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Day: 19 September 2012

Soapbox Issue 02

Written by Lisa Murgatroyd on . Posted in Opinion.

Soapbox Issue 02

Each week we’re going to get on our soapbox and shout off about what’s been grating our nerves lately. Everyone likes a good moan or a bitch. Feel like you have something to rant about? Tweet us @mancuniondebate or email [email protected]

Calling all student activists, how about you take a look at yourselves before you preach to me and the world about the evil ‘big companies’. What’s that, you’re tweeting about how bad Coca Cola are from your iPad? Funny, that.

It’s time to head back to class. Lecturers are a cruel breed. Why do they always insist on 9am lectures? They must know that half the class won’t turn up, and the other half will be half asleep if they do manage to drag themselves out of bed. Boycott early morning lectures! There’s a protest we can all relate to.

Hipster alert. It’s a new year to show off just how cool and unique you are, outdoing the next bow tied, over sized glasses wearing rah with unkempt hair. Just as bad are the girls who haven’t outgrown those ugg boots and messy top buns yet. Hard to say what’s worse?

Manchester is full of people trying to make it big in music. Fair play to all those musicians. But anyone with a laptop can be a DJ these days, don’t think you’re something special. There’ll be no VIP passes or guest list, don’t expect to earn hundreds in a night, and definitely don’t try and use it as a pick up line.

What happened to the so called “knowledge” that taxi drivers were supposed to possess? I don’t expect to have to be your sat nav when I’m going somewhere fairly well known. I’d understand if I asked you to take me to the back end of beyond, but it’s just a club off Oxford Road.

Club Profile: Handball

Written by Tom Acey on . Posted in Sport.

What is Handball?

Handball is a fast-paced, physical sport in which two seven-men teams attempt to score against one another by throwing a small ball into a goal. It is often described as being very similar to five-a-side football (apart from the use of hands, of course), as it is played indoors and involves a similar pitch layout.

What are the basic aims of the sport?

The aim of handball, as with many team sports, is simply to score more goals than the opposition. The six outfield players are allocated specific positions, and will generally attempt to create chances through quick, direct passing. The intention of the defending team is to disrupt the flow of these attacks, often through strong physical challenges.

 Are University of Manchester any good? 

In short, yes. The first team reached the final of the full university championship last year, and play in a competitive northern league alongside a mixture of university and club teams.

 Why should I get involved?

Handball is as technical as it is physical, and the club typically runs a beginners’ course between October and December to help newcomers develop their ball skills and understanding of the game. The club runs a development XI alongside the first team, so less-talented players are still encouraged to take part in one of Europe’s fastest developing sports.

 

Sport news in brief

Written by Ciaran Milner on . Posted in Sport.

Ricky Hatton Set to Return

Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has announced his return to boxing after over three years out.  The 33-year old Mancunian has stated he wants Britain to be proud of him again.

Man Utd honour dead Police Officers

Manchester United wore black armbands in their match against Galatasary last Wednesday as a mark of respect for the two female police officers killed in Manchester last week.

Oxford introduce new Rugby League side

A new rugby league side from Oxford are set to be admitted to Championship One in 2013. They will be coached by former New Zealand international Tony Benson.

Manchester bidding for £23 million to help fund graphene centre

Written by Jonathan Breen on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

University of Manchester is bidding for more than £20 million of European money to help fund a research centre for wonder material graphene.

Nobel Prize winning scientists Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov at the University  carried out ground-breaking work with the substance last year, which has the potential to revolutionise computers and other electronic products.

The University has submitted an application to the European Regional Development Fund for £23m to go towards the development of a National Graphene Institute based in Manchester with a total cost of £61m.

Last year the institution received £38m toward the creation of the centre, the majority share of £50m allocated to ensure Britain stayed ahead of other countries in developing commercial uses for graphene.

If Manchester receives the bid, to be decided in December, work is set to start in March 2013, with doors set to open two years later.

“In the short-term the NGI will create 100 new jobs in the region, in addition to retaining the existing knowledge base within Manchester,” said a university spokesman.

“In the long-term it is expected that many thousands of new jobs will be created in the region.

“The University is currently in discussion with approximately 100 companies, who have made enquires about the NGI and the expertise offered by the University.”

Plans are for the centre to be built on land already owned by the university on Booth Street East.

Club Profile: Athletics and Cross Country

Written by Matthew Barber on . Posted in Sport.

The Athletics and Cross Country Club is the ideal club to join for anyone interested in any track or field event, or cross country running.

The Mancunion spoke to former athletics captain Tom Mosley about his experiences as a sprinter and member of this club.

How did you get into athletics?

I joined Leeds City Athletics Club when I was 14, and was Northern Champion in the 100m and 200m that year. It escalated from there really.

What has been your athletics highlight at University?

My personal highlight was competing at the BUCS (British University and College Sports Championships) last year. The outdoor competition took place in the Olympic Stadium; to run there was an incredible experience.

So do you have to be of high standard to join the Athletics and Cross Country Club?

No, there is a wide range of people in the club; some have competed at international level, while others are beginners who just want to do something different at Uni.

Where do members of the club train?

Most train at SportCity, the complex near the Etihad Stadium. It’s all top class facilities, it was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Whats the social life like?

The AU socials at TigerTiger are always popular, while the Athletics and Cross Country club have our own nights out as well. Everyone is really friendly and easy to get on with.

Other Comments?

If you think you have a skill or talent you should absolutely get involved in athletics. Through the University you can have fantastic experiences; I’ve been to Germany and Malta to compete alongside some top class athletes. The Olympics has got everyone interested in athletics and cross country, so there’s never been a better time to get involved!

