Issue9

18TH NOV 2013/ ISSUE 09 FREE

MANCHESTER’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature: P8 Church for Atheists?

P12

Interview: The Pixies

Theatre: Modern day Sweeney Todd

P25

Withington MP advertises unpaid intern despite party campaign

Students voted in favour of a motion for the Students’ Union to officially support the Veggie Cafe staying on campus, read the full story on page 3...

Liberal Democrat MP for Withington John Leech is advertising for an unpaid internship, despite a campaign to stop the exploitation of interns by his party and an investigation by the government.

The role - based in Manchester or London - offers no salary, no expenses and could be up to 12 months long, according to the advert for the position on www.w4mpjobs. org.

Leech’s office manager Charles Glover told The Mancunion that they could not afford to pay an intern.

“There is no extra money,” he said.

“This is why we offer the option of spreading the internship over 12 months, so people can work at the same time.”

He added, “we are offering graduate training, not work.”

Glover defended the role as helping to broaden social mobility and, “access to people who don’t usually get the opportunity in Westminster.”

Employment Relations Minister and Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson is backing a drive offering guidance to interns unsure about their rights.

The party campaign aims to explain to people starting out in their careers what their rights are regarding the National Minimum Wage.

Revenue and Customs is to investigate 200 employers advertising internships to make sure they are paying the minimum wage - part of a government initiative, called for by Swinson, announced last week.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills released a statement last Monday advising interns on their rights and what to do if they feel exploited, “The law on the national minimum wage is clear.

If somebody on a work experience placement or internship is a worker under NMW legislation, then they are entitled to the minimum wage.

“Internships can be a valuable way of helping young people get into work and realise their ambitions.

Anyone who feels they are being exploited should contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.”

The Liberal Democrats advertise a paid internship scheme and state on their website, “We are committed to opening access to internships. That’s why in 2014 internships on this scheme with the party will be paid the UK minimum wage, currently £6.31 per hour.”

The Lib Dems are the only party who officially advertise an unpaid internship. Manchester residents and students get priority for the role.

Students speak out against sexual harassment Pippa Allen-Kinross News Editor

Female students have spoken to The Mancunion about sexual assault and harassment that they have experienced in bars and clubs around Manchester.

Three girls, who wish to remain anonymous, have spoken of incidences of sexual harassment in a bid to draw attention to the ongoing problem in university cities.

This comes a time when societies in Sheffield and Leeds have dramatically stepped up efforts to try and prevent sexual harassment of students.

Jane*, a third year student, told The Mancunion of sexual harassment she experienced at a club on Princess Street.

She was queuing for the toilets with a friend when a male student behind them began putting his hand up her friends skirt and grabbing her.

This happened two or three times before Jane confronted the man and told him to leave. He

became aggressive and squared up to her, and when she refused to back down he grabbed her hair. In retaliation Jane hit the man, who hit her back before her friends managed to separate them.

The girls went to the bouncers to ask for help, but so did the male students who accused the girls of creating a fight out of nothing, and asked for them to be thrown out.

“We told the bouncers what had happened but they weren’t interested,” said Jane. “They just told us avoid them and go our separate ways.

“I was upset with the bouncers’ reaction and dismissal of the situation. Groping is a form of sexual assault, and then to physically attack me for protesting is outrageous.

“More should be done to protect women in clubs and these incidences should be taken more seriously by staff.”

This is an opinion which students in Leeds are beginning to act on.

A joint campaign by Leeds Feminist Society and the student paper is aiming to shut down the

club night which hosted the infamous ‘Fresher’s Violation’ party: a night which boasted “pole dancers, a violation cage and lots of second and third years seeking out new freshers.”

‘Fresher’s Violation’ also used a promotion video which included a presenter asking a student “How are you going to violate a fresher tonight?”. The student replied, “She’s going to get raped.”

At the time of writing, their online petition has gathered almost 3,650 signatures and has drawn the attention of the local council and police.

Leeds FemSoc have also begun to push for clubs to train their staff to better deal with cases of sexual harassment, as well as signing a pledge against harassment and ensuring their advertising does not in any way seem to encourage it.

Lisa*, a second year at Manchester, also spoke of sexual harassment she and her friends experienced at a different club on Princess Street.

She and two female friends were sitting in the smoking area for fresh air when a male student approached them asking for a cigarette. When

they told him they did not have any, he became aggressive.

Lisa said: “He kept ranting about how girls like us think we’re too good for him when we’re not.”

He continued to stand over them and be aggressive for some time, and when the girls appealed to his friends for help they apologised for him but did not try to stop him, saying he was just drunk.

Eventually one of Lisa’s friends told the man to leave, and in response he took her drink from her and squeezed it, breaking the plastic cup and spilling the drink over her lap. He then threw the remains of it over the wall, swearing at her.

The girls reported what had happened to a bouncer, who “shrugged” and refused to act.

Eventually, Lisa and her friends were so angry that they left the club to go somewhere else.

Continued on page 7

02 : NEWS

ISSUE 09 / 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Highlights

Fashion: Men’s makeup

Cake sales for ‘Children in Need’ have kicked off around campus Photo: Steph Marsh

Page 17 Picture of the week

Health & Wellbeing:

Beards Page 27

Film, Review: Gravity Page 19

1994 Group of uni’s decides to disband Inez Dawoodjee News Reporter The 1994 Group, composed of smaller, research-intensive universities, has decided to disband.

The Board released a statement explaining the closure: “The 1994 Group has come to a natural end point. This was not an easy decision to make, but we feel sure it is the right one for the future.”

The Group was founded 19 years ago to defend the interests of smaller universities when the Russell Group, composed of larger universities, was created in the same year.

22 universities were members of the 1994 group. In 2004, following the merging of University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) with Victoria University, the newly-formed University of Manchester left the group.

The London School of Economics left the group in 2006 and the University of Warwick followed suit in 2008.

In 2012, 7 universities withdrew their

membership. 4 of these universities - Durham University, University of Exeter, Queen Mary University of London and University of York went on to join the Russell Group. In 2013, the University of Reading left, reducing the Group to 11 members.

The Board added: “The Group was founded at a time of real change within the sector and so it comes to end at another point of significant change.”

“Collectively, we have taken the decision to bring the 1994 Group to an end, because as institutions we have expanded and changed over time to the point where the need for the Group as originally constituted no longer exists.”

Additional collaborations “on specific projects and issues” may continue in future between universities.

UK higher education institutions make up other groups which include University Alliance, GuildHE and Million+.

MMU lecturer murder trial begins Pippa Allen-Kinross News Editor The trial of the murder of lecturer Jifeng “Jeff” Ding, along with his wife and two children, has begun.

Anxiang Du, a previous business partner of Jifeng and his wife Helen, denies four counts of murder.

The prosecution has accused Mr. Du of stabbing Jifeng and Helen Ding to death in the kitchen, before going upstairs and killing Xing (18) and Alice (12), where they were “cowering in their bedroom”.

University staff to strike again

Jonathan Breen Editor

University academics and staff are to hold a second national one-day strike on 3 December, in a continuing dispute over pay, four unions have announced.

The row centres on a one per cent pay rise offered to university staff – including lecturers and support staff.

UCU head of higher education Michael MacNeil said, “Staff have suffered year-on-year cuts in the value of their pay and have made it clear that enough is enough.

“We remain committed to trying to resolve this dispute and the employers now have until 3 December to sit down and positively engage

Deputy Editor: Harriet Hill-Payne Sub-Editors: Dan Harold, George Bailey, Jennifer Grimshaw & Eleanor Muffitt

Books, Interview:

The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets

Page 26

Visit Our Website www.mancunion.com

News Editors: Michael Williams, Pippa Allen-Kinross, Sean Doherty, Aidan Gregory & Gawain Owen news@mancunion.com News Reporters: Inez Dawoodjee

Facebook: The Mancunion Twitter: @THEMANCUNION

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The jury at Northampton Crown Court has heard how a bloody fingerprint of Mr. Du was found at the scene, as well as footprints in blood around the house.

A 999 call made by Xing was played to the court, in which the screams of both girls are heard before the line went dead.

Evidence was also heard from a young girl playing near the house, who heard a “shriek” at the time of the murders but was unable to say if it was “a scream of anguish”.

The trial continues.

with the unions.”

He added workers would strike again next month, joined by the union Educational Institute of Scotland, unless pay conditions improve.

Members of the unions UCU, Unite, and Unison took part in a one-day walk out on October 31, which affected Manchester and 148 other institutions across the country.

The student-supported action saw lectures, libraries and other University services cancelled, postponed or closed, with pickets outside campus buildings including University Place and a protest in front of the Students’ Union.

Food & Drink Editors: Ben Walker & Maddy Hubbard foodanddrink@mancunion.com Film Editors: Sophie James, Robbie Davidson & Angus Harrison film@mancunion.com Features Editor: Sam Dumitriu features@mancunion.com Games Editor: Alasdair Preston games@mancunion.com Lifestyle Editors: Moya Crockett, Isabelle Dann, Beth Currall & Lauren Arthur lifestyle@mancunion.com Music Editors: Tom Ingham, Patrick Hinton & Phoebe Clarke music@mancunion.com

Sport Editors: Andrew Georgeson, Thomas Dowler & Thomas Turner Sports Reporters: James Eatwell & Jonathan Roberts sport@mancunion.com Theatre Editor: Josephine Lane theatre@mancunion.com Web Editor: Jennifer Ho webed@mancunion.com Photography Editor: Peter Chinnock photography@mancunion.com Photography team: Patrycja Marczewska, Joshua Brown & Cil Barnett-Neefs

ISSUE 09 / 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 03

University Assembly endorses ‘Save Our Veggie Café’ campaign - SU to support Veggie café to stay on campus - New location still in contention Aidan Gregory News Editor By an almost unanimous verdict, the Students’ Union University Assembly has voted in favour of keeping the Veggie Café on campus.

In response to the news, the ‘Save Our Veggie Café’ campaign said, “well done to everyone who has supported us, and those who attended the assembly tonight.

We’re super chuffed and cannot wait to work with our SU sabbs on an even bigger and better campaign”.

Speaking to The Mancunion, Grace Skelton, General Secretary of the Students’ Union, was keen to stress that the verdict of the vote does not represent any radical change in Students Union policy. What is does constitute is a “proper mandate”, which “I can now use to further lobby the university on the issue”.

Image from SOVC campaign Facebook page

In an email, she added further that “Judging by the popularity of the campaign, keeping the Veggie cafe on campus is something that is important to both students and academics, and I am pleased with the outcome from Assemblies.

Both the Students’ Union and the University have already offered several alternative locations to the cafe owner. We are hoping that this matter will be resolved quickly, amicably and in a mutually beneficial fashion.”

The ongoing dispute appears to be over where the Veggie Café is going to go, and whether or not such a move would be permanent.

In an earlier email to the campaign committee, Skelton explained that “Regrettably, as far as a campaign is concerned I see no way that the University is going to allow the Veggie Café to stay where it is... Even if the University did make space for the Veggie Café in the new building, due to the extent of the building works, she (the owner) would have to move out for at least a year. They’re not completely opposed to an alternative premise being found however, and as a campaign tactic I would focus on this”.

The Mancunion asked

Petition launched to save Disability Studies Inez Dawoodjee News Editor A petition to save BA Learning Disability Studies has been launched.

The petition has over 900 signatures and supporters include Members of Parliament.

It comes after an announcement that the course will no longer accept new entrants from September next year.

The website for the petition stated: “The University says the course was closed because we didn’t reach target admission numbers, but the method by which the

closure was carried out was unfair and did not allow students to be admitted via Clearing or right into September, as is usually the case.”

Students are planning a protest against course cuts scheduled for Tuesday 19th which will coincide with the Social Responsibility reception hosted by the University.

Supporters have written to ViceChancellor Nancy Rothwell to express their concern over the closure of the course.

The University replied that the course will continue at the Manchester Institute of Education.

But

students

are

Leslie Brown, owner of the Veggie café. Photo: University of Manchester

Charlotte Smith, a member of the campaign committee, whether she and her colleagues will endorse the offer of ‘alternative premise’.

To which she responded “management have yet to explain to us why the café has to move out of its current venue permanently. Obviously we recognise that the café needs to move for the duration of the refurbishment but our question is why is the café not an integral part of the refurbishment? Why can it not return and form part

worried that it will not cover the subject at a depth that is required in such a course.

One of the signatories of the petition, Sheila Morris, commented: “At a time when vulnerable people are at severe risk of being further marginalised, this course is of vital importance in raising the profile of people with learning disabilities.”

The School of Education has carried out other course closures.

Last year Applied Community and Youth Work were removed due to low numbers of applicants.

This led to a protest by current students and also prompted criticism from Students’ Union Executive members.

of the planned PG hub? Most PG students we have spoken to want the café to remain as part of the new hub. This seems an obvious solution and there has been no explanation about why this cannot happen”.

Meanwhile, the committee of the campaign have been busy with their agenda. The last month has seen several public meetings, one of which was covered by Fuse FM, and leafleting by volunteers outside the library.

Early last week they sent

an open letter to University President Nancy Rothwell and Estates Manager Diana Hampson, which outlines the demands of the campaign and asks for them to “meet with a delegation of staff and students to discuss the proposals in more detail”.

The letter, which is over a thousand words long, places great emphasis on the amount of support for the Veggie Café which exists amongst both staff and students. It makes it very clear that the supporters of the

campaign want the veggie café to return its home in the Schunck building once the planned renovations are completed.

“Above all, we insist that the café must return to its current location once the refurbishments are complete”.

In the face of such strong demands, and with the January 2014 deadline for removal fast approaching, the argument over the future of the Veggie Café does not look like it will reach a conclusion any time soon.

UoM professor leads UK relief team in Philppines Sean Doherty News Editor

- Professor Redmond leads medical team in relief effrots - Death toll over 3,500 from typhoon A professor from the University of Manchester is leading a medical team going to the Philippines to help those affected by the recent typhoon.

Professor Anthony Redmond, Professor of International Emergency Medicine in the University’s Humanitarian Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), will be joined by University colleague Dr

Amy Hughes as he leads a UK team of surgeons, doctors and A&E nurses.

“The first thing we will be doing is surgery on untreated wounds that may have already become infected or certainly to prevent them becoming infected,” said Professor Redmond. “Then we will be looking at the other range of conditions that present to us.”

The 12 strong team was approved for deployment

by Britain’s International Development Secretary Justine Greening after the Philippines Department of Health sent a direct request. They are part of the UK’s £10 million relief operation for the region

following the disaster.

Professor Redmond has had 25 years of experience in leading British medical teams in disaster zones.

He has worked as part of response teams helping those affected by conflicts, natural disasters and major emergencies all over the world. This includes his work in 2010 when, following the Haitian earthquake, when he led a team of surgeons in providing emergency medicine and surgery with the UK Non-Government Organisation Merlin.

The official death toll from Typhoon Haiyan currently stands at over 2,300 but local officials and aid workers fear that

it could rise significantly.

The Filipino government currently puts the number of those affected by the typhoon at just over 8 million, however the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that 11.3 million people are in need of food, as well as access to healthcare, education and livelihoods.

Professor Anthony Redmond: Haiti in 2010. Photo: University of Manchester

ISSUE 09 / 18TH NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

04 : News

Poor students under-represented at elite universities, says report Sean Doherty News Editor

Students from low income households are not being fairly represented in relation to their academic ability, a new report claims.

The report by the Sutton Trust, a group dedicated to increasing social mobility through education, found that children with professional parents are 3.2 times more likely to go to Russell Group universities than working class children and that in 27% of these cases, exam grades cannot be used to explain the difference.

“Access to elite universities is a real issue across the globe, and we hope that by discussing it at the summit, we can learn from each other on what can work to improve access for bright low and middle income students,” said Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation. “This new research confirms that there many able children either not applying or not being admitted to the best universities, and this is true internationally.”

Research carried out by Dr John Jerrim, Lecturer in Economics and Social Statistics at the Institute of Education,

University of London, suggests that although many working class students having the academic ability to attend elite universities, they choose not to.

The report argues that more work should be done in working with 14 to 18 year olds to help reduce social inequalities in elite institutions.

“Although academic achievement is an important factor, a substantial proportion of the elite university access gap in each country remains unexplained,” wrote Dr Jerrim. “This suggests that there are working class children who, even though they have the grades to attend, choose to enter a nonselective institution instead.”

Dr Jerrim also considered the difference in real cost of attending elite higher education institutions in England compared with the USA. He found that although fees at American universities may be higher, aid packages mean that students from low and middle income families are often able to graduate debtfree, unlike their English counterparts.

The research claims that being a student at Oxford University, with its fees of £9,000 per year, costs around £16,000 a year when cost of living and accommodation is factored in. This compares to a Harvard student’s annual

An additional course cost is anything that you’ve had to pay for outside of your tuition fees. Maybe you’ve had to buy expensive textbooks because there weren’t enough in the library? Or you’ve had to pay for a field trip that you thought was included in your fees?

The report found that working class UK students at Oxford would likely amass a far greater debt than low income US students would at Harvard. photo: karenblakeman@flickr

cost of £37,333, with £24,200 of that cost being tuition fees.

Despite this division, the report found that a student going to Oxford who has a family income of £27,500 would have to find £11,300, compared to £2,019 for a student going to Harvard.

Likewise, a student going to Oxford with a household income of £10,000 would be expected to pay back £11,300,

Name: Items bought:

compared to just £865 for their counterpart at Harvard.

This report comes after recent news that a record number of students from the UK are enrolling at American universities, with 9,476 at US institutions this year, a 5% increase. Over 900 universities in America offer funding to international students and over 180 offer academic or sporting scholarships

which cover fees and living expenses.

A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said, “We want everyone with the desire and talent to be able to study at university, irrespective of their background. Last year the proportion of disadvantaged English 18-year-olds applying to university was at its highest level.”

Course:

Year: Cost:

If this has happened to you, please use this form to tell your student rep what you’ve had to pay for.

They can fight to get you a better deal next time.

Tell your Union about your additional course costs at manchesterstudentsunion.com/costs

ISSUE 09/ 18h NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 05

American university bans electronic dance music to combat MDMA use

University of Massachusetts has banned electronic music on campus, students protested outside the students’ union, pictured. Photo: detroitstylz @Flickr

-Students protest against the move -Argue that the University should not “dictate the behaviour students” Gawain Owen News Editor

In response to a surge in MDMA use in the United States, The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMASS) has banned all Electronic Dance Music events from its campus.

MDMA, or ‘Molly’ as the drug is referred to in the US is being categorised as a health and safety risk to students and EDM is seen

by College administrators

as the reason for its rise in popularity.

In a campus wide email the UMASS interim Vice Chancellor, Enku Gelaye said, “We have grown even more concerned about the ongoing reports of overdoses... The Molly taking culture at these shows is real and now exceedingly dangerous to the health and safety of concert attendees.”

The response from students at UMASS has been strong, with a number

of petitions being set up and a flash mob started outside the students’ union in protest. Many feel the majority are being punished for the actions of the few.

The UMASS Amherst student body petition reads, “UMASS Amherst Administration: Bring back EDM and agreement not to take illegal drugs.”

In the wake of the decision, Zachary Broughton, President of the Student Body, sent out a statement to fellow students in which he said, “[I] did not think it was the place of the University to dictate the behavior of

Sankeys nightclub to reopen in Manchester Jonathan Breen Editor in-chief Popular Manchester nightclub Sankeys is to reopen, it has announced – just six months after the owner said it was closed indefinitely.

Boss David Vincent told The Mancunion earlier this year he planned to shut the legendary dance venue to focus on his namesake club in Ibiza, and that “if Sankeys does return it won’t be with

me as it’s owner. I have done my time here.”

But a statement on the Sankeys website published on 14 November said, “We can officially announce that our spiritual home in Manchester overcame some major adversities and will be reopening soon.”

The club, in Beehive Mill, Ancoats - voted ‘Best Club in the World’ in 2010 by a DJ Mag poll - closed its doors 6 May this year after a 12-hour rave.

It is not clear when the club will officially open again.

Sankeys’ response on Twitter at the time of closing was: “Hate us or love us you will 100% miss us.”

Vincent, in a Facebook post earlier this year, paid tribute to the almost two decades of clubbers who have crossed the threshold of Sankeys.

“Sankeys simply wouldn’t exist without our loyal crowd who have made us what we are today,” he wrote.

students.”

In a press statement the University also said, “Our administrative and student leadership must also take responsibility for creating a safe and positive environment that encourages and cultivates good decision making.”

UMASS Amherst also attached a link to the American government drug abuse website “for more detailed information on Molly and its side effects.”

The website singles out, “urban gay and bisexual men using MDMA as part of a multiple-drug experience,” and also links MDMA use to the spread of HIV by stating that it, “may encourage unsafe sex, which is a risk factor for contracting

or spreading HIV and hepatitis.”

The response on social media has been strong.

Kaskade, one of Americas leading EDM DJ’s voiced his opinion on Twitter, “But, WHAT IF we switched out a few words in that statement?

For instance, “Molly” with “Alcohol”, and “These shows” with “The NFL”?”

MDMA has been in contention in the US for some time now. Pop stars in the country, including Miley Cyrus and Jay-Z, have been criticised for referencing the drug in their songs.

The University of Manchester operates an exchange programme with UMASS Amherst in which students can study abroad for a semester at the University.

Jennifer Grant, a third year Philosophy Student

at Manchester, spent a semester at UMASS in 2013.

“The drug culture was very different to Manchester.

Much less common,” She told The Mancunion.

“MDMA seemed to be the thing to take on a special occasion where as here in Manchester people take drugs much more often.”

However, Grant said she did see, “a direct correlation between EDM and Molly on campus because the events that came to the Mullins Centre [campus arena] were the ‘special occasions’ Molly was purchased for.”

The response from UMASS students is not one claiming that they want to ‘take illegal drugs’, but one concerning basic rights and liberties: the ability to make and be responsible for their own decisions.

Tuesday 19 November 2013 12.30pm-4.00pm

Manchester Central (The G-MEX Centre) • Over 90 exhibitors including leading City, national and local law firms, course providers and professional bodies • Find out about: training opportunities and vacation placements with firms, law courses, the Bar and more • Free entry, free Fair Guide • Open to any law or non-law student or graduate STUDENTS AND GRADUATES FROM ANY UNIVERSITY WELCOME

Please register at:

www.manchester.ac.uk/lawfair Organised by The University of Manchester

Careers Service

ISSUE 09 / 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

NEWS : 07

Sexual Harrassment and the dark side of lad culture continued from page one...

Lisa said: “I was really upset by what happened, but more upset by the bouncer’s response. It put an unnecessary downer on what should have been a good night.

“Bouncers are supposed to keep us safe, but he had no interest in what we were saying or our well-being.

“We found the whole experience so insulting that we left.”

However, sometimes the staff at clubs and bars are willing to act against cases of sexual harassment.

Hannah*, a fourth year student, told The Mancunion of an experience of sexual harassment she had at a bar in Withington.

She went for a quiet drink with two female friends. As they were stood ordering at the bar a group of men stood behind them and one of them, without warning, suddenly forcefully hit Hannah from behind.

Hannah described: “It was really painful, and in a quiet bar it made a loud noise and everyone turned around and looked.”

She added that she tried to stand up to the men, asking “excuse me?”, but they all laughed in her face.

“I felt humiliated. We sat down and didn’t even order our drinks because I was about to cry.”

However, in this occasion the staff did take action, and refused to serve the culprit until he had apologised.

He walked over to Hannah and, swearing at her, eventually said “sorry love” and told her to tell the barman he had apologised.

Hannah and her friends refused, and not long after the men were asked to leave the bar. As he left, the culprit banged on the glass next to Hannah and swore at her again through the window.

