Issue14 by The Mancunion

18TH FEB 2013/ ISSUE 14 FREE

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MANCHESTER’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Prof Parker relieved to escape MMU ‘bullying’

Interview: China history expert Kenneth Pomeranz

Comment: Why I’m not doing a PhD

P10

HOMOSEXUALS WOULD BE “KILLED” IN IDEAL WORLD, SAYS SPEAKER AT SOCIETY EVENT

Richard Crook Editor-in-Chief

A speaker at a Students’ Union affiliated society workshop said that homosexuals would be executed in an ideal Islamic state, describing the practice of two men kissing as an “atrocity.” 1st year Middle Eastern studies student Colin Cortbus attended a meeting at the Students’ Union last Wednesday 13th February organised by Global Aspirations and asked the chairperson of the

meeting whether “in the Islamic society in which you strive for,” they would “feel comfortable, personally and morally, to kill a gay man.” She responded, “Absolutely,” and added later that homosexuality was an “atrocity, because it goes against what God says.” Mr Cortbus sent an undercover recording of the talk to The Mancunion the following day. In the meeting Mr Cortbus also asked whether in the Islamic state they were advocating they would feel confident to kill him if he “did something as com-

pletely innocent as kiss another man outside the Students’ Union.” In response, the chair of the meeting said to the small group, “Yeah, absolutely,” adding, “But it’s the fact that you can’t just see it as it is. People have this issue that the punishment, penal code, everything is so completely inhumane, but who even says that these things are inhumane?” When the debate moved onto the subject of the supposed negative effect of homosexuals on society, the chair declared that homosexuality “does not lead to social cohesion,” citing their in-

ability to “pro-create” as evidence. At this point, another attendee joined the debate, asking, “If they can’t have kids, why didn’t they die out ages ago?” Mr Cortbus also asked for the chairperson’s position on stoning adulterers. She reasoned: “Who’s to say that someone else might see that and think ‘well if he’s allowed to do it why can’t I do it’.” When Mr Cortbus argued that stoning was not an Islamic practice, the chairperson said: “Even if you went to someone who was a Muslim, whether they like the idea of stoning an adulterer or not, they will still say to you that it is

something that is in Islam. “There aren’t Muslims who could say to you that it’s not part of Islam to stone an adulterer.” The society lists its purpose on the Manchester Students’ Union website as “to highlight the universal aspirations of women and create discussions on campus as to what these are and what can be done about it. “

Continued on page 2

02 : NEWS

ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Highlights

NUS head into conference at a crossroads

Students don sumo suits outside University Place during RAG week. Photo: Jack Crawley

Features, page 9 Picture of the week

Should Manchester vote for the Carbon Rod? Comment, page 11

Interview: Frightened Rabbit Music, page 18

Continued from front page

They further claim to “create an environment in which students can come together and discuss concerns.” Though their page on the Students’ Union website makes no reference to Islamic beliefs, their Facebook page – which has 91 likes – describes them as: “A UoM society set up to discuss the aspirations of women, whether these can be achieved under the current system and showing Islam as an alternative.” In December, Global Aspirations for Women invited Julie Breen, a British convert to Islam, to come and give a talk at the Students’ Union to around 20 people. In an interview posted to YouTube, she says she makes “no apology for capital punishment in an

Islamic state” and supports an Islamic state over democracy. Khadijah Afzal, chair of Global Aspirations and speaking on behalf of the society, told The Mancunion, “Not once in the discussion was any of this advocated. It was a hypothetical discussion in which people were open to discuss their views, which or may not have necessarily been that of the society. “The fact that you have pin pointed only the discussion on the punishment system in Islam shows that you are ignorant of Islam as a political system, and hence decided to play the media rhetoric of Islam equates to harsh punishments and lack of humanity.” “People hold various views and opinions about a number of issues on campus, including fascists who are

openly allowed to propagate their views under the guise of freedom of speech. What I ask of you is not to be intolerant towards debate especially when it goes against the grain of what you ardently hold on to.” A statement from Students’ Union Wellbeing Officer Catriona Gray, read: “We are deeply concerned with the covert filming of a student event within the Union. We are also deeply concerned by the suggestion that comments of a homophobic nature have been made. The Union operates a safe space policy where students should not be subject to any form of intimidation or discrimination. We encourage students who wish to report incidents which have made them feel unsafe to contact any member of the Exec Team.”

Lifestlye, page 26

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Mariana Cerqueira Reporter University of Manchester researchers have discovered a way to help overcome the world’s deadliest skin cancer, melanoma. Lung cancer drugs were found to be effective in patients who become resistant to those used for skin cancer and would otherwise not have other treatment options. Professor Richard Marais, the leader of the study, said: “This exciting research shows that two drugs can be better than one in beating this deadly disease.” Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information manager, said: “This is the kind of work that the new MCRC excels at - bringing together a wide range of expertise to revolutionise cancer treatment.” The research was developed in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a partnership

between Cancer Research UK, The Christie hospital and the University. In 2008, the University was found to have the best cancer research of all UK institutions by the Research Assessment Exercise and last semester the MCRC was awarded a £12.8 million government funding boost to help progress its leading research. Melanoma causes 75 per cent of all deaths related to skin cancer, including around 2,200 people in the UK each year. Research recently published in the British Medical Journal found that the risk of developing the disease increases by 59% if sunbeds are used for the first time before the age of 35. Prof Marais explained that the Manchester researchers’ findings need to be confirmed by larger studies, but he hopes “that this work accelerates progress that will ultimately increase survival from skin cancer”.

M13 9PR

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This week’s BNOC: Manchester’s Uni Challenge Captain

Researchers discover way to help overcome skin cancer

Homosexuals would be “killed” in ideal world, says speaker at society event

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ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 03

Prof Parker: Relieved to escape MMU’s ‘bullying and harassment’ Anthony Organ News Editor Professor Ian Parker is “very, very relieved” to escape from an “environment of bullying and harassment” at Manchester Metropolitan University. Speaking to The Mancunion, the world-renowned psychologist explained: “In the past year more staff have left in a short period of time than ever before. People are escaping whenever they can.” Prof Parker was suspended by MMU in October on charges of “gross professional misconduct”, sparking a campaign calling from his reinstatement. An online petition received almost 4,000 signatures from around the world, including from American philosopher Noam Chomsky. Following a disciplinary hearing he was allowed to return to work in December, but he resigned at the end of January, stating: “My professional work as an academic has been undermined to the point where there is now nothing left to return to in the psychology department.” He revealed that in MMU in the last year there have been 20 cases of staff accused of “gross professional misconduct”, which in his case referred to circulating emails questioning workload and appointment procedures. He said: “When you get the first letter you are told that you

mustn’t discuss it with anybody and then you’re isolated. “I’m lucky that I had an international network of support and students who immediately spoke out. There are people who have been forced out and can’t find another job.” Prof Parker was at MMU for 27 years and recalled that it was only when a new Head of Department was appointed last year that things became bad. He said: “It’s not so much that the Head of Department is a bad person, it’s more that they’re very obedient to whatever MMU want them to do. Some other departments have been doing similar things. “We have a situation where some Heads of Department are willing to just do whatever the management tells them to do, and that’s when things really get nasty. “The MMU Psychology department was very distinctive. Now the department has no professors left except the Head of Department, it’s really awful.” He noted that universities are increasingly pressuring staff to do well in the National Student Survey (NSS) in which students feedback on their academic experience. He said: “Universities have a mistaken, bureaucratic way of trying to raise NSS scores. The tragedy is that what they’re doing doesn’t actually help the students.” One of Prof Parker’s PhD stu-

Postgrad degree necessity for job Elizabeth Mitchell & Esmé Clifford Astbury Postgraduate qualifications are becoming increasingly necessary to compete in the jobs market, threatening students from lower-income backgrounds who might be put off by potential £20,000 costs. A recently published Sutton Trust report revealed that 11 percent of the adult workforce now holds postgraduate qualifications, up from just 4 percent in 1996. Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Trust, which campaigns for social mobility through education, said: “Of course, a better educated workforce should be good for Britain. But it is essential that this should not come at the expense of widening inequalities of access to these

professions.” With the recent fees hike and increasing living costs, graduates will already be burdened with debts of over £40,000. But further fees and living costs of £20,000 a year for postgraduate study, without a student loan scheme, threaten to make it the preserve of the better off student. Polly Simpson, completing a Master’s in Planning at the University of Manchester, was offered three graduate positions, and noticed that everyone at the final assessment days had or was working towards a postgraduate qualification. She said: “I would definitely have felt at a disadvantage without one.” On average, a Master’s degree holder earns £5,500 more a year than someone with a Bachelor’s

Photo Credit: Name of photographer

Professor Ian Parker speaks to The Mancunion following his resignation from MMU

Professor Ian Parker (right) left Manchester Metropolitan University after a lengthy dispute.

dents, Owen Dempsey, last week claimed that he had not been offered an alternative supervisor or received any communication from MMU since the suspension in October. He said that he and other students would be demanding their fees back and stated: “As far as the university is concerned I just don’t exist.” A group of students presented

degree alone, totalling more than £200,000 over a 40-year working life. Despite long-term benefits, the upfront costs may seem daunting to poorer students. Janice Astbury, a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester’s School of Environment and Development, admitted: “It’s not a move that everyone would be comfortable with. I know students who have tons of debt and are in denial about it.” She explained that although grants are available they can be difficult to obtain, adding: “I was initially unable to find funding. I managed to secure some in my second year only after hearing about a chance opportunity from within the department.” Financial benefit is not the only reason to commit to postgraduate study. Asked why she applied for a Master’s degree, Ms Simpson replied: “I wasn’t finished with being a student. I enjoy learning and wanted to explore the undergraduate material in more depth.”

the campaign’s petition to MMU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Brooks, who they allege told them that there were aspects of the suspension which would never be revealed. Prof Parker, who in his resignation statement made public all of the offending emails and correspondence from MMU, said: “I think it’s an appalling thing to say. It keeps suspicions going.

“It’s done damage to my reputation, people are still a little bit suspicious and I can’t blame them.” He chose to resign for the sake of his health after being ordered to go to a meeting without a union representative. He explained: “My partner said ‘you need to go to the doctor’. I was reluctant but I did go and it gave me some space away to think things through.”

With a Visiting Professorship at London’s Birkbeck College and several book contracts, Prof Parker said that he has “lots of things to do to keep busy”. MMU have not been commenting on this issue, previously stating: “It’s private and confidential as far as we are concerned.”

‘Use it or lose it’, say Save Withington Baths campaigners Lisa Murgatroyd News Editor Manchester City Council have conceded to give a stay of execution on plans to close Withington Baths, but community activists say there is still much to do. On Wednesday 13th February, campaigners handed in their petition at Manchester Town Hall, having gathered over 8,000 signatures. A business proposal was also presented that has helped sway the Council Executive to endorse the plans to keep the swimming pool open until new facilities are built in Hough End. Through social media, support has been expressed by a jubilant local community.

“@SaveWithyBaths Congratulations! Pleased for #Withington; shows what can be done by a community taking action! Thanks to all you have done” (@gavinwhite76) “Youngest daughter had massive smile on her face when I told her the baths weren’t closing yet!” (@BelindaMizrahi) However, on the ‘Save Withington Baths’ Facebook page, a warning was issued that nothing is yet secure and support was still needed. “This is not a forever solution and there is much work to be done but firstly and most importantly here is the news going forward – USE IT OR LOSE IT. Join, swim, train, Zumba, sweat and support. We need you. And we need you now. “Withington Baths is a VERY well used facility but this ter-

rible uncertainty has already hit revenue as the taking of memberships was suspended. Please get word out, especially to our student population locally, that it is staying open for business!” Similar proposals for Levenshulme and Miles Platting Baths have not yet been successful, although the Executive have stated that this would remain under consultation until 8th March. Lib Dem Councillor Simon Wheale has criticised spending by Labour in Manchester, saying that they had overlooked government funding to promote healthy lifestyles. The City Treasurer has confirmed that £1.7m could be used to help keep the pools open.

ISSUE 01 / 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

04 : News

Exam party stabbing leads to Birdcage ban

- Four left with puncture wounds and facial injuries - Club forced to close on weeknights after end of exams party Michael Williams News Editor

The Birdcage has been forced to close on weeknights after a fight at an end of exams party left four people injured. Two people suffered puncture wounds, one suffered severe facial injuries and another minor facial injuries at the ‘Rehab: Geekhab End of Exams party’. Detectives believe a knife was used in the incident. Police were called to the Printworks in the early hours of Thursday, January 31 by the ambulance service, who had been contacted by Birdcage staff. Lincoln Warmington, 26, was charged with affray, and will

appear before Manchester Crown Court later this month. Two men, aged 19 and 20, were arrested that night but later released on bail until the middle of March. As a result of the incident, council licensing bosses ruled that the venue must stay closed from Monday to Thursday meaning that the regular student night, ‘Rehab’, is without a venue for the time being. “We are currently working with licensing to bring back our midweek private hire events”, said Carl Simm, General Manager of The Birdcage. “This will include Rehab.” “We are taking the time out during the week to make some cosmetic improvement within the venue”. “[We] would like to add all nights run by The Birdcage are still going strong.” Social Junkies, who run ‘Rehab’ at The Birdcage on Wednesday nights, made no mention of the ruling on their Facebook page. They instead made reference to the “revamp” and “refurb” of the club in two separate Facebook posts as to why the event was not taking place. “There was an incident a couple of weeks ago with four local people”, Simon Denby, Director of Social Junkies, told The

UCAS applications see surprise rise Michael Williams News Editor

Applications to higher education institutions across the UK have seen an unexpected rise this year. The figures, released by UCAS, show a 3.5% increase in the number of applicants in the 2013 application cycle - a surprise to many who predicted a trend of falling applicants after the fee increase last year. In November it was revealed that UCAS applications were almost 10 per cent lower than they were at the same time the year before - a record drop. Mary Curnock Cook, Chief

Executive of UCAS, said at the time: “Experience tells us that changes at this point in the cycle are a poor guide to final demand.” Reacting to the recent figures, she speculated: “This may be indicating that some young people delayed their decisions about higher education after leaving school last year.” Home applications to higher education fell 10% in 2012, and the number of students that registered at the University of Manchester this academic year fell by over 1500. However, the application rates of 18 year olds across the UK are now at, or near,

Four left injured at end of exams bash. Photo: Amy Hallett

Mancunion. “We’ve heard everything from the outrageous, from people being stabbed, to the ridiculous, people being poked in the eye.” All references to the club’s Wednesday night entertainment has been removed from The Birdcage’s website. Social Junkies’ website displayed a ticket purchase page for the event last Wednesday, but all tickets were listed as ‘sold out’.

their highest recorded levels. The number of nineteen year olds applying to higher education has also shown a growth of over 10%. David Ellis, Editor of studentmoneysaver.co.uk., agreed with Ms Cook’s suggestion. He wrote in The Telegraph: “This year’s students are spending longer making decisions because they demand more from their education” Applications to study at the University of Manchester “have shown some modest growth”, said Clive Agnew, Vice President of Teaching, Learning & Students at the University. “[This] has taken us back to the overall level of applications that we enjoyed in 2011, prior to the fall which we experienced last year.”

The Birdcage is allowed to remain open on Friday and Saturday nights, due to the ‘very different nature’ of weekend events from midweek events. The club’s website lists “flamboyant drag artists, elegant showgirls and sexy male dancers” appearing on weekends. Increased security conditions were also imposed on the club as part of the ruling. Airport-style metal detecting wands, an ID

scanning system and an increase in bouncer-to-patron ratio must now be implemented at the weekends. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the club are taken up by private functions. “Since we opened six years ago, more than a million people have visited The Birdcage,” Managing Director Chris Edwards told the Manchester Evening News. “This, in my opinion, is the only serious incident we’ve had.”

A full hearing is set to take place later this month to determine the fate of weeknight events at The Birdcage. Police and Birdcage representatives will discuss the interim security measures imposed on the club. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Porn, Oreo’s and lesbians: a look at MMU Spotted Lisa Murgatroyd News Editor The ‘Spotted’ Facebook craze passed away many an hour of procrastination over the January exam period, but some may have taken it too far. ‘Spotted: Manchester Metropolitan University Library’ published a number of offensive comments as the phenomenon continues to occupy bored students. Although the majority of posts made on the University of Manchester equivalent have been focused around a sense of community (returning

lost property, complaining about poor behaviour, sharing sweets), the same cannot be said for the tone of the Man Met page. One post said, “Splat on her face: To the tall blonde girl on the 2nd floor. Did you fall from heaven? Because it looks like you landed on your face.” While another said, “Prospective porn career: To the girls sat next to each other, one with a green top and the other with a black top, I’d just like to say that you both have massive tits and if you two lezzed off I think you could make good money from it, tempted?”

The traditional rivalry between University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University came out as one post alerted to a student wearing a Manchester jumper. Comments posted included, “Burn that trash,” and “Burn them at the stake!” Other comments on the page included: “Chinese hummingbird: To the Chinese girl humming away behind me … you are getting quite irritatin now! Zip it or I will slap you so hard, you’ll end up in the Ming Dynasty.” “Whiteboy’s biscuit dream: To the black girl in

the black vest top on the 2nd floor. I want to fill you up like an Oreo.” Katie, Manchester Metropolitan Community Officer, told The Mancunion, “From what I can see from the page, it is run in jest and there is nothing expletive or offensive written on the wall by the admin. It also appears to be policed by the admin. “From a quick Facebook search, it is also clear that a number of other groups by other Unions have also been created, therefore it is not MMU specific. “We absolutely do not condone offensive, bullying or derogatory comments of any kind, in any way or situation. We will monitor the situation and will respond in line with the needs and wants of our students.”

ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 05

Manchester graduates create energy sweets “And we are in talks with supermarkets, newsagents – we are trying everything we can at the moment to get the sweets out there.” The group plan to release new products this year, which are based on customer feedback. Schmid said, “We are bringing new products to the market in the summer – a new taste and a sugar free version. “We have been trying to get feedback from everyone who buys a bag, and two of the main points were they wanted more choice in taste and a sugar free version, especially among the girls.” In April, the four graduates are competing in the Rice University Business Plan Competition in Houston, Texas. “We are going to America because we

Manchester Business School graduates have created a new sweet, high in caffeine Photo: Kaffeination

won a European competition in Brussels,” said Schmid. “We won a thousand

- Graduates sign contract with FoodonCampus - Idea wins business competitions in Mancheser and Brussels Jonathan Breen News Editor A group of Manchester graduates have created what might be the perfect answer for tired students in the midst of dissertation work or all-nighter revision session – energy sweets. Four graduates, three from the Manchester Business School, formed company Kaffeination and have developed their own caffeine sweets, ‘Ups’, as an alternative to energy drinks, hugely popular among students. “If you are sick of drinking, that is where we think we come in,” said MBS

graduate and CEO of Kaffeination Mat-

intensively working, and we had already

thias Schmid. “We place our product so

had five cups of coffee each,” he said.

that we are an additional offer to energy

“We were kind of bored by coffee.

drinks.” Schmid and his colleagues held a

one guy said it would be perfect if these

launch for Ups on campus in January,

sweets could give us energy, we looked at

wearing boiler suits covered in packets

him, we laughed and said yeah it would

of their sweets. And last week spoke to

be cool.

The Mancunion about where their idea came from and their success so far. The idea initially came from an excess of coffee, said Schmid, who holds a Masters in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. “We had a Uni project to do, we were all

Bus company to run nonemergency ambulances Conor McGurran Reporter Bus company Arriva will run part of Greater Manchester’s ambulance service from April this year. The bus and train operator won the Patient Transport Service (PTS) contract last year after it was put out to tender by the NHS. From March 2013, Arriva will take over from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) in providing non-emergency transport to and from hospitals. There has been significant opposition to the decision, with over 14,000 people signing a petition against the move, which was handed to the Department of Health. Campaigners are concerned that Arriva will not meet the same standards that NWAS have in the past. The petition reads: “We believe this is

“We had a bag of sweets next to us and

the first step towards the wholesale privatisation of our NHS and that we must campaign to stop it.” Unison, the public service trade union, have been running the campaign and claim that Arriva won the contract because they undercut NWAS by £3.5m, but that they scored lower than NWAS in terms of quality during the bidding process. Liam Mayet, part of the University of Manchester’s Save Our NHS campaign, said: “The government has simply chosen price over quality in this instance. “It is disgraceful to see what this government is doing to our NHS service. This is indicative of a wider policy of privatisation of services within our NHS. “I am deeply concerned for patients in Manchester who rely on this service.” The bus company will be transporting chemotherapy patients, disabled people

“So we interrupted our work, did a little research and couldn’t find anything online that was like these jelly sweets but with caffeine in them. “And from then it was like a step-bystep thing. We had the idea, we developed a prototype, and found a supplier.

and elderly, amongst others, who are too ill or vulnerable to use public transport. Around two million non-emergency journeys were made across the North-West by NWAS last year. Allan Jude, Director of Ambulance Commissioning at NHS Blackpool, said: “It is important to understand that this is not the emergency blue light service and the staff are not front line ambulance staff and never attend 999 calls. “Ambulance staff on the Arriva contract will be fully trained in basic first aid, life support and resuscitation techniques. The service will offer patients the quality service they need.” Last year, the Arriva group was awarded a similar contract to provide non-urgent patient transport in the East Midlands. The firm have been running this service for Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Bassetlaw since July 2012. Two Greater Manchester MPs condemned the award of the PTS contract to Arriva. Graham Stringer and Paul Goggins, MPs for Wythenshawe and Sale East respectively, submitted an Early Day Mo-

dollars and a free ticket going to America The foursome then took part in and

for a one-week boot camp, the competi-

won a business plan competition put

tion and they pay for the flights and ho-

on by the University of Manchester and

tels.”

Manchester Enterprise Centre called “Venture Further 2012.” “We entered and we got first place and four thousand pounds funding with it,” said Schmid. After their launch, Kaffeination moved into the University of Manchester’s Inno-

“We are competing in one of the world’s biggest business-plan competitions to get some money and look for investors. Schimd added, “We have also put private money in the company, all of our savings are invested in sweets.”

vation Centre, who provide office space

When asked what advice he would give

for free for half a year for start-ups, and

to students with a business idea Schmid

signed a number of contracts including

said, “Definitely go for it.

one for Ups to be stocked on campus. “Our main contract is with the FoodonCampus outlet at the University,” Schmid said. “We are also in different corner

“As long as you are in university it is a safe playground, nothing can happen. “You can really test the idea in the time you are a student.”

shops and online shops - we are now accredited with Amazon, which is starting [this] week.

Arriva buses will be used for non-emergency patient transport. Photo: Cil Barnett-Neefs tion to the House of Commons, saying they were “appalled” at the decision. The Motion noted that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Arriva’s ambulance transport service in Leicestershire and found it was not meeting standards in staffing, cleanliness, infection control, safeguarding people who use services from abuse, care and welfare of people who use

services and assessing and monitoring service provision. The CQC report also discovered that staff were being employed before Criminal Records Bureau checks had taken place and that ambulances had been late in collecting patients. Arriva were unable for comment at the time of writing.

ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 07

Dame Nancy named Britain’s 15th most powerful woman

The University’s Vice-Chancellor sees the recognition as “an honour”. Photo: The University of Manchester

A quarter of the top twenty women on the BBC Woman’s Hour list taught or studied at the University of Manchester Ellen Conlon News Editor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University has been named the 15th most powerful woman in the UK. The list was compiled by a

panel of judges for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour programme. They placed The Queen at number one, followed by Home Secretary Theresa May and Santander bank boss Ana Botin in third place. Reflecting on her position in the top 20 women, Dame Nancy said: “It was a surprise, and

Original Machiavelli ‘most wanted’ notice found Jonathan Breen News Editor

The original wanted notice for one of the world’s most infamous political operators has been found by a Manchester academic. Professor Stephen Milner, from the University of Manchester’s School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, discovered the 500-year-old proclamation calling for the arrest of Niccolò Machiavelli, known as the Italian Prince of Darkness. The ‘most wanted’ notice set in motion a chain of events that led to Machiavelli writing the book for which he is most famous, The

Prince. It also marked a change his political fortunes that resulted in his death 14 years later in abject poverty. “When I saw it I knew exactly what it was and it was pretty exciting,” said Professor Milner. “When you realise this document marked the fall from grace of one the world’s most influential political writers, it’s quite a feeling.” “The Prince is a seminal work, with a lasting influence on political thought and culture. The term Machiavellian and the naming of the Devil as ‘Old Nick’ all derive from this single work.” The Prince was infamous for encouraging the notion to main-

an honour to be in such illustrious company! It is also great to see that a quarter of the top twenty studied or taught at the University of Manchester.” Women’s Hour listeners were invited in October to nominate women who they thought held the most power in the country. Over 4,000 responses were

tain power at all costs, and promoted the sacrifice of virtue and morality to do so. The book has since been updated to apply to areas such as finance, business, and politics. Professor Milner, who examined hundreds of proclamations from between 1470 and 1530, has also mapped the actual site where the town crier would have read out the proclamation and been able to shed light on payments made to four horsemen who searched the streets of Florence for Machiavelli. “When his name was linked to conspiracy to overthrow the Medici, they wasted no time in seeking his capture using the proclamation I discovered,” Professor Milner said. “On the same day, he was imprisoned, tortured and later released and placed under house arrest outside the city.”

received through email, Twitter and Facebook, producing over 1,600 names. The panel had to decide how much impact each woman had on the country. Whether they had the power to make meaningful decisions which could bring about change and whether they had the financial resources to bring about that change. Only the top 20 women on the list are ranked, the panel agreeing that after that the distinction between one number and the next was less meaning-

ful due to the vast differences between talents and achievements. At number four on the list is former Manchester Law Professor, Baroness Hale of Richmond, and three former Manchester students take sixth, eleventh and seventh positions: Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and Culture Secretary Maria Miller MP. Speaking on a Woman’s Hour programme in November, Dame Nancy was asked whether she considered herself powerful: “When I was asked that question my immediate response was “no”, but I suppose running an £800 million organisation, with 40,000 students and 10,000 staff, I have to say yes,” she admitted. One of the judges, journalist Eve Pollard, said: “Most women on our list were judged to have power because they had reached a place where they have control – of policy, of direction, of influence, of staff. “The panel, a democratic group, also felt that we should include some women who have what we describe as soft power – not hire and fire or innovative financial decisions but the ability to transform the way we think about ourselves,” she said. Recognisable names on the list that hold ‘soft power’ include Adele, Dawn French, Sarah Millican and Victoria Beckham. “What this list does is shine a light on those sector where too few women are getting to the top, like politics, FTSE companies, the military and journalism,” recognised Eve Pollard. “Our legacy, we hope, is that this list might change that.”

A Manchester academic has discovered the original wanted poster for Machiavelli Photo: Wikipedia

Edinburgh Student newspaper ‘Censorgate’ Lisa Murgatroyd News Editor Much controversy has been caused following a decision by the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) to censor its own paper, The Student. An interim interdict (the Scottish version of an injunction) was served by bailiffs on Monday 21st January which prevented the publication of an article that was planned for the front page. The story was written after documents were leaked anonymously to The Student, which EUSA deemed would ‘damage’ their reputation. The Student is still unable to confirm or deny any speculation on the subject matter. Alistair Grant, editor of The Student, told The Mancunion, “It seems from the feedback we have been getting that we are by no means the only ones to have these kinds of difficulties. Pretty sad really.” The story broke nationally, featured in Huffington Post, the Guardian, and Herald Scotland. David Banks, expert in media law, commented in his article for the Guardian that the breadth of order sought by the EUSA was “unusual”. The interdict stretches to prevent the publication of “any material purporting to suggest the pursuer is an organisation which is poorly governed and whose management are inexperienced and unaccountable”. “It would seem extraordinary to seek, or grant, an order so widely framed,” said Banks. He also highlighted that whilst it is normal practice in Scottish courts to invite the defenders to the hearing, the order was granted in the absence of anyone from The Student. The paper was forced to withhold distribution of thousands of copies. The following week, it ran with the headline “Censored by EUSA” and the doors opened in full to what has been dubbed “Censorgate” by the students. James McAsh, EUSA President, issued a statement on the union website on Monday 10th February. “As most of you are aware, The Student Newspaper was last month stopped by the Court of Session from publishing a specific story. I understand that this is frustrating for students accustomed to a higher level of openness and transparency from EUSA, but I can only reiterate our previous position that in this specific case we are bound by the law. “I trust that our members will understand that this is an exceptional situation and will continue to exercise their right to challenge, question and disagree with what EUSA does going forward.” One student posted on the EUSA Facebook page, “It’s really a shame you can’t opt-out of being represented by EUSA, because I hate being represented by a corrupt organisation that feels it doesn’t need to be accountable or justify its actions to its own constituents – us students!”

08 : Feature

ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

“I got into Chinese history by a series of accidents” Kenneth Pomeranz, Celebrated historian and author of ‘The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy’ , talks to The Mancunion’s Jonathan Breen

civilisation book and at some point had been turned into a world history book. “So it was as if it was – ‘here is the main story, which is the West and now we have these add-ons on China, the Middle East, and South Asia, for example’. That really bothered me. “I also had three little children at the time, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get to the archives in Beijing any time soon. So a project I could do from reading in the library was appealing.” Pomeranz

Jonathan Breen News Editor

f Europeans had not discovered well-located reserves of coal in the eighteenth century, the world might have been a very different place.

Leading East Asian Historian Kenneth

Pomeranz

argues

that

this

lucky

geographic accident was one of the main reasons for Western success in recent history and Eastern failure, known as ‘The Great Divergence’. In his famous book The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy, Professor Pomeranz shows surprising

China matters. The need to pay attention to contemporary China is independent of any theory.”

similarities between Northwest Europe and Southeast China as recent as

thousands of miles from the core of

1750. And he asks, “Why did sustained

China.

industrial growth begin in Europe?” “When coal, steam, and mechanization

Professor Pomeranz, a Professor of History at the University of Chicago and

technical

the head of the American Historical

Europeans

Association, was in Manchester last

(especially in England) were in a unique

week to give a guest lecture. He spoke

position to capitalize on them,” he said

to The Mancunion about how he formed

in his book. “Vast untapped New World

his now famous divergence theory, what

resources (and underground resources)

he thinks of some of his competition,

still lay before them.

and what he is working for the future.

opened

possibilities,

acknowledges

that

although he was “bitten by the China

vast

new

western

“[In China] by far the largest deposits,

“I got into this field of history in part by a series of accidents,” he said. “I started out thinking I was going to go to graduate school in European history, but I got bitten by the China bug during my senior year of college. “As a historian of China, I tried to think what I could say about China that would make people who more interested in some other part of the world think again.” The move from student to the writing of The Great Divergence was helped by a number of factors, said Pomeranz,

Niall Fergurson: “he did some quite good history once upon a time.”

but one that came to mind was when he read the draft of a particularly Eurocentric world history book. “Somebody asked me to read a draft of a world history textbook they were

which theoretically might have justified

publishing, and to be honest I read the

major investments in production and

draft and I disliked it so much that I

transportation

were

thought, something has to be done,” he

those in the northwest,” a region

said. “The book was originally a western

improvements,

bug”, everyone should being paying attention to China, regardless of what he says. But through work like his people can better understand the country with the second largest economy on earth and nearly a quarter of its population. “Clearly, China matters,” he said. “The need to pay attention to contemporary China is independent of any theory. China is big and important and so on and so forth and that’s true whether I’m right or wrong. “What I think work like mine does is suggest that your not going to be able to understand contemporary China simply by saying ‘well they puttered

Historian Kenneth Pommeranz. Photo: Cliff Moore

along, they weren’t doing it right etcetera etcetera and then they learned from us,’ which is the sought of version you often get in op-eds and popular books.

flawed.

“And for whatever reason that’s when

“Ferguson says the West developed

it popped out. I said I’m working on

‘six killer apps’ and the rest of the

the story of this divergence, which is in

“To suggest this seems to be pretty

world then downloaded them,” said

someway a great divergence.

obviously wrong. The idea that the West

Pomeranz. “That has been discredited.

and the West alone had this dynamism

Period.

just plainly isn’t true. “If you read certain people’s work

“Like when he says things like only the West had property – No. It’s just not

- I do get tired of always using David

true.

Landis as a whipping boy, but he did

“I

“I think I had played around with the phrase before, but that was when I really decided it was the one.” Despite the success of the book, Pomeranz finds some fault in his work.

find

Ferguson

very

puzzling,

“I think I was wrong to suggest close

write an enormously successful book.

because he did some quite good history

comparability

He basically says except for maybe the

once upon a time and it seems to me

in 1800, it was probably more like

Japanese, nobody else in the world

basically, he has stopped reading other

1750, which matters. And I do think

had a society that was conducive to

people’s work. He seems not to have

I underestimated the importance of

growth and development except the

kept up with the empirical literature

technology. You can’t just explain the

Europeans. He says the Europeans

even on Europe, much less on other

technological divergence by saying,

developed it independently and then

parts of the world.”

‘look at the cost of energy here and

other places began to catch up to the extent that they imitated the West.

living

standards

Nowadays, Pomeranz’s work plays a

there of course you would get more

major part in the study of East Asian

invention of energy intensive machines

“I think outside of academia this

history and the title of his book spawned

where energy is cheap’, I think there is a

hypothesis is still very popular, and

a phrase, “The Great Divergence”, that

lot to that, but it is not the whole story.

it cuts against everything we are

is known by any student of the subject.

learning. As the field of Chinese history

But not everyone knows that the title

underestimated it because I was trying

develops, it is showing more and more

was born in an imaginary dentist’s chair.

to respond to a literature in which it had

comparability between Europe and

“I had gone through a whole bunch of

been overestimated. But yeah, I think I

China, rather than less.”

titles for the book, none of them really

“In

defence

think

went to far.

Harvard professor and star of multiple

good, and at some point my editor said

Pomeranz is currently working on

history documentaries Niall Ferguson

‘imagine you’re at the dentist, he’s just

a book called Why is China So Big? In

in 2011 wrote a book on the success of

given you a shot of novocaine, your jaw

which he looks at how China came to be

the West called Civilisation: The West

is going to go numb in a minute so you

so large in size and population, and why

and the Rest, which suggests Europe

don’t have much time and he says to

China has almost always been one of if

was unique in its ability to succeed.

you - so what are you working on?’

not the biggest state in the world.

Pomeranz finds this fundamentally

ISSUE 14 / 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature : 09

NUS head into National Conference at a crossroads Andrew Williams Features Editor Make no mistake: elections are in vogue. From Ecuador to Armenia, Barbados to Djibouti, this month sees eleven countries go to the polls in votes of varying reliability. Currently bidding for his fourth spell as Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi can’t get enough of them (I’m still talking about elections); so desperate is the Vatican to get in on the act that the Pope broke with 600 years of tradition to resign in office, triggering an historic papal conclave. Not to be outdone, the National Union of Students will converge on Sheffield in April to elect six budding politicos to fulltime executive positions. The three-day national conference presents members with an opportunity to debate the future of further and higher education in this country, deliberations which will inform the organisation’s policy for the year ahead. In the words of Raechel Mattey, a candidate for Vice President (Union Development), this is an annual treat for NUS members who, we are told, “bloody love democracy.” Last week’s student media conference provided an early insight into the themes that are likely to dominate the forthcoming elections. Spanning more than four hours in less-than-glamorous surroundings (NUS HQ occupies the fourth floor of a nondescript central London office block), and featuring fifteen candidates, these hustings were not for the faint-hearted or the caffeinedeprived. Intriguingly, however, the afternoon fired the starting gun on the race to succeed Liam Burns – student politics’ answer to Joseph Ratzinger – in the coveted role of national president. Though it is somewhat inevitable that the top job should be afforded the greatest scrutiny, this election has been enlivened by an entirely atypical quartet of candidates featuring two women, an inanimate carbon rod and (shock horror!) a Tory. Peter Smallwood, the card-carrying Conservative in question, is determined

that party political allegiance should play no role in the election. A sabbatical officer at Brunel University, Smallwood’s ‘Back to Basics’ campaign emphasises the sheer lack of engagement that “students on the ground” feel with what he sees as a distant, aloof NUS. “It’s not always talking about politics,” he explains. “I did not win by hoisting the blue flag up the flagpole.” He is quite right. When it comes to student politics, it has never paid to be anything other than left of centre, a fact that is reflected in the litany of Labour Party apparatchiks who have historically occupied the position of NUS president. Sam Gaus, ‘nominated bearer’ of the Inanimate Carbon Rod – more of which later – claimed that, “a lot of people see the NUS as a stepping stone into a career in the Labour Party, or for the purposes of furthering their own career rather than furthering the student movement.” A paid-up party member himself, Liam Burns admitted to The Mancunion in October that “there is no smoke without fire” when it comes to Labour’s longstanding link with NUS. He could barely argue otherwise. Burns’ predecessor was a Labour Party member; his predecessor is now a Labour councillor; her predecessor was an integral part of Labour Students; his predecessor is a one-time Trotskyist; her predecessor was a Labour Student. Given that previous NUS presidents have included Stephen Twigg, Jim Murphy, Charles Clarke, Phil Woolas and Jack Straw – all eventual Labour MPs – there is an argument to be had that the NUS is merely a Labour Party finishing school. As such, little time is wasted before the party political question rears its head. It has been widely reported that Vicki Baars, avowedly a candidate of the left, sent out a string of emails ahead of Demo 2012 encouraging protestors to call for Tories and Lib Dems to be put “on the bonfire.” Apologetic, Baars insists that the email “was meant with really good intention,” before offering a veiled criticism of Burns’ leadership. “We pass a lot of policy at our national conference which doesn’t actually get implemented because the

Left to right: Peter Smallwood, Vicki Baars, Professor Ivor Gaber (chair), Toni Pearce, Sam Gaus and his Inanimate Carbon Rod

Photo Credit: Name of photographer

As the candidates for six top NUS positions put their case to student media, Andrew Williams finds a well-intentioned but divided national movement

Photo Caption: Blah blah blah

No ifs, no buts: Demo 2012 saw thousands protest against tuition fees and education cuts. Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd person leading the organisation doesn’t necessarily agree with it,” she suggests. “I’d implement policy whether or not I agree with it.” Nonetheless, the partisan nature of the incident could be construed as problematic. Though NUS undoubtedly needs a president who is willing to stand firm in the face of swingeing cuts to education, such tribalism caricatures students as protest-hungry and fiercely anti-establishment; doing little to win over the general public when it comes to making the argument for a greater commitment to higher education. Indeed, there is some ammunition here for those who dismiss NUS as a parody of itself. Whether its “cascading” or “communicating wins,” we are bombarded with more management speak than you could shake a stick at. At one point I am sorely tempted to run downstairs to the office of Guinness World Records and call for an adjudicator to begin counting the innumerable acronyms (NUS, VP, FE, HE, EMA, HEFCE…) we are presented with. That’s not to mention the fact that I have been handed a document which expressly forbids my asking of “frivolous questions,” or the wonderfully clichéd ‘I still hate Thatcher’ mug in the hand of a staff member. Enter the Inanimate Carbon Rod. Dismissed by some as a ‘joke candidate,’ the students running its campaign are genuinely angry at what they see as a benign, outmoded NUS. The Rod – borrowed from a 1994 episode of ‘The Simpsons’ – is, apparently, a metaphor for the betrayal of NUS to students. Sam Gaus, fluorescent rod in hand, explained his position. “In 2010, then-president Aaron Porter totally condemned students protesting. He publicly withdrew support for the national student occupations; NUS would not offer legal support to students on its own marches.” “Since then, Liam Burns has failed to fight back against the Brown Review. He has suggested that bursaries are reduced to counter-balance lowering fees; he tried to stop there being a demo at all last year, having spoken out against it at conference.” “A national collective action could be a very effective thing to enrich the lives of students and staff in educational

institutions,” Gaus continued, “and the fact that NUS isn’t being used properly is a betrayal of the students. By virtue of being inanimate – by virtue of being explicitly inactive – the Rod cannot betray students as presidents have done in the past.” There remains a slight possibility that the carbon rod will not make it to conference in Sheffield – NUS members may object to the eligibility of any candidate until 1 March – but its presence here, far from making a mockery of the process, has actually made for an altogether more comprehensive debate about the nature of NUS’ contribution to student life. “For too many people, NUS is just a card,” argues Peter Smallwood, to some extent echoing the Rod’s position. “It’s just a card that you get and you pop into Topman, and you get 20% off, and you pop into McDonald’s and you bet a burger on behalf of Liam Burns – and that’s what’s wrong with our movement. We’re not representative in the way that we like to claim we’re representative.” If NUS isn’t properly representing students, what does it represent in its current form? The common denominator amongst all of the candidates is a steadfast opposition to funding cuts perpetrated by the coalition government; all three candidates for Vice President (Further Education) unanimously condemn the government’s decision to scrap EMA, for example, with Matt Stanley branding their plans for education “the greatest assault on students and ordinary people in living memory.” It does not surprise me that virtually every candidate believes in free higher education for all, but I question whether this is a realistic goal for NUS to pursue. It might be a noble aim, but there is more chance of Emeli Sandé fading into obscurity than there is of tuition fees being scrapped. Surely, the movement would be better off admitting defeat and focusing its considerable might on fighting more winnable battles? My suggestion that the government has already proved that it is impervious to public discontent when it comes to cuts, and therefore is unlikely to pay much attention to NUS, is largely met with disapproval. “I wouldn’t stand to be a Vice President of the NUS if I didn’t think that the government was listening

to us,” countered candidate Joe Vinson. Despite the overwhelming consensus on fees and cuts, discord looms large. Some candidates are still arguing over the 2010 demonstration which saw violence erupt at Millbank which, it is argued, “smashed the consensus that cuts were necessary.” Naomi Beecroft, a candidate for Vice President (Higher Education), calls Aaron Porter’s response to the action “disgusting”; the incumbent, Rachel Wenstone, stresses the need for “action that matches our objectives at the time. Manchester is a great example – how are the occupations of lecture theatres in Manchester helping the kids in Moss Side who can’t access education?” With the general election just two years away higher education is barely registering on the political Richter scale, and NUS has a fight on its hands to force the issue onto an already crowded 2015 agenda – a fact which Toni Pearce is acutely aware of. “At the moment, education is not a priority for the general public,” she admits, “which means that we have to spend the next two years campaigning and showing them what the public value of education is.” It would be easy to characterise the afternoon’s conversation as navel-gazing, but the discussion over what NUS is for and, just as importantly, what it is against is one that desperately needs to be had. NUS remains a divided movement; divided over its core purpose, over campaign tactics and over its ability to mobilise a seven million strong membership. The great challenge for the next president will be to reinvigorate and unite the movement. The wild ululation which will greet the winner will be for nothing if he or she fails to engage with what students want from their NUS; take charge on funding and housing, but leave ‘Say No to Genocide’ campaigns to the ministry of the bleeding obvious. When I part with £12 in return for my NUS Extra card, I want to believe that I am buying into more than a discount card. For the full list of candidates, their manifestos and the positions they are standing for, visit http://www.nusconnect. org.uk/conference/elections/

Politics & Comment

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

My Political Hero... Josip Bronz Tito

Why I don’t want a PhD Antonia Jennings outlines why a career in academia may not be quite as appealing as it sounds Photo:

Photo: University of Manchester

Forbes magazine has voted being a University Professor as the least stressful job of 2013. After reading this last week, I was surprised to then read a Guardian article telling me that a third of academics are on temporary contracts – often paid by the hour. The majority of these are young academics, primarily under forty. After reading these somewhat conflicting messages, I decided to look into what were the real benefits of pursuing a PhD or a career in academia. A quick Google of ‘is a PhD worth it’ did not look promising. The top three results gave me ‘12 reasons not to get a PhD’, ‘Is getting a PhD the stupidest decision of all time?’ and ‘Do not get a PhD!’. Yet, in most countries today getting a PhD is a requirement for a research career; a career in academia. A recent Economist study has shown that while this is certainly true, especially in the West, the number of academic openings correspond to only a fifth of all the PhD opportunities available globally each year. In other words, for every hundred people gaining a PhD each year, there will only be twenty jobs in academia available. The only areas where this is not true are booming economies such as China and Brazil, where there is a shortage of PhD students. There does not seem to be any huge financial benefit for those with PhDs who do gain jobs. A study in the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management by Bernard Casey showed that the lifetime earnings premium for a Brit with a PhD over someone who never went to university is 26%. Those with a Master’s degree

had a premium of 23%. Of course, these are simply averages. A further look into the study showed me that only PhDs in medicine, other sciences, and business and financial studies commanded significantly higher earnings than those with just a Master’s. PhDs in maths, computing, social sciences and languages earn no more than those with master’s degrees. Even more surprisingly, PhDs in engineering, technology, architecture and education commanded a lower premium than those with Master’s degrees. Of course, many students begin a PhD out of love for their subject, not a small percentage change in their lifetime earnings. While this is undoubtedly true, the reality of being a PhD student is far from any such romanticised vision. Speaking to a PhD student at the University of Manchester, I was told that the her average week consisted of ‘seven day weeks, ten hour days, low pay, and uncertain prospects’. And a recent study of British PhD graduates showed that many did not have passion for their subject as a primary motive for beginning their PhD. About a third admitted that they were doing their doctorate partly to go on being a student, or put off job hunting. Nearly half of engineering students admitted to this. Being a PhD student does not seem to be a very appealing or sustainable way of life. Many PhD students are not funded, especially in the humanities and social sciences. As a result, many students are forced to take on many hours of undergraduate supervision work or jobs marking exam papers. These in themselves

are not particularly well paid, and take away valuable time from their doctoral research. Sadly, universities are exploiting this source of cheap, highly motivated and disposable labour. Hence, the students who see their PhD through to the end are remarkably few. In the UK, only 50% of humanities students will have their PhD ten years after starting it. Poor supervision, bad job prospects or lack of money were named as the top reasons for students not completing their PhD. As the Guardian outlines, the future for those who do complete their PhD is neither secure nor stable. Average starting salaries are comparatively low, and finding a permanent contract is extremely difficult. One OECD study shows that five years after receiving their degrees, more than 60% of PhDs in Slovakia and more than 45% in Belgium, Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic, were still on temporary contracts. About one-third of Austria’s PhD graduates take jobs unrelated to their degrees. In the Netherlands, 21% of all PhD graduates end up in lowly occupations. In Germany the proportion is 13%. Across the pond in Canada the average starting salary for a PhD graduate is $38,000, the same as an average salary of a construction worker. Having a PhD today can mean bad employment prospects and no financial benefit over a Master’s degree. Studying for a PhD seems to be an unappealing (and often unsustainable) lifestyle. Highest educational award this country can offer? Not for me, thanks.

Throughout human history there have been many people with legacies that are complicated. Few are the men and women who can be so easily sorted into the simple categories of heroes and villains; fewer still those who are able to shape the course of history, even if only for a short time. Marshal Josip Bronz Tito was one of those people who lived in the morally grey area that many people of consequence occupy. During the Second World War, the Partisans under Tito fought a vicious guerrilla campaign against the Axis powers and their puppet regime the Croatian Ustaše. Their brutality was so excessive that Heinrich Himmler (yes that Himmler) told them to tone it down. So did the Chetniks, a Serbian Nationalist-Monarchist resistance movement (to use the term loosely) who’s goals included ethnic cleansing and who were just as likely to collaborate with the Nazis as they were to fight them (the Yugoslav Monarchy-in-exile would eventually back the Communist partisans over them). By the end of the war the Partisans were able to liberate Yugoslavia with minimal assistance from the Red Army. After securing control of Yugoslavia Tito ordered all Allied and Soviet troops to evacuate, granting him unparalleled independence from foreign influence. It is from this point on that we see Tito’s ability as a political leader, as well as some of his less savoury moments. His first great achievement is that he was the only Communist leader at the time to function independently of Moscow, a feat that would not be seen again until the Sino-Soviet split. As a result Yugoslavia was the only Communist state to receive Martial Aid to assist in post-war reconstruction. He later went on to be one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement that sought to chart an independent path for nations between the American and Soviet camps. Unsurprisingly this upset Stalin who attempted multiple times to have Tito killed; to which he responded by sending a letter to Moscow stating that “If you don’t stop sending killers, I’ll send one to Moscow, and I won’t have to send a second”. He oversaw the industrialisation and modernisation of Yugoslavia, turning it from an agrarian backwater to a regional economic powerhouse that experienced near continuous economic growth.He also granting the workers significant degrees of control over their industries (making it one of the few Communist countries that tried to put workers in control of the means of production). Yugoslavia had the best records in terms of rights than any other Communist country with unparalleled freedom of speech, press, religion and, following the abandonment of Soviet Socialist Realism (propaganda that was neither realistic nor socialist), artistic and creative freedom. Most impressively of all, however, was his ability to hold together Yugoslavia despite the various ethnic, religious and political tensions and fault lines within. This is not to say that things were perfect under Tito. Yugoslavia did still have a secret police; even if its powers were limited compared to the KGB, as well as forced labour camps where, somewhat ironically, Tito sent a lot of the Stalinists he purged from the party. Tito was also implicate in a number human rights abuses and war crimes; most notably the ethnic cleansing of the German Danube Swabians of the Vojvodina region. And whilst Yugoslavia was a bastion of workplace democracy they were certainly deficient when it came to state democracy. All in all Tito does not easily fall into categories of good and bad. On the one hand a liberator, master statesman and national father figure. On the other a blood-thirsty tyrant. Few are the great men and women who leave this world without mixed legacies. Alex Goldhill

Comment

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION .COM

As an inanimate carbon rob stands in protest in the NUS elections. is it protesting a worthy cause or just wasting everyone’s time?