Foreign student numbers should be capped, says poll

Written by Ellen Conlon on . Posted in News.

The number of foreign students entering Britain should be limited, and opinion poll has revealed.

Two-thirds of around 2,900 adults questioned said that there should be a cap on overseas students, says a poll, published by MigrationWatch UK.

MigrationWatch UK describes itself as a “non-political body” that is “concerned about the present scale of immigration in the UK.”

Before answering the question respondents were told that around 250,000 non-EU students arrive in Britain to study each year, with around 20% staying on legally after completing their course.

Syed Rumman, Vice President of Education at London Metropolitan University disagreed with the sentiment of the poll.

“There shouldn’t be any cap on recruiting international students,” he said.

Mr. Runman went on to state that a cap on international students will result in “universities losing income compared to previous years.”

Saad Wahid, Diversity Officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union agreed. “Any capping of non-EU students will result in a reduction of financial resources for the university as foreign students generally pay twice as many fees as a domestic student,” he said.

The poll also revealed that 70% of respondents thought that those found to have insufficient English for their courses should be deported.

But Mr Rumman said: “It is not the border agencies but the university’s responsibility.”

“It is the universities’ responsibility to make sure that students can understand English before they arrive. Students coming to study in the UK should understand their lectures and all their education.

“It depends on the university how they impose it on students.”

The survey comes after London Metropolitan University had its license to teach foreign students revoked by the UK Boarder Agency for “serious systematic failure” to monitor its overseas students.

“This has always been an issue and that is why this decision has been taken,” Mr Runman acknowledged. “It is more political than just the public opinion.”

Mr Wahid agreed that there is a lot of politics surrounding the issue: “[The poll] may be a political stint to legitimize and gain public support on the increase in restrictions around foreign students.

“That being said I think that there is a real need to bring the actual facts to the surface.

“That genuine foreign students are a benefit to the UK in terms of diversity, economic impact and global connections.”

Responding to the poll, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said there were “clear signals” that the British public understood “the contribution overseas students make to our academic and cultural life, as well as to our economy.”

“We should be encouraging genuine international students to study in the UK, rather than risking our global reputation by sending out false signals that they are not welcome here.”

A spokesperson from the University Manchester confirmed that foreign students applying to study at the university must be able to speak and understand English to a required level.

Happy Birthday Occupy Movement!

Written by Eve Fensome on . Posted in Opinion.

Happy First Birthday Occupy Movement! We have cake (organic of course) and everyone’s hanging out down the local park for a party!

The Occupy Movement was born on September the 17th 2011 in Zuccotti Park in New York’s financial district – Wall Street. A lovechild of unknown parenthood, the occupy movement’s ancestors may include the Canadian activist group Adbusters, the Spanish ‘Take the Square’ movement and the Arab spring. While it began in America, this precocious youngster quickly spread globally and by the 9th of October 2011 was taking place in 82 different countries around the world.

Occupy Manchester began on the 2nd October with protesters setting up camp in Albert Square but later moved to the nearby Peace Gardens to allow a food festival to take place in the square. Occupy London, the annoying, bigger and flashier younger sibling of Occupy Manchester was born on the 15th of October. While occupation of the London Stock Exchange was initially planned, the land on which it is situated is privately owned so the Occupy movement set up outside St Paul’s Cathedral instead. As well as camps in Finsbury Square they occupied an office complex owned by UBS which the protesters named the ‘Bank of Ideas’ and an unused premises of Old Street Magistrates Court.

Many of us will remember the preposterous comments made by Louise Mensch when she criticized the protesters for drinking Starbucks caffé lattes saying ‘you can’t be against capitalism and then take everything it provides’ to which Ian Hislop replied; ‘you don’t have to want to return to a barter system in the stone age to complain about the way the financial crisis affected large numbers of people in the world, even if you’ve got a cup of coffee and a tent.’ Which leads us not-so-neatly onto the question ‘what does the Occupy movement actually stand for other than camping and coffee?’

The ‘Initial Statement’ made by the Occupy London protesters on the 16th October identified nine assertions. The first was: “The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.”

The rest, among other things, asserted a refusal “to pay for the bank’s crisis”, a non-acceptance of the cuts and a desire for “regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.” The sixth assertion stated “We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9th November and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.” The eighth called for “a positive sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations” rather than the present economic system which is “accelerating humanity towards irreversible climate change.” The final statement reads “We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.”

The slogan for the Occupy Movement is ‘We are the 99%’ pertains to inequality and the Initial Statement highlights the movement’s opposition to cuts in public services as well as the financial sector. However the first statement may be key to understanding the Occupy Movement. To paraphrase ‘this is where we work towards the alternatives’.

Which is to say; the Occupy Movement is not just a protest to give voice to people’s dissent, but it is also a forum for the protesters to discuss and formulate ideas. As a social movement it is exceedingly clever in its concept, for while usual means of protesting such as marches and rallies are highly visible, they only last for a short time. Occupations, on the other hand, have a much longer presence and are also a far more impressive feat. It’s easy to go on a march for a few hours waving a placard, whereas it takes a heck of a lot of commitment to sleep in a tent in the middle of a city during winter.

The student tuition fees protest lost a lot of credibility because of the violence committed during it, even though it was probably only a small proportion of attendees, the media focused on the violence rather than tuition fees. The Occupy Movement has been non-violent from the beginning. This made it even more shocking when heavy handed police tactics were used on protesters. In America in particular the use of pepper spray and nets as well as mass arrests caused international outrage and increased sympathy for the protesters.