Speaking about her experience, Hannah said: “I wouldn’t say that I feel unsafe going out in Manchester because me and my friends always look out for each other.

“However, I do think it’s a problem that we always have to be on our guard.”

Students in Sheffield have begun to openly campaign against such sexual harassment, with students of both genders and from both universities uniting to form the ‘Sheffield Anti-Sexual Harassment’ group (Sash).

Sash has begun campaigning for bouncers and staff to be trained to notice harassment, and for clubs to hang posters on their walls to create awareness. It also plans to create an online list of clubs that are safe, and make sure that no societies associate with those deemed unsafe.

Speaking of the situation in Manchester, Womens’ Officer Tabz O’Brien-Butcher said: “While it’s a minority taking part in these activities, lad culture dominates the nightclub scene, and there’s a very specific brand of masculinist, dominant behaviour that is taken as the norm and presented as ‘how’ you go out in town.

“Behaviour like this contributes towards and perpetuates a culture that says women are objects for the taking, that ‘lads’

Gang invades house in Withington and cuts jewellery off occupants Gawain Owen News Editor

Five men, one of whom was brandishing a meat clever, forced their way into a house which was occupied by a family.

The incident occurred at 9pm on Friday 8th November on Yewtree Road, Withington, a popular area for student housing.

The gang, who were all masked, kicked down the front door of the house and then confronted the startled family in their living room. One of the invaders had a meat clever whilst another brandished a hammer.

Once inside the gang targeted the occupants by removing the jewellery from their bodies with pliers. The thieves removed a

necklace, earrings and a bracelet from one of the women and a watch from another victim.

The jewellery stolen amounted to around £2000. After this the gang fled the house.

This burglary is the most recent in a string of attacks in the Withington, Fallowfield area that have left residents feeling uneasy about their safety.

Only a week before a similar attack took place on Brookleigh Road in Withington. Four men also brandishing weapons smashed their way through a patio door and again attempted to steal occupants jewellery.

However these thieves were unsuccessful and fled empty handed.

The police have not hinted that the two incidents are

Students are fighting back against sexual harassment in clubs. Photo: Caesar Sebastian @Flickr can bond over sexual assault and that they will receive kudos and recognition from their peers for ‘conquering’ women and showing themselves to have sexual prowess.

“Only last month at Oxford University, Pembroke College’s Rugby Club Social Secretary sent out an e-mail to the members inviting them on a ‘crew date’ with specific instructions to bring a connected, however the two crimes appear to be very similar. In both instances the thieves were described as young, wearing dark sports clothes with their faces covered.

Alongside this both attacks were very similar in their style and they occurred around the same time on the same day of the week.

Detective Constable Mark Evans of Greater Manchester Police said; “The facts of this appalling burglary speak for themselves.

This family have been traumatised at the hands of this gang”.

He also commented on the worrying nature of the way in which the gang invaded the families personal space, somewhere they should feel safe, by saying; “A home is supposed to be a place of sanctity however this gang have totally invaded this family’s privacy and threatened them with weapons.”

spiked bottle of wine for a female fresher.

“There is a real pressure on male students to take part in these cultures – only this week we have seen video from Sterling University of their Hockey Team singing songs about rape on a public bus on their way on a night out, and we have had similar reports at Manchester this year.

“That’s why it’s so important to

have these conversations with male students, those who are part of these campus cultures and also those who feel ostracised because of them, to explore why they take part and how they can challenge these narratives and speak up against it.”

The University has agreed to dedicate February next year to a month of awareness raising and campaigning about these issues,

culminating in the Reclaim the Night march.

Female students who would like to discuss or act on incidences of sexual harassment they have experienced are encouraged to contact the Women’s Reps, through their Facebook page ‘Manchester Uni Women’s Reps’.

iGEM team wins prize for synthetic palm oil Inez Dawoodjee News Reporter A team from Manchester won a prize at the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) World Championships in Boston for creating a synthetic alternative to palm oil.

The iGEM team won the ‘Best Human Practices’ prize after competing with 73 other teams from around the world at the beginning of this month.

Team member and final year Developmental Biology student Rob Harrison said: “We were absolutely ecstatic to have won! After working so hard all summer --and technically, all year given all the work that went in to planning the project-- it felt

great to have recognition for what we’ve achieved.”

The team used a modified version of the E.coli bacteria to create a synthetic version of palm oil.

Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world and the demand is evergrowing.

Deforestation is often a consequence of palmoil plantations.

The iGEM team’s project could lead to significant developments for environmental protection if taken further.

The yearly iGEM competition is targeted at undergraduate students. The aim is for teams to design and create their own parts to build a biological system and then operate it in living cells.

The team presented the project at the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology ( MIT) and also talked about their achievement in the Faculty of Life Sciences podcast.

Rob Harrison said: “We’d definitely recommend taking part in a competition like this in the future. Hopefully there will be a team for the next competition if funding is sorted. We’ll be looking for people from a range of academic backgrounds: not just natural scientists but also computer scientists, sociologists, graphic designers.

We had an economist on the team this year!”

Prior to the Championships, the students have also held workshops with 200 children as part of the University of Manchester’s Science Stars Day.

08 : Feature

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Church for Atheists?

The Sunday Assembly sing and dance to some unconventional hymns Photo: Mick Paul

Tim Harcourt-Powell attends the first meeting of Manchester’s atheist church The Sunday Assembly

I

t’s a Wednesday night and I’m in a small room whose walls are stacked with prayer books. The people around me all seem to be in good spirits despite the miserable autumnal weather outside.

‘Hit it, Maestro!’ cries the church leader, sweeping his arms excitedly in to the air.

The opening strains of the first song begin to plonk from the piano. A joyful, upbeat number to which the congregation start to sway and clap, with smiles abounding and ripples of awkward laughter echoing around the room.

This is no ordinary church service. The hymn sheet makes no mention of ‘All things bright and beautiful’, or ‘Jerusalem’.

We’re singing ‘Celebration’, by Kool and the Gang.

Growing up in a strongly Christian family, I’ve been to many Church services throughout my life. Some of these experiences have made me cynical and skeptical when it comes to organised beliefs and religion, yet I’m open to sincerity when I see it. I’ve seen a fair cross section of what you might experience in the contemporary Christian church. From believers screaming and collapsing as they are ‘touched by the spirit’ and vicious blazing rows between believers due to disagreements, to touching talks by severely disabled thalidomide victims, and altruistic types sacrificing their entire lives for the benefit of others less fortunate. But between the extremities of the two poles, there is always the one uniting feature: a belief in ‘God’.

This, however, was different. It was like decaffeinated coffee: the taste was very similar but you just know something is missing. Yet, unlike coffee, this service was not any worse off for it’s deficit. This church is part of a growing movement which describes itself as a ‘godless

congregation that celebrates life’.

Manchester’s inaugural ‘Sunday Assembly’ met on the 30th October, at the Cross Street Unitarian chapel. If you’ve not yet come across the movement, it was the product of the comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who together launched the first Sunday Assembly in North London in order to ‘live better, help often, wonder more’. Since then, as they describe, it ‘went a bit viral’. The concept has now spread globally with Jones and Evans currently embarked upon a ‘40 dates and 40 nights’ missionary tour launching new Assemblies worldwide.

For the most part, the Assembly does mimic a conventional church service: congregational songs are sung, an address of sorts, a moment for quiet reflection is encouraged, a collection is taken. Yet the Assembly filters out the divisive issue of belief and religion, but emphasises the importance of community and fellowship.

As the service opened, anticipation created an excitable tension in the room lending great enthusiasm to the first ‘Hymn’. While the spirit was there, charmingly the musicality certainly was not. After mumbling through the verses that no one knew and then hollering through the chorus, all seemed enthused and in high spirits. As one witty member of the congregation quipped ‘this is a bit like Karaoke!’. The next item on the order of service featured poetry from performance poet and writer Tony Walsh. He delivered his verses in a typically halting ‘poetic’ style, but I was put off by the fact that the poetry that had been chosen seemed to be loaded with sentiments such as ‘Learn the answers, teach the questions’, ‘sleep as long as you like, just be awake more’ or ‘everyday may end with Y, but should begin with Why not?’. On its own I’m sure the poetry carries its weight, but in

this setting it risked teetering in to twee motivational truisms. As the poetry drew to a close, Colin Parry (of the charity Foundation for Peace) gave a short but moving speech about the death of his son in the IRA attack on Warrington in 1993. Inspiring as this speech could have been, Parry offered little depth about the events or their fallout, instead offering the opportunity to purchase a book about it.

After a rendition of Take That’s ‘Shine’, Sanderson Jones took to centre stage to offer the ‘address’. In keeping with the imbued theme of ‘beginnings’ he spoke for a short time about his personal experiences, confessing that he was someone who ‘failed’ often. But the atmosphere in the chapel became a little uncomfortable as he was humorously relayed a story of how he had once unwittingly adopted the first half of an IRA slogan (‘We only have to be lucky once – you will have to be lucky always’) as his attitude towards finding success in starting new ventures. It seemed as if Jones was torn between a new ‘churchlike’ leader figure, and his standup routine. I’m all for laughter in church (indeed, I believe it would greatly benefit many a service), but it felt that any attempt towards any depth was cut short by the introduction of levity.

While the mainstream media has coined the oxymoron ‘atheist church’, this is hardly a fair description of the proceedings. Many of those I spoke with were not explicitly atheist and often came from slightly unconventional routes to spirituality - a young woman brought up in an Irish Protestant family, a Unitarian lay preacher, a middle aged woman brought up in the Church of England, who moved through Buddhism and now identifies herself as a Quaker. The Sunday Assembly prides itself on a lack of doctrine or set texts, other than basic human existence. As a result, everyone

is welcome. Celebrating ‘life’, is open to any one, and as their website states, at the Assembly they ‘don’t do supernatural, but we also won’t tell you you’re wrong if you do’.

But is the celebration of ‘life’ a suitable anchor to hold fast the movement? The Sunday Assembly is not the first such occurrence of such a movement, as has been highlighted in many articles in the surrounding hype. In an article in the Guardian, Nick Spencer (Director of studies at the Theos Think Tank) describes how similar movements appeared in the late 19th Century in response to a surge in atheism, but quickly disappeared again. “You need

One of the main reasons I wanted to start the The Sunday Assembly was because I had so many questions more than an absence to keep you together,” Spencer says, “You need a firm common purpose.”

It is potentially due to the fact that this was the first meeting, however, the service itself felt very light on actual

content or depth, relying instead quite heavily on jokes and throw away ‘wisdom’ soundbites. While this was by no means dull, it is questionable how much mileage remains in such a strategy, especially with nothing specific to bind the believers, bar their existence.

Towards the end of his sermon, and the close of the evening, Sanderson spoke of how, since starting the Assembly, many had come to him and Pippa expecting them to have all the answers.

He remarked that “One of the main reasons I wanted to start the [the Sunday Assembly] was because I had so many questions.” This offered a refreshing alternative to most conventional, ‘mainstream’ churches or religions who draw people in with the dubious claim of having the answers, the truth of life, or a raison d’être.

Personally, I subscribe to the idea that religions are all doors to the same room, that there is no universal truth because your conception of ‘life’ depends greatly on your perspective and upbringing. The Sunday Assembly seems to acknowledge this attitude and celebrates the unknown, the sometimes confusing journey of life. It promises no greater truths, or insights, or deities, and it doesn’t attempt to offer them. They sum it up with the rather bittersweet ‘We are born from nothing and go to nothing. Let’s enjoy it together’. Though this first meeting was a little scarce when it came to depth and risked looking like a new platform for the founders comedy, this burgeoning community does offer an interesting network of open minded people, who have all approached the venture with welcoming hearts and outstanding Victoria sponge. Let’s hope that the joy of being alive is enough to unite them in the long run The next meeting of the Manchester Sunday Assembly will be at Victoria Baths on Hathersage Road (M13 0FE) at 11am, December 8th. For more information visit www.sundayassembly.com

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Feature : 09

“We are not recruiting enough of the brightest and best into the social work profession” Labour Peer Lord Adonis tells Sam Dumitriu about a new graduate scheme to recruit the high achieving students into social work “We are not recruiting enough of who embraced it. This year they are the brightest and best into the social offering 100 places and have already work profession. That is the single had over 500 applications and 3,400 biggest problem that we face in child expressions of interest. protection and social work.”

Adonis, who served as a minister Labour party member Lord Adonis in the last Labour Government, wants to change that. He places the has had a hand in everything from failure to attract the top talent into the academies programme to HS2. the social work profession as the Serving as Chair of the Frontline key problem in a profession that has board, Adonis knows more than come under much criticism lately. anyone the importance of social Frontline, is a new graduate work. Raised within the care system, scheme that uses the Teach First Adonis understands the difference a model to recruit the next generation care worker can make. of social workers. Adonis, who “Social workers are absolutely worked with and supported the crucial to the life chances of development of Teach First, is children in care. There are the confident that Frontline can help solve agents of the state and community. care work’s recruitment problems.

They take decisions everyday in “Frontline is seeking to attract final respect to education, in respect to year students and young graduates court proceedings, in respect to who are both, academically relations with guardians, parents or successful, who have got 2:1s or other adults who feature in the lives Firsts but also have the personal of children in care, which determine skills and enthusiasm to be able to their whole future. be successful social workers.

“It is very difficult to succeed as ”This is a new scheme with a child in care, unless you have the intensive training and support, support of a good social worker. the commitment is only to stay in That’s where Frontline can make a the social work profession for two big difference.” years. So it makes it possible for Social care has come under a lot participants to move onto another of criticism recently for failing to career if participants wish to do so, pick up cases of real abuse. Recent but equally if people get hooked and cases have shocked the public and there’s a good chance they will, then no failure is greater than the death of course this is a great way into the of four-year-old Hamzah Khan. profession for a longer period too.”

Social workers failed to pick up on Frontline was founded when the shocking abuse as Hamzah was Josh MacAlister, who was a Teach starved to death. It took 21 months First alumnus, contacted Lord for the authorities to discover Adonis with the idea. Together they Hamzah’s body; it was a damning developed the plan and pitched it indictment on the profession.

Advice.Hunting.Ad.pdf 3 07/11/2013 09:18 to the Department for Education, Reforms are clearly needed, Adonis

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sees Frontline as a key part.

“The single biggest challenge is to recruit more and better social workers and that’s precisely what Frontline seeks to do. You can’t do it all alone but you can make a contribution.”

The recent social care scandals have threatened morale within the profession. Will Frontline improve morale?

“There’s a clear morale problem in the profession and raising the status is a big priority. Recruiting steadily more of the brightest and the best into the profession will make a big difference to the status of the profession and therefore improve its morale.”

One criticism of Teach First, was that it would lead to upper-middle class students going into areas of real deprivation without having first hand experience of poverty. Is this a danger with Frontline? Adonis casts doubt on these claims.

“Frontline has a rigorous selection process and is only going those who are going to be able to make a success of the role. Including dealing with challenging families and I’d expect Frontline entrants to come from all kinds of backgrounds, including some I’d expect to be graduates who are themselves in care when they were younger. ” Social work is one of the most demanding jobs out there. According to a recent Randstad study, social workers are the mostly thinly spread of any profession with 54% saying, “They are working hard and cannot work any harder.” It is clearly going

Lord Adonis launches the Frontline grad scheme PHOTO: Ewan Shears to be a challenge to get affluent, sheltered graduates to opt for one of the most demanding jobs out there.

Will they stick with scheme or will money be wasted as graduates drop out for less demanding work? Adonis sees Frontline as way of relieving pressures on currently overworked social workers. ”A big problem that social workers face is unfilled vacancies around them. Which adds enormously to workload and to pressure. If we can tackle this problem of recruitment and turnover, then that will significantly improve the working conditions for the profession at large and Frontline can play a role there.”

He also is confident, that while graduates are only committed for two years, many will stay on for

much longer.

“It is a strong selling point of the programme that you are not locked in for the future. But, in practice I would suspect most Frontline participants would willingly stay for longer than two years, because the programme is so good and the work is so rewarding.”

Whether Frontline will succeed is yet to be seen. The scheme was recently hit by a survey finding that 55% of social workers thought the scheme would have a negative impact on the quality of practice.

But, with all three major parties backing the scheme and impressive recruitment, Frontline looks here to stay.

For information on how to apply to Frontline, visit their website http://www.thefrontline.org.uk/

10

Opinion

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Voting and Russell Brand’s revolution

Jenny Sterne di scusses whether not voting will ever achieve the revolution that the popular comedian imagine s...

Photo:: Wikimedia Commons

My Political Hero...

Malala Yousafzai

Photo: Wikimedia Commons So far in my life I have always thought of the right to vote with pride. As something which people h a d s a c r i f i c e d t h e i r l i v e s f o r, I was not going to give up having a v o i c e i n o u r d e m o c r a c y e a s i l y. B u t after watching Russell Brand a few weeks ago on Newsnight and then reading into the debate which has ensued, I started questioning what my eagerly anticipated opportunit y to vote in 2015 would actually achieve. I felt naïve in my fervent attitude towards the whole process.

I also felt disheartened; would my vote be able to make the slightest difference?

W h e n P a x m a n q u e s t i o n e d B r a n d ’s reasoning for never voting, he replied “I’m not voting out of absolute indifference, weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for g e n e r a t i o n s n o w. ” B r a n d c o n t i n u e d his argument in an article for The G u a rd i a n ; “ T h e o n l y r e a s o n t o v o t e is if the vote represents power or change” stating that at the moment w e g e t t o “c h o o s e w h a t c o l o u r t i e t h e l i a r w h o l e a d s u s w e a r s . ” Fo r students, the overwhelming lack o f c h o i c e f o r 2 0 1 5 r i n g s l o u d l y. We may choose bet ween a par t y who h a s g i v e n u s f i v e y e a r s o f a u s t e r i t y; a party who left the country in an economic mess or a par t y who have lost every student vote they gained at the last election after completely u-turning on their fees pledge.

The option of not bothering seems increasingly appealing.

But, what will disengaging from the democratic system achieve? How do we stand with a voice for change in our democrac y if the government does not need to do any thing at all for our vote? Paxman, who was initially dismissive of Brand, has now come out and revealed that he once did not vote bec ause the choice was “so unappetising.”

He went on to add that he felt “uncomfortable” after doing so and that “ we ignore the democratic

process at our peril, bec ause otherwise power is wielded by the rich and strong for the benefit of t h e r i c h a n d s t r o n g . ” We n e e d t o st ay involved in thi s democ ratic system, precisely bec ause it still is in some part a democratic system, which has to listen to calls for change. If we ignore it then it will move fur ther away from the democrac y we dream of.

Much of the current disillusionment with the weight of a vote stems from a flawed voting system. People should st ay

“After ticking the ballot paper, we should no longer remain silent for four years” involved in politics precisely so they c an change this. The appeal of abstention is much due from the lack of parties that represent our i n t e r e s t s – w h y, t h e n , c a n w e n o t select ‘none of the above’? Some countries have already made thi s an option in their own elections, most famously in Russia, where such votes led to new elections in 1991, breaking the Soviet Union.

P e r s o n a l l y, I b e l i e v e t h a t d e m o c r a c y is not reputable without the option to vote against as well as for the existing parties. This would mean w e c o u l d a c t i v e l y, d e m o c r a t i c a l l y c all for change. Politicians would be more motivated to actually represent the views of the people who could reject them.

None of this can be achieved unless we work within the present system, remain heard, and then use that voice to bring about change.

After ticking a box on the ballot p a p e r, w e s h o u l d n o l o n g e r r e m a i n silent for the four years; we should

lobby for electoral reform and change. If we don’t vote, what c ause do those sitting on the benches of government have for li stening to our petitioning for the better world we dream of ?

O n e o f B r a n d ’s m a i n r e a s o n s f o r doubting the electoral system is that democratic choice has collapsed through the influence of corporate powers.

Major c o r p o r a t i o n ’s interests are now fundamental in prett y much every decision our “d e m o c r a c y ” m a k e s . T h i s p a s t w e e k the Guardian revealed that the g o v e r n m e n t ’s n e w s u b s i d y s y s t e m for gas-burning power stations is being c reated by an executive for ESB International - who builds g a s - b u r n i n g p o w e r s t a t i o n s . G 4 S ’s contract to run immigration removal centres was extended, despite ongoing allegations of fraud. In the light of these scandals it is no s u r p r i s e t h a t B r a n d ’s a s s e r t i o n t h a t our democracy is a charade has r e s o n a t e d s o e x t e n s i v e l y.

I worry that by giving up we will be green-lighting big businesses to continue dominating politics.

Russell wants to create a revolution that will stop this kind of morally c o r r u p t b e h a v i o r. We l i v e i n a country so focused on profit that it gives the businesses that create it free reign to work how they choose, a country which cuts welfare benefits while these businesses grow and a country where disparit y bet ween the rich and poor is overwhelming. This won’t end if we separate ourselves from the democratic process.

Change is desperately needed. But the change will only come about if we work first of all, however much we detest it, within the restrictions of the present system.

The government will do every thing it can to maintain the status quo and the easiest way for them to do that will be if we all disengage o u r s e l v e s f r o m p o l i t i c s . B u t l e t ’s s u r p r i s e t h e m ; l e t ’s f o r c e t h e m t o listen to us.

In a world of consumption and egocentric interest, it is difficult to look beyond oneself when making choices in life. Some might not even have to make significant choices until they turn 18 but for some life is different. In early 2009, at the very young age of 12, Malala Yousafzai started writing a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC describing her life under Taliban rule, their attempts to take control of the Swat valley through intimidation, and her views on promoting education for girls. This would change her life and ours with it.

As she became a prominent spokesperson for the equal right of education for girls, she quickly started to attract the attention of Western campaigners and the wrath of the Taliban authorities.

The number of girls in primary schools in the Swat valley is now on the rise – from 86,000 in 2010 to 127,000 this year, according to the local education department. This gradual progress stemmed largely from Yousafzai’s interviews, the Taliban marked her off for reprisal. On 9 October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Yousafzai as she rode home on a bus after taking an exam. Asking for her by name, she was hit with one bullet, which went through her head, neck, and ended in her shoulder. She remained in critical condition for several days before being transferred to a hospital in Birmingham, England. The assassination attempt received widespread attention and condemnation.

But, she managed to make a full recovery after a few surgical interventions. Having processed the shock of being on the verge of death, young Malala did not crumble in fear. She wanted to continue her fight and now that she had the attention of the whole world, she knew it was not time to give in to the Taliban.

Thus started her international journey to promote education and give a message of peace. Yousafzai addressed the UN Youth Assembly on her 16th birthday and called for improvements in global education. “One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first,” stated Malala Yousoufzai to rapturous applause from the audience and a subsequent standing ovation from the likes of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown. The UN has declared her birthday, July 12, as “Malala Day”. Called to various media platforms, she managed to give a poignant and emotional speech each and every time. She was voted by TIME magazine as one of the most influential women in the world and was widely tipped to win the Nobel Peace Prize despite eventually losing to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

At 16, Malala Yousafzai is the voice of a generation, a generation hiding in fear, a generation that has seen countless acts of cruelty and one that wants to grow and learn. Her message of promoting education above and foremost has received wide critical acclaim. The ‘I am Malala’ proposal is a testament to the importance that her words have garnered. Political hero to me and symbol of hope and faith for millions of youngsters, Malala Yousafzai remains one of the most important figures of the last five years and intends to influence many more.

Shanda Moorghen

Opinion

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

11

Should students be responsible for their friends anti-social behaviour?

