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A DEMO DIVIDED - Low turnout and infighting mars #Demo2012 - Rival student group call for Dec 5 march Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd
Jonathan Breen and Lisa Murgatroyd
NUS President Liam Burns was booed and pelted with eggs and fruit as #Demo2012 was marred by in-fighting and disillusionment. Burns - one of a number of speakers who took to the stage in Kennington Park - was rushed off by security as members of the crowd pushed their way on to the stage and encouraged protesters to head back to Parliament. Campaigns and Citizenship Officer at the University of Manchester Students’
Union, Khalil Secker condemned those who took to the stage. “It’s so divisive to our movement,”he said. “I think their actions do have a habit of putting people off left wing politics or student politics in general and that is destructive.” The President himself laughed off the incident, joking on Twitter his “egg dodging is pretty fierce.” Many protesters were angered at the route the NUS leadership decided to take for the demo and showed their frustration on the march. With “NUS shame on you, where the fuck have you brought us to,” proving to be a popular chant.
In a move challenging the authority of the NUS alternative student protest organisation National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts have announced a march on December 5 and called for continued action. NCAFC organiser Michael Chessum said in a press release, also printed in The Guardian, “Whatever the turnout [on November 21], a single demonstration will not be enough to challenge the government’s agenda. “We need to make the demo the start of an on going campaign. “That is why we are supporting the call for a national day of action involving students and workers at schools,
colleges and universities across the country on 5 December.” The NCAFC is backed by several high profile figures within the student movement, including NUS higher education committee member Luke Durigan, LSE Students’ Union general secretary Alex Peters-Day and Sara Moon, Sheffield University’s Students’ Union Development Officer. University of Leeds student David Lewsey said: “I think it’s a fucking shambles. They marched us away from the centre of London, away from anywhere of any political significance. “We’re standing in the rain in the middle of nowhere.”
Approximately 3-4,000 people turned up, from as far away as Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh, including around 150 from Manchester universities. The NUS originally predicted 10,000 protesters would attend. Marching under the banner “Educate, Employ, Empower,” the demonstration, supposedly against rising fees and education cuts, followed a heavily criticised route through south London and culminated with a rally in Kennington Park, near Surrey County Cricket Club’s ground, The Oval.
02 : NEWS
ISSUE 10 / 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Highlights 05
LSE Students’ Union wrong to boycott The Sun
People of all ages join #Demo 2012 las Wednesday.
Comment, Page 11
Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd
Picture of the week
A demo divided Fashion explore Avant Garde style
Fashion, Page 16 & 17
A Night at the Museum
Arts, Page 24
Continued from front page
Some students felt a radical minority spoilt the demonstration. “I feel today has been completely undermined by a bunch of anarchists kicking Liam Burns off the stage,” said University of York student Partick Evans. “Now all today will be remembered for is the day the student movement turned in on itself rather than as the day we took a stand against the government. “I just don’t understand what good they thought they were doing. “I think that was worse than Millbank in terms of making students look bad, it made us look like divided idiots, which frankly, we were.” Speaking to The Mancunion, NUS Black Students’ Officer Aaron Kiely said, “There are no plans for more demonstrations at the moment, but I don’t think one every two years is enough.” The march on Wednesday started at Temple tube station in central London and briefly passed by Westminster, where
a small group of protesters locked arms and sat down, trying to prevent people crossing south of the River Thames. Protest leaders quickly told marchers to ignore the group and continue as planned. Sam Rae, from University of Sheffield, did not agree with clogging up the bridge, “If you stand outside Parliament, it’s a very confrontational act as this symbol of the politicians who you’re angry at are right in front of you. “I’m a bit upset but I suppose this was always going to happen.” Others felt the final location of the rally was a poor choice. Sebastian Chowdhury, Further Education representative for the NUS from Manchester College said: “Given the weather conditions today, maybe in hindsight Parliament would have been a better choice.” Owen Holland, a PhD student from the University of Cambridge, said, “Whilst it’s good that the NUS leadership organised and called for this demo they didn’t need to take us to a park in Kennington.” Compared to the violent student protests two years ago, the demonstration was peace-
ful, with only a few scuffles with police near Westminster when protesters tried to break out of the designated area. Police said they acted here because it was a breach of the Section 12 agreement that defined the route and area the protest could legally occupy. The historical significance of Kennington Park, the site of a major protest in the nineteenth century, appeared lost on many students. The protest failed to garner major national media coverage. The University of Manchester, the largest student body in the country, originally booked eight coaches to take students to the protest in London, but failed to sell enough tickets and only took three coaches, including some Manchester Metropolitan students. Nick Pringle, General Secretary at University of Manchester Students’ Union described the demonstration as a success, adding, “The really important thing is that we don’t lose momentum and we take this back on to our campuses.”
Lifestyle, Page 26
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A Ma n ch e s te r ma n gave £2 00 wor t h of coc a i n e to t r i ck- or-t re at i n g ch i ldre n – a n d on ly re a li s e d wh e n h e late r p u lle d a ba g of Ha r i bo ou t of h i s p ocke t i n s te ad of t h e dru g . To ma ke mat te rs wors e , t h e ch i ldre n we re ou t t r i ck- or-t re at i n g wi t h t h e i r f at h e r – a s e r vi n g p oli ce off i ce r. Don a ld G re e n , 2 3, h ad bou gh t t h e dru g for a rave , ma gi s t rate s h e a rd la s t we e k . Af te r re a li s i n g h i s mi s t a ke , G re e n ra n a rou n d t h e s t re e t s i n a n at te mp t to t r y a n d f i n d t h e ch i ldre n . Me a nwh i le , t h e ch i ldre n’s f at h e r h ad i n forme d h i s p o li ce colle a gu e s of wh at h ad h a pp e n e d, a n d a rra n ge d to re t u rn to G re e n’s h ou s e wi t h t h e m to con f ron t h i m. Wh e n con f ron te d by t h e p oli ce , G re e n told t h e off i ce rs “I kn ow exa c t ly why you a re h e re . I kn ew you
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ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
NEWS : 03
Manchester students named ‘second biggest drinkers’ in Russell Group University Drinking League places Manchester in 10th place, well above Oxbridge and MMU Ellen Conlon drink or two.” News Editor
Students at the University of Manchester are the second biggest drinkers in the Russell Group, losing out to Universit y College London by only 0.4 units. The Universit y Dr inking League table, created by Student Beans, measured the average units drank by students p e r w e e k a t 74 u n i v e r s i ties. Manchester came 10th in the league overall, with students drinking an average of 22.7 units a week. T h a t ’s 1 0 p i n t s o f C a rling, three bottles of wine or 22 shots of vodka. When asked whether she thought this was an accurate representation of booze culture at Manc h e s t e r, E m m a S a d l e r, a third year Politics and Modern History student s a i d : “ I re c ko n t h a t ’s about right.” “I drink half a bottle of vodka for pre-drinks then we go out and drink more,” she said, addi n g . “A c t u a l l y I p r o b a b l y drink more than 22 units a week. One night out plus wine once or twice a week, the occasional meeting people for a
B r i d i e K e l l e y, a t h i r d year Maths student said: “ I t h i n k i t ’s a s a n ave rage probably true because there are lots of people who don’t like to party but there are some weeks that I definitely drink more than that. And there are a lot of people who drink more than me.” Anthony Osho, another third year student disag r e e d : “ I ’d s a y w e b o o z e a little bit harder than that figure on average,” he said. “My friends do not know the word ‘moderation.’” Manchester Metropolitan trailed behind Manchester University in 15th place with only 21.6 units a week, but made a huge leap up from last ye a r ’s League, where they came 63rd. To p p i n g the League is Q u e e n’s University Belfast whose students d r i n k 2 7. 3 u n i t s a w e e k and dragging along the b o t t o m i n 74 t h p l a c e i s S c o t l a n d ’s Ro b e r t G o rd o n U n i v e r s i t y, w h o s i p only 11 units a week. T h a t ’s l e s s t h a n 5 p i n t s or 6 glasses of wine. Oxford Universit y beat Cambridge by ten places coming 41st. News which was met with derision from the Cambridge Tab, a student paper at Cam-
ISOC raise £7000 for charity Michael Williams News Editor
The Islamic Societies in Manchester raised over £7000 from a week of charity fundraising. This placed Manchester third in the Charity Week North initiative, behind Liverpool and Leeds. The University of Manchester Islamic Society undertook a variety of charity work, including bucket collections around campus, bake sales at University Place and henna
designing. The week was rounded off with a climb of Mount Snowdon. A ‘Sister’s Social’ also took place, where all females could gather and relax. “As we get two days in the whole year to celebrate, it’s important that we do”, explained Mohammed Ahmed, lead volunteer. “I learnt a lot, met people from various backgrounds and felt a spirit of unity throughout, coming together for a cause that is close to my heart.” The total, £7056.01, was more
Manchester students drink an average of 22.7 units a week, according to the University Drinking League. Photo: Martin Klefas-Stennett b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y. “C a m b r i d ge ’s d r i n k i n g elite don’t match the levels of other universities,” was the angle they went for when covering t h e s t o r y. Manchester Metro-
than double that raised during Charity Week 2011. It was put towards the grand total for the North – which was almost £57,000. This placed the North third in the national tables also, with only Scotland and the Midlands raising more. The Charity Week initiative is a non-profit, volunteer led organisation that raises money for orphans and needy children. They act according to Islamic principles, and do not discriminate against any volunteer, donors or recipients. In a statement posted on the Manchester Charity Week 2012 page, ISOC thanked volunteers for a “phenomenal week […] full of love, light, unity and smiles.” “You did something for which you get no personal gain but the privilege of doing it, and that itself inspired us.”
politan faired better in Student Beans’ ‘University Sex League’ which averages the number of sexual partners students have had since starting u n i v e r s i t y. They came 6th, with an
average of 5. 31 sexual partners. Newcastle topped the Russell Group at 13th place and Manchester came 60th with 3.31 partners, with Durham University close behind
at 3.29 partners. Meanwhile, the appropriately named Bangor University were named the most sexually active u n i v e r s i t y, w i t h t h e i r s t u d e n t ’s ave r a g i n g 8 . 3 1 partners.
Students and police team up to stop crime rates ballooning
h a pp e n s b e c au s e o f a n o p e n w i n d ow o r d o o r, s a i d Nicola Oldham, a crime re d u c t i o n s p e c i a l i s t w i t h G re a t e r M a n c h e s t e r Po l i c e . “ T h i s i n i t i a t ive i s a b o u t warning people of the t h re a t , a n d e n c o u r a g i n g them to lock it or lose it”. The c a re l e s s n e s s of s o m e s t u d e n t s l iv i n g aw ay f ro m h o m e w a s m a d e a pp a re n t wh i l e S o p h i e w a s ‘ p a t ro l l i n g ’ . In one apartment block t h e f ro n t d o o r a n d e ve r y door inside was open,” exp l a i n e d S o p h i e . “ T h e police had to ring the l a n d l o rd t o s e n d s o m e o n e ove r ! ” Ho u s e s i n G r a nv i l l e Ro a d , D e r by Ro a d , S c hu s t e r Ro a d a n d Fa l l ow f i e l d B row a re i n i t i a l ly b e i n g f o c u s e d o n , w i t h m o re s t u d e n t a re a s b e i n g l o o ke d a t i n t h e n e a r f u t u re .
Michael Williams News Editor S t u d e n t s a re re t u r n i n g h o m e t o f i n d my s t e r i o u s balloons in their houses – a s p a r t o f a c r i m e re d u c i n g i n i t i a t ive . B e t we e n n ow and Christmas, G re a t e r Manchester Po l i c e and student vo l u n t e e r s a re putting helium balloons t h ro u g h o p e n w i n d ows and doors in studentpopulated a re a s to h i g h l i g h t r i s k s o f u n s e c u re accommodation. T h e b a l l o o n s a re a t t a c h e d t o a c a rd ex p l a i n i n g t h a t i f the visitor had not been
s o f r i e n d ly, a l l o f t h e i r p o s s e s s i o n s wo u l d h ave been stolen. T h e h o u s e s t h a t a re s e c u re ge t a c o n g r a t u l a t o r y leaflet t h ro u g h their l e t t e r b ox . Sophie Nottingham, s t u dy i n g Sociology at M a n c h e s t e r Me t ro p o l i t a n Un ive r s i t y, go t i nvo lve d with the scheme as part of h e r d e g re e p ro g r a m m e . Sophie said that the i n i t i a t ive i s “a f u n w ay o f telling people off ”. “[The scheme] ge t s people talking – ‘I came h o m e a n d t h e re w a s a b a l l o o n i n my b e d ro o m! ” O n e i n t h re e b u r g l a r i e s
IISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
04 : News
London School of Economics Students’ Union bans The Sun LSE Students’ Union will no longer sell The Sun newspaper in their shops Anthony Organ News Editor
Britains most popular newspaper has been banned by the London School of Economics Students’ Union (LSESU). The proposal was voted on by around 80 people and passed with more than half the popular vote at the weekly Union General Meeting. LSESU’s General Secretary, Alex Peters-Day, said that she made the proposal because the paper is “sexist” and doesn’t sell well. The elected official originally wanted to ban the paper without a vote, saying: “From my point of view if it were a good idea commercially to get rid of it as well as a good idea politically, I didn’t see why we couldn’t just pull it. “Once Liam and the newspaper [The Beaver - LSE’s student paper] got wind of that they weren’t particularly happy so we had to facilitate a debate on it.” Liam Brown, Executive Editor of The Beaver, said that Ms Peters-Day spoke to the student shop about removing The Sun.
He said: “They decided that they would pull it but we got a whiff of it and said that you can’t do this without asking people.” The Beaver published an editorial column condemning Ms Peters-Day’s actions, accusing her of being “willing to stifle free speech”. Mr Brown said: “These particular figures have done this before so we want to be careful.” LSESU were accused of censorship in September when they temporarily removed copies of the London Student newspaper from campus featuring a provocative comment piece on gender-neutral toilets. Mr Brown said: “We weren’t too happy about that because it’s a really bad precedent.” The papers were later returned including a statement from the Union and Ms Peters-Day said: “We had to physically take it in to put a statement in but that took place within a half hour, so there was a bit of exaggeration there.” In 2010 there was also a motion to ban both The Sun and FHM from the LSESU
Around 80 students voted on the motion to ban The Sun newspaper. Photo: John Dee
shop, but it was voted down at a meeting which included
sexism which is pervasive and pernicious across all of the
mainstream paper that still has a Page 3.
activist Hayley Devlin told The Mancunion that the
“sexist heckling and wolfwhistling” at the Women’s Officer. This year’s Women’s Officer, Alice Stott, voted against the ban in the recent meeting and said: “I’m a bit disappointed, but that’s what people voted to do.” She continued: “I think it’s very easy to single out The Sun as sexist, but in doing so you turn a blind eye to
mainstream media. “It’s simplistic and classist to single out The Sun, it implies that misogyny is something only working class men do when in fact it happens across the national press.” Asked why The Sun was targeted, Ms Peters-Day said: “I think because it’s quite symbolic to be honest. I know that’s not necessarily the best reason but it is the only
“The fact that the Independent has hardly any woman columnists is really awful thing, but I’m not sure it’s as bad as The Sun and Page 3.” This month is the 42nd anniversary of Page 3 and there is currently a campaign against it titled ‘No More Page 3’. Last week, MMU student and ‘No More Page 3’
campaign got under way after it’s organiser noiced that despite the success of British women at the Olympics - Page 3 models were still the most prominent women in The Sun throughout the games. LSE’s Hayek Soceity responded to the ban by organising a free giveaway of The Sun on campus, but their stall was reportedly attacked and vandalised.
Creative writing professor urges ‘tax avoiders’ to fund libraries Pippa Allen-Kinross Reporter Jeanette Winterson has called for Starbucks, Google and Amazon to fund a countrywide library revival. The award winning author, and professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester, argued that companies accused of avoiding tax in the UK could be providing millions of pounds to public libraries. Speaking at the Reading Agency Lecture at the British Library, Winterson said that “either we stop arguing and agree that libraries are doing their best to reinvent themselves, and that with a bit of help – financial and ideological – they belong to the future, or we let them run down until they disappear.” She continued, “Libraries cost about £1bn to run right now. Make it £2bn and charge Google, Amazon and Starbucks all that back
tax on their profits here.” This follows outrage at the accusation that the companies in question have been avoiding tax in the UK, and has led to a debate which has raised questions over whether Starbucks stores should be allowed on campus - see The Mancunion Issue 9. Winterson argued that libraries should be accounted for in the national education budget, rather than local councils’ leisure budgets: “I don’t see how this can be classed as `leisure’ nor do I see how we have a choice between getting our bins emptied and putting cash into libraries.” Winterson urged her audience not to “hand kids over to computer games and wall-to-wall TV – bring them to books early and see what happens. Give them real choice – let them find out what books are, what they can do.”
Students disciplined for Savile themed social Michael Williams News Editor
The club has been banned
from
runners up in the Floodlit Cup
remainder of the year, and
last year, and the B team were
the
and
First Division champions. Their
have been disciplined after
club captain are being made
seven games still to play this
holding a Jimmy Savile-themed
to
year will be counted as 40-0
social.
community
St. Cuthbert’s Society Men’s Rugby Club asked freshers to
social
fixtures
for
league tables. The A team were
the
Students at Durham University
all
secretaries
undertake
20
hours
service.
of
Every
person who attended the social will also be fined £50.
losses. A
University
spokesperson
said: “The University has been
dress up as young girls, second
The club has requested that if
made aware of an incident.
years as Jimmy Savile and third
the fine is to be paid, that the
We take such matters very
and fourth years as policemen
funds go to the Hospice of St
seriously.”
and Panorama reporters.
Francis in Berkhamstead – the
“The students’ college has
charity the club is supporting
investigated the incident and
for ‘Movember’.
disciplinary
Members of the group also reportedly
tried
to
steal
a
dartboard from one campus
The college rugby website
bar, and one person stripped
lists the A and B teams in the
naked in another.
bottom two positions of the
taken.”
action
is
being
05: News
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Referendum to decide on censorship of student media A student newspaper interview with BNP leader Nick Griffin sparked a censorship debate at the University of Leeds
Ellen Conlon News Editor The UniversityOf Leeds’ student newspaper, Leeds Student, is facing the possibility of censorship from its Union. Students at the University are voting in a referendum this week as to whether or not student media should be allowed to report on certain political groups. This comes following the paper’s publishing of an interview with British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin, which the National Union of Students (NUS) Black Sudents Officer then asked them to remove. The NUS has a ‘No Platform Policy’ in their constitution, which states that: ‘members will not share a public platform with an individual or member of an organisation or group known to hold racist or fascist views.’ The University’s Equality and Diversity Officer, Charlie Hopper, put forward the idea that the Leeds University Union should extent this platform to cover student media, based on feedback she had received from students. A discussion on the policy
was held at the Union but no decision was made and it was decided that a referendum would take place. The online vote will be open for four days and is open to all students on the campus. 1,500 votes must be cast for the results to be legitimate. The ban would cover radio broadcasts, print media and creative writing. Lucy Snow, Leeds Student Editor said: “I think it’s totally unjustified.” “Firstly, Leeds University Union already has a policy in place to ensure that hate speakers are not allowed onto campus, as this could pose a real threat. “There is no need to extent this to student media – in print, the power lies with the editors rather than with the hate speaker,” she said. “We can challenge and interrogate their views, unlike if they were just ‘given a platform’ to speak on in our Union building.” “It’s censorship. Student (or any kind of ) media should not be told what it can and can’t print, particularly when the content is interesting or challenging, and provokes debate amongst the student body,” she stated. “That is what jour-
“Student media should not be told what it can and can’t print” says Leeds Student Editor Lucy Snow. Photo: NS Newsflash @Flickr
nalism should be about.” A Facebook group ‘Stop Censorship. Save Student Media.’ has been set up in protest of the idea and currently has 216 likes. The group urges people to vote ‘no’ to censorship in the referendum. “Student media has a responsibility to inform students so that they can make up their own minds, and interrogate and challenge ideas from across the political spectrum. Students should not be told
what they do and do not need protecting from,” it warns. “The Union cannot and should not become thought police. We must resist being overprotected by it.” Responding in a Facebook comment, Sam Dumitriu, a student at the University of Manchester said: “There is no reason to ban reporting on the BNP, what are the Union afraid of, that the student body is so ignorant and weak-willed that a few words by a thick homophobe will be powerful
enough to whip them into an anti-gay frenzy?” Alice Rafter, a student from the University of Leeds, agreed, commenting: “Where exactly did the paper encourage racist views?” Harry Burgess, also from Leeds, wrote: “I think ‘no platform’ would be a good idea if it actually denied parties like the BNP a voice, but it wouldn’t. “It would go online etc. and I reckon that would be negative, because of the mentality it would provoke.”
“I think it would make those people’s views feel more like the truth, being ignored, than a view that is up to public scrutiny.” Lucy Snow is positive that the referendum will not be successful: “We have had a lot of support both for the Griffin article and for the campaign against the idea passing,” she said. “We are confident we can defeat the idea.”
MMU first-year wins prize at Manchester Hackathon Anthony Organ News Ed i t o r
Winners have been announced for Manchester’s first open-data Hackathon, and they include a Manchester Metropolitan University student. Manchester City Council (MCC) made data available to participants for an all-day event aimed at creating new applications which will benefit the city. Bilawal Hameed, a first-year Computer Science student, won the “Best Under 21s Creation” category and £600 for his “Bus Tracker” app which will tell you exactly when the next bus will arrive. He said: “It was really nice but the recognition is more important
than the money. “I want to launch the first student Hackathon for Manchester universities next year and I think getting my name out there is a great way to get Manchester involved.” Mr Hameed, who was the main programmer for the popular website www.hottieinthelibrary. com which launched in January 2012, has been interested in computing from a young age. He said: “I’ve been programming since I was nine. My mum bought me a computer so I played about with it and learned how to hack. “I launched my first start-up when I was 13 and when I was 15 I got investment for a start-up. It didn’t take off, but it was my entry into a bigger commercial market.” His original idea for the competition involved placing
tracking devices on every bus, but the day before the Hackathon he was told that MCC are already working on a similar system.
Computer whizz Bilawal Hameed
He said that he is “working closely” with MCC to incorporate these devices into his app when they are introduced. The overall prize of £1,000 plus £3,600 development funding was won by James Rutherford and Ashley Herriott for their “Data Crossfader”. It is a tool which lets you compare important data in specific areas by displaying it visually on a map. Mr Rutherford said: “It was great to see so many people involved; from the hackers to the council representatives. “It’s not just about the creative stuff that gets built. It’s also about the tendrils that grow between the respective communities.” Asked about the negative portrayal of “hackers” in the media, he said: “I think there’s
great value in knowing that we nerds can take what might look like dry data and add a genuine use or meaning to it for public benefit.” Other winners included John Rees’ “Sat Lav” app, directing the user to the nearest public toilet, and Matt Schofield’s “Taxi Rank Finder” app. Councillor Nigel Murphy, MCC’s lead member for Digital Manchester, said: “This Hackathon event is just the first part of an ongoing challenge to ensure that Manchester is in the front rank of open data-friendly cities. “It’s vital that this is not just a one-off event but an ongoing engagement with the developer community to ensure that we build upon what’s been achieved. More and bigger events are planned in 2013.”
06 : News
ISSUE 10 / 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Success for blind University NEWS of Manchester Mastermind IN BRIEF Premier League champions visit Uni Manchester City football club visited the University of Manchester last week to “mark a developing partnership between City and the University”. Their Premier League trophy was on show as the visitors met with University student volunteers as part of the ‘Learning Through Football’ scheme. The scheme visits schools in Greater Manchester to engage young people in National Curriculum subjects through football.
Prestigious appointment for Manchester Professor Professor Martin Humphries, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Manchester, has been elected as the Vice President of the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS). Founded in 1998, the Academy works to promote advances in medical science, and has over 1000 elected fellows. “I am delighted to be taking up this prestigious role with one of the most important scientific bodies in the UK”, said Professor Humphries.
