Skip to main content

Day: 15 March 2012

Interview: Melissa Benn

Written by Ben Moore on . Posted in Opinion.

Journalist and author Melissa Benn speaks to Ben Moore about our education system, the student protests and how far the feminist movement has come since her time at university. Benn is the author of School Wars, a book exploring the inequalities of our current system, the emergence of free schools and the growth of the private sector in education

Ben Moore: For the oblivious reader, could you explain what free schools are?

Melissa Benn: Free schools are schools which are funded by government and therefore paid for by the taxpayers, but are nothing to do with local authorities. In a way, they are ‘independent’ state schools.

BM: What are your criticisms of such schools?

MB:       My worry about them is the government has set them up, given them a lot of money to get going and also offers political support, on the grounds they will improve the system. The fear is that they won’t tackle the problem of inequality and provide a better education for poorer students, the key problem at the heart of our school system. There was research done looking at the first 23 of 24 free schools and they found that they took a lower percent of kids on free school meals than the other state schools in the area. So there is already a worry that free schools might be serving the better off.

BM: In essence, you’re saying it perpetuates the educational inequality?

MB: Well at this rate, free schools certainly won’t eradicate it, no. The coalition says its whole concern is to improve the education of poorer children but my suspicion is that they will not.

BM: Do you think it is just misguided policy [from the coalition] or are their vested interests?

MB:       I think there are a lot of vested interests in education and that’s one of the problems of our education system. The private and grammar schools both have a very powerful voice. Is it deliberate? Erm, I think that Michael Gove and those at the top care about academically talented poorer students who are being left behind. I don’t think they have a plan for all children really. I think they are obsessed with the narrative of the poor, talented kid who excels academically and goes on to Oxbridge- Gove himself was adopted and then got a scholarship to a private school before attending Oxford. So a lot of their focus is on the  narrative of poor kid who ‘makes it up’.

BM: What policies would you advocate to limit the educational inequalities we face?

MB: We have to focus on the whole system. International evidence, from the OECD, is very clear. It says that the best and fairest systems provided a good comprehensive system from mid to late adolescence and said even not to stream children, let alone divide by social class. In an unequal society, we have to have good state schools. If we leave it to ‘choice’, you’re just going to get the same mistakes creating the same problems.

BM: In terms of choice, do you have a problems with public schools? In terms of division and favouring the elite? Or do you feel that as long as there are good state schools, should be able to choose private education?

MB: I don’t think you can take away the right to private education- I think you just get into a legal minefield there. We need to talk about what they mean for our societies. They clearly perpetuate the inequality. It’s inequality masked in the rhetoric of ‘freedom’, whereas in reality it’s just about buying something superior.

BM: Moving on to Higher Education, what are your opinions on the Student Fee rises?

MB: Well they really concern me. There’s no question that psychologically, the new sums are a huge barrier. The figures this year show there’s been a drop in people applying overall. Yet again, it’s less of a worry for those with money than without money. For those who pay 12k or more a year for private education, it’s just a continuation of their financial burden. It also concerns me that the new market in higher education means we are losing a sense of education as a public good.

BM: What advice can you give to students to combat these rises? I know a lot of young people feel relatively helpless.

MB:  Don’t give up, don’t lose hope. Protest, do it with wit and relevant statistics. In the end, history shows that pressure from the bottom affects people at the top. You feel at the time it doesn’t, but it is shaping the landscape. As long as you keep within the purview of the law, keep up the pressure.

BM: Faith schools are becoming increasingly controversial. Do you encourage state funding for faith schools?

MB: Well, I’ve always had worries about faith schools. I have two worries. One, they divide people by background. Where we live [inner city London] there are two local Islamic schools. Those children will never come into contact with the kids that go to the local primaries. That is a real shame and in this time, with global tensions such as they are, this is a real worry. Another worry is that some faith schools, like some Christian faith schools, have used admissions on the basis of faith to get a more ‘favourable’ intake, let’s say.

BM: We have several reclaim the night events in Manchester and a strong feminist movement. How far has the feminist movement come since your time at University?

MB: I think if you look at detail of it, feminism has made a huge impact on all of our lives- on everything from employment to social life. But I don’t think we’ve come as far as we think we have. There are still problems with violence; with safety; with representation- about 20% of the world’s parliamentarians (and 22% in the UK) are female. I think these austerity measures are hitting women hardest- they’re exacerbating the gap between the better well off women and the worst and also pushing back women in general. Poverty has always been a women’s problem. I’d say to the relatively privileged, university female- fight for the female who is not at University and who does not have your voice.

Friends in need

Written by Ben Moore on . Posted in Opinion.

There have been recent murmurings of unrest and disapproving sentiment towards our current aid budget. Those who see the education budget slashed, from all sides of the political spectrum, argue that the international development budget should be cut. It has actually been cut, in nominal terms, but the argument nevertheless remains to cut it in percentage terms.

We currently spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on international development. So, for that elusive ‘British Taxpayer’, 0.35% of your income is the most that can go to international development. I personally do not think this is enough, but to suggest that it is too much is ridiculous, especially considering that those paying the 0.35% are those paying the 50p tax rate- those with the deepest pockets in society.

