The Offi cial voice of Northumbria Students’ Union

Issue No.21 2011 FREE to a good home

www.mynsu.co.uk

Your Monthly Student’s Union Magazine Filled with News,Gossip and Advice from around Northumbria Campus.

Plus Spotted, Horoscopes,Fashion and loads more.Your Union, Your University,

Your Magazine.

RAG RAG RAISESRAISES£27,437£27,437

RECORD RECORD BREAKING BREAKING COURSE REPS COURSE REPS TRAINED! TRAINED!

editor’s words

Hey Everyone!

Welcome to the last edition of 2011!

As always November has been a mental month, but we wouldn’t have it any other way here at nu:life. With loads of things to get you up to speed with this edition has more relevant content than ever before!

If you didn’t notice the herds of Orange around Campus then you must have been walking around with your eyes shut! Check out the team and how much money they raised for some of the most amazing charities on page 10.

This month we focus on the eff ects of Abusing Alcohol and look at some ways of balancing a good time with being safe. Delve in with us from page 13 and fi nd some interesting facts about Alcohol and how you can still enjoy drink minus Excess!

Safety First: Remember to lock up your House over the long Christmas holiday! Get some experienced tips on page 21.

Have a great Christmas and an amazing New Year!

Holly x

Special thank you to; Matt Dinnery & Harry Marshall for Photography, Kim Buff ery for Academic Advice & Vikki Myerscough for sorting my dreadful spelling!

Editor Holly Seabrook holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk Twitter: NSUCommsOffi cerDesign www.ellenlonghorn.co.uk

contents

ContributorsSAD Melissa HancockHot & Not & Campus Style Rachel SturdyThe RAG Team! Michael PotterDrink Aware Errin Kerr (thanks to Mike Squire for Quotes)We Will Remember them Josh HoodHappy Holidays - Safety First Aurelie Cregut & Emma WhiteleyBespoke Brits’ Rachel Charlton- DaileyFuss Free Renting Julia BondHoroscopes Minela HuremovicWriSoc Serial - Part 4 Fran SwallowThe Agony Aunt Team Anna Scatchard & Amy TerryHot Topic Kate Taylor & Jacob Turner Occupy Newcastle Kate TaylorCampus Style Charlotte Harris & Rachel SturdyHouse Christmas Dinner Danielle Cross & Kate TaylorXmas Shopping Nightmare Jacob TurnerFestive Flicks Callum GibsonNorthumbria Cycling Simon RushworthNFL Heads to Wembley Jamie DurentRugby World Cup Tim AndrewsIs Sky Killing Sport? Rebecca FlittonZambia Project Lois Frankland nu:life 03

NSU NEWSSU:News 4

Oh! What’s Occurring? 5

Sabb Banter 6-7

SAD? 8

Hot & Not 9

The RAG Team! 10-11

FEATURESDiscuss: Drink Aware -

Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad 13-17

We Will Remember Them 18-19

GET INVOLVEDHappy Holidays - Safety First 20-21

Bespoke Brits’ Green Fashion 23

LIGHT RELIEFSpotted - RAG Special 24 - 25

Fuss Free Renting 26-27

Horoscopes 28

WriSoc Serial - Part 4 29

Academic Advice 30

The Agony Aunt Team 31

Hot Topic: St James’ Park

VS Sport Direct Stadium 32-33

STUDENT CULTUREOccupy Newcastle - A Student Perspective 35

Campus Style 36-37

House Christmas Dinner 38

Xmas Shopping Nightmare 39

Festive Flicks 41

TEAM NORTHUMBRIANorthumbria Cycling 42

NFL Heads to Wembley 43

Rugby World Cup 44-45

Is Sky Killing Sport? 46

Zambia Project 47

04 nu:life

NSU News

RECORD NUMBER OF COURSE REPS TRAINED!On the 26th of October 2011, the biggest event in the Students’ Unions Calendar

had fi nally arrived and we couldn’t believe how fast it had approached.

IT WAS COURSE REP CONFERENCE 2011 DAY!!!

The Day began at 9am and all of the course reps were

extremely excited and asked lots of questions about the day.

Kate Bradshaw, Vice President Academic Aff airs opened the

conference, followed by a speech from the Pro-Vice Chancellor

for Learning and Teaching, Paul Croney about the importance

of representation here at Northumbria. The morning went

really well, with everyone giving amazing feedback on the

sessions they had attended.

Feedback confi rmed that all the sessions were useful and that

course reps were enjoying all of them!

The Tweet wall that had been set up was put to good use

and comments included...

“Very informative and interesting day at NSU Course Rep

Conference 11 Go Course Reps! Wahoo”;

“Brilliant day at nsucourserepconference11;”

and fi nally...

”nsu course rep conference 11 lack

of chicken and bacon sandwiches

disturbs me...”

With a lack of chicken and bacon being

the only criticism of the day, we know the

event was a success!!!.

In the afternoon sessions were given to

all Course Reps about our new Education

Policy. It’s a brilliant policy designed to

make huge improvements over the next

three years. Our message to the Reps was

that it’s their policy and we want them to

take ownership of it and help us make the

changes on the ground.

Usman Ali (Vice President Higher

Education at NUS) came along to close

the day and gave the most inspirational

speech ever heard, all of the reps

commented on how brilliant he was.

That night, we realised that in just a few

days, we had trained more reps than ever

before.... Even in a full year!

NSU News Oh! Whats’s Occurring?

Oh! What’s Occurring?PEOPLE AND PLANET SOCIETY AT NSU!People and planet is the largest student network in Britain

campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights

and protect the environment. The network consists of 70

UK university societies and groups fi lled with people just

like you that want to make a diff erence and have some fun

along the way.

Come along to our initial People and

Planet workshop to get involved on :

Tuesday 6th December 2011

5pm - 6pm Training Room 1&2 (Ground Floor of the Students’ Union)

Christmas Vintage & Craft sale!

7th December: Reds 11am-4pm

Northumbria’s Women for Women International society are

holding a Christmas Vintage and Craft sale on Wednesday

7th December in Reds. Perfect for doing some festive

shopping or just an excuse to treat yourself, there’ll be local

retailers selling jewellery, knitwear, vintage clothing, and

stocking fi llers!

All funds raised from

the day go towards

sponsoring women

in war torn countries;

Women for Women

International aim

to help women

survivors of war rebuild their lives, putting them through

a programme so they can support themselves and their

families fi nancially. The Northumbria WfWI society are

aiming to raise funds to sponsor at least 3 women this year

(£890), and raise awareness for the cause.

There’s no admission fee, and Reds will be open during the

sale too, what better reason to have a cuppa and a cake

while you’re browsing! It’ll be on from 11am until 4pm so

come along a get in the festive spirit!

CALLING ALL POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS Do you see problems in your School that you think need

addressing?

Is there something in your School you think is great and

should be shared?

Do you think you could represent other students on these

topics and see changes made?

Do you want to gain invaluable new skills?

If so, apply to be a PGT school Rep NOW! Visit

www.mynsu.co.uk and search for become a school rep or

email su.coursereps@northumbria.ac.uk

You could be making the changes that are aff ecting your

academic experience!

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN THE UNION!This year we are putting on two events

for you to celebrate the festive season.

Kicking off with Dirty Disco featuring DJ

Fresh on Friday 9th December tickets are just £12 but

if you bought a wristband for welcome week then you get

a ticket absolutely free! Just bring your Student ID to the

Students’ Union Welcome desk and we will issue you your

free ticket straight away!

Friday the 16th Of December we have the Countdown

to Christmas all day fl ing at the Students’ Union, and this

one’s free to everyone!! So grab your course mates, fl at

mates and any other mates and head down... you could be

sitting on Santa’s knee in no time! nu:life 05

06 nu:life

NSU News Sabb Banter

It’s Christmas time and your sabbatical Offi cers are all looking It’s Christmas time and your sabbatical Offi cers are all looking forward to a relaxing Christmas Holiday after the madness of the forward to a relaxing Christmas Holiday after the madness of the last few months, but fi rst they answer your questions!last few months, but fi rst they answer your questions!

Remember to check our fortnightly Sabbatical vlogs at: Remember to check our fortnightly Sabbatical vlogs at: www.mynsu.co.uk/sabbaticalswww.mynsu.co.uk/sabbaticals

SSAABBBB BANTERBANTER

JO RHODES

President

What have you been up to this

month?

So much! NUS Conference elections,

RAG week and Safe in the City week as

well as all my usual University meetings and

Sabb Team co-ordination! Phew what a month!

What Part of Christmas are you looking forward to most?

Christmas Eve! It’s defi nitely the best day! That and I’m looking

forward to a little bit of rest time!

What was your favourite moment in RAG Week?

Seeing so many people get involved! Cheesy, I know – but it’s

just so great to see the hard work and commitment that our

volunteers have been putting in!

Only half a year left now...what will you be doing with your

time?

That’s a scary thought! I’ll be busying myself with creating more

wins for students and improving your experience as much as I

possibly can! Time is running out and these hidden fees won’t

shift themselves!

What will Santa be putting in your stocking?

An orange! Of the Terry’s chocolate variety though!

jo.rhodes@northumbria.ac.uk

Twitter: NSUPres

HOLLY SEABROOKVice-President Communications & Involvement

What have you been up to this month?

