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£1000s lost as Union festival flops
THIS WEEK 1,000 march on Oxford Road calling for blasphemy laws
Over 1,000 people staged a protest condemning the controversial Youtube video “Innocence of Muslims” last week. The organisers called for new blasphemy laws that could ban offensive material aimed at religion...
Page 6 Photo Caption: Blah blah blah
- 150 tickets sold for 6,000 capacity night - Activities Officer criticises price and marketing - Owens Park JCRs threaten boycott of Union Richard Crook Editor The Students’ Union has been forced to cancel the M13 Festival at the last minute due to lack of interest. M13 Festival was set to take place on Saturtday, 29th September, but only 150 tickets were sold in a 6,000 capacity event. Despite beginning the promotion campaign at the end of last term and a late decision to slash prices from £20 to £10, the Union was unable to attract interest and announced the cancellation late on Wednesday 26th September. The Union has yet to disclose the total financial loss, stating: “At the moment we know that it is significantly less than if the event had gone ahead – we are still in the process of finalising cancellations and don’t
have a figure yet. But what we do know is that there have been great successes in other areas of the Union which will do something to offset this cost.” Had the event sold out to capacity, ticket sales would have generated £120,000 for the Students’ Union. Tommy Fish, the Activities Officer for the Students’ Union, questioned whether the line-up reflected the price. “Students will only pay £20 for something special, like Pangaea or The Warehouse Project. To charge £20 for a launch night, you really need to be delivering a special line-up.” The line-up included Marina and the Diamonds, Herve, Westwood, and a DJ set from Mike Skinner. Mr Fish also cited the clash with The Warehouse Project launch and the failure to cre-
ate a facebook events page as factors for the eventual cancellation. “Students need to be making decisions on these kind of things, and there doesn’t seem to have been enough student input. We should be looking at some kind of student body for organisation, or at least allow them to have more of a say than a survey.” “It’s a shame, because after Freshers’ Week there’s not the same kind of opportunity to have that kind of event beyond Pangaea.” The cancellation comes after disappointing ticket sales were reported for The Welcome Week Party, which had as a headline act Kazabian, a tribute band for Kasabian. Ben Hourihaine, Social Secretary for the Owens Park, told The Mancunion that because of these two events, Owens Park would be “boycotting the Union’s Welcome Week night” next year. He added that at a Student Senior Council involving JCR Presidents, there was “general feeling of disgust” over the way both events had been handled.
A spokesperson for the Students’ Union said: “There was extensive consultation with students in halls of residences last year who were keen to see a significant name; so we booked Marina and the Diamonds. The format of the event as a multi-room festival style event was a direct request of the students who worked closely with last year’s officers to plan the event. When asked why they thought the event failed, the spokesperson said: “Clearly last year the union misinterpreted this demand and our marketing failed to attract enough attention.”
Fallowfield hall empty after drop in student numbers
Three residential blocks in the Fallowfield campus are closed following a drop in student numbers.
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02 : NEWS
ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Highlights 05
A look at Postgrad loans
Comment, page 12
A fan cheers on Manchester’s Rugby team in the Varisty match last week. Photo: Patrycja Marczewska
Picture of the week
Taken 2
Film, page 15
Richard Hawley live review
Music, page 19
Union festival flops (continued)
£40 million to turn ex-Manchester student straight 10,000 women – explained: “I
Andrew Williams Features Editor Continued from front page
“It’s now clear how much Welcome Week relies on being a part of official halls packs, which we weren’t this year. As always we continue to look for ways to improve the union and what we offer and following M13 we’re significantly reviewing our Welcome
Week activity.” A member of the Executive admitted complaints were made, both relating to The Welcome Week Party and M13 festival. Martin Laws, Commercial Director for the Students’ Union, said in a press release: “It is regrettable that this event did not go ahead as planned, but
we will not be discouraged from responding to the requests of students and trying new things. In the coming weeks we will be looking at ways to ensure that all our events are as popular as our new club night and the legendary Pangaea.”
don’t mind whether he is rich or poor – the important thing
A former University of Manchester student has become
is that he is generous and kind-hearted”.
the subject of a £40 million
The cash, he explains, is in-
‘bounty’ in a bid by her bil-
tended “to attract someone
lionaire father to turn her
who has the talent” to sup-
straight.
port his beloved daughter – “a
Gigi Chao, 33, tied the knot
very good woman with both
in a civil ceremony earlier
talents and looks”. However,
this year. But her father is
she has dismissed the offer as
believed to be devastated by
“quite entertaining”.
Ms Chao’s same-sex marriage,
Ms Chao, a former architec-
which took place in the UK
ture student at the University
though is not recognised in
of Manchester, graduated in
her home state of Hong Kong.
1999. She went on to work for
Now Cecil Chao Sze-tung,
renowned
British
architect
one of Hong Kong’s richest
Sir Terry Farrell, the man re-
men, is offering a huge cash re-
sponsible for Charing Cross
ward to any man who can win
Station and the iconic New-
his daughter’s heart. Speaking
castle Quayside.
to the South China Morning Post, the businessman – who claims to have slept with over
Come Have Dinner With Me
Food & Drink, page 23
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News: 03
ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
7 marathons in 7 days in memory of Manchester student Pair run 180 miles from Manchester to London to fund scholarships for students suffering with brain injuries
A 180 mile fundraiser run took place last week in memory of Natalie Kate Moss, a former student at the University of Manchester. Natalie studied Textile Design and Design Management at the University from 2004-2008, but died suddenly of a brain aneurism in December 2011, at the age of 26. Last Sunday her brother Sebastian Moss and family friend Ashley Collins began the trek to raise funds for a trust set up in Natalie’s name.
Natalie Kate Moss, a former Manchester student
The 180 mile challenge, which started in Manchester and ends in London, is the equivalent ofrunning a marathon every day
for a week. The trust aims to support individuals who have suffered a brain injury through university life and the family hopes to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to award two undergraduate scholarships to new students suffering from injuries brought on by stroke or brain injury. They hope that the Natalie Kate Moss Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and that the fund will also be able to aid further research at Manchester into brain injuries. Sebastian said: “The Trust will offer students who have suffered a brain injury financial support, providing them with the opportunity to complete a degree at the University. “Many people with such disabilities are unable to attend because they cannot afford the additional support they require due to their condition, anything from help taking notes to specialised accommodation. “The Natalie Kate Moss Trust looks to give people a chance to fulfil their potential.” “The route from Manchester
Hannah Tosh Reporter Photo Credit: Name of photographer
Ellen Conlon News Editor
Banks to give forgetful customers their money back
From left to right: Sebastian, Ashley and his friend Brad, who joined the pair for day two to London was chosen because that was the path that Natalie had taken just before she died. She went to The University of Manchester and then spent many happy years living in Manchester before moving down to London to progress her career.” Sebastian and Ashley have so far raised £7,737, close to their £10,000 target and are being
sponsored in their challenge by top clothing brand Karen Millen, where Natalie was working as a Brand Manager when she died. The fundraising Facebook page – 180 miles for Degrees, currently has 134 likes and is being used both by Sebastian and Ashley to keep supporters updated with their progress
during the training and the run itself and by well wishers to offer good luck and advice to the long distance runners. Wearing matching t-shirts and armed with Haribo starmix, multipacks of lucozade and boxes of cod liver oil tablets, the pair hope to finish the run on Saturday 29th September, ending in Hyde Park.
New MMU Business School Man reveals drug empire “miles ahead” of competition during murder trial Anthony Organ News Editor
Jonathan Breen News Editor
Manchester Metropolitan University’s new award-winning £75 million Business School has been praised by business people from all over the North West. The endorsements came as around 200 business professionals attended the launch of the new combined Faculty of Business and Law. “It’s fantastic for MMU,” said John Buckley, from the Federation of Small Businesses. “[It is] miles ahead of anything any other universities in the area have got.” David Fox, Director of Business Development at John Smith’s Group said: “The facilities for students are mind-blowing.” He saw the building as “a real statement of intent, a demonstration of confidence in the future.” Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor John Brooks, echoed this sentiment: “It’s an ambitious building which underlines a confidence around MMU which we trust will raise ambition and up everyone’s game,” adding the structure was “the jewel in MMU’s crown.” Business Studies at the University has improved this year in national rankings, up seven places to 61 in The Complete University Guide.
A man who revealed details about his drug dealing empire during a murder trial has been jailed. Milad Finn, 24, made extensive admissions regarding his drug dealing activities in a trial for the murder of Junaid Khan, for which he was charged but later acquitted. Finn admitted to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, the production of cannabis, converting criminal property and encouraging or assisting the commission of offences. He was jailed for six years at Minshull Street Crown Court on 24 September. Detective Sergeant Mark Lucas, said: “By his own admissions Finn started dealing drugs at 15 before expanding and setting up on his own. “He quickly established himself as a prominent dealer across our region and is worryingly at ease sourcing and distributing large amounts of class A drugs and adulterants.” Following the first trial, court transcripts were obtained and detectives from the Major Incident Team launched a thorough investigation. The transcripts revealed how Finn told the
The facilities are “mind-blowing”. Photo: Joe Sandler Clarke
The building won ‘Best Education Development’ in the North-West category of the LABC Building Excellence Awards, which promote the design and construction of safe, accessible and environmentally efficient buildings. It features varied styles of teaching rooms as well as different types of study spaces to meet the needs of groups and independent students. It is also a new ‘Student Hub’ with a restaurant, showers and a roof terrace.
court his first contact with illegal drugs was at the age of 15 when he had dealt heroin and crack cocaine on behalf of someone else. Finn explained how he went on to set up his own drug dealing empire, going into detail about mixing agents he would buy to maximise his profits. As his orders grew, Finn told the court how he imported large quantities of caffeine and Benzocaine from China to be used as mixing agents, as well as sourcing similar products from within the UK. He did not disclose how much cash he had made from is criminal enterprise, but told the court he earned and spent large amounts of money. The figures he gave during his testimony put the amount he received from his criminal endeavours at more than £340,000. Following his acquittal, detectives were able to corroborate the details provided by Finn during his testimony. An investigation into Finn’s financial affairs is ongoing. DS Lucas added: “While we can’t quantify the amounts of drugs or cash that passed hands while he ran his criminal enterprise, the figures for both are undoubtedly substantial.”
You might find yourself with extra money in your account this week after some banks promised to reimburse customers for money they drew out but never collected from the ATM. RBS, Natwest and HSBC are saying that customers should be prepared for an £80million windfall. They are now searching their archives to identify the thousands of forgetful customers that have walked off without their cash and never claimed it back. Previously customers would only receive their money back if they contacted their branch. Now RBS, Natwest and HSBC are all reporting that they have introduced systems where the ATM automatically identifies who the money belongs to if it is not collected. Officials are saying that hundreds of thousands of people, including students could be affected. Records dating back from 2005 are being checked to see how many people are owed money. A spokesman for RBS told the Manchester Evening news: “We are in the process of proactively contacting our RBS and NatWest customers who, according to our records, at some point have not collected all of their dispensed cash.” “We will be refunding the value of their transactions in full, with an additional goodwill payment.” HSBC also commented that “they are in the process of repaying £8 million to customers”. RBS and Natwest suffered a recent hit to their reputation when a computer glitch caused by a junior technician in India resulted in a system melt down. Thousands of customers were unable to draw out money from their banks accounts. Money transfers were also affected meaning some people had to make late payments on bills. The fiasco forced the banks to extend opening hours and open for the first time ever on a Sunday. HSBC have also been damaged over revelations that they were money laundering for drug cartels, terrorists and pariah states in a corrupted culture that had persisted for years.
ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
04 : News
Manchester up in green league table The University of Manchester is up thirty places in a national university ‘green’ league table Jonathan Breen News Editor
The University of Manchester is up 30 places in a national ‘green’ league table, but still far behind Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester is ranked 59 in this year’s People & Planet Green League Table, up from 89 in 2011, while Man Met is at 10, up seven places from last year. “We managed to climb 30 places in the past year because this is a priority for the University,” said University spokesman Jon Keighren. “We are rated lower than MMU because we are a research intensive university, unlike MMU. “A lot of our carbon comes from labs, high performance computing… which MMU doesn’t have. Also we have a lot more older buildings, which by nature are less energyefficient.” The British student-
led organisation ranks universities on policy and management, and performance, divided into 13 categories varying from ethical investment and carbon management to water consumption and carbon reduction. Manchester scored 37 out of the 70 points available, doing well in policy and management, but poorly in performance with 1 out of 6 available marks for renewable energy – generating none of their electricity from renewable sources. Manchester Met scored 49 overall and did better than University of Manchester in carbon reduction and waste and recycling, but got 0 out of 3 in ethical investment. In last week’s Mancunion members of the Students’ Union condemned news of BP’s investment in the International Centre for Advanced Materials to be based at Manchester –
Rubbing salt in a wound helps, says research Elizabeth Coe Reporter High-salt solution therapy can reduce potentially life-threatening inflammation, researchers at the University of Manchester have found. Injecting an inflamed area with a solution already used in IV drips in hospitals reverses the effects of inflammation, according to a study published in the journal Immunity. Inflammation, the swelling of cells in an area of the body, is a normal reaction to tissue damage such as a cut or burn. The team, led by Dr Pablo Pelegrin, Research Associate in the Faculty of Life Sciences, found that even bathing the affected area could have similar internal effects. Vincent Compan, who undertook much of the research, wrapped the legs of mice in bandages soaked in the hypertonic solution,
which reduced inflammation. This study focussed on the molecular reasons for the solution’s effect, which were previously unknown. Dr Pelegrin’s team found the molecular target, which triggers an inflammatory response, can be switched off by bathing in the solution. The research, undertaken mainly at the University, provides a scientific explanation for why Victorians “took the waters” to ease their aches and pains. Spa towns such as Bath were centred on the ‘magical’ properties of the water. The hypertonic makeup of the spring water means they could still be beneficial. Dr Pelegrin said, “This research opens up exciting opportunities for the use of hypertonic solution as a treatment for inflammatory illnesses such as arthritis.”
Students enjoying the Manchester greenery. Photo: The University of Manchester
saying the university was “helping BP to research new and better ways in which to damage the environment.” Also this week the University’s new energyefficient Alan Gilbert Learning Commons opened, primarily designed to reduce CO2 emissions. Speaking on behalf of the Students’ Union about the green league table, Campaign’s and Citizenship
Officer Khalil Secker said, “The University’s approach towards environmental sustainability is always evolving. “People and planet make some great points which we expect the university to address as they continue to reduce their carbon footprint, promote sustainable behaviour and minimise its impact on the environment. “At the Students’ Union we continue to support
student led sustainability initiatives, such as the Electronics Club who managed to reduce the water consumption of one of their buildings by 60%.” The Manchester Young Green’s felt the ranking of Manchester was not good enough and demanded something be done. “The University of Manchester’s ranking in People & Planet’s Green League Table is appalling,” Manchester Young Greens
New Learning Commons opens jonathan Breen News Editor The University of Manchester’s new Learning Commons opens this Monday. The £24million Alan Gilbert Learning Commons – named after the University’s inaugural President and Vice-Chancellor – opened Monday 1 October and will stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. University Library staff are managing the building. University Librarian Jan Wilkinson said, “The facilities that have been created for our students are undoubtedly amongst the best in the UK.
“This new building is an extension of existing facilities, catering very much for students of the 21st century who are looking for the best possible learning environment. “The building has been kitted out with the equipment and technology to support that.” Professor Alan Gilbert, who recommended building a learning commons, died just after his retirement in 2010. In a press release the university said the new building was a “tribute to his vision.” The state-of-the-art facilities include 400 computers, laptop charging lockers, 30 bookable group study rooms, a Skype area and media screens for presenta-
The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons: Photo: Joe Sandler Clarke
tions and group work. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the building and outside, extending to the ground floor café, which is open to the public. The structure is designed to minimise C02 emissions, and has a multitude of energy saving technologies at work. Natural ventilation is being
Public Relations Officer Clifford Flemming told The Mancunion. “The University must act immediately to address these issues. “Some of the University’s poorest scores were down to water reduction, waste reduction and recycling, these areas need to be addressed by the senior management at the University now.”
used, as well as heat recovery systems to limit the amount of heating and cooling of fresh air. There are also photovoltaic tiles on the roof and solar thermal systems to provide hot water for the café. The concept of a learning commons was first developed in the US and Australia to describe a building where students can get together and learn, on an individual basis or by working collaboratively in groups. Students have created designs, which are printed on the walls, doors and glass panelling of the learning spaces. The Learning Commons were developed in consultation with representatives from the Students Union to make sure that users needs have been fully taken into account. The building was open for guided tours last week, but not ready to be used by students.
06 : News
ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
1,000 march on Oxford Road NEWS IN BRIEF demanding new blasphemy laws Vigil held for two dead police officers Mourners gathered on Tuesday, exactly a week after the incident, to pay tribute to the two female police officers who were shot on duty. Addressing the mourners, including hundreds of members of the public, Chief Constable Fahy said: “Greater Manchester Police is one big family. “We know what a great community it is and we are determined to continue that work.”
New frozen yogurt shop gets “appy” A new frozen yogurt and smoothie outlet has opened in Deansgate which allows customers to personalise their beverage choices and then order them on an iPad. In the future, customers at The Fruit Exchange will also be able to personalise, order and pay, all via an app on their own iPad or iPhone. “It saves our staff time and is a brilliant and innovative device,” said Thomas Osbourne, owner of The Fruit Exchange.
£1.5 million lottery win funds new archive centre A new archive centre will be created in Manchester’s central library after winning £1.5 million lottery money. It will improve access to the city’s archive and fund viewing stations for film archives. Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West said: “Every aspect of Manchester’s development as the world’s first industrial city is captured here in these collections, and thanks to this project visitors from near and far will be able to learn about the city’s history.”
- Far right counter protest contained at Piccadilly Gardens - 3,000 strong petition calling for new laws Richard Crook Labour Councillor Aftab Editor
Over 1,000 people staged a protest condemning the controversial Youtube video “Innocence of Muslims” last week. The organisers called for new blasphemy laws that could ban offensive material aimed at religion. The peaceful protest began at Platt Fields on Saturday 22nd September at 1pm, where Muslims marched through the Curry Mile and Oxford Road, stopping all traffic. It ended at All Saints Park, where speakers in English and Arabic were heard. As well as calling for new legislation, the speakers condemned the preferential treatment they say is offered to Christianity over Islam. Falah Kanno, a chief organiser of the demonstration, told The Mancunion: “Blasphemy laws in the UK defends only Christians. We want it to protect and respect all faiths. “The law is currently not implemented. Politicians and the media can mock Jesus and Christianity, and it should not be allowed. We have so many laws to protect animals, nature and environment, why not faith? Faith is linked more to human beings.”
Ahmed told the crowd: “We live in Europe, which means the laws here are different than to those in our countries. I urge the rulers of our countries, be it Pakistan or Syria or anywhere else, to stand up for us, stand up for the Prophet and tell Europe what we want. “If we have them on our side, this law will change.” Chants were heard throughout the peaceful protest, such as, “No more hatred, Mohammed is the Prophet” and many carried signs saying, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say something good or keep quiet” and “Mohammed is the Prophet and we love him.” A separate demonstration occurred on the same day in Piccadilly Gardens, with around 500 people gathering to make a similar message. A small far-right presence developed which had to be contained by police. A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “There was a counter demonstration that was not planned. In an effort to maintain law and order, the police issued a direction to leave in the interests of public safety.” The spokesperson added that the far-right group totaled no more than 15 people, and the efforts to diffuse tensions were
Muslims gather to protest for new laws banning offensive material. Photo: Richard Crook successful. The Islamic Society at the University of Manchester said they were unaware of the details of the event and as such could not comment on the objectives of the protest. A petition for new blasphemy laws has also circulated, gathering around 3,000 signatures and is to be sent to Manchester MPs. Gerard Pitt, Vice Chair of the University of Manchester Liberty League, said in a statement: “The reaction of the Islamic community in Manchester reveals an inspiring devotion to
the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and they are right to publicly voice their anger. But the same legal and political institutions allowing them to do so freely should also permit a broadly unrestricted platform to those who wish to criticise, and insult, their faith. “Although there is a strong and legitimate legal precedent for restrictions on certain kinds of speech, inlcuding slander, insult and incitment to violence, I believe that affording such exceptions to institutions like religion sets us on a dangerous path.” His views were his own,
and not necessarily representative of the society. The Youtube video was written and produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian born Coptic Christian and U.S. resident. It is a trailer for an anti-Islamic movie that mocks the Prophet Mohammed and has sparked violent protests and attacks across the Middle East against U.S. embassies, leading to deaths and hundreds of injuries. Speakers at the Manchester protests condemned the violence, saying it “undermined” the peaceful message of Islam.
‘Professional impersonators’ Freshers face egg-throwing sit exams in place of students protestors Michael Williams Reporter Students have been paying tens of thousands of pounds to ‘professional fraudsters’ to sit crucial exams in their place, a consulting group has warned. The highest amount paid so far was $48,000 – almost £30,000 – to an impersonator to sit a medical exam in place of a student. Dr Daniel Guhr, managing director of the Illuminate Consulting Group, said that even prestigious universities in the UK and US have fallen victim to this kind of academic fraud. Universities that failed to pick up on fraud “risked their reputation”, he said, as employers begin to “blacklist certain programmes because [graduates] are not good enough”. “Universities would rather not mention it. People will also say: ‘Of course fraud happens, but not at my institution.’ However, it’s a much bigger issue and it’s happening at a global level […] this goes all the way up to the Ivy League”, Dr Guhr explained. One job application to Illuminate from an Ivy League alumnus with a masters’ degree from a “leading London university” contained “non-existent grammar” and “32 mistakes and exaggerations”, the conference heard. The International English Language
Testing System was the most common target for fraud, as international students sought to gain places at top Western Universities. Over 7,000 institutions use the IELTS score to evaluate applicants, including the University of Manchester. The average price paid to IELTS impostors was £1,230, with Asia being the source of most of the crime. Durham University was embroiled in controversy over IELTS cheating in 2008, when director of the international office David Baker told The Guardian that he was discovering more students at Durham with forged IELTS certificates, calling the situation “worrying”. Also in 2008 the University of East Anglia announced that it re-tests the 500 international students it receives each year to “check the accuracy of original scores” – Dave Allen, then- academic director for language programmes told The Guardian that they saw “double the amount of rogue scores” as they did five years prior. Jon Keighren, Head of Media Relations at the University of Manchester, told The Mancunion that exam imposters are “not particularly a problem” at the University. Mr Keighren stated that the University did not re-test international students arriving at University, but that “there is a robust system in place and thorough checks are made on all students joining the University”.