We are constantly compared to other developed countries who either fail to meet the 0.7% target or only give the 0.7% if it benefits their economies. Why would we want to replicate this behaviour? Should we not be proud of the altruistic strain that has characterised our society?

This increasing reluctance of some government officials – and it seems of many experts as well as voters – to give suggests  a parallel desensitisation to mass death. Every 5 seconds, a child under 5 years of age dies of curable diseases – 700 every hour – 16,000 each day – 6 million each year (WHO 2008). Yet, we turn on the news and turn over as if nothing’s wrong in the world. The iconic development pictures have commonly been malnourished African children. If these were white children, there’d be uproar. If the white middle classes in South Africa suddenly started starving, for whatever reason, there’d be a concerted effort to help. Even now, it seems we’ve developed an image where people automatically conflate poverty and disease with black Africans ignorant of the fact that the 3 poorest states in India have more people in poverty than the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa combined. We should care, regardless of ethnicity or gender. Humans are humans, pain is pain and we should do our best to alleviate any global suffering that we can.

Compared to other departments, cuts to the Department for International Development are arguably the most damaging- whether that be in comparison to the health or education department.  This is about keeping people alive, not cutting waiting times or ensuring interactive whiteboards for teachers. That’s not to say these aren’t issues which we should be concerned with, but the development budget tackles the ultimate problems facing humanity today and in any event the idea that we may be neglecting the needs of our own population by aiding overseas development is ridiculous. Homelessness aside, our country’s problems are very relative. There is a qualitative difference between waiting times to see a GP increasing and the spread of malaria in Zimbabwe increasing.

You are only a Briton because you were born into fortuitous circumstances. Imagine you were a poor Malawian. Through no fault of your own, you’re poor to the extent you cannot afford food, the chance of at least one of your parents having HIV/AIDs is more than one in four, and you have no hope of ever being educated. If you were that child, and someone told you that somewhere there existed someone who had a roof over their head, whose wardrobe exceeds in value what your parents earn in a year and yet refused to have 0.7% of their taxed earnings spent trying to help you, how would you feel?

In fact, imagine a scenario in which Boris Johnson becomes the British Prime Minister. After a series of suspiciously motivated wars in Sweden, Brazil and Italy, we are bankrupt and are unable to feed our children. Wouldn’t we want the more affluent states to help out? Regardless of whether we think they would help, would we not want them to help- would it not be the right thing to do?

Then there’s the argument that it’s the recipient nation’s government’s responsibility, not ours. Abandoning my position that we have a duty to these people, there is still no convincing argument to say that we shouldn’t donate. Just because India’s government SHOULD be eliminating poverty, does it mean we should not donate? It is those suffering that we are condemning if we do not . Of course it would be better if the Indian government used their resources more effectively in tackling the widespread poverty they have. But to say to the dying girl from Kerala ‘they’re not saving you, so why should we?’ is not only a ridiculous, but callous argument.

As a student, it is relatively easy to make these big statements about what tax money should be spent on. But even when we do graduate and (hopefully) start paying significant tax, let’s not let our greed corrupt our ideals. Let’s remember that our opportunities and the comfort they may bring us have simply not been there for millions of our fellow human beings through no fault of their own – and to remember to  pass on a share, however small,  of the fruit of those opportunities to others who are no less deserving.

Classic album: Metallica – Metallica

Written by James Ross on . Posted in Music.

Metallica
Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album)
Elektra Records
Released: 1991

The Californian quartet’s eponymously titled fifth studio album took the band to legendary status – building on the foundations laid throughout the previous decade. Shedding their aggressive thrash elements, Metallica produced an album that has sold over 22 million copies worldwide.

It had been five years since the passing of the band’s influential bass player, Cliff Burton, and it was the first opportunity for new bass player, Jason Newsted, to contribute musically. The pressure was on after the success of …And Justice For All. It was always going to be tough for the band and big decisions had to be made. Namely, controversial producer Bob Rock – famous for his work with Black Sabbath, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi, to name but a few – was drafted in to revitalise the thrash metal pioneers. The result: a critically acclaimed masterpiece that still remains relevant today.

Musically, Bob Rock encouraged frontman James Hetfield to be more personal with the lyrics and the rest of the song writing. He also attained a groovier sound with an emphasis on playing to the beat of the drummer. Yet the album still retains its heaviness. It was these musical ingredients that really contributed to that winning formula.

Six hit singles were released from the album and it is not an exaggeration to say that there could have been more. It is comprised of a variety of tracks: ‘Nothing Else Matters’ has that radio friendly edge; the groovier sound is noticeable in songs such as ‘Sad But True’. It even pleases fans of the ‘old school’, like me, with ‘Holier Than Thou’. It is a well rounded effort and it most certainly deserves the recognition as a classic.

I should also add that SoundScan, Billboard’s official source for record sales, has recently announced the album as the top selling album of the past two decades (out of any album!). It is then fitting that they shall be celebrating its success at Download Festival this summer. See you there.

Metallica – Enter Sandman

Live: Protest The Hero @ Club Academy

Written by James Ross on . Posted in Music.