YES Arun Mehta: Manchester SU should back the inanimate carbon rod for the presidency of the NUS. How many of the NUS presidential candidates do you know that won a worker’s safety ward at Springfield nuclear plant, flew into space with the legendary Buzz Aldrin and returned an American hero after jamming itself into the broken door lock of the space shuttle? But seriously, let’s face it, over recent years, the NUS has been largely irrelevant and unhelpful to students like you and me. When I first started university in 2008, the hottest topic in the student community was anti-war, Israel/Palestine and various other important issues facing the world that the student body were passionate to talk about. I agreed with some, I disagreed with others but the national student discussion then was exciting. Sadly nowadays, these issues are confined and narrowed down only to the societies, the passive public forums and the occasional bake sale I see while I’m strolling down Oxford Road. Please don’t tell me about the constantly failing anti-tuition fee campaigns if you’re an undergraduate. You’re still paying £9k a year! Since then, rightly or wrongly, a sort of university nationalism has gripped the NUS. This has pushed these major issues aside, favouring the rhetoric of tinkering with the university clockwork rather than being the voice of change. However, this conversion of student political trends has left many students, like myself, disillusioned from student politics and has pushed them out of the big NUS discussion. Sen Ganesh was President of Imperial College Union in 2002, back then he said, “The NUS’s claim to be representative of students is not borne out by their work. The NUS is dominated by Labour students and this diminishes the ability to address student issues in an impartial fashion.” Those words still speak volumes when discussing the nature of the NUS today, with its political relationship with Mr Ed Milliband’s team. The NUS currently holds a reputation by some as being

Arun Mehta & Rebecca Montacute

the springboard to a job within the Labour Party ranks. Such as the Labour MP Jack Straw, or former Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke. Some will say this is now all in the past, that the NUS has moved on, but what about the fairly recent NUS president Aaron Porter? Wasn’t he a delightful character? After his time as president, Mr Porter ended up as a contributor for Labour’s education policy. Though to be fair, Porter is now an Education Consultant for Aaron Ross Porter Consultancy Ltd. He charges universities £125 an hour, and administers 10 day courses costing around £8500. During the dying days of my studentship here in Manchester, the NUS had become an afterthought. Its relevancy shot and its existence largely forgotten. I urge Manchester SU’s delegates to back the carbon rod. This inanimate object is probably a more suitable candidate then the humans running for this worn out, rusty Labour trampoline. Rebecca Montacute: Student politics today doesn’t talk about what students care about most. The NUS campaign for undergraduate fees but practically ignore the postgraduate fees and loans system, which is in much greater need for reform. It also pushes unpopular policies such as ‘no platform for fascists’, which closes down debate within universities, and has been disobeyed up and down the country by SUs wanting to encourage free speech (for instance, Leeds student paper not backing down on its decision to publish an interview with Nick Griffin). The way that NUS president is elected currently doesn’t engage students in the election process. NUS delegates are elected at each institution, these delegates then go on to represent our SU and vote for president. Students are not engaged in these elections, and they typically have a very low turnout. Many students simply don’t understand this overly complicated system to elect the president, and so don’t vote. It also makes the NUS president seem like a distant,

“Should Manchester vote for the Carbon Rod? ”

The Simpsons Inanimate Carbon Rod far removedinstiution that they themselves have no hope of changing. This leads to the same clique getting elected, the kind of people typically seen in student politics. Mostly left wing, mostly in support of policies such as ‘no platform for fascists’, but not the same as the average student. They are the people who stand as NUS delegates, who vote for one another. The average student then doesn’t vote, thinking all the candidates are the same, and the cycle continues. This doesn’t engage students. If each presidential candidate had to have a national campaign to win votes, they would have to actually talk to students about their policies. If they support unpopular policies, they won’t get elected. To say the cost of this is too great, the scale of the election too large, implies that the work the NUS does is not important enough to be worth doing properly. Voting for the rod is a protest against this system, against all the candidates having the same policies. Right now, they just don’t face the pressure needed for change from their student electorate.

Disagree? Tweet us @mancunioncom or email us at comment.mancunion@gmail.com

In a few months time I’ll be going to NUS National Conference along with 10 others to represent students from The University of Manchester, and I’ll not be voting for any joke candidates. Next year’s president is likely to be a woman for the first time in a long time (and she may also be from further education) yet all anybody is talking about is some guy who is making Simpsons jokes. You might not think it, but the NUS is actually quite important. Before Christmas when a student submitted an idea to an assembly to get Manchester SU to disaffiliate, students at the assembly voted overwhelmingly to remain in the national union. NUS’s impact affects not only students here in Manchester but nationally as our elected officers work for students in government meetings every day. Cameron and his mates are pretty hard to work with as it is; I doubt some guy with a carbon rod is going to be any use in fighting to put money back into students pockets, or for fair access to education, for affordable housing or rigorous measures of quality in our universities. This candidate is a joke and anybody voting for

Nick Pringle

the rod is too. This year’s National President commissioned the largest ever piece of research into student finance in the UK - Pound in Your Pocket. With this information student officers like myself and the rest of the Manchester Exec Team up and down the country are now convincing their colleges and universities that students need more generous bursaries, cheaper courses and that institutions need to be paying far greater attention to student finances. Could an inanimate carbon rod commission such an important piece of research which would have a genuine impact on the lives of millions of students? I think not. Postgraduate fees are steadily climbing at universities across the UK. There are no loans, not enough bursaries and a national crisis is looming. What NUS needs now is a President to take on the government over this issue before it’s too late. Do you want to do a masters when you graduate? Have you started looking at graduate schemes yet and realised how advantageous it would be if you had an MA after your name instead of a BA? Change doesn’t come from inanimate objects; it comes from passionate and pragmatic individuals with values and skills to create real change for students. Anybody campaigning for “the rod” at NUS is undermining the work that NUS does, saying it could be done by an object from a cartoon. What we should really be talking about in this debate is what we want from our NUS, what sort of a future do we want our national union to be fighting for? There are some amazingly talented and passionate people running for the full time positions of NUS and to support an inanimate object is an insult to their hard work and delegitimises the organisation as a whole. You may not think it, but people do pay attention to the NUS. But the NUS isn’t perfect, and anybody who says so is deluded. There are a lot of ways the NUS can improve and become more relevant

NUS events than I care to remember, and I’ve seen the change as the organisation has stopped talking about itself and started talking about students. About real issues, and about things that affect all of us up and down the country. NUS elections aren’t perfect either, and there are a few small things which could be done to improve them, but I’m yet to hear a better overall option for electing our national representatives. Delegates elected from every SU who go to conference get to see, hear and meet all the candidates and grill them on the issues that are relevant to students before voting on for them. Candidates have to work hard for their votes, to get their message out and work for weeks in advance of conference itself to be successful. It’s a rightfully rigorous process which gives the necessary scrutiny to ensure the highest calibre of candidates. Should more students get involved in delegate elections on campus? Yes. Should more students get involved in the motions which are discussed at conference and the decisions that NUS makes? Yes. Should candidates for election have to reach out to more students and students unions? Yes. Some people believe that every one of the 7 million student members of the NUS should get a vote in electing the national President and Vice Presidents. Do I think that? No. It’s already expensive enough for candidates without having to travel up and down the UK to meet 7 million voters, to build a campaign team on every campus and to get their message across. I know I’d rather see NUS spending money on lobbying, campaigning and empowering students to create real change. To put the “One Member One Vote” idea into context, the total pool of voters would be larger than all of the people who can vote for the Mayor of London, or the total number of people who voted in the last Belgian Parliamentary elections. So will I be voting for the

to students and less inward facing, and it’s getting better every year. I’ve been to more

carbon rod? No, of course not!

Comment

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Student abroad: Why do women feel so much safer on the streets of Sweden? Alex Maxia compares women’s safety in Manchester to that in Sweden, where safety is less of a pressing issue

A woman stands alone at a bus stop in Stockholm, Sweden . Photo: Erik.N @Flickr

Reclaim the Night highlights how unsafe women in Manchester can feel walking home at night alone, a huge contrast to the experience of women I’ve met on my study abroad in Uppsala, Sweden. As a student ambassador, one of the most recurrent questions from anxious parents of applicants who want to study in Manchester is “how safe is the city?” or “do you feel safe here?”. The answer for me at least is “yes”, although Manchester isn’t the safest place in the world, you have to get used to it. But when I talked to a Swede studying in the city I got quite a different answer. Patrik studies at the University of Manchester, and goes as far as saying that Manchester is one of the places in which he feels most unsafe. Even when Patrick traveled alone around South America he felt safer, as he could spot the ‘bad people’ from a mile. In Manchester, it’s much harder to know when you can feel safe. Do people feel the same way in beautiful, ‘gender equal’, respectful Sweden? Beyond the world renowned stereotypes, what is the reality in everyday life? Many English exchange students commented on the way they feel safer going back home late at night here than they do back in the UK. Becky, a British University of Manchester student studying in Sweden, says that in Stockholm she has gone home late at night several times and never felt threatened. In Manchester, she says that she would never dare. When I asked her why, she told me that: “The police here are really in control of the situation, as soon as drunk people start to make some noise they would be

approached immediately and asked to quieten down”. Meg, who studies in Norwich but is on her year abroad in Sweden, talks about a difference in culture. She explains how, even in clubs, Swedish guys’ behaviour towards women is “more respectful”. In England “episodes of semi-harassment are accepted as perfectly normal, especially if drunk”. Generally gender neutrality is considerably stronger than in England as can be seen by several customs in everyday life. For example, when paying the bill in a restaurant, in a café or buying a drink in a club it doesn’t matter what your gender is. Everyone pays for themselves. A man would not be expected to always pay for a woman, they would take it in turns. At first I could not see how Swedes could find this normal, but speaking to Hannah from the south of Sweden, I saw how she struggles to imagine it any other way. She disagreed with “the European way of doing things”, as beyond being unfair it also puts two people on a different level, and the small “indebting” could subconsciously put a certain “pressure” on the woman. Beyond the cultural traditions, and the almost total equality in employment rates (76. 1% women and 82% men), there is a considerable social difference between England and Sweden for example in higher employment rates, less class disparity, more people who’re highly educated (education is free from nursery to PhD level) and a more controlled ‘drinking culture’ (state monopoly on all alcoholic

beverages above 3.5%). These are not necessarily determining factors, but they undoubtedly play an important role in shaping Swedish society. But it’s not perfect. Government funded studies show that statistically 85% of Swedish women “worry about being potential victims of violence walking home at night” and 56% admit having experienced some form of sexual harassment. These figures refer to the youngest part of the population (between 18 and 24) that, at least according to the study, are statistically at higher risk than older members of the population. As Patrik points out, people have different ideas of safety, and although he believes Sweden is extremely safe he knows some Swedes would disagree with him. This, he says, is partly due to higher standards and expectations. Out of all the exchange students I spoke to from various parts of the world, not one of them believes they have been to a safer country than Sweden. A month in the country is not enough to understand how things truly are, but even in the first few days I noticed the way people trust each other. The more I live here in Uppsala, the more I realise how all the ordinary precautions that I follow in England to ‘stay safe’ are not at all normal. The constraints we put on our personal freedom can only be seen clearly when you can live without those constraints. Especially for women, in Sweden it is safer to live without them.

Light up the city - Reclaim the Night! Manchester Student Union’s Women’s Officer Tabz O’Brien-Butcher tells us why we should reclaim the night I was woken by my little sister at 2.30am last Saturday. She’d finished her shift at the pub she works at to find herself confronted with eight men shouting lewd sexual comments at her as she waited for her bus. She phoned me in fear; a fear that the majority of women can relate to. A fear that this time, the sexual harassment that is a day to day reality for so many women would turn into an attack. “I know it’s just a matter of time before it’s me”, she said. “It’s like a ticking timebomb”. My sister isn’t alone. The 2010 NUS Hidden Marks study showed that 68% of respondents had been a victim of one or more kinds of sexual harassment during their time as a student, with 1 in 7 a victim of a serious sexual assault. As Women’s Officer, I hear from women students all the time telling me about how unsafe they feel at night. How they don’t want to stop in the library past dusk, how they won’t even go to the shops without enough money for a taxi there and back. I’ve even heard stories of women running from the bus stop to their front door in case they’re attacked. A recent survey by More found

that 95% of women don’t feel safe on the streets at night. 73% worry about being raped, and almost half sometimes don’t want to go out because they fear for their safety. We know that the vast majority of sexual violence against women does not occur at the hands of strangers in the street. According to Home Office statistics, nearly half of rapes are committed by partners, and ‘only’ 8% by complete strangers. Yet with as many as 80,000 women raped annually in the UK, according to the British Crime Survey, this accounts for 6,400 women. No rape is just a statistic. Women shouldn’t have to live in fear. Meanwhile, pervasive messages from the mainstream media, police and politicians place the blame on women for men’s violence. When Australian Jill Meagher went missing and was subsequently found raped and murdered after walking home from after-work drinks in October, the media reported that she was “obviously drunk” and that “the consequences followed her.” No-one could have missed the high profile case of ‘Damini’, the Indian woman brutally

gang-raped and murdered in Delhi and the national outrage that followed this. Among the outpourings of anger and grief, Indian politicians blamed the victim herself, referring to her “adventurous spirit” and holding her “equally responsible” because she did not stop her attackers. In a 2005 Amnesty International survey, more than a quarter of people (30%) said that a woman was partially or totally responsible for being raped if she was drunk, while 1 in 20 believed a woman was totally responsible for being raped if she walked home alone at night. Either directly or indirectly, women are conditioned to believe that public space is a male domain - even more so after dark. The question is, what can we do about it? Every year, women students propose new ways to make each other feel safer. As a community, we can take action. On Thursday, 21st February, I invite you all to come together for Reclaim the Night, a march to demonstrate women’s right to walk the streets at night free from sexual violence, street harassment and assault. From humble beginnings back in the mid-1970s, Reclaim the Night

Womens’ Officer Tabz poses with the Reclaim the Night banner Photo: Tabz O’Brien Butcher has become an international phenomenon, with events happening all over the world. The Manchester march starts at Owens’ Park, Fallowfield at 7pm, and a neon parade full of colour, light and sound will head to the Students’ Union. The evening continues with the Reclaim the Night After Party, a festival of the finest women talent, including X Factor finalist Misha B, SheChoir, comedian Kate Smurthwaite and a host of women performers. This is just the beginning. One march is not going to end sexual violence. Reclaim the Night will no doubt raise awareness and educate people, but we need

to mobilise and take action. After Reclaim the Night, I will be supporting women students to set up a society to campaign against sexual harassment. Together, we can not only continue to raise awareness of this problem, but make real changes to women’s lives, be it on campus, in Manchester or in wider society. If you’re a man reading this, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you! Men have a role to play too. Any man who cares about equality should care about violence against women, and it would be great to see men campaigning too. Ultimately, my sister shouldn’t

have to put up with this, and neither should you. We shouldn’t have to live our lives hyperaware of the possibilities of sexual assault and sexual violence. Let’s light up the city, take to the streets, and on the 21st February, let’s Reclaim the Night. *Reclaim the Night is a free event; tickets for the After Party are £3 in advance and are available from the Students’ Union website at http://www. manchesterstudentsunion.com/ reclaimthenight

Film

TOP

Oscar Hosts 5. Hugh Jackman The Aussie charmed his way through the ceremony in 2009, making the most of the Oscar’s musical history with an opening number which saw him duet with Anne Hathaway in a more light-hearted precursor to this year’s Les Misérables.

4. Whoopi Goldberg In 1993, Goldberg became the first woman to host the event. The fact that she was asked back a further three times shows just how good she was at it. Goldberg’s shows had an informality and a relaxed nature that is often missing from the Oscars.

3. Billy Crystal Over a span of more than two decades, Crystal’s hosted nine times. His wit, warmth and originality (evident never more than in 1991 when he opened the show by riding a horse onto the stage) have made him the king of the modern Academy Awards.

2. Jon Stewert When David Letterman hosted the show a few years earlier it was widely regarded as a disaster - his brand of humour didn’t transfer well to the Oscars. Fast forward to 2006 and the edgy ‘Daily Show’ host had no such trouble, even taking Stephen Colbert along for the ride.

1. Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin Steve Martin had hosted the Oscars twice before to great success. But it was in 2010, when paired with hosting debutant Alec Baldwin, that Martin was really at his best. Daniel Harold

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

The race for Oscar glory Dylan Wiggan chronicles this year’s battle for Best Picture

By this time next week the 2012-2013 Awards season will finally be over. After months of campaigning, ups and downs, back-biting and (I’m guessing) bribes, the top prize of Best Picture will be handed out at the Oscars. But how did we get here? The competition truly started back in October with Ben Affleck’s Argo being one of the best reviewed films of the year. With a period setting, inspiring real life story and Hollywood satire (always an academy favourite) Argo was an early front runner. But, like The Social Network a few years ago, had it peaked too soon? November brought the US release of the Steven Spielberg‘s biopic Lincoln. Switching back to his more serious Schindler’s List mode, Spielberg delivered a taut and engaging portrait of the revered leader. Even with Spielberg’s name attached this talky, political drama was not expected to be a breakout hit. So the films $170+ million was a big surprise. With box office muscle, and with Spielberg and lead Day-Lewis in top form, a new Oscar favourite emerged. Also released in November was Silver Linings Playbook. Essentially a romantic comedy, this is not what would traditionally

be considered an awards contender. Director David O. Russell, however, raises

Barring some unforseen tripup, Argo will walk home with cinema’s biggest prize this film above average rom-com faire, producing moving performances from of his cast. The presence of Harvey Weinstein (Oscar campaigning extraordinaire) as producer also meant that this film should not be dismissed. But upon its limited release there was little fanfare and plans to expand were shelved. It seemed Playbook

would be an ‘also-ran’ in this race. Christmas came with the usual slew of big releases including Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. Expectations were high for this film and based on early word it seemed it met the hype. Unfortunately though, controversies around the film’s politics dominated discussion, sidelining the issue of whether the film is actually any good or not, damaging its Oscar hopes. Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables opened in American theatres on Christmas day to rave reviews. Both exceeded expectations with big grosses, meaning the race for Best Picture headed into 2013 delicately poised. Early January finally brought Oscar nominations, the Best Picture race was cut to Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild. Lincoln led the overall nomination pack with 12, reasserting its front-runner status. Django, Zero Dark Thirty, Les Misérables and Argo all failed to secure Best Director nods to match their Best Picture ones, a bad omen, and looked all but out of

the race. Also outsiders Amour, Life of Pi and Beasts of the Southern Wild, though nominated, did not appear likely to win. The Golden Globes came next and finally gave Argo some good news as it won Best Motion Picture Drama, a blow for Lincoln. Following its Oscar Noms and a Globe win for lead Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook finally opened wide to big box office. Despite being out since November in limited release Playbook was only now becoming a major hit and was back in people’s thoughts at just the right time, making it look a real contender. But Argo kept winning. The Producers, Screen Actors and Directors guilds all gave their respective top honours to Argo. And finally just last week Argo won big again at the BAFTAs. In the movie business timing is everything and barring some unforeseen trip-up on the home straight, it seems Argo has got that perfect, and will walk home with cinema’s biggest prize next Sunday. Dylan Wiggan Film Editor

Review

Zero Dark Thirty Director: Kathryn Bigelow • Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton In the opening scene of Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, the real-life story of the CIA’s search for Osama Bin Laden, a collection of telephone recordings from inside the collapsing World Trade Center is played. It’s a dark introduction and one that establishes Bigelow’s eagerness to emphasise the truth behind the film before throwing the audience head-first into one of the film’s torture scenes and introducing Jessica Chastain’s Maya, the largely fictionalised protagonist of the story. As a rookie agent, Maya operates as our eyes and ears in this dark political landscape. She is a character who is horrified by her first contact with the extreme interrogation techniques of the CIA but who then develops into a chillingly effective interrogator herself. Chastain’s perfectly nuanced performance gives life to a character that could have been unlikeable and apathetic in the wrong hands: it is with every subtle gesture and flicker of emotion that we see a little bit more of this ice-cold character’s human side.