Hefty fine for water balloon nuisances A mother and two teenage daughters have been fined over £2000 for throwing water balloons from their 11th floor flat in the Green Quarter. One balloon left a five year old girl in tears after hitting her, and another damaged a solicitor’s car. “We don’t think you thought of the consequences,” Kala Mandivwala, chair of the bench, told the three when they appeared in front of city magistrates. “They were far more than you imagined.”
‘Festive Fifty’ expert Rachael Neiman through to semi-finals Michael Williams News Editor A PhD student at the Universit y of Manchester is through to the semi-finals of Mastermind after an impressive performance on the show last Friday. Answering questions on her spec iali st subjec t, John Peel’s Festive Fift y, Rachael Neiman secured her place in the semi-finals with 33 points overall. Rachael, who studies Engli sh and Americ an Studies, was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid ar thriti s at the age of t wo and was par tially sighted throughout her childhood, before becoming tot ally blind in her teenage years. Her impressive performance, which featured no passes at all, also earned Rachael the ‘round of the week’ award on the Mastermind website. The infamous Mastermind chair i s often said to intimidate contest ants, but Rachael says that it ac tu ally had the opposite effec t. “ There’s nothing you c an do
once you’re in the chair,” she said. “Once you’re there you have to get on with it.” Peel’s Festive Fift y was an often- eclec tic list of the best songs of the year, as voted for by listeners. Although you would never guess from her impressive showing in the chair, it wasn’t Rachael’s first choice of topic. “I ac tually chose the subjec t on the spur of the moment,” explained Rachael. “I was a big John Peel fan, so I thought it would be interesting to go back and research the earlier shows I hadn’t heard before.” Rachael was first bitten by the quizzing bug after appearing on Universit y Challenge as part of the Manchester Universit y team in 2009. “I hadn’t done many quizzes before then,” Rachael said, “ but I got a bit addic ted from then on!” Not content to simply listen to music – or remember lists and lists of fac ts about it – Rachael is also heavily involved in the industr y. She runs her own record label, Cherr yade records,
Rachael takes her place in the infamous black chair. Photo: BBC
and has a slot on Dandelion Radio, a station dedic ated solely to continuing Peel’s legac y. Well and truly addic ted to quizzing, Rachael plans to appear on Only C onnec t , Brain of Britain and Pointless in the future. “I
UoM researchers make breakthrough in search for arthritis cure David Burch Reporter A major breakthrough has been made by University of Manchester researchers looking for a cure for arthritis. The groundbreaking study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, involved scientists studying the DNA samples from more than 27,000 patients with the disease. Researchers already know environmental factors such as smoking, diet, pregnancy and infection can cause the disease, but new research shows that genetic disposition also influences the likelihood of developing it. 14 new genes were discovered that can lead to rheumatoid arthritis – a disease that affects around 70 million worldwide, and over 400,000 people in the UK. Alongside 32 genes already linked to the disease, the researchers now feel they have discovered nearly all the genes that contribute to the disease. Study author Dr Stephen Eyre stated the potential of the findings to be used for the development of drugs to help those afflicted with the disease.
“This work will have a great impact on the treatment of arthritis. We have already found three genes that are targets for drugs, leaving 43 genes with the potential for drug development”. At present a third of patients don’t respond well to medications that have been developed for the disease. Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, hopes that these discoveries will lead to a “greater understanding of the disease and allow us to develop targeted drug treatments for the people currently living with rheumatoid arthritis.” The study also reveals the genetic association between rheumatoid arthritis and the X chromosome, helping to understand why three times more women develop the disease than men. But the researchers’ work is far from over, as Professor Jane Worthington indicated. “Our future work will focus on understanding how the simple genetic changes alter normal biological processes and lead to disease. Ultimately, this will help us to develop novel therapies.”
might try and get my thesi s poli shed up, too”, she said. The airdate of the semifinals has not been announced yet , but Rachael tells us to expec t to see her on our sc reens again “around Febru ary or March”. Just as Peel chose
an eclec tic range of music, Rachael i s choosing an eclec tic range of topic s – her next chosen subjec t will be the work of Vic torian lesbian noveli st Sarah Waters.
Oxbridge dominates leading professionals Pippa Allen-Kinross Reporter Figures show that attending Eton and Oxbridge remains the path to success. A report compiled by the Sutton Trust indicates that 31% of the ‘top people’ in the UK studied at Oxbridge, whilst 44% were privately educated. Ten leading independent schools account for 12% of the total, with Eton College alone responsible for 4%. Only 21% went to a state school, and 27% to a grammar school. Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust, said that the figures show “how dominant leading universities and schools remain across the professions in Britain”, and that it is “important that access to our leading schools and universities is on the basis of ability alone”. The report says that “independent schools make up 7% of the school population, yet constitute over half the leading news journalists, medics, chief executives, and 70% of barristers and judges”. 22% of those researched had no higher education, whilst 20% attended a leading university other than Oxbridge, including the University of Manchester.
Julian Skyrme, Head of Widening Participation at the University of Manchester, hailed this as “an important report”. He said: “The nation’s ‘leading people’ in this report are dominated by people who went to top universities like Manchester and schools in the independent sector. “Among the leading institutions in the report, we are proud that Manchester takes in the highest number of learners from state schools, lower socio-economic groups and low participation neighbourhoods.” Around 22% of students at the University of Manchester are thought to be privately educated, although the university also accepts the highest number of students from ‘low participation areas’ of the Russell Group. The report’s findings were based on 7637 people who had been educated in the UK, and whose birthdays were noted by national newspapers during 2011. Last week another report suggested that poor advice and lack of confidence were preventing high achieving state-school pupils from aiming for the best universities. Sir Peter said that the survey demonstrates “how far we still need to go to improve social mobility in this country”.
ISSUE 10 / 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
NEWS : 07
Students deny suggesting ‘Taliban’ themed clubnight - RAs hit out at Social Junkies after suggestion that they came up with the ‘Armed Forces and Taliban’ night - Senior Students Council Chair: RAs ‘need to consider’ involvement with promoters Richard Crook Editor
Student reps have hit out against club promoters Social Junkies for claiming they were responsible for suggesting the controversial ‘Armed Forces and Taliban’ theme for their BOP night. The Senior Students Council (SSC) issued a statement last week denying any official involvement with the planning of the event and criticised the decision by Social Junkies to authorize it. “As a body representative of the students in halls, we do not condone such promotion of events and deny any official authorization given for the planning of this event. “The promoters being a professional company should have more sense than to organise and promote
but the JCRs and RAs seriously need
ist” club themes and this year were
to consider whether they want their
exposed to ordering their reps to
names to be implicated with pro-
stop students and secretly rate them
moters in the near future.”
on campus on a slider for looks and
However, not all RAs agreed. Ben Hourahine,
Social
Secretary
‘banter.’
for
And their complicated relationship
a night that so many people, espe-
material and let them know that the
Owens Park, joked about his ‘Abu
with JCRs/RAs was exposed when a
cially in a hugely diverse commu-
proposed theme was totally unac-
Hamza costume’ when the theme
document leaked to The Mancunion
nity, would find offensive.”
ceptable.”
was announced and later defended
showed Social Junkies to be offering
Social Junkies to The Mancunion.
lavish perks to JCR/RA committee
Senior Students Council is made
Despite Social Junkies issuing an
up of JCR/RA committee heads for
apology, tensions continued to rise
“The fact is for the bigger halls So-
members in their efforts to sell their
Halls of Residence at Manchester.
when ‘The BOP’ Facebook profile
cial Junkies are the only option for
Welcome Week packs on campus via
The now infamous themed night
began making unsubstantiated al-
Welcome Week. There is no other
halls.
was due to take place on Friday Oc-
legations relating to RA committee
competition.
tober 19th, but the Students’ Union
finances.
Nick Pringle, General Secretary of
Look at this year’s Welcome Week,
the Students’ Union, said, “I’m in-
organised a campaign upon being
Social Junkies then told The Man-
the whole thing ran amazingly well
credibly worried about reports from
alerted to the event. Within hours,
cunion it was “shameless” for the
in every single hall. All Presidents
students on RAs and JCRs that they
a Facebook group had gained over
Students’ Union to have brought up
agree no mistakes were made.”
felt pressured into signing deals
400 followers, forcing the Univer-
recent tragic news stories coming
Social Junkies denied they were
sity to step in to ensure the planned
from the Middle East in their argu-
placing the blame for the night on
theme would be cancelled at the last
ment.
students despite claiming RAs had
minute.
Heena
Panchal,
Chair
of
SSC,
picked the theme.
with club promoters that didn’t represent what students wanted. We’re now working closely with the Senior Students Council, which
A spokesperson for the University
also warned halls committees to
“We’re not looking to blame any-
brings together students from all
said at the time, “We were not hap-
think carefully before dealing with
body, ultimately the final themes
RAs and JCRs, as well as the universi-
py for the University’s name to be
club promoters like Social Junkies,
were not scrutinised closely enough
ty to ensure that the Students’ Union
used in connection with this event,
though stopped short of calling for
by ourselves.”
is giving as much support as possi-
so Senior Management contacted
a ban.
Social Junkies are no strangers to
ble to them, not only Welcome Week
Social Junkies to demand the im-
She told The Mancunion, “Maybe
controversy. In previous years they
planning but also anything else they
mediate withdrawal of all publicity
an outright ban is a little extreme,
have been attacked for their “sex-
might need.”
08 : Feature
ISSUE 10 / 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Twitter: the last stand for social networking? It has 500 million active users and an influence that extends far beyond the internet. But the past twelve months have left tweeters on uncertain ground when it comes to freedom of speech. Andrew Williams looks at how the history of social networking brought us to crossroads Andrew Williams Features Editor
M
y name is Andrew, and I’m a Twitterholic. I have tweeted over 11,400 times and have been known to fire off as many as 100 tweets in a single evening. I’ve used social networks before, but I never built Bebo, or MySpace, or even Facebook, into my daily routine to such an extent. To paraphrase Lewis Carroll, I’ve sometimes sent as many as six inconsequential tweets before breakfast. This particular addiction is not an especially difficult one to have to admit – though it is somewhat stigmatised, and increasingly it comes with its own unique set of problems. If 2011 saw Twitter, central to the success of the Arab Spring, cement its place as the most influential social media tool on the planet, 2012 has highlighted the need for Twitter users to tread a fine line between scurrilous rumour-mongering and outright libel. This is not merely an issue if you are the author of one of the 340 million tweets that will be sent around the world today; recent events have given us cause to ponder a revised definition of freedom of speech in the digital age. Social networks of yonder simply didn’t give us reason to query such highminded, fundamental ideals. Whilst Friends Reunited is widely considered to be the original behemoth of social
2012 has highlighted the need for Twitter users to tread a fine line between scurrilous rumourmongering and outright libel... recent events have given us cause to ponder a revised definition of freedom of speech in the digital age networking, the first real juggernaut to clatter onto the scene was MySpace. Launched it 2003, it was not long
Internet giant: Jack Dorsey founded Twitter in the hope that everyone, everywhere could have their say. Photo: David Shankbone
before teenagers and young adults began to sign up in their droves. It seems like a lifetime ago now, but by 2005 – midway through my time at secondary school – being on MySpace was as commonplace as having a mobile phone amongst my angsty peers. Profiles could be personalised to almost the nth degree in an effort to convey individuality, with backgrounds ranging from garish to sentimental. Girls, and some boys, began posting photos of themselves ‘casually’ posing in their bathroom mirror (admit it, you did). And, perhaps most memorably, we could connect with our favourite bands and artists, who saw MySpace as an absolutely indispensable vehicle to sell themselves at the dawn of era of digital downloads. At around the same time, Bebo offered an alternative social media experience. The personalised profile remained, but here we were encouraged to interact more frequently with our friends via ‘comments’. Discussions which were once reserved for private conversation – and in truth, probably should have stayed there – were now being played out in public for hundreds of eagle-eyed gossips to see. Single? Seeing someone? In a relationship? Bebo users could even alert their friends to the fluctuations of their love life. (In first year one of my flatmates was mortified when, much to our hilarity, we stumbled across her long-since discarded Bebo profile. It declared her ‘down for whatever’ – time to go back and ensure that you closed that dormant account…) We might remember MySpace as the thinking man’s Bebo, but the latter overtook the former at the height of its popularity. At its peak, Bebo boasted over 10 million users in the UK alone, but there seemed to be something missing. There was a limit to the ways in which you could interact with your friends, and even from a layperson’s perspective the site was clunky. In truth, neither of these fledging social networks catered for serious adults; in short, neither experience seemed perfect. Step forward Facebook. We all know the story of Mark Zuckerberg – the geeky Harvard dropout whose initial creation, Facemash, would allow students to rate girls in terms of attractiveness – and the revolutionary impact that his invention has had on worldwide communication. Where Google swallowed up rival search engines to the point where it became a verb, and Amazon allowed shoppers to plunder their credit cards from the comfort of their own homes, Facebook redefined what it was to be someone’s ‘friend’, made every user an amateur photographer, and spawned an Oscarnominated movie. Facebook is an unequivocal phenomenon. I would wager that every single person reading this article has Facebook, and the vast majority of you will check it at least once today. Want to see how your friends in London are
Tweet tweet: 340 million tweets are sent by Twitter users every day
getting on without having to phone each of them individually? Check out their Facebook statuses. Slightly obsessed with your recent ex? The Bridget Jonestypes amongst you can ‘Facebook stalk’ their recent photos until your heart’s content or, more likely, further damaged. Facebook has become such a pervasive force in our daily lives that many of us consider ‘going Facebook official’ as a standard-bearer, the mark of a serious relationship. The statistics are terrifying: with over one billion active users worldwide, and raking in almost $4 billion a year, the momentum of Facebook is showing no sign of slowing. Having demolished its predecessors, cyberspace is littered with the abandoned profiles of social networks less sophisticated than Facebook. Believe it or not, Bebo still exists, but its active users are outnumbered by accounts which have become historical artefacts. AOL’s decision to purchase Bebo for $850 million in 2008 has been described by the BBC as “one of the worst deals ever made in the dotcom era.” Meanwhile, MySpace – whose latest investors include Justin Timberlake – is set to re-launch in an effort to compete with Spotify in 2013. Facebook steamrollered the competition, and remains almost unnervingly popular. But pick up a newspaper or turn on the television today and you are more likely to be confronted by hashtags and trending topics than likes or statuses. Twitter is nothing new – it will celebrate its seventh birthday in March – but in the last 18 months it has experienced a meteoric rise to become ubiquitous in the public consciousness.
The idea is brilliantly simple. The user is armed with 140 characters to express any given sentiment, no matter how profound or mundane; it is a common misconception that Twitter is exclusively populated by self-aggrandising bores who insist on telling their followers what they had for lunch (though I have seen my fair share of banal tweets over the past three years). Unlike Facebook, which seems to undergo an exasperating overhaul every six months, Twitter has barely been tampered with. For members of the ‘Twitterati’ (this nauseating expression has genuinely been coined, but thankfully not by myself ), the attraction lies in the user’s ability to comment on anything, at any time, in response to anyone – even the President of the United States. In many ways, it is the ultimate embodiment of that all-American ideal, freedom of speech. Or so we thought. The Twitter veterans amongst have built up a community of followers over time – I hold my hands up to a shameless and ongoing pursuit of more followers to add to my current 840 – and see our tweets as little more than a succinct and effective way to communicate with an auditorium’s worth of people at the click of a button. Aside from my personal life, nothing is off limits; I wouldn’t think twice about making a controversial comment on the hot topic of the day, and I certainly wouldn’t shy away from robust confrontation. But what many of us have failed to realise is that our published tweets are just that – a matter of public record. Though hastily thought-out tweets can be erased if hindsight suggests we think
ISSUE 10 / 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
again, they are often seen by scored of people before it is too late. Where idle gossip was once the poured over with relish in pubs and hair salons, Twitter has blurred the line between tittle-tattle and reported fact. Recent events have taught us that, when languid chatter repeated as fact is transferred into black and white, the ramifications can fly off the Richter scale. The latest BBC debacle saw Newsnight set to announce that they would brand a senior Conservative politician a paedophile, only to conceal his identity in the programme broadcast later that evening. Ten years ago, this might not have caused a great deal of fuss – the national media, bound by restrictive libel laws prohibiting tawdry speculation, would have been unable to publicly reveal the identity of the alleged suspect. Earlier this month, hundreds of thousands of Twitter users felt that they had carte blanche to throw the name of just about any ageing Tory into the mix. Of course, it was quickly established that the politician in question was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, but he was so widely named that his reputation lay in tatters. Like other falsely-accused celebrities before him, he will always be associated with the allegations, and all because the social media rumour mill began to turn so vigorously that it spun out of control. Perhaps understandably, the politician is taking legal advice, and may yet sue prominent Twitter users who had the confidence – despite absolutely no evidence – to name him. It is not the first time that social media users have got into hot water over comments made on social media, with several notable examples from the past twelve months. Firstly, a pair of teenagers from Dundee were imprisoned last December for inciting rioters on Facebook during the chaos of August
2011. In May, a Swansea University student was jailed for posting a series of racist tweets following the collapse of Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped mid-way through an FA Cup match in March. More recently, a Twitter user was giving a police warning following a torrent of abuse directed at Team GB diver Tom Daley during this summer’s Olympic Games. Tweets included the suggestion that had “let down” his recently-deceased father. These three recent examples beg a critical question: where should we draw the line when it comes to free expression? Whilst the Muamba case seems a proportionate one – racial hatred clearly cannot be tolerated in any way, shape or form – the legality of abuse directed at Tom Daley is less clear. Certainly, the abuse was extremely callous and utterly reprehensible, but it seems to me that people have said unpleasant things to one another throughout history and that we shouldn’t necessarily set about regulating these instances where they appear on social media. Countless celebrities have quit Twitter having suffered consistent abuse, whilst ‘trolls’ almost prompted the doyenne of Twitter himself, Stephen Fry, to consider jacking it in until he thought better of it. Blue Peter’s Helen Skelton recently deleted her account following a backlash against her stint on the BBC’s Olympic coverage, commenting: “Turns out I don’t have a very thick skin after all.” Twitter provides its user with uniquely direct access to celebrities, and sadly there are always going to be those who revel in attacking them for no other reason than their own entertainment. But aside from racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic abuse, and short of clear threats to people’s safety, it is absolutely vital that users are allowed to express themselves freely. Twitter has many a drawback. It has become a forum for the mindless yelping
KEEP CALM AND
BEER FEST
Feature : 09 of One Direction fans, and houses a cesspit of tragic keyboard warriors. It is undoubtedly lamentable that the bloated rumour mill regularly sees celebrities pronounced dead, only to be revived, whilst we should be wary of the kudos given to unsubstantiated gossip of the most salacious kind. Some have gone as far as to argue that Twitter represents the nadir of low culture, reducing even the most serious of subjects to two short sentences. The journalist Hopi Sen, himself a voracious tweeter, expresses this sentiment in his 160 character biography: “One line bio? Get lost. I am large and I contain multitudes”. For all of its faults, Twitter is a hugely valuable interactive asset for thought, discussion and democracy. If you tailor your Twitter experience in the right manner, you learn something every day, picking up information from a variety of sources and garnering the viewpoints on various matters from across the political and moral spectrum. You may not like everything you read, but it’s better to engage in debate that to stick rigidly with like-minded people, bouncing your thoughts and ideas off carbon copies of yourself so as to render Twitter a hopeless echo chamber. Social media has come a long way, but now Twitter, in particular, is at a crossroads. If it is to remain the most effective resource for free thinking and debate at our modern day disposal, we must safeguard our right to express our opinions – within reason – no matter how distasteful. A social network is not, in any real sense, a social network if its users are constantly living in fear of their opinions being vetted or their statements being scrutinised. If rich and powerful people are to set about suing the purveyor of every rumour and the author of every wild accusation, will the last person to leave Twitter please turn out the lights?
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Politics & Comment
ISSUE 10/ 26th November 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Photo Wikimedia commons
Photo Credit: Lisa Murgatroyd
10
My Political Hero... Eliot Spitzer You probably won’t recognise the name or image of Eliot Spitzer – he served as the Governor of New York for just 14 months before he had to resign in the wake of a prostitution scandal. But for those who worked in the banks on Wall Street, his presence was a formidable one.
‘We’re still a bit mad, not really sure why’ #Demo2012 might be lauded as a successful statement by the NUS, but what effect will it have? Asks Lisa Murgatroyd At the NUS National Conference in April 2012, it was voted to hold a national demonstration in the first term of 2012. It took six months to organise and advertise #demo2012 across the country to attempt to bring every university on board. The NUS estimated that 10,000 students would attend the demonstration in London, with the catchphrase “Educate, Employ, Empower”. Less than half that number made it on the day, leaving many wondering what the point was, if any. “We all have a responsibility to make sure that our actions don’t alienate the public.” Hampered by the vivid remembrance of the damaging scenes from the last protest called by the NUS, their hands were tied. With a route that aimed to breeze past Parliament, wanting to avoid any chance of a repeat of Millbank, the march seemed to lose its steam as it moved south of the river. The pouring rain was no encouragement, and it seemed that people only continued to wearily plod along because they knew their coaches would be at the end waiting. I certainly don’t believe that resorting to vandalism and violence is any way to get your point across, but there’s something to be said about the heavy criticisms aimed at the NUS leadership for leading students on a not so merry trail to Kennington. The story was only given a cursory mention in the national media, because let’s face it – a few thousand students walking around waving placards is nothing new or exciting. The most interesting point of the day was the crowd turning against Liam Burns, President of the NUS, and against the NUS itself. “Liam Burns, shame on you, you’re a fucking Tory
too” was just one of many angry chants they shouted over his attempts to reach out to the shivering students student in the rain and mud. The diehard Socialist Workers Party, so called anarchists, were the only ones with enough passion to stick around to the bitter end to get their point across. They seem to think that the NUS isn’t left wing enough, full of career hacks with an eye on a future in the Labour Party (who apparently aren’t left wing enough either). The buzzwords ‘educate’, ‘employ’ and ‘empower’ were a good attempt to stir some emotion in a distinctly apathetic national body of students. However, it’s a fairly vague statement to make. The demo wasn’t called as a reaction to some new policy, or appointment. It was more of a “we’re still mad about those fees you increased two years ago”. The demo meant something different to everyone, and whilst I agree with the general sentiment, how effective could it really be? Let’s take each word in turn. ‘Educate’ – according to the NUS, “Education is a good thing in and of itself.” Well, that’s a revelation. Thanks for spelling that out, I had no idea! It’s actually insulting that they felt the need to express exactly what education means to people who have actively sought to further it on their own accord. It goes on to say that “we demand a properly funded tertiary education system, accessible to all” which it goes without saying is a laudable goal. There’s no set idea of what they mean by properly funded though, whether that’s fee free, or with a better system of student loans, or a graduate tax. The minor triviality of demands is clearly left to your own imagination.
‘Employ’ – youth unemployment is on the rise, according to the NUS. But, latest government figures show that youth unemployment figures between 16-24 are finally starting to fall, down 53,000 since last year as of the end of September. The fact is the UK faces a fragile economy struggling to pull itself out of the black hole of a double dip recession. What is important is to make sure that graduates are not being taken advantage of with the increasing popularity of unpaid internships, but these days we seemed resigned to the fact that for most of us, we need to put in the hours for crucial experience to give us the edge over the similarly qualified competitors. “Politicians have a lot to answer for. Many of them lied to our faces.” That was two years ago. ‘Empower’ is the keyword here, because we musn’t forget that we have a democratic right to protest. But why has it taken so long to organise a demonstration if we’re so angry? This campaign needs a lot more than a flash in the pan protest. If we want to make sure education and employment are high on the political agenda, then there needs to be more effort made to build a momentum. There are talks of bringing the campaign to campuses now, to continue to raise awareness, but there’s no strong sense of direction. Perhaps anger against the NUS isn’t so misplaced. However, it’s a difficult task to bring students together and unite on issues in their own backyard, let alone on a national level. Perhaps I’m just too jaded to see the potential, but #demo2012 certainly didn’t inspire me to hope for anything better.
