ELECTIONS - Northumbria Students Union - Northumbria University
ELECTIONS - Northumbria Students Union - Northumbria University
ELECTIONS - Northumbria Students Union - Northumbria University
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Issue No.26 2012 FREE to a good home<br />
The Offi cial voice of <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong><br />
Your Monthly<br />
<strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong><br />
Magazine Featuring...<br />
RECORD BREAKING<br />
<strong>ELECTIONS</strong><br />
THE OLYMPICS<br />
what’s going on and is it worth it?<br />
CAMPUS STYLE<br />
what you are wearing this season!<br />
GIG Goers, Sport, Societies, RAG and much much more...<br />
www.mynsu.co.uk/nulife
�������������������������������������<br />
���������������������<br />
KOPPARBERG//£2.50 A BOTTLE<br />
CARLING & STRONGBOW//£1.99<br />
HOUSE DOUBLE & MIXER//£2.60<br />
SELECTED SHOTS//£1.50
NSU NEWS<br />
Sabb Banter 4-5<br />
SU:News - Elections 6-7<br />
Oh! What’s Occurring? 9<br />
RAG Round Up 10<br />
FEATURES<br />
Not If But When 11<br />
London 2012 12-13<br />
Hot Topic - Olympics 14-15<br />
Society Spotlight 16-17<br />
GET INVOLVED<br />
George On Tour 19<br />
Has Your Revision Melted Your Mind? 20-21<br />
LIGHT RELIEF<br />
Academic Advice 22<br />
The Agony Aunt Team 23<br />
Spotted 24-25<br />
NGT - And The 2012 Winner Is... 26-27<br />
Discuss - Reality TV 28-29<br />
STUDENT CULTURE<br />
Campus Style 30-31<br />
Happy Holiday Hunting 32-33<br />
Gig Goers 34-35<br />
WriSoc Serial - The Finale 36-37<br />
Summer Munchies 38<br />
Flicks 39<br />
North Stars Prepare For Nationals 41<br />
TEAM NORTHUMBRIA<br />
Nolberto Solano 42-43<br />
Stan Calvert 44-45<br />
Special thank you to; Kim Buff ery for Academic Advice<br />
& Vikki Myerscough for sorting my dreadful spelling!<br />
Editor Holly Seabrook holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUCommsOffi cer<br />
Design www.ellenlonghorndesign.co.uk<br />
editor’s<br />
words<br />
Hey everyone!<br />
I have some bad news.. This is My last nu:life I know it’s<br />
devastating, but never fear as Mike Potter is here, and I know<br />
he will do a fabulous job keeping you all up to date with NSU<br />
news and everything in-between.<br />
As this is the last edition this year it is packed full of<br />
information to keep you occupied all through summer,<br />
including what’s going on in your <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> (Page 9)<br />
, how to book that crucial summer holiday on pages 33-33,<br />
and the truth about the Olympics from page 12.<br />
Meet your Sabbatical Team 2012 – 2013 - with this year’s<br />
record breaking elections just behind us we bring you the<br />
results plus the reactions from the incoming candidates on<br />
page 6. I know they will all have a great year, remember to<br />
say hello to them when you see them around campus!<br />
It’s been a fantastic two years, 15 editions and over 500<br />
pages as your Editor! Thank you to every single writer that<br />
has graced these pages these past two years and I look<br />
forward to reading the mag in the future.<br />
But for now, enjoy the last edition<br />
and have a fantastic summer!<br />
Love Holly xxx<br />
Contributors<br />
Elections Carmel Lawless<br />
NGT Review Jacob Turner<br />
RAG Round Up Oliver Dobbs<br />
London 2012 Laura Heaps<br />
Hot Topic - Olympics Kate Taylor<br />
Revision/Discuss/Summer Munchies Julia Bond<br />
The Agony Aunt Team Amy Terri & Anna Scatchard<br />
Campus Style Amy Waugh & Suzie Harker<br />
Happy Holiday Hunting Suzie Harker<br />
Flicks Callum Gibson<br />
North Stars prepare for Nationals Abi Camwell<br />
Nolberto Solano Jamie Durent<br />
Stan Calvert Simon Rushworth nu:life 03
NSU News Sabb Banter<br />
SABB<br />
BANTER<br />
It’s the last time this<br />
year’s Sabb team<br />
will answer your<br />
questions, so we’ve<br />
grilled them to fi nd<br />
out what their true<br />
priorities are for<br />
the term, and what<br />
Olympic sport they<br />
will be keeping an<br />
eye on!<br />
JO O RHODES<br />
President<br />
What is your role?<br />
Representing <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
<strong>Students</strong> – to the <strong>University</strong>, the<br />
community and even nationally!<br />
I lead our lovely Sabb team and<br />
campaign on the things that matter to you!<br />
What have you been working on this month?<br />
Getting a bigger library! Also been working on getting<br />
meetings with MPs so that they Sabb team can lobby them<br />
on all things Higher Education!<br />
What are your priorities for the last few months of term?<br />
Lots of things: Finishing off all the campaigns, getting<br />
ready for Welcome Week and sorting out access<br />
agreements (the off er that students from lower income<br />
backgrounds get from the <strong>University</strong>).<br />
If you could only do one more thing in your role what<br />
would it be?<br />
Make sure the new space that students can eat their own<br />
food in at Coach Lane is looking pretty sweeeeet!<br />
What is your favourite Olympic sport and why?<br />
It would be Netball – but that’s not an Olympic sport –<br />
BOOOOO!<br />
jo.rhodes@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUPres<br />
04 nu:life<br />
Remember to check our fortnightly Sabbatical vlogs at:<br />
www.mynsu.co.uk/sabbaticals<br />
And if you have a question for us or just fancy a natter, shoot us an<br />
email or pop up and say hello on the fi rst fl oor of the <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong>.<br />
HOLLY SEABROOK<br />
Vice-President<br />
Communications<br />
& Involvement<br />
What is your role?<br />
I am here to keep all of you up to speed<br />
with what is going on in the <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> in<br />
various ways including this amazing magazine!<br />
What have you been working on this month?<br />
This month has been hectic – I’ve been to London to lobby<br />
MP’s, Nottingham for the NaSTA Awards with NU: TV and<br />
represented you at NUS Conference in Sheffi eld, a right jet<br />
setter, but it’s been amazing!<br />
What are your priorities for the last few months of term?<br />
During May I will be conducting a complete review of<br />
your Student Council to ensure that each and every<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> Student has a voice in their <strong>Union</strong>.<br />
If you could only do one more thing in your role what<br />
would it be?<br />
Make all our media outlets (including radio) the best in<br />
the country!<br />
What is your favourite Olympic sport and why?<br />
I love the people that swing around on the poles, there<br />
really cool, but I’m also really looking forward to the<br />
Paralympics as I get to volunteer in the press offi ce, MEGA<br />
– EXCITED.com<br />
holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUCommsOffi cer
KATE BRADSHAW<br />
Vice-President<br />
Academic Aff airs<br />
What is your role?<br />
I mentor all of the academic Reps i.e.<br />
Course, School, PGT and PGR. I also run all<br />
education related campaigns, lobby the<br />
<strong>University</strong> on the issues you face on your course and lead<br />
on all education related policy. As well as this, I take lead<br />
offi cer responsibility for Coach Lane Campus!<br />
What have you been working on this month?<br />
This month I have been working on several projects but<br />
mainly Coach Lane priorities, piloting my <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
Skills Project and moving forward with our advice service.<br />
What are your priorities for the last few months of term?<br />
I have many! I would like to ensure a better bus service for<br />
Coach Lane students, a new recruitment process for Course<br />
Reps and also some areas listed in the education policy<br />
ticked off !<br />
If you could only do one more thing in your role what<br />
would it be?<br />
Bigger, more frequent bus services to and from Coach Lane!<br />
What is your favourite Olympic sport and why?<br />
Ahhhhh! I don’t really watch the Olympics (hangs head<br />
in shame) however if I had to pick one then probably<br />
gymnastics because I think it’s the one that makes you<br />
most nervous!<br />
kate.bradshaw@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUAcademics<br />
ANDREW CHEUNG<br />
Vice-President<br />
Activities &<br />
Development<br />
What is your role?<br />
I oversee all the student Societies,<br />
Community Volunteers (Volunteer<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>), Fundraising (RAG), Welcome<br />
Team and student development.<br />
What have you been working on this month?<br />
I’ve been busy recruiting the new leadership committees,<br />
starting the planning for Welcome Week Team, collecting<br />
in London with the RAG Team, attending NUS Conference<br />
and many other things!<br />
What are your priorities for the last few months of term?<br />
Ensuring the VIP Cards are sorted out for volunteers, and<br />
fi ghting to allow sponsored expeditions!<br />
If you could only do one more thing in your role what<br />
would it be?<br />
Ensure that there will be a optional volunteering module,<br />
so students can get recognised for their hard work<br />
academically.<br />
What is your favourite Olympic sport and why?<br />
Athletics or swimming, because these are the events where<br />
you see world records being broken!<br />
andrew.cheung@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUActivites1<br />
HANNAH HORNE<br />
Vice-President Welfare<br />
& Equality<br />
What is your role?<br />
I lead on all things non-academic! This<br />
includes such things as housing, crime &<br />
safety, the local community, and health. On top<br />
of this, it is my job to champion equality and diversity.<br />
What have you been working on this month?<br />
I have been busy organising Stress Less activities<br />
throughout the exam period. My survey of Halls is also<br />
underway so I’m excited to see the results from that!<br />
What are your priorities for the last few months of term?<br />
I want to ensure that all of my Equality, Halls and<br />
Community Reps get what they can out of their last month<br />
in the role, as well as getting their feedback on the year so<br />
that all positions can be developed for next year.<br />
If you could only do one more thing in your role what<br />
would it be?<br />
Concentrate all of my eff orts into improving the standards<br />
of student housing across Newcastle – including Halls!<br />
What is your favourite Olympic sport and why?<br />
Gymnastics! I think it’s mostly because of the dancing<br />
element, but also the strength and speed they have is<br />
amazing.<br />
hannah.horne@northumbria.ac.uk<br />
Twitter: NSUWelfare1<br />
And if you have a question for us or<br />
just fancy a natter, shoot us an email<br />
or pop up and say hello on the fi rst<br />
fl oor of the <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong>.<br />
For all you <strong>Students</strong> at Coach Lane, don’t worry<br />
about coming to see us over here, we all like to come<br />
and visit you at Coach Lane once a week.<br />
Monday Afternoons: Holly Seabrook<br />
Tuesday Mornings: Andrew Cheung<br />
Tuesday Afternoons: Kate Bradshaw<br />
Wednesday Afternoons: Hannah Horne<br />
Thursday Afternoons: Jo Rhodes<br />
Just pop in and see us on your way<br />
into Coach Lane <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong>.<br />
nu:life 05
NSU News Elections<br />
SU:News<br />
Elections<br />
2012<br />
Say hello to YOUR<br />
Sabbatical Offi cers<br />
for 2012-13!<br />
The Olympics are just around the corner but<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> has already started breaking<br />
records with the biggest elections turn out<br />
EVER!<br />
This year, a whopping 4,255 of you cast your<br />
votes to decide who will run your <strong>Students</strong>’<br />
<strong>Union</strong> in 2012/13 and represent your views to<br />
the <strong>University</strong>, local community and beyond<br />
