to catch one of their
gazes between petting movements.
Surely it’d be cheaper and more
comfortable for everyone involved
if those people incapable of taking
a two hour break from petting
and chattering, just stayed home
and made out on the sofa with the
relevant DVD or CD playing in the
background.

12 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Comment
Airport security: an invasion of personal space?
Finola Gibson
Last week, the UK Border Agency
released a statement saying that
even though they have strict security
measures, instead of drug dealers
being deterred from smuggling
drugs into the country, it is in fact
more elaborate methods of hiding
their stash.
Heathrow Airport have announced
that they have witnessed drugs being
hidden in electronic devices,
such as laptops and MP3 player and
an even more complex scheme of
impregnating the drugs into clothing.
Does this mean our national secu-
venting drug smuggling, when the
only way that security can be seen
as doing their job properly is going
through every person’s personal
property? Trying to stop smugglers
who will inevitably do anything,
even swallowing and then regurgitating
the drug, to get it into the
cult dilemma.
Although it seems British people
should be preparing themselves for
even longer queues and more space
invading in airport security, I think
this is a pessimistic view. These new
ways of hiding drugs are not nearly
as effective as the old common ways
of smuggling, such as mass hoarding
of drugs, which security has
reduced considerably. One gram of
drugs is on average sold for £20.00,
but the fact that drugs have been so
easily stashed across country in the
past, means that the drug market
has not been hit by a recession.
In no way should airport security
be blamed for the fact that drugs
are still being smuggled; it is just
an obvious reaction by smugglers
to move on to different methods
of hiding their stash. What I don’t
think is that airport security should
expect normal British citizens to give
up our right of complete freedom to
strangers; we still have the entitlement
to carry things like electronics
on board planes, and it is in no
way right to employ the universal
principal of treating the majority as
suspected criminals. Basically, we
should be continued to be treated as
innocent until proven guilty.
I think security should concen-
vading people’s personal space; although
the methods of smuggling
are changing, we will never live in a
utopian society where people even
out of desperation and desire for
money will not resort to smuggling
drugs. My advice to airport security
would be: chin up, you’re doing alright.
At least it’s more interesting
than frisking people that forgot to
take off their watch.

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 13
Life & Style Editors: Kat Bishop and Mary Mullarkey - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk
The rise of social
networking
> Life , page 14-15
health
Hair Scare: How much is too much?
Do you get embarrassed by the amount of hair on your body? Are your legs akin to a monkey’s, your
chest like a gorilla’s? Ben Parkin
Hair removal is always a sticky
subject. There are numerous ways
but these methods are much debated
among the female and male
populations.
Luckily for Life and Style, second
year medical student Matt Green
was willing to let us remove his
chest hair in a variety of ways,
helping us come to discover which
method is most effective and pain
free.
We decided to go for four conventional
methods of hair removal –
hair removal cream, waxing, shaving
and epilating. Matt was fairly
hairy, but this (hopefully!) would
of the results.
We decided to go
for four conventional
methods of hair removal;
cream, waxing,
shaving and epilating.
the hair removal cream. We simply
lathered the cream onto the desired
patch of hair, and left it for 10
minutes.
There were many complains about
the smell – think of the whiff you
and it also began to tingle after a
K. VONG
few minutes.
Other than that, there were no
other issues. Its effectiveness was
debatable, however; you could still
see small strands of hair poking
through the skin.
Rating: Pain 1/5; Effectiveness 3/5
We then moved on to wax. The
easy part: heating up the strips
in your hands, and peeling them
apart.
Then, place the strip onto the skin,
rub downward, and...rip it off. As
you can imagine, this caused a lot
of pain.
Matt likened the experience to
child-birth, and it was also compared
to a “kick in the balls”.
Unfortunately, our waxer was a
little brutal, and this resulted in
bleeding.
This led to some less-than-sympathetic
responses from the females
of the party, such as Kat Bishop,
who exclaimed: “It’s bleeding! Oh
well...”
Although painful, it did a good
job getting rid of Matt’s chest carpet
(shame it took half the skin with
it...)
Rating: Pain 4/5; Effectiveness 4/5
Shaving was up next. Lather some
shaving foam on and get going
with that razor.
This one caused the least amount
of pain, but it was questionable
whether the effects of shaving
would be long-lasting in comparison.
Matt admitted: “There’ll be stubble
tomorrow morning”.
Rating: Pain 0/5; Effectiveness 3/5
There is always some new product
or brand promising more when
you’re trying to get rid of an excess
of darkened facial hair.
If you experience ‘noticeable’ facial
hair, you’ve probably already
tried waxing, bleaching, tweezing
and shaving.
My advice to you is try facial
threading. This is a method of hair
removal which is used extensively
in Asia, particularly India.
In the East, it is called Bande Abru
(‘Abru’ means eyebrow, and ‘Band’
is the thread), and in ancient Persia,
threading was a sign that a girl had
reached adulthood and become a
woman.
In recent years, it has gained popularity
in Western countries.
It is used to give clean lines and
Shaving caused the
least amount of pain,
but it was questionable
whether the effects
would be long lasting.
We left the best till last: the epilator!
It was easy to see that this was
the one people were most excited to
witness.
Epilating is a fast way of plucking
all your hairs; I think people forget
that plucking only one hair really
hurts.
Matt was unable to speak after
this experience. Again, there was
a bit of bleeding, and the effectiveness
was debatable.
Rating: Pain 5/5; Effectiveness 2/5
When asked, Matt gave us his
preferred method: “Hair removal
was the best, then waxing for effectiveness...
not pain. Three, I’d say
the worst.”
So there you have it, Matt’s advice
on the best way to get rid of unwanted
hair.
Note: if you try all the methods at
once, there can be patchy results.
Boys, this may horrify the girl you
bring home after a night on the
Toon.
Doctor, Doctor: How do I get rid of excess facial hair?
Harriet Webb explores the centuries old method of facial threading. She discovers
how it works, if it hurts and if it’s actually a good alternative to your trusty razor?
good shape
Facial threading is
perfect for top lips...a
twisted loop of cotton
is passed across the
skin to trap the hair;
plucking it from the
follicle.
to the eyebrows and also remove
hair from the upper lip and other
facial areas.
This centuries old technique is a
non-invasive, successful and relatively
pain free method of getting
rid of facial hair.
A twisted loop of cotton, which is
Before
After
Hairy stuff: A before and after shot of Matt’s chest. Unfortunately, the wax left him a little worse for wear...
is passed across the skin to trap the
hair, plucking it from the follicle,
and removing it in one go.
This makes it perfect for those who
have sensitive skin.
The treatment is very precise,
quick, painfree and will normally
last between two to four weeks, but
the regrowth period depends on the
individual.
Where waxing or other creams
can cause breakouts, threading will
leave a smooth, soft surface, and
time without any risk of skin irritation
or, more importantly, premature
wrinkles!
Threading is generally offered in
most salons, so check it out.
Prices range from £8 for eyebrows,
to £17 for a full-face thread.
Forget shaving:
threading is the
best way to stay
hair free.

14 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Life & Style Life
life
The Social Network; Lucy
Johnson and Olivia Mason discuss the pros and cons of social networking
Remember the times before Facebook?
No? Neither do I. It seems
like today’s society was never with-
-
genuine challenge.
Facebook even had its part in this
years Christmas number one after
Joe McElderry was kept from the top
spot by Rage Against The Machine’s
‘Killing In The Name’, all stemming
from a group created on the site.
Facebook is merely in its youth.
Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg,
it was restricted to Harvard
University students, and initially
used as a ‘Hot or Not’ system to rate
female students.
It soon developed into a site used
to contact students and to swap
study notes. His creation spread
across other American universities,
and eventually the world.
However, its growth has been
fraught with controversy; Zuckerberg
was almost sued by his co-creators
and Harvard itself.
But now he is a 24 percent shareholder
in Facebook and is estimated
Not bad for a kid who didn’t even
graduate from Harvard.
The Social
Network. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin
has been released to critical acclaim;
the depiction of the Facebook story
has been praised for its direction
and scripting. After this Hollywood
hit, it’s hard to deny that Facebook
is a phenomenon.
But Facebook had its predecessors;
Bebo and MySpace were doing
much of the same before.
Perhaps it was Facebook’s format
and ‘easy to use’ layout that attracted
social networkers from around
the world; we weren’t fretting about
top friends, or worrying what people
would think of our alternative
music choices.
Unfortunately, many of these other
social networking sites have fallen
by the wayside, with little explanation.
Nevertheless, I only managed to
work up the courage to delete my
of social networking is about keeping
up with the latest goings on.
Sitting on my laptop last night, I
literally watched the status updates
about the X Factor roll in. As much
as I want to get irritated about this, I
was one of them.
Truth is, people of all ages now
use Facebook; everyone knows that
bolt of fear when they see that friend
request from their Mum or Dad.
Now, even employers look up
those pictures from Saturday night
that you hoped would never surface.
Facebook has essentially made
what used to be private, public. I
can’t count the number of times I’ve
had the Facebook settings speech
with my mum, and although I hate
to admit it, she’s got a point. It’s
scary when you realise how much
about yourself is available when
you haven’t got to grips with the in-
“Facebook has essentially
made what used
to be private, public. It’s
scary when you realise
how much about yourself
is available on your
”
At present, Facebook has over 500
million users. 70 percent of these are
outside the USA, and 50 percent of
users log on every day.
We all spend a whopping 700 billion
minutes per month on Facebook.
Reading statistics such as these
should make us all hang our heads
in shame, but statistically speaking,
nearly everyone reading this will be
on Facebook at some point.
Even while this is being written,
Facebook is running in the background.
Sometimes there seems to
be no escape. Most of the time, Fa-
social networking site. However, as
its popularity increases, so does the
number of negative uses.
At the milder end of this spectrum
is Facebook stalking. You may raise
eyebrows and tut, but we all do it,
and with 500 million users you are
From stalking your ex to tracking
down that lovely person in your lecture
theatre, it can become very addictive
and really quite creepy.
With people regularly posting
every detail of their life it doesn’t
that person lives, who their friends
are and where they are thinking of
going tonight. We all know we’ve
added someone after a second meeting,
purely to up our number of
friends or keep an eye on gossip.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of
stories about stalking going wrong;
while looking up someone she barely
knew, a friend’s sister typed their
name into her status instead of the
search bar – stalking certainly gone
bad.
you are merely admiring, but Facebook
can become a medium for
more serious misuse. Earlier this
year 33-year-old convicted double
rapist, Peter Cartwright - described
as nearly toothless and living in his
car - started a Facebook page posing
as a 17-year-old labourer. Using a
photo of a bare-chested young man
able to start communicating with
17-year-old Ashleigh Hall.
After texting her to tell her his
dad would pick her up, Cartwright
tricked Hall into his car where he
raped and murdered her.
Although this is a very rare story,
it is nonetheless true and could
quite possibly happen again. Everyone
has Facebook. Seven-year-olds
have pages, and it is not unknown
for grandparents to have a page too.
With an age demographic so huge
what age anyone is and - more importantly
- who anyone is.
Although Facebook is
here to stay, it’s time we
realised that it’s merely a
social networking site, and
not a second life.
B. CARLIN
Addictive: These days, 1 in 14 people use Facebook worldwide. It’s not unusual for people to be friends with their younger siblings, parents, or even grandparents.
Playgrounds are no longer where
the real danger lies: a fat, balding
old man sticks out like a sore thumb.
A 17-year-old with a bare-chested
photo of himself on Facebook just
adds to the thousands of others.
While it is almost certain Facebook
is here to stay, security issues must
be addressed and most importantly
we should all remember Facebook is
merely a social networking site and
not a second life.

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 15
Life Life & Style
Life and Style on Campus: Your views
Georgie Denny’s on campus asking for your Facebook do’s and don’ts.
A. DEWING
The Penny Pincher
#2 Online shopping
Sarah Bennett
Columnist
Elizabeth Rotherford
1st Year English Lit
“I use Facebook for keeping
in contact with my friends
from home and uni. I log
don’t like how much information
people can get hold
of about you, the privacy
settings are alright but probably
not good enough. My
status now is: ‘9am seminar
and then back to bed!’”
A personal experience: A neurotic’s guide to self help
Although most students occassionally suffer from low self esteem the majority of us get back on
top of things. Our Self-confessed Neurotic decides it’s time to change some bad habits.
Harry Gourlay
3rd Year Politics
“I use Facebook for interacting
with my mates. I only
log on once or twice a day, I
think that Facebook in a limited
amount is OK, but you
really should get out there
and see your friends rather
than being a cyber geek! I
never update my status, the
only time I have one is when
someone Facebook rapes
me!”
It’s been a week since I started listening
to Paul McKenna’s Instant
.
It might have been better to start
it before lectures began, and work
started piling on top of me.
Had that been the case, I might
have seen more of an effect by now.
I’m assured that Rome wasn’t built
in a day, which I assume was supposed
to comfort me that things
don’t change quickly; but instead it
got me thinking how long it actually
took to build Rome.
In fairness, I have some pretty big
issues that need correcting.
According to the psychology I
learned at aged seventeen, my neuroticism
stems from an impossible
desire to be in control of everything.
I know that my insomnia is due
to the constant thoughts tumbling
round my brain at night.
I don’t know why I have an aversion
to people, but my misanthropy
generally leads to a saying that is
apparently now my catchphrase:
‘People are Stupid’.
That hasn’t changed much – I still
see the general public stopping in
the middle of doorways, or barging
onto public transport before other
passengers have jumped off, and I
think how irritatingly stupid they
can be.
Evidently I’ve a short temper. I
still organise everything and everyone
around me, though I ‘delegate’
any sort of human contact to other
people.
However, I have noticed one
change following my nightly instalment.
I now sleep more easily.
Honestly, I haven’t slept amazingly
every single night, but it does
seem to be helping.
The CBT/hypnosis combination
requires an enormous amount of relaxation,
something I don’t tend to
Joe Bullough:
2nd Year History & Politics
“I use Facebook for chatting
to my friends. I’ve got Facebook
on my phone so I log
on a lot... I’m on it right now!
I think its bad how obsessed
people are with Facebook;
some people let it rule their
lives, although it is useful
for keeping in touch with
people. No facebook status
today!”
be good at.
Even so, with tremendous effort on
my part, I have found myself listening
to the beginning of the CD, and
then hearing only the backwards
countdown from ten at the end of
it.
McKenna does have a very relax-
says at the very beginning that “you
rything
afterwards”.
True to his word, I have no idea
what he says in the second half of
the recording.
Although you do return to full
consciousness at the end of the recording,
I was pleasantly relaxed
following it.
It allowed me to remove my earphones,
settle into my pillow and
great improvement on the reading
sessions that last until three in the
morning.
Luc James
4th Year French & Spanish
“I use Facebook for mostly
social reasons. I probably
log on about twice a day...
I’ve got a lot of international
friends so I use Facebook to
keep in contact with them
which saves me money. My
Facebook status is in Spanish
right now - Luc James:
‘Rossana Alejandro en gobierno:
eso es peligroso no?’”
What impresses me more is that
this isn’t even his I Can Make You
Sleep edition.
McKenna has written and recorded
a variety of self-help editions,
including I Can Make You Thin and
Quit Smoking Today Without Gaining
Weight.
I haven’t tried any of them, but
if is anything to
go by, I wouldn’t be surprised by a
good review.
Over the next few weeks I’m hoping
to remove my hyper-organisation,
and possibly some of the
annoyance I feel so quickly from
people.
Possibly (but no promises to my
housemates) I’ll even start making
phone calls and booking taxis and
restaurant tables!
Next week: will our neurotic see some
changes?
Now I am a serious online-aholic.
Yes, that describes me in a nutshell.
I’m addicted to checking out online
bargains.
I check everything from groceries,
to DVDs, to meal deal vouchers.
This week I’m giving a rundown
of my top three websites for online
shopping.
www.maximiles.co.uk
This site is fantastic. Sign up
and you’ll earn points for spending
money online with ‘partners’,
ranging from HMV to Apple.
You can also earn points by responding
to surveys and registering
with other websites.
Each partner offers a different
amount of points per £1 spent, and
there are usually special points offers.
Once these points stack up,
you can trade them in for rewards.
I’ve just received a £25 iTunes
giftcard for 6670 points, but you
can start redeeming from only 2000
points. If you search the partners,
earn money from. However you
must always click the Maximiles
link to get onto the site, and use
the same email you registered with
every time.
My favourite partner so far has
been www.graze.com. On this site
you can get healthy snacks, as well
as earning Maximiles points for
registering. If you register and type
in the code K94PM59F, you’ll get a
box of healthy nibbles free!
www.vouchercodes.co.uk:
Join this site and get online
voucher codes emailed to you
every week. A recent favourite
has been the Pizza Express £12.50
three-course meals at the weekend
(valid until 31st October).
This site is great; there are deals
from restaurants, clothes shops, hotel
chains and also cheap entertainment
tickets, some of which can be
used online, and some which can
be used out and about.
www.mysupermarket.co.uk
You’ll have seen the adverts for
this on TV, and it really does check
out the prices of groceries in four
supermarkets (Tesco, ASDA, Sainsburys
and Ocado).
It gives you top offers for each
shop and you begin by choosing
one store to shop with. As you add
items in your trolley, it shows you
how much a similar trolley from
the other stores costs and you’re
free to chop and change trolleys as
you add more and more items.
The site even exports your trolley
to the store of your choice to
continue with payment and delivery.
There are also other handy
penny saving features on the site;
it suggests cheaper alternatives to
products in the stores and also has
a page for current online vouchers
for each of the stores. It even
offers you calorie-cutting options
if you’re that way inclined. You
can earn 400 Maximiles points on
point per £1 spent.
Next week: Out and about in Newcastle...