Bigelow adopts a similarly distant style, which could explain the director’s recent Oscar snub. In an attempt to free the film from any typical Hollywood embellishments, the events of the story are portrayed in a matterof-fact, documentary style. Her commitment to the truth, on the other hand, robs the film of some tension and drive in the first act, an hour or so entirely dedicated to gathering intelligence. However, in the second act, and not a moment too soon, Zero Dark Thirty finally hits another gear and accelerates towards a conclusion with a thrilling sense of urgency and purpose that was slightly lacking up until that point. It is here that Bigelow demonstrates why she is an Oscar-winner. The build up to, and execution of, the raid on Bin Laden’s compound is a masterclass in action directing. Despite its achievements in filmmaking, and there are many, Zero Dark Thirty left me feeling empty. Ultimately, without any comment on the actions, methods or even people within the CIA, the film isn’t as thought-provoking or

emotionally engaging as it should have been. The side-lining of Maya in favour of an underdeveloped Navy Seals Team in the climactic scene does nothing to raise the emotional stakes. Zero Dark Thirty is a film that is difficult to define. It is an action film with only one action scene; a film about politics with no political stance and a thriller with a limited number of thrills. But somehow it works on all of these levels. The fascinating true-story is enough to hold the audience’s attention throughout the near 3-hour running time and no one can have you on the edge of your seat quite like Bigelow. It is refreshing to see a contemporary thriller leave the audience to form their own opinions although some may be frustrated by the film’s deliberate neutrality. The combination of a director and actor working at the top of their game elevate this complex film above most others, even if you leave the cinema wanting a bit more. Mark McGrathLloyd Hammet

Bursting onto the scene at just nineteen years of age, he received his first Academy Award nomination in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Playing the autistic Arnie Grape, the performance was so convincing that it left many believing he really was autistic. The best thing to happen to cinema since the De Niro-Scorsese link is that of the DiCaprioScorsese link. Three of the four films they have Name: Leonardo DiCaprio made together have received Academy Award Age: 42 nominations with The Departed winning. It’s The Aviator where DiCaprio really excels, Best known for: playing Howard Hughes, extravagant pioneer, Titanic, Inception, The but also a man battling with severe obsessiveDeparted compulsive disorder. Scorsese has said he saw

Actor

PROFILE

a dark turn in DiCaprio in the film during the scene where he’s sitting naked on a chair in the dark. Having mastered playing autistic, a heroin addict, someone with OCD, someone with dementia and a notorious plantation owner it is clear that DiCaprio is one of, if not the, best actor around. 2013 is certainly not over yet for DiCaprio. He has The Great Gatsby and The Wolf of Wall Street left to come out, two films that will no doubt add to his already impressive filmography. Lloyd Hammet

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Film

: @mancunionfilm : /MancunionFilm

Preview

Trance

A Year In Film: 1969

Director: Danny Boyle • Starring: James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel

For Hollywood, the end of the 1960s was a time of drastic change. The studio system, previously the alpha and the omega of the American film industry, had started to crumble. Light entertainment, which Hollywood has previously relied on for the majority of its income, was being slowly but surely monopolised by TV and movies had failed to capitalise on the counter culture movement to which many of the young people of the 1960s were subscribing. This didn’t stop studio executives from taking a few last minute chances though. Columbia bought the distribution rights to Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider, a film that defined a generation with its story of a road trip of two friends across the American South: drugs, brothels and all. Seeing its box office success (it was the 3rd highest grossing film of the year), studios began to realise that big budget didn’t necessarily equal big success. The 1950s and early 1960s had been full of ostentatious magnificence, with the likes of Ben-Hur (1959) and Cleopatra (1963) whose runaway budgets and sensational scale were supposed to

After a year of wowing the world with his Olympic Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle (no Sir Danny, thank you kindly) is keeping the setting of London. Once again demonstrating his impressive versatility, Trance is the story of art thief, Simon ( James McAvoy) who has inconveniently forgotten where his recent steal is hidden. This comes much to the annoyance of Franck (Vincent Cassel) who is keen to unlock the secret from Simon’s subconscious. Enlisting the help of hypnotherapist Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) to help recover its location, Simon quickly begins to discover that the stakes are far higher than he originally anticipated. The prospect of Boyle tackling yet another new genre is a tantalising one. He will likely be hoping it will join the likes of Inception, a film which appealed to a large mainstream audience without having to sacrifice a complex narrative. And with Boyle’s penchant for arresting visuals we can hope for another critical success after his two previous films, 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire, were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars (the latter winning the award). Boyle once again has gathered an excellent international cast,

with McAvoy hoping Boyle may be looking for another longterm Scottish muse after his acrimonious split with Ewan McGregor (the two famously fell out when Boyle cast Leonardo Dicaprio over him in The Beach). The American Rosario Dawson and French Vincent Cassel join him to emphasise the global nature of the London art scene. Few directors can claim to have directed films covering everything from zombie apocalypses and crack addicts to Mumbai slumdogs and illfated space missions (Sunshinehis most underrated film), but Boyle continues to refuse to be strapped to one genre. Rather than be seduced by the charm of Hollywood after his Oscar

success, he’s remained in good ol’ Blighty and continued to defy expectations. After all, who would have guessed that after the huge success of Slumdog Millionaire Boyle would choose his next project to be a 90 minute film about man trapped between a rock and a hard place (if you’ll excuse the pun). But, if the trailers are anything to go by, Trance could be a new addition to Boyle’s eclectic repertoire and we can only hope that he continues to constantly alter our expectations. Maybe a romantic comedy next? But set it in a mental institution, just to keep it fresh. Robbie Davidson

CORNERHOUSE

‘No’

I have been so excited for the release of No, and one look at its current track record will tell you why. Having won the Art Cinema Award at Cannes, No is now up for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. You should instantly recognise lead actor Gael García Bernal from Walter Salles’ breathtaking Motorcycle Diaries (2004). Leaving Che behind him, Bernal plays René Saavedra, an ad executive in charge of organizing an advertising campaign to overthrow the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. One of the much-talked about aspects of No is director Pablo Larraín’s choice of using a 1980s U-matic video camera to capture the story. Immediately I was skeptical, naively assuming that this was a marketing technique in itself, firmly positioning No in the indie/art film genre and warding off any hopes for Academy Award success. But the way Larraín took his own “dated” footage and amalgamated it with real-life footage of police raids and political protests instantly transported us back to the 1980s. The film almost took on the form of a documentary, transforming its tale of repression and terror into a visceral experience for the audience, immersing us in the story from beginning to end. Right up until the flip-chart style closing credits, we were never sure if we were in or out of the drama, in front of the cinema screen or with the ad campaigners behind the camera. With such an influx of political dramas doing the rounds this awards season, we’re all in danger of becoming desensitized – what has this film got that the others haven’t? Unlike the clean-cut sleekness of Hollywood filmmaking evident in Lincoln or Zero Dark Thirty, Larraín has taken a well-timed risk, going against the grain to produce a film that will stand out not only for its cinematography, but for its raw and gritty portrayal of a real-life political event. No could well be the dark horse of this year’s Academy Awards – it’s certainly a definite yes from me! Sophie James Film Editor

prove to audiences the difference between the drab, monochrome of television and the widescreen Technicolor of cinema. Easy Rider paved the way for New Hollywood in this regard; money could come from the avant-garde as well as the mainstream. There would be no Star Wars without Easy Rider. Another symbol of barriers being broken came in the form of Midnight Cowboy, the only X-rated film to win an Academy Award for best picture. Its story of a naïve young man wanting to make a name for himself in the big city, only to discover the

harshness of modern life, was a blunt counterpoint to the kind of white picket-fence perfection of 1950s suburbia. Hollywood had tried to jump on the counter culture bandwagon but it was too late: the very young people that the studios had neglected for so long were now in a position to make movies of their own. American cinema was about to be taken back by the filmmakers with the likes of Spielberg, Lucas and Scorsese rising from the studio system’s ashes. Andrew Home

Money-Spinning Movie Franchises Dan King discusses Hollywood’s franchise fetish It is testament to the startling lack of originality within Hollywood movie studios that few are surprised to see the Star Wars franchise resurrected. More than 35 years after the original came out Disney, who recently acquired LucasFilms, are planning to make another three films with the original cast e.g. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill etc. Is this what audiences want, or is it purely a calculated decision by some accountants to churn out some more revenue from the brand name? Sadly there have been many instances of this shameless marketing ploy of luring audiences in with the promise of a return to former glories, and then selling them short. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a prime example. 20 years after the last (and what should have been final) instalment of the Indiana Jones story, this abomination of a sequel was made, mainly at the behest of producer and cowriter, George Lucas. Due to his inability to do anything original he decided to give us another glimpse of the whip cracking archaeologist, with dire consequences. Aside from the completely incomprehensible story line and budget special effects the film was riddled with cringe inducing performances from the likes of Shia LeBeouf and Cate Blanchett. The director Steven Spielberg even admitted later that the movie shouldn’t

have been made. However, the movie made three quarters of a billion dollars around the world in box office revenue and there has been talk of an Indiana Jones 5. Clearly then, the numbers add up, making the quality of the movie secondary. The failure of the 2012 movie John Carter shows us the flip side of that coin, a big blockbuster movie without an established brand name meant audiences weren’t as easily suckered in when it was discovered to be a terrible movie. This trend of resurrecting franchises that were hugely successful in previous decades has grown in the last ten years. The recent release of A Good Day to Die Hard, the fifth installment of the Die Hard franchise, sees an ageing Bruce Willis wheeled out to save the world again – even after the relatively poor fourth chapter Die Hard 4.0 (2007). More than 20 years after the original (and best) Die Hard the story development has been painfully uninspired, as the sequels have seen John McClane employing his brand of all-American justice upon the bad guys in increasingly vast settings, graduating from a single building in the first to the entire nation of Russia in the latest. Die Hard 5 will inevitably make money regardless of how good it is and there is already talk by the studio producers of a sixth incarnation.

Some might argue that these movies aren’t hurting anyone, in fact quite the opposite, since they make money they must be entertaining people right? Due to diminishing expectations by movie going patrons of what a blockbuster movie has to offer, people pay their money to watch trash like Transformers or Pirates of the Caribbean purely because there is little else on offer at multiplexes. Big brainless studio productions dominate the box office market but aren’t made to stand up to repeat viewing, making them an equation designed to line the pockets of studio executives. Think of the money that could have been spent on nurturing talent, producing original films by exciting writers and directors, and making a mark in the history of cinema instead of rebooting franchises with such films as Rambo (2008) Rocky Balboa (2006) or Terminator Salvation. Sadly audience satisfaction isn’t the main concern of Hollywood studios but rather their exploitation.

Dan King

Fashion

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

This week: Sex in Fashion

Are we all closet burlesque? There’s a little bit of Dita in us all Six-inch heels and a 16-inch waist, large cocktail glasses and delicate satin gloves, luscious red lips and ’50s curls – there is an array beautiful things that you will find in an evening of burlesque. Burlesque artists are enchanting to look at. You only have to see Dita Von Teese and you become lost in the curiosities of her costume. Many desire vintage glamour and sophistication and although corsets, pompadour hair and satin gloves do not feature in much of our usual everyday attire, the elegance of burlesque may not actually be that far from our everyday wear as we may first assume. An art form from the 17th century, burlesque entertains through music, comedy and the art of the tease. It differs from stripping in the way that burlesque is about art and the tension of the tease while stripping is about nudity. Some burlesque dancers choose not to get naked at all. Burlesque is classy, comedic and charming – what girl would not want to be a part of that? Thanks to Ms. Teese, we can! In late 2012, the femme fatale launched her own dress collection, which can be bought online at shopdecadesinc.com. She also has her own lingerie line, perfume and book The Art of the Teese and intends to do bags and accessories – it’s never been easier to add the essence of burlesque into everyday life. This glamorous style has also inspired the high street. Take for example bustier tops, suspender tights and exposed seems that run down the leg, these are sold in Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Primark. Mesh tops and dresses were everywhere last season: exposing a little flesh is sexy

TOP

Beauty

Susie Coen on the history of sex in fashion, sex as fashion and sexual liberation in fashion

How To: Come-to bed-eyes

1) Agent Provocateur In an age where sex is integral to the world of fashion, it is hard to imagine a time when little more than an ankle was advertised. While fashion before the sexual revolution did bring us flapper girls, cloche hats and the ‘New Look’ fashion of the late 1940s, this era of sexual liberation is unrivalled in its impact on the world of fashion. During the 1960s and 1970s the combination of student protests, contraceptives and second-wave feminism resulted in pivotal changes to society. The ‘swinging sixties’ has become a symbol for the social conflict between the old and the new, the rigid and the forward thinking. The period gave more autonomy to young women who were given choices of when to be mothers, who to have sex with and how to express themselves. The emergence of Hugh Hefner and Playboy saw sex being brought to the forefront of the media, and sex toys, S&M and aphrodisiacs gained popularity. This

2) Tom Ford

and sophisticated. Dita Von Teese has donned this look on the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival in 2007 and at Jonathan Saunders celebration dinner earlier this year. Even staple garment the pencil skirt, teamed with vintage and Victorian accessories will give you the risqué edge. But of course, Ms. Teese is not the only reason why burlesque has grown in popularity over the years, it has appeared on the catwalks of Dior, Ziad Ghanem and Jean Paul Gaultier. Burlesque has grown considerably over the years; it appears in books, movies, on catwalks and on the hangers in our wardrobes. We dress more burlesque than we think we do and come into contact with it more than we’ll ever know.

Marie Claire Yates

Underwear as outerwear Halee Wells rock the trend this year without looking like a walking Ann Summers ad. Past seasons have shown elaborate bra straps, gorgeous slips and a dramatic increase in the sales of ‘pasties’, also known as nipple tassels! But what is classy and what is downright trashy? Queuing for Sankeys in your underwear isn’t going to get you any fashion points. Think subtle colours such as black, nudes or soft pinks. Chiffon shirts will look great with a black bra underneath, or a splash of leather without looking too Anastasia Steele. Or if you haven’t made your mind up yet on this daring craze, look out for a simple bandage dress or suspender tights to complete your look. Bra-vo!

It’s hard to search for sexy adverts without finding an abundance of Tom Ford’s work. Everything he does is perfectly crafted, as is this. There are many other racy ones there, but the wet, wet, wet look here just adds to the heat.

In France, the designer André Courrèges similarly displayed his minimalistic, space-age above the knee dresses in 1964. The miniskirt also led to fabulously controversial accessories, such as provocative zip-up knee high boots made of stretch vinyl, known as ‘go-go’ boots and tights replaced nylon stockings, liberating women from garter belts. The miniskirt’s controversy continued to flourish, being made from see-through materials and loose crochet fabrics, making underwear an important fashion accessory. The sexual revolution played a role in the transformation of the desirable woman. The 1950s high-heels and big-breasted woman was replaced by the ‘Lolita look’, more recognizable in today’s world. Androgynous and long-legged, the most famous model of this description was Twiggy, who initiated the adoption of the geometric bob and heavily mascaraed lashes that we still know and love. This androgynous look was enriched in the late 1970s with the punk movement in which prevalent rock stars such as Blondie pioneered the scene based upon anti-fashion, which tried to avoid mainstream trends. With punk designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, the mini was transformed into PVC and of course black leather, an item so predominant today. Whereas in the 1960s the mini was accessorized with tights, the punk movement accompanied retro miniskirts with ripped fishnets to reflect the movement’s rebellious nature. Also born were some of our wardrobes’ most staple items, such as leather jackets, blazers, dress shirts and brothel creepers. The 1960s also saw the birth of the ‘hip-hugger’, the ancestor of low-rise jeans, which rose to popularity during the hippie movement of the late 1960s/1970s. Bell-bottomed hip-huggers were paired with paisley-printed tops and nehru-collared jackets to create the bohemian aesthetic. Integral to the infamous disco culture of the 1970s, hip-huggers continued to prevail until the 1980s when they were replaced with higher-waistlines, admired today. However, in 1996 Alexander McQueen transformed the hip-hugger into the low-rise jean in his Dante collection show featuring Kate Moss, and such styles were continuously worn into the noughties. It is unquestionable that some of the most familiar fashion trends had their seeds sewn in the political and social rebellions of the Sexual Revolution. As sex became accepted, desired and celebrated, women bore their gorgeous legs, their seductive midriffs and the love affair between sex and fashion began.

Make up pro Halee Wells shows you how to achieve the perfect sexy eye during this month of love Some say the eyes are the windows to the soul, others might say they are the window to the perfect romantic evening on the 14th. There’s no denying that eyes are an important feature on a girl, with 8 out of 10 guys saying it’s the first thing they notice, so here are some simple steps to create a sultry smoky eye to bag yourself that perfect date. Step 1: Add a shimmery base colour to the eyes, such as silver or gold, spreading up to the brow bone and focusing specifically on the inner corner of the eye, then running it underneath the lower lashes. I use Rimmel Glam Eyes Mono Eye Shadow in Gold Rush, using just my finger.

Step 2: Using a small eye shadow brush, or again, just your finger, blend a darker shadow such as brown or black, into the socket. Start by brushing over the lid, then outwards towards the brow bone and the outer corner of the eye to create a slightly winged effect. The key here is blending for that real smoky look. Finally with the same shadow, blend a small amount under the lower lash. I use L’Oreal Color Infallible Eye Shadow in Eternal Black, infused with a subtle silver shimmer

eruption of youth known as the ‘Youthquake’ resulted in a revolution in the fashion industry. During the 1960s, youth throughout the West began to rebel against traditional clothing styles and generate new trends. In 1965 British designer Mary Quant dramatically raised the hemline of her skirts to create the miniskirt, which oozed empowerment and independence, liberating women and their legs.

3) Dior Sexy doesn’t have to be naked, which is demonstrated here. Almost with an Audrey Hepburn look about her, this black and white shot for Dior is stunning. Kunis’s figure is exquisitely crafted, as is the sly little look we are getting from her. And then there’s her slimline too.

Susie Coen

Craving & Saving

Step 3: Apply liquid liner to the top of your lashes, starting from the inner corner, winging out at the end. I use Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner in Black. For a more intense stare, take a kohl black liner and run along the bottom lash line. Collection 2000 Intense Colour Supersoft Kohl Pencil in Black Magic is a perfect soft liner which lasts all night long.

4) Louis Vuitton Now Louis Vuitton certainly jumped on the Olympic bandwagon last year with their campaign featuring Michael Phelps in a bath. Clearly there wasn’t room to fit his feet in the picture, though his intense look adds a sultry atmosphere to this campaign, where he has nearly bared all.

Debuting on catwalks in 2010, underwear as outerwear is certainly not for the fainthearted fashionistas out there. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about wandering between lectures flashing a thong over your leggings, this is about the more subtle fashion trend from the past few seasons. Whether it’s flaunting some cheeky stocking tights or going the whole hog in a corset body, you’ll be right on trend. This isn’t such a new look though, A-List stars have been attempting to bring lingerie-chic to the limelight for some time now. From high fashion to mainstream, this trend has swooped across stages, music videos and TV shows, slowly creeping its way on to our high streets. The trend branches right back to the 16th and 17th century where catching a glimpse of pretty undergarments became a style must. Although the modern take on underwear as outerwear has become a lot more risqué, with strong celebrity fashion statements, such as Britney garishly flashing her pink thong in the “I’m a slave for you” video or Madonna’s infamous cone bra. However you may not find such items gracing the high street, with 2013 taking a much more subtle feminine approach. With stunning embellished bralets and lacy tops, you can still

What has sexual liberation done for fashion?

Sexy Ad Campaigns Undoubtedly one of the sexiest brands out there, this advert features a ‘magic camera’ which unleashes your true side. Now it turns out Monica Cruz’s happens to be a sexual deviant who likes to don an array of lacy lingerie and rub her body all over.

Fashion

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

TIP: For a more feline eye, take your liquid liner flick longer and wider, for a doll look, take it shorter but higher… Meow! Step 4: MASCARA. Don’t be afraid here girls, three to four coats is perfect to finish the look, or even add some false lashes if you dare. My Holy Grail mascara has to be L’Oreal Mega Volume Collagene 24 Hour Mascara: a make up bag essential!

5) Chanel A further example of how sexy doesn’t have to be naked. With her very fragile look, the shapes Keira Knightly makes with her body are equally as sexy as the motorbike she is mounted on. As always, Chanel has given in to the classic side of sexy.

Miles Zilesnick

Craving: Marchesa Carioca set by La Perla – £326

Saving: Cornflower blue matching set by Topshop – £24

The ultimate brand for underwear has to be La Perla. The Italian company create beautifully elegant underwear with the highest quality materials, which I think are unrivalled. Their underwear avoids all traps of tackiness, choosing only to stock their designs in timeless blacks, whites and nudes and for more colourful personalities they stock some sets in light blues, reds and yellows. This Marchesa Carioca set is my favourite; with unquestionable sexiness the bra mixes embroidered lace with luxurious velvet straps. Regrettably at £326, this alluring set will not be a feature in the Valentine’s plans of many, if any, students.

It upsets me to no end when people assume that, in order to be sexy, you need kinky red crotchless underwear from Ann Summers. Personally, I think classically pretty underwear such as this periwinkle blue lingerie set from Topshop is far more striking. A steal at only £24 for the set, the beautiful detailing and mixture of lace and satin make this ensemble classy yet provocative. With current underwear shying away from padding and underwire to pay homage to the 1920s and 1930s that preferred a daintier silhouette, this set is bang on trend and will compliment all skin tones with its pastel colouring.

Music

ISSUE 14th/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Interview

Editor’s Column

Finger-picking folkies to fashionable frauds Tom Ingham Music Editor Even for the most unfortunate looking chap, the guitar is a sure fire way of spicing up that image and attracting the ladies. My slight inclination towards the 70s means I rank the electric guitar way above the humble acoustic on the sex-o-meter. But over the course of the last 50 years the acoustic has seen its robust, working image shattered by featuring in several episodes of Britain’s Got Talent. The 1960s folk revival, spearheaded largely by Bob Dylan, introduced the acoustic as a lethal weapon for political song writers of the time, disenchanted with civil rights tensions and Cold war fever. From the anti-war cries to hippie anthems, the 60s and 70s spawned many acoustic wielding heroes. Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and the like made their way to the mainstream with the acoustic guitar, capturing the public’s imagination with tracks like ‘Heart of gold’ and ‘Chelsea morning’ even in the prog-rock sympathetic 70s. Like its electric counterpart, the acoustic had its own technical wizards with artists like Richard Thompson, Roy Harper and the man dubbed the Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar, Bert Jansch. These men would grace the pages of Rolling Stone, but I don’t think they’d have a full page pull out somehow. They were serious men with beards, they weren’t posers – you wouldn’t have caught Harper dead playing ‘More than words’ for a bird (even if it did exist at the time). Shift forward to 2013 and

SONGS 5 IN THE FIELD OF... Breakups Rachel Bolland

something has gone very wrong. The acoustic guitar has now become associated with a crop of chino wearing, cloneazoid ponces. I nearly exploded when I saw X Factor rejects One Direction adopt the guitar for one of their routines. Then the pig-faced 2012 ‘winner’ James Arthur also dicked about with a guitar in a shallow attempt to gain some credibility, despite being made up like Julian Clary. I found myself even more infuriated recently with the hype surrounding the latest 60s throwback, Jake Bugg. Oooo he’s got an accent and a guitar he must be good – come off it. I found it frankly insulting that some derivative piece of nostalgia was being sold to me as the savour of rock n roll. Then there was the final straw last week at the Grammy’s – bloody Mumford & Sons, a band who’ve managed to create the musical equivalent of beige, with their slick, inoffensive folk are now Grammy worthy it appears. Surprisingly the one acoustic artist I don’t despise at the moment is Ed Sheeran - he’s a real talent on the guitar, which makes it a shame that he looks like a complete plonker. But, sadly, I don’t actually ‘like’ him; I just don’t ‘hate’ him. The acoustic guitar has been cheapened at the hands of these school girl pleasing impostors who’ve hogged the spotlight from the genuine talent of artists like Fleet foxes and Ron Sexsmith. The latest acoustic starter packs come with a tub of hair gel and a sob story, ensuring your half way to stardom before you’ve even tuned the thing.

Frightened Rabbit Frontman Scott Hutchison speaks to The Mancunion on life on a major label, breaking America and how he really feels about Mumford and Sons Joe Goggins Music Editor “I think we had a bit of an identity crisis on the last record.” Scott Hutchison is referring to The Winter of Mixed Drinks, the third Frightened Rabbit album, which was a hit with the critics but seemed to fly under the radar commercially, failing to deliver on the promise of mainstream success that its predecessor, The Midnight Organ Fight, hinted at. Plenty’s changed in the three years since; the Selkirk band have finally made the indieto-major label crossover, making Atlantic Records their new home, and frontman Hutchison divulges that the switch allowed them to make a clean break as far as their approach to making music was concerned. “I don’t think we really knew what kind of album we wanted to make with Mixed Drinks, whereas with the new record we’ve achieved what we set out to do. There was a lot more collaboration in the writing process – we wanted to actually sound like a band this time round – and lyrically, I was keen to go back to the more personal stuff I was writing on the earlier records.” This vision has brought the band their first top ten album with Pedestrian Verse, and Hutchison is confident that the change in approach was key. “We’d actually never recorded live as a five-piece before; we’d usually start with the drums and sort of layer the songs upwards from there. It took longer and there’s obviously some overdubs, but the core of each song was recorded live and you can’t really get achieve that energy any other way.” Pedestrian Verse also sees Hutchison return to the more personal lyrical style that served as his signature pre-Mixed Drinks. “I think

I suddenly became aware of revealing too much; when you’re writing songs in your bedroom, you’re kind of in a vacuum because you’ve got no audience. Once you do find yourself with an audience, you’re thinking, ‘fuck, I’m not sure if I should be so revealing about myself, I don’t want to hurt certain people who might end up hearing this.’” That diversion, though, is something he felt ran contrary to what Frightened Rabbit represent: “I think you’re compromising yourself as a songwriter if you start censoring yourself in that way. It really watered down what the band is about.” The passion and honesty that drive the band lyrically is reflected in the ardent response of their fanbase. “I don’t think I could ever be blasé about how into the songs the crowds seem to be,” says Hutchison. “Where a lot of the older songs are concerned, the original sentiment that inspired me to write them isn’t there anymore, and you realise that they’ve become more about the reaction from the vans; it’s like the band have become a vehicle for the crowd’s catharsis. In that respect, they’re not really my songs these days.” Mixed Drinks seemed to meet with greater commercial success across the pond, certainly in terms of the live circuit, with a clear disparity between the sizes of the venues the band were selling out on either side of the Atlantic. “I think we’ve bridged that gap to some extent now, although I’m not entirely sure why things started moving quicker for us over there,” confesses Hutchison. “There’s definitely a great affection for Scottish music over there, and I think that maybe allowed us a faster track than maybe an English band would have. A lot of my influences when I started writing songs were American, like Wilco and Ryan Adams, so maybe the

audiences over there picked up on that, too.” Even the nicest guys have breaking points, and for Hutchison, his came after a string of American journalists repeatedly compared Frightened Rabbit to Mumford and Sons. It’s an association so absurd that it borders on offensive. Hutchison, quoted by the NME as having said he ‘fucking hated’ the waistcoatbotherers, reveals he drew tired of discussing the link. “I’d been in a stream of interviews and in every single one, that band came up. I suppose I can hear it in places, but overall it’s not a very valid comparison. I’m trying not to talk about it now, in case I get in trouble,” he laughs. The evolution apparent on Pedestrian Verse is due in no small part to the band’s move to Atlantic. “People assume you have less creative freedom once you’re on a major, but if anything, moving to Atlantic has been liberating for us. Having a bit of money for once has allowed us to make a huge step forward creatively; we could afford to go away together for a few weeks and work on nothing but the record. Even things as simple as not having to worry about having a day job can be really freeing in that respect. Nothing’s changed for the worse.” A tour of obscure towns in the Scottish Highlands was documented in the form of Here: The Highlands Film. “Bands I admired, like Idlewild and Biffy Clyro, had done that kind of tour, and spending so much time surrounded by beautiful scenery and playing to crowds that usually wouldn’t get to see us was obviously a positive experience all round,” recalls Hutchison. “I mean, I suppose we might not paint the most flattering picture of Scotland at times,” he laughs, “so it was nice to show people there’s another side to it, too.”