Ellen Conlon News Editor Freshers at philosopher A C Grayling’s new private college faced egg-throwing protestors on their first day of term. New students at the £18,000 a year university turned up for their first day and were confronted with between 20 and 30 demonstrators opposed to Grayling’s Ivy League-style, for profit approach to education. The protestors held up placards and chanted slogans, denouncing Grayling and calling for the closure of the university. Police were called after eggs were thrown at the university windows. The New College of the Humanities (NCH) has not filled any of its courses for this year and only 60 students have been enrolled out of the planned 180-200. But demonstrators still see the college as a dangerous precedent in higher education. One protester said: “By charging £18,000 per year, they are putting out a clear signal that they want the Government’s program of privatisation to work, which of course means prior-
ity [for some] and under-funded education for the rest of us.” “They have the right to pay high fees if they want but it has never been about that. It is about the very real effect that this institution might have – if it doesn’t fold – and the precedent that it sets for other self-serving ideologues and financiers.” The college, based in Bloomsbury, central London, offers undergraduate places in Economics, English, History, Law and Philosophy and will hold lectures by Richard Dawkins, Niall Ferguson and Steven Pinker. Liam Burns, general secretary of the National Union of Students, called NCH a vanity project: “It is no surprise that students are failing to sign up. Our research shows that students value teaching ability and interaction with other students and academics over inaccessible star names with a mountain of publishing credits.” A spokesperson from New College of the Humanities said: “There was a small gathering of students outside the building yesterday for about 45 minutes at lunchtime. There was no disruption to our timetable for the day.”
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ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Freshers focus of police safety campaign Students new to Manchester are the focus of a police safety campaign launching next week Jonathan Breen lice, Manchester City Council News Editor
First year undergraduates at the University of Manchester are the focus of a Greater Manchester Police initiative aimed at preventing muggings and street robberies. The annual ‘Student Safe’ campaign launches next week and will target known offenders and use video cameras to gather information. Inspector Andy Smith who is leading the operation, said: “Students can…follow some simple steps to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime. “While out and about, stick to well-lit areas, stay in groups, pace your drinks and keep valuables such as phones and MP3 players out of sight.” “At your student accommodation, make sure that doors and windows are locked, even when you are in, and remember to set the alarm. If you’re going out at night, leave a light on to give the impression someone is home.” Inspector Smith also encouraged students to join the Manchester Student Safety Facebook page, created by the po-
and Manchester universities. Students are frequently targets of crime and the new safety campaign comes after a trio were jailed earlier this month for violently attacking student Daniel Whiteley in February this year. As a part of the operation officers will give safety talks to new students in the city and urge them to become “security savvy.” They will also be shown a short film featuring Manchester students talking about their own experiences as victims of crime and discussing methods of how to keep themselves and their property safe. Letters and a DVD copy of the film will also be sent home to parents to encourage them to keep an eye on their safety. Community Support Officers will be visiting students’ homes to carry out crime prevention surveys and provide advice. University spokesman Jon Keighren said crime comes with city life and Manchester is not a special case. “All big cities have problems with crime and Manchester is
The Greater Manchester Police’s ‘Student Safe’ campaign launches next week, focusing on making freshers “safety savvy”. Photo: Jonny Whiting
no better or worse than London, Liverpool, Glasgow or Birmingham. “It makes sense to take reasonable precautions, especially if you are new to living in a city. “The good news is that the University campuses and halls of residence are relatively safe areas, scenes of ‘little crime’
compared to other public places.” He added that the university is unique in having its own oncampus University Police Liaison Office. PC Scott Schofield and his colleagues run drop-in sessions for students in the Dover Street Building every Thursday
between 4pm and 6pm in term time, or students can call 0161 275 7042 at any time. The University also offers advice in its Crucial Guide issued to all students and have made a video in association with Greater Manchester Police offering personal safety advice to students. It is available on the
Mancunians face above US universities increase efforts to recruit UK students average health risks Anthony Organ News Editor
Anthony Organ News Editor
Universities in the United States are seeking to recruit greater numbers of British students now that higher tuition fees have come into effect. Around 9,000 UK students studied in the US last year, but experts predict that this number will increase this autumn and then again in 2013. Although US universities tend to be regarded as expensive, the tripling of UK tuition fees has reduced cost differences. Coupled with more generous scholarships and grants than British equivalents, studies in the US could become cheaper than in the UK. The UK applicant website for Harvard College demonstrates that total fees involved for a UK student can reach £36,000 a year, but financial aid can reduce this to as low as £1,500. They estimate that total costs for a UK undergraduate course are now £15,000 a year. Dr. Natalie Zacek, a US born lecturer in American History at the University of Manchester, stressed that Harvard have more money to spend on grants than other universities and also warned that American student loans have higher rates
Cancer, binge drinking, obesity, depression and anxiety are more common in Greater Manchester than the average European city, a study has found. The EURO-URHIS 2 project, the largest ever health and lifestyle survey of cities and conurbations across Europe, aimed to identify health problems in urban areas. Despite so many above average health issues, it wasn’t all bad. The report also revealed Mancunians ate considerably more fruit and vegetables than the average European city, had more green spaces to enjoy and eating breakfast more frequently. Students in Greater Manchester are also specifically referred to since “significantly more” of them “brush their teeth at least twice a day”. Project coordinator Dr Arpana Verma, senior lecturer in Public Health at the University of Manchester, said she hoped the findings would be used by policymakers to “translate into policies that can help improve our health”. The research was found by collecting
Harvard College is among US universities recruiting UK students. Photo: Márcio Cabral de Moura
of interest than British ones. But she sees the US education system as “more flexible” than in the UK where “sometimes secondary school students get steered in particular directions.” She argues that because American students spend their first two years at university doing a wide range of subjects, they have “more of a free hand” when they specialise in later years. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, J Robert Spatig, assistant vice-president for admissions at South Florida University in Tampa, saw this as a “carpe diem moment for recruitment of UK students” and a “once in a generation opportunity to attract prospective British applicants across the Atlantic.”
Photo: Matt Mendick
data concerning youths and adults at the end of 2010 and focused on 26 cities across Europe. Dr Verma said that by comparing the samples between cities “we can learn from each other to make our cities healthier, and empower the citizens of Europe”.
NUS welcome High Court London Met decision Ellen Conlon News Editor International students at London Metropolitan University have been granted permission to remain in the UK to complete their studies. Students will be allowed to start their courses and continue at the university until the end of the academic year or until their course finishes. The National Union of Students has welcomed this decision after intervening as a third party, representing the needs and interests of students in the UK, and, represented by leading law firm Bindmans, presenting evidence to the court. The NUS spoke as the democratic voice of students in the UK, as the UK Border Agency’s (UKAB) decision to revoke London Met’s Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS) status is estimated to currently affect as many as 2,600 students. Liam Burns, NUS President said: “We are delighted that as a result of our third party intervention, interim relief has been granted by the High Court to current international students who have been unfairly affected by UKBA’s decision.” “Our third party intervention was crucial in ensuring the interests of students were recognised by the High Court.” “These students came to London in good faith and had already spent tens of thousands of pounds on their education, before having the rug pulled from under their feet.” But Liam Burns recognises that this is not the end of the problem. “The future for international students at London Met after July 2013 is still uncertain and we need clarity as soon as possible,” he continued. “This whole ugly episode has also thrown up wider questions about the treatment of international students in this country. Unless these questions are urgently addressed, the UK’s global reputation for higher education remains tarnished.”
08 : Feature
ISSUE 03 / 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
When two tribes go to war... Andrew Williams considers the absence of genuine rivalry between the universities of Manchester Andrew Williams Features Editor Beer-fuelled spectators, testosteronedriven competitors, inebriated streakers – a potent cocktail to enliven even the dampest autumnal evening. But add in one final key ingredient – a fierce rivalry between two universities who share a city – and the stakes are raised dramatically. So when the University of Manchester renewed hostilities with Manchester Metropolitan University on Wednesday night for the annual Rugby Union Varsity match, it was no surprise that the abundant tension spilled over inside the first ten minutes. Tempers flared on the benches as the game’s first rogue tackle precipitated one punch, then another, then another, all in the name of institutional pride. It wasn’t long before the animosity that exists between these rival residents of Oxford Road boiled over again. “There’s more fighting than rugby to report on, as yet another score is settled on the far touchline”, reported The Mancunion’s Tom Acey midway through the second half. Cue a new spate of handbags, soundtracked by the familiar refrain “you can shove your fucking redbricks up your arse” from the Man Met minority. And so it went on. I need not remind you of the final scoreline; suffice to say that the University of Manchester triumphed for the umpteenth year in a row. On this evidence, it would be easy to conclude that the Uni versus Met rivalry is a bitter, deep-seated conflict – the angry by-product of a chequered history pockmarked by enmity. The truth is somewhat different. The rivalry that we saw played out in the first of many Varsity fixtures between these universities this year is more indicative of the heated nature of sporting battle – just go to any lower-league football match on a Saturday afternoon – than it is of a particular aversion on the part of one set of students towards another. That is not to say that there is no needle between Manchester Uni and Manchester Met. It doesn’t take a genius to spout clichéd insults in either direction: for University of Manchester folk, it’s the suggestion that Man Met is somehow a lesser institution, populated by those who didn’t make the grade. Meanwhile, Man Met students hit back in the opposite direction with accusations of snobbery and privilege. Internet message boards – those modern day barometers of keyboard warrior consensus – are filled with baloney specifying the apparently Babushka-like relationship between the various seats of further education
that inhabit this great city. Take this particularly flippant post on The Student Room, for instance: “Manchester > Man Met > Salford”. To reduce three universities to such an arbitrary series of classification serves no useful purpose. In the cold light of day, such petty
The rivalry between Oxbridge colleges is even more intense than the university grudge match. Former students have gone as far as to construct league tables which rank Oxbridge colleges according to academic performance.”
insults are nonsensical – and I think it’s fair to assume that the vast majority of those who engage in similar tit-fortat sparring (we’ve all been there) do so in a good-natured and light-hearted manner rather than with vitriolic intent. Apart from anything, the University of Manchester – a Russell Group university with a near 200-year history – offers a vastly different programme of degrees than its younger cousins. As a budding physicist, Manchester – with its multiple Nobel Prize winners, including two current members of staff – is undoubtedly the place to go. But how about a high quality qualification in teaching? Whilst Manchester doesn’t offer the PGCE, Man Met is recognised and one of the top teacher-teachers in the country. Salford University’s School of Music, Media and Performance, meanwhile, draws on Manchester’s phenomenal musical heritage to offer an unrivalled three year education in what it takes to make it in the music industry. All of this is a long-winded way of saying that here in Manchester, our universities lack a truly great rivalry. Whilst Uni and Met are adversaries to some extent, their struggle is in its infancy. The rivalries
MMU and UoM do battle in the Varsity Rugby match last week.. Photo: Patrycja Marczewska
that cut deepest are those which are forged over time, an accumulation of centuries of antagonism as generation after generation proffer increasingly outlandish stories as evidence that THEY started it; that WE are far superior to THEM. Unquestionably, Oxbridge offers up the example greatest example of genuine inter-university rivalry. With a combined 1,500 years of history, Oxford and Cambridge can claim to be by far the most historic universities in the country and some of the oldest in the world. Not content with hogging the top two spots on any UK university league table worth its salt, they regularly compete for the title of best in the world. 41 of our 55 Prime Ministers studied at Oxbridge, but the influence of these two great seats of learning extends far beyond politics. Scrapping over courts and quadrangles has become a way of life for those who inhabit the dreaming spires, with duels played out on sports pitches, on television and, most notably, on the River Thames. It is impossible to underestimate the significance of the annual Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, with millions of pounds every year poured in punishing training regimes at top notch facilities. In recent years, lucrative scholarships have been handed out to encourage the fittest, strongest rowers from across the globe to study at Oxbridge – all in pursuit of a year’s worth of bragging rights, to be fought for over 4.2 miles of water on an otherwise calm spring Saturday afternoon. As it stands, Cambridge lead the all-time competition 81-76. For all of those reasons, Oxford versus Cambridge is a confrontation which endures to this day; but more often
than not, the conflict is eschewed in favour of inter-college dick measuring. (In the absence of any genuine rivals in their vicinity, the University of Exeter is similarly divided by halls of residence. Holland Hall, for example, has garnered a not unfounded reputation for housing only the wealthiest of Daddy’s little girls. Rumour has it that you can’t get in without an unkempt mane of bleach blonde hair and an Abercrombie store card.) Indeed, the rivalry between respective Oxbridge colleges is perhaps even more intense than the university grudge match. Former students have gone as far as to construct league tables which rank Oxbridge colleges according to academic performance; the Tompkins Table (Cambridge) and Norrington Table (Oxford) respectively used by those at better performing colleges as a stick to beat those at ‘lesser’ colleges with. When it comes to sport, it doesn’t get much more serious than the intercollege Cuppers competition. A plethora of sports are contested of the course of each season as colleges do battle in an attempt to demonstrate their superior sporting prowess. This is no friendly Wednesday afternoon knockabout: the 2006 Oxford Rugby Cuppers final descended into farce, culminating in a fight between the Pink Pembroke Panther and the St. Peter’s Squirrel. Inevitably, the United States do rivalry on a monumental scale. Football, in particular, serves as the basis for vehement discontent between rival institutions, with the outright hatred between Ohio State and Michigan serving as a fine example. Whereas university sport in this country is first and foremost a social activity, college football is played
in front Premier League quality stadia and can be the golden ticket to a multimillion dollar career as a professional footballer. From an academic perspective, Harvard and Yale are America’s answer to Oxford and Cambridge. In recent years, Harvard can claim to have played a significant part in the founding of Facebook – kickstarted by Mark Zuckerberg in his college dorm – whilst Yale can count five of the last six US presidents amongst their alumni. “The Harvard-Yale rivalry is not substantial enough to merit attention”, Yale spokeswoman Gila Reinstein told Newsweek back in 2008. Harvardians and Yalies would doubtless attest that nothing could be further from the truth. Comparatively, the University of Manchester - Manchester Metroplitan rivalry is trivial. Perhaps the absence of a despised adversary is lamentable – wouldn’t it be nice if we had some sort of yardstick which would allow us to rank ourselves against comparable institutions? Something more reliable than the ridiculous league tables which, depending on who you believe, rank Manchester as the 32nd best university in the world but only 41st in the country. Then again, there is much to be said for the freedom that we have in defining ourselves as students of Manchester rather than soldiers in the fight against an apparently lesser alternative. To do so, to paraphrase Derren Brown, would be to describe yourself as an aphilatelist – and nobody defines themselves by the fact that they don’t collect stamps.
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Politics & Comment
ISSUE 03/ 1st October 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: N Bojdo
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My Political Hero... Walter Rodney If the academics amongst political activists possess the theoretical bite and the orators and revolutionaries supply the bark, Walter Rodney embodied a remarkable blend of both. Unwaveringly committed to the plight of the oppressed in the politicallytumultuous post-colonial Caribbean, Rodney’s life is testament to both incredible guise and dogged spirit.
Politics on campus Arthur Baker and Clifford Fleming talk to us about their student politics on campus: Labour Students and Young Greens Arthur Baker – Manchester Labour Students With over 600 members, Manchester Labour Students is the largest Labour club in the country, and we are one of the most active student societies at the University of Manchester. We campaign in the Students’ Union and across the country, as well as holding stimulating speaker events and welcoming socials. MLS is affiliated to the Labour Party and we campaign for them in elections, but we’re an autonomous organisation with the ability to make our own policy and set our own priorities. Anyone who shares our values of equality, democracy and social justice will be at home in Manchester Labour Students. We are the political organisation for students on the Left who want to get stuff done, and it’s never been more necessary than now. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are implementing the most aggressive and unfair programme of public spending cuts in living memory; they’re targeting the poorest and most vulnerable along with young people and students, as well as privatising our NHS. In the face of these attacks we need to be active more than ever. Last year we linked up with Labour clubs from dozens of universities and campaigned hard in elections across the country to keep the Tories out. We went down to London to take part in the NUS and Trade Union Council demonstrations. Meanwhile, back in Manchester we were busy winning a ‘living wage’ for all employees of the University of Manchester. This year we’ll be back in London for more protests, fighting for the living wage at Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as campaigning to get students registered to vote. This is especially vital as the government is trying to stop students from voting by stopping university halls from registering them automatically. With campaigns like these, it’s possible to make a real difference to the lives of people who’ve been targeted by this government.
Whether it’s guaranteeing workers at the university (including students) a fair wage to help them out whilst fees are being raised and benefits cut, or ensuring local people have a strong Labour council to protect them from the worst of the government’s cuts. As well as campaigns, we organise lively debates and discussions with great speakers. Last year we had shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna, as well as a host of other speakers. This year we’ll be having many more such events, as well as going to the fringe at the Labour Party Conference in October where we’ll be discussing a huge range of issues with top cabinet ministers, MPs, journalists and political commentators, and we’d love for you to join us. Whether you’re a Blairite or a Bennite, if you want to do your bit to help keep the Tories out, to help make our Universities and communities fairer places, or if you’re just interested in political discussion, Manchester Labour Students is the place to be. It’s only a quid and you can join online at http://www. labourstudents.org.uk/
Clifford Flemming – Manchester Young Greens Our society represents the student body of the Green Party at the University of Manchester, and we want to introduce ourselves; so a huge hello from us! At the Young Greens we campaign for a sustainable and fair society; our aim is to harness the energy and enthusiasm of students and represent the leftist ideas that have disappeared from mainstream politics. The Manchester Young Greens need your involvement to help create a sustainable future for everyone, and to ensure that the momentum behind the Green movement on campus keeps growing. The Green Party are focused on creating a new, fairer economic system based on sustainability, free world-class education and investment in new, world-leading technologies.