- that’s more votes cast than in any other<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> SU election.<br />
The fantastic turnout was no doubt helped<br />
by the extended voting period, which saw<br />
candidates strapping on their Duracell<br />
backpacks to power through ten long, intense<br />
days of unbridled enthusiasm to battle it out<br />
for your support. In particular, it was great<br />
news for voters with an appetite for more than<br />
just politics, with candidates dishing out Rocky<br />
Rhodes, sherbet wands and Horne-shaped<br />
shortbreads. Now, I’d hate to imply our noble<br />
student population could be swayed but there<br />
was a defi nite correlation between tasty treats<br />
and winning candidates. Just saying...<br />
Seriously, a huge WELL DONE to every<br />
single one of the 37 candidates (another<br />
record-breaking stat for you there). With stiff<br />
competition in every category, <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
was treated to some exceptional candidates<br />
who kept us all guessing to the last nail-biting<br />
second of results night.<br />
06 nu:life<br />
So who won?<br />
Having started the year by winning NUS HE <strong>Students</strong>’<br />
<strong>Union</strong> of the Year (that’s pretty much the gold medal of SU<br />
achievements), the winning streak looks set to continue<br />
with three Sabbatical Offi cers re-elected (Jo, Hannah and<br />
Andrew). New to the role are Nicole and Mike, although as<br />
you’ll see from their bios, they’re pretty well-equipped to<br />
hit the ground running.<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>: this is what we call a head start. Get ready for<br />
another amazing year at the Poly to be proud of.<br />
Jo Rhodes (re-elected)<br />
President<br />
After almost a year in the job, Jo has been<br />
Winning for <strong>Students</strong> by getting rid of £1<br />
million of hidden fees and pushing for<br />
e-submission and feedback. This year she<br />
promises to bring us better bursaries, a<br />
taxi rank on campus and better catering at<br />
Coach Lane.<br />
Manifesto highlight:<br />
Campaign for a bigger library. I wasn’t<br />
convinced at fi rst but when you struggle to fi nd a computer even<br />
in the middle of a heat wave you realise how much we need more<br />
space!<br />
“I’m so pleased to have been re-elected and very excited to be able<br />
to work with such a fantastic team next year! Having such a strong<br />
mandate will allow me to really challenge the <strong>University</strong> next year and<br />
keep fi ghting for students needs - Thank you so much”
Nicole Pegg<br />
VP Academic Aff airs<br />
Nicole is one of this year’s Lay<br />
<strong>Students</strong> and has also been involved<br />
in RAG, Welcome Week and NSU<br />
campaigns. Unsurprisingly for<br />
Academic Aff airs, Nicole’s manifesto<br />
is focused heavily on library<br />
resources - 24 hour opening for City<br />
Campus East, more printers and<br />
more course-based software are all<br />
high on the agenda.<br />
Manifesto highlight: More detailed feedback. This is so<br />
essential if we have any hope of improving your grades. A<br />
few ticks and circling a spelling mistake does NOT constitute<br />
helpful feedback!<br />
“I was ecstatic at being elected after a long week of hard<br />
campaigning and a hard battle fought against the other<br />
candidates, I can’t wait to get started in the summer.”<br />
Andrew Cheung<br />
(re-elected)<br />
VP Activities &<br />
Development<br />
This year RAG moved to a year-long<br />
event and has raised more money<br />
for charity than ever before. Society<br />
membership is also up by 30% and<br />
Andy’s put a real emphasise on<br />
student employability. Next year we<br />
can look forward to a Globalization<br />
Fair, Graduate Skills Conference and<br />
more training for volunteers.<br />
Manifesto highlight: Activities at Coach Lane. This has<br />
been a tough one for as long as I can remember. Hopefully<br />
this will be the year that Coach Lane really does get the<br />
attention it deserves.<br />
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to make more positive changes<br />
for our students.”<br />
Mike Potter<br />
VP Communication &<br />
Democracy<br />
Everyone fell under the spell of<br />
‘Mike Potter and the Relentless<br />
Campaign Team’ (I hope he washed<br />
that costume...) voting him in to<br />
work his magic on our SU. Mike has<br />
been involved in everything from<br />
RAG to campaigning and now plans<br />
to update the MYNSU website, build<br />
links with Team <strong>Northumbria</strong> and<br />
introduce a Tweetwall. And don’t worry loyal readers - Mike<br />
has been a NU:Life contributor for 2 years so your favourite<br />
magazine is in safe hands.<br />
NSU News Elections<br />
Manifesto highlight: Student radio station. This has been<br />
suggested before but has never quite materialised - stay<br />
tuned to fi nd out if this is the year for NU:FM.<br />
“I’m so happy words can’t describe how elections night felt. I<br />
can’t thank everyone who voted for me enough and I just can’t<br />
wait to start the job now”<br />
Hannah Horne (re-elected)<br />
VP Welfare & Equality<br />
Hannah has recruited more<br />
Student Reps than ever before<br />
and has prioritised our safety with<br />
emergency taxis and the ‘Not if,<br />
but when’ anti-burglary campaign.<br />
Next year she promises to introduce<br />
a Nightline support service and<br />
improve the standard of Halls –<br />
without increasing the price.<br />
Manifesto highlight: Rate Your<br />
Landlord Scheme. Fantastic idea that will hopefully stop<br />
letting agencies thinking they can get away with murder.<br />
“I’m so thrilled to be in the role again for another year – I can<br />
start planning long term now which is great! Thanks for all<br />
who voted and supported me.”<br />
Lay Student Councillors<br />
Sophie Chilton, Mike Squair, Tilly Smith,<br />
Thomas Bromwich, Lauren Teague<br />
Equality Reps<br />
Bryce Fury Black & Minority Ethnic <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Fritha Galley LBGT <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Aaron Bergin Mature <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Mark Thorn Part-Time <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Erin Kerr Women <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Jackson Douglas Coach Lane <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
Parasuram Manu Thampi International Rep<br />
Gourav Jain International Rep<br />
RE-OPENED<br />
Could YOU champion equality<br />
in one of the following roles?<br />
* Caring Responsibilities <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
* Disabled <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
* European <strong>Students</strong>’ Rep<br />
If you’re interested in making a diff erence, contact<br />
daniel.carr@northumbria.ac.uk for more<br />
information about the roles and how to apply.<br />
By Carmel Lawless<br />
nu:life 07
Oh!<br />
What’s Occurring?<br />
Garden Makeover<br />
Project wins National<br />
Environmental Award!<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong>’s Garden Makeover project<br />
was crowned winner of the Community category in the<br />
People and Environment Achievement Award at glittering<br />
ceremony, in London on Wednesday 21 March.<br />
The project’s commitment to improving community<br />
relations whilst promoting urban environmental activities<br />
scooped them the award amongst stiff competition<br />
including national organisations such as Freegle and<br />
the Findhorn Foundation. The 2011 project leader Trent<br />
Cannon collected the prestigious award to a huge round of<br />
applause!<br />
“<strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> takes environmental issues very<br />
seriously and we are delighted that we won the Community<br />
Award category. Such an achievement, on a national scale,<br />
recognises the hard work that has been put in by our dedicated<br />
student volunteers the Garden Makeover Project” (Holly<br />
Seabrook, Vice President Communications and Involvement)<br />
NSU News Oh! What’s Occurring?<br />
Annual Awards - 3rd of May<br />
Each year we recognise our most committed and<br />
outstanding volunteers and thank them for their amazing<br />
work. This year is set to be bigger and better than ever<br />
before with more student volunteers than ever and<br />
amazing award categories (including media volunteer of<br />
the year eak!) the competition is high! It’s a great night<br />
for all volunteers and a great excuse to put on those glad<br />
rags, wear those mega shoes and look back at the amazing<br />
achievements of <strong>Northumbria</strong> students this year.<br />
Welcome Team - Get Involved!<br />
Do you remember all those people wearing red or yellow t<br />
shirts when you moved into halls? Didn’t they look like they<br />
were having such a good time, getting amazing skills for<br />
their CV and getting a free Welcome Week wristband? Well<br />
now it’s your turn to get involved.<br />
Be the fi rst person a new <strong>Northumbria</strong> Student meets and<br />
give them all the advice you wish you had had.<br />
Apply now at www.mynsu.co.uk/volunteer and be a part of<br />
the Welcome Team 2012.<br />
Stuck for Something Over<br />
Summer?<br />
Why not start an Eco NSU project...Eco NSU is the <strong>Union</strong>’s<br />
student led environmental volunteering program.<br />
An Eco NSU project can be anything from a one off event to<br />
an ongoing volunteering opportunity, as long as it’s broadly<br />
environmental, you’re in! Eco NSU off er tailored training,<br />
support and funding to get your great, green idea off the<br />
ground. For more information on starting your own Eco NSU<br />
project, check out: http://tinyurl.com/EcoNSU<br />
nu:life 09
NSU News RAG Round Up<br />
This has been record breaking for <strong>Northumbria</strong> RAG<br />
2011/2012. <strong>Northumbria</strong> RAG has become a full year<br />
long with events running throughout the year as well<br />
as RAG Week, which has traditionally fallen in February,<br />
moved up the academic calendar to November.<br />
RAG kicked the year off to a great start with Mega<br />
Raids to Edinburgh in September and October raising<br />
money on for Barnardo’s. The October raid saw hard<br />
core Ragging & Bag Packing with over 40 amazing<br />
volunteers. The dedicated RAG team collected all day on<br />
the Saturday raising over £2,000, and then had time to<br />
explore the beautiful sites of the Scottish Capital.<br />
RAG aimed to break records and that it did. RAG Week<br />
broke all previous records set for the amount collected<br />
raising a staggering £28,118.61 in 7 days! There<br />
was even more people then ever before involved and<br />
getting stuck in for RAG Week, with over 200 RAG Team<br />
Members. With the week moving to November we saw<br />
the fi rst Saturday fall on ‘Remembrance Weekend’. The<br />
amazing RAG Team managed to collected £7,308.78 on<br />
behalf of the Poppy Appeal in a single day. This was the<br />
most raised by any other organisation in the North East.<br />
This year has seen many new, popular events.<br />
The infamous hypnotist, Lo Reid returned to do a<br />
special show for RAG in conjunction with Volunteer<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> in February. This once again proved to be<br />
immensely popular with over 500 people in attendance.<br />
RAG also put on a steamy ‘Blind Date’ event in February,<br />
which saw couples emerge from it, but unfortunately no<br />
proposals as of yet.<br />
The RAG total for this<br />
current academic year<br />
is an impressive<br />
£40,192<br />
By Oliver Dobbs<br />
10 nu:life<br />
RAG<br />
Round Up<br />
RAG Week broke all<br />
previous records set for the<br />
amount collected raising a<br />
staggering £28,118.61 in<br />
7 days!<br />
The RAG Team managed<br />
to collected £7,308.78 on<br />
behalf of the Poppy Appeal<br />
in a single day.
