Issue 19

Inside Culture: 15

Opinion – Leave Ari Women’s Fiction Alone!: 16 Prize: 23

Ultimate 0161 Burrito Guide: 27

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11th March 2019 / Issue 19

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SU Elections: Two candidates accused of misconduct triumph Ethan Davies & Josh Sandiford Editor-in-Chief & Breaking News Reporter Kwame Asamoah Kwarteng, a candidate who was banned from campaigning due to allegations of misconduct, has been elected General Secretary of the University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU).

Four candidates, running on a ‘slate’ – or a common platform – were banned from campaigning in-person in the final days of voting after some students accused them of snatching their phones to then vote for themselves. Some students also told The Mancunion that they were “intimidated” by the candidates. The candidates appealed but the ban was upheld.

Rana Phool, who was also banned from campaigning, was elected to become the inaugural Postgraduate Officer.

At a dramatic results evening, the position of International Students’ Officer wasn’t declared due to allegations of misconduct. The Mancunion understands that a result is expected from the 11th of March.

Headlines this week

In a statement, an SU spokesperson said: “Following a number of complaints about four candidates in the Manchester Students’ Union Elections 2019, the independent Returning Officer reviewed the evidence provided and came to the conclusion that these candidates should be banned from further physical campaigning until the close of polling.”

The other two slate candidates were Anas Riaz and Dishika Bhalotia, who ran for the Activities and Development and the International Students’ Officer roles respectively.

Riaz lost in the last round of voting to incumbent Lizzy Haughton by just 39 votes, and Bhalotia will not know her fate until an NUS Returning Officer concludes their investigation into candidate-wrongdoing.

Dylan Routley, who stood for the position of Welfare and Community officer, told The Mancunion : “As somebody who ran in this election in a separate category this is really disappointing, not only does it undermine the whole point of elections but it diminishes the hard work of so many candidates. “[It] also demonstrates a new level of

Uni mental health problems at all time high Page 3

shithousery from the SU & NUS [as] the candidates involved were reported several times and received no sanction.”

When asked by The Mancunion about the accusations during the campaign, the newly elected General Secretary Kwame said: “[The allegations] made me stronger. They realised they had a tough competitor and so they had to do anything to draw me down. For me, it is part of the competition and you will always have these things happening. For me, it just made me stronger. it made me and my team extremely stronger.”

The newly elected Postgraduate Officer Rana Phool said: “To be very honest, this has affected me a lot. Everyone now knows that our slate has been accused of numerous things, but I was not accused of anything personally throughout the process.

“It saddens me, but at the same time, it makes me strong. I have to rise above, inshallah I will do this and I will prove everything wrong.”

Another surprising result was incumbent Education Officer Olivia Meisl’s loss to Chloe Salins, who said: “I don’t think it’s been the

Cubo put up for sale Page 5

smoothest of campaigns, but overall most candidates I can honestly say hand on heart they deserve it. Stuff happens but the right people will win.”

The other new Exec team members include Ayla Huseyinoglu, who takes over the Women’s Officer role from Sara Heddi. The 2019/20 Exec team will still contain a Sara however, as incumbent Access and Liberation Officer Sara Khan comfortably retained her role.

Adam Haigh, notable for his campaigning work with anti-climate change activist group Extinction Rebellion, was elected as the new Welfare and Community Officer. When interviewed by The Mancunion shortly after his victory, he said that candidates who were banned from campaigning could potentially have been disqualified: “There are some candidates who I potentially would have suggested should have been disqualified because of there actions, but I guess the NUS has decided that there isn’t enough evidence at the moment.”

Story continues on page 2...

53%of UK students faced unwanted sexual behaviour Page 5

Puzzle Page!

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Inside Issue 19

Banned candidates win SU elections any shame they will make sure that the people Ethan Davies & Josh Sandiford Editor-in-Chief & Breaking News Reporter who cheated and then got elected step down 7,771 students voted in the 2019 SU elections, a turnout of around 19.4%. This is down slightly on 2018’s 19.8% turnout. SU elections rarely see high turnouts, with previous years recording figures of 16% in 2017 and 28% in 2016. Prior to that, 2015 was a record high of 34.4%.

One anonymous student said: “If the SU has

Turkish students face torture

or resign. Cheating is fine as long as there is no clapping at the students union.”

Anuli Changa, a third-year law student added: “If there is enough damning evidence of the misconduct then those candidates should be removed, it’s about the perception of misconduct as much as proven misconduct because if people don’t believe that the

elections are fair, the executive officers lose authority.”

Prasham Sheth, a first-year economics student said: “The SU elections did not decide who’s the best for the roles, but it decided who was the best at marketing. In the first three days, those who voted probably didn’t even know who or what they were voting for, quite a few people randomly voted just to get the free stuff.”

Photo: Tiocfaidh ár lá 1916 @ Flickr

Investigations, page 7

Manchester MPs attack post-Brexit fund for Northern towns

Opinion: Time to give initiations the boot Societies, page 12

The fund is designed to reduce the short-term impacts of Brexit on struggling communities, although some argue it does not address wider issues Sam Honey Head News Editor

SU elections left an unsavoury taste Opinion, page 10

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

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Greater Manchester MPs have expressed displeasure at a new government fund, organised in a bid to reduce the effect of Brexit on struggling towns across the country.

Although the funding will amount to around £1.6 billion in total, it will be split between a variety of towns cross the Midlands and the North, and the North West will only have access to around £40 million for the entire region until 2026.

Theresa May launched the proposal on a platform of assuring equality in prosperity, but many see it as a thinly-veiled attempt to gauge support for her faltering Brexit plans in lowincome communities, and areas that voted to leave in June 2016.

However, the new fund has once again been placed at the heart of the regional features@mancunion.com Opinion Editor: Sophie Marriott Deputy Editor: Cachella Smith opinion@mancunion.com

inequality debate, with key figures across the Greater Manchester political scene expressing the insignificance of the new investment in comparison to the widespread cuts forced open councils since 2010.

For example, since 2010, Oldham council alone have been forced into over £200 million of involuntary cuts, a figure five times the size of the North West’s slice of the new struggling towns pot.

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon criticised the government for an error of focus.

“Our towns have been left devastated by decades of under-investment and the loss of quality jobs and hope for the future,” he said.

“Brexit was a wake up call that things had to be different, but instead we are offered the same old cynical politics of the worst kind.”

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy was also among those that attacked the fund as a one-off payment that didn’t address deeper-seated issues.

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Many see the fund as a way of mitigating the short-term impacts of Brexit, while failing to address the lasting division between North and South.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett was keen to ensure that funding was not dependent on supporting May’s deal: “Our town centres are in desperate need of investment and I sincerely hope this funding isn’t conditional on supporting the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, nor do I hope that this results in further cuts for local government as we enter the next spending review.”

Meanwhile, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire backed the new funding, say that councils could apply for it on a needsbased basis: “We have listened to people who are concerned by momentous changes to their communities and I am determined to provide the support they need to create a more prosperous future beyond Brexit.”

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Burnham calls for increased ‘stop and search’ to crack down on knife crime in Manchester ‘Stop and search’ and harsher penalties are just two of the suggestions made by Andy Burnham relating to how Greater Manchester can help tackle knife crime Emily Broncz Deputy News Editor Mayor Andy Burnham has recently announced that police in the region should look towards implementing tougher techniques to prevent knife crime.

The plan included the proposal of increased ‘stop and search’ as well as harsher penalties against those found carrying a weapon.

Andy Burnham’s address was delivered after the death of Burnage teenager Yousef Makki, 17, who was killed in a brutal knife attack in Hale Barns, Trafford earlier this

month.

The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, is looking to meet with police chiefs from across the country after the number of murders committed in 2019 rose to 20, which includes Yousef’s death last weekend.

Burnham firmly outlined his plans for delivering safer streets to the Greater Manchester area. Speaking about what measures he would be prepared to introduce, Burnham stated: “One thing I am prepared to consider as police and crime commissioner is more use of stop and search. Not in a discriminatory way.”

Burnham explained that the ‘stop and search’ technique would be helpful, as the

issue of knife crime was not limited to “one particular community or any one group.”

Clarifying the issue further, Burnham stressed that the method would not be subjected to unfair stereotypes: “As I said this is a problem that seems to go across all geographies and social classes. It will be more when police have evidence or reasonable suspicion that a young person is carrying a knife that police can carry those stop and searches out.”

Greater Manchester Police are also looking to recruit 320 more police officers to be able to properly meet growing demands on the police force. The employment of additional police officers will be funded by

a rise in council tax.

The idea of a national knife crime crisis was also raised by Burnham: “I think we do need action at a national level. The question is do we need tougher penalties for people caught carrying knives and I think there is a strong case that says ‘yes we do’ to give that powerful message to young people that it’s not OK at all to leave home with a knife.”

Free bus travel for teenagers as well as delivering higher levels of support throughout education and apprenticeships were a few suggestions made by Burnham relating to how the government can help alleviate adversity faced by many youths.

University students suffering mental health problems at all-time high The largest ever mental health poll of universities has revealed that the levels of distress and illness among students in the UK is ‘alarmingly high’ Shivani Kaura Deputy News Editor A poll conducted by the Insight Network has suggested that students in higher education are at a high risk of developing substance abuse and thoughts of self-harm, whilst others are more likely to suffer from anxiety and loneliness.

Figures showed that around four in 10 (44.7%) students admitted using alcohol or drugs to cope with their mental health problems, while one in 10 (9.5%) said they did this often, or all the time. One in three (33.9%) had experienced a serious psychological issue for which they felt they needed professional help.

Students also reported high levels of anxiety, with 42.8% often or always worried. Around nine in 10 said they had struggled with anxiety at some point during university, which is 18.7 per cent

greater than 2017 figures.

One in five said they had a current mental health diagnosis, most commonly depression, at 10.2 per cent, and anxiety, at 8.4 per cent. Although, around threequarter said they would hide it from their close friends and family.

Around 37,000 individuals took part in the self-selecting survey, from 140 universities across England, Scotland and Wales.

Many universities tend to focus on the wellbeing of first years, as leaving home tends to be quite a shock to most. Figures in this report stated that 12.1 per cent of second-years suffered from mental health problems, especially when it came to selfharm, compared to 9.2 per cent of firstyears and 11.1 per cent of third-years.

Tom, a third-year student at the University of Manchester, said: “My mental health issues were definitely made worse

at university, and so universities definitely have a duty to do more.

“Perhaps personal advisors should be given more of a role, my personal advisor admitted he knew something was up when I didn’t respond to his emails, but didn’t actually know how to help as he couldn’t get hold of me.

“Maybe DASS could work with personal advisors to keep a look out for warning signs of deteriorating mental health, and provide help more quickly in the hope of preventing a potential mental health crisis.”

When asked about how good the university’s mental health services were at issuing help, Tom said: “currently they’re not great, but I’m hopeful the upcoming Greater Manchester initiative, which the university is involved in, will be improvement we’ve needed.”

Tom also stated that wellbeing week at

the university is “a good idea in practice but those resources would probably be better focused towards year round support groups”, although offered at the university for specific cases, many are still unaware of these facilities.

Following analysis of the report, Dr Stephen Pereira of Insight Network, has concluded that the transition from second year into third year is mentally, more challenging than leaving school and moving to university, thus has urged universities to come forward and invest more into counselling and support services.

John de Pury, mental health policy lead at Universities UK which represents the UK higher education sector, said: “Universities cannot address these challenges alone and we are working closely with the NHS locally and nationally to make sure that students get the care they need.”

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Tuition fee cuts could hurt underrepresented students the most A drop in tuition fees could see funding for widening participation at universities for minority groups scrapped entirely Emily Broncz Deputy News Editor An article in Times Higher Education has recently argued that cuts to university funding could impact those from less-privileged backgrounds the hardest.

Several universities have committed themselves to widening participation and creating more opportunities to prospective students from all backgrounds. Times Higher Education noted that Russell Group universities are currently spending £1,000 from every £9,250 on making university education accessible to those from under-represented groups.

Queen Mary University of London was

hailed as a good example of an inclusive university, where spending to improve representation amounts to £10 million per annum. 90% of the student cohort at Queen Mary come from state schools, 60% from black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds and 27% who attend come from households with an annual income of less than £10,000.

Times Higher Education has suggested that any proposed cuts to tuition fees would directly affect the pool of funding reserved for helping to widen opportunity and participation at universities. If faced with insufficient funding, schemes at universities which endeavour to deliver support to underrepresented groups could face a strong likelihood of being scrapped.

Photo: Stocksnap @Pixabay

Homeless charity Lifeshare locked out of premises Photo: Mike Faherty @Geograph

The Manchester-based homeless charity Lifeshare have been locked out of their premises at Charter Street Ragged School, but hope to find a new location soon Chloe Hatton Societies Editor Manchester-based homeless charity Lifeshare have been locked out of their premises following a “breakdown in communication.”

On Saturday the 2nd of March, volunteers arrived at 6am to cook breakfast.

However, upon arrival they found that the locks had been changed, with all their food and equipment still inside. The volunteers went to a local supermarket and bought

sandwiches and drinks so they could serve something for breakfast.

On Sunday, SPIN, a local charity based in Ardwick, supported Lifeshare so that their volunteers could give out some hot food and drinks.

Lifeshare is a charity that has been serving breakfast to those who need it, including the homeless, for the last 25 years.

Alongside this, they also offer a change of clothes and a chance to have a hot shower.

During this time, they have been based at the Charter Street Ragged School, located next to Angel Meadow. Lifeshare rented

the premises — which are in the process of becoming listed — from The Charter Street Mission, the charity that owns the building.

Two years ago, Lifeshare were asked to leave.

Vinny Tarpey, a trustee of Lifeshare, said to The Mancunion : “the area was once pretty much unloved but is now prime development territory.”

In the two years since initially being asked to leave, Vinny says that there has been “debate and negotiation”, but that ultimately there was a “breakdown in communication.” They have attempted to

find a new base, but “it has been impossible to find somewhere cheap, central, and happy to take our clients in, despite help from the council, Andy Burnham, and various local charitable organisations.

“We think we have a new base in the pipeline which will be a bit further away from the city centre. We hope to be able to confirm it in the next few days and move in within a few weeks if all goes well. Until then we’ll be serving our clients on the street and praying for mild and dry weather!”

The Mancunion has contacted Charter Street Mission for comment.

Mancunians increasingly being priced out of the city centre New housing in Manchester is growing unaffordable and following the trend in London of increasingly prominent foreign ownership Poornima Geemon News Reporter House prices and rents are increasing in Manchester City Centre, as more properties are being bought by international buyers. This is putting families with a lower income at a disadvantage as they are unable to afford these properties.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese defended this issue, saying:

“Money is international, so working with good partners who are in it for the long haul is clearly a way of helping us build places and build communities.”

However, it has been claimed that this makes young buyers more vulnerable.

“Prices are only going up at the moment”, says Sam Evans from Manchester. “I think it is a difficult place for a young person to buy. There is a lot of uncertainty from a young person’s perspective. Developers do want to sell to the highest bidder and that’s often not young people.”

Manchester has been described by Deloitte as one of Europe’s fastest growing cities, with properties selling three times faster than London. Over 15,000 houses are being built, but with limited affordability. Many worry that Manchester will become like London, whereby people with average salaries will no longer be able to live anywhere central.

BBC Inside Out North West identified that 48 out of One Smithfield Square’s 7 7 apartments are owned by international buyers from Hong Kong, Singapore, and

Saudi Arabia. 24 are owned by companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. 20 apartments are owned by British property companies, and the remaining 9 are owned by the people who live in them.

Dr Jonathan Silver, from the University of Sheffield, argues that homes for Mancunians are being “turned into assets and security boxes for off-shore wealth.”

Silver postulates that, without affordable housing, “shop assistants, nurses, teacher and many other workers will be unable to access housing in central Manchester.”

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Photo: Andy Dean Photography

Cubo is up for sale The future of the Fallowfield nightclub venue is thrown into question after being listed on property selling page Rightmove Rona McCann Sub-Editor Fallowfield nightclub Cubo has been listed on the property market for a free-of-tie lease of £33,000. The listing can be found on the property search site Rightmove.

The reason for Cubo’s selling is due to the owner’s “relocation”. Despite this, club nights

are still being advertised to take place at the venue for the foreseeable future.

It is unclear when the site will change hands, or whether it will continue as a nightclub.

The bar and nightclub, previously named Koh Tao, is located on Wilmslow Road. It serves as a popular nightlife venue for the highdensity student population in Fallowfield.

Cubo is regarded as one of the area’s last remaining nightclub venues serving students, following Antwerp Mansion’s closure as a nightclub last year. Withington’s Indigo remains open.

On its Rightmove page, the property is described as a “student bar operating around the university’s schedule” with a “strong reputation”.

Also listed is the annual gross turnover of the property, which is “in the region of £250,000”, with a net profit of around £70,000.

The news was shared on popular Facebook group Fallowfield Students Group (FSG), to which comments expressed ideas of what the property could become, including a late-night vegan takeaway and a falafel joint.

Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony

Majority of students ‘exposed to unwanted sexual behaviour’ A survey of 5,649 UK university students has found that 53% of respondents experienced unwanted sexual behaviour from another student

Josh Sandiford Breaking News Reporter A majority of students across the country are being exposed to unwanted sexual behaviour according to new research.

A survey of 5,649 UK university students has found that 53% of respondents experienced unwanted sexual behaviours from another student such as inappropriate touching, explicit messages and being forced into sexual acts.

Despite this, only 8% of respondents said they had reported an offence.

Nearly half of all women said they had been touched inappropriately, with 26% of women saying they were sent unwanted sexually

explicit messages.

30% of all incidents took place on campus.

The survey also found that women are more likely to experience unwanted sexual behaviour than men.

The research revealed that only 25% of students who were forced into having sex went on to report it and also showed a significant gap in understanding of consent and what constitutes sexual harassment and violence.

56% of respondents said they had experienced unwanted sexual behaviours at university yet only 15% realised that these behaviours counted as sexual harassment.

In addition, the survey showed that students experienced confusion around sexual consent - especially where alcohol is involved - with only half understanding that it

is not possible to give consent if you are drunk.

The research notes that a contributing factor to this lack of awareness may be the inadequacies of sex education in schools.

The survey showed that relationships and sex education (RSE) is still heavily focused on STIs and pregnancy rather than consent and harassment.

The survey, which is the largest of its kind, was designed by Brook and distributed through the Dig-In database.