As Attorney General of New York Spitzer focused on white collar crime - subtle, financially damaging to working people and often overlooked by politicians. He gained the nickname of the ‘Sheriff of Wall Street’ for his crackdown on financial institutions. He prosecuted investment banks such as Goldman Sachs for giving false information to investors, computer chip manufacturers such as Samsung for price-fixing products, and pharmaceutical firms for hiding the damage done by their drugs. It was also during Spitzer’s period as Attorney General he made the rich, powerful enemies that would eventually conspire to ruin his career. Spitzer argued that the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange’s $150m severance pay was excessive because of a conflict of interest - the people who decided his pay were the CEOs of the companies he was meant to be regulating. Ken Laggoone, billionaire businessman, was one of these people, and was irate by Spitzer’s action. Spitzer had suddenly made a very powerful enemy who was looking to exploit any mistake he made. According to the film ‘Client 9’ made about the case, Laggoone hired a private investigator and a PR firm in order to find out what they could about Spitzer. A suspicious web of links developed between Spitzer’s enemies – Laggoone, ex-CEO of AIG Hank Greenberg (who Spitzer had tried to prosecute in a case involving accounting fraud) and people Spitzer had fought within the New York Republican Party. A mysterious tip-off was made to the authorities that Spitzer had used a high-class prostitution service, and an investigation was launched. Even though clients are not usually prosecuted in prostitution ring cases and kept anonymous in police reports, lots of identifiable information was included about ‘Client 9’ (the name used for Spitzer in the report), while little was written about the other clients, or even evidence needed to prosecute the prostitution ring itself. After the report was published, Spitzer’s name was leaked linked to being Client 9, and days later he resigned. When the news reached traders on the New York Stock Exchange, they cheered and opened bottles of champagne. It is sad to think that the man who fought for more women to be employed in upmarket restaurants, for delivery men to gain the minimum wage, who proposed a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in New York and railed against the companies that often act as if they are above the law will be remembered by many purely for the sex scandal. There is much that current politicians can learn from Spitzer - yet the story of how the vested interests he attacked colluded to destroy him acts as a warning – and perhaps an explanation for much of the government inaction on the pressing issues Spitzer fought so hard for.
David Burch
Comment
ISSUE 10/ 26th November 2012
WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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LSE Students’ Union were wrong to boycott The Sun There’s a right way to go about making a stand. Major environmental pressure groups, anti-war demonstrators, anti-fascist campaigners have all found ways to promote their cause without exerting an undue political influence. Sadly, as with our own students’ union’s #Demo2012 societies funding debacle, the London School of Economics SU has sacrificed its own political impartiality in boycotting The Sun newspaper. Let’s make this clear. The ‘boycott’ in this case was not an organised student protest, but an executive decision to remove the newspaper from the shelves of the union shop. The decision to go ahead with the boycott was made by a committee of 80 individuals, comprised from a student population of around 8,600. According to The Beaver, the LSE student newspaper, the union had removed The Sun for ‘economic reasons’, yet most were led to believe that the objectification of page 3 girls, rather than lack of sales, was the union’s main concern. LSE SU General Secretary Alex Peters-Day went some way to clearing the confusion: ‘The Sun currently has a very low readership on campus, and it would not be to the economic detriment of the SU if we were to stop stocking The Sun.’ she said in her online blog. ‘Given that The Sun promotes such a negative portrayal of women through page 3 this is an example where our ‘political’ motivations complement our commercial decisions.’ Put simply, the only economic issue was as to whether the union could afford to support the boycott; the decision was almost entirely politically motivated. Should a small committee of students really be allowed to ban readership of student newspaper
because of their own political bias? Many of us may despise The Sun, but it is not for us to decide who should read it. Press freedom may be under greater scrutiny in the Leveson era, but it is still integral to a fair democracy. People have a right to be informed on current events, but it is dangerous for this information to be fed to us according to the political views of one particular group. The aforementioned voting process has also come under scrutiny, as many students have rightly complained the notion was passed without a proper referendum. The fact that the vote was wholly disproportionate is concerning, but it is a mere side issue in this debate. Even if the process had been properly conducted, the idea that a majority vote could be taken as validation for the removal of a prominent newspaper is extremely worrying. It has done nothing to stimulate debate over what is an entirely relevant argument. Many national and student groups have campaigned admirably against the objectification of women, but the reasons behind the decision are now largely irrelevant. Almost none of the recent coverage of the boycott has been about the legitimacy of the sexualised representation of women. Rather than debating the rights and wrongs of the page 3 format, protesters are simply queuing up in support of the free press. LSE student Ben Green sympathises with the protestors’ stance: ‘Many people might think that The Sun is a horrendous paper, but this is about freedom of choice. I personally believe that the union should be politically neutral – it is worrying that a small group of students were able to make such a decision.’ With hindsight, the continued stocking of The Sun
alongside a considerable anti-page 3 campaign might have done more to help the group’s cause. Simply abusing their position in removing a newspaper without reasonable grounds cannot be in their best interests. In reality, the sudden, unexplained absence of a popular daily newspaper is not going to help garner support for the cause among students. Had those behind the boycott wished to sufficiently dent student readership of The Sun, then they might have been better advised to continuing educating students on the reasons behind it. Speakers’ events, flyers, committee meetings, socials etc. would have given the group the opportunity to explain their grievances and gain support for their cause, without compromising the supposed impartiality of the student union. As I have made clear already, the LSE Students’
Union have every right to raise their concerns about the sexist depiction of women. However, the union’s role should not be to exert political bias, but to ensure that they do not allow their own political agenda to influence their decision-making. It is ironic to think that whilst feminists in the early 20th century fought for so long for the right to vote, a minority of their modern-day counterparts are instead intent on quashing the democratic rights of others. To steal from Voltaire: the union might not agree with what The Sun has to say, but it is vital that they defend their right to say it.
Tom Acey
Disagree? Tweet us @mancunion_com, or email us at comment.mancunion@gmail.com
These attacks on smart drugs aren’t very smart James Jackson discusses the positives of using ‘smart drugs’ in academia and other areas. “One in six students have experimented with some kind of performance enhancing drug”, wrote Antonia Jennings in last week’s Mancunion, in an article that considered ideas such as random drugs tests and sniffer dogs to stop people from taking cognitive enhancing drugs during exams. Her reasoning seemed to be that “heightening the brain to some unnatural level gave the remaining students an unfair disadvantage,” and that therefore taking these substances is unfair and wrong. I have one question for Antonia: do you like coffee? The concept of a ‘drug,’ like ‘pornography,’ is notoriously difficult to define. With something like ketamine, it is obvious to everyone that it is indeed a drug. However, when you think of substances like caffeine, which have a less obvious affect, the line blurs. Caffeine is a cognitive enhancer, and therefore any bans against “smart drugs” are inconsistent and ill-thought out. Any way you look at it, coffee is a performance enhancing drug, or at least contains one. Caffeine has been proven to increase alertness, improve concentration and short-term memory; these are the same performance-enhancing properties that supposedly give Ritalin-taking students an unfair advantage. And yet they are present in most of our drinks. This is especially true for Modafinil, the main purpose of which is to increase alertness. Should some students be deemed “cheats” or penalized because they prefer to get their alertness in a £1 pill rather than £3 coffees? Following the Lance Armstrong scandal,
where cycling’s most famous sportsman was found to have used performance enhancing drugs, it is understandable to want to do something about cheating. However, viewing academia as a competitive sport similar to cycling is a grave mistake. There is a reason economists don’t take part in the Olympics: academia isn’t about beating your opponents, it is about producing good quality research or learning the skills to do so. Does it matter if you discover the Higgs Boson stoned or visualize the double-helix of DNA while tripping on LSD? It has been widely reported that Francis Crick had indeed taken the powerful psychedelic when his greatest discovery came to him. Should we strip him of his Nobel Prize like we stripped Lance of his medals? Of course not, because the point of research is not the competition, but the result. If the statistics
are anything to go by, there are probably researchers at this university taking smart drugs. If this helps them work harder, and discover a cure for a disease faster, isn’t this a good thing? At the root of these ethical questions are, I think, a number of unchallenged assumptions. The nature of the human mind is one of them. Many seem to think of drugs as unnatural and therefore fundamentally bad, but many smart drugs work by enhancing or inhibiting systems already found in the brain. Taking Omega oil supplements helps keep your brain healthy, but so does Piracetam, an Alzheimer’s drug that prevents age and alcohol damage and promotes cognition and memory recall. It has also been proven to increase the performance of dyslexic children.
I believe that many of the students who take non-prescribed cognitive enhancers are doing this to self-medicate undiagnosed learning difficulties. Would someone really go through the effort, and risk, of gaining a black-market substance such as Ritalin if they did not have a serious problem with concentration? Adult ADHD is poorly understood, and doctors are often suspicious of young people looking for a prescription. Some people have had bad experiences with doctors and the bureaucracy of the NHS and therefore prefer to find their own treatment, taking matters of their (mental) health into their own hands. What is wrong with a dyslexic student deciding on how to treat their learning difficulties? They probably have more time than their GP does to research new treatments, and more motivation to make the best decision for themselves. Drug abuse has brought significant suffering to our society, with millions of people a year dying from alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related illnesses, but it is dishonest to pretend that they can’t be used positively. In the words of Bill Hicks: “If you don’t believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favour. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. ‘Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years were rrreal high on drugs. The Beatles were so high they let Ringo sing a few tunes.”
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Comment
ISSUE 10/ 26th November 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
One rule for bishops, another rule for women Antonia Jennings and Jonathan Graham question the right of the Church of England to remain in the House of Lords following their rejection of women bishops
Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the church had “lost credibiliy” after rejecting women bishops. Photo: Wikimedia commons
In the wake of the Church of England’s decision to bar women from becoming bishops, what place does the Church have in our political system? Currently with twenty-six automatic seats in the House of Lords, the bishops of this country have significant political presence. The recent vote of the church to not allow women to become bishops shows further that the church is an outdated, sexist organisation – with no right to influence politics in this country. The decision of the vote is not supported by those most influential in the Church. But one glance at the tweeted response of Justin Welby, the soon-to-be leader of the Church, and it becomes pretty clear that religious bodies have no place in politics. He tweeted that it had been a ‘very grim day, most of all for women priests and supporters’. Welby also spoke of the need to ‘co-operate with our healing God’. It’s hard to imagine David Cameron emerging from a political vote bemoaning a result in which the vast majority of the country and its political representatives had been thwarted by such a small a minority of unelected, unrepresentative misogynists. Welby may say that the problem lies within the voting procedures and not within the institution as a whole. However, no Prime minister can hide behind a ‘healing’ third party, rather than tackling the issues at hand. If the House of Lords acts to challenge the government and ensure that the will of the electorate is represented in the Commons, what place have the leaders of an institution which can’t ensure that the voice of its own majority is heard? In response to the decision of the vote, MPs have begun an e-petition to remove the right of the Church of England to have automatic seats in the House of Lords. Their petition is as follows: “The Church of England on 20th November 2012 voted not to allow women
What relevance does the church have if it continues to regard half of the populace as second class? to be Bishops. Though that is within its rights to do, this should worry the Government as Church of England Bishops are awarded legislative power through seats in the House of Lords. The Church has chosen to be a sexist organisation by refusing women the right to hold highest leadership positions and therefore should not be allowed automatic seats in the House of Lords, as this clearly does not comply with the spirit of UK Equality law. We call on the Govt to remove the right of the Church of England to have automatic seats in the House of Lords, in line with its commitments to equality and nondiscrimination, set out in the Equality Act (2010) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979)” Arguments of democracy, equality and secularity are the strongest for this case. In practical terms, the bishops have little influencing power. It is hoped that
this petition will encourage the removal of bishops from the Lords due to their symbolic presence, more so than their power in practice. Out of the 760 seats overall in the House of Lords, the Church holds only twenty-six of them. This is compared to 212 Conservative, 225 Labour, and 90 Liberal Democrat peers. So in practical terms, if turnout were 100% in the House of Lords, and party lines held all the time, the bishops would never influence law – the vote would go to the coalition every time. However, allowing bishops automatic seats in the House of Lords undermines the credibility of our democracy. We are a highly developed liberal country, and this appears to contradict our morality. An organisation that is exempt from some aspects of the law, such as the Church of England is with the equality legislation act has no place in our parliament. Speaking to students unaware of the issue, it was surprising how many were shocked and appalled that such an undemocratic practise was still operating in this country. Laurence Jones-Williams, a member of Manchester Universities Humanist Group, told The Mancunion: ‘It’s a wonder how in the 21st century we still allow seemingly 18th century practices. The recent decision of the Church further shows the illegitimacy of the bishops’ presence in the House of Lords’. If you agree with the arguments above, I urge you to sign the petition. The fact the argument is in the political spectrum at all in the 21st century is unnerving, a stark reminder of one of the many obstacles we still have to overcome to become a truly liberal progressive society. The recent vote has shown that sadly the Church is not moving with the times, let alone reflecting the vast majority opinion in this country.
Leeds media censorship hear no evil, speak no evil? Clifford Fleming questions whether Leeds University Union risk joining the fascists they oppose with a motion to censor student media. Leeds University Union are set to hold a referendum on whether their student paper, Leeds Student, should be censored. Voting will be open online from 26th November. After increasing tension between individuals in the NUS and Leeds Student following the publication of an interview with MEP Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, the student body will have four days in which to vote on if reporting conducted by student media at Leeds on certain political groups should be banned. On Friday 26th October Leeds Student published an issue in which the MEP was interviewed by an openly gay student at Leeds University. Following a tense conversation, where the MEP described two men kissing as ‘creepy’, Griffin explained: ‘You [students] may think I’m a monster, but look at what your fate would be in an Islamic republic of Britain.’ The National Union of Students Black Students Officer and others responded promptly by publishing an open letter asking Editor Lucy Snow to immediately remove the article from the Leeds Student website. Their argument was that fascists, such as the leader of the BNP, should not be allowed a platform to express their viewpoints. Editor Lucy Snow stood by her decision to publish the article, and reported in The
Guardian on how she felt: ‘It is essential that his views [Griffin] are exposed for what they are. Leeds Student merely gave Griffin enough rope to hang himself.’ The arguments have led to Leeds University Union calling a referendum on the issue after inconclusive talks in a Union forum. The referendum question asks: ‘Should the Union’s exclusion of fascists and hate-speakers be extended to student media?’ 1,500 votes must be cast for the conclusion to be considered legitimate. On the reason behind the motion, the Equality and Diversity Officer at Leeds SU, Charlie Hopper, states online that: ‘Freedom of speech means Nick Griffin is not arrested for his views. That does not mean that we all need to see them printed and all over our bars, libraries and lecture theatres.’ Although it can be understandable that the Equality and Diversity Officer at Leeds University Union should try to protect the minority groups that officials like Nick Griffin prejudice against, the question arises over whether this should lead to censorship. With so many platforms, such as social media sites Twitter and Facebook, openly discussing contentious issues in society why should it fall on student media to be banned on joining in the debate? Considering the issue is about a far-right politician who would support
such censorship of the media, it seems rather hypocritical that the NUS would even consider such measures. My opinion follows many of the advocates of free media; the student body should not be treated as a passive mass. Students should be encouraged to learn about politics and the difficult issues politicians address; whether it be regarding immigration or civil liberties. Issues surrounding far-right fascists and hatespeakers should not be pushed under the carpet as this will only encourage such opinions to grow. The radical opinions of such people in society should be tackled head on via healthy debate and exposure in the press and online. The press play an important role in not only exposing, but educating. Leeds Student, by tackling the issue and interviewing Griffin, are encouraging students at the University of Leeds to find out more about such issues and engage with them in our society. Students should be encouraged to learn, not ignore. The United Kingdom has laws on free speech deliberately in order NOT to exclude any opinions. Whether Griffin’s opinions are considered vile and disgusting, he should be allowed to voice them. Students’ Unions and the NUS are there to represent the voice of the student body, and should not act so domineering.
Protests outside of Question Time when Nick Griffin went on the program. Photo: Wikimedia commons Although a referendum is a democratic process which allows individuals to voice their opinions, much of the time it isn’t needed. Much like the Police and Crime Commissioner elections last week, the likelihood is that few people will vote on such a specific issue. The students at the University of Leeds probably have far more direct worries than whether or not an interview with Nick Griffin should be published. NUS
officials should encourage debate over issues in society, not seek to limit the exposure of them. Journalism should be considered much like art; not all art depicts the niceties of life. Art can be aggressive and confrontational, trying to engage viewers to explore thoughts and ideas surrounding the piece. Journalism seeks to do the same, to spark comment and debate. Leeds Student made the right decision in
publishing the interview. The referendum at Leeds Uni follows rising tensions between NUS officials and student media over the past few weeks. At an NUS Senate meeting on 11th October, Queen Mary Students’ Union President, Babs Williams, described student journalists as ‘all dickheads’. The NUS and Students’ Union Executives across the country should seek to work with student press, not against it.
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Film
TOP
5
Movie Insults 5. Happy Gilmore Golfing newcomer Gilmore (Adam Sandler) is confronted by contemptuous pro, Shooter, before the beginning of their tournament.
Shooter: I eat pieces of sh*t like you for breakfast Gilmore: You eat pieces of sh*t for breakfast?
4. In The Loop Spin doctor Malcolm Tucker berates government employee Judy Molloy in one of his classic fits of rage. Malcolm: Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your purview and ram it up your sh*tter with a lubricated horse c*ck
3. Reservoir Dogs Mr. White shouts at Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) for acting like a psychopath during their disastrous jewel store heist. Unmoved Mr. Blonde responds. Blonde: Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy. Or are you gonna bite?
2. Casablanca Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) American businessman in Nazi occupied Morocco responds to a petty crook who turns up at his bar. Crook: You despise me don’t you? Blaine: Well, if I gave you any thought I probably would.
1. In Bruges Crime-boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) finds out his top hitman has defected and proceeds to violently batter his phone in a fit of rage. His wife enters. Wife: It’s an inanimate f**king object Harry: You’re an inanimate f**king object Nihal Tharoor Film Editor
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Philip Seymour Hoffman: The Sexiest Man in Hollywood Joshua Brown tells us how with Hoffman, talent trumps aesthetics Talent is attractive and Philip Seymour Hoffman is full to the brim with it. He has starred in many great films, from Hollywood blockbusters such as The Ides Of March to quirky British films like The Boat that Rocked. And Hoffman’s new film, The Master, looks set to take this year’s award season by storm. In the Paul Thomas Anderson movie, Hoffman plays the charismatic leader of a new spiritual movement, who draws in a fragile World War II veteran, played by Joaquin Phoenix. This almost sounds a rather tame role for a man who has played a plethora of weird and deeply disturbed characters; in Todd Solondz’s Happiness, he is the dysfunctional creep tossing himself off to strangers on the phone. Although a fantastic film, maybe not the best viewing choice for your next night in alone! Then there’s Capote, which won him the Oscar for his flawless impersonation of the great American author Truman Capote, a man full of selfloathing and deep-rooted narcissism. Trawling through interviews on YouTube to research an actor who I
believe is incapable of giving a bad performance, I was overcome with how likable he seems. He seems genuine and grounded, both attributes that are not in abundance amongst Hollywood stars. In his 2006 Oscar acceptance speech, for instance, he thanked his mum for everything she’d done for him in his life. I know it seems cliche, but Hoffman’s speech was different. He genuinely seemed to be talking from the heart. Charlie Wilson’s War is one of Hoffman’s great films from the last decade. It saw him win another Oscar nomination for his portrayal of maverick CIA operative Gust Avrakotos and it is one of the few Tom Hanks films where Hanks is outshone and out acted by his co-star. Hoffman steals the film with a very powerful and funny performance. Hoffman is to me, the sexiest man in Hollywood because of his beautiful consistency. ‘Sexiest’ and ‘consistency’ are not two words you often see in the same sentence but Hoffman is deserving of this paradoxical claim. His performances
are varied depending on the character but they are always executed brilliantly. His choice of films are diverse and rarely weak. He systematically and ruthlessly steals the show in every role he inhabits. Yes, Pitt and Clooney are good actors whose films I have enjoyed but they can never quite match Hoffman’s unerring
ability to draw you into his character. That’s what makes Hoffman sexier than the more aesthetically pleasing actors of his generation. Joshua Brown
Review
The Twilight Saga: ‘Breaking Dawn Part 2’ Director: Bill Condon • Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner Released: 16 November On November 15th Manchester Printworks Odeon screened The Complete Twilight Saga, all of the Twilight films in their entirety with the final instalment, Breaking Dawn Part 2, showing at midnight. The result? Twelve hours of entertainment on an epic scale. This was every Twilight fan’s dream – reliving the entire saga complete with bonus interviews with cast members and fans. I especially enjoyed the interviews with the total nutters, the pick of the bunch being one “twi-hard” who was not only fiercely holding back tears from eyes brandishing bloodred contact lenses, but clutching a life-sized wolf’s head! Prosthetic wolf heads aside, I am not ashamed to admit that the near-hysterical atmosphere was contagious. As the jam-packed cinema chorused the final ten-second countdown, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. With promises of a surprise ending, author Stephenie Meyer stepping up to the role of producer once again and the scandal of the R-Pattz/K-Stew break up, the anticipation surrounding this film has been huge. But with this anticipation came speculation – how do you follow the outstanding success of Breaking Dawn Part 1? Director Bill Condon had his work cut out, but definitely rose to the challenge. This film delivers on every level and, most crucially, is not just one for Twilight fans; but a cracking piece of blood-fuelled entertainment for everyone. After Bella (Kristen Stewart) has successfully settled into life as a vampire wife and mother, Breaking Dawn Part 2 deals with the Cullen family’s final showdown with the Volturi – the slightly bizarre Italian-based branch of the Vampire world. With Bella acting more Bela Lugosi
Actor
PROFILE Name: Eddie Redmayne Age: 30 Best known for: My Week with Marilyn, The Other Boleyn Girl
than Bella Swann, her transformation takes her into a completely different world, with Kristen Stewart surprising everyone with a genuine star turn – transforming not only physically but emotionally too. Cool, feisty and confident – this Bella was poles apart from the Bella of the past four films, demonstrating great knowledge of the books and proving that Kristen is quite the twi-hard herself! Sprinting, climbing and arm-wrestling, Bella was loving the life of a vampire and stunning visual effects took us right into the heart of the vampire experience for the very first time. Of course, the film (like the book itself ) wasn’t without its clichés. Whilst there were a few too many scenes of Edward (Robert Pattinson), Bella and a sometimes terrifyingly CGI’d Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) playing happily families, these were cleverly complimented by the arrival of extra vampires, colourful characters and brilliant oneliners. This film embraced the book’s cheesiness, not shying away from a tricky line in selfdeprecation. But what made the film so brilliant was its unpredictability. Moving at a furious pace towards an incredible and shocking
Apart from his most obvious attribute as a glorious piece of eye candy, Eddie Redmayne is also one of today’s most talented, up-andcoming actors. Appearing in lead roles in the BBC serialised book adaptations of Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Birdsong Redmayne is now a recognisable face on British TV – most notably as the silent, dashing hero who sends many hearts aflutter. His acting career spreads across all fortes with his debut being in theatre as the part of Viola in Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre. With cross-gender acting already under his belt, he climbed to new heights winning a series of prestigious awards including the Olivier
climax – no one, Twilight fan or not, had any idea how it was going to end. Twilight may well be the film world’s version of Marmite, but this particular film had something for everyone to sink their teeth into. It was never going to be easy to bid farewell to the saga, and whilst none of the films will ever be able to beat Twilight itself, Bill Condon created a film that was a homage to the books, to the fans and to the saga itself. Love at last bite? I think so. Sophie James Film Editor
Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Red in 2009, followed by a Tony Award on Broadway. Small roles in the blockbusters Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Other Boleyn Girl were swiftly succeeded by Redmayne’s
dominance as the leading man – My Week With Marilyn demonstrated his capabilities as a film’s protagonist and projected him to sudden stardom. Taking on the role of Marius in the eagerly awaited film-musical Les Misérables, Redmayne will once again find himself a following of swooning fans. I, for one, will be in the cinema’s front row for this singing debut Ally Mitchell
Film
ISSUE 10/ 26TH NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Preview
Jack Reacher
A Year In Film: 1984
Director: Christopher McQuarrie • Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike It is safe to assume that Jack Reacher will not be a typical thriller. Christopher McQuarrie’s rendition of the ninth book in Lee Child’s highly charged series of thriller novels, One Shot, introduces us to a complex character that (in the classic Tom Cruise tradition) seems to attract trouble at every turn. The fan-base that this movie will aim to please has been spoilt over the past decade with the revival of Bond and the birth of Bourne, but the storyline should promise to cover new-ground as Tom Cruise reprises a similar role to the one he made his own in Mission Impossible. Cruise seems to be the perfect fit for the role of Reacher, a gritty and on edge ex-military cop and ‘professional ghost’. The movie pits Reacher (a character both good and bad in equal measure) against a number of suspicious adversaries (who are just out-right bad). As with most action-packed thrillers the movie starts with an adrenaline rush as five people are shot dead by an unknown sniper. Seemingly a nailed-on case, the initial sniper suspect soon confesses his innocence and suggests he’s a dead man walking as it becomes apparent Reacher is after him. Inevitably
Reacher comes calling and he’s extremely pissed off (when is Cruise not?). However our initial impression of Reacher as an all guns blazing, exmilitary psycho is short-lived as he decides not to pursue his apparent lust for killing stuff in an attempt to prove the man’s guilt. The Reacher novels aren’t all about blowing stuff up or chasing bad guys and the movie shows this in abundance. The crime-thriller side of the movie really comes to the fore as Reacher’s new lawyer friend turns out to be a woman and is kidnapped by the real bad guys. Werner Herzog (best known for his directorial skills) plays the role of the criminal mastermind
behind the kidnapping and alongside Robert Duvall and Rosamund Pike the movie offers an impressive line-up of seasoned actors. As well as all the guns, cars and explosions Jack Reacher should offer some clever plot twists and a lead character with more to him than a good aim. If this movie can achieve that, then it looks as though we could be seeing more of Reacher in the coming years. Be sure to give it a watch.