215 student properties were burgled in<br />
Newcastle last year. Over half of these<br />
were in Jesmond or Heaton. And so far<br />
this year 91 student properties have<br />
been targeted by burglars in these areas<br />
alone.<br />
One of the main reasons students regularly become victims<br />
of burglary is because homes are left insecure. Over half of all<br />
student burglaries last year were because windows and doors<br />
were left open or unlocked, with items including laptops, MP3<br />
players and mobile phones left on display and stolen.<br />
We have been working with <strong>Northumbria</strong> Police and Safe<br />
Newcastle on the Not If But When campaign, to make you<br />
more aware of the part you can play to reduce this.<br />
Jesmond and Heaton Neighbourhood Inspector Louise Cass-<br />
Williams said:<br />
“<strong>Northumbria</strong> Police is continuing with targeted operations<br />
across the city to reduce levels of burglary and apprehend<br />
those responsible.<br />
“One of our main focuses is burglaries to student homes as<br />
these are frequently targeted. <strong>Students</strong> are 3 times more likely<br />
to be a victim of crime than a regular resident.<br />
“The Not If But When campaign is an excellent way of getting<br />
messages out to students, encouraging them to change their<br />
ways and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime”.<br />
So here are a few tips to keep your property safe:<br />
• Keep your doors and windows locked when you go out -<br />
this includes kitchen windows in Halls.<br />
• Mark your property with the initials of your university and<br />
your student ID number - this makes it harder for a burglar to<br />
sell stolen goods and can help the police return items to you.<br />
• If you have bought expensive items, don’t leave the empty<br />
boxes outside your house, rip them up and fi le them under a<br />
bin. Think about it - leaving the boxes outside lets the thieves<br />
know exactly what goodies you have inside your property!<br />
• Make sure your wheelie bin is in your yard, and that your<br />
FEATURES Not If But When<br />
gate is shut and bolted. Burglars jump on to wheelie bins<br />
left out in the back lane to get over your back wall and<br />
into your yard where they can’t be seen by anyone when<br />
they try and break into the back of your property.<br />
• Get insured - it’s better to be safe than sorry! Be aware<br />
that some insurance companies don’t pay out if the thief<br />
gets in through an unlocked door or window.<br />
• Keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of<br />
your electronic items to help police track them down if<br />
they are stolen. See www.immobilise.com for further<br />
details.<br />
Log on to www.notifbutwhen.co.uk for more<br />
information.<br />
nu:life 11
FEATURES London 2012<br />
Yes, in case you hadn’t<br />
noticed all the novelty<br />
British items fi lling the<br />
shop shelves (Will and Kate<br />
stock resurfacing maybe?),<br />
this year, the Olympics are<br />
being held in London!<br />
12 nu:life<br />
THE FUN RUNS FROM<br />
SATURDAY 18TH UNTIL<br />
FRIDAY 24TH<br />
With summer fast approaching, I’m sure you<br />
are all beginning to make some exciting plans<br />
to keep yourselves occupied after you make<br />
your bid for freedom out of your last exam<br />
hall. Were you one of the lucky ones who<br />
managed to grab some tickets for London<br />
2012, or will you be escaping abroad in order<br />
to avoid all the fuss?<br />
The Olympic Games, which has over 200 nations that take part, and<br />
features 26 diff erent sports that break down into 39 disciplines,<br />
is regarded as the world’s most foremost sports competition and<br />
occurs every four years. The Games that inspired our modern day<br />
sports event originally began in Olympia, Greece, over 2,700 years<br />
ago and were part of a religious festival. The Games, like today,<br />
were staged every four years however they were staged in honour<br />
of the Greek king of the Gods, Zeus and people from all over<br />
Greece would come to watch and take part. Since the introduction<br />
of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, they have grown to a scale<br />
so that almost every nation is represented at the Games. It has<br />
also evolved to include the Winter Games to include snow and ice<br />
sports, as well as Paralympic Games for athletes with a physical<br />
disability and also Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes.<br />
Although the Games will mainly take place in London, there are<br />
events to be seen in other cities in the UK, including Glasgow,<br />
Cardiff and here in Newcastle! The celebration of the games will be<br />
seen throughout the whole of the UK as we welcome the Olympic<br />
Flame on its journey across the country, carried by 8,000 selected<br />
Torchbearers. These inspirational people have been nominated and<br />
selected in recognition of their use of sport to benefi t others within<br />
the community and will each carry the torch for part of its winding<br />
journey, which will travel no more than 10 miles from any major<br />
community.
Chris Heaps, a student at <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>University</strong>,<br />
will be one of these lucky torch bearers, in<br />
recognition of funds he has raised for charity<br />
through diff erent sporting events. Chris will carry<br />
the torch through Ashington as it arrives on<br />
Friday 15th June 2012. The torch will pass many<br />
important sites on its journey through Newcastle,<br />
including, St James Park, Grey’s Monument and<br />
the Millennium Bridge.<br />
The Olympic Flame is symbolic and marks the<br />
opening of every Games. The torch is initially lit<br />
during a traditional ceremony, from the sun’s rays<br />
at the Temple of Hera in Olympia. The Host City<br />
receives the Flame after its short relay around<br />
Greece. It is then transferred from one Torch<br />
bearer to another on its journey through the host<br />
country. The fi nal Torch bearer lights the cauldron<br />
during the opening ceremony of the Games at<br />
the Olympic Stadium and marks the offi cial start<br />
of the competition. This passing of the Flame<br />
symbolises spreading a message of peace, unity<br />
and friendship through the nations of the world.<br />
The Flame will stay lit until the closing of the<br />
Games when it will be extinguished.<br />
FEATURES London 2012<br />
Chris Heaps, a student at<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>University</strong>, will be<br />
one of these lucky torch bearers,<br />
in recognition of funds he has<br />
raised for charity through<br />
diff erent sporting events.<br />
The Olympics start on 27th July this year and will end<br />
on 12th August. So enjoy the celebrations , and make<br />
the most of the Olympics whether you are lucky enough<br />
to have tickets, bear the torch of even a volunteer<br />
Games Maker working for the Olympics!<br />
Come on Team GB!<br />
By Laura Heaps<br />
nu:life 13
FEATURES Hot Topic - Olympics<br />
HOT TOPIC: Olympics<br />
Are the Olympics wasteful in a time of economic diffi culty?<br />
The Olympics are drawing ever closer but in a time of such fi nancial diffi culty is it<br />
appropriate (or even possible) to spend so much on what is basically an overgrown sports<br />
day? Or is the chance to host a major international event the shot in the arm the Bristish<br />
economy needs?<br />
To argue why the Olympics are a waste of time and<br />
money, I could do worse than refer to the arguments put<br />
forward by the Economist. Firstly that getting London<br />
in shape may cost “£9 billion- more than twice what we<br />
were originally told, and around £350 for every British<br />
household.” Secondly “only a fi fth of jobs on the Olympic<br />
site have gone to local people” despite promises to<br />
regenerate East London. Lastly, other host cities have<br />
been left with “huge debts and white elephants.”<br />
When Britain won the Olympic bid, Labour was in power<br />
and the economy prosperous. Now we’ve said goodbye to<br />
both Labour and prosperity, perhaps it’s time to consider<br />
whether hosting the Olypmics is still a great idea. When<br />
Greece was struggling to get ready for the Olympics in<br />
time it was brought up on every weekly news satire show<br />
(admittedly there are approximately two of these, but still)<br />
and not in a fl attering way. But then who cares about a little<br />
bit of international ridicule if it boosts our economy, like it<br />
did for Greece... oh wait.<br />
14 nu:life<br />
YES! Only a fi fth of jobs on the<br />
Olympic site have gone to<br />
local people...<br />
Of course, I shouldn’t be fl ippant about another country’s<br />
fi nancial collapse. But isn’t our government doing the same<br />
by ignoring a case where the Olympics obviously did not<br />
completely revitalise the economy and instead contributed<br />
to its collapse?<br />
Now we’ve said goodbye to both<br />
Labour and prosperity, perhaps it’s<br />
time to consider whether hosting the<br />
Olypmics is still a great idea.
NO!<br />
One of the seemingly obvious things that often gets<br />
overlooked is that governments have to spend money<br />
to make money. If you spent the entire budget of the<br />
Olympic games on, say, building world class schools<br />
and hospitals, then for a while things would improve.<br />
But schools and hospitals (indeed any public service)<br />
takes money to run and when that money was used<br />
up you’d be in the same place you started except with<br />
even less money. I’m not saying public services aren’t<br />
(really, really) important, but that they work better in an<br />
economic climate where people raise money, pay taxes<br />
and generally provide enough income to keep them,<br />
and the rest of the country, running smoothly.<br />
Think back to the last time you saw the Olympics, the<br />
sheer number of diff erent athletes from all over the world,<br />
all in the same place. From a humanitarian standpoint<br />
it’s a symbol of global unity and the whole world coming<br />
together to make something great. From an economic point<br />
of view that’s a lot of pro-athletes who need somewhere to<br />
sleep, eat and shop.<br />
And that’s only the games themselves. The country is<br />
building all kinds of all new facilities for the Olympics,<br />
keeping countless people in work who might otherwise<br />
have lost their jobs and providing billions of pound worth of<br />
custom for British businesses.<br />
There is also a historical precedent. During the Great<br />
Depression, American President Franklin Delano<br />
Roosevelt engineered huge social schemes to employ<br />
the unemployed. Dams were built, fi elds irrigated, artists<br />
employed to create public art. It might seem like one of<br />
those options is less useful than the others but the point<br />
was not dams, ditches or paintings but to get as many<br />
people earning a wage as possible. Because when people<br />
have money they spend money. And when people spend<br />
enough money, a shop manages to stay in business. So the<br />
shop owner has more money to spend on ,say, a haircut.<br />
And the hairdresser can aff ord a new shirt. And the tailor<br />
can aff ord... well you get the idea. The point isn’t about<br />
creating something useful but to get people back into work<br />
and spending money.<br />
By Kate Taylor<br />
FEATURES Hot Topic - Olympics<br />
From a humanitarian standpoint<br />
it’s a symbol of global unity and the<br />
whole world coming together to<br />
make something great.<br />
nu:life 15
FEATURES Society Spotlight<br />
With over 2676 <strong>Students</strong> involved in <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>Students</strong>’<br />
<strong>Union</strong> Societies this Year the competition was high at this<br />
year’s annual Society awards. With a whopping 45% increase<br />
in society’s membership the event was sure to be a success.<br />
SO here are the winners from the society awards 2012.<br />
George Photo - NUTS<br />
Set the bar higher in the George Photo Competition!<br />
George conquered his fear of heights and jumped out of a<br />
plane with Oli Hare - the society president.<br />
Best Event - Musical Theatre<br />
(Sweeny Todd)<br />
“It’s awesome. Did you not see Sweeney Todd?! Cracking<br />
show, lovely people, brilliant social times...it’s just the best<br />
all round really<br />
Best Promoters - Writers’ Society<br />
Writers’ Society has continued to grow and publicise their<br />
materials to the wider audience. Having both had stalls in<br />
the welcome week and IAM NSU week as well say holding<br />
stall in the front of the SU> They published an anthology<br />
last year and were part of the Newcastle Winter book festival<br />
Best Grant Application - Grey<br />
This application did use up a small rain forest and was over<br />
40 pages long. The application and presentation were<br />
excellent and showed exactly how the grant would benefi t<br />
their members<br />
Best New Society – Nursing Society<br />
This society has been awarded ‘Best New Society’, as over<br />
the past 6 months committee members have worked<br />
incredibly hard to provide nursing students, at Coach<br />
Lane Campus, with a link between academia and student<br />
activities, this has defi nitely enhanced the overall student<br />
experience.<br />
16 nu:life<br />
Best Special Interest Society - Writers’<br />
Writers’ Society has done a great job this year of reaching<br />
out to new members and bringing the incredibly vibrant<br />
Newcastle artistic community into NSU by holding such<br />
great events as their Anthology Book Launch and A Night<br />
Fantastic<br />
Best affi liated and Faith Society<br />
- LINKS<br />
LINKS has vastly increased both<br />
its general membership base and<br />
also the number of fully qualifi ed<br />
members which has more than<br />
tripled in the last few months. The<br />
society has also provided fi rst aid<br />
at a variety of events including the<br />
Great North Run, Newcastle <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>Union</strong> nights and Football matches.<br />
Best Sports Society - N501 Darts<br />
Darts has had brilliant year increasing membership, which<br />
has allowed entry to compete in competitions with other<br />
Uni’s from the region and national.<br />
Best Cultural Society - Erasmus<br />
This society deserves this award, as they are a very warm<br />
welcoming society who are keen to involve anyone from<br />
any background with their activities. they are a great<br />
society who really give a great impression of the Erasmus<br />
experience!