1. Frightened Rabbit Keep Yourself Warm

2. Sharon van Etten - A Crime

3. Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes

4. Caitlin Rose - Things Change

Coming in the middle of Frightened Rabbit’s heart wrenching break up album, the line “It takes more than fucking someone you don’t know to keep yourself warm”, sums up that feeling of self loathing and doubt we all get after an illadvised tryst. Are those feelings really worth it?

Another almost anti-love song, “To say the things I want to say to you would be a crime/To admit I’m still in love with you after all this time.” Everyone wonders if their ex is doing better than them after a break-up which always throws up the question, how long does it take to get over someone? How long is a piece of string?

Throughout your life you’ll always come across people who, for your own mental and emotional well being, you shouldn’t enter into any kind of romantic relationship with. But sometimes you just don’t care. This song sums those feelings up brilliantly. The temptation, the restraint and the moment when you just give in.

This is another absolutely heartbreaking one, but one that is also sensationally beautiful. Rose perfectly captures that ‘what-if’ feeling after a relationship comes to an end and that desperate desire to forget and move on while still being haunted by old memories. Were they the one? Probably not.

5. Dry the River - No Rest Peter Liddle’s pain during the chorus is one of the most effective summations of heartbreak you will ever hear. It’s not hard to imagine what happened when he sings the line “I loved you in the best way possible” encapsulates the confusion and hurt you feel after being dumped, that awful ‘how could you do this to me?’ feeling.

Music

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature

Parklife 2013 begins to take shape Daniel Jones Music Editor With the likes of Four Tet, Heidi, Hud-Mo and Julio Bashmore already confirmed, Parklife has announced a list of over 100 artists who will be appearing at this year’s festival. KRS One, Breakbot, Toro Y Moi and Johnny Marr all make the cut, as do Ben UFO, Pearson Sound, Bicep and Derrick Carter on the DJ front. Plenty of big names to wet the proverbial whistle then. The most exciting prospect has to be the promised return of hip hop heavyweights, Jurassic 5. This will be their first show in the UK since the group split in 2007, citing “musical differences” as the main reason behind their six-year-long hiatus. But after watching De La Soul flop last year, it will be interesting to see whether Charlie 2na, Cut Chemist and co. can provide more of a sustained set on the Sunday, to really show off their skill as a collective. I’d also like to make the prediction that “let’s take it back to the concrete streets” will be one of the most said sentences of the weekend. J-5 aside, a lot of the artists on the roster are what you’d have to class as safe bets. The Circo Loco and Hot Natured stages don’t really get the blood

pumping as much as they have done in previous years, same with Metropolis. The promoters seem to have opted for an if it ain’t broke don’t fix it approach as far as those three are concerned. The Kaluki stage looks promising though, hosting George FitzGerald, Heidi and Maya Jane, whereas Daphni, John Talabot and AlunaGeorge each get a slot on the WHP x Now Wave stage. On the whole, Saturday is definitely more DJ-heavy, so if you’re consciously trying to abstain from all forms of electronica then it might be worth just going for a Sunday ticket. The Horrors headline the Now Wave stage on Sunday, backed up by the likes of King Krule, Liars and Everything Everything. Mark Ronson will play b2b with A-Trak, which might be worth popping your head in for a sec, just to catch a glimpse of A-Trak’s turntable wizardry. TEED returns to Manchester following his role as WHP curator last October and plays last on the Big Top stage. To be fair, quite a few of the acts have played before, laying a sort of safe foundation for the first-timers to build on. You can count Plan B, Joey Bada$$ and Wretch 32 amongst the Parklife noobs this year, if any of those float your boat. There’s a fair few definite “NO”s which I suppose can’t be avoided, but that

said, I really don’t know anyone in their right mind who would enjoy watching Example in the pissing down rain. I’d rather be sat at home watching Countdown. But despite the surety that there is going to be a Parklife 2013, we still don’t know where the venue formerly known as Platt Fields will be. Wythenshawe Park has been banded about as a possibility but the actual announcement is scheduled for 21st February. Hopefully the new setting will alleviate any possibility of collapsed

bridges or jammed human traffic. And so, we can start looking forward to another weekend of mud-caked debauchery come 8/9th June. Pen it in your diary. In fact, the only valid reasons for not going are thus: 1. You’re not in the country. 2. You’ve somehow found a better, cheaper festival on the same weekend. 3. You really, really, hate Example. 4. You really, really like Countdown.

The Mancunion Music Show Monday’s, 4-5pm, Fuse FM

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Live

The Pharcyde

Desaparecidos

Sound Control - 8th February 2013 Reunion shows are always a mixed affair for hip hop fans. After witnessing De La Soul’s disappointing set at last years’ Parklife, the prospect of seeing The Pharcyde perform their mid90s masterpiece, Bizarre Ride II, was a daunting one. With the news that founding members Imani and Bootie Brown would be absent from the tour, on paper tonight sounded like another example of has-been rappers chasing former glory. I needn’t have worried.

Surviving MCs Fatlip and Tre more than compensated for the absence of their former bandmates in an evening that was all about giving fans what they wanted to hear. After a modest introduction, the keyboard hook from ‘Oh Shit’ sounded and they were off, trading schoolyard rhymes so infectious that they soon had the crowd bellowing along to the song’s giddy refrain. From this point onwards the room was theirs as we roared along indiscriminately to house-

8/10

party favourite ‘Soul Flower’ and entertaining skits such as Jigaboo Time. J-Swift’s densely-layered beats sounded as vibrant as ever on the notoriously dodgy Sound Control system, while Tre’s goofy, highly melodic flow was a particular highlight on the Herbie Mann sampling ‘Otha Fish’ and cross-over anthem ‘Passing Me By’. The tunes have barely aged, but the extent to which The Pharcyde are now reliant on a greying audience of former stoners and students was painfully obvious. Yet while the usual Rap-cliches were all present and correct, they seemed to take on a different purpose for a group who are so candid and self-deprecating in their lyrics. After the sucker punch of ‘Runnin’, Tre demanded that the house lights be turned on so they could see the crowd. For most rappers this would be another opportunity for self-worship, but he just seemed pleased that we were there at all. It was an oddly moving moment, proving that, done properly, reunion shows can be a worthwhile experience. Tom Short

Academy 2 - 10th February 2013 When Desaparecidos, Spanish for ‘the disappeared ones’, did a vanishing act all of their own eleven years ago, they left an album’s worth of jittery, stinging post-punk behind them that many fans probably thought they’d never see performed. Fronted by Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, Desaparecidos is what happens when Oberst puts down the copy of Don DeLillo and picks up a distortion pedal instead. In the current climate, it’s no surprise that their songs of socio-economic woe ring truer than ever, and with their reformation, the band’s fans finally get to hear tunes about tax brackets, payment plans and suburban malaise. Wait, they’re better than they sound. Given that the band hasn’t played live in almost 10 years, there isn’t much sense of occasion. What’s in its place is a collection of rough-hewn energetic punk rock and a brutally acerbic Oberst. “Here’s a song about buying shit you really don’t need” he states before launching into the third song of the set. He seems furious, hawking up globs of spit between lyrics, angry at an American Dream that’s still asleep. Conversely,

the rest of the band couldn’t be any different; high fiving and joking around throughout the set. Musically though, they’re excellent, and the new material sits alongside old favourites with ease. ‘Greater Omaha’ almost incites a crowd frenzy, while ‘Man and Wife, the Latter’ lulls the venue into serenity before splitting heads for its climax. However, the night is not without fault. Specifically, ‘Man and Wife, the Former’ lost much of the festering anxiety

7/10

the studio version evokes, disappointing given that it’s one of their finest songs. Moreover, a sense of deflation seemed to cover some parts of the room. Perhaps portions of the crowd were dismayed by the change to the larger Academy 2 or the set’s short running time; nevertheless, the levels of excitement in the room were sadly not one a reunited band should accord. Oli Urwin

Music

ISSUE 14/18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Now then, now then

NOW: To Kill a King Cannibals with Cutlery Communion - out 25th Feb

Lisa Murgatroyd

Marketed as “orch-folk”, To Kill A King are a five-piece based in London that have steadily progressed to the brink of their debut album launch since forming in 2009. The group consists of Leeds uni mates Ralph Pelleymounter, Ian Dudfield and Josh Platman, joined by Jonathan Willoughby and Ben Jackson. Heartwrenching and humble, definitely a grower; it’s a pleasure from start to finish – tall order for a debut. The last couple years have seen the release of two EPs, numerous tours, including a campaign of ‘guerilla’ and ‘living room’ gigs and spots at Bestival and Wilderness. Cannibals with Cutlery draws on their previous releases but under

9/10

the wing of producer Jim Abbiss (Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club) becomes a much meatier affair. The songs which may be familiar to fans have been reworked and fleshed out; layered with strings and brass, delving into new depths of harmonies led by the distinct vocals of frontman Pelleymounter. Conveying the emotion of his own lyrics, the track progression holds listener interest throughout, and even includes a curveball of the 42 second title track in the middle. The future single ‘Cold Skin’ creates an anthemic feel, and the video which has already had over 100k hits on YouTube certainly offers a few talking points, filled with face painted kids running amok and wrestling men. Other potential single tracks include ‘Rays’ and ‘Funeral’, with distinctive riffs and choruses to sing your heart out to. The stand out track would have to be the beautiful ‘Choices’, which may start off simply but gradually builds to a dynamic finale. Similarly, the more folky ‘Children Who Start Fires’ shows a great range to what this band can offer. The album launch will be followed by a stint supporting band-pals Bastille, offering the opportunity for an on stage collaboration which has till now been limited to the recorded videos from Ralph’s Balcony Sessions. This includes two back to back sold out shows at Shepherds Bush Empire, before shortly afterwards setting off on their own headline tour around the country in April.

THEN: Radiohead - Pablo Honey Parlophone - February 1993 Alex Fenton

Over the course of two decades, Radiohead have established themselves amongst the elite of the musical sphere. On their debut album ‘Pablo Honey’, they met with only modest acclaim, but the fundamentals of their future sound were laid. Whilst it was their later albums (namely Kid A and OK Computer) that propelled Radiohead to greater stardom, their roots still drew from the alternative sounds of The Smiths and U2. With Pablo Honey, the world was arguably given just another alternative album, another to add to the seemingly endless production line. However, the album hinted at their potential. It tempted us with the future favourite ‘Creep’ and teased us with the groove of ‘Ripcord’. Dubbed the ‘British Nirvana’, the foundations of their future experimentation were set; as NME put it, they would ‘blossom’ later on. Though criticised as their weakest album, Pablo Honey was not without its gems. It had a raw simplicity, with the blunt lyrics of ‘Creep’ (‘I want you to notice, when I’m not around’) creating an effortlessly piercing track. The delicately picked notes of the verses were blown apart by Greenwood’s guitar in the chorus, with dead notes and distortion turning a seemingly steady beat into an anthem that punches through to the core. Upon the track’s re-release, ‘Creep’ would become a worldwide hit. Sincere lyrics mixed with Thom Yorke’s distinctive vocal flair showed Radiohead’s potential from the outset, with his high pitched vocals creating a sensitive sadness that would endure on later

albums. Other gems appeared in the form of ‘Stop Whispering’ and ‘Anyone Can Play Guitar’, where another rough guitar sound, paired with a pulsing bassline, had heads bobbing. Through the distortion, it’s almost as if they were scratching at the surface, itching for the sounds they would find on The Bends.The acoustic presence of ‘Thinking About You’ also showed a calmer side to their music and that they were not solely reliant upon grunge. Pablo Honey was rough, but on ‘Creep’, the band showed their potential as a future great. The album formed a base from which their future would develop, as well as showing the world that anyone could play guitar, even a group of melancholy students. Radiohead still owe much to their debut.

Books

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature

Event

VlogBrothers come to Manchester What is a ‘Nerdfighter’? And how do they ‘Vlog’? All was answered when Sam Dumitriu went to see John Green and his brother, Hank in much more than the average book-signing tour

Photoshop yourself in: Hank and John Green, the ultimate 21st century writers. Image: Blair Wonder

At the Monastery on Gorton Lane, the Vlogbrothers John and Hank Green spoke to a sold-out 450-person crowd as part of The Fault In Our Stars live tour. The duo have over 900,000 subscribers on YouTube and have been vlogging (video blogging) for the last five years. They were in Manchester to promote older brother John’s latest book The Fault in Our Stars’ release on paperback. The book topped bestseller lists and sold around 1 million copies, thanks to support from the loyal fans known as Nerdfighters who fight for nerd culture. The irony of speaking in a monastery was not lost on John Green who dropped out of divinity school while trying to be ordained as priest. “You can drop out of school, and still achieve your dreams”, he told us. John told the audience how, while working as a student chaplain he became

disillusioned by the suffering befalling so many children. Unable to handle his position, he moved to writing and tried to write a book about his experiences. The problem was that the book was nothing more than wish fulfilment, about a handsome young chaplain who got with all the beautiful doctors. He returned to that book throughout his career but it wasn’t until he met a young girl called Esther Earl who tragically died of thyroid cancer that he returned to it. His experience with Esther encouraged him to write the book again, the focus shifted to the children rather the chaplain. The Fault in Our Stars aimed to show the bravery of children suffering with cancer, how they were as smart and as funny as other children and how we can sometimes dehumanise them. John’s brother Hank was also entertaining, performing a series of songs on topics as diverse as Harry Potter Eight (that was it’s real title, right?). Fans had the opportunity to question the Vlogbrothers as Nerdfighter and Olympic gymnast Jennifer Pinches joined them. Questions ranged from whether they liked Marmite to what their favourite experience in Britain had been so far. One question John Green couldn’t answer was whether he could reveal anything about the newly announced The Fault in Our Stars movie. Watch this space.

Review

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

The Fault in ours Stars, written by John Green, is a love story between two teenagers with cancer (it’s more fun than it sounds). It became The New York Times’ #1 bestseller and was branded “damn near genius” by Time Magazine. When I came to read it I confess, I was scared, because of this central, unrelenting theme, our generation’s biggest collective fear: cancer. Hazel Grace Lancaster is our narrator; she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was 13 years old, and is dependent on a ‘miracle’ drug that is prolonging her life for an undetermined period, only preventing her tumours from growing. She spends a lot of her time at home, in Indianapolis, watching America’s Next Top

Model and thinking about death. Worried that her daughter might be depressed, Hazel’s mum makes her attend a Cancer Kid Support Group and it is there she meets Augustus Waters. Augustus is 17 years old, and is in remission, after suffering from osteosarcoma and losing a leg from it. Their interaction begins with a book that Hazel lends to Augustus, and ends in love. Even if the storyline doesn’t scream ‘funny’, Green makes it very funny. Hazel’s narration is very witty, and her talks with Augustus are always philosophical, yet so teenagerly romantic. One thing that surprised me in this book is the fact that the author, despite being a man, narrates the book through a girl’s perspective, and does so extremely well. This book provides a different approach to cancer. One we’re not used to in media representations. It’s never easy to handle such a delicate subject but Green presents something real about the lives of those affected – it’s hard on everyone involved, but no one stops being their own person because they have cancer, no one stops being a teenager because they are a patient. These are reflections about life and death and all in between. It should come with a warning (but not the one I presumed): it will make you think, about all of this and the end of it. Mariana Cerqueira

Literature in the loo Although it isn’t a book, and it’s not permanent, Annie Muir argues that outdoor writing is a valuable and communal literature Manchester is full of ‘public literature’. From the poetic ‘Landmarks’ of Lemn Sissay, that transform the Megabus journey to uni into a poetry tour, to the graffiti on the walls of the toilets in Nexus Art Café in the Northern Quarter. Sissay’s famous, outdoor poetry can be seen on the wall of Hardy’s Well pub, and his latest, ‘Let There Be Peace’ stands tall in the atrium of University Place. But I would argue that Nexus’ toilet diaries are no less an important part of the communal, public expression that is outdoor writing. The strange thing about the toilets in Nexus is that the cubicle on the right is completely empty of writing. The walls of the cubicle on the left in Nexus are covered in advice, stories, and thoughts – alongside quotes from Dr. Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Patti Smith, Oscar Wilde, and Buddha. But no one has written on the right, as a train of scribbles hasn’t been set off. Each doodle on the left actually builds on, and in, the space created by those before it. This is admittedly a different type of ‘public literature’ to Sissay’s poems, but not necessarily less valuable. Why people feel the need to write on the walls of public toilets can be answered by positing why people write literature at all: to say something instead of nothing. People write on the walls of toilets, as well as writing any other form of literature, to communicate with other people. Ernest L. Abel and Barbara E. Buckley, in their book The Handwriting on the Wall (published in 1977), describe how psychiatrists at St. Joseph’s hospital in Chicago encouraged patients to write on the walls to promote communication between patients and therapists. This

was encouraged after a nurse discovered a blackboard covered with the thoughts and feelings of an u n c o m mu n i c a t ive schizophrenic patient; she then wrote some questions on the blackboard and the patient replied, creating a dialogue. The writing on the walls of public toilets Lemn Sissay’s poem at Hardy’s Well. Photo creates evidence Wikimedia Commons of other minds at work in those toilets, and therefore gives Less politically engaged? Does our people something to communicate democratic, instant access to ‘public with. A dialogue is provoked. space’ online, in fact disenfranchise There is a long history of people us from the public spaces around us writing on the walls of public toilets, in the world, from contributing to and and of authorities trying to curb being provoked by? Do the attempts such practices. Abel and Buckley of the authorities to ‘clean’ up public also discuss how the ancient Romans spaces, also neutralise them? wrote on the walls of their public Sissay’s work is a form of graffiti latrines, and how the authorities tried which is sponsored by the council to protect their walls by placing ‘deities rather than censored, and however or religious emblems on their toilet great it looks, or much it makes walls.’ These days the problem seems you think, it does not ask you to to be solved by applying endless coats contribute or create a dialogue of paint to the walls of public toilets or the same way ‘WOMEN ARE NOT getting the toilets done-up to look too OBJECTS’ spray-painted on the side clean to soil with our thoughts. (This of the students union does. Because has certainly been attempted in the the latter is unsanctioned, because it library loos.) is anonymous. By painting over the There is, in fact, very little graffiti in scribbles on the walls the council are the toilets of the university campus. in a sense erasing history, enforcing I found a few examples of ‘FREE censorship and filling our minds with PALESTINE’, a drawing of a flower blank walls instead of questions like: around the edge of a toilet-roll when will it all get better? dispenser, and a small, exclamation/ question: ‘WHEN WILL IT ALL GET Annie Muir BETTER??’ Here- as in literaturethe silence can speak manifold. Are we becoming less communicative?

Blog

Read it again; take a spin on the literary jukebox Count down your days with a quote and a tune Maria Popova’s Literary Jukebox is not a blog. It doesn’t offer you any information, or original content, or even services. It falls into that sub-category of online offerings that is less functional than economical: it recycles existing material and simply ‘shares’ it with you. Popova’s personal designator for this activity is “curator of interestingness” – which is good, and her Literary Jukebox takes this premise, one shared by Instantagrammers the internet over, and carves something interesting, and yes, I would say original, out of existing materials. The Jukebox is a side project for the ‘curator’s’ website, brainpickings.com (sounds more gruesome than it is), which similarly cherry-picks those things Popova thinks so interesting she wants to give them a bigger audience. The Jukebox doesn’t promise you much, but it delivers exactly that much – it gives you a few moments of pure, simple enjoyment. (I dare you not to smile.) It consists of this: every day Popova picks a quote from a favourite book and matches it with a thematically coherent song. That’s it. And it’s great. As I write this, the quote is from Anaïs Nin’s Diary of Anais Nin, Vol. 5 1947-1955: “Maturity is first the shedding of what you are not, and then the balancing of what you are in relation to the human being you

love, and allowing the selves of that person which are not related to you to exist i n d e p e n d e n t l y, outside of the relationship.” And the song, Paulo Nutini’s ‘Growing up Beside You’. Which doesn’t sound like a perfect combination, but when you read the quote as the song plays (instruction: always click play on the song before you even scroll down to see what the song is, and to read the quote. So much better), but with the soundtrack of Nutini, Nin’s spare words become even more poetic, musical almost; and in the presence of such poetry, Nutini’s voice sounds raw, his music bittersweet and intoxicating. You don’t expect it to work, but both ingredients taste even better put together. http://literaryjukebox.brainpickings.org/

Food & Drink Double-choc Free Cakes for Kids

cheesecake

If you want something indulgent, this double chocolate whopper is right up your street. Better still, it requires no baking. It’s worth paying a bit more for the chocolate – especially the white – but Bournville will do nicely for the dark. The fruit-averse could miss off the blueberry pie topping, but I think it cuts through the rich sweetness of the chocolate. For me, the superstar and only real extravagance in the recipe are the ground hazelnuts in the base, which is so good you may end up stopping right at that stage. Did someone mention a buttery biscuit base? You will need a large cake tin with a removable base. Alternatively, you can do as I did and line a tin with Clingfilm or foil, overlapping so that you can pull it out.

Ingredients: For the base 115g butter 115g ground hazelnuts (you can buy toasted hazelnut bits in a pack and then pound them up with a rolling pin) For the cake 140g white chocolate 140g dark chocolate 115g caster sugar 2 x 200g tubs full fat Philadelphia or similar 284ml carton double cream For the topping 1 tin blueberry pie filling (Hartleys do one, but you can also use jam)

Method: Melt the butter, stir in nuts and biscuits and press to make base. Melt the white and dark chocolate in two separate bowls. Whisk up the cream a little to thicken slightly before whisking in the cream cheese and sugar. Mix in half of this to each of the bowls of melted chocolate. Then scoop alternate dollops of white and dark chocolate over the base and swirl together a bit - you want each slice to have bits of both and no gaps between. Chill for at least 3 hours, and when set cover with the pie filling.

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

This national volunteer organisation is dedicated to making sure all children enjoy their birthday. Why not sign up today to let your baking make a difference? Joanne Procter

What if I told you that there is a way you can bake as much cake as you like, and at the same time you can give a child in Manchester a birthday to remember? Free Cakes for Kids is a national volunteer organisation which supplies birthday cakes for children whose families are unable to provide them. Families often struggle to provide birthday cakes for all sorts of reasons, and at the moment it’s especially difficult for families who simply can’t afford it. We match volunteers who love baking, to families in need of birthday cakes. The volunteers provide personalised birthday cakes to help make a child’s birthday

that bit more special. Volunteers choose which cakes they can bake, so there’s no pressure. The scheme started in Oxford in 2008, after word spread from similar schemes in the US. Since then it has grown into a national organisation, with more than 45 branches in the UK. The scheme receives no funding: volunteers pay for the ingredients and bake the cake, and we rely entirely on their time and energy. So, readers, this is a call to arms. A rallying cry to the cake-makers of Manchester. Raise your whisks, don your apron, and join us in our quest to provide birthday cakes to the kids of Manchester. No cake request will go unanswered; no child will be without celebratory baked goods. I’m currently setting up a Didsbury branch of Free Cake for Kids, and I need your help. I’m looking for volunteers in the Didsbury or Withington area - you don’t have to be an expert baker, just a passion for baking and for helping kids! You’re free to bake as many or as few cakes as you like. Volunteers simply let us know when they’re able to bake a cake, and once made, the baker arranges to meet the kid’s parent or carer in a public place to hand the cake over. Then you get to walk around with a shiny halo and a whole bunch of good karma. Hopefully you’ll also get sent a photo of the kid with their birthday cake, which, let’s face it, gives you a whole lot more satisfaction than watching your housemates

The Grill on the Alley

5 Ridgefield Manchester M2 6EG 0161 833 3465

Get a sense of community spirit through baking. Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography If this sounds like your cup of tea, find us on Facebook (search Free Cake for Kids – Didsbury) or email us at didsburyfreecakeforkids@gmail. com – we’d love to hear from you!

