Plan your Freshers` Week
Transcription
Plan your Freshers` Week
Stevie’s Super Student Savers • Your Newcastle. Your Music. • What’s Next? • Intra Mural Sport • AU Trials and Tasters C O URIER THE The Independent Voice Of Newcastle Students thecourieronline.co.uk · Issue 1233 Monday September 26 2011 Est 1948 Plan your Freshers’ Week Timetable pull out inside Freshers’ Week 2011 is here 5000 students descend on Newcastle to start the best years of their lives Kat Bannon Editor Welcome to Newcastle University! It may feel like you have stepped into the world unknown but you are about to begin what promises to be the best three years, if not more, of your life. The city of Newcastle has everything on offer. From world class bars and clubs, nationally known architecture, St. James Park and the loyal toon army, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay beaches as well as gigs at the Sage or Metro Arena. No wonder it was rated in the top ten in the country for student experience! If you are new to Newcastle, or even if you’re not, be aware you have chosen a great place to work, live and play. It won’t take long for you to love the North East as your own. Then there is the University. You have just joined one of the twenty Russell Group institutions in the country with a worldwide reputation for high quality teaching and cutting edge research. The University is well into an £200-million programme of investment in its campus and facilities and you are lucky enough to be part of one of its most significant periods of its 171 year history. More so, you are the year that is set to experience the much-anticipated £8 million refurbishment of the Students’ Union for the first time. Although still maintaining the beauty of the original 19th century building it is set to be a 21st century Union for the 21st century student, combining space for learning, socialising and, of course, student services, in a modern and functional way that provides the best possible opportunities for you. Combining the prestige of the university with the vibrancy of the city it is not surprising that you have just arrived in one of the most popular places to study in the country. So, in order to get you started Newcastle University’s Freshers’ Week is a seven day long introduction to what is in store. Already hailed as the best Freshers’ experience in the country 2011 promises to be the biggest and best to date, with more activities, more impressive nights, and more value for money than ever before. So what’s in store for the upcoming week? Locked away in the Students’ Union building with only Yorkshire teabags and a bike pump for company this year’s organisers have been plotting a fantastic array of events to suit students of all tastes and interests. With activities ranging from mud buggy racing and quad biking to cocktail train- ing, beach trips and ice skating you’ll be spoilt for choice in the daytime for new experiences to share with new friends and flat mates. Meanwhile the night-time events are set to be unrivalled by other Freshers’ Weeks across the country. Kick starting on Sunday evening with Newcastle’s recreation of their very own Thai Full Moon Party in the Students’ Union, expect a tropical paradise, packed with beach fancy and, naturally, a lot of UV. To follow through the week are some legendary club nights with live acts, comedy nights, grub crawls and theatre trips for anyone who needs rest their dancing shoes for a day of paintballing. Bringing the week to climax is ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, in which Newcastle’s The Gate will be unrecognisable as what is to become your usual mid week haunt. Think the Amazon, but with banging tunes in place of the bugs. This is a special issue of The Courier, produced with the sole aim of guiding you through the best week possible. Inside you will find details on everything you need to know to get your student experience to the best possible start, from our support services and repre- sentation system to the opportunities for sport, societies and media that we offer here at the Student’s Union in order to enhance your time here. There is also a day-by-day guide of activities and events so you can make an informed choice about exactly how to spend Freshers’ Week. The Courier will be back in October bringing you weekly up-to-date news about what is going on across the university, but until then, be sure that you make the most of your wristband and enjoy what is truly a once in lifetime experience. With 140 societies to choose from, find the perfect one for you using our complete guide page 28-29 >> Welcome 2 Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER Stevie, Anna, Camille and Mike (from left) Contents 7 6 9 24 Stevie’s Super Student Savers Top tips on how to get the most out of your money Alternative Essentials The real list of items you wont be able to live without Your Newcastle. Your Music. Everything you need to know about the music scene at Newcastle 28 What’s Next? What to do with your time after Freshers’ Week is over 30 31 Societies Guide Our complete list Intra Mural Sport Play sport how you want to AU Trials and Taster Sessions Join Team Newcastle Your Freshers’ Week Organisers Welcome to Newcastle University Freshers’ Week 2011! We are Anna, Camille, Mike and Stevie and we’re your Freshers’ Week Organisers. We are all recent Newcastle University graduates, elected in November 2010 to organise Freshers’ Week for you and make sure that it’s a week you will never want to end! We have been working hard all summer to put together a wide range of exciting daytime and night time events and activities which we guarantee will keep you entertained throughout your first week here in Newcastle. Most of you will be moving away from home for the first time and whoever you are and wherever you come from Freshers’ Week is the perfect way to kick off your University life. All the activities and events which take place during the week are free if you’ve purchased a Freshers’ Week wristband so make sure you make the most of what is on offer! We have organised a wide range of activities that you can take part in throughout the week. Some activities will require signing up the day before as numbers may be limited but for many activities you will be able to just turn up and go. Activities include paintballing, Go Ape, quad biking and ice skating to name a few but make sure to check out the timetable of events in the centre of The Courier to see the full range of activities we have on offer and which ones will require signing up in advance. Although there is so much to get involved in during Freshers’ Week your induction lectures should still take priority; activities are all repeated and run at various times throughout the week to make sure you don’t miss out. Freshers’ Week would not be a true representation of student life without a variety of events showcasing what Newcastle nightlife has to offer. The Courier Editorial Team is: NUSU, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. If you’re interested in writing, taking photos, illustrating or designing for The Courier, sign up at our freshers’ fair stall or come along to our introductory meeting on Wednesday 5th Oct at 12 o’clock in The Venue. Editor: Kat Bannon Deputy Editor: Elliot Bentley News Editors: Wills Robinson and George Sandeman Deputy News Editor: Helen Lamb Politics Editor: Bethany Stauton Comment Editors: Sophie McCoid and Susie May Beever Deputy Comment Editor: Jack Torrance C2 Editor: Aimee Philipson C2 Deputy Editor: Lauren Girling Lifestyle Editors: Olivia Mason and Ben Parkin Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Emma Balter Fashion Editor: Victoria Mole Night time events will be based at both the Students’ Union and some of the best bars, restaurants, clubs and venues that Newcastle has to offer, making sure you’ll never want the week to end. With amazing headline acts, comedy nights, grub crawls and tonnes of fancy dress, we guarantee to keep you entertained. Not only this but we also have pub quizzes (drinking not essential), a theatre trip to see The Sound of Music and the opportunity to see the UK’s top professional a cappella group. Therefore we are certain there will be something to suit everyone regardless of your individual tastes or interests, so really there is no excuse not to be making the most of your wristband all day every day! Remember that all of these events are a great way to make loads of new friends from those in first to fifth year. Don’t be afraid to get involved and speak to anyone and everyone, our handpicked crew are here to help you settle in and are al- Deputy Fashion Editor: Rosanna Sopp Arts Editors: Rosie Tallant, Sally Priddle Deputy: Lisa Bernhardt Film Editor: Chris Binding Deputy Film Editor: Hayley Hamilton Music Editors: Ben Travis, Chris Scott Deputy Music Editors: Graham Matthews Sports Editors: Colin Henrys, Harry Slavin, Simon Howard and Rory Brigstock-Baron Deputy Sports Editor: Grace Harvey Design Editors: Gabe Mason and Tom O’Boyd Proofs Editors: Alice Sewell, Adam Rummends, Gemma Turner, Rachael Day ways looking to help you have as much fun as possible in your first week. Their experience of student life in Newcastle means they will be able to answer all your burning questions about student life here and help with any problems or queries you may have. We hope that you’re as excited about Freshers’ Week as we are. With a brand new Students’ Union Building, along with a fantastic city and amazing halls of residence, we guarantee that Freshers’ Week 2011 will be as amazing as it can possibly be. We hope that you have a fantastic time during Freshers’ Week and wish you luck for the rest of your time here at Newcastle University. Get ready to experience everything that the ‘Toon’ has to offer and welcome to the best three or more years of your life! Anna, Camille, Mike and Stevie The Courier is printed by: Harmsworth Printing Limited, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW. Tel: 01332 253013. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Union Society or Newcastle University. 3 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 Who’s who? Freshers’ Week Crew Your Freshers’ Week wouldn’t exist without the help of our loyal crew of volunteers. These 300 returning students had so much fun in their own Freshers’ Week that they’re coming back to relive it all again in order to ensure yours is even better! Almost 1,000 people applied for positions on crew and those that made it are the best of the best, so if you have any queries or problems about anything during the week they’ll be more than happy to help. There are a number of different positions which can be easily recognised by the colour of their t-shirt. Check out our handy guide below to see who’s who. Chief Supervisors (yellow) These select few are Freshers’ Week experts after having been involved in an impressive number of Freshers’ Weeks between them. They work very closely with the Organisers behind the scenes throughout the week to make sure everything is running smoothly whilst also looking after a number of supervisors and their crews. They are a fountain of knowledge and have an array of experience so make good use of them during the week. Chief Drivers (green) You’ll catch our highly dedicated chief drivers outside the Union coordinating your transport around the city. This year Lyndon, Chester, Princess and Apex will spend the week making sure that all the minibuses are getting you to and from your activities and halls at the right time. They all have years of Freshers’ Week driving experience between them and without them the week wouldn’t be able to leave the Union. Supervisors (pink) The Supervisors are one step above Crew and are given a radio to prove it. Each looks after a crew of ten who are decked out in the supervisor’s choice of fancy dress. Having been hand picked for their knowledge, enthusiasm, reliability and their previous experience of Crew, Supervisors know how to make sure everyone’s up and raring to go all day, every day! Drivers (lime green) These guys are vital to the running of the week. They take you to all the exciting activities going on offsite during the days, as well bringing you down to the Union for the evening events and taking you home again at the end of the night for free. They work really hard and have late hours so always give them a smile and a massive thanks! Crew (turquoise) These guys are the people you will see around most during the week. They are full of energy, veryhardworking and dedicated to making sure you have a week to remember! A lively bunch, Crew will be on hand right from the start, helping you move into halls as well as helping you discover your new city with daytime activities and night time events. If you require anything in the week just grab one of our Crew who will be more than happy to help, or will direct you to the person who can. Officers (purple) These are the guys who run your Union. The team is made up of six full-time sabbatical officers as well as sixteen part-time officers. They will be getting involved with activities in the week as well as manning the Information and Welfare Tent to make sure you know about all the great services and opportunities that the Union can provide for you. There are very friendly so if there’s anything you want to know stop them for a chat. Take me home! Have you ever wondered who is responsible for transporting 3,500 Freshers around all day every day (and night) during Freshers’ Week? Well, this mammoth task falls to our fantastic team of Freshers’ Week drivers. Our thirtystrong team of volunteers will be here all week taking you to where you need to be. They’ll be guided by our four highly dedicated and road savvy Chief drivers, who’ll be outside the Union all week co-ordinating the minibuses and navigating routes around the city. Even more importantly they will be around each night until the early hours of the morning to take you back home, whether you live in halls or are a local student living at home. And the best thing is that it’s completely free! p i T r e h s Fre Want to be a crew member? Can’t get enough of Freshers’ Week 2011? To be part of Freshers’ Week 2012 keep a close look out for Freshers’ Crew forms and interview times which will be available from the Students’ Union reception in February. Get to know freshers’ crew - they’ll give you great ideas on where to go, how to get the most out of your Freshers’ Week as well as general help and advice. You could find friends for life. (Or at least the rest of your time at University.) 4 welcome Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER New Students’ Union building revealed after £8 million year-long refurbishment Improved access to student services, better social facilites and learning spaces promises a 21st century experience for a 21st century student Students’ Union Presdient Laura Perry [email protected] What happens when you spend £8 million on a Grade II listed building in the heart of the campus? Gifted to the students of the University in 1925, the Students’ Union building has played its part in history and will hopefully have even more to give future Newcastle students. Flooding during Freshers’ Week 2010 went largely unnoticed by many; it’s fair to say the building needed a facelift, and more. Re-opening in time for your Freshers’ Week, long overdue access improvements have been made with the creation of a shiny new Student Advice Centre, along with a fantastic new activities centre for all your volunteering, society and sporting needs. Back in the building are banking, printing and IT repair services with travel opportunities from our partner companies downstairs. Hopefully you’ll find some food and beverage provision that takes your fancy. And that’s not forgetting the return of Mens Bar. Enough said. Along with The Venue downstairs, there’s more bar and club event space than you can shake a stick at (I’m not sure whether I’m allowed to mention that 88 pints can be poured in around 15seconds.) Remember to drink responsibly! Your Students’ Union is so much more than a building - for the first time, your student representatives are in the most accessible and visible locations. So there’s no excuse not to pay us a visit, even if it’s just for a chat or to find out more. This year promises to be the best in Newcastle Students’ Union history. Therefore it’s the perfect opportunity to make the most out of your time at University, meeting and getting to know some pretty decent people along the way. • 24 hour social learning space • 1500 capacity basement venue • New Activities Centre for all sport, society and volunteering needs. • New Mens’ Bar menu • Starbucks coffee on top floor • 70 TV Screens • 50m Island bar in The Venue • Lockers • New look Union Shop including meal deals and discounted national newspapers • Santander • MADadventurer • IT Repair • Sploshh • Subway 5 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 welcome Your full time Officer team Welfare & Equality Officer Fellow students, elected to represent specific interests We are the full-time Sabbatical Officer team Laura, Liam, Katy, Kat, Alice and Ania, elected by the student body to represent you. We, alongside a team of seventeen part time officers run the Students’ Union, together acting on issues that concern or effect its members The Sabbaticals or “Sabbs” all have different job descriptions. This ranges from democracy and representation, academic issues and course reps, welfare and campaigns as well as sports, societies, student media and any volunteering opportunities. The Students’ Union is not owned by the University, it is designed by you, run Katy Hargreaves [email protected] for you and has your wellbeing at the centre of everything it does. The newly refurbished Students’ Union building is the heart of the campus Whatever you need we are the people to turn to, and if we can’t help we promise to find someone who can. During Freshers’ Week and throughout the rest of the year we’ll be out and about in our signature purple hoodies. Feel free to ask any questions or just say hello, we’re here to represent you so any ideas and thoughts you have