During the occupations over 7,400 arrests and 330 injuries were sustained by demonstrators. While some camps lasted through the winter, by February 2012 the two highest profile camps: Washington DC and St Paul’s London had been cleared. While the gains directly attributable to the movement are unknown, many political leaders, including Barack Obama have spoken about the movement, and some individuals have claimed that the political discourse has altered because of the movement.

And maybe they’re right. Elizabeth Warren – Democratic nominee for the Massachusetts Senate, speaking at the 2012 Democratic Convention clearly echoed some of the Occupy sentiments when she said: “The system is rigged. Look around. Oil companies guzzle down billions in profits. Billionaires pay lower tax rates than their secretary. And Wall Street CEOs, the same ones who wrecked our economy and destroyed millions of jobs, still strut around congress, no shame, demanding favours and acting like we should thank them. Does anyone have a problem with that?”

With the New York Times reporting 185 arrests having taken place on the year anniversary as Occupy demonstrators gathered to mark the occasion, this social movement has still got plenty of fight left. And here’s to many Happy Returns!

Coppafeel!

Written by Victoria Kilford on . Posted in Societies.

CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer awareness charity that aims to educate young people on the importance of checking their boobs and knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Our mission is to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that you know what your boobs feel like normally. This way you check your breasts regularly throughout your lifetime and will have the confidence to seek medical advice if you detect any changes to your body.

This huge campaign, which is gaining momentum with its celebrity patrons’ Fearne Cotton and Dermot O’Leary, has a inspirational and touching story behind it. Co-founder Kris was just 23-years-old when she was misdiagnosed by doctors twice on the basis she was ‘too young’ or that the lumps she found in her breasts were just ‘hormonal’.

Eight months down the line after demanding referral to specialists, she discovered that she did actually have breast cancer and by this point it had spread to her spine. Thrown into radiotherapy and chemotherapy immediately, Kris had to say goodbye to not only her dreams of travelling but also her breasts, hair, and living a normal life. Then she realised she didn’t want others to experience what she did. Whilst still attending chemotherapy she turned her shock and anger into pure kick–ass, immediately making it her full–time mission to encourage her friends, her generation, and YOUNG PEOPLE everywhere to keep hold of their wonderful, carefree lives. By encouraging people to get to know their boobs and appreciate the harsh reality that young people at any age (inclduing men) can get breast cancer, campaign CoppaFeel! was born.

It is now the 3rd year of Student Boob Teams, where CoppaFeel! aims to continue strengthening their presence in UK universities and further infiltrate campuses nationwide with the message to regularly check your boobs! We want to remind every 18-30 year old that checking their boobs isn’t only fun but could save their lives,

Manchester Fresher’s Week 2012 has already seen two attention-grabbing giant bosoms bopping around campus promoting the University Boob Team. This will give students the opportunity to get involved in this amazing campaign spreading the boob love throughout the year! The Boob Team will be running various events over the next couple of months including nights out, cake sales, possible flash mobs and a massive dodge ball match playing with boobs instead!

Coppafeel in the Shower

Coppafeel! Boob teams are encouraging students to coppafeel in the shower this term.

This autumn the breast cancer charity is taking the Shower campaign to 36 universities nationwide. Sponsored but very.co.uk, this fun, engaging campaign aims for self-checking to become part of every student’s daily routine. CoppaFeel’s Founder and C.E.O, Kristin Hallenga explains: ‘When’s the best time to check your boobs? Well, in short, any time is good for Boob Time. To keep it simple, we’re reminding students to do it in the shower. No more excuses, you’re already starkers and your boobs need some attention!’

“By educating the young people of today, we can shape the future of breast cancer survival in years to come. Knowledge is power, and this power will save lives. I only wish that someone shared this knowledge with me,” says Kristin Hallenga, Founder of CoppaFeel!

Dedicated student ambassadors known as Uni Boob Team Leaders have been recruited at each of the 36 universities. Their role is to recruit a Boob Team and be a friendly reminder to students on campus of the need to check your breasts regularly, be familiar with what they look and feel like normally.

But most importantly to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Boob Teams will invite students to sign up to CoppaFeel!’s free SMS reminder service, which sends you a free monthly reminder to check your boobs. It’s easy to join simply text ‘MAN’ to 70500!

Boob Teams will be active all over campus and want you to get involved.

In the words of CoppaFeel! “We have to be clever, we have to be different, we have to be cheeky. And we are.’’

Contact details:

Dodge Ball with a difference:

visit: www.coppafeel.org/uniboobteams

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/CoppaFeelUniversityOfManchester/info?ref=ts

CoppaFeel! website:

http://www.coppafeel.org/

For regular text reminders:

Text “MAN” to 70500 for a free monthly reminder via text to check your boobs.


 

 

 

 

 

Club Profile: Korfball

Written by Ciaran Milner on . Posted in Sport.

Korfball is a mixed gender sport which is a sort of hybrid of basketball and netball. It involves teams of eight people, made up of four females and four males, attempting to score by throwing the Korfball into the basket. Korfball was created in Holland in 1902, hence the name, as ‘Korf’ is the Dutch word for ‘basket’.

The Mancunion spoke to Korfball veteran Alex O’Shea as he gives us the lowdown on one of Manchester universities lesser known sports.

How did you get into Korfball?

“I saw the stall at the Fresher’s fair and thought it seemed interesting. I wanted to try something new.”

What’s the best thing about it?

“The sport is played in universities across the UK so there is plenty of opportunity to travel.”