Helen Marshall, Chief Executive of Brook said: “While we firmly believe that relationships and sex education (RSE) needs to start in school, this worryingly low reporting rate suggests that much more needs to be done at every stage of academic life. It’s really important that universities provide students

with information and education on sexual harassment and the law, and ensure that their reporting procedures and support services are accessible and welcoming.

“Brook’s expert RSE and wellbeing support is provided nationwide within various education settings. We will be launching an online consent course in 2019 which will help students to understand the law, the gender norms, stereotypes and cultural factors which may affect their ability to consent and will support them to communicate about consent with partners.”

Last month, a 3,500-strong crowd marched from Owens Park to Manchester Students’ Union to ‘reclaim the night’, calling on Manchester City Council to make women’s safety a priority.

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ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

78% of Grads fear Brexit will negatively impact careers

Graduates may have to become more verstaile to land a job after the UK exits the EU, according to new research by Milkround Octavia Spray News Reporter Graduates are doubtful about their prospects of obtaining a job in their desired sector due to the uncertainty of Brexit, as major corporations cut their recruitment numbers.

Private sector organisations were recruiting 10% fewer graduates by the end of 2017. This explains why 52% of graduates are doubtful about their prospects of securing a job in 2019, while 78% believe it will negatively impact their salaries.

In recent research, Milkround, a UK graduate job board, has discovered that these sentiments strongly correlate to the graduates’ attitude about the job market during the 2008 financial crisis.

In 2008, Graduates took an average of eight months to find a job in the sector they wanted. However, the job market is in a very different condition, considering that it is still currently expanding. So why are there these

parallels between the financial crisis and Brexit?

Jonathan Portes, the Brexit and labour market economist at King’s College London remarked that uncertainty caused by an EU exit crucially affected the labour market: “Given the current healthy state of the UK labour market, it might seem surprising how pessimistic 2019’s prospective graduates are about the impact of Brexit. But history suggests that they are right be to be worried.

“Brexit may well prove not just to be a short-term economic shock, but to do long-lasting damage to young people’s career prospects. Given the uncertainties, new graduates will need to be flexible and adaptable; that may mean accepting jobs in a different sector or location to their first preference if it gives them a foot on the ladder.”

Milkround has shown that the number of graduate roles advertised on its platform increase by 104% every year, regardless of Brexit. As much as 70% of employers have projected that

Brexit will not impact their recruitment practices. Many even predict an 18% increase in the number of graduates that they are planning on recruiting this year.

The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) was fairly positive about graduate prospects, in their 2018 annual survey.

In fact, they showed that these major corporations were recruiting 7% more graduates in 2018 than in the previous year, even with the uncertainty of Brexit looming.

In the survey, ISE asked employers about their main worry for the year ahead was and only 15% stated that Brexit was one of them. This was a very different case back in October 2016, when Brexit was number one on the list of topics employers were most concerned about.

This all suggests that graduates should not put off applying for jobs after university as the job market is still expanding and Brexit, as of yet, has not had a disastrous impact.

Better Buses Action Week to support regulation of Manchester’s buses

A campaign group organised a week of action to sway Greater Manchester’s mayor to re-regulate bus services Lucy Menage News Reporter Better Buses Action Week took place from the 4th-11th March in an attempt to sway Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, to re-regulate Manchester’s buses.

Burnham must decide between regulation of the bus network or entering into a partnership.

The action week was started by the campaign group Better Buses for Greater Manchester who want Greater Manchester bus services to be regulated.

The group found that 76% of people polled want re-regulation of buses in Greater Manchester.

Meetings with local leaders on buses and bus stops across Manchester took place over the action week to help convince Burnham to reregulate the buses.

Re-regulation would allow control

over bus fares, bus routes, and the ability to use a convenient travel card similar to the oyster card used in London.

Importantly, regulation would allow cross-subsidisation where money taken from busy bus routes can be used to pay for routes which are more socially necessary.

Local authorities currently have no control over the fares or routes of 80% of buses in Greater Manchester.

Despite this, 40% of the bus revenue comes from public money.

Greater Manchester buses were de-regulated in the 1980’s and by 1996, buses in the North of Manchester were sold to Stagecoach and buses in the South were sold to First Bus. Bus usage since the 80’s has declined by 40% due to restricted routes and unreliability.

The call for re-regulation is strongly supported by the MP for Ashton, Angela Rayner: “I’ve seen how

the withdrawal of vital bus services in my constituency – often without proper consultation - has affected passengers.

“I understand that there are times when difficult decisions have to be made and I know that some services become financially unviable. But it is vital that all options are explored before key services are cut. Anything less is unacceptable.”

Sir Richard Charles Leese, who has been leader of Manchester City Council since 1996, also agrees with the calls for re-regulation: “Manchester Labour is determined to make public transport serve the public by extending democratic control over bus services with straightforward smart ticketing covering bus, train, and tram.

“This fully completely aligns with the aims of the Better Buses campaign and we fully support the Better Buses Action Week.”

Should SU elections candidates accused of underhand tactics be disqualified?

“If there are accusations of candidates gaming the system, then that needs to be taken very seriously and there should be an investigation. An accusation alone shouldn’t be enough to disqualify someone, but if it turns out that anyone did cheat then they should be disqualified.”

James Bosson, MA Politics “Reported candidates should absolutely have been disqualified from the election.

The SU has legitimated fraudulent votes which they were made aware of multiple times. Giving these full-time roles to these individuals, who have disrespected the student body they are going to be paid and entrusted to represent, is morally repugnant. I feel angry on behalf of the genuine candidates I know who ran honest campaigns and truly had the intention of using their roles to make a difference.”

Amy Wei, English & Creative Writing “I think there should be some kind of disciplinary action given for candidates accused of cheating. There have been so many complaints and so many people are angry, it’s not fair that certain people can now have a nice cushy job being paid £19,000 when they didn’t play by the rules.”

Anonymous “I think they should have been disqualified for 2 reasons: 1) it is not fair on candidates who have played by the ru;es and been honest in their campaigns, it sets a bad example and will encourage cheating in the future, 2) the second reason is if they are dishonest and using underhand tactics it is likely that they will abuse the significant power they are given if they win and so should not be trusted in such a position.”

Hannah Scott, LLM Healthcare Ethics and Law

Investigations 7

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM Photo: Svetlana Tikhonova @ Public Domain Pictures

Turkish students faced torture, says Manchester academic’s report Some of the students faced beatings and were forced to undress whilst in prison following an anti-war demonstration The Mancunion Team Students in Turkey faced torture whilst being held by authorities following an anti-war demonstration, according to a University of Manchester academic.

A report by Ulla Karhumäki – a PhD student in mathematical logic – details how a group of 32 Turkish undergraduate students were arrested on ‘terrorism propaganda’ charges, with some having further charges placed upon them. A trial is now underway.

Karhumäki attended the second hearing of the trial, where 31 of the 32 students – all of

whom were aged between 19 and 26 – had their ban on leaving Turkey lifted. In her report, which is “based on the conversations [Karhumäki] had with the students, or with [their] friends and families”, she writes in detail the procedure and outcome of the hearing.

The report states that the students were arrested for attending an anti-war protest near the Boğaziçi University library following Turkish forces’ capture of the city of Afrin, Syria. Some of the accused claim to be there “by chance” according to the report.

In her report, Karhumäki claims that at least two of the students from Boğaziçi University faced beatings during the arrest.

Before the trial, students claim to have had laptops confiscated, hampering their efforts to study for their course. Whilst being held by Turkish authorities, one student claims that at least two student detainees were beaten, and at least two were forced to undress completely.

Whilst in prison, another claims that up to 43 people were held in a room designed for seven.

The next hearing of these students will take place on 19th March, exactly one year on from the demonstration, when the accused should face their final sentencing.

Currently, Turkey is ruled by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose stint in leadership has been tarnished by claims that

freedom of speech and press freedoms have been suppressed since taking office in 2014.

Recently, opposition news site Ahval reported that publishers were refusing to produce certain books due to fears they could be arrested.

In January 2019, Erdoğan rejected US National Security Adviser John Bolton’s suggestion that Turkey should protect Kurdish fighters in Syria, describing the American’s statement as “unacceptable”. Turkey regards the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), who are fighting in Syria, as a terrorist organisation.

Why aren’t students planning for the future?

Factors such as an invisible careers service and time-consuming part-time employment means students are not getting the best preparation for their futures Manchester has one of the world’s top universities so it’s no surprise students have their sights set on all manner of prestigious careers after graduation, with countless becoming entrepreneurs or high-ranking professionals.

These goals are understandable and for the most part realistic due to the quality of education and opportunities provided, but can more be done to enable students to plan for their later careers while still studying for their degrees?

Where to place the blame for a lack of career planning is a problematic issue and once again the issue of how to engage students is prevalent: should universities offer a better range of careers opportunities and support, or do students simply need to be more proactive?

Manchester’s own Careers Service offers a wide range of opportunities and information for students to readily access online, as well as their office open to students from 9am-5pm, five days a week. Regular

June 2016

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emails are sent by both the Careers Service themselves and individual schools within the university informing students of relevant opportunities and career-related events on campus.

Despite this abundance of seemingly accessible information, there is still progress to be made apparently, as a Times Higher Education survey places the University of Manchester’s Careers Service outside the top 20 in the UK, despite being ranked sixth in the overall university rankings.

The university’s Careers Service may suffer from poor publicity, as its website is substantial and is abundant with useful advice, steps to take at varying stages of a degree, and specific postings about placement, internship and graduate opportunities. Even if a Careers Service offers a wealth of great advice, if it fails to publicise effectively students won’t see a benefit. Access to these resources is just as key as the resources themselves, indicating universities themselves may need to improve how they communicate with the student body surrounding careers.

Students across the country are leaving

university under-prepared for graduate life, or fearing how they will cope with the burden of student debt. A recent survey by Aviva has found 37% of millennials regret going to university due to the debt they have accrued, and 49% of those surveyed believe they would have got to where they are now without a university degree.

Louise Colley, customer propositions director at Aviva, said: “Millennials are plagued with uncertainty about the outlook for their financial futures, an issue which has not been helped by the uncertainty of today’s economic and political climate.

“The financial hangover from university has also led many in this age group to question whether in hindsight they made the right decision and how much value it has brought to their current position.”

With such high fees now in place, and going to university potentially feeling like a great risk for those less affluent, universities owe it to their students to ensure they feel they gain everything necessary out of the experience, readying them for a successful future immediately after graduation.

While students face great financial

uncertainty after graduation, many find that the need to support themselves during their studies, impacting their ability to plan for their later careers. Amy Cahoon, a second-year Biomedical Sciences student who finds herself in this position told The Mancunion she “simply [doesn’t] have enough time to participate in career-related activities.

“Long uni hours and working take up the majority of my time but like everyone I want to socialise and be part of clubs in order to keep me sane. In my eyes it’s a weigh-up between developing solid friendships or using my time to be part of an activity that may or may not be beneficial to my chosen career.”

Students increasingly find themselves forced to choose between short-term enjoyment and long-term planning, and this presents a dangerous dichotomy at university, the supposed best and most freeing time of one’s life. University becomes simply a means to an end as students end up dedicating vast swathes of their time to secure the necessary grades and placements to start on their desired career path after graduation.

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Felix Hanif-Banks Investigations Editor

Research has shown that many young people feel their education as a whole leaves them under-prepared for the working world. A survey of 17-24-year-olds by apprenticeship website GetMyFirstJob found that 98% felt discontented with the careers advice offered by their school or college, with a further 92% saying they felt the education system prioritises exam results over careers.

8 Science & Tech

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

New heights reached in Virgin Galactic spaceflight ‘Spaceplanes’ are notoriously difficult to take off and re-enter the atmosphere — so how did Virgin do it?

Alex Moores Contributor Last month’s flight of Virgin Galactic’s Unity spacecraft marks the first time a passenger has been taken aboard a commercial spaceflight. Upon landing, the three crew members were given commercial astronaut wings by the US Federal Aviation Administration, a medal received by only four people before them.

Bringing passengers to space is an important milestone in the field of commercial space exploration, a business model favoured by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, and to a certain extent Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The landmark flight has been lauded as a victory for Branson, but in this round, there’s been some accusations of foul play.

The controversy arises from ambiguity in the definition of space. There’s no clear boundary marking where the atmosphere ends and space begins since the Earth’s atmosphere thins gradually until it merges with the near-vacuum of interplanetary space. On the international stage, a threshold of 100km above the Earth’s surface is commonly accepted, but in the US, the FAA gives the astronaut title to anyone who’s flown over 80km.

On this mission in particular, the Unity spacecraft reached only 89km at the highest point of its suborbital hop, bringing some to question whether the mission should be classified as a spaceflight.

Flying any kind of spacecraft is very tricky, but ‘spaceplanes’ are notoriously hard to get off the ground. While the idea has been played with by many since the space race, the one success story was littered with failures. The Space Shuttle program overstepped its budget by

more than a billion dollars every time it flew, failing its main goal of providing cheap, reusable orbital capability. Over its 30 year lifetime, hardware faults due its unconventional launch configuration led to two total mission failures, killing 14 people in total.

The aerospace industry has come a long way since the Shuttle era and is understandably a little more prudent, but the concepts be-

its trajectory high out of the atmosphere. Finally, at the highest point of its arc, the spaceplane must push its speed high enough such that its trajectory lifts above the ground, reaching a stable orbit of the Earth.

The Space Shuttle used huge solid-fuel boosters to reach the upper atmosphere in its first stage of flight, using a vertical launch configuration similar to conventional rockets.

Photo: Roderick Eime @ Flickr

hind flying a modern spaceplane like Unity are more or less the same.

There are three main stages to a spaceplane’s flight. First, it must get to high up in the atmosphere where the air is thin enough so it won’t produce much drag. Secondly, it must accelerate to exceedingly high speeds, pushing

Unity uses a less ostentatious method. A mothership takes off from a runway and carries the spacecraft up to 50,000ft (about one-and-ahalf times the cruising height of a Boeing 747), then Unity detaches. After gliding for a few seconds, it activates its rocket engine, sending it blasting off to the edge of space.

Re-entry is another dangerous element of any space mission, and the Unity spacecraft makes some necessary improvements over the Shuttle here as well. Suborbital velocities are fast, and orbital velocities are even faster.

Most orbital facilities like the International Space Station circle the Earth once every 90 minutes, about 30-times the top speed of a 747. If a spacecraft doesn’t slow down enough in the thin upper atmosphere, the high drag conditions of the soupy lower atmosphere will cause so much heating that the spacecraft risks burning up.

The Shuttle avoided overheating in the lower atmosphere by plastering its lower half in thermal tiles, leading to its distinct black and white look. Unity takes a more adventurous approach, and the spaceplane undergoes a dramatic transformation in the upper atmosphere. The entire back end of the spacecraft rotates and the whole vehicle folds up on itself, making the spacecraft much less streamlined.

In this configuration, Unity’s high drag slows it down enough in the upper atmosphere so when it reaches the lower atmosphere, it can glide deftly back to the runway it took off from.

From take-off on the mothership, the whole flight takes about an hour and a half, spending some 15 minutes in the upper atmosphere. Entering space or not, the crew got some incredible views over North America – and bringing a passenger even to the edge of space is certainly still a significant achievement for commercial spaceflight.

Branson has often attracted criticism for his company’s over-optimistic promises. While putting a passenger in orbit is still far away on the horizon, it’s clear Virgin Galactic is striving ever higher in the pursuit of commercial space exploration.

Million tonnes of waste to be dumped in Great Barrier Reef Despite legislation being in place to protect the reef, exemptions are permitted for dredging to aid port maintenance Ella Gerry Contributor Australian authorities have recently approved plans to dump over one million tonnes of industrial dredge spoil near to the Great Barrier Reef over the next ten years.

Dredging is an industrial process that moves material, or dredge, from one area of the water environment to another. The process has a variety of beneficial uses such as recovering materials of commercial value. It is also essential in coastal redevelopment and in maintaining waterways for port areas.

In 2015, the Australian government banned capital dredging and disposal near the Great Barrier Reef as means to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, dredging for port maintenance is exempt from this law and in January, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority= (GBRMPA) issued a permit for North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) to dump

maintenance dredge within the park’s boundaries.

“Just like roads, shipping channels require maintenance,” said the port authorities in a statement released on their website. “NQBP’s assessment reports found the risks to sensitive marine environments as a result of the maintenance dredging were predominantly low. The permits allow for the long-term, sustainable management of maintenance dredging at the port and will safeguard the efficient operations of one of Australia’s most critical trading ports.”

Experts are worried that this exploitation of a legal loophole will have devastating effects on the reef’s marine wildlife: “Government policy needs to change to ban all offshore dumping, so GBRMPA is not allowed to permit the reef’s waters to be used as a cheaper alternative to treating the sludge and disposing of it safely onshore,” said Greens Senator Larissa Waters in a statement to The Guardian .

“If it’s put in shallow water, it will smother

sea life,” Dr. Simon Boxall from the National Oceanography Centre Southampton told BBC News. Dr Boxall acknowledged that while dumping the dredge further out in the ocean could lessen the damage, it would still be releasing dangerous materials such as trace metals into the environment. “It’s important they get it right. It’ll cost more money but that’s not the environment’s problem – that’s the port authorities’ problem”.

The granting of the permit has occurred amidst reports that flood waters from Queensland rivers are flowing into the reef, resulting in the freshwater bleaching of corals. These freshwater bleaching events occur because of a decrease in the salinity of the ocean, which provokes a stress response in corals. Bleaching events can also be triggered by increased water temperatures, pollutants, and sedimentation. Algae living in symbiosis with the coral are expelled, causing the coral to turn white in colour. Coral can often survive bleaching events, but increased frequency and intensity

of periods of stress often results in mortality.

The Great Barrier Reef is currently experiencing unprecedented back-to-back years of mass bleaching events, giving the reef little time to recover. As global temperature rises and industry grows, the likelihood of a mass extinction is becoming an increasingly real prospect.

A great amount of sea life depends on the coral. Extinction of coral species would have a disastrous domino effect on the marine wildlife. This would not only be a tragic loss of one of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems, but would have severe socio-economic impacts.

Experts warn the economic loss to the fishing and tourism industries will devastate the livelihoods of thousands of individuals.

Since 2016, half of all the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is estimated to have died. This permit to dump port maintenance waste in the reef is “another nail in the coffin,” says Dr. Boxall.