Currently being reviewed in the House

in Translation and Interpreting Studies

useful for actual crime rather than being

of Lords, the new and improved version

vehemently disagrees, “It does sound a bit

overly dramatic about public disturbance

of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and

extreme. Warnings and fines are probably

and ephemeral anti-social behaviour. As

Policing Bill looks set to become law by

the best way to implement punishment on

Conservative MP James Wharton suggests

Christmas 2013. The UK government

such occasions. Getting kicked out of your

“I would be concerned at anything that

is making the brave and controversial

house for something you have not done?

might send out a message to young

decision to criminalise behaviour that

No way that’s fair!”

people to commit anti-social behaviour.

is considered as simply a “nuisance or

However, the Anti-social Behaviour

annoyance” to the dismay of many.

As a result of a Manchester City Council

I speak to people in my constituency

Crime and Policing Bill, goes even further

who experience this kind of behaviour

in antagonising young people. It offers a

and it can have a significant impact on

suggestion, one of the more controversial

pledge to obliterate anti-social behaviour

communities. I am confident that the

amendments to the proposal is the

from the streets but in more ways than

new legislation will give the police the

possible measure to punish tenants

one. The scope of actions included

discretion they need and I will be voting

holding a party whereby their party

as anti-social has unequivocally been

guests indulge in anti-social behaviour

widened and this has not gone unnoticed

afterwards. The offence would extend

by campaigners who are against the bill.

to post-party antics that do not involve

“We are concerned that children and

the tenant or the house itself. Irfaan

teenagers will get into trouble with the

Bhankarally, current third-year student

law just for being annoying, and that it will

in Actuarial Science and Maths agrees to

penalise them from doing things that all

this idea in principle, “I would not want

children do as part of growing up – playing

to be held responsible if anyone coming

in the street, kicking a ball around in a

from a party at my place does not behave

public space or hanging around with their

according to norms even after leaving, but

friends,” responded the chief executive of

if I induced this behaviour in any way, by

the National Children’s Bureau, Dr Hilary

for example providing alcohol, I have to

Emery, when asked about the proposal.

hold my hand up and be held accountable to a certain extent.”

The thought of children as young as 10 being liable to such public disturbance

Silviana Patrascu, a postgraduate student

reprimands raises many questions about

Photo: West Midlands Police via Wikimedia Commons

the future use of ASBO style responses

closed down a lot of places that people are

under the new bill. Rather than creating

allowed to go to. We’ve fenced off school

a safer environment for the community,

grounds, but where do people collect? I’m

it can have an adverse effect and increase

not saying that we will tolerate behaviour

the communication barriers between the

that is harassing, that is making people

police and youngsters. Cleveland’s chief

feel fearful... that is our job. But we need to

constable Jacqui Cheer even points out

be careful where the line is.”

the fact that some of the public nuisance

The generation gap between the current

created these days might be a result of

Parliament and the young population

previous legislation to close down places

is becoming glaringly obvious with this

where teenagers could gather, “What is

legislation and others like it. It does make

anti-social to one person is just what I did

sense to increase protection for the

and what many young people do. We’ve

community, but that would mostly be

for it.” As Mr Wharton is one of the youngest MPs in parliament, this shows just how far off the mark they might be in assessing the current situation. It would rather make sense to review each significant case over and above a more flexible baseline legislation to protect against anti-social behaviour.

Mistakes happen, even more so when growing up. Criminalising such actions can only go as far as providing immediate peace and quiet.

Shanda Moorghen

What matters to you in your community?

Crime? Housing? Street lighting?

What’s the big issue where you live?

With council elections taking place in May 2014, we’re keen to know about the issues that matter to you.

Help us to tell the council how they can improve the area you live in.

www.manchesterstudentsunion.com/bigask

ISSUE 09/ 18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Phoebe Clarke, Patrick Hinton, Tom Ingham Opinion

Interview: Pixies

the

MUSIC OPINION

On Thom Yorke Alex Fenton Refining his sound through an array of genres, Thom Yorke has undoubtedly gifted the world with fine music. Unlike many musicians, his sound has twisted, contorted, and blended in truly dynamic manners. This is why he is idolised by so many, and is what sets him apart from the linear paths too many have followed. A career spanning two decades is something to be proud of, but in the instance of Thom Yorke, it is something more.

Music should be moving forward, taking from the past, but always acknowledging and embracing the new. This is what Thom Yorke has so successfully done, as he crossed from the boundaries of rock through to the electronic.

Across Radiohead’s albums a progression from raw guitar to eclectic, experimental sounds is clear, with each album offering something new. The Bends is at one end of a spectrum, whilst King of Limbs and In Rainbows are at another. The former holds beautiful acoustic tracks and distortion heavy guitar. The latter, syncopated drum beats and a more spatial feeling.

Somewhere in between, perhaps marked by the descending opening notes of ‘Everything in its Right Place’, Kid A bridged a gap. Introducing more effects and synthesisers, Yorke continued where many had stalled, by no means being content scratching guitar to the millions. His solo work Eraser largely built on Radiohead’s sounds, whilst Atoms For Peace added a fine string to his bow.

Teaming up with the infamous Michael ‘Flea’ Balzary and others, Amok ventured further down the experimental-rock avenue. However, it’s not merely

TOP5

Songs

in the field of urinals Tom Ingham, music editor

the genre; it’s the manner in which he produces music. Lazy production can be the blight of many bands, but as his style progressed, so did the space, the sound quality, the attention to detail. This becomes more evident over time, as effects are exploited, yet have never detracted from the quality.

Moreover, what many fans fell in love with was the emotion felt in Yorke’s voice. ‘High and Dry’ showed this, but even a decade on ‘Reckoner’ again produced that shiver down the spine.

What has been continuous throughout Yorke’s career is the meaning behind his music. Whether politically or emotionally motivated there is so much more to each track.

His fans love him, not in the senseless boy band manner, but because his music has reached out to so many on a level only the greatest musicians have reached. His live performance does not shy away from this.

As a live act, Radiohead have encapsulated festivals time and time again, and performances ‘Live From the Basement’ are well worth the listen. Yorke’s recent DJ set at Manchester’s Warehouse Project reinforced everything that he’s about.

Sound delays, cross-fading drum beats and live vocals created an atmosphere not to be missed. It is music you may have heard before, but thereafter it sounds all the sweeter.

It’s hard for one to appreciate a new genre without reason, but what Yorke did was cross the boundaries, inviting you in with open arms. Years on, his music stills surprises, and still strives for more in a truly innovative fashion.

1. Black Sabbath Paranoid Hey fellas don’t worry about the size of the old man, whack it out and give it all you’ve got!

You never saw Ozzy in a cubicle ...actually on second thoughts, maybe you did. *sniff

the MUSIC INTERVIEW

Pixies

Tom Ingham talks Kim Deal, bathroom etiquette and the future of the Pixies with iconic guitarist Joey Santiago.

Tom Ingham Music editor

“We were assholes, that’s why we broke up – a bunch of fucking assholes, every single one of us. I think that’s the bottom line, I’ve finally figured it out (he laughs).” Pixies axeman Joey Santiago ruminates on the bands split following their last record Tromp Le Monde.

“I could kind of tell we were going to split when we stopped appreciating what we were actually doing; how easy it was and how lucky we were to be doing it. I don’t know what the hell happened there, we didn’t even have family so what the fuck were we thinking Jeez.”

More than 20 years after their last full length release, Pixies dropped EP-1 in September this year. Just three weeks into the project bassist Kim Deal left the band. “It was a complete shock. After three days of mourning we just rolled up our sleeves and thought about the economics of what we were doing. We booked seven weeks in the studio and we had four more left, all of us being New Englanders and working class you know we didn’t want to waste our money.”

“I think she wanted to move on, we thought about PJ Harvey (as a replacement).We were thinking about that for a while but just decided not to do it. Certainly we missed her backing vocals, if we were to put PJ Harvey in the mix it would have sounded …different” he laughs. “It’s whatever’s in the soup, we don’t know if it’s going to be a carrot or an onion.

The basic thing is there, the song is there.”

EP-1 is a slight departure from the raw production styling’s heard on previous works, making the EP hard to swallow for some fans initially. “Gil did that subconsciously I guess; by choosing him we knew we wanted a wellproduced record. Who knows, I think the next recording we’re going to do is going to be a lot dirtier.”

2. Pixies - Gigantic Having a slash is one the greatest pleasures in life - no doubt. But when you get that knowing nod from the whole urinal, it makes it even sweeter. Stand aside, me and my piece are coming through.

He liked the way the bathroom sounded, he was in there with an acoustic one day and he just started spitting at the image of himself in the mirror, like a lot. I have no idea why...

“If we were to do another one I would bet on it that we would do a more, for the lack of a better word, grungier sound. It would be the obvious thing to do after coming out with a slick sounding record.”

The foundations for the Pixies were laid during University; divine forces put Joey and Charles in neighbouring suites. “He was a very funny, happy guy a lot of the time. He liked the way the bathroom sounded, he was in there with an acoustic one day and he just started spitting at the image of himself in the mirror, like a lot. I have no idea why, I think just to be funny because, he was laughing as he was doing it.”

The Pixies have been labelled one of the most influential bands in rock, inspiring countless grunge and alternative rock acts.

Although often violent and chaotic in their execution, they were by no means strangers to the lighter side of music “‘Here Comes Your Man’ is straight up pop, we never wanted to

identify by that song even though the video was really popular. We got invited to talk shows and they wanted us to play that song and we just wouldn’t go on, we didn’t play it live for a while either. I don’t know, we were afraid of the song - we thought that we couldn’t live up to its recording” “We come across as your regular Joes and maybe that’s why people warmed to us, we didn’t dress like rock stars and I actually can’t do it, I couldn’t wear the outfit, the outfit would wear me. I wouldn’t even try it; I think the riffs are enough. In the grunge movement everyone dressed like regular people.”

Despite being hailed as innovators the band hasn’t forgotten their influences, a subject that has become even more poignant following the death of Lou Reed. “Huge influence, I mean that’s one of the staples of what we listened to. I don’t know who said it so I’ll say it, I would never start a band with anyone who doesn’t like Lou Reed or The Velvet Underground, that’s almost a requirement, if you don’t get it then, nope – move on.”

Kim’s song writing rarely found its way onto record, a factor that may have influenced the recent departure.” Oh god I guess, but nothing was on the table. She certainly was invited to write songs when we went to Wales (to record) for some reason she didn’t do it. She might have felts jilted but at the same time, I don’t think we ever gave her a reason to get jilted because there was nothing on the table. We never restricted her in any way. We leave the door open; she could stroll in at any time.”

Performing on November 21st at the O2 Apollo, fans can’t help but feel the band might be lacking something without the iconic bassist. “I don’t know, “lacking” something (he ponders) - her attention to detail on playing the bass? I think her smile, people love her smile, it really is just a magical thing.”

3. AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long

4. Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is

I got no answers here chaps. You think you’ve finished the job, you give the thing a little wiggle and the maggot just won’t stop!

Someone get the mop, we’ve got a leak baby.

No normal person likes a crowded bog, but it can’t always be avoided. Even if you’re dying to release the grease sometimes the mind takes over and halts proceedings. Keep pushing, but not too hard - you don’t want no rear guard action.

5. Tom Waits - Hold On Listen up because Tom wasn’t lying when he said this. You let go of that sucker mid-flow and you’ll regret the day you wore beige chinos for the rest of your life. Stay vigilant and hold on tight, that porker has got a mind of its own,

ISSUE 09/ 18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

: @MancunionMusic : / TheMancunionMusicSection

Music

13

Opinion

Three Bald Guys and a New Girl Live: Pixies.

02 Apollo Manchester, 21/11/2013.

8/10.

Thomas Ingham, Music Editor “It’s like great! Oh wait, he’s dead”. Black Francis (aka Frank Black) never got much mileage out of Kurt Cobain’s praise for the Pixies, in particular his love of ‘Debaser’. In a live interview conducted by Journalist and legendary DJ Dave Haslam, Frank revealed that the Pixies was, and still is, an orgy of passive-aggressiveness; a bunch of guys who can’t communicate.

Before Kim Deal’s departure it was near impossible to imagine the band performing without anyone of the members, I still shudder to this day when I try to conceive a Pixies without the tortured sounds emanating from Joey Santiago’s Les Paul. Back on the road with Kim Shattuck, formerly of The Muffs, Pixies have refused to wallow in self-pity at the loss of the iconic fagsmoking bassist and ploughed on.

Backed by a Dire Straits-esque wall of what looked like television screens, the stage show has come a long way from what grainy archive footage would have you believe. In some ways the band shoot themselves in the foot; choosing to shun the pent up energy and excitement from the crowd by opening with ‘In Heaven (Lady In the Radiator Song) and the meandering ‘Andro

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Queen’. Bathed in a thick, concealing light, it was no hardly the most immediate or intimate opening to a show. Slowly working their way back up to tempo ‘Nimrod’s Son’ was a wet slap in the face, a pure shot of chaotic violence, and the arrival of the Pixies.

Talking to The Mancunion, Joey revealed that the band were at one point afraid of ‘Here Comes Your Man’, it’s popularity and it’s sound; immortalised on the classic album Doolittle. After a false start there was a look of some reluctance in Frank’s eye, choosing to indulge the crowd in what is perhaps the Pixies at their most pop sounding.

Material from EP-1 garners a mixed reception. The unfamiliarly slick sounding ‘Another Toe’ passes by without any drama, but surprisingly the brutal, tribal sounding ‘What Goes Boom’ also falls short of expectations.

Being a bunch of working class guys, they’ve got a pretty good idea of what value for money is, and let me tell you a set list spanning 39 songs is pretty hard to beat – unless you’re Bruce Springsteen of course. But, unlike The Boss and his heart on his sleeve ways, Frank’s lyrics are altogether much darker and to quote the man himself “Artsy-

Pixies that doesn’t have Charles and Kim, side-byside on stage leaves one feeling restless. Whatever aura Kim Deal possesses is magical, and it’s only upon her return that younger fans will be able to rest assured that they’ve experienced the full force of the Pixies.

Mancunion Music Meetings Every Thursday, 5pm

Student Activities Office, 1st Floor of SU Review

Review

Kodaline

Mount Kimbie

HMV Ritz - 17th November 2013 IPreviously known as 21 Guns, Kodaline made history in 2007 when their independently released track “Give me a minute” topped the Irish charts.

With Steve Garrigan at the helm, the band from Dublin arrived at The Ritz in search of an even bigger audience for their album “In a Perfect World”.

Starting the night off was talented young singer James Bay. His first EP having just been released, it proved a perfect opportunity to showcase his talent with tracks like “Move Together” and “Stealing Cars”.

Following the opening act, Irish folk pop duo Hudson Taylor took to the stage. As soon as they

Fartsy”. ‘Hey’ is the epitome of Pixies weirdness; a loosely structured masterpiece, pedalled along by a quintessential Deal bass baseline and garnished with a tongue-in-cheek, if not a slightly perverse lyric “uh said the man to the lady/uh said the lady to the man she adored/and the whores like a choir/ go uh all night”.

Pixies are one of the few ‘un-coverable’ bands, liable to imitation – hell yes! (duh) But, who in their right mind would cover ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’?

That doesn’t however deter them from chancing their hand with three covers; ‘Big New Prinz’ by Manchester’s The Fall, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Head On’ and if you weren’t a Neil Young fan you would swear ‘Winterlong’ was a Pixies original, thus is the conviction of its performance.

These reclusive rock stars are most at home in the studio, Frank has said that he had sometimes struggled to connect with his audience of adorers, instead choosing to hide behind his sunglasses and zone out. Closing the main set with ‘Where Is My Mind’ Charles looked genuinely overwhelmed by the reception and the vast array of teenagers and bald middle-age men stood before him.

New Kim evokes the same warmth we all loved about Kim Deal, her playing is a little muddier than her ‘precise’ predecessor but nonetheless Shattuck doesn’t hide in the shadows and delivers the goods expertly on the frantic ‘Tony’s Theme’.

Deal, or no Deal the Pixies are without comparison, there is no effect of age or diminishing power evident in their execution. There is only the internal tussle that goes on within my own head; yes, I have just seen the Pixies, but (and I don’t expect a prize for stating the fucking obvious) a

7/10

started, it became clear that they were destined for greater things.

With excellent songs like “Care” and “Battles” highlighting their set, they even managed to get the crowd to sing along. By the time Hudson Taylor finished, the crowd was demanding for more and the duo hinted that they would be back in town at the end of the month for their own tour.

It was soon Kodaline’s turn to shine. Opening with “After The Fall”, Garrigan immediately connected with the audience with his beautiful pure voice.

In a skillful and emotional statement of intent, cinematic in scope and able to cause goose

Gorilla - 7th November 2013 bumps almost at will, Kodaline mastered the beginning of its set like rarely before. However, as strong as the start was, they struggled a bit to keep the audience in their grasp with their less known tracks. Given their album was only out this year, it was no real surprise.

Nevertheless, Garrigan was bound to make an impression.

Disappearing after their performance of “All Comes Down”, they reappeared on the balcony of The Ritz, in the middle of the crowd, to sing “Bring It On Home To Me”, to the delight of the audience. In a somewhat expected turn, they closed with beautifully written song “All I Want” with backing vocals from Hudson Taylor, hence providing an adequate finish to a great night of music.

Kodaline have still a long way to go before claiming their place as big-buck contenders but they have all the components for greatness, with choruses so beautiful and heart-wrenching that the drawing of thousands of people holding festival lighters singing in unison paints itself.

Shanda Moorghen

Whilst Mount Kimbie are ostensibly a band now and this is ostensibly a gig, they hit the stage at the relatively late time of 11pm showing an enduring connection to the club scene.

The late start time allows for the audience to get suitably alcohol fuelled during danceable support slots from producers Lapalux and oOoOO, eliciting an exuberant atmosphere for the arrival of the main act.

Mount Kimbie need no introduction as they launch immediately into ‘Carbonated’ amidst greeting roars of approval from the assembled revellers. The addition of a live drummer and a host of new gear for this tour means their sound is considerably amped up from when I last saw them in 2010, a wholly positive progression. In a live setting their songs are reworked into elaborate constructions involving any number of guitar pedals and synthesizer settings; the effect is thrilling.

During ‘So Many Times, So Many Ways’ stuttering synth loops cut through the room at-

mospherically before fading into a bass guitar groove. This continues through the song, building to a climactic swell of reverb soaked sounds that wash over the enthralled crowd. When the familiar drum machine loop of ‘Made To Stray’ emerges out of this the euphoria of the room peaks; the anthem of many summer festivals impressively has the same impact in a dimly lit Manchester venue as on a blazing beach in Croatia.

8/10 After leaving the stage to wild applause, Mount Kimbie return for an encore of ‘Mayor’, the standout track from debut Crooks & Lovers. Kai Campos leaps around the stage, mirroring the audience who are induced into movement by the chopped up vocal samples and infectious synth hook, ending the night triumphantly.

Patrick Hinton Music Editor

14

Music

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Mancunion Recommends

Now: Jonathan Wilson Fanfare Downtown Recoords. Release Date 14th October 2013

‘Ambitious’ is the word that sums up Jonathan Wilson’s second album. The entire record is a barefaced tribute to Wilson’s diverse influences, ranging from 60s folk and psychedelia to 70s and 80s funk and progrock. It treads the right side of pastiche with cameos from David Crosby, Graham Nash and Jackson Browne confirming Wilson’s sincere devotion to Laurel Canyon’s rich musical heritage.

California’s Laurel Canyon is the famous home of 60s icons such as Jim Morrison, The Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Buffalo Springfield. Wilson is the natural heir to this heritage of Californian folk-rock, and in the last five years he has revitalised the scene. By introducing many of these eminent 60s artists to young musicians and producers at hazy jam sessions at his studio he has updated and revived Californian psychedelia. He has also produced many of these young musicians’ records, including Dawes and Father John Misty, the latter of whom also appears on Fanfare.

9/10

The album opens with a soft crescendo that fizzles into a crashing string ‘Fanfare’, as promised by the first track’s title.

This bold opening segues into the album’s single ‘Dear Friend’. This track has a real prog-rock vibe and one of the finest guitar solos I’ve heard since Gilmour’s scorcher on ‘Comfortably Numb’, in contrast to the gentle counterpoint of the chorus.

Other notable songs include ‘Cecil Taylor’, which culminates in an abstract skat vocal breakdown featuring David Crosby and Graham Nash. ‘The Illuminations’ is a dark and haunting symphony, which could almost be a hidden track on Dark Side of the Moon.

Performed and produced exclusively and painstakingly by Wilson, it is a real testament to his creativity.

The cover of psychedelic legends Sopwith Camel’s ‘Fazon’ was the track that really won me over with its infectiously funky groove that veers towards the sublimely ridiculous.

‘Love to Love’ is the only weak point in this otherwise flawless album. The writing sounds like Springsteen in his heyday, though Wilson’s vocals fail to match up to Brucey’s anthemic intensity.

Despite this, and whether you’re a sixties buff or not, Jonathan Wilson has fingers in enough tasty pies for there to be something for everyone on this album. He’s set to be a major player in years to come, and his show at Gorilla on the 28th not to be missed!

For full listings visit:

manchesteracademy.net NOVEMBER Naughty Boy Saturday 16th Mallory Knox Sunday 17th Television Sunday 17th Blue October Monday 18th Hayseed Dixie Tuesday 19th Karnivool Tuesday 19th They Might Be Giants Wednesday 20th Panic! At The Disco Wednesday 20th The Rifles Thursday 21st Editors Friday 22nd The Backhanders Friday 22nd The Virginmarys Friday 22nd Temperance Movement Friday 22nd Absolute Bowie Saturday 23rd Lee Nelson Saturday 23rd Crystal Fighters Saturday 23rd MSMR Sunday 24th The Passengers Sunday 24th Barenaked Ladies Monday 25th The Fratellis Wednesday 27th Wednesday 13 + Sister Wednesday 27th TheDismembermentPlan Wednesday27th Hudson Taylor Thursday 28th Dan Baird & Homemade Sin Friday 29th Flux Pavilion Saturday 30th The Complete Stone Roses Saturday 30th The Lancashire Hotpots Saturday 30th The Doors Alive Saturday 30th

DECEMBER Jamie Bulman

Then: The La’s - The La’s Go! Discs October 1990.

Striving for excellence, setting unattainable standards and being over-critical of one’s own work has given us classic albums engraved in music history from detail-obsessed artists such as John Lennon, Michael Jackson and Kanye West. But perfectionism is a double-edged sword; it can be as crippling as it can be prolific; just ask Lee Mavers, frontman of mythical Liverpudlian band The La’s.

After working with over six different producers including John Porter (The Smiths), John Leckie (The Stone Roses) and Mike Hedges (U2), Mavers was still unsatisfied with the tapes, claiming that none of them captured the band’s true sound.

Rumour has it that Mavers refused to use a vintage mixing desk while recording their eponymous debut album, because it didn’t have “original Sixties dust on it”. Frustrated with the frontman’s fastidiousness, their record label released a version of the album in 1990, mixed by Steve Lillywhite (U2, ThKillers) against the wishes of the band. Mavers’ perfectionism meant that the band’s debut album would be their only offering; with band members tired of playing the same set of songs for over five years, The La’s were no more by 1991.

Despite Mavers claiming he “hated” it, the album was welcomed with universal acclaim.

It opens with ‘Son of a Gun’, an acoustic stomp laden with the frontman’s instantly recognizable Scouse snarl, with a twist of falsetto harmonies. It immediately gives us a taste of what is to follow: a band at ease fitting ludicrously catchy melodies over jangly guitars and a powerful rhythm section.

Book now: 0161 832 1111

‘Timeless Melody’, “Feelin’’ and ‘I.O.U’ all have hooks and melodies that come back to haunt you hours after you have put the record away. ‘There She Goes’ is understandably their best-known song; used in countless films, TV-shows and adverts down the years, it is arguably one of the greatest songs produced by any band from Liverpool.

However, it is the album-closer, ‘Looking Glass’ that showcases The La’s at their finest. A slowburning number that opens with Mavers’ melancholic vocals over a single acoustic guitar, it blossoms into magical finale of noise that brings this classic album to a fitting end.

