Issue 11 by The Mancunion

Inside Culture: 15

In Conversation with HMLTD: 18

Opinion - Pablo An Ode to The Font, Neruda’s legacy: 23 Fallowfield: 27

FRE

3rd December 2018 / Issue 11

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SU Exec Officer Arrested

Haughton one of eight charged for climate protest Nicole Wootton-Cane Head News Editor S t ude nt s’ Un ion Ac t iv it ie s O f f ice r L i z z y H aug hton is one of eight people arre sted following a climate change prote st in central Manche ster last weekend. S i x w o m e n a n d t w o m e n h a v e b e e n c h a rg e d w it h a l lege d ly “ w i l f u l ly o b st r uc t i ng t he h ig hway” d u r i n g t h e p r o t e s t , w h i c h w a s h e l d o n S a t u r d a y, 2 4 t h November by campaign group Extinction Rebellion. Another of the arre sted has a connection to the U n i v e r s i t y o f M a n c h e s t e r, a s C e r i - B e t h M i s e r o y i s a r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y ’s r e s i d e n t i a l c a m p u s O a k Hou s e i n Fa l low f ie ld . Police said that shortly after 3pm they re sponded to the scene after a number of people had been r e p o r t e d b l o c k i n g t h e r o a d s i n M a n c h e s t e r. The road block was part of a planned march through t he c ity ce nt re, wh ich a l s o i nclude d a “ m a s s d ie - i n” at S t A n n ’s S q u a r e t o “ m o u r n a l l t h e l i f e w e ’ v e l o s t , a r e los i ng a nd a re st i l l to los e due to cl i m ate bre a kdow n” . Some students told The Mancunion that they s u p p o r t e d H a u g h t o n ’s a c t i o n s ; s e c o n d - y e a r E n g l i s h a n d H i s t o r y s t u d e n t N a t t y W i l l e t t s s a i d : “ I t ’s a t o t a l waste of precious police time and re s ource s. Distrust

Headlines this week

in the police is at an all-time high, and this arre st only fuels the fire. By arre sting peace ful prote stors, the police no longer repre s ent the protection of public s a f e t y. “ This arre st is a political statement against the s t u d e n t b o d y. I t s h o w s t h e p o l i c e f o r c e u n d e r m i n i n g the student body through arre sting one of our most s e n i o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . I t ’s a f o r m o f c e n s o r s h i p . ” H o w e v e r, o t h e r s , s u c h a s s e c o n d - y e a r M e d i c a l Biochemistry student Bradley Brennan, h ave expre ss ed concerns over the arre st. Brennan said that he “sympathis ed with the me ssage of the prote st”, but was “very surpris ed that an exec officer would partake and further get arre sted”. Extinction Rebellion is a campaign by the RisingUP ! network, who “aim to promote a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which m a x i m i s e s we l l- b e i ng a nd m i n i m i s e s h a r m” . S eve ra l prote st s by E xt i nc t ion Re b e l l ion h ave a l s o been held in L ondon over the last month, with the BBC reporting more than 60 arre sts being made over acts of civil obedience. A l l e ig ht of t he a r re ste d h ave b e e n b a i le d to app e a r at Manche ster magistrate s court on January 3rd.

LGB students risk of suicide and self-harm Page 2

Northerners get half the transport investment of Londoners Shivani Kaura Deputy News Editor Figures released by left-leaning think tank IPPR North show that those living in the North have under half the amount of money spent per person on transport than those living in London. London has seen an increase of £326 per person in public transport spending, whereas the North has seen an increase of only £146. George Osborne, ex-chancellor and now a guest lecturer at UoM, instigated the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ plan five years ago with aims to close the gap between the North-South divide.

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Sheffield students Puzzle The Font Fallowfield to to avoid distressing Page! exam questions close down Page 3

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2 News Continued from page 1... Inside Issue 11

‘How much worse can it get?’ Local businesses struggle to plan for Fallowfield without students

Luke Raikes, Senior Research Fe l l ow at IPPR North, said: “Current figures show us that the government still needs to follow through on their promises to make t h e n o r t h e r n p o w e r h o u s e a r e a l i t y. “A n i n c r e a s e i n s p e n d i n g i n t h e north-west in the past year is very welcome. As is the £37m announced in the budget for transport in the north, but the North-East and Yo r k s h i r e a n d t h e H u m b e r a r e y e t t o s ee such a boost, and inve stment in the north still pales in comparison to spending in London. “People are continuing to suffer the very real effects of decades of underinve stment, and the ongoing chaos on northern trains is a clear sign of how far there is to go.” In June, Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry denied claims about the on-going discrepancies between the North and South of

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

England. Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Berry stated: “Figures s h o w i n v e s t m e n t i n t h e N o r t h -We s t is higher per capita than any other region in the north and higher per capita than most regions in the south of England. “ Yo u c a n a l s o s e e i t l i k e m e i f y o u were one of the first passengers to plot the Ordsall Chord in Manchester which is the biggest G overnment i nve s t m e n t i n M a n c h e s t e r ’s ra i l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e e v e r. “A n d that ref lects across the north of England that we’re inve sting more money in northern transport infrastructure than any g o v e r n m e n t i n h i s t o r y. ” Since then plans to upgrade Piccadilly with two new platforms have been suspended due to a lack of funding of the £85m planned Ordsall Chord, leaving commuters with major delays around the

surrounding area. The IPPR has called for the Department for Transport (DfT) to acknowledge the promises made by the government to inve st into the north to provide better transport links. In retaliation the DfT Treasury have decided to analys e their own expenditure data, confirming that L ondoners have higher spending, but claim Transport for London also provides for those commuters that do not live in London but require their s ervice s when travelling. Plans have been made by the DfT government sector to deliver a “£13bn transformation for transport ac ros s t he nor t h by 2 02 0, ” w it h priorities leaning towards projects that will upgrade the M62 from Manchester to Leeds with a 4-lane s m a r t m o t o r w a y.

Investigations, page 7

Photo: Gerald England @ Geograph

LGB students at higher risk of suicide and self-harm Helping those in need

An Interview with Sister Supporter Features, page 9

Jacklin Kwan Science and Tech Editor

No, Mr. Morgan Piers cannot tell me how to feel empowered Opinion, page 10

Contact us Editor-in-Chief: Ethan Davies editor@mancunion.com Deputy Editor: Amy Wei deputyed@mancunion.com Online Editor: Jeremy Bijl online@mancunion.com Design Editor: Kizzy Bray design@mancunion.com

Recent research has revealed that LGB students are 24% more likely to commit self-harm, and 21% more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime

Head News Editor: Nicole Wootton-Cane Deputy Editors: Sam Honey and Shivani Kaura news@mancunion.com Science & Technology Editor: Jacklin Kwan science@mancunion.com Investigations Editor: Felix Hanif-Banks investigations@mancunion.com

New research by a team from the University of M a n c h e s t e r, L e e d s B e c k e t t U n i v e r s i t y, L a n c a s t e r U n i v e r s i t y, and Edith Cowan University has found that LGB students are at higher risk of selfharm and suicide attempts. T h e s t u d y, p u b l i s h e d i n t h e Archives of Suicide Research, looked at non-suicidal self-harm (such as hair-pulling, cutting, scratching, burning, or non-lethal drug usage), as well as actual suicide attempts. It found that 65% of LGB students had self-harmed over their lifetimes versus 41% of heterosexual students. 35% of LGB students were found to have previously attempted suicide compared to 14% of heterosexual students. Participants from various faculties across two UK universities were asked to complete a survey that examined the correlation between LGB status and previous attempts of self-harm and suicide. The survey also assessed psychological variables that potentially explain such de structive behaviours such Features Editor: Liv Clarke features@mancunion.com Opinion Editor: Sophie Marriott Deputy Editor: Cachella Smith opinion@mancunion.com Societies Editor: Chloe Hatton societies@mancunion.com Music Editor: Olivia White Deputy Editor: Jake Oliver music@mancunion.com

a s a n x i e t y, d e p r e s s i o n , s e l f - e s t e e m , and a sense of belonging. The research suggested that a depreciated sense of belonging may account for the link between LGB status and suicide attempts. Negative self-esteem, or selfc o n c e p t m o r e b r o a d l y, w a s a l s o linked to worse mental health outcomes for LGB individuals. The paper re ference s that many LGB youths face stigmatisation as a result of their minority status. LGB people face disproportionately high instances of social exclusion including discrimination, microaggression, and rejection from community networks. As a result, many previous studie s have als o found that LGB individuals have faced severe adverse impacts on their mental health. The team recommended further inve stigation into the s e psychological mediators and their connections to LGB status. Dr P e t e r T a y l o r, a c l i n i c a l l e c t u r e r at the U n i v e r s i t y, noted that “ s u r p r i s i n g l y, t h e r e i s l i t t l e d a t a on the psychological mechanisms that might explain the association between being le sbian, gay or bisexual, and self-harm in UK

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students”. These findings corroborate much of the existing literature around the prevalence of mental health i s s u e s i n t h e L G B c o m m u n i t y. M a n y previous psychiatric and clinical studies show that LGB people show disproportionate excesses of mental disorders, suicide, substance abuse, and deliberate self-harm. The UK government has recently focused on improving mental health care facilities for young people, emphasising higher-education students. Dr Taylor added that, “prevention and intervention efforts directed at these psychological mediators by Universitie s may help to reduce risks in this population. “Universities are already doing a lot of good things in this area such as counselling and psychological su pp or t wh ich i s t a rge te d at LG B people.” If you are experiencing any suicidal thoughts or desires to self-harm, please seek help. The University offers counselling services and mental health support. Yo u c a n a l s o c o n t a c t c o n f i d e n t i a l listening services such as Nightline (0300 003 7029) and Samaritans (0161 236 8000).

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News

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Fallowfield favourite The Font to close

The student-friendly cocktail bar will close permanently after ten years of business in Fallowfield Rona McCann Sub-Editor Popular student bar and café T h e Fo n t h a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t s Fallowfield branch is to close p e r m a n e n t l y. T h e b a r, s i t u a t e d o n Wilmslow Road, is directly opposite the Owens Park and Oak House halls of residences. Posting on its Facebook page, The Fo n t s a i d : “ I t h a s b e e n a n a b s o l u t e privilege to have been part of Fallowfield for s o long and the many memories we’ve made will not be forgot te n . ” T h e F o n t h a s s e r v e d a s a b a r, notable for offering its renowned £2 cocktails, as well as a café, serving h o t f o o d t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y. I t s upstairs room was regularly hired out by University of Manchester student societies for their socials. It also announced its final closing d a t e o f t h e 1 5 t h D e c e m b e r, i n v i t i n g c u sto m e rs to “co m e o n e a n d a l l , a n d celebrate our amazing decade south of the city centre and have one last b i g h o o r a h w i t h u s o n F r i d a y, 1 4 t h D e c e m b e r. ” Doug Simpson, manager of The Fo n t a n d q u i z m a s t e r o f i t s we e k l y

‘ Fo n t u m Q u i z z i c s ’ n i g h t , e x p re s s e d his dismay at the prospect of no longer hearing questions such as “C h e a p e s t £ 2 c o c k t a i l ? ” , “ W h e n’s i t 2-4-1?”, and — referring to the novelty d r i n k s t h e m e n u h a s t o o f f e r — “ Yo u ge t a F re d d o? ! ” T h e Fo n t c re a t ive d i re c t o r J u d e Wa i n w r i g h t h a s s a i d : “ T h e t i m e w e have spent here in Fallowfield has been enriching and fulfilling, and w e ’d j u s t l i k e t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y to give the biggest thank you to all of our staff and regulars, past and present. I cannot express how much you have meant to us.” T h e Fo n t o p e n e d i n Fa l l ow f i e l d i n 2 0 0 8 , t a k i n g ove r t h e s i t e ’s p re v i o u s o c c u p i e r, S o f a . I t s l e a s e i s d u e t o e n d i n D e c e m b e r. I n s t e a d o f r e n e w i n g the leas e, management have decided instead to concentrate on its other Fo n t b a r s . T h e Fo n t ’s M a n c h e s t e r c i t y c e n t re s i t e , l o c a t e d o n N e w Wa k e f i e l d S t r e e t , and its Chorlton site will continue to remain open. The news come s after Fallow C a fé , a n o t h e r o f Fa l l ow f i e l d ’s b a r s frequented by students, closed down e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r.

Photo: Adam Bruderer @Flickr

Women most likely to benefit from a university education, report says A recent report has shown that on average, women with degrees earn 28% more than women who did not attend university, with men only earning 8% more

Nicole Wootton-Cane Head News Editor New research has revealed that women are the most likely group to benefit from a university education, with women holding a degree earning on average 28% more than non-graduate women. The study by the Department for Education and Institute for Fiscal Studies also looked at which courses are most likely to benefit graduates, with women studying Maths at Oxford and men reading Economics at Bristol getting the biggest increase in earnings from a t t e n d i n g u n i v e r s i t y. Men with degrees earn on average only 8% more than nongraduates, and a third of men attend universities that only give them a

Photo: alan-light @Flickr

“negligible” pay advantage. The report was based on tax records of people who went to school in England and went on to h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n i n E n g l a n d , Wa l e s or Scotland. It analysed the salaries of these graduates at the age of 29 to determine how going to university might affect earnings. It described getting a degree as a n “e xce l le nt i nve st m e nt ” fo r wo m e n - a woman with a degree on average earns £6,700 more per year than one without. Male graduates were found to only earn £2,700 more per year than a non-graduate. It was suggested that this could be because non-graduate women are more likely to be in low paid jobs, widening the gap between those with degrees and those without. The London School of Economics

(LSE) was named as the university that offered the best returns for women, with other London universities dominating the top of the rankings. Bolton came in last, with UC F a l m o u t h a n d Wa l e s T r i n i t y S t D a v i d just ahead. The subjects at the top of the pay scale for women were named as Medicine, Economics, Maths, B u s i n e s s , a n d L a w. M e d i c i n e w a s found to give the best returns, with earnings at 78% more than nongraduate women. At the lower end of the s cale w e r e Ve t e r i n a r y S c i e n c e , S o c i a l C a r e , P s y c h o l o g y, A g r i c u l t u r e , a n d Creative Arts. The most lucrative subjects for men were Economics, Medicine, A r c h i t e c t u r e , B u s i n e s s , a n d L a w. Subjects with the lowest returns

were P s y c h o l o g y, P h i l o s o p h y, English, Agriculture, and Creative Arts. Men taking these subjects are likely to earn less than men who did n o t g o t o u n i v e r s i t y, w i t h m a l e a r t graduates earning 14% less than the average male non-graduate. Philosophy at Sussex was found to be the least lucrative degree for m e n . Fo r wo m e n , i t i s c o m p u t i n g a t We s t m i n s t e r. The report raises questions over whether the current tuition fee of £9, 2 50 per year is reas onable for those who are getting little financial return from their degrees. Tuition fees have been under s c r u t i n y r e c e n t l y, w i t h p r o p o s a l s f o r costs to be cut to £6,500 for some subjects in the works, and plans to c r e a t e c h e a p e r, f a s t - t r a c k t w o - y e a r degrees in the works.

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ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Photo: Moneycortex @PixaBay

Poorest families in Greater Manchester hit by ‘poverty premium’

Research reveals that poor families in Greater Manchester might be paying a substantial amount more for goods and services than their richer counterparts

Josh Sandiford News Reporter Poor families in Greater Manchester might be paying a substantial amount more for goods and services than their richer counterparts. New research by Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has found that low-income families could be paying more than £1000 over the odds for services such as energy, credit and insurance due to an apparent ‘poverty premium’. The extra costs are partly due to restricted access to financial products such as overdrafts or low-interest loans. Higher costs for poorer families might also occur due to different, more expensive payment methods - such as paying for energy through a prepayment meter - and because people on low incomes are less able to buy in bulk.

The report also notes that there are ‘inbuilt’ disadvantages within certain markets that disproportionately affect lower income families. Poorer families might, for example, face higher insurance premiums as a result of living in a deprived area. GMPA also looked at the extent to which accessing credit can work out more expensive. A £500 loan from payday lenders can cost £758 once fully repaid and buying household goods like washing machines and cookers from rent-to-own stores in Greater Manchester can on average end up costing an additional £218. An ‘in-depth questionnaire’ carried out by GMPA with over 100 residents also found that two-thirds of low-income residents said they don’t have access to a bank account overdraft facility and a quarter of low-income residents said they have to borrow money to pay for everyday

living costs and bills. Graham Whitham, Director of Greater Manchester Poverty Action said: ‘’This poverty rip-off sees low-income families spending more on everyday goods and services and eats into already limited disposable income. At a time when poverty is increasing, and household budgets are under sustained pressure, it’s not right that people on low incomes face higher costs for essentials. ‘’GMPA is a not-for-profit organisation, carrying out research and campaigning for changes in policy so that the’’structural and systematic causes of poverty are addressed.’’ This research by GMPA quantifies the potential cost of the poverty premium for low-income families here in Greater Manchester for the first time. GMPA are now calling for action by central government to help address the

issue of a ‘poverty premium’. They’re also calling for action locally to help protect low-income households from paying over the odds. They are calling for the further promotion of credit unions in Greater Manchester, more support for food pantries, and for local authorities to act as the first port of call for people facing a financial crisis so that people are not driven into the arms of high-interest lenders. Whitham added: ‘’We need to think about how we can address this problem locally, for example, supporting credit unions in the work that they do so that more people have access to low-interest loans, and promoting initiatives that directly mitigate against the poverty premium, such as food pantries. These would help people on low incomes save money and ease the financial pressures they are facing.’’

Suffragette’s forcefeeding letter goes on display in Manchester A collection of objects giving insight into the Suffragette movement 100 years on will go on display in the People’s History Museum

Photo: People’s History Museum

Shivani Kaura Deputy News Editor A letter detailing the first known written account of suffragette force-feeding is to go on display a t t h e Pe o p l e ’s H i s t o r y M u s e u m i n M a n c h e s t e r. The account, written by Charlotte Marsh to fellow suffragette Selina Martin, details her experiences of being force-fed during the suffragette movement. The handwritten letter penned by the suffragette will go on display a s p a r t o f t h e R e p r e s e n t ! Vo i c e s 1 0 0 Ye a r s O n e x h i b i t i o n . Written in November 1909, the document accounts the hunger strikes Charlotte Marsh undertook when in prison. Marsh talks about her daily struggles, writing to Martin about how she is scared to tell her own mother about how she is being treated: “Do you mind sending a p i c t u r e t o m y m o t h e r, s a y i n g w h e n you last saw me that I was happy and

well. But do not mention how I am b e i n g f e d . ” F i n i s h i n g t h e l e t t e r, s h e writes off, “No surrender!” Pe o p l e ’s History M u s e u m’s Programme Officer and researcher Helen Antrobus came across the letter when examining various o b j e c t s f o r t h e d i s p l a y, s t u m b l i n g upon the piece on a title page torn from a book. Antrobus, after examining the letter said: “The letter reveals the strain, both emotional and physical, that these women were enduring and how they looked to each other for the support and strength they needed. “Their aim was to be treated as political offenders, and at this time they wouldn’t have known how historically notorious force-feeding was to become. “Their sacrifice, determination, and united spirit is clear within the l e t t e r, w h i c h i s e x t r e m e l y m o v i n g t o read.” As a part of the exhibition at the

Pe o p l e ’s H i s t o r y M u s e u m , s u p p o r t e d by the Heritage Lottery Fund, other pieces on display — loaned by Phillip Sycamore, grandson of suffragette Selina Martin — will include letters, h e r Wo m e n ’s S o c i a l a n d P o l i t i c a l Union (WSPU) hunger strike medal, and a photo of Selina wearing her Holloway Prison brooch. After Selina was imprisoned, her efforts and sacrifices made for the movement were honoured b y t h e W S P U . H e r s t o r y, a l o n g w i t h many other heroic figures, aims to identify and honour those who have fought for representation a century on from when the Representation of the People Act of 1918 gave all men and some women the right to vote in Britain. Jenny Mabbott, Head of C o l l e c t i o n s a t t h e Pe o p l e ’s H i s t o r y Museum, stated “It is wonderful that in creating an exhibition that tells the stories of those seeking representation we have been able to reveal previously unheard voices

of those from the past who fought f o r e q u a l i t y. “ H e a r i n g C h a rl o t t e ’s s t o r y i n h e r words brings alive the incredible spirit of those campaigning for wo m e n’s s u f f ra ge . ” “ S e l i n a M a r t i n’s ow n s t o r y i s t h a t of a working-class suffragette from Ulverston, Manchester who found herself in prison three times, on each occasion refusing to eat to make her protest. Whilst her family were told she was in good health and being treated well, her letters and d i a r i e s t e l l a v e r y d i f f e r e n t s t o r y. “During her imprisonment in Liverpool in the winter of 1909, Selina was beaten, force-fed, and left to freeze in her cell. The Governor of the gaol claimed she was being treated ‘as humanely and kindly as possible.’” T h e f re e d i s p l ay a t t h e Pe o p l e ’s History Museum is open until Fe b r u a r y 3 rd 2 0 1 9.