“These are all standard restaurant staples, but ours were executed well – with little fuss and loads of flavour.”

Ben Walker Inconspicuously tucked away, The Grill on the Alley welcomes you with a 1950s-style bar, lots of dark wood, mirrors and endless bottles of liquor. When we arrived, live piano was twinkling from the basement, which drifted through the building atmospherically. A really unusual aperitif of orange rum warmed us through and set the tummy longing for lots of steak, which is the centrepiece of this joint. I wanted and indeed expected high quality culinary skill, minimal interference with delicious ingredients, and for everything to be served simply and heartily. Of course, like civilised ravenous punters, starters were necessary. Mussels came in an large, theatrical white dish, inside of which sat succulent molluscs and a very rich, deep sauce. The calamari was also cooked to juicy perfection, wrapped in light and crisp batter. Both dishes were served generously. The chicken liver pâté was plated with a little more finesse, with cubes of Cumberland jelly, toast thins and micro herb decoration. The pâté itself was deep and rich. These are all standard restaurant staples, but ours were executed well – with little fuss and loads of flavour. With all good menus, starters should tantalise one’s appetite and the main should sate that more. The food must peak at the right time, and the chef ’s menu-centrepiece is what you should be talking about the next day with all of your envious friends. We had the Chateaubriand, which fit the

The Grill on the Alley exterior. Photo: Heather Cowper @Flickr bill perfectly. A sharer for two, this prime fillet was absolutely unbelievable. It was without doubt the most tender and tasty steak I have eaten. We had it walked through a warm kitchen (blue), with a little caramelisation forming a light crust. Perfectly rested, there was no bleeding, just deep crimson melting magnificence. Now, steak needs chips, crunchy sautéed greens and sauce. We were not disappointed. Chips thrice deep fried were perfect, with their imperious golden crunch protecting fluffy heaven. French

Getting involved Eve Commander

wolf your cake down without even looking up from the latest episode of Top Gear.

Meetings: Tuesdays at 1pm, 1st floor of the Students’ Union Facebook: Search for ‘The Mancunion: Food and Drink’ Email: foodanddrink.mancunion@gmail.com

beans sautéed in garlic butter contributed extra flavour and colour. The béarnaise sauce was moreish and buttery; it should become the new standard chip condiment. After a starter each and one to share, three thick helpings of beef with its trimmings and a bottle of decent Cabernet-sauvignon, pudding was skipped. The selection did not inspire anyway, and instead we chose cognac and espresso to round things off. We had an excellent evening, and shall certainly be returning.

Food & Drink

ISSUE 14/ 18TH FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

In conversation with: Simon Binns Jessica Hardiman and Emily Clark listen to food writer Simon Binns’ musings on the Manchester restaurant landscape

Simon Binns is one of our favourite food writers. With a history in business journalism, his opinions on food have a practical edge. He has worked for the BBC, Manchester Evening News and Manchester Confidential. He is very down to earth and funny; a pleasure to be around. He has seemingly reviewed, or at least eaten in, every Mancunian café, pub, restaurant, grill or eatery you could wish to. Settled in North Tea Power with brews in hand, we learnt many a thing about eating in this muddled city. We began by discussing the most popular fare in Manchester - Simon tells us ‘inexplicably, the highest grossing restaurant in Manchester is Red Hot World Buffet, so work that one out. £140,000 a week, they say.’ And apparently, Red Hot are planning to double their capacity. Jessica Hardiman: So what’s their secret? Simon Binns: They do this really clever thing, they let you in, then make you stand next to a rope for about five minutes while they go and find you a seat, even though there’s 300. And so, everyone’s just looking at all this food. By the time you unleash them, they’re just rabid animals. Emily Clark: Are Mancunians perhaps less discerning about food quality? The food in Red Hot isn’t the best... SB: I don’t think they’re less discerning, it’s just not like London - a fine dining high concept thing with all the tourist footfall. There’s more people living there and you can afford to do it. JH: Do you think the Michelin star suits Manchester? People here maybe want normal, hearty portions, don’t want to pay loads of money, are less interested in fashions?

SB: I think we do quite well for mid-market dining in Manchester, quite acceptable good restaurants. Some of the chains do well - Grill on the Alley, does what it does really well. I think there’s still a little bit of a fear around fine dining up north. Fine dining has come a long way in the last five years, it’s quite relaxed now. I don’t know if Manchester needs a Michelin star, and the pressure to keep it. EC: Where are the worst experiences you’ve had - if you’re allowed to say? SB: I’m not one for naming things, however, I feel no shame in saying that The Vineyard on Deansgate is where I’ve had one of the worst meals of my entire life, it made me feel quite sad really, and shocked. It’s the tapas place. It belongs to the same chain as La Tasca. It’s just horrible. But I’ve gotta say, I think the standard in Manchester is pretty high. JH: So where are your favourite places to go? SB: I really like Aumbry, but it’s not cheap. Room’s really good, never had a bad meal there - for a chain, they’ve got it spot on. It depends what you’re into in Manchester - I’d have a burrito every day of my life if the doctor didn’t say I couldn’t. I think Pancho’s is really good in the Arndale food market if you want something cheap and quick. EC: People always ask us where to go out for dinner. Where would you suggest? SB: Grill on the Alley over the years has been the most reliable place. If you go to Chinatown, somewhere like Yuzu is good, Zouk off Oxford Road

Cheaper than chips

is the best Indian in Manchester for my money. I think you’ll probably see some good mid-market chains from London have a look at Manchester over the next 12 months. They’ll clean up. Like a good Thai restaurant concept. EC: Oo, I’ve been to a good Thai restaurant in the middle of town somewhere - Chouphraya? Oh yeah it’s alright, but last time I went there I had Yorkshire puddings from the buffet section. I’ve been to Thailand several times and I’ve never had a Yorkshire pudding there. JH: What do you think about restaurants that create false hype? I don’t think it’s very imaginative, I don’t respond well to it. SB: I’m with you on that one. I wrote about the burger thing and obviously being a 36 year old man, everything drives me mad. The people who, 12 months ago, won’t eat a McDonald’s because it’s bad for them will happily walk into a burger bar, and fork out 15 quid. Hot dogs are the next thing apparently. You know the hot dogs you buy from a tin, 10 for 99p, you’re gonna be paying £8.50 for them soon because someone’s put a bit of bacon on it and given it a funny name. EC: We need to have something like Almost Famous without all the bullshit. SB: That’s almost a restaurant concept in itself, Almost Famous without the bullshit; it’s a business plan. Oh no, that’s just McDonald’s actually. There are a lot of restaurants in Manchester that are trying to do too much, I don’t really know what

JH: So where’s good to drink? SB: Wow, everywhere, anywhere, depends who you’re with. Manchester still has great pubs which are sort of the saviour of the city. It has inner city pubs - you go down the street, you’ve got The Vine and The City Arms, the Town Hall Tavern, The Temple - the graffiti in the toilets there is always wonderful, Peveril of the Peak; a vast variety of pubs. You could do a really good pub crawl of actual pubs in the city. EC: What about cocktail places? I like Hula Tiki. SB: Yeah Hula’s great, I’ve been there a lot, I like it down there, but Liar’s Club is great. But sometimes these cocktail bars are better on paper - when you go in and there’s 98 people ahead of you at the bar, all waiting for six Flaming Zombies and you just think, I could be here a while. JH: It’s always the annoying sugary, sickly ones that sell really well. SB: Or the ones you can set fire to. I’m naturally cautious about drinks you can set fire to.

Thanks Simon!

Frideswide O’Neill offers some weekly frugal tips for your shopping, cooking and eating habits.

Economical Eggcellence Sometimes there’s nothing nicer than an egg on a piece of hot buttered toast - whether it’s boiled, scrambled, poached or fried - but these are easy to get bored of. Have a look at these recipes for some new ideas about how to make them more eggciting! 1. Baked avocado egg

Oeufs en cocotte - a tasty and cheap way to use up leftovers. Photo: christ-o-phile @Flickr

their key thing is. As much as Living Ventures gets a rough ride for places like The Alchemist, Oast House, Australasia, Grill on the Alley - they’re all very different and the reason they do so well is all the individual brands do one different thing really well.

This is a great way to get protein and good fats into your diet. All you need is half an avocado and an egg. Heat the oven to 200°C, put the avocado half on a tray, crack the egg into it and season with salt, pepper, herbs and spices. If there’s not enough room in your avocado for a whole egg, just separate off some of the white

first. Then bake for 10 minutes. 2. Oeufs en cocotte Pretty much just eggs baked in ramekins, this is a great way to use up left overs as you can line the ramekin with almost anything. Some great options are mushrooms, spinach, peppers, bacon or salmon. Pre-cook whatever you are going to use, tip it into the ramekin and crack an egg (or two) on top. Go decadent by filling up the ramekin with cream! Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes. 3. One pan English breakfast

clean pans available for all the different components. Avoid this hurdle by conveniently cooking everything in one pan. First, chuck a few chipolatas into a hot frying pan until well browned, then add some chopped up bacon. Turn the heat down slightly, add a knob of butter and throw in some mushrooms and tomatoes. While this is all cooking, whisk three eggs with a bit of milk, salt and pepper, before turning the heat up and pouring the eggs into the pan. Your English breakfast omelette will no doubt be too heavy to try and flip so the key to cooking it is either to put the whole pan in the oven (if the handle is oven-proof ) or just put it under the grill until the top goes golden.

The problem with a full English breakfast in a student house is that there often aren’t enough

Feeding your reading

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Maddy Hubbard In his biography, Bourdain writes engagingly – and at times maybe too graphically – about his life in and out of the kitchen. Originally from small town America, he is best known in England for his television shows such as No Reservations, but in the US he has been head chef in several respected New York restaurants. Kitchen Confidential follows his journey to get there, as he describes the thrill of learning to love food, his passion for restaurants and,

above all else, his love for the atmosphere in a kitchen, which he describes as a pirate crew. In Bourdain’s world, kitchens have the heavy-drinking, drugs and sex to match any rock and roll stereotype. His story covers, with brutal honesty, everything from working for a restaurant run by the Italian mafia to his descent into drug addiction and alcoholism while head chef in restaurants across New York. Beyond the shock factor and vicarious thrills, Bourdain also provides a really interesting and genuine insight into the daily life of a chef at

Sex, drugs and girolles: Anthony Bourdain shares all in Kitchen Confidential. Photo: Renée S @Flickr

different levels in the food business, from small local restaurants right up to prestigious fine dining where ingredients are put onto the plate with tweezers. He’s certainly not one to hold back on an opinion, describing veganism for example as a ‘Hezbollah-like splinter faction of vegetarianism.’ I will also never forget his advice on what to never order and why. This such a compelling read, even if you’re not a foodie - but it’s essential reading if you are!

Arts & Culture

1 0 T H I NG S

you should know about

JOHANNES VERMEER

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM /TheMancunionArtsCulture @ArtsMancunion

Exhibition

‘An Exhibition’ Peter Lane finds ‘An Exhibition’ at the Holden Gallery intelligently and provocatively questions the very nature of ‘art’ and the exhibtion experience

Miss Lucy J sitting for Vermeer

ART HISTORY LESSONS w it h L u c y J Johannes, Jan or John Vermeer was birn in 1632 in Delft, the Netherlands and was the son of inkeepers He spent all of his years in Delft and The Hague, and although being a highly admired painter now, during his lifetime he only achieved modest celebrity and, following his death, his name sank into obscurity and his artwork was not well known outside of Delft Vermeer married the Catholic Catharina Bolenes in April 1653, following Vermeer’s public conversion to Catholicism (at the insistence of his fiancee’s mother) and the couple went on to have fifteen children, eleven of whom survived Vermeer did not support himself or his family through painting and we only know of around 35 works today

Around 20 of these paintings were domestic interiors painted in the same room upstairs in his house with a woman sitting in the same corner He is praised for his careful compositions, application of colour such as the rare ‘ultramarine’ He died in 1675 after falling into a frenzy as a result of the rising debt It is possible that the only time an image of himself appears in his paintings is in his 1666 painting ‘The Art of Painting’ and even here we only see the back of him An infamous and prolific forger of Vermeer’s works, Han Van Meegeren, has made the riddle of Vermeer’s paintings even more difficult Vermeer may have experimented with a camera obscura, a simple photo recording device, to help him study composition and understand how light and colour behave

My first impression of An Exhibition was the stark emptiness of the space though what else should I have expected, considering two of the main contributing artists, Lawrence Weiner and Stefan Brüggemann, are known for their minimal intervention when creating works. Weiner, founder of the postminimalist movement, and Brüggemann whose installations are characterized by his minimal intrusion, are exhibited alongside MMU trained Carey Young and works by the Itinerant Texts Art Collective. ‘An Exhibition’ seeks to question what the components of an exhibition are. Beneath the title ‘An Exhibition’ three criteria are set out:

1) A space that must be filled 2) An interaction between artist, curator, audience and the gallery 3) A conversation about the use of language and communication through the display of art.

Everyday Analysis

As one might guess, instead of following these conventional exhibition rules, the show attempts to questions them, with each piece only satisfying the basic criteria, and going no further. What results is a set of images which tick the necessary boxes for it

@EDAnalysis

to qualify as ‘an exhibition,’ but without actually creating anything more than a set of images. What seems to be being explored here is the gap between the exhibition criteria and what makes for a coherent exhibition experience, and the artistic possibilities which emerge from that gap.

The central space in the gallery is filled by four temporary walls with 1560 possible names of exhibitions that enshrine a 2x2 cube of cardboard boxes each with NOTHING scrawled across them, the epitome of a nonpiece, an artwork in denial of being a work of art. Here,

questions of what makes a work of art, and what qualifies as art, as ‘an exhibition’, are probed intelligently and interestingly. You are guided around the room by a mind-map of comments such as ‘aha’ and ‘nice idea’ towards the first piece, where, printed on the wall in strong block capitals are the words: A TRANSLATION FROM ONE LANGUAGE TO ANOTHER. Ironically nothing has been translated – the words are the same as they would be on a page – but now on a wall in an exhibition it has become a ‘work of art’. Painted on the remaining walls are AS LONG AS IT LASTS, (THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE) and finally I CANT EXPLAIN AND I WONT EVEN TRY each following a similar selfcontradictory trend. ‘An Exhibition’ stands as a witty satire of the art industry, and, as we have seen, raises important questions of what is an exhibition and what is a work of art. Peter Lane

What’s on

The Toasted Sandwich

Mountains, myths and a career in the Arts

The Everyday Analysis Collective explore the Toastie Maker and the efficacy of our own Symbolic orders

The beginnings of Spring promises a host of new exhibitions and events in Manchester, have a look at our suggestions to see what you fancy

Theodor W. Adorno uses the word ‘culinary’ to designate something of an unanalytic and self-satisfied attitude, so cookery advice might be the last thing you’d expect of us, but… There are three Lacanian orders: the Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real. If the Imaginary registers the split in subjectivity (the gap between what we know as ourselves and what we see in the mirror, for example), then the Real is that very split itself. The Symbolic is the realm of language and of knowledge, and the Real in relation to the Symbolic is as that which is unsymbolisable, inassimilable; all that which we cannot know, the magnitude of which can never be subsumed. The Real is also that which breaks into our lives as trauma, the first symbolic impressions of which we repress and later articulate in symptoms. Lacan says the best we can ever perceive of the Real is only ‘little bits’. Some, such as James Joyce, might welcome such ‘little bits of the Real’, and try their best to re-present them as ‘real’ (i.e. bring them into the Symbolic order), despite knowing the actual

John Piper: The Mountains of Wales, The Whitworth, 19 January – 7 April

6 Million Ways of Getting into the Arts Castlefield, 12 February — 20 March

Raqid Shaw Manchester Art Gallery, 15 February - 26 May

The National Museum of Wales has curated this exhibtion from a private collection, and the Whitworth will supplement this by its own Piper collection, most dramatically ‘The Slopes of Glyder Fawr,’ 1947. The artist John Piper, who works in drawing and paining, first began to use the landscape of North Wales as artistic inspiration in the middle of the Second World War. Having been sent to Snowdonia in 1943 by the War Artists Advisory Committee, Piper rented three cottages in the glacial valley of Nant Ffrancon. This promted a shift in his work, from an awareness and focus on lowlying country scenes, toward an appreciation of the sublime Welsh Mountains. The exhibition celebrates the connection of the artist to his setting, and provides an awe-inspiring set of images of the Welsh countryside. A must-see for lazy Sunday afternoon at the Whitworth.

Castlefield Gallery, working with the the Quays Culture programme, is presenting a series of six presentations that will inspire creative souls based in Greater Manchester and beyond. The format will take shape as a series of six 3-hour long events, and will call on the expertise of nationally and internationally renowned creative professionals, using both individuals and organizations. Castlefield promises ‘a selection of the most dynamic creative practices including acting, animation, art, moving image, performance and creative writing.’ The speakers, in discussing their own experiences, will encourage audiences to appreciate the very diverse routes that people can take into these careers, and attempt to identify potential problems along the way to developing careers in the creative disciplines.

Raqib Shaw is an Indianborn, London-based artist, whose rich colours and opulent textures call to mind the work of the Old Masters, such as Holbein and Bosch, in, as the MAG says, ‘often unsettling subjects.’ This is a collaboration between Manchester Art Gallery and Rudolfinum Prague. The exhibition is designed to take over the senses, and as you enter the gallery dorrs past a series of otherworldly flower arragements, you are lead toward the dark, unsettling and seductive world of Shaw’s art. There is a strong sense of calling on the mythical and the magical, and you will find a Wonderland here inhabited by strange hybrid creatures, darkly sparking in a series of sometimes violent images. The myths are taken from both Eastern and Western culture, and the exhibition as a whole promises a decidely different art gallery experience.

(Real) impossibility of such an endeavour; as he said of Finnegans Wake in a self-critical moment: ‘isn’t it arbitrary to pretend to express the nocturnal life by means of conscious work?’ (Portraits of the Artist is Exile,p.213). Most of us, however, might prefer to dispel these ‘little bits of the Real’ from our Symbolic universe; and how better to do this than to convert them into symbolic entities? The following is thus of necessity a metaphor: but if we take a loaf of bread, and we don’t want curly hair, we might be prone to leaving the crusts, prone to – in a very small way – being slightly traumatised by there being crusts at all. All we need is a toastie maker. Putting the filling on the crust side and buttering the bread side, squashing the sandwich until it’s sealed toasted, we get the end result of a toastie which looks and tastes like any other made of two middle slices, despite it containing a little bit of the Real. The efficacy of the toastie maker may then be a fitting metaphor for the efficacy of our own Symbolic orders. Everyday Analysis Collective

#PiperArt

All events are free, book online

Free entry

Theatre

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Preview

What’s On The Spiral - preview 18-25 FEBRUARY

Mother Courage and All Her Children

Contact Theatre • Runs from 27th - 28th February

Hannah Lawrence

Hannah Lawrence talks to Jonathan Morely about the Contact Theatre’s upcoming drama The Spiral

The Library Theatre Company performs Tony Krushner’s adaptation of Brecht’s classic piece about the relationship between war and business set in the Thirty Years War, fought across mainland Europe in the 1600s. It depicts the extent to which Mother Courage is willing to go to make a profit from war and protect her children.

“

Runs 22nd February – 9th March at The Lowry. Tickets £10.

Ground-breaking in its fusion of different art forms, music, spoken word theatre, and its styles”

To Kill a Mockingbird

Christopher Sergel’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s renowned novel the drama explores race and prejudice in the America’s deep south during the Depression. Runs 20th February – 30th March at The Royal Exchange. Tickets £10.

Paper Shield

An original piece of theatre written and directed by Piers Black-Hawkins ‘Paper Shield’ follows the story of a young journalist who has just started his career at the biggest selling tabloid in England. It follows his devloping involvment with high profile case as his interest in it begins to border on obsession. He eventually spirals out of control and surfaces amidst one of the nation’s darkest scandals. 20th-22nd February, 7pm at John Thaw Studio, Martin Harris Centre

My Boy Jack by David Haig, directed by Rob Beck Set in 1913 and with war with Germany imminent the drama follows Rudyard Kipling’s determination to send his myopic son to war, something which triggers a bitter family conflict. My Boy Jack is a moving account of the anguish at the heart of the renowned literary figure. 24th-26th February, 7pm at the Council Chambers, Students Union

Profile: Dame Helen Mirren Robbie Davidson

This month sees Dame Helen Mirren’s return to stage in the role for which she is without doubt most synonymous. Mirren’s return to the stage in playing her most famous screen role, Elizabeth II, will likely delight theatre and film lovers alike. Her portrayal of Her Majesty in The Queen saw Mirren receive some of the best reviews of her career, not to mention the Oscar for Best Actress in 2006. Therefore the prospect of Mirren returning to the role could be something of a double-edged sword as there will be no shortage of theatre goers queuing to see her reprisal but there is a real risk that the play will not live up to the success of the film. But we have every reason to be hopeful. The Audience is a considerably broader study of the Queen’s life: framing it through her meetings with each successive British Prime Minister from Churchill to Cameron. It also reunites Mirren with the writer of The Queen, Peter Morgan who is also making his own return to stage after the global success of Frost/

Nixon. So with the same pedigree in place and under the direction of top British director Stephen Daldry, Mirren can hope for as much success on stage with the role as she had on screen. It’s easy to forget that before Mirren was an internationally renowned movie star she started as a working actress at the Royal Shakespeare Company where she remained for almost ten years playing some of Shakespeare’s best female roles from Lady Macbeth to Ophelia in Hamlet. Mirren’s formal training at the RSC allowed her to play all manner of roles from those of Tennessee Williams to her most recent stage appearance in the title role in Phedre at the National Theatre in 2009. Even when she started to enjoy greater success on screen, most notably as hard-as-nails police detective Jane Tennison in the long running TV series Prime Suspect, Mirren continued her dual life as as a creature of both stage and screen. Whilst she may not be as acclaimed in both arenas as other great dames like Judi Dench, Mirren’s ability to play both sexy and stately means she has avoided slipping into the typical matriarch roles as she has got older. Indeed even Dame Judi can not have claimed to have played both a prostitute and a regendered Prospero in The Tempest, as Mirren did in 2010. So as we await her return to the role of the Queen (one of the three queens she’s played in her career) we can assume it’ll be of the more stately than sexy variety. Although Mirren does continue to surprise us.

actions of his own character. However, as Morely puts it ‘the energy they have as poets contributes’ to the portrayal of the ‘crisis of masculinity in inner city communities’ which the play is concerned with. Speaking to Morely I begin to realise the extent to which this theme is of very real

After a successful reception at the 2011 BASS Festival ‘The Spiral’ a drama which explores inner city generational conflict, is revived at the Contact as part of a new run of performances. A product of the collaboration between Birmingham based organisations ‘The Drum’ and ‘Punch Records’ the Contact Theatre’s staging of the show on 27th and 28th February sees the play move further a field. The performance is structured by a series of conflicts: generational, musical and lyrical. The lyrical dialogue of the two wordsmiths, Glitzy, played by Deci4life a Birmingham grime artist, and Leroy ‘Steppin Razor’, played by Moqapi Selassie a well known dub poet, is used to play out the generational conflict on which the drama is based. The performance follows the meeting of Glitzy, a young emerging grime artist who is funded for a six-month community arts placement with his development mentor, dub poet Leroy ‘Steppin-Razo’

Ujima. Jonathan Morely, the shows producer explained that the meeting highlights a clash of generations, pitching the ‘embittered veteran of the 80s antiracist struggles [who’s] now become very embittered and withdrawn into himself and doesn’t really engage much with the community anymore’ alongside Glitzy a ‘very materialistic grime artist’ whose ‘lyrics have nasty sexual content’. The fact that both actors play ‘caricatures of themselves’, as Morely told us, suggests that the drama blurs the line between art and reality. The fact that in reality both are ‘very skillful spoken word artists’ adds another dimension of realism to the piece. However that didn’t stop Deci4life doing a spot of his own research for the part. As Morely told us he ‘did a method acting process’, in fact Deci4life followed around some of Birmingham’s inner city gangs in order to prepare for the part. Morely explained that some of the gang’s mannerisms have been adapted into the piece, with Deci4life mirroring them in the

concern in many inner city communities. Not only do the actors border the boundary of life and art, then, but the central theme of the play itself reflects a very real problem within British culture. There are lots of reasons to make sure you’re at the Contact Theatre in two weeks time, then. Firstly because this is a performance which is going to be seriously different from anything you’ve ever seen on stage before. With theatre, on the whole, being dominated by the white middle class The Spiral challenges that being ‘groundbreaking in its fusion of different art forms, music, spoken word theatre, and its styles’. In order for this kind of theatre to push the boundaries of white middle-class theatre it needs exposure, it needs people going to see it and helping spread these ideas further. So, go see The Spiral, who knows, you might learn a few rhymes.