Protest The Hero
Club Academy
7th March
4 stars

There is nothing quite like seeing Canadian quintet Protest The Hero as they do not only bring technical prowess and a shitload of great tunes to each show, they know how to entertain. This was epitomised when they all came out to Elton John’s ‘Circle of Life’ whilst pretending to present baby Simbas to the onlooking masses before launching into a hit-filled set.

First though was main support act Long Distance Calling. The German instrumentalists were distinctly bland and did not make up for the lack of singing with any technical ability (bar the drummer). Furthermore there was a gaping absence of any charisma.

PTH, however, were in full throttle, firing straight into ‘Sex Tapes’ – an anthemic song to get the crowd going. It was a beautifully crafted set list from start to finish where fan-favourites, such as ‘Bloodmeat’, merged with tracks from their most recent album Scurrilous, such as ‘Termites’ and recently released single ‘Hair Trigger’. It was technically the tour for that album – albeit it being released last year – and what a fine and mature effort it was. All of the songs were executed near perfectly and generally well received.

I was near the front for the whole set, in a ten-deep assembled, rioting posse. We sung, we danced and some heckled with the band as they conveyed their humour, telling tales from on-stage and on the road. Frontman Rody Walker did not need to incite any pits or gesture for the crowd to go crazy; they just did (and would have concurred out of awe and respect anyway). Each song led to mayhem down at the front and boisterous sing-a-longs throughout. Personal highlights for me were tracks ‘Blindfolds Aside’ and ‘C’est la Vie’ (Not a B*witched cover!) – they brought the culmination of the show to a fantastic climax.

Protest The Hero – Hair Trigger

Feature: Four songs in the Field of: Funk

Written by Daniel Jones on . Posted in Music.

‘Cissy Strut’ by The Meters

The phrase ‘cissy strut’ usually conjures up an image of Mick Jagger, prancing around on stage like a startled goose. Sadly, this track rarely comes to mind. The riffs are ridiculously infectious and as far as instrumentals go, it’s about five hundred times groovier than an Austin Powers lookalike competition. To be honest, if you whack it on after a few drinks you may even find yourself doing exactly what it says the tin.

‘Hollywood Swinging’ by Kool and the Gang

This classic might be heard at the odd wedding reception, but I’m certain it has induced a fair few memorable dances between pissed up aunties and reluctant nephews. The intro was sampled in ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ by DJ Kool, who ironically shares no relation with Kool or any of the Gang. The song was also used on GTA: San Andreas, where it provided the perfect soundtrack for killing members of the general public with a baseball bat.

‘Controversy’ by Prince

I was in Sainsbury’s car park the other day, talking to my housemate about Prince. We both agreed that he looks a bit like the Child-Catcher, but we disagreed on our favourite tracks. I initially thought his choice was “controversial” to say the least – (sorry, I couldn’t help myself) – but lo and behold it was funkier than mine hands down. We put it on repeat on the way home and it was one of the best Sainsbury’s meal deals I’ve ever had.

‘Pass the Peas’ by Maceo Parker

At 10 minutes long, this is one for the real mack-daddies out there. Don’t worry though, Parker is of the highest funk pedigree; he was actually the saxophonist in James Brown’s backing band. In fact, Brown is credited on a number of tracks off 1992 album Life on Planet Groove – including this one. The rhythm is jumping, the saxophone is hot and you can almost imagine strolling into a Las Vegas casino like you’re part of Ocean’s Eleven.

Opinion: Why I hate Two Door Cinema Club

Written by Tom Ingham on . Posted in Music.

You might wonder how anyone could hate these nice, polite chaps from Northern Ireland, especially when they come so beautifully packaged and presented. Well, as someone who is completely against flogging of any kind, I really do take umbrage with the metaphorical ‘dead horse’ of which indie music has become. Two Doors music, for me, goes hand in hand with the people who champion it – I mean has anyone ever said, “Yeah he’s a great laugh; he likes Two Door Cinema Club as well you know”. With the world’s population approaching 7 billion, I do appreciate it is hard to stand out, but when a band blends into the background so nicely, one has to question their musical intentions and whether in 40 years time they can look back on their career with any ounce of pride.

There seems to be a formulaic pattern to their song writing, with 99.9% of they’re songs featuring a jangly, riff played way up past the twelfth fret, and of course you’ve got that signature drum pattern which Two Door must be getting endorsed to use or something. As for the lyrics, I get the feeling that I’ve heard every single line before, something that should be apparent to anyone who has spent an evening in 5th Ave or any indie night for that matter, and has subsequently gone on to contemplate hanging themselves, out of pure shame, with their own token pair of chinos.

I expect the majority of people will be in complete disagreement, but who made music a democracy? There are people who listen to music in clubs and people who have a passion for music, whether its Metal or Jazz Fusion, and Two Door Cinema Club will never find themselves among the latter. I’m sick of bands with nothing interesting or new to say, delivering the same old riffs, dressed in the same old clobber. Please, do something different! I’ll always have infinitely more respect for Lou Reed making Metal Machine Music and collaborating with Metallica than any indie clone band.

Classic album: R.E.M – Murmur

Written by Daniel Jones on . Posted in Music.