News

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

University of Sheffield students to avoid distressing exam questions Staff at the University of Sheffield have reportedly been told to “offer alternatives” so that students can answer safer questions that won’t trigger them

Josh Sandiford News Reporter Staff at the University of Sheffield have been told not to force students to write e ssays or answer exam questions on subjects that they might find distressing. Guidance has reportedly been offered telling staff to “o f fe r alternatives” so that students can answer ‘safer’ que stions that won’t trigger them. Many exam papers already offer a variety of questions to choose from. According to The Time s, issue s highlighted by the University of Sheffield as potentially sensitive material include “race, gender

i d e n t i t y, p o l i t i c s , i n c e s t , H I V/A i d s , f a i t h a n d r e l i g i o n , s e x u a l i t y, m e n t a l health, paedophilia, drugs and alcohol, abortion, rape, suicide, domestic and sexual violence, d i s a b i l i t y, torture, death and bereavement”. Some students at the University of Sheffield complained last year about the distressing material contained on their English Literature course. T he st ude nt s w rote a le t te r a rg u i ng that they shouldn’t have to “put their own mental health at risk to receive an education”. It is likely this will add to the debate about the extent to which students in higher education are exposed to things that might be

considered upsetting. Lecturers at Leeds Trinity University have recently been asked to stop using capital letters in assignments to avoid ups etting students and staff at Newcastle University have als o been told that students could be eligible for resits or exemptions if they’re upset by material in exams. After the University of Manchester Students’ Union passed a motion encouraging the use of ‘jazz hands’ to make events more accessible a media storm ensued, leading to The Daily Star newspaper decrying ‘snowf lake Britain’ and denouncing the policy a s ‘cl apt rap’ . People quickly took to Twitter

to respond to the new advice given by the University of Sheffield to fellow staff members. One user said: “University is now for closed-minded snowf lakes, not people who want to learn.” Another said: “Why not go a step further so not to distress the poor Snowf lakes? When they register just hand them their 1st class degree certificate. What is happening in this country?” A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield said: “The guidance around teaching sensitive topics is to help staff confidently encourage debate, s crutiny and critical thinking - it is not aimed at preventing it.”

Photo: Pomdu @ Wikimedia Commons

UoM contestant becomes unlikely star of University Challenge Josh Sandiford News Reporter The University of Manchester is through to the quarter-final of the B B C ’s U n ive r s i t y C h a l l e n ge a f t e r defeating Hertford College, Oxford in the final 16. The showdown also led to one of Uo M ’s c o n t e s t a n t s b e c o m i n g a s o c i a l m e d i a s t a r. Joe Hanson, who is studying for a PhD in data-intensive science, was noticed by a number of viewers who took to Twitter with jokes about him f linching in response to the quiz s h o w ’ s b u z z e r. O n e u s e r s a i d : “J u s t c a u g h t u p o n l a s t n i g h t ’s U n ive r s i t y C h a l l e n ge and Hans on might be my favourite contestant ever!” Another person tweeted: “I am snorting at University Challenge,

w h e n H a n s o n j u m p e d a t t h e b u z z e r. He is me when I wake up every morning, remembering I’m alive. #UniversityChallenge” Hanson, originally from Grave s end, Kent, als o joined in on the gag - tweeting a GIF of himself captioned: “Playing it cool on #universitychallenge.” UoM have s ecured a place in the next round after defeating the University of East London last month. H a n s o n’s t e a m m a t e s i n c l u d e P h D st ude nt s A lex A nt ao a nd G e org i a Ly n o t t . T h i s ye a r ’s Uo M t e a m c a p t a i n i s Ja m e s Ro s s , a m a s t e r ’s s t u d e n t f r o m C o v e n t r y. T h e t e a m h a s a n average age of 26. The University of Manchester has previously won University Challenge 4 times and are tied with Magdalen College, Oxford, for the highest number of victories. Photo: Dan Brickley @Flickr

6 News

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Jailed academic returns home from UAE after receiving pardon Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD candidate at Durham University, was accused of spying for the UK government while researching his thesis Josh Sandiford News Reporter A memorial honouring those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme has been erected i n M a n c h e s t e r ’s H e a t o n P a rk . The unveiling of the memorial took place on the 1 8 t h o f N o v e m b e r, a w e e k a f t e r R e m e m b r a n c e S u n d a y. The monument takes the form of a l a rge c u r ve d wa l l , a nd wa s designed to represent a stretch o f t h e t r e n c h e s a l o n g t h e We s t e r n Front. It reaches two metres in height and seven metres in length, and is inscribed with the words ‘Somme 1916’. In 2016, Heaton Park was the setting for a Somme centenary c o m m e m o r a t i o n , w h e r e 3 7, 0 0 0 people visited the park to take part in remembrance events and pay re spects for thos e who fought and died in the infamous battle. The memorial features 320

unique ‘memory tiles’ that were originally created for the 2016 commemoration. The tiles, which are etched with images c o m m e m o r a t i n g t h e Wa r a n d telling stories of its battles, were recast in porcelain before being placed into the wall. Longsight Councillor Luthfur Rahman said: “No one could fail to have been moved by the events two years ago to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, and particularly by the memory tiles that poignantly told the stories behind some of thos e involved in the battle. “ I t ’s i m p o r t a n t we re m e m b e r the sacrifices made by all those who fought and were injured or lost their lives, and that we pass their stories on to future generations so they also never forge t . “The permanent memorial in Heaton Park is a fitting and lasting tribute to them and will ensure their stories and

our memory of them are never forgot te n . ” Heaton Park was used as a training ground for army r e c r u i t s d u r i n g t h e F i r s t Wo r l d Wa r. T h e a r e a h o s t e d t h e t r a i n i n g of thousands of Manchester Regiment troops, before later becoming the location of a military hospital base. The Battle of the Somme began on the 1st July 1916, and lasted for almost five months. On i t s f i r s t a n d b l o o d i e s t d a y, 1 9 , 2 4 0 British soldiers lost their lives — 585 of which were from Greater M a n c h e s t e r. The day is widely regarded to be the worst in British military history as the battle ended with over a million casualties from across both sides. 2018 marks 100 years since t h e e n d o f t h e F i r s t Wo r l d Wa r, which lasted for over four years and affected millions of lives. The recorded deaths of Mancunian soldiers total 23,792.

New Somme memorial unveiled in Manchester

The WW1 memorial remembers the victims of the 1916 battle, honouring lives of those from Manchester and across the world Rona McCann Sub-Editor

A memorial honouring those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme has been erected i n M a n c h e s t e r ’s H e a t o n P a rk . The unveiling of the memorial took place on the 1 8 t h o f N o v e m b e r, a w e e k a f t e r R e m e m b r a n c e S u n d a y. The monument takes the form of a l a rge c u r ve d wa l l , a nd wa s designed to represent a stretch o f t h e t r e n c h e s a l o n g t h e We s t e r n Front. It reaches two metres in height and seven metres in length, and is inscribed with the words ‘Somme 1916’. In 2016, Heaton Park was the setting for a Somme centenary c o m m e m o r a t i o n , w h e r e 3 7, 0 0 0 people visited the park to take part in remembrance events and pay re spects for thos e who fought and died in the infamous battle. The memorial features 320

Should the UK end relations with the UAE? Following a week where Durham PhD student Matthew Hedges was sentenced to life imprisonment and subsequently pardoned on the charges of spying, The Mancunion asks students if it’s time for the UK to end relations with the UAE “It’s important that we have a diplomatic relationship so that we can exert the moral power on them. I’m glad that we seem to have got justice served in this case, but given that the UAE has other issues that we’re aware of... I don’t think cutting off contact is the best approach.” Jack Swan, Politics and Sociology “No, in my honest opinion. I think there’s too much to throw away over one ordeal. We don’t actually know the entire back story. I don’t think it’ll be a complete spanner in the works, and we’ll hold relations further because [they’re] a very important economic point in the Middle East for the UK.” Tom Macdowell, Geography

“Yes, because it’s a clear violation of an academic’s rights to freedom of speech.” Bella Jewell, French and Italian “Cutting off contact completely doesn’t really help anyone. I think you need to use soft power that the UK has over the UAE, in terms of influence. It will be interesting to see how we can exert that and change various things.” Bea Forrester, International Relations and Politics “I think it’s a very complex issue, and there’s a lot fo treaties and peace brokerings, that are very unstable. I don’t think it’s as simple as breaking ties with a country over something like this. If you do that, then there’s a lot of quite crucial and very fragile links that need to be upheld elsewhere, and it’s kind of like a domino effect. ” Liam Armstrong, International Disaster Management

“No. One situation can’t define the whole relationship, it has to be more nuanced than that. If he was pardoned [almost] immediately, then there have been a lot worse situations with journalists being jailed”. Catrin Stewart, English Literature Photo: Geoffrey Malins via the Imperial War Museum @ Wikimedia Commons

Investigations 7

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Whitworth Park and the changing face of Oxford Road

The University’s most populous halls of residence is under threat of closure of being re-let. Felix-Hanif Banks investigates what this means for the area’s future

Photo: mstodt @pixabay

Felix Hanif-Banks Investigations Editor The long term futu re of the W h itwor th Park stude nt accommod ation h a s be e n reve a le d in cou nc i l do cuments detailing pla n s to re novate the a re a i n conjunction with the M a nche ste r S c ie nce Pa rk . P rior plan s f rom the Un ive rs ity to inve st in t he site app ear to h ave b e e n s c rappe d , accord ing to lo cal busi ne ss owners. In ste ad , the s hopfront will be re - le t , pote ntially along with the stude nt accom mod ation . W h itworth Park its e lf h a s be e n su bj e c t to neg le c t i n re ce nt years, as many s hops j u st be low re m a in e mpty, a nd the general area appe a rs ru ndown . It’s fa r from t he glea ming vision of Oxford Road th at the s e pla n s for rege neration lay out as inevita ble. With s e e m ing ly lit t le commercial intere st in the s ite a s it exists, re novat ion i s key in su stain ing t he a re a a nd provid ing a pos it ive atmosphere for students a nd loca l re s ide nts a like. Manche ster S cience Pa rk ( M SP) plays a m aj or role i n t he s e plan s, as pla n ne d re novation s to the a lre ady

ex p an s ive s ite are i nc re as i ng i n s cop e to ‘su pp or t t he g row t h i n s c ie nce b as e d- e conom ic ac t iv ity’ . Work on t he s ite i s ex p e c te d to b eg i n as s o on as next ye a r, r u n n i ng u nt i l 2 02 1 and w i l l de l ive r an add it iona l 160,000 s q . f t of new of f ice sp ace as we l l as c re at i ng up to 1 , 3 00 f u l l- t i me jo b s. S it u ate d ju st b e h i nd t he Un ive rs ity’s M ai n Campus, t he are a al re ady host s ove r 1 5 0 bu s i ne s s e s, and w it h pl an s to ex p and to one m i l l ion s q f t of of f ice s t h at nu m b e r i s on ly s e t to g row. T h i s wou ld me an a q u ad r u pl i ng of t he al re ady ex i st i ng of f ice sp ace, prov id i ng a g re at range of d ive rs e opp or t u n it ie s for st ude nt s and you ng profe s s ion al s to work and i n novate. T he cou nc i l al s o ai m to op e n M SP for w ide r pu bl ic u s e, work i ng on i mprove me nt s ove r t he next few ye ars t h at wou ld m ake t he sp ace le s s re st r ic t ive and e as ie r to acce s s for p e de st r i an s and cycl i st s. Fu r t he r st age s of t he cou nc i l’s pl an s to re novate t he sp ace i nd icate t he i nte nt to bu i ld st ude nt accom mo d at ion ne ar t he s ite on t he now vacant Mc D ougal l S p or t s Ce nt re. T he s it i s de e me d su it able for a 6 to 1 0 storey bu i ld i ng , wh ich cou ld ce r t ai nly

accom mo date much of t he housing cap acity t hat would b e le f t b ehind by Whitwort h Pa rk, which is current ly t he Univers ity’s most p opulous ha lls of re sidence. As t he C ouncil’s St ate of t he C ity Rep ort ha s m a rked t heir long-term a im to move st udent s f urt her into t he city cent re or away f rom t he direct Ox ford Ro ad a rea , t he s e pla ns a re fa r f rom surprising. In conj unct ion w it h a im s to m a ke t he ‘Ox ford Ro ad C orridor’ a s prof it a ble a s p os sible, it is likely f urt her development s to t he current Whitwort h Pa rk a rea w ill b e negligible unt il a new ow ner is found. Wit h addit iona l f urt her development to t he MSP a nd it s surrounding a rea s at tempt ing to t ra nsform t he a rea into it s ow n s elf-cont a ining s et t lement fo cus ed on pro duct iv ity a nd enterpris e, a shif t away f rom t he current uninspiring facade of Whitwort h Pa rk a nd it s accomp a ny ing s hop s s eem s inev it a ble. Fut ure inve st ment w ill s eek to rej uvenate t he a rea , prov iding w ide spread opp ort unity a nd grow t h, while hop e f ully a ls o a llow ing t he much-loved G em ini C a fe to keep it s home.

‘How much worse can it get?’

Local businesses struggle to plan for a Fallowfield without studentsas the council plans to radically change the face of Fallowfield Felix Hanif-Banks Investigations Editor Busine ss owners ac ros s Fa llowfie ld a re be i ng forced to plan for a futu re without a bu stling stude nt popul ation , and many fe a r for the negative impac t it w i l l h ave on not on ly ind ividu a l bu s ine s s e s, but t he a re a as a whole. As the late st State of the C ity Re port h a s a llude d to, the Cou ncil’s plan s to move a con s ide ra ble a mou nt of Fa l lowf ield’s stude nt popu lation out of the a re a are unde r way, with stude nt accom mod ation be com i ng gradually more sp ars e a nd the ris e of private hal l s e l s ewhere in the city. Efforts to ch a nge the face of Fa l lowf ield may b e h a rde r to notice, but long te r m pl a ns are in e ffect, and th is is j u st one goa l on a list of ma ny with a due d ate of 202 5. M any bu sine ss e s, whe n a s ke d for com ment ,

ex pre s s e d g re at conce r n at t he p ote nt i al d rai n of st ude nt s out of Fal low f ie ld , no m at te r how g radu al it is. “It ’s a g host tow n w it hout st ude nt s”, one fast- fo o d m an age r st ate d , a s e nt i me nt e cho e d by ne ar e nough eve r y s hop along Wi l m s low Ro ad , “it wou ld af fe c t a ll bu s i ne s s e s he re m as s ive ly. ” “S t ude nt s are i mp or t ant to eve r y bu s i ne s s in Fal low f ie ld , of cou rs e t hey are, ” we re word s he a rd re p e ate d ly, w it h most bu s i ne s s e s at t r i but i ng s ome 6 0 70% of t he i r c u stom to st ude nt s, m any eve n h ig her. Eve n t he are a’s le s s o bv iou s hot sp ot s, such as L loyd’s Ph ar m acy, are fe ar f u l of any m ajor de mog raphic ch ange s, as t hey s e e st ude nt s as “ne arly al l [ t heir] bu s i ne s s. ” Fal low f ie ld can b e s e e n as a st ude nt me t rop ol i s of s or t s, a pl ace whe re t he sy m biot ic re l at ion s h ip b e twe en st ude nt s and lo cal bu s i ne s s ow ne rs i s exe rc i s e d and e njoye d to it s f u l le st e f fe c t . S ome wou ld t he re fore arg ue t h at t t s hou ld b e a m ajor pr ior ity to prote c t t his

relat ionship a nd pre s erve one of t he count ry’s livelie st st udent cent re s. Ma ny busine s s ow ners were p erplexed by t he council’s pla ns to create a more fa m ily-orient ated, re sident ia l Fa llow f ield. Alternat ive s such a s t he city cent re were de s crib ed a s “to o busy”, “ le ss convenient ”, a nd “ lacking in p ers ona lity”. It le f t a blea k pict ure for m a ny in a t ime where v iolent crime is on t he ris e a nd m a ny feel unsa fe in t heir ow n home s, a s Brad, who works at a lo ca l cha in a s ked “ how much wors e ca n it get , rea list ica lly?” While t he C ouncil w is he s to t ra ns form lo ca l com munit ie s in t he intere st s of ext ract ing prof it a nd meet ing grow t h t a rget s, st udent s a nd busine ss ow ners a like b elieve t hat ret a ining a n a rea’s cult ure is v it a l to it s surv iva l. In t he face of grow ing crime a nd ap at het ic re sp ons e s to com b at it , st udent s a re le f t w it h few opt ions but to em brace t he b e st , brighte st p a rt s of Fa llow f ield life a nd enj oy t hem for a ll t hey’re wort h.

8 Science & Tech

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Re-imagining climate change Society has come to face an existential environmental threat at the hands of climate change. But could things have been different? Jacklin Kwan Sub-editor How did we get here? 12 years to environmental havoc, greenhouse gas emissions at a record high, and a political climate plagued with inertia. It is an era of sobering humility. After decades of reckless abandon and ecological exploitation, our worldview has rapidly unravelled. Science is not, and will not be the deux ex machina that will liberate us from real-life problems. Economic industrialisation and consumerist cultures have serious drawbacks. And we are not the centre of the universe, much less the centre of our own planet. The question is then: how did we form this worldview in the first place? It is time to understand how we have formed a toxic relationship with the environment. Broadly, human history with nature is one of increasing externalisation. Man is not part of nature, and freedom is defined as the increasing ability to control nature rather than co-exist with it. There are many reasons why this has become the case, but it wasn’t always so. When we were still largely ignorant of how nature worked, there was little to no distinction between human beings and their environments. Natural phenomena were unpredictable and temperamental, just like people. Mother nature was imbued with a deep mysticism. It was powerful, and deserved our respect. If so, it would provide us with food and amiable weather. The philosophy was steeped in superstition, but it resulted in constant deep-rooted awareness that humanity was intertwined in a larger ecological system. This changed with the expansion of Enlightenment

philosophy and industrialisation, which forms the basis of contemporary life. Influential thinkers like Francis Bacon were very much men of their time, believing that nature could be studied using methodical experimentation, and therefore controlled. The purpose of modern science was instrumental rather than just something valuable in and of itself. Science is meant to create the knowledge required to improve the material well-being of people.

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There was an active choice on the part of society and political establishment to ignore the warning signs

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Other intellectuals like Descartes and Kant specified that unlike natural objects or animals, men were capable of reason and introspection. This gave them a unique position and entitlement that separated them from all other natural elements. Along with many other parallel developments, knowledge systems became anthropocentric. Our environments are passive resources to be understood and consumed. Despite the existence of counter-narratives, the predominant definition of the good life became one of material abundance and convenience. It was man versus nature. Unlike what most believe, there were speculations of climate change as early as the 19th century. Bad droughts and harvest were

linked to mass deforestation. Naturalists like Carl Linnaeus wrote extensively on the intricate interdependences between different biological species, and the importance of overall harmony in ecosystems. Even political thinkers like Marx criticised unfettered urbanisation by analysing how it broke natural circulations. To Marx, human society would always be reliant on the productive capacity of nature, and that capitalism would lead to an unsustainable exhaustion of natural resources. The idea that climate change is a relatively new concept is false, to some extent. Many thinkers have raised alarms for centuries, and human understanding of natural health, as well as climate balance, has been relatively sophisticated for quite some time. Therefore, there was an active choice on the part of society and political establishment to ignore the warning signs. It’s time to understand that combatting climate change requires more than policy reforms (though those would be a good start). Rather, there needs to be a profound shift in social attitudes towards the environment. Political theories need to be formed about governance in the age of scarcity. Economists need to analyse how we achieve ‘the good life’, one without excessive consumption and wealth generation at the expense of the environment. People need to assess the ethical obligations we owe, not only to each other and future generations but to nature itself. And science, despite its reputation of neutrality, is currently rooted in the mindset of domination over nature. No more ‘business as usual’ with minor changes. A sustainable future involves a re-evaluation of all aspects of life we take for granted. Photo: Michael King @ NASA Earth Observatory

InSight probe successfully lands on Mars NASA’s InSight probe has successfully landed on Mars. Could it be the foundations for a manned mission to the Red Planet? Luke Edwards Contributor At 19:52:59 UTC on 26th November 2018, NASA’s latest analytical probe landed on the surface of Mars. The probe has the objective of gathering predominantly seismological data to better understand the internal structure and rotation of the planet. InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is an international collaboration whose success is widely hailed as a large step forward for space exploration and discovery, as well as for humankind’s insatiable appetite for finding a new home for our species, despite a two-year delay. InSight will gather data that will be 3-10 times more accurate than any preceding probe. The previously poorly understood science of ‘differentiation’ (the composition, formation, and evolution of planets) for the Solar System’s terrestrial planets - Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth - may finally gain some clarity. Large amounts of the data that InSight will be able to collect over the course of its 709 sol (2 year) mission will be due to meteorite impacts on the surface of Mars that send vibrations through the layers of the planet. There are 10-200 of these detectable collisions per year. InSight will be able to measure the characteristics of these

Photo: NASA @ Wikimedia Commons t

vibrations, giving vital clues to the internal structure of the planet. In addition to this, seismic activity (Mars-quakes) will also be recorded and analysed. The mission’s secondary objective is to study the geophysics, tectonic activity, and the effect of meteorite impacts on Mars, which could provide knowledge of such processes on Earth. As part of its public outreach efforts, NASA also included several 8mm silicon wafers on the mission’s payload. The wafers were engraved with nearly 2.5 million names of members of the public. An electron beam was used to etch letters only 1/1000 the width of a human hair onto these wafers, the first of which was installed on the lander in November 2015. There has long been talk about the possibility of a manned mission to Mars, not least because it is the most similar planet in the Solar System to our home planet, Earth. The InSight mission is important as it is further defining our understanding of this planet, and hence increasing our preparedness if or when we undertake the voyage over there ourselves. However, there are difficulties that present themselves regarding such a fraught undertaking, which don’t include just the technological issues. Many people overlook the fact that space itself, not the journey there, is the most challenging obstacle with manned missions.