are important to us! Get involved in your Students’ Union Education Officer Liam Dale [email protected] At Newcastle, it’s not just the sabbatical officers who run the Students’ Union on behalf of the students. There is also a team of 17 Part Time officer positions which any student can run for in the elections. This is a great way to get involved in the Students’ Union and an easy thing to fit around your studies. Becoming a part time officer is not only a brilliant way to increase your employability but also a way of meeting lots of new people, as the Sabbatical Officers and Part Time Officers often work very closely together. The Students’ Union holds four elections during the academic year. These are in November, January, March and one in May, so keep an eye out for the Campaigns Officer Chooses and organises many of the campaigns which are run by the Students’ Union, finding things that students want changed and working towards that goal on their behalf. Chair of Union Council In charge of student council where Students’ Union policy is decided. Community Officer Works to promote and defend students living within Newcastle. Convenor of Debates Organises Students’ Union-wide debates on a variety of interesting and controversial topics and helps to organise intra mural debating tournaments. Convenor of Disciplinary Responsible for making sure all disciplinary cases are conducted efficiently and in a fair manner. Ethics and Environment Officer This is an increasingly important and active job, often shared by two people who are responsible for promoting and campaigning for ethical and environmental issues across the university. Freshers’ Week Organisers Normally a group of four people, it is their job to organise Freshers’ Week for the following year as part of a paid full time summer placement. Gender Equality Officer Represents the interests of all genders and raises awareness of issues surrounding gender discrimination. International Officer Represent the needs of the large number of international students we have here at Newcastle. LGBT Officer Represents the rights and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Mature and Part Time Students Officer Responsible for representing the views of mature students at Students’ Union Council and organising the mature students’ forum. Officer Without Portfolio This post gives individuals the chance plasma screens around the Students’ Union. •• Get insured – better safe than sorry! Be aware that some insurance companies don’t pay out if the thief gets in through an unlocked door or window. Keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of your electronic items to help police track them down if they are stolen. See www.immobilise.com for further details. •• Never walk home alone. Meet up with your friends and if you get a taxi, use a taxi rank at Central Station, The Bigg Market and The Gate. These are marshalled to reduce antisocial behaviour and to make sure people get home quickly and safely. •• If you walk home keep to well lit paths on the main routes out of town. Avoid shortcuts, alleyways and deserted areas like car parks. Cutting a few minutes off your journey by taking a short cut is never worth it. •• Remember, you are not only at risk of becoming a victim of crime. Drunken behaviour or antics on the way home may be classed as antisocial behaviour and in Newcastle this is taken very seriously. If you do receive any conviction it can be seriously affect your chosen career. Stealing shopping trolleys, running in front of cars and being drunk and disorderly are all offences that may not only see you spending a night in the police station, butmight also earn yourself a conviction. •• Find loads of useful safety advice at www.safenewcastle.org.uk or www. northumbria.police.uk. •• There’s lots of advice and support out there from finding a GP or dentist, for contraception and sexual health to healthy eating and everything in between. Don’t forget about any long term or ongoing conditions you have. Visit www.nhs. uk/Livewell/studenthealth •• Newcastle is proud to be the UK’s most sustainable city, and we hope you will do your bit to keep us clean and green. Putting your bins out on the right day, recycling and clearing up litter really helps, and making efficient use of energy keeps our carbon emissions low and could save you a few quid. Find out more at www.newcastle.gov.uk/students •• Our universities and colleges are a great asset to our city and all our students will get a warm Geordie welcome. Your council and other public services are here to support you and make your time in Newcastle as enjoyable as possible. positions which are available and get involved with any that appeal to you. The Students’ Union is always looking for new people with different ideas to have their say so don’t be afraid to step forward. to look at what issues they would like to work on for the Students’ Union and create their own tasks for the year. Postgraduate Officer Responsible for representing the views of postgraduate students at Union Council and organising the postgraduate forum. Racial Equality Officer Promotes anti-racism/racial equality around the Students’ Union and the University. RAG Officer ‘Raising and Giving’ week has been part of Newcastle’s annual programme for decades making it the Students’ Union’s biggest charity event. This is an amazing opportunity to organise it. Student Parents and Carers Officer Organises and chairs the student parents and carers forum. Students with Disabilities Officer Responsible for ensuring the fair and equal representation of all students regardless of disability. If you want any more information about becoming a part time officer, email Laura, the President of the Student’s Union, at president.union@ncl. ac.uk. Don’t be another crime statistic Pee in a Fay Paterson Student Liaison Coordinator Northumbria Police •• Keep valuables out of the sight of windows- especially if your room is downstairs. By working on your laptop in the window you may as well be invited the thieves in! •• Check the window locks, especially on downstairs and basement windows and your doors. Make sure they’re strong, secure and with proper locks. Keep your doors and windows locked when you go out. Sounds simple and kind of obvious but so many burglaries could have been avoided by doing this. •• Make sure your wheelie bin is in your yard, and that your gate is shut and bolted. •• If you have expensive items, don’t leave the empty boxes outside your house, rip them up and file them under a bin. •• If you have not already, mark your property. This can make it harder for a burglar to sell your property on and help the police to return items to you. Police will be on campus offering free property registration and marking at various time throughout the year - keep your eyes out for details of when and where on the what? Pot! Freshers’ Week is a great time to have fun, explore and meet new people. Some of you will get a bit closer to people than others - I’m sure you’ve all had the “safe sex” talk and you’re all thinking blah blah blah but the crazy thing is some of you are still not protecting yourselves! STIs are not something you want to get and the effects of them can be really serious. Scarily, a staggering 1 in 8 students are walking around with Chlamydia! And it’s not just this infection to be afraid of - genital warts and gonorrhoea are just as easy to catch. So to help you on your way to being clean and happy, we will have lots free condoms available all year round! We will also be running regular Chlamydia screenings, during fresher’s week, in halls and the Students’ Union. Please don’t be embarrassed – the test is quick, simple and PAIN FREE, everybody’s doing it! We will also be doing the infamous SHAG Week! A week when the Union gets a bit filthy, a bit one track minded, and just talks about sex! We’ll have lots of events, free contraception and all the information you need to keep it safe, and keep it sexy. Keep your eyes peeled! Hello! My name is Katy Hargreaves and I am your Welfare and Equality officer 2011/12 for Newcastle University Students’ Union. I hope you’re all having an amazing start to your university experience and getting stuck into Newcastle’s legendary Freshers’ Week! There is so much going on and it’s all very exciting but as we all know life isn’t always easy and there are some hard times along the way. Which is why I’m here to help! Once all the craziness of Freshers’ Week has calmed down you can really start to think about your new life here in Newcastle. At some point you will ALL feel homesick. This is perfectly normal, it’s a massive adjustment to make and the first thing to do is acknowledge that it IS hard to be in a new city, away from home, your family, school friends, boyfriend/girlfriend etc. I promise this will eventually go away, so keep your chin up and get stuck in to life at Newcastle – it’s a fantastic University and city! If you do feel that you’re really finding it hard adjusting to new life or things aren’t quite going how you want them to then please come and talk to us! We are all lovely, happy, friendly people and we are here especially for YOU. I have an open door policy in addition to a specific drop in service (Wednesdays 12-2pm) where you can always come and talk to me about anything!! It will be nice and informal and completely confidential. If you feel you need more than just a chat then you can go to the union’s Student Advice Centre (SAC) or the University’s Wellbeing service. Both have professionally trained people to help you with any issues you have, from finance, housing and landlords to mental health and severe depression. So please, however trivial you’re worried the issue might seem, use us! If you find you need help during later hours, we have a student-run listening service called Nightline (8am-8pm). One thing you’ll have all heard many times before and you’ll probably get sick of hearing it - but please watch your alcohol intake! We are not telling you not to drink, but please try not to drink in excess. The nightlife at the Students’ Union and in the Toon is unbeatable and it is very easy to get carried away. Please remember our safe drinking message and drink occasional glasses of water. It will keep you safer, more hydrated and slow you down a bit, giving your body a chance to recover and let you know when you’ve had enough. As a student and particularly a fresher you will be exposed to hundreds of new experiences, new friends and situations. Most of these will be great, however always keep your wits about you as unfortunately you may end up in an unpleasant situation with people who try and take advantage of your vulnerability. The Students’ Union operates a zero tolerance approach to drug use. If you feel you’re taking drugs and/or loosing control with them please seek help, we will not judge and again everything you say will be confidential. Don’t be tempted by legal highs – they may well be considerably less legal than you think! University is about getting a degree and having fun. Always put your safety first and make intelligent decisions, don’t ruin some of the best years of your life. Again if you ever have any problems or just fancy a chat (I do love to chat) just come along and say hi! Ultimately I am here to keep you safe and happy and ensure that your years at Newcastle University are the best they can possibly be. 6 The Prodigal Daughter Lauren Stafford My name is Lauren and I am fresher. Again. After spending two turbulent years away at another university I have returned home. Back in Newcastle to start again I have a queasy feeling in my gut that is all too familiar. I can confidently say, having experienced Freshers’ Week once before, that I’m not looking forward to round two. It’s easy to reminisce with rose-tinted spectacles about the first weeks of university. A personal ‘highlight’ of mine was waking up to find an oafish lout unconscious in our kitchen, snoring gently, his pea-sized brain nestling amongst our recycling. ‘How charming!’ I thought as I stepped over him to get to my cornflakes, ‘this is truly a quintessential student experience’. Herein lies the problem. There is no quintessential student experience. Sure we are stereotyped, parodied and pigeon holed but most likely that those ‘facts’ you’ve learnt about student life are based on myth. Having survived it once, I am going to try and offer some frank nuggets of advice: There is such a thing as ‘too friendly’ Living with complete strangers is always going to be problematic. University will introduce you to a wide and diverse range of people. It’s okay to dislike some of them. Remember the more ‘fresher friends’ you make, the more you’ll have to delete from facebook later on. Talk to people on your course Coursemates are invaluable. They have staying power. You’ll have the same workload and you’ll need to find the same obscure books in the library. Having a friend in the same lectures is a bonus and means note swaps during revision time. Be keen, but not too keen University is a great time to explore new interests so take full advantage of it. Clubbing is fun, but it’s no use writing ‘had some sick nights out’ on your C.V. Although, remember when you’re at the Fresher’s Fair it’s only a good idea to sign up for everything if you intend to follow it up, otherwise you’ll be receiving emails from the Parachuting Society for the rest of your life. Be a bit canny Do your best to dodge anyone handing out leaflets. They may seem friendly and charismatic now but this charming veil will quickly wear thin and you’ll feel pursued. However now you’re a student you’ve landed yourself a ‘nice debt’, start as you mean to go on and only accept free things of relative value. Whether it’s a plastic spatula or a slice of pizza, it’s your right to take it. Remember what happens in Fresher’s Week doesn’t stay in Fresher’s Week This isn’t Magalluf, this is university. If you do catch an S.T.I it will be incorporated into your nickname for the rest of your academic career. No one wants to be ‘Chlamydia Girl’ or ‘Gonorrhea Boy’. To avoid being stigmatised, and to avoid serious health risks, it’s best to be a bit sensible. Prepare to be underwhelmed You’re right to be suspicious of anyone that tells you they had ‘the time of their life’ in their first weeks of university. Be assured that they’re lying for dramatic effect. Don’t worry though, it’s not all futile, you’ll at least have some stories to tell in the pub. Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER Alternative Essentials Bedside lamp, duvet, hot water bottle. Check. Done? Not quite... Aimee Philipson C2 Editor So you’ve got your new throw, a bottle opener, some new clothes, enough pasta to feed a starving country and, of course, a few books to decorate your new room’s bookcase. Job done. But sometimes those essentials student guides your mother bought seem to miss out, well, the essentials. Don’t fear, some helpful, ‘more experienced’ students have compiled a list of things they couldn’t have survived university life without so that you can avoid spending all your overdraft before Christmas, getting fined for drawing on your bedroom walls and being kept awake all night by your housemate and his latest ‘pull’. 1. Dry shampoo Nobody wants to sit next to someone who woke up late and didn’t have time to wash the sweat/beer/ sick from their hair before their first lecture. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, don’t panic. Help is at hand in a small multi-coloured spray can of dry shampoo. Just give it a it few generous squirts, rub it in and brush it out - you’ll be flicking your hair around like Cheryl Cole in that L’Oreal advert in no time. 2. Ear plugs Avoid another unfortunate yet highly likely situation with a pair of reusable earplugs from your local chemist. Imagine; it’s late, you’re tired - perhaps you have an exam or presentation in the morning - and you settle down in your cosy new duvet just at the same moment your housemate decides to bring back some of his brand new fresher mates for a house party. You can’t sleep through N-Dubz blaring out (Why did they put you in halls of residence with an N-Dubz fan in the first place?) so you turn to your trusty new friends, Left Earplug and Right Earplug. Also handy for blocking out noises from amorous neighbours as well as loud games of Fifa or Call of Duty. 3. Duzzits The ultimate cleaning product. If you only buy one thing to clean your flat with before you move out, it should be a pack of Duzzits from the local supermarket. They clean literally any mark off the walls - makeup, beer, wine, shoe marks, food, pen and blutack to name a few - and they’re only around £2.50 for a pack. A fantastic investment which will save you getting fined when you move out of Halls next summer. 4. Travel mug For the same price as one large tea from Starbucks you could have 80 cups of PG Tips in your very own travel mug. These are widely available in supermarkets and students’ favourite, Wilkinsons as well as the Robinson Library. Need I say more? 5. Sleeping bag A sleeping bag or a spare duvet is a great investment for unexpected sleepovers with wanted, or unwanted, guests. Whether you don’t like sharing a duvet with a lover, a friend drops by unexpectedly to crash on your floor or someone can’t quite make it home from a house party, you’ll be glad you invested in a cheap sleeping bag or spare duvet to sort them out with. If you’re cheap and don’t care that much, grab a throw or sheet from Primark for £2 and offer them that - if they don’t like it, they don’t have to stay at Casa Tuya. 6. Toastie maker There are an infinite amount of ingredients you can add to a toastie maker - all you need is bread! Some of our tried-and-tested favourite recipes include; banana and chocolate spread, cheese and beans, ham and cheese, marmite and cheese, jam and peanut butter, leftover meat of any kind with cheese or chutney, roasted veg and cheese, sausages and beans. Cheap, tasty and mostly nutritious - get inventive! 