R.E.M
Murmur
I.R.S Records
Released: 1983

I got my first ever CD player when I was 10. As a complementary (and cheap) present, my brother copied three R.E.M. albums for me – Automatic for the People, Monster and their debut effort, Murmur. These were the first records that I can remember listening to alone in my bedroom, from start to finish. I wouldn’t like to choose a favourite between them, but if I was being forced at gunpoint I’d probably have to go with Murmur. It not only has the fresh intensity that any self-respecting band’s first full studio release should have, it also marked a new direction in American music by stoking the emergence of alternative rock in the early 80s.

Now, if you thought that Michael Stipe was always bald then please refrain from jumping to the conclusion that R.E.M. were always the type of band that your mum would listen to whilst washing up the dishes. In fact, Stipe had a full head of hair when Murmur was released in 1983; a record which was made by four young students, primarily for young students. The coarse quality of the album was achieved by disregarding the contemporary need to rely on over-the-top solos and sapless synthesisers. Instead, Stipe’s heartfelt croons are perfectly accompanied by Mike Mills’ melodic basslines and Peter Buck ‘s chiming lead guitar. The mumbled lyrics in tracks like ‘Radio Free Europe’ and ‘Sitting Still’ are almost indecipherable, but it really doesn’t matter because you somehow feel everything he’s muttering on about.

You might class ‘Laughing’, ‘We Walk’ and ‘Catapult’ as simple pop songs, but they each pack an undeniable punch that hits deeper and deeper after each listen. These tracks in particular, as well as ‘Pilgrimage’ and ‘Shaking Through’, display the raw chemistry that existed between the members of the band at this time. The way that Stipe, Mills, Buck and Berry seem to bounce off each other is testament to the fact that they were all given equal song-writing credit on each track. They were all in it together, combining their individual and inimitable strengths in order to produce an album that ultimately helped to change the course of rock music forever.

R.E.M – Radio Free Europe

John Rylands collects nearly £75k fines in just one term

Written by Joe Sandler Clarke on . Posted in News.

John Rylands Library collected almost £75k from fines in just the first semester of this year.

Figures obtained by The Mancunion following a Freedom of Information request showed that the University library collected £73,791 in fines last term; while the library collected £190,782 in the years 2010-2011.

Earlier this year The Guardian reported that university libraries had collected £50 million in fines over the last 5 years.

Leeds University took the most money from fines, taking more than £1.8m for the six academic years from 2004/05. Manchester University was second after taking almost £1.3 million.

The University of Wolverhampton, King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire, University of Birmingham, the University of Plymouth, the University of Nottingham, Kingston University and the University of Durham all collected fines in excess of £1 million.

The majority of institutions are strict with students who are persistently late when returning books.

At Imperial College London a fine of £4 or above will lead to library privileges being revoked until the books are returned. While the University of Westminster, though choosing not to charge students who return books late, bans students from using the library for the length of time that the books are overdue.

Some universities will prevent students from graduating if they have outstanding fines. Exeter University, for example, will prevent students with as little as £5 worth of debt from graduating.

Meanwhile, more than 300,000 books from British university libraries are unaccounted for; with more than 30,000 books missing from Oxford University.

University Librarian & Director of the John Rylands Library, Jan Wilkinson, explained that the large amount of fines collected by the University was simply the result of the institution’s size. She also confirmed “all fines income is reinvested in library services.”

Manic Manchester Hit Top Form to Dispatch Wilting Worcester

Written by James Gilbert on . Posted in Sport.

I am a very proud chap. Proud because a large contingent of fans and I witnessed one of the finest rugby performances by our Men’s Rugby Union team that I have seen in my three years of being involved in this club. Manchester’s performance was so fine and fluent that the Armitage faithful didn’t understand why this quality of rugby had not been exhibited before because it appeared so easy and Worcester are a very accomplished side. Manchester did not just beat Worcester, they routed them- nay, they destroyed them. What was it about Manchester’s performance that made them so successful against an extremely motivated Worcester side? They met their potential. They showed flair and ambition and hit the levels they know they are capable of. Were there any Dropped balls? None. Lost lineouts? Nada. Slow ball? Rien. Lack of possession? Nichts. Lapses of concentration? Sausage. Basically, everything Manchester tried they got right, and they showed why they could have been promoted this year by completely annihilating a very good Worcester side at the Armitage on Wednesday.
Having narrowly lost their away game to Worcester 8-7, Manchester gained revenge at home with a majestic 72-5 win. Worcester were the bigger side but failed to live up to the skill and speed levels that Manchester produced and got taught a lesson in the drawback of being too big and heavy to compete with a very fit and accomplished Manchester team.
Joe Dale set the tone for the whole game by scoring an early try after an explosive start by Manchester’s forwards. With brilliant breaks being made by James Williams and Guy Ridley in midfield, Joe Heslop and Liam Nicol ran brilliant supporting lines to score two tries apiece. With Worcester still showing huge levels of commitment and aggression, the breakdown area remained furiously competitive between both sets of forwards but nobody excelled in this area as much as Man of the Match Stu Cross. With some bone crunching tackles, Cross annulled any threat from Worcester’s forwards by smashing them back and stealing the ball at every opportunity.
With half time looming, Manchester tested Worcester’s forwards further by reverting from an open game to a tight and disciplined routine, forcing the Worcester tight five to commit themselves to every ruck and breakdown. Henry Brooke battered his opposite man at the scrum and was awarded with a try just before half time.
After the break, most teams would take their foot off the pedal having completely dominated the first half but Manchester increased their energy levels and work rate to really put Worcester to the sword with arguably one of their best and most complete performances of the season. James Williams scored two more tries after a period of brilliant handling that Worcester could not compete with, and Freddie Watson’s typically dogged display was awarded with a try after showing great pace to outrun the Worcester full back. Manchester did blemish their copy book by conceding a try mid way through the second half following a series of infringements at the breakdown, but there was little chance of a comeback.
Stu Cross capped his fine performance by scoring a very well deserved try in retaliation to the Worcester score, and upon his appeal for improved discipline, the whole team responded well to ensure Worcester would not cross the Manchester line for a second time. James Booth, who had an 87% kicking success rate throughout the game and showed great reliance under the high ball to produce a textbook performance for a full back.
With time running out, Paddy Shaw kept Worcester on the back foot with some huge kicks downfield and Manchester only just failed to score more points after a brilliant display of defence by the comprehensively battered Worcester side. The game ended with rapturous applause by the Armitage crowd and a huge degree of satisfaction was evident on coach Thiu Barnard’s face as he witnessed his charges show how well they can really play.
Man of the Match Stu Cross said at the end of the game ‘That was a really tough team we just bullied, and although it doesn’t make up for previous disappointments, we are glad we finally produced the levels of rugby we know we can.’
Captain Freddie Watson also said ‘We have played like this for most of the season but not converted quality into points. If we had done this earlier I really think we could have been promoted. We are really pleased to get this result because Worcester could have easily come here and made it a very tight game.’
The University of Manchester Mens Rugby Union Club would like to thank Ernst and Young for their support throughout this season.