Factors such as astronauts changing gravity fields, isolation and confinement, hostile and closed environments, and space radiation have recently surfaced as reasons why some people have been starting to err at the prospect of a manned mission to Mars ever being possible at all, or at least not until the distant future. Figures such as Elon Musk, the CEO and ex-chairman of Tesla, as well as the co-founder of many other companies including PayPal and SpaceX, have expressed the goal of making the first Earth to Mars flight as close as 2022. Within 100 years of this date, they anticipate the established colony to be capable of being entirely self-sufficient. This is a bold and exciting claim, and one that will require a lot of innovation, experience, and determination to achieve. NASA and other space agencies have already put in a lot of the legwork towards recognising this ambition, including creating the basis of countermeasures against the hazardous aspects of space travel that were mentioned earlier. Regardless of the different estimated time scales for a potential Mars mission, what is known is the mission would require significant research to form an understanding of the difficulties and problems associated with it. That is what InSight is currently undertaking, and with any luck, it may pave the way for manned missions and further innovations in our lifetimes.

Features 9

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

An interview with Hattie Andrews: founder of the Politics Project

Georgia Wiltshire interviews UoM graduate Hattie Andrews, founder of The Politics Project, about encouraging young people to be politically engaged and how digital technology connects politicians with the classroom Georgia Wiltshire Contributor Founded in Manchester in 2015, the Politics Project plays a central role in empowering young people within politics — not only in Greater Manchester but all across the UK. Connecting a wide range of schools with their MPs, the Politics Project offers a free democratic education for young students. This unique opportunity provides young people with an inspiring and motivating environment where they can establish their political voice. I spoke with the project’s Director, University of Manchester graduate, Hattie Andrews, discussing her motivations behind founding the project, the role of digital technology in youth empowerment, and what the future holds for the Politics Project.

“one of the greatest challenges is where politics sits (or doesn’t sit) in the education system” With the impact of the Politics Project being felt UK-wide, I was surprised to learn it is run by a small team currently based in London, with Hattie and her colleague Josh Dell, the Project’s community advocacy lead, playing a crucial role in its ever-growing political momentum. The pair’s dedication to the cause is commendable, travelling across

the country to assist schools and their teachers to provide a worthwhile political education to young students. The Project also runs training sessions for teachers throughout the year, educating them on the dynamics of digital surgeries in preparation for holding one at their school. I asked Hattie what her motivations were behind founding the Politics Project, she asserted: “I think I felt really strongly that young people didn’t have the chance to learn about the basics of how politics works. I was also aware of a big gap – the young people that were engaged often had engaged parents and that is how they learnt about politics. I wanted to level the playing field.” The Politics Project is certainly making waves in the political world, having recently delivered a series of digital surgeries at WIRED Next Generation Festival in London’s the Tate Modern. The Project ran sessions with Councillor Timothy Burns as well as Darren Jones MP, tackling issues with local students including lowering the voting age and the influence of technology on daily politics. Digital surgeries typically involve a school’s MP appearing on video link with a school class where a session of questions and answers takes place. The opportunities provided by these surgeries are undoubtedly significant, signalling a shift towards a contemporary method of political activity which is able to emulate the fast-paced nature of British politics. When discussing the successes of digital technology in promoting youth engagement, I asked Hattie what sets digital surgeries apart from other methods: “Digital surgeries are about a side of politics that is often overlooked – the part that recognises politics as about relationships, emotions and feelings,” she explains, “if young people don’t trust politicians then they won’t become engaged in politics.” In addition to the Project’s successes in London, the Politics Project has not forgotten its roots, playing a distinguished role in the political com-

munity of Greater Manchester, with Hattie admitting “there can often be a rural-urban divide in political opportunities, so we try to make sure we work outside of big cities as much as possible.” At the beginning of November, the Project ran a digital surgery with Lancashire born and bred Mayor Andy Burnham, connecting him with students in both Bolton and Trafford. From the comfort of his own office, Mr Burnham, via video link, discussed issues of transport, policy priorities, as well as his personal hobbies with local students. “The format is strangely intimate,” Hattie tells me, “politicians loosen up and are really open – this has challenged a lot of our existing narratives concerning face-toface engagements.” With MP’s calendars becoming progressively overloaded, the efficiency and lucrative nature of digital surgeries is a vital way of ensuring the youth of today are heard by their representatives. When considering the challenges facing youth empowerment in politics today, Hattie claimed “one of the biggest challenges is where politics sits (or doesn’t sit) in the education system,” the difficulty is in ensuring young people receive the opportunity to “understand the basics,” thus thanks to the Project’s surgeries this door has been opened. Having recently attended a digital surgery alongside Hattie at a school in Bolton, it was refreshing and reassuring to see how involved the students were. The narrative dominating youth engagement is that they are apathetic, yet Hattie disagrees with this: “being apathetic suggests you have decided not to engage, from my experience a lot of young people didn’t even know politics was happening.” As a Politics student myself, I found it heartening to see these young students overcome their initial nervousness to voice their concerns and expectations to their MP. The relaxed classroom environment facilitated by the digital surgeries allowed for an enlightening insight for students into the politics of the day.

Despite the significant steps being made by the Politics Project, Hattie stresses there is still further to go, leaving the question of what’s next for the Politics Project? “We plan to start thematic digital surgeries looking at specific issues like Peterloo and climate change, alongside starting to think about how we can use the process to co-design policy and build relationships. There are also (very tiny) whispers of doing surgeries with politicians across the pond.” With the project already bearing much notability in the realm of youth political engagement, it appears the pursuits of the Politics Project will certainly continue to thrive in the future with exciting opportunities in the pipeline. You can find more information about the politics project via their website www.thepoliticsproject.org.uk and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: The Politics Project

An interview with Sister Supporter

Daisy Lester interviews Eabha Doherty, a founding member of the Manchester branch of Sister Supporter, a group who are campaigning for a buffer zone around a Fallowfield abortion clinic Daisy Lester Contributor Outside abortion clinics across Britain, the pavement is a battlefield for issues surrounding the pro-choice movement. As women attempt to access their legal rights, they are met with pro-life intimidation and religious vigils. A clinic on a quiet side street in Fallowfield is one of those targeted. Establishing a stark counter-presence are Sister Supporter, a group of volunteers of all ages and professions who wear pink high-visibility vests, offering non-judgemental protection. Eabha Doherty is a founding member of the group, which began in Manchester almost a year ago. It was a result of a workshop that the Ealing branch of Sister Supporter gave, in preparation for the anti-abortion, “40 Days for For Life” campaign which involves a period of sustained pressure by pro-lifers. The Ealing branch had been campaigning for a

Photo: Sister Supporter

buffer zone surrounding a local Marie Stopes clinic. They successfully achieved a harassment-free safe zone around the clinic in April, subsequently ending 23 years of intimidation. Abortion was legalised in the UK 50 years ago, yet the conversation is as prevalent as ever. Ireland voted to lift a ban this year, but abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland. In America there have been attempts to destabilise Roe Vs Wade – a 1970s Supreme Court ruling that said a pregnant woman had a constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy. Sister Supporter says protestors are outside Marie Stopes’ Fallowfield clinic every Saturday, and sometimes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, targeting the clinic’s staff and users. Eabha says: “Some of the staff have been working there for over 15 years, they’ve told us stories of what they’ve experienced… they understand and are happy that we are there, making their lives a little easier and defusing the situation outside.” Sister Supporter’s role is shielding women from anti-abortion lobbies, and offering a protective escort for those who might otherwise be deterred from entering the clinic. Signs are held stating “Thou Shalt Not Kill” and “fake news” leaflets are distributed claiming abortion leads to breast cancer. Protestors hand out grotesque model foetuses to women. “It’s very emotionally manipulative,” says Eabha. In recent years, America’s influence has become apparent, particularly with “pavement counselling”. Eabha says there have been signs advertising “pregnancy hotlines” at the Ealing clinic. “I actually looked it up, it’s unfounded… its not an official counselling service… there’s a lot of unregulated therapists out there, it’s dangerous.” Some of these pavement counsellors were offering financial aid to women, and proposing “safe houses,” where they would ostensibly help support the woman and her child. During “40 Days for Life”, Sister Supporter

volunteers dedicated themselves to unremitting counter-presence. Amongst the usual anti-abortion tactics, lies were circulated by protesters, one claimed on social media to have “saved 30 babies” in a single day. “We are up against fiction,” says Eabha. “We don’t have an issue with people being religious, we have an issue with people trying to prevent women exercising their right to choose, and accessing legal health care.” She emphasises that Sister Supporter are not anti-religion, nor necessarily pro-abortion, they are pro-choice and carry the all-important task of enabling women to access their reproductive rights. The support they receive from those using the clinic, their family members, and the local community, highlights just how imperative and vital the group’s work is. Although Eabha stresses that continuous counter-presence is, “not an ideal solution, no one should have to be there.” Following the success of Ealing, the Manchester branch is working tirelessly to achieve similar safe-zone legislation. There is currently a petition which has reached almost 2,000 signatures. Much of Sister Supporters campaigning involves raising wider awareness but Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s recent rejection of a nationwide buffer zone was a significant blow for local and national hopes for safe-zones. Eabha says it was hugely disappointing: “There was a lot of evidence that claimed a buffer zone was needed, they really haven’t seen it with their own eyes.” A large part of the process for securing legislation is collecting evidence and personal testimony to recognise the trauma experience as a result of anti-abortion lobbying. The difficulty lies in the fact that the problem in Manchester is largely hidden due to the tucked away location of the Fallowfield Marie Stopes clinic. Eabha says: “There’s not a lot of footfall there,

and we’ve had to bring it to the attention of politicians who don’t necessarily know its happening.” Despite the disappointment surrounding national legislation, Eabha maintains they will get it eventually. “It’s in the hands of people like us to make sure change happens.” Eabha is Irish, and notes with optimism how the Irish government are already considering safe zones when tackling abortion legislation. “They are almost going to be one step ahead of the UK!” she says. The Manchester clinic is a gateway location and is used by women travelling from Ireland. “It’s awful that you could travel so far to access a legal service, and someone could stand in your way and tell you that you’re a sinner,” says Eabha. Manchester City Council has voted to look

“we have an issue with people trying to prevent women exercising their right to choose” into the problem, and with more petition signatures and exposure, a buffer zone in Manchester is looking promising — yet most likely still a couple of years away. In the meantime, Eabha and Sister Supporter will continue to offer their crucial pink counter presence in Manchester and across the UK in their battle for national legislation and the protection of women’s legal health care rights. Sign the Manchester buffer zone petition here. Find out more about Sister Supporter via their website.

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

10 Opinion

Piers cannot tell me how to feel empowered Cara Conte believes that Piers Morgan’s latest column highlights his vendetta against successful young women and his own fragile sense of masculinity Cara Conte Contributor There is a particular mood which creeps up at the end of a day spent bouncing between lectures, the library and the Morrisons meal deal queue. It seems to require that you do nothing w it h a ny o f yo u r l i m b s o r b ra i n . I t ’s at t h e e n d of these kind of days that we ge Cara Conte bel i eve s t h at P i e rs M o rg a n’s l at e s t co l u m n h i g h lights his vendetta against successful young women and his own fragile sense of masculini t y. t t h e m e s s a g e s a s k i n g f o r a m o v i e n i g h t , t o w a t c h s o m e t h i n g l i g h t a n d f l u f f y. Ye t q u i t e o f t e n ‘light and fluffy’ actually has a pretty problematic set of values; making the relaxing night in a little bit less wholesome. Easy access to light entertainment is one of the joys of the modern world, way up there with air travel and central heating. However at times it seems we’ve become too reliant on so-called ‘e a sy-watch i ng’ a nd we a re u n a ble to de m a nd the same standards of morality that we would for something deemed more intellectual. A t t h e r i s k o f s o u n d i n g l i k e a k i l l - j o y, o r perhaps in full intention of it, when I am asked if I want to stick on a rom-com, I’m filled with dread. This is not because cynically I don’t care to watch other people find happiness, although p e r h a p s t h i s f a c t o r s i n s l i g h t l y. F o r t h e m a i n p a r t , h o w e v e r, i t ’s b e c a u s e s o m a ny o f o u r m o s t loved love stories make me squirm where they should be melting my heart. The slim, beautiful, polished women has deep-rooted complexes that are somehow immediately solved by the foppish but charming,

a l m o s t a l w a y s w h i t e a n d w e a l t h y, P r i n c e C h a r m ing. A figure who will strut his way into her life, i n v a r i a b l y m e s s e v e r y t h i n g u p s o m e h o w, b u t b e forgiven for it because love overcome s. Hetero-normative love overcomes the fact that the love story started with Richard Gear p i c k i n g u p a p r o s t i t u t e i n P r e t t y Wo m a n . I t s u b sequently ends with this lucky lady being rescued from her life of sin and whisked away to a far comfier [sic. wealthier] existence where she can have all the pretty clothes she wants. S te re oty p e s of ide a l wome n a re ‘ch a l le nge d’ with less than perfect female leads like the bumbling Bridget Jones or the sharp and cold M a r g a r e t T a t e i n T h e P r o p o s a l . Ye t n e i t h e r w o m en get to exist in any storyline other than the one which shows how far they deviate from the ideal. Bridget Jones’ story is a back-to-back caricature of why she is so completely unsuitable. T h a n k f u l l y, h o w e v e r , s h e g e t s t h e m a n a n d t h e n it doesn’t matter anymore. People will no longer j u d g e h e r, b e c a u s e s o m e b o d y l o v e s h e r. There is a Hollywood toothpaste tube which has narrowed the values which cinema can propagate. There is no reason why films and TV which are designed to tailor our more vegetative states cannot extol positive gender and race relationships. Even on the days when you want something which has absolutely nothing to do with your degree programme, it should be possible to find something to satisfy a craving for light entertainment which doesn’t stroke a global implicit bias towards gender stereotypes in relationships. Photo: CowPR @ Flickr

FundIt is a farce Jacklin Kwan argues that The University’s Student Union needs to find a better means of funding student societies instead of running away from taking on the responsibility themselves Jacklin Kwan Contributor F u n d I t i s a m e s s . Wo r s e s t i l l , i t i s t h e m a i n means by which student societies in the University get financial support from the Students’ Union. The way it works? Student societies are forced to directly compete for a limited pool of SU funding in some parody of a democratic process. Fo r a s t u d e n t s o c i e t y t o g a i n f i n a n c i a l h e l p from the SU they need to bid at a FundIt event. The competing societies all give a two-minute presentation on their respective proposals, and based on those presentation, each society must vote on who they believe deserves funding. The ones with the most votes get their bids (or a partial part of their bid), and everyone else goes home empty-handed. Even those who are unfamiliar with the FundIt system can probably see why the proc e s s h a s g l a r i n g i s s u e s . F i r s t l y, t h e p e o p l e w h o decide whether or not your society deserves funding is not an independent SU committee, but other societies you are competing against. If this sounds illogical and rife with conflicti n g i nt e re s t s , t h at ’s b e c a u s e it i s . Why do completely unrelated societies have any right to determine what constitutes a ‘go o d ’ b i d , e s p e c i a l ly s i n ce t h e i r d e c i s i o n i s based on a rushed two-minute presentation? This is nowhere near enough time to commu-

nicate what a society does, or why it requires funding, and the purpose and efficacy of its projects. Another disturbing aspect of FundIt is that societies must present the balances in their b a n k a c c o u n t s d u r i n g t h e e v e n t . S u p p o s e d l y, this is meant to give transparency to the financial health of respective societies, but the

‘The University of Manchester is an exception in how it allocates student funding. Most SUs across UK universities such as Sheffield, Durham, and Birmingham all have independent committees which review proposals and conduct measured assessments’ numbers presented are incredibly misleading. Fo r e x a m p l e , l a rge r s o c i e t i e s m ay h o s t h u ge events that require them to have adequate funds in their accounts at certain times of the y e a r. T h e h i g h b a l a n c e i n t h e i r b a n k a c c o u n t doesn’t mean that they do not need money for other projects they are organising. Another situation is that a new committee could inherit debt from previous years. This doesn’t mean

the people in the society currently are financially irresponsible. Therefore, the metric upon which societies vote are themselves distorted. They are based on misleading numbers and an inadequate amount of information. There is a narrow scope of bids which will be successful; f lashy projects that can bedazzle an audience in two minutes. Even after ignoring all these criticisms, anyone would be able to see that there are distorte d s t r a t e g i e s t o b i d d i n g s u c c e s s f u l l y. J u s t f o r m a voting bloc with other societies, and agree t o vo t e fo r e a c h o t h e r ’s b i d s . T h i s l e ave s n ewly formed societies, or societies without nepotistic links, out in the cold. The University of Manchester is an exception in how it allocates student funding. Most SUs across UK universities such as Sheffield, Durham, and Birmingham all have independent committees which review proposals and conduct measured assessments. In contrast, FundIt removes the burden of allocating resources from SU representatives to random students who all apply for financial help. The equivalent would be if all the students who apply for financial aid are forced to rev i ew e a c h o t h e r ’s a p p l i c at i o n s rat h e r t h a n a university administration office. FundIt is no less than the abandonment of student societies that form an integral part of vibrant campus life.

Opinion 11

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Suicide by stupidity? Contemporary colonisation by Christian crusaders

Jay Darcy argues that the recent death of US Missionary John Chau was not a murder but a reasonable act of self-defence by an ancient and protected society

Photo: Venkatesh K@ Wikimedia Commons

Jay Darcy Contributor Earlier this month a US Missionary, John Chau, was reportedly killed by a remote tribe in the Andaman Islands, where he had travelled to in the hope of converting them to Christianity. Chau’s family see him as an evangelical adventurer who risked his life to spread Christianity. In reality, however, he risked the extinction of an ancient society in order to try and ‘civilise’ them. No, Chau was not a modern Jesus, he was a 21st century crusader. The Sentinelese are the indigenous population of the North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal. They have lived there for around 55,000 years and could have a population of anywhere between 40 and 500 individuals. An isolated population, they lack immunity to common viruses, and could be wiped out by something as simple as influenza. Unsurprisingly therefore, it is illegal to make contact with them Chau was so devoted to his cause that he travelled to India and broke the law by entering forbidden territory, to introduce a

2,000 year-old religion to a 55,000 year-old tribe. Religious people often see themselves as above the law, preferring to follow their idea of ‘God’s law’, but in doing so Chau attempted something unforgivable. He could have eradicated the protected Sentinelese with foreign bacteria. Whilst some tribes have made contact with outsiders, most have resisted attempts to strip them of their identity. There have been attempts by Indian politicians to integrate and ‘civilise’ the indigenous tribes of India’s islands, which is ironic given India’s history of British colonisation. The Sentinelese have remained hostile to outsiders and have killed invaders previously. The Sentinelese are therefore more fortunate than the Jarawa, a tribe who were forced into a human safari. Their land was colonised by India, and they became a public attraction, which is far more sinister and insidious. India’s government state that the ‘safari’ should be closed, but it remains open. This means the Jarawa remain at risk — like many tribes, members of the Jarawa perished because of a measles outbreak, the women have faced sexual abuse, and poachers enter their rich forest reserve to take

what the tribe needs to survive. Chau’s mission is a perfect example of contemporary colonisation, an attempt to ‘civilise’ a tribe who have been living happily for 55 millenniums. He took on the so-called ‘white man’s burden’ to save these people from themselves. The Sentinelese may have appeared rather backwards and uncivilised to Chau’s eyes. But regardless, they appear to be happy, and they clearly did not want his foreign intervention. They have survived this long without Christianity and western ideals, provided foreign peoples stay away, and they should survive for many more. Non-profit organisation International Christian Concern wants the tribe charged with murder and even brought up India’s ‘history’ of attacks on Christian missionaries to paint Chau’s death as an act of religious persecution. And although Chau’s family have forgiven his killers, Chau’s death should not be treated as murder — some may see it as self-defence but I see it as suicide by stupidity. Chau wanted to bring Jesus to the Sentinelese. Instead, the Sentinelese sent Chau to Jesus.