16 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Life & Style
blind date
Sophie Dean &
Jack Webb
She said:
Sex & Relationships
sex & relationships
Dangerous Liaisons
Meet the Friends?
Pamela Mardle
Columnist
Turns out that living with the news
editor of The Courier and drunkenly
telling him that you would really
like to write for the paper can
I knew it I was regretting signing
date.
At 8.30pm on date night, I went
ing
Jack surrounded by my rather
nosey housemates. I was pleasantly
surprised that he had made the effort
in his white shirt and posh coat
combo, leaving me feeling slightly
underdressed. Outside I was thoroughly
impressed when greeted
by our chauffeur for the evening;
his tuxedo slightly outshining his
vehicle. In the car I was handed
a glass of Lambrini, wowing Jack
completely with my ability to down
it almost instantly.
We were dropped off at 1 Grey
Street where Jack paid for a couple
of rounds of drinks; he impressed
me with his Masters status and the
fact he played rugby for the University.
He was lovely throughout and
didn’t make me want to use my
previously arranged emergency
phone call even once.
The decision to move on to Revolution
was where things began to
get slightly messy. After ordering a
couple of cocktails, Jack developed
an obsession with buying large
numbers of shots, and it didn’t take
long before I had become tipsy
enough to blurt out the one word
everyone dreads - Sinners.
madame vs monsieur
Madame and Mon-
lem
of high pitched
bedroom
After hooking up with this girl
on a night out a couple of weeks
ago she is always round my place.
She is a really nice girl, the sex is
great and my housemates think
ally
irritating. It is really high and
her laugh is like a cackle (think
of Janice from Friends but higher
pitched). Although I really like her
imposed this relationship on me)
makes me want to dump her. How
can I tell her this without hurting
her feelings?
monsieur
Sounds to me like a bit of a sticky
situation. On the one hand you’re
After a few trebles, we staggered
our way to Bambu and this was
where our rather inebriated date
came to an end with Jack, ever the
gentleman, dropping me at home
in a taxi.
To sum it up, Jack was a fantastic
date. He was funny, charming, and
an all round nice guy. Best of all;
he took me to Sinners. What more
could a girl ask for?
He said:
Having been on a few fairly unsuccessful
blind dates and given the
potential repercussions of this one,
I was slightly anxious about how it
would go. The date got off to a perfect
start when Sophie displayed
her excitement about travelling into
getting great sex whenever you
want it, and on the other hand,
when you’re not in the bedroom
with this girl she is driving you
around the bend with her crazy
noises.
To have written in about her voice
and laugh it must be extremely
annoying; if you can’t be in a
relationship with her you should
let her know as soon as possible –
town in my chauffeur-driven Rover
25 Advantage. As Mr Poops drove
us to our destination, in the back Sophie
and I conversed over a warm
glass of Lambrini. Any trepidation
that I had about the evening was
quickly removed after a relaxed and
Street.
found I was intimidated by a young
lady who can bench-press and
deadlift more than I can, and who is
from Bingley, a far more posh part
of the country than me. In fact being
a keen sportsman I was impressed
that Sophie likes to keep herself in
good shape and this contributed to
me being very physically attracted
to her. Conversation never dried to
the point of an awkward silence and
I certainly enjoyed Sophie’s sense of
K.VONG
just don’t tell her the real reason,
whatever you do. Say that you’re
just not ready to be with someone
seriously, or that you feel like you
haven’t got enough time for her;
make it a problem with yourself.
Then keep yourself busy, so that
if she does turn up at your house,
you’re not in and she hasn’t got the
opportunity to annoy you; if you
play your cards right you may be
humour.
-
decided we should visit a few more
familiar, grittier bars and so dragged
me up to Sinners and Blu Bambu. At
this point the night started to get
rather messy. We met some interesting
drunken characters and had a
genuinely good laugh. Upon leaving
Bambu we were both pretty intoxicated
so decided to share a taxi
home.
Having tentatively agreed to participate
on The Courier blind date
did. I had a thoroughly enjoyable
evening in Sophie’s company. Unlike
many previous dates, Sophie
made me feel comfortable in her
the date was a success.
able to stay friends with this lass.
And hopefully there will be perks
to this friendship that don’t come
along with most.
madame
You say the sex c’est bon, but how
bon? If it were me, he would have
to be très bien in le boudoir to make
up for irritating vocal chords. But
then, if it were me, they would not
even have made it into my bedroom
with a cackle like a witch on
laughing gas.
Mon amie, I fear that there is
nothing you can do to compensate
turn Janice into Rachel, oui? – and if
you continue to date her, then you
are unfortunately going to have to
listen to her. At least occasionally.
It may not be so horrendous if you
can deal with what she’s saying,
but if her voice is such a deal-breaker
with you, then you must end it;
don’t waste time in a relationship
which drives you crazy!
If you lack le balls to dump her
honestly, just tell her you’d rather
be friends; it’s a line guaranteed to
mean you’ll never have to see her
again.
You’ve got the guy. You’ve got the
Facebook status. You’ve got your
take things to the next level: meet
“the lads”.
You’ve heard all about Bill, the
fallback who can down a pint in
under ten seconds; Big Mike, who
broke his ankle trying to hurdle
a park bench; and Slim Jim, the
skinny geek whose fancy dress of
choice is a child’s Tinkerbell costume.
It’s time to meet the characters
from his “life-changing” rugby
tour of South Africa where he
bonded with his chums over
drunken snake-survival skills:
the guys he was prowling with
on the night he scouted you. They
have all unknowingly made their
impression on you; now it’s your
turn.
Before you meet them, you have
to remember that he has chosen
you to be his girlfriend; he wants
to show you off to his mates: nothing
he has said to them will be anything
other than how amazing
and hilarious you are.
It’s all part of the male bravado.
Even if you do make freakish feral
noises in your sleep, to them you
look like a dozing Kelly Brook.
He’s laid the foundations. But
what impact do you want to make
Do you act like one of them, chugging
cider and recounting your
sparse knowledge of the offside
rule or do you play the innocent
girly girl who loves her spritzers
and Carvelas?
Letting out the tomboy in you
for a couple of hours is perfectly
acceptable, but burping and sitting
legs a-splay with the rest of
them enters into a realm where
the line of womanhood can no
longer be seen.
Act like them and you risk becoming
one of them: a mate.
That’s without the added bonus
of sex and romance; you can wave
that goodbye with your dignity.
Rocking up to the pub in trackies
and an Everton shirt may conjure
thoughts of a beer-guzzling hooligan
along with subtle strategies
to get the hell away from you.
On the contrary, I don’t think a
group of guys crowding around
a snooker table are going to take
a second glance at your new arm
candy (the latest Mulberry bag I
mean, not your fella; although I’m
sure he’ll be greeted by no more
than the usual “mate” and hardly
detectable nod anyway).
I guess the safe option is to act
with your bloke; friends think
and admire alike. Obviously you
don’t want them to fancy you
(that is another dilemma altogether),
but ultimately you want them
to understand why he’s giving up
the obligatory Tequila Tuesday to
share your bed with a DVD and
a cuddle.

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 17
review
El Torero, Quayside
Milburn House, Side
Tel: 0191 2331122
E-mail: info@eltorero.
co.uk
food & drink
Food & Drink
L.MACKENZIE
Life & Style
compare the
market
Surely it is the student
prerogative to indulge
ready meals. This
week Peter Warcup
lasagnes.
A little slice of real Espania: Tucked away from the main street lurks one of Newcastle’s most genuine tapas bars
Tapas restaurant El Torero is one
of Newcastle’s best kept secrets.
Situated in the heart of the city, this
charming Spanish microcosm is cosily
nestled in the cobbled Quayside
backstreets.
As we stepped out of the cold
night and into the warmth of the
restaurant, you could almost be
fooled into thinking you’re dining
in Barcelona.
The restaurant is incredibly authentic,
and is bustling with Spanish
sounds, sights and smells. Pictures
of Matadors and Spanish cities
adorn the yellow walls, and candles
are sporadically dotted about the
place.
Heartily greeted by a waiter, we
made our way over to our table.
Nearly all of El Torero’s waiters
are Spanish speaking, and this undoubtedly
adds to its charm; you
don’t get an atmosphere like this in
tapas chain restaurants.
El Torero sticks to its Hispanic
roots, and the menu is predominantly
in Spanish; don’t worry though,
there are English translations!
After much deliberation – and
amusement on the waiter’s behalf
as I tried in vain to pronounce the
dishes on the menu – my boyfriend
This turned out to be a perfect
amount of food. Tapas is an ideal solution
for couples with diverse food
tastes; whether you’re a veggie, car-
everyone.
guistic prowess, the table next to us
got their tapas.
I was overcome with food envy
as I caught a glimpse of their meal;
trust me, it took some serious selfrestraint
not to move onto their table.
The full-bodied smells of Spanish
tapas are irresistible, and I was
delighted when our food made a
speedy appearance.
Not being a huge red meat fan, I
went for cod and chicken dishes.
The cod, or should I say, ‘Bacalao
in a fresh, spicy tomato sauce; the
tomato was mouth-wateringly
good.
Equally tasty was the chicken. The
‘Pollo al vino blanco’ was cooked in
a garlic and white wine sauce.
The amount of garlic was spot
on; just enough to compliment the
chicken, but not so much that it left
a nasty taste in the mouth.
My boyfriend, being a self confessed
carnivore, went for the meat
option.
choice, and this red wine beef stew
was a huge hit – even I ate my fair
share!
My favourite dish, however, had
to be the ‘Patatas cortijeras’. These
thinly sliced potatoes were fried
with chorizo and red peppers, and
would compliment any of the tapas
on the menu.
Overall, the meal at El Torero got
a huge thumbs up. The service was
polite, but no-nonsense; just how I
like it.
Whether you fancy a light lunch,
or an evening meal, El Torero offers
a dining experience with a difference.
Kat Bishop
5/10 Marks & Spencers
Steak Lasagne, £2.99
M&S’s
uber-meaty
version
is more
akin to a
Gregg’s
Steak Bake,
and the
calorie
count is
comparable.
Most M&S shoppers undoubt-
but I doubt they will appreciate
narrowing of the arteries.
1/10
Lasagne, £1.97
With the
appearance
and consistency
of
Dulux. In
retrospect
I know
which I
would
have rather
eaten for
tea. It was
plain, unparalleled, awfulness.
grainger market
Rachel Walsham starts
stall in Newcastle’s
most loved market
If you are like me and appear to have
similarly drunk away half your loan
already on too many nights that you
can’t remember, then head down
to Granger Market; not only for the
sake of your health but also for the
sake your money.
In the centre of the market is a large
stall called Hector Hall. The biggest
and perhaps the most impressive
stall in the market, its display boasts
a wide array of colourful goods, that
are most importantly cheap.
It is one of those places where you
are reminded of all that is good
on the recent errors of your ways.
Chips, cheese and gravy? No. It’s
all about apples, oranges and pears.
And Hector Hall appears to have almost
every fresh fruit and vegetable
you could ever want.
However, whilst you can see and
smell all the food, you cannot touch.
This presents two major problems.
Firstly, there is the pressure of trying
to remember to order everything
you want while those in the queue
behind push and swear at you as
you cautiously add another item to
your list.
Secondly, you can’t choose your
own food. Therefore it’s pretty
much luck of the draw whether it is
still fresh by the time you get home.
antly go back and buy my veg from
the stall.
It’s unbelievably cheap and hard
to justify not returning, but perhaps
I will spend a little more on my fruit
so it will last longer.
If you are looking to save money,
then this stall has brilliant value
that you can’t really afford to turn
down.
4/10 Asda Roasted Vegetable
Lasagne, £1.97
Next up,
Asda’s
unimaginative
and
protein-
offering.
If vegetarians
rely
on this sort
of insipid mess for their calorie
intake, then they have my deepest
sympathy.
8/10 Tesco’s Italian Lasagne,
£1.98.
Although
this didn’t
have a
great
béchameltomince
ratio, if
you like
your meals
served in a
plastic tray,

18 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
travel
Barcelona on a budget
Harriet Wood plans a half term trip to the heart of Catalonia courtesy of her student card
Ten
Minute
Travel
Rosie Perry takes
us away from the
city, into
Northumberland
While Newcastle is a wonderful
place to live, I think any student
would agree that from time to time,
they need a day trip out of the city
(and away from the trebles).
Alnwick hosts plenty of entertaining
places that could keep anyone
busy for hours.
It is surprisingly accessible, with
trains and buses for those without
cars.
The train, costing just £8.10 for a
day return, takes you to Alnmouth
if you are mad enough to brave the
North Sea) and a short bus ride to
Alnwick from the station completes
the journey.
Gaudi’s masterpiece: The Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. The project’s idiosyncratic design have made it one of Barcelona’s top tourist attractions.
So, your loan is in and exams seem
a long way off: what better time to
plan a refreshing mini-break, a self
appointed half term? Some twenty
minutes away on the Metro, New-
nineteen European destinations. At
the drop of a hat you can be climbing
the Eiffel Tower or exploring
the picturesque Norwegian town of
Bergen.
For a three or four day city break
though, you probably can’t do better
than Barcelona.
readily available from £20.99 each
way. A decent hostel will set you
back about £9.60 a night and is easy
hostelworld.com.
It is a highly accessible city, a four
day transport card can be bought
for twenty Euros and this includes
the underground, trams and buseseven
the airport bus.
Being continental, the Spaniards
still have a siesta in the afternoon
and continue much later into the
night than us hermits so the trams
continue to run quite late, but with
decreasing frequency.
You are not going to get far in
this city without hearing a little bit
about a man named Antoni Gaudi,
a Spanish modernist architect who
designed a number of the city’s
most famous attractions. Student
discount does not entirely take the
sting away from the extortionate
entrance fees to some of these buildings,
so due to budget and time constraints
it would be wise to restrict
yourself to the Sagrada Familia Cathedral,
which is his most famous
and unmissable work, as well as the
Park Guell, which is free.
For a wholly different architectural
experience, Barcelona FC hosts the
biggest football stadium in Europe,
the famous Camp Nou. Students can
Euros, so you don’t want to forget
your NUS card. This includes an audio
guide and access to the museum
and multimedia experience.
Never to be outdone, Barcelona
also houses the biggest aquarium in
Europe, which you can head down
to the harbour and visit for a very
similar price to the stadium. Finally,
surrounded by the free Parliamentary
Gardens where there is a tiny
lake for rowing.
For a different architectural
experience,
head on down to
Camp Nou, home to
Barcelona FC. Students
can tour for
about €15, so don’t
forget your NUS card
For something a little more thrilling,
there are quite a few watersports
available along the seafront
and there is even a water-park called
Illa Fantasia available a short metroride
away.
The famous city-beaches are manmade
and therefore very sandy,
with Barceloneta beach just a ten
minute metro ride from the city centre.
There is also a cable car which
you can take from near the beach,
offering beautiful views of the entire
city.
For the less energetic tourist, it’s
just nice to wander the city centre,
by day or by night, where the tall
buildings and narrow pedestrian
streets give it a really continental
feel.
The shopping in the vicinity Las
Ramblas is pretty good. One-off
and designer shops can be found by
branching off into the maze of little
streets but be wary of walking away
from a bargain...you may never be
When you get peckish, a tapas bar
along Las Ramblas where they line
the street.
The good news is, because the
Spanish produce so much of their
own wine, a tipple at lunch or dinner
is generally pretty affordable.
So there’s always an excuse to enjoy
a glass of Cava or a pint of San
Miguel.
The train, costing
just £8.10 for a day
return, takes you
to Alnmouth, and
a short bus ride to Alnwick
completes the
journey
It may not have the shopping
available in Newcastle, but Alnwick
Castle gardens are worth a trip, if
not just to try something new.
The Tree House restaurant is beautiful
and dominates one corner of
the gardens; however it may not be
the place for a budget student meal.
The town also hosts one the biggest
secondhand bookshops in Britain,
based in a Victorian railway station.
for a warm and friendly atmosphere
which makes it hard to leave.
There are plenty of places to eat
out, with numerous pubs, cafés and
restaurants dotted along the high
street.
A day in Alnwick will leave you
relaxed and content, and you’ll be
happy to return back to Newcastle
and those trebles.
Alnwick Castle: Surrounded by the beautiful gardens.
Northumberland is a perfect place to relax