It is hardly a stretch to suggest that Lee Mavers squandered his unquestionable talent.

There have been several whispers of a second album down the years; maybe one day he’ll even release his own ‘perfect’ version of the band’s debut.

Tariq Salarbux

Capercaillie Sunday 1st Papa Roach Thursday 5th Watain Thursday 5th White Lies Friday 6th Electric Six Friday 6th Dutch Uncles Friday 6th Shed Seven Saturday 7th Hell To Pay Saturday 7th For Those About To Rock: Livewire The AC/DC Show Saturday 7th The Word Alive Sunday 8th TheMenTheyCouldn’tHang Thursday12th Alabama 3 Friday 13th Kurt Vile Saturday 14th Gogol Bordello Saturday 14th Scar the Martyr Saturday 14th Primal Scream Sunday 15th Black Veil Brides Thursday 19th Levellers Friday 20th The Ratells Sat urday 21st Overload Saturday 28th

JANUARY 2014 The 1975 Monday 6th Lamb of God Sunday 19th dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip Sunday 19th Megan Nicole Tuesday 21st Redd Kross Fri day 24th Julia Sheer Wednesday 29th London Grammar Wednesday 29th Mayday Parade Thursday 30th

John Newman Friday 31st RX Bandits Friday 31st

FEBRUARY 2014 Jefferson Starship Saturday 1st Killswitch Engage/Trivium Saturday 1st Skindred Sunday 2nd Less Than Jake & Reel Big Fish Monday 2nd Ron Pope + Wakey! Wakey! Thursday 6th Little Comets Wednesday 5th Protest The Hero Thursday 6th Phoenix Monday 10th August Burns Red Tuesday 11th The Defiled Tuesday 11th Mikill Pane Friday 14th Parquet Courts Saturday 15th Kerrang! Tour 2014 Monday 17th Tich Monday 15th twenty one pilots Friday 21st M.A.D. Friday 21st Room 94 Saturday 22nd MDNGHT Saturday 22nd Laura Cantrell Saturday 22nd ReConnected Monday 24th Gavin DeGraw Friday 28th

MARCH 2014 The Dear Hunter And Anthony Green Saturday 1st Kodaline Wednesday 19th Architects Friday 7th Haim Saturday 8th All Time Low Thursday 13th Heaven 17 Saturday 15th Sex Pistols Experience Saturday 15th Ian Prowse & Amsterdam Friday 21st Space and Republica Thursday 20th OneRepublic Friday 21st Franz Ferdinand Saturday 22nd Transmission - The Sounds of Joy Division Saturday 22nd Azealia Banks Wednesday 26th Bonafide Wednesday 26th Deathstars Wednesday 26th The Stranglers Saturday 29th Katy B Saturday 29th

APRIL 2014 Halestorm Friday 4th Mentallica vs Megadeth UK Saturday 5th Deaf Havana Saturday 5th Devildriver Wednesday 9th UB40 Saturday 12th Uncle Acid &The Deadbeats Thursday 24th The Smiths Ltd Saturday 26th Patent Pending & People On Vacation Friday 25th

MAY 2014 Jagwar Ma Saturday 10th The Clone Roses Saturday 10th

Games

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

15

Editor: Alasdair Preson Retro Corner

review: Battlefield 4 Nick Jastrzebski tests DICE’s latest Battlefield effort DICE • EA • RRP: £54.99 • Available on 360, PS3, X1, PS4 & PC Two years after the release of the last game in the franchise, DICE brought us Battlefield 4 at the end of October. Built on the latest Frostbite engine (an improved version of Battlefield 3’s game engine) the upgrades are noticeable, though not radical. Battlefield veterans will feel very much at home here with the same tight gunplay they’re used to.

Speaking for the Playstation 3 version, the game’s performance is adequate at best.

I’ve experienced a few random crashes and frame-rate drops, particularly due to the new ‘Levolution’ system in the multiplayer. Graphical fidelity is an improvement on its predecessor, but not drastically. Lighting effects certainly seem improved, probably thanks to the loss of the obnoxious blue and orange filter from 3. However, there are some graphical glitches here and there, especially with the water on the aquatic-based levels, which looks nice from a distance but isn’t so good up close. In terms of the game’s content, the singleplayer campaign suffers from many of the tropes of the ‘modern military shooter’ genre which has emerged from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s success. Linearity and over-use of scripted events are very prevalent, with associated bugs often getting in the way of progress. On more than one occasion I have had to restart a section because some NPC got lost, or a particular event failed to trigger correctly.

Having said that, this game is less offensive than DICE’s previous title with quite a few areas having a couple of ways you can go. For example, to try to surprise and flank opponents rather than being forced into a straight fire fight all the time. These areas aren’t very frequent though, which I feel is a missed opportunity, especially with the inclusion of the tactical visor; a device which allows players to tag enemies so they can be tracked, which would be ideal for planning a strategic attack on unsuspecting enemies. As it stands, it’s merely a tool to avoid enemies sneaking up on you during open combat. A further new addition is the weapon and gadget crate system; throughout missions there are crates which can be used

to select weapons from your acquired stash as well as situational gadgets. Weapons can be added to your stash by completing challenges and missions with a high enough score, earned through actions while on mission like scoring headshots or killstreaks, which adds some replay

Image credit: GamesPress.com value.

A new ‘engage’ mechanic also makes an appearance, effectively as a singleplayer version of the spotting feature in multiplayer; it allows players to target groups of enemies for AI squadmates and other supporting NPCs to focus fire on. Combined with the tactical visor, this is a welcome feature in hectic battles. The campaign’s difficulty is questionable, since enemy AI is far from revolutionary (I have seen examples of enemies standing out of cover looking at me, without even firing at me) and the only way the game increases difficulty is by increasing enemy damage output.

But no one buys Battlefield purely for the singleplayer mode; multiplayer is where Battlefield has always been most comfortable, and it remains to be. The game comes with 10 maps and two new game modes which gives a very strong variety to the multiplayer. The biggest new addition to mode is the much

Preview

touted ‘Levolution’ mechanic mentioned earlier.

This is where, as the game progresses, damage caused by players affects the map in some way such as destroying cover to expose enemies or destroying support columns to block off paths.

On a larger scale, it includes destroying entire buildings like the skyscraper on the Siege of Shanghai map, which contains a control point in conquest modes. Another example is the dam on the Flood Zone map which, if destroyed, floods the rest of the map resulting in many more amphibious battles. This is a nice addition to the series, but the novelty wears off quite quickly, especially when the resulting landscapes are often less fun to play on. The Commander Mode from Battlefield 2142 makes a comeback, allowing one rank 10-or-higher player to gain an RTS-style overview of the battle map in order to set squad objectives, send in weapon and vehicle drops, deploy UAVs to reveal enemy locations and fire cruise missile strikes against opponents, among other things. This is a great feature when both teams have a commander, but becomes horribly unbalanced when only one team has one since the likes of UAVs offer a significant advantage to whichever team has them.

DICE have added a new Battlepack system for unlocks; as you play you’re awarded packs through gaining rank or progressing with the different weapon classes which contain items like weapon attachments and camo. These items can usually also be unlocked through levelling up; Battlepacks just speed up acquiring certain things if you’re lucky enough to get a useful item. I get the feeling that the Battlepack feature has been added to simply allow EA to add microtransactions to the game at some point.

Battlefield 4 is still a strong, if iterative, game which improves on the Battlefield experience, but probably only enough to be very noticeable to those who played Battlefield 3 to death. It’s worth your time, but probably not the £40 price tag. If you’re set on buying a blockbuster first person shooter this year though, do yourself a favour and make it this one.

Alasdair Preston tries to explain Kingdom Hearts in only one column When it was first revealed, Kingdom Hearts sounded like utter lunacy. Square Enix wanted to mix their most popular Final Fantasy worlds… with Disney. They wanted the House of Mouse to make room for Sephiroth & Co, as well as series star Sora and his friends. It’s mad, and it works.

Kingdom Hearts has Sora team up with Donald and Goofy (yes, THE Donald and Goofy) to save his world, and many others from across the Disney universe. The clumsy but well-meaning Goofy took on a paladin role, wielding a trusty shield, while Donald who is kind of a dick or a kind of duck played as a mage. The player character, Sora, fought using the iconic Keyblade. What the game did excellently was blend the JRPG elements of the game with the phenomenal design of the Disney worlds, and this was never more evident than in the Keyblade designs. Completing worlds unlocked upgrades that completely changed the weapons look, and imaginatively drew inspiration from elements of that world.

Many Disney favourites put in an appearance as you travel from Aladdin’s Agrabah to Olympus Coliseum to fight alongside Hercules. These legendary characters then temporarily join your party, bringing with them powerful new abilities. Kingdom Hearts has always offered some degree of post game, usually in the form of Final Fantasy’s most fearsome figure, Sephiroth, as a high level boss. Not once have I managed to even put a dent in him before being decimated, but I always appreciate being given the chance.

The most daunting aspect of the games is trying to make sense of the plot. Having played almost every minute of the story to each game in this franchise, I can safely say that it actually doesn’t make any sense and must’ve been deliberately written as such. In fact, it took until the end of the most recent game for me to experience one moment of clarity. While I still have little to no understanding of the details, the end game finally dawned on me just in time for the upcoming next-gen release of Kingdom Hearts 3, and it’s going to be huge. I think.

Image credit: GamesPress.com

Preview

The Legend of Zelda: Dead Rising 3 A Link Between Worlds When Nintendo announced a new Zelda title was on its way to the 3DS, many thought that the heavily rumoured Majora’s Mask remake had finally come to life. Instead, we’re getting a different kind of surprise.

The new game is sequel, a rare thing in the Zelda universe, to 1991’s SNES title A Link to the Past. It will take place in the same world and appears to use much of the same map, but is set six generations later. Fans of the original have already picked apart every second of footage from the trailers and identified the similarities (and differences) in the map between the two versions.

ALBW calls back to the series’ roots by adopting a top-down 2D view, with 3D effects on the 3DS systems.

The major talking point is Link’s brand new ability to dive into walls and become a drawing of himself to reach places he otherwise couldn’t,

Image credit: ToTheGame and even slip through cracks to reach entirely new areas. This will surely allow the creative minds at Nintendo to come up with more unique puzzles that the Zelda games are famous for.

In another new turn for the series, the dungeons can be tackled in any order.

It seems that the key items needed to access each one are purchasable from a main shop, and the player can decide which order to buy them in.

Critics who have had chance to go hands-on with the game are already raving about it. This latest Zelda title looks set to continue the series’ longstanding tradition of excellence.

Alasdair Preston

The original Dead Rising game came along at a time that zombie games were reaching a peak. We’d already had Resident Evil 4, and every subsequent game in the genre was just trying to do it’s best to match the atmosphere and thrills of the generation-defining game. Dead Rising didn’t do this. In fact, it went very much in the opposite direction.

The upcoming third release in the series looks to take some big leaps in another direction. The rampant silliness has been dialled down considerably, but if the emerging videos of the protagonist making a flamethrower phallus and humping the air whilst spurting flames everywhere are anything to go by, it most definitely isn’t gone. Mercifully, the developers have promised that they’ve done away with the loading screens between areas that previous versions have suffered from. Instead, you can roam the entire map delayfree, impressive considering that it is supposed to be bigger than the previous two maps combined.

In an interesting move, Microsoft

have secured this previously multi-format series as an Xbox One exclusive.

C a p c o m Vancouver have taken advantage of this by i n c o r p o rat i n g some unique features only possible with the Xbox One system.

The player can accidentally or intentionally draw large crowds of zombies by making loud noises heard by the Kinect, which can potentially enhance cooperation in multiplayer modes, or give your arsehole friend a chance to ruin your day. I predict both. We are assured that this is an entirely optional feature, should you have a penchant for shouting at the top of your lungs while playing or some particularly determined arsehole friends. The game also takes advantage of the Xbox Smartglass

Image credit: GamesPress.com feature that allows the system to use your smartphone or tablet. You can initially use it to set waypoints on the map, and locate hidden items and store fronts. However, completing exclusive missions will unlock apps within Smartglass that give you the ability to call in air strikes, set off flares and use other equipment to divert or destroy the undead.

While it may not sell the system alone, Dead Rising 3 looks to be one of the most promising launch window games of the next generation.

Alasdair Preston

ISSUE 09/18TH NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Susie Coen, Marie ClareYates, Halee Wells (Beauty)

“This is a man’s world...”

Top 5

Feature

TOP

5

Men’s Footwear

By Inka Kemppainen-Vann

Movember: Tashin’ on!

Scarlett Whittell talks Movember style favorites and has no time for whining girls.

Ahh Movember. A hilarious month, with an equally hilarious name. It all started in 2003 with thirty ‘Mo Bros’ in Melbourne, Australia.

Now the moustache-movement is global, raising awareness of prostate and testicular cancer all around the world.

Before the arrival of Movember, I thought growing a moustache was a straight-forward affair. I assumed it came naturally to men, like breathing …or thinking about women 18 times a day. Then I heard about the ‘ghost moustache’. You know the one, it looks like their top lip is a bit dusty.

This month we must be particularly mindful of these fellas. Make sure to closely inspect their face before questioning their participation. You don’t want to offend them, that’s thirty days of hard work right there.

/TheMancunion: Fashion & Beauty @MancunionFash

Beauty

Who says beauty is just for girls?

Jake Pummintr shows us his top male beauty picks

1. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Scrub for Men - £21 This scrub leaves your skin feeling buffed and beautiful. Its apricot kernels eliminate dead skin and remnants of rough facial hair. Whilst the general rule is that scrubs should be used sporadically, this is not too harsh meaning you can give your face the daily clean it probably requires, being a student…

1. Clarks Desert Boots - £79 Image: highsnobiety.com The most gentlemanly shoe on the list, Clarks Desert boots are the longstanding gem in the male footwear halls of fame - comfortable, versatile and very suave. Suede doesn’t seem ideal given Manchester’s weather conditions, but the leather versions make a smart alternative.

“girls, Suck it up and tash 2. Nike Air Max Thea - £85 Image: ordershoe.co.uk I know what you’re thinking: Air Max have been rinsed by just about everyone on campus. It seems like every other set of feet you see is clad in a pair, though most of the wearers probably hadn’t heard of them ‘til uni. The Thea’s, though, are the lesser-seen, but much sleeker version.

on.

Those with a thicker tash face a different problem. How to shape one’s facial hair? It’s an important decision, after all you’ve got to live with it for a full month.

To help out I’ve done a bit of moustache research (don’t laugh). Here are my three favourites:

”

3. Puma Suede Classic - £55 Image: Schuch.co.uk Puma is the underdog in the branded sports shoe stakes, but the suede classics have made plenty of appearances on well-dressed students all over Manchester. With a wide range of colours on offer, you’re spoilt for choice.

My opinion? Suck it up girls, and tash on.

Movember is the growing of moustaches during November to raise awareness of prostate cancer. The goal of Movember is to “change the face of men’s health.” If you would like to donate to such a worthy cause please visit us online to find out how

3.

Kiehl’s Squadron Shaving Cream £15 Being half Asian, my facial hair tends to resemble Mulan’s Father’s beard somewhat. Whilst this works for other people, it really doesn’t for myself so I have to shave everyday. If you are like me, the benefits of this cream are twofold: you can achieve a quick and successful dry-shave, whilst also being far less messy than typical shaving gels.

These blurred lines Androgyny is a trend that has always interested me; challenging and resetting traditional gender stereotypes.

In basic terms, ‘Androgyny’ means a male with female features or a woman with male features, in fashion, however, it can simply mean blurring the lines between genders. The androgynous trend, most commonly for women, hones in on the boyish silhouette with over-large coats and straight leg trousers.

Androgyny is rife on the catwalk for both men and women’s fashion with labels such as Burberry, YSL, Topman Design and a huge majority of other fashion

Image: newmarketsports.com

Reebok Classics are pretty basic, but they do the job. I’d avoid the white pair unless you’re emulating the yob look, but investing in the black would be a sound choice. Just £45 from Sports Direct - you can’t go wrong, can you?

5 Dr Martens 1461 - £90

Image: scorpioshoes.com

Possibly not everyone’s cup of tea, these DMs are made for the more tailored gent. Built to last, you couldn’t ask for a sturdier shoe. Think less of the ‘This is England’ look, and more of a ‘nonchalant academic’ vibe.

Anna Sopel gives us her opinion on the rise of men’s makeup

designers in both High Fashion and High-Street showing off the trend. Often androgyny is labelled and marketed as ‘metrosexual’ for males.

In 2011 H&M launched a unisex clothing line for the Fashion Against AIDS campaign “This edition is a unisex collection to point out that the HIV/AIDS message is as important for young women as for young men.” Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design at H&M. Another fashion brand well known for the androgyny trend is The Kooples, encouraging mix-matching clothes and showing how their individual styles complement each other.

Androgyny today is largely conventional after wellknown artists like David Bowie, Boy George, Prince, and Annie Lennox challenged what was ‘normal’ in the 1970s leading to elaborate cross-gender wardrobes in the Andrej Pejic usually models as a woman; 1980s. During the 1990s, Marilyn Manson also reinforced taking androgyny quite literally. the culture by appearing genderless on the album cover Image: JayeKayeTV ‘Mechanical Animals’.

On November 15th 1994 a man called Mark Simpson started a small, perfectly groomed revolution. He was the first person to write in print about the ‘meterosexual man’. Fast forward nearly 20 years and the meterosexual man is everywhere. For those of you who have no idea what I am on about (where have you been?) let me provide a definition for you, the meterosexual man “is especially meticulous about his grooming and appearance, typically spending a significant amount of time and money on shopping.” The poster boy for this revolution was undoubtedly David Beckham, possibly the most beautiful man who ever played the beautiful game. He was straight and yet unashamedly wore a sarong, a head scarf, painted his nails and changed his hairstyle as often as he changed his football boots. On an everyday level, you wouldn’t think twice about a man wearing gel in his hair, or lusting after a perfectly tailored suit, or even carrying a manbag. And yet, why is society so shocked, even opposed, to the idea of men wearing make up?

I will be the first to admit that a touch of concealer has saved me on numerous occasions, whether it’s been to help me pretend to my lecturers that I haven’t been out drinking ‘til 4am or just to cover up an unpleasant looking blemish. Men should have the same opportunity to ‘fake it’ as well as we do, a spot of manscara, guyliner, guylashes, why not? Surely this is the next step for the 21st century meterosexual man?

Head into your nearest Superdrug or Selfridges and it becomes clear that there is no shortage of male cosmetic products on the market. Only last month did Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs both bring out new make up ranges for men, with the latter proclaiming, “witness my brow and my luscious lips.” Tom Ford also told GQ that “Most straight actors I know get quite used to it. Even when they go out in real life they grab some sort of bronzer and they throw it on.” Although this may be a progressive step towards blurring the lines (…in the words of another controversial Metero-man) of gendered fashion, most of the guys I spoke to said they had no desire or patience for “luscious lips,” but said they had no problem with guys who did. Sales of men’s make up would paint a similar picture. It would appear most men aren’t (yet) so made up about the idea of male make up.

The man bag... a dying breed?

Is it time to sever our ties with the once adorned man bag? Sean Gleeson discusses.

It was the accessory that saw Indiana Jones through a whole array of compromising situations, including a Lost Ark and a Temple of Doom, but has the man bag finally had its day? I say yes. Now when I’m talking about man bags, I’m not literally talking about any bag owned by a man, I’m talking about the bag that most often goes by the alias of ‘satchel’ or ‘messenger’, typically measuring 30x40cm with a strap to be worn across the body. For years it was the classic bag of choice for gents of all ages, but of recent its popularity has been on the decline.

Although it may seem a bold statement, I am going to throw it out there anyway, the man bag is not only pointless, it’s over. It’s the ‘I’m not as comfortable or convenient as a backpack, not as large or handy as a holdall’ bag that for years has left males across the length and breadth of the country with a shoulder only one extra book away from near dislocation and a trip to the local A&E. If you are to do a quick delve into times past, the satchel first made its foray onto the bag-scene way back in the 17th Century, and so if we are to argue a fair case, it has stood the test of time and helped countless members of the Oxbridge Alumni to transport books from A to B. But in a world governed by the ‘survival of the fittest’, is it not time for this particular breed of accessory to die out in favour of its more practical predecessors?

“the man bag is not only pointless, it’s over.”

4. Signature scent(s) – Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford - £78 A collection of two or three signature scents really is a must-have for every modern gentleman. We all have that one friend who smells of B.O. and just as you associate him/her with an unpleasant musk, you could be the guy who always smells great. It really does go a long way…

Zara ‘Pictures’ show an adaption of the androgynous trend by Roy on the Street. A one-sizeup jacket to ooze mannish tailoring over a basic top are the key items to pull off this trend.

But, for this style it is vital that you get a straight-cut set of trousers!

Pair with tights and brogues, and you will have this look down.

Image credits: Instagram @hrhdhs74

Opinion

Charlie Daniels on fashion hybrid we can’t get enough of: androgyny

4. Reebok Classic - £45

Men’s makeup: eMANcipation?

1. Handlebars The classic choice for those with a fast rate of growth. Whoever came up with the idea is a genius. A hairy pair of bicycle handlebars on your face? Impressive… and hilarious.

3. “The Broom” Or as professionals in the field call it, ‘the broustache’. This also requires special equipment, this time it’s a moustache comb. I dream of the day I see a man whip out a small comb to groom his upper lip. Please boys, invest.

17

Beauty

2.

Label M Volume Mousse £12.95 Rather than spending ages perfecting your quiff, side-parting or out-of-bed look (yes, we are aware this requires effort, contrary to what you would have us believe), simply work the mousse through damp hair before drying. It gives the hair an easily mouldable texture and only a touch-up of wax is necessary.

2. French Without doubt, this is my favourite. Unfortunately I haven’t seen anyone donning a thin curly tash around Manchester yet, but I am still hopeful. This design requires a little dedication and a small tub of moustache wax – those perfect curls don’t come naturally. But it’s a small price to pay for the greatest moustache in town.

Fashion

Image credits: insideology.files.wordpress.com, asos.com

Images: writer’s own

You see we all know backpacks are the more comfortable option; distributing the weight of items across the shoulders equally, whilst we too know that when avoiding luggage charges and packing whole weeks’ worth of clothes into your carry on flight allowance only the holdall will do. So where I ask, does the satchel now fit in with necessities of everyday life? Well to tell you simply, it doesn’t, and with that I urge all of you to abandon your satchel….there’s a whole world of Herschel’s, Eastpak’s and Jansport’s out there just waiting for you to take the step and make the change.

ISSUE 09/18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Sophie James, Robbie Davidson, Angus Harrison Top 5

TOP

Cereal scenes

5

The Film Editors countdown cinema’s most striking scenes featuring everyone’s favourite breakfast accompaniment

5. Matilde (1996) Picture the scene, you’re a child-prodigy aching to unleash your talent to the world, but instead are stuck in a house under strick orders from your crook of a father.

Bidding adieu to her sorrows, Matilda sits down to a bowl of the aptly-named cheerios and staring intently at her spoon discovers her ability to control the world with her mind.

4. Toy Story (1995) More cereal of the ‘O’ variety but this time the multi-coloured kind. At the depths of his despair, Woody plunges his singed forehead into a bowl of days-old cereal found in the depths of Sid’s bedroom. Will he ever see the light of day again? Who knows, but at least he won’t starve to death.

3. The Hurt Locker (2008) Jeremy Renner’s William James feels the weight of suburbia bearing down on him, as he returns from bomb disposal in Iraq only to be met by an infantry of cereal in his grocery store. It is unclear which cereal he eventually picks – maybe Honey Troops.