7. ‘Quote Wall’ Buy a large piece of card or paper, stick it up in a communal area in your Halls of Residence or house and lo and behold you have your very own ‘Quote Wall’. Use it to record all inappropriate, hilarious, stupid and inebriated comments which occur over the next nine months so you can relive them during times of tension and pressure (exam time) later in the year. Just try to remember to take it down before your parents visit - nothing is worse than a comment about your mum being a ‘MILF’ glaring her in the face when she comes round for a cuppa. 8. CV It’s free and essen- you might even you need it from very first week if you’re trying t o find a parttime job in Newcastle while you study. It’s a good way to record everything you do at university, from playing in a sports team to volunteering as a course rep, so you don’t forget when it comes to graduation and you have to apply for real jobs. It’s also a great motivation for getting a job or some work experience to fill the blank pages. Visit the Careers Centre in King’s Gate if you need help putting one together or if you want someone to check it over. When it comes to applying for a job think not only of the wage but the freebies – there can be a lot worse than working at Greggs if it means a week’s supply of leftover steak slices. Other great places to work while you’re a student are Blackwells, Waterstones, WHSmiths, Paperchase, department stores and gyms/ swimming pools. tial find the 9. Laundry Bags Time to face the evitable – waiting until you return home at Christmas/Easter/Summer for your dirty clothes to be washed, dried and ironed by Winky the house elf just isn’t feasible. Neither, unfortunately, is carrying one of those primark dirty washing bags to the laundry room and back without finding you’ve left a Hansel and Gretal sock trail, or it just generally falling apart. So get yourself to Poundland and purchase some n i c e big plastic bags to avoid any ‘foxy lady’ knickers or superman boxers becoming public property. 10. Doorstop Do you want to make friends in your halls? If you’re only unpacking take the red flashing light warnings to never keep your door propped open with a handful of salt. It gives you the chance to chat to people as they wander by, play loud music that might grab someone’s attention and maybe get offered an odd snack or two. Luckily, this essential item is also very versatile. It can be anything from a crate of cider to that Oxford English Dictionary you’re probably definitely never going to use. 7 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 Stevie’s Super Student Savers Stevie Meagher Freshers’ Week Organiser student cards Your Student Card There should be one rule of thumb when it comes to your student card: if you don’t ask, you don’t get. There’s no harm adopting the habit of flashing your student card at the checkout regardless of whether you’re certain they ‘do’ student discount. Although don’t bother with Primark, I’ve already tried. NUS Extra Card Unfortunately, as you’ll soon find out if you follow my prior advice, your Student Card doesn’t give you discount everywhere – but an NUS Extra Card almost does. 5% off at Amazon doesn’t seem much but it soon adds up when you’ve got a million and one books and Scrubs boxsets to order. Then you’ve got the 25% you’ll save on National Express Coach fairs, 40% off tickets to Thorpe Park, 15% saving at Firetrap as well as 20% off at Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny’s and more! Oh, and did I forget to mention the 20% you’ll save online on that new ASOS dress, and the 10% discount at New Look and Accessorize? To top it off it will also bag you some exclusive deals in the Students’ Union on food and drink. And yes, it is all for the one-off payment of £11. Go to http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUSExtra/ to get yours now. travel travelling home Train The main key to cutting the cost of travelling home is booking as far as in advance as possible as this is when the cheapest tickets are available. What is undoubtedly worth the investment is a young persons 16-25 railcard. At just £28 it saves you a third off rail travel all over the UK after 9am, which you could make back in just one journey then benefit from the discount for the rest of the year. Another way to cut the cost of rail travel is to split your journey up where possible. For example, let’s say want to travel from Newcastle to Manchester. It often works out cheaper to purchase a train from Newcastle to York and then a ticket from York to Manchester. You’d probably have to make this change anyway so it wont really add much time wise to your journey. A final top money saving tip for train travel is how you choose to purchase your tickets! When booking online don’t use an operator that charges you e.g. the Trainline. As you can use companies such as virgintrains.com, http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ or www.eastcoast. co.uk that provide this service for free for all rail journeys regardless of whether they operate that particular route or not. Buying a bike can be a great way to get round the City quickly, build up fitness and save paying for public transport in and around the City. There are also numerous places around campus and in the City where you can park your bike up. But don’t get taken for a ride with the price of bikes! Places to get a good bikes and at fair prices include Gumtree.co.uk/Newcastle and ebay.co.uk where in the search section just type in the radius you are will to travel from 10 miles, 15 miles, etc Scratch bikes Don’t want to buy a bike, then a company called scratchbikes can offer an alternative. Check out there website for more details and you will find out why the bright green bikes are dotted around town. http://www.scratchbikes.co.uk/ New start, new sex life? food & drink Don’t get taken for a ride with the price of bikes! Eating Out If you fancy a treat then heading to a restaurant earlier will mean you bump into more happy hours, especially down Osbourne road in Jesmond which is only a short walk from some halls. This period is usually between around 5-7.30pm, allowing you to eat well without eating into your bank balance. Another way to save is to check websites for vouchers from national chains like Pizza Express, Gusto, La Tasca, Zizzi’s etc. This can be done using a number of sites. Check out my top picks below for the best websites for discounts and daily deal savers! Eating In The Grainger market is the cheapest option for food in Newcastle, especialy meats and vegetables. Buying from here will keep you fed much longer than a local trip to the nearest Tesco metro. A good tip for going to the Grainger is to buy big or go home! Then you can freeze your meat and use it anytime during the term. As living next to a large supermarket in Newcastle is rare it makes getting home delivery and doing a big shop seem like a big outlay, but it’s much more cost effective over the month! Coach If you really want to maximise your cash from the good old student loans company then try taking the coach. Megabus and National express all offer cheap students fairs with the latter tending to be the cheaper choice. Again booking in advance means you can really pick up some bargains. Flying Using either flight checker at moneysaving expert or skyscanner.net is a good way to search for flights around the UK and abroad. travelling around and about Bike Girl about Toon Metro pass If you commit to the Metro then make sure to get a student pass for £x per week rather than paying for a day ticket all the time as this will save you money. It also means you’ll never be tempted to risk it for a biscuit and end up landing yourself a £20 fine! Unirider Bus Pass If you live a bit further away from the centre and are on a Stagecoach bus route into town then it might be worthwhile purchasing a Unirider Bus Pass. Buying a monthly, termly or annual pass will work out cheaper over the course of the year. Check out http://www.buymyunirider. com/ top websites moneysavingexpert.com With advice on car and travel insurance to banking deals as well as restaurant vouchers and freebies, Martin Lewis is your first port of call for all things discounted. studentbeans.co.uk Mobile and laptop deals, cheap food offers, discounted travel as well as advice on jobs, how to make easy money and competitions groupon.co.uk livingsocialdeals.co.uk Both these websites offer daily deals on anything from days out paintballing and go karting to salon and beauty vouchers, cheap deals on food, potential presents, learning oourses, weekend breaks and 5* holidays. The list goes on. With an up to 60/70% discount the extra couple of emails a day aren’t much to complain about. Freshers is, by definition, a time to start a new, re-invent yourself perhaps (and no, I’m not necessarily talking about creating a deeply intellectual connection with your studies). This is particularly an important point to consider when faced with bonding with your new flatmates in halls. For me, the way I found a common ground with some of my flatmates was recounting the ‘exploits’ of the night before. The forum of choice for these exploits was our favourite Monday night. There were three very different stories within this close bond, - wholesome girl, the gorgeous one and then there was me. I hadn’t decided on how I was going to reinvent myself and my fresher’s fortune was yet to be written. It soon became clear that the intoxicating fumes of trebles, student nights and handsome guys on tap was simply too overwhelming so for the sake of experimentation and the copious banter that was bound to come on a Tuesday morning, I decided to venture into this unchartered territory of the Newcastle student male. Whilst one of my partners in crime had a boyfriend, my flatmate in the room opposite seemed to have stories of one charming admirer after another. I wasn’t so lucky. Freshers’ year, I feel, is all about firsts -- and I had my fair share. The first time I was the ‘scarlet woman’, the first time I saw a guy with a third nipple and the first time I’d seen a guy who was ‘halfcircumcised’. Not exactly the Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw-esque start to adult life that I had imagined. Another part freshers is that oh so scientific competition you have with your flatmates to see who can pull the most guys or girls. Ours, we conveniently tallied on ‘The Pulling Board’ scoring various points for different agreed accolades. I’m not sure my tally really amounted to anything when kept losing points for two guys on it, who were conveniently in my halls and had been conquests but used the reinvention that comes with university to come out. Yes, embarrassment is all part and parcel of being a fresher. This, of course, is exacerbated if you manage to have a proverbial Venn diagram of conquests that overlaps with your friends. In fact, this common ground of ‘oh I pulled him in Legends too’ becomes a great way to make friends. The most important part of sexual escapades in Fresher’s week is, of course, to be safe. I don’t want this to turn into a Mean Girls health class rant but Fresher’s can be as fun and hard-core as you want it to be just as long you are smart about it. One thing I learnt was there may seem to be this rush to ‘add to your tally’ as I initially thought, but I didn’t feel too pressured or too care-free about the basics that matter. So, needless to say, out of my lovely flatmates, considering what I had to contend with and my talent for picking extraordinary cases, I didn’t quite win ‘The Pulling Board.’ However, I did learn many lessons, have many memories and managed to kiss many frogs. And Toads. And Rats. And any other unspecified vermin you could name. But out of the ashes of this carnage, I found myself a boyfriend and so did all my other flatmates. It just goes to show, Freshers’ Week is only what you make it. It is a blank canvass waiting for students to make their own vodka-stained mark on. NEED HELP? CAN’T GET INTO THE STUDENT ADVICE CENTRE? NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ISSUE? LIVE CHAT FREE online advice via Live Chat www.nusu.co.uk/livechat STUDENT ADVICE CENTRE 9 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 Your Newcastle. Your music. Ben Travis Music Editor Ah, Freshers week. New city, new clubs, new places to wake up at 5am with no idea what happened the previous night. And, as music editor I must say (without bias of course), that most importantly of all you’ve an abundance of new venues, local bands and musical delights to discover in Newcastle. Music enthusiasts, you’re in luck! As you’re bound to discover over the coming weeks, Newcastle and Gateshead have a genuinely brilliant music scene, with venues that cover every taste. Whether you spend your days tuned in to Radio 1, logged in to Drowned In Sound, zoned in to Ibiza classics or jacked in to the latest online remixes, or even all of the above, you’ll find something here that appeals to you. The best way to find what venues work for you is really just to get out there and try them for yourselves, but here’s a bit of a heads-up to try and give you a head start. Metro Radio Arena hanna (supported by Calvin Harris) and Katy Perry in October, and Tiniest Tempah, Britney and Arctic Monkeys in November. Just bear in mind that you’ll pay up to £50 for tickets here, so do it either as soon as your loan comes in, or at least before you inevitably become too scared to check your bank balance. Keep heading past the Life centre and you’ll find yourself at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle’s largest venue. If you’re looking for some of the biggest names that the city can secure, this is where you’ll find them. In the next few months, there’s a fair few massive artists on their way, including Ri- Head along to www.metroradioarena. co.uk to see who else is playing and to get tickets. The Sage Technically in Gateshead, The Sage is just on the other side of the Tyne next to the Baltic. Walk across the Millenium bridge (the weird curvy one) and you’re just a steep set of stairs away from this iconic venue. Expect an eclectic range of artists, from classical to indie-rock, folk and world music. Artists set to perform at The Sage include Givers, Bellowhead, Beverley Knight, The Selecter and Explosions in the Sky. Tickets here range massively in price - from about £7-£40 and beyond depending on who’s playing and which room they’re in. Digital and The Other Rooms As a Fresher, you’ve at least heard of Digital, probably been inside already, possibly lost all your mates in there, and if you haven’t then you’re probably reading this on your way there right now. The most well-known club in Newcastle sometimes holds gigs usually consisting of either indie bands or DJs, and has a sister venue next door. Playing at Digital soon are Beardyman, Eddie Halliwell, Andy Moore, The Horrors, and of course Mr Scruff’s annual five hourlong Tea Party, whilst The Other Rooms is welcoming Wu Lyf, Mercury nominee Ghostpoet and Male Bonding. Tickets are between £6-£13. See www.yourfutureisdigital.co.uk for more details and tickets. Riverside Unsurprisingly, Riverside is by the side of the river. Who’d have thought it? Walk along the quayside and you’ll find it. On Fridays and Saturdays, Riverside hosts your standard electro/house/D’n’B/hiphop club nights, but otherwise makes for a surpris- ingly diverse venue. Amongst the better known names appearing soon are Benjamin Francis Leftwich and The Joy Formidable in October, and there’s a regular ‘Jazzy Lemon presents...’ night with loads of brilliant local bands. Tickets here are pretty cheap - generally under £15. For more info on upcoming events and tickets go to www.riversidenewcastle.co.uk The Cluny and the Cluny2 Venture into the Ouseburn Valley and amongst a load of lovely little pubs you’ll come across The Cluny and The Cluny2, one of Newcastle’s most renowned venues. Loved equally by artists and audiences, you’ll find the best of alternative, indie and folk here in an intimate setting for a few quid, with a great selection of real ales and ciders. It’s affordable on a student budget, and one of the best-sounding venues in the city. In the near future, The Cluny is set to play host to Emmy The Great, the Mercurynominated King Creosote, frenetic Scottish six-piece Dananananaykroyd, The Leisure Society and many many more. Check out www.thecluny.com for more listings and tickets. O2 Academy Newcastle Located near the train station, the O2 Academy brings a mix of rock and indie legends as well as current Radio 1 favourites. Split into two rooms, one considerably smaller than the other, the range of artists you’ll find here varies massively (as do the prices, approximately between £6-£35), so you’ll probably end up going at some point no matter what you’re into. Upcoming gigs include current indiefaves Bombay Bicycle Club and Noah & The Whale and dubstep-popper Katy B in October, a visit from ‘90s rock legends Smashing Pumpkins in November, as well as Nero, Maverick Sabre, Yuck and Friendly Fires. Eclectic, eh? See who’s coming and buy tickets at www. o2academynewcastle.co.uk As you can see, there are more venues in Newcastle than you can shake a stick at and that’s without mentioning rock bar Trillians, bass heaven Cosmic Ballroom, the wonderfully tiny Head of Steam, the truly independent World Headquarters and of course the Newcastle and Northumbria Student Unions. There really is a tremendous amount to discover. These places may well give you some of your best nights while you’re here, so once the relentless rush of Freshers week is over make it your priority to go and see what the Newcastle music scene is all about. Well, apart from your lectures obviously, you should probably try and turn up to a few of those. Koh Pha ngnan u pon Tyne for Fresh . The op ers Week ening ni of the br 2011 and ght and new the gran d Newcas tle’s tak Student Union. G unveiling e on the et ready Moon Pa w for o rty. Expe rld-famo ct a trop us Thai F with UV, i ull beach fa cal paradise, p acked ncy dres s and lo ts of GLOW! s d n a b t Wris Joing us on a mouth-watering guided tour of some of Newcastle’s tastiest You’ve finally arrived at University, unpacked your stuff and waved goodbye to your parents. Now...what next? It’s time to venues. Stop at one restaurant for your collect your