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Day: 29 October 2014

Female student raped as she walked home through Fallowfield

A female student has been raped as she walked home through Fallowfield from a night out.

The 19-year-old was walking down Ladybarn Lane in Fallowfield at 3:30am last Saturday when a man approached her and offered to walk her home.

She asked him to leave her alone but he continued to try to speak to her and grab her. The man then dragged her down the alleyway that runs between Whitby Road and Filey Road where he raped her.

The offender was said to be 5 feet 9 inches tall, of black or Asian origin and with very short black hair. He was wearing baggy blue or grey jeans, a long-sleeved top and was clean shaven.

Police have since increased patrols in the Fallowfield area and have urged students to pre-book taxis to make their way home rather than walk alone.

Women’s Officer Jess Lishak said: “Unlike the attack last month, this woman was not assaulted by an unlicensed taxi driver, she was walking home. She was a person, walking on public streets, to her home. Neither of these sexual assaults happened because women didn’t get pre-booked taxis, they happened because men decided to rape or sexually assault them.

“Yet the police and the media continue to ‘[urge] students to pre-book taxis to get home rather than walk home alone.’ No. When will we start responding to horrific acts of rape and violence against women and girls with outrage and disgust at the perpetrator, without suggesting ways that women might avoid being raped?

“Out of every 100 rapes, only 40 will be reported to the police, of which 10 lead to an arrest, 8 will be prosecuted, 4 will lead to a felony conviction and only 3 out of 100 rapists will spend a single day in prison. We need to refocus the conversation.

“At the University of Manchester Students’ Union, we’ve been taking really positive steps towards tackling the symptoms of ‘lad culture’, victim blaming and rape culture that contribute to the normalisation of sexual assault and rape. Our ‘We Get It – zero tolerance to sexual harassment campaign’ sends out a clear message that sexual harassment, assault and rape will not be tolerated on our campus. We’ve seen an incredible response from students and staff with over 5500 pledges signed so far, which has now led to improved support at the University.”

This attack follows recent evidence that shows 36 women every day are reporting rapes to the police, and 37 per cent of female students and 12 per cent of male students have faced harassment in the form of inappropriate groping and touching.

Detective Inspector Damian Simpson of the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “This was a harrowing and deeply distressing attack for the young woman and we will be providing support to her throughout this difficult and traumatic time.

“The attack will obviously raise concerns in the community and especially among the student community and I would like to assure the public that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we catch this man as quickly as possible.

“If you heard a woman scream around the time of the attack, or saw a man walking around in the area at the same time please contact us as soon as possible with any information you may have.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, the Serious Sexual Offences Unit on 0161 856 1945 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted is encouraged not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency to get the help and support available. You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.

Blind Date: Becky and Alex

Becky, 4th Year Geography

First impressions?

I thought he was quite cute, he looks like Justin Timberlake circa the Britney Spears era. And he seemed friendly.

Best features?

Well I used to have a massive thing for Justin Timberlake so probably the fact he looked a bit like him.

What did you have to eat?

I’m coeliac so I had a chicken and chorizo thing in a tomato sauce. It was delicious! Oh and I had a Juan Collins cocktail.

Any awkward moments?

There were a few but the worst was when I thought he said urethra. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

How did you say goodbye?

It was awkward. He went in for the kiss; I went in for a hug: in the end we just patted each other on the back.

Did you kiss?

No, I was too mortified.

Any potential plans for the future?

Well I gave him my number so we’ll have to see. Not sure I can recover from that goodbye, I’m still cringing.

 

Alex, 4th Year Physics

First impressions?

Pretty, nice hair and I liked her outfit.

Best features?

Her hair and her eyes.

What did you have to eat?

I had a falafel wrap with fries and a brownie. It was amazing.

Any awkward moments?

I spent the first 10 minutes fairly sure I’d once got with her on a night out so that was a bit weird before I realised I was wrong, but other than that not really.

How did you say goodbye?

We hugged.