2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) Probably the most violent use of cereal on the list, Vernita Green hides a gun in a box of the American cereal Kaboom, hoping to use it against The Bride. It doesn’t pay off and The Bride gets the upper hand, throwing a knife straight into her chest.

Which is useless really; you eat cereal with a spoon.

1. The Road of Wellville (1994) So none of us have actually seen this movie, but apparently in 1994 someone decided to make a biopic of Kellogg’s, casting Anthony Hopkins as the cereal maker. The film didn’t receive a-maize-ing reviews and its box office performance was equally flakey. But it is basically Cornflakes: The Movie, so its our number one.

Feature

the FEATURE:

Our take on events from the world of film and television

Bwana Devil- Lessons from the Third Dimension Film Editor Angus Harrison marks the sixty six years since the release of the first 3D film and questions if it we can expect a long life for the troubled format...

From the multitude of posters advertising Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, there is one quote that always sticks with me, long after the bus has pulled away.

The Telegraph, instead of praising direction or performance, remark on the “glorious realised 3D”.

Something about that phrasing, “glorious realised”, fascinates me. How do we understand the true realisation, limits and possibilities of this form of cinema? What defines good 3D and bad 3D? 66 years ago, this very week, United Artists released Arch Oboler’s Bwana Devil. The movie was a huge event; set in British Uganda, railway workers find construction interrupted by a pair of man-eating lions, it is then up to British overseer Jack Hayward to capture and kill the lions.

Much like Cuarón, Oboler was was attempted to take a thrilling story, set in an unforgivable environment, and amplify the viewing experience using groundbreaking technology.

Only difference being that Bwana Devil was the first 3D feature film ever released. It was a commercially driven creation, in the light of waning box office sales, many thought that 3D ‘natural vision’ was just the gimmick to bring audiences back into the theatres. Following the release of Bwana Devil a decade long fascination with the process began. Many more 3D movies were released in this period, opting for full on spectacle they ranged in title from House of Wax to Robot

Monster. Seats were filled, but many of the end results were clumsy. The ‘golden era’ of 3D gradually declined. It was pulpy and excessive, but audiences outgrew it.

Unlike Gravity, which is currently sitting on 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews of Bwana Devil weren’t too kind. One critic wrote “It is the worst

movie in my rather faltering memory, and my hangover from it was so painful that I immediately went to see a two-dimensional movie for relief.”

So does that mean we have learnt our lesson? Well not necessarily. Take 2010’s Clash of the Titans, of which the director Louis Leterrier eventually said, “It was absolutely horrible, the 3D. Nothing was

working, it was just a gimmick to steal money from the audience.”

Many contemporary film makers are equally sceptical of the form. Even blockbuster behemoths like Michael Bay and Christopher Nolan have spoken out against the form, the latter famously declining the request to have Inception shot in 3D. In fact most people I watch movies with respond similarly, that they think 3D is annoying and exploitative, only existing to charge extra for making you wear silly glasses. Yet Gravity seems to have distilled a mood among those who value the technique. Essentially that it is not for every film, and what’s more it isn’t the reserve of action movies or cartoons. In fact, last years most critically acclaimed use of 3D was Life of Pi, a movie that (much like Avatar) built dimensional environments and landscapes - rather than throwing random objects at the audience now and again.

It seems unlikely that 3D will die out in the same way it did in the 1950s. Yet it order to ensure its longevity it seems crucial that filmmakers value it is a tool for depth, rather than a flashy gimmick. Arch Oboler certainly thought it would last and fittingly, given the interstellar nature of 3D’s latest proponent, he said, “One doesn’t need much imagination, to state a simple truth: that a motion picture and television world of 3-Dimension is as certain as the fact that someday the sun will fission and fusion and implode on itself”.

Angus Harrison

Preview

the PREVIEW: American Hustle Ensemble casts are a blessing in disguise. For every The Royal Tenenbaums there is an Oceans Thirteen for every The Towering Inferno there is a Movie 43.

American Hustle is certainly setting the bar high with an ensemble cast that includes no less than Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jeremy Renner and my personal favourite – Louis CK. Not bad? Well wait till you hear the story.

As the seventies became the eighties, con man Irving Rosenfeld (Bale) and his cunning mistress Sydney Prosser (Adams) are pushed into the world of the Jersey mafia by FBI Richie DiMaso (Cooper). It is going to get complicated, and no doubt explosive, and at some point Jennifer Lawrence is going to get involved.

What could go wrong? Well, the worry with a film like this is that it all goes a bit Gangster Squad. The genre we are trading in here is built in memory to the extent that it can quickly tailspin into cliché. The trailer looks fantastic and electric, but we have to hope that director David O Russell and writer Eric Singer have given us space to breathe between glossy sex, hyper-violence and slow motion disco scenes. In fact, the trailer reminded me most of Boogie Nights. It is flashy, neon and covered in hairspray but appears to suggest a sinister thread running through it. The party

and the hangover. Boogie Nights does a fantastic job of this, precisely because the time is taken to show the characters as vapid, insecure, vulnerable, comic and tragic.

Early reports of American Hustle are optimistic suggesting it is at least attempting to pull off something

Director: David O. Russell Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams Released: 20th December

similar. Indie Wire were lucky enough to see the first six minutes of the movie, at this year’s AFI Fest. They reported that the scene was both funny and volatile, showcasing glorious group dynamics between Cooper, Bale and Adams. Initial reports from other sources have suggested similar things - that the film will begin with a fast paced and humorous tone before seguing into darker, more personal territory in its second half.

There are many reasons to will this film to work: The collective cast, the scale and intent of the trailer, the chance of genuinely funny dialogue – oh and God knows Robert De Niro needs redemption (again), this time after The Family. Hopefully, we won’t be disappointed.

Sometimes, when the right stars align, we can expect a genuine piece of art.

Angus Harrison

ISSUE 09/ 18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

/filmmancunion @mancunionfilm

Film

19

Review

the REVIEW: Gravity

Gravity gets a thumbs up from Lloyd Hammett with graphics and acting that are, quite simply, out of this world While veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) and medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) are on a routine space walk their shuttle is destroyed leaving them alone to survive the emptiness of space.

The comparisons will be made, and rightly so, to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, due to the meticulous attempts of realism within the absoluteness of space. In Gravity there is a film so technically brilliant that Kubrick could only begin to comprehend the leaps that Alfonso Cuarón has taken since 1968.

Cuarón has developed from what Kubrick began showing space in its realism, not only in its vastness but its emptiness and its ferocity.

The film opens with a spectacular shot highlighting the nothingness of space and the insignificance we hold within it as the blackness envelopes our earth. The chaos of space is also to be marveled at early in the film as the camera movement sends us on an unreadable journey as the space shuttle collapses and our characters are flung tumbling out of control into the blackness. There is nothing for us to hold onto and the disorientation of space only grows throughout the

film. The commitment of Cuarón and his team in depicting space is shown in the exquisite sequences, whether at a merciless speed or a near stand still. It is a technical masterpiece that immerses you within its world often filming from a first person point of

view to show the perplexity of outer space. It is a testament to modern technology that such an experience can be created, and the way that it is harnessed is sure to be inspirational to future filmmakers.

Alfonso Cuarón’s use of 3D shows how exceptional the technology can be when employed in the right circumstances. It is the depth of the picture that really contributes to the

understanding of the limitlessness of space in what is a visually mesmerising work. The 3D of Gravity is essential to the film, as you need to be engulfed by the surroundings; the flat screen is not enough to create the illusion of never ending space.

The 3D is also unobtrusive to the cinematography of the film, with the tantalising beauty of Earth constantly radiating in the background as a constant reminder of home. This is not a film to be experienced anywhere other than at the cinema, as the beauty and magnitude can only be transcribed across the big screen.

The narrative is linear without the need to go off course, as there is enough immediate fear of the impossibility of surviving in space to create continuous tension. The need in Hollywood to create action and overly complicated plots is often detrimental to any character development, ending in largely soulless films. By stripping the plot down to its believable minimum in this way, Cuarón creates a much more intimate character led scifi. There is cohesion between the technical brilliance expected in a sci-fi film, alongside the basics of

Cornerhouse Pick of the Week

character understanding in a drama that has become all but extinct in recent years.

George Clooney practically plays himself in this film as the charming veteran whose smooth and calming voice is there to bring Sandra Bullock’s up tight and nervy amateur to her survival senses. Bullock is outstanding throughout the film as Dr. Stone, and is worn down to the bare bones of the helplessness of this character. The tenderness that she plays the role with is what makes the performance, and constantly pangs at you for her survival, especially as her character grows. Sandra Bullock manages to embody the isolation and loneliness of space that is pivotal to the way Cuarón wants to display it. With a film so heavily based on CGI (although you couldn’t tell) the physical and emotional performance of both Clooney and Bullock is something to marvel at.

In Gravity Alfonso Cuarón has shown true genius, unfolding a film that spectacularly breaks technical boundaries, as well as holding together the purity of its ideals. ★★★★★

It would probably be inaccurate to say you ‘missed’ the last ever episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot (ITV Player) which aired last Wednesday, as you’you’ve likely missed every episode of the long running murder mystery series. But that doesn’t mean it’s curtain call should go unmentioned. Poirot has run almost continuously since 1989, an impressive feat considering that every one of Christie’s Poirot stories has now been adapted, with David Suchet as the eponymous Belgian detective. So whilst Poirot’s passing from our TV screens will likely go by with little fanfare in the student community, it seems important to recognise a show which has weathered the many changes television crime drama has gone through in the last twenty-four years, and remained resolutely unchanged.

Elsewhere on the tellybox the excellent In The Loop is still available to watch on iPlayer for anyone who enjoyed the fantastic BBC series, The Thick of It. Watch out for the spookily prophetic joke about pay per view porn and MP’s expenses.

I’m a Celebrity (ITV Player) is also back with the usual bag of X Factor rejects, Essex slags and hasbeen 80s rockers, but is redeemed, as always, by the unnaturally likeable Ant and Dec. But if the idea of watching celebrities sitting in a hammock whining is less palatable than a crocodile’s cock, then look no further than 24 Hours in A&E (4oD) to restore your faith in the human spirit, and possibly bring a tear to the eye.

An absolute must see.

Robbie Davidson

Contrary Corner

Gloria

There’s no need for speed

Jane Kilpatrick went to see acclaimed Chilean film, ‘Gloria’, and attended a Q&A with its star I first watched Gloria in the Costanera centre, Santiago, streets and moments away from where much of the film was shot.

Watching it for a second time in Manchester’s lovely Cornerhouse cinema truly emphasised the film’s celebration of Chile and of life.

On 23 October the Cornerhouse hosted an exclusive preview of Chilean masterpiece Gloria, even offering a rare opportunity for a Q&A session with extremely talented Chilean actress Paulina García, winner of the Berlinale’s Silver Bear award for Best Actress in 2013. She explains just how the film, and Gloria herself, celebrate what it is to be Chilean and what it is to be alive.

Gloria, the film and the woman, are both somewhat unique and unusual. Writers Sebastián Lelio and Gonzalo Maza called García when they were thinking of writing Gloria.

The script was ‘written’ for her - except it wasn’t written. A story board was provided, but the actors had much more free reign over dialogue, improvising scenes in rehearsals, truly bringing free spirited Gloria to life. Regarding the curiosities of creating a celebration of a female life written by a male director, García comments “Hamlet is alive when the actor is there.

There was no script, only a story-board, so my experiences informed the character a lot.”

Director: Alfonso Cuarón Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney Released: 8th November 2013

García describes the rehearsals as “special”; she was taken to dinner, went dancing, walked around and watched films, to prepare for her role, creating “a bridge between the director and the actress.” Lelio always watched rehearsals before shooting to pick out the best

parts. García describes one of the hardest parts of filming to be the fact that, appearing in every single frame of the film, García spent a lot of time filming alone.

For five weeks she worked 11 hours a day, every day. For Gloria the director and his lead actress worked extremely closely for five weeks to create a really touching and cheerful drama.

When asked whether she considers Gloria to have a “happy ending”, García muses that it is not a happy ending we should be focussing on. “It is just a moment, a moment in which she is joining with life. We are losing our

abilities to be happy. And it is our duty to be happy, living a good life with no problems.”

The protests that filled international news coverage of Chile in 2011 are not at all central to Gloria’s plot, yet they are included in the film, as Gloria observes from her balcony and walks against swathes of students in Santiago’s centre.

Why include them, if just to include a nod of the head towards their prominence in the background of everyone’s lives at the time?

“Our lives in Chile today are very political. Even though we are not talking all the time about dictatorship, it is still under us. It’s not about parties; it’s about how you are standing on life. To be Chilean, you have to really care about that.

Gloria is going through an existentialist change, and so is Chile.”

Gloria’s relationship with an exnaval officer clarifies this point of change and decision. “Like the student protest, [Gloria] was going forwards, Rodolfo was going backwards. She made the decision to change something, it wasn’t a big deal, but he also made the decision.”

As the film leaves her dancing, celebrating life and herself, we wonder what’s next for Gloria?

“She’s just going to start again,” shrugs Paulina García, as though it is obvious. “You are alive until you are dead, so why not?”

According to Suraj Vara , cars should stay on the road and out of the cinema I recently watched a trailer for the new Need for Speed film to be released early next year, and in short the film was simply a compilation of supercars being totalled. The new film stars Aaron Paul, known to many as Breaking Bad meth cook Jesse Pinkman, who, fresh from jail, seeks revenge on the man who put him there; how original!

The thing is, I’ve realised that Need for Speed isn’t going to be rubbish because it’s a film based on a video game, which are often shitty (say Mortal Kombat which is so bad, it’s rather good), it’s because it’s a car film.

There’s no denying that car films in the recent past have been just about the cars.

I understand the stupidity of what I’m saying: “Why watch a car film if you don’t like cars?”

Yes I do like cars but I also like films, and what’s the point of a film about cars if there isn’t much film lurking under the bonnet?

Long gone are the days of Gone in 60 Seconds where the thrill of the heist was just as exciting as the ‘67 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 named Eleanor; the

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am we lovingly knew as KITT; or the iconic Minis from The Italian Job. These cars were icons because of what they gave to the narrative. Today, car films have just become a primitive, destruction derby of pimped up supercars where, essentially, directors all drop their pants and compare who’s got the

biggest budget.

Let’s take the Fast and Furious series. It started out pretty well with a good-ish storyline using cars as tools to aid a detective story. Comparing that to now where the film is about a bunch of tools using cars to do something ridiculous, like tow a two tonne safe around the streets of Rio and, somehow, pull the ol’ switcharoo under a bridge!

What’s even worse is the fact that Vin Diesel and Paul Walker,

the original cop-criminal double team, are now joined by steroid-pumped Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson as a CIA elite to try and make things more interesting; nuts to anyone who thinks a man that dedicated to his law enforcement job would capture the bad guy and then let him go so they can become best mates in the next film!

If that wasn’t enough, Fast and Furious 6 closes with a cut scene into one of the crew’s future/past in Tokyo, where Jason Statham enters to set up “Fast meets The Transporter” to create… Every other film Jason Statham has ever made.

And it doesn’t stop there! The Knight Rider series was recently rebooted with KITT as a polymorph Shelby GT 500 which can transform into an SUV with guns and extra power; notably it was quickly cancelled again. Logically speaking, I wouldn’t want my crime fighting car to have to transform into something else just to get the extra horses out of the engine when I’m in a pinch!

So what are car films today?

Well after sacrificing the clever finesse of the classics (cars and films that is), it seems they’re running on empty.

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Puzzles

ISSUE 09/ 18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Crossword

by Richard Whyman

Clues:

Across.

Down.

1. An instance of questioning (13) 7. European Country (6,7) 2. Building material, usually consisting largely of 8. Trail or route (4) silica (5) 9. Person who performs the sacred rituals for a 3. Former name of Tokyo (3) religion (6) 4. Not an animal or a vegetable (7) 11. System for organising days using the Earth’s revo5. African Country (5) lution around the Sun (5,8) 6. US State Bordering Tennessee (5,8) 15. Person who will likely choose how this crossword 10. An honorific title used when talking to a man (3) is printed (6) 12. King Arthur’s castle (7) 17. Giant ball of hot gas (4) 13. The final point of something in time or space (3) 19. Ideally tasteless additive that can change the ap14. One of the seven deadly sins (5) pearance of a meal (4,9) 16. Illegal animal product consisting mainly of dentine (5) 18. Plural version of thou or thee (3) find the solution to this week’s crossword on our website www.mancunion.com

Voting Opens

22nd of November 10AM

Voting Closes

29th November 12 Noon

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

/TheMancunion: Books

Editors: Esmé Clifford Astbury, Annie Muir

@MancunionBooks

Interview

Simon Singh: The Simpsons and their mathematical secrets

James Jackman caught up with Simon Singh, author of the bestselling Fermat’s Last Theorem, to discuss his latest book, The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets.

So when I realised that there is maths in The Simpsons, it’s a great idea for a book and I couldn’t not write about it. It’s just such a gift – you spend all your life looking for stories like this.

book for eight years and I’ve hardly come across anybody who’s been aware of these mathematical elements. So, in general, people are blown away by this idea.

Who do you think this book is mainly going to appeal to?

The famous yellow family. Image: 20th Century Fox

Your new book is entitled The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets. What made you decide to base it on the famous yellow family?

It’s really hard to find ideas for books. If you worked on a newspaper, you’d not just find one story every day, but two stories every day. When you’re writing books, you’re just looking for a brilliant story every three or four years. I was looking for something to write about and I saw an episode of The Simpsons entitled “The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace”.

In this episode, there is an equation which relates to Fermat’s last theorem, which is what I based my first book on. When I saw that on The Simpsons, I realised that there was somebody there who

really understood maths and had deliberately put some highlevel maths in the background.

When I saw [an equation relating to Fermat’s last theorem] on The Simpsons, I realised that there was somebody there who really understood maths

I think my favourite character is Apu. When I was a kid, watching TV 40 years ago, there were no Asian people on TV. Apu may have been the first Asian on American TV So it’s something you can really run away with?

Yeah, you just know that people love The Simpsons, people who read my books love maths, so it’s a perfect combination.

The thing about this book though is that it is just a complete surprise, nobody would think there’s maths in The Simpsons. So, not only is it a great combination, it’s a shocking combination. I’ve been thinking about this

It will appeal to grown-ups who are curious about maths and are looking for a way in.

In this book, you have Homer and Lisa holding your hand and taking you through the mathematics.

It will really appeal to a wide audience; I’ve given talks recently about the book which have had real enthusiasm.

An article I wrote [about the book] for the BBC got one million hits in a day, so it’s clearly a popular topic. I think people are excited by the juxtaposition of major pop culture with a difficult subject.

Finally, who is your favourite character?

I think my favourite character is Apu. When I was a kid, watching TV 40 years ago, there were no Asian people on TV. Apu may have been the first Asian on American TV. He deserves some kudos for that and also he is a mathematician, so that’s another reason of why I’m very fond of him.

Books

EDITOR’S PICKS Winter reads Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay Set in the Canadian North, Late Nights on Air follows an unconventional group of characters, who, each fleeing complicated lives of their own, end up working at a small radio station in Yellowknife. Forces beyond their control are set in motion when they embark on a canoe trip into the Arctic, which will leave them – and the reader – with an enduring sense of wonder and loss.

In Grimm Tales for Young and Old, Philip Pullman masterfully reworks the famous fairy tales collected almost 200 years ago by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse Perhaps Hesse’s most autobiographical work, Steppenwolf is centred on reclusive intellectual Harry Haller as he struggles to reconcile the wild wolf and the rational man inside him. This is the story of a tortured soul’s journey to liberation.

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak Doctor Zhivago chronicles the life and loves of a doctor and poet during the Russian Revolution. This is at once an unflinching account of the Revolution and a love story.

Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Brontë Wuthering Heights is the ultimate tale of love and revenge, set in the wild Yorkshire moors – the perfect book for a blustery winter night.

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman Set in a parallel universe, Northern Lights follows Lyra Belacqua as she journeys to the Arctic in pursuit of her friend, Roger Parslow, and her uncle, Lord Asriel, who has been conducting experiments on a strange substance called ‘dust’.

The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory No winter would be complete without a good tale of Tudor court intrigue, and who better to tell it than Philippa Gregory? The Virgin’s Lover deals with the early days of Elizabeth I’s rule, as she faces the threat of a French invasion and becomes entangled with the convicted traitor Robert Dudley.

Classics digested: Sense and Sensibility As Joanna Trollope releases her updated version of Jane Austen’s novel, Elizabeth Mitchell examines the original work

WHAT

WHY

Jane Austen has become one of the most revered English authors, soon to make her debut appearance on the ten pound note. With followers so dedicated that they are known as ‘Janeites’, her six finished novels have served as inspiration for films, sequels and modern day retellings.

Born in 1775, she grew up in her father’s parsonage and spent most of her life living with her family in the capacity of a sister and an aunt. Her work received the attention of her peers (the Prince Regent asked Austen to dedicate Emma to him), but financial issues shrouded her life.

Austen died aged 41, and her last two novels were published posthumously.

Sense and Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters. Forced to move out of their home after their father’s death, reserved Elinor and headstrong Marianne make their new life in a Devonshire cottage. The novel focuses on the romantic entanglements in which both sisters find themselves. Full of love, deceit, heartbreak, hope and near-death experiences, Sense and Sensibility examines the high society life of Georgian London, the banality of the chattering classes and the necessity of impressing your mother-in-law. The reader is left to ponder whether sense or sensibility will rule the day.

Often overlooked for its famous sister novel, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility offers just as much wit and even more fools.

By turns hysterically funny and painfully romantic, it is a perfectly crafted piece of fiction. You cannot help but fall in love with the good characters, hate the evil ones and snigger at the buffoons. Austen’s analysis of society is unparalleled and a source of inspiration to many contemporary authors.

Although the most recent modernised version by Joanna Trollope is humorous and insightful, it is not a patch on the original.

is the author?

is it about?

read it?

Emblem Editions, 2008

Grimm Tales for Young and Old by Philip Pullman

Review

WHO

21

CLASSIC QUOTE Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience - or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (Oxford University Press, 2008)

ISSUE 09/ 18TH NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Ben Walker, Maddy Hubbard Feature

Feature

weASK youANSWER Faye Waterhouse suggests the best foods to help you get a good night’s sleep It’s that tricky time of year: coursework deadlines may loom but socials and nights out definitely need attending. We are all very busy but one thing that may get forgotten is sleep, on average we all need eight hours a night. Here are ten of the best midnight munchies to send you to slumber…

1.

Bananas Bananas aid overstressed muscles and trigger the brains calming hormones.

2. Rice A carbohydrate that breaks down quickly in digestion and can speed up the release of serotonin, a feel good hormone and tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino-acid which promotes sleep.

3. Cherries

They contain melatonin which regulates the body’s internal clock helping you get into the routine of sleeping better for longer.

4. Eggs High in protein they won’t spike your blood sugar causing you to wake up in the middle of the night.

5. Cereal My go-to midnight snack, quick and easy it increases the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream allowing you to dream away peacefully.

6. Wine

Probably not recommended, but usually the more I have the sleepier I get. Note: I am not confusing this with passing out I generally do feel sleepier!

7.

Almonds High in magnesium which helps to relax the body, the nuts can be easily nibbled without having to go near a kitchen.

An ode to battery chickens and force-fed geese ‘Chicken Run’ is one of those films, which upon enunciating the name, stirs up the flame and fire deep in every child’s bosom. It is a story awash with freedom and slavery, bravery and cowardice, but above all it is an epic tale recounting the exploits of how a group of battery hens are gripped by the feverish anti-colonial winds of change. They are on a Che Guevarist quest for freedom from the oppression and tyranny of a traditional 1950s Yorkshire pie factory and they are victorious. After watching it I couldn’t eat chicken for two weeks.