Freshers’ Week Wristband and for the fun to begin! starter, another for your main and yet Where to collect your wristband from: another for dessert. Friday 23rd September: The Venue (basement level of the All completely free with your wrist Students’ Union): 10am-5pm Saturday 24th September: The Venue (basement level of the band. Meet at the Students’ Un Students’ Union): 10am-5pm ion at 7pm. Henderson Hall: 10am-5pm St Marys Hall: 10am-5pm Sunday 25th September: The Venue (basement level of the Students’ Union): 9am-5pm Henderson Hall: 9am-5pm St Marys Hall: 9am-5pm AL N O I T I D AD EVENT ired Sign Up Requ Emergency Wristband Collection (as a last resort ONLY) from the Planning Room of the Students’ Union: 7-9pm 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 Bowling Cocktail Training Crazy Golf Paintballing Beach Trip Hancock Laing art gallery Baltic and Quayside Tour Comedy Show E M O C T S D E FIR V R E BLE S A T E T TIM R ION S O N F U R ' R I S E F TURN OV IDE STUDENT Laing art gallery Take a trip to the Laing Art gallery, home to an impressive collection of art and sculptures. With an exhibition programme renowned for bringing the biggest names in historic, modern and contemporary art to the North East, the Laing Gallery is a perfect way to spend an afternoon soaking up some of the culture Newcastle has to offer. S OUT T E E M Paintballing Declare war over 5 themed arenas containing buildings, tanks, planes army trucks and more. Guns are capable of firing an amazing 8 balls per second at a speed of 205 mph over a distance of 150ft (body armour is available upon request). We guarantee this will get your adrenaline flowing! This is one activity you don’t want to miss. Yoga Taster Is the stress of moving away from home taking its toll? Come along to our relaxing yoga sessions instructed by a trained yoga teacher. Whilst there, why not join up to our Yoga society and enjoy calming yoga sessions all year round. No mats are required just some clothing you can get flexible in. Bowling Ikea trip Take a trip to Ikea, the perfect opportunity for you to kit out your new room with all the little bits and pieces you need to make it a home from home. Exactly what it says on the tin! Great if you fancy having a bit of a competition with your new flatmates or fancy playing it safe with a more familiar and less strenuous activity, especially if you’ve been out late the night before! The Great North Museum: Hancock Ice Skating Whether you are an experienced ice skater or an absolute beginner this is the perfect way to break the ice with new friends and test out your skills in the rink. Perfect your speed skating, practice some new tricks or simply have a laugh watching your friends struggle to get to grips with the ice. Free skate hire is included. Cocktail Training Spend the afternoon learning how to become an expert cocktail maker in this exciting session. Watch the talented cocktail bartenders shake, splash and stir the tastiest, most exotic cocktails the Vodka Revolution have to offer before giving it a go yourself. You get to practice all of the techniques and tricks with the added bonus of tasting your creations at the end. If you fancy a more of an intellectually stimulating trip why not make a visit to the Great North Museum? Following a £26 million refurbishment in 2009, exhibitions include displays on natural history and geology, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, Romans and Hadrian’s Wall, World Cultures and Pre-history. Jesmond Tour Visit the legendry student area of Jesmond, home to many 2nd and 3rd year students and a firm favorite with local celebrities. The Freshers’ Crew will show you around the local area and take you to some of the best bars and restaurants on Jesmond’s notorious Osborne Road. Look out for Newcastle United footballers enjoying a casual afternoon drink! Baltic and Quayside tour Beach trip Take a trip to Tynemouth and visit the stunning beaches. King Edward’s bay is overlooked by the historic, 1400 year old Priory whilst the Longsands offer a long, uninterrupted stretch of golden sand. Although it may be too cold to swim in the sea the classic British dish of fish & chips will be available from Tynemouth’s famous fish & chip shop ‘Marshalls’. Take a leisurely stroll down to Newcastle’s Quayside with its iconic bridges and plush bars and restaurants. Cross over the River Tyne using the Millennium Bridge which is often called the ‘blinking eye bridge’ because of the way it looks and tilts to visit the Baltic centre for contemporary art situated on the Gateshead side of the river. St James’ Park Take a trip around the world famous St James’ park, home to Newcastle United FC. You’ll be shown all around the stadium including the changing rooms and the views from the highest point in the stadium, then take a walk through the tunnels to the dugouts and you’ll be able to see for yourself what it’s like to be pitch side. d e r i equ R p U ign S E S E H T S T N EVE ON I N U ' TS N E D R U FO P IN THE ST AY BEFORE SIGN U MENT THE D - 5PM 2PM BASE N E E BETW Go Ape Mud buggy racing Quad biking Seated low to the floor and harnessed in your buggy you will skid and wheel-spin over grass and mud. As you put the pedal to the floor in these awesome machines you must try and stay on the track and catch your competitor. After getting to know the controls and having some practice you’ll be able to compete in races! In conjunction with quad biking. Release your inner Tarzan! Take on lush, green forest and a healthy dollop of breathtaking scenery; blend with a smattering of tree-top high wires and wind-in-your-face zip wires. You’ll be kitted out with harnesses, pulleys and karabiners, and let loose into the forest canopy, free to swing through the trees. Be warned though, this tree-top adventure park is not for the faint-hearted! Skiing and tubing held in conjunction with Newcastle University Ski and Snow- Take on the challenge of deep mud, water pools and slippery descents on your 4 stoke quad bikes. You will be accompanied by qualified instructors who will explain the bike’s controls and riding techniques and give you chance to practice and perfect your technique before you embark on the quad biking course. In conjunction with mug buggy racing. board Club (NUSSC), one of the largest and most successful clubs within the University. Sessions are available for both complete beginners and the more competent skier. If you’re looking for something a little different to skiing or snowboarding, then why not try tubing? Feel the thrill as you slide down the slope in a huge rubber ring! Drinking & Non Drinking This is a Non-Drinking Event. Alcohol is not available and should not be consumed whilst taking part in this event. This is an Optional drinking event and alcohol will be available. How ever, the event is not focused around alcohol consumption and U18’s will be able to attend but not consume alcohol. This is primarily a Drinking focused event. You do not have to drink to attend these events but please be aware that alcohol is available at these events. U18s will not be allowed to attend these events. Monday -Thursday 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 Clubs and Societies Fair (Mon/Tues) Go Ape Go Ape St James’ Tour Beach Trip Go Ape Go Ape Comedy Taster Bowling (Leaving from the SU half an hour from 11.00-1500) Cocktail Training (Leaving from the SU every hour from 12.00-16.00) Paintballing Fencing Taster (Wed) Yoga (wed/thurs) Beginners Skiing Tubing Skiing Quad biking & Mud Buggy Racing Laing art gallery Hancock Baltic and Quayside Tour Head down to the Students’ Union, for food provided by your wrist band every day from 12pm! Monday and Tuesday: BBQ Wednesday: Taste the Mens Bar Thursday: Hog Roast NUTS Crazy Golf Ice Skating Post-grad Events Meet other parents starting at University and bring your little ones along to these child-friendly Coffee and Cakes Fancy meeting students in the same boat as you? Head to events! Meet and Greets! ‘The Lounge’ in the Students’ Union at 11am on Wednesday A selection of hot drinks, cakes and nibbles will be on hand. Men’s Bar Drinks The LGBT society is hosting a meet and greet for new memIf coffee and cakes isn’t really your thing why bers at SoHo bar. Come along not come down to the Mens Bar in the Stufor free nachos, discover dents’ Union at 2.00pm on Thursday to meet what the society is about and other mature and post-graduate freshers meet loads of great people. We are also giving away a for a civilised alcoholic/non alcoholic small number of wrist bands drink or two. for our famous Freshers’ Bar T B G L Teddy Bears Picnic NON WRISTBAND EVENT Wed 28th. Meet outside the Union at 12 noon. Don’t forget picnic food and a teddy bear! tour. So come along and join in the fun! Discovery Museum Trips Monday- Thursday. Meet outside the Union, 12 noon and 3pm. The ‘water room’ is a highlight with a model of the River Tyne, pop on an apron and have a splash about. 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 Club’s and societies Fair Go Ape Go Ape Go Ape Go Ape Go Ape Bowling (Leaving from the SU half an hour from 11.00-1500) Cocktail Training (Leaving from the SU every hour from 12.00-16.00) St James’ Tour Fencing Taster (Wed) Paintballing Yoga (wed/thurs) Golf Pilates (Wed/Thurs) Baltic and Quayside Tour Tubing Hancock Skiing Laing art gallery Quad biking & Mud Buggy Racing NUTS (wed/thurs) Zumba (wed/thurs) Crazy Golf Ice Skating (14.00 and 14.45) Jesmond Bar Tour Ikea Beach Trip Comedy Taster Dance Taster (Wed/Thurs) The rubix cube concept is simple. Head to Primark and kit yourself out in all the colours found on a rubix cube. Trade your colours while you sample Newcastle’s legendary nightlife with the aim of finishing the night in Bambu, a student favourite, in one colour! ADD I TION AL E Sign VENT U The Soun do p Re quir ed Let this musical classic work its magic on you for the first or fiftieth time. Limited number of tickets available so makre sure you sign up early. Meet at the Students Union at 6.15pm. fM us ic The Magnets They are the acapella group whose jaw-dropping blends of razor-sharp harmonies and beatboxing that the stars have kept to themselves. Recently starring in the latest T-Mobile flash-mob advert, they are emerging as one of the must see acts on the British music scene at the moment. Meet at the Students’ Union at 6.15pm. An exhilarating night of live music and big name DJ’s, featuring Sub Focus, MC ID and Jack Beats amongst others! With a little help from our friends Wax:On and Metropolis, we guarantee you will be raving away until the early hours! REMEMBER! What events you these nights dep attend on colour of your w ends on the ristband! RED Mon: Pandamonium BLUE Tues: RUBIX! Mon: RUBIX! Tues: Pandamonium AL N O I T I D AD EVENT ired l w a r C b u Sign Up Requ r G Joing us on a mouth-watering guided tour of some of Newcastle’s tastiest venues. Stop at one restaurant for your starter, another for your main and yet another for dessert. All completely free with your wristband. Meet at the Students’ Union at 7pm. ‘Toon’ Invader will be sure to leave you in no doubt that Newcastle is the number one student city in the country. Explore some of Newcastle’s liveliest venues on the way to the toon’s leading clubbing destinations, Digital. Ranked as one of the the top twenty clubs in the world it’s sure to be a memorable night! Come and enjoy something a bit different, as two of the UK’s funniest rising stars take to the stage at 8pm in the Students’ Union. Radio 1 DJ Tom Deacon and Chris Ramsey star of 8 out of 10 cats and Russell Howard’s Good News, both of whom performed at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be bringing their stand up to your Student Union. Head down the the Students’ Union for 9.30pm to enjoy an array of acoustic performances by some of Newcastle’s talented student musicians. Meet outside the Students’ Union from 6PM Tour ending at Venue The big finale. An exclusive one-off event at Newcastle’s premier entertainment centre, The Gate. Get ready for Rumble in the Jungle as all of Newcastle’s students, not just fresher’s, take over the bars and restaurants! With live acts performing throughout the evening, it is the most fitting way to bring to a close your first week of your life in Newcastle. Get your jungle fancy dress on! U18s’ head the the Gate for the cinema at 8pm. Films TBC. Puzzles 22 Logic puzzle Monday September 26 2010 THE COURIER You can fin answers d the to this week’s puzzles a thecou rieronli t ne. co.uk Puzzle Editor Laura Armitage [email protected] Crossword There are three switches downstairs. Each corresponds to one of the three light bulbs in the attic. You can turn the switches on and off and leave them in any position. How would you identify which switch corresponds to which light bulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs? Dingbats Work out the word or phrase that is depicted in the image. sta4nce 12 Give Get Give Get Give Get Give Get Down Who Am I? I was born on 4th August 1961 I am left handed I recently stopped smoking though I promised my wife I would stop in 2008 I have authored two best-selling books- each has won a Grammy award for the audiobook My job requires a lot of tough decision making WHO AM I? Sudoku Moderate Hard 1. The theatre located opposite the union 3. The name of the university building that contains student and careers services 4. The sporting competition that includes 22 different sports and the rival is Northumbria 5. The abbreviation of the annual fundraising week 6. The indoor shopping centre in the middle of Newcastle, which has recently been extended to house an Apple Store, Hollister and Debenhams 7. The name of the university library 9. Newcastle’s arena that has upcoming gigs from Rhianna, Katy Perry, Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian 12. The surroundings you will graduate within 13. The school that has just had a brand new building created 14. The name of the student portal used to access module information and lecture slides 15. The maths building, where you will also find computer cluster Across 2. The name of the transport link that connects Newcastle underground 5. The group that Newcastle University is part of 8. The oldest building on campus 10. The name of the weekly student newspaper 11. The student bookshop located on Percy Street 15. One of Newcastle University’s halls of residence 16. The name of one of the top student nights- next event to be held on Sunday 23rd October 17. The name of the museum located close to the centre of campus 18. The name of the complex that contains a cinema, bars, restaurants and a casino Duckett & Hay If you’re an aspiring cartoonist and would like to have your work published in The Courier, send an email to [email protected] 24 Monday September 26 2010 THE COURIER What’s Next? Freshers’ Week over, no longer sure what to do without a timetable of activities to organise your days? Check out these ways to get involved. Student Media The Courier If you’re looking for a career in media, then the best possible head start is right on your doorstep. The Courier newspaper has been part of student life at Newcastle University since 1948 making 2011/12 its 64th year in print. With a readership of over 12,000 students and at an average length of 44 pages, The Courier is one of the largest weekly student newspapers in the country with a national reputation that has seen it win numerous awards, including the coveted Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year. The newspaper comes out every Monday during term time and is distributed across campus including every Halls of Residence, the Robinson Library, the Sports Centre, the Medical School, the Law School and the Union building. If you have an interest in becoming a journalist, working for The Courier is the best addition for your CV that your time at university has to offer. In fact many contributors to the newspaper have gone on to have successful careers in television, publishing and professional newspapers including former editors Dianne Nelmes, who went on to create This Morning, Loose Women and Jeremy Kyle for ITV and Gemma Davies who now works for Sky Sports News. Also, last year’s News Editor Simon Murphy was the much deserved winner of the prestigious NUS Student Journalist of the Year Award. Even if you don’t want to be a journalist and are just looking for an activity to enhance your student experience, The Courier is a great way for you to get involved. Although involvement does not solely reside in writing and reporting, there are also opportunities in photography, artwork, web and design. This special Freshers’ Week edition is only a small representation of your standard weekly newspaper. Every Monday The Courier brings to you 44 pages which cover News, Comment, Lifestyle, Fashion, Music, Arts, Film, Puzzles and Sport, as well as day-to-day updates on the newly developed website, The Courier Online. Not only does this cater for all reading tastes, it also enables students to try their Newcastle Student Radio hand at a variety of different reporting and writing styles while helping keep our readers informed of everything that is going on Broadcasting online at www.nsrlive.co.uk around campus. 12 hours a day, NSR is Newcastle’s only Written by you, for you, The Courier student radio station. wouldn’t survive without volunteers. Since 1997, NSR has mixed cutting edge Around 300 students contribute articles music of all genres with the latest news and Come vis and photographs on a weekly or occareviews to provide an essential service for it our stall at F sional basis, as well as another 30 stustudents interested in news and sport, r dents who together edit each of The journalism, music, entertainment and Fair on 2 eshers’ 6th & 2 Courier sections. marketing. 