Yemen: Our silence means we are all complicit As the conflict in Yemen draws on Deniz Kose highlights our unwitting complicity in the tragedy as the UK continues to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. Deniz Kose Contributor What is happening in Yemen has been described by the United Nations as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis”. The civil war has been going on for more than three years, and

carrying out demonstrations against it. As well as holding demonstrations against the government’s complicity in the war, the organisation is planning a public meeting in Manchester this December. These kind of meetings are essential; we need to keep talking about the situation in Yemen, not only to raise awareness of the

peaceprocess. However, whilst supporting UN peace talks is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. The UK still provides arms and military training for Saudis. It even has financial interests in this war. Combined with the United States, the UK has the power to stop

currently, 22.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid and

heart-breaking humanitarian crisis that is happening, but also to

this conflict. Bruce Riedel, a former CIA and Pentagon official, said in

protection. It is a crisis that is too catastrophic to imagine, and yet

ensure that the complicity of the UK government is recognised.

2016 that if the governments of UK and US told the Saudi King that

we don’t talk about it enough. Talking about it might seem useless in the face of such horrific

In the past, the UK preferred to stay silent on the conflict and refused to call on either the Saudi-led coalition or the Houthis to end

the war in Yemen had to end tonight, it would stop tomorrow, due to the US and British support required by the Saudi Air Force. So, what could we do about this? Despite the UN’s calls for

numbers, but it is everything. Since the civil war in Yemen broke out

the conflict. Defence Secretary until November 2017, Michael Fallon,

in 2015, UK sold almost £3.6bn worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, whose

called on MPs to stop criticizing Saudi Arabia’s violation of human

ceasefire, the fighting continues. The coalition airstrikes continue

sea, land and air blockade of Yemen are causing what UN calls “the

rights in the interest of securing a fighter jet deal in 2017

to hit cities in Yemen. And the UK continues to sell arms to Saudi

largest famine the world has seen for many decades.” There are organisations such as “Stop the War Coalition” that are drawing attention to UK and US involvement in Yemeni war and

Now though, with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October

Arabia; making itself complicit in causing the worst humanitarian

drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the UK

crisis in the world. The only solution right now seems to be civilian

has decided that it was finally time to at least support the UN-led

resistance.

12 Societies

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

In conversation with: the Comedy Society

Chloe Hatton spoke to Annabelle Devey and Jordan Vincent about what Comedy Society get up to in their meetings, society collaborations and why you should join the society Chloe Hatton Societies Editor Do you love a bit of stand up? Perhaps sketches are more your thing? Do you just really love watching some good comedy? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, we’ve got the perfect society for you — the Comedy Society. They’re a group of like-minded individuals who all absolutely love comedy, whether this is performing or watching it. I had a chat with Jordan, the President, and Annabelle, the Head of Sketch, to find out what you can expect. First off, they tell me, is that the Comedy Society is very inclusive. It doesn’t matter how much experience you’ve got, just as long as you’re passionate about learning and growing and, of course, passionate about comedy. “We try and make sure people can have their say when it comes to their performances,” says Jordan. “We want to make sure people are comfortable enough to say ‘I have an idea’ and then be able to follow it through. We’re here to give help and guidance, but we really want people to be able to better themselves and their performances.” Annabelle adds: “we try to be a fair committee. Jordan, as the head, is brilliant — I’ve never met anyone who’s more passionate or works harder, especially at making time for people and making sure everyone’s happy. “All we ask is that members are willing to put the work in, and we want everyone to have an awareness of who they’re performing with and for. Other than that, we welcome anyone!” The Comedy Society meet every Tuesday and Thursday in the basement of the Student’s Union, from 6pm until 8pm on Tuesdays

and 7pm until 9pm on Thursdays. So, what can you expect from their sessions? The first half is normally filled with a workshop, whether this is on physical theatre or other, more technical, aspects of comedy. The second half is then focused on generating ideas and sketches. Although there is a theme, there is always the opportunity to deviate from this and do your own thing. If by the end of this article, you fancy giving the society a go, you can join the society for free through the Students’ Union website, as well as a Facebook group for you to join. Throughout the year, the Comedy Society run a whole host of events. One such event was the recent Fuse FM x ComSoc: A CALM Time, which was a night of comedy all in the aid of CALM, a charity that raises money to help prevent male suicide. “It was a roaring success — that performance was absolutely the best we’d done it. There’s nothing better than seeing when something works; we had such a good turnout and it was great to see the audience laughing. We got to support a local business, raise money, and give the audience a good time! All our work definitely paid off.” They’re also looking to make their shows bigger, particularly their Showcases. These are semi-annual shows that aim to show the very best of what the society has been working on, with their next one coming up on the 4th and 5th of December. Expect the very best of the society’s sketch, stand up, improv, and radio — you’re in for an absolute treat. You can buy tickets through the Students’ Union website. In May, they’ll be doing another showcase, but pushing the boat out even further, hoping to make it their biggest and best show yet. If you’re thinking of heading to the Fringe Festival over summer, you’ll also be able to see a condensed version of the showcase there, alongside solo and group shows with Annabelle and Jordan.

Meet Young Identity Ellie Martin Contributor Young Identity (YI) is an organisation dedicated to giving space to eager young writers from all around Manchester. I was able to chat to Kayleigh Jayshree Hicks to find out exactly what the group are about, and how to get involved. Firstly, visiting their website, they have one of the coolest promo videos for a society I’ve ever seen, which you should definitely check out if you like well-shot compilation videos. The group is made up of a diverse cast of people from all across the city and, as the ages range from 13-25, you get more of a variety of perspectives than at a regular university society. The organisation deliver spoken word and poetry workshops in well know venues HOME and Contact Theatre, as well as in more further out locations across the Greater Manchester area. Kayleigh was able to tell me what one might expect from one of these workshops. They usually start with a freewrite, which is a warm up

Photo: Young Identity

The goal of all of this, they say, is to try and stay true to Manchester’s reputation as a hub of comedy, and make comedy once again about really bringing people together. They’re also looking to do a monthly ‘Battle of the Societies’ as part of their goal to do more collaborations with other societies, bringing the comedy in things like drama and a capella. Talking to them, you can tell that Annabelle and Jordan are both hugely passionate about the work that the society does. Now both in their final year of university, they want to leave something for the next committee to build on. “We want to train people to be good comedians, to help them find their character and their stage presence. It’s so much more than just saying funny lines. We really want to leave behind a legacy. When people hear about the Comedy Society, we want them to expect great things.”

Photo: University of Manchester Comedy Society

Ellie Martin talks to Young Identity and the work they do for the creative spirit in Manchester

writing session where you do not lift your pen from the page and write whatever comes to your mind. Then, they usually have an introductory discussion of a theme chosen for that particular workshop (an example Kayleigh gave me was Damani Dennisur’s happiness workshop) and the group debates their ideas about this subject. They then go into the main task of the evening which is around half an hour’s worth of writing, and finish by sharing some of their work with each other. To my surprise, she said that new timers always share! With Young Identity being placed so centrally in a city like Manchester, they have had many opportunities to work with some big names in the industry, including Lemn Sissay, international spoken word icon Saul Williams, dub poetry legend Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ted Hughes Prize Winner Kate Tempest, and the late Amiri Baraka. Working with these industry giants allows the group to have a real taste of what it takes to create work that can inspire consumers, but also a real sense of possibility. Having the opportunity to meet and work with people who have successful, published art is truly inspiring and gives young people the confidence and the belief in themselves to put pen to paper. The blank page can be one of the most terrifying things, as anyone who has ever sat down to write poetry will know, but to have inspiring people encouraging young writers is invaluable to their confidence and their work. They have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, including being featured in the Manchester International Festival as part on FlexN, which is a dance style joining local dancers and the poetry collective to explore different ways of storytelling. YI have performed all over the UK, from BoxedIn in London to Hay Festival in Herefordshire as well as internationally at Frankfurt Youth Poetry Slam in Germany to America’s

Nuyorican Poetry Café. As Young Identity gives their contributors so much opportunity to perform their work, I asked Kayleigh about her experience on stage. She replied that it’s different for everyone. “I suffer from stage fright and anxiety so every time I go on stage I am s*itting bricks. However, hearing people connect with your work, making new friends and having fun without social pressure of drink or drugs makes it worth it.” Kayleigh also runs an open mic which has branched out from the Creative Writing Society, called ‘TOO SHY? OPEN MIC!’, which is based in Northern Quarter coffee shop, Chapter One. The December event is full up with early birds but head on down to show your support if you can, and they may have a few spaces on the night for brave newcomers. Excitingly, they have announced the publication of their latest anthology, ‘No Disclaimers’, set for release on the 6th of December Kayleigh remarked that compiling the anthology was stressful at first, with everyone working on it together whilst working and studying. They really had to pull their socks up and communicate effectively, edit with care, and be supportive. She says her favourite memory of creating the anthology was sitting down with her good friend Joel, editing, which involved eating some home made bread, with his animals sat nearby. The anthology includes short stories, poetry about taps, advice on life, metapoetry, and the most emotionally charged, technically skilled writing Manchester’s underground scene has to offer. If you want to get involved with Young Identity, they have a workshop on Monday 3rd December from 7pm – 9pm at HOME theatre, and another on Tuesday 4th at Powerhouse Library from 7pm – 9pm. Make sure you pick up a copy of their new anthology ‘No Disclaimers’ on the 6th of December.

University Women’s Rugby supporing Stonewall UK Amber Barnes-Yates finds out why UoM Women’s Rugby Club are wearing rainbow-coloured laces, and how you can get some too Amber Barnes-Yates Contributor Earlier this month, former Welsh international Rugby Union player Gareth Thomas was the victim of a homophobic attack in Cardiff. Since then, many international teams including the All Blacks, USA, and France have played wearing the Rainbow laces to show their support. In light of this, the University of Manchester Women’s Rugby Union Club has been showing their support for the charity StonewallUK, a charity that campaigns for the equality of LGBT people across Britain. The rainbow laces work focuses specifically on inequality within sport, including exclusivity, insensitive language or chants, and abuse within the sport. The club said: “our club has a high proportion of LGBT members and we believe its very important that everyone feels included, valued and respected as a player, that is why we have chosen to support this charity and its great work!” The 28th November 2018 was Rainbow Laces Day, during which sports teams of all different levels posted on social media to show their support for the rainbow laces cause. Rainbow laces can be brought from the Stonewall website for

£2.99, not including postage. Research from Stonewall recently found that one-in-five 18 to 24-year-olds say they’d be embarrassed if their favourite player came out, and young people are twice as likely to say

Photo: UMWRFC

anti-LGBT language is harmless if it’s just meant as ‘banter’. Therefore it is extremely important that University sports team specifically take the issues faced by their LGBT members seriously. The Club Captain, Sannah Ifzal, had this to say: “it’s so important to support charities regarding the LGBT community, which is something that means a lot to me, and to a lot to the team. Stonewall is truly a great charity, and we are so proud that we can support in any way that we can, especially a team which has a high proportion of LGBT members. “We, as a club, are also looking forward to working with the charity Lifeshare which help meet the needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Manchester and Salford. “We will be gathering together boxes of items to donate to the charity specifically aimed at women, for example sanitary products and toiletries. This cause is particularly important over the winter period as the temperature drops and more people are at risk. If you would like to help us in supporting the charity by donating any items, or making a donation to help us fill the boxes, please contact us as umwrufc@googlemail.com”.

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THE

Live Reviews.

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Music

Photo: Jake Oliver @ The Mancunion

The Japanese House return from a year’s absence with more confidence and mastery than ever before to deliver an enchanting performance at Gorilla

Slaves

The Japanese House

Amber Bain’s (otherwise known as The Japanese House) presence on the music scene has been sorely missed. After a year of silence, Bain’s return to the airwaves – and the stage – is welcomed with both open arms and eager ears. Finishing off a nationwide tour ahead of her debut album Good at Falling (set for release early next year), the Gorilla performance shows the artist at her most powerful yet. It’s a night of intimacy, melancholy and poise but also that of confidence and a self-assuredness that solidifies The Japanese House as one of the moment’s most important acts. There is most definitely an enigmatic atmosphere to The Japanese House, and this hangs inside the venue as audiences sway in anticipation. Support from Art School Girlfriend (Polly Mackey) with her dark, electronic synths helps create a hypnotic, trance-like ambience. It was a truly wonderful choice of support. Bathed in a sea of soft pinks and lilacs, Bain, alongside her new live band, emerge on to the stage. There’s immediately a more confident aura surrounding the front-woman, who moves around with a fresh sense of versatility and swagger – qualities that older performances lacked. Usually more subdued, here it is apparent that Bain has really come in to her own and it’s a pleasure to watch. The addition of her new live band enable the whole ensemble to give off a more energetic and interactive show, injecting sharpness and passion in to each track they play. The set is a career-spanning journey, plucking the best tracks out of an already stellar bunch from The Japanese House’s discography, aptly discarding those that simply wouldn’t hold up in this new whirlwind stage persona that Bain has adopted. It’s a wise move: the streamlined set provides more opportunities to actually move around and engage.

‘Face like Thunder’ opens the show up, a bright 80s-esque synth-pop banger taken from her 2016 EP. Starting the night off with a more uptempo song sees Bain now at ease, waving her hair about like a true rockstar. Old favourites like ‘Cool Blue’ and ‘Still’ are polished and perfected for live performances, sounding grungier than their recordings. ‘Saw You in a Dream’ gets the acoustic treatment for the first chorus before the drums blast the track back in to its full glory. ‘Swim Against the Tide’ sounds crisper, with the intricate guitar plucking sounding sharper and more defined. “Do you guys want to hear a new song?” Bain asks halfway through the night, a wry grin etched on to her face. The audience cheer back, as the band launch in to ‘You Seemed So Happy’, a track with a heavier weight to it than anything The Japanese House have previously produced. Later, another new song ‘Maybe You’re The Reason’ further showcases the musical growth and experimentation that has been going on behind the scenes. Both songs are infectiously catchy, and demonstrated a departure from the fuzzy ambient percussion to more a nuanced pop-rock sound. The night was brought to a triumphant finale with the tender anthem ‘Clean’, in one of the sharpest live renditions of the track that I have ever witnessed. The whole night stood as a true testament to incredible level of artistic and personal growth that Bain has undergone in the last three or so years. Seemingly embracing herself with confidence, but still retaining the soft, intimate qualities that fans adore her for puts Amber Bain in good stead for the next step in her career. The Japanese House can only go from strength to strength.

The Japanese House Jake Oliver

9/10

Contributor Owen Trimming reviews the highly anticipated Slaves who put on a meteoric performance at Manchester’s Academy After the release of Slaves’ third studio album Acts Of Fear And Love, hunger for their upcoming tour has been rife. This anticipation that has proven more than well deserved. Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent continue to keep punk alive for a new generation with consistently electrifying performances and Manchester was no exception. With new material to offer fans, the setlist continues to grow in scope and diversity. Isaac’s latest lyrics explore issues from commercialisation to social media presence. Yet even with complex themes, the new tracks suit Slaves’ style well with chorus lines that a whole audience can chant. The duo opened with a cover of Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’ which fans have grown to love and is now essential to any performance. Punk and grime compliment each other well, sharing common ground in political edge and aggression – although perhaps it would have more appropriate to start with one of their own tracks. Next came ‘Sockets’ with intense pacing on drums matched with thrashing guitar. From then on the tone was set for the whole night with mosh pits breaking out at every opportunity. What remains impressive about Slaves is that with just two members they achieve a level of energy that many larger bands can’t even dream of. This was summed up perfectly with their performance of the fast-paced 45-second track

‘F*ck The Hi-Hat’. Isaac riled up the crowd with everyone repeatedly screaming the song title before its delivery. The whole affair was a middle ﬁnger to everyone who turned down joining their band in the early days. I don’t think there is anyway you can characterise this duo better. Slaves make the crowd feel essential to the

Photo: Hannah Brierley @ Mancunion

whole experience with a jovial atmosphere. Members of the audience were even encouraged to hug a neighboring stranger echoing this contemporary thriving punk ideology of love must be made known. During ‘Cut and Run’ they took two volunteers up on stage to perform the dance featured in the music video. Whilst one of the

volunteers aced the dance, the other was unfortunately kicked off stage for lying about his credentials. Highlights included ‘Photo Opportunity’ which was a welcome change of a pace in the setlist. During the acoustic rendition, fans were encouraged to put away their phones to fully appreciate the moment. It was disappointing to see some still recording; clearly, the point of lyrics such as “What are you trying to do to me? This isn’t a photo opportunity” was missed. The thematically similar ‘The Lives They Wish They Had’ features some of Isaac’s best lyricism to date, highlighting issues with how people present themselves on social media. The climactic finish to the track was one of the most impactful moments of the set. The night would not have been complete without the final track ‘The Hunter’. This fan favourite remains the best live offering from Slaves and was a fitting end to an outstanding performance. It was disappointing that an encore was noticeably absent despite an audience calling for more, but there is little else to criticise from a band who have undoubtedly mastered their stage presence.

Slaves Owen Trimming

9/10

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Music

In Conversation with: Matt Maltese Peter Varley catches up with the rising talent Matt Maltese talking about his ‘Bad Contestant’ album and subsequent tour before his gig at Band on the Wall Matt Maltese Peter Varley

9/10

Matt Maltese is quickly asserting his name as one of the most exciting songwriters in the UK. The rising 21-yearold released his debut album Bad Contestant in June, which he is currently touring. It’s a compelling, yet quirky mix of both upbeat and melancholic love songs. Yet he’s seemingly untouched with the growing fame, as was evident in his personable and friendly interview style. With his debut album being met with high praise, many are claiming the singer’s breakthrough is imminent. When asked about the album Matt described it as being completely personal; an emotional investment through which he was able to explore issues he felt personally moved by. Paradoxically he believes the album is compiled of two sides of himself; the one in which he sings with his heart on the sleeve and the other which mocks this more emotional version of himself. This, arguably cynical, stance is part of the character of his music, in which he frequently looks back on his own experiences, often with humour, which is no easy feat. The subversive nature of his songs draws many in; what at first sounds like jaunty piano melodies soon changes with the addition of complex lyrics, often addressing uncomfortable issues. He states that this is the exact message he wanted to portray in his album cover, in which an elderly couple are sat at a dinner table. “I wanted to give the impression that it’s a really beautiful photo” but when you look a bit closer, it’s not quite what it seems. This feeling of things not being quite right is something which is echoed throughout Matt’s music, largely

due to his view that we are living in “the age of unhappiness”, yet believes this should be something to talk and laugh about. Through his music he wants to forget the turbulent political landscape, we find ourselves in and focus on the impacts it has on one’s own mental health, rather than simply being another person “telling everyone Brexit is bad”. It’s clear Matt feels at home touring, describing it as a time “when everything feels real”. Walking out onto a stage back-lit with a giant movie-style heart, Matt kicked off the show with a delicate rendition of ‘Sweet 16’. The setlist seemed to flow seamlessly with his faster-paced classics scattered throughout. The northern quarter’s Band on the Wall was packed to its 300 person capacity to which Matt jokingly commented “it’s nice to play shows when people actually turn up”, reflecting on his previous, smaller Manchester gigs. During ‘Less and Less’ and ‘Even If It’s a Lie’ the band took a step out of the lights leaving Matt alone with his piano, captivating the audience with every note. When asked about his consistent use of the piano, Matt reflected on his childhood musical influences and never being tempted to stray into the more common realms of guitar-led bands. His gravitational voice created an intimate performance allowing each individual within the audience to be touched by his words. During ‘Greatest Comedian’ the crowd were treated to a glimpse of Matt as a frontman, he strutted along the stage with his Morissey-esque dance moves. Matt admitted to loving “making peo-

ple laugh” and sees laughing at yourself as a defence mechanism. The gig was filled with little comedic gems and at one point he exclaimed “my album reached 3 million sales this week” prompting a loud cheer which just turned out to be “a bad joke” as he put it. The crowd’s reaction, however, clearly demonstrated that such popularity would be completely plausible, especially in the near future. By combining comedy with music, Matt Maltese is able to write about “really deep things in a superficial way”. His “impending sense of doom” culminated in the writing of ‘As the World Caves In’, the final song of the gig which features a satirical love affair between Theresa May and Donald Trump whilst initiating nuclear warfare. Using a sensationalist scenario allowed Matt to be “really sincere with the love song”, providing a space in which he didn’t feel ridiculous writing it, ultimately “its a song about love in the world.” The way in which Matt is able to write seemingly poetic and personal songs which simultaneously reflect his bleak view of the current political climate make him a poignant young voice and thus some one to watch out for in the coming years.