Player Profile – Anna Fowler

Written by Dan Moore on . Posted in Sport.

How did you first get into curling?

Well there’s only one curling rink in England and it’s in Kent, where I live. I think was about twelve when I first went on an open day and I enjoyed it so I kept going. My family started as well, in fact I just competed in a mixed competition with two of my brothers.

You mentioned competitions, what level have you competed at?

Well I’ve captained and played for England juniors for four years and this year I’ve made the senior side, I’ve also got Olympic trials soon. It’s tough because most of UK curling is in Scotland so they tend to have the best players but in January we came third in Europe which was nice because it was my last competition with the junior side and it also showed us that we could compete with the best. Obviously to compete at a European level there is a lot of travelling involved, I’ve been to Prague and Copenhagen twice but the World Curling Federation are quite good and pay for all our flights.

You also said that the only curling centre in England is in Kent? Is it difficult playing a more specialised sport?

Well in Manchester I’m halfway between Glasgow and Kent so it’s difficult to train but I
make the most of practice competitions. There’s obviously no AU club and the nearest
place to train is in Queensboro, North Wales which is a bit of a headache. In terms of equipment the rinks have their own stones so it makes it easier in terms of travelling as each one weighs 20kg! Sponsorship is hard to come by which can be a pain as the amount of moving around means it’s not the cheapest sport in the world.

With the amount of travelling you do and the level you play at curling is obviously very important to you, does it take precedence over almost everything?

Not quite but I definitely want to take full advantage of all opportunities that I’ve been given, I reckon that I would take a year out of university if I did get a place in the Olympic squad because I’d really want to give it my all.

Curling is a rare feature in the media, for the people who are unaware of its various merits, how would you describe its attraction?

It’s a very technical sport and individual despite the team aspect as your shot is almost entirely dependent on you as the sweepers can only so much. The team is critical though and the good teams are usually the ones who have the best relationships. In other countries like Canada there’s a much larger following of the sport, thousands of people go and watch and it’s second only to ice hockey in terms of popularity. It’s a long way from the handful of people at most of my games.

How do you cope with the fact that there are no curling clubs at the university? Do you get to enjoy the social side and costumes of the AU?

Well I was expecting it when I came here so it’s not a big deal, I’m quite sporty really so I just do other things. I ran the London marathon a couple of years ago which was amazing, although I was a bit annoyed because I thought I could have done it faster. As for the social aspect I’m captain of the third team for hockey and they’re a great bunch, I think my favourite costume was Henry Hoovers although I had to ask the DJ to take mine as I kept knocking everyone ever!

The Battle of the North

Written by Jack Burke on . Posted in Sport.

The final days of April are usually ones of particular stress for many university students. The inevitable dissertation deadline creeps up upon 3rd years as they struggle to grapple with the concept of joining ‘the real world’. Students in the younger years meanwhile realize with a mixture of fear and dread that their year of drunken debaunchery or too many hours on the Playstation have come back to bite them as the exam period looms. However for the sports teams of the university it is much more, as the Christie Cup arrives and they have one last chance to get one over on their rivals.

Now in its 126th year, the Christie Cup is an annual triangular tournament between the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. Originally the competition was purely Athletics but has since been widened to include over 40 sports. Everything from rugby to table tennis will be on the agenda in this high-octane one-day event.