It’s important to look further ahead into our future, beyond the current economic climate. We need to act now in order to create a better society and environment for this country and the world. The short-sighted views of the current and previous governments have led to a generation facing unprecedented levels of unemployment, huge debts and the near impossibility of a secure future. The UK needs a new voice. In the latest poll of voting intentions in the next general election, the Green Party were on 5% and we expect this to grow. We are rapidly growing in council members across the UK and have a solid presence in the European Parliament. The Green Party are now the third-largest party in London, and for a party that started in 1990, we’re doing very well. Last year we stood six members of the Manchester Young Greens in the Manchester council elections, coming second in places like Fallowfield, beating both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. On Friday October 26th we plan to attend the national Young Greens convention, and to have our voice heard. There we will all work together on increasing the power and spread of our message. Later on in the term we plan to hold debates with other political parties, offer training sessions on campaigning and lobbying and support Manchester Green Party with their work in the local area. We will also be part of organising a talk on ‘Climate Emergency’ in advance of the Doha Climate Change Conference in November. As one of the fastest growing societies on campus, we want you to be a part of our movement. It is really easy to get involved and we have lots of fun. It’s a great opportunity for anyone interested in politics or looking to meet like-minded people. Email: Manchester@younggreens.org.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/MCRYoungGreens Fa ceb o ok : w w w.fa ceb o ok .co m / youngandgreenmanchester
The power of Rodney’s intellect was evident from the start. From a working-class home in 1940s’ Guyana to a Ph.D awarded by the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Rodney showcased his passion for and masterful understanding of the histories and plights of the oppressed. His most influential work, ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’, came during a formative period of lecturing in Tanzania in the 1970s, notably a time at which the Eurocentric and imperial narratives which he chose to confront were much stronger than they are today; still undergoing the process of being challenged and dismantled. An incredible understanding of the mechanisms of power, coupled with the assurance to address formidable narratives of history, Rodney demonstrated the intellectual tools he would later use to challenge entire political landscapes. However, upon entering Jamaica in 1968 to assume his first major teaching appointment at the University of the West Indies, it wasn’t just his intellectual prowess which demanded attention. He was a vocal opponent of the economic suppression suffered by the poor, non-white population at the hands of the tiny capitalist class and an active advocate of the growing Black Power movement. But it was Rodney’s dogged zeal and determination to take his message further than the confines of academic circles which really put his head above the parapet. Entering the ‘dark, dismal places with a black population who have to seek refuge there’, Rodney reached much further than his student and middle-class audiences; right into the heart of deprivation in West Kingston. The bark to his meaty academic bite, Rodney spoke at sports clubs, churches and rubbish dumps to engage and galvanise the oppressed swathes of society for whom he stood. Dependent on a political system which divided the oppressed minorities that Rodney sought to unite, the Jamaican government were quick to recognise the threat to their survival. After only eight months in the country, Minister of Home Affairs Roy McNeill had described Rodney as the biggest security threat to the nation he had ever encountered and the University was asked to terminate his contact. After the University refused citing insufficient grounds, the government seized their opportunity when Rodney attended a black writers’ conference in Montreal and prevented him from re-entering the country. The protest and unrest that ensued was sparked by student groups (but quickly spilling over into the areas of Kingston that Rodney had sought to reach), and was a watershed moment in Jamaican history. For the first time, inspired and bound together by the Black Power narrative of Walter Rodney, the ‘Rodney Riots’ of 1968 saw the socially and economically deprived in Kingston find their voice and bring post-independence inequality to the fore. His determination to resist and elude the full force of governments, his phenomenal capacity to perceive the mechanisms of oppression and his unwavering commitment to go out and address them made Walter Rodney a multi-faceted hero. A brilliant mind relentlessly pursuing the oppression amidst which it was awoken, Rodney constituted a constant threat to the colonial legacy of entrenched economic and racial divisions in the twentieth-century Caribbean. A hero with a bark, a hero with a bite. Jonathan Graham
Comment
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Escape the rain, study abroad for less With increasing fees and a struggling British economy, is it time for UK students to fly the coop? It is estimated that over three million students worldwide study abroad, but only around 20,000 British students make up that number. All the studies say that there are at least 70 graduates competing for every one position out there in the big mean world, so what can you do to make yourself stand out? The rush to get in under the last year of lowered fees meant that many students would have missed out on the opportunity to take their ‘gap yah’. While it may be knocked by many as just an opportunity to bum around the world for a year, time spent living and travelling independently abroad is a much sought after, employable skill. What many might not know is that they have the chance to study abroad instead. This isn’t just an opportunity for students studying languages (where a period of study abroad is compulsory in a native speaking environment), but the majority of the top global universities offer courses in English. Not to mention those universities in English speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia to name a few. In May of this year, the Universities and Science Minister David Willetts announced plans to offer substantial discounts for students seeking to go abroad. From the academic year 2014-15, those that spend two or more semesters at an overseas university on a UKbased degree course will pay only 15 percent of the year’s fees. Erasmus students (a scheme operating in
the European Union) already benefit by being exempt from tuition fees for the period spent abroad, and can also receive bursaries to the sum of 370 Euro per month. Of course, these amazing opportunities aren’t particularly well advertised. One student who spoke to The Mancunion said, “If I hadn’t seen the signs for a study abroad fair, I would never have known about it.” Elizabeth Yeatman, a recent graduate of a combined masters in Geology, spent a semester abroad in Toronto. “It was such a great experience, I met so many different people that I’m still in touch with now. It was a bit expensive living out there, but so worth it.” In a survey conducted by study abroad blogging platform thirdyearabroad.com, 86% of students considered a year abroad to be the most valuable part of their degree. I know I’m certainly one amongst them, having spent a year in Jerusalem, Israel, studying and working. This experience of new cultures and the opportunity to learn new languages is of particular interest. According to a poll published in December 2011 by ICM, three out of four employers fear that the UK will be left behind unless young people learn to think globally. Each year the number of students taking languages on to A-Level decreases, leaving a gap in the market for those that have picked up something more than GCSE French or Spanish. There’s also the option of taking your whole degree
A leisurely walk along the canal, studying in Amsterdam abroad. Many European countries are far cheaper than their UK counterparts; in the Netherlands courses are around £1,500 a year, in Germany, £800. Courses available in English, whilst limited in comparison to options available in the UK, are still very attractive. There are also many opportunities to take intensive language classes; in Denmark, for example, there are free language classes available for three years after arrival in the country. Wherever grabs your attention, make sure you research the institutes you’re considering, just like you would your home university. Check the QS world rankings, a good place to start to check out
the reputation for teaching and research, but this is not the full picture. Some universities are leaders in specific fields, and outside of the academic realm, you want to make sure you’re going to enjoy living there! Whether it’s the continental lifestyle, or getting to know the truth behind sororities and frat houses; maybe the sun and surf in Australia appeals, or dissolving into a completely different culture altogether, check out the options. Studying abroad is really the best of both worlds. Lisa Murgatroyd Politics and Comment Editor
Disagree? Tweet us @mancuniondebate, or email us at comment@mancunion.com
The importance of allowing idiots to have their say Emma Bean discusses the importance of free speech in light of calls for Blasphemy laws to be re-introduced in the UK In the wake of the offensive amateur film Innocence of Muslims there have been calls from some quarters for new blasphemy laws in the UK. Whilst there can be no doubt as to quite how offensive this film is, to Muslims, or anyone who has ever seen a half way decent film before, the reintroduction of blasphemy laws could surely only have negative consequences for us all. The crime of blasphemy was formally abolished in the UK in 2008, under the Criminal Justice and Immigration act, a relic of the old dark days of British history, where Quaker’s could be branded and flogged (poor James Naylor in 1656), Protestants burned at the stake (see Mary Tudor’s rule) and Jews flung down wells (as punishment for their perceived causing of the Black Death). The last person to be sent to prison for blasphemy was John William Gott, in 1921, he was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour, despite suffering from an incurable illness, and died shortly thereafter. The case became subject to widespread public outrage, and since then there has been only a few other cases of blasphemy and the courts. In 1976 the newspaper Gay News published the poem, ‘the love that dares speak its name’, a poem written from the perspective of a Roman Centurion that describes him having sex with Jesus after his crucifixion alongside a verse mentioning Jesus having sex with his disciples, Pontius Pilate and Herod’s guards. Mary Whitehouse, a socially conservative social activist of the time, took objection to it and launched legal proceedings against the editor and the paper. To give a little context about Ms. Whitehouse, she also despised Doctor Who and campaigned against it, describing it as “teatime brutality for tots” and the coverage of the terrors of the Vietnam War, fearing it could encourage pacifism and “sap the will of the nation to safeguard its own freedom, let alone resist the forces of evil abroad”. Salman Rushdie’s infamous novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ sparked anger and protests in Muslim communities across the globe in the late
UAF clashes with EDL in Piccadilly Gardens, October 2009 Photo: The Mancunion 1980s, for the feeling that the book insulted the prophet and their holy text the Qur’an. When a prosecution was attempted to be brought against the novel for blasphemy it was clear that it was no possible, as the blasphemy laws covered only Christianity. Whilst it might been seen by some as a conflation of ideas when people describe insults towards religion as merely ‘freedom of speech’, as it would seem to serve no positive purpose for the public discourse to have cartoons of the prophet Mohammed published, for instance, it is a necessary, though perhaps uncomfortable, part of free speech. Some might regard such a measure as merely a pragmatic attempt to limit public unrest, but a logical and sensible attempt to minimise distress and upset and maximise a situation of happiness where there aren’t mass protests against the West
flaring up across the globe whenever a slight of Islam is published it is also quite wrong to think that that is the problem that we have to deal with. If we were to have some form of curtail on freedom of speech based on when people are insulted, it would be fairly impossible to find any metric by which this could be done. When would the required level of anger and distress need to be hit? And what would it be? Presumably, it would have to protect non-religious interest groups also, such as the LGBTQ community in which case there seems to be a fairly large clash of what people would then want to protect and prevent. There is a reason why people hold the value of free speech so highly. Whenever you have a situation where one person, or one group indeed, decide what is or is not permissible for publication you run into an awful lot of trouble. How could some
sort of consensus be reached on what is or is not permissible? For one thing, the various interest groups involved. Whilst with blasphemy laws you would say that this is only concerns religion, so you would legislate to protect the major religions in a country. In the UK, we have many religions (including Jedi Knights, which became an officially recognised religion in the UK in 2001) many of whom would have fairly conflicting ideas on various topics that would involve making logically consistent blasphemy laws that protect all religions fairly equally surely impossible. Then there are also other groups, such as the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) community. To try and reconcile protecting certain religion’s rights to criticise certain ‘lifestyle choices’ as they might refer to them in a fire and brimstone manner with the LGBTQ community’s right to exist without constant attacks from hate speakers is one that could not be done easily. Of course, we should protect religious communities’ right to exist without fear of hate based attacks, which is why in 2006 the Racial and Religious hatred act was passed. It made it a crime to incite hatred of a certain group or individual on the grounds of their religion, thus protecting against an awful lot of the problems that we would not want to see. There is a difference between insulting a religion, even insulting believers, and inciting hatred against a religious group. There are certain minority groups such as the Muslim community who are treated poorly within our society, but it does not seem sensible to pursue such a regressive policy as an attempt to tackle this. There does need to be tolerance even of absolute idiots saying absolutely idiotic things if we are to have a situation where the state does not interfere with what its citizens say.
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Comment
ISSUE 03/ 1st October 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Postgrad loans- a better Emma Bean examines the effects of a postgraduate loan system
Postgrad graduation at the University of Manchester. Photo: University of Manchester
The topic of whether or not we should have a public form of loans for postgraduate education has been floated, not for the first time, at the Liberal Democrat conference just last week. However, would their introduction be beneficial for the whole of the nation, or just for an already relatively privileged few? In the UK, postgraduate fees are a subject of much consternation. With the controversial increase of undergraduate fees in 2010 came a second problem, universities taking the opportunity to sneakily raise postgraduate fees also. Whilst the government has a cap on undergraduate fees, there are no such caps on postgraduate courses, thus allowing universities to charge as much as they feel they can for them. At the University of Oxford, an MPhil in International Relations will set you back £10300 per annum for two years, where as at the University of Manchester an MA in the same field would be £5000 for the one year. Whilst this does show a clear differentiation in at least demand for a course, and perhaps also quality, and so enable the consumer to be able to factor this in to their decision to study further, it does make the business of pursuing higher education yet more problematic for those not from wealthy families and also turns universities into businesses. Further subsidies of higher education is an issue that concerns not just students, potential students and universities- it concerns every person in the country. For the people who work from the age of 16, who have no interest in or perhaps access to pursuing higher education themselves, is it legitimate for them to be asked to subsidise what is a very pleasant lifestyle for a group who are already relatively privileged in our society, generally speaking. On the other hand, having a well educated population does lead to numerous knock on benefits for the rest of society, people who
If we introduced masters loans, would undergrad degrees be worthless?
train in business have the ability to generate wealth which leads to a stronger economy, more jobs and a more stable society. People who train as medical health professionals in one form or another benefit all of society through improving people’s quality of life. Even those pesky humanities students, who seem to be a frequent target for derision are beneficial for society, the ability to think critically and analyse with a wider knowledge of the world may well make for more active participants in our democracy and a better democracy. Of course, there is also much more private funding and scholarships already in existence for postgraduate courses, quite unlike undergraduate education. So, in terms of accessibility for the brightest and best is this perhaps a bit of a non-issue, does the status quo provide us with a situation where the most able are free to pursue education further, funded by a wealthier group of people reasonably qualified themselves also.
A person’s motives for pursuing study further might well not be entirely in the interests of society. Whilst the intended purpose of postgraduate education, indeed all university education and all learning in its purest sense, at its core surely must be simply to educate, and to enjoy education and learning purely for their own sake, it is fairly clear that in today’s world this not what most often motivates most people. Most people are generally quite motivated by improving their CV’s, and pursue university qualifications to gain a competitive edge when applying for jobs. When at university, students realise quite how blessed this lifestyle can be and so, when offered with the opportunity to continue it for another year or so frequently jump at the chance. If we were to have a situation of publically funded postgraduate loans on demand, would we have the situation which many people perceive we have with undergraduate education now: that it has become so necessary to have a bachelors degree in something, anything, that over half of sixth form leavers pursue further or higher education, that degrees become almost worthless on the jobs market. Or, if we were to have a situation where all education was free would the motivation of universities change to simply getting the most talented people to pursue as much education as possible, and not the status quo where the incentive is to get as many students as possible, paying as much money as possible so as to maximise profits, with the pursuit of knowledge and all that is holy in education forgotten about.
Disagree? Tweet us @mancuniondebate or email us at comment@mancunion.com
People of the world, Unite! Eve Fensome examines the positives of joing Unite, even for those who don’t work “Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union” – goes the chorus of the song Union Maid written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie in the office of the Oklahoma City Communist Party. Though I’m not sure if I’d ever refer to myself as a ‘maid’, be it preceded by ‘union’ or otherwise, a ‘union maid’ is essentially what I have become. Or another, albeit less succinct way to say it is: ‘last week I joined Unite – the biggest union in Britain’. However, it is not actually us students who are ‘members’ of the union, but in fact the 600 university students’ unions which are members, with ours being the University of Manchester Students’ Union. So while most students are represented by a union, few are actually a member of a union. Now this is the bit where I get to talk all about my shiny new Unite Community Membership. Prepare yourself… Community Membership is a fairly new scheme, having been available for less than a year. It is a way for individuals to become a member of the Union without necessarily being in employment. Unite’s website states: “Even now in the 21st century, too many people in our country are being pushed to the margins of society. They deserve to be heard; they too deserve the support to organise collectively. It is with this in mind that Unite has founded its community
membership scheme.” “Unite’s community membership scheme brings together people from across our society. Those not in employment are welcomed into the union family, adding another dimension to our strength in thousands of workplaces across the UK.” The beauty of the Community Membership is that members of society not in paid employment, who also tend to be some of the most marginalized and deprived, are able to unite as one and create much needed support networks. Students, individuals prevented from working due to disability, the long-term unemployed, fulltime carers and the retired can have their interests represented by Unite and forge links between employment unions and community unions to together organize and engage in grass roots activism. Community Membership costs £26 annually which works out at 50 pence per week which is significantly cheaper than Unite full-time employed membership at around £144 per year. Members enjoy a number of significant benefits including access to Unite’s legal helpline with legal professionals available 24 hours a day to give advice as well as having available resources designed to help get a job including tools to create CVs and application letters plus guidance on job interviews.
This is in addition to debt advice (may come in handy to do with the old student loan), energy comparison services, benefits check-ups, tax refund advice, free accident cover (for all those treacherous nights out on the lash), discounts and access to “one-off hardship grants to members in need of assistance.” But, while all these services offer significant, tangible benefits to the individual member, I think students in particular may find becoming Community Members attractive for other reasons. The Unite website says: “At Unite we have 1.5 million members – just imagine what you can achieve with them standing by your side?” While approximately 50,000 students demonstrated in 2010 against a rise in tuition fees and numerous university societies opposing the rise have been formed, the action taken by student groups has been sporadic and resulted in no significant change. Just as the ladies in the Ford factory in Dagenham would not have achieved equal pay had they not received the support of fellow union members, students need to join forces with workers unions so industrial action and demonstrations can be coordinated and achieve shared aims. The second reason students may find the idea of becoming Community Members
TUC demo in London, 26th March 2011. Photo credit: Tom Harrison attractive would be the greater integration and cohesion in the local community. As a student it is easy to become insular, only focusing on campus life, whereas to join a union is to make a conscious decision to not distance oneself from the wider society. In the current climate where many applicants chase few jobs, students need to find practical ways to make the leap from education to the world of work. Joining a union means
students become better acquainted with those in employment, opening doors for students into their first graduate job and creating opportunities for skills sharing. In addition, mixing with members of the community not in paid employment could benefit students by encouraging them to look beyond campus life to the city they inhabit and develop a more caring approach towards the people they share a city with. Students have the
power to bring the community together and provide a platform for the disenfranchised and those unable to find their voice alone. On our own we cannot achieve much, but together we are strong. This may not be the big society, but it could be the Great Society, so I suppose the question is: “Buddy can you spare a dime?” – Well I guess I can.
Letters
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Media CLub events
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ED.
The Media Club is run by the Careers Service and is open to all University of Manchester Students Exclusively for University of Manchester students we invite leading industry practitioners each month to speak about key topics, their careers and getting into the sector. Sessions are normally held on weekday evenings between 5pm-6.30pm approx.
Your student media Richard Crook, Editor
Here is a run-down of some upcoming events:
Introduction to The Media Club Wednesday 3rd October, Samuel Alexander Main Theatre, 5.15pm Broadcast Journalism with BBC journalist Caroline Hawtin Thursday 18th October, Careers Service, Crawford House (room 5.4, 5th floor) 5.15pm – 6.30pm
www.thouronaward.org
Fully Funded Study in the USA Up to TEN awards, each with a total value of approx US$80,000 per year, covering tuition fees and living expenses, including travel in the USA, will be available (for one or two years) from 1st September 2013 for candidates who wish to pursue a postgraduate programme at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Applications are invited by 5pm on 1 November 2012 from UK university graduates, including forthcoming summer 2013 graduates, who are British citizens normally resident in the UK. st
Thouron Awards were created by Sir John and Lady Thouron for the promotion of academic exchange and experience in international friendship between the UK & USA.
For further details visit www.thouronaward.org or contact Jennie Eldridge, Award Administrator on +44 (0)20 7848 3376 quoting ref TA12.
in association with
We hope you’re all enjoying this week’s copy of The Mancunion. For those that don’t know, we are the student newspaper for the University of Manchester, Bolton, Salford and Manchester Metropolitan. Everything we do, from designing to writing and from photography to marketing, is achieved by students. We are an open shop, and we’re always looking for new talent. Your journalism career can begin here. We have impressive alumni of TV presenters, columnists and foreign correspondents, and there is no better way to get started than here. I joined The Mancunion in my first year, and it was the best decision I ever took. In all honesty, I care as much about The Mancunion as I do my degree, and the people you meet here alone makes it worth your while. But why do it? Well, just like national media, we perform a vital role in checking accountability. The expenses only cleaned up its act after The Telegraph sparked public outrage. True, journalism hasn’t had the best year. For many, it’s up there with politicians and lawyers for most loathsome professions. But never forget that it was reporting – in its very purest - that uncovered the phone-hacking scandal. Journalism is changing, not dying, and there will always be a demand for a curious reporter. And that’s where we come in. Dodgy landlords, rip off promoters, overcrowded lectures. If it’s a legitimate story, we’ll report it. But if you don’t fancy yourself as the next Nick Davies, fear not. We cater for every possible demand, whether it’s restaurant reviews, sports journalism or political commentary. If you’d like to write for us, simply e-mail contribute@ mancunion.com. Or, if you think you’ve got a scoop, e-mail us at gotastory@ mancunion.com . Anonymity can be provided.
Film TOP Nothing Left Untouched ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Films That Make Men Cry 5. Twilight
I have to confess I have never sat through longer than seven seconds of any of the Twilight films, I don’t even know how many there are. Seven seconds is more than enough to conclude that any man who has sat through a Twilight film would be reduced to uncontrollable tears.
4. Saving Private Ryan This is the curveball of the five because it’s a compelling all-action World War II blockbuster, not your traditional tearjerker. But, a combination of Spielberg’s enthralling opening scene at Normandy, along with the heroic deaths of many comrades-in-arms, results in an overwhelming emotional experience.
3. Green Mile Tom Hanks’ wonderful performance as the inspirational prison guard will leave his male viewers weeping uncontrollably. This is a film with great character development mixed with a compelling story; add in an array of fantastic performances, and the result, a perfect cocktail to shed a tear.
2. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest A simply wonderful and engrossing film with an ending that will cause even the toughest of lads to reach for the Kleenex. The ray of sunlight that emerges from such a dark and depressing ending only intensifies the low-pitched sobbing.
1. Bambi Describing this film as the biggest tearjerker of all time is understating the affect this seventy-year-old Disney classic has had on many men. A tale of a young deer whose mother is shot by hunters, Bambi portrayed every child’s biggest fear, and this fear can resurface at any time resulting in grown men blubbering at a cartoon.
Joshua Brown
Sophie James explores how films are going further to include and inspire everyone In Hollywood, an established star can often save a weak plot from financial meltdown. But when you’ve got the likes of Emma Watson playing a “wallflower”, you know it’s all gone a bit mad – perhaps the film industry is in need of a wake up call. This came on 21st September with the release of the French film Untouchable, which tells the real-life story of a quadriplegic millionaire and his exconvict carer. The film is not what you might expect. Whilst topics such as these have been deemed ‘untouchable’ in the past, it doesn’t beat about the bush, confronting the issues head on with full-frontal comedy. This approach seems to have done the trick. The film has already had huge
When you’ve got the likes of Emma Watson playing a wallflower, you know it’s all gone a bit mad- perhaps the film industry is in need of a wake up call. success all over the globe, grossing higher than the last Harry Potter installment in some countries. Picked as France’s next
entry for the 2013 Academy Awards, it has even inspired no less than Harvey Weinstein and Colin Firth, who are set to make an English language version of the film. Judging by the rave reviews, it’s going to be huge in England too. Quite clearly, this story has already touched millions, marking cinema’s growing ability to challenge, inspire and teach; and showing audiences’ willingness to go to the cinema and learn something new. It’s all well and good for the film to go on and for us to switch off, but sometimes we’re looking for something more- and for our eyes to be well and truly opened. Although Untouchable might be the first film to tackle such issues and hit the mainstream, it’s not the first to bring life with disability into the spotlight and onto the big screen. The Diving Bell and the
Review
Lawless Director: John Hillcoat • Starring: Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Shia LaBeouf Released: 7th September 2012 Much like director John Hillcoat’s last film The Road, Lawless is a story of families surviving. Now its Prohibition era America rather than the apocalypse and The Road’s father and son have become three intensely loyal Bondurant brothers. Lawless, however, is a far less unrelenting film than The Road and suffers for it. Ultimately, it’s solid direction and gripping story (with a charmingly authentic screenplay by long time Hillcoat collaborator Nick Cave) redeem it from being a missed opportunity but it certainly lacks the bite of Hillcoat’s previous work. Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard ( Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf ) make moonshine and defend their profession with brutal ferocity. Jack dreams of bigger things, fancy cars and expensive suits much to the
Actor
PROFILE Name: Tom Hardy Age: 35 Best known for: Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Warrior
annoyance of his two older siblings. Early on they give local sheriffs a few jars of their finest product so that they’ll look the other way. That is until Special Agent Charlie Rakes (played with a constant, menacing sneer by Guy Pearce) arrives from Chicago to put an end to their business and, potentially, their lives. The film really goes out of its way to establish just how evil the foppish Rakes is. Pearce is clearly trying his best to be anything less than completely obvious but his efforts get lost amidst the noise of scenes which serve no purpose other than to make sure you know what a villain he is when the issue was never in much doubt to begin with. For all the subtlety that Rakes lacks, it can be found in droves in Hardy’s Forrest, who may well be one of the characters of the year. Much like in the excellent
Bronson, Hardy plays a man capable of extreme violence, but Forrest is not the crazed sadist that Bronson was. His violence is never for show and is always done purposefully: to protect himself and those around him. He is a man of closeted emotions, so much so that when new arrival Maggie Beauford ( Jessica Chastain) begins to show signs of affection, Forrest reacts with a schoolboy shyness which makes him so much more than just another violent thug. In the end, Forrest shines so brightly that he drowns the rest of the film out. The Road managed to arrange all of its parts into a far greater whole but Lawless has to content itself with being a film of impressive surface but little substance. Andrew Home
After collecting the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2011, London born Tom Hardy has literally bulldozed his way into the Hollywood limelight, starring in blockbuster after blockbuster. Tom, once a troubled teen, abandoned his rebellious past, devoted his energy into acting and has never looked back. Hardy made his breakthrough appearance in Inception (2010) before going onto establishing himself as a household name, joining the realms of the elusive “A-listers”. A series of summer successes including the final instalment of Nolan’s Batman Trilogy The Dark Knight Rises, This Means War and the more recently released Lawless, have
triggered Hardy’s rapid rise to the top. It is fair to say the Summer of 2012 belonged to this rising star. Whether bottling up the intense and quite complex performances given as Bane (2012) and Bronson (2009) or melting female hearts as niceguy Tuck (2012), Hardy must be credited for his versatility and sheer devotion for the roles he has played. Known for his incredible work ethic in the gym, his colossal frame rivaled the Dark Knight’s, as Hardy gracefully succeeded The Joker. After worldwide success, it is inevitable Tom’s train shall continue to gain momentum into 2013 and beyond. Watch this space. Samuel Parr
Butterfly in 2007 moved audiences with its depiction of the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby and his life with locked-in syndrome. Arguably even more exciting and powerful is the emergence of films that have gone even further by casting actors with special needs and disabilities. Watch Girlfriend, Yo También, or The Memory Keeper’s Daughter- films about people with Down’s Syndrome, starring actors with Down’s Syndrome. Films like these and like Untouchable are a welcome sight to the film industry and to us, proving that film can not only be watched by everyone, but include everyone too. Sophie James
Film
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Preview
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A Year in Film
Taken 2
1979
Director: Olivier Megaton • Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace
Taken (2008) may have left many of those who went to see it with the impression that there was no one in Europe left for Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) to kill. Apparently there are enough caricatured Albanian gangsters left to warrant a sequel, the simply titled Taken 2. The action now moves from Paris to Istanbul where Bryan, his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace, who somehow managed to come out of the last film completely unscathed) and now friendly ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Jannsen) are on holiday. Lenore is promptly captured by some more of those pesky Albanians and Bryan goes off to find her while Kim is left to
fend for herself. The plot isn’t what makes people want to go and see Taken though, it’s the opportunity to turn one’s brain off and put your feet up while an unreasonably big body count piles up before you. It’s a typical Luc Besson (who writes and produces both of the Taken movies) film where the ridiculous nature of the plot is only overshadowed by the even more ridiculous violence. Taken 2 will certainly bring more of the same sort of thrill that the original did, sure the director’s changed but that hardly matters. The appropriately named, Olivier Megaton directs this time
who, like previous director Pierre Morel, has worked with Besson on a number of projects before, including the critically panned Hitman (2007). So perhaps the story will be weak and the violence silly, but at least this means that there’s another film with Liam Neeson in it who has proved over the past couple of years just how intriguing an action star he can be. Anyone who saw the absolutely mesmerising, The Grey earlier this year will surely agree. Andrew Home
When it came to film, 1979 saw it all – from aliens to union workers, world wars to Star Wars. Figures as diverse as cowboys, star trekkers and parents all hit the film headlines. Whilst the film industry suffered a blow with the death of Western superstar John Wayne on June 11th, 1979 saw the rein of the incredible Dustin Hoffman, whose memorable and moving performance in Robert Benton’s Kramer vs. Kramer earned him his first Oscar, and will have no doubt contributed to the film’s other successes. Scooping up the academy awards for best film, best director and best supporting actress, it’s no wonder that it was the most successful film of 1979, and perhaps the most successful divorce in history! The year also saw Sally Field win her first academy award for best actress in Norma Rae and Sylvester Stallone return to the screen as Rocky in Rocky II. On top of this, we had not
Hollywood Loves Time Travel Nihal Tharoor-Menon gives us an insight into the importance of time-travel within the film world
The legacy of time-travel in Hollywood films is constantly growing. It’s no surprise when you consider this idea conceptually and how it can be employed to accustom any plot line, however ridiculous.