Photo: Peter Varley @The Mancunion

Record Reappraisal: The Beatles (The White Album) Ashwin Tharoor considers the unique style and creation of The Beatles’ innovative White Album fifty years from its original release Nearly 50 years ago today, The Beatles released their ninth studio album simply entitled The Beatles but known commonly as The White Album for its ultra-minimalist blank white cover. It was a stark contrast to the psychedelic array of characters covering its predecessor – the genre-changing Sgt. Pepper. The White Album is commonly known as the beginning of an increasingly fractured Beatles. Lennon and McCartney collaborated on fewer and fewer songs, and Yoko Ono’s presence in the studio caused problems for the whole band. Despite this tension, The Beatles managed to produce an incredible album. Their first double LP, thirty tracks altogether, and each song is a unique creation. The opening track, ‘Back in the USSR’ grabbed prevailing pop clichés of the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry and lyrically flipped them into a pro-Soviet anthem. This kind of creativity was only an inkling of what succeeds it on the album. Each track provides a totally different style that flows in no way smoothly to the next song, but still maintains a satisfying juxtaposition of sounds. The Beatles in 1968 were solidified as

popular music legends and creative geniuses, and this album shows a lot of changing lyrical content. The fanciful and surreal concepts of Sgt. Pepper were much less prevalent, with many tracks reflecting on personal experiences and beliefs. Much of the album was written in, or inspired by, their time in meditative retreat in Rishikesh, India. Lyrics aside, the instrumentation is as ambitious if not more than its predecessor. The densely layered ‘Glass Onion’ with a beautiful string section, the ethereal ‘Happiness is Warm Gun’ and its constantly shifting time signatures, or the overpowering, proto-hard rock style of ‘Helter Skelter’ (later proclaimed by Charles Manson to be prophetic of an impending race war). 1968 was a turbulent year in world politics; assassinations of US political figures, the USSR’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, and massive anti-Vietnam war protests, to name a few. The Beatles disliked people reading heavily into lyrics as well as getting involved in politics themselves, however, some tracks do reflect the zeitgeist. Notably ‘Revolution 1’ and ‘Revolution 9’. The former has Lennon sympathe

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

tic to protesters’ cause but still wary of revolution, “you tell me it’s the institution/well you be tter free your mind instead”. The latter is not a song in itself, but an experimental sound collage. Lennon’s ambition was “painting in sound a picture of revolution”. It’s deeply unsettling with chaotic sounds of destruction and disembodied cries, but remarkably effective at doing what Lennon intended. Often called by critics as three solo albums (sorry Ringo) mixed into one, it certainly comes across as such. However, I think The White Album was still a bold step in The Beatles’ creative direction. Even the idea of a double album was a novelty at the time, but they took the concept and ran with it. They still genuinely needed each other’s talents to produce the album but were far less bound to a cohesive idea of a ‘The Beatles’ in their songs. In doing so new ideas shined through like never before, and a truly seminal album was made.

The White Album Ashwin Tharoor

9/10

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Music

In Conversation with HMLTD

Olivia White probes the intriguing minds and peculiar narratives behind one of the music industry’s most exhilarating live performers, HMLTD Happy Meal Ltd, Hate Music Last Time Delete, HuMiLiaTeD...HMLTD. Vivacious glam, punk, pop, rock, sextet HMLTD embarked on their voyage with new punk favourites and Rough Trade’s #1 Album of the Year winner’s, Shame. Both hailing from London, HMLTD have certainly secured their feverish reputation as one of the industry’s most thrilling live bands of the decade. Thriving off theatrics with an intent to shock their audience, this London sextet delivers performances that utterly blur the boundaries between reality, dystopian parallel universes, and darker literature. Each of the 6 avant-garde, unearthly members are bespangled and garnished with garish costumes, printed scalps and defiant makeup forming one of the most fascinating current bands. In their outlandish realm, “nothing is ever too far.” Having just released their new “punk-trap” single ‘Flex’, the twisted disco reveal that “the response so far has been great” but as they anticipated, some people were certainly “a bit confused — they love them (us) mixing genres but as soon as they (we) touch popular stuff, they (we) get ‘Oh this is horrible’ as a response.” But HMLTD stand firm in their creative decisions as they profess that they “love pop,” and that it is “very liberating to be able to write anything.” They see no value in restricting their artistic endeavours, in any capacity. The backbone of ‘Flex’ was founded when guitarist James began “messing around with a new Japanese folk scale.” Even though the polished version we can now all listen to isn’t exactly reminiscent of the Japanese scale, Nico, the band’s bassist highlights the magic that coincides with an idea that can “blossom into something completely different to how it starts out” but that’s not without “arguments and fights” in the studio he laughs. HMLTD have worked with a variety of unique professionals in the music and fashion industry who have facilitated exactly how the sextet wish to be presented. By working with Brockenhurst & Sons, the band have been able to experiment with themed performance spaces such as infancy. The band’s London show in Hackney (23rdNov) will take on the role of Frankenstein’s Laboratory. The show is advertised with free masks available at the door upon entry. Alongside this, they are also currently working with “a young, Turkish designer called Dilara Findikoglu” who showcases “amazing vampiric outfits” and has designed them each a set attire appropriate for their fantastical ventures. As the nightmarishly eccentric and indefinable outfit reached their 5thev-

HMLTD

ening of the tour, they finally greeted the city they’d been “most looking forward to” at Manchester’s O2 Ritz. After their last performance in the vicinity being an astounding grungy, sold-out Valentine’s Day revolt at Salford’s ramshackle White Hotel, the band expressed clear enthusiasm for being back in the northern musical hotspot. They enthused that Manchester harbours a similar music scene to London “with a wide group of people interested in all types of music but the environment is so much more conducive.” It is clear that the tainted HMLTD possess a strong sense of pride and gratification over their work and what they stand for as a band. This can be seen in their attitude of having “never really felt like a support band — sometimes supports can get a frosty reception but they (we) don’t.” And rightfully so, all it takes is a quick scan of the room and you’d find yourself encircled with their peculiar merch designs worn by fans donned in the same outrageous fashion statements and outrageous hairstyles. This confidence is accentuated with a slight outline of light-hearted frustration. The band that so intrinsically work towards making their performance space as authentic and dystopian as possible have had a “giant fucking Shame banner” to compete with on this tour stretch. With the band’s clear advocacy of individuality, inclusivity, and freedom of expression, I left them with one final question being, what advice they would offer to the upcoming generation to which James stated “Don’t let anyone fucking bully you at school and don’t feel like you have to dress like anyone else. It’s really hard when you’re young but you should let yourself come out a little bit and people will start respecting that.” The potent HMLTD entered the elevated O2 Ritz stage with the sound of rapturous applause and equally spine-tingling shrieks. Flamboyant frontman Henry commanded the stage with his chiselled stature, yielding the gaze of every set of eyes that fell on his band of fairy-tale outcasts. Despite a few technical issues, HMLTD yet again put on a performance that left their audience gasping for air, stimulated nervous laughter, but most importantly has undoubtedly left an imprint in the minds of their observers for weeks to come as they return back to their lair for the new year.

9/10 Olivia White HMLTD

Photo: George Hutswick and Kiran Crampton

crush

Manchester four-piece Crush grace the pages of our ‘Hot Right Now’ feature this week, with their euphoric summer anthems and sultry vocals, writes Lily Martin

They have already racked up over 75,000 listens on their debut single ‘How Come’ on Spotify, Crush seemingly having emerged from the depths of the Northern music scene. Amber Warren’s distinctive dreamy vocal arrangements, partnered with Arthur and Will’s natural talent on the lead guitar and bass, and Fotis on the drums, carefully glide each track to it’s close in what feels like a carefully choreographed dance. This is a testament to the excellent songwriting which leaves the audience marveling at the grace and perfection of their musicianship. Having supported firm favourites Young Monarch at the legendary Night and Day Cafe in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Seprona at Night People, and played Indie Week at the end of September, Crush seem to be plunging head first into gigging; they are becoming a regular feature of the music scene in the city. Defined by their hypnotic and seductive riffs, the four-piece are an irresistible combination of sensuous music and heartfelt vocals, that seem to expose their souls while songwriting. Crush are a breath of fresh air, without a doubt. Self-described as dreamy alternative-indie, Crush are for fans of Alvvays, Marika Hackman, Bombay Bicycle Club, Polo, and Fickle Friends. Their new single ‘Rinse’ is set to be released in the New Year. In the meantime, check out their social media pages for their latest shows, and give them a listen on Spotify.

Hot Right Now

Listen to our Spotify Playlist Scan the code and follow ‘The Mancunion’ for more!

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Games

Review: Dead Cells 9/10

We take a retrospective look at Dead Cells after the game won Indie Game of the Year at the Golden Joysticks

Photo: Motion Twin.

Dead Cells has been out for a while now, but with it winning Best Indie Game at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards, and given that its physical release was aided by Manchester based developers Merge Games, The Mancunion takes a retrospective look at the increasingly popular title, which also hit the headlines for being the subject of a now infamous plagiarised review by Filip Miucin, formerly of IGN. And Dead Cells did not let us down. The story is very minimalistic, primarily about the player character seeking to escape a prison island, but short sections of lore are drip-fed to the player throughout. It isn’t the most exciting story, and certainly doesn’t match the level of discreet lore delivered in the Dark Souls franchise, but it’s enjoyable enough and adds some context to the world. The real highlight of Dead Cells is the electric gameplay and its intricacies. The combat is fast-paced, and every attack feels solid, particularly with the slower, heavier hitting weapons. As some kind of ninja, your character is quick on his feet and entire sequences of enemies can be avoided if you wish, though the combat is so fun I tried to get into as many fights as I could. The controls are smooth and responsive on both controller

and keyboard, allowing for real precision in ducking and dodging in combat as well as performing acrobatics across the many stages. Perhaps the best aspect of Dead Cells is the variety of weapons, accessories and gadgets. There are all kinds of weapons ranging from (dual) daggers, spears, whips, many kinds of swords, war hammers and even spiked boots, as well as ranged weapons such as bows. They each have different move sets, fighting styles and special abilities, and these abilities are part of what makes this rogue-like adventure so addictive. Similarly, there are a large range of gadgets, traps, amulets and powers you can acquire. While you can buy certain gear to make them more common in the world, you usually obtain weapons from random locations in the world, and each time they have different abilities. For instance, in the first level you could find some dual daggers that deal massive critical hits if you get backstabs, but next time round it could be a claymore that causes health regen when you kill enemies. It keeps the game feeling fresh and new on every attempt, and no two runs are the same. This can result in some incredibly powerful combos. My most powerful resulted from finding dual daggers that dealt 500%

damage if I was invisible; a potent tool if combined with an amulet granting me temporary invisibility. My use of the word ‘attempt’ leads me onto a major feature of Dead Cells. Every time you die, whether you’re 5 minutes or 2 hours into the game, you start over. From the beginning. This has led to countless Dark Souls comparisons, except it’s even more devastating when you die… At least Dark Souls has checkpoints. This sounds tough, and it is, but the persistent levelling system helps to offset this. As you play, you accumulate ‘cells’, a currency used to buy some permanent abilities and buffs that’ll make subsequent runs easier, or blueprints for items allowing access to upgraded gear. Overall, I really enjoyed this permadeath mechanic despite the frustration it caused me at times. In every attempt, the world slightly changes its overall layout, the location of items and even enemies so each attempt felt slightly easier than the last, yet still different due to the constantly changing levels. I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Cells. Gruellingly tough at times yet immensely satisfying, with great combat, controls and roguelike-elements that keep each playthrough fresh. It’s no wonder it won Best Indie Game at the Golden Joystick Awards.

King of the North Qualifiers Ethan Davies writes on the start of the King Of the North tournament

Photos: OpenClipart-Vectors, Gastel Etzwane @ wikimedia commons, dronepicr @ Flickr

The King of the North university esports tournament qualifiers kicked off with League of Legends on Saturday 27th October, as ten teams battled it out for one of the two slots available for the King of the North VI Showdown LAN Finals at MediaCityUK. The bracket started off quickly as both University of Manchester teams quickly went through into the semi-finals match where they faced each other. Team 1 prevailed, but unfortunately, were triumphed by Nottingham University Team, who cleanly claimed their place at LAN. The Sunday saw Overwatch kick off this

time with teams battling it out for two slots from this qualifier. Eight teams fought but University of York and Swansea University clinically cut down their opponents to both make it to MediaCityUK. A week passed and on November 3rd League of Legends resumed this time fourteen teams came hungry looking for a chance to win the £500 prize pool the LAN finals boasts. A huge upset saw one of the top University teams lose out as University of Salford stole a win against University of Warwick and then another against Newcastle University. Eventually the steam

ran out as they lost to Swansea University who takes the 2nd spot in the finals. Another ten teams then went all out for the two remaining slots for Overwatch. This time seeing one of the top teams enter, University of Staffordshire swiftly breezed past their opposition securing themselves a spot at MediaCityUK. Glasgow Caledonian University also secured themselves a spot at the event, edging out University of Staffordshire 3-1 to secure the top seed and a chance to win £600 at MediaCityUK on the 1st-2nd December. Tickets are now available for only £3.

Photo: mstodt @pixabay

Alfie Clark Contributor

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Film

The Ballad Reviews. of Buster Scruggs

4/5

Where to watch: Netflix

Wacky, dark, and profound, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a welcome addition to the canon of the legendary Cohen Brothers A Netflix original film written and directed by the The legendary Coen Brothers, Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a Western anthology that tells six unrelated stories, with different characters, themes, and even vastly different tones. We begin with an absurdist tale of a cheerful, singing, yet deadly cowboy, the titular Buster Scruggs played charismatically by Tim Blake Nelson, and end on an eerie, possibly supernatural story focused on five mysterious characters travelling together in a stagecoach at night. These tonal shifts are not jarring, however, and I felt that the stories were perfectly ordered, with the particularly bleak third story, Meal Ticket, being followed by the visually gorgeous All Gold Canyon to wash out some of the sorrow I felt. The trademark black humour of the Coen Brothers is at its best here, particularly in the opening story which mixed joyful music with over-the-top violence to highly entertaining effect. This is helped by strong performances by the lead cast, including James Franco, the lead of the second story, who after escaping a hanging only to end up in the noose once again, asks the crying fellow prisoner next to him “First time?” The cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel is stunning, truly immersing you into the various landscapes of the wild west. This film features various big-name stars, however, there are certainly some stand-out performances. Zoe Kazan gives a heartbreaking performance as a woman desperately looking for a new life away from her overbearing

family. Harry Melling, best known for playing Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter series, is highly effective in the role of a limbless artist who recites Shelley, Shakespeare, and Lincoln to largely enthusiastic audiences, as is Liam Neeson as his drunken, self-centred impresario. The performance that people will likely remember the most, however, is Tim Blake Nelson in the titular role. As much as I liked the inclusion of six different narratives, I would happily watch an entire film about this highly original character and his gunslinging adventures. One problem I had with this film that holds it back from being among the best of the Coen Brothers filmography is its lack of variety in main characters. The vast majority of characters were white male cowboys, which is a shame considering the Coen Brothers have created some of the most iconic female characters in film history, most notably Marge Gunderson in Fargo, which earned Frances McDormand her first Oscar win. Additionally, I would have liked to have seen a story that focused more on the Native Americans in the film, as they were simply presented as violent savages as one would expect in an old-school Western, which feels like a waste for two writer/ directors who are fantastic at subverting classic tropes. Despite wishing it had done a bit more with its material, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is still a highly entertaining and expertly crafted work that stands out as one of the best Netflix original films out there.

Bold, brave, and bloody. Outlaw King has broken out on Netflix as an epic that does not hold back on the gore and guts of 1300s Scotland and the tyranny of medieval English forces. Directed by Scotsman David Mackenzie, Outlaw King follows the story of Robert the Bruce — one of two heirs to the Scottish thrown — who surrenders to King Edward I of England, in 1304, as part of a promise that his lands will be returned to him if he shows homage to the English crown. Bruce is arranged to marry the noble Elizabeth de Burgh, stating the union between the neighbouring countries. After two years of suffering the oppression of heavy taxes on his lands, Bruce finally begins to realise the unpopularity of the English amongst the Scots and decides to start a revolt, to regain his rightful place on the Scottish throne. Leading on from the historical epic Braveheart, Mackenzie does not refrain from revealing the brutal journey of the lesser known Robert the Bruce. On multiple occasions, we see extreme and even barbaric violence, such as a baby being thrown against a castle wall and a young man being hung and drawn. Sometimes, I felt this violence was possibly unnecessary and therefore found myself gritting my teeth at the horrific bloodshed. The battle scenes and guerrilla warfare are depicted by Mackenzie in an impressive Game of Thrones style, but sometimes I feared that the violence drew away from the historical accuracy of the film. For example, Elizabeth De Burgh was never known to have been hung from the side of a castle in a cage, making that scene in particular seem almost comical. The actors portraying the op-

pressed Scots, however, are not to be laughed at. Instead, Chris Pine (Robert the Bruce) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (James Douglas) need to be commended for the utter ferocity and passion they display throughout the ﬁlm. I am sure I am not alone in feeling a sense of loyalty to Scotland, instead of my own country England, due to the complete and ruthless courage projected through these two characters in particular. After seeing both Pine and Taylor-Johnson in many comical and maverick roles, it was a refreshing experience to see them savagely scream out in battle scenes, whilst plastered in blood, and still remain convincingly tied up in the desires of the two characters. Not to mention, Pine’s Scottish accent was extremely well- portrayed for someone who originates from the Gold Coast. The acting from Stephen Dillane (King Edward I) and Billy Howle (Edward, Prince of Wales) was less convincing. Mackenzie seemed to have insisted on making Howle portray the Prince of Wales as ultimately crazed and sadistic, which is completely historically inaccurate. Yes, the young Prince was often in the shadow of his father, along with many questions pointing at his sexuality, but in this portrayal, it almost seemed at times completely laughable. King Edward I is widely known as ‘The Hammer of The Scots’, yet Howle’s over-exagerrated, barbaric portrayal of the Prince made him seem nothing more than a mere child’s toy hammer. Mackenzie has created an exhilarating epic, full of impressive cinematography, that will satisfy lovers of battle scenes and the incredibly beautiful Scottish landscape alike.

Outlaw King Bold, brave and bloody. Outlaw King has broken out on Netflix as an epic that doesn’t hold back on the gore and guts of 1300s Scotland.

Photo: Shilmar @Pixabay

Where to watch:

Netflix

Sarah Findley Contributor

3/5

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Film

Hell Fest

Where to watch: Manchester Printworks (Vue)

This new indie slashfest, Hell Fest, proves entertaining and creative, but is held back by tedious leads, dull set pieces and predictable deaths Slasher movies get a bad rap. Even more so than other entertainment schlock genres like cheesy action movies and romances, the slasher genre seems to be particularly sneered at. The formula is simple. Take a group of young people, put them in a scary setting with a loose killer, whittle them down and, above all else, make the ending vague enough to leave that sequel door open. Even though many slasher films follow this, there are a strong few that try to stand out. What’s perhaps more interesting is one which attempts to climb that extra mile, but stops at the halfway point and hangs back like an eight-year-old bragging about reaching the first branch of the tallest tree. This is where Hell Fest comes in. The idea behind Hell Fest is genius. It follows a group of students at a horror theme park, with creepy rides, gory live shows, and costumed actors jumping at guests. Among them, however, is a costumed killer who uses the setting to make his murders seem like part of the ride. It’s a premise that speaks to our nightlife fears more than a lot of horror films even attempt to. It creates some moments of genuine suspense when a figure in the killer’s costume pops up midway through an attraction, and we don’t know whether it’s him or another actor.