Jack Crutcher
Ah, 1984 a simpler time. The Cold War was drawing to a close. Michael Jackson was the most famous person in the world – and only for good reasons. People were ‘Relaxing’ like Frankie said to; but most importantly some damn fine films were being made. The year packed in a remarkable bunch of classic movies that in retrospect have come to define the ’80s. The highest grossing film of that year was Ivan Reitman’s sci-fi comedy Ghostbusters. With a motley crew of comedy stars of the day, including Bill Murray at his sarcastic peak, Ghostbusters was a box office giant. Another huge actioncomedy was Beverly Hills Cop. This film propelled Eddie Murphy into being one of the biggest movie stars in the world, yet it could have been so different. Originally envisaged as a more serious detective film, with Sylvester Stallone eyed as the lead, it was only Eddie Murphy’s input when he joined the project that turned the film into the hilarious romp it was. But that’s just the start. 1984 boasts, take a deep breath, Gremlins, Police Academy, The Karate Kid, Footloose, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Red Dawn, Splash, Revenge of
‘The Hobbit’: An Unexpected, Arduous and potentially Unfulfilling Journey
In 2004, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, swept the boards at the Academy Awards winning in all eleven categories it was nominated for (including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson). This record breaking occasion is unlikely to be matched again by the new trilogy based on J. R. R.Tolkien’s work. But my ambivalence about The Hobbit’s success is not unfounded or rooted in some fanboy fanaticism that the original Lord of the Rings trilogy can never be matched in its sheer brilliance. A quick look at the chequered production history of the new trilogy gives us much reason to fear that our return to Middle Earth may not be as pleasurable a second time around.
PRINTWORKS
LISTINGS
himself, Chris Hemsworth. The Karate Kid was re-imagined a few years ago with Jackie Chan. And there are always rumours of a new Police Academy, Gremlins and Indiana Jones. This shows, beyond nostalgia, the lasting effect 1984 has had on the American film industry to this day, either that or Hollywood has well and truly run out of ideas. Dylan Wiggan
CORNERHOUSE
Robbie Davidson shares his concerns over The Hobbit’s difficult journey to the big screen Given, as mentioned above, the incredible critical (and commercial) success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy it may seem surprising to some that it has taken this long for the producers to adapt The Hobbit for the screen. Indeed Hollywood is not known to let a certifiable cash cow rest. But this delay is not from lack of trying. As early as 2006 MGM made it clear that they desired to team up with New Line Cinema (the studio behind The Lord of the Rings) to make The Hobbit with Peter Jackson once again directing. This would all have been very well had it not been for a particularly acrimonious legal dispute which Jackson and New Line were engaged in over the former’s belief that he had not been paid his ‘dues’. Having been hardly left impoverished by The Lord of the Rings’ massive box office receipts, New Line labeled Jackson as ‘greedy’. But the marital dispute would not get in the way of New Line raising a big beautiful blockbuster beast to fill their coffers and pressed ahead with finding a new director, demoting Jackson to lowly ‘producer’. In 2008 Guillermo del Toro was hired to direct the now two-part adaptation of the book. For any fan who was shocked at the prospect of Jackson not in the directing chair, del Toro was by far the next best thing. His work on Pan’s Labyrinth showed there were few better
the Nerds- phew. What is most remarkable about a lot of these films is their endurance. Not only are they still finding new audiences today, but many are being remade or even having the saga continued. With or without Bill Murray, Ghostbusters 3 is being pushed through development by Sony, it was recently announced. Eddie Murphy is developing a TV series of Beverly Hills Cop with his character’s son being the shows protagonist. Footloose was remade last year. A Red Dawn remake is being released this year starring Thor
directors who could balance fantasy and larger than life characters than him. So production pressed on, despite more legal disputes with the Tolkien estate over money (obviously Tolkien’s main concern when writing his masterpieces). But by 2010, MGM’s own financial problems caused del Toro to depart from the project leaving Jackson to seemingly slide back into the directing chair. Fans were saddened but relieved that Jackson was still willing to direct the project and finally the film entered pre-production in March 2011, after a brief industrial dispute with the New Zealand actors’ unions. Now here we are, only months away from the first installment in what is now a trilogy (a decision made for purely artistic reasons obviously) and I’m left with some serious anxiety. I want the film to be good more than anyone, but having sat through a number of trailers and read reports of a somewhat frosty reception to footage shown at a Lord of the Rings nerd convention, I’m left wondering whether quality has been sacrificed for commercial interests. From what I’ve seen the CGI looks sloppy, the dwarfs too silly and Jackson’s submission to the 3D gimmick leaves me uncertain. But I am ever hopeful even if it is, as Gandalf says, “A fool’s hope”.
Keep The Lights On Director: Ira Sachs Guaranteeing a raw emotional journey, Ira Sachs’ Keep the Lights On certainly relates in one way or another to personal experiences of relationships. Whether it’s love or friendship, this mature drama is extremely brave and inspiring. Although certainly not the first of its kind, with films such as The Kids Are Alright (2010) and Weekend (2011), Keep the Lights On is being hailed as a ground-breaking step for contemporary American gay cinema and received great critical acclaim at its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Spread over a ten-year span, Ira Sachs’ Keep the Lights On explores the fluctuating relationship between two male lovers in New York. Don’t get the wrong impression; this is not your typical romance, sugar coating the essence of love, but instead gives an intense and realistic take on the journey of an ‘off and on’ relationship, dabbling in the hardships of Paul’s addiction. Sach’s semi-autobiographical perspective of the film provides a heavily character-driven narrative. The focus on Erik (Thure Lindart), a Danish documentary filmmaker and Paul (Zachary Booth) a lawyer, creates a piece of highly emotive film. Every moment feels real. There is something incredibly deep and the brutal honesty that is brought to the screen brings a sense of catharsis. This is a beautiful and intense piece of film-making. Faye Broadbent
Robbie Davidson
ARGO (15)
GAMBIT (12A)
MADAGASCAR 3 (PG)
SYFALL (12A)
TTS: BREAKING DAWN PT.2 (12A)
DIRECTOR: BEN AFFLECK
DIRECTOR:MICHAEL HOFFMAN
DIRECTOR: ERIC DARNELL
DIRECTOR: SAM MENDES
DIRECTOR: BILL CONDON
STARRING: BEN STILLER, CHRIS ROCK, DAVID SCHWIMMER
STARRING: DANIEL CRAIG,
STARRING: ROBERT PATTINSON, TAYLOR LAUTNER, KRISTEN STEWART
RUNNING TIME: 115 MIN SHOWING: 13:40, 14:20, 15:00,15:40,16:50, 18:10, 18:50, 19:20, SHOWING: 17:10 17:30 17:50 18:10 18:30 19:00 19:20 19:30 20:00 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:20 21:50 22:20 20:10, 20:40, 21:20, 22.00
STARRING: BEN AFFLECK, BRYAN STARRING: COLIN FIRTH, ALAN RICKMAN CRANSTON RUNNING TIME: 120 MIN
RUNNING TIME: 89 MIN
RUNNING TIME: 93 MIN
SHOWING: 16:15, 18:55, 21:45
SHOWING: 14:10, 16:20, 18:45, 21.10
SHOWING: 13:25, 15:50
RUNNING TIME: 142 MIN
Fashion
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Style Icons or Style Crisis? Alice Tofts explores the boundaries of what is acceptable in on-screen styling. TV shows and films are renowned for their fantasy worlds. Superheroes, vampires and wizards challenge reality. But when unconventional outfits are worn by characters who are supposed to live in the real world, the viewer is left either baffled or inspired. Whether entertaining or setting trends, these characters make us question the endless possibilities of dressing with artistic licence. Spanning the last 30 years of film fashion, here is a list of the best through to the worst and the geniality to the absurdity.
Eddie and Patsy (Absolutely Fabulous): Perhaps the least inspirational of TV stars, these two ladies present a very flamboyant image of British Fashion. Eddie and Patsy’s costumes were designed to entertain rather than inspire. Taking fashion trends 5 steps too far, Eddie and Patsy put the fun into fashion. Patsy’s polka dot coat and Eddie’s snakeskin trouser suit were as outrageous in the 90s as they are now yet we cannot help but enjoy the fun and frivolity of their unique style.
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TOP
This week: The Avant-Garde Issue
H&M Collaborations
Avant-Garde Style Icons Chloe Letcher, Emma Richards and Miles Zilesnick on Fashion’s most experimental innovators.
André Leon Talley
1) Marni - 2012 This recent collaboration was a hit with the fashion crew. Such a hit, in fact, that on its first day in store the London shop had to limit shoppers to ten minute slots each. The New York store had sold out of the collection in less than an hour.
2) Lanvin - 2010
Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl- see featured image): Their extravagant outfits reflect their extravagant lifestyles. Expected to dress to impress and to wear the latest designs, their outfits can never be described as boring. Rejecting conventional school uniform, they pioneer a more innovative school style, which includes clashing brightly coloured socks, ruffled blouses and silk ties. These girls do not shy away from experimenting, yet they manage to avoid the terrible mistakes often made by other film characters.
In November 2010, Lanvin provided party goers with bold frocks and statement looks. Giving those on less than A-list budgets a taste of Parisian, high-end fashion. The success of the collaboration saw H&M’s sales rise by 8%; so, apart from the unlucky latecomers, everyone was happy.
Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City): Confused about her age and sometimes gender, her outfits are rarely within the boundaries of the norm, nor suitable for the occasion. Striding shamelessly down an NY sidewalk, shopping bags in hand, Carrie wore a gold prom dress and fur jacket. Despite claiming to be a ‘normal gal’ her brave fashion choices hardly reflect the average street style. Carrie reputes conformism yet beams with self-confidence. It is this carefree attitude which is so inspiring.
Street Style LOVING & LOATHING Loving: Anna Dello Russo for H&M Anna Dello Russo’s line for H&M has managed to hit autumn’s trend with its eccentric accessories. Following Marni’s Spring/Summer collection earlier this year, H&M’s affordable team up with the Vogue Japan editor combines rich gold, oranges and emerald greens to add a sparkle of glamour to our wintery wardrobes. Dello Russo explains that her aim was to ‘use accessories like a personal touch, as an amusing way to revitalize your life and wardrobe’. The collection consists of uniquely inspired bracelets, shoes, necklaces and earrings. Her sunglasses, embellished with a chunky gold chain and elaborate detailing are an example of how Dello Russo brings an edge of unconventionality to everyday life.
3) Roberto Cavalli -2007 One of the more glamorous collaborations, Cavalli brought a splash of Italian style to the Swedish chain store. Leopard print and glitter won over dazzled shoppers. There were even reports of physical fights breaking out over the sought after items in the New York store!
This Brit favourite’s contribution to high street fashion came under controversy when Kate Moss( star of its ad campaign) was snapped taking cocaine. The line made its own headlines though for quality designs and happy customers.
Loathing: Taking platforms to a new level Name: Hannah Badmington Occupation: Student of Fashion Buying and Merchandising at Manchester Metropolitan University. Spotted: GB Mag Event at Selfridges, Exchange Square. Wearing: Boots by Office, dress by H&M, coat from a charity shop, bag by Mulberry Icon: Iris Apfel What we think: We love the wintery colour palette in this ensemble and the coat is perfect for Manchester weather! (Photo by Melissa Malala)
As a personal fan of the return of the platform, it is to my horror that some designers feel the need to overkill it. Jeffrey Campbell is among others whose ridiculous creations produce platforms of 6-8 inches, making the shoes not only unsightly but also impractical. How one is meant to walk in these monstrous shoes is beyond me, and if I am lucky enough to see someone wearing them, I might be tempted to conveniently help them lose balance. This is a perfect example of how taking a look to the extreme can backfire immensely, leaving the consumer a victim of attempting to be unique. I find it hard to comprehend the necessity of digging a grave for such a statement style by amplifying it to new extravagances.
Susie Coen
5) Karl Lagerfeld - 2004 The scandal loving designer caused a furore when he said of his line “What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people”, upset by the store’s decision to produce his line in sizes up to (shock horror!) 16. Despite his controversial comments, the line lived up to Lagerfeld’s Chanel credentials.
Grainne Morrison
The term ‘Avant-garde’ typically refers to works of art that are innovative, experimental and willing to push the boundaries. But in a society like ours, where fashion plays a prominent role in our daily lives, the term is embodied fully in the style choices of iconic figures who are willing to challenge the status quo of what is deemed ‘acceptable’. No one is a more appropriate example of this than André Leon Talley. People may be familiar with Talley because of his 2008 cameo role in the Sex and the City movie, or because of his judging role on America’s Next Top Model. What many are unaware of is that, before Talley became a household name, he had been a distinguished figure in fashion, and a front-row regular at shows, for longer than most of us have been alive. Born in North Carolina, and raised by his Grandmother Bennie Frances Davis, Talley was taught to take pride in his appearance from a young age. He began his fashion career working as an assistant for Andy Warhol, earning a menial $50 a week. It was shortly after this that he met Diana Vreeland, whose sense of grandeur he immediately connected with, and by the time he got his first job with Vogue in 1983, Talley was already well celebrated for his excessive style. Here are a few examples of why… Talley is most recognised in fashion circles for his consistent cape wearing; he’s not satisfied with a simple tuxedo. How often is it that we see such a statuesque man (or any for that kind) photographed wearing jewels? Talley hugely pushes the boundaries, attending the red carpet in a Roger Vivier necklace.
Pam Hogg I’m not sure that many of you will have heard of Pam Hogg, but it is safe to say that her work is not for the faint-hearted. Readers of a nervous disposition, look away now… With a celebrity following including the likes of Rihanna, Kylie, Alison Mosshart, and Siouxsie Sioux sampling a burst of colourful Hogg lycra on stage and having once been the musical support act for the likes of The Pogues and Debbie Harry, Hogg has fronted bands performing a wide range of music from rockabilly to punk. No wonder then that the 46-year old has successfully created a totally unique brand characterised by strong elements from her punk-rock youth. Hogg was even recently requested by Lady Mary to design her wedding dress with the end product showcasing a look like no other, when she married Robbie Furze earlier this year. That’s what you get when you use the same designer as Lady Gaga. To say that her designs are edgy would be THE understatement of the year. I don’t think you would be able to walk out normally in a signature Pam Hogg piece unless you have an equally as bold personality to carry off the look (so that’s Lady Gaga or a serious punk rocker) or you are attending a crazy event which calls for such attire. The beauty of her creations however, is that they can be easily adapted to suit the individual, for those of us who do like to incorporate some elements into your outfits that add a bit of…flare, let’s say, without getting too much of the wrong attention! Needless to say, her Autumn/Winter 2012 collection is simply remarkable. Although the mono-brows are still, well, we will give it to you, scary.
Alexander McQueen
Undoubtedly one of the biggest names in British fashion and known to be equally as outlandish. His shows have consisted of placing models in a wind tunnel for the exploration of displaying fabric, torn clothes symbolising the rape of Scotland by England and even using a hologram model of Kate Moss on the runway. In regards to his ‘unwearable fashion’, one of his most extreme pieces includes a collaboration between graffiti and art, where a model was elevated in the midst of a show and spray painted, not too unlike the Citroen Picasso advert. If you haven’t seen the McQueen video yet, I’d highly suggest you put down this paper and watch it. To some, the piece would appear to be a wedding dress violated by a Banksy wannabe, or for other fashionistas, an expression of the fluidity of fashion. Personally I just thinks it looks really cool. Another favourite of mine, yet more predictable, are McQueen’s iconic Armadillo shoes. His 10inch heels famously featured in the video for Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’, which appear impossible to walk in, let alone dance in. These glittery devils look incredible, but I can guarantee it is not acceptable to wear them in any respectable social situation, (unless of course you know of a higher class edition of Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.) Either way, I still think they look amazing despite their potential excessiveness. Since the tragic death of McQueen however, his old work has taken on a certain kind of reverence. His fashion house still lives on through the like-minded work of Sarah Burton, who designed Kate Middleton’s stunning wedding dress, now on display at Buckingham Palace. A timeless classic, representative of British fashion.
Beauty
4) Stella McCartney - 2005
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Less is more, more or less Beauty Editor Jessica Cusack on the dangers of overdoing it. The beauty industry, and the press which surrounds it, can be confusing. ‘Less is more’ we are told from one page of a magazine, but then the next features pictures of female celebrities papped without make-up, resulting in a barrage of criticism for the fact they are too thin/pale/tired, accompanied by explanations for such shocking make-up free behaviour such as drink/drug/marriage problems. This ridiculous (not to mention sexist) journalistic trend sends the same pathetic message to us: we must wear makeup at all times, even if it’s just to take out the bins or grab some milk from the offy. I myself admit that unless I’m not leaving the house, I will automatically have at least the bare minimum on my face: concealer and a bit of blush so I don’t look totally like Uncle Fester from The Addams Family, such is the reality of living in a freezing cold country and not one which gives a permanent sunkissed glow. These celebrity critiques filter down into mainstream society instantly: as I mentioned,
most of us wouldn’t leave the house without at least a bit of make-up on, and a shocking number of females admit to never letting their partners see them without make-up, often waking up to paint themselves before he/she arises (see: the opening scene of Bridesmaids). The result of this is extreme beauty regimes: inches of make-up which take hours to apply, lashings of stinky fake tan and fake eyelashes on a daily basis. I have even seen them (for, given their size, they do indeed take on a separate identity to the wearer) in the gym. However, while one’s preferred method of maquillage is totally subjective and hopefully harmless, a more frightening trend is that of plastic surgery. Despite the recession, plastic surgery is ever-increasing – while the age of patients is decreasing. Whether it’s breast implants, nose reconstruction or preventative botox, young people – male and female – are saving up to get these procedures done, and in going for the ‘cheapest’ option put themselves at greater risk of botched jobs,
infection and, in severe cases, death. The fact is that going under the knife is normalised by the media and celebrity culture has a big part to play in young people feeling compelled to take their beauty regime to the extreme. There have been some horrendous cases of under-qualified or fake surgeons praying on young people as they know they are among the most self-conscious and vulnerable members of society. This is utterly frightening: we need to protect each other and ourselves from this damaging image of ‘beauty’. Au natural (with a little help from our good friends Bronzer and Mascara) really is the safest way to go, and – pardon me while I dust off an old cliché – less is more. We should all feel we are able to show our own skin colour, hair length and eyelash thickness to the big bad world without fear of not fulfilling a prescribed image of what’s beautiful. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder (sorry, there goes another cliché) and going natural is looking pretty darn good from where I’m standing.
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Music
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMEBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Interview
Editor’s column
‘Mafia Twitter trolls’ and my morbid obsession with celeb gossip Sophie Donovan Music Editor Gossip is an activity we’ partake in almost every day. Usually but not exclusively of a sexual nature, we are fascinated by what everyone else is doing. Apart from affirming our feelings of superiority by sniggering at the mishaps of others, the purpose of gossip is usually to impress. Not unlike endlessly repeating quotes from Alan Partridge, we blather the hearsay of others in the hope that our audience will fall about laughing; duped into thinking that we are hilarious and interesting. But the more tenuous our link to the subject, the less interesting the tale - so why am I so fascinated by the relationships of pop stars I don’t even like? I was genuinely upset to hear that Taylor Swift had gone out with leather-choker-enthusiast Ed Sheeran and I didn’t know about it. But why would I know? I don’t buy their records, I don’t follow them on Twitter and I don’t even like them (although respect to Sheeran for writing a lyric that describes a face as “crumbling like pastries” without anyone noticing). I would understand my interest if I adored them artistically or loved boys with ginger bum-fluff, It would make sense if I was passionately anti-Swift and detested Eds - then I could jeer at the Daily Mail website and spitefully remark “you deserve each other!” But what baffles me is why I expect to know the personal details of people who, otherwise, I have no interest in whatsoever. More Swift news that I was shocked I didn’t know was that she’d been spotted holding hands with pube-less heart-throb
5 SONGS IN THE FIELD OF... Fire Sam Bartram
Harry Styles and had received a barrage of Twitter-hatred from furious fans. One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson referred to their terrifying online troll mafia as aggressive “extremists” in a recent interview, and suggested that it was a “minority offence”. The viral crimes of these offenders have meant the permanent abstinence of Burberry model, Edie Campbell from Twitter, after she posed with the band for a photo-shoot and was ironically told she “looked like a troll”. More extraordinary tweets from 1D fans include the remarkably medieval “I WILL KILL YR FIRSTBORN”, and the simply put, “If u dating my harry, i kill u’. Now, it’s clear that these maniacs have a vested interest in this gossip. They’ve publically announced their plots to murder a celebrity and their future children. They care. And despite myself, so do I. I happened upon “Cheryl – Coming Home Cheryl” on ITV, and like my bewilderment at the title’s extra “Cheryl”, I was confused at the audible gasp that passed my lips at the candid announcement that ‘Tre’ wasn’t just a background dancer featured in the documentary, but was in fact her boyfriend as well! Why hadn’t anyone told me? I have no interest in Cheryl and clearly I’m unaware of Tre’s work, but I was visited by the same inner turmoil that plagued me at the Swift news. I have faith, at least, that I will not be using this gossip to impress nor affirm my superiority, as clearly spreading the news of the ordinary relationships of happy rich celebrities will achieve neither. But, I’m unsure if this voluntary hysteria will pass soon.
1. The xx - Hot like Fire Fire is definitely hot, The xx got that much right. Well, actually, they got more than that right because, as expected, this Aaliyah cover is a charming track from the London trio. This song is more mellow than a firecracker, think along the lines of gentle smouldering coals.