ODEON LISTINGS
Each film tends to set its own rules and structure for the phenomenon. In Terminator, time-travel is a one-way street in which you arrive indecently exposed in some kind of electrified sphere. Back to the Future on the other hand, has a more reasonable form of transportation, allowing you to freely to
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET (15) DIRECTOR: MARK TONDERAI STARRING: JENNIFER LAWRENCE, MAX THIERIOT RUNNING TIME: 101 SHOWING: 1330, 1600, 1830, 2100 (MONDAYS: 1830, 2100)
travel back and forth fully-dressed and in the comfort of your own car. One of the first time-travelling films, Planet of the Apes (1968) probably holds the most ‘scientific’ explanation; astronauts who are travelling at light speed end up progressing thousands of years in a matter of months. One actor who is no stranger to the idea is Bruce Willis, who starred in the criticallyacclaimed box office smash 12 Monkeys (1995). In it he travels from a post-apocalyptic future back to the ’90s to save the earth from a deadly virus outbreak. Clearly Willis is a fan of time-travel, as he revisits the concept this autumn in Looper, accompanied by Hollywood’s new golden boy Joseph GordonLevitt. Whilst the film’s plot may sound ridiculous – future crime syndicate disposes of rivals by sending them back 30 years to face Levitt’s shotgun – it is already set to be one of this year’s most successful films. It seems that no matter how many years go by, time-travel always resounds well in cinema. Nihal Tharoor-Menon
only the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but the beginnings of a new Star Wars film – with Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back going into production on March 5th.
and Robert Duvall in one cast list secured its place as not only the film of the year, but perhaps one of the most iconic films of the decade. Anything else? Well there was also the release of the Alien - a major landmark of the science-fiction genre, as well as the start of production of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. 1979 was an incredible year for film, with iconic performances from acting royalty. Want to see if any year can top it? Then watch this space for the next issue! Sophie James and Nihal Tharoor-Menon
There’s no doubt that the most memorable film event of 1979 was the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. Whilst only achieving fourth place in the year’s top grossing films, the combination of Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen
CORNERHOUSE Barbara Director: Christian Petzold Language:: German Following my accidental “films in a foreign language” theme, our Cornerhouse Pick of the Week is the German film Barbara. Set in 1980s East Germany, Barbara is the tale of a physician trying to live and practise amidst the bleak landscape of Cold War Germany. Wishing to leave the German Democratic Republic, physician Barbara (Nina Hoss) files for an exit visa, but instead finds herself banished from Berlin to a small country hospital. This is the story of the encounters and problems she experiences, even whilst leading a supposedly sedate and tranquil country lifestyle. Barbara finds herself torn between her desire for freedom and her duty as a doctor, her love for a man and her devotion to her patients. Facing love and friendship amidst turmoil and suspicion- the film starkly depicts the difficulties of daily life experienced by everyone during the Cold War. Barbara is directed by German director Christian Petzold, and is the fourth film to see him working with his muse Nina Hoss. This combination obviously works, as the film won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, and has also been selected as Germany’s entry for this year’s Oscars. Bleak but brilliant – Barbara is a must-see and is out on the 28th September. Sophie James
HYSTERIA (15)
TO ROME WITH LOVE (12A) SAVAGES (15)
DIRECTOR: TANYA WEXLER
DIRECTOR: WOODY ALLEN
DIRECTOR: OLIVER STONE
STARRING: MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, HUGH DANCY, JONATHAN PRYCE
STARRING: PENELOPE CRUZ, ELLEN PAGE, WOODY ALLEN
STARRING: AARON TAYLORJOHNSON, BLAKE LIVELY
RUNNING TIME: 99 MIN
RUNNING TIME: 112 MIN
RUNNING TIME: 130 MIN
SHOWING: 1515, 1745, 2025 (MONDAYS: 2025)
SHOWING: WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, 1750
SHOWING: 1520, 1820, 2120 (MONDAYS: 1820, 2120)
OUT THIS WEEK: LOOPER (15) DIRECTOR: RIAN JOHNSON STARRING: JOSEPH GORDONLEVITT, BRUCE WILLIS RUNNING TIME: 119 MIN GENRE: SCI FI, ACTION
Fashion
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
5
This month in fashion...
TOP
Street Style
Here is our stylish selection of Manchester’s finest…
Welcome to October: Harajuku Lovers
Famously Stylish Students 1. Lily Cole Lily managed to balance her modelling and acting career whilst studying for a degree in History of Art at Cambridge University. She subsequently achieved a double first class honours degree. The perfect combination of intelligence and beauty, this girl has the best life ever.
2. Natalie Portman
Name: Dana Fowles Occupation: Second-year English Literature Student at the University of Manchester Spotted: Fallowfield Wearing: Green shorts, silver scalloped-edge top, green patterned blazer and black tights all by River Island. Mini satchel and calflength boots from a car boot sale Style Icon: Kate Bosworth because she’s not a flesh-flasher but still manages to look sexy, smart and individual.
CRAVING & SAVING LOVING & LOATHING Craving: Orlebar Brown Jacket - £260
Loving: Lana Del Rey for H&M
Contrary to the September heatwave that we had this time last year, it is about time we thought about investing in a statement jacket for the winter months ahead. Warm up your wardrobe with shades of orange and this jacket by Orlebar Brown offers just that. The ‘Jeremy’ jacket is completely reversible; the photo exhibits the belize orange block colour on the outside and the inside is a bold chevron print by David Hicks (featured in last week’s issue). The timeless design means you can also wear it in the warmer months. What I love most about this jacket are the visible trimmings of the chevron print that you can see when wearing the solid orange. Blend with monochrome colours, especially hues of navy or grey so that your ensemble is not too overbearing.
It is only fitting that the H&M Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign features the 21st Century pin-up sensation and pouty seductress, Lana Del Rey for it resembles all that we love about Old Hollywood. The oversized pink angora jumper, velvet heels and loudly patterned tights are but a few of the pieces I expect to be heavily coveted when the collection is released in stores. H&M seem to have a knack with associating themselves with the right crowd in that their signature collaborations with superlux brands always end up in empty clothes rails. The next designer collaboration is with Maison Martin Margiela that is expected to be released in stores on the 15th November. You will see me in the queue.
Saving: H&M Orange Overcoat – £79.99
Loathing: Flip-flops around campus
Whilst this H&M alternative appears more formal, it still prevails in offering the much-needed splash of colour that we are looking for. The collar has a black underlining to correspond with the black buttons on the front that become concealed when the jacket is worn closed. What we love most about this jacket is that it has the potential to be worn in both formal and casual ensembles. Team this with dark-wash denim and a cream coloured chunky knit jumper and you are ready to go. We would love to see this coat around campus rather than the assumed Barbour jacket with rolled up jeans outfit.
It is an age-old tale to wear flip-flops with your outfit when walking to and from Sainsbury’s on a Sunday morning when you are suffering the consequences from drinking yourself into oblivion the night before. This I can understand. The decision to wear flip-flops to university or around town however is something that warrants a Joan Rivers fashion rant, especially when the heavens are permanently open and when we are experiencing single-figured temperatures. Sorry lads, but it is the male contingent is guilty of this crime. It would seem that flip-flops worn with tracksuit bottoms and some form of sports top have become the unspoken uniform of the AU crowd. Flip-flops are not everyday outerwear. Period.
Jake Pummintr
Another incredible multitasker, Natalie studied for a degree in psychology at Harvard, whilst her extracurricular activities involved filming the Star Wars prequels. Natalie never looks below average, however she is currently radiant in the Miss Dior perfume campaigns and is a spokes model for the fashion house.
Name: Louisa Roffe Occupation: Student, 3rd year at University of Manchester studying Design Management for Fashion Retail. Spotted: Fallowfield Wearing: Leather shorts, grey woollen jumper and black heeled ankle boots all from River Island. Style Icon: ‘Whitney Port. She is classy and always looks effortlessly chic’
Jake Pummintr
3. Brian Cox Our favourite in-house particle physicist turned TV personality (and Dr Who cameo actor) is renowned for his laid back style and crippling intelligence. What is great about Brian is his accessible and interesting way of talking about very complicated things, and his successful avoidance of any nutty professor clichés through his sartorial choices.
So dressing up as a girl at the Oscars wasn’t his most becoming look, but James Franco knows how to switch on suave when he needs to. Whilst filming Pineapple Express, Judd Apatow commented that Franco was to be seen to be reading The Iliad and James Joyce for his English degree at UCLA.
5. Emma Watson
Elizabeth Harper
The end of British Summer Time is upon us and there is an increasing sense of doom pervading these Mancunian streets. The catwalks of New York, London, Paris and Milan have had their say in the fashion stakes and you would be forgiven for thinking that there are no more sartorial delights to keep us upbeat and optimistic in the face of dreaded winter. However, I would like to bring to the attention of all fashion fanatics the news that there are still shows and designers to get excited about even this late on in the fashion calendar. The fashion weeks of Tokyo, Moscow, Belgrade and Dubai are all scheduled to take place this month. These may not be as prestigious as the big four fashion capitals; however that is what makes them exciting. Of course we get silly about seeing the big guns in action: Chanel, Versace, Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Louis Vuitton etc. Yet there is something equally (if not more) thrilling about leaving the safety of the big four and not really knowing what to expect. Even though they are big in their own countries, these events do not seem to attract much international coverage. This has resulted in the likes of The Independent affording them an ‘underdog’ status. Everyone loves an underdog, so for the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you a background of the designers, culture and who to look out for as we venture off the beaten track into fashion’s emerging capitals. The rise of Tokyo as a contender for fashion capital status has been inevitable, and this October, its fashion week will see 40 brands showcasing their work. Tokyo is renowned for its Harajuku district, a haven for the lover of avant-garde dressing. A whole subculture of young people live here, dressing up in cartoon-esque punky outfits, congregating and socialising on the Jingu Bashi bridge and parading the streets in their extravagant and decadent attire. It is little wonder that the city has captured the imagination of the likes of Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani, the latter of whom has created songs and clothing lines paying homage to Harajuku, and for a period of time had a posse of Harajuku girls to accompany her across the globe. She went as far as to nickname them Love, Angel, Music and Baby. There is something inherently free spirited and eccentric in the Tokyo street style with Lolita, Hello Kitty, fairies and glam rock proving to be important recurrent themes. The vibrancy and colour on the street has been refined and translated onto the
“There is something inherently free spirited and eccentric in the Tokyo street style with Lolita, Hello Kitty, fairies and glam rock proving to be important recurrent themes.”
their clothing is all-American and made in ‘downtown LA’ will be showing at Tokyo fashion week for the first time this October. Although paradoxical, this move is actually incredibly shrewd. The city it appears is a designer’s heaven. The markets are constantly propelled by its youth culture on the street. Therefore in Tokyo’s case, there will always be a customer for your clothes as long as you meet their flamboyant needs. American Apparel’s metallic gold leggings and
glittery leg warmers will be selling like hot cakes in no time! Fashion week in Tokyo is more than just a bunch of designers showing off their work and raking in money. It is a cultural event, where the city’s fashion is characterised and driven by its people. There is little wonder then that the legions of enamoured admirers, looking to it as a source of inspiration and fashion democracy, are growing.
catwalks through the work of Kamishima Chinami, and Naoashi Sawayanagi. Although Japan’s biggest fashion exports Issey Miyake, Yojhi Yamamoto and Comme Des Garcons exhibit elsewhere with a much more Western eye for style, Tokyo fashion week’s selection of designers reflect and refine what is current and desirable on Japanese streets. Many have studied fashion abroad and worked for large labels in Europe and America, for example Yasutoshi Ezumi who attended Central Saint Martin’s School of Design in London before contributing at Alexander McQueen and Aquascutum. It is extremely telling that he has gone back to his home country to show in his capital city. Tokyo is becoming a concentrated melting pot of talent and the world is taking note: it is not only the Japanese who are flocking home, they are bringing with them wide-eyed and bedazzled Westerners desperate for a taste of their vibrant clothing culture. Love or hate her gaudy and ornate style, Italian born Anna Dello Russo is notable for her continued contribution to Japanese fashion. Since 2006 she has been the editor-at-large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan. As a woman who will quite happily wear a pineapple hat, she clearly lives in touch and in celebration of the Harajuku mood. Interestingly, American Apparel, who are quick to publicise that
Beauty
4. James Franco
Post-Harry Potter, Emma started out in higher education doing a Liberal Arts degree at Brown University in America. She then transferred to Oxford University where she is currently studying English Literature as well as continuing her film commitments and being the face of Lancôme.
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Let’s not be superficial about this… A bigger kinda beauty, people! By Jessica Cusack I would like to take the next nine months as Beauty Columnist to make some changes, to really nurture this little section of the paper and develop it… much like something else which happens over the course of nine months, but before you shriek and drop the paper with alarm, I am not in fact with child. Rather, every so often I would like to take the focus away from fun stuff like make up and hair styles and glittery nails, to talk about – cue cheesy Miss Universe one-liner – beauty from the inside out. There. I said it. I believe that we can get more out of this beauty column by widening our focus from the face to the bigger picture: it’s beauty in a bigger sense. And once again, before you roll your eyes, I’m not going to lambast you with how to be a better person, or a good citizen. Screw other people: look after yourself. ‘Wellbeing’ is the name of the game, because actually ‘being well’ is bloody difficult to do alongside university. It often doesn’t
make the checklist and can fall far behind essay deadlines, reading lists, foraging for something to eat in the god-forsaken fridge, and trying to maintain a social butterfly status. Added to this, uni plays havoc with your looks, your body, and thus your confidence. Both the academic and the social spectrums can have damaging effects: early mornings after little sleep, rushed meals in the library, too much coffee and staring at a computer screen all day can be just as troublesome as an excess of late nights, cheap booze, and the morning-after food binge. Dominos may, depressingly, be the Fallowfield food du jour but it doesn’t do a lot for your waistline or indeed your pores. And before you start heckling and throwing rotten tomatoes at me in the street like some seventeenth century killjoy, I am not for a second saying we should abandon these debaucheries or marathon library sessions altogether.
Indeed they are an integral part of student life. I am, however, suggesting that we should take time to look after ourselves and allow these concerns to move up on our list of priorities, before we emerge exhausted, hung-over, and out of touch with our minds and bodies. So welcome to my column! Where wellbeing – or Beauty in the Bigger Sense, as I will dub it – will live harmoniously alongside the more sparkly aesthetics of beauty, which, fear not, will also feature heavily. In between bouts of beautiful beauty stuff, I will be writing on food, fitness, health, sleep, and a whole host of other things to make you feel better and ultimately look better. Because no amount of make up, hair spray or perfume can hide someone who’s not looking after themselves: if you’re putting junk in, you can’t conceal the junk that’s coming out.
Elizabeth Harper
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Music
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Editor’s column
Shut Up and Make a Documentary LCD Soundsystem’s legacy might yet extend beyond their music. Joe Goggins Music Editor Irrespective of your opinion on LCD Soundsystem, and the three records they produced before calling it a day, very loudly, last April, the documentary covering the band’s final days proves a strangely fascinating watch. Everything is in place for a tale of rock and roll excess; a final show at the legendary Madison Square Garden, a sell-out crowd composed of the hardiest of the hardcore, flown in from around the world, and a mammoth four-hour setlist prepared, but in actuality, Shut Up and Play the Hits is a fairly tame affair. It’s this, though, that makes it such an interesting watch; the film draws on the obvious juxtaposition between the euphoria of the show and the thumping mundanity of the next day; rather than waking up miles from the venue in a pool of his own vomit, or overdosing, frontman James Murphy walks his dog, meets his manager and starts deciding what to do with all the leftover gear. He talks, at one point, of the difference between the mystique he perceived to surround his favourite artists, and the normality of a musician’s everyday existence. That’s exactly what the film is about, and it’s proof that the rock documentary can provide the sort of insight you’d struggle to find anywhere else. Murphy comes across as a pretty affable chap, but whilst so much of the press surrounding the final LCD record lauded the band for taking the unusual step of quitting whilst ahead, the film shows us how wracked with uncertainty he really is about
SONGS 5 IN THE FIELD OF... the Lib Dem
Conference Joe Goggins, Music Edior
the decision. Elsewhere, this kind of window to the artist’s world has been provided before; Radiohead’s Meeting People Is Easy makes the band’s relentless cycle of shows and press for OK Computer seem at best exhausting and at worst nightmarish. loudQUIETloud, the film about the Pixies reunion, presents a pretty sad story of a group of people revelling in their music onstage, but almost completely unable to communicate with each other off of it. Last year’s Hole documentary, Hit So Hard, paints a hugely unglamorous picture of the rock and roll lifestyle, chronicling as it did the descent of drummer Patty Schemel from playing for tens of thousands of people to prostitution, via drug addiction. The scope of these films, and the way they can, when executed properly, broaden our understanding of an artist often extends beyond the artist themselves. Scorsese’s No Direction Home draws heavily upon an extremely rare interview, given over the course of ten hours, by Bob Dylan, but the film’s real points of interest stem from discussion with those around him, from poet Allen Ginsberg to Dylan’s ex-girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. Regardless of what you might make of the movie itself, Shut Up and Play the Hits demonstrates the power of the documentary to let the outside world in on the inner workings of a rock band in a manner that no other medium quite achieves. If interest in this criminally-underused format spikes, then LCD’s legacy might reach further than just their music.
Interview: Palma Violets
Will from Palma Violets talks to The Mancunion about disco balls, day jobs and confectionery...
Daniel Jones Music Editor Having formed little more than a year ago and with less than a week to go before they embark on their first UK tour as headliners, everything seems to be falling together nicely for Palma Violets. They’ve just signed to Rough Trade this year, they’ve played the likes of Bestival and Reading this summer and their first proper single was featured as Zane Lowe’s ‘hottest record in the world’ a few weeks back. “We’ve never really paid too much attention to the hype, but the Zane Lowe thing was kind of surreal,” says Will, the band’s drummer, “We were all sitting around the radio and couldn’t quite believe what we were hearing. We knew that he was going to play the single, but he also did a proper little monologue about us before he played it – it was all pretty unbelievable.” The rest of the four-piece is comprised of Sam Fryer (lead/vox), Chilli Jesson (bass/vox) and Pete Mayhew (keys). Will, Sam and Pete all went to the same school before deciding to rent out a place in which they could write, rehearse and play live to whoever wanted to see them – “It’s called Studio 180, it’s kind of like our base, I guess. Upstairs we can work on our own stuff, then in the basement we’ve got quite a good space to put on shows. It’s not just for us; there have been quite a few local artists who’ve put on things down there.” In order to afford the rent for the studio, Sam and Pete worked together at the British War Museum, and Will got a job as a life-guard, so at least he’s well experienced with diving into crowds of people. “Chilli joined later on,” he continued, “initially, he wanted to be our manager but we needed a bassist more, so he
1. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word – Elton John
2. Billy Liar – The Decemberists
Surely Mr. Clegg’s first port of call when he finally ‘apologised’ before the conference for one of most galling political betrayals in history. He’ll likely have played the Blue version to ensure he remained ‘down with the kids’.
The line “he drifts to sleep with a moan and a weep” probably best applies to the Lib Dem voters than to the MPs who sold them down the river at their first sniff of power.
If you haven’t heard of us, don’t judge until you’ve seen us play live” picked it up and we took it from there.” You can see Studio 180 for yourself in the video for ‘Best of Friends’, a dingy pad to say the least but one that the band can clearly class as home. They’ll be leaving it behind come the 3rd October when they venture up to the Deaf Institute for the fourth stop on their 22-date October tour. “We’ve played Deaf a few times,” Will explains, “it’s definitely one of the more memorable venues out there. I’m a big fan of disco balls so the giant one in the middle of the upstairs room is something I look forward to revisiting!” Their style has been described as ‘zombierock’, a reference to the grungy, driving tone that undercuts all of their songs. Influence-wise, it’s hard not to recognise the echoes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Iggy Pop, especially in
‘Tom the Drum’, which is arguably their best track thus far. I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t included on their forthcoming debut album which is due sometime around February 2013, just after the Christmas rush. But instead of counting their chickens, the band seem very modest when asked about this prospect - “We never expected to come this far this fast and I still don’t think we’re as good as people make us out to be. We need to work on a couple of songs, but everything should be ready for early next year. This tour should help us to work out exactly how we want each track to sound in the studio. It might well be the case that we strip some back when it comes to recording.” As for the name, they obviously like confectionary from the 1970s – “We didn’t want to take ourselves too seriously and when somebody asked what we were called, Sam just said Palma Violets and after that it kind of stuck. We all liked the sweet and at the end of the day, we weren’t too fussed about what we were called.” Whatever their collective name may be, Will, Pete, Sam and Chilli have carved out an opportunity for themselves to become big players in the next wave of UK indie bands. If they get the right producer, the album could be a very interesting release indeed. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve managed to get themselves into a very credible position already, but they don’t seem content to rest on their laurels. You’re definitely not wrong in thinking that guitar rock is an overly saturated genre, but that is purely testament to the fact that Palma Violets have managed to break ahead of the ensuing pack of denim-jacketed wolves. Let’s see how far ahead they can get.