In addition, never seeing the killer’s face or motive was refreshing, and made his onscreen atmosphere genuinely eerie. The kills

Photo: Ruth Hartnup @flickr, Devil: Clker-Free-Vector-Images @ PixaBay

wince in my seat. Hell Fest is mostly let down by an unremarkable cast, most of whom do very little besides getting killed. The actors try their best to bring some energy and likability but have little to work with. I appreciated that they attempted to have likeable characters – as opposed to Eli Roth’s typical scum bucket – outside of the cutesy main love interests, yet none of them stood out. Tony Todd cameos as a ringmaster, but is disappointingly underused. The park itself is also well designed, but becomes tedious after the third scary maze setpiece. And that’s on top of other silly plot holes: why does a theme park have a real axe in its display? Why doesn’t the main character know the difference between acting and what is clearly a real woman being murdered? Hell Fest isn’t bad, it’s just a bit predictable. There is a genuine Carpenter-esque inspiration behind it which, combined with the short running time at only ninety minutes, makes the ﬁlm a decent and worthwhile watch, even if it’s sometimes lost among the tedium and repetition.

are mostly your run-of-the-mill knife attacks. But it’d be unfair not to credit some creative slayings involving a high striker, and an injection needle shot in a way that made me

Carl Fitzgerald Contributor

Assassination Nation

2.5/5

Photo: Santeri Viinamäki @wikimedia commons

Assassination Nation is incredibly visually stylish and a clever film which features some of the finest cinematography of 2018 If you imagine a film that combined Black Mirror and The Purge and was directed by Quentin Tarantino, you’re coming extremely close to imagining Assassination Nation. WriterDirector Sam Levinson delivers an incredibly visually stylish and clever film which features some of the finest cinematography of 2018. Set in Salem, a small town in the US, the film follows the events that occur after half of the town’s personal details and internet history are released. The film principally focuses on 18-year-old Lily Coulson, played brilliantly by Odessa Young, and her 3 friends after she becomes suspected of being responsible for the hacking. One aspect of the film that is almost certainly set to polarise viewers is the extreme level of violence and gore featured throughout. Whilst some may describe it as gratuitous, given the film’s frequent over-the-top meta sequences (including a trigger-warning at the start) and an almost deafeningly loud soundtrack, the violence fits right in and adds to the overall aesthetic Levinson was clearly aiming for Given the film’s setting in a stereotypical high school, there are moments towards the beginning of the film that rely a little bit too heavily on the same tired tropes that are all too frequently seen. Bill Skarsgård is Lily’s seemingly-nice-but-actually-abusive boyfriend, however, following the hacking, he transforms from a cliché into an absolute sadist. This transformation is mirrored by the film itself becoming an extremely enjoyable thriller with some almost psychological-horror-esque sequences that are a delight to watch. One of the film’s most stand-out performances is from transgender actress Hari Nef who is part of the main female friendship group. Nef’s transgender status isn’t used to define her

character but is instead an additional layer to an already complex one; both Nef and Young’s characters become particularly well-developed by the film’s conclusion. However, the same cannot be said for the rest of the film’s characters who are woefully underdeveloped and mostly serve to provide little-to-nothing to the overall plot, which is one of the film’s only disappointing aspects but it is an unfortunately fundamental one nonetheless. The biggest issue of Assassination Nation is its ending which originally looks to be a satisfying conclusion with Young delivering an impassioned monologue about the digital age which ends with an extremely powerful stand-off. In spite of this impressive conclusion, the film then continues to a further scene which is wholly unnecessary and genuinely insulting to the audience leaving a thoroughly bad taste. Overall, despite its flaws, Assassination Nation is an excellent example of a psychological thriller for the modern age and provides some genuine insight into how it feels, especially for girls, to be under constant pressure to be seen as liberated but also conservative at the same time. Due to the film receiving little marketing, it almost certainly deserves to be highlighted as one of 2018’s hidden gems.

Josh Sandy Contributor

3.5/5

Pick of the week:

Eliza’s Eats Recently launched on Fuse TV, Eliza’s Eats brings you a mouth-watering variety of recipes. This series makes me want to venture out from my comfort zone consisting of a couple of meals I’ve mastered through repetition over the year. Cooking from a homely kitchen, the tidiness of which is to be desired, Eliza’s Eats is comforting and therapeutic as all cooking shows should be. The beauty of Eliza’s Eats is the accessibility of the recipes, and the simplicity of them as shown calmly by Eliza. The first episode makes a honey and orange chicken drumstick roast, which would be perfect for all those ‘Friendmas’ Christmas dinner parties coming up in this festive season. Tune in next week for a spaghetti bolognaise recipe.

Scan me to watch!

Where to watch: SHOWCASE Cinema Photo: FuseTV

Christmas Menu Book Now 2 Courses £18.00 / 3 courses £20.00 To book your party please email bars.su@manchester.ac.uk to enquire about availability ALL PRICES AND OFFERS APPLICABLE TO NUS CARD HOLDERS ONLY

@TheStudentFOMO

23 Opinion:Pablo Neruda’s legacy is problematic ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Books

Shaheena takes a look at recent protests in Chile after plans to name an airport after Pablo Neruda, a selfconfessed rapist In Chile, students, writers, and feminist campaigners have protested a decision to rename the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport to the Pablo Neruda International airport. They argue that Neruda, the renowned love poet, doesn’t deserve this celebration as he openly admitted to raping a maid in his 1977 memoir. He wrote that: “One morning, I decided to go for all, and I grabbed her forcefully by the wrist and looked her in the face. There was no language I could speak to her. She allowed herself to be led by me unsmiling and soon was naked upon my bed. […] She was right to have contempt for me.” By recalling the rape as an “experience” in which the woman “allowed herself to be led” by him, Neruda invents a reality that removes himself from the brutality of his actions. Earlier on in the memoir, he describes the maid as a “shy jungle animal”. His racist depiction of the Sri Lankan woman exacerbates power dynamics already existent between maid and lodger. Misogyny, classism, and contribute to his inability to recall this woman’s name. As discussion about the poet has resurfaced and the Chilean equivalent of the ‘MeToo’ movement has gained traction, there has been open protest. Rape is not a small issue to be overlooked despite the cultural significance of the poet: it is an

issue of not just accountability, but the message communicated to those who have been subject to sexual violence. It re-enforces a power dynamic between the abuser and the abused through a co-ordinated cultural erasure. Renaming the airport to commemorate Neruda presents a fundamental issue in the reverence

Allende have waded into the debate. Though she is “disgusted by aspects of Neruda’s personality”, she believes that his writing “cannot be dismissed”. She describes Canto General, his best-known collection, as “a masterpiece”. It is true that Neruda’s work is significant. He made a large contribution to the establishing

Photo: Pablo Neruda (1966) @ WikimediaCommons

of individual figures as proponents of cultural identity. Should Neruda be revered as a icon of contemporary Chilean identity despite the knowledge that he is guilty of raping a woman? Does his acknowledgement of his wrongdoing rectify his character? Other writers, such as Isabel

of Chile’s international identity, and the contextualisation of Chilean history contingent to American Imperialism. Chilean parliamentarian, Carolina Marzán, during The Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies session announced that Neruda was a fig-

ure who “filled all Chileans with pride by winning the Nobel Prize for Literature”, and that he was significant in the recognition of Chile’s national identity internationally. The discussion also expressed the desire to have Pablo Neruda’s name as “the first thing” tourists see “when they reach Chilean soil”. This comment seems to pander to and prioritises international reception of Chile by the foreign eye, capitalising on Neruda’s cultural reach as a recognised commodity, or cultural export of Chile’s. Patricio Alvarado Barría takes this point further, by noting that Neruda still pays political capital to those who reminisce on the Allende era, noting his literary works have been “displaced” by more daring authors. At its core, the renaming manages to absolve Neruda of his wrongdoing. Changing the name of the airport sends a message that the physical, psychological and sexual violence that impacted this unnamed and forgotten woman’s life means little in the grand scheme of things. His poetry is worth more than her life. Chilean activists have made clear that this is not acceptable. Neruda admitted to this crime, and it has been overlooked for 45 years. Is it such a task to refuse cultural icons an infallible status for the sake of an airport, for the sake of international acclaim?

Manchester students start new academic journal Gurnaik Johal takes a look at ‘Polyphony’, a brand new undergraduate journal publishing academic essays and creative writing in Manchester’s EAC department. Photo: Polyphony

Students in The University of Manchester’s English Literature, American Studies and Creative Writing department have created a new academic journal, called Polyphony. Founded by third-year-student Hana Jafar with the aim to spread “creative, innovative, and high quality writing” by other undergraduate students, Polyphony will “provide […] readers with an accessible resource to enrich their experience of reading and writing”. While the journal will be an

official academic publication, the students at the heart of it are determined to do things a little differently, to make a little noise. The journal’s name, in a musical sense “can be defined as music in which several different melodies are played or sung at the same time, interwoven but not necessarily in harmony”. The name then, reveals the aim at the core of the journal, to provide a platform for a diverse set of voices across a wide range of topics. By publishing “cross-departmental work” and encouraging

“discussion and debate within the undergraduate community” the team behind the journal aims to carve out a space in academia for new undergraduate voices. I talked to Devi Joshi, Editor-in-Chief of Polyphony, about the kinds of work that the journal is looking to publish. “We are looking for insightful, original and academically excellent essays, and engaging pieces of creative writing.” The journal’s output will include academic essays as well as short stories and poems.

Any marked piece of work in the EAC department can be submitted to Polyphony, and each piece that is accepted is then peer-reviewed by a team of masters and PhD students. The journal is currently open for submissions until December 14th, with the first issue to be published after the Christmas holidays. To find out more about Polyphony, and how to submit your work, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@PolyphonyUoM).

24 Theatre Pravda

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Orla Quilligan reviews ‘Pravda’, part of the University of Manchester Drama Society’s Autumn Showcase season

Reviews.

David Hare and Howard Brenton’s ‘Pravda’ appeared at the Council Chambers as the University of Manchester Drama Society’s new Freshers’ Play. The Freshers’ Play is only open to first year students, as a way of spotlighting their talent and opening up highly competitive creative opportunities to them. Definitely, ‘Pravda’ definitely did just this – the ambitious production showcased a variety of talent and promised much potential throughout. ‘Pravda’ was written as a satire of the journalism industry in 1985. However, with the phrase ‘fake news’ being crowned, word of the year in 2017, this play gains new relevancy. Throughout the play, we continuously saw the truth, ethics and significance of news explored and tested. The famous line “So by definition, what is printed must be true – otherwise why print it?” certainly resonated, leaving a residue of distrust amongst the audience, privy to the dirty secrets of the industry. This was when the tyrannical South African media mogul Lambert Le Roux came into play. Sam Easton gave a consistently authoritative and impressive performance as Le Roux, both terrifying and amusing the audience in equal measure. Easton very successfully conveyed the satirical element of the play, his character certainly came across as somewhat larger than life. However, satire seemed a little overlooked in the rest of the production. There were convincing and mature performances, particularly from the romantic leads, Andrew and Rebecca, played by Adam Tutt and Mae Lankshear. However, these came across as a little earnest in comparison to the perhaps intended tone of the play. Stamina was something that was certainly required of the actors in what ended up as quite a marathon of a play. Perhaps if the satirical tone had been honoured a little more faithfully by the director, Natalie Hillman, and the text had been cut down to a tighter structure, then this would have resulted in the play feeling sharper, which seemed to be lacking in this production. However, Hillman’s use of physical theatre and collaboration with the designer, Nan Davey, punctuated the play well, providing real flair to the production. The set design was simple yet effective, with newspapers plastered along the black flat of the stage. All of the costumes were black and white, echoing the (An-

‘Proof’ by David Auburn Photo: @Shay Rowan

Anuli Changa reviews Hope Mill’s production of ‘Proof’ by David Auburn’

‘Proof’ was captivating and thought provoking, a triumph of the writing (David Auburn), direction (Joseph Houston) and an impeccable lead (Lucy Jane Dixon). ‘Proof’ is the story of a woman who took care of her genius mathematician father (David Keller) for years, as he deteriorated due to mental illness. When he dies Catherine (Lucy Jane Dixon) is left wondering if she has inherited her father’s illness along with his academic prowess. She must deal with her returning older sister Clare

gela Costello) who wants her to leave the family home and a pushy past student of her father’s, Hal (Samuel Holland) wanting to go through her father’s work. Auburn’s writing is clever and fast pace, creating moments of wit, hilarity and pain with equal impact. His work is astonishing in its ability to create comedic and heart wrenching moments that feel realistic and not at all staged. Dixon as Catherine was incredible, she displayed versatility and nuance in her

Photo: @Mariella Dyckhoff

harsh, monochromatic nature of print journalism. On the other hand, some of this physical theatre, although it created engaging breaks within the play, helping to increase the overall pace of the production, seemed a little cliché at times. The use of music was punchy and added to the dramatic and slick style of the play. Although the movement that accompanied it, (though well-coordinated) wasn’t exaggerated or innovative enough for the satirical style of the text. In addition, Hare’s writing leaves much to be desired, only one real female character (Rebecca). Rebecca’s romantic storyline was quickly pushed aside, leaving the character very much defined in her appeal to Andrew’s destructive ego. To combat this, Hillman’s use of female actors in place of male characters was effective. It provided enough opportunity for the multitude of female talent and versatility within this production, whilst adding an alternative perspective of a highly male-dominated industry. ‘Pravda’ was a bold production that boasted many impressive features. Potential was key here: ultimately there was some potential left unfulfilled in this particular production. However there was much potential promised of this team of cast and creatives.

performance, consistently com- believed her. The audience was manding of the stage whether she very much on Catherine’s side, had a line or not. Dixon had experiencing the distrust of impeccable timing with witty and the other character’s with her. sarcastic comebacks, but also demon- The sense of being attacked was strated so clearly that this was an tangible. exterior hiding her grief and The underlying sexism was pain. Catherine felt human and clever, as it was obvious barely a character, Dixon made her without usurping the main plot. likeable and relatable, through Hal clearly judged Catherine’s her completely honest acting. mathematical ability on her Costello as Catherine’s sister gender and his inability to name Clare succeeded in creating the female mathematicians was archetypal and judgemental older telling of the gender-skewed sister who thinks she is helping. nature of academia and the This allowed a heightened feeling assumption that only a male that Catherine was mathematician could have in another world or “Dixon displayed achieved this proof. on another level to The set (Matthew Gee) versatility and the other characters, was interesting and nuance in her constantly misuncomplicated in itself. performance, conderstood. Costello The whole play was sistently comimpressively performed on the porch developed the of the family home. manding of the c h a r a c t e r of Clare The wooden porch was stage.” in Act II and became built on pallets, creating more relatable as the concerned and a dilapidated atmosphere. The stage protective sister. was also propped up by books, demonSamuel Holland (as Hal) did strating the academic immersion a good job of portraying the of the house. Equations could be bumbling nerd, desperate to vaguely seen written across the porch, discover new mathematical it was later revealed with ultra research. His enthusiasm against violet light that the set was the back drop of a funeral, demon- covered in equations. Dried leaves strated how academia encroached were strewn around the edge of even on Catherine’s grief. the set and more intriguing was Holland’s American (Chicago) the intermittent introduction of accent was slightly jarring and paper leaves amongst the real, that inconsistent at times and the seemed to have equations written characterisation was somewhat one on them. note and expected, but again this I cannot sing Dixon’s did well to contrast with the praises highly enough. She portrayed complexities Catherine’s character. powerful emotion and frankly genius The ending of Act I was dra- comedy, her delivery was flawless and matic and clever, when Catherine charcterisation complete. ‘Proof’ led Hal to find a ground-break- by David Auburn is a literary work ing mathematical proof that he of art. It beautifully encompassthinks was written by Catherine’s es themes of academia, gender, dad but is in fact her work. I relationships, grief and mental did not question whether she had health and was performed beautifully written the proof and was left by this cast at Hope Mill Theatre. shocked when neither Clare or Hal

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

In conversation with Jill Furmanovsky

Arts

Rock music photographer, Jill Furmanovsky, the person behind the exhibition ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ talks about her career and the art of music photography

The ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ pictures. I used to go to Abbey Road and hope exhibition will certainly have a lot to offer they would come out. They were very friendly!” for anyone with an interest in 20th century Many music fans will be able to relate to the rock music, or even anyone with an interest in thrill of meeting an idol, and will be able to Manchester’s cultural history – not that the imagine the impact that can have on an impressionable adolescent. two are really very easily separable. A collection of around a hundred photographs features the grins and grimaces of all the usual suspects associated with the city’s musical heritage. As to be expected, Morrissey, Ian Brown, and the Gallagher brothers are all here, along with a host of other familiar and less familiar faces. Like great photography should, most succeed in feeling they capture a time, a place, a moment, a distinct personality. The exhibition also does well to incorporate pictures of some contemporary acts too, including Manchester lad-rock torchbearers The Courteeners and Blossoms, as well as artists from outside the rock world like rapper Bugzy Malone. The pictures on display were Photo: Joy Division ©Jill Furmanovsky/rockarchive.com provided courtesy of rockarchives.com, a website and organisation founded in 1998 by Jill However, it wasn’t clear from as Furmanovsky dedicated to maintaining a record of music history and making early as this point that photography was photographs more accessible to fans. Jill something that Jill would pursue as her “I went to art school to do was present at the exhibition in the career. library on the day that I visited, and very textile design and wasn’t planning to be a photographer, but all art students had to do kindly agreed to a short chat with me. Jill recalls her introduction to the world of a two-week photography course.” And it’s formusic photography as a teenager in the 1960s. “I tunate that they did, as at appears that this was a Beatles fan and I used to take Instamatic was where Jill concluded that she had found

her calling. A loss for the world of textiles perhaps, but a remarkable gain for the world of music photography. It’s hard to imagine any great group becoming a great force of culture without their image playing a part in capturing people’s imagination. I asked Jill her thoughts on the importance of ‘the image’ in rock. “Very important. And it’s manipulated in all kinds of ways. Even having no image is a kind of a statement. Pink Floyd is a good example – they had no image, they were faceless. And then on the other hand you have a band like The Beatles, who changed their image and went from looking like boys you could introduce to your granny to looking a bit unkempt and a bit stoned. For us growing up with them, this was very exciting.” The experience of talking to someone who’s a master of their craft is a privilege. When that person is as interesting and as disarmingly friendly as Jill, it’s an even greater privilege. I leave the library feeling that I must have barely scratched the surface of all the insights and stories Jill could have offered, but extremely happy that I got the opportunity to chat to her. The exhibition which is described as ‘a photographic celebration of Manchester’s rock music history’, can be found at Manchester Central Library until 22nd February 2019.

From deepest darkest Peru to the storerooms of the Manchester Museum, this ceramic jug dates from somewhere between 200 and 300 AD. It is a product of the Nasca culture which inhabited the South Coast of Peru up until 800 AD. Renowned for their detailed ceramics, the Nasca peoples had no written tradition so they used the iconography of their textiles and pottery to communicate their histories. This perfectly preserved ceramic jug made its way from the Andean valleys to the collection of the Manchester Museum, where I found it. I was led by Living Culture curator, Stephen Walsh, through the rabbit warren of exhibitions. Ancient Egyptian tombs peeked out through bubble-wrap, and feather-like bird skeletons perched, seemingly about to take ﬂight, around me. Despite its unassuming exterior, the Museum has over 4 million objects in its extensive collection, ranging from entomological specimens to Greek and Roman coins. This particular ceramic jug, however, is what captivated me the most. Although it is not certain, Stephen believes it could be a drinking vessel involved in some kind of ceremony or perhaps for medicine. Likely to be some kind of shaman, the attention to detail in the subject’s face, right down to his facial hair, shows a desire to accurately represent him, so clearly he was an important ﬁgure. His headdress depicts a Pampa Cat (a native species to South America) and he is holding what Stephen presumes to be

a snake. Classically, an animal that denotes power and strength — grasping one by the throat could only be the move of someone just as brutish. The headdress, however, is undoubtedly the highlight. From the detailing of the tail hanging down the back of the man’s neck and the still bright red tongue jutting out in a challenge to the drinker. Originally collected from the Peruvian city of Ica by Pharmaceutical giant Henry Wellcome, this jug was donated to the Museum in the 1990s. After making his fortune, Wellcome dedicated his money to amassing a huge collection of artefacts which related to traditional medicine. Following his death, Wellcome’s collection was donated to museums across the country. The possibility of this as some kind of vessel for a medicinal drink, therefore, likely attracted him to it, but there’s no certainty that this was the case. Even as I stand there in the storerooms of the museum I can think of thousands of ways it could have been used in such a symbolic and ceremonial culture. The captivatingly anthropomorphic jug provides a glimpse into this mysterious culture. The otherworldly universe of shamans and ceremonies is transplanted, through this small piece of pottery, into our decidedly separate everyday lives in Manchester. And as I step back out into the sharp November wind I can’t help but feel a part of me drawn back to the provocative ogle of the Pampa Cat headdress and to the ancient hands who crafted it.