Daniel Bortz The Mancunion gives a penny for Daniel Bortz’s thoughts on sampling, Sankeys and music of all sorts Daniel Jones Music Editor Within the current sphere of four to the floor music, it’s difficult to differentiate between the shit-ton of artists out there. It’s even more difficult to find a label that’s able to carve out its own sound amid the hackneyed din of bubblegum house. Leading the charge for Berlin’s Suol imprint, Daniel Bortz is one of the finest purveyors of soulful German techno to fully emerge on the circuit over recent years. His appearance alongside Ame and Dixon at Sankeys back in March marked his first visit to Manchester, but, speaking from his hometown flat in Augsburg, Bortz reveals he is relishing the chance of getting another crack at the whip. “I remember it was a really great night, I can’t wait for December. I love playing the UK in general. The people are open to so many types of music which makes my job that much easier. Augsburg can be very critical, which does make it harder in some ways, but it’s still a good place to test whether your music can really work. It’s a small town where people get bored easily, so you have to be on point if you want to inspire them.” It’s been a fairly long road for the Augsburgborn producer; he has been making music since 1994, yet his first big release on Pastamusik didn’t actually arrive until 2007. “I tried many different kinds of electronic music over that time,” he confesses, “In the beginning it was hip hop, then acid. I played with drum computers and actual drums for quite a few years. Eventually I bought an MPC and started messing around with outboard synths and Logic. It was an interesting time because I was listening to everything from psychedelic rock to RnB to techno, but I still wasn’t sure what style I wanted to go for.” When questioned further about his production technique and majestic sampling, Bortz explains that making music is usually a
2. Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire Imagine what the great Johnny Cash would make of the popular drinking game which shares its name with this song? Food for thought. But seriously, this track’s nearly fifty years old, and you’d be hard pushed to find someone who doesn’t know these lyrics.
I’m very concentrated when I play, I think constantly about which song needs to come next to sustain the flow and connect with the crowd solitary process for him. “I can only produce in my studio, never on the road or just on headphones. I need the bass! Producing with friends is good fun and I might try out some other studios in future, but I think that finalising will always be a lonely process for me. As for samples, I dig as deep as I can and record them as part of a freestyle jam, but sampling also brings out your inner nerd too. You have to be a nerd if you want to know all the samples in our musical history!” Given his fairly consistent output, Bortz very rarely releases remixes of his own tracks, a fact that he acknowledges himself. “I guess I just want my music to stay pure. I’m not saying there aren’t artists out there who do a great job but I try to focus on my own productions. It’s just not something for me.” That said, he does appear to be much more inclined to remix the work of
others. There a few quality examples knocking about, particularly his edits of Kolombo’s ‘Shape Your Life’ and James Blake’s ‘Limit’, but in terms of original material, ‘I’m Talking’ is the one. The sample comes from Eddie (of Temptations fame) Kendrick’s 1973 lick “Keep on Truckin”, but take nothing away from Bortz who remains a wizard in the arrangement process. The beat is relentless, the riffs are infectious and the cuts are perfectly placed. His productions reflect the same musical range that can be found in many of his mixes; this sense of variety is something he attributes to a crowd-reading alertness. “If the people aren’t into a particular style you have to switch up the BPM. I’m very concentrated when I play, I think constantly about which song needs to come next in order to sustain the flow. Once you start making links between tracks, you begin to remember which songs go well together but, yeah, I always try to get in contact with the crowd.” Fortunately for us, the German has been able to gather enough musical connections and flows over the past 20 years to satisfy the multitudinous needs of European club-goers. “I’ve been DJing for just as long as I have been producing so I’d consider myself very familiar with club music. That experience aided the transition from playing smaller venues back home to the bigger venues I play now. You can’t compare clubs together though, everywhere is different but the principle is the same. Get people dancing.” If he wasn’t into the whole superstar DJ thing, he hypothesises that he would still be involved in the music game in some other way. “That, or cooking,” he adds. It seems a logical choice for somebody so well adept in the mixture of combinations. What’s certain is the fact that Daniel Bortz has now firmly cemented himself in the scene and will no doubt continue to make a name for himself over the coming year.
3.Busta Rhymes - Fire It Up
4. Magnetic Man feat. Ms. Dynamite - Fire
5. SBTRKT - Wildfire
It’s never made exactly clear who, what or indeed, why Busta wants to ‘fire it up’, but he’s certainly very serious about it. And who would argue with him? Exactly. Lets just take his word for it and do what the nice man says.
Ms Dynamite rates relatively high on the all time list of cool female singers, so if she tells you to play with fire, you’re probably going to play with fire, no questions asked. The rolling bass could only ever be made by Benga, Skream and Artwork and as ever, Dynamite’s fiery rap compliments it perfectly.
For a track with vocals from Little Dragon, it seems appropriate that fire is involved. As for the wild part, SBTRKT always know how to spark up a good night and continue to sell out wherever they go. Overall, Wildfire, remains a firm favourite among on the club scene.
Music
ISSUE 10 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Interview
Pure Love The Mancunion talks to Frank Carter The cold, wet month of November isn’t necessarily the most conducive setting for one of the strongest rock tour lineups of 2012- Lostprophets headlining, with support from We Are the Ocean and Pure Love. Not that you’d guess that from Jim Carroll, the laidback lead guitarist of Pure Love, discussing his band in their busy dressing room in the Apollo. ‘(These are) some of the most energetic shows I’ve ever played, and that’s fully comparable to any hardcore punk shows. From the two of us coming from that background, we don’t approach this in any different way than we would in any of our former bands, so we approach it with a very energetic mindset’ Years spent toiling away in the underground music scene, in bands such as the Hope Conspiracy and Gallows, has honed Carroll, plus collaborator and singer Frank Carter, into a tight live unit. ‘The opportunity to play this, a 3400 venue... we don’t approach it as an opening band, we approach it as if it was our headline crowd. We want everyone to have a good time and it’s not about winning people over. We just do what we do every night, the same way we always do, and it seems like everyone really enjoys it.’ The band go on to to discuss their debut album,
‘Anthems’ (Vertigo, 2013). An interesting title- literal or figurative? Carter replies instantaneously, in his surprisingly softly spoken tones. ‘Both. When we were discussing what the album would be called, we have a song called ‘Anthem’ and we thought it was shame every song couldn’t be called that.’ With such a set tone, how does the album sound vary? ‘(The) ebb and flow is hard to describe, there’s a huge difference in every song. We can talk a good talk at the minute, and explain what we’re about, but noone will know until the album is out, people can listen to it and really understand what we meant when we called it that- and all the work that went with it.’ Which is no understatement. Carter thinks briefly, then states that he and Carroll went into the studio with ‘30 songs and cut it down to 11’. It’s hardly the case that their first release is hidden from the world, though. Carter explains. ‘You can (listen to the songs online). We’ve stopped playing a few songs, just because its not the right time. What we’re trying to do is get people amped on our live sound, some of the songs aren’t ready; they’re a little longer and slower, it’s all up now.’ He goes on to talk about how music relates to the internet now. ‘It’s a doubleedged sword for musicians. It’s a brilliant tool and its
also a hugely negative thing for musicians trying to make it as a job. Really, it only affects the labels- but that in turn affects musicians down the line’ Carter sums up his view on his bands place in the music scene at large. ‘It’d be nice to see some guitarbased rock back in the charts. It’s not gone, just look at the Vaccines or the Foo Fighters... I just want to make sure we get a proper chance to become one
of those bands. It’s our debut and there’s a lot of weight being put on it. Unfortunately we’ve done all we can, it’s not like we can go back in and re-record songs’ He pauses briefly and smirks, ‘well we could, but fuck that.’ Fin Murphy
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Live
Ladyhawke
Findlay
Academy 2 - 13th November 2012 New Zealand born Ladyhawke, aka Pip Brown, was welcomed onto stage with a roar of cheers from her dedicated fan base. Her awkward but cool demeanour instantly earned a sense of endearment from the less familiar members of the audience. Set opener, ‘Back of the Van’, a tune from her debut album Ladyhawke, instantly expressed her obvious 80s influences, with its dominating guitar/synth sounds.
She went on to perform plenty of tracks from her debut album as well as some from her most recent release, Anxiety. Older tracks like ‘Professional Suicide’, ‘Magic’, ‘Dusk ‘til Dawn’ and ‘Better Than Sunday’ were broken up with some newer repertoire such the singles ‘Blue Eyes’ and ‘Sunday Drive’. However, to the untrained ear, the general gist of every song was similar almost to the extent of confusion.
6/10
Nevertheless, it cannot be taken away from her that her set was exciting, with the soaring synths, accessible melodies and guitar riffs and distorted bass lines being delivered with a cool confidence. The crowd demographic further affirmed her 80s influences. A distinct older bunch were gathered towards the back, clearly appreciating the nostalgia of it all and the reflection on artists like Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran and later bands like Nirvana. ‘Paris Is Burning’ finished off the set, in which the punchy guitar riffs and rhythms transformed the crowd into a sea of bobbing bodies. The encore started with a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’, which, admittedly, was lost on the majority of the younger clientele, but her inevitable encore ender, ‘My Delirium’, was received with cheers of recognition and appreciation. So, although Ladyhawke can very much be described as a “one trick pony”, her live show was very energetic and enjoyable. Sophie Wozencraft
Club Academy - 17th November 2012 It’s a brave way to begin. In the basement grunge of Club Academy, low-ceilinged and close-walled, lead singer Natalie Findlay opens with a fiery acapella, her voice curling out like smoke from a cigarette. Yet, stood redundantly around her, the band looks bored. Though they are made to look plain by the grit-glitter of her performance, their blank faces still defuse the song’s power. Findlay’s first single on release, growling rock song ‘Your Sister’, follows: the band finally ignites and properly conducts Natalie’s raging voice. The microphone, however, does not: her primal sound is shot full of silences throughout the last part of the song. Despite persistent sound jitters during two further songs, needing to switch the mic twice and, at one point, having to physically hold the equipment together, Natalie’s performance never falters. With dark hair wild about her face, mouth defined in red, Natalie finally concedes that “if this doesn’t work I’m going to burn the fucking place down” – just as the glitch is fixed. The set thrashes on,
beautifully managed precisioncrashes from Findlay’s leopardshirted drummer outshining the confident accompaniment of the bassist and baby-faced, Beiber-quiffed electric guitarist. Natalie hurls her noise from the base of her throat and, though she slows for one blue-lit, softer song, she begins to sound like an instrument breaking with its own music. Her voice croaks when she speaks, a possible explanation for why none of the songs are introduced.
8/10
Considering that, save for a couple of exceptions, there is an astounding absence of Findlay tracks available anywhere online, this omission seems perverse, almost an attempt to repel potential fans. Though courageous, this is music lacking proper projection and outlet: both as a singer and brand, Natalie Findlay needs a better vehicle for her voice. Polly Checkland
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Music
ISSUE 10/26TH NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Mancunion Recommends
Now: Crystal Castles (III) Fiction Records - 2012
Patrick Hinton The release of their eponymous debut album in 2008 saw Crystal Castles pioneer a unique brand of raw, glitch-electro. Two albums later, the Toronto duo have broadened their musical horizons considerably; Ethan Kath claimed to have disposed of all his old recording equipment to aid this musical revamp. Various influences are evident through the record, yet it still retains the unmistakable Crystal Castles identity. III is their most streamlined and mature effort to date. The pair’s willingness to evolve is underlined by ‘Sad Eyes’ which contains a polished trance hook that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Tiësto
set, were it not for Alice Glass’ woozy lament “you can’t disguise sad eyes”. Elsewhere, Kath’s production excellently compliments the vocals. ‘Insulin’ sees Glass unleash her now trademark Banshee screams, first aired on debut single ‘Alice Practice’, and in turn, Kath’s accompaniment is explosive and harsh, whilst ‘Transgender’ exhibits Glass’ more melodic verse and, sonically, is suitably subtle. The lyrical themes of III stem from Glass’ anger at societal injustice, but her recent revelation that “A lot of bad things have happened to people close to me ... it’s profoundly influenced my writing as I’ve realized there will never be justice for them” prove this to be a more personal matter than it first appears. She often takes the position of an apparent spiritual guardian aiming to fix the problems society could not, “I’ll protect you from all the things I’ve seen” she promises on ‘Kerosene’ in a mournful tone that still retains a strong sense of resolve. Glass is lyrically arresting, and her refusal to do more than one studio take based on her belief that the first is the rawest expression of an idea contributes to the feeling of purposeful urgency flowing through III. ‘Child I Will Hurt You’ sees Crystal Castles achieve a level of emotion they could only formerly reach with a guest spot from Robert Smith. The use of a vocoder, which acted as a barrier to engaging fully with Glass on previous releases, lends an angelic quality to the vocals, whilst the production is similarly elegant, meaning the album closes on an exceptionally beautiful and affecting note.
Then: Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine Epic Records, 1992 Charlie Boydell-Smith Were it not for Rage Against the Machine, it would be easy to imagine Zack De La Rocha as the leader of a radical left wing activist network, ranting and raving about corrupt policemen and the government controlling the population through the media. Thankfully, Rage burst onto the scene in 1992 with their politically charged debut album, allowing De La Rocha’s views to be transmitted in a manner which is much more pleasing to the ear, with the band channeling a raw punk energy so perfectly surmised by their moniker. The very concept of rap metal seems incongruous, bringing together two genres that, on paper, seem to have little in common, but Rage’s debut is by no means contrived, with de la Rocha spitting his articulate lyrics over the simplebut-effective guitar lines that have become Tom Morello’s signature. The album explodes with ‘Bombtrack’, discussing the bands aggrievance with social inequality with the belief that ‘landlords and power whores’ should ‘burn’ before legendary single ‘Killing In The Name’ is unleashed. Even without the successful Facebook campaign that got the song to Christmas number 1 in 2009, which has subsequently led the song to become the face of opposition towards modern pop music, this would still be regarded as a classic. The track is an angry, brutal attack on American society with reference to cross burning by the Klu Klux Klan and the accusation that some members of the US
BOOK NOW: 0161 832 1111 www.manchesteracademy.net Live Music and Clubs at the University of Manchester Students’ Union
November 2012 Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The Glitter Band
Monday 26th November - £20
Saturday 8th December - £14
Crystal Castles
The Stones
Wednesday 28th November - £16
Saturday 8th December - £10
Ryan Leslie
Katatonia
Wednesday 28th November - £25
Tuesday 11th December - £14
Converge
The Rasmus
Thursday 29th November - £13
Thursday 13th December - £12
Alabama 3
It Bites
Friday 30th November - £18
Thursday 13th December - £17.50
Miss May I
Stooshe
Friday 30th November - £10
December 2012 Therapy? Saturday 1st December - £15
The Doors Alive Saturday 1st December - £10
The Lancashire Hotpots Saturday 1st December - £12
Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield Sunday 2nd December - £15
Glasvegas Rodriguez
December - £15
Action Bronson Friday 14th December - £12.50
Jessie Rose + The Naughtys + The Minx + Chaddy Saturday 15th December - £8
Molotov Jukebox + Nimmo and the Guantletts + The Roughneck Riot Saturday 15th December - £10
The Hives Saturday 15th December - £17.50
Stereophonics Sunday 16th Ellie Goulding Monday 17th December - £22.50
Sunday 2nd December - £17.50
Dappy Monday 3rd
Thursday 13th December - £12.50
December -£32.50
Sunday 2nd December - £14.50 Police Force are associated with the racial group, ‘some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses’. There is no time to take a breather before the record rips into ‘Bullet in the Head’ and the ‘Know Your Enemy’, with ‘Freedom’ providing a riotous close to proceedings. Even if you don’t agree with De La Rocha’s views, you certainly can’t ignore them with his powerful and commanding vocal delivery. Since their debut, Rage have perfected the art of rap metal (no matter how hard Limp Bizkit have tried) and through their eponymous debut album in particular, they will forever be spoken as one of the real giants of music.
Rancid Friday 7th December - £20
RESCHEDULED Original tickets remain valid
Needtobreathe Monday 3rd December - £10
Yeasayer Monday 3rd December - £10 Red Fang + El Caco Tuesday 4th December - £10
God Is An Astronaut
Parokya Ni Edgar & Gloc-9 Thursday 20th December - £25
Thunder Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd December - £30
January 2013 The Sword Tuesday 8th January - £10 Early Mojo Friday 11th January - £6
Thursday 6th December - £12.50
Danny & Ben from Thunder
Electric Six
hursday 17th January - £18.50
Thursday 6th December - £12.50
Passenger Thursday 17th January - £9
Stolen Peace The ‘Devil Hammer’
single Launch Party + The Logicals + F.I.G.M.O + Ruby Tuesday Friday 7th December - £6
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Sylosis Sunday 27th January - £10 Korpiklaani Saturday 2nd February - £15 Anberlin Saturday 2nd February - £11 Modestep Sunday 3rd February - £12
FOR FULL LISTINGS PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE
Books
ISSUE 06/ 22ND October 2012 WWw.MANCUNION.COM
Top 4 + 1 books in the field of war Aidan Gregory charts his top war literature picks
Exercise for your right to read for fun Lisa Quirke reminds us that reading is not just a means to a numerically valuated end
Remembrance day has come and gone, the Palestine conflict escalates once more. Now is a good time to remind ourselves of war and its continuing impact, through some of its many literary representations 1.Catch 22, Joseph Heller (1961) ‘The first time I read about Yossarian, I fell madly in love with him’. It was a tough one to call, but topping off this list is a chaotic, almost incoherent satire on life. Joseph Heller was part of a new generation of American writers who saw action in the Second World War, including Salinger, Gore Vidal, and Kurt Vonnegut. Set in the closing months of the conflict, Catch 22 follows the story of Captain John Yossarian – the ultimate anti-hero with a burning desire to be anywhere but combat missions. It’s written in an extremely unique style, with a rather upbeat and comical first half, and then things take an abruptly brutal turn as Yossarian’s friends are all killed off. Widely hailed by critics as a modern classic, the novel will make you laugh, cry and most importantly reflect on the nonsensical side of war.
2. All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque (1929) The devastation of the First World War paradoxically produced some of the most beautiful novels and poems ever written. At number two is the oldest book in the list; first published in 1929. It’s a novel that was banned by the Nazis, and one which reminds me why I wear a poppy each November. What makes it special is that it is written from the German perspective, which challenges the all-too-often partisan perspective we have on wars. Most crucially, the novel captures perfectly the brutal loss of innocence that occurs in war. The characters that populate the book are mostly students our own age, catapulted from their classrooms into the mud and smoke of the trenches. It’s heart-wrenching as one by one they are whittled down.
3.Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks (1993) In spite of the fact that the book has become something of a cliché, no list of war books could be complete without Birdsong. It was butchered by a recent star-studded, historically inaccurate BBC adaptation in. No matter, Faulks’ harrowing 1993 masterpiece is still as emotional as ever. You can’t help but be sucked into the story of Stephen Raysford, the young officer cast into the horror of The Somme, haunted by the memory of a lost love. It features a number of graphic, but I think we can agree, ultimately well-written sex scenes, alongside gory details of causalities and above all the tragic heartbreak of Stephen’s life.
4.Homage to Catalonia, George Orwell (1938)
And, editor’s pick, Top 1 War Book written not by a man or a soldier:
1. The Diary of Anne Frank, (or The Diary of a Young Girl), Anne Frank (1947) It’s ‘action’ doesn’t take place in the trenches, or on any battlefield, or inside a tank, but Anne Frank’s diary is possibly one of the most revealing books about war ever written by anyone (including a man). It documents the experience of war, one not necessarily shaken by shrapnel every few seconds but nonetheless shaped by it; an experience in which fear sits squarely next to the quotidian, fear becomes the quotidian. And it is quietly, silently heartbreaking. Why? because it’s real tragedy takes place offstage, silenced by the reality of war that men keep on fighting.
Manchester Literature Festival, pointing the way to at least one more reader
A few weeks ago I attended the Manchester Literature Festival event ‘Bio Punk’ in an attempt to inspire a friend who loved writing to not succumb to the apathy that so often hinders those who love writing from becoming the authors they want to be. The event was based around a book of short stories, BioPunk, written by authors who had talked to scientists
working on a variety of projects to get inspiration for their work, a few of whom (both involved parties) were at this event. Instead I found that not only had my friend been inspired to write, but I had been inspired to read again… for fun. This is unfortunately a concept that had long since been lost to me. Since starting university and a humanities course, I have been reading chapters of theory and practice so often that the thought of reading in general sends a chill through my bones (a reaction common to many other students I have spoken to). Yet I ended up at an event that reminded me how, in so many ways, fiction is not just escapism, but offers so much more (emotion, inspiration, dreams and ideas) so much more immediately than academia ever could. Fiction brings to life ideas and emotions in a way that I had forgotten about: it inspires action; it can challenge ideas of how the world should be, and allow our imagination not to be hindered by ‘reality’ (the daily proximity of which so often cripples the creative spark). It took three scientists and two authors debating the role of literature, to challenge other subject areas and open them up to a wider audience,
to remind me of what I have been missing out on in the last three years. As fantastic an experience this was, I felt compelled to write this for those of you who haven’t yet remembered the joys and intrigues of reading a book for fun, rather than for an essay. Since the event I have been reading Terry Pratchett’s Carpe Jugulum, and What on Earth Happened: The Planet, Life and People from The Big Bang to the Present Day by Christopher Lloyd – which is a fantastic book that you can dip in and out of, and all the history of the world you could need, plus great diagrams and explanations. I want to remind you: Reading is not all about work. Fiction is inspiring and empowering. And above all, DO NOT let academia kill this for you. So go out to your library, bookshop or just to your local Amazon and enjoy the empowerment of reading what you choose, for your own benefit rather than what academia tells you to. Lisa Qurike
Blog
“Collective madness is called sanity” Author Paulo Coelho’s blog shoots straight to the heart of your internet life So it was essay deadline time. And having run out of books to read as procrastination, I naturally turned to the trusty internet. A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the impact of technology – and in particular, the internet –on literature. Despite knowing this, however, I had never really delved into the particulars of book blogs…until now. Google helpfully pointed me towards a site ranking the top 50 most popular blogs. At the top of the list was the blog of Paulo Coelho. Paulo Coelho is definitely a writer I had intended on devoting a little more time to, when I got around to it, and his blog reminded me of his gifts as a writer. I’d read his novel Veronika Decides to Die, which I thought was incredible (-if you get the chance, definitely give it a go!). One post that particularly interested me was posted on 9th November, titled ‘What is Happiness?’ The theme echoed those of the novel I had read. Coelho answered the rhetorical question pretty philosophically, in a way that appealed to the struggles of the reader and causing no small amount of self-reflection: “I don’t know if everyone is unhappy. I do know that people are always busy: working overtime, looking after the kids, the husband, the career, the university degree, what to do tomorrow, what they need to
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buy, whatever it is they need to have in order not to feel inferior, and so on… Most say: “I’m fine, I’ve managed to get all I ever wanted”… So the meaning of life is work, the family, children who grow up and leave you, a wife or husband who will become more like a friend than a true love-mate. And one day the work will come to an end. What will you do when that happens?” -Paulocoelhoblog.com This part in particular rang powerful for me. It’s so easy to get caught up in the stress of university life – the increasing workload, deadlines, student budgets, homesickness, and all the other parts that aren’t so rosy about university. What makes me happy? What makes you happy? It’s such an open-ended and unanswerable question. And his attempt to grapple with this fundamental part of every life demonstrates his use of a blog not as superficial self-interest but as a way to connect widely and deeply. I think back to the character of Veronika and it makes me reconsider her completely. When I first started looking for blogs, I did so with slight prejudice. There is so much on the internet, it can be overwhelming and you often have filter through a lot to find your pot of gold. Coelho’s quote, “collective madness is called sanity” seems strangely relevant.
However, overall I’ve learnt that book blogs – especially those by authors – are quite refreshing. They remind you that the writer is a living, breathing (questioning) being and it gives you the chance to read between the lines of their novels – into their actual lives, opinions, feelings, and moral motives. Blogs are an interactive method of writing allowing for a wide range of debate and comment. I for one can’t wait to discover more blogs like that of Paulo Coelho. Phillipa Moran
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Image: Sylvia Feudor
George Orwell, the most important writer of the 20th century (arguably), makes an appearance with his politically charged memoir. Orwell took up arms to fight on the Republican side against Franco’s rebellion in the 1930s. The book tells the story of his service, with lucid detail and more than a pinch of humour. Throughout history, war and conflict have inspired many of the greatest writers. Orwell is no exception. The Spanish Civil War stirred Orwell’s mind, and inspirations for his masterpiece 1984 are very much evident in the book. For instance, the trench rats that Orwell writes about in horror must be the same rats that Winston Smith faces in Room 101. Anyone with an interest in the man himself, the war, or even just excellent prose should give it a go.