Features 9

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

An interview with Figen Murray

Hate Crime Awareness Week 2019

Liv Clarke spoke with Figen Murray during Hate Crime Awareness Week, discussing how we can transform hate into love by making small changes in our daily lives Liv Clarke Features Editor Hate Crime Awareness Week 2019 took place from the 4th until the 10th February and featured a variety of events held across Greater Manchester. The purpose of the week was to make people more aware of hate crime, how to report it and what can be done to prevent it, with the message of #WeStandTogether. Hate crime is defined as violent or offensive attacks committed against someone because of who they are (or the perception of who they are), based on factors such as race, religion or sexual orientation. Activities which took place included workshops, panel discussions and creative sessions aimed for all age groups and members of society; they were run by a variety of organisation like Greater Manchester Police and Manchester Young Lives.

Since the Manchester Arena bombing on the 22nd May 2017, it has been more important than ever before to encourage messages of positivity in the city. Events such as terror attacks can trigger a negative reaction as people try to deal with the trauma of the event, however, by becoming aware of what hate

crime is people can transform this negativity into positivity.

During HCAW I spoke with Figen Murray, who lost her son Martyn Hett in the Manchester Arena attack. She frequently visits schools and universities to encourage people to transform hate into love.

This week was important for Figen as it made people more aware of hate crime and what can be done to prevent it. “Generally speaking HCAW is important, because there is so much bad feeling amongst people in society,” Figen told me. “We should actually look at our differences and unite…embrace our differences instead of feeling threatened by them.” Hate crimes results from a lack of understanding of others; this week serves to teach people about differences and that hate crime cannot be tolerated.

Considering that hate crime is such a serious problem, it can be prevented by encouraging small changes in people’s attitudes, so that they can transform hate into love. Figen regularly gives talks to pupils and students, inspiring them to act and think more positively. “I go around secondary schools, universities…I talk to them about kindness and going back to the basics”, Figen explained. For one

exercise, she asks children to put pieces of paper with messages of kindness written on them in a box. “Its amazing what they come up with…kindness [is important] in the school community…[its about] teaching young people correct behaviour.”

A key feature of the week is the inclusion of people of all ages, and for Figen it’s crucial to get this message of positivity across at an early age. “[Its] totally important to include young people, because they are the future young adults, doctors, nurses, lawyers… [we should] make them stop and what they’re doing,” she explained.

Often it can be small things which can make a big difference, and for young people these changes can be made at home: “Make your parents a cup of tea instead of spending time on Snapchat…with technology people are very insular.” Figen mentioned how fostering the inquisitiveness of young people helps too: “Young people have genuine curiosity about other people’s culture and have greater respect towards others.”

Although Figen could not attend any of the events during the week, she could not emphasise enough the significance of HCAW: “It’s important to participate in these events.”

Figen certainly spreads the message of transforming hate into love effectively with her school visits.

So what can we do to act against hatred?

Figen had some useful ideas which can be incorporated into our daily lives: “Be kinder to one and other, be open, walk in other people’s shoes, be kind to others every day.” She warned that in today’s society with excessive social media, we’re at risk of “being wrapped up in ourselves”. Perhaps we need this message of positivity now more than ever.

Manchester has itself become a more loving and open place since the arena attack, as the community came together as the city recovered. “They [the people of Manchester] see the arena attack as a personal attack. The bee has gained additional meaning, gained solidarity…It wasn’t that long ago, don’t forget that day. It reminds us to unite.”

Although HCAW is just one week in a year, we should always be conscious of hate crime and take the time to change our attitude, transforming hate into love.

“I just want the world to be a better place, the people of Manchester can set a better example and be at the forefront of it all.”

Anti-social media: a negative impact on the university experience?

Photo: Pixabay @ Pexels

Becca Knight examines the role of social media in university life and how dependant on it we have become. But what are the negative effects if we use it excessively? Should we switch off in order to enjoy reality?

Becca Knight Contributor There is no denying that social media is an integral part of modern day university life.

Facebook is not only used as a tool for communicating with friends, finding out about deadlines and reading for each week, but it is also where parties are organised, events are shared and even where jobs are advertised.

Social media definitely has its benefits and has, in so many ways, made making friends and finding things to do in a new city much easier.

Yet it also has an effect on mental health, which is impossible to ignore. Studies have shown that there is a link between the use of social media and negative effects on well-being. University is a time for new experiences and having fun, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Constant viewing of other people’s online profiles can make moments of loneliness even more isolating. This consistent comparison of your reality to other people’s carefully curated online personas makes it easy to perceive your own university experience negatively.

Tim Bono, author of When Likes Aren’t Enough, explained in Healthista that: “when

we derive a sense of worth based on how we are doing relative to others, we place our happiness in a variable that is completely beyond our control”. Filtered versions of university life have created a digital, “ideal” image of university that most will never be able to achieve. With social media it is easy to build up a front that everything is great, and many worry about falling short of this image others have of them.

My friends from school all looked like they were having such an amazing time in new cities across the country, but coming home after the holidays and actually speaking to them made me realise how easy it is to use social media as a façade, a way to hide the harder realities of university life. They, like many people, had had issues finding their place amongst so much change, which of course was never reflected in the image they presented online. I had never really considered how much selection and editing was going on behind the scenes, how every account I was looking at had been curated to impress.

I wouldn’t be able to even guess how many hours I have spent scrolling through Instagram, looking at different versions of the same picture over and over again; groups of people in pubs, outside nightclubs, at ca-

fes and restaurants and dressed up for university balls. I have been to club nights and house parties all over the country vicariously through Snapchat stories, each clip an attempt to prove how great a time everyone was having.

This need to show followers and friends every update in our lives for some reason suddenly becomes even more important at university. Perhaps because it is a time of so much change and growing up, the desire to look like you are doing university “right” is overwhelming. The instinct to film and upload a funny event or a night of great music is irresistible. There is a need to validate the university experience with online proof through social media. The frequency I have heard the phrase “Let’s go out tonight, I need a good Instagram” shows social media’s ability to control and warp what are allegedly the ‘best years of your life’. Three years of experiences and opportunities have been reduced to, and are judged by, albums of photos on Facebook, tagged posts on Instagram and Snapchat videos of nights out.

Increasingly more studies are taking place to look into the negative effects of the fear of missing out, or FOMO. Having to stay in to finish an assignment whilst everyone else

goes out is hard enough as it is. But then having to actually watch everyone have a good time over social media, whilst you sit working on your own makes it even tougher. Studies have shown that feelings of FOMO can lead to stress, sleep problems and feelings of isolation, and the explosion of social media means that it is almost impossible to ignore the icons of friends out without you, bringing videos and pictures of everything you have missed.

Social media is an incredibly useful tool for navigating university, but the reliance on it as an indicator of university experience is damaging. The carefully-curated feeds of students across the country result in unfair comparisons. In short, reality will never live up to the filtered world presented through Instagram and Facebook. Trying to rely less on using digital proof as an indicator of a good time and focusing on the real, rather than the virtual, means that one version of the university experience isn’t valued over another. It will always be hard to completely disconnect from the social media world. But understanding the dangers of false comparisons and this imaginary need to always appear happy is important. You should enjoy university for what it means to you, not to your online followers.

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

10 Opinion

The leader of the opposition was just assaulted.

That’s worrying.

Photo: Sophie Brown @ Wikimedia Commons

Matthew Gold argues that the apathy in the press towards the recent assault on Jeremy Corbyn represents the poisonous attitude towards politicians perpetuated by the press Matthew Gold Contributor On Sunday the 3rd, Jeremy Corbyn was assaulted. He didn’t end up in hospital, he didn’t need stitches, but he was unmistakably assaulted. I find this very worrying, especially the reaction (or lack thereof) to the situation.

It is worrying for two separate reasons. The first is the level of hatred and animosity that is clearly festering in the UK right now. I have no way to tell if this is the most divided we have ever been, but there is an unmistakable schism running through the country.

When the leader of the opposition, democratically elected to lead his party by hundreds of thousands of Labour members not once, but twice, is presented as an ‘enemy of the people’,

then it is not surprising to see hatred and direct action taken against him. We know and expect that not all news sources are going to agree with him, but constructing him as a direct threat to the country is beyond far-fetched.

Lest we forget when hatred and animosity reaches its worst extreme if allowed to grow and remain unchecked. In 2016 MP Jo Cox was murdered in Britain by a man that disagreed with her politically. He had been convinced by far right ideology; sold a lie that an MP, doing what she thought was best for the country, was an enemy of the people.

This leads to my second reason for worry; the minimal reaction to the whole incident. We are living in times of anxiety, anger, and hate.

Corbyn has been projected as a threat to the country. People seem to have actually forgot-

ten what happened to Jo Cox when thinking about this case because “it was only an egg.”

I don’t see it that way, I see the leader of the opposition assaulted on the street, whilst attempting to honour ‘Visit My Mosque Day’ in his constituency. My fear is that in the same way that Corbyn is being portrayed as an enemy, just like Jo Cox was. Although perhaps not to the same extremes, it is still a poisonous rhetoric.

Incidentally, this particular Mosque was targeted by a far-right terror attack in 2017; yet more evidence of violence being committed against groups that are falsely projected as threats to the UK. Tory MP James Cleverly thought it more important to try and get one over on left-wing commentators by tweeting a gif that read

‘boom’, as opposed to condemning the assault.

That’s very revealing of the mentality that is spreading across the country, even to Parliament.

Initial reporting suggests that the assault was motivated by the Labour switch to backing a second referendum. Constructing political leaders as a direct threat to the country, especially for taking fully legitimate political positions is something that must be ended in this country. The risks of not doing so are too grave.

Britain is meant to be a country of deliberative democracy, choice, voting, equality, and rights for all in the 21st Century. We do not do politics through force. It’s time that we get back to a place where legitimate opinions can be debated without fear of the consequences.

The SU elections left an unsavoury taste in my mouth Cachella Smith suggests that providing incentives to encourage people to vote will not necessarily generate a fair and representative outcome Cachella Smith Deputy Opinion Editor Pizza, fries, milkshake, pie… It all sounds like you’re perched on a stool in an American diner. But no, this is not the menu of the new restaurant on campus, nor is it my food diary for the past week. This, believe it or not, is your Students’ Union election voting pamphlet. Yes, that’s right: instead of the traditional officer roles that annually occupy the tree-space outside the Ali G, this year we are voting for obesity.

Okay, perhaps I exaggerate. However, take yourself over to the Students’ Union’s website and I promise you, you will find the exact phrase “daily incentives”, followed by an enticing list of potentially mouth-watering options, or a serious health risk, depending upon your point of view.

I hate to mention that which should not be named, but if there is surely one thing that we should have learnt from Brexit, it would have been to encourage people to embark on some form of research before signing the dreaded ballot paper laden with the power to change all of our livelihoods.

I will accept a certain amount of disagree-

ment with the fact that the results from the SU elections are not overly comparable to a potential split from the European Union. However, we all saw the numerous testimonies of those who voted to leave and yet, quote, “To be quite frank, I did not believe it would happen”.

Whichever side you vote for, and for whichever campaign, the central most important element of such a process is that you are given a choice, and that you make the best choice for you.

The only way you can do that is, if you have completed and understood a certain amount of research and consequently you agree with the choice you are making. In my opinion, only then would the result be a fair representation.

To cast a vote without understanding what for completely undermines the entire process.

Therefore, I have to say that I fundamentally disagree with this incentive procress. You cannot grab people sauntering out of lectures, or swanning past the SU, dangle a slice of pizza in front of their face, and promise the prize, so long as they can pin the tail on the donkey, and pop a cross somewhere on the electronic screen in front of them.

If people have not researched the candidates, if they do not understand the roles themselves, they have a one in however-many-candidates-are-running chance of ticking the box that applies to them and to their beliefs.

The past two years and eight months have cast a political shadow over our country. This is not because we voted a certain way, but because people voted without understanding what for. It therefore casts doubt as to whether the outcome resonates with the majority of the population, as a voting system is designed to determine.

I agree, electing the new General Secretary, Women’s Officer and so on, as important as it is, is not the same as choosing whether to leave a political and economic partnership which will have repercussions for trade, the economy and state relations.

Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel, that encouraging positive habits and a positive attitude towards elections at this age may help prevent future democratic disasters, such as that for which the majority of our stomachs are simultaneously sinking as we await the 29th March.

Photo: MALIZ ONG @ Public Domain Pictures

Opinion 11

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Shamima Begum deserves sympathy, not ridicule

Cara Conte Contributor Shamima Begum’s shocking case took over every social media and news platform, for about a week. Then everyone naturally went back to caring about the Kardashians.

Shamima Begun was ridiculed; her story evoking intense and genuine anger. A natural response, it seems, with the general UK population’s consensus being: ‘you made your bed, lie in it’.

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Young brains are easily led by an illusory prospect of security

Cara Conte asks why the UK population have not been more compassionate and understanding toward Shamima Begum to address why she felt she needed the protection promised to her by her groomers

Photo: Fibonacci Blue @ Flickr

That still doesn’t mean it’s okay to tweet that you ‘hate to say it but you agree with Katie Hopkins for once.’ I might have to unfollow you.

At just 15 Shamima Begum was cruelly stripped of her life and recruited to an evil, murderous cult. Meanwhile, I, at the same age, was happy, unknowingly naïve, and enjoying a safe and healthy teenage life.

Too young to buy alcohol, too young to vote, too young to give consent, and too young to make any life-altering decisions. At this age, young brains are easily led by an illusory prospect of security.

Surely as compassionate beings, we have to think about what’s underlying, or lacking, in our society to make anyone feel as though they are in need of protection and safety elsewhere.

We must ask ourselves, why is this extremist group known for its misogynistic ide-

ology and violent treatment of women able to draw women from Western countries with supposedly secular freedom to its beck and call? Begum was a mere child; brainwashed and manipulated into a marriage that removed her from her innocent adolescence.

Of course, allowing her back to the UK may impose security threats to an unknown extent, but I think that the UK has the right resources to counteract this and that stripping her of her UK citizenship was a mistake.

The UK should be competent enough to take responsibility for its nationals and commit to engaging victims of extremist grooming in rehabilitation and restorative justice.

Forcing Begum to live outside of her home country is only a temporary solution, if any. After all, millions of pounds are pumped into the Prevent scheme and others for the exact purpose of addressing and understanding the process of radicalisation.

It is arguably the hostility and maltreatment felt by Muslim citizens in the UK and the racist migrant rhetoric that pervades the UK media that constrains the lives of many Muslims.

We should bring Begum home when she admits that she is “willing to change” so that we can understand her story, trauma, and psychological vulnerabilities. This is fundamental if we are to tackle the radicalisation problem in the UK. We can counter the misconception of Islam in our society and media by recognising the ample condemnations of ISIS by Muslims. Such a counter-narrative, enriched with well-grounded Islamic identity values, is crucial in rehabilitating mainstream Islamic theology.

I think that the majority of the UK Muslim community would be willing to support Begum in her rehabilitative process as many will believe it is an obligation of the compassion of their faith. Islam is a religion of peace that compels all humans to be treated with compassion, and it is this message that needs to be promulgated.

Louis Theroux, thank you Amy Morris looks at Louis Theroux’s controversial new documentary ‘The Night In Question’ and how it takes a new approach to understanding rape culture, and may well be more successful in changing people’s minds Amy Morris Contributor Louis Theroux’s newest documentary The Night In Question hit our screens last week and it is exactly what we needed. The Night in Question looks at the grey areas of many rapes that take place at university, primarily when a girl has been drinking.

It follows one man in particular, Saif Khan, who was accused of raping a fellow Yale student in 2015. While he was not convicted by a criminal court due to lack of evidence, at the time of filming he was going through the university tribunal.

Although I am a huge Theroux enthusiast, I am always sceptical of this subject. It is always uncomfortable when talking about rape to put the alleged perpetrators at the centre of the piece, giving very little time to any victims.

Louis mentions early on that Saif’s victim refused to talk to him when asked if she wanted to be part of the documentary, but it is still uncom-

fortable. It is something that many viewers on Twitter could not let go.

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The Night in Question looks at the grey areas of many rapes that take place at university, primarily when a girl has been drinking But I would like to argue: what would be achieved by Louis talking exclusively to victims?

While it would be great to hear their voices, unfortunately I don’t think this would change many people’s minds about the prevalence of rape, especially this kind of ‘grey area’ rape.

All too often, campaigners are stuck preaching to the choir. All too many times I have been in a room listening to a feminist discussion surrounded by those wearing the same t-shirts and holding the same banners, wondering what is this actually achieving apart from giving ourselves a good pat on the back.

Saif begins telling his account of what happened on the night in question, crying and telling us that ‘he is just so tired’. However, later Saif responds to Theroux’s comment that at least three witnesses testified that they saw the victim incapacitated and repeatedly vomiting, by saying that “billions of people believe in specific gods does that make them right?”

In a time when there is story after story littering the media on false accusations and how prevalent they are, saying that “no one (man) is

safe!”, Theroux brilliantly gets people to question the truth of this. He first entices people into hearing Saif out and then shows the many flaws in his story and character. This is what will change people’s minds — the people who will want to believe Saif and not his victim. They cannot escape the conclusion that Saif is not the victim he tries to come off as, but a lying, abusive manipulator.

It is such a shame that so-called ‘meninist’ groups focus on false accusations, instead of real issues facing men. Instead, they turn their attention and energy to hating feminists and any woman who speaks out. In reality a man is 230 times more likely to be raped himself (or sexually assaulted as legally men cannot be raped by women - a separate issue) than to be accused of being falsely accused of rape. You didn’t know that statistic, did you?

If you are at all sceptical of this article at all, then I beg you to have a watch — maybe Theroux can change your mind.

12 Societies

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Opinion: It’s time to give initiations the boot We need to talk about initiations, says Ellie Martin Ellie Martin Contributor Society initiations may, to some, seem to have more of an American vibe to them.

We’ve all seen the films about crazy frat and sorority parties where new students are kidnapped, tied up, and covered in some kind of disgusting excrement while being forced to drink extreme amounts of alcohol. However, these kinds of events can be commonly found on our own shores, as anyone who’s ever tried to join a sports society before will know. Initiations are banned by most SUs around the UK but it’s no secret that they still take place, with sports societies being the worst perpetrators amongst the groups.

The ‘welcome drinks’ cover-up is a common one used by societies around freshers time to disguise what is actually going on, making initiations very difficult to crack down on. SUs trying to tackle the issue have a real challenge on their hands, as there’s no real way of distinguishing a team-endorsed initiation event from a group of friends who know each other from rugby on a night out that’s become way out of hand, provided nobody speaks up and the group chats are deleted. Forcing people to do

things they do not want to, pressuring, or coercing would all be considered bullying, which is forbidden at all universities by law.