As always this month has been crazy,

getting ready for the Referendum “Are

students consumers?”, and then going out

and getting as many students to vote as possible

is always a challenge but an exciting one at that!

What Part of Christmas are you looking forward to most?

Landing in Spain on Christmas Eve to see my family, knowing

the weather will be oh so slightly warmer then here.

What was your favourite moment in RAG Week?

Taking the big mega team picture! It always makes me smile

when you see that many people smile, as well as watching the

team bar chart grow, that’s Fab also!

Only half a year left now...what will you be doing with your

time?

Really building up to the elections to make them the best yet!

Also working with staff to create a contingency plan for student

media, the direction its going means it will be huge soon!

What will Santa be putting in your stocking?

He always gives me a few chocolate Roses, but I swear he takes

them out of the living room tin, Bad Santa!

holly.seabrook@northumbria.ac.uk

Twitter: NSUCommsOffi cer

KATE BRADSHAWVice President Academic Aff airs

What have you been up to this

month?

I have been recruiting more of

my reps so that we can have a really

strong team, I have held forums with my

Postgraduate Research reps and school reps to

fi nd out what issues you might be facing.

What Part of Christmas are you looking forward to most?

I somehow managed to agree to cooking the Christmas dinner

at my house this year for seven hungry people so I am hoping I

have no major disasters.

What was your favourite moment in RAG Week?

The balloon launches were defi nitely a highlight, it looks so

amazing to see 1000 balloon in a sea of orange make their way

out into the big wide world.

Only half a year left now...what will you be doing with your

time?

I hope to hold an amazing advanced skills day for Course Reps

and to see all School Rep positions contested and I want to

improve the bus service at Coach Lane and run an eff ective

advice campaign

What will Santa be putting in your stocking?

If I could have one thing in my stocking it would have to be

tickets to something, the Christmas presents that lead to new

memories are always the best ones.  

kate.bradshaw@northumbria.ac.uk

Twitter: NSUAcademics

ANDREW CHEUNGVice President Activities & Development

What have you been up to this month?

I’ve been working on an Employability

campaign, which is aimed to raise

awareness of the importance of

employability skills, gained outside of

academic studies.

What Part of Christmas are you looking forward to most?

I am fi nally going home for the fi rst time in two and a half years,

so I am looking forward to seeing my family, putting my feet up,

and enjoying the holidays!

What was your favourite moment in RAG Week?

My favourite moment was seeing the total we have raised for

charity so far, it is astonishing and it truely refl ects the quality of

our volunteers.

Only half a year left now...what will you be doing with your

time?

I have my employability campaign to go out, hopefully this will

help our students be more employable, and make a positive

impact on our students’ lives. Volunteer Northumbria week is

to come in February, so make sure you guys keep an eye out

for that!

What will Santa be putting in your stocking?

Hopefully Bernard’s Watch!!!

andrew.cheung@northumbria.ac.uk

Twitter: NSUActivites1

HANNAH HORNE

Vice President Welfare & Equality

What have you been up to this month?

I’ve been busy planning and delivering

Safe in the City Week! This included the

Not if, but when... campaign, self-defence

classes, freebies and more! I hope everyone

enjoyed it as much as me.

What Part of Christmas are you looking forward to most?

Spending some time at home with the family. Christmas Eve is

my favourite as we always have a carpet picnic in front of the

Christmas tree

What was your favourite moment in RAG Week?

The team celebration once the total was announced!

Only half a year left now...what will you be doing with your

time?

I will really be focusing on the work of all my Reps – many

campaigns and events to come! My aim is that each of them will

have an achievement by the end of the year.

What will Santa be putting in your stocking?

As long as it’s not a lump of coal I’ll be a happy bunny!

hannah.horne@northumbria.ac.uk

Twitter: NSUWelfare1

And if you have a question for us or just fancy a natter, shoot us an email or pop up and say hello on the fi rst fl oor of the Students’ Union.

For all you Students at Coach Lane, don’t worry

about coming to see us over here, we all like to come

and visit you at Coach Lane once a week.

Monday Afternoons: Holly Seabrook

Tuesday Mornings: Andrew Cheung

Tuesday Afternoons: Kate Bradshaw

Wednesday Afternoons: Hannah Horne

Thursday Afternoons: Jo Rhodes

Just pop in and see us on your way

into Coach Lane Students’ Union.

nu:life 07

NSU News SAD?

Suff erers of SAD usually begin to feel the symptoms around

September, worsening in December. Symptoms to look out

for are;

• Feeling low and negative with no motivation

• Feelings of hopelessness or despair, and occasionally

the inability to feel anything

• Oversleeping and needing to sleep more often

• Diffi culty staying awake through the day, to the point

normal day-to-day activities cannot be complete

• Waking up through the night or extremely early

• Over-indulging on carbs and sweets

• Concentration or memory problems

• No desire to socialise or be around people

• Heavy and tired limbs with cramps and aching muscles

• Headaches, dry mouth and stomach problems

• Sweating, heart palpitations and hyperventilation

The severity of the illness varies from person to person.

For some (around 17% of the population), it can be a mild

condition causing discomfort, known as ‘winter sadness’.

However for the 7% who develop SAD, it is an awful

experience, causing the individual to be unable to resume

normal functioning without medical treatment. SAD is

thought to occur mostly in younger people, especially those

in their early 20’s.

Although many will argue it is a psychological issue, SAD

has been linked to the decrease in sunlight being received

by our bodies, creating less serotonin, a hormone in the

brain which promotes happiness, balance and calm, and

less melatonin, the hormone in our brain which promotes

sleep. One treatment many look at is the use of a ’light box’,

available from amazon, which fi lls your room with light

through the morning so your body wakes up naturally.

SAD for university students may be worse than the everyday

individual. As Christmas approaches, many often feel

homesick or lonely, wanting nothing more than to be with

family and friends. The onset of SAD can increase these

feelings, meaning you may not want to leave your house

and neglect your studies (and we all know how dangerous

that can be.) If you’re worried you may be suff ering from

SAD, and require more information, visit www.nhs.uk/

conditions/Seasonal-aff ective-disorder

By Melissa Hancock

SAD?

08 nu:life

We all may feel a little down when the winter blues

start to set in. Evenings are darker, nights are colder,

and the likelihood that you fall over in public massively

increases. But for some, winter blues are more than just

a few weeks of feeling glum before the festive season

kicks off . It is months of sleepless nights, comfort eating,

and depression.

nu:life 09

NSU News Hot & Not

HOT

NOT

Fenwick’s Christmas Window40 years of Christmas themed stories in one

window. What’s not to love? Getting you in the

festive spirit with all your favorite childhood

characters, it’s impossible to be a scrooge this year.

Northumberland Street at it’s best, let’s crack out the

patterned Christmas jumpers!

Home ComfortsAfter a long and tiring semester, it’s time to look

forward to the upcoming journey home. Cozy

Christmas fi lms by the tree, celebrating with friends

from home, and being pampered to the max, it’s a

student’s favorite time of year. Cringe at the cracker

jokes, stuff yourself with far too much Christmas pud

and nap on the couch. What could be better?

Christmas Market & Ice skatingIndulge in the treats that the Christmas market has

to off er this year with mulled wine, mince pies and

what’s been described as Christmas in a cup...the

gingerbread hot chocolate. Follow this with a trip

to the ice skating rink for the perfect festive day out

and show off what you learnt from this year’s strictly.

Anton Du Beke, eat your heart out!

New Year’s ResolutionsWith a new year approaching, we’re all looking

back over 2011 and thinking how horrifi cally last

year’s resolutions went. Most are lucky if they last till

February...MUST do better this year. So what’s it to

be: lose weight, get fi t, quit smoking, get famous, or

break all your resolutions?

Soggy FeetEveryone loves the perfect winter wonderland

setting with untouched snow glistening on the

ground, for about a day! Fog, miserable drizzle, slush

and icy pavements leave us unhappy with our soggy

feet or with bruises when we fl ew fl at on our backs. It

just makes leaving the comfort and warmth of your

duvet that much harder.

Deadlines at Christmas?When everyone else is getting in the festive

spirit with Christmas shopping and socializing,

assignments and revision are the last things

you want to be doing and facebooking is what

you’re probably doing more of. Christmas revision

timetables may put a dampener on your mood but

will keep you on track to getting those all important

top results.

By Rachel Sturdy

10 nu:life

NSU News The RAG Team!

RAG Week 2011 kicked off in style

with over 1000 orange balloons being

launched into the sky fi lling the sky

with a raggie orange.

This beautiful sight was just one of many from the week as

our 200 strong volunteer team fundraised all week for six

amazing charities:

The British Legion

Becoming Visible (a local charity helping deaf people)

Friendship Works

Dreams Come True

International Rescue Corps

Barnardos

The week ended with a mega raid with students from all

over the country coming to newcastle to collect.

Following from February’s amazing grand total of

£27,065.35, Northumbria set an ambitious total of

£50,000 for the academic year but because of the

students dedication, we had already raised nearly £10,000

before RAG Week even began and after the massive

success of RAG Week bringing our total to a massive

£27,437£27,437 The energetic eff orts of the team were truly inspiring and

touched the hearts of everyone in Newcastle. RAG is just

one of the many reasons why I’m so proud to be a member

of Northumbria.

By Michael Potter.

Raggie, raggie, raggie!