Best Performance Society - Dance<br />
Everybody who goes looks to have such a good time! They<br />
always put on a good show and the classes are always<br />
fantastic”<br />
Best Course Based Society - Social Work<br />
The society aims to help support social work students, by<br />
providing a network of students and qualifi ed professionals<br />
that can help to keep the negative views of others in<br />
perspective and off er encouragement.<br />
Unsung Hero - Jennifer Wagstaff (Musical Theatre)<br />
This girl has been an amazing volunteer for the Musical<br />
Theatre Society. Without her our production of Sweeney<br />
Todd would not have been half of what it was.<br />
Best Committee Member - Joe Grocott (CVGS)<br />
I am proud to work with him. I am proud to call him my<br />
friend. I am proud to nominate him for this award as by far<br />
the best committee member of the year.<br />
Best Treasurer - Matthew Tinn (CVGS)<br />
This person, for me, has been a lot more than just a treasurer<br />
this year, as he has taken that role and fi tted in wherever<br />
he has been needed. He has done an amazing job this year<br />
and, I believe, this man deserves the award.<br />
Best Secretary - Sarah Price (Dance)<br />
She just makes the dance society the amazing society that it<br />
is. She does so much work and puts so much into organising<br />
everything such as many things for the show.<br />
Best President - Jon Eaton (Gaming and Roleplay)<br />
This person has been president of the society for nearly four<br />
years now and has seen it grow from humble beginnings<br />
of friends to a society of over 40 members. He makes the<br />
society what it is.<br />
Best Rep - Gemma Horner (Sports Rep)<br />
Gemma is a fantastic REP. Throughout the year Gemma has<br />
supported all the sports societies through surgeries as well<br />
as myself. She has a strong sense of society togetherness<br />
and of fairness – she has been a pleasure to work with.<br />
Most Improved Society - Dance<br />
The dance society has improved the most since last year and<br />
is still continuing to improve. We recently got 2nd and 3rd<br />
at Sunderland competition which is a massive improvement<br />
from last year!<br />
Congratulations Everyone!<br />
nu:life 17
MANAGE<br />
US!<br />
NO CAR<br />
SUPERSTAR<br />
CAMPAIGN<br />
LEADER<br />
NEEDED!<br />
SEEN THE NO CAR<br />
SUPERSTAR CAMPAIGN?<br />
WANT TO MAKE IT BIGGER<br />
AND BETTER FOR THIS<br />
YEAR AND NEXT?<br />
The superstars are searching for a<br />
volunteer Project Leader to manage<br />
the No Car Superstar campaign, take it<br />
forward and shape its future.<br />
This position gives you the opportunity<br />
to recruit a team of volunteers, liaise<br />
with external organisations and call<br />
the shots on an exciting city-wide<br />
travel campaign that reaches a massive<br />
52,000 students!<br />
The Project Leader should have<br />
super-skills in marketing, with the<br />
role appealing to anyone interested<br />
in management, events, design,<br />
campaigning, environmental<br />
issues, promotions, making a change,<br />
the media, public relations, having fun<br />
and gaining some great graduate skills!<br />
Apply for the role on the<br />
volunteer database:<br />
www.mynsu.co.uk/volunteer
GEORGE on tour<br />
George LeBug is the <strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> Activities<br />
mascot and this term societies have been taking<br />
George out on tour!<br />
Here are Georges’ highlights so far and remember<br />
if your part of a society and your going anywhere,<br />
come take George out of the offi ce.<br />
George Skydiving<br />
George at Lindisfarne<br />
George selling cakes to raise money<br />
GET INVOLVED George On Tour<br />
George on a Ferry<br />
George Playing Twister<br />
nu:life 19
GET INVOLVED Has Your Revision Melted Your Mind?<br />
Has your revision<br />
melted your mind?<br />
I think my revision has melted my mind….<br />
Exams? Stressed? PANIC?!<br />
Well not quite yet… don’t forget there’s still time!<br />
Exams are always horrible but if you set aside<br />
the time and revise properly over a period of<br />
time the exam shouldn’t be too horrifi c when the<br />
exam days roll up in May.<br />
Well if you’re really smart you’ll have made the<br />
best use of Easter and got all your revision notes<br />
together, sorted through your fi les and worked<br />
out what areas you need to tackle for your<br />
diff erent exams. If you had a nice relax, put your<br />
feet up and watched the telly and ate a large<br />
amount of Easter eggs I would say that’s where<br />
you need to get started.<br />
The temptation when faced with an amount of<br />
revision is one of two things either to put it off<br />
as it seems too massive to handle or to cry, for<br />
probably the same reason or the looming feeling<br />
you’re going to fail.<br />
But if you take your revision steady from a logical<br />
and thoughtful perspective you can get through it!<br />
• Make a list of what your need to revise for each<br />
exam and set yourself a deadline when to have gone<br />
through it by.<br />
• Make yourself a revision timetable - what you’re<br />
going to revise each day and for each exam.<br />
• Don’t prioritise one exam over others – passing<br />
one exam will not help you pass your degree if you<br />
fail all the others.<br />
• Eat well and sleep well -3 meals a day, 8 hours<br />
sleep a night. Otherwise you will become a burbling<br />
revision zombie yelling random quotes and crying<br />
into your notes at 3am in the library.<br />
20 nu:life<br />
• Take yourself away from distractions – leave<br />
your laptop, turn your phone off and attack your<br />
piles of paper.<br />
• Stay off the booze – I know. <strong>Students</strong> without<br />
alcohol – blasphemy? Although a drink is good<br />
every once or twice in a while – it can aff ect your<br />
memory - therefore you’ll forget some of that<br />
information you might have learnt – and revising<br />
with a hangover is never fun.<br />
• If you’re really struggling make yourself a<br />
rewards chart when you complete a section/ learn<br />
all your Marvell quotes/ master algebra you can<br />
go to the park, have a ice-lolly, go to the beach or<br />
perhaps several crème eggs?<br />
• Have revision sessions with your friends to help<br />
your spur and inspire each other to continue with<br />
what you’re doing,<br />
• Practise makes perfect – do past exam<br />
questions, papers and check them against mark<br />
schemes to see where you would fall – if possible<br />
take them to your tutors to ask how you can<br />
improve these too.<br />
• If you get really really really seriously bored –<br />
read out your notes in a funny voice or accent (oddly<br />
helps you to remember) - or wear hat or utilize<br />
that collection of fancy dress outfi ts left over from<br />
Freshers and recite your notes to some people very<br />
much interested in your opinion in your toga - just<br />
as long as it doesn’t distract too much.
REMEMBER:<br />
The night before an exam - The best<br />
thing you can do is to get a good night’s<br />
sleep . If you pull an all-nighter and rock up<br />
to the exam in your pjs, watch on backwards<br />
word vomiting up random bits of revision,<br />
you’ll probably scare your fellow students<br />
and not do too brilliantly in the exam.<br />
On the day of the exam - Get up and<br />
go through the most crucial notes for your<br />
exam, have a good meal before you go in<br />
and get to that exam room early.<br />
In the exam - Plan, be neat and stick to<br />
your timings! Don’t forget to take a watch<br />
with you as you may not be able to see the<br />
clock at the front of the room and if you have<br />
spare time left over at the end check through<br />
your exam to check you haven’t written<br />
anything illegible or pure nonsense.<br />
By Julia Bond<br />
nu:life 21
LIGHT RELIEF Academic Advice<br />
Hi Kim ,<br />
I’m living in Halls. Recently my fl atmate set off the fi re<br />
alarm after a night out. Now we’re all being charged for<br />
the fi re service call-out. Surely this is unfair; I was in bed<br />
asleep at the time.<br />
Alistair<br />
Dear Alistair,<br />
The <strong>University</strong> charges a fi xed £65 for “activating the fi re<br />
alarm without reasonable cause (including not attending to<br />
food being cooked at all times)” (Student Regulations Section<br />
3 Appendix 4: Standard Fines 8). However, you can appeal<br />
if you can show it wasn’t your fault – book an appointment<br />
with me in The Base to discuss this. In the meantime, let your<br />
fl atmate know that interfering deliberately with fi re safety<br />
equipment isn’t only a <strong>Northumbria</strong> disciplinary matter– it’s<br />
also a criminal off ence and the <strong>University</strong> can involve the<br />
police.<br />
Kim<br />
22 nu:life<br />
If you have an academic problem<br />
you would like to discuss with me<br />
just shoot an email to su.advice@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk and I will be back<br />
in touch with you within 48 hours.<br />
Alternatively pop to the base<br />
information desk on the ground fl oor<br />
and the staff will arrange a good<br />
meeting time for us.<br />
Or Pop in and see me at Coach Lane<br />
10-11am on Wednesdays!<br />
Acdemic<br />
Advice<br />
Academic Problems Large or Small, Our<br />
Kim can fi x them all!<br />
Kim Buff ery is your Education Caseworker<br />
who ensures you are always well<br />
represented with academic issues.<br />
Hi Kim,<br />
I was out on the weekend and my mate was involved in<br />
a fi ght. It was nothing too serious - nobody was really<br />
hurt - but the Police were involved and we were all taken<br />
in for questioning. I was given a verbal caution for being<br />
drunk and disorderly, but the offi cer told me not to<br />
worry, as it was only a minor thing. The trouble is, I’m on a<br />
professional programme at Coach Lane - should I tell my<br />
lecturers? I don’t see the point in all this hassle when I’ve<br />
got assessments to be getting on with and, as the offi cer<br />
said himself, it’s not really a big deal.<br />
Kate<br />
Hi Kate,<br />
In short - you absolutely must come clean with your Guidance<br />
Tutor. A range of programmes that lead to professional<br />
registration, including Teaching, Nursing and other Allied<br />
Health Professionals, have strict Codes of Conduct which<br />
state that you have to be honest about any involvement with<br />
the police at all. Once you’ve informed the Guidance Tutor,<br />
you will probably have to attend a Professional Suitability<br />
Board where a decision will be made on whether you can<br />
continue on the programme. The <strong>University</strong>’s diffi culty is that,<br />
even with a very minor caution, it can be diffi cult for them to<br />
arrange a placement for you if there’s anything at all on your<br />
CRB. This doesn’t have to be the end of your <strong>University</strong> career<br />
– you can sometimes get a place on a diff erent programme<br />
and enrol on a qualifying Postgraduate programme once the<br />
caution’s spent - and it will be viewed much more severely if<br />
you don’t declare it now. If you do have to go to a Board, we<br />
can help you present your case - arrange an appointment<br />
with me at The Base to discuss or pop in to see me on<br />