Actually pinpointing this kind of behaviour is extremely difficult, leading universities to take a more education-based approach. Some universities in the UK have special groups with students, uni leaders, SU members, and parents who work to discourage initiation processes. Others have lectures or events specifically geared to educate students on the danger of extreme drinking around freshers time. These kinds of events were especially called for around two years ago, following the death of a student at the University of Leeds, who died during an initiation as a direct result of drinking too much in a short space of time. The father of the student called for the expulsion of those older students involved in the initiation, and for universities to eradicate these kinds of events completely.

A quick Google search of initiations in the UK will show you that The University of Manchester has a particularly bad reputation for first-year hazing. The men’s rugby team confirmed for The Tab rumours about freshers initiations involving urine, faeces, and vomit, and having chilli powder rubbed on genitals. They said that a sheet would be

brought to the event and laid on the floor.

Anyone who needed to piss, shit, or throw up during the night had to do it on the sheet, which the freshers would than have to slide down at the end of the night. The process also involves being force-fed one of the hottest chillies in the world, the Carolina Reaper. Another horror story to come from the club was students having to bob for a dead rat in a barrel of cider while others drink from the barrel.

Members all claim to know someone who’s needed their stomach pumped, or have had to visit the hospital themselves after an initiation event and say that drinking to blackout state or vomiting is basically obligatory.

Manchester has a no initiations policy like most other universities, and the recent addition of the “Inclusions Officer” as a compulsory member of any society committee by the SU is a welcome step forward.

The Inclusions Officer’s job comprises of increasing the amount of diversity and outreach for each society, helping to deal with any in-society conflicts, but predominantly is to help create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for every society.

This includes stamping out harmful initiation processes.

The rugby team also have

mentioned that they are aware of the stigma surrounding the sport and are working hard to make it open to all. But are the SU and the teams themselves doing enough to make people feel comfortable about joining sports societies?

One Manchester Fresher, when asked about what societies she would have liked to join during freshers fair, said that she did “not want to try out for any traditional sports societies for fear of being forced into an initiation process.” This idea that any traditional or well established sports society will probably have an initiation process is a common one among freshers and is an idea that is putting people off continuing their favourite sports at university level. Many talented and able players choose to end their sports career at university as they do not want to be involved with the culture that comes along with varsity training, even though they may have played at a high level before coming to university.

Others may choose to move to a more non-traditional sport, that doesn’t come with a hazing reputation. Sports societies are potentially putting off their best players with the culture surrounding initiations. But is it possible to stamp out the behaviour for good?

A passion for fashion (and charity) Photos: @hattsphoto and @meenadgphotograph

The Manchester Charity Fashion Show are looking to raise money for Lifeshare whilst showcasing the best of Britain’s young design talent Chloe Hatton Societies Editor A group of Manchester students have decided to tackle homelessness head on, raising money for homeless charity Lifeshare through the medium of the Manchester Charity Fashion Show. Sounds good, right?

Gabe Nwosu-Hope, Manchester Charity Fashion Show’s Chair, said: “We at the Manchester Charity Fashion Show are an organisation dedicated to raising funds for a different charitable partner each year through the creative population in Manchester.

This culminates in a fashion show, presenting the music, art, and fashion talent that our students have to offer.”

Working in collaboration with Fuse FM and a whole host of other student groups, the Manchester Charity Fashion Show team have already been working hard to raise vital funds for Manchester-based charities. They’ve already put on a charity club night at Indigo on 27th February, with a pound from every ticket sale also going to Lifeshare.

Vice Chair Martha Bolton added: “last week’s collaboration with Fuse FM and SKUM was a sellout success, raising money for lifeshare on the door and showcasing some of the rawest bass music around.”

So why have they chosen Lifeshare?

Gabe explained, “This year we’re supporting Lifeshare, a charity who tirelessly and selflessly work to aid the homeless population in Manchester. As a small charity with little funding, we are making it our sole aim to help aid Lifeshare in their incredible efforts for those who need it the most.”

Lifeshare believes that all people regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, level of ability, or HIV status are entitled to respect and dignity and

should be afforded equal opportunities. They work to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness, as well as reducing harm and promoting health.

The fashion show will take place in Academy 2 on Sunday 31st March. The theme of the event is ‘The City’, a celebration of 80s and 90s ‘Madchester’ culture. It will showcase graduate designers from up and down the UK, and they will also be collating some photos from Manchester’s up and coming photographers, depicting the city in their own unique way. If you want the chance to see some of the country’s finest young talent, definitely head on down.

Fuse FM DJs will be playing throughout the night, and the VIP pre-party will feature plenty of Brewdog drinks, as well as being sponsored

by Redbull.

They’ve also announced their models, and have recently had a photoshoot at Antwerp Mansion. Head over to their Facebook page for the full list of models, pics, and their bios.

The show comes at a very troubling time for Manchester’s rough sleepers. It’s so important because, as Martha explains, “homelessness is one of Manchester’s most prevalent social issues, perhaps now more than ever. Statistics relating to rough sleepers continue to grow exponentially at an alarming rate year on year. This, combined with instances like Lifeshare’s recent eviction from the Charter Street Ragged School, is proof that we need to act now. Manchester’s homeless population need our support right now in a focused and sustained manner. We can’t just sit around and hope the problem sorts itself out.”

If you want to get involved with the Manchester Charity Fashion Show, follow them on Instagram and give them a like on Facebook. Check out the event page for ticket information.

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Across

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Who just won their 100th sporting title? (7) What is a petition trying to ban at Leeds SU? (7, 7) What has one Australian hotel been accused of? (11) Which country celebrates its national day on 23rd March? (8)

How many candidates were banned from campaigning?

(4) Which international tournament did England win recently? (3, 8, 3) Nickname for Fallowfield Loop (5) What percentage of students voted in the SU elections?

(8) Who scored Man United’s winning penalty against PSG? (8) Who’s at the centre of a new scandal over historical sex abuse? (7)

Inside Leave Ari Culture Alone!: 16

Italian Job in Metro Exodus Concert: 20 Review: 19

Women’s Fiction Art in Burrito Prize: 23 Mancunia: 25 Guide: 27

THE

Photo: Emmanuel Anie-Akwetey

Opinon.

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ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Music

Leave Ari Alone!

Photo: Emma @ Flickr

In the wake of criticism surrounding Ariana Grande’s headline slot at Manchester Pride, Alex Corns asks for some perspective

Let’s clear some things up first: I am not, nor have I ever professed to be, an Ariana ‘stan’. I got bored a few songs into her latest album (admittedly, I listened to it in bed and hungover), I find the cutesy all-lower-case song titles on her last two albums irrationally unsettling, I find some of her tweets downright annoying, and I hold her solely responsible for the three month headache I had to endure from near incessantly rolling my eyes at the same Instagram caption (you know the one) at least 19 times every time I opened the app.

In other words, I am not an Ariana Apologist and am not heavily invested in what she does with her career. Oh, I’ve also never been to Manchester’s Pride Festival.

So, I thought I’d write about the furore surrounding the fact that Ariana Grande is headlining Manchester Pride Live.

A pervasive argument against Grande, a cishet singer, headlining is that she takes a place that could be going to an LGBT+ artist. And, as with literally every festival ever, there have been many alternative suggestions. But isn’t the point of Pride Live to entertain you, the LGBT+ people who have paid to attend? Of course, LGBT+ representation at a Pride festival is hugely important, but regardless of the act, their role at Pride is to perform for you.

That is what they are being paid to do.

And a lot of LGBT+ people love Ariana Grande. In fact, she is arguably more popular in the LGBT+ community than Dannii Minogue (2015 headliner and famously not Kylie) and 2017 headliner Melanie C, both of whom, incidentally, are straight. As Years & Years (headlining Saturday) singer Olly Alexander put it: “line ups are a mix of artists depending on their availability and the need to sell tickets. [We should] try harder to support all the amazing queer talent [but] if more people listened to and supported LGBT+ artists – they’d get more slots.”

Ariana Grande headlining Pride Live sells tickets. Granted, an unfortunate by-product of her popularity is that straight people, uninterested in Pride, will buy tickets that could have gone to LGBT+ people because it’s Ariana.

Whilst this is a shame, does bemoaning it not imply that as soon as a queer artist gains a straight audience, they too lose their eligibility to per-

form at Pride? Of course, there will be straight people in her audience, but it does seem a stretch to suggest that hordes of Ariana-Grande-stanning-homophobes will flock to Mayfield Depot to stick it to the gays.

But if selling tickets is what it’s all about, say critics, then the whole meaning of Pride is corrupted. Pride is a protest, an unabashed celebration of LGBT+ people and a demand for a true equality that has still not been achieved. It is not a pink capitalist hellhole in which money is everything and LGBT+ people do nothing but supply it.

All of this is true. However, Manchester Pride Live is a fundraising event. Its purpose is to sell as many tickets as possible in order to support LGBT+ causes in Greater Manchester. The Parade – which is the primarily ‘protesty’ bit of the weekend – is free.

A Gay Village ticket – available from £10 – is cheaper than it was last year.

Yes, £64.50 for a weekend ticket is extortionate, but there is an element of lose/lose for organisers. They’re either criticised for an underwhelming, cheap line up, or criticised for delivering a world star but at too expensive a price. It’s unfortunate that people will be priced out of live music this year, but top acts cost money – they just do.

It is often jarring seeing corporations in the Pride Parade, some of whom are arguably themselves contributors to global inequality. Likewise, the Conservative Party – a party whose own leader has a beyond dubious LGBT+ rights record – always seem embarrassed at the hush that greets it. The police, those famous friends of LGBT+ people worldwide, too. There are lots of hypocrisies and questions to be asked about Pride, but someone of Ariana Grande’s stature headlining does seem a bit of a one-off. She is and has always been (aside from some recent queer-baiting) an ally of the LGBT+ community, and is an honorary citizen of the city.

By all means, be cynical of Pride as a whole, but let the queer people who love Ariana enjoy what will be a special show without feeling guilty, and enjoy the weekend even if, this time, you can’t afford to see the headline act. There are greater enemies of LGBT+ people than Ariana Grande. Focus your anger on them.

Thea Brooks Photo: Jacob Greenhalgh-Lee @ Theabrooksofficial

For this week’s Hot Right Now, Georgina Davidson explores the distinctive, indie rock inspired tones of solo artist Thea Brooks

Amongst the vast music scene expanding out across Manchester there is a relentless, ever growing community of indie-rock bands. Of course this isn’t necessarily terrible considering the high quality of music that is produced. However, it does mean that when something materialises within this setting and demands your attention, it is pretty impressive.

One artist who is currently forging herself a path with such energy is Manchester-based solo artist, Thea Brooks. Blessed with a strong and distinctive voice, she strikes through tracks with relative ease and a honed elegance comparative to the likes of Paolo Nutini and Newton Faulkner. Supported by a talented backing band, her current singles combine a structure of gentle acoustic guitars with a buildable intensity.

Her latest single ‘Give Me Power’ marks a very powerful stride out into pop punk ballad territory with a clear progression into slightly darker lyrical content. Brooks seems to delve into the power and beauty of a relationship within a darkened world. The track has elements of a Nirvana-like grunge about it and there is something quite rousing and a moody about her change of tone from the previous stylings of her singles.

The very power of Thea’s work becomes evident when her tracks echo and radiate through the plethora of live venues she often performs at. This is where her music really comes alive and there is a sense of her passion for creating cosy and unique experiences at her shows.

Wondering where to catch a show? Check out Thea Brooks and her band as they are set to play an acoustic gig at Jimmy’s NQ on Sunday 10th March. It has also been revealed that she will be performing in various venues across Manchester during late spring and summer. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a talent, singer songwriter as she sweeps through Manchester, chasing an ever present and highly intriguing sound.

Hot Right Now

Packed full of socratic, philosophical observations, Sundara Karma’s second record is a phenomenal exploration of modern life and our struggle to communicate, writes Jake Oliver Ulfilas’ Alphabet Jake Oliver

Photo: Ch ess Cl

ds cor Re

Sundara Karma Ulfilas’ Alphabet

Sundara Karma – arguably the saviours of the mid-10s indie music scene – have always posited themselves as something much more than just a band. Their EPs, whilst dripping in danceability, had a prolific, spiritual nature to them, and their ground breaking 2017 debut Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect was equally as transcendent. But there was always a persistent intelligence and depth to their work which marked them out as something special. Now two years on, the foursome are back with their sophomore project, Ulfilas’ Alphabet, a record of equal intrigue and spectacle.

The name of the LP itself references Ulfilas, a man responsible for the Gothic Alphabet, the format in which the Bible was translated in to for people to read and understand. Throughout the album, frontman Oscar Pollock’s insightful lyricisms harken back to the concept of a constructed language – the power of words and the meanings ascribed to them form an intense focal point. Ulfilas’ Alphabet is an expressive exploration of communication, sonically and lyrically.

There’s a genre-hopping quality present throughout the record that lends itself well to this lofty concept of language creation.

Whilst Youth… was a bona fide collection of classic indie tracks, the instrumentals on Ulfilas’ Alphabet dip and dive in to a much broader soundscape. There’s flashes of classic 70s-esque disco on songs like ‘A Song For My Future Self’ or ‘One Last Night On This Earth’. Elsewhere on ‘Ulfilas’ Alphabet’ and ‘Little Smart Houses’, Pollock seemingly channels some David Bowie (à la ‘Let’s Dance’ or ‘Ashes to Ash-

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Music

ub

Review.

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

9/10

es’) to an eerily good standard. Usually one would anticipate some of this sound experimentation to go awry, but here, Sundara Karma manage to pull off this versatility not only with apparent ease, but with perfect execution.

Ever the innovators, Sundara Karma also manage to expand their musical lexicon to bold new heights. The surprisingly jittery, techno-infused ‘Higher States’ is a sonic deviation from tradition, but still retains the wisdom and idiosyncratic atmosphere of their older discography. Album closer ‘Home (There Was Never Any Reason To Feel So Alone)’ carries the same anthemic feel of Youth’s ‘Happy Family’, reaching a powerful and emotive climax, one that will undoubtedly be sung back to the band with unquestionable passion at their upcoming live performances.

Lyrically, Ulfilas’ Alphabet is Sundara Karma working at an even more profound state than before; each track feels more like a poem than a song, set against the backdrop of infectiously catchy instrumentals. ‘Symbols of Joy & Eternity’ explores the incessant pursuit of success in a competitive and jaded society, with lashings of spiritual imagery sprinkled throughout. The sombre ‘Ulfilas’ Alphabet’ conveys a desperation to be understood in an era of communicative uncertainty and ambiguity – “It’s crazy what it takes to make amends”, laments Pollock as the track concludes.

Embedded within the soaring melodies and crescendos,

Record Reappraisal

Ulfilas’ Alphabet seems to reference a dystopian existence that we are not entirely too far off from. A combination of futuristic synths and distorted guitar riffs across the track list help elevate this concept whilst keeping the album grounded in the present. Initially optimistic in tone, by the time ‘Sweet Intentions’ is reached, there is a growing sense of futility and displacement, a tangible disdain for both society and the self.

“You’re both the sinner and the saint, the wolf, the man the things you hate”, “Save yourself, confront the darkness” and “You ask to speak with your eyes ‘cause they’re safer than words” perpetuate this idea and give listeners something meaningful to take away with them.

Sundara Karma have managed to cement themselves as a formidable, ethereal entity with this release. It’s a perfect summary of everything going on at the moment – ineffective communication, a sense of disillusionment and feelings of existentialism. All of this is layered in sounds to throw you off the seriousness. But in some ways it’s liberating. We need an emotive outlet for these emotions. Ulfilas’ Alphais a seminal bet piece of work that dabbles in playfulness and poise and it’s exactly what we need.

Photo: Markus Hillgärtner @Wikimedia Commons

Music For Cars - The 1975 Six years after The 1975 dropped Music For Cars, Jasmine Bennett reflects on the EP Six long years ago in 2013, The 1975 dropped their third EP Music For Cars. The significance of this introduction to their sound, three LPs later, feels somewhat impossible to deny. The influence of the EP has extended far beyond its release, leading to the current era of the band’s aesthetic to be christened with the eponymous same name.

Just like now, The 1975 matched the pop of what would become one of their best hits – ‘Chocolate’ – with low melancholia and instrumentals. The EP opened with ‘Anobrain’, a short and layered introduction to the group’s ability to create entire stories in less than two minutes. Through the neologism of ‘Anobrain’, it feels evident that Healy’s songwriting has always been one of his biggest strengths. Even then, the careful intelligence of the lead singer thrummed gently beneath the surface in a tale of romance against a backdrop of teenage suburbia. Albeit, there was definitely an element of pretension – but this now gives the EP a perfect feeling of nostalgia. Soft, slippery synths move against vocals in a way that now feels familiar but then felt new and raw. As Healy’s vocals murmur “I’m so high, I think I love you”, there’s a heart-wrenching reminder of the struggle with substance abuse that con-

tinues to linger in the heart of their lyrics.

Again, in Music For Cars we were introduced to The 1975’s unique ability to join genres in the transition of ‘Anobrain’ into hit ‘Chocolate’. One of their first breakthrough songs, it was The 1975’s first real adventure into the world of catchy chart-toppers. Again but also differently, it was a song dedicated to small towns and wasting time with lawless behaviour – perfect for capturing the hearts of teenagers all around the country. ‘Chocolate’ might be grating these days but back in 2013 it felt anthem-like.

Swiftly transitioning into ‘HNSCC’ and you can hear The 1975’s talent for instrumental pieces and the production that has never faded as a focus. A combination of guitar masked with soft vocals, synths, and electronics retells a loved one’s experience with cancer. The profoundness of The 1975 even back in 2013 is remarkable - of the entire EP, this is the track that feels most recent in its quality.

The final duo lie in the hazy space between ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Anobrain’. Penultimate ‘Heads.

Cars.Bending’ feels much like the first self-titled album. Not as developed as their current music, six years later the track comes across

as naïve in a manner similar to ‘Chocolate’.

Despite this, the production is still remarkable, especially when considering the band’s professional recency in 2013. Upon initial listen and now, it is the last track that feels like the star player on this EP. The deeply melancholic ‘Me’ shifts between the perspective of Healy and his father in a relatable tale of guilt and mental fragility – themes that carry all the way to ‘Ballad of Me And My Brain’ on I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it and ‘I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)’ on A Brief Inquiry. The heavy remorse combined with a cry for help – “I was thinking about killing myself, don’t you mind?” – is as strikingly sad as it was on first listen. A song dripping with personal pain, The 1975 once more provide timeless relatability that other bands rarely manage to do in one song, let alone albums. Music For Cars is a classic EP that introduced the band’s incredible experimental musical ability. The soundtrack to so many teenage years already, the EP was a cohesive and beautiful body of work that provides the foreword for The 1975’s success.