NSU News The RAG Team!

nu:life 11

Joanne Kelly “Having so much fun all for some great

charities.”

Andrew Cheung “I’m privileged to be head of RAG

for our volunteers who are the heart and soul of it.”

Michael Potter “I’ve loved looking after my team,

keeping them motivated so we can raise as much as

possible.”

Sarah Warren “Shockingly shivver-ful, bare banter,

fabulously fulfi lling and wonderfully colorful. Yippy!”

Laura Heaps “An amazing feeling knowing how many

people you are helping and contributing to a huge total.”

Aidan Blenkinsop “RAG has been the bee’s knees and

my team are the cats pajamas.”

Tim Patchett “A great experience to get to know new

people and help charities.”

Katie Cullen “RAG is pretty much my life, but I love it

and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A special thank you to Accenture for RAG t-shirt sponsorship

SAFE CITYINTHE

T H E C O M P L E T E A N D E S S E N T I A L G U I D EO F S T U D E N T L I F E

5th - 9th D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

www.mynsu.co.uk

nu:life 13

katie Cullen MA Event & Cooperate

Management

What eff ect does drinking have

on you, and is that a good thing?

“It gives you confi dence at the

time, but the next day you are

hung over and can’t concentrate

on anything. It’s a mixture of

emotions!”

Paul Bramwell What eff ect does drinking have on

you, and is that a good thing?

“Moderation is good as it helps you

develop socialisation skills.”

Drink awareness – And yourhealth.Many of us are guilty of having had

a little too much to drink every now

and again, but ‘a little too much’

means diff erent things to diff erent

people.

After only a couple of drinks people

become more sociable, a loss of

inhibitions may mean you feel more

confi dent within a group of people

you don’t know well, you might use

alcohol to help bond during a girlie

chat or a night out with the lads.

But how much do we really know

about the eff ect that alcohol can have

on us in the long term?

Many of the eff ects of alcohol wear

off after a night out but some can stay

with you long term, even stick around

to end your life.

FEATURES Discuss: Drink Aware - Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad

DISCUSS: DRINK AWARE - DON’T LET A GOOD NIGHT GO BAD

14 nu:life

FEATURES Discuss: Drink Aware - Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad

Short term effects:* FEELINGS OF RELAXATION* LOSS OF INHIBITIONS* LACK OF CONCENTRATION* CO-ORDINATION PROBLEMS* LOSS OF JUDGEMENT* AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR* ABILITY TO DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY IS LOST* MIXING ALCOHOL WITH DRUGS CAN HAVE UNFORESEEN NEGATIVE EFFECTS* BURRED VISION* CHANCE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND EVEN DEATH DUE TO ALCOHOL POISONING.

Long term effects come in many shapes and sizes...Physical eff ects include increased risk of cancer

(rectum, breast colon and rarer cancers) liver

damage, heart and blood disorders, stomach

problems, brain damage, and damage to

the reproductive organs. Binge drinking can

dramatically increase blood pressure and the risk of

stroke.

Emotional eff ects alcohol can cause depression

which can then eff ect relationships such as family

and love issues. A recent survey by the British health

association found that people who suff ered from

anxiety or depression were twice as likely to be

heavy or problem drinkers.

Social problems excessive alcohol intake can lead

to problems with poor work performance, fi nancial

problems and legal issues.

Alcohol intake during pregnancy can also lead to still

birth, miscarriage and cot death after birth.

Just for the girls:Us ladies know that we shouldn’t try to keep up

with our male counterparts on a night out, but that

doesn’t always stop us trying. The fact is that women

cannot handle alcohol as well as men, this isn’t some

uninformed sexist claim, it really is true.

Scientifi c evidence suggests that most women

weigh signifi cantly less than men, this means there

is less tissue available to absorb alcohol. Women

also have a proportionally higher fat to water ratio

than men, this means we are less able to dilute the

alcohol that enters our system.

Excess alcohol intake over a long period of time can

also cause damage to the reproductive system.

So next time you’re trying to down your pint with

the boys think twice and consider these facts.

Peter Beran

What eff ect does drinking have

on you, and is that a good thing?

“The motivation you get from it

is good, but too much can break

your fi ngers!”

Sophia Mirza 4th year Law What eff ect does drinking have on

you, and is that a good thing?

“It’s normally a fun night out, but

the repercussions are awful the

next day. Doesn’t stop me getting

shots though!”

FEATURES Discuss: Drink Aware - Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad

nu:life 15

Drink awareness – And anti social behaviour.Most students come to university to have a good

time as well as get a great degree, but one thing that

student’s don’t come to university for is a criminal

record.

Student’s can sometimes feel that because of all

the hype of university living that we are somehow

outside of the law. For example living in an area

which is heavily populated by students may

infl uence someone to behave in a diff erent way than

they would if they lived on a family heavy street in

their home town.

Also the excitement of fresher’s week and the

pressure on students to get drunk and have a ‘good

time’ can lead to some taking part in activities that

they wouldn’t normally.

But the law still stands, Jesmond and Heaton

are still examples of ‘residential’ areas, and the

consequences of crime during fresher’s week are the

same as throughout the year.

The police department of Newcastle take ASB (anti

social behaviour) very seriously and have taken

various steps to ensure that the city is safe for all of

us.

What is ASB?Lots of things that might sound familiar to many of

us are considered ASB, these include house parties,

drunken behaviour and antics on the way to or from

a night out and other loud noise late at night.

The most common instances of ASB that the police

deal with are -

* NOISY NEIGHBOURS AND HOUSE PARTIES

* THREATENING AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR

* DRUNK AND ROWDY GROUPS

* DRUG RELATED ISSUES

* CRIMINAL DAMAGE

Please be aware it is a common misconception

that you are ‘allowed’ to be as noisy as you like up

until 11pm and after 8am. This is untrue. Noise is a

nuisance at any time of the day. Not everyone works

from 9am to 5pm – shift workers, night workers and

those with small children to name but a few – all

these people are likely to be home during the day

and probably trying to sleep.

Because Jesmond and Heaton are areas highly

populated by students, they see a larger amount of

anti social behaviour, to tackle this Jesmond ward,

Newcastle and Northumbria University have funded

two extra police offi cers to patrol the streets three

nights a week. This is called operation Oak and the

police offi cers are additional to the exisitng police

presence.

Jess Rowe 3rd year Drama

What eff ect does drinking have on

you, and is that a good thing?

“It relaxes me, and feels good. But

the mornings are absolutely awful.”

16 nu:life

FEATURES Discuss: Drink Aware - Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad

Sarah Henderson 1st year Forensic ScienceWhat eff ect does drinking have on you,

and is that a good thing?“Makes me more talkative, which isn’t

always a good thing! Sometimes regret

what I do.”

The implications of taking part in Anti Social behaviour are real and vast and can affect your life well after the hangover has subsided.You could be arrested, have to spend time in prison,

be convicted or receive a formal warning from the

authorities.

In all cases, your University will be informed and will

take further action. Consequences can include being

asked to leave the University.

Your future employment could be at great risk if you

want to become a – teacher, solicitor, barrister, youth

worker, social worker, doctor, nurse, midwife, or a

member of the armed forces.

Drink aware – Don’t let a good night go bad.We all know the diff erence between a great night

out and a night you would rather forget.

You might have noticed the posters all around our

Student’s Union building urging you to follow some

simple tips to make sure a night out doesn’t turn

sour.

We just want to make sure that you stay safe

wherever you are in the city at whatever time of the

day, but we recognise that the dangers that you

might face on a night out especially are worrying.

No one wants a night out to end up in a hospital, or

in a situation that you don’t feel comfortable with,

because alcohol can help you lose your inhibitions,

it can also lead you into situations you wouldn’t

normally fi nd yourself in.

Please remember that your decision making process

is eff ected intensely by too much alcohol.

Try following these tips and see how different you could feel on a night out, and the day after:Try making every third drink a soft one, or even

a water. One of the main eff ects of alcohol is

dehydration. Drinking water throughout the night

will ensure you can keep well hydrated, limiting the

eff ects of alcohol and the hangover the next day.

Stick with the friends that you went out with. This

will ensure that you stay safe, that you can all look

out for each other and also that you have lots of fun.

You can share gossip and plan the next night out.

Often the best part of the night is the after party, so

stick together.

Stay alert. Drink spiking is a real and scary issue in

any city, so don’t leave your drink on a table while

going for a dance or to the toilet. It isn’t safe to drink

after you have left it unattended. Keep an eye on

friends as well, if someone seems a lot more out of

it than they should be after only a couple of drinks,

keep an eye on them, and if the situation worsens let

someone know.

Don’t go home with anyone when you don’t feel

yourself. The decisions you make when you are

drunk can eff ect the rest of your life. If you are too

drunk you cannot know that the person you think

is your new best friend or soul mate isn’t someone

who you would think the same of if you were sober.

Remember to charge your mobile phone before a

night out. You may not be able to hear it ring in a

club, but getting a message late is better than never.

If you lose a friend on a night out, don’t assume that

they’ve just gone home, try to get in touch to make

sure. Also text friends to let them know that you

have got home safe.

Go out with a full stomach, that old story about a

glass of milk before you go out is true. A glass of

milk can line your stomach and help slow down the

fl ow of alcohol into your system. A full stomach also

means that there is something in your body to soak

up the alchol before your bloodstream does it for

you!