A R T E F A C T Photo: Sophie Marriott

of the week Photo: David Dixon

Sophie Marriott looks at a ceramic jug from the Nasca Culture of Pre-Hispanic South America and how their artistry was filled with their iconography.

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Fashion & Beauty

Are the curtains finally falling for Dolce & Gabbana? With Chinese customers consuming over 33% of global luxury product, Feya Mattis examines how racism at Dolce & Gabbana is undeniably out of fashion For many designers and fashion brands, social media has bridged the gap of communication from the distant world of high fashion to their customers and supporters. For those who do it well such as Tisci’s Burberry, Virgil Abloh and many others, their market is engaged and loyal. Yet Dolce & Gabbana (D&G), owned by Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce, have never been ones to grace social media with a ‘positive’ presence. D&G’s most recent and downright dreadful campaign (that has since been abandoned) featured a Chinese woman attempting and failing to use chopsticks on large Italian foods such as Pizza and Cannoli. This sparked immediate outrage as it acted on racial misconceptions and reinforced negative stereotypes. The campaign was incredibly out of touch, especially considering the East Asian market’s powerhouse position within the consumption of designer brands, equating to an estimated 33% of all of global luxury goods. Diet Prada, the notoriously outspoken Instagram page who broke the story described the racist advert as being “a tired and false stereotype of a people lacking reﬁnement/

Photo: Ciegorctamoa @ Wikimedia Commons, Curtains: susannp4 @ PixaBay

culture to understand how to eat foreign foods” and part of a wider racial ignorance toward the Asian market that is deeply rooted within the fashion industry. One would think that after the negative backlash D&G would immediately apologize, however things only got worse. After thousands of people flocked online to show their disgust and disappointment, Stefano took it upon himself to respond both on his personal Instagram, and the official Dolce & Gabanna account. In response to people calling the brand out for being racist, Stefano was even more racist, by replying to people in his DMs with comments such as ‘China ignorant Dirty Smelling Mafia’, ‘Country of **** is China’, and ‘eat dogs b**** I block you’. It is clear that D&G did not do the appropriate research prior to the campaign, with many questioning who the advert was actually for: their Chinese customers or for the brand’s own racist entertainment. Either way, in the repercussions since, their brand image has depleted massively. Their 500-look show, DGTHEGREATSHOW, which was set to take place in Shanghai, was cancelled by the Shanghai Cultural Affairs Bureau. Additionally, many Chinese

Beauty Player of the week: Farsali

Photo: @ Max Pixel

Dureshahwar Qureshi spotlights the beauty brand who have transformed from humble beginnings to a recent global take over

This week’s beauty player of the week is Farsali. Starting from a gift given from a husband to his wife, the brand has transformed from humble beginnings, to now being a global brand, with a cult following on Instagram. The co-founders Farah and Sal (Farsali is a combination of their names) have established a growing brand that produces high quality products for all makeup-wearers around the world, up till now they have around 10 products. Over the last couple of year or so they have ﬂourished on social media platforms for their products, which consist of skin serums/oils to help improve makeup application and skincare routines. Their initial launch includes an oil called the volcanic elixir that can be used as a daily moisturiser, according to the product description it contains exclusively sourced oils from nut kernels of the tamanu fruit from a Polynesian Island with a volcanic atmosphere hence the name. Then following the elixir, they released the unicorn essence and the rose gold elixir. The unicorn essence is an oil free serum that can be used before makeup and as a skincare product that prevents anti-ageing through protection from free-radicals. The

celebrities refused to go to the show. The whole story was a phenomenon on Chinese social media site Weibo, with #DGTheGreatShowCancelled being viewed over 540 million times. The scale of this disaster is clear, and has affected the brand not only in Asia, with Chinese retail giants Alibaba and JD.com pulling the brand from their sites, but has sparked international outrage. The colossal YOOX Neta-Porter Group to be the ﬁrst international e-commerce retailer to make a stand against this insulting behaviour. It is evidently fair to say that social media has the power to both make and break careers, but this leads to the question of ‘who is next?’. In a new culture of ‘outing’ behavior, it seems that almost every month a new brand is being exposed for corrupt and unethical ways, and this can be seen as a positive, because who really wants to be giving racists their coin? The rise of global markets and social media have has changed the equation on cultural sensitivity and the fashion industry forever. What’s clear from D&G is that the time’s up for out-dated racism and bullying ingrained within the fashion industry.

rose gold elixir is a fusion of 24k gold and rosehip oil, this has targeted action of restoring the collagen and elastin in the skin giving it that healthy glow that we all desire. Some of their more recent launches include the jelly beam highlighter, the skin blurring primer and the liquid glass. The jelly beam highlighter is a gel to powder product that can give both the subtle and heavy glow depending on how it is used. It is an innovative product compared to the competing creams that often leave a greasy look or most often remove underlying product. The newer skin blurring primer eliminates the appearance of texture giving the skin a brightened smooth look, making the application of makeup seamless. Lastly the liquid glass is a serum used to give a glass effect on the skin, it is recommended to be used before makeup application and contains hyaluronic acid a product that is often found in glow/moisturising product to plump the skin. I have followed Farsali on social from when they ﬁrst started, they have quickly become a well-talked about brand. The products are also now available in Sephora and at Cult Beauty.

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

An Ode to The Font

Food & Drink 27

Photos: Marco Verch @ Flickr, Mikey @ Flickr, monicore @ Pixabay

Laura Swain writes in memory of The Font, Fallowfield. A versatile café, bar and pub with great food and the famous £2 cocktails. It will be sorely missed

After ten years in business, The Font,

return to your ﬂat to power out an essay for

its popular weekly pub quizzes that brought

Fallowﬁeld will close on the 15th Decem-

the pressing deadline you had been avoiding.

out your competitive side, it is undeniable

ber. The heart-breaking news was announced

Nevertheless, situated in the heart of Fal-

that the bar will be greatly missed by all.

on social media this week by the bar’s man-

lowﬁeld, there was no excuse for missing out

Earlier this year, The Font had to shorten their

agement

causing

on a cocktail and beating those Monday blues.

opening hours due to enforced council regula-

population.

The Font was unique for its capacity to

tions. It is uncertain whether these restric-

The Font, for me, was the place where my

be the prime location of embarrassing drunk-

tions played a part in the management team’s

friends would meet on a Monday after a long

en memories. While also being the place many

decision to not renew the property’s lease.

day at uni. We would forget our worries and

saw as acceptable to take visiting rela-

Before their closure, The Font, Fallowﬁeld

take advantage of the happy hour, offering

tives for a meal. Welcoming staff and the

have promised ‘one last big hoorah’ on Friday

two for one cocktails. Over time, we would be

cosy décor contributed to The Font’s sta-

the 14th December. This won’t just be a chance

able to list these off by heart. The evening

tus as a Fallowﬁeld favourite. However you

to say a ﬁnal farewell to the venue whilst you

would usually go one of two ways. It would

remember The Font, whether it’s because of

cry into your cocktail. It will be the oppor-

escalate into a spontaneous night out, or the

that awkward ﬁrst date, hungover breakfasts

tunity to celebrate all that The Font has con-

end of happy hour would signal the dreaded

spent piecing together the night before, or

tributed to student life in Fallowﬁeld.

much

team.

distress

The to

news the

has

been

student

The genius behind Sainsbury’s revolutionary new food product Photos: Clker-Free-Vector-Images @ Pixabay

This week, Sainsbury’s puts ‘barbecue flavoured crickets’ on their shelves across Manchester. Could insects be the answer for our environmental issues? Writes Aaron Comer The Bare Necessities song from the Jun-

demand elsewhere in the world? Well, it

ets can be reared purely on unsold food

gle Book is perhaps one of the most icon-

turns out that the suitability of insects

from supermarkets. This possibility could

ic Disney songs of all time. Could the

as food is now being realised. The technol-

create a food source sustained purely on

lyrics be right? Could “mother nature’s

ogy is now available to efﬁciently produce

recycled

recipes” fulﬁl the basic needs for humans

insects on a mass scale. Take the Austin

this will produce a supply chain with min-

worldwide? Maybe it was this logic that

based edible insect company Aspire Food

imal inputs and negligible food waste. A

inspired Sainsbury’s decision to introduce

Group, who went from earning their ﬁrst

livestock which requires less feed will

insects,

revenue dollar to operating a robot staffed

produce signiﬁcantly more stock for the

speciﬁcally

crickets,

their

barbecue

this

products;

idealistically,

week.

research centre in less than 3 years.

resource-scarce populations of the world.

This food launch isn’t as random as

Furthermore, the increasing proﬁt of com-

Unfortunately, the historical conno-

ﬁrst appears. Since January 1st, the Eu-

panies such as these is creating a butterﬂy

tations of insects being ‘pests’ and un-

ropean Commission has been able to di-

effect, culminating worldwide research into

sanitary is what has hindered their con-

rectly

approve

shelves

ﬂavoured

food

the

insect consumption. Higher proﬁts mean more

sumption in the west. However, in a world

prod-

money is now put into experiments proving

of increasing migration, social stigmas

chains.

insects to be safe for human consumption

surrounding food is rapidly disappearing.

Prior to this, E.U. Legislation was an

under the General Food Law. As of late,

There is no reason to suggest that in-

obstacle to insect consumption. Since then,

there are now over 2000 species known to

sects can’t join the list of delicacies

eating insects has increased at such a sharp

be edible for human consumption worldwide.

that have undergone an improvement in pub-

rate that the latest Meticulous Research™

Research is also starting to reveal de-

lic image. Take the lobster — in only 20

report estimates that by 2023 the edible

sirable characteristics of insects as both

years they have transformed from a food

insect industry will be worth a whopping

a food source and a form of livestock. For

consumed only in America’s toughest pris-

$1,181.6 million! No longer does the E.U.

example, critters such as crickets, regu-

ons to an upper-class New York delicacy.

have reason to prevent producers of edible

larly adopt the taste of whatever they are

So, what about the starved people of the

insects from spreading their wings in west-

fed or cooked with. It’s therefore assumed

world? Now, although these technological

ern food markets. Economically, who can re-

they have the potential to be a great source

innovations are happening rapidly, glo-

ally blame them? At that rate, insects will

of protein for even the world’s pickiest

balisation isn’t quite so speedy. Current-

exceed the worth of their weight in gold.

eaters. Studies in the Netherlands even

ly, the starving countries of the world are

This is a particularly shocking statis-

prove that 64% of insect meals can current-

lacking the resources and energy to create

tic. How can a food source so unappealing

ly satisfy all nutritional requirements.

these huge factories. To read the full ar-

to European taste buds, have such a large

It has also been discussed how crick-

introduction ucts

applications edible

continental

for

insect supply

ticle, visit mancunion.com

Women In Media Presents:

Diva Night

Cubo 10.12.18 10pm

Tickets on Skiddle and SU website. Tickets include discount code for Women In Media Conference.

Lifestyle 29

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Fight period poverty with ‘Once A Month’ Victoria Evans speaks to Gaby Hartfield about ‘Once a Month’, a Student Action project fighting period poverty in a compassionate and practical way

Photo: Gaby Hartfield

Victoria Evans Contributor Periods: a taboo topic to discuss, but there is no shying away from them. It’s a cycle of fighting off dreaded cramps, battling mood swings, and worrying about facial outbreaks – unfortunately, periods are a natural part of womanhood. Going beyond the need to dismiss the claim that tampons are a “luxury item”, we ask how many of us class sanitary products as essential? For many homeless and vulnerable women across the city of Manchester, access to sanitary products is denied. This is period poverty. ‘Once a Month’ is a Student Action project, set up by students Gaby Hartfield and India Burgess to fight period poverty in Manchester. I spoke to Gaby Hartfield, a second year Law and Politics student about the ‘Once a Month’ project. Gaby is the training co-ordinator for Student Action, and shares the role of Homelessness Projects co-ordinator with India. The girls set up ‘Once a Month’ in September. Their vision is to fight period poverty by providing sanitary products to vulnerable women across Manchester. Through the packaging and distribution events they run, they hope to create more awareness within the

student community about the extent of period poverty and its effects. Thus far, Gaby and India have hosted a packaging event in November, with a Christmas session scheduled for 12th December. So, what are the packaging events? The girls buy the sanitary products and packaging materials before the session and then book a room for the group to come together and pack. The packages include tampons, sanitary towels, hand sanitiser, baby wipes and a chocolate bar – enough products to last a cycle. In the November session, over 30 volunteers attended to create more than 60 sanitary care packages. The group go to the city centre and distribute the packages to homeless women living on the street. They then give the rest of the care packages to Mustard Tree Charity, the group’s partner charity. Gaby explained how “the response to the first session was overwhelming. All the girls were so passionate, efficient and amazing!” She went on to explain how they are excited about the upcoming Christmas project. With an aim to increase the number of boxes packed with the help of even more volunteers, there is no doubt the project is already a success. Each box will contain the basic contents with some festive treats such as Christmas chocolates and hand-written cards. The

project is growing as Gaby and India reach out to other charity organisations in the new year. In addition, they have organised a Valentine’s Fundraiser; this will include a bake sale where people pay with sanitary products rather than money. The community needs to tackle the problem of period poverty. Many homeless charities hand out razors and condoms but there is seldom an allowance for sanitary products. However, the homeless community isn’t the only place period poverty occurs. In 2017, more than 137,700 girls missed school because they could not afford sanitary products. Gaby would like to see the education system tackling the problem by creating awareness within its curriculum. ‘Once a Month’ is a compassionate project set up by women for vulnerable women. Something as simple as sanitary products can go a long way in easing the struggles of women who sleep rough. A little help can have far reaching effects; Gaby and India encourage both men and women to get involved in the project. The Facebook group called ‘Once a Month - Student Action Project’ provides further information. Tune in to BBC Manchester this Thursday 29th November at 7pm to listen to Gaby and India talk about the homeless projects they run.

The bigger the better? Unmasking the ugly face of male fitness

Photo: VOC DICE @ Pexels

In a follow-up article on the female fitness industry, Emma Price exposes the detrimental impacts male fitness influencers can have on both physical and mental wellbeing Victoria Evans Contributor Male Instagram fitness accounts are a whirlwind of masculinity. They centre around the triumph of the ‘riser and grinder’, the ‘struggle’ and the ‘hardship’. This contributes to a dangerous affirmation that never giving in is a sign of strength. In the face of rising awareness about male mental health, the implicit messages behind male motivators’ accounts are potentially dangerous. They go against the positive improvements society has seen regarding men talking about emotions and reaching out for help. I realised a crucial element was missing from the male fitness accounts, after hours of scrolling through Instagram. Women fitness influencers share encouragement and recognise vulnerabilities: the gym can become a platform for self-love and communal effort. But too often, I felt a cold withdrawal of emotion on the male accounts. Their pur-

pose was purely to lift more and look good with a shirt off. This deprives men of the opportunity for self-love through exercise and sets unrealistic expectations of body image and gender roles. Instagram promotes the ‘ideal’ body as a symbol of optimal masculinity. A whole array of symptoms come with this toxic portrayal. Men are culprits (as well as women) of editing photos. However, the adjustments are more likely to go unnoticed. Influencers often edit photos to falsely advertise a ‘quick and easy’ route to look like them. Although a quick money fix for the promoters, it can have detrimental impacts on men’s self-esteem and body image. Companies offering protein and other supplements can be useful. But, many exist solely to profit off insecure, vulnerable beginners who don’t know any better. Some of these products are also backed up by poor research and can be dangerous. Gymtalk argues that the ‘shortcut to fitness’ concept is a main marketing approach of such companies. On the topic of irresponsibility is the deception that surrounds steroid taking, particularly on the male side of fitness. The physiques of many of the ‘biggest’ models cannot be achieved natu-

Ciska Howarth tells us why it’s okay not to enjoy Christmas and a way to enjoy this year’s a little bit more than the last Ciska Howarth Contributor Shop windows are decked with fairy lights, the radio has been playing festive tunes since October, and markets are covering every square in Manchester. The countdown to Christmas this year has begun. But what if this doesn’t fill you with joy and merriment, but dread instead? For more people than we think, Christmas isn’t something to look forward to – myself included. The universal expectation that you will be happy and up for social-

ising that day can amount to a lot of pressure. What if you wake up and anxiety is stopping you from getting out of bed? Maybe you’ve had a bereavement recently and the idea of Christmas without them is unbearable. For some, the expectation to eat all the food piled onto their plate is terrifying. Maybe you just can’t face the inevitable heated family discussions, or questions about your future. I don’t mean to be a grinch or a scrooge – although, believe me, I’ve heard it all. It’s just important to acknowledge that Christmas is not everybody’s favourite day, and

that’s okay. Around this time every year I think of one thing about Christmas that I will try to enjoy. This year, it’s joining my family for a walk – something which I’ve never felt up for before. Doing this helps me feel just a bit more in control of my day, and takes the pressure off enjoying the rest of it. Since I’ve started doing this, my Christmases have been better – still not the highlight of my year, but better. However, you’re feeling about Christmas this year, I hope it’s as good as it can possibly be for you. And, if not, it’s just another 25th of the month.

rally on a 5-day split program eating rice cakes and chicken. But our unhealthy obsession and innocent naivety can deceive young men into buying falsely advertised and unrealistic body types. Not only this, but the disappointment of not reaching the desired outcome, even after months of dedication, could lead to serious negative emotions. Peter Ward, a second year student, commented on this problem: “There is a vast amount of very influential people that claim to be ‘natural’ but in fact, they’re taking some sort of hormone enhancers”. He also noted a change he has personally witnessed on Instagram. “Only recently have some [fitness influencers] started to come clean about the supplements they have been taking and why. This is a step in the right direction.” There is a long road to recognising the misuse of Instagram to abuse men’s search for information about fitness. The repeated message of ‘hard work’ and ‘self-motivation’ glazes over the vortex of false advertisement and unrealistic bodies. For the sake of both physical and mental health, there needs to be a collective movement to make Instagram more transparent.

If you ask me... it’s okay to not enjoy Christmas Photo: Lisa Zins @ Flickr

30 Sport

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Through the bushes: Shenzhen’s shameful halfmarathon

The Ballon d’Or: an end to the twohorse race?