Wednesdays between 10.00-11.00am at the SU Coach Lane.<br />
Kim
The AA Team -<br />
Amy & Anna To the rescue<br />
Dear the AA Team,<br />
I recently witnessed my housemates’ boyfriend getting<br />
with some other girl on a night out. I don’t really get on<br />
with her that well because of him. He does treat her well<br />
and she seems really happy. I just don’t know whether<br />
to tell her because I don’t think she will believe me.<br />
Love Clara<br />
Dear Clara,<br />
That really can’t have been nice for you to see but, TELL<br />
HER. Imagine yourself in the same situation. Would you<br />
want to know? Even if she doesn’t believe you to begin<br />
with, when the truth does come out she will respect you<br />
more for at least trying to tell her.<br />
Love Amy and Anna x<br />
LIGHT LIGHT RELIEF RELIEF The Agony Academic Aunt Advice Team<br />
Dear the AA Team,<br />
I recently had a night out and had a little bit too much<br />
to drink. I had a bit of a tumble aka epic fail down the<br />
stairs. I awoke to fi nd I had broken my cheekbone and<br />
lovely black eye to accompany this. Whilst on the mend<br />
my dissertation is due in three weeks and I have fallen<br />
behind. What should I do?<br />
Love Tanisa x<br />
Dear Tanisa,<br />
We are terribly sorry to hear this. We think that it is best<br />
to go and speak to your programme leader and see what<br />
they can off er you. You could get extensions or retake the<br />
year but we would just suggest seeing if you can work over<br />
summer and then graduate in September, then you don’t<br />
have to do all the work you have completed again. We<br />
hope you get everything sorted and don’t panic!!<br />
Love Amy and Anna x<br />
If you have a problem that you<br />
want us to answer, please email<br />
The AA Team at su.problems@<br />
northumbria.ac.uk and we will be<br />
more than happy to help you!<br />
nu:life 23 nu:life 23
24 nu:life
With so much going on at your<br />
<strong>Students</strong>’ <strong>Union</strong> these last<br />
few months there are so many<br />
pictures, so here are some<br />
highlights from the society<br />
awards and the elections. Can<br />
you spot yourself?<br />
With thanks to Harry Marshal for<br />
images throughout this months nu:life.<br />
nu:life 25
LIGHT RELIEF NGT - And The 2012 Winner Is...<br />
This year’s <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s Got Talent kicked<br />
off in true star style as hosts Laura Cropper<br />
and Adam Young introduced the evening<br />
and opening act; three piece male rock band<br />
The Hairiest Men in Newcastle. Entering to a<br />
Monk chant dressed in cloaks and hoods, they<br />
introduced their piece as “the greatest story<br />
ever told.” It soon became clear to many that<br />
this was a Star wars reference fi tting in nicely<br />
with the X-Factor: judges as Gods similarity of<br />
the competition. Much to the delight of the<br />
audience they even produced a light saber.<br />
With their Don Mclean American Pie parody,<br />
“Soon I’m going to be a Jedi” the band showed<br />
U.S. infl uenced rock was alive in the City and<br />
particularly at <strong>University</strong>.<br />
The second act was performance student Andre Gwilliam<br />
with a spellbinding performance of Michael Buble’s Cry Me<br />
a River. Like Buble, Andre was a real ladies man, suited and<br />
booted, with moves to match a strong voice. This man’s<br />
going to go far!<br />
The music and dancing we’ve become used to is broken up<br />
as Smenchy Smench takes to the stage to provide a little<br />
magic pulling out everything from his case of tricks from a<br />
26 nu:life<br />
NGT<br />
And the 2012<br />
winner is...<br />
feather bowa to ‘telekinetic’ (moving) balls. The act gathered<br />
steam as he donned a blindfold and rotated another ball<br />
around his hands. Oh yeah, and dressed in giant ‘Elton John’<br />
style glasses. The audience and judges were enchanted as<br />
he brought variety to the show.<br />
Fourth on was male singer and guitarist Jez who began<br />
by apologising to the judges in advance for his act not<br />
being funny adding, “but if you like crying maybe it’s for<br />
you.” Strumming a beautiful melody on his guitar he went<br />
into a gorgeous re-working of MGMT’s Kids followed by Ed<br />
Sheeran and Oasis covers. Following on the solo theme, the<br />
next contestant was Kaisa a young lady with a powerful,<br />
soulful voice and a superstar attitude and stage presence to<br />
match. She treated everybody in the room to her rendition<br />
of Etta James’ I don’t want to go blind, Afterwards receiving<br />
a standing ovation from the judges!<br />
Closing the fi rst half of the show was <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s Musical<br />
Theatre society who created suspense and intrigue as they<br />
entered the darkened stage. Performing an incredibly<br />
strong and focused extract from Sweeney Todd with talents<br />
shining through from the 17 membered cast.<br />
As the interval comes around we have time to catch our<br />
breath before opening performer Hayley Murray blows us<br />
away with her vibrant rendition of Ollie’s Murs’ Dance with<br />
Me Tonight. With a soulful, friendly voice injecting some fun<br />
into the audience, a natural, charismatic performer who one
After long pauses of suspense<br />
as one by one an act left<br />
the stage, Kaisa was named<br />
winner of <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s Got<br />
Talent 2012.<br />
judge stated, “turned the stage into her own”.<br />
Next up, Kate Bradshaw and Sarah Urwin giving us a touch<br />
of Disney in the form of Lobster Sebastian and seagull (fully<br />
costumed!) from The little Mermaid performing Kiss de<br />
Girl. As the song reaches an end the audience and judges<br />
marvel as the pair evolve into diff erent species as they peel<br />
off a layer of costume to reveal underneath they are dressed<br />
as The Lion King characters Timon and Pumba. And then<br />
what’s this? Another costume change, for The Jungle Book<br />
classic I Wanna be Like You”.<br />
Staying in the comedy mood, Fernando took to the space<br />
and (eventually) got up on stage to… wait for it… make a<br />
grated cheese sandwich! Quite the food expert he knew<br />
chocolate is the way to a girl’s heart and was quick to off er<br />
one lucky member of the audience a Lion bar in exchange<br />
for letting him give her his number.<br />
Returning to music for the penultimate act was Rag and<br />
Banjo, a three piece guitar, bass and banjo band with<br />
attitude and inspirational lyrics sang with heart, “run<br />
chicken run, don’t you lose your step”. This was folk done<br />
well. Despite some negative feedback from judges, the<br />
band commented by saying “We’re just happy to be doing<br />
something for Alzheimers”.<br />
Final act Luke Westgate dazzled everybody with his hot to<br />
trot street dance moves even fl irting with judge Frizzle! A<br />
comedy element to his moves which displayed a sense of<br />
humour and an ability to engage with an audience on an<br />
intimate level.<br />
After the acts had performed Judge Frizzle (fresh from his<br />
recent fl irtation) took to the stage to entertain the audience<br />
with a medley of comedy parodies of popular songs.<br />
Included in his megamix was Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger<br />
transformed into “Moves for Jenga”. Lady Gaga was also on<br />
the hit list as Edge of Glory became “Hedge in Hockney” and<br />
Bad Romance now “Bad Romans”.<br />
After presenters Laura and Adam drew the raffl e and<br />
revealed the winners, they crossed centre stage and<br />
welcomed back the contestants with the most votes from<br />
the audience to narrow them down and announce the<br />
winner. Tensions were high for the remaining fi ve acts;<br />
Andre, Hayley Murray, Kaisa, Luke Westgate, Kate bradshaw<br />
and Katie Urwin. After long pauses of suspense as one<br />
by one an act left the stage, Kaisa was named winner of<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>’s Got Talent 2012.<br />
With the discovery of new talent from the acts entering<br />
and the revelation that over £800 had been raised for<br />
Alzheimer’s Society, the fi nal ended on a high. Next year’s<br />
competition countdown begins now!<br />
By Jacob Turner.<br />
nu:life 27
LIGHT RELIEF Discuss - Reality TV<br />
DISCUSS:<br />
Reality TV<br />
Superfi cial space fi ller Saturday<br />
night rubbish to mollycoddle<br />
the brain after a hard week?<br />
Or - Something much darker?<br />
Reality television is now an integral part<br />
of our culture people gather together on<br />
nights to watch programs such as Take Me<br />
Out and Geordie Shore, the fi rst to cringe<br />
along with the contestants and in the<br />
case of the second to make sure they have<br />
not been caught on fi lm on a slightly tipsy<br />
night in the toon.<br />
It can be seen to off er opportunity and has<br />
produced a number of success stories especially in<br />
the case of music with bands such as JLS and One<br />
Direction faring extremely well and individuals,<br />
including Rebecca Ferguson, Leona Lewis and<br />
Alexandra Burke doing just as well if not perhaps<br />
better. These examples all range from one show<br />
and have become household names some of which<br />
recognized globally and have enabled them to<br />
spread their talent and achieve their ‘dreams’. Other<br />
shows off er large monetary rewards ‘Total Wipe Out’<br />
for one gives all contestants a trip to Argentina and<br />
the off er at the end of a £25,000 prize, which for<br />
many is payment enough for a few minutes of mild<br />
humiliation on television.<br />
Aside from off ering opportunities to the contestants<br />
reality television primarily off ers the viewer<br />
entertainment in normally unexpected avenues by<br />
challenging their preconceptions and surprising<br />
them in unusual fashions. Reality television is<br />
unpredictable in its initial conception to represent<br />
28 nu:life<br />
real life and presents the human subject rightly<br />
so as ‘free’ with the ability to do or say basically<br />
anything. To the viewer this can be seen as an oddly<br />
stimulating and exciting experience as it enables<br />
them to see the diverse range of people that make<br />
up our culture. Additionally it enables them to see<br />
how diff erent individuals react to situations and<br />
allow them to compare how they would react in<br />
similar circumstances.<br />
Reality television is able unlike other types of<br />
television show has the ability to cover a wide and<br />
diverse range of subject matter from business to<br />
singing to endurance in a large social experiment to<br />
challenge our notions of society. This diversity not<br />
only provides entertainment but also education as<br />
we are able to learn from these experiences and the<br />
experiences of others. Furthermore, these shows<br />
provide inspiration, who did not want to be able to<br />
dance like ‘Diversity’ after their performance which<br />
combined dancing, gymnastics, tumbling and<br />
comedy all in one routine.<br />
Reality television is most defi nitely here to stay, but<br />
what the future holds will be most defi nitely bigger<br />
and hopefully better to challenge social interaction<br />
and how we as a society work.