A glass of water. The best preventative for your

hangover is a glass of water before you go out, some

more when you are out and a glass when you get

home. This will help fi ght dehydration and help fend

off your headache!

By Errin Kerr

(Quotes Provided by Mike Squire)

nu:life 17

FEATURES Discuss: Drink Aware - Don’t Let A Good Night Go Bad

Ben Holtby 1st year Forensic Science

What eff ect does drinking have on

you, and is that a good thing?

“Depends, more often than not

it makes me more extroverted.

Although there is always a

downside which isn’t good.” Emma Walter 3rd year PsychologyWhat eff ect does drinking have on

you, and is that a good thing?

“Its part of being a student, you’ve

got to do it! The next day you just

work through because you have to.”

FEATURES We Will Remember Them

18 nu:life

We Will

Remember ThemThe eleventh of November marked a

signifi cant time of year - one we should all

refl ect upon. Armistice Day is an occasion

on which to pause, and honour the memory

of those who have fallen for Queen and

country. At this time, we invest in a poppy,

and adopt a meditative mood on the

eleventh hour.

Yet, the occasion can be lost amongst a

post-Halloween hangover, and pre-Christmas

headache. So, as the three hundred and

eighty-forth British combatant fell in

Afghanistan, in early November, I spoke to

Northumbria’s own offi cer cadet - Harry Wright

- to rediscover the day’s importance in all of

our lives.

nu:life 19

You’re currently an offi cer cadet; what inspired you to

follow this path into the army?”

HW: “I’ve been involved in the army, to some degree, for the

majority of my life. I started to seriously think about working in the

forces when we (the UK) were committing soldiers to the Middle

East.”

You’re studying mechanical engineering and are involved

in The British Army. That’s a big commitment - what do

you hope to have achieved by the time you complete your

degree?

HW: “I think the sacrifi ce will be worth it. Hopefully, I can leave

Northumbria with a solid degree and all of the necessary skills to

equip me for a successful career in the army.”

Armistice is billed as a time for refl ection, and is often

honoured with age-old town centre marches. But those

whose memories we honour aren’t solely from bygone days

are they?

HW: “I was involved in the march in Newcastle on Remembrance

Sunday. Traditions involved in the ceremony have their roots in the

Armistice Agreement, ending the First World War in 1918. But not

only should we remember those of the Great War, but those in all

wars involving British soldiers, most recently in Afghanistan.”

Why do you think it is important for everyone to invest in a

poppy during this period?

HW: “We should all show our support for the British forces in

some way. Buying a poppy is accessible to everyone and anyone.

British soldiers are often injured or killed in battle - the Royal

British Legion’s Poppy Appeal helps to fi nance the building of

rehabilitative units for injured personal, as well as continued

support for bereaved families.”

By Josh Hood.

With thanks to Harry Wright.

GET INVOLVED Happy Holidays - Safety First

20 nu:life

Happy Holidays

Safety FirstWell it’s that time of the year again. The Christmas lights are

going up, we cover our houses in everything Christmassy from

Poundland, and blast Christmas music out of our speakers, not

to mention guiltily watching the Fenwick’s window display

every time we walk past it, no matter how old we are!

However Christmas can bring its problems, so here is some advice:Imagine trudging through the cold foot snow in

stilettos, and accidently breaking one of your new

heels as it gets stuck, is it really worth it? Why not

try wearing fl ats, you’ll have a much better night out

and I promise the girls in heels will be jealous as you

will be on the dance fl oor all night long while they

sit down and complain that their feet are hurting!

Or why not get everyone together and go out in

wellies for a laugh.

Speaking of wellies, I speak from experience when

I say make sure you buy some early, because there

will be a mad rush and last year, the cheapest you

could get were for £20 from Fenwick’s.

To have a safe night out, make sure you pre order a

taxi, not many people will fancy walking into town

when it’s cold and perhaps even snowing, so think

ahead and book early.

Also forget the Geordie law of ‘no coat’ why not take

a coat or jacket with you when you go out instead

of braving the cold? The last thing you want is to be

shivering when queuing outside a club for hours to

get in, and there are always cloak rooms available to

hand your coat in to, so take advantage of this in this

cold season.

As always be drink aware, yes even at Christmas,

never leave your drink unattended and stick in

groups when going home.

Christmas is always an expensive time, as we know,

so try and not let Christmas make you forget about

your studies, Try and have some balance between

work and Christmas shopping, which includes

budgeting!

Also, Why not get kitted out with some warm wintry

scarf’s hats and gloves? Primark has some great

ones in at the moment! Or why not go out and buy a

popular Onesie?

By Emma Whiteley

nu:life 21

GET INVOLVED Happy Holidays - Safety First

SAFETY FIRST!!Here we are!! The end of the year, Christmas, and of

course, holidays! A lot of us are going back home for

a few days, so our residences are going to be pretty

empty!!

Thieves love this time of the year: empty houses,

no one home for days… if you don’t prevent them,

they just have to come in and help themselves!!

The worst thing that could happen in these times,

after spending nice holidays with your friends

or family, or just relaxing, is to go back to your

accommodation, only to fi nd out that you’ve been

robbed or worst!!

Here are some tips to prevent you from having

a bad surprise when you come back, so you can

enjoy your holidays and party all you want, with

complete peace of mind!!

First tip don’t forget to lock your door

(of course), AND your windows!!! Even

if you live in the top fl oor of your

residence! It’ll take you only seconds

to check it before leaving, and will

save you a lot of time and money!!

Next don’t tell everybody who is listening you’re

leaving, giving dates and times, and don’t write it

on Facebook either!! It would be you inviting the

robbers to come to your place when you’re not!

And last thing just have a look in your kitchen

before closing your fl at door for three weeks. It would

be really sad to come back after Christmas to fi nd

out that you left the iron on, or forgot to turn off the

oven, or the cooking space, and because of that,

there was a fi re in your apartment!!

So, go home safe, and don’t forget to celebrate!!

Happy holidays!!

By Aurelie Cregut

Visit mynsu.co.uk/volunteer Log on to the Volunteer Database

Scroll down to Community Volunteering Click on ‘VN Team Member’

or ‘VN Team Leader’ Click sign up and you’re on the team!

mynsu.co.uk/vnweek

GET INVOLVED Bespoke Brits’ Green Fashion

nu:life 23

Bespoke Brits’ Green Fashion Hits

The fashionista set are a big part of the

Northumbria culture - you just have to walk

around the design building to see an array of

well dressed, highly planned looks that show

their personality every day - but now they will

be taking over Reds bar as well.

For one night only on 11th December 2011, fashion lovers

will be given a night out with their conscience in mind.

Volunteer Northumbria’s newest project, Bespoke Brits, is an

environmentally friendly fashion event. There will be a fashion

show featuring second-hand clothes donated from the British

Red Cross and the audience will have the chance to buy

the catwalk outfi ts in a charity auction after the show, with

proceeds going to the British Red Cross. As well as that, there

will also be a swap shop giving everyone the opportunity to

recycle their unwanted clothes for pieces from other people’s

wardrobes. And not forgetting local businesses: selected local

vintage stores and sellers will be selling their wares in the

venue on the night, letting you love their recycled items.

Other activities taking place during the night are

“Customisation for the Nation” where you can take your

clothes which you think are lacking that bit of fl are to add

something too, with help from design students. The other

extras will be a raffl e of prizes donated by the event sponsors,

DJ sets and an after show party.

The event is being planned and implemented entirely by

Northumbria students who are taking fashion, design and

business degrees. They are generously giving up their time

to volunteer and they have put their skills to good use,

which range from promotional and public relations work,

photography, right down to model scouting, styling and

designing. The project is headed up by Elle Jodrell-Gregson

who studies whilst also working at the Union. Elle told us, “I

think it’s a challenging project, which is rewarding when we

create new ideas and achieve goals! I am thoroughly enjoying

having the chance to project lead such an amazing event that

will benefi t the environment and a very worthy charity, the

British Red Cross”.

The event takes place at

12th December 7.30pm -10.30pm

It is a FREE event, though

VIP goodie bags will be available.

By Rachel Charlton-Dailey

24 nu:life

nu:life 25

Our RAG Team were out in

the cold for one whole week

collecting money for six

amazing charities - here are

just some of the highlights!

Photos Provided by Matt Dinnery & Harry Marshall

GET INVOLVED Fuss Free Renting

26 nu:life

Fuss Free Renting

Jesmond

Sandyford

Heaton

City centre

Renting? Your fi rst time? No idea what

you’re doing? Panicking a bit?

Well take two minutes, have a read and

calm yourself it’s not too bad.

Firstly, sit down and discuss with your potential housemates

what distance you would like to live from uni, a ten min

stroll or a 30 min powerwalk? Bear in mind potential for the

dreaded 9am lectures and your ability to wake up.

Do some research about the potential

areas that you want to live in, the main

student areas are:

Go for a walk around the shops, assess the amenities, have

a drink in a bar and get a feel for the area. A good idea is to

see where the supermarkets are, as do you really want to be

hauling shopping for over ten minutes?

Money matters! So make sure you talk about it, work out how

much you’re willing to spend per week or month excluding

bills, don’t forget to consider how much you spend of food,

going out and transport each month. Be realistic, can you

really aff ord £100 a week just on a house?