Today, many years have passed and I would argue that we have too easily forgotten the hard fought lessons of Rocky and Ginger, and their successful poultry revolution. As students, most of us cower behind the stringent demands of our meagre student budget, obsessing over the price of chicken strips yet rarely chewing over the conditions it was raised in. Yet when questions are raised about this, the debate is often hijacked by people trying to explain that we should either all become vegan or that halal is 21st Century barbarity.

An interesting case of where campaigners have had a negative effect is the foie gras industry.

In France every year around Christmas, semiclandestine animal rights movements mount their daring raids and operations, by divulging the sad reality behind an innocent plate of foie gras. The scandals are always the same: a deeply disturbing video of a farmer or farmhand force feeding geese in the most appalling fashion. This usually consists of having a pipe stuck down their throat in order to fatten and boost the geese or duck’s liver in order to maliciously increase sales margins.

In the case of foie-gras, a minority of highprofile scandals have turned the public opinion of a few countries sour and green with disgust.

During the star studded Festival de Cannes, no restaurant’s would have foie gras on their menu as many actors and actresses would leave horrified in fashionable disgust. Californian legislation bans restaurants from serving foie gras (although there is a loophole around this as you can bring your own foie gras to the restaurant in a lunchbox). Amazon recently has imposed a blanket ban on foie gras exports, meaning that the gourmet’s among us will have to board a Ryanair flight to Toulouse in order to get our hands on some, although failing that a trip to Marks & Spencer’s is a good plan B. The trouble with the foie-gras industry though is that majority of farmers actually do rear their geese and ducks in the fresh air of France’s southwestern open countryside, yet the legislation doesn’t discriminate as it imposes a blanket ban.

Therefore, as always, the few have completely ruined it and gone and made a pig’s breakfast of the whole affair for everyone.

The daughter of Mr Jean-Pierre Lamothe, a farmer working in a cooperative rearing ducks, caught up in these dire times summed it up rather beautifully: “It really pisses me off because people don’t make the difference between good and bad foie-gras so everybody suffers, just like in Game of Thrones”. Dear readers, the situation with foie-gras is far from black and white, it is rather a light shade of grey, surrounded by the yellowish fat of ignorance.

Returning to our battery raised hens; the outlook is as bleak as ever. 24 million chickens in the United Kingdom are holed up in cages,

ensuring the low budget-friendly prices of eggs and endless supply of cheap nuggets. They spend their entire life feeding and subsequently laying eggs in truly harrowing conditions. Once they are past their prime, they are let out of their wire mesh-made cage and strut down the green mile under the bright neon lights, to the tune of an electric generator’s hum, until they reach the abattoir. There is no final post played, no cockerel’s call, only silence as their lifeless feathered bodies are shipped out, readied and packaged for an afterlife of 2 for a fiver on a supermarket shelf near you.

We are the guilty men of mass-produced battery hens and other forms of cruelty in the food chain that we dominate like Stagecoach does Oxford road - completely, mercilessly and coldly according to Fingland’s sympathizers.

We ought to do something for these fowls who spend their entire lives behind bars. We ought to rear more than a few good (free) hens. We ought to remember why chickens run.

Restaurant Review

I am Pho Pho is a beautiful thing. The coming together of broth, noodles and thinly cut beef, in my humble opinion, represents a trinity of perfection and comfort. That is, of course, if it is done well.

I have been visiting ‘I am Pho’ for some time now. The restaurant opened in China Town last year in June, and very little has changed since then. Its small clinically lit dining area, lovingly adorned with photographs of beach sunsets and long-tail boats, remains packed at lunch and dinner throughout the week.

The Vietnamese staff are brisk, but extremely helpful; guiding you through the menu with a pride that is palpable, even within the Hanoi kitsch surrounds.

What invites the diner, down into this little

8. Milk

An obvious choice as calcium is effective in stress reduction, but add cinnamon which will reduce a rise in blood sugar and give a warm feeling to these wintry nights.

9. Turkey

Feeling a bit more peckish? For the meat-eaters out their it’s high in protein and the amino acid tryptophan, calming the brain, leading us to a restful sleep.

10. Toast

Because it’s the late night cure for many things!

Photos: Ocado

Victor Croci laments the state of the modern food industry

Photo: Oscar Watkins

Oscar Watkins discovers wonderful Vietnamese food in Chinatown

basement restaurant, is the heady aroma of bubbling beef broth and Thai basil. Smells that easily overpower the less inviting neon glare, of its neighbour, Long Legs Strip Club. The décor evokes memories of East Asian food courts, with plastic flowers taking centre stage, and white shiny tiles epoxied to every visible surface.

Visually, the restaurant isn’t anything to shout about, but then it doesn’t need to be. The food is so damn good; I would happily eat it while standing in the car park across the street, with the droll thump of K-pop, blaring miserably from the local Chinese supermarket, as my only company.

The Pho is of course the main event. The broth itself, has an intense flavour, achieved through the inordinately time consuming process, of boiling beef bones and trimmings to a stock. It is heavy with hints of star anise, cinnamon, cloves and ginger and an earthy smack of fish sauce.

The soup is served with a side of Thai basil, beansprouts, lime and chillies, that the diner can add as they see fit. But, for me, what really makes this place special, is their condiments: Hoisin sauce and beef paste, made in house, and the inevitable Sriracha sauce and chilli oil for heat.

Slurping is absolutely necessary! The soup arrives red hot, and resorting to a fork, will simply not do. One could wait for it to cool down, but by now you are probably salivating uncontrollably and the only way forward is to

suck, chew and huff and puff through every last mouthful.

While you must come to ‘I am Pho’ for soup, the sides and lunch options are equally good.

Their Bánh mì (a baguette stuffed with roast pork, greens and condiments) is moreish, and makes for an excellent lunchtime alternative to similarly priced fair at the Arndale food court.

If pho alone isn’t enough, then the house made summer spring rolls are a great choice, and can be ordered with a variety of fillings. Also on offer is a variety, of stir fried noodle and rice dishes, fresh juices, a huge selection of sides and some suspect dessert options.

Please don’t be surprised, as I was, if an excited and inquisitive toddler interrupts your meal.

The owners regularly invite their family to eat at the restaurant; the sight of kids running under tables, while staff shout and bat at them playfully with menus, only adds to the brilliantly chaotic atmosphere of this little gem. More often than not, you will feel like you have accidentally wandered into a Vietnamese household; with the clack of woks ringing from the kitchen, and the loud rising and falling tones of the waiting staff intermittently rousing you from your Phoey trance.

All in all, you are unlikely to spend more than a tenner on an excellent bowl of soup and a beer. This is why ‘I am Pho’ remains one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets, but I doubt that this will last for long.

/TheMancunion: Food & Drink @MancunionFood

Food & Drink 23 Recipe

Review

TGI Fridays

Not to brag or anyting, but I spent my Thursday night sampling free cocktails at the new TGI Friday that opened in town recently. The décor keeps true to its fellow franchises all over the world - all Hollywood chic and big lights. Our cocktail party was upstairs sectioned off from everyone having their dinner. It felt very exclusive as only members of the press were invited - I simply waltzed in saying I was with the infamous Mancunion and I was in. I had made a wise choice on my plus one as my guest was a friend who enjoys trying new things, so we fully exploited all the activities they had to offer.

We were welcomed by one of the

Bianca Boorer goes crazy Evangeline Horsell suggests a spicy and for crafts and cocktails

organisers which presented us with a sort of coupon where we were allowed three free drinks with little panels where the name of the drink was to be written. Alongside the panels there were little hints to tweet, instagram and facebook upload pictures with loads of hashtags. It was all very social media infused with a big instagram frame cut out that people could pose with which I was told was inspired by Beyonce.

There were three artists sitting in their own little booths with their artistic interpretation of various cocktails. The first booth had the lovely Millie Connors with who I had the pleasure of chatting with for over an hour. She had made lemon meringue pies out of felt inspired by the lemon meringue cocktail which were so realistic that most people walking past thought it was a real pie! She gave out little kits to make your own lemon meringue slice, so of course we sat down and had a go. A little arts and crafts with cocktails never hurt, unless you poke yourself with the needle! She has her own online shop on etsy.com where she sells other adorable felt based items. The second artist was doing a painting of a couple in a romantic scene inspired by the cocktail ‘The Passionate Rose’, while the third did polaroids with caricatures of various bloggers as well as a polaroid collage of the ‘Popping candy strawberry Margarita cocktail’.

The next activity we partook in was learning how to do bartending tricks. There were two men throwing bottles in the air and catching them with metal shakers with utter ease and style. We were given dummy bottles for the safety of the public. There was no shattering of glass, although I did manage to hit a few unsuspecting peoples’ ankles as the bottle rolled away from me about a hundred times after dropping it. I spent about half an hour trying to master

how to throw the bottle up in the air and balance it on the upper surface of my hand.

Alas I went away defeated.

On to the main event, drinks! If you’re the type of person who can’t decide on what to get, TGIF is the place to be. It has the biggest bar in Europe and most probably the biggest range of drinks. They wanted us to challenge them with any flavours and ingredients we wanted in our drink. I created my very own cocktail which I dubbed “The Bianca”, of course, which consisted of vanilla ice cream, baileys, strawberries and chocolate garnished with a strawberry filled with Baileys. Basically a naughty milkshake - it was to die for! For my second concoction I was allowed to go behind the bar and make it myself. I’ve always wanted to know what it was like to be bartender and now I know.

They measure amounts with seconds so the vodka was about 3 seconds of pouring (which isn’t very accurate if some people like to count slowly). I called it ‘The Rose Garden’ which consisted of raspberry vodka, orange triple sec, blueberry and raspberry juice topped off with citrus foam and edible rose petals.

seasonal soup to try

In the winter months it is very easy to be stuck with what to cook as there aren’t as many excited and colourful ingredients available. However there are brilliant stews, desserts and soups to be made with what winter has to offer, such as an apple, cinnamon and sultana crumble with roasted almonds or an indulgent venison stew with celeriac mash and kale.

Soup is a cheap and convenient way of making the most out of seasonal produce. Here’s an exciting and exotic soup recipe that could be used with either pumpkin or squash, and can be bulked out with potato for a filling meal.

Ingredients: (serves 5) For the paste: ½ stalk lemongrass (outer leaves removed and sliced) 1 small red chilli (chopped) 2cm piece of fresh ginger (peeled and sliced) 1 clove of garlic (crushed) ½ onion (diced) Small handful of fresh coriander (chopped) 1 ½ tbs groundnut oil 1 ½ tsp ground coriander 1 ½ tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground turmeric

The Rose Garden cocktail, complete with edible cocktails I also chose the Lemon meringue pie cocktail from the three which really did taste like a lemon meringue pie, but with a strong kick to it. My guest James said he wanted something fruity with vodka and the bartender came back with this Jamaican looking drink with three layers of colours green, yellow and red, each with its own taste.

Aside from the drinks there were different, delicious tapas dishes, my favourite being the mini meatball mozzarella burgers.

The staff were amazingly quirky and made the experience all the more unique. There was a bartender who was also a magician and drama teacher and Millie the artist was also planning to become a Textile Arts teacher at Man Met. All in all it felt like a weird dream with meringue pies, magicians, bartending tricks and lots of cocktails all meshed into one. I definitely didn’t want to wake up.

Photos: Bianca Boorer

For the soup: ½ onion (diced) ½ stalk celery (sliced) 1 tomato (chopped) 750g pumpkin or butternut squash (peeled, seeded and chopped into 4cm chunks) 450ml chicken/vegetable stock 200ml chicken stock Fresh coriander leaves to decorate Method: Get your food processer and pulse the paste ingredients together - a smooth paste is formed, taste a small amount (only a small amount otherwise it will be overpowering!) and season or add more ground spices if it tastes unbalanced.

Next fry the paste ingredients with a splash of groundnut oil in a large saucepan, fry for a couple of minutes on a medium/low heat while constantly stirring. Next add the onion, celery, tomato and pumpkin with more salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and cover. Leave to simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the stock to cover the vegetables; bring to boil than cook gently for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Cool then blitz in batches in the food processor or with a handheld blender.

Before serving add the coconut milk, saving some for decoration.

Serve piping hot with a drizzle of coconut milk on top and a few coriander leaves.

24

Arts & Culture

Polari Mission

ISSUE 09/ 18th November 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Abbie Roberts & Mattie Roberts

Jez Dolan and Joe Richardson have developed a project to save Polari, an endangered language used in the gay community, which can be seen in their exhibition at the John Ryland’s Deansgate library. Ella Dix-Nagra catches up with Jez, one half of the project’s founders.

What exactly are the origins of Polari?

It’s a double edged sword; it’s about disguise but also about identification. I first heard it in a 1960s radio program called ‘Round the Horne’ which featured two very camp out-of-work actors, who spoke partly in Polari.

It’s always been used by people who are oppressed, and can be traced back to the 16th century to thieves’ cant, a secret underground language thieves used as a disguise.

So does Polari have origins in other dialects?

Definitely. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, London was the biggest cultural melting pot in the world. Polari was influenced by Romani gypsies, Italian travelling circus people, busking street traders, Yiddish, prostitute slang, thieve slang – all these kinds of things. A group called the Mollies were really important; they were around in the early 18th century and were a group of self-identified homosexual men. They would dress up in fancy costumes, shriek about and meet up in ‘molly houses’ where they would perform rituals. And it obviously involved sex, but importantly it was about establishing a cultural identity.

Is this when the gay community adopted Polari?

There was no such thing as the gay community then – homosexuality wasn’t understood as a concept. At the exhibition we’ve got a song sheet from 1707, which would have been handed out to the public. It’s about four men who were caught fraternising together, were very nastily condemned for it and then killed themselves. They are mixed with the criminal underclass and are picking up this language.

At what point did Polari reach its height in use?

Probably the 1930’s to when Round the Horne was being aired. It was the most popular radio program in 1967, but once your Aunty Carol understood what was being said it lost its point to a degree. The rise of the gay political movement in England in the 1960s influenced its decreased usage, as anything camp was deemed unnecessary and self-oppressive.

The Polari exhibition is described as ‘visual artwork, digital interventions, and personal stories.’

As Polari was a performed thing, the cannon of literature is very slim. We have the only copy of the Polari bible at the exhibition, which we did a three hour long reading of for the Manchester Weekender. We also had a day called ‘the Symposium’ with a mixture of guest speakers. This included presentations from Professor Paul Baker (who wrote his PhD on Polari) and an archivist from the John Ryland’s library.

How did you present the archival material that you found?

As an artist, that’s what I’m interested in – taking archival material, creating new work from it and giving it another life. When we made the performance piece, it was using words from the 1707 song sheet and music composed in 2013. Hopefully we will re-do the performance piece next year.

What does the Polari iPhone app involve?

It’s basically the largest dictionary that exists for Polari.

What would you like to see from this project? Would you like to see a Polari revival?

I think Polari is not about reviving it. The bigger point is that people suggest there is no such thing as gay culture, and I would argue to the hills about that because there definitely is. So my interest is more about exploring it for its inherently camp qualities, its linguistic interest and also as an important piece of gay heritage.

Turner Prize ‘13: Tino Seghal

Cao Fei Image by Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts

Cao Fei

Holly Smith visits the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts in Manchester’s Northen Quarter…

A place with a population of over 1.35 billion people, the second largest country by land area, and the third most visited country in the world.

China is a place where the children are the smartest in the world according to testing in 2009, where access to foreign media is restricted and only 34 foreign films a year are allowed to be shown in cinemas.

There is no augmenting that this country is breathtaking and with many years of traditions and rituals a truly unique identity has been formed for the people who live there. However, within our modern world, China is in danger of losing all of this.

Gross domestic product has risen by 536 percent since 1990 triggering huge changes in society. Rapid urbanization and an ever growing gap between rich and poor are just two of the outcomes.

Constantly piercing the border of China is influences from the western world, and these are just adding to the chaotic changes that are readily occurring in the country today.

This is the thinking behind one of the exhibitions currently being shown in the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts here in Manchester. Cao Fei, one of the most significant artists of a new generation emerging from main land China has ambitiously taken on the zombie film genre to create a stunningly imaginative piece of visionary art.

Using photography, installation and performance to communicate her relationship to china, the short film, entitled Haze and Fog, is set in modern day Beijing. The story introduces certain stereotypical characters from different walks of life across the city and through intertwining scenes; a witty horror story filled crucially with hope emerges. Cao Fei has said that she believes “everywhere is the same,” enforcing the changes that her home country has seen recently. In Haze and Fog she really tries to capture this opinion by creating confusion for both the characters and to the audience.

Similarly, by using characters from both the middle and the lower class,

Fei shows the audience how the gaps between Chinese societies are forming.

The film is based on personal experiences, however Cao Fei does not disappoint her avid fans, and sticking to her usual work there are some truly surreal elements which appear throughout the 40 minute piece, including a young women taking a bath filled with watermelon balloons.

As an audience, you can see that she has tried to steer away from the western world in this film, by creating zombies who are not brain dead, but people with death inside their souls, showing that this is her opinion of what is happening to the people of China today.

I think that for anyone interested in Chinese culture, this exhibition is a must-see, because not only is it a strikingly creative piece of artwork, but it makes the audience consider what the future of china and its people will be. I think that Cao Fei has done credit to her country and I am incredibly eager to know what her next project will be.

The Gifts of the Departed by Alinah Azadeh

2013 - 03 March 2014 - Manchester Craft & Design Centre Must see this week: 23‘TheNovember Gifts of the Departed’ is an on-going body of work, comprising objects

18th - 24th November

once belonging to Alinah Azadeh’s late mother.

Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is awarded each year to a contemporary artist under 50, living, working or born in Britain, who is judged to have put on the best exhibition of the last 12 months. Previous winners include Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Jeremy Deller and Damien Hirst. This year’s shortlist showcases artists whose work spans live encounters (Tino Seghal), film (Laure Prouvost), sculpture (David Shrigley), drawing and painting (Lynette YiadomBoakye).

In the run up to the Turner Prize being announced on December 2 four Arts & Culture contributors give introductions to the four nominees of 2013. This week Jasper Llewellyn introduces Tino Seghal…

Five years ago, the choice to nominate an artist such as Tino Seghal for the Turner Prize would’ve caused an uproar. However, Seghal’s appearance on the 2013 shortlist alongside others such as David Shrigley and Laure Prouvost demonstrates a growing acceptance and popularity in performance-based works. Seghal himself resents being described as a “performance artist”, saying that he creates “constructed situations” that encourage the audience to be active participants as opposed to passive spectators.

Over the past 15 years, famous art galleries from all over the world (including MoMA New York, Tate Modern and the Peggy Guggenheim) have commissioned Seghal to create new works, most of which have received a very positive reception. However, despite all this, Seghal’s work is very practically problematic due to what Tate Modern’s performance curator Catherine Wood describes as Seghal’s “insistence on the immateriality of the work.” This essentially means that it doesn’t actually physically exist. That’s right, the work is only really documented in the viewer’s memory. The British-German artist’s portfolio of work includes pieces such as 2005’s “This Is So Contemporary” which involved museum guards surrounding the gallery-goers before beginning to dance, and his 2010 work “This Progress” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York which involved the removal of all the paintings from the gallery and the groups of participants being guided by people ranging from children to the elderly. Seghal’s work really does illustrate the emergence of an exciting new trend of performance within visual art and above all, his work really does get you thinking. Don’t miss next week’s article on David Shrigley the next Turner Prize 2013 nominee.

Tino Seghal, Image by Tate Gallery

Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith 09 March 2013 - 02 February 2014 - IWM North Marking ten years since the start of the 2003 Iraq War, a new photographic display by award-winning British war photographer Sean Smith shows the collision of two worlds.

Theatre

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editor: Josephine Lane Review

What’s on

Sweeney Todd

TOP 4

Annabel Cartwright reviews the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of Sweeney Todd at the Royal Exchange Theatre

A warning to the squeamish; a ticket for Steven Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is not to be bought without caution. The Royal Exchange Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse’s latest production of the gritty classic provides all the blood, madness and mayhem to be expected of this truly spine-tingling musical thriller.

Director James Brining has brought to the Royal Exchange Theatre stage a refreshing new adaptation of Sondheim’s “dark operetta”. Sweeney Todd, a victim of a corrupt social system, driven to insanity, seeking to wreak revenge upon those who have wronged him. In this version, however the corrupt society is not that of Victorian England, it is of 1970s Thatcherite England. Sweeney joins forces with Mrs Lovett, the owner of a down-market London café and proceeds to scheme, sacrifice and slaughter his way to a sticky end.

The revised 70s setting of Sondheim’s masterpiece provides the audience with a new angle from which to view the tale. By placing a show in a more modern context, the characters become

more grounded in our own reality, allowing the audience to identify with a more recognizable and believable cast.

This establishment of a more personal connection between character and audience serves to provide a new scope of horror to the whole production.

In his 1970s setting, Brining uses contemporary quirks to add an enjoyable twist to a classic. For example, a peroxided Mrs Lovett and the clever presentation of Signor Adolfo Pirelli as a slimy wheeler dealer, driving a Del Boy style three-wheeler van and sporting a flashy suit. Admittedly however, the script of Sweeney Todd does not entirely transfer into the new setting; British transportation of convicts to Australia, for example ended in the 1860s. Still, for the less scrutinising audience member this causes few problems, and disbelief stays fully suspended until the bitter, gory end.

One of the most effective aspects of this production is, in fact the physical theatrical space. Manchester’s Royal Exchange provides a grand background for the show, adding to the drama and spectacle of it all. The theatre in the

round staging adds a certain intimacy to the production. The events are brought physically and psychologically closer to the audience. The overbearing sense of claustrophobia that accompanies the enclosed space creates a voyeuristic feel for the audience. One feels as if they are watching the most private of conversations and events in dark, shadowy corners of London.

This production is James Brining’s premier production as Artistic Director of the Leeds-based theatre.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street indicates a promising future for him and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Impressive performances were delivered by each of the fifteen members of the cast, with special credit to be given to Gillan Bevan, the gloriously witty and equally cruel Mrs Lovett and David Birrell, the skincrawlingly psychotic Sweeney Todd.

Both of whom’s performances were exceedingly memorable and brought the collective impact of the show to the highest level.

From it’s premise, ‘In Doggerland’ is set to be an intense and thought provoking play. It revolves around 21-year old Marnie ( Jennifer Tan) who has had a heart transplant, despite measures in place to prevent her from doing so, has found the family of the girl whose heart she now possess. Through the plot, the play delves into the intricacies of familial relationships, and explores how the trauma of death and illness impact on these connections.

Tim Morton-Smith writes skilfully and subtly about such a tremendously weighted subject, allowing the main theme to be witnessed and understood, without placing it on a pedestal and alienating the audience.

Through the humanity of the characters, Morton allows the audience to step into the situation and attempt to grasp the feeling that resides at the core of the play – despite many of the audience probably never having experienced anything similar. As well as portraying

Steven Sondheim’s classic musical comes to The Royal Exchange after being transfered from the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. Expect blood, gore and lots of operatic singing.

Runs from the 1st November to the 30th November at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Sweeney Todd at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Photo: West Yorkshire Playhouse

Stephanie Scott reviews the new show at the Lowry

the effects of a heart transplant on the recipient of the organ, ‘In Doggerland’ also touches on the experience of carers, through Marnie’s brother (Benjamin Blyth), and grief and bereavement, through Kelly (Natalie Grady) and her father (Clive Moore). Their stories are interwoven and their interactions with each other reveal more and more about the experiences each character has faced. Natalie Grady is especially good in her portrayal of a witty, sarcastic and ultimate grief stricken young woman, managing to both make the audience laugh and feel compassion for her. Morton also includes several haunting images that are woven throughout the play, such as the house falling off the cliff and into the sea, and the possibility that there are only one million variations on the human face. These images linger long after the play finishes.