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ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Music

The Japanese House -Good At Falling

Photo: Pascale Chalmers-Arnold Photo: Dave J East @ Trap Door Agency

Album review.

A considered, electronica infused whirl of sounds awaits in a world of ambient excellence with The Japanese House, writes contributor Georgina Davidson The Japanese House Georgina Davidson

8/10

Electronica-inspired music has recently seemed to float to the fore across a number of album releases from bands and collectives alike. Ideas and concepts amongst this style of music can often become entangled and muddled across a desire to touch on wild ideas across the genre. However, in the dreamily composed solo project of Amber Bain (A.K.A The Japanese House), a clear understanding and passion for this genre in evident.

Following suit along a personal pathway carved throughout the last few years, the record is directed across a field of

whirring electronica sound and low ambience.

This, paired with Bain’s synthesised vocals and heavier drum beats, forms an animalistic soundscape that encircles tracks such as ‘went to meet her’ with an enchanting and mysterious quality.

The Japanese House has always possessed a sense of mysticism, with the name itself taken from a childhood haven that clearly had a deeply profound effect on Bain and her work. There has been a constant nostalgia-driven feel to said work; the continual combination of ethereal melodies and jangly guitar riffs has been consistent across her EPs, indicating that these qualities still remain crucial to the very essence of The Japanese House.

A glimpse of this ongoing style had been seen in the 2018 single release ‘Lilo’, which explored themes of freedom and the necessity of escaping bad habits and ritualistic behaviour. The tone blends beautifully with the general aesthetic of the album’s track list, conveying Bain’s keen attention to detail and commitment in curating a sound that takes the listener along a deeply personal and emotive journey. It seems a lot of the initial walls Bain presented in her earlier work have graciously fallen down – and it’s glorious.

By the end of the album, there is a subtle change of tone. The lyrics in particular seem to reach a reflective conclusion, summarising the turbulent and emotionally-charged journey portrayed across Good At Falling. ‘Worms’ delves into a power dynamic between the expectations and realities of becoming over invested in a particular moment. In contrast, the following track ‘f a r a w a y’ acknowledges the danger of these emotions. Here, an indulgent, melancholic tone frames the lightly electronic drum beat around

the track. This doesn’t act as a step back but rather, it deals with the uneasy nature of change that people confront in those moments.

Aside from interpersonal issues, the themes of space and apparent loneliness appear most frequently throughout the album. At times it seems that it entraps the lyricist rather than freeing her as she had hoped and dreamed. Each track builds upon Bain’s quest to find “her” - an entity open to interpretation. Is it in reference to a personal solace within or perhaps the solace found within the togetherness of a relationship?

This speculative premise allows the album to be an apt expression of the turmoil that so often comes with navigating both love and life itself.

Good At Falling beautifully and cohesively depicts a difficult journey amongst a puzzling world of voices, opinions and the influence of environment upon the emotional state. It is intriguing to see that Bain has elaborated with the stylistics present in previous work, using this to inspire many of the choices in this LP. There are cases in which artists have jumped erratically to bridge new territory musically and lost their wayin the process. Thankfully, this is not the case with Good At Falling and it is very encouraging to see an artist like Bain continue to explore and develop their discography.

Is it a hugely progressive leap at this very moment? Perhaps not. However, it will be interesting to see the ways in which the album translates into performance considering the imagery that such sound and expression already conjures within the mind. Progression can manifest in a variety of ways and I believe this album has great potential to build a unique sonic and visual experience.

Billie Eilish

Photo: Justin Higuchi @ Wikimedia Commons

Billie Eilish Pascale Chalmers-Arnold

8/10

Live Review.

Billie Eilish, sombre superstar in the making, takes Manchester Academy on frenzied journey, cementing her status as the future of pop, writes Pascale Chalmers-Arnold To describe the crowd as excited would be an understatement. The thundering sound of two thousand teens, screaming in anticipation of Billie Eilish’s arrival, was quite simply overwhelming and overpowering. Any view of the stage was obstructed by an endless sea of mobile phones, poised at the ready. If the deafening sound in the Manchester Academy wasn’t clear enough, blue lights turning red signalled Eilish’s entrance, along with the melodic start of ‘My Boy’. Singing along, the crowd matched the 17-year-old songstress word for word as she made her feelings on double standards and dishonest boys clear.

With over one billion streams worldwide, Billie Eilish offers a fresh take on what it means to be a young pop star.

Her sombre, twisted tunes reflect the anxieties, vulnerability, hurt, and hope of a generation, putting into words the feelings of teens today. Eilish wears baggy clothes which she could have stolen from her brother, her long hair dyed silver and gothic jewellery round her neck – nothing like the pop princess stereotype. She is as she is, and her fans love it, helping her sell-out headline tours in minutes.

While Eilish writes in a way often left up to interpretation, she certainly doesn’t shy away from tough topics, aware of the influence her words have.

Throughout ‘Idontwannabeyouanymore’, the crowd were shouting “If teardrops could be bottled / There’d be swimming pools filled by models” back at her, adding strength and validity to her social commentary, twin voices recognising the sadness of having self-worth based on looks.

Her melancholic chart-topper ‘Lovely’ (with Khalid) was the next big crowd pleaser. The track, which is about being trapped in a depressed state, has received over 170 million streams and featured on the soundtrack for the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, alongside the next song ‘Bored’. Delivered beautifully, the lyrics of this under-rated gem rang with poignancy, describing a toxic relationship — “I don’t want any settled scores / I just want you to set me free… Can’t you see that I’m getting bored? / Giving you every piece of me.”

The subsequent songs, ‘Bitches Broken Hearts’, ‘Six Feet Under’, and ‘Watch’ ‘& Burn’, all followed a theme of unrequited love.

Struggling to recover from a heartbreak, and missing her ex even though they were no good together, Eilish sang “I can’t help but wonder / If our grave was watered by the rain / Could roses bloom / Again?”

Unable to exercise total control over her personal life, ‘Watch’ ‘& Burn’ – two versions of the same song — sees Eilish creatively take charge. The second imagining features rapper Vince Staples and offered more kick, with Eilish spitting out “Go ahead and watch my heart

burn / With the fire that you started in me / But I’ll never let you back to put it out.” Her venomous passion grew stronger as she belted out ‘You Should See Me In A Crown’, the lead single off her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, with her voice then turning sinister. ‘Hostage’ started out slow, Eilish whispering about how “nothing hurts…

When you’re with me and we’re alone,” before the lyrics turned darker and obsessive — a tone which continued for ‘Bury A Friend’ and ‘Bellyache’ Taking a break from the darker side of her music, Eilish slowed the pace again for ‘When The Party’s Over’, asking her fans to take a moment. “Let’s be here, right now, together”.

Words met with a sea of hands making hearts as she began ‘Ocean Eyes’. The room went quiet as Billie whispered, “I’ve been watching you / For some time / Can’t stop staring / At those oceans eyes.” After finishing the hauntingly beautiful track which landed her a record deal, Eilish took a moment to thank her parents and her producer/bandmate and brother Finneas, before one last energetic song ‘Copycat’, through which she reminded her fans to be themselves.

For a girl so young, Billie Eilish sure knew how to whip up a frenzy on stage, but as I watched the queues of teens leaving the venue, it felt important to recognise her status, not just as a musician, but as an alternative role model reaching out to the masses.

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ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Games

Metro Exodus

Does the wider open world of Metro Exodus remove the series’ gloomy charm?

REVIEWS

Metro Exodus David Uncle

8/10

Metro Exodus takes place following the events of Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light and ditches the titular Moscow metro for several large open world areas across the post-apocalypse Soviet Union.

I was worried this change would spoil the terror-inducing dark, claustrophobic vibe of the previous games which distinguished them from other shooters. Fortunately, my worries were unfounded.

Even in the open Russian countryside, Metro Exodus is still creepy, and the adrenaline rush of encountering a pack of mutants is exhilarating. The distant howls of irradiated monsters roaming the landscape gave me chills every time and were still frightening even at daytime, and suddenly seeing the silhouette of a flying ‘demon’ mutant on the ground below me was a particularly memorable and terrifying moment. A full day/night cycle and dynamic weather system add a new level to the experience that was less apparent in previous games. The sudden appearance of an irradiated snowstorm or a blinding sandstorm dramatically changes gameplay, reducing

Yakuza: Kiwami Kiwami means extreme!

Yakuza: Kiwami Callum Lunn

8/10

19

visibility to almost nothing, making it easy to stumble into bandits or mutants.

The outdoor environment of Metro Exodus therefore does not disappoint, however where the game truly shines is in the dark, dingy ruins, bunkers and tunnels you find through exploration and the story. 4A Games are masters at level building and as with the previous games, the atmosphere they create in confined spaces is phenomenal. In these areas I immediately felt uncomfortable and scared, my torch and shotgun the only things between me and whatever lurks in the darkness.

Whether mutated spiders or ‘humanimals’ (basically ghouls from Fallout), they hide in the darkness and attack in packs, making the claustrophobic setting even more panic-inducing.

The gameplay compliments the ambience and enhances the experience. If you fall in a swamp or get caught in a sandstorm, your guns become dirty, reducing your accuracy and rate of fire. Worse, they can jam in the middle of a fight. Having to manually eject a round from your AK-47 is pretty much the worst thing to happen when a swarm of mutants attack you, but it adds to the immersion. At times I deliberately let my gun get dirty for immersion, as having a pristine weapon in the post-apocalyptic circumstances isn’t likely, which added some grittiness to the gameplay.

Combat is tense and unforgiving, with the enemies whether human or mutant being likely

to rush you and get up close and personal.

Gunplay is deliberately slightly sluggish to emulate handling a real weapon, but not so much that it’s unpleasant to play, adding further immersion.

This leads on to the weapon customisation.

All weapons can be substantially modified, turning revolvers into long-barrelled sniper rifles or a regular shotgun into a quad-barrelled monster. This is done using workbenches placed sparing throughout each of the zones, which is also where you can clean your weapons, or on the fly using your backpack. I loved being able to quickly put a silencer on my guns before silently disposing of a bandit camp. In addition, you can customise and mod your armour. Want your gas mask to keep out toxic fumes for longer? Build a better filter. Want to be able to survive a headshot?

Build a stronger helmet but sacrifice your filter’s lifespan. In the photo above you can see the dial above the watch, which acts as a metal detector. I could replace that with a motion scanner or a compass. The list goes on, adding deeper gameplay; a noticeable improvement over the older games.

It’s worth mentioning that Metro Exodus is gorgeous. It’s amongst the best looking games I’ve ever played and is without a doubt the best looking first-person shooter around at the moment.

For the full article, visit mancunion.com

To call the Yakuza series, as others have put it, the “Japanese GTA” would be doing it a massive disservice. Granted, it’s a nominally open-world series about crime, but that’s where the similarities end. The Yakuza series is a masterclass in storytelling through the medium of video games, and has a unique flair that no Western series has yet been able to pull off.

In 2006, the first Yakuza game burst onto the scene to universally positive reviews; its satisfying fighting mechanics, intricate story, and baffling sense of humour marked it as a fresh new addition to the scene. Now, SEGA have released the 2017 remake, Yakuza: Kiwami, on PC, so players can experience the story in higher resolution than ever before.

Being a remake of the first game in the series, Kiwami attempts to smooth out some of the roughness of its source material, but some things remain – long, drawn out boss fights, a lack of explanation of the game’s mechanics, and an infuriatingly high number of random encounters, making it hard to traverse the game’s beautiful and lovingly crafted world.

That said, the fights are rarely boring; with four battle styles to choose from, and a huge array of special ‘heat actions’, every fight is kept fresh.

In light of what I said in the title, Yakuza takes the opposite approach to the open world than that of the GTA series.

Instead of gigantic maps full of just about nothing – repeated trees, areas, and shopfronts, the world of Kamurocho is small but densely packed; it really does feel alive.

The story is captivating and multi-threaded in a way most other games have not been able to capture, and keeps you guessing from start to finish; sometimes I did find that I’d lost track of characters or plotlines because there were that many, something later games have improved upon. The story writers had not yet found their feet, and while the story is still brilliant, it doesn’t quite have the black humour captured in the game’s 2015 prequel, Yakuza 0.

I must also give credit to the localisation team; while I don’t speak Japanese, it feels like everything from idioms to characters’ accents have been translated, reliably capturing the story, and without losing the uniquely Japanese feel to it.

All in all, Yakuza: Kiwami is a must-play for any PC or PS4 gamer out there, and is sure to get anyone hooked into the series.

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ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Film

The Italian Job in Concert

The Quincy Jones-composed soundtrack came to life at the gorgeous Bridgewater Hall with an accompanying live orchestra for the perfect fan experience

5/5

The Italian Job is a quintessential part of British film history and, above all, my favourite film of all time. Peter Collinson directed a charming, witty film that is considered iconic for many of its elements — the soundtrack composed by Quincy Jones being the most underrated element of them all.

Despite the wonderful soundtrack, the original master present on the film is far from being considered hi-fi; it’s washed out and lost to the mastering. Of course, the film was released in 1969. The mastering techniques of the era have not survived the test of time.

Thankfully, this event addressed that issue and provided fans of the Self-preservation Society with the optimal audiovisual experience.

Due to the screen being placed far from the audience to allow the orchestra to take centre stage, I wouldn’t advise the experience for first-time viewers of the film — the event is clearly aimed at aficionados of the Mini Cooper heist flick.

The one-time event was held at the gorgeous Bridgewater Hall, which stands separated from its foundation by springs to ensure that the acoustics remain undisturbed by any tremor produced in the outside world. An unfortunate observation I made as the orchestra stepped onto the stage was that the venue was filled to half its capacity of 1,600 people. If I am to make an educated guess, I believe the high price of the tickets are to blame.

Having watched The Italian Job on countless occasions, at times I closed my eyes to let the music fill my ears as the film’s dialogue played in synchronicity with it. To my amusement, Michael Caine’s iconic delivery of

the line “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” was met with cheers and raucous applause from the audience of all ages — of course I joined in, how could I not!

Despite the relatively small audience, the experience was fantastic in every way.

Seeing your favourite film on the big screen, AND with a live orchestra is just as brilliant as it sounds. I might have just found my new guilty pleasure.

“

provided fans ...the optimal audiovisual experience

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Tobias Soar Head Film Editor

Photo: Tobias Soar

Reviews.

This Time with Alan Partridge

It’s been twenty years since he starred in his own programme and Alan Partridge is finally back the BBC in new six-part series This Time with Alan Partridge

Madeleine Peden Contributor

5/5

It’s been twenty years since he starred in his own programme, but Alan Partridge is finally back on the BBC in a new six-part series This Time with Alan Partridge.

The pressure was arguably at the greatest it has ever been for Coogan and his most recent writing cohort, the Gibbons brothers, who have been responsible for the more recent Partridge content. Despite the absence of the character’s co-creator, Armando Iannucci, Alan Partridge has remained one of the most iconic characters in Britain’s comedy cannon.

As a long-term fan, I did have a touch of trepidation in the run-up to this first episode; I have adored every situation, context, and format this character has been placed in and I couldn’t help think “all good things must come to an end.” This unease was instantly pacified upon Alan’s plea for “a glass of water, please? My mouth is dry.” It was then transformed into pure,

unadulterated glee at the return of Lynn, Alan’s long-suffering PA who has returned with a delightfully sinister side.

The new format is based on primetime live magazine programmes, like the BBC’s own The One Show. This enables a seamless amalgamation of previous Partridge greats; we get the talk show faux-pas of Knowing Me, Knowing You tied in with the wonderful mockumentary offerings that are found in his later specials, like Scissored Isle.

According to Coogan, we will get to see Alan present his take on a range of current events, hopefully showcasing the character’s attempt and inevitable failure at political correctness. In other words, we will be gifted with some comedy gold that might end up being quoted as much as the repeated shouting of “DAN”.

This first episode seems a promising taster of what is to come, and I can confidently say this latest offering seamlessly slides into the wider Partridge collection.

Photo: Maximilian Bühn @ Wikimedia Commons

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Film

Déjà Déjà

Review Review

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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Ellie Martin takes a sweet trip down memory lane and revisits the classic, if slightly unsettling, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Ellie Martin Contributor

4/5

Review.

After some confusion caused by the title (“No, the terrible one with Johnny Depp is called CHARLIE and the Chocolate Factory ”), my housemates and I sat down to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). And boy, were we in for one hell of a ride.

Of course, we’d all watched it as kids but all we had were vague recollections of Oompa-Loompas, Gene Wilder, chocolate, and, of course, that horrifying boat scene (seriously how did this film keep its U certificate?!).

All of that stuff’s still there but what re-watching it made me realise was how truly bizarre this film is. I guess as a kid you get swept up in how much fun it is; who didn’t want to visit Willy Wonka’s factory as a kid? Watching as a twenty-something the film still left me with this feeling. It is still so much fun but it is also dark and strange and random. The film’s tone switches

wildly going from the bleak realism of Charlie Bucket’s poverty-stricken home life to the joy and light-hearted entertainment of the Chocolate Room, from the tension and drama of Grandpa Joe and Charlie trying the fizzy-lifting drinks and back to finish with heart-warming optimism.

Which brings us back to the title, for nowhere is the film’s constantly fluctuating tone captured more adeptly than in the staggering central performance by the late great Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. He’s astonishing, flitting with seeming ease between every extreme of the character.

He ranges from hilarious slapstick comedy to deadpan witty one liners, from slightly unhinged to truly psychotic, from an honest and open dreamer to a raging fury.

It is a testament to Wilder’s performance, and to the film as a whole, that none of these shifts feel awkward or poorly executed. They rather feel a natural part of the larger wild ride the film takes you on.

You feel a bit dizzy by the end

actually after having been zapped around from one extreme to the next at break-neck speed. This can mean that on closer inspection the film appears to be suspended on rather flimsy stuff. Once the premise of the film is set up and the five golden ticket winners have entered Willy Wonka’s factory the narrative descends to the movement between a variety of different spectacular visual set pieces. What keeps it from merely descending into unadulterated spectacle is the enigmatic presence of Wilder and five charming, varied performances by the central group of children.

Ultimately this film is a delight, a veritable chocolate box of assorted goodies. And yes, like with any selection box there’s a high chance that a couple won’t go down as well but then all the others are so tasty does the odd dud really matter?

So, my advice: gorge your heart out on this treat of a film. There’s enough happening here for any bad taste to be drowned out by the supreme delight of the overall product.