Can you tell us a funny story about it?

“Well, the first game is often played straight after the first big night out… there are a lot of people running to the bathroom to throw up during the match!”

What’s the social scene like?

“Awesome. It’s the best thing about it. As it’s a mixed gender sport, you get to meet lots of new people. The socials are well looked after by the committee members, who make sure to cater for everyone. Everyone is really friendly.”

Other comments?

“It’s a great sport that everyone should try. University is about broadening your horizons and Korfball provides a great opportunity to do that and make some excellent friends along the way. “

Only in Hollywood does mental illness = superpower

Written by Jak Dyehouse on . Posted in Opinion.

It is an unfortunate result of living under American cultural hegemony that we are treated to an awful lot of shit television. Much of it is drivel, both drama and comedy, yet it clogs up the schedule each day. While making perfect hangover viewing that acts as a kind of valium to dull your aching head, the search for anything more substantial can be difficult what with all those repeats of How I Met Your Mother in the way. Occasionally though, something is spat out that is so putrid in its social ramifications that it bears writing about.

This is not a review, so I’ll get my judgment out early: Perception is a terrible entry into the already bloated genre of forensic crime dramas that not only suffers for its mediocrity and poor production, but more importantly buys into a vision of mental illness that paints those who suffer as savant-like beings who are able to turn their condition to their advantage and achieve ends in a manner which is almost superhuman. This is a damaging discourse that paints a false image of the hardships that result from conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or autism. It is insensitive to those who suffer, while keeping the majority ignorant of their plight.

I watched the first episode (Season 1 has already aired in the US) after seeing the advert which ran the tasteless tagline “There’s madness in his method”. As I feared, the show’s treatment of mental illness is fairly crass. Most obviously, it uses visual techniques reminiscent of other crime dramas such as Sherlock in order to give the audience something to look at while the protagonist furrows his brow in deep thought. Unfortunately in this case it is tied to the main character’s schizophrenia and paranoia, the “hook” of the show, in effect sexing up his condition with digital wizardry that is a far cry from reality. Letters float around on screen to rearrange themselves as an anagram while a hallucination is portrayed as a kind of spirit guide, disappearing only when the crime has been solved and helping the protagonist solve the case (this despite the character, an established neuroscientist, actually refuting the argument that his visions could be some kind of subconscious aid).

The tone of the program and treatment of the main character, who is frequently described as “eccentric”, is also troubling. With its part-cartoon logic (in which an FBI agent leaps from a second-storey fire escape onto a fleeing suspect), serious issues like coping mechanisms for anxiety or the protagonists interactions with vivid hallucinations come off as being slapstick or played for awkward laughs, which smacks of disrespect to those who may feel embarrassed that their conditions can have very public consequences.

Perhaps the most nauseating is the concluding moral. “If we’re able to treat those people living with neurological disorders, restore them to ‘normalcy,’ well of course we’re helping them, but sometimes might we also be stripping away what makes them unique, robbing them of an essential part of who they are? ” Maybe in Hollywood, where mental conditions bestow cognitive abilities akin to superpowers, the closing message of Perception would have a point. Applied to the real world, this is a horrible fucking way to treat those with mental illness (or in fact any disability). Those with mental illnesses are not defined by their condition. They are people, with preferences, hobbies, motivations, dreams and beliefs, just like everybody else. Their condition, no matter how debilitating, is not their being. This is made even worse by a scene in which a man suffering aphasia (the inability to comprehend spoken language according to the show) is used as a literal “human lie detector” due to his heightened sense of speech inflection. This man is never revisited save for in passing and is barely humanised past his first name. His disability is turned into a useful ability to aid the main characters, but as far as the show is concerned his usefulness stops there.

Discussion of mental illness needs to progress beyond these examples of slapstick or savant-like abilities if we hope to create a more understanding discourse about conditions such as paranoia or schizophrenia. Taboo is not preferable, but an overly simplistic and purely positive representation of very real and debilitating conditions will result in worse treatment of sufferers when they don’t match up to the unrealistic expectations of others.

FA should change their stance on handshakes

Written by Jack Mollart-Solity on . Posted in Sport.

The FA sees the pre-match ritual of opposition players shaking hands with each other as an important aspect of their respect campaign, hoping to improve the way football is conducted. As such, they were adamant that this would go ahead in the match between QPR and Chelsea despite accusations against John Terry that he had racially abused Anton Ferdinand the previous season. Terry was eventually acquitted in July. Understandably, Ferdinand snubbed Terry’s offer of a handshake.

For several reasons, the FA’s continued insistence on pre-match handshakes is incorrect. Firstly, far more important than a handshake is the way in which the game is played. The FA should do much more to punish footballers that mock the spirit of the game. Players should be sent off for foul language towards other players and officials, although this is in the rules it is very rarely followed. Additionally, dissent and playacting should be punished far more frequently with retrospective bans being given to players following the use of video evidence.

Secondly, if players were to shake hands it should be following the completion of the game. It is a far more powerful sign of sportsmanship when players shake hands following a game of high intensity and emotion. A clear example of this comes from the 2005 Ashes series. Following Australia’s defeat by two runs in Edgbaston, man of the match Andrew Flintoff went to immediately console the dejected Australian Brett Lee. In this spontaneous act he epitomised what a handshake should be about. Both men had been fiercely competitive during the match, as soon as the game had finished you could see the respect between them as athletes and men. This mutual admiration could never have occurred before the game had started.