Did you kiss?

I wanted to but I thought it might be a bit soon.

Any potential plans for the future?

I got her number so I’ll wait the standard 3 days before texting her.

 

Many thanks to Fallow Café, 2A Landcross Road, Fallowfield. As well as serving tasty meals, it also holds free gigs, regular film screenings and club nights.
www.fallowcafe.com

Fancy a free meal and a date?
Email: [email protected] with your name, year and course.

Album: Taylor Swift – 1989

Released October 27th 2014

Big Machine Records

6/10

Taylor Swift is back with 1989 and it’s big, bold and bollocks. Now I have your attention it’s actually not that bad, but the multi-Grammy award winner has hardly reinvented the wheel, producing an album of solid, if uninspiring, tracks.

The album opens with ‘Welcome to New York’ which would suit the soundtrack to the movie Drive but clearly lacks the mystique or cool of Ryan Gosling. Swift does however declare “Welcome to New York / It’s been waiting for you,” clearly a reference to the state’s falling unemployment rate (down to 6.4%). It’s nice to see a pop star with a social consciousness! Second track ‘Blank Space’ evokes the same 80s pop as the album opener, however track three, ‘Styles’, is where the album gets interesting. Is it a reference to Harry? Are they back together? Who cares?! The song is nice, with a quirky vocal melody.

‘Out Of The Woods’ and ‘All You Had To Do Was Stay’ follow, evidencing an 80s chic that, while flowing nicely, falls well short of the decade’s classic hits. The album’s first single ‘Shake It Off’ is a clear standout, reminiscent of La Roux, a great pop record for the hit parade.

‘I Wish You Would’ sounds like The 1975 fronted by a woman, no bad thing, however this is undermined by ‘Bad Blood’ which is jam-packed with anodyne rhymes such as “bad blood” with “mad love”. ‘Wildest Dream’ however is a good song, mirroring Lana Del Rey; the song, again, sounds like something from Drive. ‘This Love’ is 1989’s first stray away from computer generated sonics, making use of the acoustic guitar, and is a welcome break. A strong ballad.

What Swift has produced is by no means groundbreaking or career-defining. What it is, however, is a record that will sustain her fan base, packed full of pop hits that will appeal across the board. It’s by no means award-winning material, but it’s certainly not a career-ending piece of output.

Album: Julian Casablancas & The Voidz – Tyranny

Released 13th October 2014

Cult Records

7.5/10

The first decade of the millennium saw Julian Casablancas pioneer two of the most standout albums: Is This It and Room on Fire. His latest project, Tyranny, sees him veer off from the catchy, straightforward rock we have grown accustomed to from The Strokes into a dark and complex world under a new name of Julian Casablancas + The Voidz.

The first release off the album, ‘Human Sadness’ forefronts the group’s ambitions. Lasting 11 minutes, the song is anything but boring filled with intense lows and euphoric highs. Julian’s father, John, had died 18 months earlier and the song appears to bring to life some of the emotion experienced whether it’s the storm of angry guitars introduced around the six-minute mark or the lines echoing the poet Rumi, “beyond all ideas of right and wrong there is a field/I will meet you there.”

‘Human Sadness’ is segued between two of the most unapologetically punk songs you are likely to hear this year, ‘M.ad A.ssured D.estruction’ and ‘Where No Eagles Fly.’ Casablancas’ notorious perfectionist nature is seen on tracks that are so densely packed with various sounds and effects and then made to sound so lo-fi, you wonder if the effort was worth it like on ‘Johann Von Bronx’. ‘Father Electricity’ is perhaps the most interesting track on the album that sees an African-styled drum beat at its spine, crazy synth and brass solos, and at one point Julian actually scats like he’s on an old jazz album. Of course the album isn’t flawless with songs like ‘Off to War’ and ‘Xerox’ being ashamedly dull and perhaps a touch too self-indulgent.