Fighting With my Family Carl Fitzgerald Contributor Stephen Merchant’s dramedy about a Norwich born WWE superstar succeeds through its wholesome heart and a fantastic lead performance from Florence Pugh

Hidden Figures. Photo: NASA Kennedy @ Flickr

3.5/5

Fighting With my Family is one of those rare success story movies in which success doesn’t take centre ring. In telling the story of WWE superstar Paige, many audiences may go in expecting a straight up comedy.

Instead, it’s more of a drama that has funny moments in it. While the Rocky-esque rise to fame is certainly present, at its heart the film is a story about finding validation both within yourself and those around you.

From the opening moments of the film, we’re presented with the early stages of Paige’s relationship with her parents and brothers.

It’s an unconventional family for sure, with two parents being former offenders and one of two brothers being in prison. What brings them all together is a shared passion for watching and participating in professional wrestling.

It’s a wholesome family dynamic in which regardless of what troubles they may go through, this connection allows them an outlet to stand by and support each other. Meanwhile, Nick Frost and Lena Headey give tremendous performances with terrific chemistry as Paige’s mother and father.

Wrestling comes to bring the family together, but it also tests their dynamic, especially when Paige is chosen over her brother Zack to advance in WWE trials. This conflict provides some darker moments as Zack comes to terms with losing out on his dream and recognising

meaning in his life at home beyond those aspirations. All the while Paige must contend with being thousands of miles away from home for try-outs and struggling to fit in as an outcast from Norwich alongside her opponents in the competition. These two opposing character arcs ultimately provide the basis of the entire film. Sure, success and becoming WWE champion is great, but it’s also important to be chasing that success for the right reasons and to maintain strong relationships with those alongside — and even against you — in the process.

Florence Pugh does an outstanding job as Paige, giving the character a unique range of obvious strength and determination whilst also allowing her to be vulnerable and validated for it when she needs to be. In fact, Stephen Merchant’s script makes a wise decision to not fall down familiar cliché conflicts of the genre.

When Paige seriously considers giving up, her parents are ambivalent to let her at first, but decide to respect their daughter’s decision no matter what.

Similarly, there’s some conflict at the start between her and other girls in the WWE tryouts and instead of having a grand moment of rubbing it in their faces when she succeeds, the film shows both sides learning to respect and validate one another.

There’s also a solid amount of laughs alongside the heavier material.

The Rock brings his usual charm to a brief appearance and Nick Frost is charismatic as ever. It all goes nice enough alongside the drama to make a heart-warming look into fame and family life.

YEP, HAD TO PULL AN ESSAY ALL-NIGHTER

TREAT YOURSELF TO LUNCH AT 532, WE PROMISE YOU’LL EVEN COME OUT WITH CHANGE

COSTA COFFEE IS THE ONE FOR YOU

YEAH, MY FLAT MATES ARE STEALING MY FOOD

HANGRY AND VEGAN

WHOLESOME JUNKIES GOT YOU COVERED

YES, SPENT MY STUDENT LOAN ALREADY University of Manchester Student Union

YOU NEED A BLACK MILK FILL UP WITH PIEMINISTER BURRITO CANTINA WILL SORT YOU OUT

OUR MEAL DEAL IS CHEAPER THAN MORRISONS

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Books

23 Photo: Sam Holden Agency

Women’s Prize for Fiction announces 2019 long list Gurnaik Johal takes a look at the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction long list, including Anna Burns, Sally Rooney and seven debut novelists.

This week the Women’s Prize for Fiction announced its long list of 16 novels. The list reflects a great year for fiction with Man Booker Prize winner Anna Burns and Costa Book Award winner Sally Rooney praised alongside seven debut novelists.

It has certainly been a good year for debuts, with Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer , Yvonne Battle-Felton’s Remembered , and Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott’s Swan Song getting some well-deserved recognition.

Akwaeke Emezi’s first novel, Freshwater made the long list, making them the first gender non-binary writer to be up for the Women’s Prize. They were asked whether they’d

want to be part of the Women’s Prize before their publisher submitted their novel and asked again by the judges before the long list was announced.

The judges, Arifa Akbar, Dolly Alderton, Kate Williams, Leyla Hussein, and Sarah Wood knew almost nothing about the authors until after selecting their work.

From longer novels like Tayari Jones’ An and American Marriage Madeline Miller’s Circe to novellas like Sarah Moss’ Ghost Wall and Sophie van Llewyn’s Bottle Goods , this long list shows a range of forms as well as content.

You’ll find a Greek chorus

of members of a love-addiction therapy group in Melissa Broder’s The Pisces and a family running ‘The Beijing Duck House’ in Lillian Li’s Number One Chinese Restaurant . Diana Evans’ timely examination of life in the Obama-era is listed alongside Pat Barker’s feminist retelling of the Iliad.

Reading the long list means travelling from the US-Mexico border in Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive to the fictional African nation of Ukemby in Praise Songs for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden.

Luiselli will be in Manchester to read from Lost Children Archive on 20th March.

Previous winners include Kamila Shamsie, Zadie Smith, and Andrea Levy, making the Women’s Prize one of the UK’s most prestigious literary awards.

Despite fears that smaller publishers might be priced out of this year’s awards, the list includes books from independent publishers like Dialogue Books, Fairlight Books, and Jaracanda Books.

Anyone looking for new books to read throughout 2019 might not need to look further than this list, its diversity and range are impressive. The shortlist for the prize will be announced on the 29th of April and the winner will be awarded the £30,000 prize on 5th June.

REVIEW. ‘Mouth Full of Blood’

by Toni Morrison Amy Hagan reviews Toni Morrison’s new collection of essays, meditations, and speeches, ‘Mouth Full Of Blood’, a book that spans five decades of her writing Photo: West Point - The U.S. Military Academy’s Photostream @ Flickr

Toni Morrison has released a new collection of essays, speeches, and meditations concerning issues of race, gender, and globalisation. Structured into three parts, she explores the subject of writing and reading, while also expressing concern over the current American political climate, the role of the media, and the importance of the artist.

Morrison reveals in Mouth Full of Blood how writing is a necessity rather than a gift to society. Artists and their work are suppressed and censored because they are threatening. Acts of art, according to Morrison, reveal the underbelly of society and its flaws and blemishes we see every day in the forms of race, gender, and sexuality.

‘The Slavebody and the Blackbody’ is an essay in which Morrison asks the question: are the slavebody and the blackbody different from each other? The slavebody is slavery, as an institution and a major part of American history both culturally, socially, and politically. The blackbody is the African-American who is meant to be enjoying the freedom and liberty won after the abolition of slavery and desegregation.

For Morrison, slavery and racism “are two separate phenomena”. The origins of slavery are

not necessarily racist — slavery as a form of commerce and capitalism has existed all over the world at many different times. For example, the ancient societies of Greece and Rome were economically built on slavery, and slavery existed in the form of serfdom in eastern Europe. “Selling, owning people is an old commerce”, regardless of race, religion, and ethnicity. Everyone is implicated in the institution of slavery.

Morrison highlights how through a form of racism based on transcendent whiteness, the slavebody has disappeared and morphed into the blackbody, becoming a synonym for criminality, poverty, and a “flash point for public policy.”

One chapter in Morrison’s book that stood out to me was ‘Cinderella’s Stepsisters’. Morrison uses the fairy tale of ‘Cinderella’ to highlight the violence women inflict on one another professionally, competitively, and emotionally.

In the politically and culturally charged climate of today, in which the #MeToo movement reverberates, and countless stories of sexual abuse and harassment come to light, this chapter induces “feeling[s] of urgency”.

The fairy tale is about a household of women who are gathered and held together to abuse another woman. Morrison’s tone of controlled

anger and urgency highlights a problem in society that must be addressed. Yes, we are moving in the direction of freedom, but with this freedom comes the responsibility to free others, including other women. Morrison encourages us as a society to not do things out of self-fulfilment, but rather to take actions you see as unsafe.

These actions with risk carry the most value.

Moreover, Morrison makes the point that women should not have to suppress or erase that part of themselves which is traditionally stereotyped and cause for gender discrimination in a heteronormative society. Women should not “enslave [their] stepsisters” with their personal ambition. Women should be nurturing and caring towards their stepsisters and not sacrifice that part of themselves in order to overcome difficulties in the professional and domestic worlds.

Mouth Full of Blood offers a powerful and artistic insight into today’s society by looking at both the past and present, and issues – cultural, societal, and political – that must be brought to the forefront in order to attempt to resolve them. Morrison argues that as readers, we should not be merely participants in the narrative but also help write it by being attuned

to what she calls the “invisible ink”.

The ‘right’ reader can see the hidden lines beneath and around the text instead of making instant assumptions. This reader is not passive. According to Morrison, race and gender have certainties — there exists certain expectations, reactions, and projections when it comes to race and gender. When given facts and information such as place, livelihood, and personality, gender and race are assumed and imposed on a character even when such details are never revealed.

The ‘right’ reader can look past these certainties and read the “invisible ink”. Reading therefore becomes an art in itself.

Morrison’s collection of essays, meditations, and speeches delivers unwavering truths about society in the past and in the present. Spanning five decades, the pieces in her book emphasise her incredible ability to analyse and comment on issues like race, gender, politics, and culture with controlled anger, a wide range of knowledge, and hope. Mouth Full of Blood is a reminder that many questions are still left unanswered and that there is much work still to be done to deal with the past and work towards a future where everyone can read the “invisible ink” of society.

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Theatre

Amy Hagan reviews We Have Sinned, new student writing as part of the Drama Society’s MIFTA Season.

Written by student Phoebe Lynch, We Have Sinned was an entertaining, comedic, and inventive take on the generic ‘whodunnit’ storyline.

Posh, newly-engaged couple Evelyn (Eliza Lewis) and Damien (Jacob Hall-Brown) invite their old university friends to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. But they all become embroiled in a murder investigation when Damien is killed with a loose door handle.All have motives for wanting him dead: Evelyn, the fiancée who found out her sister was having an affair with Damien; Stephanie (Jordan Jones), the Welsh, goat-loving maid who hates Damien for having her goats killed and eaten; hot-tempered Winnifred (Hugo Lewkowicz) lost her job because of Damien’s reluctance to help her; Percival (Eleanor Potter) was Damien’s political rival and was being blackmailed by Damien for rigging the election; Gregory (Chloë Slater) was stealing from Damien; George (Elizabeth Key) was the world’s worst cook and Damien repeatedly threatened to fire him; and, Lucinda (Gary Gannon), Damien’s mistress and a woman who had multiple affairs. It was up to a French detective to solve the murder, amidst a sea of confusion, chaos and, mismatched clues.

Standout performances came from

Gary Gannon playing Lucinda and Hugo Lewkowicz playing Winnifred.

Even with the occasional line or two being muddled and a wig falling off repeatedly, Lewkowicz made this work for his character and didn’t let it faze him. In fact, it only Photo: Lauren Ellis-Stretch

added to the chaotic and humorous chain of events. Gannon was truly remarkable in his depiction of a snooty, privileged actress who believes she is more successful and famous than she actually is. Incorporating Ariana Grande’s hit ‘thank you, next’ to describe Lucinda’s lengthy list of lovers was the icing on the cake, despite the

questionable dancing skills of Lucinda and her paramours.

I really enjoyed Jacob Hall-Brown’s satirical imitation of a clumsy French detective. It was a hybrid of Hercule Poirot and Jacques Clouseau and the character highlighted the formulaic structure of a detective story. Even though the murder investigation was a series of frenzied interviews and allegations, ending with the reveal of Damien’s long-lost brother, there was a storyline for the audience to follow and a message about the seven deadly sins. With the clever use of a whiteboard, it was highlighted how each character represented a sin: gluttony, sloth, greed, lust, pride, envy, and wrath.

Phoebe Lynch has written a very entertaining play that mocks the murder mystery story and injects some much-needed humour and quirkiness.

I commend the director (Lauren Ellis-Stretch), crew and cast for putting on an enjoyable performance. If this play is an example of the talent of a young playwright, director, theatre crew, and group of actors, then I look forward to the upcoming performances and shows they will inevitably be in.

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We Have Sinned

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Sam Bronheim reviews Sabrina Mahfouz’s adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses at The Lowry Noughts and Crosses, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Malorie Blackman, explores a star-crossed romance in a society dominated by racial conflict.

In this world the black population – Crosses – are the dominant race, superior financially and socially to the oppressed white people – the Noughts.

Persephone ‘Sephy’ (Heather Agyepong) is a Cross but Callum (Billy Harris) is a Nought, so their friendship in this society is nearly impossible. Tensions only grow when Callum becomes one of the first ever Noughts to attend Sephy’s black school.

Their relationship becomes increasingly strained by the hate and pressure from the society around them.

This thought-provoking concept should have delivered a strong and powerful message amidst Callum and Sephy’s tragic romance. However, as a fan of the original book, I couldn’t help but feel that this adaptation (Sabrina Mahfouz) didn’t do it the justice it deserved.

Firstly, I found myself longing for the intermission towards the end of the first half, which was an hour and 20

minutes; lengthy compared to the 40-minute second half. Perhaps this was an attempt to establish context before reaching the climax of the plot, though, in my opinion, it was too much. The fast-paced nature of the play worked well with the incredible and ever-changing set but left me detached from the characters. I was overjoyed in the second half where the storyline was gripping, easier to follow and allowed connect with the characters. The chemistry between Harris and Agyepong was also much more captivating.

I respect trying to stay true to the book, but in any adaptation there can (and should) be smaller elements left out. I acknowledge the personal issues Sephy and Callum faced individually were relevant to their development but they were also overwhelming. In fact, I was regularly trying to decide whether or not something was intentional or simply inadequately executed. A scene where Sephy was bullied for standing up for the Noughts provoked almost no sympathy in me; was this due to the unsurprising hostility of the Crosses towards Noughts or flat acting?

It took a while, but eventually I sympathised with Sephy and Callum. Their love was definitely one of the most memorable aspects of the play.

I especially liked how its forbidden nature was mirrored by their intimate moments occurring in seclusion. This was shown as the young naïve teenagers’ affection first blossomed at secret meetings at the beach.

Later, on the brink of young-adulthood, they finally confessed their love in a hidden bunker in the woods. The only time their love was displayed publicly was when it was taken away, in what I thought was the most powerful scene of the play: Sephy heartbreakingly calls out “I love you!” as Callum is hung for involvement in a violent Nought-liberation movement. A giant ladder led up to the gallows where Callum stood. Sephy and Callum’s families sat on either side, divided, whilst Sephy cried up to her doomed lover from the centre of the stage. The hanging arrived with a crescendo of music and the lights cutting out. I was finally on the edge of my seat (a little too late) as the actors took their bows.

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

A R T E F A C T

Selfridges’ ‘State of the Arts’

Arts

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Photo: Press Shot Photo: Bella Jewell

Lily Rosenberg reviews Selfridges latest campaign, ‘State of the Arts’, a show which attempts to make art more accessible, highlighting the link between art and fashion, yet she believes fails to execute a truly effective installation

of the week Photo: Mayall @ Wikimedia Commons

Bella Jewell explores Manchester’s history of leftwing politics,looking to the desk on which Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels formulated the socio-economical theory Marxism The small and narrow Chetham’s Library is easy to miss. Tucked away near the English Football Hall of Fame, this unassuming construction is the home of one of the dominant ideologies of the 20th century: Marxism.

Chetham’s Library is, in fact, one of the oldest public libraries in the UK and is still free to enter. It is in this library that German industrialist and Marxist philosopher Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx would meet to study and eventually formulate the famous philosophy known as Marxism. However, the birthplace of Marxism can be narrowed down even further than this, as we know the exact spot where these magnificently bearded philosophers conducted their studies.

A smoothly-carved mahogany arch marks the entrance to a dimly-lit alcove. In the centre of this small reading room, a solid rectangular desk stands proudly. It is on its worn surface that Marx and Engels would pile their books and scribble down impassioned notes, formulating an ideology which would later become the basis of communism.

Friedrich Engels lived in Manchester in the 1840s working at a cotton thread manufacturing firm owned by his father. His experiences in the heart of industrial Manchester gave way to the publication of the seminal work, The Condition of the Working Class in England. In 1945, Karl Marx travelled from London to join Engels in Manchester, and the two began to work and theorise together in the cosy alcove of Chetham’s Library.

The Marx and Engels alcove captures a significant moment in Manchester’s history, as the room remains almost entirely unchanged from 1845. There is a pensive stillness that occupies the air, as one can almost hear the walls whisper about the remarkable events they have witnessed. The site has become a place of pilgrimage for Manchester residents and tourists, a room in which two men created one of the most important ideologies of our time.

As I walk over to Selfridges with two others I have brought along, a friend enquires “are you sure art is going to be in here?”

I nod but can see why the question is necessary. Selfridges is not a museum, even the thought of art being in there seems unnecessary, especially for a student who would probably marvel over the outrageous prices for designer handbags more than a Rembrandt or Picasso. Regardless of the costs, art is there, right in the entrance of the Selfridges in Exchange Square.

The series of minimalistic concrete sculptures was created

by Rebecca Halliwell-Suttton, a graduate and emerging talent from the Manchester School of Art. Although I usually find modern art a challenge to appreciate, these sculptures certainly portray the feeling of brokenness, but I do not grasp the full story they are trying to tell.

The sculptures placed around the multileveled store are all created by recent graduates from the Manchester School of Art as a part of Selfridges latest ‘State of the Arts’ campaign, the stores

are attempting to incorporate more art in unique places for the public to see and enjoy. Whilst the majority of people in the store may pass the installation by without a second thought, the message of the overall concept is inspiring.

I examine another sculpture within the store, a large metal sculpture which ressembles a paper boat. The piece is placed in front of a screen showing the boat being dragged around Manchester by the artist, Mid Asadi.

Overall it is an inventive piece despite being made of simple materials. It evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, as I played with similar paper boats and planes as a kid.

The placement of the sculpture is questionable however, as it is almost hidden from the shoppers between two high-end brands with a door behind it that looks like it is only used by the building’s maintenance team. Even with the pieces in the entry of the store, as I looked at the sculptures a handful of people passed without even glancing at the art, one of which is even in the center

of the walkway, obstructing the path of shoppers. The attempt to incorporate the art within the store feels like an afterthought.

Other than art created by art graduates, the store displays a variety of mannequins dressed in designer clothes. Each figure is accompanied by a plaque stating the brand, designer, and a short explanation of their contribution to fashion. Fashion is an art in so many ways, but the connection between traditional sculptures and fashion seems a disconnect and one not fully explained here.

Furthermore, the store also includes designer shoes from Gucci and Balenciga on pedestals with plaques, and this represents the core of this artistic attempt for me. The store, although attempting a creative and excellent idea, is not executed to the level it could have been.