Ultimately though, if the FA continues to persist with the pre-match handshake ritual, we will continue to see incidents like those that were seen at Loftus Road. Events like that, and those at Old Trafford last season when Luis Suárez rejected the handshake of Patrice Evra, do not show football in a good light. Rather, they highlight incidents where respect is lacking between players and cover moments of more genuine sportsmanship.

Is piracy really all that bad?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Opinion.

YES

Rachel Rigg

In February 2012, an American file-sharing site -“Megaupload” – was shut down, and the site’s owner, Kim Dotcom was arrested. The offence the federal prosecutors were pursuing was a failure to prevent the sharing of pirated material, which was estimated to have cost the relevant companies around $500 million in damages. Similarly, the UK has the relatively recent Digital Economy Act 2010 (ineffective until 2013), which is purely to prevent these kinds of losses being caused to companies worldwide. But what about the cost closer to home – to our national economies?

This is a very different argument for anti-piracy. Allow me to establish, I’m not arguing for the small change for the huge corporations here, but the reinvestment in our society. You could claim that the cost to the digital economy is to such a serious extent that it could affect the overall health of the British economy. The British film industry in 2009 was seen to be directly contributing around £1.6 billion to the UK’s GDP alone. So what is the real cost of the illegal downloads to our nation? Bearing in mind we currently stand in over £1,032.4 billion in debt as a country, we could use that spare cash that seems to be floating around in cyber space. Allow me to re-establish though, I’m not arguing for the huge corporations here, but the reinvestment in our society.

You may argue that the appeal in illegal downloads is purely in the fact that it is free – and that if there was not an option to have it for nothing, many wouldn’t have it at all. But how many times have you passed up on a DVD, or a trip to the cinema for the lure of a free download?

Aside from the moral obligations of individually costing the economy every time you click that little ‘download’ button, there are so many more arguments against the use of illegal downloads. Awful quality, hunting down links for a good connection; and for me, more than a little fear that I’ll end up corrupting my laptop with some god-awful virus.

But hey, if you don’t mind recession, a tinny sound and a fuzzy film quality, illegal downloads seem to be right up your street. I’ll stick to my legitimate film though, thanks.

 

NO

Lisa Murgatroyd

If Ed Sheeran says it’s okay, then we’re good, right?

When it was announced that UK internet service providers were ruled by the High Court to block The Pirate Bay, I’m sure we all wept a little inside. I know I did. Where else am I going to get those handy, and completely legal, free copies of pdfs for my Kindle?

Illegal downloading is always hyped to be this awful crime. But, let’s be honest, it’s pretty hard not to be tempted. It’s not just about music, but movies and even video games. Albums retail on average at around £12, DVDs around £13 (let’s not even talk about blu-rays!), and if you could get a brand new game for less than £40 you’re on to a winner.

Right now, I can’t afford that. So, I don’t buy anything. Unless I’ve saved up for a special occasion (like a special edition of The Avengers).

The founder of video game company Mojang, and creator of Minecraft, replied to a twitter user who said he couldn’t afford the game that he should pirate it. “If you like it,” he said, “pay for it when you can.”

I don’t think anyone could say that they pirate because it’s better than buying. The quality is never as good as the original, and unless you’re a real pro, it can be more effort than it’s worth at times.  But, there are a lot of people without the disposable income to buy all these great products every week.  For piracy to have such a huge impact as is claimed, surely it needs to have cost the maker a sale. If you couldn’t have bought the product in the first place, then I’d argue that this logic can’t apply. There’s also a handy “try before you buy” element built in.

Sites like Bandcamp, which lets users download for free or pay what they think a song/album is worth, should be given more support (and make sure they’re not as greedy as the big corporate machines!).

Maybe it’s naïve of me to think that if you download an album from an artist, you’re more likely to go and see them, or buy the DVD collection when the prices come down a little. I definitely don’t think that you deserve to be locked up in prison for doing it though!

Access to Higher Education isn’t just about the price

Written by Lisa Murgatroyd on . Posted in Opinion.

It seems like every year there’s the great debate about how to deal with Oxbridge elitism. It’s just for public school kids, or rich kids, or both. They’re exclusive and a damper on the great British pride (whilst simultaneously being our most honoured universities). The problem is, nobody has ever been able to get everyone to come together and agree on how this can be changed.

On 1st September, 2012, Professor Les Ebdon took up the position as Director of Fair Access to Higher Education (taking over from Manchester’s very own Sir Martin Harris). The role of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is to “promote and safeguard fair access to higher education for lower income and other under-represented groups”. Professor Ebdon has thrown down the gauntlet, demanding that the leading universities should aim to admit more equal numbers of students from better-off and worse-off families. He floated the idea of adjusting offers to lower the grades expected of students from “struggling comprehensives”.

Cries of outrage were swiftly led by Reading University and Cambridge, stating that it would be “patronising” and could be seen as a “back door route in”. The outgoing admissions director of Cambridge Geoff Parks went so far as to say that it would be a “cruel experiment that could ruin lives”.

Whilst I don’t agree with the melodramatics, I do believe that it would be wrong to have a sliding scale of acceptance based on what school you went to, and how poor your family was as opposed to your intelligence. It’s a little insulting, to be honest.

There’s no arguing that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and also Edinburgh, are a class apart, but I say that with gritted teeth. The university experience is not only academical, but an enrichment of life experience.

The University of Manchester was my first (and only) choice. I completed a BTec National Award in Uniformed Public Services. It’s a vocational programme, based on coursework in a wide variety of subjects such as Psychology, Politics, and more practical elements such as P.E. and a unit in the Army Cadets. I achieved DDM (Distinction, Distinction, Merit) which I was told would be the equivalent to AAB. Distinction was the highest grade you could get, so that made sense. However, when I started my university application in my second year, it turned out that the highest I could get would be BBC, and that’s only if universities decided they wanted to acknowledge the qualification at all.