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 19
Fashion
Fashion Editor: Lauren Girling - courier.fashion@ncl.ac.uk
The sweet smell of succes
> What really makes men smell good, page 20
The Truth About Tartan
Proud Scot Clare Slipper
As a Scot it is without doubt that
when it comes to our national dress
there is a certain nostalgia conjured
by the image of rugged, tartan-clad
men racing into battle, Highland
wives farming away against a backdrop
of rolling hills, and the symbolic
union of clans through their
family tartans.
However, leaving royal visits and
it is fair to say that an appetite for
tartan has remained salient – not
only just in the tacky tourist franchises
that pepper the streets of my
hometown, but on the catwalk, and
in the pages of both high fashion
and gossip magazines. Braveheart’s
romanticised version of Scotland’s
history almost certainly sexed up
a traditional national dress which
believe it is fair to say that the pub-
from a genuine interest to a sexual-
all things liberal and anti-establishment.
Vivienne Westwood has most famously
taken the tartan trend into
a post-traditionalist epoch with her
constant revisiting of hyper-sexualised
and revolutionary interpretations
of tartan fabrics.
Using tartan as a platform for
parody, Westwood has toyed with
sharp cuts and layering, suggesting
themes of displacement and power
and truly manifesting a rebellious
and liberalised way to work tartan
whichever way you want. Never
before has the British stiff upper lip
been sexed-up and tantalised with
such panache.
However, almost in spite of the
anti-conformist connotation of
Westwood’s rebellious, outrageous
and quite frankly brilliant re-works
of tartan over the past four decades,
come a highly respected pillar of the
British fashion powerhouse. So what
Three regions, three trends
Rachel Walsham
- Surrounded by
countryside, the signature Collegic
gilet has really taken off here and
paired with a pair of fur lined boot
makes it, for some, a fashion staple.
- A popular choice for
day wear either worn with chunky
knitwear as a part of geek chic look
or as part of a bohemian ensemble.
- either
plaid or crisp and white, they can
be accessorised and dressed up for
night time or as part of a smart day
time look and are often seen on the
streets of my hometown.
In Lancashire, trends
ensure that the girls are
Kate Short
Wedge Shoe Boots – They may
be last season but this is one trend
that isn’t going anywhere. All the
girls are zippin’ up their boots for a
night of dancing!
Lace – Whether it’s for work or
play, lace is adding a touch of sexy,
over Manchester.
– Every girl is sporting a
dark green one with fur trim to
protect them from the relentless
CATWALKING.COM
Have designers such as Vivienne Westwood contributed to the revival of tartan in the fashion industry?
wind and rain that batters the
North West.
Josie Hall muses on the
- Traditionally a
wardrobe essential for the typical
Yorkshire farmer, the wax jacket
has seen a style revival in recent
years and is now a trend donned by
fashionistas worldwide.
Hunter Wellies - Practical footwear
for a ramble in the Yorkshire Dales,
it’s hard to believe that Wellies
could ever take their place in the
style stakes; however with celebs
like Kate Moss regularly snapped
in them Hunter Wellies are now an
does this bring to the argument that
modern takes on tartan are part of a
backlash against the ruling class and
gentry?
ample of this backlash would be the
Great British chav culture; a lifestyle
the shops due to label-watching
louts in (mostly) imitation Burberry.
However, despite a dip in sales
due to the negative connotations
attached to this infamous check,
Burberry is recognised today as an
esteemed fashion line after a redesign
of the tartan and the injection
of a fresher dynamism with the face
of Emma Watson leading the young,
A-list fash-pack.
The angle other designers have
taken in their pledge to join the tartan
army is testament to the idea that
plaid is ever-pertinent to the trendsetters
gaze. Alexander McQueen’s
2006 collection had a romantic am-
powerful layered skirts suggesting
how Lady Macbeth might power
dress. Jean-Paul Gaultier in his 2007
show took inspiration from traditional
textile cutting and combined
woollen skirts – much like the plaid
wraps of yore – with shiny leathers
and a shirt and tie; truly messing
around with convention and mixing
tradition with pure eclecticism.
clean-cut American wholesomeness,
has taken a more elegant approach
to the incorporation of tartan
with a collection of delicate shoes
and scarves, feeding the American
enthusiasm for all things Scots.
And from the sublime to the ridiculous,
Henry Holland pulled
off an outrageous use of tartans in
his 2008 show with much aplomb.
Truly keeping the fun and versatility
of it very much alive, Holland
capitalised on the novelty-factor
with a show that paraded a collection
of tartan suits, platform boots,
essential in the new wave of fashion-
meets-practical.
– whether
tartan trend into a post-
her constant revisiting
a statuesque pair of tartan antlers.
This was a true celebration of a time-
played with in a plethora of new innovative
ways.
So what does this mean for the
symbolic value of tartan to Scottish
culture and history? The bizarre
takes of the punk and new-wave
movements have slightly displaced
the traditional conventions of gentry
and clansmanship. However,
tartan has been a recurrent trend
disseminated globally for centuries,
which suggests it is a source of pride
and fascination in a unique history
and culture. The tartan frenzy is a
platform for creativity and all of this
considered, it could be suggested
that it is becoming an all-encompassing
trend; the ways in which
it is incorporated into everyday
wear is endless. Perhaps tartan has
become more of an umbrella trend
than one dominated by a dual his-
conform with or backlash against
the traditional establishment. From
the Burberry-wearing chav, through
to the 70s punk rocker, right up to
the gentries all plumed in their tartan
array… there’s so many ways in
which it can be plaid.
this is a trend seen in the nightclubs
of Yorkshire, coveted by the
region’s most tanned lasses!

20 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Fashion
The big debate
My Fashionable
Life: The Internship
Getting accused of stealing, over-hearing
rude remarks; it’s all in a day’s work
for The Courier’s resident fashion intern
Is there a north/south divide in fashion?
Victoria Mole explains
that in her opinion, there
is a divide in fashion and
discusses how it manifests
itself
Shoulder frills? Risky. Contrasting
patterns? Not advised. Mule Clogs?
Never. Faux pas are in most cases
forgiven but that’s not to say that
there aren’t regional differences.
Having travelled from Surrey
to Newcastle, I’ve observed both
unspoken rule for putting together
the perfect pair of painfully high
heels. It’s normal for me and my
friends to embrace new modelesque
heights when we hit the town so
ers’ Week I found myself standing
concept to my southern friends and
this may be an explanation as to
London looks like she bites.
There are nationally differing
trends from toe to head, example:
designers from Dolce & Gabbana to
Marc Jacobs, is frequently spotted
northern girls know how to layer,
work a pair of boots and on campus
I’ve seen a lot more girls embrace
plexion than at home.
On the other hand, southerners
are more likely to don the fake bake
and prolong summer style with
out autumn. In Newcastle I’ve
noticed a trend of bold statement
jewellery complimented with more
understated handbags, whereas
you could be mistaken for thinking
that Mary Poppins is a southern
style icon owing to our love of the
ing to the diversity of university
fashion.
Josie Hall disagrees, she
sees no fashion divide in
between the two regions
of the stereotype we are subject to
being allegedly ‘behind’ the South.
In the past, divisions between
northern and southern style have
sibility, southerners had the luxury
of designer stores on their doorstep
and the fashion capital of London
within close proximity, whereas
northern towns and cities struggled
The South was associated with
city chic whereas the north more
commonly encapsulated frump
came more available, we arguably
the industry and the North became
associated with brash ‘dressing to
impress’.
However, in recent years there
ences yet again as regional trends
have been dispersed nationwide.
It is now just as common to see a
Geordie in Jack Wills and Uggs as
it is a Southern ‘rah’. The North has
originally a South Shields company,
becoming national trends. When it
comes to fashion icons, the South
may have Kate Moss and Sienna
Miller amongst others, but there is
with the likes of Cheryl Cole and
Coleen Rooney attracting equal
amounts of followers.
Northern cities are also beginning
to rival the South in terms of style
outlets. Leeds, Manchester and
stores, whilst Manchester boasts
tion of a Newcastle store opening in
the near future!). Newcastle’s recent
stores good enough to rival most
other cities. The generalisation that
the North may not be as chic as the
South is simply not true and there
seems to be new and innovative
fashions coming centre stage from
this is proof that when it comes to
style, talk of a north/south divide
is no longer valid.
This summer I decided that as I
was becoming a third year student
and approaching a daunting life
as a young professional, I should
skip the holiday and do something
fore, just one week after coming
home for summer I embarked on a
3 month fashion internship with a
luxury publication. When I eagerly
agreed to be a stylist and personal
assistant I thought I knew what to
expect. However, with hindsight,
I’m not sure I was quite as prepared
as I thought!
First day in, I was thrown in at the
deep end; although I had worked on
alised how much preparation goes
into putting one together. I was
ing other exciting people from ‘the
industry.’ However what I soon
discovered was that a shoot meant
timidating) editor trawling through
clothes to suit and then chasing the
There were countless times that
I was sent an ‘alternative’ look to
the one I requested, and often it
was completely inappropriate for
the shoot’s story. Once I was even
sent a red knitted polo neck for an
less. However, no matter how hard
I struggled to get everything ready,
the actual shoot day always made
everything worth it, as it has to be
said, there were some serious perks.
Just holding clothing from Dolce &
Gabbana, Gucci and Louis Vuitton
in my own hands was exciting!
spective, one of the most obvious
perks of the job was the menswear
shoots with the male models! My
CATWALKING.COM
personal highlight was meeting the
rumoured new face of Prada and I
him around, particularly because
he was not shy about being seen in
However, I assure you I did not
ly running around organising the
clothes, changing the model, getting
numerous cups of tea and making
sure everything was returned to the
right PR agency.
Returning the clothing was another
element of the internship which was
not always my favourite job. My
ing £7,000 worth of the items they
course I had.
I also assisted with some styling
ment, included London Fashion
Week. One of my best memories
was supporting backstage at the
models working hard to pull the
a lot of hanging around, I was able
to eavesdrop on a lot of the bitching
you’d expect to hear at such an
event. Obviously there were the
usual digs at the models for being
anorexic or having rubbish hair but
the most imaginative was certainly
when someone compared a woman
The Little Mermaid. Perhaps slightly
harsh at 7am!
ence was overwhelmingly positive.
I could not have asked for a more
varied or engaging experience in the
fashion industry. Looking back, my
only slight disappointment is that I
missed out on getting a tan!
CATWALKING.COM

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 21
Male Style Fashion
B.CARLIN
Over To Him...
Are you unsure about whether to buy into that tricky trend? Sylvie Hall has all the
answers as she quizzes the opposite sex on the appeal of harem pants
2010 was the year that harem pants
riod of time, they have became the
umphed over jeans in 2008.
So what happens a trend last
donned by MC Hammer in the
1990’s when we involve a spot of
testosterone? Do their views really
edge that girls can sometimes wear
things “a bit out there” for the boys
in our lives, but what judgement
have they passed on our beloved
harems?
when I asked him his opinion of
harem pants and upon producing
a picture for him to know what I
Fashion Scents
Do guys really know the “scent of success?”
Katie Lauren Henry investigates
was talking about, his response was
picture further, he concluded that
“they look stupid, a gust of wind
and you’d be sailing.”
ties’, I was pleasantly surprised
when Luc, a second year Spanish
his approval for the trend saying
he “really like[d] the fashion” and
cially with heels.” My delight was
cut short however when Michael, a
second year History student told me
that, ‘they look quite stupid.’
right girl” and then paused to think
about the marginal utility of buying
some for himself.
Are they Bollywood
pants? Looks like Ali
Baba to me... they
look stupid, a gust of
wind and you’d be
sailing
ing, declaring that, “they make thin
girls look fat and give you a droopy
arse.” He then professed that “we’ve
gings, don’t let them die out!” Upon
asking why he favoured leggings on
girls, he gave me a cheeky wink and
guffawed that his reasons wouldn’t
be printable.
ment that harem pants are quite low
females ever dress to please men
anyway?
Web Exclusive

20 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Fashion
The big debate
My Fashionable
Life: The Internship
Getting accused of stealing, over-hearing
rude remarks; it’s all in a day’s work
for The Courier’s resident fashion intern
Is there a north/south divide in fashion?
Victoria Mole explains
that in her opinion, there
is a divide in fashion and
discusses how it manifests
itself
Shoulder frills? Risky. Contrasting
patterns? Not advised. Mule Clogs?
Never. Faux pas are in most cases
forgiven but that’s not to say that
there aren’t regional differences.
Having travelled from Surrey
to Newcastle, I’ve observed both
unspoken rule for putting together
the perfect pair of painfully high
heels. It’s normal for me and my
friends to embrace new modelesque
heights when we hit the town so
ers’ Week I found myself standing
concept to my southern friends and
this may be an explanation as to
London looks like she bites.
There are nationally differing
trends from toe to head, example:
designers from Dolce & Gabbana to
Marc Jacobs, is frequently spotted
northern girls know how to layer,
work a pair of boots and on campus
I’ve seen a lot more girls embrace
plexion than at home.
On the other hand, southerners
are more likely to don the fake bake
and prolong summer style with
out autumn. In Newcastle I’ve
noticed a trend of bold statement
jewellery complimented with more
understated handbags, whereas
you could be mistaken for thinking
that Mary Poppins is a southern
style icon owing to our love of the
ing to the diversity of university
fashion.
Josie Hall disagrees, she
sees no fashion divide in
between the two regions
of the stereotype we are subject to
being allegedly ‘behind’ the South.
In the past, divisions between
northern and southern style have
sibility, southerners had the luxury
of designer stores on their doorstep
and the fashion capital of London
within close proximity, whereas
northern towns and cities struggled
The South was associated with
city chic whereas the north more
commonly encapsulated frump
came more available, we arguably
the industry and the North became
associated with brash ‘dressing to
impress’.
However, in recent years there
ences yet again as regional trends
have been dispersed nationwide.
It is now just as common to see a
Geordie in Jack Wills and Uggs as
it is a Southern ‘rah’. The North has
originally a South Shields company,
becoming national trends. When it
comes to fashion icons, the South
may have Kate Moss and Sienna
Miller amongst others, but there is
with the likes of Cheryl Cole and
Coleen Rooney attracting equal
amounts of followers.
Northern cities are also beginning
to rival the South in terms of style
outlets. Leeds, Manchester and
stores, whilst Manchester boasts
tion of a Newcastle store opening in
the near future!). Newcastle’s recent
stores good enough to rival most
other cities. The generalisation that
the North may not be as chic as the
South is simply not true and there
seems to be new and innovative
fashions coming centre stage from
this is proof that when it comes to
style, talk of a north/south divide
is no longer valid.
This summer I decided that as I
was becoming a third year student
and approaching a daunting life
as a young professional, I should
skip the holiday and do something
fore, just one week after coming
home for summer I embarked on a
3 month fashion internship with a
luxury publication. When I eagerly
agreed to be a stylist and personal
assistant I thought I knew what to
expect. However, with hindsight,
I’m not sure I was quite as prepared
as I thought!
First day in, I was thrown in at the
deep end; although I had worked on
alised how much preparation goes
into putting one together. I was
ing other exciting people from ‘the
industry.’ However what I soon
discovered was that a shoot meant
timidating) editor trawling through
clothes to suit and then chasing the
There were countless times that
I was sent an ‘alternative’ look to
the one I requested, and often it
was completely inappropriate for
the shoot’s story. Once I was even
sent a red knitted polo neck for an
less. However, no matter how hard
I struggled to get everything ready,
the actual shoot day always made
everything worth it, as it has to be
said, there were some serious perks.
Just holding clothing from Dolce &
Gabbana, Gucci and Louis Vuitton
in my own hands was exciting!
spective, one of the most obvious
perks of the job was the menswear
shoots with the male models! My
CATWALKING.COM
personal highlight was meeting the
rumoured new face of Prada and I
him around, particularly because
he was not shy about being seen in
However, I assure you I did not
ly running around organising the
clothes, changing the model, getting
numerous cups of tea and making
sure everything was returned to the
right PR agency.
Returning the clothing was another
element of the internship which was
not always my favourite job. My
ing £7,000 worth of the items they
course I had.
I also assisted with some styling
ment, included London Fashion
Week. One of my best memories
was supporting backstage at the
models working hard to pull the
a lot of hanging around, I was able
to eavesdrop on a lot of the bitching
you’d expect to hear at such an
event. Obviously there were the
usual digs at the models for being
anorexic or having rubbish hair but
the most imaginative was certainly
when someone compared a woman
The Little Mermaid. Perhaps slightly
harsh at 7am!
ence was overwhelmingly positive.
I could not have asked for a more
varied or engaging experience in the
fashion industry. Looking back, my
only slight disappointment is that I
missed out on getting a tan!
CATWALKING.COM

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 21
Male Style Fashion
B.CARLIN
2010 was the year that harem pants
riod of time, they have became the
umphed over jeans in 2008.
So what happens to a trend last
donned by MC Hammer in the 1990s
ality? It is common knowledge that
girls can sometimes wear things “a
bit out there” for the boys in our
lives, but what judgement have they
passed on our beloved harems?
Robert, a third year studying
ing a picture to show him what I
Fashion
Do guys really know the “scent of success?”
Katie Lauren Henry investigates
For some it may be the smell of
ous cocoa body scrub, but for the
completely irresistible is that of a
well groomed male.
We’ve all heard of the idiom ‘love
guy even opens his mouth to speak,
we have (perhaps subconsciously)
already made a judgement about
him based on the way he is dressed.
We instantaneously give them the
pearance, including how good they
smell.
for men) on the site groomingguru.
co.uk revealed the surprising result
that wearing too much aftershave
is the ultimate grooming faux pas
for men, even topping having dirty
impressions count, and along with
posite sex.
tician; however I cannot help but
notice the correlation between how
joyable his scent is. It seems to me
Over To Him...
Are you unsure about whether to buy into that tricky trend? Sylvie Hall has all the
answers as she quizzes the opposite sex on the appeal of harem pants
that guys who take the time to
able to women, are the ones who
plement the season’s key trends.
rosexual males, fragrance and style
appear to go hand in hand.
For example, just last week I was
walking home along Osborne Road
with a friend. Out of nowhere, we
both turned to each other and gave
the “mmm” sigh that can only be
licious smelling male. I casually
walking behind us. I’m not sure to
which the divine scent belonged,
but this didn’t matter as, low and
tremely well – one in chunky grey
knitwear, the other donning (every
boasts a gorgeous smell, he’s likely
to be dressed really well.
So there you have it, if you’re able
managed to achieve that sought
after ‘Lynx effect’, then chances
are he also knows what looks good
and won’t be afraid to wear it.
was talking about, his response was
picture further, he concluded that
“They look stupid, a gust of wind
and you’d be sailing.”
ties”, I was pleasantly surprised
when Luc, a second year Spanish
his approval for the trend saying
he “really like[d] the fashion” and
cially with heels.” My delight was
cut short however when Michael, a
second year History student told me
that, “they look quite stupid”.
right girl” and then paused to think
Are they Bollywood
pants? Looks like Ali
Baba to me... they
look stupid, a gust of
wind and you’d be
sailing
about the marginal utility of buying
some for himself.
ing, declaring that “They make thin
girls look fat and give you a droopy
arse.” He then professed that “We’ve
gings, don’t let them die out!” Upon
asking why he favoured leggings on
girls, he gave me a cheeky wink and
guffawed that his reasons wouldn’t
be printable.
ment that harem pants are quite low
females ever dress to please men
anyway?
Web Exclusive