Best thing/ worst thing I’ve ever seen on stage Harriet Leitch gives us the best and the worst of her theatre experiences

The worst I’ve seen: Uncle Vanya

Stan Won’t Dance’s performance of Babel.

The best I’ve seen: Babel As the audience hushed and the lights dimmed, I had no idea what was in store as I sat waiting for the performance of Stan Won’t Dance’s Babel to start. It would, however, become one the most exciting and mesmerising performances I have seen. Granted, I am a big fan of physical theatre. This may have contributed to my enjoyment of the show but it does not, however, take away from the fact that I was about to see an extraordinary piece of theatre. The performance comprised of dance, movement and gesture sequences performed in absolute unison and utter precision. This was undoubtedly a performance which had a dedicated group of actors ensuring their performances were executed to the best of their ability. This, coupled with energetic delivery of poetic monologues and fast paced chorus sequences, made the performance all the more fascinating and memorable. The play addressed very contemporary societal issues such as gang culture, sex and consumerism; communicated in such a way that was not didactic but stimulating. Text and movement along with the staging and set were used to convey their ideas in both original and innovative ways. If you are able to see any work by Stan Won’t Dance, I would definitely recommend getting yourself a ticket. I doubt that you will have seen anything like it, or will do ever again.

It would be fair to say that I’m not easily disappointed when going to the theatre. It is when it comes to some of the ‘classics’, however, that I have become very dubious when buying a ticket.This is most likely due to the performance of Chekov’s Uncle Vanya, which I saw a few years ago. In my opinion, it was one of the dullest plays I have watched to date. The tedious ramblings of the characters was enough to make me repeatedly look at my watch throughout the duration of the performance, willing it to end. Even the fact that Ian McKellen stared in this particular performance was not enough to keep my attention from wondering. The pace was slow and the tone was monotonous. It was only for the gun being fired in the final act that jolted me from my dozing state in the auditorium seating and final grab my attention.

Uncle Vanya at the Arcola Theatre. photo: Robert Cotter

Lifestyle BIG NAME ON CAMPUS INTERVIEW

For this week’s big name on campus interview, Oliver Taylor joins Richard Gilbert, Manchester University’s current University Challenge team captain.

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 201 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature

Sex: The good, the bad and the ugly Just what is good sex? Molly Allen weighs it all up

What motivated you to audition? I was nagged by my GF because she thought I would get on and, like I say, I just assume that you needed to be of an exceptional calibre to get on but she made me go to the exam thing and it worked out quite well. Were you recognised after the first show was broadcast? No one recognised me on campus. I’ve been recognized twice by strangers who were nothing to do with university, it was at work. I’m actually quite surprised about that. I think it was because last year, contestants such as Tristan Burke were so successful and they were noticeable characters. Maybe I’m just a bit neutral. So today we’re trying to sort of interview people who are big names on campus (BNOCs), in light of what you’ve already told me, would you say you’re not a BNOC? Certainly based on what I’d expect a BNOC to go through I wouldn’t have thought so, so far nothing has changed. I know that’s what everyone would probably say, but really, nothing has changed. Do you think you have secret fans? I think I might do. Probably because after the match we had on Monday I came home and found I had half a dozen Facebook requests, which probably isn’t that many but for me it’s quite a lot, from random people. Were any requests a bit creepy? None of them were accompanied by sexually aggressive messages which I know has happened to previous team members (laughing). Can we talk to them about that? You’ll have to speak to them, I’m not sure this year’s team has gone through that however. I know there was a lot of twitter love for Mike McKenna last year. Do you think that if you were to go on and win, you’d get the same level of love? Well fingers crossed. Do you think you’d become a BNOC if you won? Well it’s the least I’d expect. If I didn’t I think I could be justifiably angry about it. Do you think you’ve inspired anyone? I’d like to think that people watching are inspired to try out because the more people trying out, the better the team’s going to be. So that would be good. Why do you think you don’t get recognised? I don’t know. I think it’s because we’re in the early stages of the competition so it has less of the profile that we would have if we got to the later stages, that certainly the finalist in last year’s team got. Maybe I am sort of less idiosyncratic than members of previous teams. Maybe they also had a rep on campus anyway so it just added to their sort of bio whether I’m fairly anonymous. If you win overall do you think you will get recognised a lot? I imagine based just on last years’ experience I will a lot. I don’t plan on escaping the fame at all; I plan on indulging on it to the max. I remember watching the first episode against Lincoln and thinking ‘oh my God Manchester, what’s going on’? Do you think if you had lost awfully in the first round, you would be a campus hate figure? I don’t think I would be talking to you now! I think I would have almost certainly have left university. Me and my Dad were watching that round and I was thinking just what is happening. [In the first round Manchester staged a remarkable comeback from almost certain defeat in the last ten minutes.] That was the most stressful ten minutes of my life. I’d called my Mum and Dad up who’d come to watch me and they were tentatively proud. In the first twenty minutes we were being annihilated, it was just humiliation. Also we felt we were letting Stephen down, because every year he’s so successful with his team. [I was thinking] We’re the team that’s going to go out in the first round, that’s our legacy. Do you think you’d have been physically attacked by students if you had lost, or indeed members of the public? I wasn’t worried about members of the public, but certainly my close friends and family would have attacked me and then disowned me. It’s been really interesting talking to you. But to conclude, would you say that you were a BNOC at all? I might be some sort of clandestine underground BNOC, but I’ve certainly not been swamped by the fans that I expect your run of the mill BNOC gets. So currently what would you rate yourself out of ten? There’s no shame in saying zero. I would say that I was a QNOC – a quiet name on campus. What would you be if you won out of ten? I reckon an FBNOC, a fairly big name on campus. Out of ten? There’s no shame in zero if you’re not on campus at all, most people are zero. I’d say I’m a 1/10. Let’s say 2/10 being generous to myself and that’s based solely on evidence. If you were to win what would you be? I would not stop until I was an 8/10. I’d campaign. Do you think any previous big names on UC were particularly exciting? Gail Trimble for example? Trimble was a BNUC. Alex Gutemplan as well, he was huage!

Sex. That three letter word. In our collective experience, few of us have had good sex with all of our partners. There’s the guy who basically masturbates but replaces his hand with a girl, the girl who lies there like a corpse and then there’s the overly nervous bunch who just can’t seem to let go at all. But what actually makes sex good? And are my friends correct when they say that the best sex they have ever had was with someone who they were emotionally involved with? Firstly, I am sure that we will all agree that there are basics for good sex. A physical attraction is key – I have only ever slept with one person I didn’t fancy (after far too much wine I hasten to add) and even writing this, I have to suppress the urge to vomit all over my keyboard.

Secondly, we are not in a porn movie. Overly dirty talk is really not necessary and can just be off putting. The same goes for overly complicated dirty talk. A guy once asked my friend if she wanted to see his penis... in French – she was just confused. One last thing, don’t believe everything you read in magazines. Not all men are going to want you to get off with their armpits for instance (yes, I actually read that in a men’s magazine). Without stereotyping, the general female opinion does seem to be that relationship sex is the best. You’re connected on an emotional level, so you feel comfortable and relaxed, but it’s still exciting. Equally, I have some male friends who prefer to be involved with the girls they sleep with, rather than picking up

some randomer in a very short dress from POUT. However, we all know that one night stands can be fun and that they will satisfy your needs if you’re withstanding an agonising dry spell. That said, do you want to risk the flash of awkward panic every time someone who looks like them rears their head in Blue 3? Or the pressure of them expecting post encounter text contact? The conclusion is that a bit of both is fine – enjoy one night stands and relationship sex (although ideally not at the same time, as this may lead to problems). But, if you want truly good sex, find somebody you like (and who knows what you like) and a real emotional connection rather than an alcohol-induced one.

Now it’s time for.....

Blind Date Emily, 1st year, Biology So how did your date go? It went ok thank you. First impressions? He was tall and kind of handsome so I thought that I would make an effort whilst on the date. Would you have looked twice at your date if you saw them on a night out? Yes I probably would have as I like tall guys. What did you talk about? We spoke quite a lot about our families and the Six Nations, which was ok because I like rugby. Did he tell you anything weird? He said he’d met Craig David and shaken his hand. Do you like Craig David? To be honest I don’t really know who he is, I’ve only heard the name. He seemed to be pretty pleased with it. Were there any awkward moments? Not really. If he were a meal what would he be? Maybe some sort of pork roast? That’s quite a difficult question. Snog, marry or avoid? (After a long pause.) I’m going to say avoid, but I don’t want to be harsh. He was nice. But no spark? No, he just wasn’t really my type I don’t think. How did you say goodbye? A quick hug outside. Would you ever go on another blind date? Yes probably, I think it’s quite good to build confidence in yourself.

John, 3rd year, BA Economics

Emily

&J ohn

So how did the date go? I guess it went alright. Would you have looked twice at her on a night out? I think I probably would have. What was her best feature? She had a friendly face; she was also a really nice person. What did you talk about? We spoke quite a lot about her family and pets. What did she say about her pets? That she had two Labradors, whose names I’ve now forgotten… Did you find pets an interesting conversation topic? I wasn’t not interested, I just wasn’t interested. What was the weirdest thing she told you? She didn’t really say anything weird, but she kept talking about how tall I was which I thought was kind of strange seeing as I’m only just under 6 foot. Were your date expectations met? Sadly I think they were, I didn’t think it would go particularly well as I was pressured into doing it by my housemates. I suppose you probably won’t be seeing her around? I don’t think so, but I would make the effort to say hello if I saw her in uni. I’m also guessing you didn’t swap numbers? No. I reckon that’s fairly normal for a blind date, right?

You know previous winners have been asked to pose nude for The Sun. Do you think you’d get any such offers if you were to win? I’ve not thought about that but I’d certainly campaign. I’d put letters out pretending to be my own agent saying Rich is avaliable to do centre-spread. Mancunion BNOC rating 2/10, potenitally rising to 8/10 if Manchester win! Many thanks to Richard Gilbert. Oliver Taylor

Many thanks to Trof Fallowfield for hosting Blind Date and thanks to both Emily and John. If you would like to take part please email in your name, year, course and sexual preference to Oliver Taylor ay oliver.taylor-2@student.manchester.ac.uk.

Lifestyle

ISSUE 14/18th FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Travel

Sun, sex and shit holidays

HEALTH 101

Beth Currall gives us the low down on the dieting trends which are set to be big this year.

Party holidays: heaven or hell? Lewis Ryder gives us his opinion. As soon as a single drop of rain hits the floor, a torrent of “Get me on holiday” and “Take me back to Napa” statuses flood all social networking sites. They grind away at me like an overzealous fresher at her first BOP – just what is so contagious about, “lads and lass’” holidays (besides the STIs)? I have never been one to engage in ‘lashtivities,’ a concept and play on words which distress me deeply. I enjoy a night out and the odd casual encounter, don’t get me wrong, but the idea of a drinking holiday just doesn’t appeal. Thousands flock abroad to popular destinations such as Zante, Aiya Napa and Malia, on a pilgrimage of sex and alcohol, every summer. Once quiet fishing towns, these resorts are now party capitals and breeding grounds for lad and slag behaviour. Spurred on by Geordie Shore specials in Magaluf (AKA ‘Shagaluf’) and Cancun, as well as The Inbetweeners Movie, many young males mistakenly believe that they will become ‘top shaggers’ as soon as the plane touches down. Drunk with hope and enthusiasm, these spotty boys meet the harsh reality of rejection and regret. The laws of Darwinism rule the lands - only the beautiful prevail, leaving the rest to fight over the scraps. Great alternative holidays are out there. Interrailing, for example, allows you to taste different cultures, gives a sense of adventure and also provides opportunities for brilliant nights out.

So 2013 is still in its infantile stages and, as is customary during every New Year, masses of people have been kick-starting their resolutions to get fit and lose weight. Cue a surge of Slim Fast adverts, Weight Watchers TV commercials and fitness experts battling to create the latest dieting trend that will help Jennifer Anniston to lose half an ounce, which millions of women will be inspired to test out for themselves. Here are some of the dieting fads set to arise within the coming year... Smart phone dieting It became popular in late 2012, but the New Year has seen a substantial increase in the number of fitness and dieting apps being released daily onto the app market. Not only are these apps inexpensive and easily accessible, many of them also allow users to keep track of their calorie, fat and sugar intake, giving them the nutritional statistics for millions of items. By syncing the app with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, you can also post weight loss updates for all your friends and followers to see. Just imagine the look on the face

For example, Prague’s Karlovy Lázně is a five floor club, considered to be one of the best in Europe. So while I understand that a party holiday is a must-do for some and wish them well, the constant drone of chart music, vomiting

and fighting just aren’t for me. The idea of my sun burnt body painfully brushing up against some sweaty guy, who is eating the face of an extremely intoxicated girl after a straight 24 hours of drinking, is frankly hell.

Your Money

Last week was National Student Money Week, so in case you still haven’t got a hold on you finances, Dana Fowles our lifestyle editor has these simple tips. manage your student budget is to get a casual or part-time job (timetable permitting, of course). The Careers Service and GOV.uk both advertise some great opportunities. Plus, the transferable skills you will gain from a job can be used to help boost your CV and your employability, as well as your bank balance. It’s a win-win situation.

of that skinny girl from Sixth Form, who told your mates that your arse looked like the size of Jupiter in that Asos bodycon dress, when she reads that you’ve managed to drop a dress size in 4 weeks. That’s enough motivation to put down that chocolate bar and reach for the fruit bowl, surely. Quality, not quantity

Check your emails:

Money: there is just never enough of it. We students regularly put off checking just how far into our overdrafts we are, and we all have those weeks during which we live solely on Basics pasta. The good news, however, is that there are ways to put the smile back on your bank account’s face. Here are a few simple ideas which could work wonders. Money saving Put pen to paper: Keep a note of every single thing you spend in a week. At the end of the week, highlight any purchases which were unnecessary (such as takeaways and trips to Costa or Starbucks). Aim to cut these bad spending

habits out for the foreseeable future, or find a solution to them. For instance, if buying coffee is your nemesis, invest in a flask to take to uni with you instead. Leave your debit card at home: We are all guilty of taking our card out for ‘emergency’ purposes on nights out. When you use your card, it is easy to feel as though you are not spending real money. Set yourself a limit for the night, draw it out and leave the card at home. I repeat, leave the card at home. It is surprising how much this will save in the long run. Sell your old books and clothes Let’s face it, having to buy books for several modules each semester eats away at our bank

balances. Once you are finished with your books, don’t leave them to collect dust. If you know someone who may need them, sell them on, even if it is for a slightly cheaper price. There are numerous Facebook pages for Freshers’ which can be great for advertising your used goods. By doing this you are spending less in the long term, as you are making a bit back on what you originally spent. The same goes for clothes – sort your wardrobe out and get Ebaying! Money making: Part time jobs: This may be stating the obvious, but the best way to

Keep on top of your student email account and reap the rewards. Just recently, the Careers Service have sent out an email asking second and third year students to pick up a copy of their annual Careers Guide, sign up to a focus group and let them know what they think about it. For those who are chosen to take part, the feedback sessions include free refreshments and a payment of £10. That’s pre-drinks sorted! The Times’ Final Year Student Survey is another money making opportunity lying in your inbox. If you know twenty five third years who wouldn’t mind participating, then this could earn you up to £90. This wouldn’t take much effort and could easily pay for a few weeks’ food shopping. So why not give it a go?

Hallelujah, the experts have finally decided that high calorie options are good for us! But before you skip over to McDonalds for a Big Mac Meal, only very few of these options are considered ‘healthy’. Now, instead of concentrating on the quantity of calories, nutritionists believe that we should check out the quality of these calories. For example, despite containing some 30 more calories, a banana is a lot healthier than a Penguin bar. It is the nutrition per bite that counts, rather than the calorie consumption as a whole. 57% of experts reckon that this approach to dieting will be the key to weight loss for future dieters. Go gluten-free Yes, you heard right, we should follow the diet of all those who suffer with wheat intolerance. This ‘trendy’ diet abolishes any signs of a ‘wheat belly’ and apparently followers see dramatic results within weeks. But be warned, gluten is found in many products which would be even tougher to part with than bread, such as ice cream (sob). Ladies beware, it can even be found in your favourite lip balms. The wheat we could part with; the beauty sacrifices, however, are another story.

If you would like to write for The Mancunion Lifestyle section, email Ollie or Dana at lifestyle@themancunion.com or join us at our weekly meetings at 5.30pm in the student union cafe!

Games

ISSUE 14/ 18th February 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Review: Dead Space 3 Dead Space 3 trades survival horror for fast-paced action, but is it anything to scream about? Adam Robins and Jonathan Edwards investigate In 2008 the survival horror genre was rocked by the release of Dead Space. The story of Isaac Clarke, a seemingly mute engineer everyman abandoned on an rusting spaceship with great hoards of the reanimated crew, armed only with his wits and an welding tools. This combination of resourcefulness and helplessness made Dead Space a rare thing, a game that is simultaneously terrifying and rewarding. Now we return to that bleak universe with the release of Dead Space 3. Much has changed, Isaac seems to have found not only his voice, but also a fair arsenal of weapons and abilities to send the Necromorphs back to the grave. The transition away from survival horror towards a more action-based experience has been natural. By the third game the player, like Isaac, has had umpteen Necromorphs jump them from every angle and has learnt to scan likely entry points, dispatching the abominations with ruthless efficiency. This hardening of both player and character requires Dead Space 3 to bring something new to replace the desperation of the earlier titles. The story and character development are brought to the fore more than in any of the other games. The player is invited to enter Isaac’s head as he is dragged back into a world he has been running from both physically and mentally. For the most part, this change in tone works, the story is epic in scale but tightly written and the voice acting is first class, allowing the player to easily slip into the world and characters. Visually, Dead Space has always struck a nice balance between claustrophobic corridors and sweeping space vistas. But there was a particular space environment towards the start of the campaign that I simply had to stop playing and stare at for a minute, for me it rivals any scene presented to date. The character models and interiors have the same attention to detail and realism that have always characterised the Dead Space

Katamari Damacy

series, bringing the visceral gore that players of the first two games will know and love. As with the visuals, the sound is very effective, weapons are distinctive, as are the cries of different enemy types. I won’t tire of the sickening squelch when you finally put a Necromorph out of its misery with your boot. The mechanics of the game are very similar to that of the previous titles, all the weapons are geared towards dismembering of the enemy, foes can be slowed and there are numerous physical manipulation puzzles scattered throughout the game. Notable changes include a system of customisation for weapons, which provides many opportunities for weirdness. My best moment was when I realised there was a secondary slot on the plasma cutter, in which I could put a plasma cutter. Thus the ‘Yo Dawg’ was born. Perhaps the most daring part of Dead Space 3 is the inclusion of a ‘hop in – hop out’ cooperative mode where you can invite a friend to play with you at any time in the single player campaign and they will seamlessly slip into the game, not as a mute sidekick but as

a full character, fundamentally changing the way the game is played. This is most obvious during scenes where Isaac is ranting and hallucinating at a wall, which is usually an unplayable cut scene turns into a desperate scramble for survival as the second player has to defend Isaac whist he freaks out. These changes make playing the cooperative mode a special experience without compromising the experience of people playing alone. This cooperative mode has replaced the competitive multiplayer introduced in Dead Space 2. The loss of multiplayer was a small price to pay for one of the only examples of cooperative gameplay done right in a predominantly single player game. Dead Space 3 is not a perfect game by any means, but it is a very chilling experience alone or with a friend that very occasionally completely blows you away. Dead Space 3 is published by EA Games and is available on 360 PS3 and PC.

News

Robert Muirhead

Preview

Dead Space 3 ‘exploit’ allows gamers to get paid content for free Dead Space 3’s in-game transaction system has been undermined by an exploit in the game that allowed players to access unlimited items. The in-game transaction system allowed gamers to unlock advanced weapons earlier than they otherwise would have in the game. The system mirrors the ingame purchases in freemium games like Temple Run 2, where you can use real life money to get in-game currency. Unlike other paid DLC, no new content is added with the payments rather existing content is unlocked quicker. Creating weapons in Dead Space 3 requires expending scrap materials. These items can be found in game, gathered by Isaac’s scavenger bots or purchased through the in-game transaction system. However, certain materials have been found to respawn infinitely. You could rapidly get the resources by entering and exiting a room over and over again. This made purchasing the materials

I can’t pretend to understand why Namco developed Katamari Damacy. Maybe they felt the West didn’t quite think Japan was odd enough. In any case, its novel mechanics, jazzy music and playful art style have been popular enough to spawn seven successors across multiple consoles. There’s literally nothing quite like it. The game involves rolling an incomprehensibly adhesive ball – the Katamari – around everyday environments, sticking objects to it in order to become larger. Controlled by the two analog sticks, this is remarkably intuitive. It’s mechanically equivalent to pushing a trolley in real life. As the ball grows, more things are able to stick to it – given half an hour rolling about, you can expect to swallow up anything from paperclips to islands. It’s mad. Be it through looking like the lovechild of Picasso and an anime artist, the insane justification for your actions, or the weird sounds objects make when added to your Katamari, the aim is to have incessant fun through absurdity. Being transported via rainbow to snatch up animals for the King of all Cosmos’ star building shenanigans is a normal affair. Imagine the sound and sight of a giant sphere of clutter rampaging through a herd of cuboid sheep – it’s as entertaining as it is bizarre. With an open world to roll around, objectives are personal and of the moment. For example, the obvious response to knocking into an object you can’t grab is to bulk up and come back later for adhesive revenge. Instances like this chain together in such a way that there’s no need for secondary goals. Katamari Damacy makes it easy to focus on its continuous novelty and humour. It’s more than a snowball simulator and, with newer versions on the latest generation of consoles is well worth picking up.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Konami • RRP: £44.99 • PS3/ Xbox 360 • February 22 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance comes out in February shouldering the pressure of being the first Metal Gear game released on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. Revengeance is also the first Metal Gear game to stray away from the traditional canon of previous instalments in the series. Fans should not worry though because Metal Gear brainchild Hideo Kojima has

through the micro-transaction system completely pointless, closing off one of the game’s revenue streams. There has been debate over whether using the glitch was justified or counted as theft. Intellectual property solicitor Sara Ludlam told the BBC “If you go into a baker’s to buy a bun and they give you the wrong change and you walk away knowing you have been given more change than you handed over in the first place, that’s theft,” Other gamers might feel

justified on the grounds that it’s no different to using cheat codes, long a fixture in video gaming. Others resent paying full price for a game without unlocking all its features. Publisher EA issued a statement “We have no plans to issue a patch to change this aspect of the game,” said spokesman Jino Talens. “We encourage players to explore the game and discover the areas where resources respawn for free.”

Sam Dumitriu

had a heavy influence on the production ensuring this isn’t any old spin-off. Set four years after Metal Gear Solid 4, the Sons of the Patriots system has been dismantled by a computer virus, however parts of the Parliamentary Corporations still remain a danger and as a result Private Military Companies have been mobilised to provide protection to VIP’s the world over; Raiden

Jack Crutcher joins one of these companies so he can provide for his family. It’s not long before he’s in combat as cyborg assassins kidnap the Prime Minister; Raiden is left for dead by a cyborg named Samuel Rodriguez and the game follows Raiden’s quest for vengeance. The Soliton radar and familiar alert systems make a return. One-button stealth kills and a codec system that allows Raiden to communicate with teammates also form an important part of the game’s functionality. A free sword mode has been introduced which lets you control the power and direction of your attacks rather than sticking with the conventional hack/ slash mode much of the game expects you to follow. DLC content can also be expected allowing the player to perform side missions with other characters who are not playable during the campaign. This should pad out the Story mode, which according to Famitsu comes in at around 6 to 8 hours.