My BTec excluded me from Oxbridge. According to the University of Cambridge’s own website; “VCE A Levels, Applied A Levels, GNVQs and/or BTecs are not an ideal preparation for most Cambridge courses, where the emphasis is more academic than vocational.” I had grand ideas to apply, but no one warned me about this before I started my course.

Do I feel like I’ve missed out? Only on a more temperate climate.

I don’t do well in exams, and whilst I know that most of us don’t get the luxury of avoiding them at university, I chose an Arts degree. I can happily sit for hours in the library researching and writing an essay. Ask me to spend the same time cramming for an exam, and my brain melts. This idea that your intelligence and skills can only be measured by the pressure of a two hour test has always confused me.

The education system needs to learn to adapt to its students. There are more and more calls for vocational based courses. This doesn’t mean you should then be limited to doing something like hairdressing or carpentry. According to the results of a survey conducted by Pearson UK (which runs Edexcel, the BTec provider) in 2011, 50% of students said that they had used their BTec to go on to study in university.

Higher Education Minister David Willetts stated last week that the number of students getting AAB grades at A-level were lower than expected this year, but there are “rather more getting top grades in equivalent high-class vocational qualifications, such as BTecs.”

Improving access to higher education should not be just about giving special access to those from poor backgrounds who might not have got A* because their school doesn’t have the right facilities. It should also be about realising that a degree is not limited to A Level students, and acknowledging that there isn’t one cardboard cut-out we all have to fit into.

Pacific Oyster invasion threatens Irish ecology

Written by Keir Lewis on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

Invasive Pacific oysters on the Irish coast are now thriving outside of their original farmed colonies, a study has shown.

Dr Stefano Mariani of the University of Salford led a year-long project to genetically compare members of the wild and farmed colonies.

Pacific oysters, native to Japan and Korea, were introduced to Europe in 1966 to replenish overfished native stocks. But Dr Mariani concluded that the ‘feral’ oysters were genetically different enough to be considered separate colonies.

The potential impact of a feral species spreading across the Irish coast unchecked is enormous. “Now the Pacific oyster is with us, the far-reaching consequences of its establishment are still debatable, but just controlling aquaculture is no longer an effective means to reduce its further spread”, said Dr Mariani.

Management at Lough Foyle, where the farms are situated, has focused in the past on containing oysters. The researching student, Judith Kochmann, now believes more extensive controlling measures are required.

The introduction of a feral species has consequences both for local conservation groups and industry in the area, according to Dr Mariani. But he believes that controlling feral colonies is no longer enough, attitudes must change as well. “We may enjoy our oysters with Guinness or champagne, but we should now think more deeply about our insatiable need for more and more easy-to-access commodities.”

Events Listings 24th-28th September

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

EVENTS LISTINGS

Monday 24th September

TAEKWON-DO, WELCOME SESSION

Armitage Centre: 7pm

It’s a chance to see what Taekwon-do is all about, what skills you will be able to learn and there will also be a free demonstration. It kicks off at 7pm.

Tuesday 25th September

DRAMA SOCIETY SOCIAL

Wahl Bar, Fallowfield: 8pm – 1pm

Be part of a brilliant and ever growing society this year. Come to our first free social at Wahl Bar, Fallowfield from 8pm. Everyone is welcome, so don’t miss out! Looking forward to seeing you all.

MANCHESTER BHANGRA SOCIETY – WELCOME EVENT

Manchester University Student Council Chambers: 7 30pm – 10 30pm.

Bhangra is an energetic collaboration of dance, vocals and performance originally practiced in the northern regions of India. We compete in competitions at national level as well as holding weekly dance classes for all abilities. So come along to the social to get involved.

Contact: [email protected]

Wednesday 26th September

BA ECON SOCIETY SOCIAL

Owen’s Park Bar, Fallowfield: 8pm – 1pm

Fresher’s and non-fresher’s, the BA Econ society is back with our first social of the year! We will start off with drinks and games at Owen’s Park bar from 8pm.

We will then hit Fallowfield’s finest establishments where you will be spoilt with discounted drinks, extreme socialising, outrageous dancing and intense boogieing until the early hours.

Keep an eye on the BA Econ society page for more information about the social:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/2202405416/ See you all there!

Thursday 27th September

RAG

Choose a Challenge Fair

Owen’s Park Bar, Fallowfield: 8pm – 9pm

If you’re interested in being part of RAG this year, then the Choose a Challenge Fair is not something you want to miss.  Find out all the different challenges we have on offer, and how you can be part of raising money for charity.

MANCHESTER BHANGRA SOCIETY – FIRST DANCE CLASS

MMU Student’s Union, 3rd floor: 6pm – 7 30pm

Try something new – everyone is welcome even if you’ve never danced before.

Mancunians face above average health risks

Written by Anthony Organ on . Posted in News.

Cancer, binge drinking, obesity, depression and anxiety are more common in Greater Manchester than the average European city, a study has found.

The EURO-URHIS 2 project, the largest ever health and lifestyle survey of cities and conurbations across Europe, aimed to identify health problems in urban areas.

Despite so many above average health issues, it wasn’t all bad. The report also revealed Mancunians ate considerably more fruit and vegetables than the average European city, had more green spaces to enjoy and eating breakfast more frequently.