1.5% of all runners in the Shenzhen halfmarathon have received bans for cheating

Iwan Hopkins analyses whether 2018 will see the first Ballon d’Or awarded to someone other than Messi or Ronaldo since Kaka in 2007

James Gill Sport Editor Marathon ru n n ing is a spor t th at is s eeing a n i ncre dible explosion of popul arity in Ch in a, with the Ch ine s e Ath le tics Ass ociation rep orting (CA A ) 1,072 marathon s and road race s have been held s o fa r thi s year, u p f rom 22 in 20 11. W hi le th is explosion cou ld help cu ltivate s ome worldcl a ss ath lete s, it als o s e e m s to be cu ltivating s ome worldcl a ss cheats. A total of 2 58 r u n ne rs have been p en alis e d for cheati ng in the She n zhe n ha l f- marathon . Orga n is e rs of t he race fou nd th at 18 runners were r u n n ing w ith fake bib num be rs, w ith photographers eve n ma naging to sn ap pict u re s of two comp etitors wearing the sa me nu mb er. Alongside thos e we re three imp osters and 237 others who were caug ht by a t ra f fic camera tak ing a shortc ut. Organ is ers s a id that run ners were su ppos e d to run to the end of a road , ta ke a U-tu rn , then come

a ll the way back . 2 3 7 ru n ne rs de c ide d agai n st th at a nd c ut th roug h s ome bu s he s, s k ipping two or th re e k ilome tre s of t he 21-k ilome tre race. Th a n k fu lly the che ate rs h ave be e n de a lt sw i f t re tr ibution . The r u n ne rs we a r ing fa ke bib nu m b e rs h ave be e n g ive n a l i fe t i me ba n from the eve nt, wh i le t he othe rs a re ba n ne d for two ye a rs. A rou nd 16,0 0 0 at h le te s ru n in the eve nt , t ak i ng place in the fou r t h- l arge st c ity in the cou nt r y. T h i s me a n s th at a n a ston i s h i ng 1. 5 % h ave re ce ived b an s for the ir ac tion s. In t he B e ij ing h a lf-m arat hon la st ye a r, orga n is ers u s e d fac ia l re cog n ition s of tware to com bat the inf lu x of che ate rs, h ig h lig ht i ng t he g rowing is sue in C h i n a. The race organ i s e rs re le a s e d a st ate me nt add re s s ing the eve nt s : “we de e ply reg re t the v iol at ion s th at occ u rre d du r i ng t he eve nt. M a rathon r u n n i ng i s not s imply exe rc is e, it i s a me taphor for life, a nd eve r y ru n ne r is re spon s ible for h i m or he rs e lf. ”

England complete first ever tour whitewash of Sri Lanka Moeen Ali and Jack Leach both grabbed four wickets in a close finish to the series James Gill Sport Editor England have completed their first ever whitewash in Sri L anka after an incredibly close 4 2-run victory in the third a n d f i n a l Te s t i n C o l o m b o . It appeared as though Sri Lanka might be able to salvage a consolation w i n i n t h i s Te s t w i t h K u s a l Mendis scoring 86 and Roshen Silva reaching 65. The England bowlers struggling to make headway with the Sri Lankan batsman. E v e n t u a l l y, J a c k L e a c h continued his fantastic form with a run out of Mendis that set England back on the right track. Moeen Ali also proved himself to be one of the best spin bowlers in the world by taking four wickets, including Perera and Silva with only one run between them. With the scorecard re ad i ng 2 2 6 -9, it s e e me d routine for England to

finish the game, the series, and the t o u r, h o w e v e r, it proved anything but. L akmal and Pushpukumara managed a very respectable lastwicket stand of 58 before Lakmal finally succumbed by l bw to Leach, who joined Ali on a four-wicket haul. Talking about the t o u r Jo e Ro o t , E n g l a n d ’s captain, said “it has been a f a b u l o u s t o u r. I t h a s been a complete team performance throughout the whole trip. Everyone has contributed in some shape or form and that is the most pleasing and impressive thing.” E ngland have sprung back from their own whitewashing by Australia in the Ashes by winning eight of their last nine Te s t s . T h e y h ave j u s t f o u r m o re Te s t s l e f t t h o u g h , t h r e e a g a i n s t We s t I n d i e s and a one-off against Ireland before the Ashes comes around again on Aug u st 1 st 2 0 19. Photo: Wikimedia Commons @Airwolfhound

Iwan Hopkins Sport Contributor 2 01 8 . A ye ar whe re n i ne te e n-ye ar- old Kylia n M b app é l it u p t he World Cu p f i n al s, Lu ka Modrić s co op e d F IFA’s ‘ T he B e st ’ award , and Moh a med S al ah’s s ho ot i ng b o ot s car r ie d L ive r p o ol to w it hin touch i ng d i st ance of a h i stor ic Ch ampion s L eague w i n . Cou ld t h i s f i n al ly b e t he ye ar whe n t he recent duop oly of B al lon d’O r w i n ne rs we lcome s anot her to t he i r exclu s ive clu b? T he u su al su sp e c t s h ave t ake n t he i r familia r pl ace s i n t he r u n n i ng , w it h Cr i st i ano Ron aldo a nd L ione l Me s s i b ot h b e i ng categor i s e d i n t he top-f ive favou r ite s to s e c u re anot he r con f i r m at ion of t heir ‘G OAT ’ (G re ate st O f A l l T i me ) st at u s. Howeve r, unlike wh at we h ave p e rh ap s b e come acc u stome d to, t hey are not alone t h i s ye ar, nor are t hey ne ce s s a rily favou r ite s for t he pre st ig iou s award . Ronaldo come s i n above his Argentine counterpart (accord i ng to O dd s Che cke r) , we l l de s erved con s ide r i ng h i s u n re le nt i ng go al- s cor i ng abi lit ie s cont i nue d t h roug hout t he 2 017/1 8 camp aig n for Rea l M ad r id . T he Por t ug ue s e t al i s m an cont r i bute d g reat ly to L os B l ancos’s t h i rd succe s s ive Ch ampion s L eague v ic tor y. A f te r a me d io c re World Cu p, h i s p e rs ona l h ig h l ig ht u ndou bte d ly h i s phe nome n al h at- t r ick in M atch-We e k 1 , he s e c u re d a re p or te d £ 1 05 m illion to It al i an ch ampion s Juve nt u s, whe re h i s for m ha s re su rge d – w it h 1 0 go al s i n h i s f i rst 16 game s (a new re cord for t he ‘Old L ady’ ) . T h at s aid , a de b ate ab out t he c u r re nt b e st pl aye r i n t he world s i mply can not b e h ad w it hout me nt ion i ng t he Cat al an He ro. Me s s i g rab b e d 4 5 go a ls for h i m s e l f i n B arce lon a’s 2 017/1 8 s e as on , g u id i ng his s ide to t he re te nt ion of t he Cop a de l Rey and a 2 5t h L a L iga t it le. Howeve r, s i m i l arly to Ron aldo, he wa s p e rh ap s to o he av i ly re l ie d u p on by h i s comp at riot s i n t he i r World Cu p at te mpt s, w it h A rge nt i n a s lu mping to de fe at at t he h and s of Cro at i a h av i ng st r uggled t h roug h t he i r g rou p. T houg h h i s 2 01 8 /19 s e as on wa s i n it i al ly bl ig hte d by an ar m i nju r y, he h as re covered u n s cat he d and cont i nue s i n s c i nt i l l at i ng for m as t he top - rate d pl aye r i n b ot h L a L iga and t he Ch ampions L e ag ue (accord i ng to Fot Mo b) . Wit h M anche ste r Un ite d’s d i s app o i nt i ng yea r, Pau l Pog b a h as al re ady r u le d h i m s e l f out of s e r ious

content ion for t he 20 18 awa rd, yet it would b e na ïve to dis rega rd a ny of his fellow count ry men. They a re, a f ter a ll, litera lly atop t he world follow ing t he F rench fo ot b a lling revolut ion in Rus sia t his sum mer. Kylia n M b app é a nd Anto ine G riez m a nn have b een a mongst four players cited by Pogb a wort hy of w inning t he Ba llon d’O r t his yea r. Wit h G riez m a nn’s Europ a L eague v ictory a nd M b app é’s L igue 1 dom inat ion surely b o ost ing t he p a ir’s fo ot b a lling C Vs, t hey a re surely wort hy ca ndidate s, s eeing a s t hey come in at t hird a nd fourt h favourite s re sp ect a bly. Luka Mo drić is t he favourite for t his yea r’s awa rd. Hav ing a lready s co op ed ‘ The B e st ’ awa rd in S eptem b er, t a king t he awa rd f rom it s two -t ime inaugura l w inner C rist ia no Rona ldo. The decis ion split opinion, w it h m a ny glad t hat recognit ion wa s f ina lly b eing gra nted to players ot her t ha n t he go a ls coring m achine s who’ve dom inated worldw ide recognit ion in recent yea rs. Fo ot b a ll is a ga me played w it h 11 men, a nd Luka Mo drić ca n b e hera lded a s a n exa mple of not only a f ine player but a mo del profe s siona l. Ma ny have a rgued t hat t he awa rd b eing pre s ented to t he C ro at ia n wa s a n at tempt by F IFA to bring va riety to what ha s b ecome a tedious recognit ion of two inhum a ne great s for t he prev ious 10 yea rs. Me ss i’s former tea m-m ate P uyol gave his opinion on t he awa rd, congrat ulat ing Mo drić graciously, but cla im ing t he Argent ine rem a ined t he ‘ b e st in t he world’. In term s of succe s sf ul yea rs, Mo drić’s place a s t he favourite to s co op t he Ba llon d’O r is de f initely not a s ho ck. Af ter a ll, w inning ‘ The B e st ’, t he World C up G olden Ba ll, UE FA’s ‘Player of t he Yea r’, a t hirdcons ecut ive C ha mpions L eague, a nd capt a ining a n underdog count ry to w it hin a rm s-reach of b ecom ing World C ha mpions is not exact ly a b ad yea r! The awa rds ceremony t a ke s place D ecem b er 3rd, a nd w it h t hos e prev ious ly ment ioned j o ined by ot her illust rious comp a ny, it ’s sure to b e fa s cinat ing who cla im s t he accolade s for 20 18 . In my opinion, Luka Mo drić ha s not q uite done enough to prize t he 18 ca rat-gold t rophy f rom t he clutche s of C rist ia no Rona ldo, s eeking t he awa rd to accomp a ny t he f ive he a lready ha s. Who knows, we could b e in for a surpris e, or it could prove to b e a fa irly st a nda rd o cca sion. O ne t hing is for cert a in t hough, 20 18 is t he b eginning of a new era in fo ot b a ll, a nd t he f ut ure lo oks bright .

Ballon d’Or Winner Johan Cruyff. Photo: Bert Verhoeff @Wikimedia Commons

Hamilton finishes title-winning season in style Chris Perrin Sport Contributor L ew i s H am i lton s e c u re d v ic tor y i n t he f i n al race of t he s e as on i n A bu Dh abi , h av i ng al re ady cl i nched h i s f i f t h World Ch ampion s h ip t it le at t he Mex ica n G rand P r i x i n O c to b e r. T he Me rce de s d r ive r q u al i f ie d i n p ole p os it ion and m ade an i mpre s s ive st ar t . T he race was al most m ar re d i n t he f i rst l ap, howeve r, by a hor r i f ic c ra s h wh ich to ok Re n au lt ’s Nico Hu l ke n bu rg out of t he race. For t u n ate ly, t he G e r m an su st ai ne d no i nju rie s. A not he r e arly re t i re me nt came i n t he e ig ht h lap for Fe r rar i’s K i m i Rai k kone n . T he Vi r t u al S afe ty C a r t h at t h i s broug ht ab out was u s e d by H am i lton to h i s ow n b e ne f it , s e i z i ng an opp or t u n ity to m ake a n e arly sw itch to u lt ras of t ty re s. T he pit stop put t he E ng l i s h m an i nto fout h p os it ion , ju st n i ne s e conds b e h i nd t he le ad . Wit h no f u r t he r stop s re q u i re d , al l H am i lton had to do was bide h i s t i me, m ai nt ai n i ng pre s su re on t hos e i n f ront of h i m u nt i l t hey m ade stop s. He did ju st t h at , and c r u i s e d to h i s 1 1 t h w i n of t he s e as on. H am i lton s h are d t he p o d iu m w it h Fe r ra ri’s S e b ast i an Ve t te l i n s e cond , and Re d Bu l l’s Ma x

Verst app en in t hird. B ehind Verst app en wa s his tea m m ate Da niel Riccia rdo. In f if t h wa s Mercede s’ Va lt teri B ot t a s, who s omewhat dis app o inted a f ter q ua lif y ing in s econd. It wa s a ls o a n emot iona l day for Ferna ndo Alons o, who raced in his la st ever G ra nd P rix , f inishing 11t h. The Sp a nia rd sp ent 17 succe s sf ul yea rs in Formula O ne a nd ret ire s a s one of t he greate st ever drivers in t he history of t he sp ort . He won two World C ha mpions hip s, w it h 32 G ra nd P rix v ictorie s. The w in for Ha m ilton in Abu Dha bi to ok him to a f ina l p o int s t a lly of 4 0 8 , 8 8 a head of his clos e st riva l Vet tel. Kim i Ra ikkonen held on to t hird sp ot in t he driver’s st a ndings, clos ely followed by Verst app en a nd B ot t a s. In t he C onst ructors’ C ha mpionship, Mercede s s ecured top sp ot for t he f if t h s ea s on running. Ferra ri a nd Red Bull ca me s econd a nd t hird re sp ect ively. Renault , who f inished fourt h, w ill a ls o b e plea s ed w it h t he s ea s on t hey had. The dom ina nce of Mercede s a nd L ew is Ha m ilton cont inue s, but t he p o int s gap ha s b een closing in t he la st couple of yea rs. The Formula O ne World C ha mpionship w ill recom mence next Ma rch in Aust ra lia . E x p ect 20 19’s conte st to b e even more ent hra lling.

ISSUE 11 / 3rd December 2018 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Sport 31 Champions League Round-up

Manchester Utd 1-0 BSC Young Boys Fellaini 90+1’

Tuesday 27th November, Old Trafford, Manchester

Marouane Fellaini’s 91st-minute winner against Young Boys gave Manchester United the three points they needed to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League. Before the fifth round of games began in Group H, United manager Jose Mourinho knew that if his side dropped any points against the Swiss side it would leave everything to play for in the final game against Valencia. Marcus Rashford almost put the Red Devils one up in the fifth minute of the game as he was one-on-one with the keeper. His chipped shot went over the bar as Mourinho faced the fans and shook his head, the trouble his side has had recently with converting chances clearly frustrating him. United created several more opportunities in the first half but all of them were wasted, Young Boys keeper David von Ballmoos barely troubled. The second half saw United’s creative ability dwindle as they failed to make clear-cut chances. Mourinho made three attacking substitutions to try and inject his side with energy with Pogba, Lukaku, and Mata all entering the fray. Sadly for the Portuguese manager, the changes barely made a difference and chances were few and far between. As the game approached the final few minutes fans thought they might see a third consecutive Champions League home game without a goal but, luckily for them, that wasn’t the case thanks to

their recently de-afro’d Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini. Fellaini received the ball from a Lukaku pass and, while holding off Loris Benito, turned before firing the ball into the bottom corner. The crowd (or those who didn’t choose to leave early) went wild, seeing the breakthrough goal their team needed. The reactions to the goal weren’t as wild as Mourinho’s though, who kicked one set of bottles before picking up a second set and slamming them on the ground. His Godzilla-esque display was perhaps the most exciting thing to take place in Old Trafford this season. Upon seeing the replays for the goal, it looked as though the ball was handled by Fellaini, something he denies. “For me it was not handball. I controlled the ball, if it touched my hand it was not on purpose,” he said. Regardless of what happens against Valencia in the final game, United are through to the last 16 of the Champions League. They will be hoping to progress to the last eight for the first time since the 2013/14 season. The next game for the Red Devils is an away day at strugglers Southampton. A win here could see them leapfrog Everton into sixth place in the Premier League. It looks like the title is already out of reach though as they are currently 14 points off the pace. Photo: Lineup Builder @ Chosen 11

Photo: Football.au @ Wikimedia Commons

Olympique Lyonnais 2-2 Manchester City

Cornet 55’, 81’

Tuesday 27th November, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon

Manchester City remain on course to top their group in the Champions League after a resolute showing at the Groupama Stadium. The two sides were battling for top spot heading into the match, with Lyon knowing that realistically they would have to take all three points to remain in contention. Anything short of the result would all but confirm the Citizens finishing at the summit of Group F. The away side found themselves under substantial pressure before Maxwel Cornet delightfully curled home from outside the area. The goal had been coming, as Pep Guardiola’s sky blues struggled to hold off a Lyon side that are the only team to beat them in their last 26 matches. Aymeric Laporte found a leveller just 7 minutes after the opener however, as Raheem Sterling’s free-kick was flicked onto the head of the French centre-back, who rose to divert the ball into the back of the net. City searched for a winner that would mathematically put them through as group winners, but their opponents grew in confidence, as a silky move was well-finished by Cornet for his second of the night on 81 minutes. An instant response was needed, and that is exactly what the

Laporte 62’, Aguero 83’

travelling fans got two minutes later, when talisman Sergio Aguero rose to flick a pinpoint header into the corner of the Lyon net. The result leaves Lyon with a nervy end to the group stage, as they need a point away at Shakhtar in the last round of matches on the 12th of December to assure qualification. A draw at home to bottom-of-the-group and eliminated Hoffenheim will put City into the first pot for the round of 16 draw, a welcome benefit, with likely runners-up Lyon now facing the possibility of ties against the competition’s giants, including Juventus, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. While they may finish ahead of them in the group, this clash was a reminder for Guardiola’s side that they are still finding their feet in Europe’s premier competition. After taking one point from a possible six against Bruno Genesio’s men, Pep Guardiola admitted that they were ‘’one of the toughest teams’’ City had ever faced. The Citizens’ remarkable unbeaten run, stretching back to defeat in that Champions League opener in mid-September, continues however, as City showed that they have not only the free-flowing attacking mindset, but also the ability to grind out difficult results, and nick points from difficult situations, such as this test they have faced in France. Photo: Lineup Builder @ Chosen 11

Photo: Wikimedia Commons @Dorotheum

Magnus Carlsen retains Chess World Championship for a third time in London

Carlsen won the tie-breakers round after the initial game series ended in twelve consecutive draws James Gill Sport Editor Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e M a g n u s C a r l s e n h a s r e t a i n e d h i s C h e s s Wo r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p t i t l e f o r a t h i r d time by beating number two Fabiano Caruana in London. The Norwegian has held the title since 2013 when he defeated Viswanathan Anand. Talking about the match Carls en said: “Fabiano p l aye d ve r y we l l a n d h e ’s a n e x t re m e ly s t ro n g p l aye r s o i t ’s ve r y s p e c i a l . I t wa s ve r y t e n s e fo r these whole three weeks and there was no point in particular where I felt I was going to win the match. I didn’t particularly feel that I was losing it e i t h e r. I t w a s a l w a y s h a n g i n g i n t h e b a l a n c e . ” The Championship match takes place every other year between the defending champion and an opponent who wins an 8 player double round robin tournament. This time it was American C a r u a n a wh o wo n t h e C a n d i d a t e s To u r n a m e n t i n M a r c h t h i s y e a r. With the two finalists decided all eyes turn to Championship match, this time taking place from November 8th-28th. The match comprises of 12 games of classical chess, one point for a win, half a p o i n t e a c h f o r a d r a w, z e r o f o r a l o s s . T o w i n a l l y o u n e e d t o d o i s r e a c h 6 . 5 p o i n t s , a m a j o r i t y. T h i s y e a r, a s C a r l s e n ’ s l a s t d e f e n c e a g a i n s t t he Ru s s i a n S e rgey Ka r j a k i n , t he 1 2 ga me s e nde d with both players at six points apiece. What was s p e c i a l a b o u t t h i s t i m e , h o w e v e r, w a s t h a t a l l 1 2 game s ended with draws, s omething that has not happened in the history of the Championship.

The game s were anything but dull though. In the first game, Carlsen was left kicking himself by missing a winning opportunity with his 34th move. Finding it would have made him the first de fending champion to win Game 1 of a world title match as black in 37 years. Game 6 was perhaps the best game of the whole s erie s. Carls en avoided a devastating de feat by the skin of his teeth in a six-and-a-half hour epic, achieving a draw when every expert had written him off. While these games were taking place there w a s a l s o s o m e o f f - b o a r d c o n t r o v e r s y. A t w o minute video was uploaded to the Saint Louis C h e s s C l u b Yo u t u b e c h a n n e l b e f o r e b e i n g q u i c k l y re m ove d , s h ow i n g s o m e o f C a r u a n a’s p re p a ra t i o n for the Championship, including openings being considered. In the internet age, nothing is ever truly removed, as was proved by chess fans all over the world uploading snippets and screenshots, analysing every inch of what they could see. Other information in the video included the names of three grandmasters (the highe st title a che ss player c a n a t t a i n , b e s i d e s Wo r l d C h a m p i o n ) C a r u a n a w a s using to train with: Leinier Domínguez, Alejandro Ramírez, and Ioan-Cristian Chirila. T h e v i d e o’s re l e a s e wo u l d h ave b e e n c o m p a ra b l e t o D i d i e r D e s c h a m p s ’ Wo r l d C u p f i n a l p r e p a r a t i o n against Croatia being posted online hours before kickoff. Caruana continued as though unaffected by the drama almost defeating Carlsen again towards the end of the series. With the scores tied though the game progressed t o t i e - b r e a k e r s . We b e g i n w i t h f o u r g a m e s w i t h a

reduction in the time allowed for moves per person. If it is tied after thos e we play two game s of Blitz chess, games with even shorter time allowances. F i n a l l y, i f t h e s c o r e s a r e t i e d a f t e r t h o s e w e p l a y one game of Armageddon chess with, you guessed it, even less time allowed. Carls en was favourite to win the tie-breakers as he is also ranked number one in the world for Blitz chess, whereas Caruana is only ranked number 18. True to the ranking, Carlsen won the first two game s leaving him one win away from de fending his title. Again in the third game, the Norwegian was on top, and his opponent re signed when he saw that his fate was s ealed. The 2 7-year-old had de fended his title yet again, but he recognis ed that it wasn’t a s e a s y a s i t h a d b e e n f o r h i m p r e v i o u s l y. “It is a lot about the mindset. There is no pure chess reason in terms of understanding the game that I should play wors e than I have be fore. But the s e game s show that I have not been able to take all my chance s. I need to work on that to be even sharper the next time.” C a r l s e n ’ s s i s t e r, E l l e n , h i n t e d t h a t i f h e l o s t h e might have retired. When asked about this he said “for sure, if I had lost, it could very well have been my last world championship match. I have a lot of time over the next two years to improve my game.” After months of a strict regimen including a controlled diet, intensive exercise routine, and h o u r s o f s t u d y e a c h d a y, C a r l s e n c e l e b r a t e d h i s v i c t o r y b y h e a d i n g t o We t h e r s p o o n s . H e c a n n o w relax knowing he has two years before it all takes place again, with Caruana favourite to return as his opponent.

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