Manchester has dominated the event in recent years with 8 straight victories up to last year when Leeds triumphed on home turf by a tiny margin of just 8 points. It is key that Manchester reassert their dominance this year and they will be confident after a strong season for the Athletic Union which has seen teams excel across the board whether it is the swimming team in the Aquatic’s centre or the Men’s football 1st XI at the Armitage. Speaking ahead of the competition AU chair Agi Duhig was in confident mood stating ‘ It’s a fantastic event and is a real opportunity to put Manchester sport on the map, especially considering the success we have had this season. It’s really important we get the trophy back this year, I’m confident we can do that’. Measures are already in place to make sure Manchester do not let complacency set in with heavy fines in place for any team that consume alcohol prior to their matches. Their will be plenty of opportunity to celebrate in the evening should Manchester fulfil their potential and reclaim the trophy.

This year’s event will take place on 25th April with Liverpool being the host city.

Unsung heroes of the Football League

Written by Thomas McMahon on . Posted in Sport.

The recent Football League awards were an interesting spectacle. Held in early March, presumably to spare the blushes of this year’s play-off chokers, over 600 guests gathered in a reasonably-priced London venue to witness the lower leagues at their best. On the stage BBC’s Mark “Clem” Clemmit was joined by Soccer AM’s ‘Tubes’, a sort of post-ironic Jim Davidson for the jägerbomb generation, in a wonderful display of live comedy.

The winners, meanwhile, were something of a mixed bunch. The goalscoring exploits of Southampton’s Rickie Lambert and Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes made them safe bets for Player of the Year in the Championship and League One respectively. However, Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, with five goals in 75 league appearances, seemed an odd choice for Young Player of the year. Indeed, promising defenders such as Middlesbrough’s Joe Bennett and Zaha’s team-mate Nathaniel Clyne may feel that the panel of judges rather neglected their position. Gustavo Poyet’s success at Brighton and Hove Albion, acknowledged with the Outstanding Managerial Achievement Award, must be considered in the context of the massive investment that has allowed the Seagulls to recruit international players such as Vicente Rodriguez and Craig Mackail-Smith.

But what of the players who really deserve recognition? The players grafting selflessly at humble clubs, their sterling work going largely unnoticed. Take the self-effacing Jimmy Bullard, who joined Paul Jewell’s Ipswich Town last summer after a successful spell on loan from Hull. The midfielder, who reportedly turned down numerous moves to Premier League clubs unwilling to meet his £45,000-a-week wage demands, has scored just once in twenty games since moving to Suffolk. Perhaps more worryingly for fans of the Tractor Boys, Bullard was recently suspended from the squad after embarking on mid-week drinking session with Michael Chopra. Fans will await his comeback goal celebration with baited breath.

Question Time panelist and occasional footballer, Clarke Carlisle has also enjoyed a year to remember. A Premier League player as recently as 2010, Carlisle can now be seen at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium. Out of favor with Burnley manager Eddie Howe, the side’s former captain has linked back up with Aidy Boothroyd in an attempt to stave off relegation to the conference. The Cobblers certainly need the Preston-born brainbox: chairman David Cardoza vented his frustration in a recent press conference after the club spent big on experienced campaigners such as Adebayo Akinfenwa, only to see the side slip to the bottom of the table.

Fans of Leicester City, meanwhile, may want to nominate £4m summer signing Matt Mills. The former Manchester City trainee was signed by Sven Goran Eriksson off the back of an impressive season at Championship rivals Reading. Moreover, the former England manager handed Mills the captain’s armband, only to see him struggle alongside the marauding Sol Bamba at the heart of the Foxes’ defence. Mills has subsequently been loaned out to Leeds United, with big-spending Leicester City languishing in mid-table. Reading, meanwhile, having sold their prime asset, are in contention for automatic promotion after a nine match winning streak.

After another fine season, this industrious triumvirate has shown that they deserve our recognition. Indeed, with Carlos Tevez rumoured to be close to a return to action for Manchester City, perhaps the gulf in quality between the Football League and the Premiership is not as great as previously thought.

Where are they now? – Bosko Balaban

Written by Tom Harris on . Posted in News.

Bosko Balaban, for those unacquainted with the Central European sportsman, is a Croatian footballer who endured a torturous two year spell with West Midlands outfit Aston Villa, from 2001-2003. Villa Chairman Doug Ellis, who was notorious for his tight wallet, sanctioned a £5.8 million swoop for the former Croatia front man from Dinamo Zagreb at the beginning of the 2001/02 campaign. Balaban arrived at Villa Park with an impressive goal scoring pedigree; having netted 38 times in only 55 appearances at previous employers Zagreb. Opportunities at Villa were sparse though for the Croatian, and Balaban failed to make any impact; with a paltry nine appearances, seven as substitute, in two-and-a-half years and was unsuccessful in front of goal during his ill-fated spell.

Balaban graduated from his hometown youth academy HNK Rijeka and made 97 first team appearances, scoring 31 times over a five year period, before moving 100 miles inland to the Croatian capital, Zagreb. It was here at Croatia’s most successful team where Balaban made a name for himself and became the league’s top scorer with 14 goals in 25 matches. Balaban’s natural goalscoring ability attracted the attention of Villa boss, John Gregory, who was keen to snare the forward and build a sizeable squad capable of competing for honours in all competitions. Gregory, however, used the striker very sparingly and appeared to have little faith in the forward, despite the significant outlay, and considered Juan Pablo Angel, Darius Vassell, Dion Dublin, Peter Crouch and Stefan Moore to be ahead in the pecking order.