22
THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010
Listings Listings
what’s happening on your campus?
monday
Are you a fresher and living in Halls? Are
you interested in the environment? Do
you want to enhance your CV and dis-
New for 2010, GreenStudents is a student
led eco-network on campus looking
for fun, motivated and green-thinking
Home Made Jam
Acoustic Night
Cochrane Lounge , Student Union,
19:30-Late, FREE
More acoustic performances by students
to entertain us every Monday night. Meet
musicians and fans alike at this popular
and chilled out evening.
Any questions to activities.union@ncl.
ac.uk
Changing Age
Campaign
Photography
competition
Age and the Aging Process
Interested in photography? Want to win
loads of equipment and get your picture
displayed in a museum exhibition? Then
this is the competition for you! Newcastle
want images that bring a fresh insight
into an essential aspect of life: age and
the aging process. Enter your images on
this theme and you could win £500 worth
of photography equipment and have
your image displayed at the Great North
Museum’s Coming of Age exhibition in
block.
As a GreenStudents representative you
would promote green campaigns and encourage
green activities within your area
- anything from recycling and energy saving
to car sharing.
Rifle Shooting
Practice
Pick-up at Haymarket Metro, 18:00
Green Students
Search for Halls Representatives
Robinson Library, 25th-29th, 12:00-15:00
Join this active and friendly club that
shoot at least 3 times a week. No experience
or equipment required whatsoever.
championships for many years and
takes part in various other competitions
throughout Britain, shooting indoors and
To register your interest in an open
day or join the club, contact our President
Derek Wong on 07518384888 or
d.k.s.wong1@ncl.ac.uk
January 2011. In addition, along with
four other winners from linked competi-
will automatically be judged in an overall
grand prize competition where there is
ditional £500 cash prize.
Email your pictures to Changin-
‘CHANGING AGE’ is included in the
subject line.
Please include your name, address
and a contact number in order to ensure
we can reach you should your photo be
selected.
For more information and to view the
galleries, please visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk;
for more information
about the campaign go to http://www.
ncl.ac.uk/about/changingage
tuesday wednesday thursday friday
In return, you could take part in socials
and competitions held throughout the
year, with rewards at each Hall for the
best performing team. You could also get
your hands on some free lunch vouchers
and give your CV the competitive edge
with help from ncl+. Meet like-minded
NUTS say goodbye
to the Basement
Cabaret Evening
Union Basement, Doors 19:30 for
20:00 Start, £3
Say goodbye to the beloved Base-
Evening that will showcase some of
the best talent on campus.
Everyone is welcome, head downstairs,
sit back and enjoy one of the
promises to be a good’un!
Dance Society Social
Cowgirl/Boys
Vodka Revs, 21:00
Come along to NCL’s greatest society
social! This week we are joining up with
the rugby boys, with the boys dressing
up as Indians and the dancers as cowgirls/boys.
Grab your cowboy hats, guns and boots
with plenty of fabulous drink deals along
the way! Revs to Sinners, Sam Jacks into
Tiger.
For more information visit the Face-
Dance Society 2010-2011’.
students whilst making your mark on
campus.
To know more, email your Ethics and
ion@ncl.ac.uk and sign up at the table in
the Robinson Library from 25th-29th October.
Give it a Go!
Go Ape - High Ropes
Course
From the Student Union, 12:00,
£15
the greatest of ease on a brilliant high
ropes course, just outside of Newcastle.
Your £15 includes 2-3 hours in the
trees, all equipment and a safety
For more information, or to book,
email giag.union@ncl.ac.uk, or go to
www.unionsociety.co.uk/giveitago
International Community
Day
Welcome to International
Students
Civic Centre, 13:00-15:30
International Community Day is an
event which aims to welcome newly
arrived international students to the
city and provide them with a place
resources and community oppertunities
available across Newcastle and
within their university. To make
the most of your time in Newcastle
this is a great place for international
students to start.
Do you want your
event advertised in
The Courier?
Latin and Ballroom
Society
Social
The Black Swan, 19:30 , £3 members,
£5 non-members
A dancing social at a popular local dancing
club. Get your dancing shoes on and
move on down to The Black Swan for a fun
evening to show off your moves!
Coppafeel
Cheerobics Class and
Stand
Sports Hall, 11:00-12:00
Coppafeel present a cheerobics class
taken by Tarren Smarr GB Cheerleading.
There will also be a Coppafeel stand
full of information for anyone concerned
about breast cancer.
This Listings spread is for you. A place
for students and societies to advertise any
events that they are organising. From
team trials, recruitment drives, fundraising
and charity nights, to live music and
art shows - we want you to know what is
going on around your university campus -
and more importantly we want you to be
Student Parent
Carers Halloween
Party
Family Half Term Social
Function Suite Student Union,
13:30-15:00, FREE
A great chance to meet other student
parents - and their kids. Take advantage
of the Halloween weekend and come
down to the Union to enjoy kids games,
arts and crafts, music and refreshments.
A perfect chance for your kids to make
some new playmates - and maybe even
you too. For more information or for
any questions e-mail the Parents and
ac.uk
able to let others know about it too!
To get details of your event published in
these pages, all you have to do is e-mail the
date, time and location of your event with
a short description of what it is and who it
is for to: courier.listings@ncl.ac.uk, or stop
into The Courier
Listings Editor : Ciara Littler - courier.listings@ncl.ac.uk
Your Spooky City:
Top events for the Halloween weekend
1. Film
2. Art/ Clubbing
The Great Tyneside
Halloween Horror Quiz
Tyneside Cinema, Wednesday
27th, 20:00, £5 per team
is up to scratch? Head down to the
Tyneside to try out their horrendously
horrible Halloween quiz. Spooky drinks
offers available.
3. Exhibition
Halloween at Beamish
Beamish Museum, Durham, Friday
and Saturday 18:30-21:30,
£10
Free your inner child and head down to
this living museum for a night of ghosts
and spooky goings on in the living
museum. Beamish will be taken over by
the Halloween spirit; you can ride the
Ghost train or join the grizzly guided
walk. Prizes will be awarded for the
best scary costume. Call 0191 370 4000
to book your tickets now!
ly Good Halloween Party
The Baltic, Sunday 31st October, £8/6
Get into the Spooky Spirit with this great
event. There will be a prize for the best
dressed ghoul and wonderful after-hours
haunted tours of The Baltic. Price includes
a crafty cocktail and look out for the eerie
surprises that the night will have in store.
4. Music/Film
23
ion Choir
Star and Shadow Cinema, Saturday
30th, 20:00, £4 Bands + £2
host a pre-Halloween gig. Their huge
multi-instrumental sound will give you a
cracking start to the Halloween weekend.
They are joined by O’Messy Life, Brilliant
Mind and John Egdell. Cult classic Evil
Dead II will be shown in the cinema.
CoppaFeel Campaign
Raising money and awareness
all this week
CoppaFeel’s aim is to hit home the
importance of breast examination in
younger women.
The breast time to CoppaFeel is now.
Cancer isn’t fussy about your age, it
doesn’t conform to the over forties rule
we try to impose on it.
As well as informing young women
about breast cancer, CoppaFeel’s active
dence in young women wishing to seek
medical advice when concerns arise.
The ultimate goal of CoppaFeel is to
reduce the incidence of late detection or
misdiagnosed breast cancer. Boob Hijack
sities. The aim is to hijack every pair of
Boobs in England in the name of “Boob
Awareness”.
Look out for members of the Boob
Team around your campus over Oct-Nov
as they will be carrying out a number
of activities you can get involved in.
There will be a CoppaFeel stand in the
draising activities and an evening event.
If you are interested in getting involved,
look out for your B-Team members
on campus or drop them an email at
s.l.powell1@newcastle.ac.uk or joanne.
navin@newcastle.ac.uk.
Also head over to www.coppafeel.org
to sign up to be a Boob Team member.

24 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Life & Style
‘You can have fun with music
and still be reverent’> Music, page 29
stage
Stock market scandal
Juliet Armstrong on the satirical new production
The Theatre Royal opens a month
of theatrical delights in November
with an exhilarating production of
Lucy Prebble’s Enron, direct from a
successful run on the West End.
Prebble’s play is entwined with po-
as the truth behind one of America’s
most powerful energy companies
comes to light in Rupert Goold’s
direction of Prebble’s provocative
theatrical work.
Enron was an innovative com-
changes in the American business
markets during the 1990s.
This was a time period in recent
economic history that experienced
where future possibilities seemed
endless and risks were taken daily.
Yet the world was shocked in 2001
when Enron, a company that employed
22,000 people worldwide
and had supposed revenues of $100
billion, collapsed sending business
markets tumbling due to the inevi-
yet to be resurrected almost a decade
later.
Prebble uses this exciting and
high-risk context as the framework
for her theatrical invention, signi-
perfectly accessible even to the least
mathematically-minded amongst
theatre-goers.
Following sell-out runs at the
Royal Court in London and in the
West End, the North East is the next
to host to this critically acclaimed
play.
Enron was commissioned by Headlong
Theatre in 2006, a theatrical
company under the artistic director
Rupert Goold.
The company explores new areas
of theatre in order to create bold and
vibrant theatrical work that inspires
both artists and audiences alike.
Enron has certainly achieved
Headlong’s aspirations, as the play
creates thought provoking reactions
with a serious allegorical message
that highlights the detriment of personal
greed and the desire for power
in an ever increasing egoistic world.
When Enron opened on Broadway,
critical opinion was not so sweet as
the perception accrued from London
reviews.
Despite nominations for four Tony
Awards, (the theatrical equivalent
to the Oscars) Enron closed early.
The question remains whether
Prebble’s subject matter was simply
too close to home when the play
transferred to America, with audiences
unable to derive entertainment
from the all too real-life corruption
that sent the economy into
a troublesome situation.
The division in opinion has undoubtedly
generated further interest
in the play, with Newcastle audiences
eager to experience and enjoy
the drama unfold for themselves as
they are confronted with Prebble’s
moral and artistic work.
Enron runs at the Theatre Royal between
2-6 Nov, with tickets priced from
£8.50- £29.50.
news
BALTIC hosts Turner Prize 2011
The art world was shocked last
month to learn that the Turner Prize
will be held in Gateshead's BALTIC
been hosted anywhere other than a
Tate Gallery.
The Turner Prize is arguably the
most prestigious contemporary art
award in the UK.
Established in 1984, it is a competition
open to British artists under the
careers of young artists) to present
an exhibition and their work from
the last twelve months, and is
judged by an independent panel.
In recent years, the Turner Prize
has caused controversy and debate
over the boundaries of visual
contemporary art. Previous winners
have included Tracey Emin's
My Bed - an installation piece that
consisted of an unmade bed, strewn
with worn underwear, fag-ends and
bottles of beer.
After winning the prize in 1997,
she, along with the likes of Damien
Wood, became known as the Young
British Artists.
This iconic movement put contemporary
art at the forefront of the
British art scene and propelled its
participants into stardom.
This year's four shortlisted artists
are Dexter Dalwood, Angel de la
lithe Group.
Dalwood has produced a series of
deep, rich paintings of both historical
and contemporary context, and
Cruz's combination of painting and
sculpture creates tension as fabrics
and canvases are folded onto each
other.
Philipsz has created sound installations
of her own voice that play in
out-of-way places, for example under
bridges.
The Otolithe Group have created
debates over documentary history
and the moving image, using material
from various disciplines.
The prize has only ever been held
once outside of London, at the Tate
Liverpool in 2007, tying in with its
newfound status as the European
capital of culture.
The success of this has led to it being
decided that the competition will
be held in major galleries outside of
London in upcoming years, starting
with Gateshead's BALTIC, a major
cultural hub in the North East.
The four shortlisted artists for the
2011 prize will be announced in
April, with an exhibition of the work
being held from October 21 2011 till
January 8 2012.
Council leaders in the region have
seen this as fantastic news, in that
it will establish further the North
East's place in the contemporary art
world.
One can well assume that this is
true; whilst the BALTIC is renowned
for its striking and controversial exhibitions,
this will undoubtedly provide
a much wider scope of interest
for the area in the art world, and on
an economic level will provide increased
numbers of visitors.
We can only hope that the future
success of the awards in the North
East will broaden the London-centric
constraints on the national arts
scene.
Kayleigh Dale
art
Geordies on screen
world’s largest storytelling festival
- a celebration of digital storytelling
that is a region-wide event,
unique locations.
Over the past two years people
throughout the North East have
been creating personal digital stories
or "mini-movies".
pictures, sound or animation and
the fascinating stories have been
created by a wide variety of people
in the north that have been inspired
by museums and galleries.
Newcastle city centre - these secret
screenings are meant to be discovered
by their audience, can be found
near Monument and consist of stories
selected from the breadth of the
North East – tapping into the lives
of residents young and old.
A "Digimix" event is being held at
Newcastle City Library - a free event
that celebrates a variety of digital
stories that were specially selected
The "Tyne over Time" Boat trip
promises to be a brilliant central feature
of the festival.
The trip consists of a cruise along
the Tyne, on the River Escape Fortuna
Ferry with on-board screen-
that show different and fascinating
aspects of Northern history.
shown throughout the cruise, as
well as being paired with Culture
of local shipyards and growing up
on Tyneside.
es to offer a new and exciting insight
into a variety of aspects of North
East life.
For those who want to learn more
about the area they live in or those
who are just interested in unique
worth a visit.
For more information about any of the
events on during the Culture Shock Festival,
visit: www.cultureshock.org.uk
Sally Priddle

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 25
Arts
Culture
dance
Rolling on the river: The Mill
The Mill performed by aerial theatre
company Ockham‘s Razor combines
dance, mime and artistic skills with
a sophisticated mechanical construction
of ropes and pulleys; the ‘stage‘
for the artists.
The show itself is quite tricky to
categorise; it is as entertaining as a
circus, but at the same time demands
the viewer‘s own interpretation.
Nevertheless, there is always a
story behind the performance, as the
artists emphasise.
The Mill focuses on the labour and
human relationships in a Victorian
mill.
Far from being a knockabout term,
the representation of manual labour
is strategically choreographed; the
actors mirror the strain of nineteenth-century
mill work in the exertion
of performing in mid-air on a
large revolving wheel.
It is this construction that becomes
the focal point of the performance,
around which the actors swing and
perform, making no attempt to mask
The daring cast who will perform
on the dizzying construction of
wood and steel consists of the three
members of Ockham‘s Razor who
are joined by the two experienced
artists Stefano di Renzo and Steve
Ryan; all of them have professional
backgrounds in theatre and performing
arts.
Their fantastic artistic skills and the
cooperation with the Olivier award
winner Toby Segdewick as their director
are certainly the reason for
the show‘s success at the London
International Mime Festival where
it premiered in 2009.
The Mill are their only North East
performances of their 2010 autumn
tour.
So hold on to your seat, enjoy the
art
Who gives a toss?
Roll up, roll up: the energetic cast present the hardships of Victorian manual labour of Ockham Razor’s The Mill, at Dance City
When I found out that there was an
exhibition on the Quayside using a
childish amount of swear words (including
liberal use of the C-word), I
knew immediately that it’d be right
up my street.
Anyone who is a little wary
around obscenities should probably
be warned; this exhibition doesn’t
pull any punches.
Displayed at Lazarides Gallery,
The North East Felt Tip S*** House is
an exhibition created by the same
cult cartoonists who put together the
Modern Toss Channel 4 TV sketchshow
series.
Using artfully crude canvas posters,
it’s easy to appreciate the satirical
social commentaries of the work
as well as the humour of them on a
purely titillating level.
I found myself particularly amused
by the prints featuring the arsey
On another level, this exhibition
is a postmodern critique of Britain’s
hyper-consumerist, moneyobsessed
society.
-
(featuring a crudely-drawn character
who spews diabolically funny
one liners at his colleagues and his
employers) pokes fun at the nation’s
problem with unemployment.
parody of the nick-nacks that we all
buy for the sake of it, and then leave
to fester in the back of draws and
cupboards, until the eventual spring
clean sees them chucked in the bin
or packed off to the local Oxfam
shop in a donations bag.
Essentially this exhibition is either
going to leave you laughing or force
you to ponder about societies’ consumerist
tendencies. Make sure you
don’t miss out.
Modern Toss is on at the Lazarides Gallery,
12-6pm Tuesdays-Saturdays
Lauren Powell
show and remember - you‘re on the
safe ground!
The Mill is on at Dance City, 4th-6th
November. For tickets and information,
Arts Editor: Stephanie Ferrao - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk
visit: www.dancecity.co.uk
Lisa Bernhardt
art
Perfect symmetry
Taking up only one room of the
Laing Art Gallery, Michael Dean’s
exhibition Symmetry of Intimacy is
very contained, creating closeness
between art and onlooker.
As a local and largely undiscovered
artist, Michael Dean has created
Symmetry of Intimacy, as a response
to Sunset, The Bay, North Devon by
David Bomberg.
Although Bomberg’s work is in the
form of a painting, Dean responds
with two sculptures and an enig-
own childhood memories of Bomberg’s
painting.
Bomberg’s painting is hung outside
the entrance to Dean’s work,
allowing the public to be involved
in the conversation between the two
works.
Writing is literally made central
to Dean’s work as the play script is
placed at the centre of the exhibition
space.
Interestingly, by using a play
script, Dean creates an absence
within his own work as the written
‘voices’ within the script cannot
speak aloud.
Dean appears to be presenting his
exhibition space, which is almost
empty, as a stage - allowing visitors
to interact with and become part of
his work.
Dean also allows visitors to rip out
a page of the script and take it away
with them, creating absence as part
of the work is being taken away, but
also allowing a private relationship
with Dean’s work to be established.
With words being directly placed
at the centre of Dean’s work, it seems
that meaning should be searched for
within them. The script however,
and it seems as if Dean is disallowing
a level of intimacy between himself
and the viewer of his work.
While we may be able to physically
touch Dean’s work and even
take it away with us, it cannot be
truly understood; but this may be
what Dean means by his symmetry
of intimacy.
Kerry Lagan
books
This week’s must-reads:
Man Booker Prize Shortlist
Winner:
The Finkler Question - Howard
Jacobson
A funny and wise novel about love,
loss and friendship, The Finkler
Question was the surprise winner.
We follow two men whose lives are
turned around after one is mysteriously
attacked at exactly 11:30pm,
after hesitating at the window of the
oldest violin dealer in the county.
What results is a story of friendship
and loss, exclusion and belonging,
and of jealousy and love. Comical,
furious and resolute, this clever
book may be one of humour and
wit, but it also raises questions of
our own humanity. An entertaining
yet thought provoking book by
one of the great British authors of
today.
Ciara Littler
The Long Song - Andrea Levy
Set in Jamaica in the 19th Century,
The Long Song tells the story of the
eyes of a young housemaid. Similar
to her most successful novel, Small
Island, it explores Levy’s Jamaican
roots, and though brutal and vivid in
places, Levy still manages to engage
the reader with comic moments.
Hannah Davey
Parrot and Olivier in America –
Peter Carey
Democratic development and class
struggles are experiences delivered
through the eyes of an unlikely pair.
The alternating perspectives of Parrot,
a spy-cum-servant, and Olivier,
a spoilt Frenchman representing
the last remnant of an elitist order,
combine to present a tale of romance
and hardship. The novel expresses
what it means for the Old World
to be modernised, through Carey’s
witty and emotive story-telling.
Jason Bridgewater
Room - Emma Donoghue
Room
year-old boy who lives with his Ma
in Room. He knows nothing other
than the world inside his room, and
this is a world that has been constructed
on lies. The narrative drives
the tension that is rife throughout
Donoghue’s novel, as the reader is
entranced with this unconventional
and disturbing account of grief,
Juliet Armstrong
C - Tom McCarthy
McCarthy’s experimental novel C
follows the short life of Serge Carrefax,
a man who is born into the
electrifying modernity of the early
twentieth century. The stunning
narrative oscillates from an idyllic
pre-war Europe, through the prison
camps of Nazi Germany to the
drug-enduced frenzy of London in
the roaring Twenties, and beyond.
Charlotte Loftus