3. Judas – Lady Gaga
4. Bruise Violet – Babes in Toyland
5. Apocalypse Please – Muse
At £75 a pop, not even all thirty of Mr. Clegg’s pieces of silver would have afforded him a ticket to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball shows last month. Popjustice described the titular character as ‘repeatedly drawn to awfulness’. Apt.
Frontwoman Kat Bjelland switches between growling “you were born with glue instead of spine” and menacingly cooing “liar, liar, liar…” amidst typically grungy mid-90s guitar work and racing drums, in a track that could easily serve as official party anthem.
Given that they have let down pretty much everybody who voted for them, the sound of Matt Bellamy wailing “declare this an emergency” over stormy piano could prove appropriate as the Lib Dems are wiped out at the next election.
Music
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
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Live
Richard Hawley 26th September Manchester Academy 8.5/10 Richard Hawley’s sixth album, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, seems a striking departure from the retro melancholy of past work. Nominated for the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize for the second time, a number of the award’s inquisitors have undoubtedly diluted the customary crowd of drape coat wearing, side burn sporting Hawley lookalikes. Still, the coiffured quiff, seems to be in-vogue at Oxford Road’s Manchester Academy. Beginning with the title track of his sixth album, Hawley’s voice can be heard far more strikingly than it is on the record, as the intensity of the electronic effects is lost around the venue. His burdened voice has maintained its impressive tone, which cuts
through the chatter that’s spread throughout the hall. “You lot must be loaded” Hawley accuses, “if you want to talk, why not stay at home?” As a hypocritical raucous cheer erupts, the band begins ‘Don’t Stare at the Sun’ a second track from the critically acclaimed new release. “That song’s about flying a kite with my child” he tells the crowd, “but it’s not as auspicious as it sounds, I was off my fucking head on acid”. Hawley’s betweensong anecdotes are nearly as entertaining as his music, with tales of 2 day benders and drunken attempts at chores. The gripping, ‘Down in the Woods’ tells of “stolen love under a canopy of tress”, which seems fitting as the stage is decorated with half a dozen spindly birches.
Whilst, the instantly recognisable ‘Tonight the Streets are Ours’ which featured on the Oscar nominated 2010 Banksy film Exit Through the Gift Shop is entrancing and has the crowd captured by the dreamlike sound. Despite, for the majority of the concert, not being fully persuaded that merely being slowly soothed into a comfortable haze was enough, the tender delivery of the 2009 track ‘Open up Your Door’ was a convincing showcase of Hawley’s tremendous talents as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter and cast away all previous doubt. Sophie Donovan, Music Editor
Venetian Snares
Maverick Sabre
Sound Control, 25th September 8/10 Hailing from deep within the Canadian wilderness, Aaron Funk, aka Venetian Snares, occupies a similarly unique artistic habitat as an icon of musical ferocity and experimentalism. For those less familiar with this end of the musical spectrum, Funk is an exponent of breakcore, an outsider genre devoted to exploring the outermost limits of conventional rhythmic structures. Its protagonists borrow influence from jungle, gabber, hardcore, and techno to produce impenetrably complex and unpredictable soundscapes. Without need for gentle introductions, the night was instantly plunged into a cacophony of violent syncopation around a backbone of roided-up breakbeats that even Lance Armstrong would be proud of. For the following hour, no let-up was forthcoming as recent gabber-leaning eccentricities of My So-Called Life collided with the immortal neo-classical compositions of Rossz csillag alatt született. Picking apart the individual components and ideas of Venetian Snare’s live output doesn’t do much justice to the overriding sense of aggression, power and fervor conjured up. The level of the secondto-second unpredictability is rarely found in other musician’s performance palettes and it seems unlikely that many could manage it anyway. A perennial fine line between genius and insanity
is precariously balanced as the performance delves into perpetually harder and faster territories, yet the atmosphere whipped up in doing so certainly gives credence to the idea that this man possesses something pretty exceptional. It goes without saying that Venetian Snares isn’t for everyone, but for those who take an interest in his unique brand
Academy 1 7/10
of sound experiments the man unquestionably pulled it out the bag for the umpteenth time. Whether you want to marvel at intricate programming or become enveloped within the sheer sonic muscle on show, there are few that can do what Aaron Funk does and once more did. Joe Timothy
It’s a testimony to Maverick Sabres voice that he sounds as good live as he does on his soul tinged debut album Lonely Are The Brave. Entering the stage to Bob Marley’s ‘Jammin’ certainly set the tone for a laidback evening with Sabre taking inspiration from multiple genres - encompassing soul, motown, reggae and dubstep. While the heavens predictably try to pour through the venue’s rafters, Sabre brings a much needed energy to a typical Manchester evening. Beginning with ‘Open My Eyes’accompanied by female backing singer Chantelle - tuneful melodies and hip hop are effortlessly bridged and it seems hard to define Sabre as either rapper or singer. The rapport with the female heavy audience is evident from the start, as the biggest cheer of the night comes when the singer stripped down to a black vest. Alongside tracks from his debut album such as ‘These Days’, which samples The Turtles’ instantly recognisable ‘You Showed Me’ Sabre treats the crowd to a brand new upbeat song ‘Just Smile’. And regularly asking the crowd if they are “old school fans”, Sabre delves back to treasured musical roots with a cover of reggae hit ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ accompanied by a particularly ironic rendition of Seals and Crofts’ classic, ‘Summer Breeze’. Hit single ‘Let Me Go’ sounds huge with a backdrop of swaying hands and a constellation of lighters and flashing cameras, whilst encore
‘I Need’ proved to be the biggest hit of the night - the refrain ‘I Need Sunshine’ more poignant than ever. Despite wet jeans not yet having fully dried from the persistant Mancunian drizzle, the
audience were more than happy to leave the Academy and walk into the night with the lyrics to ‘Just Smile’ echoing around their weary heads. Charlie Boydell-Smith
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Music
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
New Music
Single of the week Confidence Boost (Harmonimix) • Trimbal Label: R&S Considering the limited commercial success of Trimbal, don’t feel stupid if the former Roll Deep member and grime MC is not top of your iTunes most played list. However reworked by Harmonimix – alias of the acclaimed James Blake – Trimbal will undoubtedly benefit from such an association. After bursting into the hearts of the ‘post-callit-what-you-want-step’ followers, Blake went on to attain runner up in the ‘BBC’s Sound of 2011 , as well as being shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize. Indeed, this is all very charming, but the production of ‘Confidence Boost’ slightly cuts away from the soulful styling of such track as: ‘Limit to Your Love’, and resorts to a more grime and bass influenced sound. At first Blake’s construction features a punchy grime beat for Trimbal’s lyrics to thrive
on. However, as the track moves forward into a harmonic contrast, Blake’s trademark synth and bass move in to underpin the entire track until the depth of sound is such that its combusts together in an inspiring crescendo. Though Blake’s production steals my attention, Trimbal himself must also take credit for the emotive lyrics which give this track purpose. Nevertheless, the mirroring of Trimbal’s flow with an auto tuned voice is testament to Blake’s talent, and only adds to the list of reasons for why this single should be a crossover
success. The B-side to ‘Confidence Boost’, ‘Saying’ also possesses fascinating sound which is more in line with both Trimbal and Blake’s solo work. If you’re lucky enough to read this before tickets go on sale (they will sell out in seconds), then James Blake will be performing an intimate live show at the Gorilla in Manchester on December the 6th, as well as two other small dates in London and Bristol. Sam Bartram
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK Club guide 1st-7th October MONDAY WHAT: Hit&Run w/ B. Traits / Mele / Fulcrum showcase WHERE: FAC251 WHEN: 22:30-03:00 HOW MUCH: £4 TUESDAY WHAT: Gold Teeth WHERE: Deaf Institute WHEN:22:00-03:00 HOW MUCH: £4 WEDNESDAY WHAT: Palma Violets WHERE: Deaf Institute WHEN: 19:00-23:00 HOW MUCH: £7 THURSDAY WHAT: Twisted Wheel WHERE: Sound Control WHEN: 19:00-22:30 HOW MUCH: £10
FRIDAY WHAT: Richie Hawtin & Carl Cox et. al WHERE: Warehouse Project WHEN: 20:00 - 04:00 HOW MUCH: £25 SATURDAY WHAT: Marina & the Diamonds WHERE: Academy WHEN: 19:00-23:00 HOW MUCH: £20 adv SUNDAY WHAT: Open Mic Night WHERE: Joshua Brooks WHEN: 20:00 HOW MUCH: Free - and a free drink if you play.
BOOK NOW: 0161 832 1111 www.manchesteracademy.net Live Music and Clubs at the University of Manchester Students’ Union
OCTOBER 2012
Toyah Saturday 13th October
Axewound + The Smoking Hearts Wednesday 3rd October
Nada Surf Sunday 14th October
Soulfly Wednesday 3rd October
Reckless Love Monday 15th October
The Midnight Beast + Unicorn Kid Wednesday 3rd October
Parlotones + The Chevin Tuesday 16th October
Tonight Alive Thursday 4th October
Rick Astley Wednesday 17th October
Dragonforce feat. Alestorm + Defiled Friday 5th October
Impericon Never Say Die! Tour 2012 Wednesday 17th October
Between The Buried And Me Fri 5th October
The Enemy Wednesday 17th October
Chantel McGregor Fri 5th October
Mark Tremonti Thursday 18th October
Cockney Rejects postponed until 22nd March
Big Boy Bloater Thursday 18th October
Marina and the Diamonds Saturday 6th October
Dan Le Sac & Friends Thursday 18th October
Mayday Parade Saturday 6th October
Grizzly Bear Thursday 18th October
The Skints Saturday 6th October
Evile Friday 19th October
Gallows Saturday 6th October
Gaz Coombes Friday 19th October
FUN. Sunday 7th October
Down + Orange Goblin + Warbeast Friday 19th October
Anberlin postponed until the 2nd Feb
Nervana (Nirvana Tribute) Saturday 20th October
Lower Than Atlantis Sunday 7th October
Bowling For Soup Saturday 20th October
Serj Tankian Mon 8th October
MUK Records Label Launch Saturday 20th October
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead Thursday 11th October
My Darling Clementine Monday 22nd October
Nina Nesbitt Thursday 11th October Hugh Cornwell Friday 12th October Foreign Beggars Friday 12th October
Delilah Tuesday 23rd October Dog Is Dead Tuesday 23rd October Alex Clare Wednesday 24th October
Hot Chip Saturday 13th October
NME presents Generation Next Howler + The Cast Of Cheers Wednesday 24th October
4Ft Fingers Saturday 13th October
Mindless Self Indulgence Thursday 25th October
FOR FULL LISTINGS PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE
Books Book Club: Ata Rahman ISSUE 03/ 1st October 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Top
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Book Lists
1. Flavorwire.com It’s the best listmaker in the business, and has everything from How To Talk About 10 Important Books You Probably Haven’t Read (if you’ve read more than one of these walk tall, be proud) to The 20 Most Beautiful Bookshops in the World. Current favourite is 10 Great Novels and the Cocktails You Should Pair Them With. Delicious.
2. The Book Cover Archive “For the purposes of appreciation and categorization.” If you abide by the dictum always choose a book by its cover (and you should, ) this site is it. Listed randomly by cover, you can search for books by author, pub date, genre or designer. Never have more happy coincidences occured. I now want The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball.
3. ‘As If You Don’t Have Enough to Read’: New York Times Magazine’s 100 Greatest Nonfiction Books Representing nonfiction. The NY Times Magazine asked very member of its staff to pick their five favourite nonfiction books. It’s not rigourous, or democratic, Susan Sarandon gets bashed, and the Bible gets a mention; but neither does it pretend to be definitive. For these reasons, I would trust it with my reading future.
4. Miranda July’s reading List for VICE
Phoebe Chambre
This week Ata Rahman, history student and co-editor of the Manchester Historian, answers to Book Club Hi Ata! What are you reading? Well, I managed two books over the summer, Civilisation: The West and The Rest, which serves as an accompaniment to Niall Ferguson’s Channel 4 documentary on the predicted end of Western civilisation and a book about the lives of five Afghan women under the Taliban regime called The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez. Where have you been reading it (train, bus, beach, bath, internet, juice carton…)? Mostly been reading it on modes of transport – bus, train, plane. Its always easier to read when you’re in a tunnel (or up in the air) as for those moments you can’t turn to your phone to distract you. Is it a slow-burner or quick fire? Civilisation is definitely a slow burner, you have to fully engage with his theories and critiques before you can get the most from the chapters about Chinese dominance, decline and distention. The Little Coffee Shop is much more of a quick fire with a kidnapping opening the setting, but it’s only until the middle when the
After you’ve enjoyed somewhat more than a tipple the night before getting yourself into a reading mood is pretty difficult.” five women’s interplay becomes more humanised and the action takes off. Is it work or rest to read? Honestly, depends on my frame of
mind and the situation. Give me a book on holiday when I’m far removed from the trials and tribulations of uni/work/ life and its one of the most pleasurable experiences. However, the thought of dragging yourself to a coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon after you’ve enjoyed somewhat more than a tipple the night before to try and get yourself into a reading mood is pretty difficult, even though once you’re into the book, you know why you bothered in the first place. Paperback or e-book? As a student, I spend far too much of my time in front of a screen (albeit over 50% of it for catching up on Big Bang Theory and Gossip Girl rather than for Uni work), so if I am going to read a book, its paperback all the way. My eyes couldn’t hack it otherwise. Do you ever have time during the semester to read (for pleasure), or is free, unaccounted for time the unicorn of student life? In all honestly, I probably could squeeze in about 3 or 4 books per semester, but given most of the work you do as an Arts
student is reading anyway, you don’t want to spend your free time doing the same thing. I definitely regret not making the most of my free time in 1st year; I certainly could have educated myself on many topics outside of History if I’d sacrificed all the thoroughly important lazing time. Any books that you’ve been meaning to read for ages, never quite mustering the strength to crack? Essentially most classics, I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read an Austen (despite watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice Drama series far too many times), or a Tolstoy either. What’s next? Common Grounds, a book on the history of coffee. I am rather addicted to the stuff, and after a lecture in 1st year on its history, I became quite fascinated with how it spread across the world. If I manage to read it alongside all the work this semester, I may even treat myself to a fancy espresso machine.
Review
Review: Frontline by David Loyn Frontline chronicles the life of freelance television photo agency of the same name. “Is a story ever worth dying for?” “Yes. YES. Absolutely.” This is the wildly captivating non-fiction account of the life of freelance television photo agency, Frontline (1989 – 2004), which trudges through minefields in Afghanistan and the forests of Chechnya. In search? of some sort of truth about “real war”: evidence of massacres and the effects of mis-directed bombings on civilians. Instead of being turned away once more by the glaze that the words “non-fiction” induces, running to the new ‘adult’ novel from J.K. Rowling, give Frontline a chance. Rarely is a story (even a fictional one) so exciting, its telling so gripping. With dramatic dialogue and eloquent writing, the only snag you may perceive in this book is also its importance: the emotion that it induces cannot be pushed away, or ignored, with the comforting self-assurance that ‘it’s only a story’. The opening quote above comes from Vaughn Smith (an ex-soldier
Do we really need another hobby awareness week? International Book Week crept past last week. Anyone notice?
turned photojournalist), who comprised one of the founders and original reporters of Frontline. The company was the driving force behind freelance journalists, and journalism, who refused to commit to the “24 hour news beast”, and the increasingly homogeneous and bland news coverage of conflict. When photojournalists were told where to point their cameras and when to close their eyes, Frontline was formed. Independently finding and shooting the real stories of war; no moneymaking scheme (mostly no money), and no quick way to fame. Rory Peck, Peter Jouvenal and Vaughn Smith were not activists; they went to the front with no biased or political agenda, but with a determination to show the best and worst of the human character in the world’s most dangerous places. Loyn quotes Jouvenal as saying he would often film things that he knew could not be broadcast, “If people are
It was International Book Week, some Internet-worms whispered to Books. The social mediagenerated ‘awareness’ week that garnered little notice was comprised of a ‘meme’. International Book Week’s medium and method of generating this awareness meant, as Ali
tied up and shot in the back of the head, then it is my duty to fim it…if you don’t, then it’s a form of censorship. It is as if the deaths didn’t happen”. This is testament not only to the dedication and personal beliefs of Frontline’s founders and journalists, who strove to document, in the hope of disarming (viewers and armies) and not entertaining, but is the driving impetus behind both company and book. For my part, I had to struggle through the first 50 pages or so, but this work paid off tenfold. I came away completely involved, personally, with the story, and feel that I even learnt something from this book which conveys the extremes of human nature. This is an incredibly well written and important book. Frontline, by David Loyn, (2011) Summersdale Publishers Ltd. Agnes Chambre
Khaled of The National said, making gimmick-y and confining to doomed curiosity object that which real bookworms already treasure: books. So to, very quietly, subvert, watch as we print the entirety of International Book Week here (take that Internet!):
“The rules: Grab the closest book to you, turn to page 52, post *read* the 5th sentence to [friend/relative/ person next to you on the bus] as your status. Don’t mention the title.”
Phoe be Chambre
Photo: Frederic Guillory
Whether or not VICE is a valid and/or valuable magazine that shoots itself in the publication every time it opens its mouth, Miranda July’s list for them of everything she read in one day (emails, milk carton, billboards) shows us how its done, and holds the list bar high. And she’s a Lydia Davis fan.
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Games Gamers get social 22
ISSUE 03/ 3rd OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Robert Muirhead looks at the phenomenon of social gaming
Gamers now head to places such as Kyoto Lounge to play. Photo: GGvogue @Flickr
Gamers have sadly always attracted derogatory social labels, such as shut-in, anorak or sad case. In the early ‘90s one needed to plead with their parents to buy the latest console release, or required IT proficiency to acquire and install anything that came close to a game on PC. It’s no wonder we are often stereotyped as a shy, immature, and nervous demographic. But with the growth of gaming over the last decade, this view is gradually changing. Increased interactivity in-game is demanding the same of gamers in real life. As the gaming industry surpasses every other market in entertainment, businesses have taken note. Kyoto Lounge is one such example. Located on Grosvenor Street beside other popular pubs and clubs, it offers the hire of computers or consoles alongside more typical bar food and booze. Unlike an internet café or arcade, the emphasis is on socialising rather than convenience. One can walk in, grab a beer and a controller, and immediately be playing and talking with someone hitherto unknown. There’s enjoyment to be had in fighting or racing a physical person, rather than some nameless avatar across the internet. When you start playing, you don’t know whether or not
you’re about to be schooled by the guy sitting next to you, adding a little intrigue to the experience. Casual and non-gamers often become regulars - pulled in by the novelty of a gaming bar, then pleasantly surprised by the social environment. In many circumstances, it isn’t necessary to be playing anything at all. Alongside the casual and social, competitive gaming has grown more mainstream than ever. International tournaments fly players around the world to compete for hundredthousand dollar prize pools – one such recent event received more viewers globally than the Diamond Jubilee. Fans turn out in droves to support their favourite progamers, whilst those unable to attend watch online or at organised local broadcasts. Kyoto Lounge in particular holds regular Barcrafts: live-streaming the real-time strategy Starcraft 2 from around the world to a local audience, paralleling the way pubs show big football matches. The scope and variety of competitive play makes these appealing for supporters, whether they seek to discuss tactics in a friendly environment or simply enjoy the company of their compatriots. Whilst free to attend, the food and drink provided ensure the bar isn’t making a loss, and patrons can
rent out a PC or two afterwards to test their strategies against each other. For games played competitively on a smaller scale, local tournaments can be arranged. Games like Tekken and Street Fighter are regularly played to a professional level at the bar. Barcrafts and tournaments like these are not unique. Though uncommon in the UK, hundreds of Barcrafts spring up across the globe whenever a large event is underway, and arcades have held fighting tourneys for years. Though it seems contrary, most gamers have never truly lived solitary lifestyles. Expos and conventions occur with regularity as a place for the industry to promote their wares, attracting a particularly geeky crowd. Play Expo is one such event in Manchester, exhibiting the latest, yet to be released generation of consoles alongside other aspects of gaming culture. LAN parties have existed since the dawn of gaming – the suggestion that without somewhere like Kyoto we’d be sitting alone in darkened rooms avoiding society at large is archaic at best. Kyoto isn’t an attempt to make gamers socialise, and shouldn’t be sold as such. It’s a business. There is a largely untapped gap in the market for a dedicated adult gaming environment. Arguably gimmicky in the past, they run a sustainable model in an ever-expanding market. They aren’t just competing with expos and other large digital events – those are for dedicated gamers alone – they appeal to all types of gamer, particularly the largely untapped casual and social variety. Entrepreneurs and firms are following in their footsteps in major cities, both in the UK and across the world. In the long term, we can expect gaming to become a big feature in even the most mainstream of social venues. All those children brought up on a diet of Nintendo and PlayStation are adults now, and they’ve got money to burn.
Reviews
Lylat Wars was launched alongside the N64 and is, in my opinion, one of the strongest titles of that generation. A single run through of the game would only take a couple of hours but there were several routes available between the first and final level, which made for a potentially different experience and combination of stages with each play through. Although the successor of Starwing (SNES), Lylat Wars dropped the obnoxious difficulty in favour of allowing you to pick easy, medium or hard levels and customise their route between the first and final stage. The ability to customise your route allowed you to tailor the difficulty to your ability. An additional expert mode became available after full completion of the game for anyone requiring a tougher challenge. The real addictive quality of this game was the arcade style high scores. I would spend many hours with friends trying to push each other off the leader board. Mixing this addictive feature with the ability to choose the route from the first to final level meant you had to be smart and pick the route you thought you would be able to get the highest score on, balancing the difficulty of the route with the points you could achieve. Multiplayer was a solid experience, with decent player vs. player dogfights; it was a fun addition to the incredibly solid single player mode. In my opinion the real appeal of Lylat Wars was the ability to customise the experience to have you play your way, whether you wanted easy, medium or hard single player, to fight directly against your friends or to compete to see who could achieve the best score in single player. The variety available made for a long lasting experience that easily ate up many rainy afternoons.
News
The greatest gaming movie ever?
