End of term celebration

Girls and boys come out to play every night of the week in Sunderland. If you are new to the North-East, and you like dancing, clubbing, music, drinking and parties, you are going to love the nightlife in Sunderland.

Students will finish University once again in the coming weeks and will be out to celebrate and Sunderland is high on the list of places to visit.

There are planned bar crawls and guest appearances planned throughout the clubs in Sunderland right throughout the summer to get everyone in the summer party mood.

Student union would also like to remind everybody of the importance of drinking responsibly;

The point sunderland

“ Students are entitled to having a good time after there exams and assignments have all been handed it but it is very important to drink responsibly so we can see you all again next semester”

said a spokes person from the Student Union

Mid weeknights are popular with the large student population in Sunderland, with special offers and discounted entry and drinks. The weekend comes alive with a broad mix of party people, dressed to impress and looking for a good time coming from all areas of the country.

We’ar student’s aims to provide an introduction to Sunderland’s vibrant nightlife. It is intended to serve as a useful resource for new students and visitors alike to the city and what it has to offer we hope you enjoy.

Here you will find reviews of pubs, bars and nightclubs in Sunderland.

The Black Bull:

Large bar on two levels, seating area at the front, with the bar and dance floor on the second level.

Dakota:

Opened as SR1 in July 2001, then renamed Life, then Dakota in 2007. Very much a cafe bar, a small room with a bar and DJ stand overlooking the dance floor, toilets and a smaller room upstairs.

“It’s a great night out for anyone not just for young students people of all ages can have a great night out. The atmosphere’s great and the prices are so good you can stay out longer “John Elliot 26 builder from Jesmond.

">Diva

Situated below sister club, Liquid. Opened September 2003, a small but stylish nightclub aimed at the over 25’s. The décor is characterised by dark leather seating, swirling patterned carpets, and dark wood wall panels. A low ceiling contributes greatly to the cosy atmosphere.

“I love nights out in Sunderland, the prices are so cheap and everyone’s so friendly I’d recommend it to anyone, I particularly love Liquid and Diva” Jess Daley 19 Sunderland University student

Glass spider

Situated on two floors the Glass spider offers entertainment 7 nights a week downstairs and upstairs more of a restaurant style layout with a kitchen where you can see everything that goes on!

The huge outdoors Glass conservatory upstairs and outside gives lovers the very chance to watch the stars. With drinks prices that would make your jaw drop the main attraction of this venue is the entertainment and late license. The general layouts upstairs are swirls of eye-catching wallpaper and more Victorian style seating, downstairs is more for you to rest while you’re on the dance floor situated right in front of the DJ.

“Sunderland’s always a good night out on student nights, there’s always great deals on” Simon Johnson 18

Liquid:

Opened September 2003. Part of the nationwide chain of Liquid Nightclubs, the venue is clean, smart, modern and well run. Illuminated pillars and full-length mirrors surround a central dance floor. Visit the Liquid website.

And many more!!!

But don’t just take our word for it go find out for yourself.

By Matt Smith

Kickboxing at Sunderland

With Cityspace Applicant Day approaching, We’ar Students takes a look into the course sure to get your blood pumping!

By Nina Cresswell

Legal drugs- the low down!

by Rochelle Gow

A typical night out under the 'influence'

Picture this, you’re at a party, the music is pounding and the drinks are endlessly flowing, but after an all night bender in the library where your only company is the cafe’s rip off coffee and a stack of books which your half open slits for eyes merge into a mountain, make a night out seem like a chore. Sipping on your Vodkat and Rola Cola, a regular student substitute, you anticipate the ‘kick’ only to find yourself becoming drowsier. A rather merry friend notices you being a party poop and offers you a pick me up, “don’t worry its legal”.