However, despite the skilful writing and enthralling plot line, ‘In Doggerland’ did not grab me as much as

I expected it to. The beginning of the play was hard to follow in places and I felt that not enough happened throughout the story to hold, capture and contain my interest.

The play felt to me as though a Hemmingway novel had been staged without being adapted – it seemed as if the subtleties that the script attempted to portray would have been better left on paper, without being brought to life through acting.

‘In Doggerland’ explores an area of human existence not often broached or discussed in literature, theatre and art, allowing the audience to experience an area of life that they may not have even thought about before.

However, if you are looking to watch a play that arrests your attention through plot and action, ‘In Doggerland’ is probably not going to be your ideal evening of entertainment.

FAVOURITE SCENE

Antigone is one of three Theban plays written in or before 441 BC concerning mankind’s struggle against fate. The last in the series, it is a play about a young woman and her fight against her own conscience and her uncle Creon, who happens to be the newly appointed King of Thebes. In a civil war, two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, battle against each other for the throne, however they die in battle. Creon decides Polynices body will not be honoured and Antigone tries to encourage her sister Ismene to help her give their brother the proper burial, but Ismene refuses.

Conflict occurs as Antigone goes head to head with her King Creon.

A play about morality, family and honour, this is a short but by no means moving story of one woman’s quest to honour her brother, and chronicles Creon’s hubris in his actions against the gods through which he loses his niece, son and wife.

Creon (to Antigone): Well, what do you say – you

This week, Harriet Leitch tells us about her favourite scene from Sophocles’ ancient classic, Antigone

hiding you head there. Do you admit or deny the deed?

Antigone: I admit it, I do not deny it.

Creon (to the Sentry): You – you may go. You are discharged from blame.

Exit Sentry Now tell me, in as few words as you can,Did you know the order forbidding such an act?

Antigone: I knew it, naturally. It was plain enough.

Creon: And yet you dared to contravene it?

Antigone: Yes now you have caught me, will you do more than kill me?

Creon: No, nothing more; that is all I could wish.

Antigone: Why then delay? There is nothing that you can say that I wish to hear, as nothing I say can weigh with you. I have given my brother burial. What greater honour could I wish? All thesewould say that what I did was honourable, But fear locks up their lips. To speak and act just as he likes is a king’s prerogative.

Creon: You are working, none of my subjects thinks

Boys Student Flora Anderson directs Ella Hickson’s play as part of Drama Society. It’s finals day and it’s time for Benny, Mack, Timp and Cam to move out, but leaving university and achieving in the world is proving to be more problematic than they expected. The play explores what it means to be young in the twenty first century.

Runs from 20th to 22nd November at the Martin Harris Centre

War Horse Michael Morpurgo’s infamous National Theatre classic has just entered its seventh year of performing. Join Albert Naracott andJoey the horse to embark on an epic adventure, that takes place in World War One. Runs 20th November until 18th January at the Lowry

My Favourite Scene

my

PLAYS TO CATCH Sweeney Todd

Review

In Doggerland

25

as you do.

Antigone: Yes, sir, they do; but dare not tell you so.

Creon: And you are not only alone, but ashamed, Antigone: there is no shame in honouring my brother.

Creon: Was not his enemy who died with him, your brother?

Antigone: Yes, both were brothers, both from the same parents.

Creon: You honour one, and so insult the other.

Antigone: He that is dead will not accuse me of that.

Creon: He will, if you honour him no more than the traitor.

Antigone: It was not a slave, but his brother, that dies with him.

Creon: Attacking his country, while the other defended it.

Antigone: Even so , we have a duty to the dead.

Box Clever: Romeo and Juliet An abridged version of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy using a young, energetic cast. Skilfully intertwining original text with contemporary modern language and a live DJ soundtrack.

Runs 19th November to 21st November at the Contact Theatre

ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Editors: Lauren Arthur, Moya Crockett, Beth Currall, Isabelle Dann Ask Izzy

Feature

ask

IZZY

an earnest attempt to cure all your woes. Tweet any burning issues, genital or otherwise, to @izzydann days I find myself Q These smothered by a deluge of essay deadlines, and the effects on my life are turning dramatic. Sleep is scarce, I’ve been subsisting on beans on toast, and I’m coming out in spots due to my excessive stress. What can I do to sort my life out? you just need to A Clearly, take a step back from the horror and relax, for which I recommend a healthy dose of self-medication.

One must avoid crack due to its famously moreish properties, but a glass of wine or whiskey to take the edge off could sort you right out. Social imbibing is obviously off-limits; this particular relaxation is a strictly solitary affair and, when executed correctly, can prove most conducive to essay-writing.

As Homer Simpson astutely observes: “To alcohol! The cause of – and solution to – all of life’s problems.” Still, here’s a wise warning: do not attempt if you study astrophysics as everything will end in infinite tears.

The ‘Jew’niversity experience For many students, religion isn’t something that plays much of a part in university life. Sophie Lipton explains how Judaism affects her student lifestyle Being Jewish is such a diverse term. One could be religious, cultural or even an atheist - it’s that broad. This may be why it is so hard to explain what it means to be Jewish, especially to some students who have never met another Jewish person in their lives. I want to explain that being Jewish may add another aspect to my university lifestyle, but it in no way stops me enjoying the classic student experience. So how does one deal with the questions which may have answers that are hard to explain? Since becoming a student, here are the top three questions I have come across.

1) “ So you’re Jewish…. What does that actually mean?”

First of all, explaining to people at University you’re Jewish can sometimes be daunting. I felt I had extra baggage to unpack, because telling people about faith can often open a whole can of worms. Luckily, I was not faced with antiSemitism. I still remember telling one of my friends about my religion on the first day of university. The reaction I got was “cool. So does that mean you pray three times a day?”

To me I thought this was hilarious, because I don’t even go to synagogue ( Jewish place of worship) once a month, let alone three times a day. After explaining that no, praying three times a day was not on my freshers agenda and that Judaism was different for everyone, I was determined to show my new friends that the priorities of Jewish students didn’t always revolve around prayer, but could be more of a social notion. My friends were amazing and accepted that my Judaism was part of my personality, taking me for who I was.

Similarly, previous secretary for Jsoc ( Jewish Society) Lindsey Briggs also received a positive response to her Judaism. She states “I was really scared that everyone was going to define me by my faith. However, I was so wrong and I’ve never felt more comfortable with my identity in my halls”.

It’s fun explaining the diversity of Judaism to others, and I like to teach people about how I define myself as a Jew. However, this question cannot be summed up in a simple sentence. People have written extensive literature on this topic, and understanding some of the concepts can be a little tricky. As a result, it can sometimes be a challenge to explain Jewish life. At University, being Jewish to me is attending an array of events. Friday night dinners are weekly occurrences which celebrate Shabbat (a festival which marks the end of a week). It’s a good way to unwind from a hectic schedule and just reflect upon the past days with good company and food. Whether this be with fifty or five people, atmosphere can be remarkable. Additionally, any excuse to celebrate a Jewish festival is always recognised, where activities range from prayer to parties. Jewish socials do not always revolve

2) “Are all your friends Jewish?”

A lot of my friendship group is not Jewish, but it just so happens that I live with the ones who are. I don’t categorize my ‘Jewish friends’ and my ‘non-Jewish friends’. I take everyone as an individual and we all go out together. My best friends are not defined by religion and I’m open to their cultures as I know they are open to mine. We have similarities which act as the foundations for our friendship. The difference is, with my Jewish friends the foundation may also be a religious bonding. I didn’t plan to live with other Jewish people, and we are not living with each other just because of our religion.

It’s not intentional and I don’t know how it happens. Maybe it’s the fact we are a minority group and tend to stick together.

Maybe it’s the fact we have a shared history. Or maybe it’s the fact we have similar cultural backgrounds. I really don’t know. I’m guessing it is a mixture of the three.

3)

people?”

This of course is not completely true! However, if, like me you grew up in North London where a predominance of Jewish people live, then one cannot help but be drawn into the ‘Jewish bubble’. Through youth groups, synagogue and even schools these bonds form. I suppose to the outside it is strange that I would have 50 plus mutual friends on Facebook with a Jewish person I have randomly bumped into in a club. The “oh do you know (insert Jewish friends name here)” game can sometimes go on for hours. It’s hard to explain how concentrated the British Jewish population is. This question was asked to me so much in fresher’s week, and my flat mates couldn’t understand how I knew so many people when term had not even begun.

So, there are my answers. There is no denying that my university experience has a Jewish dimension, but there are many sides to my identity. I am not just categorised as a Jewish student; all my friends see me for who I am, and I see them for who they are. I have made sure I am not completely defined to my religion even though it is an important part of my identity.

“How do all Jewish people know all other Jewish

Blind Date?

At Lifestyle, we’re always looking for people to take part in Blind Date.

Whether you’re male or female, first year or postgrad, straight, gay or bi, we’d love to hear from you. Who knows, you might meet the love of your life! You might not, but you’ll get a free meal out of it either way.

Q

With several weeks left of term, I have nonetheless managed to spend most of my student loan. Do you have any tips to avoid starvation in a frugal manner? bothered to A Ifreadyouthehadnewspapers in the past couple of months, you would be fully aware that all the best academics go bin diving. You may have initial reservations, but simply fasten a laundry peg to your nose and you will be left laughing as you exit the grotesque carrying an impossible heap of cheddar.

Do you have a problem that you would like to be solved? Send them to mancunion.lifestyle@ gmail.com

around praying, which I think is a general impression people get from faith groups. Of course, there is an element of prayer, but events also offer much more such as clubbing, pub quizzes and there is even a Jewish football team.

Photo: ITV Studios

If you fancy giving it a go or would like to nominate someone to take part, get in touch at lifestyle@mancunion.com, on Facebook at The Mancunion: Lifestyle, or tweet us @MancunionLife.

/TheMancunion: Lifestyle @MancunionLife

International Men’s Day

Lifestyle

27

Careers

Let’s hear it for the boys Career Corner With International Men’s Day coming up, Beth Currall writes just why we should be thankful for the males of the universe

Tuesday 19th November marks International Men’s Day, an event created to highlight the positive male influences in the world and an excuse for all the male species to gloat about just how great they really are.

The day also strives to promote gender equality, especially for fathers and husbands, and includes a focus on male health which is so often neglected in mainstream society. So, here are the top five reasons why men are one of the two most important sexes on this planet: 1. The human race wouldn’t exist without them.

It’s an undeniable statement, that without men and their usually rampant libidos, none of us would be alive to read this today.

But not only do we have them to thank for contributing to half of the chromosomes which created us, we should also give a massive thanks to the sons, brothers, dads, uncles and friends who help us every day and make life just that little bit more bearable. I mean, by general consensus, who else would change a light bulb or teach us how to dribble a football?

2. They (almost) rule the world.

In Forbes’ list of the most powerful people

on Earth, nine out of the top ten are male.

Men gracing this prestigious list include David Cameron, Barack Obama, the Pope, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg- all of which play massive parts in the political, social and technological aspects of the world. Imagine a world without Facebook? Unthinkable. Scores of male scientists and medics have also contributed to vital medical advances over the ages, making the Earth a truly better place to live.

3. Their facial hair.

This month, International Men’s Day is linked with another very important event: Movember. For the whole of November, men are asked to grow moustaches (or beards, if preferred) in a bid to raise money for a variety of charities linked with male health, such as prostate cancer. As much as women would like to help out, this really is a job for the boys - and as participants raised over £26 million last year, they’re doing an excellent job at that.

4. We’d be lost without them- literally.

It is scientifically proven that most men have better navigational skills than women, and also have increased visual awareness - making it easier for them to not only

find their way around places, but also to remember where they’ve been. This has saved many a lengthy journey throughout the ages, even if they do sometimes head off on ‘detours’. Males also have greater spatial awareness, hence why they are usually better drivers. Hurray for the boys and their ability to parallel park, eh?

5. Their tolerance Even though they sometimes get mad and are guilty of having their own queeny strops, for the most part, the men in every woman’s lives really do put up with their fair share of mood swings, tears and trivial dramas. It is in a man’s nature to be more laid back and calm, and thank God they are, because the world would probably drown in a sea of tears if all men were as emotional as women!

Photo: internationalmensday.com

Health and Wellbeing

Beards: the real winter warmers A beard isn’t just for Christmas, says Jack Metcalfe: it’s a whole lifestyle.

Having failed to commit to a clean shave for the past three and a half years, I may not be the most impartial commentator on the subject of men’s facial hair. However, you may have noticed that the temperature in Manchester is starting to get a bit chilly – and what better way to deal with a cold chin than leaving it to its own devices in developing a luscious thatch of hair? At this point, I should state that I do realise there may be some unfortunate gents reading this for whom growing a beard is merely a pipe dream. Don’t worry, guys: it was just never meant to be. However, if a distinctly sleazy, pubescent moustache is attainable, November is as good a time as any to try it.

There are more than just purely practical reasons for this epilation-dodging adventure. Let’s face it: beards look really rather tasty if looked after properly. I’ve seen many fine beards around campus, but I’ve also noted a fair few unfortunate, scraggly attempts. Therefore, for those of you who haven’t tried this kind of project before, you’ll need to take note of a few important pointers.

Make sure you have an electronic beard trimmer with an array of different grades

for the purposes of experimentation. Treat your beard like you would your own child.

It needs frequent attention and affection, meaning lots of visits to your local mirror.

You will quickly learn, if you haven’t already, that different patches of hair on different parts of your chin, neck and cheeks grow at varying viscosity and at different velocities.

This gives you an opportunity to be an artist of sorts – and with make-up an option that

Photo: Mac_NZ (Flickr)

many men would not contemplate, a beard is the perfect chance to take your face into your own hands. I can guarantee that you will soon notice various love interests attempting to snuggle up to your furry face in order to share in the warmth and satisfaction of your accomplishment.

I’m under no illusions: you definitely shouldn’t be taking merely my word for it.

According to the French poet, novelist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, “There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This period does not last. He returns headlong to his beard.” Would you question the words of a French poet, novelist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker? I don’t think you would.

There is an important lesson to take away from all of this. A beard could be the start of something special for some of you. It is not a fashion trend, subject to the whims of “what’s hot” and “what’s not”: rather, it is a lifestyle choice that will benefit both yourself and your loved ones.

However, for many of you it could just be a depressingly emphatic confirmation of a depleted testosterone reserve.

Spotted

SPOTTED: on campus

Want to find the beauty in blue three? Or just need to get something off your chest? Tweet us @MancunionLife and we’ll publish it for you!

• Has anyone noticed the tall Hugh Grant lookalike in the glasses who’s on the second floor of the Learning Commons almost every day? I think I’m in Love, Actually.

– Brunette in red coat

snack on me.

– Watching you from afar

eyes on. Meet me there on Friday and we can share a portion of chips (without this much cheese, I swear) - Krunchy Fried creep

• To the girl with long blonde hair and incredible boobs who works in Fallowfield Nandos: just wanted to let you know that I’m not just coming in for the chicken.

– Regular customer (not creepy, I swear)

• I’m getting increasingly annoyed by the guy on my course (History of Art, second year) who feels the need to turn around in every lecture to stare at me. This is not an invitation to speak to me; however, I do suggest you get yourself a new courdroy jumper, as you’ve been wearing it nearly every day for the last two years.

- Irritated and Irrational

• To the boy in the learning commons last week, who insisted on sitting with his hands down his tracksuit bottoms for the whole of his essay session: yes, they’re still there. No, none of the girls around you are.

- Frankly repulsed

• To the tall, chiselled blonde guy who studies in Green 3 and always seems to be eating Haribo – don’t snack on them,

• Last week I was captivated in a Fallowfied takeaway, by a blonde girl with the most impressive derriere I’ve ever clamped

• To the brunette behind the bar in Font: you’re fit.

- Sex on the bar?

The place where former Manchester students report back from the ‘real world.’ This week, Moya chats to journalist Dan Poole.

Photo: Dan Poole Dan graduated from the University of Manchester in 2003, with a BA(Hons) in English and American Studies. He currently works as a sub-editor and writer at Monocle, a global affairs and lifestyle magazine.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

As you might guess from my job title, my roles are sub-editing and writing for Monocle magazine, as well as acting as editorial manager for the advertorials that appear in the mag.

Did you know what you wanted to do when you left uni?

It wasn’t until after I graduated from Manchester that I decided I wanted to go into journalism, so I didn’t go down the route of writing for the student paper while I was at uni as you are (sensibly) advised to try and do. Instead I had to start pretty much from scratch, which meant sending out emails to shedloads of newspapers and magazines to apply for work experience.

How did your career progress after graduation?

After a few work experience posts at various publications – the Hereford Times, Matlock Mercury, The Times, FHM – I wound up at the Independent in 2004 on what was then the Sunday Review. I ended up staying there for around nine months as, essentially, a freelance intern: not getting a salary but working full-time and getting paid here and there for articles and interviews that I did. I was fortunate to be able to live with relatives in London and so pay very little rent! From there, a full-time position came up within the company for an editorial assistant on a selection of student magazines that the Independent used to produce. I applied and got the job. I stayed in that department for five years, progressing to the position of student editor. After that, I moved to Sydney for three years, where I spent most of my time working for FHM Australia, eventually becoming deputy editor. I came back to the UK in April 2012 and worked as a freelance sub-editor at various publications for six months, then started my current role in November of that year.

How has your degree helped you in your career?

My qualification got me what proved to be those vital work-experience roles; my degree was all people really had to go on from my CV. Having to write essays that were structured and spelt properly also set me on the way to putting together decent articles.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement to date?

I’m not sure that meeting and interviewing Dave Grohl really counts as an achievement but it’s certainly one of the highlights; a press trip to the Arctic wasn’t bad either. However, before I start sounding like a selfsatisfied arse, I think my real achievement has been managing to stay gainfully employed in an industry that has been gradually shrinking the whole time I’ve been in it.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing a similar career route?

Make sure you’re completely committed to the idea: the aforementioned shrinking nature of the print media industry means getting a job is as hard as it’s ever been. Also: be prepared to work ridiculous hours for pay that doesn’t always reflect the effort you’re putting in. Read every day and write something – anything – every day; if you haven’t got time, every other day. It’s the only way you’ll get better. Email every single publication going asking for work experience and take anything you’re offered. Don’t just accept positions from the magazine you want to edit one day because it’s all helpful. And don’t try to be overly wordy or clever on your CV; keep it simple and let your achievements do the talking. When you do get a placement, make the most of it. Be keen without being over the top and treat every task you’re given like your life depends on doing it to the best of your ability. And don’t get it into your head that doing something quickly is impressive: far better to take some time over it and get it right. Be friendly, be professional and make tea – should a job ever come up, you want to be remembered fondly.

What qualities do you need to succeed in journalism?

Be able to spell. It might sound obvious but the number of interns I’ve come across who can’t string a decent sentence together, put a semicolon in the right place or know the difference between “its” and “it’s” is staggering and slightly terrifying. Either they don’t know the right way of doing it or they don’t really care; if you’re either of those types of people, choose a different industry.

With thanks to Rosie Haynes at the University of Manchester Alumni Association. For careers advice, visit careers.manchester.ac.uk.

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ISSUE 09/ 18th NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

SPORT

/TheMancunion @Mancunion_Sport

Sports Editors: Andrew Georgeson, Tom Dowler and Thomas Turner

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Contact: sport@mancunion.com

Club Profile- Table Tennis The Mancunion Sport talks to Men’s 1st team Captain Robert Shrimpton 1) Why should people join your club?

The club has many social members who come along to every session both to meet new people and to play friendly games with one another. We also have a number of men’s and women’s teams competing successfully in the BUCS leagues.

The atmosphere at every session is amazing, and it’s quite a spectacle to see 30 people playing at once in a session.

2) How successful has your club been over the past few seasons?

As a club we have managed to make it so that both our men’s first and second team compete in the Northern 1A division. Last season, Manchester seconds were promoted by a single point over Lancaster, and achieved the highest placed finish they have ever managed. Our Women’s team was also extremely

successful, with the first team beating players ranked in the top 10 in England.

3) Where and how often do your teams train/play?

Our teams play matches almost every Wednesday at either the Sugden sports centre, or another university sports hall.

There are many training sessions that people of all abilities are welcome to attend on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

4) Do you have to be of a high standard to join your club?

Anyone is welcome to join the club, our Social Sessions secretary is doing a fantastic job of making the sessions available to everyone by organizing mini games, and even occasional tournaments for those who would like to be a little more competitive. If you’re trying out for the teams then there are

trials that you have to attend, this is because both our Men and Women’s teams are in extremely high level divisions which become very competitive even from the start of the season.

5) What is the social side of the club like?

The social side of the club is excellent. Our two social secretaries have organized 3 socials so far this year, and have many more lined up.

These range from nights out, to dinners at establishments such as Nandos and house parties.

This means that whatever you’d like to do within the club. there is a time where something you will enjoy doing is suggested by the social secretaries. There is always a great number of people who attend the socials, and people from outside table tennis are also known to make an appearance.

Club Profile- Jiu Jitsu The Mancunion Sport speaks to club General Secretary Tom Pacey 1) Why should people join your club?

There are many reasons to start to learn Jitsu; fitness improvement, to learn practical and applicable self defence, to build confidence, to develop martial arts skills and for socializing and fun.

Your reasons don’t matter as we are an incredibly friendly, welcoming and varied club.

2) How successful has your club been over the past few seasons?

We have two national competitions each year. Last February at the Randori Nationals Steph Baldwin won a bronze medal and this November we secured a bronze and a silver at the Atemi nationals with Mike Pearce and Tom Pacey respectively.

Gradings are our main events

5) What is the social side of the club like?

After every session we go to the pub. But don’t think we’re alcoholics! It’s just a nice way to relax and talk to people without having to throw them around! Aside from the usual pubbing, clubbing and meals we have regular socials that involve members of other jitsu clubs from around the North West. These are a great way to break out of the student bubble, meeting new people and visit exciting places (like Preston...).

and there are typically 4 in a year. Its a chance for the student to demonstrate their abilities and prove their worth to gain a higher belt.

3) Where and how often do your teams train/play?

We train twice a week at the Armitage: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8.30-10.30pm in the Conference room. The cost is only £3 and you have two weeks to decide if you want to pay the annual fee which is only £50 (including uniform!).

First session is also free!

4) Do you have to be of a high standard to join your club?

We welcome any and all abilities, all year round. Martial arts is about development of the individual, so it doesn’t matter when you start!

6) Anything else?

Join up now and get in training for our next national competition in February! What have you got to lose? You might even learn something useful!

WANT YOUR CLUB FEATURED? CONTACT US AT SPORT@MANCUNION.COM

Badminton: Leeds defeat battling Bees The University of Manchester men’s Erdoo Yongo and Eve Yongo Sports Reporters

badminton 1st team suffered another disappointing defeat losing 8 – 0 to Leeds Metroploitan Carnegie,.

The result left the visitors just six points behind the league leaders Loughborough.

To start the tie started with Rohan Shah playing Darren Adamson while Fred Ning faced Ruaradidh Sim, in their singles matches.

Manchester started slowly, losing the first few sets. But as both games developed, there was much more movement around the court and a greater intensity in which they played.

This was especially true for Ning, who built in confidence as the match

developed which showed as he took control of many rallies in the set.

Despite these changes, Adamson and Sim continued to raise their level.

Adamson’s favourite play seemed to be the drop shot, which helped him take a straight set victory over Shah. While Sim used lots of variety to defeat Ning 21-16 in the last set.

Manchester seemed to settle into the tie more in the second match, which saw the teams rotate so now Shah squared up to Sim, whereas Adamson played Ning.

For most of the first set Shah held a slight lead, however Sim’s audacious drop shots won Leeds the set 22 – 20 and in turn the game.