In December 2003 Villa opted to cut their losses and terminated Balaban’s contract and he agreed a deal to join Belgian side Club Brugges on a free transfer. Balaban-reminiscent of his stint at Zagreb- excelled, and amassed an incredible 25 goals in just 24 appearances in his first season in Belgium. The Croatian continued his remarkable goal scoring exploits into the following campaign with a further 27 goals in a mere 30 games. Whilst at Brugges, Balaban was idolised among supporters and earned the nickname ‘Super Bosko’ due to his exceptional record of a goal every other game and the praiseworthy feat of scoring four goals in one game.

Balaban now plies his trade at Malaysian Super League team Selangor FA and made his debut last month, scoring the winning goal against league leaders Kelantan FA. The Croatian, however, will always be remembered by English football fans as one of the most expensive flops in the history of the Premier League, despite his achievements on foreign shores.

Lancashire determined to retain County crown

Written by Tom Acey on . Posted in Sport.

After another memorable final-day finish in 2011, the County Championship makes a welcome return next month with Lancashire aiming to retain the title for only the third time in their history.

Glen Chapple’s men will look to draw on the experience of a successful 2011 campaign, with the retiring Mark Chilton the only significant absentee from their title-winning squad. The return of former South Africa captain Ashwell Prince, meanwhile, should further strengthen a batting line-up that is already brimming with home-grown talent; Karl Brown and Steven Croft managed a combined total of 1,839 runs last term, and will no doubt be fancied to pass the 1,000 run mark individually this season.

Whether the holders have enough depth to their squad to do it again this time around is questionable, but they have an astute captain-coach pairing in Chapple and Peter Moores, and it is unlikely that teams will fancy a trip to Aigburth (necessitated by the continuing redevelopment of Old Trafford), where Lancashire won three times in five fixtures last year. The ability to force results on a lively Liverpool track will be crucial once more, particularly as victories at Old Trafford prove increasingly difficult to come by.

After having the championship snatched from their grasp on the final day of the season, Warwickshire will be hungry to make amends this time, and will no doubt be among the title contenders again come September. The form of Varun Chopra and Lee Westwood should atone for the loss of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but with the notable exception of Chris Woakes, it is hard to see where the wickets are going to come from.

Bookies’ favourites Durham, meanwhile, appear well balanced in all three departments. The batting line-up is a fine blend of youth and experience, with Paul Collingwood and Michael Di Venuto featuring alongside the likes of Ben Stokes and Mark Stoneman, while their variety of bowling options should prove a handful irrespective of the conditions. Much may depend on the form and fitness of Graham Onions, who should be surplus to England’s requirements this summer when considering their current embarrassment of riches in the seam-bowling department.

Aside from the usual suspects, the greatest threat to Lancashire’s throne may come from newly promoted Surrey. Rory Hamilton-Brown’s team were impressive in the second division last year and have a made a number of astute acquisitions during the close season, not least Jacques Rudolph, a prolific run-getter during his time at Yorkshire, nor Murali Karthik, the unorthodox right-arm spinner from Somerset. With a talented young batting line-up including the likes of Steven Davies and Tom Maynard, along with the mercurial Zander de Bruyn, this Surrey team has real championship-winning potential.

In Division Two, it is difficult to see beyond the relegated sides when considering the likely title contenders. Yorkshire have maintained the nucleus of a strong squad, and in Jonathan Bairstow and Joe Root, they boast two of the finest young batsmen in the country. Hampshire, meanwhile, have lost Dominic Cork, Michael Lumb and Neil McKenzie but the experience of captain Jimmy Adams and ex-England batsman Michael Carberry should prove enough to guide them back to the top flight. Expect both sides, along with perennial nearly-men Northamptonshire, to dominate the division this year.

The Ror of the British contingent

Written by Tom Hickman on . Posted in Sport.