Buying and selling drugs at University appears to becoming more common and legal drugs, otherwise known as ‘legal ‘highs’, are as easy to get a hold of as it is to visit your flatmate across the hall. They can be purchased from the local pharmacy, a convenience store, the internet and even the ‘chippy’ as one source tells me. Accompanied with the relied on phrase, ‘legal’ the prospect of a good night out and a cheap thrill make taking the drugs a safe bet, wrong. Prescription drugs and over the counter medications are just as dangerous as those branded with a class, such as Ecstasy, Heroin and Cocaine.

“A common misconception among the young is that legal drugs are harmless”

A common misconception among the young is that legal drugs are harmless because they are openly sold to the public and are readily available over the internet, when in reality any medication taken in excess or used for a purpose other than what is intended poses as a huge threat to health and can even result in death.

Head of BOOM at Clubs for Young People, Becky Hedgcock said: “I would advise that just because these drugs are legal, does not guarantee that they are safe or good for individuals to take, and there are many other options to have a good time rather than taking mood and mind altering substances legal or otherwise.”

I think that there is a generic need for more awareness and training around legal highs and clarification on their definitions, as for example poppers have very different stances depending on where you live.”

Unless your bedroom needs a new lick of paint to cover the murky stains that pattern the wall or your furry friends have a parasite applying for a mortgage in the depths of their intestines, then the legal ‘highs’ your stuttering and unbalanced friend is offering you belong on a shelf at the vets or B&Q.

Alex Nicholson, a second year student said: “I first found out about MCAT when a mate of mine dropped me a bump after work one night; typically it was an energy boost for an impromptu night out after a long shift. With it being legal I thought I would be fine, but it really did start to have an addictive effect.

“MCAT made me lose my job, I ended up using it far too much and most nights I was snorting at least a gram. I started failing assignments at university because I slept all day and the final straw was not turning up for work after a two night bender on the stuff. Basically now I am jobless and university has gone down the pan, £15 a gram seemed perfect at the time but now I am paying the price.”

With the help of Talk to FRANK, We’ar is here to give you the low down on the most frequent used legal ‘highs’ and their effects:

Cathinone- A natural stimulant otherwise known as Meow, Mephedrone and MCAT, found in the Khat plant which relates to amphetamine compounds such as ecstasy. It produces euphoria, alertness, talkativeness and feelings of empathy and can also cause anxiety, paranoid states, fits, severe nosebleeds and even resulted in death for a young woman in Sweden in 2008.

Salvia- Psychoactive chemicals in the soft leaves of the Mexican plant Salvia Divinorum also known as the Mexican magic mint, holy sage and eclipse. It produces hallucinations when chewed or when dried and smoked and most harms result from people injuring themselves when under the influence of the drug. There is also concern that Salvia triggers psychotic episodes particularly in young people and vulnerable individuals with latent mental health problems. It also causes throat and lung irritation, headaches and mild irritability and is particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol.

Poppers- Otherwise known as Ram, Thrust, TNT and liquid gold are Small bottles filled with liquid chemicals called alkyl nitrites which dilate the bloody vessels and allow more blood to get to the heart. The initial ‘high’ doesn’t last very long but can leave people feeling sick, faint and weak giving you an extreme headache and often a rash around the mouth. Poppers are toxic and can kill you if you swallow them and can also burn your skin on contact.

A spokesperson from the Drug Concern charity said: “We would emphatically discourage the use of research chemicals. There appears to be a lack of research into the long-term harmful effects of many of the substances. The side effects we are currently seeing from ‘legal’ highs from acute use are severe uncontrollable twitching and jerking movements, grinding of the jaw, paranoia and psychosis.”

Tony Jeffries: “Winning the medal was better than sex”

Image from:North News/University of Sunderland: Sunderland based Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries who has been chatting to Sunderland University Students about his experiences . With students Alfie Wilkinson and Kristina Peek.

Sunderland University students held a press conference today with boxer Tony Jeffries, Olympic Medal winner – he admitted to students that winning the medal was “better than sex.”

Jeffries was born in Sunderland and has just recently moved back: “It was too hard being away from home, luckily my trainer was happy to come here on a weekend so I can stay put.”