However….<br />
It seems that Saturday nights in front of the<br />
television have become a channel hopping game<br />
from reality show to reality show with BBC, ITV,<br />
Channel 4 and 5 all wanting in on a piece of the<br />
action.<br />
Have we lost the true meaning of television and<br />
have we lost our Saturday nights forever?<br />
There always appears to be some sort of opportunity<br />
in which reality shows seek to embarrass and<br />
humiliate the quirkier individual in the scope of<br />
reality television and it appears we have become<br />
so accepting of this culture we start prejudging<br />
individuals. In the case of Susan Boyle this is<br />
evident; her life has obviously been changed by her<br />
appearance on reality television but for the better?<br />
She is commonly referred to as SUBO, not the most<br />
fl attering of nicknames and been hospitalized due<br />
to stress - does money and fame really bring you<br />
happiness?<br />
But! These shows seek to represent true and real<br />
experience of the modern human experience – is<br />
this not undermined by the scripting or creation<br />
of dramatic moments in reality television ‘for the<br />
entertainment of the viewer’. This happens admittedly<br />
more in American based reality television such as<br />
Jersey Shore and Wife Swap than in UK broadcasting,<br />
however it can be seen to be crossing over slowly but<br />
surely, before most talent shows the contestants are<br />
picked to be presented to the judges some for purely<br />
comedy factor others for actual talent.<br />
The recent release of ‘The Hunger Games’ draws<br />
alarming parallels between the toxicity of reality<br />
television and society. The basic premise of the<br />
fi lm is that twenty four teenage contestants<br />
from diff erent parts of the nation are picked and<br />
challenged to fi ght for survival until the death, the<br />
fi nal one remaining is declared champion. Before<br />
they enter the arena the contestants must impress<br />
their audiences by spectacle and dress, refl ecting to<br />
an extent the walk in of the Big Brother House and<br />
which housemate has the biggest wow factor or<br />
strikes the greatest impression on the audience to<br />
win their support. In the fi lm, it is proposed by Gale<br />
Hawthorne, “What if one year everyone just stopped<br />
watching? Then they wouldn’t have the Games.” Is<br />
this not true for reality television also? We need to<br />
remember that people voluntarily place themselves<br />
in these positions – however we still smile at their<br />
demise, we boo them and jeer. What does this truly<br />
say about us?<br />
By Julia Bond<br />
...number of success stories<br />
especially in the case of music<br />
with bands such as JLS and One<br />
Direction faring extremely well<br />
and individuals, including Rebecca<br />
Ferguson, Leona Lewis and<br />
Alexandra Burke...<br />
nu:life 29
STUDENT CULTURE Campus Style<br />
CamPus<br />
Style<br />
With the sunshine creeping<br />
through we couldn’t wait to hit<br />
the campus and check out what<br />
styles you guys are rocking this<br />
month! Spring/summer always<br />
makes you bring out the best<br />
bits from last year and freshen<br />
them up with some new shoes<br />
or a stylish accessory. To say<br />
you guys were only at uni, you<br />
really were some well dressed<br />
students! Here’s what we found<br />
this month...<br />
30 nu:life<br />
CHLOE<br />
2nd year Maths<br />
OLIVIA<br />
2nd year English<br />
Literature<br />
A pretty fl oral print for the summer<br />
season; Olivia’s Topshop dress<br />
teamed with tights is timeless for<br />
the spring/ summer transition. Her<br />
denim shirt is another wardrobe<br />
staple; it’s just the thing to throw<br />
round any outfi t, helping to dress<br />
it down for uni. Making it more<br />
unique; is that it is a gem from a<br />
vintage shop.<br />
Most expensive thing in her<br />
wardrobe: Kurt Geiger shoes (loan<br />
well spent!)<br />
Her plans for the summer: Holiday<br />
to Zante with friends and a week<br />
in Frace<br />
LAURA<br />
4th Year Fashion Marketing<br />
Laura initially caught our eye with her<br />
beret style red wool hat, a perfect inject<br />
of colour for a dismal uni morning!<br />
What impressed us the most though,<br />
was her desire to fi nd inexpensive<br />
clothing; the hat is the result of<br />
bartering a stall holder at Portobello<br />
market and the bag is a charity shop<br />
bargain at £2.99!<br />
Most expensive thing in her wardrobe:<br />
Vivienne Westwood boots<br />
Her plans for the summer: Enjoying a<br />
well earned break and applying for jobs<br />
Chloe’s outfi t mixes comfort and style in interestingly shaped knitwear; a vintage fi nd from<br />
York! The off –the shoulder look makes it perfect for the warmer weather, not to mention the<br />
natural colour stripes toning in well with the brown Debenhams boots and accessorize bag. To<br />
fi nish the look and adding extra charm is her silver necklace from a stall in York!<br />
Most expensive thing in her wardrobe: Her silver charm bracelet<br />
Her plans for the summer: Relaxing and working
It was Hannah’s beautiful<br />
Bank top which originally<br />
caught our eye, but as we<br />
spoke to her we noticed<br />
her gorgeous Jasper<br />
Conran bag, making this<br />
casual uni trend that little<br />
bit designer! Her on trend<br />
denim shorts are Miss<br />
Selfridge, we love how<br />
she’s teamed them with<br />
tights for that spring chill!<br />
Most expensive thing in<br />
her wardrobe: £70 Miss<br />
Selfridge dress<br />
Her plans for the summer:<br />
Ibiza with friends<br />
HANNAH<br />
2nd year<br />
Psychology<br />
RACHEL<br />
2nd year Business<br />
Management<br />
Dressing down a gorgeous<br />
New Look dress with a<br />
classic Gap denim jacket<br />
and a chunky knit scarf,<br />
Rachel really shows us<br />
how to dress down to<br />
dress up. We also love her<br />
TK Max bag, which she<br />
customised herself, it goes<br />
perfectly with her violet<br />
neck wear!<br />
Most expensive thing in<br />
her wardrobe: Her Uggs<br />
Her plans for the summer:<br />
Starting her placement at<br />
Nissan<br />
It’s that time of year again. We’ve fi nally come to the end<br />
of what’s felt like an everlasting winter, we’re starting to<br />
see some springtime sun, and guess what? We want more,<br />
more, more! If you’ve been pulling your hair out looking for a<br />
gorgeous yet reasonably cheap summer getaway, read on...<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Campus Style<br />
GINA<br />
1st year Photography<br />
We loved Gina’s cute look, teaming<br />
autumn reds with summer beiges to<br />
make a perfect spring outfi t for a sunny<br />
yet chilly day. Her puff er jacket gives<br />
this innocent look some attitude, we<br />
love it! Gina bought all of her outfi t in<br />
Japan.<br />
Most expensive thing in her wardrobe:<br />
£150 Japanese designer bag<br />
Her plans for the summer: Going to the<br />
beach!<br />
Most things are diffi cult to buy on our student budgets, with<br />
the exception of value beans, so when it comes to spending<br />
hundreds of pounds on a holiday, we students need to know<br />
how to do it right, and I think I may just have some answers... nu:life 31
STUDENT CULTURE Happy Holiday Hunting<br />
Happy Holiday<br />
Hunting<br />
Your guide to... Holiday Shopping<br />
It’s that time of year again. We’ve fi nally<br />
come to the end of what’s felt like an<br />
everlasting winter, we’re starting to see<br />
some springtime sun, and guess what?<br />
We want more, more, more! If you’ve<br />
been pulling your hair out looking for a<br />
gorgeous yet reasonably cheap summer<br />
getaway, read on...<br />
Most things are diffi cult to buy on our<br />
student budgets, with the exception<br />
of value beans, so when it comes to<br />
spending hundreds of pounds on a<br />
holiday, we students need to know how<br />
to do it right, and I think I may just have<br />
some answers...<br />
32 nu:life<br />
Things to look for:<br />
All inclusive packages Free food and drink? Yes<br />
please! When you’ve paid for the holiday a few<br />
months before, everything really does seem costless<br />
by the time you’re sipping your free cocktail by the<br />
pool! It also means you can still treat yourselves to<br />
one or two meals out without worrying about the<br />
cost of this every night.<br />
Transfers and baggage included there are some<br />
great cheap holiday websites, which make you think<br />
you’re getting a bargain deal, but watch out! The<br />
further along you go with your booking you realise<br />
baggage can be a large extra cost and it may be up<br />
to you to get from the airport to your hotel when<br />
you arrive. It’s best to let someone else do all this<br />
hard work for you in an unfamiliar country.<br />
Reps They are the holiday equivalent of Superman -<br />
your hero. If anything goes wrong on your trip they’ll<br />
always make regular visits to the hotel to help you.<br />
They’ll also have the great local knowledge that you<br />
won’t, so advice on day trips and extra things to<br />
make your holiday even better is always on hand.
For some extra help, I’ve looked into<br />
booking a holiday through three diff erent<br />
websites to assess their pro’s and con’s, and<br />
let you in on my winner...<br />
www.thomascook.com A great company you know you<br />
can trust. Everything is included and they’ll make sure<br />
you’re safe out there. The only down side is the price. It’s<br />
diffi cult to fi nd a 4* all inclusive package with them for<br />
under £500. My score: 4/5<br />
www.teletextholidays.co.uk The cheapest holidays<br />
around! At just over £300 for a 4* all inclusive holiday,<br />
they really are handing out bargains. But this is where<br />
you need to be careful! Baggage and transfers are not<br />
included in the price, and the small print states that the<br />
star rating the website has given is often higher than<br />
the actual hotel standard. My score: 3/5<br />
www.onthebeach.co.uk MY WINNER! On the beach<br />
lets you choose everything separately: fl ights, hotel,<br />
package, baggage, transfers, so you can create your<br />
perfect holiday package, and they have recently<br />
introduced a rep system. A 4* all inclusive package<br />
through this site is around £400, perfection! My score:<br />
5/5<br />
by Suzie Harker<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Happy Holiday Hunting<br />
nu:life 33
STUDENT CULTURE Gig Goers<br />
Shop & Rock<br />
This year’s music and fashion<br />
fundraiser Shop and Rock has<br />
raised an impressive £600 for the<br />
British Red Cross charity.<br />
The second event took place on Sunday 19<br />
February 2012 in Reds and was host to a vintage<br />
clothing fair, catwalk and raffl e in the day and a<br />
selection of bands in the evening – with some<br />
very exciting acts.<br />
Hyde & Beast were secured as the headliners and<br />
performed at the uni for the fi rst time. After the<br />
recent success of their debut album Slow Down<br />
which received top ratings in Q, NME, Clash and<br />
Time Out magazines.<br />
The duo from Sunderland entered the stage as<br />
a six piece collective, with guest appearances<br />
from Barry Hyde - lead singer of The Futureheads.<br />
Their hour long set was a hit and many people<br />
turned up to see them play in such an intimate<br />
setting as Reds.<br />
Local up-and-coming bands Symphonic<br />
Pictures and The Green Hour (who feature two<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> students) also performed to the<br />
audience of over 100 people.<br />
The professional-style vintage catwalk during the<br />
day showcased second-hand clothing from the<br />
British Red Cross charity shop, in the city centre.<br />
The student organisers wanted to prove that old<br />
clothes can still be current and fashionable, with<br />
just a little bit of customising and accessorising.<br />
34 nu:life<br />
The professional-style vintage<br />
catwalk during the day<br />
showcased second-hand<br />
clothing from the British Red<br />
Cross charity shop, in the city<br />
centre.<br />
Amy Spedding, assistant<br />
manager of the charity shop<br />
said:<br />
“It’s a really good way to<br />
raise money for the British<br />
Red Cross and it’s a good<br />
way to raise awareness<br />
because people know we<br />
do a lot of work abroad<br />
but they don’t think of us<br />
working here so much. It’s<br />
also a great way to show<br />
younger people that charity<br />
work can be cool!”<br />
Around 15 local vintage<br />
stalls also proved that<br />
second-hand clothing is<br />
the way forward by selling<br />
some beautiful retro clothes,<br />
shoes, accessories and<br />
records from times gone by.<br />
Over 30 new student<br />
volunteers from a variety<br />
of courses and years were<br />
involved. Models, hair and<br />
make-up artists, band<br />
support and tech support<br />
are just a few of the roles<br />
students were invited to<br />
take part in.<br />
The team has been working<br />
hard since September<br />
2011 to prepare for the<br />
event, in order to make is<br />
as successful as it was. The<br />
project was also supported<br />
by RAG this year and their<br />
help has been great.<br />
Shop and Rock recently won<br />
the 2012 Innovation Award<br />
from the British Red Cross<br />
for creative and successful<br />
fundraising.<br />
For more information<br />
search Shop and Rock on<br />
Facebook or Twitter, or<br />
contact shopandrock@<br />
hotmail.co.uk.