Selfridges is trying to illustrate that the store values more than the money made from designer shoes and wants to give the public accessible art, but at the end of the day the store is placing shoes on a literal and metaphorical pedestal.

Emmanuel Anie-Akwetey Eva Gerretsen explores the work of student Emmanuel Anie-Akwetey, whose photographs are a dip in a pool of colour, a journey through the city you thought you knew

Photo: Emmanuel Anie-Akwetey

The relationship between the city - with its varied landscapes, hidden corners, and surprising bursts of colour - and the person in the frame is captured with a

keen vibrancy and attention to detail by Emmanuel Anie-Akwetey in his portrait series. Studying Politics and International Relations, it’s little wonder he is fixated by the role of the individual in relation to the urban.

Bringing forth his love for the ‘city aesthetic’ (think high buildings, trams, and wide roads) he uses his phone in lieu of a camera to take his photographs, fully making use of the impulsiveness of the city; that every turn is an opportunity for a picture. Part of what motivates him is his work with the SLOL collective, or Some Levels of Loose Coterie. The collective, which can be found on Instagram as slolcoterie, is a group of friends who have gathered to showcase their work in a range of mediums. The list includes music, videography, photography, and DJs. The kinds of discourses he says the collective intends on inciting, especially in relation to his images, ranges from the future of

Afrocentrist art to mental health and the role of the God and the spiritual. It is a collective invested in sharing creativity, in celebrating the individual and the cosmopolitan as part of one unified composition. Part of his role in the group is curation of the Instagram page, utilising the triptych format to feature a fellow participant and friends - his usual models of choice. In most of the images they pose next to buildings, their clothes and their expressions bringing out a vibrant palette and texture. In one image, pink neon light hits a woman’s hair forming a halo, a bright contrast to the metal door behind her. She looks at the camera with an unwavering stare.

It’s a remarkable image in that there is full acknowledgement of the camera, and the artist behind it.

Emmauel Anie-Akwetey’s work is a dip in a pool of colour, a journey through the city you thought you could see.

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Fashion & Beauty

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Meet the affordable fashion guy Margaret Ward caught up with David Seed, the Manchester fashion blogger who puts together outfits on a budget Photo: The Mancunion & David Seed

be classed as ‘Dad’s clothes’ and styling them to an outfit that would be current.

I started posting my outfits and people seemed to really enjoy them. Since then [a year and a half ago] it’s snowballed, and I just love showing people how they can dress well for less.”

Over the past year, influencers have been taking a stand and opening up about their mental health and insecurities. Some cynicaly believe this is just a tactic to increase their followers’ brand-loyalty. Others believe influencers are doing this to raise awareness around the stigma that surrounds the industry, increasing trust within their following.

When asked how he stayed motivated in such a rapidly-changing, competitive industry, David came back with “I enjoy it.

It’s that simple. I’m not competing against anyone but myself, I’m a positive guy so I just keep positive and try to provide something of value to others.

“I think it’s really easy to join the ‘Instagram culture’ life we live, where so much content we consume from bloggers / influencers’ – I hate that word – is actually not realistic, like someone showing off their Gucci bags. I’ve never seen myself as someone who follows the crowd. What I really enjoy about what I do, is (hopefully) bringing value to my following by creating content that is actually accessible to them, like a great outfit only for £61.”

It’s safe to say we all imagine that an influencers life is made up of taking wanderlust-worthy pictures on a white sandy beach with their mojitos and smoothie bowls, I mean that is what their life consists of right? To get some actual insight we asked David what a typical day in the life of a fashion blogger and model would look like. “I’ll get up and enjoy a strong black coffee and some eggs on toast. Check my Instagram and reply to DM’s and comments and scroll

through those I follow and engage with them also.

“I’ll hit the gym at some point.

Fitness is part of my lifestyle, just like brushing my teeth. Aside from those two things… every day is different! I could be casting for modelling jobs, I could be modelling for clients, I could be sat replying to emails or editing photos/ videos.

It really ranges.

But I never sit and do nothing. I think the perception is you just take a few photos and upload them. But a lot of work goes in behind the scenes, be it meetings or prep etc. I think I would go crazy if I didn’t actively find something to do!”

To end our sit-down with David, we asked him what his number one tip for anyone wanting to enter the fashion blogging What I really industry affordable fashion or not, enjoy [...] is David tells us to “not do it for money. creating content If you do, it will be so transparent that that is actually your content is accessible to my coming from a selfish place to gain, followers. rather than to give.

Do it because you ENJOY it.

Provide some form of value.

Make that your focus and it may one day come back around.”

With an industry filled with Louis Vuitton and Gucci’s, it’s always refreshing when you find a fashion blogger, who’s style you can not only relate to but that won’t require you taking out a second mortgage to afford. With a steady following of 26k on Instagram and a growing Youtube channel, the possibilities are endless for this affordable fashion blogger.

“

“

Manchester has recently been referred to as the powerhouse for some of the leading fast fashion digital brands in the UK, including Missguided, Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and I Saw It First.

Over the past year, the British Fashion Industry has contributed over £32.3 billion to UK GDP, which is around a 5.4% increase from 2016. This significant growth is higher than that of the UK economy as a whole. The British Fashion Council said “the increase came from online retail and some growth in manufacturing, while UK designers were going from strength to strength globally”.

The Mancunion recently had the chance to sit down with the man dominating the affordable fashion trend right here in Manchester. David Seed is a 25-year-old male model and blogger, famed for his intricate way of putting together stylish outfits for under £61.

Fashion bloggers and influencers have been dominating the fashion industry for some time now, with their influence sometimes surpassing those known as your typical “celebrities”. There can be many reasons as to why someone would start a fashion blog, ranging from the love of intricately putting together ensembles which showcase their creative side, to those who can easily afford the newest trend once it rolls on in. Whatever your reason is for trying to enter this industry, one thing they all have to have in common is a love and understanding of fashion. David who is known for his affordable fashion touched on what first inspired him to start showcasing his looks.

“I model full-time and often wear quite expensive clothes. I could never get my head around why some items I was modelling were so expensive. I obviously understood that branding is a huge draw for some… but I’ve never been a ‘brand guy’.

“From a young age, I’ve always got a kick out of going into supermarkets and putting together outfits from items that would

Food & Drink 27

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

For the l ve of food ‘Food is a way to nurture and nourish, to bond with someone’.

Kate Fawcett shares her thoughts on food, love and relationships Strawberries dipped in chocolate, a bowl of oysters accompanied by a glass of champagne, a three-tiered wedding cake. Whether they provide aphrodisiac properties or hold cultural significance, food and romance have long gone hand in hand. But the relationship between love and food runs far deeper than these tired clichés. Food can offer a unique experience of intimacy. It often provides us with a means of expression when words are simply not enough.

When I asked my friends what foods they associated with love, none of them mentioned fancy dinners or a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Instead, they spoke about their Grandma’s special recipe for bread and

butter pudding (hint: the secret is nutmeg).

Or the first meal that their Dad taught them to make. Their memories of love and food were deeply personal, more about sharing an experience with a loved one than extravagance.

Food is a way to nurture and nourish, to share tips and tricks, to bond with someone. When your Grandma shares her secret to perfect Yorkshire puddings, she shares a part of her history with you. When someone gives you the bigger slice of cake, they are putting your happiness before their own. I may sound a bit dramatic – a slightly smaller slice of cake does not seem like a huge sacrifice —

but food can be a way for someone to show their love, however insignificant the moment may seem.

It’s those moments: passing a cup of tea back and forth with someone because you only have enough milk for one cup. Eating toast in bed with your partner and getting jam all over the sheets. Or compromising at the cinema and getting salted popcorn even though you prefer sweet just so you can share with someone. Even eating a portion of chips with your housemate on the way back from a night out because you’re too hungry to wait. It is moments like these – small moments of quiet intimacy – that food can bring us.

Manchester’s ultimate burrito guide Chloe Hatton and Liv Clarke took on some of Manchester’s best (and worst) burrito establishments to bring you the ultimate burrito guide

Photos: Chloe Hatton

The next stop, a mere 48 hours later and a result of us having no dates on Valentine’s Day, was Barburrito. Now, normally Barburrito

is at the pricier end of the burrito market but, thanks to singles’ night, a burrito and a beer were only £5. Although, shock horror, you did have to pay an extra £1 for guac.

There were a reasonable range of fillings and a good selection of salsa. However, if you choose the meat option, you have to decide between either beans or veg, and with the veggie option decide between peppers or mushrooms.

The spice level was well balanced, although overall the burrito was on the blander side. The tortilla wrap had a slightly strange, doughy texture but it did hold together better than some of Barburrito’s competitors.

It was great value with the deal, however, we don’t think it’s worth the usual £7.95 price.

“If you’re looking for an on the go meal it does the job, but if you want a truly good burrito go elsewhere.” 6.5/10.

than your average Tinder bio.

Chango’s is a pretty decent bet for a lunchtime treat, although beware the snaking queues outside, a testament to its popularity.

7.5/10.

And now to Chilango’s. Oh, Chilango’s. What an experience.

We were so hopeful and full of enthusiasm when we ordered, nearing the finish line of our Tour de Burrito. And boy, were we disappointed. Where do we start? The lack of fillings? The wrapping so poor it had a gap bigger than the Grand Canyon? Or perhaps the pork belly so chewy you could have used it as gum. The cheese tasted sour, and the sour cream – well, let’s not even go there. And perhaps the biggest let down of all, the £1.50 extra that you had to pay for the privilege of guacamole.

That’s a whole single on the Magic Bus. Having said all this, it was actually the only place to offer prawns, if you’re that way inclined.

If you are, perhaps rethink your life choices.

“It’s actually the place that offers the most student discount at 21%, but don’t be fooled.”

We left Chilango’s, feeling like we’d aged thirty years, and with half-finished burritos in the bin behind us. It was a sad, sad end to the Tour de Burrito but hey, you can’t have it all in life. 4/10.

“

On to our third burrito stop and we were beginning to flag. This time we brought along Amy Wei, our Deputy Editor, who was the inspiration for this burrito tour. She loves the SU burritos, but we wanted to prove to her that there’s more to life than soggy lettuce and mushy chicken. Chango’s lured us in with its £5.95 lunchtime deal, which included a burrito, tortilla chips, and a soft drink.

There was a variety of fillings, even offering crushed tortilla chips, which was a nice touch.

The star of the show at Chango’s though had to be the sauce: we both opted for spicy mango and lime, which combined tropical notes with a kick of chilli. After Barburrito, the combinations seemed endless: you could have both meat and veg in the same wrap. The only downside was that the vegetarian filling was a little too runny, and they didn’t drain the beans very well.

“Overall a bit damp,” declared Liv. Moister

Overall a bit damp

“

A good burrito can’t be that difficult to make, right? A wrap, some guac, and a tasty filling.

Chuck in some optional extras (hopefully free of charge) and you’re good to go. But with so many options, where to go? This is where we come in.

As burrito aficionados, we decided to take one for the team and sample some of the very best (and worst) of Manchester’s burrito offerings. How hard could it be?

First off, we ventured to Pancho’s Burritos, which you can find by the Nando’s near Oxford Road. We’d heard good things — tales of free extras, juicy meat, and excellent student offers. Fresh out of Tuesday afternoon French grammar classes, we were in need of some food for the soul and Pancho’s did not disappoint.

“I had a cheeky glance at the hygiene rating.

Five stars, you’ll be pleased to know,” Liv remarked as we went inside.

One of Pancho’s main attractions is the sheer quantity and quality of fillings available. We both opted for large chicken burritos which, with 15% student discount, will only set you back £5.78. You can choose from lots of different additional toppings, such as multiple types of rice and onions, as well as free guac.

Honestly, this was a pretty great burrito.

It held its form well and had a lovely ratio of protein to carbohydrate. And the flavours were great, slightly smoky which worked well with the freshness of the toppings. The sauce wasn’t too runny either, which made for a relatively tidy burrito-eating experience.

Chloe even had to reassess her burrito preferences afterwards: “You know what? I think this tops Chango’s as my favourite.”

All in all, we gave Pancho’s a solid rating of 9/10.

We’d like to give a special mention to the SU burritos, the flame that ignited this beacon, purely thanks to just how upsettingly bad they are. We’ve both tried them in the past and refuse to eat them again. Save yourselves and avoid at all costs. 3/10.

So, what have we learned on our epic voyage?

Well, wrapping is important, paying extra for guacamole ought to be a criminal offence, and it’ll be a while before we have another burrito ...or not.

Lifestyle 29

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Prepping for postgrad life As term, and university for many, draws to an end, Eva Gerretsen gives some much needed advice on how to prepare for life as a post-grad

Photo: University of Nottingham Trent @ Flickr.

Eva Gerretsen Contributor Let me make one thing clear: no, I have not finished studying. I am in fact still in the throes of my degree and I am still allowed to eat bran flakes for dinner. Therefore, I profess no authority on the reality of living a postgrad’s life. I do not know what it is like to look back on three years of mostly drunken stupor and a bit of Jstor meandering and think – FUCK. Yet, it’s approaching. It creeps ever closer, from the middle of the second term of your first year: “it’s nearly over!” is your feeble cry as you complete another essay one minute before the deadline.

This is, therefore, an outsider’s perspective. I have become — for the purpose of this article — a spy in the house of ‘real life with no maintenance loan’. A ghost of Second Year’s existential crises. A phantom of life before having to live with my parents again. What I have learnt from my eavesdropping is just how awful the first year of this ‘freedom’ can be. It just sucks. There’s no way to sugar coat it; you will be tired, you will have less money, you will hate yourself a bit, and feel worthless if you don’t get a job right away.

Some of these worries may be worth thinking about, some are absolutely not. But, what my prying has also led me to discover is that this feeling or state does not last. This anxiety, this teetering on the edge of ‘I’m okay, really’ will end. For some, finishing can be a relief – people flourish, learn new hobbies, or find the dream career (or, perhaps more realistically, intern for someone doing the dream career without being paid for your time and effort).

It’s going to be a slog no matter how shiny and presentable the university can make you.

But I will assure you that it will be ok. Take time to sleep and look after yourself; you’ll need all your strength to explain, on your 800th application, why your GCSE work experience is VERY relevant to you now. Remember, hit all the bases, try every job search website, go to the job centre, ask around.

Do not be ashamed.

My source informed me that the best thing to do is talk to people about your stress. Try to find a job at university and hold onto it after you graduate – you might feel a little more secure. Some further advice: Use the university’s career service.

Don’t binge drink.

Go to the Lake District.

Go to the swimming pool. Cycle to work.

Be a better boyfriend or girlfriend than you were in uni.

Take Friday evenings off.

Try your hardest not to go further into your overdraft, and if at all possible use your last maintenance loan instalments to start paying it off – you don’t need as much money in your last terms because you should be studying anyway.

Save money every week, even just a tenner will add up to a nice weekend holiday in a couple of months.

Go to Edinburgh just to walk through the streets.

Be there for your friends, they will also be trying to get through this with variations on the above, and it won’t work for everyone. They will be there for you too.

Have faith. It will get better.

Living on £20 a week: a guide Sophia Ashby challenges herself to live on £20 for a week, offering her experiences and advice in the process Sophia Ashby Lifestyle Editor £20 in 7 days. That equates to roughly £2.80 a day, or the cost of a standard Morrison’s cheese sandwich.

Impossible, right?

For a while now, there has been a trend of bloggers and influencers attempting to live off £1 a day. For the most part their pursuits have been depressing, if not unsuccessful. The issue I saw in their approach was to start every day with £1, rather than spending the money at once.

Let’s be real: we are all feeling the financial pressures of university. If meal deals were not tempting enough, the call to a night out is certainly. I was curious to see whether this could be done, and after an admittedly boring week, this is what I learned.

Sharing is caring — £20 a week is not a lot, but £40 between two of you will go much further. Doubling your budget with a friend will help relieve the cost of a food shop, minimise waste, and keep you motivated.

I found that the challenge was quite a lonely affair. But, if you have a friend who is willing to scrimp with you, you will find alternative ways of having fun.

A packed lunch is key – this might seem like an obvious one, but buying lunch every day can really eat into your budget (if you’ll pardon the pun). The same goes for tea and coffee! Include quick and easy lunch items into your weekly shop to avoid unexpected costs.

Shop around – we have all heard the rumours that the Fallowfield Sainsbury’s is the most expensive in the country. Despite its convenience, it is not an option if you are looking to save money on food. Aldi and Lidl are your best bet. It also goes without saying that own brand alternatives are a must. Another useful tip is shopping for your fruit and vegetables at a market.

There is a plethora of produce along the curry mile.

Fresh vs Tinned – cooking from scratch is an absolute must when you are on a tight budget. I would suggest perusing the tinned isle. From vegetables to pulses and even to meat, tinned cans have it all. It may seem unappealing at first, but with a little skill and creativity tinned beef isn’t so gag-inducing.

The library is your friend – living on a strict budget can really help you focus. Without the prospect of fun, you will be more likely to knuckle down and finish that assignment. It is also a free alternative to working in cafes, where you are expected to buy food or a drink to use their Wi-Fi. Sticking to a strict budget is boring, and sometimes you will feel like you are missing out. But there are times when we must all be strict with ourselves. £20 is more than enough to feed yourself, and when it comes down to it, that is all that matters. Find alternative ways to socialise that do not include drinking. In fact, start by trying to be strict during a week that suits your academic timetable. This way, you will be less likely to feel the loss of socialising if you know you need to spend a lot of time working.

Photo: Images Money @ Flickr

30 Sport

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Uni Sport Round-up: Women’s Badminton team win Northern Conference Cup As well as badminton, the University had victories in football, netball, and rugby in a successful week for our sporting sides

James Gill Head Sport Editor The athletes of the University of Manchester were back at this week with another round of fixtures. For some students the seasons are winding down, for others they are only just beginning, and for a lucky few, silverware is on the cards.

Manchester United weren’t the only side to grab a thrilling victory in Europe this week. The University of Manchester Women’s badminton team travelled to Sheffield, often called the ‘Paris of Yorkshire’ for its historic architecture and streets filled with people you can’t

understand, with hopes of lifting the Northern Conference Cup. Like United under Solskjær, the women’s side have been undefeated so far this season, even grabbing a victory against opponents Sheffield last month. The stage was set for a thrilling encounter, a final that promised some of the best badminton you could possibly see in a regional student league.

The venue, Goodwin Sports centre, is often called the ‘Parc des Princes of Yorkshire’ for its raucous atmosphere and was a perfect place for such an occasion. Named after steel magnate Sir Stuart Goodwin, often called the ‘Andrew Carnegie of Yorkshire’, the deep, centuries-old history of this 60-year-old sports centre adds

another dimension to this clash of titans.