Societies

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Manchester Marrow Society Adam Wright explains how donating bone marrow is a painless, easy and stress free experience

Members of the Manchester Marrow Society. Photo Adam Wright

The Manchester Marrow Society is devoted to showing the importance of bone marrow donation. Although the name of the society may be misleading this society is concerned with encouraging students to get involved. There are many false stereotypes circulating bone marrow donation, so I spoke to Chair Adam Wright to find out more about the

society, and how wrong people can be about what the process involves. ‘We are a student branch of the Anthony Nolan Trust running clinics around the university to encourage people to join the bone marrow register. Patients suffering from blood cancer require a bone marrow transplant which is specific to their cell type so finding one

is like looking for a needle in a haystack, hence building up the register with people willing to donate increases the chances of finding the rare corresponding match for patient. When that person is then contacted and asked to donate they can save the life of the patient, so the main aim of the society is to build up the register with as many potential donors as possible. The chances of a person on the register donating are very low (only 1/1000), but if you are the lucky person to be chosen you could save somebody’s life.’ It is often thought that donating bone marrow is incredibly painful, when in reality it just takes a few drops of blood, no more painful than the regular blood donation. Adam explained how this procedure has the false reputation of being a stressful experience, ‘In 80% of cases it is possible to extract the necessary cellular material from the blood and so donors go through the same relatively painless procedure as they would if they were giving

blood. In the other 20% of cases bone marrow must be extracted from the hip bone. However, patients are under general anaesthetic and the discomfort afterwards is experienced only for a couple of days. It’s been explained as feeling like you’ve played a rugby match and feel a little under the weather. If in doubt ask yourself the question “would I take a couple of days feeling rough to save someone’s life?’ If you want to be part of this society they have meetings every couple of weeks in the Union of the Stopford Common Room, keep an eye on the Facebook page for more details. They are always looking for new members to bring fundraising ideas and the available roles are Fundraising Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, IT/Communication, and Society reps. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ manchestermarrowsociety Email: marrowmanchester@ gmail.com

AIESEC is one of the largest student-run organisations, providing business and networking events including ‘Be a Global Player’ on 21st February

With over sixty years of history, 38,000 student and graduate volunteers from over 113 countries, and a network of over one million alumni, AIESEC is not only the world’s largest student-run organisation, it is also one of the most successful. Vice President of Marketing, Patrik Nordqvist tells The Mancunion about how the society ‘provides members with the skills and experience needed to transform them from high-potential students into the leaders of tomorrow’. AIESEC find companies and businesses in branches around the world and matches them with eager students, providing leadership

Societies

Events

experiences and global internships. Being a member of AIESEC gives students key advantages, such as acquisition of real-world skills and experiences. By volunteering in AIESEC, students gain valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills and time management. Members volunteer between eight to twenty hours a week, which may seem like a lot of time alongside studying, but as Patrik explains, ‘it is recognised as an investment in their future’ and is valued among potential employers. Last semester AIESEC had socials and events including

themed parties, conferences and events where students could get to know each other as well as well as learning to network. They also held evenings with major global companies such as Optu, Usana and Deloitte. Their next event is on the 21st February at 4pm in University Place, Theatre A, and is a conference called “Be a Global Player”. This event emphasises the importance of a global mindset and cultural awareness in the corporate world. The agenda of the conference is based on intensive skill training, uniting students as they participate in three hours of comprehensive personal and professional de-

Monday 18thFebruary

Tuesday 19th February

JUDO TRAINING

THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN CONGO.

Armitage Conference Room 7pm-8 30pm

Screening: Academy 3, Student Union 5 30pm-7 30pm

Society Spotlight Rachel Heward goes to Circus Skills’ weekly meeting

Kate Bullivant

AIESEC

A few of the members from AISEC. Photo: Patrik Nordqvist

velopment. “Be a Global Player” is an event which will widen students’ horizons, enabling them to be more successful after university when they will be competing with other rising economies. Five global companies from five different industries, including fashion, consulting, finance, food and media have been invited. There will also be some guest-speakers and members of AIESEC Manchester’s Alumni will be contributing. The format of the conference will involve a panel discussion, where students are encouraged to ask questions related to the industries, the company itself and the skills needed in a globalised business world. There will also be skills sessions provided with each company as well as networking sessions between students and companies. Sven Ekert who is in charge of the conference said, ‘the event is open to everyone, so whoever wants to improve his/her employability is more than welcome’. If you would like to get involved or know more about AIESEC visit aiesec.co.uk/local/mancheser, Twitter @AIESECMANC or their Facebook page by searching ‘Aiesec Manchester’. Alternatively, email manchester@aiesec.co.uk for more information.

A member of the society stands on a rola-bola whislt juggling three knives. Photo: Adrian Blackburn

This week I went to the Manchester Circus Skills society’s weekly meeting. Circus Skills aim to promote the growth and appreciation of circus arts and provide a safe and conducive environment for the practice of this. They meet every Wednesday from 2pm-4pm, in the Burlington Society building, in the room upstairs above the Vegetarian Cafe, near the library. The society is very casual, anyone can go along from those who have no experience, to those who can quite happily juggle knives whilst balancing on a Rola Bola board (see picture). Kate and I went along and had a go at juggling, which was more like dropping, and balancing, which consisted more of falling, using various items and props. First I tried Diabolo, which is juggling with a spool that is whirled and twisted from a string tied to two sticks. This looks very impressive when done properly, and can be thrown in the air and twisted around. I however, could barely get the spool off the floor and spinning. Next I tried Rola Bola, which is a balancing board that you stand on. I was only good at this with a lot of support, and only for a few seconds. After this I had a go at some straight forward juggling, which turned out to not be so straight forward after all. Granted, I was only there for a short afternoon but all of these things were considerably harder than I expected. This was not made any easier by how seemingly easy the members of Circus Skills made them look. Whilst I was struggling to juggle two balls a guy next to me was casually using seven whilst someone else went by on a unicycle. Adrian Blackburn, an experienced member of the society showed Kate and I how to juggle, easing us in with two at a time. Whilst it was pretty hard to do at first, it doesn’t take long to improve your skills and is a matter of patience and perseverance. Adrian explained how it is very good for hand-eye coordination and is a good mental exercise as it is a matter of concentration and control. I could definitely see how practicing at this would amount to a sense of personal achievement from its challenging nature. As well as being personally challenging, it can also be competetive. I think some members of the society enjoy trying to out-do each other with some of their skills. If you are interested in Circus Skills visit their Facebook group for more information, which can be found by searching ‘University of Manchester Juggling and Circus Skill Society’.

Rachel Heward

Wednesday 20th February

Sunday 24th February

MANCHESTER SHE CHOIR

Ambleside Day Hike

Catholic Chaplaincy

See Facebook page for more details: University of Manchester Hiking Club

5pm -6pm

HIKING SOCIETY DAY TRIP

For more events, visit the socities page on the Mancunion website: www.mancunion.com

30 : SPORT

ISSUE 14/ 18h FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Dominant England are Six Nations favourites Ireland and Wales have both impressed, but the wounded French may yet prove to be England’s biggest test Cal Millar

Playing in the world’s oldest rugby tournament means that the rivalries between the nations are some of the fiercest in the sport. Whatever the preconceptions about whether the best of Europe can match it with the giants of the southern hemisphere, these seven weeks have more passion, vibrance and nail-biting finales than can be found anywhere in the world of rugby; this, ladies and gents, is the Six Nations. Form going into the tournament was mixed for the competitors. Wales, grand slam champions of last years competition, entered on a roll of seven consecutive defeats, but Irish green had begun to bloom in the autumn with a hammering of Argentina. Scotland were under a new coach following three losses in the autumn, while Italy have enjoyed mixed fortunes of late but with encouraging performances at home. France appeared strongest in Europe with three wins in November, including a crushing of Australia, and England fell narrowly to South Africa and Australia before turning out “their best performance of the professional era” to not only defeat, but blow away world champions New Zealand. All of this set up one of the most exciting Six Nations in living memory, with opinion divided everywhere on who would

win and who would fall. The hype was lived up to in emphatic style on the opening weekend as sixteen tries were scored between the three games. Ireland gave a performance of breathtaking efficiency and skill to take the game away from Wales by the 42nd minute as Irish talisman Brian O’Driscoll burrowed over to seal his comeback game with his 46th try for his country. They almost paid the price for complacency, however, as Wales fired up to win the second half 19-7, the 30-22 final score flattering them somewhat. England, meanwhile, dominated every facet of the game and did not waver when Scotland grabbed an early counterattacking try to win comfortably at Twickenham, 38-18. But the story of the weekend was in Rome, where the Italians, heavily favoured to pick up the wooden spoon, lay siege to an inexplicably toothless France with titanic performances from captain Sergio Parisse and flyhalf Luciano Orquera to steal a historic 23-18 win- only their third ever over the french. But their heroics couldn’t be replicated in Edinburgh, as Scotland opted to soak up Italian pressure and capatalise on counterattacking opportunities. It worked only too well as the Italians were sunk 34-10. Meanwhile, in Paris, Wales were determined to get their campaign back on track, but as the match unfolded

it seemed both teams were too afraid of failure to go for the win. The match was tied at 6-6 right up until the 71st minute when a delicate chip from Dan Biggar found George North who crashed through the challenge of Francois Trinh-Duc to score in the corner. Leigh Halfpenny added a penalty to make it 16-6 at the final whistle. This meant that England and Ireland reached their clash in Dublin as the only undefeated teams of the tournament. The weather dictated that running rugby was not the order of the day, and England triumphed in an arm-wrestle in the rain to clinch their first victory in Dublin in the competition for ten years, 12-6. The media hype surrounding an English grand slam will invariably follow but I doubt it will affect this grounded unit with Stuart Lancaster the master revolutionary at the helm. This pundits verdict? France will beat Scotland and throw everything at England but ultimately be outmuscled. It is also down to them whether Ireland stays in the race; the Irish seem to have a mental block when it comes to France, but a win over them in Dublin, after another likely victory in Rome, would see them right back in contention. How many horses are in the race at that stage will depend on Wales. Yes, Wales, the team that went from Grand Slam Champions to a run of eight

Coach Stuart Lancaster has masterminded Enlgand’s recent revival Photo: the sportreview@flickr

successive losses have the potential to be king makers, if not kings themselves. You would fancy them to beat Scotland and Italy away, but Italy becomes twice the team with a home crowd behind them, as we saw against Australia and France, meaning a return to mediocrity for Wales could spell the Italians most memorable tournament yet. If not, much could be made of England being the only one of the three to host

Italy this year, who for their grit at home have a history of shipping points on the road - a points margin that might hand England their second title in three years if the red dragon awakens in Cardiff. Given France’s ability to pull startling form out of nowhere it’s a very hard call but I’m going for England to win (Grand Slam or not), followed by Ireland, Wales, France, Scotland and Italy. Ask me again next week, I’ll have changed

my mind by then. After all, no tournament is quite so colourful, fiercely fought or unpredictable as the Six Nations! Callum Millar gives weekly commentary and analysis on the Six Nations as part of the Sunday news show for FuseFM (1-3PM) along with pundits Jack Carmichael and Lizzie Rule.

Beckham transfer is a sign of hope in dark times Alex Underwood It is always easy to be cynical during the January transfer window. The uncontrolled and unsustainable spending of Premier League clubs only serves to further distance football from the fan. Player reputations are grossly inflated, panicking clubs throw cash around and parasitic agents reap the profits. Initially, this window looked no different: Theo Walcott held Arsenal to ransom for a thoroughly undeserved £100,000 a week; West Brom and Peter Odemwingie bickered as the striker tried to force a move away live on Sky Sports News; the travelling Manchester City fans spoke for everyone by protesting the extortionate prices of the Emirates Stadium. Unsurprisingly, therefore, David Beckham’s move to Paris Saint Germain was treated with great scepticism. In particular,

the press scrutinized his decision to donate his salary to a group of Paris childrens’ charities. Within hours it became a self-promoting publicity stunt or otherwise a tax avoidance scheme in France’s ailing economy. This desire to discredit an icon is engrained in the Beckham story; it has existed in the press since the Diego Simeone incident of France ’98. No sportsman in the world can realistically claim to have been as meticulously judged as David Beckham. But even after such an illustrious career, some refuse to countenance that a ‘good man’ can exist in football. Beckham has always overcome adversity. His effigy was burnt in the streets after France ’98 but within three years he was England captain, single-handedly dragging the team through to the World Cup against Greece. Dropped

by Fabio Capello during Real Madrid’s title-winning season in 2006-7, Beckham fought back and regained his place. Ditched unceremoniously and booted by Sir Alex Ferguson, Beckham held no acrimony towards Manchester United but instead, on his return to Old Trafford with AC Milan in 2010, wore a green and gold anti-Glazer scarf. Forgotten by Stuart Pearce for the Olympics Football Squad, he respectfully continued with his public role without complaint. His reaction to being treated badly is always positive. Moreover, Beckham is manifestly a ‘good guy’. Despite the intense pressures of being David Beckham, he has managed to maintain a large family – that’s more than can be said for many footballers. He is a UNICEF ambassador and has worked with the NSPCC among other charities. Above

all, he cares about people and football, as is clear from his reaction to leaving Manchester United and his sadness upon finally resigning as England captain after the 2006 World Cup. Beckham comes across as humble because he is; he genuinely cannot stand disappointing people. Disparagement over the state of the beautiful game is entirely understandable. Football has lost control and is bound for a potentially catastrophic decline. The January transfer window illustrates a carcinogenic need for instant gratification that cannot endure. But David Beckham is a beacon of hope in the darkness. Perhaps some elements of the media will never come around to him but it must be asked what more can Beckham do to win the doubters over?

Beckham was the popular face of England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid Photo: Downing Street@flickr

SPORT : 31

ISSUE 14/ 18th FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM/

Time to give homophobia the boot In light of LGBT History Month, Andrew Georgeson looks to the future of homosexuality in sport Andrew Georgeson

The modern sporting world is at a crossroads. Every endeavor is being made to make sport more tolerant; in aspects such as gender, disability and race. Recently we have seen the foundation of the Women’s Super League and unprecedented coverage of competitions such as the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Last summer, London hosted what IPC chair Sir Phillip Craven branded ‘the greatest Paralympic games ever’. Racism appears to be being attacked from every angle, with mass support coming for AC Milan’s Kevin Prince Boateng for walking off the pitch amidst racist chants, and the FA’s Respect campaign gathering momentum. But homosexuality is still a hurdle that needs to be overcome for sporting authorities; particularly in football. It speaks volumes that footballers can cheat on their wives and partners, crash cars and face jail time, yet being gay is still taboo. Despite his welldocumented exploits, Ashley Cole tops shirt sales, and was described as a ‘legend’ when receiving his 100th cap. Alan Smith, ex-manager of Crystal Palace, commented that ‘you can get drunk and beat up your

wife, but if someone were to say ‘I’m gay’, it’s considered awful. It’s ridiculous.’ The Western world has been long accepting of homosexuality, so one could be forgiven for thinking that the footballing authorities should have done more to protect homosexual sportsmen and women. Take FIFA president Sepp Blatter, for example. In another remarkable feat of incompetency, when asked about any cultural problems with hosting the 2022 World Cup in a conservative Arabic nation, Blatter declared that ‘they [gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activity.’ Such ludicrous comments received international backlash from many equality groups. Notable among these was former NBA star John Amaechi, perhaps the most high-profile gay athlete, who branded Blatter’s comments as ‘absurd’. Amaechi retorted that Blatter’s comments effect not only those who are gay, and show that in ‘the seat of power, straight white men normally, are very, very clearly uncomfortable’ with homosexuality. English football does not have a proud tradition when it comes to gay players either. A particular case of homophobia was shown towards Graham La Saux. Despite now being married with two children, his playing days were hounded with

accusations of homosexuality. This reached its peak with Robbie Fowler making homophobic gestures towards Le Saux during a Premier League match. Le Saux, perhaps understandably, hit Fowler when the referee’s back was turned. Both players were punished with FA fines, and the chance to make an example of Fowler was missed. Le Saux accredits the abuse he received to his university background, and the fact he did not live the ‘footballer lifestyle’. This highlights a key reason why the modern athlete may struggle to come out - acceptance. In a sport where your career is short, and you have to make as much as quickly as you can, being different does not help, and unfortunately for Le Saux, keeping his nose clean made him a target for abuse. The FA is finally looking to address the issue. They launched a scheme in 2012, called ‘Opening Doors and Joining In’, which aims to include and involve openly LGBT athletes in football between 2012 and 2016. The plan centres very much on the ideas of acceptance, safety and inclusion in all levels of the sport; admirable goals that FA Chariman David Bernstein regards as ‘moral obligations.’ The creation of ‘gay-friendly’ teams is important as it creates

A poster promoting the FA’s new LGBT campaign

a safe environment. But th eplans still appear to emphasise a difference, a segregation of ‘us’ and ‘them’, that in the long run may result in bigotry. Although not as systematic a plan as the English FA’s, the Dutch FA recently implemented their own method of combating homophobia. A humorous, yet touching, advert was broadcast, depicting a footballer training,

playing and socializing in a closet costume, only to remove the costume to pose for a team photo. Perhaps an approach like the FA’s is not needed; all that is needed is acceptance, in a similar form to the advert’s slogan; ‘being gay, there’s nothing queer about it.’ It will take time to see whether the FA’s ambitious plan will work to accept and promote

the presence of the LGBT community in English football. Although prejudice and bigotry will never be fully eradicated, the recent Parliamentary moves to legalise gay marriage shows that Britain, although is bound to tradition, can adapt to social change. If this can be the case with marriage, why not sport?

UoM Halcyon in spirited tournament display Jessica Benson reports on the Mixed Ultimate Frisbee team and their performance at the Indoor Nationals Jessica Benson

Despite a slightly disappointing finish, it was a great-spirited weekend all round for UoM’s Halcyon

the

Frisbee

Indoor

Ultimate

Nationals

Wolverhampton. Placed pool

against

tough the

Loughborough,

initial

infamous Aberdeen

and Plymouth, the mixed side managed to finish third after an intense 7-6 victory against Plymouth. This sent them into an equally tough second round called power pools - against archrivals Sheffield and a formidable Warwick first team. Halcyon have a long standing rivalry with Sheffield and games are

always

intense,

usually

decided by close point margins. Playing each other throughout the

year

and

knowing

the

players personally only makes

Southampton arguably throwing

high and a stellar 12th place

the game harder and faster, and

an awkward pull (starting throw)

nationally.

Manchester were unfortunate to

straight into Manchester’s legs

Unexpectedly, they also took

lose.

- which if kicked or obstructed

4th place for Spirit - an important

on hitting the ground, results

part of the Ultimate game to

disheartening loss to Warwick,

After

another

rather

given

do with sportsmanship and

Halcyon faced a Bangor side

directly to the opposite team.

knowledge of the rules - this has

featuring some well-known star

Nevertheless, it was only after an

not always been Manchester’s

players. Fortunately, they got

impressive sudden death finale

strong point but a sign that things

their heads back in the game

that Southampton just took the

are looking up this year.

when it mattered to slam Bangor

edge, to claim a 7-6 win.

in a tense sudden death victory.

possession

being

Sussex, Surrey and Dundee

The final game for Halcyon was

(winners

Open

Indoor

Team morale high and looking

another tie against Sheffield; a

Nationals) took the top three

to keep point margins tight,

North West team taking both

spots this year, making sure that

Manchester now faced Skunks

11th and 12th spots depending

Halcyon know who to watch

(Southampton) for the Plate

on the winner. Manchester’s

for next season; Nottingham

semi- final. ‘Plate’ is the marker

Club President said it was the

look strong from the North

of finishing half way up a group

‘best game by far’ because of

and

the familiarity with each other’s

beaten by us on the first day of

playing style; meaning everyone

competition, took Plate position.

Ultimate

Frisbee,

and

recognised result. Southampton’s

Skunks

are

notorious for a fast, serious game

had

rethink

their

game

strategy.

and punishing any mistakes,

Despite another narrow loss,

but Halcyon came out strong

Halcyon came away from their

against them. There were a few

last indoor tournament of the

rule book controversies, with

academic year with heads held

frustratingly

Plymouth,

There’s plenty to work on and some glory to claw back as Manchester head into an intense outdoor season. The Indoor Nationals were held in Wolverhampton

SPORT

18TH FEB 2012/ ISSUE 14 FREE : @Mancunion_Sport : /TheMancunion

MANCHESTER’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Six Nations: The story so far

P30

Time to give homophobia the boot

WWW.MANCUNION.COM

P31

Manchester smash hapless Liverpool

BUCS MARS

Northern 2A P

Pts

Manchester

Man Met

Liverpool

-2

Edge Hill

Keele

-11

Salford

-12

RESULTS: Wednesday 13th Feb UoM 4-0 Edge Hill P-P Salford P-P

Liverpool Man Met Keele

Saturday 2nd Feb Man Met 1-1

Liverpool

FIXTURES: Wednesday 20th Feb Liverpool v Keele v

Salford Man Met

Wednesday 27th February Man Met v Keele v get on the score sheet herself Salford v

Manchester dominated the game despite appalling conditions. Photo: Shabab Tashin

University of Manchester

University of Liverpool

James Johnson The awful weather couldn’t stop Manchester Women’s 1st from putting on an impressive home attacking display in which they ran out 4-0 winners over Liverpool at the Armitage centre. Despite a handful of speculative shots from range, Liverpool never really threatened Manchester’s goal, indeed they did not win a corner all game. On the few occasions they did threaten, Manchester’s defence held firm, which must be pleasing for

the coach. In contrast Liverpool were terrorised throughout by Manchester who dominated possession and ruthlessly exploited their opponents frailties, in particular Liverpool could simply not live Mapp, my player of the match, and the industrious winger Thomas, who operated on the left wing impressively all game. However credit must also be given to Liverpool’s keeper whose remarkable saves kept the score down, unfortunately she sustained an injury which forced the game to be stopped 15 minutes before time. Oddly enough, Liverpool

threatened first in this game, with a shot from distance that forced Manchester’s keeper into a smart stop with only 2 minutes gone. However a mere 8 minutes later Manchester celebrated their first goal after winning a series of corners. A neat onetwo between the impressive Thomas and Manchester’s lone striker Wan on the edge of the box put the former through on goal and she coolly slotted the ball home. Manchester continued to dominate possession and on 15 minutes Liverpool’s keeper kept her team in the game, producing a flying save to push out Mapp’s effort from the edge of the box. The keeper then made a heroic double save on 20 minutes, after saving a powerful effort from Williams she made herself big to deny Mapp once more on the follow up. Thus despite winning a number of corners,

dominating possession and peppering Liverpool’s goal Manchester somehow left the field at half time only 1-0 up. The second half started much like the first, with an effort from range by Liverpool that must have made the players believe they could threaten. However it did not take long for Manchester to reassert their dominance and on 55 minutes Liverpool’s keeper came to the rescue again, although in less convincing fashion, as she fumbled another Mapp shot onto the post. Only 5 minutes later Manchester finally made their dominance count as they scored their second goal. The impressive Mapp was given the time and space to deliver a fine through ball which put Williams through on the right and she gleefully smashed the ball high into the net. It didn’t take long for Mapp to finally

with a fine individual effort, after drifting past two players she struck a powerful shot from range high into the net that the keeper couldn’t, for once, handle. The onslaught was completed by the talented Mapp who didn’t have to wait long for her second on 67 minutes; she placed a shot into the bottom corner after being played in by a wayward Liverpool header. Unfortunately the game had to be abandoned on 75 minutes, Liverpool’s keeper could no longer continue due to a shoulder injury picked up after a clash on the goal line. This performance and of course the result must give Manchester a real lift, providing key players remain fit there is no reason why the team cannot continue to churn out these results week in week out.

UoM Edge Hill Liverpool

BUCS

league standings PTS 1

Loughborough University

2730

Durham University

2030

University of Birmingham

1881

University of Bath

1363

University of Exeter

1791

University of Nottingham

1669.5

Leeds Met Carnegie

1592.5

University of Manchester

1547

University of Edinburgh

1358

University of Bristol

1330