TEMPER TRAP<br />
May 13th @ NSU<br />
GET YOUR<br />
TICKETS NOW!<br />
The Temper Trap have announced their stunning<br />
second album, ‘The Temper Trap’, due for release<br />
on Infectious Music on 21 May. The record will<br />
be the band’s fi rst as a newly-expanded fi vepiece<br />
outfi t following the permanent addition of<br />
Joseph Greer on keyboard and guitar. The selftitled<br />
album will feature 12 new songs recorded<br />
in Los Angeles with producer Tony Hoff er (Beck,<br />
M83, Phoenix).<br />
The track listing is as follows:<br />
1. Need Your Love<br />
2. London’s Burning<br />
3. Trembling Hands<br />
4. The Sea Is Calling<br />
5. Miracle<br />
6. This Isn’t Happiness<br />
7. Where Do We Go From Here<br />
8. Never Again<br />
9. Dreams<br />
10. Rabbit Hole<br />
11. I’m Gonna Wait<br />
12. Leaving Heartbreak Hotel<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Gig Goers<br />
A fi rst taste of the record in the form of album track<br />
Rabbit Hole is available to stream from today via<br />
www.thetempertrap.com. The fi rst single from the<br />
album will be opening track Need Your Love, due<br />
for release on 7 May.<br />
‘The Temper Trap’ is the follow up to 2009’s debut<br />
long-player ‘Conditions’. Featuring the singles<br />
Science of Fear, Fader, Love Lost and Sweet<br />
Disposition - the latter of which spent more than six<br />
months in the UK singles chart - the album was one<br />
of the breakthrough successes of the year and has<br />
now been certifi ed Gold two-times over in the UK,<br />
selling over 800,000 copies worldwide.<br />
The band will debut tracks from the new record at<br />
SXSW in Austin, Texas, and during a sold out tour<br />
of the US in March. They today announce a full UK<br />
tour for May to coincide with the album release.<br />
Tickets for the UK shows are on sale 12pm Friday<br />
9 March.<br />
The Temper Trap are Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon<br />
Aherne, Toby Dundas, Lorenzo Sillitto & Joseph<br />
Greer<br />
Get your Tickets at the <strong>Students</strong>’<br />
<strong>Union</strong> Welcome desk now!<br />
nu:life 35
STUDENT CULTURE WriSoc Serial - The Finale<br />
WriSoc SerialThe<br />
Finale<br />
So far:<br />
Lexi has started second year by stumbling into the wrong lecture room. Even worse, the<br />
lecture she crashes is on the subject of highly secret magic and she fi nds herself cursed.<br />
Attempting to rescue new friend and talented wizard, Natalie, Lexi fi nd herself at the<br />
mercy of an immortal vampire with only a 2HB pencil between her and certain death.<br />
[Part 8]<br />
The pencil I’d jammed into my hair was slippery with<br />
blood but unbroken: apparently it had raked a cut<br />
across my scalp when Vesperian threw me to the<br />
ground.<br />
‘Foolish mortal,’ Vesperian crowed, leaning over me<br />
close enough I could see the madness in his eyes.<br />
‘My bride and I will tear open your throat as our<br />
wedding feast!’<br />
My fi sts clenched at the thought of Natalie being<br />
forced to kill me. Was Vesperian planning on<br />
controlling her somehow after her transformation?<br />
Or would she be instantly transformed into a<br />
bloodthirsty monster? With those thoughts still in<br />
my head I reversed my grip on the pencil and drove<br />
it as hard as I could in the approximate direction of<br />
his heart.<br />
Vesperian staggered. The blood spreading slowly<br />
across his shirt was so dark it was almost black and<br />
already clotting. I kicked him as hard as I could,<br />
rolled onto my knees and drove the pencil upwards<br />
as he dived towards me. This time it hit his heart.<br />
Or at least, it hit something. I could tell because he<br />
began to writhe, his skin drawing unnaturally tight<br />
over his bones. I scrambled away, still on my knees,<br />
as he began to glow from within. By the time the<br />
fl ames started I was crouched behind a side table.<br />
36 nu:life<br />
When they stopped, I got to my feet and looked<br />
for Natalie. She’d been suspended in midair by<br />
Vesperian’s magic but it was already wearing off : she<br />
was falling by degrees, like a puppet whose strings<br />
were giving out one by one. I went to catch her and<br />
got there just as the spell collapsed entirely.<br />
At least, I thought stoically, I had broken her fall.<br />
Then again, whoever had been responsible for<br />
changing her into a wedding dress could at least<br />
have got rid of her Doc Martens. They were going to<br />
leave on hell of a bruise. I prodded her in the side,<br />
entirely from friendly concern for her well being.<br />
Mostly. Probably. At least half.<br />
‘Lexi?’ Natalie muttered, opening her eyes. ‘Why are<br />
you in my-’ Her eyes opened wider as she clocked<br />
our surroundings, the wedding dress, the blood I<br />
could feel matting my hair. ‘New question: why aren’t<br />
I in my bedroom?’<br />
‘It’s a long story,’ I said, helping her to her feet. ‘I’m<br />
not sure I believe it.’
[Epilogue:]<br />
‘Cheer up,’ Natalie said. ‘At least you know the curse<br />
is broken now.’<br />
I nodded, swirling my coff ee in my hand. We were<br />
in one of the campus’ quieter cafes, somewhere<br />
people wouldn’t notice if the origami bird, Vivere, on<br />
the table occasionally preened itself and fl apped it’s<br />
folded paper wings independently. It’s magic hadn’t<br />
worn off when Vesperian’s had and it had taken<br />
to following me around, perched in my hair or on<br />
my lapel. Most people thought it was some kind of<br />
alternative corsage. Sometimes in lectures it would<br />
unfold to reveal anecdotes, suggestions for further<br />
reading or even to correct the lecturer. I was going<br />
to have to fi nd a way to stop it coming into exams<br />
with me.<br />
‘I know,’ I said. ‘Three days yesterday and here I am.’<br />
Natalie shrugged elegantly. ‘Look at it this way, you<br />
only had to wait three days: it’s less suspense than<br />
The Ring.’ She was wearing the lacy gown from her<br />
near-wedding, now dyed sea green. If there was one<br />
girl on campus to appreciate Vesperian’s taste in<br />
Victoriana it was her, proof I suppose that they’d at<br />
least had one thing in common.<br />
‘I just worry,’ I pressed. ‘That demon kid... Aesop, he’s<br />
still out there. His wings’ll grow back in eventually.’<br />
‘So take a module in defensive magic.’ Natalie<br />
shrugged again.<br />
I stared for a full ten second before I got any words<br />
out. ‘You can do that?’<br />
‘Um, yeah.’ Natalie sipped her own coff ee delicately.<br />
‘You think anyone seriously applies to do a full<br />
degree in magic? How’s that going to look on your<br />
CV? Technically speaking I’m a fashion student.’<br />
I digested this. She had done a nice job on that<br />
dress, even if it was getting two disbelieving glances<br />
for every one admiring one.<br />
‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Where do I enrol?’<br />
Special Thanks to the Writers society for their<br />
constant commitment to nu:life.
STUDENT CULTURE Summer Munchies<br />
Summer<br />
Munchies<br />
Got a sweet tooth and a<br />
hankering to ditch revision<br />
for a little while?<br />
Is it all hot and sunny and<br />
need a cool down treat for<br />
your little bbq?<br />
Or is there a special someone<br />
you quite want to impress?<br />
Stick to these munchies<br />
advice and you’ll blow the<br />
socks of your mates and sail<br />
through revision and into<br />
summer with a little twinkle<br />
or two in your eye.<br />
38 nu:life<br />
HOT HOT SUMMER<br />
Ice lollies are the easiest thing to make ever<br />
- FACT<br />
All you need is an ice-lolly mould (the Poundshop<br />
sells these). If you don’t have one of these plastic<br />
cups also will work well or if you don’t have these<br />
mugs with plastic food bags in them also work<br />
well.<br />
Choose your juice, milkshake, fi zzydrink - pour in<br />
and freeze overnight!<br />
But if you fancy something a bit more exotic and<br />
to keep yourself cool before you hit the toon on<br />
a night out you might fancy a more alcoholic<br />
frozen treat.<br />
Any alcoholic drink of your choice mixed with a<br />
fruit juice or a fi zzy drink. The ratio of alcohol to<br />
mixer should be 1:3 otherwise the lollies will<br />
not freeze.<br />
A few ideas to get you started…<br />
• Passion fruit juice and Vodka<br />
• Rum and Cherry Coke<br />
• Vodka, lemonade and lime cordial<br />
Make your own Pizza<br />
Well it’s tastier than any old shop made<br />
thing, plus it’s a good excuse to get<br />
your hands messy.<br />
• 1kg strong white bread fl our<br />
• 1 level tablespoon fi ne sea salt<br />
• 2 x 7g sachets of dried yeast<br />
• 1 tablespoon golden caster sugar<br />
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil<br />
• 650ml lukewarm water<br />
Mix together the fl our and the salt, while in a jug<br />
mix the yeast, sugar and olive oil into the water<br />
(leave for a little bit) then pour into a well in the<br />
dry ingredients. Mix and knead until you have a<br />
smooth dough. Leave the dough to rest for an<br />
hour or so somewhere warm until it has doubled<br />
in size. When it has done this you knead it once<br />
more and then divide the dough up into 6 to 8<br />
balls and roll to about half a cm before covering<br />
with your choice of topping.<br />
By Julia Bond
FLICKS TO KEEP<br />
AN EYE OUT FOR<br />
And so we’re here: the last issue of NU:Life under the<br />
current management. After two years under the ironfi<br />
sted rule of editor Holly Seabrook I can honestly say,<br />
with an un-ironic tear in my eye, that it’s been an absolute<br />
pleasure and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much<br />
as I’ve enjoyed writing them. Here, for your consideration,<br />
are some of the movies you should keep an eye out for<br />
over the coming months. And remember, just because the<br />
sun’s out and people want to socialise, doesn’t mean you<br />
have to: hit the movies, you know you want to.<br />
American Pie:<br />
Reunion<br />
(April 6th/15)<br />
Who expected this? After<br />
the original trilogy fi nished<br />
and the powers that be<br />
decided to churn out<br />
sequel after sequel with<br />
nothing but money in mind<br />
(American Pie Roadtrip,<br />
anyone?) the last thing anyone, myself included<br />
wanted to see was another Pie fl ick, but look at<br />
this. All of the cast have returned, the focus is once<br />
again on the trials of growing up when you should<br />
probably know better, and Stifl er’s mom looks as<br />
though she’s going to get nailed by Jim’s dad. I can’t<br />
wait. Oh, and you can bet the soundtrack’s going to<br />
adhere to tradition and absolutely kick ass.<br />
Men in Black 3<br />
(May 25th/TBC)<br />
Another surprise in the<br />
summer canon, and not<br />
one that I wouldn’t have<br />
written about (MiB2 was a<br />
tad crap) had the trailer not<br />
been so insanely good; and<br />
I can sum up it’s brilliance in<br />
only two words: Josh Brolin.<br />
Seriously, go have a look.<br />
STUDENT CULTURE Flicks<br />
The Dark Knight<br />
Rises<br />
(July 20th/TBC)<br />
Here we have it, the jewel in this<br />
year’s cinematic crown; the fi nal<br />
part in the Nolan/Bale bat-trilogy.<br />
To say that expectations are high<br />
for this is like saying that the sea’s a<br />
little bit wet. After Heath Ledger’s<br />
penultimate performance as The<br />
Joker in 2008’s Dark Knight, after he blew us all away with<br />
such unfathomable insanity, the villains have a lot to live up<br />
to, but don’t worry, they’re in safe hands. The ever reliable<br />
Tom Hardy (Bronson) has beefed up hugely to play Bane,<br />
whilst Anne Hathaway is running around in hella-tight<br />
leathers as Catwoman. Have you seen the trailer yet? Have<br />
you? Michael Caine is crying, man. Why? I don’t know. But I<br />
can’t wait to fi nd out.<br />
Prometheus<br />