Jeffries, a Sunderland FC supporter has turned to professional boxing since winning the Olympic Bronze Medal and has so far been undefeated in his six matches. He described the chance from amateur to professional as: “A shock to the system, it was surprising how unprofessional professional was. When I was an amateur we got everything done for us, we were given samples of the pillows that we would be using in Beijing so we would be comfortable when we got there! Professional is nowhere near that standard, we have to pay for everything ourselves.”

Sports journalism students were especially keen to attend the conference, Adam Brown said: “As a sports journalism student, interviews with sportsmen like Tony Jeffries are what I got into journalism for. He’s a popular local lad, and was kind enough to speak to students. It is important for us to get used to meeting people and I really enjoyed the event.”

Also present was Michael Bute, author of ‘The Olympian – The Story of A Wearside Boxer and His Coach’, was also at the conference and made a special mention of Sunderland University lecturer Patrick Lavelle who passed away this year. “I am an ex student of this University and I know that Patrick will be missed by students, he was also one of the first to interview Tony after he got the medal at the Beijing Olympics.”

Above: Taken from YouTube: Tony Jeffries in his first boxing match as a professional.

“Just because we’re students doesn’t mean we have to live like them.”

Living away from home was never going to be easy for the students of Sunderland University, but We’ar Students looks into how the stresses of work and being away from home affects diet and healthy eating habbits.

By Rachel Jamieson

Health & Students – Swine Flu

We’ar Students looks into what swine flu is, how it is affecting students and how to beat it…

By Rachel Jamieson

5 A DAY HEALTH BENEFITS

Fruit and vegetables are part of a balanced diet and can help us stay healthy. That’s why it so important that we get enough of them.

5 A DAY highlights the health benefits of getting five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables every day. That’s five portions of fruit and veg altogether, not five portions of each.

Sunderland Students Warned to ‘Wrap up’ before Exams

Students are being struck down with swine flu near to exam periods.

Students at Sunderland University are currently preparing for exam periods and hand-in dates; the last thing they need to worry about is being ill – but with Swine Flu on the rise once again could this stress be made worse?

The Health Protection Agency estimates there have been 790,000 cases of Swine Flu since the pandemic began this year and in the winter months students were affected worse than ever.

The Swine Flu vaccine is becoming more and more available to the public, but it is not yet for students. If you are elderly, pregnant or asthmatic then you have nothing to worry about. But as the work is piling up for over the spring so is the chance that you could be struck with Swine Flu.

Pharmacist, Nasreen Hamid has commented: “It wasn’t long ago that I was a student and I understand that it is the worse thing that can happen to become ill when you are under the pressure of a deadline. Keep yourselves wrapped up and if you do come down with the flu make sure you stay inside to keep others safe.”

An example of the products available for Swine Flu and other cold symptoms.

If you thought ‘Fresher’s Flu’ was bad, wait until this strikes. Symptoms of Swine Flu include a fever, cough, headache, weakness and fatigue, aching muscles and joints, sore throat and a runny nose.

Sunderland University student Samantha Kelly has had Swine Flu and said: “The week that I had Swine Flu was awful, I spent the week in bed feeling rubbish and to top it off I was getting really behind in my university work.”

Healthcare Assistant, Robyn Fletcher, 21, said: “Swine Flu isn’t as feared as it used to be, I see a lot more people wanting things for colds and the flu when a year ago they feared the worst and thought they had Swine Flu. It is easing up, but students should be wary especially when exams are lurking and they really need to be feeling fit and healthy.”

Top 10 products to stop Swine Flu –

1. Vitamin C and Rosehip
2. Multivitamins
3. Alcohol hand sanitizer
4. Antiviral tissues
5. Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray
6. Thermometer
7. Minadex Build-Up Tonic
8. Berocca Energy Tablets
9. Echinacea
10. Hat and gloves

If you have suffered with Swine Flu and have any advice to students why not leave a comment in the box below? Let us at We’ar Students know your experience…