As soon as the games kicked off however, Manchester’s women looked at ease. There are numerous comparisons to be made to the German football side that placed Brazil in Belo Horizonte at the 2014 World Cup. They were organised, disciplined, and clinical, levelheaded when it mattered most. They also won 7-1.

I don’t know what the German for ‘it’s coming home’ is, but home it has come.

Another week, another title. Another trophy for the cabinet. That day, 6th March 2019, will live be remembered forever as the day when the talented women of the University of Manchester won the BUCS Badminton 2018-

19 Northern Conference Cup, or by it’s more commonly used name, the ‘Champions League of Yorkshire’.

Elsewhere this week the men’s 4th football team achieved a comfortable 2-0 scoreline over the University of Bolton’s first team, a great result against the top team in the division. The men’s hockey 3rd team was also involved in a top-of-the-table clash against Edge Hill 1st’s which ended 5-5.

Lastly, the women’s netball 5th team put on a show at the Armitage Centre to beat the University of Central Lancashire’s 2nd team 66-29. Taking their record to an incredible eight games played, eight games won and a goal difference of 276.

Federer’s 100-up and there’s more to come

Roger Federer has reached perhaps the most impressive milestone of his career so far by winning 100 titles, his career is far from over, writes Harry Deacon Harry Deacon Deputy Sport Editor Countless masterclass performances from Roger Federer have become the norm for tennis throughout the duration of the 21st century.

Bursting on to the scene with his first title at the Milan Indoors tournament when he was just 19 years of age, almost twenty years on, it is astonishing that Federer is still winning titles,

and he feels that there is more to come.

“We’ll see how much more I have left in the tank,” the 37-year-old added after stating, “reaching 100 is an absolute dream come true for me.”

The 6-4 6-4 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Dubai moved Federer to just 9 titles behind the all-time record holder Jimmy Connors.

However, the tennis legend seemed to not be fussed about the record: “We’re living in a day and age when all the records have to be Photo: Santeri Viinamäki @ Wikimedia Commons.

shattered,” he said. “Not for me. I am just happy I am still healthy”.

Federer’s comments after the game highlight the class that he has brought to the court throughout his glittering career.

A record 20 Grand Slams belongs to the evergreen Swiss star. However, perhaps what will be most remembered is his famous rivalry with Rafael Nadal, a match that grabbed the attention of the whole world whenever it took place.

Although some may view the career of Federer with a kind of misty-eyed nostalgia, the reality is far from over.

After revealing that he has already signed up for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Championships, his career is showing no signs of slowing down.

With Federer still in the top 10 of the ATP World Rankings, and Djokovic and Nadal placed 1 and 2 respectively, tennis’ most dominant players of the last decade and more are showing no signs of slowing down.

Photo: Flickr @Keith Allison

National Table Tennis Park hits 8-under-par final Championships: Wins for round to win Women’s Pitchford and Tsaptsinos World Championship

Liam Pitchford and Maria Tsaptsinos took home winners medals in both the singles and doubles tournaments at the National Table Tennis Championships Chris Perrin Sport Reporter The 2019 National Table Tennis Championships took place in Nottingham over the weekend, with Liam Pitchford and Maria Tsaptsinos taking home winners medals in both the singles and doubles tournaments.

In the men’s singles, Pitchford stormed through the knockout stages, not conceding a single game en-route to the final. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist beat Paul Drinkhall in straight games to secure his fifth national singles title. The match-up came just a day after Pitchford and Drinkhall played together to win the men’s doubles tournament.

Following his success in the national championships, Chesterfield native Pitchford announced his move to Japanese club T.T. Saitama where he will play in the prestigious Japanese T League next season.

In the women’s singles tournament, Maria

Tsaptsinos denied Tin-Tin Ho of a fourth consecutive national title to win a closely contested final 4-2. Like the two male finalists, Tsaptsinos and Ho had to quickly put their friendship to one side, playing each other after winning the women’s doubles tournament as a pair earlier on in the day.

The 2019 World Table Tennis Championships begin in Budapest on 21 April.

Britain’s stars will be hoping to push for the latter stages of the competition. The favourites will no doubt be the Chinese cohort, who are current world champions and occupy the top three of both the men and women’s world rankings.

Currently ranked number 17 in the world, Liam Pitchford stands an outside chance of a place on the podium. But upsets can and do happen. The 25-year-old may well enter the championships dreaming of being Britain’s first world single’s champion since Jonny Leach won it in Vienna in 1951, some 68 years ago.

Korean Park finished 15-under-par, two strokes ahead of Minjee Lee following an incredible final round of just 64 strokes James Gill Head Sport Editor Golf world number two Park Sung-Hyun achieved an incredible eight-under-par round of 64 in the fourth and final round of the Women’s World Championship in Singapore to claim the title. The Korean, who has won two majors, finished the tournament 15 under-par, beating world number three Minjee Lee by two strokes.

The defending champion, American Michelle Wie withdrew from the event due to a wrist issue, saying in a statement: “I made the decision on 15 to withdraw because at that point, I was unable to lift the club. After getting surgery, I had it in my mind that I was going to be completely pain-free when I came back to Asia to defend my title.”

“I was so ready to be pain-free, I ignored a couple of warning signs. As a result of not listening to my body, I endured a bad flare-up

during my round.” Her injury left the tournament wide open for a slew of athletes to potentially win the title. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn led going into the final day but ultimately finished eighth, such was the talent on show.

Park takes home $225,000 of the $1.5 million prize pot for her win and will be hoping to keep the momentum flowing with the Founders Cup taking place later in the month. Talking about her win the Korean said: “I’m really, really delighted and happy with my play today, and I think today is one of the best days that I am playing so far on the LPGA Tour. I didn’t think I would win this fast and I’m really happy.”

“I used to have a tough beginning (of the season) in the last years, and this first win is so fast I think I will play really comfortable the rest of my season. To see all these fans travel from so far away to watch really helps me. I am really surprised every time I see them as it’s such a big group but they really give me energy.”

ISSUE 19 / 11th March 2019 WWW.MANCUNION.COM

Sport 31

Sacré bleu: Solskjaer through to Champions League quarter-finals Facing the impossible, Manchester United rode their luck in a memorable night in Paris as they overcame a twogoal deficit to go through on away goals

Ph oto: Bernt Sønvisen @ Flickr

Wednesday 6th March, Parc des Princes, Paris

Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United 3-3 on aggregate, Manchester United progress on away goals James Owen Sport Reporter “And S olskjaer ha s won it!” T he fa mous words of Clive Tylde s ley we re echoed at f u ll time on We d ne s d ay n ig ht a s M a nche ster Un ited tr iu mphe d aga in st a l l odd s to beat Paris-S a int G e rm a in 1 -3 at the Pa rc de s P rince s.

Nob ody exp ected Un ite d to win , they were n’ t su pp os ed to win . Writte n off by ma ny with the abs ence of te n first te a m pl aye rs. A bench th at include d fou r acade my gradu ate s. Having to ove rtu r n a de ficit of two away goa ls. It a ll looke d to be too much for Ole Gu n n a r S ols k j ae r ’s side, but as he said afte r the ga me, “ th is is what we do”. On an u nforge tta ble n ig ht at the Pa rc de s P rince s, M a nche ste r Un ite d cre ated h istory in b ecom ing the first s ide to re cover f rom a two goa l first leg home de fe at to progre ss to t he q u a rte r-fin a ls of the big ge st of all clu b compe tition s.

As Manche ster Un ite d line d u p with a midfield of S cott McTom in ay, A nd re a s Pe rei ra, and Fred you cou ld n’ t he lp but thi nk th is is a midf ie ld th at wou ld n’ t look out of place in the re s e rve s ide. But, w ith Un ited’s favou re d m id fie ld a ll out throug h either inju ry or su spe n s ion it fe l l to the you ngsters to outplay the like s of M a rco Veratti, Ange l Di M a ria , a nd Jul i a n D raxler. S olskjae r’s ga me pla n wa s si mple; grab an early goa l a nd re m a in in the ga me with 20 minue ts to play. A nd that’s how it went.

With ju st u nde r two m i nute s pl aye d at the Parc de s P r i nce s PS G’s T i mo Ke he r, u n awa re of h i s su r rou nd i ng s, pl aye d a s lug g is h b ack p as s to G i an lu ig i Bu f fon , with Rome lu Lu kak u b e i ng q u icke st of f the m a rk to r u n on to t he b al l , s h r ug g i ng of a ch a l le nge f rom T h i ago S i lva, rou nd i ng the ke e p e r and s core h i s f i rst of t he n ig ht .

The plan was s e t i n mot ion , M anche ste r Un ite d h ad t he i r e arly go al and it was now a ll to pl ay for i n Par i s.

From he re on i n PS G b egan to pl ay w it h the q u al ity t h at s aw t he m com for t ably s lot two go al s p ast M anche ste r Un ite d in the fi rst leg . Ju an B e r n at and A nge l D i M a r ia le f t m ake s h i f t r ig ht b ack E r ic B ai l ly on the b ack of h i s he e l s as t hey te ame d u p to whip i n a low c ros s t h at was i nche s away from an M b app e e q u al i s e r. T he home fan s d id n’ t h ave to wait for long , as M bappe f i z ze d a b al l ac ros s t he s i x yard box for Ju an B e r n at to t ap i n .

With M anche ste r Un ite d b ack to s q u a re one, and ne e d i ng two go al s to prog re s s, al l eye s we re on t h i s inexpe r ie nce d s ide to s e e how t hey wou ld re sp ond . PS G t houg h h ad ot he r ide a s a nd cont i nue d t he i r re le nt le s s a s s au lt on E r ic B ai l ly. Dan i A lve s st r uck a volley ove r t he b ar f rom 1 2 yard s out wh ilst go al s core r Ju an B e r n at te ste d t he pa lm s of D e G e a. A s e cond go al lo oke d im m ine nt for PS G and wou ld most l i ke ly h ave e nde d M anche ste r Un ite d’s s l i m ch a nce of prog re s s ion .

A rare M anche ste r Un ite d at t ack on the 30 thm i nute s aw M arc u s Ras h ford h it

a d ippi ng s hot at t he h ands of G ia nluigi Bu f fon . W h at lo oke d s o s imple for Buf fon t u r ne d i nto a cal am ity as t he World C up w i n ne r f u m ble d t he b all in to t he p at h of Rome lu Lu kak u to complete his t hird brace i n as m any game s. Ma nche ster Un ite d le d at t he bre ak .

A f te r s ome s c i nt i l l at ing fo ot b a ll in t he s e cond h al f, PS G lo oked like t hey’d fou nd t he i r op e n i ng , but a delight f ul lo b

by A nge l D i M ar i a was f l agged for of fside.

As t he clo ck ran dow n Ma nche ster United p at ie nt ly waite d for t heir opp ort unity to at t ack and w it h 2 0 m i nute s rem a ining S ol s k jae r h ad h i s w i s h; t hey were st ill ve r y much i n t h i s t ie.

M anche ste r Un ite d b ega n to pus h u p t he f ie ld ch as i ng t he go a l t hat would s e nd t he m t h roug h to t he q ua rter f ina ls, t he i r e f for t s i n ste ad saw t hem caught out of p os it ion and as PSG top s corer Kyl i an M b app e ran t h rough on go a l it lo oke d as i f t hey wou ld b e go ing home i n ste ad . A s l ip t houg h s aw t he cha nce s q u ande re d as Ch r i s Sm a lling topp ed of f an exce l le nt p e r for m a nce blo ck t he e f for t . T h i s d ram at ic game of tw ist s a nd t u r n s cont i nue d as Un ited cont inued to pu s h for ward , w i n n i ng a corner f rom a blo cke d D iogo Dalot s hot .

Wit h S ol s k jae r i n t he dugout t here was hop e of c re at i ng a sim ila r ending to h i s famou s w i n ne r i n t he 1999 C ha mpions L e ag ue f i n al . In ste ad , a new kind of dra m a was to u n fold as re fe re e Da m ir Skom ina was ale r te d to a p os s i ble ha nd b a ll by PSG de fe nde r K i mp e m b e, as a United f ree kick

de f lected on to Kimp em b e’s a rm w it h his b ack t urned. Tens e moment s awa ited a s VAR rev iewed t he incident a nd awa rded a content ious p ena lty in t he 94 t h m inute.

Up stepp ed Ma rcus Ra shford for his f irst ever Ma nche ster United p ena lty, s lot t ing p a st Buf fon f rom 12 ya rds out to s end Ma nche ster United t hrough to t he q ua rter-f ina ls a nd PSG cra s hing out .

In a ga me dom inated by VAR t a lk, Ma nche ster United were not t he b et ter s ide, but t hat do e s n’t mea n t hey didn’t de s erve to go t hrough. S ols kj aer ha s brought b ack t he f ight ing ment a lity t hat is s o of ten a ss o ciated w it h prev ious United s ide s. Wit h nine away w ins in a row t he a nnouncement of Ole G unna r S ols kj aer a s t he p erm a nent Ma nche ster United m a nager is lo oking inev it a ble.

In t he ot her dugout , t ime s a re more dif f icult for PSG m a nager Thom a s Tuchel. Wit h PSG ex p ected to cruis e to a L igue 1 t it le each yea r, t he C ha mpions L eague of fers a cha nce for t hem to prove t hem s elve s a s one of Europ e’s elite, but , w it h s even loss e s in t here prev ious twelve kno ckout ga me s t he Pa risia ns have aga in fa llen s hort of Europ ea n glory, a nd for most in t he F rench capit a l t hat is enough to s ee t he m a nager los e his j o b.

Up Next Ma nche ster United w ill lo ok to cont inue t heir impre s sive run of away w ins a s t hey t ravel to t he E m irate s St adium on Sunday to face Ars ena l in a highly a nt icip ated f ixt ure a s b ot h side s lo ok to put a dent in t heir opp os it ions f ight for top four.

Photo: joshjdss @ Flickr.

It’s coming home: England win SheBelieves Cup England returned from America victorious after winning the invitational SheBelieves tournament against the USA, Japan, and Brazil

Harry Deacon Deputy Sport Editor World Cup football can not come quickly enough for England’s Lionesses. With a summer in France looming ahead, and Phil Neville’s side hitting a rich vein of form at the SheBelieves Cup, football may finally be coming home.

For those out of the know, the SheBelieves Cup derives from the SheBelieves social media campaign that has stemmed from US soccer. The aim of the campaign, as stated by the English FA’s website is to: “Inspire young girls and women and encourage them to accomplish their goals and dream, within sport or otherwise.”

The invitational tournament clearly has admirable intentions that we can all get behind. England’s intentions on the pitch were evidently just as positive.

The Lionesses, captained by Manchester City’s Steph Houghton, knew they faced a tough

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SheBelieves Cup derives from the SheBelieves social media campaign that has stemmed from US soccer

Inside Sport

fixtures as they came up against Brazil, the USA, and Japan respectively.

However, Neville seemed unfazed by the talent they faced as he focused on gaining improving performances without being too “bothered… whether we won or lost”. In the end it didn’t matter as the ex-Manchester United player wouldn’t have to worry about losing anyway.

England’s first match was against the tournament’s lowest ranked side, Brazil. A 2-1 win got the invitational off to a brilliant start, but things were only going to get better.

The 2nd March brought with it a thrilling encounter, the Lionesses clashed with the mighty USA. A classy touch was added by the Americans, who wore inspirational women’s names, sporting or not, on their shirts to showcase the reasons for the tournament.

US star Carli Lloyd remarked on initiative by saying: “Malala is someone who stood up for what she believed in even though she could be killed for it.

“Even after being shot and almost dying she has continued to fight for and inspire women around the world,” in response to being asked why she chose to wear the name of Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

The game that ensued was nothing short of scintillating. After falling behind to a goal from Megan Rapinoe, England’s Manchester City core dug in deep. Steph Houghton and Nikita Parris levelled and sent England in front.

It was left to a 67th minute equaliser from Tobin Heath to keep the tournament alive, meaning going into the final game the USA, England, and Japan could have all come away victorious.

England knew a win against Asia’s most prolific footballing force would seal top spot in the group and land Phil Neville his first piece of

Ole! United overpower PSG

managerial silverware. Something he himself proclaimed to be allusive as “you don’t get many chances to get your hands on a trophy.”

When the line-ups were announced, it was revealed that England made eight changes to the starting line-up that grabbed an impressive point against the world number one. Was this to be a misjudgement from Neville or a showcase of extreme squad depth in the English set up?

Questions were soon answered with Lucy Staniforth firing England in front with an outside the box effort just 12 minutes in.

The Lionesses piled on the pressure, eager for a larger lead.

11 minutes later and the Lionesses had doubled their lead. This time it was a header from Karen Carney. The cross from Jodie Taylor was typical, she was lighting up the pitch, grabbing the first two assists.

Japan, all at sea, couldn’t handle the English pressure that seemed so confident and self-assured. Nerves didn’t seem to exist in the English set up, with the replacements seeming to fit right in to the game plan.

Half an hour into the match and perhaps the best goal of the day was scored. Kiera Walsh’s brilliant assist helped Beth Mead grab herself a goal that she took calmly.

Walsh’s reverse pass showed us why Neville feels she is “probably the best” at what she does in Midfield at the moment. Neville admitted, “I’ve been really tough on her” as he talked about leaving her out of the squad in the past, but clearly in the long-term the decisions made by Neville, and Walsh’s reactions to these has proven a great success.

As the second half rolled around it would be wrong to say that Japan didn’t work their way back into the game. However, it seems that was due more to a dropping of conviction from

Uni sport round-up

the English eleven, rather than a rejuvenated Japanese fight-back.

A fine save from Carly Telford and a wasted chance by Yuka Momiki kept the three-goal lead in the second half, giving England a precious clean sheet, but even more importantly presenting them with the SheBelieves Cup.

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Phil Neville may now have one eye on the biggest prize in women’s football The tournament was vital in World Cup preparations, as Phil Neville may now have one eye on the biggest prize in women’s football.

England have been drawn in a group with Scotland, Argentina, and the Japan side they just dispatched of 3-0, and with Neville stating: “We just keep listening to the USA, Japan and Brazil talk about how good we are”.

Spurred on by SheBelieves performances seen across the pond, the World Cup final on 7th May at the Stade de Lyonnais must surely be the goal for this extremely talented group of players.

With friendlies against Canada, Spain, Denmark, and New Zealand all to come before the World Cup kicks off, the next few months of English international women’s football are going to be both exciting and intriguing for all involved.

Federer, 100 not out