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Games
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Review
Far Cry 3 Sam Dumitriu asks can Far Cry live up to its high expectations? Far Cry 3 is a rare breed, the thoughtful first person shooter. When you’re first introduced to protagonist Jason Brody, he strikes you as nothing more than a rich kid out of his depth, but your view of Brody will soon change as you break out of psychotic pirate Vaas’ prison camp. It’s a rare FPS that has the lead character recoil in horror at his first kill and delivers a truly emotional moment when he has to apply pressure to stop his brother bleeding from the neck, all before you’re even given a gun. Jason Brody is a reluctant hero, a man who at first refuses a gun, yet as time passes, he begins to feel at home in the role. He starts to enjoy the violence, comfortably burning down villages with his flamethrower and setting loose wild animals on his enemies. His character arc is reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman’s in Straw Dogs; he goes from being repulsed by violence to eventually embracing it as a fundamental part of him. At times it is a little hard to suspend your disbelief; for a man who’s never used a gun Brody has an incredible aptitude for killing trained pirates armed to their teeth. Once you escape the prison camp, you spend a good hour getting acquainted with the keymechanics of the game. Gathering herbs in order to create drugs that can heal you and enhance your combat abilities, and learning to hunt pigs, goats and leopards to make equipment from their hides. It is important to pay attention at this point, as you won’t get far with the bog standard gear. You also get access to the game’s levelling system, where you can develop new skills such as, stealth kills or being able to reload while sprinting. In a nice touch, the new skills that you purchase appear on your characters left arm as tattoos. What sets the gameplay of Far Cry 3 apart from the other big titles on the market is the freedom it gives you in approaching each mission. You get to decide whether you run in guns blazing or attach C4 to a vehicle and
Thomas Lee looks back at Ubisoft’s Batman: Vengance
create a makeshift car bomb or sneak in taking each guard out with your knife. You can also use the environment as a weapon setting fire to crops in order to block off your enemies paths or lure wild animals like leopards and even water buffalo to the enemies for backup. The freedom isn’t just limited to how you approach the missions, you have free reign over the massive map, which spans two islands. You can go hunting, try some off-roading in one of the game’s many vehicles and even explore the island from above with the help of Far Cry series staple the hang-glider. The freedom extends to your weapons giving you a vast choice, from handguns and machineguns to flamethrowers, rocket launchers and my personal favourite the bow and arrow. All of these weapons are customisable superficially with different paint jobs and functionally with scopes and magazines. The graphics are strong. The islands are nice to look at, with realistic water effects, lush foliage and sharp textures. The character animation is strong as well, which alongside quality voice acting helps the story draw you in. The distressing healing animations from Far
Cry 2 remain, popping Brody’s bones back into place and picking out bullets with your knife, will cause even the most-hardened gamer to cringe. As well as the main story, the game also offers a co-op mode separate from the main plot where you play as one of four misfits drawn together when pirates attack their ship. The free roaming is traded for more linear gameplay here, although the levels are still vast. The levels are designed for four players and it can become frustratingly difficult playing with just two. The multiplayer isn’t much cop either, compared to Black Ops 2 and Halo 4; it’s likely to get ignored. The levels lack the scope of the main game, and force you into closed quarters. Thankfully, the game has provided players with a map editor allowing you to create your own levels. Far Cry 3 is a great shooter that excels with open-ended gameplay, a strong story and a huge map to explore. While the multi-player doesn’t live up to the single player, it’s a must buy on the quality of the single player alone.
News
Preview
Lord of the Rings: Guardians Of Middle Earth Monolith Productions will bring the latest entry in the Lord of The Rings franchise Guardians of Middle Earth to Xbox 360 and PS3 on December 4. This time around console gamers will be introduced to the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) style of game-play. The pressure to impress is huge and in no small part due to the hot competition offered by the rival PC platform which can boast such titles as League of Legends and Starcraft. The game will offer a choice between five classes and 20 characters, gamers will be encouraged to specialize according to their preferred style of play early on. Warriors, Strikers, Enchanters, Tacticians and Defenders complete the options available to the player with each bringing a distinct set of strengths and weaknesses to the table. For example, where Enchanters like Gandalf lose out in terms of health and minimal resistance to incoming attacks, they will make up for in devastating offensive moves. Defenders on the other hand are able to withstand high amounts of damage, but offer little
I may be speaking to a niche audience when I ask, “Does anyone remember Batman: Vengeance?” But hear me out. As a kid, I loved superhero cartoons, but was too young to catch Batman: The Animated Series (which I’ve since purchased on DVD, and can heartily recommend). I did however play the videogame spinoff, Ubisoft’s 2001 Batman Vengeance. It was my first video game and my first encounter with the caped crusader. Eleven years later, I still collect Batman comics. And I still swoop around Gotham beating up Joker thugs, but now I tend to do it on a seventh-generation console. The Arkham series has been tremendous, but for me, Vengeance will always be the original. In more ways than one. Vengeance was great fun. The decopunk noire of the animated series was captured beautifully in a game where Batman roundhouse kicked his way through his usual rogues gallery in a chain of episodes that were bound together by a shady criminal conspiracy, with voice talent from Misters Conroy and Hamil. Some things never change. The plot worked and the dialog was ripped right out of a 40s gumshoe detective novel, but the controls were awkward – the Arkham series make Batman’s utility belt much more utilitarian. The new games are, objectively, much better (even if they haven’t yet let me drive the Batmobile). But it’s hard not to notice how they ‘borrow’ from Vengeance. There are several intentional tips of the hat, including Joker quotes and Oracle’s reminder of what happened the “last time” Batman fought Mister Freeze – but Arkham Asylum’s plot of Joker is putting strange fluids in the sewers was an almost direct steal, as was the miraclous ‘Titan’ formula. The theme of the Joker’s death features in both game and the fact that Vengeance ends with a remarkably farsighted cutscene of the Asylum makes you almost wonder if the Joker has something in store for us.
in terms of attack. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Guardians of Middle Earth is the character customisation made available through three forms; Potions, Commands and Guardian Belts. Potions and Commands are typically purchased with credits earned through mission advancement. However the Guardian Belts are a unique feature introduced by Monolith. The Belts are carried by every character in the game and can hold up to seven gems and/ or relics each (more slots are unlocked with game progression).
Each gem or relic gives the holder a unique trait that increases their ability and can be placed in order of importance within the available slots. The higher a relic or gem is placed, the greater its effect on the character. The game should impress when it comes to character personalisation if nothing else, something that will attract RPG fans to the genre. This is certainly a brave release by Monolith and could prove to be a stroke of genius if it lives up to the hype. Jack Crutcher
Wii U experiences teething problems at US launch Nintendo’s Wii U was released stateside last week, marking the dawn of the next generation of home consoles. As with all launches, there were teething problems. The biggest complaint that arose from the first wave of Wii U owners was about a firmware update. Gamers were complaining of a slow download that was required to get most of the Wii U’s online features to work. Despite rumours of it being a hefty 5GB, official sources claim its only 1GB. Frustrated fans took to the web to complain. With one Twitter user summing up gamers’ frustrations: “Things I
have enjoyed doing so far with my Wii U: Waiting for things to download. Waiting for things to install. Entering passwords.” Worse still turning off the console during this update bricked the machine completely for some. Word eventually got round about how to shift the download to the background, and Nintendo of America hastily released a warning to those yet to download. But for many this was too little, too late. The Wii U’s online space suffered some day one downtime. For a new system this kind is to be expected, but it surely caused disappointment for those
who had been looking forward to launch since summer 2011. One user reported accidentally hacking the admin side of the social hub, and being presented with the option to moderate all submitted messages (although he claimed that it wasn’t fully functional). Nintendo were quick to point out that this menu was just a mock-up, and has since been removed. Despite all this, Nintendo should be pretty happy with the launch. They successfully avoiding the usual stock shortages that we have come to expect, and launched some great first-party titles. The MiiVerse, Nintendo’s biggest step into the online world by far, seems popular and is being compared favourably to the Xbox Live and PSN services by many. There is plenty to look forward to on November 30, but early adopters would do well to prepare for that big download, or risk turning their Wii U into a £300 paperweight. Alasdair Preston
Food & Drink
ISSUE 10/ 26TH OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Cheaper than chips
Recipe: the lentil lunch
The first installation of Frideswide O’Neill’s frugal feature Students like to get money off things: we like discounts in clothes shops, we love the glorious third-off on the railway, and if there’s a deal on beer at Sainsbury’s we’ll be the first to profit. However, our need for thrift often doesn’t seem to translate to food. How often does your milk start to look less like milk and more like yoghurt, or your butter to take on a florescent yellow hue that definitely wasn’t there before? Nobody realises how difficult it is to manage your food well, to never have to throw anything out and to spend as little as possible. I’m here to suggest ways of doing just that. My first piece of advice is to cook with other people. Usually, I do so with my five housemates. We do a big shop at the start of the week and we all pitch in £10. Last week, things got slightly out of kilter in the house, so I decided to do my own shopping and I spent £35. Handing over that kind of money to Sainsbury’s is an experience I never want to repeat. Spinning through my head were all the possibilities of what
else I could do with £35. For example, EasyJet offer a flight to Milan for £25, meaning I’d still have a tenner left to buy super noodles all week. Clearly something was wrong and I vowed never to eat alone again. After all, when you eat with other people you get more variety of food, as your friends will know how to cook things that you don’t. You also won’t have to cook as often because you can rotate who is on cooking duty. I can hear the skeptics amongst you thinking that this idea is definitely an under-exaggeration, but £10 each gets you all the basics like milk, butter, bread, tea, coffee, onions, garlic, as well as six communal suppers. So now you’re thinking that you still have to pay for breakfast and lunch, right? Yes, you do, but you don’t have to buy a £3 meal deal every day. Instead, you can buy some couscous, lentils or any such dried beans, grains or pulses that you often avoid for fear that they are too healthy. You could also just buy a massive bag of carrots and make a
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Lentils are dirt-cheap, filling and full of protein. Delicious eaten hot or cold, as a main meal or a side, this is a great recipe to have up your sleeve.
soup. As for breakfast, ditch the Kellogg’s at £3.14 for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, and replace it with 24 Everyday Value wheat biscuits, which cost just 94p. That’s more like it. Cheap as Chips will be returning with ideas for delicious, easy and most importantly cheap recipes to try out. To whet your appetite, here’s a delicious recipe using everyone’s frugal favourite: the lentil.
Basic ingredients: Dried green lentils Baby tomatoes
So, to make your meals cheaper than chips:
Onions Garlic
- Shop with your housemates
Vegetable or chicken stock cube
- Cook communal meals
Herbs and spices (I recommend coriander and cumin)
- Set yourself a weekly budget - Spice up cheap ingredients - Share storecupboard items
Optional add-ins: Photo: David Holt London @Flickr
Chilli Bacon Anchovies
Review: The Function Room There’s a new night club on Oxford Road, upstairs from Odder Bar. Before it was called The Function Room, it was a bar with a sofa-cushy-peach beer vibe. Now it’s a lot more modern, with space for a sizeable dancefloor. Think of it as a lighter version of 5th Ave - but unusually combining intimate and industrial, with its many metal roller shutters. The atmosphere was a bit more relaxed as well, and its clientele isn’t solely student-based. The bar doesn’t offer a particularly wide variety of alcohol, then again, what it does offer is good: dark and light bottles of Krusovice beer, some nice flavoured Stolichnaya vodka, Weston’s Stowford Press cider on tap, rum cocktails and so on. The prices are mid-range - a £3.30 Becks is the cheapest pint of lager, the Stowford Press is the same price. A glass of red or white wine costs £3.40. I was at The Function Room for their ‘More Bounce’ Thursday night, described as hip hop, funk
Sweet potato Peas Courgette and soul. In reality, DJ Lee Majors only played us hip hop; bring back the funk and soul. The Function Bar prides itself on its club nights, playing combinations of hip hop, funk, disco, electro and house. As well as More Dounce, Friday and Saturday nights have Murkage, Thank FUNK, Consortium, Chips With Everything, Disco Transisco and Clique on rotation. The busy bar staff were very friendly and offered me advice me good advice about the beer. But in all honesty, I’m not sure I’ll be back soon. If I wanted a night out dancing with my friends, I’d go somewhere where I liked the music. That isn’t to say the music is bad; just not to my taste. If I wanted to talk and drink with my friends, I’d go to the nearest pub, where we wouldn’t have to shout at each other to have a conversation and where there were enough tables to guarantee a seat. This bar offers a mix of both bar and club worlds, a bit like Fallowfield’s 256. To students who
like to dance to hip hop, house and electro and occasionally want a sit-down, this bar is for you. Event Listings Thursday 29th November- More Bounce (weekly) - Hip Hop Friday 30th November Consortium - Alex Coulton, Hodge and Brunks Saturday 1st November - Get It On Manchester DJs on rotation
Method: First, wash your lentils then put them on to boil with a stock cube in the water. Chop your onions and gently sweat them on a low heat in olive oil. When they start to soften add the crushed garlic and a teaspoon of coriander and one of cumin. Halve your tomatoes and put them in
Friday 7th November - Thank Funk It’s Friday - Funk, Soul, Groove, R&B Emily Clark Food and Drink Editor
Photo: sweetbeetandgreenbean @Flickr
with the onions as well.
The Manchester Students’ Food Co-operative I think the first thing we always try and do is dispel the myth that everyone involved in the Students’ Food Cooperative is vegan/votes green/carries a jute shopping bag everywhere with them in case of emergency. Of course, some of our members and volunteers are those things, but most people are just greedy, appreciate good food and are trying to avoid Fallowfield Sainsbury’s hell. We started last year, as a student-run buyer’s co-operative that provides ethically sourced food at cost-price to Manchester’s students. The idea is that we buy in bulk a wide range of goods - both dried wholefoods and fresh produce -
direct from suppliers and then sell these on to our members at cost-price, who all pay £2 to be part of the co-op. We sell a huge variety of things: organic red pesto, crystallised ginger, coffee beans, Green & Blacks chocolate - as well as pastas, pulses, nuts and dried fruits. We like to think we take requests, criticisms and compliments all equally, and try and get as much feedback as possible from our members, and are constantly changing what we order in to try and get a more interesting selection of produce. We also run an organic and local vegetable box scheme - it’s £7, ordered a week in advance via email or Facebook,
and provides enough for a week with two people who eat an average amount of vegetables. We try and make it a bit more interesting than just loads of muddy root vegetables (even though there are some of those too) and so far have had celeriac, red pak choi, kohl rabi... perhaps not hugely exotic, but an improvement on that delicious student staple of baked beans.
Once the lentils are cooked (about 25 mins) drain them and add your onion mix to the pan. Don’t forget to season it with salt and pepper! All that’s left now is to add in any extras you like; crispy bacon or anchovies are a great way to give it some more flavor and any kind of vegetable is good for bulking it out. Enjoy!
If you’re interested, email mansfcoop@ gmail.com, or go to Manchester Students’ Food Co-operative on Facebook.
Harriet Hill-Payne
Frideswide O’Neill
24
Arts & Culture
1 0 T H I NG S
you should know about
TOULOUSE-LAUTREC
ISSUE 10/ 26TH NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Review
A Night at the Museum Grace Williams visits the newly redeveloped Ancient Worlds galleries at the Manchester Museum
Miss Lucy Johnson, by Toulouse-Lautrec
ART HISTORY LESSONS w it h L u c y J
He was born Henri Marie Raymond de ToulouseLautrec-Monfa in 1864, to an aristocratic French family He put himself into his painting ‘The Moulin Rouge’, He put himself into his painting ‘The Moulin Rouge’, and is pictured walking next to his cousin He contracted syphilis from one of his favourite models, a prostitute named Rosa la Rouge
He died aged only 37 He fractured his legs at 14, and they stopped growing, meaning as an adult he only stood 4 ft 6 in tall His parents cousins.
were
To mark 100 years since the opening of the first Egypt gallery in Manchester Museum, the Ancient Worlds exhibition has been redeveloped and three new galleries created. As part of the Museum Meets initiative - the museum’s adult programme - I attended an After Hours event which promised to showcase the new galleries at night and offer some related amusements. After being greeted with wine and live Greek bouzouki music, I entered the first of the new galleries which explores Manchester’s contribution to archaeology. As well as displaying locally found artefacts, the individuals involved in the discovery, analysis and preservation of objects are brought to attention through photographs and media displays. Contributors to Manchester’s archaeological legacy, past and present, are acknowledged and celebrated. The opportunity to meet with the man behind the displays and Curator of Archaeology Bryan Sitch felt like something of an honour, and his passion for the artefacts and their unique stories was infectious. Serving as a prelude to the Egypt collection, the displays go some way in explaining the processes involved in
Although his paintings were not received well in his lifetime, his painting ‘La blanchisseuse’ sold for 22.4 million dollars in 2005 He invented a cocktail, a mix of absinthe and cognac, called the ‘Earthquake’ He was an astonishingly productive painter - 1,000 paintings, 5,000 drawings, and 350 prints and posters
WHAT ELSE? Become a fan on Facebook (Mancunion: Arts & Culture) or take a look at our website to see some exclusive online content - coming up this week we have a review of Cornerhouses’ recent cafe/ bar exhibition, and the programme of events for the Christmas Festivities at Islington Mill. If you’re on twitter, tweet us @ ArtsMancunion, or if you have a suggestion for an article get in touch on arts. mancunion@gmail.com
2.
Images copyright Manchester Museum 3.
5.
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archaeology today. Egyptian Worlds, the second gallery, transports us right back to Ancient Egypt. The awesome 4. impact of brightly
decorated coffins and the delicate beauty of tomb jewellery powerfully convey the remarkable achievements of civilisation all those
thousands of years ago. Just as Egyptian life and culture revolved around preparation for death, there is greater emphasis on ceremonial
objects required for transition into the afterlife, and of course the coffins and mummies themselves take centre stage. Finally, the third space, Exploring Objects, offers visually stunning mass collections of everyday objects such as jewellery and stone vessels from the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome and Egypt. The Ancient Worlds galleries now have more objects on display than ever before. Selected artefacts are free to be handled and new smart phone interactivity will allow greater accessibility to objects. Aside from the exciting new galleries, the opportunity to attempt mummification (with an orange!) and watch a pharoah perform tricks was much enjoyed. Overall the once cramped galleries of the Ancient Worlds exhibition are now light and well arranged, not only of ancient life, but of the discipline of archaeology as well. The sheer number and diversity of objects on display, combined with the implementation of the newest technologies and approaches in museology, yields an impressive exhibition experience. Grace Williams Contribuor
The Manchester Art Group are a Student Collective open to all. In their own words, they ‘curate exhibitions, stage events, take intercity art trips, write about art, offer a platform for collaboration, and want you’. The Manchester Art Prize is open to all, and the deadling is coming up - 2nd Decemeber. Make sure you send a photo of your entry to manchesterartgroup@gmail.com, on the theme of ‘The Mancunian Way’ to have a chance of winning a top prize of £150, or 10 runners-up rpizes, with your work exhibited in the next Manchester Art Group Exhibition. Good Luck!
first
His paintings often depict the music halls, circuses, brothels, and cabaret life of Paris
1.
Review
Review: ‘I - The Sleep Collection’ Toby Parker and Lucy Johnson are ‘blissfully roused’ from their slumbers by Rubin-Mayhew’s sleeping beauties Art exhibitions and creative spaces are not the natural grazing grounds of the Mancunion’s laziest contributors. However, living with the Arts editor does, at times, mean we have to bite our tongues and agree to attend such cultural arenas. Our first foray into creativity saw us attend ‘I’ The Sleep Collectionat one of Manchester’s (sort of Salford?) most titillating industrial spaces, the Islington Mill. Roshana Rubin-Mayhew installed a bed into one of the twenty gallery spaces at the Mill for two weeks from the 6th-20th November. Each night over the first week, members of the public were invited by Roshana to sleep over whilst they were being photographed falling asleep, during sleep and as they were waking up. The resulting triptych of photographs were arranged together around the bed, made up with black
‘I - The Sleep Collection’ at Islington Mill, copyright Roshana Rubin-Mayhew/Islington Mill sheets, forming the focal point of the exhibition. Initially confronted by what appeared to be a potentially underwhelming set up, we opted to quell our boot shaking fear of the arts and embrace what we had been ordered to see. In doing so, it became obvious that the image of someone sleeping carries far more cultural, emotional and aesthetic significance than may first appear. Lucy embraced her academic calling and Toby attempted to keep up as we embraced the restful yet challenging images. Most of the pictures were composed of the subjects face, occasionally with a section of torso and/ or arm. The ambiguous camera angles free the subjects of the constraints of the bed they’re in, suspending them in a state of timeless innocence. In particular the central images of the triptych, depicting actual sleep, evoked the expanse of the dreaming mind or as if they were poised in space.
Although all compositionally similar, each image had an aesthetic beauty emphasised by subtle individualities. The sleeping self, that is to say ourselves at our most vulnerable, tends to be something belonging in the private sphere, a state only those closest to you would witness. Transferred to the public arena, we engage almost voyeuristically with the act of sleeping, and are for a moment gifted access to the private space of the individual. It is the sense of immediacy and intimacy that the exhibition so strongly conveys. Although attending under duress, we both left the Mill with a more informed sense of the capacity of photographs to convey truth and intimacy. There is an honesty in the exhibition in part due to the photographic medium but also reflected in the simplicity of the composition. Toby Parker & Lucy Johnson
Theatre
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Must see 26th November-3rd December Orpheus Descending Whilst being one of Tennesse William’s lesser-known plays, Orpheus Descending, still has plenty of what we love about him: a young male drifter, an unhappy Southern belle and lots of passion. Stars Imogen Stubbs as Lady Torrance.
Runs from 24th October to 24th November at The Royal Exchange Theatre Student Tickets £10 or £5 on a Monday or Friday
Arabian Nights The Library Theatre Company’s Christmas show this year is the infamous tale of Arabian Nights. The classic story of a thousand and one stories is staged in the round and promises to be visually stunning!
Runs from 30th November until 12th January 2013 at the Lowry Theatre Tickets £14.50-£20
Peter Pan
Runs from 16th November 2012 to 12th January 2013 Tickets £9.50-£22
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas A musical based on the Bing Crosby film classic, following the success of the record-breaking, sell-out run of 2009. A spectacle that’ll warm any Scrooge-like heart, White Christmas promises to deliver ‘lots of laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written’.
Runs from the 30th November to 5th December Tickets £24-£45
Rosie Panter reveals of her likes and loathes of theatre
Preview
Arabian Nights
Josephine Lane previews the Library Theatre Company’s new show at the Lowry Theatre The Library Theatre Company’s annual Christmas show is always a highlight in Manchester’s theatrical calendar, and this year is set to be no different. Directed by the North’s very own Amy Leach, a regular on the Manchester theatre scene, Arabian Nights is sure to bring a touch of warmth to us all this Christmas. I met up with Amy and the cast to watch them rehearse, and to find out more. The story starts after the discovery (and then murder of ) King Sharayar’s wife being unfaithful. His anger causes him to seek revenge on all women: he decides to kill each and every virgin women in the land, after he has married them. That is, until he marries cunning Shaharazad, who tells him all but the end of a fantastical story every night for a thousand and one nights until he sees the error of his ways. I spoke to Amy, who told me what mainly attracted her to the project was the story-telling aspect. She says: ‘I grew up watching and adoring stories being told in the theatres of Manchester and so feel very lucky to be able to tell one of my own’. She also told me of the epic nature of the show: ‘each story could be a play in
itself! The play is being staged inthe-round, at the Quays Theatre at the Lowry, an experience that will surely immerse the audience and transport them to a world of medieval Persia, where stories were traded alongside silks and fine spices. From watching the rehearsals, it is clear that the show will be a non-stop treat for the senses: music playing throughout, lots of movement and colour and lots of character changes and
transitions. And students, don’t be put off by the ‘family element’ to the show. Talking to Amy, I become aware of the darker and more adult ideas in the play, such as the genocide of a whole nation of women, not to mention the sexuality in the play. And if what I saw in the adultery scene is anything to go by, I’d suggest an adult audience would definitely enjoy the show. This is not to say, of course, that the show
will not be fun for all the family. Bring your grandma, bring your six year old cousin, bring anyone so long as you don’t miss Arabian Nights. As all of the cast informed me, it’s sure to bring out the kid in all of us! Arabian Nights runs from the 30th November to 12th January at the Lowry Theatre. Tickets £8-£18
The cast of Arabian Nights. Photo: The Library Theatre Company
Review
The Bolton Octagon’s family festive show this year is the timeless classic we all know and love: Peter Pan. With a talented cast of actor-musicians playing originally composed music, the show is sure to bring out the child in all of us!