The doubles matches were played at a faster pace. James Kee and Davidson Ching against Steve Strickland and Jakob Marklen was by far the most

Manchester fell short against Leeds despite a battling performance. Photo: Mancunion Sport.

entertaining match. Kee and Ching both started well, matching Leeds stride for stride. However, towards the end of the set, mistakes started to creep into Manchester’s game. This allowed Strickland and Marklen to steal the set 21-16.

The second set went in a similar

direction, with the margin for error from both teams becoming increasingly fine.

It was Manchester who kept their heads and were able lift their game to claim the second set 22-20.

Although winning the second set was to no avail as in the end, Leeds came back to win the third set and match.

Overall, it was a tough defeat for Manchester, but Leeds were full of confidence and looked comfortable throughout the match. UoM will look forward to their next match, however, it will be a tough ask when they take on table-topping Loughborough.

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BUCS Sport catch up Tyrants fall to LJMU Fury

Rob Eden Sport Reporter The Manchester Tyrants met Liverpool John Moores Fury at Burnage RFC and lost 21-14 despite a courageous comeback attempt.

Liverpool Fury arrived on the back of a thumping 48-6 victory against Lancaster Bombers, whereas Manchester had their first initial game of the season against Staffordshire Stallions postponed the previous week due to poor weather.

Manchester’s defence started strongly, registering an early sack containing Liverpool’s opening drive. However, the Tyrants offence failed to capitalise. This was to be the tale of the 1st quarter; both offences were unable to cement any real momentum.

Nevertheless, some superb Tyrants defensive work and a decent run from running back Anthony Eiliazadeh enabled Manchester to start the 2nd quarter within 20 yards of

Fury’s end zone.

Quarterback, Chris Payne handed off to Eiliazadeh who managed to side step and weave his way through the Fury defence, rushing for a touchdown. The resultant field goal was missed; Manchester led by six points to nil.

Fury reacted by opting to throw the football more.

When they found themselves in Manchester’s half for the first time of the game, Fury’s QB launched the ball 35-yards straight into the hands of their receiver who didn’t even have to break stride on his way to the end zone. Fury converted their extra point to take the lead by a point.

The last few minutes of the first half would prove to be the most exiting of the match.

It began with a fantastic Manchester punt, from kicker Matthew Studt, which allowed Manchester to give chase and force Fury to start their drive from their 1-yard line.

Nonetheless, a succession of

deep passes from Fury’s QB took them within 10-yards of the home end zone. The Fury QB scrambled for a touchdown of his own. Fury converted the extra point and the Tyrants were now eight points down

dragged out of bounds. He put Manchester back into contention on the edge of halftime with a moment of pure inspiration.

Craig Anthony capped off the comeback by running in a

Manchester’s spirited comeback was in vain in the 14-21 loss to LJMU. Photo: Joana Kembryte

with just 26 seconds left to go before half time.

The home special team took to the field. Eiliazadeh received the kick and he found a gap in Fury’s rushing line only to be caught with just 5-yards to go, but staying strong and composed, he broke the plane of the line whilst being

cheeky two-point conversion to enter half time tied at 14-14. Amazingly, Manchester had gone from a team with their heads down, to a team entering half time full of energy.

The third quarter resembled the first; both defences did their jobs to great effect,

shutting down each offence.

One notable change was that Fury opted to field a new quarterback; he offered the ability to scramble and rarely passed. That is until he threw the longest pass of the game for a touchdown at the start of the 4th quarter.

21-14 down, Manchester failed to respond immediately. Even a superb interception from strong safety Martin Potter failed to change their fortunes.

Manchester soon returned the favor, throwing an interception immediately afterwards.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Manchester’s day offensively.

Sadly,Manchester failed to mount a successful drive in the dying seconds. Fury’s defence had troubled the Tyrants’ offence all day, securing them their second win of the season.

The Manchester Tyrants face a trying away fixture to the inform Derby Braves, aiming to bounce back with even more determination to claim that elusive first ‘W’ of the season.

Sewing the seeds of success

Men’s squash firsts confirm top four seeding with crushing defeat of Loughborough Thomas Turner and Andy Dowdeswell Sport Editor and Sport Reporter University of Manchester 5 Loughborough University 0

Manchester men’s 1st team romped home to a comfortable 5-0 victory over Loughborough on Wednesday to secure the position of 4th seed at the upcoming BUCS stage 2 event in Birmingham.

The victory saw Manchester continue their impressive record of having been in the top four seeds for the past five years.

The first match to take place was Manchester’s

team captain, Richard Johnson, facing Tom Pughe of Loughborough.

The first game opened up with some lovely shot making from Johnson, who looked to test his opponent at every opportunity. He progressed to comfortably win the first game 11-5, and from this point on never looked troubled by Pughe, eventually winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-7. This impressive result set Manchester up nicely for the rest of the encounter.

The next head to head saw the fifth seeds Max Gibbs and Louis Drakes face each other, in a wonderful encounter that saw the momentum swing like a pendulum, advertising squash at its most exciting.

The first two games were split with both players having chances to extend their lead.

Drakes then dominated the

latter part of the 3rd game to take a 2-1 lead and Gibbs looked out of the game at 10-7 down.

UoM swat Loughbourghaside 5-0

The major turning point came in the following point when Gibbs, playing a backhand drive, followed through and

struck Drakes on the forehead.

This changed the momentum of the game in Manchester’s favour and Gibbs reeled off 5 points in a row with 3 match points against to win 12-10.

Heading into the decider, Gibbs’ late spurt in the previous game energised his performance, and after keeping Drakes in the backcourt for point after point, the pressure eventually told, and he went on to win 11-7.

This crucial victory was played alongside the two top seeds, which also required all 5 games to find a winner. After losing the first game, Morgan Hubberd rallied to win the next two games 11-7 and 11-8.

However, Hubberd lost his hard earned advantage in the fourth game before battling hard to eventually win 11-8

in the final game. This win confirmed victory, and crucially the fourth seed spot.

Manchester quickly reeled off the last two matches with Alex Dakin beating Chris Abel in 4 games and the impressive Guhan Senthilkumar flying past Phil Roberts in 3 games.

On the whole, Manchester never really looked under much pressure, and in the end ran out easy winners with a score line of 5-0.

Looking forward, Manchester are now in the top four seeds with the likes of Birmingham, Nottingham and West England. Johnson said that it was a ‘good result with which we are very happy’.

Manchester now look to continue their record of three consecutive semi-final appearances.

Classy firsts dominant on unbeaten day for UMWNC Helen Gavin Netball Club Captain The most anticipated match of the season had arrived for the UMWNC first team, and never before had they been so well prepared to put up a fight against a team they had never beaten before - Loughborough.

Going into the match, the only unbeaten side in the premier division gave Manchester the optimism they needed for a strong start to take the lead in the first quarter by four goals.

The side showed nerves of steel and doubled this lead by the second quarter with Loughborough making

amateur mistakes and showing their vulnerability in response to the precision and accuracy of UMWNC. There was no looking back for

UoM were unbeaten last week

Manchester after the lead had been extended and they ran away with the game, winning 57-41, a score that you might have laughed at in previous years.

The game was won by an exceptional shooting

partnership of Housby and B.Payne and secured with emphatic defending by De Winton and C.Payne. All four sports scholars proving their weight in gold.

First team captain Katie Coates led by example in centre court and was awarded player of the match, a richly deserved title with this win cementing the team’s position at the top of the league.

The second team took to the court after the first’s whirlwind match to play Liverpool 2nd’s, and did not disappoint.

The game which could have been won by either side finished excitingly as a 37-37 draw, with Manchester

crawling back after going down by three goals in the first quarter.

The thirds then had big boots to fill against league leaders Keele, and after a nervous start, Manchester professionally saw off their opponents, to knock them off the top spot, to win 31-27.

UoM on the attack

Player of the match was fittingly awarded to third team captain Rosie Matthews who never gave up to ensure her team finalised the win.

The day was perfected with another comfortable victory for unbeaten fourth team, who play joint top of league Liverpool John Moore next week in a battle for top spot.

The impressive win 50-33, saw fourth team captain Georgia Kennedy get player of the match after some infallible shooting.

Three wins and one draw saw UMWNC have their first unbeaten Wednesday - which will hopefully not be their last.

Way of the Warrior

by Seamus Soal

Finta karate world silver medallist Shotokan Karate Club Captain, Cristina Finta is a 2nd Dan Blackbelt and recently won a silver medal at the WSKA world championships in the Ladies Team Kumite.

The competition was held in Liverpool on the 28th and 29th September.

Christina on her way to a world silver medal

Firstly I asked Cristina how she was called-up to the England squad. She described to me the very thorough and demanding process involving both national squad and national Kumite competitions. She told me she was completely astounded when she opened the letter inviting her to join the national squad: ‘I was very happy and proud to represent England.’

This was a great achievement in itself, but the hard work was just beginning. Cristina trains up to six times a week leading up to major events.

When asked what her status as a world competitor meant to her and the club, she replied: ‘It is amazing, this is a high ranking club and it is an honour to be in the history of world competitors.’

Cristina showed me a video of one of her fights at the nationals and although she may be small in stature, do not be fooled as she is ferocious on the mats. The footage was of her fighting a member of the Hungarian team in the women’s team event final. From a technical standpoint, Cristina had excellent movement and she bode her time well. Once ready, she landed several clean and crisp reverse punches to her opponent’s stomach.

Cristina fought valiantly and didn’t lose a fight in team event so the England team progressed to the Ladies Team Kumite Final.

Mancunion Sport wishes Christina the best of luck in the upcoming Europeans which take place between the 20th-25th November in Portugal.

Jiu Jitsu national medal haul The Manchester Jiu Jitsu team completed their most succesful Atemi nationals to date in Sheffield between the 9th and 10th November, with an exceptional four medal haul.

Photo: Richard Lane

The club had four brave finalists consisting of Mike Hughes (Yellow Belt), Thomas Pacey (Purple Belt), Mike Pearce (Light Blue) and Adnan Hussain (Purple Belt).

Pearce and Pacey excelled in particular, with the former clinching a well-earned bronze medal and the latter taking a shiny silver medal home with him.

Silver medallist and Club Secretary Pacey, told me: ‘We’ve got good momentum now, and built confidence as a club. We need to knuckle down as a club, train hard and solidly from now till then and hopefully bring some metal home then too’.

The martial arts squads here are so dedicated, putting in outstanding levels of commitment into their training, so it’s hardly surprising that the trophy cabinets are bulging in UoM warriors’ homes this year.

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#PurpleandProud Men’s hockey stick with it Manchester gave everything in a courageous comeback but were denied by Sheffield’s clinical finishing Bryony Spencer and Rob Eden Sport Reporters University of Manchester 1sts

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Sheffield Hallam 1st

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It was a frustrating afternoon of hockey on the Armitage astros on Wednesday as the Manchester Men’s 1st XI lost 3-5 to visitors Sheffield Hallam 1st XI in their first home game in the Premier North division. The home side are yet to win a game this season, but their promising performance at the close of this match suggests their poor run of form could be about to change.

Initially, the hosts dominated, starting the game with great energy. After just three minutes, a glorious chance was offered up to striker Jacob Plummer. Team captain Phil Dutoy - who fought hard throughout the afternoon and earnestly encouraged his teammates to do the same – made a break down the right, before hitting a hard pass towards the centre. The ball rolled under a Hallam defender’s stick to find Manchester’s Plummer on the penalty spot, yet Plummer’s one-on-one battle with the keeper proved unlucky and the ball dragged wide of goal.

Cue a burst of ballistic shouting from the Sheffield coach, whose vehement rants were a continual source of amusement throughout the match. Spurred on by this outburst, Hallam controlled the remainder of the first half, relentlessly

pursuing the goal. It was only strong defending from Manchester that kept them at bay for the first quarter of an hour. Oli Clements was the cornerstone of this defence, on one occasion beautifully controlling an aerial (high ball) before launching a counterattack.

After fifteen minutes, the first short corner of the game went to the away side This well-executed routine gave Sheffield the lead. The initial push was nudged into the D for a visiting striker to place it firmly in to the back of the goal.

A good spell for Hallam ensued, with few unlucky counterattacks from the home side. As Manchester’s Chris Symes later lamented, the team lacked the “final percentage” needed to steal victory.

Shots from both Plummer and Dutoy met with Hallam defenders, and a short corner was well hit but kept out by a great save from the Sheffield goalkeeper.

While an equaliser proved evasive for Manchester, Sheffield managed to find the goal again. A reverse stick shot found a way through goalkeeper Ebsworth’s legs to bring the score to 2-0 before the half-time break.

After a rallying team talk from both the coach and captain, Manchester took the initiative in the early stages of the second half. A ball played into a crowded centre was stolen by Plummer, but his beautiful strike flew just over the bar. Another chance came when an unmarked Patrick Urey received the ball on the edge of the D, but his shot was saved by the ever-ready Hallam goalie.

Urey was unlucky again in the 46th minute after picking up a great ball in stride from captain Dutoy, he blazed through the Sheffield defence. But his

Buoyed, Hallam followed this up with some beautiful play. A succession of rapid passes by their midfield broke the Manchester defence and allowed for a

Manchester presusrise the Sheffield goalkeeper. Photo: Bryony Spencer.

reverse shot deflected off the keeper to trickle wide by the right post. A Manchester goal seemed imminent – but it was Hallam who scored again. A low and fast strike from a controversial short corner found the heart of the goal and put Sheffield 3-0 up.

fierce skirmish inside the D. A shot was brilliantly deflected by goalkeeper Ebsworth, but a Hallam striker overcame a tight angle to hit a shot home from the left.

At 4-0 down with just fifteen minutes to go, it appeared to be all over for Man-

chester. But the home side recovered some of the form that saw them promoted at the end of the last season. Their performance in the last few minutes set the frigid pitch alight. Manchester’s Stephen Murray popped a ball up for Dutoy to hit at goal, where Plummer was lurking around the keeper to flick the ball home and remind those present what Manchester are capable of.

4-1 quickly became 4-3. A clumsy foul by Hallam granted the home side a penalty flick and Manchester’s Dutoy did his duty with a calm and confidently placed penalty that slid into the goal effortlessly. Within the space of a few minutes, Manchester was bearing down upon Sheffield again. A shot from out wide on the right also found its way past the keeper. At 4-3 with just a couple of minutes left, things were heating up. Sadly a final rush on goal by Manchester was intercepted by Hallam, and the resultant counterattack was well finished into the left-side netting to secure Sheffield a well-deserved 5-3 victory.

However, it’s not all grim up north.

Although “lacking application”, Dutoy is confident his side are learning to adapt to the higher league. “We’ve got some positives to take out,” agreed Chris Symes after the match. “We know that we can do it.” If his side reproduce their display at the close of today’s game throughout their next match, they certainly can.

Stop! Hamer Time Mo, whats occurring?

Women’s football firsts come from behind twice to beat Liverpool JMU University of Manchester 1sts

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Liverpool JMU

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Lynsey Brownlie and Oliver Fenton Sport Reporters Following last week’s away defeat to Sheffield Hallam First XI, UoM were determined to get their season back on track as they faced Liverpool JMU on Wednesday at the Armitage Centre.

After earning promotion last season, this year will be a real challenge for the Manchester first team. However, UoM sat in third place before kick-off, with John Moores narrowly behind in fourth.

Early on, the visitors’ confidence was boosted as they enjoyed an intense period of possession, which resulted in a succession of short passes played across the edge of the 18-yard box. Despite the fluid play in the build up, the shot was blasted wide.

UoM were getting restless.

Casey tried to revive their attacks, breaking from the right of midfield and powering a shot towards the John Moores goalkeeper. The renaissance was short lived, and the away side soon regained their foothold within the game, having a series of promising chances.

The shots were mostly from outside the 18-yard box though, as the UoM defence remained solid, proving difficult for John Moores to break down.

On the brink of half time, JMU’s No. 6 found space on the left wing, and fired a looping shot towards the home goal, leaving Cantle helpless as the ball float into the top left corner of the goal. At half time, Manchester looked to regroup, trailing 0-1 at the break.

Hamer led by example at the start of the second half, battling on the left wing, providing much more service for the two strikers.

Casey then narrowly missed as she managed to get her head onto one of Hamer’s floating crosses.

Hamer again though displayed excellent hold-up play on the edge of the area, allowing Chloe Mapp to drift inside the box and finish into the top left corner of the net, levelling the scores at 1-1.

It was JMU however, who regained the lead minutes later

Photo: Cil Barnett-Neefs

despite being on the back foot.

The UoM defence was helpless to prevent a wicked corner from finding a JMU head, which allowed the visitors to find an unlikely second goal.

Fresh legs for UoM added extra pace to their game and UoM soon pulled level however as Webster scored after getting on the end of a Dinsmore flick-on, allowing her to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

Towards the end of the game, UoM’s ‘super sub’ Webster gave Manchester the lead after incisive football from the home attack.

Patient build-up culminated with Webster placing the ball into the bottom corner.

UoM maintained their dominance, and in the closing minutes of the game, Dinsmore received her reward for her outstanding contribution.

Breaking from midfield, she left a defender behind and lobbed the John Moores keeper to ensure the game finished 4-2 .

Jonny Roberts looks at the Movember campaign on campus With the winter months already upon us, there seems no better time to give your face a little more protection from the cold.

The Movember charity was launched in 2003 with one simple message: show your support with a moustache.

Every November, the charity encourages men to grow moustaches for 30 days to raise awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues. Those participating ask for donations, helping to raise significant funds for the charity.

The founders believe that such visual signs of support will allow participants to become ‘walking, talking billboards for 30 days’.

With male health often viewed as somewhat of a ‘taboo’, the charity hopes the movement will encourage males to discuss their health problems, rather than keeping them under wraps. They believe this will aid early detection of serious illnesses and significantly contribute to the number of people who survive such scares.

In 2010, 2,300 men in the UK were diagnosed with testicular cancer and it’s a concerning statistic that with one in eight men developing prostate cancer during their life. This

highlights the severity of male health issues and shows the importance of such charities in raising awareness for men’s health.

After a modest take-off in Melbourne, Australia, the campaign has reached global proportions. The movement is currently endorsed in 21 countries and is continuing to grow. In 2012, £92 million was raised, with over 1.1 million men and women taking part throughout the world (either by growing facial hair or raising the profile of the charity). This

a number of spectacularly hairy efforts and encourages members of the public to partake in groups, for example, in sports teams. This has captured the attention of a number of University of Manchester sports teams and societies. Thanks to RAG (Raise & Give), the University has raised more than £1,200 as a whole. The Mo-Ducks sit at the top the team leader board, having raised £290 at the time of printing. Other notable contributors include the University of Manchester Rugby Club and ‘The Hairy Beakers’.

Top Mo’s will feature in next week’s issue! #MancMos Tweet pictures of your best efforts to Photo: @UMRLFC

compares to £3.74 million raised in 2007, demonstrating the movements’ rapid growth.

The movement has inspired

@Mancunion_Sport or email sports@ mancunion.com

SPORT

18TH NOVEMBER 2013/ ISSUE 09 FREE : @Mancunion_Sport : /TheMancunion

MANCHESTER’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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Movember explained

Netball win again

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Squash secure seeding P.30

Bates brothers bulldoze Salford Manchester maintain unbeaten run silencing noisy neighbours

University of Salford Kelly, Ravenscrof, Tahroui University of Manchester Cottom (x2), Crowder (x2)

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Andrew Georgeson Sports Editor Manchester 1sts battled their fierce rivals Salford for the first time since the Varsity defeat last May. However, this time the glitz and glamour of Salford City Red’s stadium was gone, and in its place was a deceivingly bright but freezing day in Salford’s student village.

Both sides went in to the match eager for victory, not only was it a derby, but both Manchester and Salford started the match unbeaten, with Manchester topping with an impressive point difference of 124.

However, Manchester seemed off the pace initially and were lucky to find themselves 6-0 down after the opening fifteen minutes. A great break from Ravenscroft created a two on one, which he ably took playing a pass inside to Kelly who strolled over the line. Immediately after that, Salford’s William’s knocked over the line, before they squandered yet another chance failing to use a three man overlap.

For two teams who had only conceded 56 points between them prior to the match, defensive errors were rife and a break from Manchester’s Higgens, saw him cover over half the pitch.

This laid the foundations for a good set, resulting in Manchester’s Cottom crossing from a few yards out. The conversion was successful making the

score 6-6.

The joy was short lived as Manchester conceded a soft try after the increasingly dominant Ravenscroft ran a strong line, touching down under the posts and converting his own try to make the score 12.-6 to Salford.

It became a tit-for-tat match for the rest of the half, with both teams squandering chances, especially on the

Manchester a chance.

Bates made a dominating run taking two men with him, before popping the ball off to 5 who touched down under the posts. The home spectators jeered, but the away support applauded their team, who had taken the lead for the first time of the match.

Manchester’s comeback was given a further lifeline when a sin bin for

ignoring an overlap, Salford still looked as if they had scored. The referee, however, claimed the ball was in fact held up short and that they had to reset the play. Manchester worked hard in defence and turned over the ball, but a knock on awarded Salford possession again in the away 22.

Salford made sure they did not waste another chance and scored a simple try

Battering ram Chris Bates made light work of the Salford defence.

Photo: Josh Kilby Photography

home side’s part.

A missed tackle allowed Salford’s Wilson to break through, but another case of white-line fever saw him neglect a three man overlap and the ball ended up back in UoM possession.

By the 30th minute, Salford should have put the game to bed, but their inability to close out the game gave

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Salford followed for dissent.

The man advantage helped Manchester develop a simple overlap allowing Crowder to cross for his second try.

The conversion, from a difficult angle, was missed; leaving the half time score 12-15 to UoM. Salford came out of the blocks strongly in the second half. Despite totally Want to experience the drama of the UEFA Champions League Group stage at the Etihad?

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from close range, which was converted to leave the scores at 16-18.

The match unfortunately turned a bit scrappy after this. The abuse that the referee received from the Salford bench was incredibly uneasy to watch, and I imagine they will be lucky to go without some kind of retrospective action. Although the derby match All you have to do is answer this simple question: What was the name of Manchester City’s previous stadium before they moved to the Etihad in the summer of 2003?

A) Country Road B) Maine Road C) The road to nowhere

means a lot to both sets of players, some turned their frustration into petty remarks and cheap fouls, rather than focusing on outclassing their opponents. To the referee’s credit he kept 13 players on the pitch despite the mounting tensions.

The match resumed 15 minutes from time when a stunning solo effort from Cottom saw him run the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts.

Macintosh converted to leave the score 18-22.

With minutes remaining, Salford threw the kitchen sink at Manchester, and a brilliant bit of play by McCarthy saw him pounce on the loose ball, causing a turnover when Salford had the momentum in their favour.

An offside followed and from the penalty, Manchester sensibly opted for the two points to increase the away lead. Macintosh slotted the kick, and the scores were 18-24.

Then to add insult to injury, Salford went down to 12 men again, after the clearly frustrated Tahroui threw the ball into the face of Hartley.

Salford launched one more attack, but it came to nothing. The referee’s whistle blew to the relief of the tired Manchester players’ legs and several pile-ons ensued, followed by the obligatory verse of ‘Oh, Manchester!’

Man of the match: Jonny Bates: Jonny’s brother, Chris Bates, was excellent throughout, running himself into the ground for the UoM cause.

To enter, follow and tweet your response to @mancunion_sport or email us at sports. mancunion@gmail.com.

T’s and C’s: Entry is open only to students living in Manchester. We have one pair of tickets to give away to a reader who submits a correct response taken from a prize draw.

Entries close at midnight on Sunday 20th November 2013.

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t win! Some tickets remain, visit www.mcfc. co.uk/tickets, the Stadium Box office or call 0161 444 1894 (Open 24/7 and booking fee applies).