7th Septem These section editors are responsible NSR’s aim is to produce interesting, b e r to find for engaging with new writers, editing engaging radio that Newcastle students o ut more their material and laying it up on the can be involved in and relate to. ! pages which you then read. They are all Along with The Courier, NSR keeps full time students and often work up to 20 students at Newcastle up to date with evehours a week alongside their studies to make rything happening around the Union and sure The Courier is maintains its nationally beyond. recognised quality. Furthermore, NSR also gets involved in They form the team that supports the overmany Union events and live DJ sets throughall editor, the only paid full-time member of out the year, including outdoor live sets durstaff on the newspaper, and are rewarded, as ing Freshers’ Week, RAG Week, Union Day are all the contributors, by seeing over 70% and also raised funds to be broadcast on of students at Newcastle University read and FM airwaves last year. This allows students enjoy the pages they have produced when to gain valuable experience in DJing at live the paper arrives every Monday morning. events. For a budding journalist, photographer, If you are interested in radio, NSR proor designer, there really is no better feeling vides the ideal opportunity for you to try than seeing your work in print and you have your hand at presenting, production, marthat chance to do so right now. keting or any other aspect of the station. To get involved, just sign up with your To volunteer to get involved just look out name and email address at The Courier stall for the NSR stall at the Freshers’ Fair ide at the Clubs and Societies Fair in or contact Station Manager Lucy with our gu erNewcastl mm su Can als ur four in a ing yo gest festive makeYitou the Sports Centre on 26th and 27th Johnson on: nsr.sta’ve mad Start plann of the UK’s big row? Stan Calvert preview me e so yo to now they ur choice September. Then come along to the tionmanager@ are you THE rs THE THE introductory meeting on Wednesncl.ac.uk. R E I OU R RIE R OU day 5th October in The Venue, Also, keep an O ULecturers R University downstairs in the Union, at 12pm to ts I eye out for NSR’s Stu n E e R tm d s e e v nts stand meet The Courier team for 2011/12 Univebackt rsityracks live outside broadfirm in ein vacaurm ates deal wage and hear more about the particular casts at various lofi on a £850k d d a J a dispute G p d a n ne areas you are interested in and how fu cations throughout VIP loung nuc• leearse • you can get started. Freshers’ Week and • zone • listen to their daily The next edition of The Courier is out Freshers’ Week podon Monday 17th October so if you get casts on their website. involved now you could be seeing your name in print very soon. New Sa For more information, please contact in closesbbatical Office rs t electio n in Uni announced on histor [email protected]. y 35 Music, page C All the sports, all the build up, pull out inside C C Election Results page 3 FREE EST 1948 STUD ENTS CAST LE Issue Issue 1230 Monday 28 March 2011 www.thecourieronline.co.uk 1229 VOIC E OF NEW THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF NEWCASTLE STUDENTS Monday PEND ENT 21 Marc THE INDE h 2011 Issue 1231 16 May Monday ine.co.uk hecourieronl 2011 www.t www.thec ourieronli ne.co.uk THE IND EPE EST 1948 D.HAMILL NDE NT VOI CE OF NEW CAS FREE TLE STU DEN TS EST 1948 FREE J. OFFRE DO ya y sells Lib 7 ary compan s in 200 BAE subsidi worth of weapon £158 million in bles sharese 2009 nearly dou Newcastle BAE to £989, 914 sinc arms giant Management on disclosed ac- wanted King’s s are not The statisticsity’s end of yeard by Gate to be obtaine VIP-friendly the Univer of Editor were only freedom and News y counts, after a formal Simon Murph . doubled The Courier Kat Vice-Chancello tion request c- informa sity has almost Politics student tion r’s office too The Univerent in an arms manufa the occupa two Third year s to Libents e, who led its investm flogged weapon in 2007, McCrav noisy investm current All tradein location sity’s turer whichColonel Gaddafi the Univer 14 New against arms criticised CATT Finola Miles Academic staff took to the picket lines last Tuesday and Thursday in response to a pay dispute. Lecturers taking part were docked a day’s pay as they clashed with the University over a 0.4 per cent pay rise, which after inflation, would amount to a real terms pay cut of 4 per cent. The treasurer of the Newcastle University and College Union (UCU) branch, Dr Geoff Abbott, explained that the strikes were also motivated by disagreements over ago, yan tyrant has uncovered. arms years pension schemes and the dramatic dramatic The Courier ary company of– which actions. cuts to higher education funding. d by the Fran A subsidi BAE Systems ent in BAE Infan 1 “I am appalle Members of the UCU from DurEditor a £989,95 Jonathan in their investm especially te manufacturer The now-shelved project was years Erasm sity holds ham and Newcastle voted to take African growth Offredo the part indusearth the last two the Univerarmed the North usin,” of this year’s £50m estate befor stude more stable action in a strike on Tuesday, in adbudget, quake hit Universityarehas ed £158 mil-Theover ntsincludes invest indefi nitely stake in – toafter e 3pm are fleeing the deva on Marc which an estimatmissiles andpostponed when there projects like the dition to the national day of action local time. and tsuna “I new h 11 just £850kchoose k statinSchool refurbishment Japan was dictator with theya could g earthand triesKing’s of anti-tan involving 63 other universities from ofBusiness Students’ r mi earthUn- actually that rocke to the days building, quak lion worth afterago. a10numbe in s gear. ion refurbishment. she said. e Gate d the natio e didn’ quake starte in bed when across the country on Thursday. es presented administration Thestrategi cent sharethe atent their communication t hear own British University offi d,” McCrav baulked n the a 37.5 per d proposal cials say A letter sent to Newcastle acablitz natio anything he said. the was in Embassy to tive make investm the £30m BAE owns s, which brokere nals sity’s shaki Univer building construction “I to leave hasis advis to compensate as demic staff by the local UCU branch with the nese autho my shelv for ng, as was but the room morealterna VIP-friendly. MBS Missile year, suchrities a meeting ed todown previous con-The at years - the regio said: “the reason for the strike is to little years ago. no con-es and desk. everything proposed Board last involve battle but n asofJapato poten deal four months the Libyan the alltial but sity’s on the struction, I just crouc on Executive change nucle to quell the scaffolding, protest against the thousands of jobs Univer of thouFuku and cranes the fl brand ar lives new, oor 18-month-old ing In recent waite shim the building ogies. a plant hed the next to is- increas and meltd construction d.” own that have already been lost, the rebarriers dotting l also TheCounci The my bed include . the technol with Gaddafi wouldment construction in green flict has claimed Univ 21 yearof ersity campus, come at the in Tach civilians, to kill his own fusal of our employers to negotiate a to the 142010 callts’ Union of ausa of floating bar and the sent out during a time Studen sands of relocation of itscastle ikawa, old had been The threats New terity, in March tuition in- when package to improve job security, and supplies an emaifees could triple eld citiesVice-Chancellor staying there a motion cease Chris ing suing several Brink’s students of-requi l in becamewhere he said and sity to the rebel-h take their insistence on pushing through industrial Closer Univerimme fice. passed ringlecturers theaction study quickly diately. over people inand Mistrata. food Athlet than close: them - disputes. ing on the in the been arms trade. pension pay a real terms pay cut of more than 4 disaster.immediate afterm exhausted arms The John Hogan, four out nts University’smet ic Union leave cost of toand Benghazi regisby the The vestmethe of the was first introduced ballot Alice led project becamelargest flights per cent compared to inflation. ath of “The Japan in trar, said BAE, Univ the world’s embroi not a penny has has been the spent incre ersity as construction been Hollow six newly electe the 2010-2011 has the The ese way asing “Two thirds of UK universities ay won on the project safety cturer, chiefs their budget, years. ly worr emotions far, and the deciis to not her new d Sabbatical have already manufaso of and in recent initially folde stude budgeted starte ied abou ts ofwas ford£150k, ersy announced their intenOfficers role by sion to postpone profi d.was in the project gettin but when the show as looking in controv posted just three butnts after events at tthe expla tionvotes Third initialined. towon their seek option g worried further light of the y, which year,ofhave upcoming ballots redundancies, un-year cuts, last and how compan in the firecent so did locals byreassurances, billion ion studentconverting funding the spending a meeting and despite Stude room into a a margi £22who nal round hadof corrupt I,” he would of research be Jim Hogan perceived n of less been and Rolls more than lounge, McCarthy, for guilty despit gether nts and locals said administration rendundancies are highly Total amountarms firms BAE 2000during a time likely e trailing at than 35 votes. austerity.six months, study to watch beenoffound gathered near wasing “not orty since convinced deva supplied by Newcastle. the changes recall In the Yet the University is Andrew Curry we Toky were news . Universi “If money were no object, edoriginally too few station that youBAE can had reports charges the mom envisaged 2010, Royce to the all along comcontinuing to spend lavishly on exwould be had occur Insid of the seewith ent Conthund do it,”ry Hogan In Februa said. insuccessful.” red toda l, why we’d to £185emillion ecutive expenses and estates, and inued kilometres red just a >>> still liketotopay is in turmoi“I would wave a magicg yguilty dered on page north of When brib- asked about why the conhas even proposed an £850,000 VIP after pleadin wrestle conon we The country and pensati do it, but s 4 and have to to ac-settle fighting to who wand Infl had led struction to King’s Gate was not inting 5 uxand Lounge.” r, cept accoun rebel forces of UK cluded be other priorifalsewill the dictato43 years.ties that there Euro sitiesduring the building’s initial stud ons. In a meeting of one strike comUniver trol from peais thisallegati particular ents toExecutive re- in ery case, fist for it’suniv toand n who construction, iron group an mittee agreed Director prior e to of the protest, lectura goodinmessage with ersi send Abi toHaque, pressur Finance Thesaid: sity had ties of we’re policy Largethat Richard Dale Trade, ersyear AV deb from the School of Historical “havnator The Univer investment prioritising numb Arms last two other the tion Coordi bits t ers of exing been to study . here a while now, we re-ate of stude Agains ough Air Show Studies explained that whilst cuts -led occupa ign view its ethical at foreig ’s findings will nts virtually Campa bena student g. penditure, which ns at Farnbor plan alised order Courier not everything n after review The in the was institu collectio pensions d spot on to avoid scheme had played 2009 ed to that visits Festiva, boasts its weapon hed slamme the campus. Arts buildin efit everyone promis has tuition News in tions in the Saunders in it original spec,Tom a decisive role in the resolution of in particular, , page fee Now of the Fine g group was establis “That’sitsprobably Gaddafi l holiday “Newc rises. a astle debat good and Harrie arm policy. 2 arou the way we deal with e wheth The entmessage Newcastle University staff to strike, criticism visitors. s A workin and is set totoreport , which helped nd the t King sendl at investm in thisitstime,” er a chang he explained. systems entsneeded Altern disregardedinvestm building ativeenhanceworld they were not the primary cause of some rsy: BAE sity Counci e to the in June 2010 Vote “I couldn’t saycomple it willtely Comm g its ment.” never happen, Hollywo to Univer Vicki Dacke doublin Funding controve ent, pageis the way forwa strikes. findings but I can almost 4 it will od vs. the not happen r discov 14 rd. have review, thesay by Calling for students to see the bigers why ued on page in Continued on page 4 Euro July. Bleak future: lecturers facetoachoos g to the the foreseeable future.” have Contin pe in terms pay cut youdemonstrated e betwe holiday real terms and their opposition in don’t ger picture Since agreeinshares in BAE coordinated strike action orweek enhundreds of the strikes, 1. a festiva a beach march through that saw Christhe NWR Life &last city centre Bindin thrash University’s £526,000 to £989,95 Style, pagel this summ between g explores Continued page 5 er Teessid 22 leaped from films and Hollywood andthe differences e Culture, their respective European Women’s page 32 successes continue Rugby Union by beatin their memorableFirsts g Teess season Sport, page ide 46-47 38 - 0 castle stud ents told to leave £2,006,356 For full election results, page 3 The Courier Television Beginning its second year in production is Newcastle’s TV station, The Courier TV (also known as TCTV). Formed from a rebranding of the NUTV society combined with the operating web team from The Courier, TCTV plan to continue with projects such as NE1, the student soap opera, vox plots and ‘Bigg Market Banter’, providing have huge plans for the upcoming year, and promise to move rapidly towards their goal of providing Newcastle students with a more rounded student media through the inclusion of a fully functioning TV broadcaster. If you’re looking to be the next Kubrick or Scorsese or just want to get together with some friends to make a mini-documentary about the ghost that stalks the Armstrong Building, TCTV are the people to help you make it happen. Starting from scratch is challenging but it also offers tremendous potential for volunteers to get involved and shape the course of the society. If you want to try your hand at this new and exciting branch of student media be sure to check out the TCTV stall next to The Courier and NSR at the Freshers’ Fair on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Altternatively, keep and eye out for crew members who will be out filming throughout the whole of Freshers’ Week in red tshirts, approach anyone of them and they will give you all the information you need.You can also keep checking www.thecourieronline.co.uk for the latest TCTV video clips and blogs. If you would like any more information about how to get involved, please email TCTV’s President Caroline Axelsson at [email protected] 25 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2010 Give it a Go Do you want to try out new and fun activities for free or low cost? Give It A Go is an opportunity to reinvent your spare time. Every term, the Students’ Union puts on a programme of activities varying from dance lessons to cultural trips and visits, to archery and go karting, all for free or at a very low cost. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, take a break from your studies, try something different and exciting and maybe learn a new skill. To top that, with no commitment to any future sessions necessary, there really is no excuse not to Give it a Go. How to get involved: If you want to get involved, pick up a booklet of this term’s activities at Students’ Union reception, go online and check out the timetable to signup! Online Go to www.nusu.co.uk/giag for a full, up to date programme and any new information. Also, make friends with us on Facebook www. facebook.co.uk/giag.newcastle or follow us on Twitter www.twitter. com/GIAGNewcastle. Email Please email us at giag.union@ncl. ac.uk to book your spaces. Ensure that you include details in your email of which session you are interested in, for how many people and all participants’ full names and university email addresses. Come and see us Why not pop up to the first floor of your shiny new building to the friendly Activities Office and come and see us in person? Please bring cash money for paid for events, as unfortunately we do not have facilities to accept card payments. This is your chance to try out some different activities for FREE or low cost and, well, Give it a Go. (The clue is in the name!) What’s Next? Week beginning . . . Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday City Walking Tour, 11am, FREE 26th September Massage Sessions 12-5pm, FREE Wet n’ Wild, 1pm, FREE Zumba Class, 3pm, FREE Castle Keep 1pm, FREE 3rd October 10th October Sunday Building Tours, FREE Circus Skills, FREE Bike Polo, 1.30pm, FREE Scuba Diving, 12pm, £5 Surfing, 1pm, £7 Self Defence, 3pm FREE Culture Challenge SCAN—Rupert’s Wood Bushcraft, 10am, FREE SCAN—Guerilla Gardening, 1pm, FREE Paintballing 9am, £5 SCAN—Guerilla Gardening, 1pm, FREE Rifle Target Shooting 1pm, £3 Quayside Ghost Walk 4pm, FREE Archery, 1pm , £4 Karate, 6.30pm, FREE SCAN—Ruperts Wood Arts & Crafts Project, 10am, FREE SCAN—Ruperts Wood Arts & Crafts Project, 10am, FREE Go Ape 11am, £10 Massage Training Course, 5pm, £9* Baltic Trip – Turner Prize, 2pm, FREE York Christmas Markets, 9am, £6 28th November Massage Training Course, 5pm Orienteering Session 2pm, £4 5th December Massage Training Course, 5pm Newburn Park Tree Planting, 1pm, FREE 7th November 14th November 12th December Fellwalking 8am, TBC Massage Sessions 12-6pm, FREE 24th October 21st November City Walking Tour, 5pm, FREE Snowtubing 1pm, £4 Bollywood Dancing 5pm, FREE 17th October 31st October Saturday Culture Challenge Ice Skating, 2pm £TBC GO PLAY! Play sport without pressure to perform AU Sports Clubs not for you? Want to stay active anyway, and have some fun without the pressure of University matches and coaches getting you running circuits at 6am every day? Never been sporty, but want to try something new at university? Then the GO PLAY! project is just for you. Try a new sport or ease into an old one with entry level coaching and no pressure to compete. All you need to do is take part in a taster session of something you fancy, and if you like it, carry on with a six week beginner course, giving you the skills to know what you’re doing. With a range of sports on offer there’s definitely something to take your fancy: • Dodgeball • Canoe • StreetCheer • Rounders • Netball • Basketball • Korfball • Golf • Handball • Touch Rugby • Running • Volleyball There is absolutely no experience necessary, no minimum fitness or maximum age, all you need to do is come along. Our coaches will guide from beginner through all the basics, and we’ll get you playing in no time! Also on offer is the chance to train up as a coach, and if you find the sport is really your thing, the opportunity to set up a brand new club here at Newcastle, or join the existing one. But there’s no commitment: if you love it, we’ll find ways to keep you playing, if you don’t, you can forget all about it. Just enjoy the extra fitness and meet a few like-minded students: the focus is on fun, fitness, and friends, not how good you are. It’s also a chance for you current sports players to try a new sport too, as the sessions won’t clash with your Wednesday afternoon matches. So what are you waiting for? If you want to get involved come to the Activities office in the brand new Students’ Union building and get your place booked on the taster session of your choice on a first come, first served basis. Alternatively, you can check the NUSU website or email active. [email protected] for more information. Sessions are just a couple of quid a go, with no membership signup required. Easy peasy! 