Why I Love / Why I Hate
25
Theatrical angst in an age of austerity Robbie Davidson reviews Theatre Uncut in residence for one night at The Anthony Burgess Foundation Two Stars out of Five Stars Theatre Uncut describes itself as “an international theatrical response to our current state of austerity, both at home and abroad, inviting participants all over the world to stage these unique plays however and wherever they want”. Unfortunately the quality doesn’t quite match the ambition at its staging in Manchester at the Anthony Burgess Foundation. With just fifteen minutes to convey a compelling story and message, the four plays performed on the night demonstrated both the strengths and pitfalls of limiting stage time. In the Beginning by Neil Labute was a perfect example of a play with nothing particularly interesting to say. What it did say was far too obvious and told lazily.
Why I Love: Accessible Theatre I am really happy that theatre is becoming increasingly more accessible. For several years now there has been a move to offer cheap theatre tickets to young people: from reduced price tickets at London’s National Theatre to £5 student tickets at Manchester’s own Royal Exchange. I thoroughly enjoy going to the theatre and I would not be able to go nearly as often were this not the case. However, what is perhaps more interesting is the emergence of the merging of theatre with other art forms such as fashion and
A conversation between a father and his son who needs cash to pursue his political activism (an Occupy-esque movement) was fleetingly funny but thoroughly disengaging as a piece of theatre. 250 Words by Stef Smith, inspired by a top banker who threw herself off a building earlier in the year, was a little more original in its presentation and ideas but was let down by weak performances. The second two plays displayed how a shorter time to convey a message can make for thought provoking theatre and even made me wish that all plays could be this brief. Blondie by Hayley Squires was a frightening but hilarious reflection on society’s obsession with sex and our culture of blame told through an interrogation of a former Prime Minister accused of genocide.
cinema. This week alone Vogue tweeted that ‘The National Theatre partners with Hugo Boss on contemporary costumes’, whilst across the country NT’s The Last of the Haussmans is screened at numerous cinemas, including the Odeon at The Printworks. Cheap tickets appeal largely to those who have already been exposed to the theatre whilst these new approaches could herald the arrival of new audiences. Both fashion and cinema are huge factors in popular culture, whilst theatre has traditionally sat on the outskirts: this could all be about to change.
Squires’ message was ambiguous and left me uncomfortable- just what a good play should do. But Spine by Clara Brennan was the crown jewel in the quartet of plays. Bolstered by a fantastic performance by the University of Manchester’s very own, Esme Bayley-Knaggs, the play is a simple recalling of Amy’s experience caring for an elderly lady with dementia whose obsession with books rubs off on the earnest young woman. Brennan shows how the best messages are expressed when neatly wrapped in a touching, character- driven story. Whereas the writing in the other three plays had been let down by the amateur dramatic feel of some of the performances, BayleyKnaggs’ performance allowed the writing to flourish and the subtle message about the importance of
Why I Hate: Poorly Scripted Musicals There is nothing worse than sitting in the theatre wondering why, in the middle of a scene, the characters will suddenly start singing. A good musical is seamless, moving effortlessly between dialogue and song with lyrics that are often witty or emotive. Last year’s hit show Matilda, written by Tim Minchin was an example of one such fine musical. In contrast, I truly believe that musicals should not be written around a soundtrack. Anyone who has
local libraries was clear but not crass. So whilst it would be fair to say that this particular incarnation of Theatre Uncut was a pretty hit and miss affair, it should not go unnoticed what an impressive project is being undertaken. With similar productions taking place all over the globe, in dozens of different languages, the success of this project relies heavily on the quality of the writing that is produced. If this evening was anything to go by then there is still work to be done, but when done well it’s hugely satisfying theatre. Theatre Uncut ran on the 14th November at the Anthony Burgess foundation
had the misfortune to sit through any rendition of Mamma Mia will be able to attest how weak the plotlines created from this can be. So for me, the key to a good musical is a strong plot, not numerous hit songs.
Lifestyle SECOND 60 Online Dating
26
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Feature
Interview
We talk to Studentbeans.com founder, James Eder How did you come up with the idea behind studentbeans.com?
Lucy Gardner’s first week of virtual romance
Having grown up in the age of the Internet, we knew that when students arrived in a new city, they would turn to the web for help. Being in an unfamiliar city and living on a limited budget is tough. But we knew that the Internet and a little entrepreneurialism on our part could solve these problems. I wanted to create something of real value that people wanted to use. I started studentbeans.com back in 2005 when I was 22 and just a few weeks after graduating from the University of Birmingham. I did a business plan as part of my degree where I actually came up with the idea for studentbeans.com and after graduating it made sense to set it up. I co-founded the business alongside my business partner and brother, Michael. He actually came up with the name of our website.
How difficult was it to establish Studentbeans as a brand? Did you ever feel like giving up? We started in Birmingham, going door-to-door and speaking to businesses.. There were certainly moments in the early days that were challenging. I learnt that you can’t take “no” personally.
by signing up to one of these ever
you an archaeologist? Because I have
popular matchmaking websites.
a large bone for you to examine.” You
I grabbed a nerve steadying glass
have to credit the guy for his sense
of wine, sat down at my laptop and
of humour, I thought to myself, but
filled in my very first online dating
is this really what online dating is
profile. An hour later and I was
like? If a man approached me in a
fully advertised as a single woman
club, looked me in the eyes and said
seeking a man. After I had answered
something along those lines, I would
questions ranging from “what kind of
run a mile (and coming from someone
relationship are you looking for?” to
who hasn’t exercised in about two
“are you dominant or submissive?” I
years, that’s really saying something).
was ready to meet my other half.
sleazy
one
liners,
profile, a message popped up from a
however. “It is hard to believe you
member who claimed to be an 18 year
are single” - why thank you stranger
old male Mancunion, despite his very
whose
40 year old looking profile photo.
obvious yet still appreciated. So,
Next came the 4”8, 33 year old from
maybe in a few days the internet will
Halifax and the “Star Trek fan” who
generate my perfect match and we can
intentions
are
painfully
Freaks, geeks and creepy old men.
myself sat at home for the tenth
“spends most of his time thinking
“choose” each other. In all honesty
Those were the three things that
Friday night in a row, making yet
about Star Trek”. Interesting.
though, it seems more likely that I
popped into my mind when I first
another cup of tea whilst opening
Before I went to bed, I checked my
will just wake up to another bunch
thought about online dating.
a tin of cat food for Mr. Whiskers.
emails to see if I had attracted any
of seedy emails from random men
I’d reserved the virtual world of
However, I decided to give you lucky
more catches. Awaiting me in my
asking me to keep them “company.”
romance for the years when I found
readers a good laugh at my expense
inbox were these sweet words: “Are
TO BE CONTINUED...
It’s...
Blind
Date Louisa, 2nd year, Psychology First impressions?
First impressions?
He seemed friendly and was easy to get on with
Confident and stylish. What did you have to eat?
What did you have to eat?
A burger and then Sticky Toffee Pudding.
A Trof burger and brownie.
What did you guys talk about?
What did you guys talk about?
Lots, our home towns, our courses and life in Manchester mostly.
Lots of different things, about our courses, where we go out in Manchester etc.
If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
I would have to say an Irish coffee. Apart from the fact that she’s from Ireland, she also seemed very energetic and focused.
1) Don’t take no for an answer.
Were there any awkward silences?
2) Be prepared to work. Success isn’t just going to be delivered on a silver platter. Nothing worthwhile is easy. There have been times in the last 6 years whilst building up studentbeans.com that have been incredibly trying, but you get through them.
Maybe a few...
3) Take responsibility. Whether you work for someone or you are working for yourself, people always find someone to blame and are full of excuses. Instead of blaming people around you as to why things have
the
you can find yourself an ego boost,
Richard, 1st year, Medical Imaging MSc
Do you have any advice for students who want to go down a similar route?
Amongst
Within minutes of setting up my
A tangy cocktail because he was eccentric and interesting! Were there any awkward silences? No, not at all. Rating?
Rating? 7 Finally, hug, kiss or something more? None of the above.
Louis
7
a&
Finally, hug, kiss or something more?
Rich ard
None, and we did not swap numbers so it’s unlikely that we will see each other again.
Louisa and Richard ate at Trof, fallowfield. Thanks to the guys down there for getting involved. To check out their menu and what’s going on there head to http://www. troffallowfield.co.uk/ To sign up for blind date please e-mail your name, year of study and course to keir.stone-brown@student.manchester.ac.uk with ‘Blind Date’ as the subject
Lifestyle
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Career
My year abroad experience We talk to Elizabeth Linsley, a third year Arabic Studies student on her year abroad in Amman, Jordan How did you feel arriving in Amman?
are very friendly though. And the food is amazing!
Disorientated! It was pitch black but really hot. I hadn’t spoken Arabic for four months, since my summer exams, and couldn’t understand any of the signs, until I realised they were all written in English underneath. I was mainly excited about starting my year abroad though.
What has been the highlight of your year abroad so far? The highlight so far has been going to Wadi Rum when we had a holiday for Eid Al-Adha. Wadi Rum is a massive desert in the south of Jordan. As far as you can see is sand and rocks and blue sky. It was boiling hot during the day but freezing at night, me and my friends all had to snuggle together in one bed. We rode camels too which was a lot of fun, if a bit scary at first!
How would you describe the quality of teaching? The teaching is very different to Manchester; our class is very small, with only five students. I have learnt a lot but you can’t get away with not doing your homework and hoping to hide at the back of the class! In Manchester I study cultural and history modules alongside the language but here it’s just language which can get a bit much sometimes, but thankfully we get three day weekends.
Why do you think it’s important for a student to have a year abroad? I think everyone should do a year abroad. You can never really learn about another culture until you live there. You also learn so much about yourself. I’m only two months into my year abroad and I’ve already met so many kind and interesting people. I’m having so much fun but the time is going so quickly!
Have you found it difficult to adapt to the culture?
Life in Amman Photo: Elizabeth Linsley
Jordan, and particularly Amman, is very Westernised, but still very different to home. The first thing that I noticed was all the men honk their car horns at you when you walk down the street. Most people
Zara Zubeidi
We Ask, You Answer
This week: Dana Fowles asks: You know it’s Christmas when... I bet so many people will say this, but it’s got to be the Coca Cola advert. Katherine We usually put our Christmas tree up on 1st December every year, that’s when I know that Santa’s on his way. Aimee When you’re shopping and the store plays Christmas songs. Pete Normally when I get my train home at the end of the semester I feel quite Christmassy. Nick
Two words: mince pies! Lily
When it snows! Elisha
Newer like Tom Vek, Delilah, Totally Enormous When you can artists smell things like When and somebody buys you a Extinct Dinosaurs destined to havebox. successful apple and cinnamon. Ohare and selection pine trees of course. based off the buzz performances Conoraround them. Joe Annie Club Mac and electronic music artists like Gold Panda will Trumpet be the main Venue: sounds coming the stages. Ioffknow that Christmas is on Date: ????????? ?????????? When INewer thinkartists of like Christmas its way and when I begin to eat a Tom Vek, Delilah, Totally Enormous Price: ?????????? I think of sparkly shoes and ridiculous amount and hide in Extinct Dinosaurs are destined to have successful daytime drinking. massive woolly jumpers. performances based off the buzz around them, while DJs Claire such as Annie Mac and electronic Maisiemusic artists like Gold Panda will be the main sounds coming off the stages. I don’t usually feel Christmassy until about 23rd December – Scrooge! Luke
When I go to the Trafford Centre to shop for presents for my friends, boyfriend and family. Bex
When I start drinking mulled wine, I know it’s Christmas time! Ella At uni, it’s always when my housemates and I sort out Secret Santa. Holly
STUDENT 101 Emma Williams addresses the rise of mobile phone theft
It’s like losing a limb, they say, or being thrown back into the dark ages, but when it happens to you, it almost feels as though your world has ended. Mobile phone theft is a crime that renders you almost helpless; no means of communication to ring your parents for the “You should be more vigilant” lecture, no way to play Angry Birds mid-lecture, and... How am I going to Instagram my Starbucks now?!
The frequency of mobile phone theft has frighteningly been on the up lately, with recent figures released showing that a staggering 260 mobile phones have been stolen on average everyday so far this year. Students are definitely vulnerable to most crimes, especially when it comes to the theft of a phone because most of us are on tariff contracts, have insurance being away from home and will probably have the newest model of smart phone in our pocket: prime targets.
Being a victim of mobile phone theft myself a few weeks ago on a night out in Cardiff (which along with London’s Hyde Park, is an apparent hot-spot for phone theft), I wondered how I could do anything to stop thieves and the consequential anxiety for every time afterwards when someone would brush past my bag. Useful tips from the Manchester Metropolitan Police encourage students not to have their phones or earphones on display when not in use, not to walk and text and to record your handset’s unique IMEI number to make it easier to track if it ends up being sold on the black market.
My sister too, recently had her phone stolen from her bag while it was on her, inside a nightclub, which does make you think that you must have your guard up everywhere you go. But there are ways to deter thieves from trying to nab your phone, which will stop your big night out from reaching a disastrous, sobbing conclusion, and most importantly keep your pristine new iPhone 5 safely in your possession:
Girls - invest in a zip-close bag. You’ll be able to feel any crafty pickpockets trying their luck compared to the quick, popopen, button-fastened bags we all tend to use. The best for keeping your stuff safe, but a pain when it comes to dancing, is a clutch bag, because everything is held close to you. As long as you don’t dance around it or leave it in the booth for the night, you’re laughing!
Get yourself a cheapy ‘going out’ handset. It may seem like quite the effort, but it’s worth it if you’re a forgetful, drunken mess most nights. Yes, you won’t look like the most techfriendly person as you whack out your old brick handset to swap numbers with someone in the club, but let’s face it—nobody’s going to mug you for your old Nokia paperweight, are they?
Remember to take heed when you’re out on the murky streets of Fallowfield, especially as it gets dark earlier, and to avoid the reversion to your old 3310 handset at all costs: keep your phone safely hidden away when you’re out alone or in a dodgy area.
We would like to apologise for the error in Issue 8. ‘‘Us’ and ‘them’’ was written by Claudia Carvell.
Dream Job Weatherman Qualifications needed: Maths/ Physics or related Degree preferable but not necessary Salary: £19,000 to £90,0000
“Earlier on today apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way. Well don’t worry there isn’t.” The famous (but not last) words of weatherman Michael Fish on the eve of one the biggest storms to strike the UK in recent memory. The essence from the anecdote above is that if you’re looking for a job where the results of our work don’t seem to alter your career progression then being a weatherman may be just the ticket! Jokes aside becoming a meterologist aka weatherman can be a very rewading experience. the role includes reporting and forecasting weather conditions as well as
27
collecting weather data and analysing it/interpreting this. This obviously isn’t up everyones street but if you fancy yourself as the next broadcaster and you’ve got the skills then this could be your entry into the profession. There’s an 18 week course called the Forecaster Foundation Training Programme (FFTP) which is then followed by 8 months practical training. You can then apply for jobs at stations around the country that produce weather reports and work your way up to weather presenter. Finally if you are interested theres plenty infomation to be found online at www.metoffice.gov.uk
28
Lifestyle
ISSUE 10/26th November 2012
Experience... Edinburgh Lucy Gardner guides you around the Scottish capital Sometimes you just want to escape the city without having to queue at security, check in bags and get ripped off by buying £5 burgers on the plane. An easy, cheap getaway perfect for even the most broke of Manchester’s students? Edinburgh. You could spend an entire week in the Scottish capital without seeing all it has to offer so if you’re heading up north for the weekend here’s a quick guide to what Auld Reekie has to offer. Day 1 Drop off your bags, grab your camera and head out onto the Royal Mile. The road connects the castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom and the entire Old Town and New Town have been labeled as World Heritage sites, remaining preserved in their Medieval and Georgian styles. Take a trip up to the castle for some amazing photo opportunities and to look down at the bustling Princes Street Gardens and the Grassmarket below. If you’re wanting a spooky experience however, as many who visit what is said to be one of the most haunted cities in Europe are, forget going inside the castle. The Edinburgh Vaults were rediscovered
in the eighties and are now thought to be filled with the ghosts of Burke and Hare’s victims and those trapped during the Southbridge fire. The underground passages hosted Most Haunted Live during 2006’s Halloween and this year between the 27th and 31st of October you can book midnight tours of the vaults – the ultimate way to spend this year’s All Hallows’ Eve. Similar creepy experiences can be found at The Edinburgh Dungeons and the old plague riddled Mary King’s Close. To relax after an evening of paranormal activity numerous student friendly bars and pubs can be found on Cockburn (yes, that’s really its name) Street, leading off the Royal Mile. Day 2 In search of culture? The city is home to five National Galleries and the Scottish National Gallery is situated on The Mound – conveniently next to Prince’s Street, home to the high street shops, if art isn’t really your thing. Museums can be found throughout the city with the National Museum of Scotland being free of entry charges and full of everything from
Egyptian mummies to robots you can interact with. The museum is located near George IV Bridge, near which you can find W. Armstrong and Sons vintage shop. If you are looking for top hats, bomber jackets or just something quirky to dress up in, look no further. If you don’t mind hopping on the bus, easy to do from the roads surrounding Prince’s Street, then visit two of Edinburgh’s most famous residents. Yang Guang and Tian Tian are the two giant pandas who now live at Edinburgh Zoo. A busy day might have left you craving some comfort food, head back to George IV Bridge and grad dinner for less than a tenner at The Elephant House where J. K. Rowling spent time when writing Harry Potter (they even have themed Hogwarts toilets to commemorate the event). Stay – easyHotel rooms are available from £19 per night per person. Get there – Coaches leaving Manchester Coach Station daily and cost £30 one way.
Cheerleading
Beth Currall tells us cheerleading isn’t just for American high school girls When the word ‘cheerleading’ is mentioned, the same mental images appear
Q
KEIR
Hi, I went to my GP a few days ago because I was sure I had tonsillitis (I had it last Easter) and my GP said I did but he didn’t give me any antibiotics. I meant to ask him why but I didn’t want to seem rude. Can you tell me why he didn’t give me them?
A
Yes hopefully I can! Right so here’s the basics. Tonsils are a pair of glands that sit near the back of your throat and they contain these special cells
Now, I’m aware that cheerleading is often
for all of us: the all-American high school
seen as a girl’s sport (thinking back to sexist
girls, in tiny, midriff-baring uniforms, doing
mental images), but it can be equally as
the splits and somersaulting 16 feet into the
fun to take part in for men! Lads are often
air. However, cheerleading is fast becoming
needed to help with major lifting stunts, for
an everyday exercise option and is in fact
example. Cheerleading is not a sport that
the latest fitness craze to sweep the UK.
focuses on gender, but one that revolves
Cheerleading routines involve a lot of
around team work. This makes it a perfect
dancing, jumping and lifting or, if you’re
sporting choice for students, as it enables
feeling particularly confident, complex
you to keep fit and to make a whole new
stretches and flips. It therefore provides an
bunch of friends. Just think of all of those
entire body workout, making it the ideal
socials you’d be required to attend!
fitness class. Cheerleaders are encouraged
ask
it also vastly improves your overall fitness.
For those of you who feel you would
to work on their stamina and their muscle
like to give it a go at shaking a pair of pom
strength, so it is likely that a cardio
poms, UoM has its very own cheerleading
workout will also form part of the session.
squad. Sessions are held on Thursdays
Some classes may even require you to work
from 8-10pm, at Didsbury Sports Centre.
with weights for a short time. So, while
Now’s the time to make those American
cheerleading is a fast way to burn calories,
All-Star dreams a reality!
Ask Keir is a column aiming to answer all your health questions. If you want to know about that funny looking lump that won’t go away, why your GP won’t give you those antibiotics or anything at all to do with health get in touch at: askkeir@gmail.com
that help us fight infection. When you get an infection it can localise in your glands and when it does this, your glands swell up as it tries to make as many cells as it can to fight the infection. That is how you get your sore throat and find it hard to swallow food and fluids. Tonsillitis when broken down consists of tonsils (those glands at the back of your throat) and -itis (inflammation – which is your bodies response to an infection) An ‘infection’ has numerous causes. Two of the most common causes are bacteria and viruses. Bacteria can be treated with antibiotics and viruses are usually left to be fought off by our own
All questions will of course be kept confidential and anonymous
immune systems. Now most of the time tonsillitis is caused by a viral infection therefore there would be no need to give antibiotics as it would have no affect. However surely if even only 1 out of 10 cases of tonsillitis were caused by bacteria and giving antibiotics didn’t have a negative effect on your body why wouldn’t you just give the antibiotics in case? The answer to that lays in the fact that bacteria are constantly evolving to avoid being ‘killed’ off by our antibiotics. I won’t go into detail but by using antibiotics unnecessarily bacteria can build
up a resistance meaning you now get these much talked about ‘super bugs’ such as MRSA that are resistant to all but the strongest antibiotics. The fear is, is that one day we’ll have bacterial infections that we wont be able to treat with antibiotics and that could make them fatal. So that’s why doctors won’t hand them out unless they know for certain that they’ll be of use. Phew! There’s your whistle stop tour of ‘the tonsillitis and antibiotic dilemma!’ Hope it helps!
Living in
Marbella “Why are you here?” – not the most welcoming of questions but one I’ve heard countless times in the past two months. Freshers’ introductions come in three steps: Name, course, where you’re from. Having lived in Marbella since I was four, the last question caused excitement as it broke the chain of “near Manchester” answers. I’ll be asked why I would leave sunny, old Spain for grey and drizzly Manchester? What was it like? Did I see any of the ‘rich and famous celebrities’ that are said to use Marbella as their personal playground? In all honesty, Marbella isn’t all the glitz and glam TOWIE like to make it out to be. In fact, it’s a lot more Essex than they may think. Yes, you can find the clubs that charge you a thousand euros for a bottle of champagne and the hotel resorts graced by famous faces and millionaires but the reality of living on the Costa del Sol is a bit rougher around the edges. You drive past countless unfinished apartment blocks and rundown buildings that have been neglected in the wake of the recession, the local port is more fishing boats than expensive yachts and it’s hard to miss the underlying world of crime that is rife along the struggling coast. However, just a few minutes away from this you will enter a world where money is no issue and is thrown around like there’s no tomorrow. You really can find everything on Spain’s south coast. Nights outs, more often than not, are more Malia than Miami with the morning after the night before breakfasts being more McDonalds than sangria by the side of a fancy, beach-club pool. The cheap, predominantly English town of Fuengirola is home to cheesy yet appropriately named party bars such as Tramps and Playerz (yes, with a Z) which outside of the holiday season are usually filled with the local Year 10s dancing on the bar, getting ‘wasted’ on Smirnoff Ice – something that is unavoidable when a student budget won’t quite stretch to €20 Marbella club entries. Weekends would be welcomed with €1 shots and jugs of suspicious, lethal sounding concoctions. The summer marked the start of bars’ wet t-shirt contests, drunken street fights and rather loud rides home on the 6am bus. A word of warning, do not decide that a stroll along the beach at sunrise is a pleasant or romantic thing to do – far too many times have I had to witness, in the harsh light of a new day, sex on the beach not being just a cocktail but a promise. Despite the flaws, it is strangely difficult to not develop a crush on the tackiness of the town. If you do venture towards the slightly more dignified west you will find Puerto Banus – a town that tries its hardest to maintain the Marbella image. Overpriced (in my opinion) cars will inconveniently cruise along the front line of the port as people watch on from the sea front, upscale restaurants. If you do have the money the nightlife can live up to the hype. If not, you find yourself in the pricey yet still completely tacky bars and clubs that hide behind the front streets of expensive designer shops and boutiques. If you are looking for the ‘Marbella’ experience, this is where you go. Cheap, drunken, probably not going to be remembered weekend? Go East. Looking for culture? Prepare to look hard and leave the shiny Marbella bubble and head to the old town or nearby villages to experience the ‘real’ Spain (may include donkeys, tapas and a lot of beer). Living in Marbella is a mix of all three of these experiences and in all honesty, I wouldn’t change a thing. Lucy Gardner
Societies
ISSUE 13/ 11th February 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
29
Pangaea Festival
Society Spotlight
Tommy Fish explains why this Pangaea was such a success, and how the next is going to be even better
Rachel Heward goes to MUGSS’ rehearsal of The Grand Duke
Pangaea is the largest student festival in Europe and I spoke to the organiser Tommy Fish who explained why this year’s Pangaea was such a success. This year’s theme was Wonderland, and encouraged students to dress up as anything from the Mad Hatter to the Wizard of Oz. ‘The most important thing about Pangaea is the visual. In the months leading up, I spent a lot of time talking to different production companies, to make sure we had the best lighting effects, staging and overall decorations. My issue with previous years is it has never looked like a festival, just lots of different venues so
my priority this year was to make sure it looked amazing.’ Over 50 volunteers made up the creative team, and are to be thanked for transforming the Student Union into a Winter Wonderland, complete with Narnia, ice caves and magical trees. As Pangaea is a festival specifically for students, the most important thing was to promote students and societies. There were guest performances from the Bhangra Society, the Drum and Bass Society and even the Knitting Society got involved. The involvement of societies is very important to Pangaea, and the summer festival hopes to have performances from the
Beat Boxing society as well as others who will be announced nearer the time. Headlining were Grandmaster Flash and Miss Dynamite, along with many other bands from The Other Tribe to Kaleidoscope Orchestra. ‘My favourite act of the night had to be Grandmaster Flash, although there was confusion at the beginning of his set to do with equipment. For a moment I thought he wouldn’t play at all, but after a lot of grovelling and generally massaging his ego he performed. Who is to blame for the embarrassing technical hitch is still a mystery. My biggest regret of the evening was not seeing the set of
Kaleidoscope Orchestra with Dynamite MC who were playing upstairs in the Union, which was different to the other acts as it combined classical music with a live MC. I heard raving reviews about them from many students and colleges.’ For the main part, the night was a success however there were issues when it came to the ticket sales. ‘The organisation of the event was running smoothly until it came to the tickets. We set up a system to prevent touting, which was 100% successful but it meant people could not get refunds for their tickets. We did set up a system where 150 students were refunded however this did not include everyone. The problems with the tickets were unfortunate as it meant our energy went into organising refunds instead of into the actual night.’ Despite this the night was a success, and the June Pangaea is promising to have even better visuals, with incredible live acts and outdoor staging. If you want to start planning your outfit, there is talk of the theme being toys.