Also, talking about money such as, how much the budget

will be and how bills will be paid will ease the transition of

moving in together and hopefully avoid the many arguments

that the unprepared renters occur.

Once you’ve worked out your fl atmates, budget and area,

look in magazines and online to get an impression of the type

of house, fl at, maisonette you might want.

Go to a student rental estate agent with your impressions,

ideas and how far away from Uni you’d like to live so they’ll

be able to narrow down what types of property will be good

for you.

Also tell them your price range and be fi rm. If you have time

go to more than one estate agent to get a wider view and

range.

nu:life 27

GET INVOLVED Fuss Free Renting

Don’t forget to ask the agent about their fee’s and make sure

you don’t get ripped off . It should not be more than £120

- £150. If you’re feeling cheeky haggle over price – a few

pounds off a week is an extra drink in your hand.

Make sure you set up your direct debit payments properly

and on time! Get your fi nances sorted and a deposit down

as soon as you possibly can when you fi nd your house. It

builds a good relationship with your landlord and it’ll make

it easier if you need to call them when your bathroom fl oods

or oven stops working.

When viewing check for any signs of damage and make a

note of it and check the showers to see what they are like

and if they are powerful enough to shift your Smurf body

paint.

But, perhaps more importantly check for damp and

mould which is notorious in student properties.

Use these simply tips:

* Can you see any ‘black spot’ mould?

* Can you see a damp stain above the skirting board

and are they damp or rotten?

* Are the walls or fl oor visibly damp?

* Is there wallpaper falling off the walls?

* If you spot the latter three of these DO NOT RENT

THIS PROPERTY! It will make you feel ill and if you

have issues with asthma it will make it signifi cantly

worse.

Don’t forget before you rush into getting a house to choose

your fl atmates carefully.

Also read your rights as a tenant before you go hunting! It

will help a whole lot. Find them online at: http://england.

shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold

THE FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING.

Get in early! Do you really want to be in the fl at with

mouldy ceilings and wall paper sliding down the walls?

Thought not. If you’ve already decided who your living with

get your arse in gear!

Take a camera! With the amount of houses you’ll see

they’ll all merge into one. Take pictures of each room, the

condition that they are in and oddly the halls (it’ll help you

remember where everything is).

Ask lots of questions! Potential price of bills. Does it have

central heating? A washing machine? Dishwasher? Decent

fridge and freezer? What are the showers like? Where the

stopcock is (essential if you have a fl ood)? Are the windows

double glazed? Has the property any damage and fi nd

out what they will do to fi x it before you move in (get this

written down in a letter before you handover any money so

they have to do it).

Don’t get a taxi there - WALK. Why? To see how long it’s

going to take you to get to Uni. You may fi nd the perfect

house, but if it’s an hour’s walk in are you really going to

want to live there?

Take all potential housemates Make a time when you can

all attend there’s really no point otherwise and make sure

you can imagine living there.

Happy hunting!

28 nu:life

LIGHT RELIEF Horoscopes

HOROSCOPESCapricorn

22 December -

19 January

You’re feeling

mischievous this

month and your

sense of humour

is shining through.

You’re going to

be the life and soul of all the parties

you attend and your good humour

will lead to an improvement of a close

relationship.

Celebrity: Kate Moss 16th January.

Aquarius 20 January - 18 February

The full moon brings with it a new

decision and it’s important that you

make the right choice for the year

ahead.

Pisces 19 February - 20 March

The month starts with a wobble but

with Christmas coming up, look out for

mistletoe because romance is on the

horizon!

Aries 21 March - 19 April

Winter weather means that you’re

feeling a bit low this month but cheer

up, the New Year is going to bring lots

of surprises with it!

Taurus 20 April - 20 May

This is your favourite time of year

but careful you don’t go to wild!

Remember what’s important and you’ll

have a great month.

Gemini 21 May - 20 June

You’re starting to feel annoyed with

the cold dark nights so invite some

friends round for dinner or a sleepover

and inject a bit of fun into the long

evenings!

Cancer 21 June - 22 July

Stressed is the word that comes to

mind. It’s good to work hard but

take some time out to relax , after all,

everyone should be happy at this time

of year!

Leo 23 July - 22 August

It’s not been your month but cheer

up; it’s looking a lot more positive.

Look out for new opportunities at

work or uni, they might change your

life!

Virgo 23 August - 22 September

Mars moves into your sign which

means you’re going to be in the

spotlight. Make sure you’re ready to

impress people!

Libra 23 September - 22 October

You’re getting on fabulously with

friends but you feel like something’s

missing. Keep your eyes open because

you could fi nd it this month.

Scorpio 23 October - 21 November

You’re dealing with dramas almost

every day. Try fi nding new friends or

diff erent ways to have fun to make

sure you have a drama free new year.

Sagittarius 22 November -

21 December

You love this time of year and it

promises to be amazing. Enjoy

yourself at parties but being with your

family is going to make it even more

special.

By Minela Huremovic

nu:life 29

WriSoc Serial[part 4]

If I didn’t sense the gravity of the situation, I did now.

I had never run so fast in my life before. By the time

we got to the library I thought I would throw up –

not from exhaustion but from fear.

“Where do-?”

“Sub-basement. Hurry.” Natalie whirled round and

slammed the doors closed. She muttered words and

I heard the doors click, signalling the lock.

I rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping over my

own feet. The sub-basement was empty save for

the journals. I felt a fl ash of desire to examine the

historical documents, but it was instantly quelled

when Natalie stepped forward. “This is where the

magical books are?”

“Don’t be stupid,” snapped Natalie. By now she was

at the back wall. She pressed two hands against

the bricks. Right before my eyes the bricks moved

apart, just like a scene from Harry Potter. My limbs

froze in surprise. I could not move, but Natalie

didn’t wait – she shoved me through the wall before

following. The bricks closed behind us, plunging us

into darkness.

I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t even speak. The slight

hangover that I had was now a full-on migraine. I

collapsed to the fl oor, shaking.

I heard Natalie moving around. A burst of light

appeared out the corner of my eye. Natalie held

a candle out of me. Her angular face looked paler

than usual. “You need to fi nd a big red book. Gold

lettering. Cursed Magic and its Aff ects.”

“Are you okay?”

Natalie nodded, though her appearance said

otherwise. “I’m fi ne. Just need a little rest.” I

watched as she sat down on the fl oor. “Go,” she

snapped.

I was tired too, but Natalie knew what she was doing

more than I did. I walked between the shelves,

my eyes desperate to see the book. It seemed my

uneducated prayers were answered: a large book

with a red covering was in front of me. I rushed

forward, only to see the covering change from red

to green.

“Damn it,” I swore. I glowered at it. “Stupid book.”

The book seemed to take off ence; a second later it

pushed itself off the shelf and hit me square on the

nose.

My cry was muffl ed by a booming voice right in my

ear. “Come out now – or the library burns.”

Before I could even think I heard Natalie behind me.

“Was that the Professor?” I could hear myself

babbling as I turned to face her. “It was, wasn’t it?

Where is he?”

Natalie gave me a look that made me stop in my

tracks. I saw she was leaning heavily against a shelf

as though she was having trouble supporting her

own weight. “We need to leave now.”

By Fran Swallow

GET INVOLVED WriSoc Serial - Part 4

Hi Kim,

I’ve been focusing on an essay for one module and have

fallen behind with my work for another - we have to do

surveys and interviews with people to gather original

data. If I just make up some of the references and

questionnaire results, is there any way my lecturers will

fi nd out? It’s not actual plagiarism so it won’t come up

on Turnitin.

Anna

Hi Anna,

Making things up is still Academic Misconduct - in the

Assessment Regulations, it’s called Falsifi cation. So yes,

it’s not Plagiarism, but Falsifi cation is just as serious. The

markers won’t check every bit of data, but they’ve seen

every trick in the book and will investigate if they suspect

foul play. Making up references? The markers are subject

experts, so if they see texts name-checked that they’ve

never heard of, they’ll get suspicious. If you’re caught out,

you’ll get a formal written warning and a fl at mark of 0 (or

at best, a capped Pass mark). We can represent you if you’re

called in to explain your work, but we can’t guarantee to get

you off . If you’re struggling, speak to your Guidance Tutor –

but don’t cut corners. The penalties are just too great.

Kim

Hi Kim

I was out on the weekend and my mate was involved in

a fi ght. It was nothing too serious - nobody was really

hurt - but the Police were involved and we were all

taken in for questioning. I was given a verbal caution for

being drunk and disorderly, but the offi cer told me not

to worry, as it was only a minor thing. The trouble is, I’m

on a professional programme at Coach Lane - should I

tell my lecturers? I don’t see the point in all this hassle

when I’ve got assessments to be getting on with and, as

the offi cer said himself, it’s not really a big deal.

Dave

Hi Dave,

In short - you absolutely must come clean with your

Guidance Tutor. A range of programmes that lead to

professional registration, including  Teaching, Nursing

and other Allied Health Professionals, have strict Codes of

Conduct which  state that you have to be honest about any

involvement with the police at all. Once you’ve informed

the Guidance Tutor, you will probably have to attend a

Professional Suitability Board where a decision will be

made on whether you can continue on the programme.