26 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture
Film
film of the week
film
Director: David Fincher
Rooney Mara
Runtime: 120 mins
expression after two weeks.’ Autumn
2003, Harvard. Mark Zucker-
college girlfriend and returns to his
neously he writes software which
22,000 hits in an hour, crashing Harvard’s
network at 4am.
tor of a networking system aimed
at placing the social experience of
on The Accidental Billionaires (Ben
this is a fast-paced, entertaining and
Adventureland,
plays college geek Zucker-
perfectly explored, juxtaposing the
news
Empire’s Halloween all-nighter returns
As we count down ominously towards
Halloween, fans of horror
cinema looking for a night of cathartic
scares and quality cinema need
look no further than Empire’s dusktill-dawn
marathon. Empire have
announced the return of their All
Night Special, with another eclectic
selection of contemporary and clas-
through the night.
includes the underrated atmospheric
thriller The Strangers, recent
festival hit Frozen, the franchise favourite
Saw 3D and Hitchcock’s remastered
original classic Pyscho, all
for a modest £15.
Hitchcock’s seminal classic Pyscho
(1960), following the murder and investigation
of a the late Janet Leigh
scenes in the history of cinema. With
the remastered edition enhancing
Baz Lutherman’s famous and visual
than ever.
The Strangers (2008) is a tense horror
as a couple face the terror of a house
Although the formula sounds familiar
Bryan Bertino’s stylish direction
maintains constant tension throughout,
toying with viewers with silence
introverted, often anti-social computer
wiz with his own universal
destiny. Sorkin’s script strongly un-
an aggressive and sometimes frightening
use of knowledge presented
with a constant sense of dramatic
and intellectual agitation. The true
story mixes the pressurised exclu-
assent into the world of socialites
and the loyalties tested along the
way.
Other lead performances are
Never Let Me Go. He plays friend
and co-founder Eduardo Saverin,
and his convincing performance
never fails to incite our frustration
The screenplay itself is somewhat
Armie Hammer) who are attempt-
tion, seamlessly cut together and
unsavory role, demonstrating his
growing versatility as an actor.
hind Fight Club, Seven and The Curious
Case of Benjamin Button
and shock scares, character driven
narrative and some genuinely ma-
The critically acclaimed Frozen
(2010), is a recent horror-injected
addition to the survivalist genre It
documents three teenagers who are
left trapped at the top of a ski lift
when they sneak on after-hours.
Dealing with a horror all too real
each other making some terrifying
decisions in the process.
And of course Saw 3D, the
sinking ship of a franchise that
somehow manages to cash in repeatedly
on Halloween, allowing
viewers to “experience the
hooked to a story which is witty, ex-
the start.
ment, it is also a stark comment on
the social and technological addictions
which dominate the fast pace
lake’s character, “digitalization”.
It is interesting, too, to note the
tion. The twenty-six year old, who
pears unfazed, noting that out of 500
million users of his product, even 5
million viewers would have scarce
social aims. Whatever the verdict,
it is still ironic that this young man,
of his youth.
Verdict: Searing performances,
fantastic direction, and a script
which demands your attention for
perfectly complements the drama,
assert itself from the other hits in
formance from Eisenberg, delivering
the same amount of bite in his
one word monotones as his barely
comprehensible ramblings laced
Hayley Hamilton
opulent gore, massively clichéd
twist ending and characters that
see how the genre incorporates 3D
clinically dead for the last four outings
in the series.
Starting at 11pm, the night is sure
to challenge horror fans’ endurance,
perception and nerves.
lected and audiences are advised to
strength caffeine products.
Chris Binding
preview
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde,
Michael Sheen
cal happened to cinema. Tron
to feature state of the art computer
animation. It looks severely out-dat-
ics and movie-goers alike. It even in-
to want to use computer generated
animation.
Although the story was criticised,
So now, 28 years later, the world
of TronTron: Legacy, with
the helm.
After Kevin Flynn, owner of
to enter ENCOM’s mainframe, disappears
from existence, his son investigates
a strange signal coming
his Dad. Sam Flynn is then sucked
his father which is a more advanced
version of the ENCOM mainframe.
With help from Alan Bradley,
Quorra, a program within the new
computer world, Sam tracks down
With Jeff Bridges reprising his role
faced younger Bridges) and Bruce
Boxleitner returning as Bradley,
there is plenty here for the old Tron
fans to love. Tron: Legacy
Olivia Wilde as Quorra (wearing
a ridiculously skin tight suit) and
Michael Sheen as Castor, a Ziggy
Chris Taylor

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 27
Film Culture
Film Editor: Adam Williams - courier.culture-film@ncl.ac.uk
features
James Bond
Catwoman
Donnie Darko
The House of Wax
Creature from the Black LagoonIt
Came From Outer Space
Casino Royale
Minority Report
Donnie
Darko
Fight Club
Comin’ at Ya!
Jaws 3DFriday the
13th Part 3
The Polar Express
Night of the Living
DeadMy
Bloody Valentine 3D
as Back To The Future’s
Castaway’s
Chris Binding
Scott Pilgrim vs. The
World
Yasmin Benn
Resident Evil
Saw
Clare Tweedy
film five
Stephen King’s It)
Alien)
Pan’s Labyrinth)
Pan’s Labyrinth
Frankenstein)
Dracula)
Kathy Jackman

28 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture Film
in cinemas
film
Director: Bernard Rose
Cast: Rhys Ifans, Chlöe Sevigny,
Runtime: 121 mins
By the dawn of the 1980s, Howard
Marks, an Oxford graduate from
the Welsh valleys, had built himself
an empire. With 43 aliases, a young
family and connections in both the
IRA and MI6, Marks oversaw 10%
of the world’s hashish trade in an
operation which spanned the globe.
Directed by Bernard Rose, Mr Nice
is a wryly comic yet by-the-book
crime biopic charting the rise and
fall of the man who became known
as one of Britain’s most notorious
porting cast, including David Thewlis
and Chlöe Sevigny, this is really
a one man show with Rhys Ifans
central performance as Marks himself,
striking a chord between over-
believe he is actually getting away
with this.
Rose’s choice to mix live action
convincingly in the relatively lowtech
world of the 60s and 70s whilst
providing a suitably hazy backdrop
to unfolding events.
two of its weakest sections; an opening
sequence which feels overly
rushed (whisking Marks from naive
Glamorgan schoolboy to longhaired
free-loving Oxford scholar
in the space of twenty minutes) and
a conclusion that at times feels too
drawn out.
Based on Marks’ autobiography,
is less than subtle in portraying its
protagonist’s famously pro-legalisa-
putting forward the viewpoint that
“it’s the law that’s wrong”. How-
deeper into the argument than this
and thus, in many ways, refuses to
take sides. With some genuinely
funny moments, the overall out-
but at times average, buoyed up
dent performances at its centre.
Verdict: A good but not great
Back To The
Future
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher
Lloyd, Lea Thompson,
Crispin Glover
Runtime: 116 mins
year anniversary, Universal Studios
have re-released the timeless classic
Back To The Future for a modern
audience to appreciate on the
widescreen. Following Michael J.
Fox back in his hey-day as the fun-
after time, explaining why on its
re-release at cinemas across the UK
this October, it has raked in nearly
half a million pounds.
a wide audience, largely due to its
intriguing and hilarious characters.
Let me introduce you to Marty
teenage boy whose life revolves
around dates with his girlfriend,
playing in his band and trying to
avoid his parent’s constant questioning,
Marty’s whole existence is
threatened when he accidentally
travels back in time in a plutoniumpowered
DeLorean. Thrown back
into the year 1955, Marty must
creator of the time-machine, to get
back to the future and the life he
has left behind. Unwittingly, Marty
meets his teenage parents, becoming
the unwilling love interest of
his desperate teenage mother and
father.
Despite being created in the 1980s,
with minimal reworking the special
effects and cinematography of Back
To The Future remain impressive.
tionable, inspiring two equally
entertaining sequels, and providing
a classic formula which can still be
as 17 Again. If you haven’t seen it
yet, it comes highly recommended;
you laugh, delivered with a healthy
dose of 80s nostalgia.
Verdict: Back to the Future is a
and certainly worth owning on
Kerry Lagan
Directors: Jason Friedberg,
Aaron Seltzer
Cast: Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter,
Chris Riggi
Runtime: 82 mins
From the directors of Scary Movie,
this predictable spoof of vampire
The
Twilight Saga, to the point where
it looked as though they used the
same set.
For those of you not familiar with
The Twilight Saga, the storyline is
as follows; Becca (Proske) moves
to the town of Sporks, which is
also inhabited by vampires. Becca
falls in love with Edward Sullen
who swiftly ditches her for her own
Edward and Jacob (Riggi), a werewolf
who takes his top off a lot.
crammed with obvious US pop culture
references, which will only be
funny if you’re an avid fan of Keeping
Up With The Kardashians, Gossip
Girl, Jersey Shore, or you subscribe
sort of genuine comedy value, and
aimed at twelve-year old boys were
the low point of an already pretty
dire eighty-two minutes.
Proske’s acting skills were the
to elicit a genuine laugh as she
perfectly imitated Kristen Stewart’s
irritatingly overwrought portrayal
of Bella Swan in the original.
The end could not come soon
enough, and was the only part of
The
Twilight Saga plot, to focus on a bizarre
high school prom queen debacle,
as we’ve seen in every US teen
movie for the last 20 years. Sadly it
Salema Junior Radford
Directors: Anthony Bell, Ben
Gluck
Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Christina
Ricci, Justin Long
Runtime: 88 mins
The story of this canine caper
revolves around an arranged
marriage between two Canadian
wolves against their will, but for
the good of uniting the pack. Collectivist
this may be, it is likely to
have gone straight over the heads
of most of its intended audience.
As the only adult there not accompanying
a small child I sank down
glasses. The 3D effects themselves
were fairly average: only once was
the technology used well as the audience
dodged a golf ball perceived
A quick search of the BBFC web-
lence, threat and innuendo’. Adults
in the audience were squirming as
we witnessed the characters seducing
each other and realising that
too dissimilar to a steamy national
geographic show concerning the
mating rituals of wolves.
Attempting to get a view from a
younger perspective, Hannah, aged
were when the wolves were singing
together (yes singing, obviously the
makes it clear that those below a
certain age are reassuringly oblivious
to the frisky creatures and their
obvious innuendos.
Perhaps my humour is no longer
target audience but despite hav-
careless with its characters and plot,
making the whole thing a bit of a
dog’s dinner.
Jenny Hyndman

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 29
Culture
If you have ever listened to Zane
Lowe’s evening Radio 1 show you
will know him as a loud mouthed
energetic music maestro who plays
everything from dub to folk. When
meeting him in person it was re-
radio personality was a front and he
was truly as passionate as his persona
would appear. Up in Newcastle
as part of Radio 1’s week long
University tour, contrastingly education
for Zane was only ever a part
time thing while he tried to break
his way into the music industry. But
it wasn’t in presenting that he originally
wanted to get into the business,
rather with his group Urban
Disturbance, which he describes as
a “straight down the line, serious
ingly
adamant that he “thankfully
every day to make music. Having
been a beats man from his teens, he
plays on Logic both for fun and to
add a creative edge to his DJ sets,
wanting to “make them as bespoke
ess
as one of “adding, subtracting,
trying to do things to make it
Like most people who have made
it into the business, he describes his
as an unorthodox route as any, full
of the usually lucky breaks. Whilst
in Auckland he found his way into
working at a new free to air music
channel, discovering soon enough
that it was “as natural to talk about
From these early days fronting a
hip hop and dance show, his career
has risen to a point where he is at
the top of the game. But it doesn’t
sound like he is going to be tired of
it any time soon. When asked if he
rienced
in music at an early age, apparently
begging his mum like any
young teenager to take him to gigs,
“You have to start every year thinking
I hope I haven’t experienced
soon as he knows it’s gone, he’s going
to be doing something else. He
saying that some of the high points
of his career have come in the last
twelve months. Interview-wise he
picks out a chat with Josh Homme
from Queens of the Stone Age as a
unique moment in his recent hectic
schedule where he has done some-
est,
not for MTV or the BBC. Never
taking it for granted he is well aware
of his luck, “I feel very fortunate I’ve
been able to surround myself with
Whilst this ‘musical stuff’ as he puts
it comes in many guises, whether it
be his work for MTV on Gonzo or
his own DJ sets at clubs across the
country, he is most well known as
music
the poster boy (or man – he had grey
hairs in his beard!) for alternative
music on Radio 1, having worked
at the station since June 2003, before
that working at the alternative
station XFM. The show bridges the
gap between daytime mainstream
and night time specialism, and this
isn’t a position Zane takes lightly.
He is well aware of the famous lineage
of the show from Jo Whiley to
Steve Lamacq, right back to the late
John Peel and the legacy left by his
celebrated radio style. Zane strives
in every broadcast to “maintain a
his efforts go into trying to make a
show which is authentic, and creates
a genuine relationship between
the music played and the listeners
sitting by their radios night after
night.
In some ways it was surprising
to learn that in a time when Radio
1 is becoming an increasingly mainstream
venture, Zane can still maintain
full artistic control of the music
he plays. And it really is variety that
builds the foundations of his show.
Once we get onto the topic of music
in our chat, this is when Zane really
becomes actively passionate rather
than reeling out stock answers. The
word he used repeatedly to describe
British urban music was ‘thriving’
and sees the current state of things
as a benchmark moment which can
be built on in years to come. For
those interested in new music, here
are a few names that Zane recommended:
James Blake, Vaccines,
Leftwich. And some of Zane’s personal
favourites from the last year
include: Bombay Bicycle Club’s
album Flaws, No Age, Best Coast,
Arcade Fire and Deftones. The list
could go on and on for pages; whilst
being passionate about music he
makes the point that “You can have
In that sense, you’ve got to respect
what he’s doing.
TV and radio personality Fearne
Cotton didn’t go to uni, so she’s
having a particularly novel week
broadcasting her radio show from
a different uni town every day this
right here in Newcastle at Northumbria’s
SU (let’s face it, until we
get our bright, shiny, new building
their Union is, temporarily, one of
the only things they can gloat to us
about). The highlight of Fearne’s 10-
12.45 show was the live lounge performance
by Mark Ronson and the
Business International. We’re still
not sure about Mark’s latest ‘blonde
bombshell’ look but their rendition
of Arcade Fire’s ‘We Used to Wait’
was fabulous. They also performed
‘The Bike Song’, with the perpetually
hungover Kyle Falconer, who
proudly told Music Editor Polly
he’d drunk a bottle of vodka in the
back of a car the night before. Rock
and roll.
Fearne’s been presenting since
before she’d even got her GCSEs.
work and her exams in together,
and is a bit embarrassed she’s only
got one A-Level, which is in art. She
doesn’t regret leaving school earlier
than some though. “I couldn’t have
missed that opportunity. I would
have loved to go to uni but my career
was already happening, I didn’t
want to put it on hold. And I’ve
well, it’s a different kind of educa-
-
The highlight of her career so far?
the throne?
Despite not going, she’s seen a lot
of uni from staying with her brother
as well, but the 29-year-old reckons
she’s a bit old for it now. She hasn’t
ruled out doing a degree at some
point, possibly in art. “I’ve always
been really creative. My dad’s an
artist, I’m always doodling. I love
drawing, I’ve done all the illustrations
in the book so that’s been
The
Best Friend’s Guide to Life which she
co-wrote with fellow TV presenter
Holly Willoughby, which came out
Music
feature
When Radio 1’s Live Lounge came to Newcastle
Music Editor Polly
Randall meets music
to discuss his musical
past and future plans
Video hasn’t killed these radio stars: The Courier meets Radio 1’s leading lights Fearne and Zane for a chat about life in the spotlight, their university tour and of course, the music.
Photo Editor Briony
Carlin chats to Fearne
Cotton about her rise
to fame and life in the
media glare.
last week.
The book’s not her only side-
launched a make-up range (on sale
in Boots) and has had other ranges
in the past. When I asked her how
she found the time, she replied, “It’s
easy when you love what you’re do-
sage
of perseverance, despite her
views on the value of a good role
model. “When I was younger I always
really looked up to Zoe Ball.
It’s important to look up to people
ing
used as an ‘anorexic icon’ a few
years ago when making an investigative
documentary into eating disorders.
“I don’t want to be slumped
in with the celebrities who do all
It’s an issue that needs a lot more
As for music, Fearne’s currently
raving about new bands Diagram of
the Heart , The Naked And Famous,
Funeral Party and Beach House, who
supported Grizzly Bear at the Sage
last year. Coincidentally and independently,
she tells us her favourite
album of the year is also Bombay
Bicycle Club’s Flaws, and as it’s the
highly credible Zane’s favourite too
I’ll allow that she knows a bit more
about what’s up-and-coming (and
is a bit less vacuous) than I’d previously
thought.