If there’s one thing you can call Tyranny, it’s brave. The sheer number of disturbing and unique moments illustrates Julian Casablancas + The Voidz’ intentions to create something legitimate and cool, which is more than you can say for most bands today. It won’t be palatable for those expecting another Is This It but it will attract those interested in listening to original and out-there music.

Album: The Flaming Lips – With A Little Help From My Fwends

October 28th

Warner Bros. Records

5/10

The Flaming Lips are one of those bands which you either love or hate. Because of this, in taking on a Beatles album they were always going to polarise opinion; and this isn’t just any Beatles album. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is a leviathan, a giant of its kind. It was described by one critic as “a decisive moment in the history of western civilisation.” To some, letting Wayne Coyne loose on this is like letting Tracy Emin redecorate the Sistine chapel.

The inclusion of Miley Cyrus on ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ surprised many, but the rendition is an interesting, sprawling take on the original and Cyrus delivers the iconic chorus with gusto and subtlety in equal measure. It sounds a little like The Beatles being abducted by aliens, in the best possible way. However one can’t help but think that it’s the quality of the song writing which makes it acceptable. Unfortunately, this is the case with a lot of these covers. For example, the high point of the Lips’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is by far that bombastic chorus, deep under the influence of J Mascis, but (shoot me now, Wayne) that’s the bit that’s most similar to the original. Is it my inner Beatles snob emerging from beneath a layer of enforced open mindedness, or is it just that the best bit of this covers album is the 40 seconds which is closest to the Beatles?

‘Getting Better’ is another highlight, but that too has been given room to breathe between the characteristic Flaming Lips madness, with which other tracks are far too infected to be listenable. Take ‘Within You Without You’, where there is basically more feedback than musical notes. It’s all a bit too much; for a while I was convinced that my speakers were breaking, before I realised it was meant to sound this way.

Despite the sonic capabilities of the Flaming Lips paired with the Beatles’ song writing occasionally working brilliantly, the pattern seems to be this: the less Wayne Coyne has messed with it, the better it sounds. Unfortunately, some tracks have been messed with beyond repair. Never fear though, the original Sgt. Pepper’s will still be there when you’ve finished listening to Miley Cyrus (“of all people!” shout the purists) take on Lennon.

Silicon Robots

With cosmetic surgery becoming more and more of an accepted practice, does this mean the future of unique bodies will soon cease to exist?

A scary thought, I know. From Heidi Pratt’s well-publicised transformation to Nicki Minaj’s butt implants, perhaps the future of the body will be perfection, or rather the conception of it that is created by the media. Clearly, questionable methods of how to achieve the ‘designer body’ are being considered by celebrities and VIPs alike. However we have to ask ourselves if a silicon robot-ridden society could ever be a reality?

Alongside the horrendous amounts of money paid to look ‘bootylicious’, I am sure the idea of looking like an action figure does not appeal to the average person walking down the street. As students, I would question that cosmetic surgery is at the top of our wish list for the future. But with more young people affected by body image than ever before, it would not be a surprise if the younger generation made cosmetic surgery the next YOLO trend. With speculations that teenage reality star Kylie Jenner has had her lips plumped, for example, impressionable teenagers could well be influenced into going under the knife in a quest for perfection.

With the fear that procedures such as face lifts and fillers might be the next items on a women’s make-up list, celebrities like Beyoncé assure us that natural beauty is perfect. Her songs promote strength in other ways, reassuring us we are all ‘flawless’. On the flip side, Renée Zellweger, who recently came under media fire for her ‘new face’, maintains that when it comes to physical appearance, what matters is your own happiness; other people’s preconceptions of surgery do not matter at all. With such a divide in the celebrity world about cosmetic surgery it seems highly unlikely that society will ever be 100 per cent pro-plastic surgery. However, with successful results of cosmetic surgery becoming more prominent, could people be swayed?

Is cosmetic surgery a sad reflection of the society we live in? Or is it merely a means of boosting your confidence in your own skin? Tweet us at @mancunionfash and let us know!