26 Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER what’s Next? SCAN Student Community Action Newcastle SCAN stands for Student Community Action Newcastle and since the 1960s we’ve been based in the centre of Newcastle helping students access volunteering opportunities across the North East. We currently offer over 200 volunteering opportunities in the community as well as running a successful programme of young person led projects, and one-off/taster volunteering opportunities. Why Volunteer? Simple: you have everything to gain and nothing to lose! Volunteering with SCAN is free and gives you the chance to develop great skills in loads of different environments. You are also helping the community in which you live by giving your time and energy to help these projects! Whether you are wanting to beef up your CV, meet new people or just have a break from studying SCAN will have a project for you. Warning: Side effects of volunteering may include, a greater feeling of well being, an increase in friends and being able to sleep easier at night. (Please note there is absolutely no evidence to support the latter claim!) SCAN One-Offs SCAN One-Offs are a simple concept. For a half or full day volunteers help out in a community based project to get a task done. Often these activities take place on a Wednesday afternoon when students are free and are a great way of dipping in and out of volunteering. Activities last year included tree planting, river clean ups, beach surveys and gardening work. These projects are appealing to volunteers because: · They don’t require a regular commitment. · They’re a great taster for anyone new to volunteering. · Often you can just turn up and go. · You need no previous experience and equipment is provided. · You’ll learn new skills. · They’re very sociable and make it easy to meet new people. · They provide a chance to visit new places. · They’re good fun and you can see the difference made in a few hours. There are regular One-Off activities (yes we know that is a bit of a contradiction!) throughout the year and we are already looking for volunteers who are not afraid to get their hands dirty to help out at Rupert’s Wood Otterburn on the 7th October. To find out more email Phil at [email protected] Getting credit for what you’re into! With SCAN your volunteering won’t go unnoticed! ‘v’ is a national charity promoting youth volunteering, if you’re aged 16-25 years then you can get recognition for all the hard work you’re putting in to benefit others. You can apply through SCAN for a ‘vfifty’ award if you complete 50 hours of volunteering in any 12 month period. There is even a certificate for one-off volunteering. Getting involved is dead easy, everyone involved with SCAN is friendly and wants to help you volunteer! You don’t need an appointment – just pop into our office in the students’ union for a chat on Level 1 in the Activities Centre. Check out our website to see all the projects we offer and to find out more about us! Project categories available: Job Title: Weekend Sales Assistant Employer: WHSmith Closing date: 29.09.11 Salary: TBC Basic job description: You will be responsible for providing exceptional customer service whilst demonstrating product knowledge to maximise sales, process transactions accurately and efficiently and adhere to policies and procedures relating to cash and stock handling. Highly polished communication and inter-personal skills required. Location: Sunderland. Job Title: Sales Associate Employer: H Samuel Closing date: 30.09.11 Salary: TBC Basic job description: Playing a key role in helping the store to maintain performance and meet sales targets. As new products are introduced in store, you will build your knowledge to ensure that you can deal with every type of customer enquiry. Person requirements: Have excellent customer service skills, an interest in jewellery products and brands. A positive, ‘can-do’ attitude is essential, with a natural ability for striking up a conversation with a diverse range of customers. Location: Metrocentre, Gateshead. Job Title: Kitchen/Bar Staff Employer: J.D Wetherspoons Closing date: 29.09.11 Salary: National Minimum Wage Basic job description: As a member of our customer-facing team, you will be responsible for delivering top quality service and ensuring all drinks and food are presented to our high standards. Person requirements: Must have good customer service skills and have the ability to interact with customers. Must be able to work as a team member and contribute to the teams overall performance. Location: Metrocentre, Gateshead. Job Title: Sales Advisor Employer: Debenhams Closing date: 01.10.11 Salary: £4.92-£5.95 per hour Basic job description: Whether it be at the till point or fitting room your role is to make sure our customers leave with everything they came in for, including a great lasting impression of Debenhams. You will fulfil the customers every need by drawing attention to our additional and exclusive services including the Beauty Club and Account Card. Person requirements: Applicants must be numerate with good written and verbal communication skills. They must also be easily adaptable to work in a fast paced environment and have enthusiasm and passion for the role. Location: South Shields. Job Title: Events Security Stewards Employer: G4S Secure Solutions (UK)Ltd Closing date: 01.10.11 Salary: Competitive Basic job description: Looking for people to work as part time/casual Security stewards, within our events security team. You will have the opportunity to work at local events and events around the UK. This role is ideal for people who have evenings and weekends free. Person requirements: Applicants must be over 18 years of age. Ideal candidates will be smart, professional and approachable, have experience in a customer focused environment and have strong communication skills. SIA Door Supervisors Licence is essential. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne. Job Title: Student Communications Team Members Employer: Newcastle University Closing date: 05.10.11 Salary: £6.81 per hour Basic job description: We are looking for enterprising individuals who can support the Marketing and Communications team within the Careers Service. In this role you will be expected to champion and promote the events and services of the Careers Service to students and postgraduates of all degree disciplines and all academic stages. This role is an ideal fit around your studies. Person requirements: Applicants must be Newcastle University students throughout the academic year 2011/12. You will be self-motivated with excellent communication, planning and organising skills. You will be flexible and have a proven record of reliability. Location: Newcastle University Campus Job Title: Student Ambassadors Employer: Newcastle University Closing date: 07.10.11 Salary: £6.81 per hour. Basic job description: We are looking to recruit a team of Student Ambassadors to inform prospective students about the Newcastle University student experience by supporting a range of recruitment and aspiration-raising events and activities. Person requirements: You must be a current Newcastle University undergraduate or postgraduate student and have had experience of the British Education system pre-University level. Location: Newcastle University Campus Job Title: Silver Service Staff Employer: Solutions Recruitment Closing date: 31.10.11 Salary: Circa £5.93 per hour Basic job description: We are looking for Silver Service staff for events in the local area. Main duties to include the hand service of food to diners while in a restaurant environment. These are temporary roles. Person requirements: Candidates should be experienced in Silver Service and have attention to detail. Location: Newcastle upon Tyne. Job Title: Campus Representative Employer: Customer Systems Plc. Closing date: 31.10.11 Salary: £8.75 per hour Basic job description: Working flexibly around your study, you will be responsible for keeping our profile high on your campus, promoting our campaigns throughout the year, and assisting with the organisation of presentations and other events as appropriate. The workload is expected to be 2 hours per week, term time only. Person requirements: Ideally we are looking for people who can identify with our target recruits, and so a similar profile to our graduate scheme intake is desirable. At the very least, you need to be studying towards a numerate or scientific degree. Location: Newcastle University Campus. • Environmental Projects • Asylum seekers and refugees • Children/young people • Elderly People • Charities admin, ICT and fundraising • Homeless people • Mental/physical and learning disabilities • Advocacy/mentoring/ befriending • Animals • Heritage/Culture • NHS and Healthcare opportunities • Sports Course Reps Tell your lecturers what you really think and influence University decisions on behalf of your fellow students Liam Dale Education Officer You can influence University decisions by becoming the voice of your fellow students. While you are here at Newcastle you have the opportunity to help to shape and improve the course you are on. Each course has a number of elected students who go to staff-student committees to tell their lecturers what the students really think about their course. Being a course rep is not only an important way of making sure that students are involved in the university’s decision making process, but it is also a great way for individuals to better their CV, improve their employability skills and get academic credit for their hard work. By becoming a course rep, you are could also apply for an NCL+ award and possibly winning £300 for your efforts. Once you are a course rep, there is the chance to go on to become a chair or secretary of your staff student committee or even go on from that to become a Faculty rep – there are only 9 across the university and they represent thousands of students. There are over 700 course reps at Newcastle, all of whom are trained by the Student’s Union to make sure that the student voice is heard, they are the crucial link between staff and students. Every course has at least one Course Rep per academic year and it is their responsibility to pass on the opinions of students on their course to staff at Staff Student Committees (SSC). Course Reps are elected by students on their course (you will find out about this in your first few lectures) and are expected to attend four SSC meetings. If you want to get involved in becoming a course rep, just email George at [email protected] and he can send you all the information you need to get involved. 28 Societies Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER Ania Kurek - Activities Officer - [email protected] Hi, my name is Ania and I’m your Activities Officer for this year 2011/12. NUSU prides itself on its huge selection of societies - with 150 to choose from there really is something for everyone, and if not it’s so easy to start your own. All you need is a good idea and and a lot of passion, and soon you could be making new friends while enhancing your degree and doing something you love. Here at Newcastle there really is a different variety of society - have a look below to see what takes your fancy and don’t be afraid to give it a go! Most societies will be available to speak to at the Clubs and Societies Fair on Monday and Tuesday. Departamental Accounting Social and career events related to accountancy degrees. Agricultural Social Union for those looking for a break from Uni and a good time both out in Newcastle and further afield. Those not from an Agricultural background are more than welcome. Archaeology Practical archaeology sessions, guest lecturers and trips away to archaeological facilities or sites. Also host social nights out and Charity events. Architectural Chinese Students and Scholars CSSA is a non political, non religious, non profit organisation supported by Chinese Government, Chinese consulate in UK and Universities across the country. We hold various social and culture activities among Chinese students and scholars in UK. Combined Studies Join the society to meet new people through socials, fancy dress nights, days out and Intra Mural sports teams. Economics The aim is to bring together different year groups whilst welcoming and supporting first year students. Events in previous years include paintballing, beach trips, karaoke, film nights, conversations in practice and end of year Balls at both the Baltic and the Civic Centre. ECOSOC provides a social aspect to the study of economics as well as helping members with economic topics and essential skills required for a successful career. It provides an environment for students on similar student programmes to socialise through organised events throughout the year, including an annual trip in Europe. The BioSci society activities include social/networking events, t-shirt/fancy dress bar crawls, charity fundraising events, daytime excursions and a trip abroad. Basically, the best socials and the most fun you can have! Based in the Law School, Eldon Society activities are aimed mainly at law students.From socials to careers events to academic activities such as Client Interviewing and Mooting competitions. Bio –Sci (Bio Medical Sciences) Bio-Soc (Biology) An academic and social society who aim to bring together the students of the school of Biology as well as anyone with an interest in Biology. We run a wide range of events during the year, from bar crawls to zoo trips, career talks and the Summer Ball. CEG (Civil Eng and Geomatics) A society aimed at bringing together the department of Civil Engineering, Geomatics and Physical Geography. Socials are usually fancy dress themed and there is also an Annual Christmas Ball and other nondrinking based activities. The society is open to anyone. Chemical Engineering Organises nights out and annual activities as well as company visits and school open days. Eldon (Law) EngSoc (English) To provide academic and social support to all students of English and to romote social interaction, discussions and interests. Environmental Science A practical approach to conservation, providing a support network for all stages of environmental science. Get to know other members of the Environmental Science degree. Join us on fun social activities like partying, clubbing and going to the cinema. Erasmus We aim to provide support and a social network for incoming and outgoing Erasmus students, but we are also open to anyone in meetings students from a variety of different cultures and generally having a good time. Fine Art For all art enthusiasts, to get together to discuss passions, art or none art related, visit exhibitions, take trips around the North East from sketching afternoon to just a good day to see our beautiful northern surroundings. Genetics. To provide social activities and study groups for people doing genetics and related degrees Geography We want to maintain a place at the heart of the geography community at Newcastle University. We do this through social and academic events/activities throughout the year such as fortnightly socials in town, the annual Geography Ball and assistance with the school’s mentoring scheme for first years. History Hold socials that will include evening events: going out, pub quizzes, cinema trips, meals. A trip abroad for 3 - 4 days History and Politics Evening socials, debates, guest speakers. Linguistics We promote social and networking activities between linguistic and language students from the three schools while boosting awareness of linguistics and language sciences across the University. Management Set up to improve the employability of Newcastle University students through monthly workshops. It also offers social events, intramural sports teams (netball and football) and a variety of workshops including CV skills, interview techniques etc. Marketing A society for all students that have an interest or are studying a degree at Newcastle University that incorporates Marketing. CV help seminars, speak to students on placement for advice and are able to attend bar crawls and other social events. Maths Runs various events throughout the year including trips abroad, pub quizzes, pub crawls, bowling trips, guest lectures and Deloitte career talks. Modern Languages A society for students of any subject with a love of Modern Foreign Languages. An opportunity to meet up with friends, make new friends and take advantage of the numerous and various activities the society will have to offer! Faith and Culture Afro-Caribbean We welcome students from all tribes and nations under the sun to celebrate African and Caribbean culture in what small way we can. We have; social and networking events, charity fundraising events, open debates, parties! (Aka Rave’dem.) Anglo Chinese To encourage relationships between Chinese and Chinese natives: to welcome Chinese students into the social life at Newcastle University and to broaden interest in Chinese culture, language