30 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture
Music
interview
Happy
Deez
There’s more than
meets the eye writes
Jack Kidder
NME
-
-
-
-
-
music
Darwin Deez might shock the eye, but perhaps more surprising is their down to earth music style which favours stripped back and melodic simplicity over auto-tune technology
incorporate the melody”. The re-
-
-
-
-
-
live
Everything Everything
The Cluny - 13th October
Local band Mammal Club begin the
much call the headline act to mind.
-
-
Kate Nash
O2 Academy - 13th October
Tinie Tempah
O2 Academy - 14th October
-
bum
Disc-Overy.
there”.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Made In Dagenham
-
drumming and chanting. The light-
-
-
-
-
-
to watch.
into debut album Man Alive.
-
Simon Childs
-
-
-
-
-
Elliot Bentley
-
-
Sophie Coletta

30 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture
Music
interview
Happy
Deez
There’s more than
meets the eye writes
Jack Kidder
-
-
-
-
-
music
Darwin Deez might shock the eye, but perhaps more surprising is their down to earth music style which favours stripped back and melodic simplicity over autotume technology
incorporate the melody”. The re-
-
-
-
-
live
Everything Everything
The Cluny - 13th October
Local band Mammal Club begin the
-
Kate Nash
O2 Academy - 13th October
Tinie Tempah
O2 Academy - 14th October
-
bum
Disc-Overy.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Made In Dagenham
-
drumming and chanting. The light-
-
-
-
-
-
to watch.
-
Simon Childs
-
-
-
-
-
Elliot Bentley
-
-
Sophie Coletta

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 31
Music
Culture
interview
Club
Ben Travis has a religious
experience with
Chapel Club
-
-
-
ary
and May and there were only
-
moodtape
Halloween
Halloween.
-
- Graham Matthews
more people are beginning to catch
-
-
-
-
Inertia Halloween Special: Hudson Mohawke
+ Dusty Lungs
Friday 29th October
World Headquarters - £7
-
-
-
-
international acclaim.
-
-
-
-
Music Editors: Polly Randall & Joe Skrebels - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk
‘Here to stay The Chapel Club tell The Courier: “We’re doing things the old-fashioned way... we don’t [want to be] a ‘Sound of 2010 band’
-
-
-
the dark.
Moodtape at www.thecourieronline.co.uk
highlight of the week
ment!”
-
-
-
-
-
-
in abundance.
Polly Randall - Music Editor
listings
Monday
Fenix TX at the O2 Academy. 7pm
£10
terial
written by their original line-
Tuesday
Wiley at Digital. 8pm £12
The Elusive
2,
launch next year.
Wednesday
Hard To Love at World Headquarters.
£4 NUS
ly.
Thursday
Ellie Goulding at the O2 Academy.
7pm SOLD OUT
-
Friday
Mount Kimbie at The Other
Rooms. 7.30pm £8
-
Saturday
Paloma Faith at Newcastle City
Hall. 7pm £19.50
Sunday
Suzi Won at the 02 Academy. 7pm
£6
are planning their homecoming gig
to be an all out head-banging rock
Christopher Scott

32 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture Music
In the four years since Belle and
Sebastian’s last studio album The
Life Pursuit, absence really has
made the heart grow fonder. With
a recent surge in mainstream in-
made it onto hoards of soundtracks
and entranced lots of new young
fans. Belle and Sebastian release
Write About Love
studio albums behind them.
er struggle has caused the four-
are not the same. Murdoch has
been away writing a musical story
entitled God Help the Girl, featur-
mature songwriting.
takes a slight back seat; regular
contributor Sarah Martin duets
with him on ‘I Didn’t See It Com-
music
albums the top 5
Belle and Sebastian
Write about Love
Kings Of Leon
Come Around Sundown
rah Jones and actress Carey Mulligan
at times outshine Murdoch.
teenage angst which characterised
heard any Belle and Sebastian material
before you are in for a treat.
acoustic numbers through to the infectious
stand-out tracks. For those
and Sebastian from Tigermilk all
the way through, this album is not
more of the same. The band, as they
sounding best when they return
while longer.
Olivia Mason
Sufjan Stevens
The Age of Adz
Yann Tiersen
Dust Lane
Antony and the Johnsons
Swanlights.
1. Chase and Status – Hypest Hype ft.
Tempa T
Youtube - Music Video
make you want to go a bit mental - well
2. Foals - Blue Blood
Youtube - Music Video
If you like Foals, then their new single
of synthetic sound and light drumbeats
sius and Miami, the quintet show their
3. The Script – For the First Time
New Single
Though not much of a branch out from
easy listening mix of meaningful lyrics
and catchy chorus lines are in danger
of being classed as middle of the road
safe sellable sound is not always the
best route and it would be nice to hear
something different from the Irish trio-
and those who like ‘Sex on Fire’.
a committed member of the former
citement and concern. Would they
return to their Southern indie-rock
do neither.
You see, it seems as though the
of their original sound, but also
esting, original music at all. ‘Back
Down South’ shamefully trades in
rock anthem, whilst ‘Beach Side’ is
the oh-so trendy surf genre. But no
matter what I or anyone else says,
no trace of irony) intones ‘Ha ha ha
the way to the bank.
Joe Skrebels - Music Editor
IllinoisThe
Age of Adz
with its gentle tones and use of
electronic sounds it is something
different from his usual. These
easy listening anymore, but after a
few more listens the songs seem to
as a fan I feel the new tones of the
album aren’t a comfort and it con-
contains the usual mellow tones of
Much’ literally has too much going
electronic sounds to create each
I think you’d come to like it. His
so smaking them his own and he
still includes the strings and brass
showing his uniqueness. This more
technical style makes the music
thing to try.
Clare Barclay
For anyone who doesn’t know
Yann Tiersen by name, he’s the
Amélie soundtrack which allowed
him to rise to fame outside France.
and into a more acoustic sounding
ticularly similar to the likes of Sigur
the minute. Tracks like ‘Palestine’
weaker numbers of the album,
but as beautiful an album as it is,
music. ‘Till the End’ is a faultless
but again, it feels like it should be
the Amélie soundtrack, as Dust Lane
is mildly darker than Tiersen’s debut.
This isn’t to say that it’s a bad
album, but I wouldn’t recommend
Tiersen neglects this to let the al-
Lucy Johnson
us with an album, Swanlights, that
makes orchestral style arrange-
for the less musically cultured ear.
bum is easy to listen to and allows
the listener to relax and be at ease
as their abstract style is bizarrely
enchanting. The title song of the
ent orchestral instruments to create
an eastern sound.
This combination of instruments,
lyrics and styles allows the band
changing their fundamental feature
of a relaxing rhythm. ‘Thank You for
to me as it had a soulful sound that
This album is something unique
all tastes, it is beautifully and crea-
derful way to use different styles
nition for their musical talent.
Sally Priddle
4. The Dirty Heads- Lay Me Down
New Single
With a back beat sounding remarkably
Bruno Mars and ‘Faith’ by George
Michael, this song was always going to
of the best new bands of 2010 by Rolling
Stone, this UK debut single is worth
the listen, with a great blend of reggae
watch.
5. The Kings Of Leon – Radioactive
New Single
standard as high as Only By the Night,
Come Around Sundown
back to their southern roots with this
but with great lyrics and the unmistake-
www.thecourieronline.co.uk
Competition!
Win tickets to I blame Coco’s
28th of October by answering the
following question:
Who is Coco Sumner’s famous
Email your answer to:
courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010
Culture
TV & Radio
tv highlight
The ever popular
Housewives have
returned for a seventh
season - what drama lies
in store for them this
time?
Lynette, Susan, Bree and Gabrielle
return to our screens this week for
a seventh season of secrets, gossip
and backstabbing.
Though something of a soap opera
by this point, the adventures of the
Housewives are still so brilliantly
written and acted that they are simply
a joy to watch - if you can keep
up with the endless plot twists. The
show continues to toe the line between
comedy and tragedy, while
US drama.
The latest addition to the show’s
history of big-name guests (which
in the past has included Nathan Fillion,
John Slattery of Mad Men fame,
and, er, John Barrowman...) is Vanessa
Williams (known best for her
brilliant performance as Wilhelmina
in Ugly Betty) as Renée Perry, an
old friend of Lynette’s with - shocker!
- a dark and scandalous secret.
Williams has admitted that the two
characters have similarities, but
has said of Renée that “She is certainly
not Wilhelmina, but she is no
shrinking violet either.”
The seventh season continues
several previous storylines, including
the return of past villain - and
husband of the late narrator Mary
Alice Young - Paul Young as he
tv previews
Getting On
10.00pm Tuesday, BBC4
tv & radio
Desperate Housewives
moves back into Wisteria Lane after
spending the last ten years in jail.
The woman who framed him for
her murder, the equally psychotic
Felicia Tillman, is now behind bars
herself. Both Paul and Felicia seem
to have their own evil schemes up
their sleeves.
The Housewives, of course, have
Piers Morgan’s Life
Stories 9.30pm Saturday,
ITV 3
problems of their own. Bree is beginning
to adjust to life as a divorcee
having been left by her husband
Orson at the end of the last season.
Having fallen on hard times during
season six, Susan and Mike are
struggling to make ends meet, leading
Susan to resort to posing for a
saucy webcam site to pay the rent.
The Secret Millionaire
9.00pm Sunday, C4
TV & Radio Editors: Lynsey Fawcett and Ellie Wilson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk
Meanwhile, will the fact that Carlos
and Gabrielle are hiding terrible
secrets from one another end in
tragedy? Is the Pope Catholic?
For any episodes you have missed,
you can catch up on 4oD now.
Elliot Bentley
Harry Hill’s TV Burp
7.00pm Saturday, ITV 3
soaps
33
Coronation Street:
Mon, Thurs, Fri on ITV1
Becky has to pose as Kylie when
a social worker visits. Tina is still
adamant that David intended to
hurt Graeme, but can Gail convince
her he didn’t? David breaks down
as his illness and court hearing become
too much to handle.
Claire refuses to compromise
about the move to France, leaving
Ashley frustrated. Kylie returns,
but leaves Becky devastated when
she drops a bombshell.
Eastenders
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri on BBC1
The day of Billie’s funeral approaches
and it results in heartbreaking
consequences as Carol struggles
an unlikely person, but what is the
shocking outcome? Later on in the
week Ryan betrays Janine on her
his depth when her behaviour goes
out of control. Old enemies return,
but why is Bianca not happy?
Emmerdale
Weekdays 7pm on ITV
It’s Maisie’s turn to give evidence
on Ryan this week and his future is
on the line as the jury read out the
verdict. Moira convinces John that
they need help with Holly, but he’s
not sure they have made the right
decision about her treatment.
Eve is unsettled when Chas returns,
but is determined to get Carl
to herself. Paddy discovers he’s upset
Pearl and Rhona tries to clear
the air with him.
Hollyoaks
Weekdays 6.30pm on C4
Phil gets arrested for drink driving
this week and Gabby is sent to
pick him up, leaving a frustrated
Taylor to confess his Dad’s secret
to Tony.
Anita provides Jasmine a chance
to confess about her double life,
but their revealing chat has been
overheard. Amy and Lee continue
react?
Take Scrubs, introduce a heavy
helping of Jo Brand and throw in
a bit of Joanna Scanlan and Vikki
Pepperdine and you’ve got yourself
the new series of Getting On.
Written and produced by all three
cast members, the show proves to
be as witty and entertaining as before.
Jo Brand plays Nurse Kim Wilde,
Joanna Scanlan plays Sister Den
Flixter and Vikki Pepperdine plays
Doctor Pippa Moore; with guest
stars Nan Kerr and Lindy Whiteford.
It is set on medical ward B4 and
the opening episode hopes for
some bedpan banter as nurse Kim
has a mystery patient on her hands.
but it’s her daughter Beedy that’s
the problem; while Den has Hilary
to deal with herself.
The Times named the sitcom as
“superlative” and The Mirror says
it’s “relentlessly funny”, Jo Brand
seems to have done us viewers
proud yet again.
Piers Morgan’s talent for interviewing
is clearly shown on Piers Morgan’s
Life Stories. He displays that
delicate balance between prying
and appearing genuinely interested.
Guests open up to him about subjects
that they have been less than
comfortable with discussing in the
past. When interviewing Simon
Cowell he tread carefully but was
also able to laugh and joke with
him about his competitive streak
and insults he has made to contestants
on The X Factor.
His guest last week was our lovely
Cheryl Cole. In just eight years
Cheryl has gone from pop star to
the nation’s sweetheart. She talked
ex-husband Ashley Cole, her battle
with malaria and the recent controversy
surrounding Gamu Nhengu.
His guests coming up include Rod
Stewart, so tune in every Saturday
night to watch him in action.
cult
to deny that The Secret Millionaire
has got the formula down for
weepy feel-good telly. Millionaire
benefactors drag themselves and
their cheque books away from their
privileged worlds and go undercover
in the disadvantaged areas
of the UK, in search of those who
really need their help.
It would be easy to be sceptical
hibitions
of generosity, but don’t sit
down expecting the same generic
from The X-Factor. The people you
will meet on the show are real people
with real problems and real
pride.
-
one of the recipient refused the
charity, claiming that he’d ”never
taken anything off anyone” and
wasn’t going to start now. You can
check the episodes on 4oD now.
Hilarious, slightly cheesy, but utter
genius: Harry Hill made a welcome
return to our screens this month,
with his satirical show TV Burp.
The former doctor has to be the
only man who can take scenes from
unfunny TV shows and interpret
them in a way that leaves your ribs
aching with laughter. He doesn’t
have much competition, but with
three BAFTAs the ratings-winner is
virtually untouchable.
Almost nine years since its pilot
episode (yes, that’s right), TV Burp
just keeps on growing, but luckily
Hill’s witty humour is the same as
ever. Classic characters return this
year, including an uncanny looka-like
of Heather from Eastenders.
Ideas from new programmes
have been injected, which will be
revealed as the series goes on. I
confess, I only started watching TV
Burp in 2007, but I haven’t missed
an episode since. Naturally, it isn’t
ly
worth a try.
Neighbours
Weekdays 1.45pm &
5.30pm on Five
Ringo’s funeral approaches and the
street try to cope with their grief.
His wife Donna tries to focus on the
positives, but will Zeke and Declan’s
behaviour make the day even
worse?
Paul eventually returns to work
insisting he has changed, but Rebecca
thinks it is all an act to win
her back, but could she be wrong?
Home and Away
Weekdays at 2.15pm &
6pm on Five
Irene and Miles know there is
something wrong with Alf, but
they can’t convince him to open up.
Meanwhile Indi declares her love to
Romeo, leaving him stunned; does
he feel the same way? Alf receives
a picture of his ex Tulip as Penn
tries to drive him crazy, but will he
Lynsey Fawcett TV & Radio Editor
Sophie Seddon
Maria Moffat
Catherine McCallum
Adam Rummens