It’s June 19th 2007. A blustery day’s play has come to an end out in the wilderness of the Scottish east coast, on a course that eight years previous had crucified many players’ games, never mind the career of a certain shoeless Frenchman. A glance at the leader board shows the name of an eighteen-year-old mop-haired amateur tied for third place on three under, having not dropped a shot all day.
Fast forward less than five years and Rory McIlroy, that same fresh-faced boy from County Down sits atop the world rankings, widely tipped to conquer all in his path. All except the eternal match play genius Hunter Mahan, that is. Victory at the Honda Classic earlier this month propelled him to the number one spot, but some jiggery-pokery is sure to happen in the coming weeks, with the top three all within striking distance of one another.
Last week’s World Golf Championship at Doral, Florida saw a closely contested leader-board, as Bubba Watson’s missed putt on the eighteenth handed the title to Justin Rose, further increasing the raft of Brits occupying the world’s top ten. With McIlroy finishing in third and Luke Donald two shots further back, tied for sixth, it was yet another strong performance from the British contingent, boding well for this years transatlantic showdown at the Medinah Country Club.
But what of the man who held the mantle of the world’s best player for so long? For quite some time Tiger Woods has been on a slow descent down the world rankings, reaching a low of 58. Having ended a two-year winless streak at the Chevron World Challenge in December, the Honda Classic saw a resurgence, with Woods going toe-to-toe with the new poster boy of the sport, thus leading many to believe we could be witnessing the return of the Tiger of old.
Last week, however, disaster struck once more, as Woods was forced to retire after eleven holes of his final round at the WGC, thanks to an Achilles injury, although he had already played himself out of contention with a flurry of bogeys towards the end of the front nine. The doctor’s report suggests it’s nothing too serious, so we can hope to see the great man in action soon, but the question now is whether even the Tiger of old would be good enough to displace the new breed of ball-strikers that sit at golf’s top table.
All eyes now turn to Augusta, home of the Masters, where McIlroy will be desperate to exorcise those demons that decimated last year’s calamitous final round. Asides from Rory and the ever-growing body of Brits looking to crash the American party, a number of other young twenty-somethings will be hoping to compete for the title. Young prospects such as Webb Simpson, 2011 USPGA winner Keegan Bradley and Jason Day are all threatening to stake a claim for the green jacket, whilst the mercurial Martin Kaymer can always pose a threat to both ends of the scoreboard. Lest we forget the defending champion Charl Schwartzel, whose four closing birdies last year were worthy of winning any tournament.
No matter what, the only thing it is safe to say is that The Masters is set to be one of the closest in years, regardless of whether or not Tiger manages a return to full fitness.

Column: I love your shit

Written by joe smart on . Posted in Music.

When looking for inspiration for these monthly columns I sometimes have a butcher’s at NME’s official site. Despite looking like the internet-equivalent of spaghetti, I eventually found the ‘most-read’ section; a portion of any site that I’m sure most of you will agree is a useful feature. Many of us don’t have the time nor the energy to choose which story to read for ourselves, but the ‘most-read’ tool cuts out that irritating 30 or even 40 seconds spent browsing the home page for the most entertaining sounding stories.

A quick scan informs me that the most-read article on the site is a tale of a blossoming electronic romance between Skrillex and Ellie Goulding – he sent her an e-mail apparently claiming to ‘love her shit’ – interpret that whichever way you want. Upon seeing this I realised I had an opportunity to make a difference. A voice in my head was urging me to write a compelling study, one that would engage debate. This is Guardian shit, I thought. Drawing astute parallels between electronic music and popular culture with ease, I pressed further, yearning for more information, for sharper conclusions, for better sources. I was feeling for a few seconds how Lizo from Newsround must feel every day, and I was loving it. The story was coming together seamlessly, quotes from experts, surveys, statistics – it was, dare I say it, becoming a proper piece of investigatory journalism. Jon Snow would be in tears, I thought, yeah, fuck you Jon.

I was on a roll, typing furiously. Harking back to the site that had originally given me the idea, looking no doubt for more hard evidence to complement my complicated point, I noticed something. Whilst the ‘most-read’ section had been the catalyst for this throwing of caution to the wind, it stopped dead in my tracks. The ‘most-read’ section was, as I have mentioned, dominated by the gibberish about Skrillex masturbating over Ellie Goulding then deciding to send her an e-mail, on the off-chance a casually suggested game of 20 questions would take a sexual turn and he’d score a snap of her in a tame La Senza bra, or something. What surprisingly didn’t feature on the list of stories with the most views was a piece as rich in current affairs and opinion as my own. A commentary on Russian punk outfit Pussy Riot, who were arrested after a protest against the re-election of Vladimir Putin to office, and are currently on hunger strike in a prison in Moscow. I sighed, defeated. I looked at my article, in all its pretentious, controversial glory and abruptly came to the realisation that nobody would give a shit. I could just imagine Jon Snow, high-fiving Krishnan Guru-Murthy, mocking me. I’m so sorry Lizo, I failed you.

The art in the industry

Written by Isabelle Dann on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Upon informing new acquaintances that I write a beauty column, reactions are usually some delightful combination of disappointment, pity and horror. The assumption is that you have nothing to offer the journalistic world save for top tips on how to apply gargantuan false eyelashes to wear to the likes of Pout, complete with a cheap neon orange glow.

In reality, the beauty industry need not be reduced simply to narcissism, consumerism, and doing horrible, horrible things to vaginas. When pursued appropriately, the result is nothing less than a form of art, which is how I approach the whole business in my perception. Art is abundant in the industry and should be admired as such, and certain SS12 beauty looks reflected this much perhaps more so than ever. Take it as a visual representation of an artist’s imagination with all its inherent fantasy rather than a fascist dictation of the universal ideals of beauty and you’re good to go; you appreciate the image subjectively; you don’t want to be it; you understand that nobody sane is expecting you to be it.

Of course, there is no escaping the fact that a lot of hilarious bullshit (Katie Price’s entire existence, for example) composes a significant portion of the industry, but that’s what vitriolic satire with all its exposing properties is for. Otherwise, feast your eyes on a selection of beautiful SS12 creations, which look as though they were taken straight out of art school:

Featured image: Manish Arora; Thakoon.
Left to right: Fendi; Chanel; Meadham Kirchhoff; Narciso Rodriguez