(June 8th/TBC)<br />
Not much is known about this<br />
other than it’s a Ridley Scott fl ick<br />
(Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner)<br />
once more taking a group of<br />
unsuspecting astronauts into the<br />
horror house of his mind where<br />
things are defi nitely not as they<br />
seem. This would be a forerunner<br />
for the “stupidly awesome cool awards” this year, if only it<br />
wasn’t for...<br />
By Callum Gibson<br />
nu:life 39
NORTH STARS<br />
prepare for Nationals<br />
The <strong>Northumbria</strong> Cheerleaders are on the countdown to the British Cheerleading<br />
Association <strong>University</strong> League Championships held on 5th and 6th April. Lauren<br />
Titcombe, the team’s coach and member told us more…<br />
So, why is this competition<br />
so important?<br />
“This is the biggest competition of the year for <strong>University</strong><br />
Cheerleaders affi liated with the British Cheerleading<br />
association because you can win the title of National<br />
Champions, and I’m sure all sports teams would agree<br />
there’s nothing like a bit of healthy rivalry between<br />
universities! Cheerleaders are still perceived as airheads with<br />
no real talent so when it comes to competition we all like to<br />
prove ourselves and bring it- without being too corny!”<br />
When and where is the Competition held?<br />
“The competition is held in the International Centre in<br />
Telford so we have to travel quite far away. We don’t mind<br />
though, it’s always an amusing journey with at least one<br />
driver getting lost.”<br />
What event are you entered in?<br />
“This year we are entering both Hip-hop and Pom dance<br />
categories in the dance division of the competition, which<br />
is great because it means we get to perform two completely<br />
diff erent styles of dance and show how talented we are in<br />
both.”<br />
www.cheerleading.org.uk<br />
STUDENT CULTURE North Stars Prepare For Nationals<br />
How are you expecting to do?<br />
“We came 2nd last year in the Hip-hop category which we<br />
were so proud of but also means we’re aiming for the top<br />
this year. We came so close to winning but were just beaten<br />
by Warwick <strong>University</strong> so our real aim is to beat them this<br />
time round!”<br />
How are the Northstars preparing?<br />
“Our routines fi nished now so all our time will be spent<br />
perfecting them so that the judges can fi nd as few faults<br />
as possible. We will be building our fi tness too so that we<br />
can give it our all without getting too tired. And we will also<br />
be perfecting our skills such as jumps and spins as well as<br />
doing lots of painful stretching so that our kicks and splits<br />
are the most impressive on the day. We’re more than just a<br />
warm-up act for rugby games, we’re serious athletes!”<br />
What is your favourite thing about BCA<br />
Nationals?<br />
I love performing to a big crowd and getting praise from the<br />
judges is always great, but it’s also nice to spend a few days<br />
with my best friends. I have to say though - and I’m sure the<br />
other Northstars will agree- the best part is the tradition<br />
of having a huge dinner at Frankie and Benny’s the night<br />
before the competition!”<br />
By Abi Camwell<br />
nu:life 41
TN <strong>Northumbria</strong> Nolberto Solano<br />
NOLBERTO<br />
SOLANO<br />
Team <strong>Northumbria</strong>’s<br />
Jamie Durent is<br />
nearing the end of his<br />
Media Internship but<br />
the third year media<br />
and journalism student<br />
bows out in style as he<br />
delivers an exclusive<br />
interview with former<br />
Newcastle United<br />
favourite Nolberto Solano.<br />
Newcastle Benfi eld caused quite a stir in Northern<br />
League circles when they announced their acquisition<br />
of Newcaste United hero Nolberto Solano.<br />
But the move came as less of a surprise to the former<br />
Peruvian international.<br />
“I’ve got a few friends up here and I have a good<br />
relationship with the Benfi eld chairman (Jimmy<br />
Rowe),” he said.<br />
“They knew I was looking to do my coaching my<br />
badges and I wanted to step up to coaching adults.<br />
“It’s sometimes diffi cult as the players aren’t<br />
professionals and the playing surfaces aren’t great,” he<br />
added. “Barcelona would struggle on these pitches.<br />
42 nu:life<br />
“But I’ve been able to get the guys playing the way I<br />
like and it has been a nice experience.”<br />
“I’ve been 100% impressed<br />
with the way Newcastle<br />
have played this season<br />
as there seemed to be no<br />
exepectations as such”<br />
Solano has since been forced to put his Benfi eld move<br />
on hold as he resolves a registration dispute with<br />
League One side Hartlepool – the club he joined last<br />
summer after an approach from former Newcastle<br />
coach Mick Wadsworth.<br />
And on the subject of the high-fl ying Magpies,<br />
the diminutive winger shares the positive vibe<br />
surrounding his old side this season as they continue<br />
to surprise many with their continuing impressive<br />
performances.<br />
Alan Pardew’s side are fully in the mix for a European<br />
place as the season draws to a close after punching<br />
above their weight for the majority of the season.
And Solano sees no reason why the Toon Army shouldn’t be<br />
dusting off their passports come the end of the season.<br />
“I’ve been 100% impressed with the way Newcastle have played<br />
this season as there seemed to be no exepectations as such,” he<br />
said.<br />
“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have had their struggles and the<br />
guys have been winning while not necessarily playing pretty<br />
football.<br />
“But they work hard as a unit and a team without many stars has<br />
been getting results.<br />
“Europe would be a bonus as the club and fans deserve it and they<br />
look like they’ll get there.”<br />
Solano however is less optimistic about the future of football in his<br />
home nation.<br />
Peru have only qualifi ed for the World Cup three times, with the<br />
last time in 1982 in Spain.<br />
“It is diffi cult because there are only really four or fi ve top level<br />
players,” Solano said.<br />
“We have two crucial games coming up against Colombia at home<br />
in June then away to Uruguay.<br />
“I would advise 13 and<br />
14 year olds to move<br />
abroad like (Lionel)<br />
Messi if they have the<br />
quality rather than<br />
stagnate in an average<br />
league.”<br />
“There’s obviously more of a chance as<br />
Brazil qualifi ed automatically as hosts.<br />
“But the standard of football is poor in<br />
Peru and there’s not enough quality.<br />
“I would advise 13 and 14 year olds to<br />
move abroad like (Lionel) Messi if they<br />
have the quality rather than stagnate in<br />
an average league.”<br />
Solano reserves a philosophical outlook<br />
with regards to his future prospects.<br />
While conceding that his playing days are<br />
behind him, he is ready and willing to get<br />
into the coaching game.<br />
“I’ve just got to prepare myself and take<br />
things step by step at the moment,” he<br />
said.<br />
“I’m happy to wait for an opportunity and<br />
when it comes I’ll take it.<br />
“Obviously it’s diffi cult having played<br />
football all my life but I’m ready for the<br />
challenge.”<br />
By Jamie Durent.<br />
nu:life 43
TN <strong>Northumbria</strong> Stan Calvert<br />
STAN<br />
CALVERT<br />
Newcastle <strong>University</strong>’s domination<br />
of student sport’s biggest inter-city<br />
competition continued with another<br />
huge Stan Calvert Cup victory against<br />
arch-rivals <strong>Northumbria</strong> <strong>University</strong>.<br />
Newcastle made it an historic fi ve wins in succession<br />
- claiming a record points haul in the process - to rack<br />
up a 100.5-52.2 victory.<br />
And <strong>Northumbria</strong> students must wonder where<br />
their next win is coming from after failing to get their<br />
hands on the coveted Cup since 2007.<br />
“We are delighted with our victory in the Stan Calvert<br />
Cup,” said Newcastle <strong>University</strong>’s Director Of Sport,<br />
Colin Blackburn.<br />
“This was down to teamwork from the Newcastle<br />
event team who helped to organise an event that<br />
catered to each and every athlete who competed.<br />
“I can’t congratulate all our students enough for the<br />
time, eff ort and commitment they put into achieving<br />
an unprecedented fi fth victory in a row.”<br />
Blackburn’s joy was echoed by Newcastle’s<br />
Performance Sport manager, Fraser Kennedy, who<br />
added: “Team Newcastle pulled out all the stops yet<br />
again.<br />
“We had several surprising results in our favour which<br />
contributed to such a comprehensive victory.<br />
44 nu:life<br />
“Once again all our athletes stepped up to the plate<br />
when needed.”<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong> chiefs are desperate to return as a<br />
competitive team in 2013 and new Head Of Sport<br />
Colin Stromsoy is understood to have made Stan<br />
Calvert a priority moving forward.<br />
Despite boasting the stunning £30m Sport Central<br />
facility and alumni including Victoria Pendleton<br />
and Martin Corry, the <strong>University</strong> cannot come close<br />
to Newcastle on the biggest day of sport in the<br />
student calendar.<br />
And even victory in the fi nal event of the 2012<br />
competition - a 10-3 win in the prestigious men’s<br />
rugby union clash at Gateshead Stadium - could<br />
not soften the blow on another dismal day for<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>.<br />
“Whilst there were some great performances<br />
by some <strong>Northumbria</strong> teams and individuals<br />
throughout the weekend - of which I am very<br />
proud - we have to give great credit to Newcastle<br />
<strong>University</strong> for what was a wonderful overall<br />
performance,” said Stromsoy.
“The Stan Calvert Cup is one of the UK’s biggest<br />
varsity competitions and together with everyone at<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>, we’re determined to respond positively<br />
to the challenge next year.”<br />
Not for the fi rst time in recent years <strong>Northumbria</strong><br />
already had a mountain to climb on Stan Calvert<br />
Sunday with a number of fringe events already<br />
contested before the big day.<br />
Newcastle went into the fi nal round of fi xtures on<br />
the back of big wins in the indoor cricket, rowing and<br />
gymnastics.<br />
But <strong>Northumbria</strong> had hit back with wins in the men’s<br />
basketball and volleyball.<br />
Both Universities traded victories across the city<br />
throughout the day with a thrilling draw in the men’s<br />
fi rsts’ tennis, a 4-3 victory for <strong>Northumbria</strong> in the<br />
men’s fi rsts’ football and double fencing wins for<br />
Newcastle the early highlights.<br />
Later in the day <strong>Northumbria</strong> showed signs of closing<br />
the gap with an overall win in the men’s and women’s<br />
swimming at a packed Sport Central pool.<br />
But by the time the rugby union kicked off Newcastle<br />
were well clear and celebrating a fi fth successive win.<br />
There was still time for a classic fi nale to the athletics<br />
with <strong>Northumbria</strong> taking the fi nal two events - the<br />
men’s and women’s 4X100m - to earn a draw.<br />
And after a diffi cult season at BUCS and National<br />
League level there was obvious joy on the faces of<br />
<strong>Northumbria</strong>’s rugby union heroes as they restored a<br />
degree of pride with a well-earned win - Michael Fedo<br />
bagging the decisive try in a game of few chances.<br />
By Simon Rushworth<br />
But <strong>Northumbria</strong> had<br />
hit back with wins in<br />
the men’s basketball<br />
and volleyball.<br />
nu:life 45
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