34 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Culture TV & Radio
tv & radio
TV & Radio Editors: Lynsey Fawcett and Ellie Wilson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk
catch up
Scott Mills, iPlayer
“Alright treacle?”
If you never manage to be near a radio
4-7pm on weekdays when Scott
Mills is on Radio 1, you are missing
out. Maybe you’re stuck in lectures
or are off to the pub for a drink after
uni; so by the time you’ve got home
there is the beauty of podcasts.
Scott Mills never fails to brighten
up the day, his cheeky sense of humour
and the knack of knowing
what his listeners want put him in
a different league than many DJs
today.
He has brilliant celebrity guests
on each week, with Kelly Rowland,
Rihanna and Steve Carell being
among the few recently.
Not forgetting his Floor Filler Friday,
where he plays the music ready
for the weekend.
All the most hilarious moments
from the show are online every
weekday for you to download.
Guaranteed to make you laugh,
with wind ups and games full of
inuenddos, Scott Mills really is the
man to make your day.
Lynsey Fawcett
TV and Radio Editor
the debate
BBC
Although I do like listening to
that nothing quite beats hearing the
familiar Yorkshire tones of Hirsty,
Danny and JoJo on Galaxy FM.
Whether it is Galaxy FM, Metro
Radio or Viking FM, it seems that
we are truly spoilt for choice when
it comes to local radio stations. So
why do so many of us choose national
radio over local radio?
In my opinion, local radio has
many advantages over its national
counterpart. Firstly, I can’t recall
the number of times I have moaned
at the radio over things such as traf-
a trivial thing but it’s frustrating
when you’re in a mile long tailback
and all you can hear is “the M25
southbound is experiencing heavy
evant
for you and your area.
Come Dine With Me
Soap Star Special, 4OD
The much loved Come Dine With Me
gave us yet another treat of a celebrity
special last Friday.
The theme was soapsville, and it
featured the menus of Brian Capron
from Corrie, Hollyoaks’ James Redmond
and two Emmerdale ladies:
Adele Silva a.k.a. ‘super bitch’ Kelly
Windsor, and ‘evil Steph Stokes’
Lorraine Chase.
Brian started the week off in his
Brighton home. His dinner party
featured, rather unusually, a few
table football matches.
Adele followed, and seemed to
catch the eye of fellow contestant
James. There has been such a history
of sparks between celeb guests, I
wonder how long it will be before
there’s a Come Dine With Me wedding...
The next day, James carried on a
long Come Dine With Me tradition
with a Mexican themed evening,
who was keen to strike a balance
between cooking and hosting perfection.
Ellie Wilson
TV and Radio Editor
Most radio stations run competitions
at one point; whether it is for
an all expenses paid trip or for an
ring in. However, when listening
competition is raised and you’re
against thousands of other listeners,
which decreases your chances
of getting through. Whilst I’m not
saying that you always win on local
radio, the chances of getting
through do seem more appealing.
Listeners of local radio aren’t left
disappointed by a lack of celebrity
guests either. OK so George Clooney
might not appear on local radio
waves anytime soon, but you can
expect celebrities such as last year’s
X-Factor winner Joe McElderry or
Robbie Williams.
Overall, I think that local radio is
the best option, with its relevant
weather. Now, as you can listen to
your favourite local radio station
online, you really have no excuse
not to listen and support your local
area.
Ayse Djahit
tweets of the week
Theo Paphitis
Good morning to all I hope you
have a fantastic and productive
week, remember you are only
limited by your Imagination and
Dreams!
Simon Pegg
Spelling mistakes on Twitter are
like lost hikers in national parks.
The vultures always get them before
the rescue team does.
Chris Moyles
I’m awake and in bed listening to
the Chris Moyles show... it’s good!!
what i listen to
...when I’m trying to be a geek
As a media student I thought it
the latest cultural news from Perez
Hilton’s blog, celebrity magazines
and E!News. I then realised
that perhaps I need to know more
about the industry than who is
the latest celebrity to get divorced
(Courtney Cox Arquette, if anyone
is interested).
Consequently the Media Show on
Radio 4 is now my guilty pleasure.
Broadcast at 1.30pm every
Wednesday the show invites key
media players to discuss the latest
issues surrounding the industry.
Since tuning in I have learnt that
comeback to radio after “Sachsgate”.
This time he will host a
weekly programme on talkSPORT,
discussing the latest sporting news.
I personally was not aware that he
knew a great deal about sport but
Who rules the radio waves: Local or National?
The radio has been buzzing in the
backgrounds of kitchens and living
rooms from the war-torn days of
the wireless, to the scandal soaked
times of Russell Brand and Andrew
Sachs. It’s been a source of joy, sadness,
laughter and entertainment
for years, and has come a hell of a
long way since the top forty chart,
1964. But in the present day, where
broadcasts are obtainable from
phones, computers, cars and even
showers, is local radio still what we
want to be switching onto?
With this fresh impulse of technology
comes a new thirst for the best
music, celebrity gossip and up to
the minute news, and the question
is posed: “Can local radios still deliver
the same goods that national
radios can?”
There are many local radio stations
Jedward
The minute you walk into a glass
door is the moment you discover
that glass doesn’t taste like glass!
It’s tasteless.
Sarah Millican
York was lovely.Then pizza.Now
watching telly and slowly giving in
to sleep.I bought dates today.They
taste nice if you don’t look at them.
Alan Carr
Oooh I wouldn’t mind a nibble on
Nanny Pats bread pudding
that he does. He also assured the
audience that any pre-recorded
material will be carefully monitored.
My favourite debate over the past
few weeks was about the controversy
of X-Factor. The presenter
and his guests had an interesting
discussion about how material regarding
the X-Factor contestants is
released to the public. According to
Hewlett it is all part of Simon Cowell’s
plan to take over the (media)
world and achieve high viewing
ceeded;
after all who else can get
millions to commit three hours of
their lives on a Saturday night.
This show is perfect for me; I can
though I am being studious. I can
even listen to it whilst reading Perez’s
blog.
Rosie Daly
nsr
NSR is well into our third week
of broadcasting, so by now you
should have had the chance to fully
explore our diverse and intriguing
schedule (check nsrlive.co.uk for
more details).
For any of those keen to discover
music of a more exotic origin, then
Wednesday evening is a must listen.
Kicking off at 6pm with Reggae
Toast, Christopher Tindall’s experience
of living in the Caribbean for
seven years has inspired his love
and exhaustive knowledge of reggae
music and its many subgenres
(rocksteady, ska, roots, dancehall
and dub station...) making for an
educative yet chilled show.
Following this, Joelle Lerner and
Rosamund Fraser share a fantastically
eclectic mix of world music
with their show, Guava Beats, ranging
from Gypsy Punk to Afro-beat,
and take listeners on an imaginative
journey to a new foreign location
each week, highlighting how
and where the locals party.
From 8:30-10pm, Hedd Thomas’
popular United World Radio returns
with a fascinating range of music
from every corner of the globe,
complemented by Hedd’s informed
comments, and even interviews
and sessions with live acts, gaining
him a large following on mixcloud.
com.
With the union’s move imminent,
NSR too will be shifting locations,
but will continue to broadcast in
our new home of Park Terrace with
the exception of Thursday 28th and
Friday 29th October, so stay tuned
at nsrlive.co.uk or catch up on
shows you’ve missed on mixcloud.
com.
If you’re interested in NSR, email
nsr.stationmanager@newcastle.
ac.uk.
supersede local by a considerable
amount.
Probably the biggest player in
this national radio war is the BBC,
which has more than 33 million listeners
each week. The Beeb aims to
provide something for every listener,
whatever their interests, whatever
their mood – from the cackles
of Chris Moyles while you’re eat-
edge drum and bass beats of Zane
Lowe – and the sheer enormity of
the BBC allows them to do this successfully,
something local radio stations
could not achieve. Where else
could you listen to a three hour U2
concert followed by the latest developments
on the war in Iraq?
So although Radio Wave and Rock
FM will always have a place in my
North-West heart, it’s undeniable
that national radio gives us more
than local ever can.
Aine Stott
“Listeners of local radio
aren’t left disapointed by a
lack of celebrity guests
“The public’s desire for
easily accessible worldwide
news and sport coverage
has made national ratings
supersede local”
scattered sporadically throughout
the UK, (most notably in the Newcastle
Area, Metro Radio and Real
Radio) celebrating great success
with many new and old listeners
tuning in every week. However,
the public’s desire for easily accessible
worldwide news and sport
coverage has made national ratings

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 36
THE
COURIER
crossword
puzzles
Puzzles Editor: Andy Pitkeathley - courier.puzzles@ncl.ac.uk
ACROSS
3. Popular children’s comic (5)
13. Silk wearing lawyers, abbrev
(1, 1)
(5)
35. Twilight
DOWN
Dirty Pop
1)
(5)
Little Britain
(5)
word link
TEE
PAPER
LAP
PUT
MAIL
SHOP
word steps
LAKE
sudoku
PICK
WATCH
BURNING
phone in
ACROSS
4. 62567
5. 28533
6. 27696
British Prime Ministers
DUCKS
DOWN
1. 25247
2. 2263766
3. 43284
COPS
Clues
Andy’s number cruncher
logical
Divide Square Divide Times Divide
26 x2 +2
by 9 this by 18 by itself by 4 =
Square
Divide Square
26 -17
root
x16 -16 by 8 this +10 =
Divide Square Square Multiply 5/8 of Divide
26 by 2 this
-25
root by 4 this by 9 =
logic problem
answers
Word Steps: Lake, Cake, Cape,
Cope, Cops
Number Cruncher:
Word Link:
Logic Problems:
Logical

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 37
Sports Editors: Paul Paul Jono Christian, Christian, Taylor, Jamie Wills Jamie Gavin Robinson and Gavin Tom James and Tom Kat - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk
James Bannon - - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk
The Countdown
Hurricanes
to
feel
Derby Day
> Sport, the pages 38-39 Loko-motion
> Intra Mural Football, page 40-41
Eagles soar to Fab-ulous new home
In an exclusive interview with The
Courier Dan Robinson talks to head
coach Fab Flournoy about the team
and the future of British basketball
Standing back amongst a crowd of
gatherers with a relaxed posture
and folded arms, Fab Flournoy
serves the Great Britain Men’s team
just arrived at the brand new Sports
Central Arena, a £30 million city
centre complex, which is preparing
to welcome the best players in the
country as they bid to qualify for
Perhaps the air of assurance that
ed country’s chances in the match
against Macedonia that will take
place three days later, or maybe the
American is picturing the team he
Flournoy, who has overseen the
prowling the touchline and the
court, is viewing the Arena in use
years, and chalked up 143 wins and
stint at the Metro Radio Arena, it
would not appear that his team are
Yet, the New Yorker does not
would be a great opportunity for us
to move to the venue here”, he says
in an exclusive interview with The
Courier
at it, see what different training
schedules would look like and how
since moved into their new home,
located on campus at Northumbria
nial” event in the city does not stop
sport in the region, but also it’s
told The Courier.
ever reason, and having NBA
coming experience for the North
the region, promote the game and
another thing to attract people is
We need to make sure we get the
local teams, the school or university
teams involved, and obviously we
posure; the likes of, hopefully, TV
With 2012 fast approaching,
ympics should assist in raising the
is getting bigger and bigger and
now we’re approaching 2012 we
is the biggest thing because it’s
after 2012 when its impact will be
that basketball is the most watched
sport at the Olympics, and because
we want people tuning in from this
ing, and we want British people to
ferent people on so many different
levels all the way around the world,
that the government must take on
the responsibility of upholding the
come and everybody get behind
More importantly, the government
must get behind it, otherwise it will
probably die another horrible death
passion for the sport which has
been such an integral part of his
only in terms of silverware but the
legacy of the club within the local
When asked how the club can help
in the promotion of the sport, he is
quick to point out what they have
what we’ve been doing from a club
perspective,” he says with a degree
“Basketball is the
most watched sport
at the Olympics,
and because of that
everyone is going
to be tuning in...we
want British people
to get around the
GB team and support
them and the
“
have a big community programme
where we go out to lots of schools
with our health campaign, talking
Flournoy and Newcastle Eagles have moved from the Metro Radio Arena to the brand new Sports Central Arena
sporting foundation, central venue
leagues playing all across Tyne and
munity, out in grassroots, and it’s
all about continuing to do it and
trying to spread the word so that
ketball fans in the UK regards what
But what effect would such a move
have on the sport?
that has attempted this has gone
bust or folded, because it’s such a
government support and funding,
help their national players stay in
star Drew Sullivan) on the whole
versa in other countries and that’s
why getting behind the GB team is
so important, because that’s what
communities involved, so it’s not
always the case of getting behind it
but sometimes the politics behind
ditional British sport, it doesn’t get
That’s not to take anything away
nue and get their money from TV,
which is why basketball doesn’t do
that step forward and forced the
Basketball may be a stuttering
which surrounds Fab Flournoy,
then perhaps the sport could begin
ties, the best team in the land and
a coach who breeds success, this

38 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Sport
The dark side of Derby Day
Jono Taylor
Steve Neill
Green StreetThe
Football FactoryRise of the Foot
Soldier

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 39
Sport
When two tribes go to war
With the Tyne-Wear derby set for this Sunday, The Courier debates the outcome with two rival fans.
Tarren Smarr speaks for her adopted side Sunderland while Harry Slavin defends his beloved Toon
I’d rather be a Mackem than a deluded
Geordie! That’s right I said it.
I am a proud fan of the Sunderland
Black Cats, and I for one can’t wait
for them to lay a smack down on
Newcastle.
My countdown to Derby Day
began the moment that Newcastle
were promoted back to the Premier
League. Though I’d like to
say welcome back, I just don’t care
enough.
No offence, but those lovely Geor-
stripes should probably re-evaluate
their lives. Newcastle are a very
average side, and have to be considered
relegation candidates. The
claims from fans that the Magpies
are the best team in the North East
only further demonstrates how
great their delusions of grandeur
are.
Newcastle have a decent history,
but the Geordie faithful need to
stop living in the past! Back then,
claims for being the best club in the
North East may have been substantiated
with players such as Ginola
and Shearer. However it is now
hard for Newcastle to justify being
one of the best clubs in the country,
let alone compare themselves to
teams like Arsenal, Tottenham, and
of course Sunderland.
How can you be the “best team
in the North East” when the team
just returned back to the Premier
Newcastle are going to be hearing a
lot in the near future. Yeah I know,
the team did well last season in the
Fizzy Pop league, and they have
been graciously welcomed back
into the Premier League. However
this is far from sincere - they are
only welcome because every other
team know that they will beat Newcastle
and send them packing back
down to the lower division once
again.
It’s true that every division needs
at least one or two teams that are
rubbish and make the others look
good. Newcastle is that team and
Sunderland will beat them.
The track record alone for the
past few managers should have
fans scratching their heads saying,
2008, the club claimed that Kevin
Keegan was going to be the messiah
to save the club. “All hail King
Kev” and all that nonsense. Then
Keegan “resigned” when the board
after all.
Alan Shearer. I’ll hand it to him- he
could certainly play football, but as
a manager, especially during his
short stint for Newcastle in 2009,
he was awful. Alas, Newcastle was
relegated and I’m pretty sure he
was also called the “Messiah”.
Low and behold, Newcastle have
not quite learned their lesson. Some
are even calling Hughton the “new
Messiah”. All I’m saying is that the
term “Messiah” has not worked out
so well in the past and I’m pretty
sure Newcastle are heading for an
epic fail in the derby.
As for the players, they all say
Danny Simpson is going to make a
timely return to football after a long
right-back slot. Let’s be honest, he
is returning from a serious injury
and doesn’t look like he will be the
saving grace that the Magpies need.
It doesn’t matter how many Danny
help Newcastle’s poor defence.
The back four (or lack of) are
cause for concern this weekend,
especially against players of the
calibre of Darren Bent and Jordan
Henderson. After all, Henderson is
like Chelsea and Man City want
him, but we’ve got him!
Don’t even get me started on
Andy Carroll. That one needs to
straighten out his life before attempting
to help his team “take on”
Sunderland. Carroll literally needs
a babysitter. I almost feel a bit sorry
for Nolan, who is stuck with the
job. I don’t think child minder is
quite in his job description. And
the fact that people are comparing
Carroll to the likes of Alan Shearer
and Jackie Milburn is a joke. So he
scored one hat-trick. His behaviour
is shocking and true supporters
should be appalled.
Actually while we are on the subject,
Carroll is probably the only half
decent player in the whole club. It’s
a shame really that the club can’t
defend and puts all its hope on one
man. The entire country did that
this summer at the World Cup, and
it hasn’t worked out for Mr Rooney
recently. Chris Hughton should be
very concerned about the side’s inability
to defend. If Newcastle don’t
improve this weekend, then Sunderland
will be leaving St James’
Park with all three points and all of
the bragging rights.
To cut a long story short, Sunderland
have the best fans, the best
team and it is inevitable that the
Black Cats will rule the derby! Let’s
face it - you’d rather be a Mackem
than a deluded Geordie. The boys
are back in town!
Bitter rivalry: 20 months after their last clash, this Sunday sees Newcastle United face Sunderland at St James’ Park
As Derby Day looms, Newcastle
United fans are gearing up for what
is easily our biggest home match of
the season. Many have been searching
frantically for any omen that
this is going to be our 52nd victory
in the history of the Tyne-Wear derby.
I can assure you that our home
form is not one of those omens.
Apart from the euphoric reintroduction
of St James’ Park to Premier
League football that was the
six goal demolition of Aston Villa
relatively unfortunate. We are all
now very much aware that apparently
Blackpool can play football;
and while Stoke and Wigan can not,
their points appeared to be charitable
donations from the ‘James Perch
Foundation’. If it wasn’t for Fabricio
Coloccini’s divine intervention
against Wigan a fortnight ago, the
Mackems would have had the opportunity
to send us to our fourth
straight home league defeat.
As it stands, Sunderland’s form
this season has been just as dire.
Embarrassing defeats to West Brom
and West Ham have been masqueraded
by freak results, but the problems
are there for all to see.
Having played six of the seven
teams below them in the table at the
moment, Sunderland have yet to
register a single victory against any
of them. On the other hand Newcastle
are clearly up there with the
top teams in the division having already
performed the minor miracle
that is beating the reigning champions
Chelsea in their own back yard,
albeit in the Carling Cup.
This demonstrates our ability to
win on the road, an achievement
that has so far evaded our lesser
neighbours despite trips to notoriously
easy grounds such as the
Hawthorns and the DW stadium.
Steve Bruce’s mob can not be looking
forward to the trip to St James’
Park. Sunderland have failed to
win here for almost 10 years now,
and this is something that they will
fail to put straight this Sunday.
This will be largely down to the
eleven heroes that Newcastle will
start with on Sunday afternoon.
Inside that changing room is a
plethora of players brimming with
Premier League pedigree. There
should also be a timely return to the
starting line-up for Danny Simpson,
who will, if Hughton has any
sense, replace the utterly incompetent
James Perch. Never has the
phrase “out of his depth” been so
applicable to any man.
Apart from the misguided right
back, our defence has been solid so
far. Coloccini and Mike Williamson
have proven one of the most consistent
defensive partnerships the
team has seen in over a decade,
tered the art of ball retention. If you
don’t trust my judgement just look
at the stats; Newcastle have conceded
the least shots on target in
the league so far this season, a mere
24 in their opening eight games.
As if these defensive displays
weren’t enough to send shivers
down the spine of every Mackem,
ther concern.
son has been nothing short of woeful.
This has lead to many punters
resorting to jibes about their elderly
female relatives being better
placed than Bent to play upfront in
a Premier League football team. In
response to some of his shameful
Asamoah Gyan, his partner in
ment. It was by far the rashest purchase
of the transfer window, espe-
had just been shot to pieces. Everyone
watched the World Cup and
bar along with his penalty in the
dying seconds of Ghana’s quarter
ity in their partnership is plain to
see as the Mackems have the worst
accuracy in the Premier League to
date. Add this to Newcastle’s sturdy
defence and everything points
towards a Toon victory.
If that doesn’t convince you then
there’s one man who can. This is
the one Geordie that has every
Mackem quaking in their manky,
hole-ridden boots. Shola Ameobi is
his name. You may well laugh but
the Geordie enigma himself loves
stepping up to the plate on a Tyne-
Wear match day, so much so that his
derby day record is better than that
of the one and only Alan Shearer. I
will not be in the least bit surprised
ing the Ameobi’ all over again at St
James’ Park next weekend.
The unfortunate man who will be
asked to mark Shola will be a certain
Titus Bramble. Anybody with
a nickname of “shambles” must be
a joke, and Titus is no exception.
I’m sure he will get a hot reception
from the Geordie faithful on Sunday!
After weeks of build-up, months
of anxiety and over a year of antici-
weekend. It’s been 20 months, but
I have never been surer of victory.
This Sunday, Newcastle will beat
Sunderland and you can bet your
mortgage on Ameobi scoring the
winner. Steve Bruce’s big fat head
will turn even more red, and all
will be right with the world.
Web Exclusive