and arts outside of the school. Anglo Japanese A society for anyone interested in anything Japanese. It is a great opportunity for Japanese students and other Newcastle students to make friends, and to practice your language skills. Asian Students Social gathering to exchange cultural backgrounds to unite Newcastle University students from different countries in Asia. To help international students to adjust to life in the UK. Azerbaijan Bring Azerbaijans together and introduce them to the Students’ Union Newcastle and the area. To maintain the culture of Azerbaijan. Bulgarian Music Main aims of the Bulgarian Society are to share and promote Bulgarian culture and provide a meeting point for Bulgarians those interested in Bulgarian culture people at Newcastle University. Newcastle Computing Society We increase the spiritual awareness of members in the light of the Catholic tradition and enable young people to come together during social events and express their views in an unbiased and non-judgemental manner. Orthopaedic Desi Society aims to bring the students of Newcastle together and give individuals an opportunity to discover South Asian cultures and traditions! We are a charitable and welcoming society which holds day time events alongside gigs. We run regular open mic nights, ceilidhs, gigs, formals/balls as well as pub golf, grub crawls, music workshops and various trips to concerts in other cities. A society for anyone into music, whether you are a musician or not! To bring together and provide support for the students of the School of Computing Science (and others in different disciplines, with an interest in computing) through working in partnership with the school and each other. Expert advice and guidance in progressing in orthopaedics as well as interactive lecturers and practical experience. We also organise courses in orthopaedic sub-specialities and aim to create opportunities to attend relevant conferences. Planning Socials and events to help planning and geography and planning students meet others in their year, across the course and in the planning profession. Events range from nights out, informative sessions with the RTPI Young Planners. Politics Politics Society provides trips, educational events and socials for both students studying politics at Newcastle and those with an interest in politics in general. We aim to help foster social links with fellow students and to provide a forum for discussion and debate. Postgrad Politics This society is to give members a chance to meet up and socially enjoy a game of pool/snooker with fellow members. Catholic Desi Egyptian Everyone welcome. Lots of activities including trips to new cities, parties, sports, excursions, festivals, theatre trips and inviting speakers from other universities in the UK. Hellenic The Hellenic Society exists to bring together all the students (not only Greeks and Cypriots but others) with an interest in the Greek culture and civilization. Through social events and activities, students are able to meet each other, interact and enjoy themselves. Hindu and Sikh Improve your knowledge of Hindu and Sikh culture. Promote awareness of Hindu and Sikh culture within the student popu¬lation. Provide an atmosphere for students with com¬mon interest to socialise. Hong Kong Psychology To promote and share Hong Kong culture to students of Newcastle University. Meet to enjoy and explore various cultures together via trips, dinner meetings and other social events. ShockSoc Exploring Indonesian cultures amongst members of the society by learning some traditional art, song and dance. Participates in events such as IFAM (International Festival of Arts and Music). Organise guest speakers in the department and arrange meetings with psychologists from other Universities in order to broaden perspectives on the education of Psychology. Promote community spirit in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Providing communication and interaction between students and social activities and events. Sociology Beach trips, pub crawls, days out. We provide a medium for all students who study Sociology to meet and interact with fellow course mates. Speech Therapy The society aims to provide a peer support network tackle issues students may have regarding the course. Other society activities will raise awareness of speech and language therapy in the general public and university students, including raising money for clinics within the university. Surgical The surgical society is setup in association with the Royal College of Surgeons to guide and support medical students with an interest in a career in surgery. Wet Soc (Marine Tech) Wetsoc is the society for students of the school of Marine Science and Technology. We organise educational visits and trips in the UK and abroad. Indonesian International Bring together international students at Newcastle University and provide an opportunity to socialise and get to know the country and culture. Islamic Dedicated to the service of Allah, the society will remain above any ethnical or territorial consideration and will not be involved in any controversial political issues. Jewish Newcastle J-Soc provides the Jewish connection for the time of your life! We run numerous social and educational events each semester. Libyan Sport, social, and Libyan culture activities. Lithuanian To provide a meeting point for all Lithuanian students and help and support for new Lithuanian students. To promote cultural exchange and to encourage communication with Lithuanian students from other universities and areas. Malaysian Mainly events such as gatherings in celebration of the culture back in Malaysia, trips to places, a platform for Malaysia students to meet fellow THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 29 Societies Malaysians and to provide people with a better understanding of Malaysia Jazz Orchestra Day trips, cultural festivals (Divali/Eid/Chinese Spring Festival/Christmas etc) ice skating, Freshers’ Party, Independence Day, paintballing, bollywood nights, meals, sports tournaments. Latin and Ballroom Mauritian Mediterranean Countries Organise trips to UK and abroad as well as cultural meetings (dinners with typical dishes). Newcastle Kazakhstan To meet together for discussions, social activities, meetings and celebration of traditional holidays Nigerian To engage members in fostering unity through socialising and networking and for all Nigerian students to have a platform for constructive dialogue and reaching out to our host community. Saudi For local and national scientific and educational conferences and meetings. Trips and festivals. Singapore A meeting point for students from Singapore and to allow them to interact with students of differing nationalities. To arrange social and cultural visits around the country. Syrian Aims to bring together Syrian Students for social and cultural activities as well as introducing Syrian culture to university students and staff. Thai To unite all Thai students into the community where we can all interact amongst over selves and exchange opinions with Thai and other international student through intellectual, cultural, social and sport activities. Turkish Big band of fun loving and charismatic people ready to rock your world playing a variety of music including jazz, funk, latin and swing at our own gigs and balls. Regular social activities. A dance loving society that caters for beginners to the more advanced dancer. Offer latin and ballroom lessons, as well as salsa. Outside of lessons we arrange plenty of dance events. Musical Medics Our society is open to all medics interested in any aspect of musical theatre, performing or otherwise. We also have other events across the year including showcases, socials and fundraisers. Newcastle Comedy Sessions of improvised comedy, sketch writing and stand-up comedy. Shows and socials. Newcastle Student Orchestra and Choir The NSOC are the student-run orchestra and choir of the University. We offer the opportunity for students to play and sing music which is both fun and challenging to perform. Grade 5 and above, no auditions needed. NUTS (Theatre) As a society we produce 12 full length shows a year as well as putting on the NUTS Drama Festival which offers students a chance to write their own plays. Whether it is directing, acting, singing, backstage or tech you are interested in, NUTS has something for all theatre fans. Pole Dancing Sessions for fitness, learning new moves and routines for all levels. Rave Promoting Turkish cultural events in Newcastle University such as food festivals, movie nights and parties. Improving the relationship between Turkish members of NU and members from other Turkish states. Rave soc brings together people at Newcastle University who like dance and urban music. We will also be offering workshops in dance and urban music production and remixing. For members who have already produced music we will help you put your tracks out. Film To provide a social atmosphere for Newcastle University students with (or to develop) an interest in Indie/Punk/Rock/Metal music. Providing socials, band nights, occasional meetings and trips to other events in other cities Media To provide a forum for people interested in film to develop creative ideas in a workshop style environment. To allow people to explore technical aspects of filming by taking part in production, sound, costume etc. Rock Swing Dance Marxist Toga Medsin is a group of students from all backgrounds and courses with a common interest in global health. As a society we aim to education, engage and empower the student community with regards to health issues and inequalities on a local, national and global level. This society is for those interested in trading equities or a career in financial services. Talks from outside speakers from Financial Services Sector Medsin Conservation We are an environmentally friendly, outdoor appreciating society that places a strong emphasis on doing worthwhile conservation work whilst having a good time. We go on a range of tasks such as coppicing, tree planting, hedge laying, dry-stone walling - and much more! Fellwalking NUFWS is a society dedicated to hillwalking. Walks every weekend can range from difficult ascents to easy valley rambles. Trips are conducted most weekends and the range stretches from Wales to the Far North of Scotland. Wilderness Medics To promote active interest in health and medical practices in a wilderness setting through providing information, lectures and training weekends. Performance/Arts/ Music/Dance Breakdancing To train those interested in learning how to breakdance by hiring professional dancers for training. Circus Skills Meet to practice circus skills such as pei, juggling, diablo, unicycling, devil sticks, acrobatics, etc. Dance A society that caters for all students, both beginners and those with dance experience. Classes offer a chance to try new dance techniques including ballet, tap, jazz, street, con-temporary and many more. Socials include theatre outings and nights out. Gilbert and Sullivan If you enjoy singing, acting and a bit of dancing. There are no auditions for chorus and this is a great starting society for those that have never been involved in theatre before. Irish Dance Society teaching Irish dance to all levels. Classes broken down into beginners, intermediate and advanced in preparation for displays and shows. Zumba A latin inspired dance fitness class designed to promote fitness in an easy to follow way. Amnesty International Promoting and protecting against human rights violations. Working with Amnesty International on their major campaigns e.g. Control Arms Campaign, Preventing Violence Against Women and the Greetings Card Campaign Campaigning, Liberation and Political Conservative Future We function to provide an arena for political discussion, activism and as a meeting point for like-minded people. With the principle objective to promote knowledge, discussion and support of the Conservative Party through a wide range of activities. Engineers Without Borders Engineers without Borders is an international development organisation that removes the barriers to development through engineering. Lots of hands-on workshops, team work activities, fundraisers and socials. Feminist (formerly Womens) A friendly society which promotes all kinds of feminist ideas and engages in issues of gender and sexual equality through discussions, film, writing, talks, socials and linking with other feminist groups locally and nationally. Labour Campaigning for labour values on campus and in the local community. Representing social democratic values and providing a wide range of social and political activities. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexaul and Transgender) To provide a safe space where students can meet for mutual support and friendship. As well as providing practical help and information on matters involving sexuality. Darts Aim to raise awareness and campaign about refugee and asylum seekers’ issues and Play Darts. Chat Darts. Watch Darts. Golf Golfing events for all levels of capability. Motor Sport A society to bring people who have a similar passion together at socials and other motor-sport events such as Auto sports International. Also have a chance to go karting and maybe even compete for University in the BUKC. support refugees and asylum seekers in Newcastle and worldwide. Stop Aids To raise aids awareness within the University and the wider community of the spread of aids throughout many third world countries. United Nations United Nations (MUN) Debating, international/global campaigns. Women for Women International To promote awareness for the values of and work of Women for Women International, though meetings, film screenings and other fundraising events. TCTV (The Courier Television) Outdoor Sport STAR (Student Action for Refugees) Debating Singing vocal harmony arrangements from old classics to modern day hits. Previous experience of singing in a group is helpful but not essential. Lots of fun and random events in and out of Newcastle, including the secret holiday every year. All you get is a text saying where to meet and you have 20 minutes to get there. This society aims at developing the member’s awareness of the city of Newcastle. The society will be a useful opportunity to raise money for worthy causes (testicular cancer, HIV) etc. Argentinean tango classes with a professional Tango teacher from Argentina. You can take part in performances, exchanges with other universities, practice and relax at social tango events or just come to classes. Vocal Harmony 20 Minute Club Sperm and Egg Special Interest Set up to broadcast news and events from around the campus in collaboration with The Courier. Trading and Investments Group Student campaigning on ethical and environmental issues. Meetings to discuss some of the issues relevant to students and the University and plan events to encourage students to think about their impact on the world. Photographic Tango To promote love of togas/stolas and interest in ancient history, as well as organising social and intellectual events in the daytime and evening. People and Planet To promote swing dance and offer members access to tuition in the various styles of dance. Organised trips to dancing events. Aim to encourage those who may be less confident behind the lens in addition to encouraging keen photographers to display their work. Hold exhibitions and master classes throughout the year, in addition to trips both home and abroad. trips, walks, cinema and pub quizes! Regular meetings to discuss the ideas of marxism and their relevance in the modern world. Socials around town to build up a social aspect of the group. As a society we debate about everything and anything. Whilst the arguments are formal, the atmosphere is not. So come on down! Disney Socialising with people of similar views. To help people relive their childhood. To enjoy movies in the company of people who appreciate Disney. Entrepreneur To help develop Newcastle University’s aspiring entrepreneurs, providing them with a community within which they can thrive. Networking, interaction with other societies and developing entrepreneurial skills. Pilates Provide classes to initiate members to the principles and benefits of the Pilates method. Pool and Snooker This society is to give members a chance to meet up and socially enjoy a game of pool/ snooker with fellow members. Rugby Referees Providing officials for Intra Mural, BUCS and community rugby and helping to develop the game at a grass roots level. Tai Chi Chuan Originally one of the internal Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan is characterized by slow smooth circular movements performed in solo routines, known as forms. This helps to being a state of mental calm clarity, promotes relaxation, awareness of own body and acquisition of a correct posture. Yoga Offering affordable yoga classes for students. Classes are suitable for all levels and are an enjoyable way to improve your core strength, flexibility and muscle tone. Volunteering International Development COCO NU: Think (Skeptic Society) Hitch To organise and hold an annual International development Conference, inviting expert speakers to talk on all areas of development. A society for the promotion of science, skepticism and secularism through events such as weekly meetings, debates, guest speakers, trips out and social gatherings Poker Meet regularly to play poker and to have good banter. Chance to improve skills, not just gambling and create a fun environment within which to teach and play the basic and high level skills of poker. Questlands Play a wide variety of games, including card games, war games, board games and role playing games. Real Ale and Cider The Real Ale and Cider Appreciation Society aims to promote the responsible drinking and appreciation of traditional ales, ciders and perries through regular society meetings and events. Scout and Guide A wide range of social activities including beach Supports the work of Newcastle based charity COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) through organising fundraising events. Recruits members to take part in the Morocco and Prague hitches. To fundraise for these two events and to see that the proceeds go to Link Community Development. Kids Action Overseas (KAOS) Fund raising for charity, Light in Africa, in order to volunteer with them in Tanzania. Link Society (St John Ambulance) The student part of the first aid charity ‘St. John Ambulance’ run by the students in Newcastle University. In Links, members can gain nationally recognised qualifications in first aid, whilst being part of a large and vibrant society. SIFE SIFE is an international non-profit organisation in which participating students apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. SIFE Newcastle Society will engage participants in projects, sustainability and fundraising activities. Visit the Clubs and Societies Fair this week to get involved! Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th Sports Centre 10am - 4pm or visit nusu.co.uk/socs Sport 30 Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER To get involved reporting for Sports in The Courier, email [email protected] Intra Mural sport: another way to play Get involved in sport how you want, when you want, with who you want For those of you looking for sport on a less demanding level there are a whole host of Intra Mural teams available to join within Newcastle University. Although if you still can’t find anything for you, as with the Athletic Union sports teams, you can always start your own! The Intra Mural Sports programme at Newcastle University is one of the most extensive in the country with over 200 teams and 2,500 participants in a wide range of different sports; 11-a-side football, 5-a-side football, 7-a-side football, rugby union, basketball, netball, mixed netball and mixed hockey. In addition to these weekly leagues, there are a number of oneday sporting tournaments throughout the year. Intra Mural competition gives you the opportunity to enjoy competitive sport at university even if you are not quite up to the standard to represent Team Newcastle or don’t want to commit to training twice a week or more. It also gives you the freedom to form your own team, choose who you want to play with, pick the team name and even customize the kit. This added social element is what lures competent sports men and women away from the competitive hard line, toward an environment where the emphasis is enjoyment, fitness and friendship. That said the standard in most leagues is high and the competition for the top sports in the league is fierce. Without a doubt the Intra Mural programme is packed with drama and excitement in all sports, regularly covered by The Courier with match reports, results and league tables. Intra Mural sport also gives students the opportunity to make new friends by joining a team that represents their degree course whether that might be law, dentistry or modern languages. In this way students can get to know and interact with other year groups who can prove to potentially invaluable resources around exam time! Put simply Intra Mural sport is university sport for you. You choose the sport, you set them team, you invent the name and then you play, with as much or as little pressure as you put on yourselves. It’s the most accessible and social way to stay fit and have fun during your time at Newcastle. Team registration will start on Monday 26 September at the Sports Centre reception on your right as you enter the building. The registration process is based on a first come first served basis so make sure you get in there early. For more information please pick up a Campus Sport leaflet from the University Sports Centre or visit the website at www. ncl.ac.uk/cprs . You can also email Denis Murphy, Participation and Events Services Manager who coordinates all the intra mural fixtures at [email protected] or phone on 0191 222 5349. What’s on offer: Football 5-a-side football Sunday 5pm – 7pm Thursday 12pm– 1pm or 1pm – 2pm Friday 5pm – 6pm or 6pm – 7pm Entry Cost: £25 per team Venue: Sports Hall Start Date: Term 1 – 9/13/14 October House) Start Date: Term 1 – 8/12 October Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Rugby Union Wednesday 2pm onwards Netball Saturday 10.00am – 11am or 11am – 12pm Tuesday 4pm – 5pm or 5pm – 6pm Entry Cost: £30 per team Venue: Sports Hall Start Date: Term 1 – 15/18 October Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Entry Cost: £300 per team Venue: External pitches (Cochrane Park, Longbenton, Redhall, Close House) 7-a-side football Start Date: Term 1 – 12 October Wednesday 5.30pm – 6.45pm or 6.45pm – 8pm Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Sunday 12pm – 2pm Mixed Hockey Start Date: Term 1 – 16 October Entry Cost: £35 per team Venue: Longbenton 3G pitch Start Date: Term 1 – 12 October Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural 11-a-side football Wednesday 2pm onwards Saturday 10am onwards Entry Cost: £160 per team Venue: External pitches (Cochrane Park, Longbenton, Redhall, Close Sunday 9.30am – 1.30pm Entry Cost: £35 per team Venue: Longbenton Artificial Hockey Pitch Start Date: Term 1 – 16 October Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Basketball Entry Cost: £20 per team Venue: Sports Hall Register online - www.ncl.ac.uk/ sport/campus/intra-mural Please note: All players must have Silver or Gold Sports Centre Membership before they can participate in the Intra Mural Sports Programme. 31 THE COURIER Monday September 26 2011 sport AU Clubs Trials and Taster Sessions • American Football Rookie Camp Taster Session Sunday 2nd Oct at 12pm at Longbenton Sports Ground 3G. Returning players will be meeting outside the Students’ Union at 11.20am to take players to the training ground. Metro fare required. Astro boots with plastic moulds are preferable footwear but trainers will do, along with shorts, t-shirt and we recommend a bottle of water. Absolutely no experience or understanding of the game, or sign up, is required and all abilities are welcome. • Canoe and Canoe Polo Sunday 2nd October £3 + cash for BBQ Anyone welcome Minibuses will be leaving every half an hour from 11-1.00pm from the Students’ Union and returning from 4-6.00pm Facebook.com/NclCanoeClub • Cheerleading MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR Tryouts Sat 1st and Sun 2nd Oct Dance/ gymnastics skills help but are NOT necessary! It will be a mixture of dancing, jumps, gymnastics and flexibility. Everyone is welcome! Great team to be part of and a good chance to try something different. There are opportunities to compete throughout the year and perform at sporting fixtures. • Cycling Whether you are a keen bean of a cyclist or have a bike but have never really got into riding it, the first ride of the year is definitely a good way to see what our friendly and sociable club is all about. The first of the afternoon rides caters for both road riders and XC mountain bikers and will occur on Wednesday 5th October, meeting at 1.30pm outside the union. Bring a suitable bike in working order, a helmet and some water and you’re good to go. • Fencing Wednesday 28th September 1-5pm Friday 30th September from 2-5pm Both of these will be in the Multipurpose Rooms of the Sports Centre. If people want to come try Fencing, they should bring long tracksuit bottoms and trainers. A towel and some water is also reccommended. Fencing kit is supplied. For those who are experienced fencers and would like to try out for the team, kit can be supplied, but they will need to bring trainers and long socks • Football (Men’s) MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR 28th September, 30th September or 2nd October at Longbenton They are going on at longbenton playing fields 1.30-4.30pm, meet outside the union at 12.30pm with football boots, This is not a full or complete list of the trials and taster sessions available. For further information head to: Clubs and Societies Fair Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th Sports Centre 10am - 4pm Athletics Union Officer Alice Holloway [email protected] As the head of your Athletic Union (AU) and part of the Students’ Union Sabbatical team, I am responsible for co-ordinating all competitive Sport at Newcastle. The Athletic Union finances, organises and supports almost 60 sports clubs on campus, and there really is something for everyone. shin pads and a drink • Football (Women’s) Saturday 1st October - 2-3.30pm Sunday 2nd October-2-3.30pm The taster sessions will take place at Longbenton sports ground. People will be meeting outside the Students’ Union on both days at 1.15 pm to show you the way. All standards are welcome You will need football boots if possible or trainers. • Gymnastics Complete beginners to advanced gymnasts welcome. Taster sessions will take place on Weds 5th October from 3-4.00pm and then 4-5.00pm at Benfield School within the City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy. We do like people to sign up at the Freshers’ Fair to get an idea of numbers and therefore how many coaches we will need at the session if possible. • Hockey (Men’s) MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR Wednesday and Friday 3-5pm • Hockey (Women’s) MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR Trials wednesday 12-3pm at Longbenton sports ground. Meet at union at 11am Experience required. Must bring own kit and equipmenthockey stick, gum shield, shin pads. Goal Keeper kit will be provided. Money required for metro. • Jitsu Club Monday 26th September 6pm -8pm Saturday 1st October 10am - 12pm Monday 3rd October 6pm - 8pm These sessions will take place in the multipurpose room in the Sports Centre. Beginners welcome, please wear loose clothing. • Netball Trials run on 28th September between 1-4 pm, with further trials on 29th September between 2-4pm and on 30th September between 2-4pm in the main hall of the sports centre on Richardson Road. Come down to the Freshers’ Fair to sign up and find out any more information you want to know. • Rugby (Men’s) MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR • Rugby (Women’s) Only need trainers (boots if you have) and sports wear. • Rugby League MUST SIGN UP AT FRESHERS’ FAIR • Shotokan Karate NUSKC will be holding four FREE taster sessions over FW 2011 in the University Sports Centre: Monday 26th, Wednesday 28th andFri 30th Septemberfrom 7-8.30pm in Multipurpose Room B (2nd floor) Sun 2nd Oct, 3-5pm in Multipurpose Room A (2nd floor) Shotokan is very beginner friendly. All abilities, styles and associations are welcome. Just turn up in comfortable clothing and be prepared to take your shoes off. Drinks at the North Terrace pub after each session. • Squash (Women’s) and Raquetball Both beginners and experienced players welcome. Racketball is BRAND NEW to the University this year! See our Freshers’ Fair table for information about trials and social sessions. • Surf Sunday 2nd October at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. 10, 12 and 2pm and they will last 2 hours. It will cost £10 and will include instruction and equipment hire. • Swimming & Water Polo Swimming taster session will take place at City pool on Thursday 6th October from 7-9pm. The water polo taster sessions will be at Northumbria University pool on Sunday 3rd October, women’s water polo 7-8pm, Men’s water polo 8-9pm. Ideally Freshers should sign up for these at the Freshers’ Fair. The swimming sessions are only open to those who can swim, however it is open to those who might not want to compete. Water polo is open to all including complete beginners providing they are able to swim. • Tennis Trials take place at Leazes Park on Wednesday 28th September from 124pm. We encourage all players to sign up at the Freshers’ Fair beforehand. Wednesday 5th October, 2-4pm Heaton sports ground Saturday 8th October, 11am-1pm Henderson Hall Players are meeting at the Students Union at 1pm Wed and 10am Sat to take freshers to the pitches. Beginners welcome and encouraged, as well as those who have played before at any level - just come and have a go! • Triathlon I am proud to say that I have been an active member of the AU throughout my degree, basketball being my chosen sport, and my student experience would have been nowhere near as enjoyable and rewarding without my participation in University sports. It has provided me with the best opportunities to make new friends and some of my favourite Uni memories, and it can do the same for you. There are two main strands of sport here at Newcastle. Most clubs follow the competitive BUCS programme in which teams compete against a number of other universities all around the country every Wednesday, but there is also the option to pursue Intra-Mural sports. This programme is for people who want to play sport competitively but primarily to enjoy the exercise and sociability that it provides. Whichever way is right for you, Newcastle’s extensive programme is sure to have a club or team that suits you. If you have any problems tracking down a club to get involved in, or want some more info about sport at Newcastle, e-mail me and I will do my very best to help you out – even if that means starting up your own team or club! Like all the other sabbatical officers, it’s what I am here for. Saturday 1st October. Meet outside the Sports Centre at 3pm for a chilled out run and a chat about what the club will be doing this year. Bring a few quid if you want to go for a cheeky pint aftewards. Sport 32 Monday September 26 2011 THE COURIER To g volved et inr for Sp eporting orts in The Couri er courie , email r.spor t@ ncl.ac .uk thecourieronline.co.uk/universitysport Represent Team Newcastle Photograph: Lindsay MacKenzie Alice Holloway AU Officer The Athletic Union (AU) works alongside BUCS (British University and Colleges Sport), who are the national governing body for student sport. BUCS organise inter-university competition every Wednesday afternoon and some weekends, working with us to help you get the most out of your student experience. The AU’s biggest strength is undoubtedly the fact that it is student led. This allows students to not only get involved in the sports themselves, but also to have a real sense of ownership over the daily management of the AU by getting elected onto the Committee of their club. This input from clubs is taken into consideration with every decision we make via the AU Executive Committee, and is the force that drives Team Newcastle onwards and upwards. Over the last three years we have established ourselves as strong competitors on the sporting scene by maintaining a top 15 position in the country throughout, whilst gradually improving our total BUCS points score by the end of each year. This year we want to prove that we are truly a force to be reckoned with, with aspirations to climb back into a top 10 position. Another amazing thing about Team Newcastle is that, whilst we work extremely hard in our training and on Wednesday afternoons, we also play hard! Every Wednesday night all the AU clubs come together in our exclusive night in TigerTiger to celebrate the wins and forget the losses of the day’s competition. However, there is one Wednesday that is held especially close to our hearts. This is our annual varsity competition against Northumbria University; the Stan Calvert Memorial Cup. On this Wednesday in March we take on our arch rivals in over 20 sports, with more than 1500 athletes going to battle in venues all over the city. The day of action culminates in the final men’s Rugby Union match at Gateshead International Stadium, with the presentation of the coveted trophy following soon after. Team Newcastle have held this all important trophy for an unprecedented four years and are more determined than ever to bring it home for a record breaking fifth year! Team Newcastle has shaped my university experience and it could do the same for you – it has never been more exciting as we aim to break back into the top ten for BUCS rankings, and it’s down to you! It has also never been easier to get involved, with 59 sports clubs to choose from there are countless opportunities to become part of the Team, taking part in whichever sport takes your fancy. Many of them don’t require you to have done them before, just go along with an open mind and enjoy! If for whatever reason you can’t find a club that appeals to you, you can start a new one yourself by coming to see me in the Activites Centre in the Students’ Union. Last year both Clay Target Shooting and Gaelic football were started from scratch and they have both already gone from strength to strength. Triathlon, Weightlifting, Handball and Boxing are all new this year, and you could have a hand in making them a success, so get involved! Don’t forget to head up to the Clubs and Societies fair on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th of Freshers’ Week in the Sports Centre (opposite the Richardson • Aikido • American Football • Athletics and Cross Country • Badminton • Basketball (Men’s) • Basketball (Women’s) • Boat • Boxing • Canoe • Canoe Polo • Caving • Cheerleading • Clay Target Shooting • Cricket (Men’s) • Cricket (Women’s) • Cycling • Fencing • Football (Men’s) • Football (Women’s) • Gaelic Football • Golf • Gymnastics • Handball • Hockey (Men’s) • Hockey (Women’s) • Ice Hockey • Jitsu • Judo • Kickboxing • Kite & Windsurfing • Lacrosse (Men’s) • Lacrosse (Women’s) • Mountaineering • Netball • Orienteering & Adventure • Parachute • Polo • Real Tennis • Riding • Rifle • Rugby (Men’s) • Rugby (Women’s) • Rugby League • Sailing & Yachting • Shotokan Karate • Ski & Snowboard • Squash (Men’s) • Squash (Women’s) • Sub Aqua • Surf • Swimming & Water Polo • Table Tennis • Taekwondo • Tennis • Thai Boxing • Trampoline • Triathlon • Ultimate Frisbee • Volleyball (Men & Women) • Weightlifting All these clubs will be in attendance at the Clubs and Societies Fair in the Sports Centre on Monday 26th September and Tuesday 27th September. You can also email [email protected] or visit www.unionsociety.co.uk for full details on all clubs. Road flats) to find out how to get involved with individual clubs. Together we can make Team Newcastle stronger, so get involved. I look forward to seeing you on the pitches and in the sports centre in a few weeks time!