Borderlands 2 2K Games 360/PS3/PC There are a lot of enemies that need killing in Borderlands 2. From the wide variety of dangerous beasties, to the vicious locals, to the private robot army of one amusing jerk known as Handsome Jack, there is no shortage of things wanting Vault Hunters dead. It’s good, then, that there are so very many guns to kill them with. 87 bazillion of them, if the developers at Gearbox are to be believed. Borderlands 2 is a well-worked fusion of shooting, looting, role playing and co-operative play. All the pick-ups are procedurally generated, ensuring that you will almost never find two items the same. The compulsive need to scour every area, just in case, one chest contains an extremely rare weapon becomes powerful fast. As well as a meaty and entertaining main story, Borderlands 2 packs a healthy proportion of side quests to be tracked down and completed for extra XP and potentially rare loot. Earning XP helps your character progress along the skill tree, allowing them to choose from a
Matthew Humphreys looks at one of the N64’s finest titles
Alasdair Preston
Fast pasted co-op action in Borderlands 2 wide range of new abilities. Each of the four character classes has their own unique action skill and skill tree to match. For example, the slightly mad Gunzerker can temporarily duel wield any two guns and go on a spree, whereas the more reserved Commando can deploy a powerful turret. For maximum fun, Borderlands 2 should be played with a group of friends either online or locally. Roaming around the visually
impressive landscape of Pandora in a heavy duty vehicle running over and/or shooting every living thing is much more satisfying if you’ve got a friend or three to share the road. Borderlands 2 is a proper sequel that never takes itself too seriously and vastly improves on its predecessor. It has more guns, more environments, more enemies, more laughs. Put simply, it has more.
Fans fund popular gaming web series Pure Pwnage on crowdfunding website Indiegogo It took just under 24 hours for Pure Pwnage: The Movie to reach its target of $75,000 on crowd funding website Indiegogo. The creators of Pure Pwnage Jarett Cale and Geoff Lapaire aim to produce the greatest gaming movie ever, which with competition like 1989’s The Wizard doesn’t seem like the highest aspiration. Pure Pwnage started life in 2004 as a web show. The show is a mockumentary that centres on the life of Jeremy, known online as Teh_Pwnerer. Jeremy is pro at games; he lives with his n00b brother Kyle an aspiring filmmaker. Kyle follows Jeremy from behind the camera as Jeremy goes through his life as a pro gamer; humping his monitor, eating sandwiches with ludicrous levels of bacon in, and going to the park so he can draw out C&C strategies in the sand pit. In the show Jeremy shares his thoughts on religion;
‘Some want Sean Showcase commissioning Gamersreligions paid tributejust to diplomat Smith you to give them all your eight episodes. While the TV time and money, they’re show never had the crossover like MMORPGs.’ and refers appeal of something like to police officers as admins, Spaced, the fact it even got this shows us that Jeremy is made demonstrated the a man who’s only frame of power of the Pure Pwnage reference is video games. fanbase. However, he’s no match for Cale and Lapaire have FPS_Doug a man who carries talked about their ambitions a knife everywhere because on the Indiegogo page. They its known fact that in Counter wish to take Pure Pwnage to Strike you run faster with a a truly global scale and show knife. the reality of pro gaming With characters like this, in countries like South it was no wonder the show Korea. I for one can’t wait. became a hit amongst gamers, its popularity lead to Canadian TV channel Sam Dumitriu
Food & Drink
ISSUE 03/ 1ST OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Nigella the cunning linguist
Recipe
Jess Hardiman ventures into the wonderful territory of lip-smackingly delectable writing In honour of the Domestic Goddess’ new book, Nigellissima, I have taken it upon myself to delve into the rich and glorious world of Nigella Lawson’s luscious lingo, where no edible thing can be described simply or through normal means, but instead must be subjected to innuendo, metaphor and wondrous verbiage. In her world, scones have cellulite and cheesecakes should be voluptuously tenderbellied. Quite frankly, this is a world I want to live in. There is a long history of exorbitant food writing; some liken it to a form of pomposity – especially within the realm of the restaurant menu, where you will find ‘crumbs’ and ‘assiettes.’ I must admit, however, that it doesn’t offend me quite as much as it perhaps should. On cold, sleepless nights, I can curl up in bed and read through the beautiful narrative that is Nigella’s description of her salubrious Sambuca Kisses, small doughnut bites that apparently ‘caress
the mouth flutteringly as you eat them’. Nigellissima features recipes from and inspired by her adoptive homeland, Italy, and it is just as sultry and passionate as you have come to expect. As with all of her literature, the words seem to subliminally speak to you with a subtle air of eyebrow raising and spoon licking, You’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t make heavy use of butter, garlic, chilli or anchovies – all of which are sinful for their ability to plump one’s rear or to corrupt the breath with a wicked stench. The first recipe I flicked to, a threesome of panna cottas, sums up everything I adore about Nigella: she explains that ‘a panna cotta must have a voluptuous and quivering softness … the trick is to add just enough gelatine to keep the unmoulded cream from collapsing, but it should still have just enough wibble about it to hint that it could break its borders and spill free.’ Move over, Fifty Shades of Whatever. Nigella gets my vote.
Nigella’s new cookery book Nigellissima is out now, but you can also catch up with her new show, Mondays on BBC Two, to watch the sultry temptress in action
Will Chambers hosts the first night of erroneous olives and inventive duvets Little does Will know that his ciabatta is getting a bit too friendly with the grill
Will Chambers, a fresher studying Politics,PhilosophyandEconomics, was first to host The Mancunion’s Come Have Dinner With Me. The starter was to be a pea and lemon risotto, the main an Italianstyle beef stew with ciabatta, and the pudding a raspberry sorbet fizz. We asked the guests what kind of person they thought would serve this menu. Rachel, a Music student, thought risotto was impressive fare – ‘he’s probably been on a cooking course gap year if he can cook risotto’. Well, Rachel, risotto isn’t that hard. But Ollie, Economicsstudent,wasimpressed too – ‘what kind of fresher can cook risotto; what kind of fresher wants to cook risotto?’ Linguistics student Catherine said ‘he must be quite a sophisticated guy’. Will welcomed everyone in, an open bow tie slung casually around his neck. The table was set, food prepped, nibbles at the ready (Asda Smartprice peanuts) and it wasn’t long before the soothing, mellow sounds of Jack
Johnson were flowing through Will’s kitchen. Looking up at a makeshift screen fashioned from a duvet cover and gaffa tape to conceal the kitchen from the dining area. A pre-dinner game melted the ice, the first of three stages in a name-guessing competition. Will then reheated the risotto that he had made earlier, stirred in some Parmesan along with some suspect black olives that were supposed to have gone in the beef stew, and served it up to some ravenous guests. We noticed Catherine gingerly pick out her olives. Ollie, who ate it all, admitted ‘I’ve never been a big risotto man, but then I found I was quite enjoying it. I shocked myself’. Ollie confessed that the Italian beef stew with ciabatta ‘lacked a compliment and was semiflavourless -but still quite nice!’ Will recognised the seasoning problem and ran to get the salt and pepper, but the group thought it was too late. Oh the woes of under-
seasoning. We asked if the bread (which had been slightly singed under the grill) was nice and Catherine said ‘well, Asda did a great job’. Raspberry sorbet fizz comprised a wine glass filled with mixed berries nestled under a spoonful of bought raspberry sorbet, topped up with sparkling elderflower pressé. Ollie cried ‘there’s a party in my mouth and everyone’s invited!’ Catherine pointed out that not much skill was involved in putting it together. Overall, the food was nice, but not perhaps as nice as it sounded on the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed and Will was very good at entertaining, despite suffering the throes of a mild fresher’s flu and feeling pretty tipsy after just two glasses of wine. Scores will be announced when everyone has had a chance at hosting! Jess Hardiman and Emily Clark Food & Drink Editors
Review
Breakfast is no longer boring Breakfast is now the most exciting meal of the day. Whilst browsing the interweb I came across some weird recipes and proceeded to make my housemates these three most ridiculous breakfasts to shock us out of our hangovers. McMuffin and doughnut sandwich This was a winner. Delicious and decadent meaty juices, egg and sugary bread mixing in with the surplus sugar of an iced doughnut. A hangover cure for sure. When I first heard of this ‘breakfast’ I was shocked but now I know how right it is to put a doughnut in the middle of a McMuffin.
Baked avocado egg Get a ripe avocado (an impossible feat in itself). Then remove the stone inside by chopping it heavily with a sharp knife then twisting. Crack a raw egg into it and bake for 10 minutes at 200 °C then season and eat with a spoon. The warm avocado is a bit strange but I do love a good baked egg. Spicy fruit with lime
Fuel Café This quirky vegetarian café on Withington high street is a firm favourite among many Manchester students - even the hardcore meat eaters! The menu is full of satisfying vegetarian fare - if you get there before 4 o’clock I’d recommend the veggie or vegan breakfast, a perfect hangover cure, particularly when served with one of their freshly made fruit smoothies (only £3 for a large glass). If not, the mezze platter is a good idea: a sharing plate full of tasty treats from the menu including – among other things – falafel, hummus, pitta, olives and sweet potato wedges, and it’s good value at only £10 for two people. For an extra £6, they’ll even
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throw in a bottle of wine. Mains include falafel burger, coconut dhal, ‘fish’ (using breaded halloumi) and chips, or a three bean chilli burrito. Bowls of chips are always served with salsa and the sweet potato wedges with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream. For pudding there’s waffles with golden syrup, ice cream and banana or homemade crumble. The atmosphere is relaxed, with mismatched furniture, dim lighting and laid-back staff. Fuel has an arty vibe and prides itself on being a music hotspot. The room upstairs is used as a gig venue, there’s a weekly open mic night on Wednesdays and on other days you can trust that the soundtrack playing in the
café will be good. I love Fuel because they serve hearty portions of good quality vegetarian food for amazing prices. Breakfasts range from £3-£6, main courses are mostly £5 or £6, starters and snacks don’t exceed £3.75 and they even have a huge range of speciality beers and ales from £3.50.
Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd
Anna Lawson-Walker
This is a Mexicaninspired recipe that is very versatile. Any fruit is good; I used kiwis, pineapple, mango and strawberries. Add cayenne pepper or chilli powder to suit your taste, sea salt and the juice and zest of two limes. Careful what type of chilli you use, by accident I used a mixed one with added cumin and oregano. Big mistake. When made properly, it’s wonderful, apparently. Emily Clark Food & Drink Editor
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Arts
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Feature
The Art Group Alice Marshall and Francesca Reid report on the growing popularity of the Manchester undergraduate arts collective
Photo: Richard Manning The Art Group Social and Private View of COTTON attracted over 300 faculty members to the Whitworth Art Gallery to share drinks and music, and to create a giant patchwork cotton t-shirt together
The Manchester Art Group is an undergraduate collective from the Art History and Visual Studies department at the University of Manchester. We curate events, talks, and exhibitions and promote those organised by other institutions that engage with contemporary art. With the popularity of the Art History Society in swift decline it was widely acknowledged that, unlike other departments within the university, Art History and Visual Studies lacked a sense of community away from the lecture halls. Hence, a group of third year students alongside Charlie Miller, an AHVS lecturer at Manchester University, established MAG in 2011 with hopes of forming stronger bonds between students, staff and the art world. MAG is a fantastic platform for up and coming local and amateur artists to display their work in a non-intimidating but professional environment. The Mansfield Cooper corridor is now home to an ever changing exhibition that showcases the work of students and local artists, from across the city. Previous exhibitions,
curated by Charlotte Baker and Humphrey Hendrix, have included mediums ranging from photography to etchings that follow a rough theme given by MAG. The current exhibition, for example, is loosely based around the idea that “to live is to leave traces”, a quote taken from the art critic, Walter Benjamin. – go have a look! As a collective, we have curated a range of innovative and interesting events and exhibitions all inspired by art and artists around us. MAG events, such as the art night and private view of ‘COTTON: Global Threads’ at the Whitworth Art Gallery, which was attended by over 300 people, is an example of not only what MAG can do for you, but what you can do for MAG. It gave people a chance to integrate with the exhibition and collective through creative workshops, whilst sipping on complimentary drinks and listening to the local sounds of DJs, Bug and Leaf, who spun not only tunes but cotton too. Naomi Kashiwagi is an artist and student liaison officer between the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Museum. She brings an exciting dynamic to the group
keeping us up to date with local events and connects the art group with the northern art scene. The latest opportunity she has presented to the group is co-curating the Student Weekender (part of the Manchester Weekender), which will be a snapshot of the city’s best art and culture. This is an exciting chance for MAG to expand their network by becoming involved with such a prestigious event. We are hoping this collaboration will inspire others to join the collective. Thanks to the hard work, determination and creative outlook set down by founding members, the grounds have been laid for MAG to become a prolific player in the whole of the northern art scene. MAG is going places and we would love for you to join us! Keep an eye out for future events and exhibitions on our Facebook page, under Manchester Art Group, or email us at manchesterartgroup@gmail.com.
Feature
Review
Risque and Manic
The Manchester Weekender 2012
Josephine Lane discovers the unexpected beauty of pop music
Plan ahead and get those dates in your diary now for the 11th-14th October, a weekend packed with events, exhibitions and cultural happenings across the city
Defining what exactly it is that Frisky and Mannish do is not an easy task. But this is what makes them so great. On their website, Frisky and Mannish themselves describe what they do as ‘titting around with pop songs’. I prefer to think of them as pop educators. They basically take pop songs and take the mick out of them, mix them up with other songs and create new lyrics. Their fourth UK tour came to the Lowry last week for one very outrageous evening. ‘But so what?’ I hear you cry, ‘That doesn’t sound anything special. Whilst on its own, the idea of pop parodying sounds doesn’t sound anything too inspiring, it is the personalities of the two, particularly Frisky that make audiences fall completely in love with them over and over again. Frisky’s persona: sexy, cheeky, incredibly posh (not to mention spectacularly buxom) coupled with an incredible belter of a voice that can impersonate any artist you might care to mention simply steals the show. This
Must see
THIS WEEK 1-7 OCTOBER
is not, however a failing of a double act but more of an intention. Their personalities complement each other perfectly: Frisky being the outrageous one that Mannish needs to control. Mannish too is not without his lovability: he is camp, mischievous and sexytoo. A particular favourite number was a rap version of Karen Carpenter’s Top of the World, proof that any song can be performed in the style of Graaahm (sorry, Grime). Another moment of brilliance was a compilation of angry heartbreak songs ‘the way they were supposed to be sung’ (in other words songs like ‘Someone Like You’ coupled with creepy stalker tones and sinister stares). I could sit here all day describing and praising each and every song Frisky and Mannish performed. In short, go see it. You’ll sing, you’ll dance, you’ll laugh, you might even start to see the beauty of pop music. Josephine Lane
Thursday 11th October Thursday Lates with Kirsty Almeida at Manchester Art Gallery The opening event of the Manchester weekender promises to be a night to remember as singer-songwriter Kirsty Almeida brings some jazz and soul to Manchester Art Gallery. Taking its’ cue from The First Cut, the paper-themed exhibition currently running at the gallery, wander through a forest of paper trees to Almeida, who will serenade you in a one-off, unmissable performance.
Friday 12th October Songs of the Caged Bird at People’s History Museum In collaboration with the Royal Northern, composer-pianist George King brings a new jazz song-cycle, performed by Doreen Edwards. Though the best tickets are admittedly pricey, this investigation into the Manchester’s past marries human stories, an architectural tour and some extraordinary vocals. Brief Encounter Film Night at 1830 Warehouse This particular love story has endured for a reason, and for one night only you can catch it screened in MOSI’s 1830 Railway Warehouse. Follow up with a ‘40s themed
night at Gorilla, and dance the night away to some age-old classics, played on wind-up gramophones. Saturday 13th October David Shrigley: Show & Tell at Cornerhouse Though initial (free) tickets are sold out, there will be a rerelease so you will still have the chance to catch David Shrigley in an inventive exploration of his work and working methods, offering some insight into the mind of one of the most popular artists working today. Up Then Brave Women at the Black Lion It was not just the unions who campaigned for social change – women drastically changed the way in which England was run, with the fight for the right to vote. Come and find out more of Manchester’s role in this defining movement of history and the debt we owe to the socialists, trade-unionists and women who campaigned so hard. Sunday 14th October
The Flaneurs’ Guide to the Northern Quarter Choose one from four walking tours, devised by the Northern Quarter Stories team, and stroll the streets of the NQ learning as you go. If you fancy listening to some musings on the ‘Tribes of the NQ,’ or ‘NQ for Sale,’ this is the walk for you – and you even get some cake thrown it. Get down to the NQ for a sherry-fuelled saunter that shouldn’t be missed. All weekend: Jane and Louise Wilson at the Whitworth Catch the world premiere of their new film, and be awed by a series of large-scale images of Chernobyl from this Turner Prizenominated duo of video artists. Hockney to Hogarth: A Rake’s Progress at the Whitworth Drawing on Hogarth’s 18th-century images of London, David Hockney’s set of 16 etchings take their inspiration from his first trip to New York in 1961. Come and wonder at how much, and perhaps more interestingly at how little, we have changed.
Manchester Poetry at the Royal Exchnage Let Manchester Guided Tours tell you the stories of the buildings you normally wouldn’t look twice at, in a poetical guided city tour designed to communicate the wealth of history that can be found in Manchester’s every-day architecture.
Harriet Hill-Payne Arts Edior
The Lowry: Comedians 40’s to Now
The Cornerhouse: David Shrigley’s Artist Talk
Rochdale: Up close and personal
Alan Turing & Life’s Enigma
Frog and Bucket: Beat the Frog
Part of a National Portrait Gallery touring exhibition, if you like to laugh and you like good photography, this is one for you.
If you catch one thing this October, make it this event celebrating the work and exploring the methods of this particular artist.
Adam Kerfoot-Roberts takes architectural inspiration from Rochdale – if you want to see an unfamiliar bit of Manchester, this is your chance
Manchester Museum host this exhibition celebrating the extraordinary life of a visionary man.
Legendary comedy club Frog and Bucket host this Monday night – expect laughs and a good pint down at Beat the Frog.
Theatre
ISSUE 03/ 1st October2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Must see
1st-8th October
Scandal and Debauchery in the Round
Joshua Harris reviews the new restoration comedy at the Royal Exchange Theatre, The Country Wife
Felix Scott and Amy Morgan in The Country Wife. Photo: Jonathan Keenan
Fields of Grey Hardhitting new drama about the Afgan-US war. A collaborative piece written by New York-based actor and emcee Mtume Gant and Avaes Mohammad (co-writer of Crystal Kisses).
Runs from 3rd to 13th October at Contact. Tickets £5
Pat Kirkwood is Angry One-woman play about Manchester-born singer and actress, Pat Kirkwood. Most famous for her alleged affair with Prince Philip in the 1940s, the play explores the repercussions of the affair that haunted her for rest of her life.
Runs from 3rd to 6th October at The Royal Exchange. Tickets £12. Light-Hearted Intercourse This play from Bolton’s most famous playwright, Bill Naughton, has its world premiere this week after being unearthed from Naughton’s archives and being brought to life by director David Thacker. The play looks at a young couple in the 1920s adjusting to married life whilst keeping secrets from their pasts from each other. Runs from 4th October to 3rd November at The Bolton Octagon. Tickets £9.50-£15.50
Julius Caesar A Royal Shakespeare Company show, originally created as part of the World’s Shakespeare Festival, the classic tale of power and betrayal comes to the Lowry this week as part of its UK tour. The production, set in Modern Africa, has so far been receiving rave reviews. Runs from 2nd October to 6th October at The Lowry. Tickets £20-£24
Why I Love / Why I Hate Helen McCarthy tells us her likes and loathes of theatre
Why I Love: Alan Bennett Without doubt the master of comedy on the stage. From The History Boys to Habeas Corpus, he can make even the printed words in the hard copy hilarious, never mind the on-stage action. And thanks to his collaborations with Nicholas Hytner of the National Theatre, the adaptations to the big screen
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As a drama student and avid theatre goer for many years, it is with some shame that I admit that, before The Country Wife, I had never seen a piece of theatre in the round. Now that my round virginity has been broken however, I have grown quite attached to the format. It produces a far more intimate relationship between the audience and the performers, which is perfect for a play full of asides and small nods and winks to the audience. And just such a play is William Wycherley’s The Country Wife. Written in 1675 and transported, powdered wigs and all, into the Twenty-first Century by director Polly Findlay, the plot makes Shakespeare’s Review Comedy of Errors seem blissfully straightforward. The womanising
cad, Mr Horner, returns from a trip to France with a devilish plan to seduce the entire female population of London by pretending to be a eunuch. Meanwhile, the well-meaning but possessive Mr Pinchwife has just returned to London with his newlywed country wife, Margery, whom he keeps locked up for fear that she will fall into the clutches of Mr Horner, which, of course, she inevitably does. Meanwhile, Mr Pinchwife’s sister Alithea, who is engaged to loveable moron Mr Sparklish, is being pursued by Mr Harcourt, friend of Mr Horner, goaded on all the while by her maid Lucy. Keeping up? I haven’t even mention the Squeamish family yet, or the Dainty-Fidgets! There were points where I found myself
going “wait, what? Who’s that now?” That said, it’s a testament to the cast and the production that I never completely lost track of the various plot-threads. I’d rather be in a state of bemused, confused enjoyment than being patronised by characters spelling out every twist and turn to me. The acting is solid throughout. Special mention should be made for Oliver Gomm, who throws himself into the role of the oafish Mr Sparklish with Gusto. Amy Morgan, the titular “country wife” possesses naivety and childishness, coupled with a divine Welsh accent. She is so wonderful you just want to run onto stage and give her a hug! The set, designed by Helen Goddard, is a master class in effective simplicity, all chintz armchairs and wig stands. Complete with running wine taps and a sort of antler chandelier, nothing ever seems overcrowded or unnecessary. Set changes are accompanied by Jimi Hendrix riffs played on screeching violins, a nice little reminder of the contemporary edge the production is putting on the story. All in all, if you like your comedies intelligent, relentless, bawdy and, above all, round, then The Country Wife is definitely worth a look. The Country Wife runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre until October 20th
Our Country’s Alright Josephine Lane reviews Our Country’s Good at the Bolton Octagon. The play was a multi-rolled piece recounting the true story of a group of convicts putting on a production of The Recruiting Officer in a 1780s penal colony in New South Wales. Despite severe opposition from the other naval officers, director Lieutenant Ralph Clark goes on with the show, giving the tormented convicts hope through the morale and unity created. Although based on true events and people, Wertenbaker definitely has a talent for writing characters, particularly female ones. Whilst all the characters had their own strong individuality, it was the scenes with the women in that I always looked forward to. A poignant piece of acting and writing came in the scene in which prostitute Duckling Smith confesses the feelings she never told her dying and unconscious Midshipman lover Harry Brewer. Lisa Kerr
gave an unbearably paining performance as she tearfully told Harry ‘If you live I will love you. If you die I will never forgive you’, before breaking down completely. Our Country’s Good was warm, gentle and had a few good laughs. The frequent theatrical ‘in-jokes’ make the subject a little inaccessible, but were great if you were ‘in’. The painted canvas backdrops and wooden scenery gave the show an old-school, quasi-epic feel to it, but the Brechtian technique of summing up the events of the scene to come made little sense as it only occurred thrice in about twenty different scenes. This of course is not the fault of the director, Max StaffordClark, (who collaborated with Wertenbaker on the original production in 1988), which brings me on to my overall opinion of the play. Whilst not a bad play, or
are just as satisfying. There is literally nothing I would rather do than sit and listen to his flat Yorkshire tones in an interview, never mind sit in a plush red seat and watch his characters knock the theatre dead. His one-liners are on a par with Woody Allen’s, but rather than the ‘neurotic Jew in therapy’ stereotype that Allen has down to a gilded T, we get the Yorkshireman turned
Oxford graduate and it is so very addictive. Why I Hate: Wicked Hate is a little bit strong, but my brief is ‘love and hate’ not ‘I don’t mind it’ or ‘it’s a bit crap’. In all honesty, I just think that Wicked is ‘a bit crap’. I’m a hardcore musical lover, but I much prefer the classics like West Side Story and Chicago and Cabaret. I like
A scene from Our Country’s Good Photo: Robert Workman indeed production, I feel that this and other plays of its kind bear little relevance in today’s world: both theatrical and societal. The contexts of imprisonment and 1780 make for something not very relatable at all. Although the play may not
sound like everyone’s cup of tea, it is well directed and humorous. On the whole, Our Country’s Good wasn’t bad. Our Country’s Good ran until September 22nd and is now on a UK tour.
seedy, dark undertones, not a woman with a green face being paraded around as ‘hideous’ when in fact she’s one of the most radiant people I’ve ever seen on stage, she just happens to look like Kermit the Frog. The plot is clunky, the score is instantly forgettable (despite the fact that I re-listened to it on Spotify in an attempt to give it a chance) and it left me stone
cold. What makes it worse is the fact that The Wizard of Oz is such a famous and wonderful film, plus it has Judy Garland at its helm. What moron decided that this was a good platform to bounce another musical off? I don’t care that Idina Menzel has a jaw-dropping voice, she can bow down at the mere thought of Judy.