The University’s  diffi culty is that, even with a very minor

caution, it can be diffi cult for them to arrange a placement 

for you if there’s anything at all on your CRB. This doesn’t

have to be the end of your University career - you can

sometimes get a place on a diff erent programme.

Kim

AcdemicAdviceACADEMIC PROBLEMS LARGE OR SMALL, OUR KIM CAN FIX THEM ALL!

KIM BUFFERY IS YOUR EDUCATION CASEWORKER, ENSURING YOU ARE ALWAYS WELL REPRESENTED WITHIN ACADEMIC ISSUES.

If you have an academic problem... you would like to discuss with me just

shoot an email to su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk and I will be back in touch with you within 48 hours.

Alternatively pop to the base information desk on the ground fl oor and the staff will arrange a good

meeting time for us.

Or Pop in and see me at Coach lane 10-11am on Wednesdays!

LIGHT RELIEF Academic Advice

30 nu:life

Dear Amy and Anna, 

I’ve got a problem. A few weeks ago I saw my

housemate as she got out the shower, since then I

can’t stop thinking about her. It doesn’t bother me

that I keep thinking of her, it’s just I already have a

partner. And my housemate is a WOMAN!!! Does this

mean I’m not gay any more? 

Please help!

Mike x

Dear Mike,

Try not to worry about this as it is pretty common for

people to question their sexuality throughout their lives

most commonly in their teenage and early adulthood

years. Maybe as it doesn’t bother you that you think

about her, you should think about your relationship

with your partner. Are you completely happy with them

because if not then this might be the reason why you

are looking elsewhere? We suggest that you have a

good think about what you want before making any

decisions. But whatever you chose make sure that it is

completely the right choice and that it will make you

happy.

Love Amy and Anna x

Dear Amy and Anna,

I’ve just had to pay £1800 in rent and I struggled to

pay it. Now I have no money to buy any food with or

anything. I have been living off rice and beans for

the last week and a half and I now feel I am at an all

time low. I really just don’t know what to do.

Love Francesca

Dear Francesca,

That is an awful lot of rent to be paying!! Have you

spoken to your landlord? It may be that they have

requested too much money from you. Do you have any

savings to live off for the time being or could you get an

overdraft on your account?? Or a part time job to see

you over? If all of this fails then speak to the Student

advice and Wellbeing department, it may be that they

have some funding that could help you. Do make sure

that you keep your lecturers updated as they obviously

want you to do the best you can and they are there

to off er you support. If you are still struggling don’t

hesitate to get in contact.

Love Amy and Anna x

The AA Team -

Amy & Anna To the rescue

LIGHT RELIEF The Agony Aunt Team

nu:life 31

If you have a problem that you

want us to answer, please email

The AA Team at su.problems@

northumbria.ac.uk and we will be

more than happy to help you!

I’m just going to come out and say, in what will probably be a staggeringly unpopular move that I am for renaming St James’ Park. It’s not that I think the Sports Direct Arena is a particularly catchy name, or that I don’t feel for the Geordies who’ve had a big part of their local identity bought by a big corporation.

It’s just that… it’s only football. Get some perspective. We are currently in the worst fi nancial crisis since the Great Depression, a time when unemployment and suicide rates rocketed, where whole swathes of farmland turned to dust, where in Germany infl ation was so bad money was replaced by a system of bartering food and objects, i.e. two eggs for a haircut, causing hardship so severe it allowed the Nazi party to get a foot in the door by exploiting the desperate. Our recession isn’t over yet by any means and may actually get worse. Does the name of a football stadium really matter at this point?

Maybe I’m biased because I don’t like sport. But I like art and so far as I’m concerned the Baltic could change its name to whatever it wanted if it meant it got its hands on something by Picasso or Da Vinci out of the deal. Or if Newcastle Library was bought out by Amazon and suddenly had much better facilities, would I stop going there? No, I’d probably go more.

And maybe art and literature aren’t a part of local identity as much as football is and this isn’t the place to argue that they should be. But we live in a world where people have got so fed up with democracy they are literally camping around Monument until Christmas, where riots and looting explode out of nowhere, where higher education is once again becoming the domain of the rich by the brilliantly simply method of charging astronomical amounts for tuition fees. Don’t we have better things to worry about than football?

By Kate Taylor

FOR

HOT TOPIC: St James’ Park VS Sport Direct Stadium.With all the uproar around it recently it’s hard not to have heard. St James

Park is being renamed the Sports Direct Arena, despite opposition from the

fans, the local council and pretty much the entire city of Newcastle. It’s a

controversial issue, with Newcastle City Council allegedly refusing to repaint

signs with the new name. Our two NU:Life writers battle it out to decide if it’s

commercialism gone too far or just a big fuss over nothing.

32 nu:life

LIGHT RELIEF Hot Topic: St James’ Park

“If Newcastle Library was bought out by Amazon and suddenly had much better facilities, would I stop going there? “

Football is a huge part of many people’s lives. Our national sport, supporters take pride in following their club, often even making an event of going to watch them play at the teams’ home stadium. Football fans are both loyal and passionate and give so much to the team they support that the club owes so much to. Newcastle supporters I have spoken to are not happy about their team stadium name changing from Saint James’ park to Sports Direct Stadium. Lifelong supporters believe that tradition is tradition, where there is a lot of football history associated with the name Saint James’ Park, as it has had this name since football was fi rst played there in 1880. Some fans are also sceptical about the decision to change the name after it was announced that it has been re-named to attract buyers for naming rights deals in the New Year.

One supporter I spoke to was very vocal about expressing his views, upset by a decision he believes doesn’t benefi t the club or squad saying, “The club aren’t benefi ting from the name change so what’s the point in it!” It seems that football fans are keen on tradition and why shouldn’t they be? The name Saint James’ Park is associated with Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne starting out as a player, Newcastle’s 5 – 0 home victory against Manchester City in which Peter Beardsley scored his fi rst hatrick and Alan Shearer’s record £15 million signing under legendary manager (and former player) Kevin Keegan. If a team with so many achievements loses its original name it is in danger of becoming a product of commercial industries branded by businesses rather than

triumphant glories achieved by local legends.

By Jacob Turner.

AGAINST

LIGHT RELIEF Hot Topic: St James’ Park

nu:life 33

“It seems that football fans are keen on tradition and why shouldn’t they be?

STUDENT CULTURE Occupy Newcastle - A Student Perspective

nu:life 35

Occupy Newcastle A Student PerspectiveAlthough people are pretty much used to them by now it’s hard not to notice the small tent city that’s sprung up around Monument earlier this autumn and has pledged to be there until Christmas.

‘What’s with those people camping around Monument?’ is a

question I’m used to hearing:

What are they protesting and how is camping around Monument

going to get it? But if nothing else it’s been gratifying to see an

example of peaceful protest done right. The protestors are polite,

strictly non-violent and have pledged not to drink alcohol on the

site. A pair of city rangers I spoke to about them had only good

things to say about them, praising their willingness to cooperate. I

spoke to Northumbria University English and Creative Writing third

year Student James Bell about his experiences in the protest.

Most of us fi nd balancing deadlines with a social life hard enough:

imagine if on top of that you’re spending your days picketing

Monument and your nights sleeping on what I can only imagine is

very hard ground in typical sub-Arctic Newcastle winter weather.

I say I imagine because James didn’t complain, preferring instead to

talk about the reasons why he and the other protestors are there.

There are “people from every possible persuasion”: students, people

with jobs, the unemployed, the self-employed, the homeless…

These people are united by a set of demands that are diffi cult to put

into words but easier to summarize: a fairer society with more jobs,

fairer distribution of wealth, a more responsible banking system and

less infl uence from large corporations on the political sphere.

Fairer society or not, this seems like a big ask of someone in their

third and crucial year of university. James told me it was a matter

of balancing work against the protest, usually at the expense of his

social life.

As someone heavily involved in societies, volunteering and RAG

missing out on the student social life seemed to me to be a big price

to pay but James maintains it isn’t about him:

“In the grand scheme of things, the purpose of life for every human

being should be to make life bearable for every other human being.”

One person’s social life, or even one person’s degree, is irrelevant on

a global scale.

James requested I include this short quote in his own words:

“Apathy is an enemy. If you believe in what we stand for then join us: if

not then you defeat yourself.”

It would be hypocritical of me not to add that I will not literally

be joining the protest but I have a great deal of sympathy for

the movement, especially after learning of how passionate and

dedicated the protestors really are.

By Kate Taylor

“Apathy is an enemy. If you believe in what we stand for then join us: if not then you defeat yourself.”

CAMPUSSTYLE

STUDENT CULTURE Campus Style

36 nu:life

It’s that time of year where the leaves

are turning brown, there’s a chill in the

air and the festivities are brightening

the mood. There’s a winter wonderland

approaching, and as we pack away our

sandals for another year and get cosy in

front of the fi re we shouldn’t forget about

fashion.

Far from being a time where style takes a side step;

winter brings us the chance to show off a whole

new wardrobe. Yes, we must sadly wave goodbye to

our favourite straw hat but say hello to a whole new

collection of delight! Make way for those chunky knits,

fl uff y mitts and woolly tights and embrace the coming

cold with utter panache.

Drop the drowsy clothes and add some colour to your

wardrobe this month with rich purple, deep auburn

and sumptuous golds. Whether it’s adding colour with

tights, jewellery, a scarf or a bag, it’s easy to stay on

trend this season.