40 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Sport Intra Mural
Last-gasp Medics stun Leazes as
referee takes centre stage at Longbenton
Intra Mural Football Division 1
Medics 1sts
Castle Leazes
Jimmy Taylor
at Longbenton 3G
1
0
Josh Davison’s last gasp header ensured
that the Medics left Longbenton
with all three points, after the
referee took centre stage in a controversial
encounter that saw the
Medics harshly reduced to 10 men.
The match was further evidence as
to why the Intra Mural panel is considering
introducing an extra two
Henry Silver’s handled clearance
off the line was seen by all but the
referee.
The Medics, on the back of a 9-1
thrashing of Borussia Forsythe last
week, started the game brimming
their possession they were unable
to break down a well-organised
Leazes back four. Davison’s 25-yard
strike proved the only real sight of
However, the game came to life
after 22 minutes as Matt Anderson’s
cross was met by Theo Adjetey
whose effort was tipped over
by the Leazes keeper. At the other
end, Pete Carmody missed a glorious
opportunity for Leazes as he
found himself through on goal following
Pearson’s clever through
ball, yet he dragged his effort wide
from 10 yards out.
the Medics came out from the break
the second half the pressure nearly
paid off. A splendid effort from
Shevill from 25 yards hit the bar
and the rebound fell fortunately
to Anderson in acres of space, and
when it seemed easier to score than
miss – he missed.
The Medics kept pushing and
an error from the otherwise solid
Aeron Hill gifted an opportunity to
Theo Adjetey, who used his pace to
bear down on the goal, only to be
denied by an excellent slide tackle
from Jimmy Taylor.
With 15 minutes left on the clock,
in the encounter left the Medics
seething with anger. A challenge
sight, yet the referee decided that
enough was enough as he reached
shown red to the bemusement of
the Medics supporters.
Leazes, having been under severe
pressure for large periods of the
game, looked to use their numerical
advantage to their advantage
and should have taken the lead
after 80 minutes. A through ball
Mike Spence, whose effort from
six yards out was hit straight at the
Medics keeper.
With 2 minutes left on the clock,
the game looked to be heading for
a stalemate, when a bizarre passage
of play appeared to have let Leazes
drew Fretwell’s header looked to
be heading in the top corner when
the ball was tipped over by Henry
Silver. The Leazes left back was
preparing to be given his marching
orders when the referee extraordinarily
pointed for a corner. The
Medics surrounded the referee,
who chose to ignore the linesman’s
decision to point to the spot and
a corner.
for one more moment of drama,
and deep into injury time a cross
from Matt Anderson was met by
Josh Davison whose bullet header
nestled in the corner of the net to
spark wild celebrations in the Medics
camp. Doctors and nurses alike
stormed onto the pitch to embrace
their hero Davison whilst Leazes
but Kyle Hyndman’s skied attempt
proved to be the last play as the ref-
card and called for Denis Murphy
to seriously consider the introduc-
in the Intra Mural league.
Web Exclusive

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 41
Real Politique completed a backsto-the-wall
job as they saw off Dyslexic,
despite beginning and ending
the match with fewer men.
Having gone a goal down inside
the opening ten minutes after several
players turned up late, goals
from Luke Hodgson, Matt Marchington
and Dan Linden snatched
the three points despite also seeing
a player sent off in the second half.
Any spectators would have struggled
to identify the numerical difference
between the sides in the
opening exchanges, as a full Dyslexic
side seemed to be caught up
in ’10 man syndrome’, albeit with
one fewer. Passes went astray and
individual errors were far too common
as Politique coped well with
their severe disadvantage.
Indeed, Untied were somewhat
fortunate to capitalise as Eddy
Green latched onto a failed clearance
from a long Greg Applegarth
throw-in to stab the ball home.
Politique may have felt they were
in for a long day as they chased
leather, but as they introduced the
remainder of their side into the proceedings
after ten minutes they began
to cause problems for the Dyslexic
defence.
Numerous corners and set pieces
failed to be cleared, while striker
Marchington, who began the
game in goal, came close on two
sprang the offside trap, only to see
‘keeper Josh Crawford quick off his
line to force the effort wide, while
Untied could count themselves fortunate
as he arrived unmarked in
the box to head wide.
However, the Reds’ lead didn’t
last long, and they only had themselves
to blame as they let it slip
with half an hour gone. After failing
to clear away a corner from danger
to the edge of the area, Hodgson
picked his spot and caught it perfectly
with a left foot volley that
scenes from the Blues and a yellow
card as he took his shirt off for the
baying Sky cameras.
like there would now be only one
winner. And the second goal arrived
not long into the second half.
Dyslexic lost the ball deep in their
own half and paid the ultimate
price as Marchington gambled to
beat the offside trap once again.
This time he made no mistake as he
steadied himself before guiding the
ball past Crawford.
kick Untied into gear as they began
to show snapshots of the brand of
football that had seen them make
such a bright start to the season,
with three 2-0 victories spread
across both leagues preceding this
game.
And their chances only seemed to
improve after Anthony Elders was
sent his marching orders by referee
Phil Jones for a horror tackle. In a
game already marred by numerous
free kicks, Elders’ over-the-top
lunge took the physical nature of
the tie to another level.
Intra Mural
Sport
Out of breath Hurricanes hand landslide to Lokomotivs
Intra Mural Football Division 2
Lokomotiv
Hurricanes
Harry Slavin
at Redhall
Lokomotiv got their season off to
the best possible start on Wednesday
afternoon, casting aside a lifeless
Hurricanes side who have now
relegation last year. The defeat will
not be an easy one to take for the
Hurricanes, creating another setback
to what is supposed to be a
push for an instant return to the top
The opening exchanges were even
enough; Nick Gibby just missing
the target with a long range curler
for The Hurricanes, while at the
effort just wide of the ‘keeper’s
upright. Slowly but surely though,
Lokomotiv began to tighten their
grip on the game with ball after ball
being launched into the Hurricanes
box, but the defence just about dealing
with it.
The inevitable breakthrough,
however did come just before half
time. Adam Montgomery’s failure
to deal with a long goal-kick and
this allowed Josh Robinson to race
through on goal and place his shot
beyond the ‘keeper’s reach.
The goal forced Hurricanes captains
Andrew Selby and Adam
Montgomery to freshen things up
for the second half, reverting to a
different formation and bringing
on a sub, which should have paid
instant dividends. Nick Gibby
found Adam Duckworth on the
Intra Mural Football Division 1
Real Politique
Dyslexic Untied
Dan Robinson at Heaton
5
1
3
1
edge of the area and drove into
the box only for ‘super-sub’ Harry
Dawson to steal the ball off his toes
and drag his shot woefully wide of
the target.
The Hurricanes were made to pay
for that miss as Lokomotiv, who
were happy to sit back in the sec-
with alarming ease. Josh Robinson
the Hurricanes ‘gung-ho’ attacking
style as he tapped in at the
back post unmarked after what can
only be described as a Van Der Saresque
blunder from the Hurricanes
‘keeper.
Pretty soon after it was three as
Daniel Parkinson weaved his way
around the defence and slotted
home and a fourth arrived courtesy
of a freak long range free kick
from Colin Haigh, which dipped
and swerved all over the place for
40 yards before nestling in the top
corner, or at least that’s what we’ll
see for the goalkeeper’s sake.
The rout was complete when Dan-
although James Butler poked home
a late consolation, whilst also having
the audacity to celebrate at the
same time, the goal was only a minor
blip on what was a perfect afternoon
for Lokomotiv.
The captain of Lokomotiv, Daniel
Parkinson, described the result as
a ‘good win’ but was disappointed
not to keep a clean sheet on the afternoon.
While there was no comment on
the match forthcoming from Andrew
Selby, he did admit that the
pre-match tune of R Kelly’s ‘The
World’s Greatest’ is no longer relevant
to any of his players and that
he is now in search of a new anthem
to rouse his team before a match.
With Politique seemingly content
to protect their lead, and Dyslexic
eager to claim at least a share of
the spoils, the game began to lean
in the Reds’ favour. They thought
they had rescued a point when Applegarth
prodded home, only for
Although Untied continued to
pour bodies into the box and force
plenty of corners, there was to be
no way past the ‘keeper.
clock, the Politicians delivered a
sucker punch by catching their opponents
on the break after a defensive
mix-up led to Linden being
gifted the simplest of opportunities
to tap into the empty net and gave
Wednesday victory of the season.
Full steam ahead for Engines as they railroad Freshers 2nds
Intra Mural Rugby
Engines
Freshers 2nds
David Foster
at Close House
This tie was expected to be an even
contest before kick-off with both
sides desperate to record a win after
opening day disappointments.
It appeared for a short time that
thought for the Engines as the opposition,
Newcastle Freshers’ seconds,
were nowhere to be seen and
Zero points: A shaky start to The Hurricanes’ season proves to be headache for captain Andrew Selby as his team faces defeat for the second week
‘Real’ victory for Politique over Dyslexics
it was suggested that a walkover
victory may be on the cards. They
did, however, eventually arrive at
Close House and the game was belatedly
underway.
Despite only having a short time
to warm up, the Freshers started
the brighter of the two sides with
a high level of intensity that had
Engines rocking. This took its toll
on talismanic prop Ed ‘two-manwide’
Cottle who had to be withdrawn
with a mystery injury but
still took time out to comment: ‘I’m
cold’. This early dominance was
rewarded as the Freshers’ kicker,
Henry King, coolly slotted a penalty
to make Engines pay.
The balance began to shift as the
Engines regained their composure
and began to make headway up
a penalty, presenting a chance for
to regain parity. He duly obliged,
sweetly sweeping the ball through
the uprights.
Engines had the momentum and the
wind and thus sensed their chance
as centres Tim Drew and Fraser
Lindsay went sailing through the
Freshers’ back line. The ball was
ing
Foot’ Hogg. He was left with
a lot to do but showed remarkable
endeavour and speed to show the
Freshers’ winger a clean set of heels,
and touched down under pressure
in the corner.
Engines began to keep the ball with
improved success but failed to
make the Freshers pay with a string
of basic errors. These mistakes were
compounded when the Freshers
seized the initiative and after toiling
down the centre of the pitch, the
pack drove over the line and Jack
Greer made sure of the try which
was unsuccessfully converted.
The second half was a scrappy, turgid
affair with neither side offering
a constant threat and the referee
awarding countless penalties. The
Freshers, who have aims of achiev-
trated
having been held up over
K.BANNON
the line and missed a couple of late
penalties that could have sealed the
win. It was, however, the Engines
who were celebrating after record-
since they were crowned 2008/2009
champions.
Engines injured player/ coach Sam
Clarke humorously attributed the
additional effort and the win to the
presence of winger Dean Hogg’s
sister on the touchline, going on to
remark: “If Sally Cottle ever turns
up to watch a game we could beat
New Zealand!” This is evidently
a close group of players who will
now look to use this win as a stepping
stone to continue their rejuvenation.

42 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Sport
BUCS
K. BANNON
Fresh-faced Fourths record victory over Poly
Men’s Rugby Union
Newcastle 4ths
Northumbria 3rds 31
20
Tom Sheppey
at Redhall
Newcastle Fourths continued their
winning start to the season with
the better side throughout a scrappy
encounter in which neither side
the penalty count.
went unrewarded as Newcastle
pressive
break into the opposition’s
half, resulting in a penalty to Newcastle,
which was converted by
with a penalty of their own only
-
line on several occasions but in the
eventually resulting in a second
-
began picking holes in the now
Three quarters of the way through
-
a gap which he did not hesitate to
Newcastle’s aggressive defence
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the opposing forwards conceded
Newcastle keep Bradford at
bay to secure opening win
Men’s Basketball
Newcastle 1sts 69
Bradford 1sts 66
Marika Hietala
at the Newcastle Sports Centre
season last Wednesday there were
ners-up.
Newcastle had lost both
last season, and the start of last
-
side showed early-season nerves.
The visitors were seven points
Newcastle.
After a nervous start, it didn’t
take too long for the hosts to take
disciplined and tight defensive
The visitors were constantly
basket behind the three point line
While the away side was forced
cult
positions, on the other end of
the pitch Newcastle, led by Rafael
-
creasingly
frustrated whilst the
-
feated
and distracted, as their play-
than playing on. At best, Newcas-
son,
who took on a bigger role in
-
-
other
two points for Newcastle.
seat as Newcastle lost their attack-
control the ball in the offensive and
ford
were still denied any space
under the basket, but the threepoint
throws they were forced to
found their way into the hoop with
an increasing accuracy.
The convincing lead Newcastle
had built was quickly reduced to
-
the only three points behind the
with the great result and can look
Web Exclusive
Women’s Basketball
triumph at York.
Read online at
www.the
courieronline.co.uk
another penalty on the stroke of
the break a converted try up.
venturous
start to the second half,
abandoning their route one style
of earlier and were soon rewarded
Newcastle defence down the half
back’s channel. The visitors added
an easy conversion to tie the scores
sure
and once again took control of
Women’s Rugby
Liverpool 1sts
Newcastle 1sts
Emma Boyle
20
34
After an early start and a long coach
journey, NWR arrived in Liverpool
on a sunny but breezy afternoon
season. With their newly appointed
coach on the sidelines and weeks of
-
kick-off. Hannah Rosa’s great take
-
they were soon in reach of Liver-
the back line put winger Elizabeth
-
play; continuously driving through
for his second try.
nance
for Newcastle was capped
Nick Reid picked up on the oppo-
over, putting clear day light between
the two sides.
-
-
quick tap penalty and ran in unop-
say with a penalty kick the last
Lebrecht inspires
Merseyside success
the back line’s pace and handling
being used to produce a plethora of
vis
scoring two outstanding breakaway
tries in quick succession
through the use of sheer pace and
went on to score another try in the
Malins resulted in a hat-trick for her
-
-
referee blew his whistle and ended
never letting their heads drop and
Lebrecht whose leadership and
wards
and backs linked so effectively
that it produced an outstand-

THE COURIER Monday October 25 2010 43
Men’s Football
Sunderland 1sts
Newcastle 1sts
Jimmy Booker
at the Academy of Light
0
0
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minutes, when the Newcastle goal-
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Sport
Men’s Football
Newcastle 2nds
Northumbria 2nds
Colin Henrys
at Cochrane Park
1
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BUCS
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Web Exclusive
For Netball round-up
and Men’s Hockey 1s
defeat of Durham 3s,
visit our website at
www.thecourieronline.
co.uk
K. BANNON
Newcastle’s second string slump to a heavy defeat against Northumbria

44 Monday October 25 2010 THE COURIER
Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Gavin and Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk
Sports Editors: Jono Taylor, Wills Robinson and Kat Bannon- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk
Fab Flournoy talks
to The Courier
> Sport, page 37
Owls off
start as
M. HIETALA
Men’s Rugby League
NURL 1sts
Liverpool 1sts
Ian McPherson
at Cochrane Park
60
12
It was imperative for Newcastle
to maintain momentum after last
week’s morale-boosting victory at
disappoint at Cochrane Park last
week.
Despite the sub-arctic conditions
that are becoming far too com-
was the Owls who adapted to the
home form in perfect fashion last
Wednesday.
The opening stages proved anything
but convincing however. An
aggressive Liverpool defence kept
the hosts at bay in a hotly contested
opening 15 minutes. NURL were in
the form of their industrious sec-
through a number of tackles before
crashing over for the opening try.
looked to pen the visitors in their
own half. Tireless work from NURL
prop Daniel ‘Barbara Streisand’ Caparros
and Deadlift Dawson broke
Liverpool hearts as the hosts absorbed
any offensive pressure.
The Owls’ formidable loose forward
Mike Ward proved the difference
between the teams in the latter
of tries to keep the score board ticking
over for the hosts.
Liverpool hit back on the stroke
ever their early spirit was clearly
starting to wane.
The Owls started on the attack
Newcastle centre Jimmy Phillips
NURL into an increasingly comfortable
lead.
maintained his 100% record for
Moorecroft-esque try after 60 min-
scoring a wonderful solo effort moments
later.
a stereotypically bland try from
hooker Robse C. Seagreaves and
giving NURL a comfortable cushion.
It was increasingly apparent as
the second half developed that Liverpool
were simply counting the
minutes until they could return to
the warmth of the club coach.
over for a try on his home debut to
cement a comprehensive win for
the hosts.
Bird’s contribution rounded off a
hugely impressive performance by
tain performances like this for the
Rugby League at the University.
Meanwhile the NURL Second
team continued their sterling start
to the season with an impressive
AU’s most beloved team.
team aim to tackle the formidable
Drongos at the Hallam. After
putting Liverpool to the sword last
few weeks will certainly be interest-
NURL will have to be considered
serious challengers for the widely
acclaimed “Team of the Year” gong
at the end of the season .
Inside Today:
Derby Day preview
Sport, page 38-9
Newcastle’s basketball 1sts kicked off their season with a morale-boosting win at the Sports Centre last Wednesday
Aiming high: Men’s basketball earn
stunning victory against Bradford