26
Lifestyle
60
SECOND Interview
PINS tell us all within a minute
ISSUE 03/ 1st October 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Travel
Experience… Sorrento Samuel Wreghitt gives a tempting suggestion for a winter break
This week Keir caught up with PINS’ Lois and Faith at MCR Scenewipe’s ‘All Killer, All Dayer’ event In Aid of Mental Health Research UK.
of bread and any one of the variety of cheeses, meats, oils or tapenades. Then sit yourself down on a bench in one of plazas and see if you can spot the rich and famous. For the evening, try one of the many restaurants along the seafront and engulf yourself in the Italian lifestyle with a bottle of vino and a basket of bread.
How did you guys form? Faith: We just met and started playing music together really (laughs). Went through some band changes as it didn’t work out and then settled on us four.
Sorrento’s magical coastline Photo: John Seeder Photo: Richard Manning
Some music critics have labelled your music feminist. What’s your take? Lois: We didn’t really set out to be a ‘feminist’ band. We just found that we worked better generally with girls and that’s how it took off. But at the same time we appreciate the cause. It’s pretty annoying when people describe us as a ‘girlband’ though. If you going to do that then you should probably call all bands with just boys in ‘boybands’ as well then. Have you got any tips for people wanting to make it big in a band? Faith: You’ve just got to write lots of material and be prepared to chuck it away (laughs)! Just practice all the time and get as many gigs as possible. It’s not easy that’s for sure and you need a bit of luck along the way as well.
Fancy some winter sun? Head over to Italy’s West coast and sample the serene town of Sorrento, just across the bay from Naples. It makes the ideal location for a long weekend away. Jump on a bus from Naples airport straight to Sorrento or, if you arrive at an unsociable hour, get a taxi to Naples bus station and head over to Sorrento via one of the buses there. Skirting along the Mediterranean coast through the curving roads provides the perfect prelude to what
It’s...
should be an exhilarating weekend away. Day 1 Once you have arrived at your hostel, avoid the beaches and head straight over to the pontoons. At only nine euros a day, not only do they give you great views of Sorrento balancing impossibly high above you, and also Mount Vesuvius watching over Naples far across the bay, but they also give you a feeling of privacy and exclusivity in Sorrento where this means
everything. From your lounge the degree of activities is up to you but I would recommend at least dipping yourself into the ocean to do a bit of snorkeling to sample the local wildlife on offer. For lunch you have a couple of options, either indulge yourself with a beautiful fish course, where you will be shown the catch of the day for your perusal, or grab a couple of euros and head up the tiny side streets that criss-cross the town to explore the shops to purchase a baton
Blind
Day 2 Wake up early and jump on the train (by far the easiest and quickest way) to Pompeii or Herculaneum. Both provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the Romans a yonder ago. Pompeii is the more famous of the two but I would personally recommend escaping the hordes of tourists and heading to Herculean for a relatively more laid back experience. Either way both are fascinating as they provide a snapshot of a time long ago and if you’re feeling up to it you can see both, as they are only a couple of train stops apart. Finish off your day by taking a stroll through Sorrento’s harbour and once again sampling the excellent seafood on offer. If I have one word of warning it is that this is a holiday of luxury and although it can be done on a modest budget, be prepared to spend a little more than your average backpacker’s holiday. But trust me, this is most definitely worth it. Stay – Seven Hostel from £7 per person per night Fly – Liverpool to Naples with Easyjet from £85 return
Date
Molly, 2nd year, Geography
Erasmus, 3rd year, Media Studies
First impressions?
.First impressions?
Patterned shirt, purple corduroy blazer he’s ticked all the boxes so far
Very much like a cat, nice eyes and a sweet smile What did you have to eat?
What did you have to eat?
A falafel burger it was pretty scrumptious.
A very yummy Veggie shepherds pie
What did you guys talk about?
What did you guys talk about?
A mutual love of origami, a fondness for foreign adventures and the people sitting around us
A letter he’s writing to a friend Estonia, how to make an origami butterfly and abortion
Any up and coming events on your calendar?
If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
Lois: We’ve got a tour coming up in October (Ed – playing Manchester Soup Kitchen on October 13th) which is in the UK and then a couple of dates at the end of the month in France as well.
A cocktail without a name because I just didn’t know what he was going to say next. Not in a bad way if anything in a good way.
A martini with a double helping of vermouth because the conversation went down so smooth.
Faith: We also have our LUVU4LYF ep coming out on October 1st which you can pre-order online. PINS website is wearepins. co.uk and tickets for their upcoming tour are available now
Were there any awkward?
Were there any awkward silences?
A few but we only just met so that’s okay right?
A pretty understandable one when abortion somehow came up but other than that I feel it went pretty smoothly! Rating? 8/10 Finally, hug, kiss or something more? A kiss on each cheek and a mighty friendly hug
Rating?
Molly &
8/10
Era smus
Finally, hug, kiss or something more? I would never kiss and tell so we just had a goodbye hug.
Molly and Erasmus ate at The Deaf Institute, Grosvenor Street, Manchester. Thanks to the guys down at Grosvenor Street for getting involved. To check out their menu, gig listings and have a look at what club nights are coming up visit their website www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk To sign up for blind date please e mail your name, year of study and course to lifestyle@mancunion.com with ‘blind date’ as the subject
ISSUE 03/ 1st October 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Relationships
Being in a relationship Ashley Porter talks us through the benefits of opting for a relationship over the ‘Uni experience’
I am a relationship addict. I need a boyfriend… all the time. Most people say that university is the time to play the field, but I hate being single. It might sound cheesy but for me, the benefits of being in a relationship include never having to be cold at night and knowing that whenever you’re out, there is always someone who will make sure you get home in one piece. I suppose I just like knowing that someone is bothered about me. Plus, who can
complain about guaranteed sex every single day? Of course, it does help if the guy in question is interesting, attractive and fun to be with (and not all of them are – trust me). As soon as one relationship ends, I find someone else. I started at Manchester two years ago and surprise surprise, I was in a relationship. I had been with the guy from the age of 16, but by the spring semester long distance had taken it’s toll and we called things off. A few days later, I was already
with somebody else. This impromptu romance only lasted a few weeks before the novelty wore off and I then jumped into a relationship with his best friend. I will wholeheartedly admit that this was not my finest hour. Or four months. He wasn’t particularly nice or attractive and we weren’t even compatible in bed. I just didn’t like being on my own. So, to put it bluntly, I’m in love with being in love…or at least pretending that I am. The one time I did actually
try the ‘Uni experience’, I was left feeling demoralised and disappointed. Drunken kisses with a questionable range of men bored me and, even when I met someone who I wanted to go home with, it was not as fun as everyone had said it would be. It was simply a case of boy meets girl, takes her back to his place for the least passionate sex EVER and then shows her the door. If you ask me, the whole thing was frankly overrated. The one thing that my disastrous one night stand and equally disastrous serial commitments have taught me is that it is important to meet someone, but someone that genuinely makes you happy. I came across my current boyfriend at BOP and for once, I actually didn’t expect anything special to come from it. It’s funny what a shared passion for Dexter and Nando’s can lead to. Having relationship after relationship won’t make you feel worthwhile, but having the right relationship will.
Lifestyle STUDENT 101
27
Zara Zubeidi examines the north south divide Before I came to university, I found it almost impossible to distinguish between the Mancunian, Liverpudlian and Sheffield accent. It wasn’t until I unconsciously offended someone that I realised that accent and identity had such great importance. After just a couple of weeks at The University of Manchester, another thing was obvious… a clear divide between students from the North and South. Overseas students evidently find it difficult to understand our rivalry (and our accents!) In all sincerity, if asked, I would not be able to pinpoint the exact source of this unexplainable divide. Assuming it was simply based on old stereotypes, I took to social media to find the real reason behind ‘northern monkeys’ and ‘southern fairies’. According to my northern friends on Facebook, southerners are stuck up, more competitive, oversensitive and arrogant. Northerners, according to my southern friends, are unhygienic and borderline alcoholics. What on earth were these views based
Terrible tales from between the sheets...
This week: The naughtiest places you have had sex I had sex under a tree in Hyde Park during the Olympics, while policemen were patrolling the area. Risky business… Charlie After a night out, my boyfriend and I couldn’t wait until we got home so he pinned me up against a wall in an alley way. I had to be reminded of this the next morning, I was mortified. Shauna After a workout in the gym, I headed to the steam room to relax. I got more than I
bargained for when I ended balcony in Magaluf, or should up having sex in there with I say Shagaluf. Classy… a total stranger who had had Olivia the same idea. More calories burnt, I guess! Newer artists like Tom Vek, Delilah, and Totally Enormous I got chatting to a guy on Jack Extinct Dinosaurs are destined to have successful Grindr, a gay networking performances based off the buzz around them. app. We decided to meet up Annie Mac electronic music Panda will Trumpet Club I once had sex inand a library, andartists endedlike upGold having sex in be thevery main Venue: sounds coming off the stages. which ????????? felt naughty. a suite at the London Hilton. Date: ?????????? Still toNewer this day, doTom notVek, Delilah, The best kind Enormous of room artistsIlike and Totally Price: ?????????? know how weDinosaurs managed service… Extinct aretodestined to have successful get away with it. Thankfully performances based off the buzz around them, while DJs Tristan there such weren’t too Mac many as Annie and electronic music artists like Gold people Panda around we sounds coming off the stages. will beand the main My girlfriend and I once avoided getting caught. had sex in the back of a Kyle cinema during a fairly quiet viewing. That was pretty bad While on holiday last year, behaviour… I had very public sex on a John
I had sex in a lift, which was a pretty interesting experience… William During a late night gym session when no one else was around, I had sex in the jacuzzi. There were CCTV cameras, which was quite thrilling. Some poor soul somewhere has probably had to view the footage! Lauren I once had sex in a club toilet – not my finest hour.
on? Shameless and the people on Jeremy Kyle ?! As for southern competiveness, I can quite honestly say that I have never experienced a rivalry as strong as the one I have experienced first-hand between Manchester United and Manchester City football fans. Fortunately, the majority of these views are said by students in a light-heartedness that doesn’t affect their choice of friends. I have met people over the duration of my course from all areas of the country who I will undoubtedly be friends with later down the line. If anything, students should take advantage of coming across the nation’s ‘mini cultures’ at university, an opportunity that many of our parents and grandparents have not had and thus become ignorant towards ‘the other side’. With the celebratory feeling brought upon us by both the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympics this year you’d hope that the country’s unity would be stronger than ever. And I’m confident that it will be, despite not knowing where is “rate” good to visit in Sheffield or that “nowt” matters when it comes to your accent.
Harriet
Do you have a sex story that you’d like to share? Send them to lifestyle@mancunion.com
Dream Job Football Qualifications needed: English Literature, NCTJ Salary: 10K-100K Location: Worldwide
Oh, the joys of being Henry Winter. A job with The Daily Telegraph as football correspondent, opportunities to travel the world and paid slots to talk about football games watched by millions. Fancy this lifestyle? Prepare to work your socks off. Any job related in sports journalism will entail long hours, a more-than-often low starting salary and often the dreaded requirement of having to work weekends. Team that with the added pressure of meeting deadlines and many wannabe journalists give up before they have even properly begun. To be in with a chance of working in this field, early preparation and signs that you can commit are key. Start
a blog. Showing that you can write regularly will highlight both your sports terminology and ability to commit to a writing schedule. Next time you’re watching the football, turn off the commentary and see if you can write a match report within five minutes of the final whistle. Cover live matches by researching opportunities with magazines, newspapers and websites. Do not underestimate the potential of Twitter and networking; a polite request to a well-known sports correspondent could land you with your dream placement. The privileges of working as a sports correspondent are endless. Ultimately, you are getting paid for a job that more than likely feels like a hobby. You
may even get the chance to interview a sporting hero. You can never predict today’s news, so working in such a field is unlikely to get boring. The most important thing to remember is that journalism is competitive. Stand out from the crowd by taking advantage of every opportunity that you can. You should never be short of real life examples in a cover letter or interview that highlight your abilities to be a sports correspondent. Zara Zubeidi
28
Lifestyle
ISSUE 03/1st October 2012
STIs Uncovered and Undressed Phone, keys, wallet, bus pass… condom? Ben Kerr Winter reveals the murky world of sexual health . Phone, keys, wallet, bus pass… condom? Leave the house without one today? People are always banging the safe sex drum at students, but for most of us it seems like a fuss over nothing. Sexual Health Awareness Week was a fortnight ago, although ironically you might have missed that in the haze of Freshers’ Week. People are pretty open about sex and relationships, but talking about sexual health is still a massive taboo. Nobody wants to advertise their green discharge, so it’s easy to think that the student bubble is a happy, clean, infection-free world. Think again. There’s a smorgasbord of infections on offer in Manchester. Some of them you’re probably well aware of, like the bacterias Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Then there are viruses like herpes and warts. There’s also Syphilis, a disease most people think disappeared with the Victorians – in reality its made a big come back and plenty of young people are being diagnosed with it in Manchester.
You can get all sorts of nasty symptoms from STIs. Women can get unpleasant discharges, pain during sex and bleeding afterwards. Men can get penis discharge, and a painful and swollen scrotum. Herpes causes painful rashes and ulcers, and warts are self-explanatory. Infections from anal sex can give you a sore, oozing anus, and you can also get throat infections too. Doesn’t sound great does it? The problem with STIs is that many people don’t realise they have one. Despite the nasty list of symptoms above its quite common to have an infection and not have any symptoms. That doesn’t mean they are harmless, they can be causing all kinds of long-term problems under the surface, and you can still pass them on to your partners. Take Chlamydia for example, the most common STI of all. 50% of men and even more women with Chlamydia have no symptoms at all. But the big problem is that in women it can spread to the womb and fallopian tubes,
scarring them. This risks infertility and ectopic pregnancies in the future. But its not all doom and gloom when it comes to sexually transmitted infections, its really easy to protect yourself. Just use a condom. They’re not great as a contraceptive, so you probably want to use something else to avoid getting pregnant, but they’re fantastic at stopping you catching any infections If you are unlucky enough to have picked something up then the treatment for many STIs is really simple too. Most are cured with a quick dose of antibiotics. Whether you’re after peace of mind or you’re worried you might have picked something up, getting tested is easy. There are two main clinics in south Manchester, one at the Hathersage Centre near MRI and the other at Withington Community Hospital. The staff are all friendly, open minded, and they’ve seen and heard everything before. Just prepare yourself for some intimate questions!
My week at a womens’ magazine Zara Zubeidi experiences the power of journalism, first hand After a long summer of anticipation it was finally time for me to start my week as an intern at a national women’s magazine. As scenes from The Devil Wears Prada flashed before my eyes, I carefully studied the magazine from back to back during the nerve-wracking train journey up to London. As I tottered up the steps at Tottenham Court Road tube station in my high heeled boots and leggings (how do you do ‘smart casual’?) I could only think about one thing, and that was how determined I was to make this in to an every day journey. As I entered the magazine office I was greeted by never ending rows of Apple MACs, clothes rails, walls covered by magazine covers and draft layouts, and of course, chatter. Everything that I had dreamt of was becoming a reality. The sheer amount of effort and management that is put in to a weekly publication cannot be underestimated- my initial thought on entering this almost fantastic, organised chaos. I introduced myself and before I knew it, found myself talking away about last night’s Olympic Closing Ceremony. The next few hours were a whirlwind of sourcing celebrity gossip, fashion
ask
KEIR
Q
Hi, I’m a Fresher and so just starting out at university. My brother gained a ton of weight during his first year and I really don’t want to do the same. Have you got any suggestions?
trends and diet crazes for the magazine’s website. It barely felt like work. The tasks were enjoyable and something I had always wanted to do. And the most rewarding aspect? Seeing your post go live to a reach of thousands, knowing that you were responsible for informing them and generating their opinions around a topic. I was experiencing the power of journalism, first-hand. The excitement didn’t stop there. I would come into the office each day, unaware of
Ask Keir is a column aiming to answer all your health questions. If you want to know about that funny looking lump that won’t go away, why your GP won’t give you those antibiotics or anything at all to do with health get in touch at: askkeir@gmail.com
Most people will have known someone that
Christmas. The principle culprit for this is almost always the tasty takeaway. As with most foods, moderation is the key but being away from home and not being used to cooking for yourself everyday can lead to takeaways becoming the staple of any students’ diet. To prevent the pounds piling on keep it simple and stick to three meals a day and drink lots of water. It all sounds like common sense but common sense can easily go out the window
will have gone to uni and come back a bit on the heavier side by
in your first semester away. Further help can be found by
A
who would walk through the door and what I would be writing about that day. A quick trip to the kitchen became memorable as I passed an interview with Peep Show’s Robert Webb. I put on a few pounds as I devoured complimentary glitter brownies sent to the office in the hope that the magazine would promote a new product. I had a mini heart attack as a topless male model arrived to promote a cooking tool. I suppose it is surprising to say that my real desire to work in magazine editorial was not awakened by semi-naked models and celebrity spotting, but rather by a meeting. Away from the creative aspect of the magazine, it was time to analyse its success through the Audit Bureau of Circulations media performance report. It soon became clear that magazines were not solely publications, but business empires. Strategies were taken to ensure maximum consumerism. Every step of the magazines journey, from draft publication, to its appearance on the shelves, to being absorbed by the reader, were taken in to consideration. Every single person had a role in the process, from marketer, to writer, to reader.
All questions will of course be kept confidential and anonymous
getting a student cookbook for some quick, easy and healthy recipes to cook on those evenings you aren’t prepared to cook a gourmet feast. I personally recommend “Nosh for Students: A Fun Student Cookbook” which you can get for as little as £6 online. There are plenty of others to have a look at that might suit you more. Having a good diet can also help keep away the freshers’ flu, which is always a bonus, so get cooking! Keir Stone-Brown
Diary of a
Fresher
A week ago I left a tiny town in the Midlands to go to the big city of Manchester, armed with three suitcases of clothes, 15 pairs of heels and tales from my second year predecessors ringing in my naïve ears. I knew I was in for the most hectic week of my life so far, but I now know that no stories or advice can really prepare you for the carnage that is Freshers’ Week! I never would have thought, in the moments after my parents had abandoned me and I was quietly sobbing into my alien single bed, that I would spend the night completely wasted in the halls’ bar with a group of people I don’t know from Adam. From that first night I knew that university would be like no other experience; people from all walks of life come together (aided by a bottle of Glen’s finest vodka) and make the best of friends. I found myself dancing on stage to the Cha Cha Slide, which seemed like a brilliant idea at the time; but in the morning, during a cheeky vimto-induced haze, I realised I actually just looked like a complete idiot. But it’s all okay, because everyone is drunk and makes a fool out of themselves – that is the beauty of Freshers’. From then on it’s been a whirlwind of pre-drinks, flat parties, dancing on tables (and almost getting kicked out of Birdcage for doing so) and painful dissections of the night before with my flatmates at the kitchen table. Forget learning how to cook a healthy meal or remembering to clean my room, my time has been occupied by mastering the art of climbing down three flights of stairs with six-inch heels on, finding the best chicken dinners in Fallowfield and taking twenty minute detours to avoid a head-on collision with the stranger I shared a rather intimate, drunken moment with in 5th Avenue the evening before. It has been a long and strenuous week, worsened by having to drag myself out of bed while Kanye West and Jay-Z are still ringing in my ears. Catching the bus and sitting through induction talks, while wondering whether anyone would notice if I vomited in my pencil case, have proved to be particularly difficult. One week in and uni has already become a hindrance to me; a second priority to ensuring I get to Boots to buy false eyelashes before Pout. One can only hope that I pull myself together in time to pass the end of year exams. Now, lying in bed with a box of multivitamins, a free Domino’s pizza and a bunch of everlasting memories, I can finally reflect on my Freshers’ Week. I think that whilst everyone will have their own take on the week I feel we are all united in describing it as one word: unforgettable. Roll on the next three years, and here’s to the many more hazy nights, embarrassing moments and life lessons sure to come!
Beth Currall
Societies
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
29
Manchester RAG
Kate Bullivant gives you a taste of what Manchester RAG has to offer this year
Photo: Jamie Oliver
MT KILIMANJARO
RAG (Raise and Give) is an organisation that has been in Manchester since 1965, and year after year raises thousands of pounds for charity by sending students out on hair raising adventures across the country and the world. I caught up with Jo Mortimer the publicity officer who explained how RAG works, and some of the exciting events they have on offer this year. ‘It’s a student based organisation so we’re all third and second year students. Then there is one fully paid member of staff Lauren, she is amazing and sorts us out when we get stress and cry!’