Students in Greater Manchester are also specifically referred to since “significantly more” of them “brush their teeth at least twice a day”.

Project coordinator Dr Arpana Verma, senior lecturer in Public Health at the University of Manchester, said she hoped the findings would be used by policymakers to “translate into policies that can help improve our health”.

The research was found by collecting data concerning youths and adults at the end of 2010 and focused on 26 cities across Europe.

Dr Verma said that by comparing the samples between cities “we can learn from each other to make our cities healthier, and empower the citizens of Europe”.

Two officers killed as police arrest most wanted criminal

Written by Jonathan Breen on . Posted in News.

Two female officers were killed during an attack shortly before police arrested Manchester’s most wanted fugitive Dale Cregan.

Unarmed PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32, were shot as they attended a routine call at Abbey Gardens in Hattesley, Tameside shortly before 11am on 18 September.

One officer died at the scene, the other died from her injuries in hospital later the same day.

Cregan handed himself in at Hyde police station afterwards.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy, speaking at a press conference last Tuesday said, “we are all shocked by what happened,” adding it may have been one of the “darkest days” in the history of the police service.

Sir Peter said Cregan is believed to have lured the two constables to their deaths. He said Cregan is thought to have made a bogus 999 call reporting a burglary and then attacked the attending officers, opening fire with a gun and a grenade.

“It would appear Cregan has deliberately done this in an act of cold-blooded murder,” he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron said of the atrocity, “what we have seen is the absolutely despicable act of pure evil

“The cold blooded murder of two female police officers doing their job out there protecting the public, another reminder of the incredible risks and great work our police service does.”

Sir Peter described Miss Hughes as a “great bobby” who was “always smiling” and Miss Bone, who had been in the middle of planning her wedding, as and “excellent bobby.”

Home Secretary Theresa May is cutting her holiday short to travel to Manchester for a meeting with the chief constable.

Cregan was wanted in connection with a gun and grenade attack that killed David Short, 46, on 10 August in Clayton and the shooting of Mr Short’s son Mark at the Cotton Tree pub, Droylsden, on 25 May. He was also arrested on suspicion of the murder of a police officer.

Cregan’s identity was released earlier this month as part of the Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Harvest, a month-long crackdown on fugitives, thugs and thieves.

Greater Manchester Police have also arrested three others from their 36 most wanted criminals.

They could not be named for legal reasons.

The GMP launched the operation on 10 September, which saw the force release the identities of their 36 most wanted criminals to the media as part of a highly publicised campaign geared to bring in thieves, thugs and fugitives.

Police also made 802 arrests, 195 of which were wanted offenders and confiscated £98,795 in 13 cash seizures.

423 arrests were for theft offences and 379 arrests for violent crime. 117 and 78 were wanted criminals, respectively.

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney who is leading the operation said: “We have made a good start in clearing out the bad apples that spread their rot in our communities and stop law abiding citizens from enjoying the hard earned fruits of their labour through theft and violence.

“However, Operation Harvest is far from over and we will continue our relentless pursuit of thieves, thugs and fugitives in the coming months.

“Criminals can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our hunt for them. Any that escape our Harvest can expect a cold, joyless winter of constantly looking over their shoulder for us and wondering who is going to turn them in.

“My advice to them is do yourself and the good people of Greater Manchester a favour and turn yourself in.”

Manchester airport to axe ‘naked body scanners’

Written by Michael Williams on . Posted in News.

The use of controversial ‘naked body scanners’ at Manchester Airport is set to end at the end of October, as the airport looks to trial “a new generation of privacy friendly security scanners”.

The ‘naked scanners’ are to be replaced by scanners that use radio frequency-based millimetre wave technology, rather than the low-dose x-rays used currently.

The new scanners use a stick figure to alert airport staff to possible problem areas on passengers’ bodies – eliminating the need for staff to look at the infamous ‘ghostly images’ that made the old scanners so contentious.  A similar system is used in the United States to alert railway staff to objects on the track.

Andrew Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at Manchester Airport’s parent company MAG, has called the decision to switch “baffling”.

Despite a panel of independent European health experts concluding in March that there was no evidence of health risks from the old style of scanner, privacy concerns were still a major issue surrounding the old scanners amongst flyers.

Airport bosses have blamed EU legislation for the changeover.

“It’s frustrating that Brussels has allowed this successful trial to end”, continued Harrison. “Health experts say [the old scanners] are safe, plus the overwhelming majority of our passengers and security staff prefer body scanners to frisking”.

This news comes soon after over 8,000 international students poured into Manchester from 180 different countries to start the new semester. As the changeover begins at the end of October, many international students will start to see the effects of the new scanners if they choose to return home via the airport for their Christmas break.

My Political Hero: Peter Mandelson

Written by Kimberly McIntosh on . Posted in Uncategorised.

‘The Prince of Darkness’, ‘The King of Spin’, ‘the Dark Lord’ and ‘the Master of the Dark Arts’ are all synonymous with Peter Mandelson. But ‘hero’ is a noun rarely used to describe the supposed Machiavellian prince.’ Pictured with oligarchs and associated with dubious loans, Mandelson’s career has been laced with scandal after scandal. Even at the World Economic Forum Mandy was greeted with hisses and boos from the crowd in pantomime fashion. Regardless of the array of criticisms thrown his way; Mandelson’s ability to bounce back from political adversity makes him a politician who is to be admired, not derided.