But with rails upon rails of knitwear, how can you

choose the right thing for you? Keep it simple! Go for

a statement piece like a cosy pair of knitted shorts

or a chunky, wild print jumper, and dress it up from

there. Try, perhaps, a pair of patterned knee socks or a

knitted hat? Peacocks off er a fabulous range of colours

at prices you just can’t refuse.

Finally, make space for the classic winter shoe. If you

want to stand tall and mighty, try some suede wedges;

a winter take on a summer classic, this shoe looks

wonderful with any winter outfi t.

If you’re more interested in comfort, steer

towards a fur trimmed ankle boot. These

beauties are both stylish and kind to your

tooties! Whichever you choose, your feet will

look fabulous!

Top tips from the fashion team at NU:Life

are fur collars and headbands for the winter

mornings and adding a touch of glamour and

sparkle on an evening with beading in golds,

silvers and purples.

This month’s students are showing that

weather does not dictate your fashion and that

wellies are well and truly in.

EMILY

2nd Year Business

A lover of vintage, Emily’s outfi t

exudes casual style. Brown brogues

from Bertie, a tube scarf and a

Barbour jacket all add to the day

around town look with a country

edge. Stay warm this winter with

soft scarves to fi nish your outfi ts

perfectly.

What’s on your christmas wish list?

“A pair of big headphones so I can

listen to music whilst keeping my ears

warm!”

CHLOE1st Year Law

The perfect outfi t to wear for lectures, Chloe layers knit, fur, chiff on and leather for the ultimate daytime look. Transforming her Uggs with fur toppers gives a wintery feel, if you’d like to do the same we’re loving Hunter’s knitted patterned wellie socks this season.

What’s on your Christmas wish list? “Make up and essentials. As a student, I’m running out pretty quickly!”

nu:life 37

VANESSA2nd Year Fashion MarketingBringing a touch of elegant glamour

to the Design building, Vanessa mixes a vintage fur jacket with shiny

blue leggings and Carvela boots for

maximum stlye points. Inspired by

what she sees daily on the pages of

Vogue, her vintage look can be taken

from day to evening. For those all

important Christmas parties, try shiny

leggings to keep warm and stay on

trend.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

“A Barbour wax jacket. At the height of

fashion, Barbour really is the brand of

the year.” And something for the boys…Guys, don’t be seen dead this season without a

statement scarf. From long and knitted, to chunky

and patterned, all are a fantastic addition to your

wardrobe. Teamed with a long, classy winter coat,

you’ll look both practical and trendy. Girls won’t be

able to resist and I bet your mum will approve too!

By Rachel Sturdy & Charlotte Harris.

From our style hunt this month, it just goes to show

that adding the right accessories can make an outfi t.

Wellie toppers, fur collars and chunky scarves are the

way forward this season. The fashion team would

like to thank all participants we met on our fashion

hunt this month and make sure you look out for us

on campus as you could be the next style superstar of

NU:Life.

STUDENT CULTURE House Christmas Dinner

38 nu:life

House Christmas Dinner

Christmas Dinner for the Flatmates!Take a trip to your local fruit and veg store, they are

generally cheaper and usually a lot better quality

than what you can pick up at the supermarket!

Under buy! Make a list before you go shopping

and stick to it! Chances are you will have more than

enough!

DIY party food! Ditch the pricey party platters and

replace them with dips and breadsticks! Remember,

you want to fi ll up on your Christmas dinner, not the

starter!!

Don’t be sucked in by fancy packaging! The cheap

supermarket value alternatives are usually just as

good!

Get creative and bake your way to a cheap

Christmas! Things like mince pies are guaranteed to

be cheaper than buying pre-packed ones!

For the Veggies

Because just about everything on the menu at

Christmas has meat in it somewhere and, because

it’s a special occasion, people invariably fi nd ways to

put meat in new and exciting places.

Like roast potatoes cooked in goose fat. Or

vegetables cooked with the meat so they absorb all

the juices and render them inedible to vegetarians.

You’d think that the desert would be meat free but

no: the jelly in most trifl es contains gelatine (made

from cow’s or pig’s feet and the reason I can’t eat

Haribo).

Mince pies contain suet in the pastry and the

mincemeat as standard, even the red food colouring

used in icing a lot of Christmas confectionary is

made of cochineal (that’s crushed beetle to you and

me).

There are vegetarian alternatives to all of these

things but with relatives who occasionally forget you

don’t eat meat bringing parts of the meal it’s easy to

get overlooked.

So think of them when you’re tucking into your

Christmas turkey. If nothing else it’ll keep your mind

off the ground up hooves you now know are in your

trifl e.

By Kate Taylor & Danielle Cross

STUDENT CULTURE Xmas Shopping Nightmare

nu:life 39

When it comes to buying

Christmas presents I’m guilty

of rushing out and doing it all

the week (or often day) before

Christmas.

That’s why this year I decided to make an

early start and buy the gifts I know my

family and friends want.

I set out to buy my Mum a new mobile

phone. Entering the famous chain store

I have to stroll past the posters and

cardboard cut-outs of the newest handsets

festively decorated in tinsel, baubles and

all things Christmassy.

How are mobile phones Christmassy

again? Oh right, how silly of me I’m

forgetting about the age old tale of the

Holiday Blackberry off ering good tidings

to all.

Approaching the service desk I see there

is a customer being served by a male

member of staff and another member

of staff next to him with no customer in

front of her. I guess she’ll be serving me

so I stand and wait for her to call me over

or at least acknowledge me with some

sort of eye contact. I continue to wait as

she taps away on the computer, her eyes

fi xed on the screen. I glance back at her

male colleague serving the customer

but he’s tapping away on his computer

too, barely looking up or making verbal

communication towards the lady I can only

hope he’s helping.

Xmas Shopping Nightmare

Looking back and forth to both members of staff

and I see they’re both frantically engaging with

the computer in front of them as if in competition

with each other. “They’re not playing a two player

console game are they? The cheek!” I decide to

stay patient.

Hurray! Hope comes along in the form of another

male colleague; just like the one currently playing

Tekken, he’s mid-twenties with light brown hair

massaged in to create carefully constructed

spikes. He steps behind the desk and I breathe

out a small sigh of relief. He’s here to serve me

so that I can move on the next. Hang on though.

What’s this? Oh no he’s picked up a mobile and

started tapping away on it.

At that moment original bloke stops typing.

Halleluiah! But what’s this? He’s picked his

mobile up too! I stare at the two almost identical

men standing mere feet.

In the end I lose the will to live and decide

to buy the phone nearer the time. After all,

if I do return to this store on Christmas Eve

they’ll probably be playing Mungo Jerry In

the Summer time and have iphone’s cooking

burgers on a barbeque.

Possibly.

By Jacob Turner.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(Dec 30th, TBA)

A while ago I reviewed the original millennium trilogy and gave the whole thing

a great big fi ve stars, and so I wait for David Fincher’s with a mix of trepidation

and excitement. How can it be better than the original? How will the new cast

(including Daniel Craig) possibly better the performances of their Swedish

counterparts? And what have they done to change the ending? I’m not sure, but

after an awesome trailer – a work of art in itself – here’s hoping that it’ll be worth

the wait.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature

was stirring, not even a mouse. And you know why? Because everyone was at

the pub getting blitzed. Yup, that’s why. Christmas is again upon us and it’s

all very exciting, no? The time of year when it’s borderline acceptable to get

utterly fudged with your workmates, classmates, schoolmates and any other

mates that you can get your hands on... and all in celebration of the birth of

our Lord and saviour.

Anyway, when you’re not out shotting whisky for the birth of Christ, be sure

to hit the cinema. There are a whole slew of fl icks just coming out for the

festive season.

Here’s a couple of the best.

nu:life 41

STUDENT CULTURE Festive Flicks

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Dec 30th, TBA)Brad Bird (The Incredibles) takes

the reins of the franchise in his

live-action fi lm debut as Tom

Cruise returns as IMF’s most

agile agent, Ethan Hunt. When the Kremlin goes boom

Hunt takes the fall. It’s up to him, Simon Pegg, and Ving

Rhames to fi nd out what really happened, and shoot the

baddies.

Also, this December sees the return of the Latin-lover

cat Puss In Boots (Dec 9th), Robert Downey Jr in

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and, of course,

everybody’s favourite dancing penguin in Happy Feet 2.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

By Callum Gibson

We Bought A Zoo(Dec 23rd, TBA)

Cameron Crowe

directing Matt Damon in

a fi lm where the trailer is

enough to make a grown

man cry (No, it wasn’t

me. It was, um, a friend of

mine... No, really!). To say I’m excited about the

pairing is an understatement. Damon is at the

top of his game, Crowe never disappoints, and

when can you enjoy a good ol’ heart-warmer

if you can’t at Christmas? Tis the season, after all.

FESTIVE FLICKS

TN Northumbria Cycling

Annie Simpson came within touching

distance of bagging the latest BUCS

Hill Climb title after a terrifi c ride from

the Team Northumbria scholar.

Endurance specialist Simpson had targeted a top 10 fi nish in

the fi rst major event of the new University season.

And the Yorkshire star exceeded all expectations with a

stunning display of focus and determination to take joint

second spot.

Simpson fi nished 24 seconds behind winner and local

favourite Sarah Byrne, who made the most of riding on her

home course at Derbyshire’s Curbar Gap.