The organisation is definitely growing in size, last year they raised £471,000 for their various charities, and this year they are aiming to raise a whopping £500,000. ‘It’s awesome how much money we raise, and soon we’ll have to start increasing the size of our committee to keep the ball rolling’. Although Rag is ever growing, there are still lots of people who don’t know about RAG especially in student halls and within societies themselves. ‘Our aim is to get every fresher to think that RAG is a normal thing to do, so at some point everyone will have been involved in one of the events and challenges we have to offer’.
BOGLE If the thought of climbing Kilimanjaro or attempting the other challenges doesn’t appeal then RAG offers a host of smaller events. However, don’t underestimate them because they are still challenging. One of these is Bogle, a 55mile walk around Manchester on the 1st and 2nd of March. It was started in the 1950s by people who got stranded in the Lake District, instead of paying for a taxi they decided to walk back to Manchester and get sponsored to do it. It has now evolved into Bogle. Walkers meet at the RAG office in north campus at 7pm, and then walk through the night. The route takes you all around Manchester so you get to see parts of the city that you would never normally see. It is extremely challenging and a lot of people end up dropping out half way as the route goes through Fallowfield. Kat Lawson did the Bogle Ramble last year; this is a 26mile walk that takes ten hours. She explained how it was no walk in the park ‘In all honesty it nearly killed me doing 26 miles. I had the worst blisters they were the size of cherry tomatoes, we now have a personal joke whenever we do anything that nothing is as bad as Bogle! Although it was tough we ended up having so much fun, and finishing was just the best feeling.’ However don’t let the blisters put you off because it isn’t just about the walk, especially if there is a large group of you. If you do it in two or threes it’s hard to keep the moral up, and people end up not finishing, its much better and a lot more fun to attack the walk in a group. So if you are a member of a society that supports a charity, then getting involved would be a perfect way to raise money and to raise your society’s profile. With the money raised half will go to the selected charity by Rag (yet to be announced) and the other half will go whichever charity that is special to you.
Societies
Events
The challenge most people have heard of is the Mt Kilimanjaro climb. Each year students are flown out to Tanzania in East Africa to overcome extreme weather conditions, altitude sickness and fatigue in order to raise money for either the Meningitis Research Foundation or Practical Action. ‘It’s the best and worst thing that I have ever done in my life’, says Ella Tyler who completed the climb this summer, ‘as it’s mentally and physically rewarding but it was quite tough at some points. The reason I loved it was because you get so close to the group you do it with, you’re together every step of the way. The porters were fantastic and they were so supportive even though some of them couldn’t speak English!’ The challenge allows you to raise for either the Meningitis Research Foundation or Practical Action. Chris from Practical Action explained how vital the money raised by Manchester students is. ‘Last year, student’s raised over £70,000 for Practical Action, this is an absolutely colossal amount of money, and helps
Practical Action make a genuine difference to the lives of the world’s poorest women, men and children. With this Practical Action could build six solar powered water pumping systems in communities in northern Kenya with no access to basic sanitation, and teach these communities basic hygiene skills, changing the lives of thousands of people. We spend 89p in every £1 donated directly on our project work.’ It’s such a great opportunity as you’ll probably never get the chance to climb Kilimanjaro after you leave university. It’s organised in the summer holiday which means after the climb you can take time to travel round Eastern Africa. You’ll definitely deserve a break having climbed a 19,341ft mountain, (technically it is made up of three volcanoes, two that are extinct but the third and highest summit is dormant so could erupt again). A few people may read this and think they wouldn’t have the fitness to face such a challenge, but the main feat is altitude sickness and this you can’t train for. So all you need is enthusiasm and determination.
JAILBREAK and LOST Another extremely popular event is the Jailbreak, which is as far as you can get from Manchester in thirty hours without spending a penny. It may seem impossible but you’d be surprised how far people actually go. In previous years people have made it as far as Dubai and Hong Kong, and the furthest destination this year was Croatia. People blag their way onto all means of transport from buses, taxis, planes, cars and sometimes just good old fashioned walking. The Publicity Officer Jo told me how she had taken part in Lost, which is Jailbreak’s sister event. ‘Everyone meets at Owen’s Park at midnight, and clamber onto the coach which has its windows taped up with bin liners. You are then driven through the night for three or four hours, chucked out and told to find your way back without spending any money’. It’s a crazy idea, but great fun and perfect for raising money.
On previous years students have been taken as far as Newcastle and Oxford. ‘When you’re dropped off everyone looks at each other thinking the same thing: where the hell am I.’ It seems that there maybe some safety issue that need to be addressed for both Jailbreak and Lost, but Jo assured me that RAG keep a close eye. ‘It’s not dangerous, because we make people text us the moment they get into a car giving us the registration number and again when they get off, this goes the same for trains and buses. This way we can keep track of everyone’s progress and don’t lose any students.’ If any of these challenges have caught your attention then look online to find out more, plus see all the other challenges that are on offer. These range from Everest Base Camp to Beer Fest. Rag website: http://www.manchesterrag.com/
Photo: Katherine Lawson
‘In the end we managed to raise £200 for Childreach International which we are so proud of.’ So get talking amongst your friends to be walking and raising by the 2nd and 3rd March. For more information on Bogle then visit the website: http://www.manchesterrag.com/bogle/ Photo: Lauren Neal
Monday 1st October
Tuesday 2nd October
Wednesday 3rd October
STUDENT RUN SELF HELP: B-eat Student’s Union, Room 4. 4 30pm to 5 30 pm.
PANTO SOCIETY AUDITIONS Club Underground 17 30pm till late
CIRCUS SKILLS Academy 2 pm - 2pm to 4pm
ZUMBA CLASSES - £3 Council Chambers 5 00pm to 6 00pm
Circus Skills is a opportunity to do something different and fun with your Wednesday afternoon, anyone is welcome - whether you can juggle or not!
PANTO SOCIETY AUDITION Club Underground, North Campus Union. 5 30 pm till late
Thursday 4th October MANCHESTER STREET DANCE TEAM AUDITIONS (Dance Society) Academy 2 - 4pm to 6pm. Come audition for your chance to be a part of this great opportunity to have fun, make new friends, perform, compete and most importantly DANCE!
RAW MANCHESTER ROCKS SOCIETY Hardy’s Wells, Rusholme. 8pm till late Go along, have a drink and find out what they are all about.
30 : SPORT
ISSUE 03 / 1ST OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Man City Academy: a new era for English football? Morgan Hammond
Manchester City are set to embark on the construction of a state of the art football academy tipped to be “one of the world’s best” by City’s football development executive and ex-Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. The project will cost billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour an estimated £100m and will be ready in time for the 2014/15 pre-season. The mighty 80-acre training complex will reside in the former industrial wasteland in Openshaw West, alongside Manchester City’s Etihad stadium, and will replace City’s former training ground at Carrington.
Barcelona’s academy has produced the likes of Carlos Puyol and Xavi Photo:Wikimedia Commons
The proposed academy and training ground will be used by both City’s first team and youth team players and will include a seven thousand seat stadium, sixteen full size training pitches, a half size goalkeeper’s training pitch, a new club headquarters with a gym, changing rooms and an injury rehabilitation centre. Arguably the most important aspect of the project will be the new school and accommodation units, built for the 400 lucky academy players ranging from the ages of twelve to twenty-one. Youngsters will eat, sleep and breathe
football in an environment similar to that of Barcelona’s La Masia, an elite academy which has produced some of the best players in world football. Manchester City will hope to emulate the success that Barcelona have had in producing outstanding home grown talent. The likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Gerard Pique all passed through the La Masia academy, alongside current Ballon d’Or holder Lionel Messi. Unlike many English clubs, the Spanish giants are renowned for producing their own players, and have subsequently been less reliant on expensive imports. City are keen on producing home-grown talent not just for the progression of the club, but also to abide by UEFA’s financial fair play regulations. The UEFA ruling comes into effect this year, which states that clubs that do not break even will be financially sanctioned. However, it seems hard to imagine that City will suddenly stop buying the world’s finest players, especially if they fail to retain the Premier League title this season. If the academy succeeds in its objectives of practicing financial fair play, whilst producing the next generation of football’s biggest superstars, then surely the dream of England winning another World Cup looks a more realistic prospect. Spain have reaped the rewards in terms of national success, winning the last three major tournaments with a team that included several La Masia graduates. For Manchester City this is by no means going to be a quick fix. Patrick Vieira has stated that it could take as long as ten years before City will be able to fully exploit the fruits of its multimillion pound complex. It should be noted that while Barcelona started nurturing young talent through their
The new academy will be adjacent to the Etihad Stadium Photo: Firing up the Quattro @Flickr academy over thirty years ago, it was not until relatively recently that Spain became the dominant force in world football. City fans will argue that they are more concerned with producing their own talent rather than building the future winning England side, which is undoubtedly a long way off. Manchester as a whole will also benefit in more ways than one. The project will serve as part of a regeneration process in Manchester. They hope to create around 160 construction jobs and ninety five permanent jobs, at least 70% of which
will go to local workers. City also propose to plant two thousand trees (in the interests of protecting the local environment) and have set aside 5.5 acres for a 6th form college and hightech sports science institute. City bosses have also promised a number of local schools that they will be able to play up to 10 matches a year in the 7,000 seat stadium. In this way the club hopes to carry on the regeneration of east Manchester which began 10 years earlier with the 2002 Commonwealth Games. It seems a lot of good could come
“The truth is out today. Justice starts tomorrow” Dan Jones The 23rd of September saw Liverpool’s first home game since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report. Their opponents, almost inevitably, were Manchester United. It’s a fixture which proves a constant reminder of just how far their footballing stock has fallen. Gone are the days when Liverpool were revered worldwide as Britain’s most famous footballing export. According to the current league table, they aren’t even the best team on Merseyside. Gone, also, are the days where the events of the 15th of April 1989 are attributed in any way, shape or form to the actions of Liverpool fans on that day. Gone are the obstacles to the truth, perpetuated by those with only self-interest at heart. The lies have been exposed and the truth, as unearthed by one of the most thorough inquiries in British judicial history, is that journalistic integrity, corporate liability and policing responsibility were abandoned. Abandoned in the run up to the game when, despite numerous warnings, the Football Association declared Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium suitable for the FA Cup semi-final. Abandoned by Superintendent David Duckenfield, whose incompetency led to 3,000 fans being shepherded into a part of the ground built for no more than half that number. Abandoned by several senior policemen, who refused to allow 42 ambulances onto the pitch as people lay dying for want of basic medical attention.
of this venture, not only in terms of nurturing young footballers, but in benefiting the community of Manchester as a whole. As an English football fan it is good to see that Sheikh Mansour is spending his petro-dollars on something other than lining the pockets of big-time footballers such as Samir Nasri and Mario Balotelli. English football will develop as the academy aims to re-define the English game through its modern training methods, tactics and regimes. Many
clubs such as Arsenal and West Ham currently have successful youth academies, although the sheer scale of the Manchester City project will force the rest of English football to keep up. This can only aid the progression of English football, which is increasingly falling behind the rest of the world in terms of national success.
Bizarre Sports #3 – Cheese Rolling Joe Rivers
Cards and flowers adorn a shrine to the 96 victims. Photo: Ben Sutherland@Flickr
Abandoned by those who sought to erase the honest accounts of hundreds of rank-and-file officers, a cover-up which began even as the disaster was still unfolding. Trevor Hicks, to whom the headline quote is attributed, lost both his daughters at Hillsborough. He and all the families have had to endure not only the loss of their loved ones, and a stream of unanswered questions, but an incessant tirade of slurs, lies and fallacies about the actions of the police, the actions of the emergency services and even the actions of the fans themselves. Thanks to newspaper editors, journalists and senior politicians, the lie has been continually perpetuated that
this was not only Liverpool’s tragedy, but Liverpool’s fault. The self-pity city once again looking for someone else to blame. At last, these fallacies have been put to bed. At last the world might understand that this isn’t just Liverpool’s tragedy. Nor is it merely football’s tragedy. The families never wanted pity; they waited 23 years simply to hear the truth. They should not have to wait another 23 years for justice to be done. Dan Jones is a lifelong Liverpool supporter, who regularly attends matches both home and away; his passion has taken him to over ten countries following his team.
For 364 days of the year, Brockworth in Gloucestershire is a sleepy rural town surrounded by beautiful Cotswold countryside. One day each year, however, thousands of raucous people from Gloucester and all over the world descend on a place called Cooper’s Hill where the famous Cheese Rolling competition occurs. The main premise of the contest is for a 7-8lb round of Double Gloucester to be rolled down the hill and for around 20 participants to run down the hill to chase the cheese - or more accurately be the first person down the hill as the cheese has never actually been caught! The hill and course itself is incredibly steep with a gradient of 1:2 and is 200m long. The cheese rolls down the hill at speeds of up 70mph and it genuinely poses a threat of injury to spectators at the bottom of the course. Injuries often occur, but are limited mainly to minor sprains and bruises, although a quick look on YouTube would make you think otherwise. On the day there are three downhill races, one ladies race and an uphill race for children. Local Stephen Gyde has won it an impressive twenty times. The annual event supposedly came
from a pagan ritual of rolling objects down the hill as a sign of spring. The age of the organised event is not officially known but it is thought to originate from the early 1800s. But many would suspect that the whole event has taken new meanings of maintaining an English tradition and putting a middle finger up at health and safety. The cheese rolling contest sparks real passion from the locals, who continued to run the competition when official management failed to support the event due to insurance problems. Helen Thorpe, the 2011 ladies winner, summed it up: “Noone’s going to stop us doing it. They say it’s not official but we are all Brockworth people and we’re running the cheese today. We strongly believe in it.” Not many people can say that about a bit of Double Gloucester.
SPORT : 31
ISSUE 03/ 1st OCTOBER 2012 WWW.MANCUNION.COM
Manchester women storm to Varsity win
Grand National moves to improve safety
UoM 39-7 MMU
Alex Underwood
University of Manchester women’s first team eased past Varsity opponents Manchester Metropolitan, fulfilling the advertised expectations of being ‘proud, prepared’ and needing ‘no excuse’ for their performance. Early nerves could have been expected for potentially the biggest match for both sides this season, but this was not the case for UoM women. They pinned Man Met to their try line for long periods of the first half, Hale crossing the line after just three minutes for her first try of the afternoon. UoM continued to exert pressure, with a further three tries within the first half an hour from Lockyer, Watson and Hale who picked up her second - an impressive display of dribbling from the half way line. Watson succeeded with two conversions and this early start looked to put the game out of reach. Although Manchester Met had chances, they would always struggle to make up the 29-0 half-time deficit. They did have extended spells of pressure in the UoM third, and strong performances from Grey and Bridgeman kept their rivals on their toes. However, the strength of the UoM pack was a constant throughout the game, making turnovers in vital areas in the pitch, particularly within their
own 22 when under pressure. Despite the second half being a far more even affair, it was still the University of Manchester who struck first as Shutter exposed the gaps in Man Met’s defence following a well-worked turn over. UoM’s final try of the night was set up by a strong scrum and the pace of Lockyer, who Man Met struggled to deal with all afternoon. Lockyer eventually passed to Hale who powered over the line for her hat-trick. Manchester Met did score a consolation try towards the end of the match, after a quick tap penalty allowed Bridgeman to slip through the UoM defence. For UoM, the result never looked in doubt, in total control for the 39-7 victory. University of Manchester captain Katy Mulqueen said, ‘it was a hard game with it being the first of the season for us, I was really impressed with our performance-(even though) we had girls playing who’d been away for a year.’ The team will be hoping that this result will not be a flash in the pan, but will act as a catalyst for a quick return to the top division. Mulqueen said, ‘I’m feeling confident about the season. If we keep playing like that then we will win games and hopefully get back into the Premiership.’
Last week, the British Horseracing Authority announced a series of changes to the Grand National aimed at improving safety. From 2013 the race start will be moved forward by 90 yards, taking it away from the Aintree grandstands and hopefully alleviating tension for the horses as they race towards the first fence.
A strong tackle during the Varsity tie between UoM and Man Met. Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd
Club Profile: Surfing
Club Profile: Women’s Rugby Union Photo Credit: Guilherme H @ Flickr
Ben Lobo The surfing society is a mix of seasoned surfers and newbies, running trips in and around Britain and even the occasional trip abroad. Members enjoy casual surfing throughout the year and some compete in the university competitions (BUCS and SST). We managed to tear society President Harry Harbord away from the waves to have a chat about surfing and the society. What’s the attraction of surfing? “Once you are on a wave the reward is like no other, it’s not like a football pitch where the ground is unchangeable and always there. With surfing you will never catch the same wave twice, the experience changes every time, the only constant is the healthy dose of adrenaline once you take off.” Have you a funny story from a surfing trip? “One member went surfing in the previous nights SURFari fancy dress, he staggered into the water, armed with his surfboard and his giraffe outfit. After flailing his way onto his first wave of the day I caught sight of him from further out to sea where I spotted a giraffe’s head charging along a wave before wiping out spectacularly on the beach. He got a full round of applause from not only from every surfer in the water but also everyone on the beach.”
There will also be a three-year review into the design of the fences to reduce their impact on incoming horses. The far side of Becher’s Brook, one of the most dangerous fences, has been levelled off but the size of the fence itself will not be altered, and the number of runners will remain at 40.
Any big trips planned? Handball was onefrom of theamost We just got back weekpopular in France team sports at the 2012 Olympics near Biarritz and this Easter we are off to the Canary Islands for a week. So even if you are not mad for the surfing it will be worth it just for the beach!” If someone wants to join the society where can they find you? “Check out our facebook page or drop me a line on harry.umsc@gmail.com”.
Andrew Georgeson
Captain Katy Mulqueen speaks to The Mancunion. How did you get into rugby, and how long have you been playing? “Despite playing a lot of sport before Uni, I had no experience of rugby and no intention of joining a team. A friend dragged me along and I’m still playing two years later.” What would you say to anyone considering rugby? “Give it a go! Don’t be scared to try it, it’s a great way to meet friends and stay fit. Rugby is a sport for everyone so come and try!” What has been the highlight of your rugby career? “My experience has been incredible, from being a complete beginner to representing the university’s 1st XV, it would be impossible to choose a highlight.” Is there any banter between the men’s and women’s teams? “Only friendly banter! There is healthy competition between the teams about the Varsity matches - so far we are winning!” Is there a difference in the build up to the varsity match and a BUCS game?
Photo: Tom Harrison
Andrew Georgeson
“Varsity is a big game for us, it’s the first game of the year and with the hype around the day and expectations to win, there can be a lot of pre-match nerves. Varsity is also about having fun though and enjoying the whole experience of the day, especially playing in front of a crowd and in a stadium. Our BUCS games are extremely important; they are what we train so hard for. “ What is the team’s aim for this year? “Our ultimate aim is for our 1st team to be promoted back into the Premiership, something we are very hopeful for. We also hope to recruit new members to the club and help the development of Women’s Rugby in the UK.”
The modifications were made in response to the deaths of Sychronized and According to Pete last year. World Horse Welfare welcomed the changes but asked the BHA to go further by reducing the size of the field, which would limit the possibility of horses bringing down one another. Since 2002, eleven fatalities have occurred during the National. Though the changes are unlikely to revolutionize the nature of the race they do leave in doubt the future of the event. Racing fans and the horseracing industry alike will be hoping that one of Britain’s most illustrious sporting occasions will not be changed beyond recognition in years to come.
SPORT WWW.MANCUNION.COM
1ST OCT 2012 ISSUE 03 FREE
UoM Women 39 - 7 MMU Women
Manchester City Academy: good for English football?
P31
University of Manchester dig deep to win Varsity
P30 Streakers descend on Varsity match Ciaran Milner Sport Editor
Multiple streakers disrupted the rugby Varsity match last week as they invaded the pitch, with a large wave of invaders coming in the second half. The game became far less of a contest in the second half as MMU failed to score and UoM dominated. Some exhibitionists took it upon themselves to liven up proceedings, with at least eight pitch invasions recorded. To the delight of male spectators, the alternative entertainment also included a female pitch invader. Rugby Captain Freddie Drummond was not impressed with the invasions. “It was entertaining, but they went a bit over the top”, he said. “They exasperated tensions in the game.” Sports Editor Tom Acey had a different view of proceedings, as he described the “near-unanimous delight” of the crowd.
The University of take Manchester re-asserted theirin dominance over Jonathan MMU. Photo:Whiting Patrycja Marczewska Manchester on Leeds Met back 2011. Photo:
- University of Manchester beat Man Met 22 -7 - Man Met led at the end of the first half Mike Davis
The University of Manchester Rugby Union men’s first team claimed this year’s Varsity bragging rights with a hard fought 22-7 win over Manchester Metropolitan. At a very wet and windy Heywood Road, the first half was an attritional affair, with a lot of hard tackling and impressive defence. Freeflowing rugby was sadly lacking, as both teams struggled
to create much in the opening exchanges. It was UoM who drew first blood, Owen Waldin putting his side ahead with a penalty in the fifteenth minute. But that was as good as things got for them in the first half, as Man Met started to dominate the game, spending long periods camped in their opposition’s 22. The pressure finally told when, after a messy scrum, they touched down
in the corner. This put Man Met 7-3 up, a lead which they deservedly held until the half time interval. UoM showed little in the way of attacking ideas in the first half, however that quickly changed after the restart. A sustained period of pressure led to three quick penalties, all of which were slotted over by the impressive Waldin. Then came by far the best attacking move of the match. A
slick passing sequence ended with UoM’s Joe Heslop evading four tackles to score his team’s first try of the match. Waldin duly converted to give UoM a 19-7 lead with twenty minutes left on the clock. Any thoughts of a Man Met fightback were dealt a further blow in the sixty-third minute, as a drop goal put UoM fifteen points clear with just seventeen minutes remaining. In truth the game somewhat fizzled out as a contest at this point, with Man Met never seriously threatening the try which would have made for a nervy finish. For the last ten minutes the crowd were more interested in the exploits of the
numerous streakers than the action on the pitch, as UoM defended solidly to close out a deserved win. After the game University of Manchester captain Peter Rowe said that he felt his side deserved the win. “We really had to dig deep for that and we deserved it. The first half we started badly, second half we really kicked on and I’m really proud of the boys,” he said. The win provides a perfect start to the season for the University of Manchester, while Man Met will also feel they showed enough in the first half of the game to merit optimism for the season ahead.
Photo: Patrycja Marczewska