Kate Bullivant
Open Media Richard Les talks to Grace Wilson from the Open Media Society The aim of the Open Media Society is to show thoughtprovoking documentaries on a whole range of subjects. Founded seven years ago, the society shows documentaries which might have escaped the mainstream media’s attention. Whenever possible the screenings are followed by a question and answer session to give the audience a chance to discuss the film and anything they found challenging about it. Society Chair Grace Williams told me: ‘I think that sitting as a collective watching a film is a much more powerful experience than sitting in front of a laptop and watching a film. There’s a big difference, I think, in the fact that there is a space there for people to discuss what they think with their peers.’ Open Media also collaborate with other societies when the opportunity arises. This gives its members an opportunity to learn more about the documentary being shown and having
Societies
Events
people with a particular interest in the topic of the film also helps generate discussion. The society committee try to keep the programme varied, with a mixture of both lighthearted and more serious films. ‘That’s what’s good about it being quite a casual thing, so people can pick and choose which screenings they want to come to.’ In the future Open Media are keen to show a student-made film, to try and encourage student participation. This is something that has worked well in previous years, and the society hope to promote student films. This Wednesday 13th February, Open Media are showing ‘Paris is Burning’ in Room 8, University of Manchester Student Union at 6 15pm. You can find out more about Open Media Society on the union website, on Facebook and on Twitter. Facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/groups/ uomopenmeadia/?fref=ts
Last week I went along to the rehearsal of Manchester University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The Grand Duke and spoke to Secretary, Dan Magnone, about what they do. Dan explains exactly what MUGSS is, and why it is unique as the ‘largest’ student theatre society in Manchester. He says, ‘every year we put on a large scale production of a Gilbert and Sullivan show in the Opera theatre in the RNCM, with a large and varied cast and our own back stage crew. Our aim is to carry on the tradition of the comic light operas and bring them to a new audience who may not be familiar with these works of musical genius and hilarious comedy. We also aim to give everyone the opportunity to get involved, so we don’t audition for our chorus and anyone can be on stage in any of our productions. We do however audition for the principal roles ensuring that we have a high standard of performance. Many of our soloists aspire to be the next generation of professional singers and musicians.’ I was also told that many members go on to have careers on the stage, including a former member of MUGSS who was in the recent film adaptation of Les Misérables. Dan said, ‘we also have our own crew who build the sets and run the entire productions and anyone is of course welcome to be involved in this as well’. The Grand Duke Their current performance of The Grand Duke is showing at the end of February. With just under a month to go, I was intrigued to see how far along they were, and I was surprised at how finalised the rehearsals seemed to be. As is the intention of Society Spotlight, I wanted to have a go and join in with some of their rehearsal, thinking it wouldn’t be too difficult to pick up on some of the songs the chorus were singing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Optimistically, I was handed a copy of the music and was all set to chime in but was instantly thrown off guard by the sheer decibels, rapidity and skill of the people who surrounded me. Not being familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan’s work, I had no idea of the speed of the music, how quickly the words had to be sang, and also how funny it actually was. Needless to say I soon gave up on attempting to join in and just sat back and enjoyed the extraordinary sound of the twenty plus voices singing perfectly in unison and harmony. I also had a chance to see some of the ‘blocking’ that goes into their rehearsal time. This involves the practice of acting, dancing and stage positioning. Director, Joel Fisher, definitely knows what he’s doing here, commanding the group with ease and humour to achieve a high level of performance, whilst still letting the cast have their fun. As I soon came to realise with Gilbert and Sullivan performances, the most important aspect is the element of humour and fun. If you’d like to go and watch The Grand Duke (which I strongly recommend) tickets are on sale at £5 each from the RNCM Box Office which can be found by following a link from the MUGSS website. The show is running from Wednesday 27th February to Saturday 2nd March at the RNCM, at 7.30pm, with an added Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Described by the RNCM as a ‘musical tale of treason, deceit, love, heartbreak and sausage rolls’, it will be a spectacle not to miss out on. Get Involved You don’t have to have any previous experience to get involved in a Gilbert and Sullivan production, and as Dan says, ‘we have students from all areas and disciplines and it seems to be an activity which suits everyone. It can also be fun to meet and socialise with people from different subject areas to yourself.” Visit www.mugss.org or email committee@mugss.org or chair@mugss.org.
Monday11rdFebruary
Tuesday 12th February
Wednesday 13th February
Wednesday 13th February
DODGEBALL SOCIETY SOCIAL
ROLE PLAYING SOCIETY
CIRCUS SKILLS
MANCHESTER SHE CHOIR
Owens Park Bar
Council Chambers, Barnes Wallis
Burlington Society
Catholic Chaplaincy
8pm onwards
Building, 6pm-7pm
2pm -4pm
5pm -6pm
For more events, visit the socities page on the Mancunion website: www.mancunion.com
30 : SPORT
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
“I’m determined to make it to Rio 2016” Ciaran Milner Sport Editor Like many others across the country, I spent the first weekend of November attempting to get excited by the vague, tepid patriotism of Bonfire night. After the thrilling spectacle of sport that swept Britain up in a wave of national pride over the summer, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Not everyone spent that weekend shivering in the cold, however. Not content to allow the superb performances of our athletes over the summer to fizzle out, Manchester student Eleni Papadopoulos continued to ride the patriotic wave and took it upon herself to smash the 200m butterfly world record in the S10 category, clocking an incredible 2.37:52. “I knew what time I had to beat,” Leni (as she prefers to be called), recalls. “I was quite surprised though. It was a really good personal best for me. I got it by a few seconds”. Her recollection of the event seems understated. Although we talk more than a week after the event, I’m a little surprised to see that the excitement of breaking the world record appears to have worn off slightly, especially when I am in such awe of the achievement. As we talk, though, it
becomes apparent that Leni’s apparent nonchalant attitude to her achievement is not a display of arrogance – far from it - but instead a showing of humility; the kind of humility that comes after thousands upon thousands of hours of training. To Leni, swimming has been a focal point of her life for so long that for someone like me to seem so impressed by it must seem a little odd. “I started swimming at the age of four”, she says. Since the age of fifteen, she has trained for thirty hours a week. “24 hours in the pool each week, and possibly 6 hours gym work. Getting out of bed at 5am... it’s become a bit of a routine, it’s fine”. What’s more impressive is that it doesn’t seem to affect her studies. “I’ve always had to find the balance between education and sport. My coach and lecturers are really understanding. In the next five weeks I’m racing every weekend, so my coach has given me time off training to catch up on my work. It makes a massive difference when they are so understanding. “ Leni swims in the S10 category, which is classed as minimal disability. “When I was six, I fell off the monkey bars and I landed on my left side”, she says of the accident
that damaged the nerves in her arm and ruptured her muscles. “My hand basically went into a claw. When I was seven, they straightened it out, and loosened some of the tendons so my hand isn’t as much of a claw as it was”. The accident left damage that still affects her today, sending shooting pains up her arm. However, it also started her down the path to glory. “Swimming was really important as part of my rehabilitation, and then I suppose I just carried it on from there”. Despite breaking the world record, Leni believes she has so much more to offer, “I was surprised”, she says, “because in the months between September and December we are in really hard training, so we are not expected to perform well as we are not ‘peaked’. We’re not expected to get personal bests and things like that.” “When I am peaked, when I am meant to perform, when I’m rested... I can do even better”. Indeed, Leni only just missed out on the Paralympic team for this summer’s Olympics. “Sadly I wasn’t picked for the team. I missed out on the qualification time by the skin of my teeth. I was fairly disappointed [by the decision]. The whole selection
Photo: Couesy of Eleni Papadopoulos.
Earlier this month, Manchester student Eleni Papadopolous broke the world record for S10 200m Butterfly. Here, she talks to The Mancunion about her experiences, studies and ambitions
criteria is very complicated. But I do think that 2016 is a really big possibility”. The last statement piques my interest. She sounds supremely confident in her ability to make it to Rio for 2016. Unfortunately for Leni, her event isn’t a Paralympic event. “It’s just such a shame the 200m fly isn’t
included. I’m much more of an endurance swimmer than a sprinter.” This doesn’t appear to have even slightly affected her desire, however. “I’m determined. After another four years of hard work, I’m definitely determined to get to Brazil for 2016.”
It is an exciting prospect to imagine a Manchester graduate representing team GB at the next Paralympics. Whatever she goes on to accomplish, though, we should take nothing away from the successes she has achieved this month. Leni, well done and good luck.
Why 2012 has been a fantastic year for Tennis Jack Mollart-Solity
2012 ends another exceptional year for men’s tennis. With Novak Djokovic winning the season finale in London over Rodger Federer, the 25 year-old Serbian maintained his position as the world’s number one for the second consecutive year. Djokovic had started the year by winning the year’s first slam in extraordinary circumstances. After beating Murray in the semi-final in just under five hours, he returned two days later to dispatch Rafael Nadal in a staggering five hours and fifty-three minutes. This surpassed the record for the longest ever final previously set at Wimbledon in 2008. It left Djokovic on the brink of greatness, with just the French Open in the way of him holding all four slams. He would have been the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold them all at the same time. However, the Spaniard was set for revenge in Paris, completing the victory over Djokovic in four sets. It was
Nadal’s third French open in a row and a record seventh exceeding Bjorn Borg’s total. Incredibly, he has only ever lost once on the red clay of Roland Garros in the slam that remains the easiest to predict. Then, on the luscious grass at SW19, the old Swiss master Rodger Federer returned to glory in the place where it all started for him. Despite his total domination of the game being removed by first Nadal and then Djokovic, the title returned Federer to world number one for the first time in two years. In the process, he equalled and then bettered the record of his boyhood hero Pete Sampras of total number of weeks at number one. This record is now set at 302, a truly staggering feat. Federer also matched the American’s number of Wimbledon titles, a record seven. His victory over Murray was brutal for the Scot, leaving him in tears and with four defeats from his opening four Grand Slam finals. From this point though, the trajectory of Murray’s career rocketed skywards. Returning to the place where
his emotions had been at their lowest and engulfed in the incredible Olympic spirit reverberating around the capital, Murray managed to claim victory at last: taking the Olympic gold medal from the grasp of Federer in an astonishing game at Wimbledon. Then, at the next major tournament in a tornado-hit New York, Murray achieved the ultimate prize: victory at Flushing Meadows and his first Grand Slam title. It was the first British victory since Fred Perry in 1936 and he became the first man ever to win an Olympic gold medal and the US open in the same year. Significantly, Murray had beaten the then reigning champion Djokovic proving he can beat the best in the most critical of games. As the US open gave birth to a new champion, it was also saying farewell to an older, incredibly popular champion. Andy Roddick, the last American to win a Grand Slam, announced his departure from the game. The former world number one had won in New York in 2003 and had been unlucky not to win
at Wimbledon as he reached the final three times. His game had declined in recent years but he was one of the most charismatic players on the tour, never afraid to give interesting answers to reporters’ questions. Following one defeat to Igor Andreev and asked where his lack of confidence emanates from, he answered that ‘it comes from playing shit’. His charm and honesty will be missed. Ultimately, 2012 will be remembered as a year when multiple records fell for all of the top four players and one in which tennis continued to bring exceptionally high levels of quality and entertainment. As for 2013, hopefully Murray will win another major to further cement his place as one of the game’s greatest but most importantly, Nadal will be able to return from injury and recreate the form that took him to the first two Grand Slam finals of the season. All things being considered, the future looks very bright for tennis fans.
Andy Murray’s year has been a roller coaster ride of emotion. Photo: James Bird @Flickr.
SPORT : 31
ISSUE 10/ 26th NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM/
Liverpool edge out plucky Manchester at Sugden
BUCS league standings Points
University of Manchester 2-3 University of Liverpool Andrew Georgeson Manchester women were unlucky not to come away with more from the match against a strong Liverpool team at the Sugden centre. Manchester began the opening set well, dominating the opening exchanges with Kirk looking particularly impressive, picking up 3 of Manchester’s 7 points as they took a comfortable 7-3 lead. However, Liverpool soon began a fight back, dragging the score back to 7-6 through scorers Cook and Stroscher, with the aid of some Manchester mistakes. Manchester rallied after a timeout to cling onto the lead, holding onto a 2-point buffer, but unforced errors saw the scores draw level at 12-12. The lead changed hands after another Manchester timeout when Liverpool’s Davies hammered a shot through the helpless Manchester defense. After taking the lead Liverpool started to control the game extending their lead to 17-14. A brief Manchester resurgence saw them bring the scores back to 15-17, but this was short lived as Liverpool began to expose gaps in Manchester defense, forcing ambitious shots from the purples before seeing out the set 25-19. Despite the fact Liverpool ran out comfortable winners in the first set, none of this momentum would be carried through to the second. Both teams struggled in the opening exchanges as an array of mistakes from meant neither got a foothold in the game until
the deadlock was finally broken after continuous Liverpool errors, making the score 10-8 in Manchester’s favour. After taking the lead Manchester began to put more points on the board through Strozik and Gurgul, who despite being ill had an impressive match. Liverpool endeavored to keep within two points of Manchester and it looked like they were going to level the scores before Manchester called a tactical time out. After the short rest Manchester reasserted themselves in the fixture, and started to exploit Liverpool with a series of good serves, with Morrison, Franceshca and Magda all picking up
aces. Manchester looked to have been in control of the second set with the scores at 21-17, however, they found themselves in trouble again with Liverpool’s Astrid making a last ditch effort to snatch the set for Liverpool with an impressive spike and two aces. Manchester eventually saw out the set through Kirk, leveling out the game at 1-1. The match remained extremely tight into the third set with neither team being able to pull away in the early exchanges. Manchester did manage to amass a three-point lead at 15-12 through Morrison and Kirk scoring,
however, mistakes from Manchester led to Liverpool leveling the scores. It took until the 20 point mark before any real difference could be made between the two, and with the scores at 22-21, Strozik, Kirk and Tamasi scored to seal the set for Manchester. Liverpool managed to even the match out in the fourth set after particularly impressive performances from Astrid and Stroshcer saw them pick up the majority of Liverpool’s points. Mistakes again cost Manchester dearly as the set ended 21-25. The fifth and final set was comprehensively won by Liverpool. Despite strong performances from AnnaLeez
1
Loughborough Uni
2207
2
Uni of Bath
1572.33
3
Durham Uni
1489.5
4
Uni of Exeter
1446
5
Uni of Birmingham
1411
6
Leeds Met
1265.5
7
Uni of Notingham
1250
8
Uni of Manchester
1156
9
Uni of Edinburgh
1038
10
Newcastle Uni
1013.5
11
Northumbria Uni
981.33
12
Uni of Leeds
963.5
13
Cardiff Uni
929
14
Uni of Bristol
920
15
Oxford Uni
916
16
Uni of Warwick
870
17
Cardiff Met
812
18
Swansea Uni
802
19
Notts Trent
801
20
Uni of Sheffield
745
and Morrison, the half way point of the set of 15 saw Liverpool carry an 8-4 lead, a deficit which simply proved too much for Manchester to recover from.
P
W
L
GD
PTS
Northumbria 1st
6
6
0
17
18
Durham 1st
6
5
1
10
15
Liverpool 1st
6
4
2
2
12
Leeds Met 1st
6
2
4
-9
6
Manchester 1st
6
1
5
-7
3
Bangor 1st
6
0
6
-13
-3
Rampant Manchester claim first win Manchester 10-2 University of Sunderland Alex Underwood
Manchester Women’s Futsal got their first points on the board this weekend by comfortably defeating Sunderland University 10-2 at the Sugden Centre. Manchester made the better start of the two sides and dominated early proceedings. Throughout the first 10 minutes the home team frequently carved out chances, moving the ball at a good tempo and breaking through the Sunderland defence at will. Despite such impressive build-up play Manchester came up against an inspired Sunderland goalkeeper and were, for a long time, profligate in front of goal. However, Manchester called a time-out in the eighth minute and responded to the brief interlude by opening the scoring. A strong break from midfield allowed Eva Lockner to break through on goal and drive an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner to give Manchester a deserved lead. Yet, Sunderland found a shock equalizer almost immediately; Manchester switched off in defence and allowed Sunderland to put together a quick passing move and finish from the edge of the area from their first shot on goal. The goal was a shock to Manchester, who had controlled
the entire game, and caused an animated dispute between Manchester’s eccentric coach and the Sunderland substitutes’ bench. The girls were galvanized into action again and re-took control right on half-time; another midfield break by Yina Luk allowed Lockner to arrive into a similar position and this time she fired calmly into the bottom corner. In the second half Manchester upped their game and tore into the hapless Sunderland defence. Skilful midfielder Yina Luk commanded the entire game from the middle with her neat control and composure on the ball and deservedly added to the scoring, beating 2 players before slotting home from the edge of the area. She quickly scored again from inside the area to make it 4-1 before Meida Pociunaite converted from the penalty spot to add a fifth. Lockner was unable to add to her tally after suffering a nasty injury which later precipitated a trip to hospital – Manchester will be hoping she recovers quickly after her strong first half performance. Sunderland called their time-out in a vain attempt at limiting the damage but Manchester returned even stronger and quickly added a sixth as Teresa Castro found the corner with a neat finish after an impressive run down the left. Sunderland pulled another back to make it 6-2 but in the
final 5 minutes Manchester were rampant. Substitute Abbi Cole finished off a neat move to make it 7-2 before Castro tore through the Sunderland defence again and finished steadily for an eighth. Manchester rounded off the scoring in the final few minutes as Cole and Pociunaite both doubled their tallies. This was an important result for Manchester after successive away defeats to Newcastle and Durham in their two previous fixtures. Next up is a tricky journey to Leeds Metropolitan University next Saturday evening.
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
Durham 1st
2
2
0
0
8
6
Leeds Met 1st
3
2
0
1
2
6
Newcastle 1st
2
1
0
1
0
3
Manchester 1st
3
1
0
2
-2
3
Northumbria 1st
1
1
0
0
0
3
MMU Cheshire 1st
1
0
0
1
0
-3
Sunderland 1st
2
0
0
2
-8
-3
SPORT WWW.MANCUNION.COM
2 26th NOV 2012 ISSUE 08 FREE
Volleyball: UoM 2-3 Liverpool
P31
P30
Eleni Papadopoulos ‘determined to make it to Rio 2016’
Magic Mapp keeps Manchester on top
BUCS Mars Northern 2A 2012-2013 P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
Manchester 1st
4
2
1
1
13
11
Liverpool 1st
3
1
1
1
1
4
Man Met 1st
4
1
1
2
1
4
Keele 1st
3
0
3
0
0
3
Edge Hill 1st
4
1
0
2
-4
3
Salford 1st
4
0
1
2
-11
1
RESULTS: Wednesday 21th November Manchester 1st 2-1 Man Met 1st FIXTURES: Wednesday 28th November (cup) Manchester 1st v Chester 1st Wednesday 5th December Keele 1st v Manchester 1st Salford 1st v Edge Hill 1st Man Met 1st v Liverpool 1st Manchester’s 100% record this season continued with victory over Man Met Photo: Cil Barnett-Neefs
University of Manchester
2
Mapp 65, 82
Manchester Metropolitan
1
Andrews 90+2
Tom Acey Sport Editor Two second-half goals from Chloe Mapp were enough to see off rivals Man Met and keep Manchester top of the Northern 2A Division. The Manchester midfielder struck midway through the second half, before sealing an impressive performance with a sublime free-kick in the closing stages. Captain Fionn Andrews scored late on to give the
visitors hope, but anything less than a victory would have been harsh on the home side, who should probably have won by a greater margin. That the game even went ahead was of great credit to the Armitage groundsmen, as much of the playing area was left saturated after 48 hours of persistent rain. Manchester went into the game looking to continue their 100% league record, and they started in confident fashion.
Winger Sophie Bracegirdle tormented the visitors all afternoon, and it was from her early corner that Manchester almost took the lead. Goalkeeper Elle Stamford failed to deal with a speculative cross, but Simone Wan was disappointed to see her close-range header come back off the crossbar. That was about as close as Manchester came in a frustrating first half, in which they dominated in possession but failed to create any meaningful chances. Much of the home side’s good work came through Mapp, who repeatedly found space in front of the Man Met back four, and Bracegirdle, who had the beating of full-back Katie Southern and provided excellent service from the
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right flank. Man Met were outnumbered in the centre of midfield and struggled to keep the ball, but it was they who came closest on the brink of halftime. A clever turn and shot from Ruth Cornish drifted just wide of the far post, where it was almost met by the sliding Andrews. Manchester started the second period much as they had finished the first, with Andrews called into action in her own penalty area, nicking the ball from the head of Bergin before clearing off the line after a scramble in the sixyard box. It was only a matter of time before the hosts’ domination told, and it was no surprise to see Mapp and Wan combine in setting up the opening goal.
Having been harshly ruled offside just moments before, Wan collected the ball 30 yards from goal and, with her back turned, delayed her pass to meet the run of Mapp, who burst between the two Man Met centre halves before slotting past Stamford. It was no less than Manchester deserved, and despite a brief period of pressure from the visitors, the points were sealed in the 82rd minute when Mapp curled a 20-yard free-kick into the top left-hand corner. Andrew’s late flick was just reward for her excellent individual performance, but Manchester recorded a deserved win to continue their perfect start to the season.
Email: mancunion.sport.editors@gmail.com
MANCHESTER CARTELL
WHITAKER
SELF
GILROY
BAKER
MARBAN
BARKER
MAPP
BRACEGIRDLE
BERGIN
WAN
HIGGINS
ANDREWS
UNSWORTH
ROACH
GRUNDY
CORNISH
SOUTHERN
BURNS
HEAP
LINES
STAMFORD MAN MET