But the result has given Northumbria Cycling a massive boost

going into what promises to be a terrifi c 2012.

In the men’s event Ross Creber claimed joint 16th spot in the

144-strong fi eld - fi nishing less than a minute behind winner

Henry King from Leeds.

And Northumbria’s Ben Newman bagged joint 53rd in the

main event triathlon competition to complete a promising

day for the University’s cycling scholars.

Performance Sport assistant Heather Steel said: “All three of

our scholars performed exceptionally well and the results

prove their hard work is paying off .

“I don’t think anyone – Annie included  - expected a second-

place fi nish in the women’s Hill Climb and everyone at

Northumbria is delighted with the result.”

By Simon Rushworth

NORTHUMBRIA CYCLING

42 nu:life

Simpson fi nished 24 seconds behind winner and local favourite Sarah Byrne, who made the most of riding on her home course at Derbyshire’s Curbar Gap.

nu:life 43

TN NFL Heads To Wembley

NFL HEADS TO WEMBLEY Few could argue that bringing the NFL to Wembley has not been a roaring success 

The recent Chicago Bears v Tampa Bay Buccaneers encounter

brought the glitz and glamour back to London that had been

missing for 12 months.

American Football as a sport has many a critic, especially in the UK.

Its stop-start nature and similarities to Rugby turn fans off the latest

American import.

But can its popularity in the UK be debated when the International

Series games continue to be well-received?

Britain got its fi rst taste of the sport came when Channel 4 began

broadcasting NFL coverage in 1982, and for many this was their

primary source of keeping up-to-date with the league.

London had its own eam from 1991 until 1998, the Monarchs

giving the country a team they could call their own. But the level

of competition in the ‘World League of American Football’ or NFL

Europe as it became, couldn’t compare to the NFL.

Bringing a franchise back here just wouldn’t be feasible. The biggest

selling point of bringing the NFL to Great Britain is that opportunities

to witness a live game are so rare that tickets are snapped up like

hot cakes.

 If regular games are staged here, interest would likely wane and it

would become fi nancially impossible to run a franchise. Football

is the country’s sport of choice, and even their attendances have

suff ered due to the economic climate.

 A British team would struggle not just in securing regular fans, but

convincing them to pay big money to travel thousands of miles to

watch their team on the road. 

If they want to expand their UK fan base, a workable solution would

be to bring another game to a diff erent part of the country.

Murrayfi eld in Scotland or the Millenium

Stadium in Cardiff would be perfect hosts,

and it would help bring the NFL to a diff erent

audience.

If the NFL wants to become a global brand it

should do everything to maintain its status

as an American sport, rather than forcing a

country to adapt it as its own.

By Jamie Durent

TN Rugby World Cup

Having returned from the IRB Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, you’d expect Northumberland referee Dave Pearson to want some substantial down time after a gruelling six-week long tournament. Not the case.

Pearson resumed refereeing duties only three days after

returning to the UK, using Team Northumbria’s North One

East fi xture against Middlesbrough as a warm up for his AVIVA

Premiership commitments.

“I knew three weeks ago that I probably wouldn’t referee at

the World Cup after the quarter-fi nal stage,” said Pearson.

“I had Leicester against London Irish as my fi rst game back, so

I needed a warm-up game. I contacted the Northumberland

Society and that was the game I was given.”

A Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University)

Chemical Engineering graduate, Pearson was dropped by his

coach at Seghill RFC when work for Proctor & Gamble took

him to Europe during the week, meaning that he was unable

to train.

This proved to be a fateful decision. Pearson took up the

whistle instead - he is now entering his 16th year of offi ciating

and has overseen more than 25 internationals and 150 top

fl ight matches.

He was amongst only 10 World Cup refereeing offi cials

selected to offi ciate in New Zealand and was one of two

Englishmen asked to preside in a tournament that is the

pinnacle of any referee’s career.

“Was I nervous? Before the fi rst game – yes,” he admitted.

“I was nervous until there was about 10 minutes to go before

Scotland vs. Romania. When I blew the fi nal whistle, I thought

‘I’ve done it! I am a World Cup referee!’ It was great. Romania

probably should’ve beaten Scotland - it was a superb game.

“Because I’d done it, everything else fi tted into place for

the next three games. I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the

tournament.”

As fi rst reserve touch judge for the fi nal in Auckland, Pearson

wasn’t called upon and was given an opportunity to enjoy a

game in which the All Blacks defeated France 8-7.

“I knew the lads weren’t going to get injured so I sat on a

plastic seat on the halfway line,” he said.

“I probably had the best seat in the house!”

Pearson believes that 2015 World Cup Hosts England can

learn from the New Zealand tournament, which he hopes will

invigorate the sport at all levels.

“What they did brilliantly in New Zealand was sell the fans the

minor games,” he added.

“I did a game in Palmerston North, which is about the size of

Blyth. They have two mayors – one for the city, one for the

rural area.

RUGBY WORLD CUP

44 nu:life

nu:life 45

“For Romania against Georgia, both mayors

agreed that the city would support Georgia

and that farmers would support Romania

and they got everybody involved.

“They sold out the 15,000 capacity ground -

half in yellow, half in red – and they were all

Kiwis. It was outstanding.

“If we do as good a job as New Zealand have

just done in promoting the smaller games in

the smaller venues, then player numbers will

go up and spectator numbers should go up.

“In my job, referee numbers will need to

increase because obviously we need more

offi cials for more players.

“It should pull rugby up to another level.”

By Tim Andrews

“I was nervous until there was about 10 minutes to go before Scotland vs. Romania. When I blew the fi nal whistle, I thought ‘I’ve done it!”

Pearson believes that 2015 World Cup Hosts England can learn from the New Zealand tournament, which he hopes will invigorate the sport at all levels.

TN Is Sky Killing Sport?

46 nu:life

There were those who thought it could encourage a whole

new audience to engage in a variety of sports. But a few years

on and critics insist it is more of a help than a hindrance.

In the pre-Sky days the only way to know what was going

on in your local football team’s mid-week away game was by

listening to it on the radio or actually attending the game.

Now, Sky broadcast matches every week. But just why is this

a bad thing?

Well, are you going to travel more than 100 miles, paying for

your ticket and travel (never mind the few bevvies en route)

when you could be sat in the pub watching it for free on Sky?

No, I didn’t think so either.

Attending a match is what being a sports fan is all about - the

excitement and emotions you share with the crowd. The

chanting, the shouting and the cheering is all part of the

match day experience and these aren’t things that can be

replicated in your local pub, watching the match on Sky.

It’s not just football that Sky aff ects. It also has had a dramatic

eff ect on Rugby League, for example.

As a rugby fan myself, I’ve seen Sky’s infl uence over the

game most prevalent in the past few seasons. Depending

on how well a team is doing matches get moved about fairly

frequently so they can be televised. My team this season have

decided to change back to Sunday afternoon matches from

last season’s Friday night games but if we do well this season

then half of these fi xtures will change.

Of course it all comes down to money. Sky give teams a large

cheque for televising their matches - something that any

club board welcomes. And until the sports start defending

their match day experience against Sky, this situation won’t

change fast.

By Rebecca Flitton

IS SKY KILLING SPORT?When Sky fi rst started televising live sports matches many believed it was a great idea.

Well, are you going to travel more than 100 miles, paying for your ticket and travel (never mind the few bevvies en route) when you could be sat in the pub watching it for free on Sky?

nu:life 47

ZAMBIA PROJECT

TN Zambia Project

With many of the children unable to speak any

English, the students communicate with them

through the universal medium of sport and so the

best sports coaches have been selected.

The project relies on donations to make a diff erence,

with fundraising for the project already underway.

Without public support it would not be where it is

now.

Jen Rudin added: “We are always looking for people to

get involved, whether they want to help fundraise or

if they just have ideas they want to share with us.”

Donations to the Sport Northumbria Foundation can

be made on the JustGiving web page at http://www.

justgiving.com/sportnorthumbria or alternatively

contact Jen Rudin at jen.rudin@northumbria.ac.uk.

By Lois Frankland

Northumbria University is planning its seventh year fronting the popular Zambia project after recruiting next summer’s batch of student volunteers.

The Zambia I.D.E.A.L.S scheme aims to use sport to engage with

local children and encourage them to lead positive lifestyles and

ultimately inform them about AIDS/HIV.

Northumbria is involved in partnership with seven other

universities in the UK in this popular programme and all share

the same aim: to make a diff erence.

Jen Rudin, Northumbria Community Sport Manager, believes

passionately in the cause and this year had fi rst hand experience

travelling to Zambia.

She said: “At risk of sounding cheesy, the project really is a

massive learning experience for everyone involved. It’s a great

challenge.

“The kids love being coached by our students. They fi nd it

amazing that they have travelled so far to come help them and in

return children attend sessions they otherwise wouldn’t have.

“I was lucky enough to join the students on the programme this

summer and it was a real eye opener. It’s almost surprising the

diff erence that can be made.”

Next summer’s recruits are second year students Luke Wilson

and Tom Bodley, both specialising in football coaching, along

with journalism student Danny Cousins, focusing on the media

aspect.

Joining them are third year students Josie Pointon and Beth

Telfer, captains of the fi rst and second teams of Northumbria’s

netball respectively, also hoping to pass on their knowledge.