Tumultuous and scandal ridden as his career may have been, Mandelson’s unwavering dedication to the Labour party is apparent from his early childhood. The grandson of the Labour politician Herbert Morrison, Mandelson was raised entrenched in the party that he would devote his life’s work to. His political credentials were first established when he began canvassing for Labour at the age of six then shooting to prominence as Labour’s director of communications in the 1980s.

While he is recognised more for political meandering, illustrious friends and more illustrious betrayals, Mandelson was responsible for dragging Labour out of political obscurity. He successfully rebranded them into something electable, an incredible feat. He was willing to work with the regressive National Executive Committee and gave his utmost to Neil Kinnock. Despite heavy opposition, Mandelson managed to rebrand the party through both policy and image overhauls which gave Labour it’s much needed push into modernity. As morally ambiguous as some of his tactics may have been, his record is formidable and his skills unrivalled.

Yet it is Mandelson’s underhand strategies and love-affair with controversy that makes him so likeable. In a world of uninspiring Cameron’s and down-right dull Millibands, Mandelson never ceases to entertain. He is brazen and unabashed. Forced to resign in 1998 over a scandalous and undisclosed £373,000 loan, he returned to the cabinet a mere ten months later. He was forced to resign again in 2001 only to return again in 2008 for an unprecedented third time. No one saw it coming. As he said himself in 2001, he is ‘a fighter, not a quitter’. His apparent political immortality is comparable only to the superhuman. His longevity is intriguing, a testament to his skills and adds to his allure. Then in 2010 after a few quiet years, he released a memoir in which he divulges party gossip and brands Gordon Brown ‘a nightmare to work with’. With Mandelson one comes to expect the unexpected and it is never dull.

Peter Mandelson will always be remembered as the caricature that represents him in public consciousness. Beyond this guise however, is a man who dedicated a substantial part of his life to a party which he truly loves and believes in. His loyalty is admirable and his political durability fascinating. His methods are perhaps controversial but he did what was necessary to pull Labour out of the ‘Dark Ages’. Whatever your opinion on the man, it is difficult not to admire his talent, wit and determination.

Gove’s goodbye to GCSEs

Written by Antonia Jennings on . Posted in Opinion.

After a summer of exam board screw ups and the first shrinkage in A* grades in their history, education secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to scrap GCSE examinations in favour of a qualification called the English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBC).

This new mode of assessment is designed to avoid the problems with grade inflation that GCSEs had, as well as creating an examination system that is more relevant to today’s job markets. With more than a third of GCSEs awarded an A or A* grade, Gove’s shake up of the education system aims to address problems such as these. Coming into effect in 2017, the EBC will initially be in three core subject areas – English, Maths and Sciences.

In many ways, the new EBC appears to be a return to O-levels, the pre-GCSE school leavers’ examinations. It is not modular, leaving all formal assessment to the end of the two years spent studying for them. The two–tier system (where GCSE takers can either sit the regular or foundation paper) will also be scrapped, leaving one level that provides a fair and equal system for all. There will be less pressure on students to take the exams at sixteen too, allowing a few years for less able students to catch up.

Similarly, the grading system will nod to the O-level method. Instead of letters A*-F, pupils will be awarded a numerical grade, from one to ten, one being the highest.

The change is motivated by a belief that England is not keeping up with Tiger economies such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Other high-achieving nations such as Finland and other Scandinavian countries are also seen to be out performing us educationally. Their higher qualified school leavers are seen to be more competent in both basic skills and more creative activities, creating a next generation that can manage a globally competitive economy.

The EBC is designed to give a well-rounded education. However, it has been argued that this will create the opposite.

Chris Keates, head of the NASUWT teachers’ union told the BBC: “The
government will have to work hard to ensure that these reforms are not the final nail in the coffin for the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum.”

The worry that these reforms will unbalance the curriculum is shared by Rosie Dammers, leader of the Manchester Young Greens who said “it is totally unacceptable for the government to implement a system that their own education secretary admits ‘a sizeable portion will leave school with no qualifications’. This policy will only lead to an increase in inequality in education.”

The National Union of Teachers have also criticised the government’s proposals, and their attitude towards education for fourteen to sixteen year olds. They have warned of an ‘inherent contradiction’ in the Coalition’s criticisms of GCSEs.

A spokesperson for the Union recently stated it was “nonsensical” to expect higher pass rates from schools while at the same time
saying that any such improvement was evidence of exams becoming easier.

The ATL teacher’s union have similarly warned the BBC that “the plans for GCSE replacements are hugely simplistic and fail to recognise the complexity of learning and teaching.”

Concerns have also been raised by parents, teachers and academics about how this new system will be adopted into the university entrance process. For example, it is unclear how universities will be able to give out appropriate offers to incoming students sitting the EBC, given they will have no prior grade demographic to work with.

Following that, the first few years of the program are bound to be unsteady, and the EBC is bound to be continuously modified.

Universities are going to have to decide how much leeway they allow for students, whilst being careful not to oversubscribe.

Similarly, they will have to decide whether to discriminate
between those who take the EBC at sixteen and those who take it later.

The system is designed to allow students to mature at their natural pace, implying that they should be ready for university at their own natural pace also.

But will universities still choose students that were mature enough at sixteen? Moreover, what preferences will they have between the
various subjects available on the EBC?

These are all questions that will have to be addressed in the run up to the EBC’s introduction in 2017.

Gove’s plans seem to all to be not sufficiently thought through; a quick solution to a multi-layered problem. Given the proposals are not due to come into effect until 2017, there is hope that between now and then they will be more carefully scrutinised and nuanced.

Gove’s nostalgia for the time he was still in education is evident, but he must realise that he has to move with the times to give his proposals credibility in today’s world.