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Day: 9 November 2014

Students and staff pay tribute to student who died of meningitis

Written by Aidan Gregory on . Posted in News.

University of Manchester students have been paying tribute to Teygan Sugrue, the first year Russian with Economics student living in the tower who died of Meningitis last week.

It has been reported that Segrue, of St. Ives, Cornwall, was found seriously ill in his room on Sunday the 2nd of November. He was taken to hospital at around 8pm, but medics were unable to save him.

His death prompted a health scare on Owens Park campus, with students rushing to get vaccinations from local surgeries.

A great number of students and staff have also been expressing their sadness and shock on twitter and Facebook.

In response to the death, Dr Tim Westlake, Director of Student Experience at the University of Manchester, said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of one of our students and our thoughts are with his family.

“Following advice from Public Health England, students living at Owens Park Tower have received guidance from Occupational Health advising that they are not at increased risk of infection.

“In line with public health guidance, a small number of students who have been in very close contact have been identified and offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.”

On behalf of the Students’ Union Executive, Rosie Dammers, Wellbeing Officer, said “We are all deeply saddened to hear of the death of Teygan Sugrue last weekend and our thoughts go out to his friends and family. We have spoken to the University, and are confident they are doing all they can to support Teygan’s family, issue the right awareness information to students in Owens Park and have taken measures to ensure the disease will not spread.

“If any student has been affected by the death, or has concerns about meningitis, I would encourage you to seek help and advice from Occupational Health or our advice service which is located on the ground floor of the Students’ Union.”

Katie Sarah Sugrue, Teygan’s sister, paid tribute to her brother on her Facebook page.

She wrote, “This is most likely the hardest and most upsetting status I’ll ever have to write, but it is my deepest regret to announce that my brother Teygan passed away last night due to suspected Meningococcal Septicaemia (Meningitis).

“We know he spent some time in Falmouth last week so if I could ask all his friends/Facebook contacts if they could share this status to make sure the message reaches everyone to avoid any harm to others health.

“Anyone with information of his known whereabouts during the week or maybe houses he slept at, please contact the numbers on the links below.

“Please act fast as this could potentially save someone’s life.

“Thank you everyone for your help, much love x.”

The NHS state that in 2011–12, there were around 2350 cases of bacterial meningitis in the UK, and that young children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable.

Students in halls are particularly at risk, due to “students starting university and mixing with lots of new people, some of whom may unknowingly carry the meningococcal bacteria.”

However, incidences of meningitis have been falling since the introduction of vaccinations that eradicate the bacteria which cause the disease, such as the meningitis C vaccine, MMR vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine.

Symptoms of infection include an aversion to light, vomiting, fever, and “pale, blotchy skin, with a red rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it”.

If you would like further information about the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia or have any concerns visit www.meningitisnow.org or call 080 8800 3344.

To wear or not to wear, that is the question

Written by Helen Chapman on . Posted in News.

The poppy has become one of the most evocative symbols of remembrance in the UK, and is the means by which most of the British public participate in commemoration.

However, there is a growing feeling that the way in which we remember and observe past conflicts is overtly nationalistic, making it impossible to critically analyse our role within conflicts past and present.

Advocates for the poppy argue that it is an important way to ensure that we never forget the horrors of past wars, and that those who died are owed a fitting remembrance.

Now there is the alternative of wearing the white poppy to show remembrance of death but to resist supporting militarism and recent foreign policy.

On the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the Manchester Debating Union hosted the debate: should we wear the poppy?

The proposition panel had speaker Chris Nineham: co-founder and National Officer for Stop the War Coalition, who argued that the poppy put forward a “favourable view of war.”

Chris Nineham made the case that we need to “deal with a way of remembering war without repeating it,” and we should instead wear the white poppy to show we are “concerned with death but want to generate more debate within society.”

“The trick,” said Nineham, “is that the poppy can be portrayed in the sense that you support war.”

Supporting Nineham was proposition speaker Maddy Fry: freelance writer, journalist and author.

Fry said that the poppy shows “love for the military. Full stop. And no mention of why we go to war, why we have a military.”

In opposition was Dr. Lynette Nusbacher: a former Devil’s Advocate for the British Joint Intelligence Committee and former senior lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Nusbacher said, in reaction to the proposition, that there is “no desire to gain propaganda value from remembrance… we will remember all of those who died because that is what remembrance is about.

“It’s not about us,” said Nusbacher, “it’s not about what we think, it’s about them.”

Alongside Nusbacher was Conor Ardill: a second year Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Manchester, the Externals Officer for the Manchester Debating Union and part of the Officer Training Corps.

Ardill said “people voluntarily sign up to the army but they don’t get to choose what conflict they go to… they don’t get to choose what is right or wrong.

“The reason why soldiers are collecting poppies is because they see it as part of their job to stand in solidarity with those who have been injured, not to support militarism.”

After a summary of both sides and their main points, the debate concluded with the proposition winning and the closing statement: “this house would not wear the poppy.”

Poppy Memorial attracts millions of visitors – why?

Written by Beth Greenwood on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As we draw closer to the 11th day of the 11th month, we become more aware of Remembrance Day. Aside from putting on a poppy and dropping a few coins into the collection tin at Sainsbury’s, millions of people including myself have made the journey to London to view the construction of the sea of ceramic poppies, entitled ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ by Artist Paul Cummins, that will progressively fill the Tower of London’s famous moat.

There will be 888246 ceramic poppies planted in the ground before the 11th of November, each flower representing a fallen soldier of the First World War. The exhibition has far surpassed anyone’s expectations, least of all the representatives of the Tower of London who have had to bring in extra staff to secure the site and keep crowds under control.

Why has it been such a success? Is it the occasion or the spectacle?

The real reason that the memorial has been such a triumph is a combination of both. The visitors to the display are of all ages and backgrounds but everyone has come to reflect.

The true accomplishment of this memorial is its universality which must be said to be rooted in its design. The concept is simple: one poppy for each casualty, however the outcome, is so much more meaningful.

Viewing the poppies from a distance they form a sea of red to mimic the immense bloodshed that started 100 years ago, yet view them up close and you can appreciate just how many men and women gave their lives to protect our country’s future.

If you can spare a minute on Armistice Day, why not think silently about the loss of those men and women that the poppies at the Tower honour and also ones that have paid the ultimate sacrifice since?

Remembering and respecting our heroes on Remembrance Day

Written by Lauren Wills on . Posted in Opinion.

In the busyness of life, Remembrance Sunday is one of the few occasions where millions of people across the UK take two minutes of silence and reflection in memory of those who have given their lives for the freedom of others in all conflicts.

The First World War officially ended on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month in 1918. The tradition began one year later as people were desperate to remember and thank those who were killed, injured or, affected by the war.

I am unsure whether or not the same appreciation resounds amongst our generation. As easy as it is to detach ourselves from something that hasn’t happened in our lifetime or affected us so directly, I believe it’s very important to remember, respect and, appreciate the fact that people of immense courage fought for us to live in a freed nation today.

After speaking to members of my family who lived through World War II, it became extremely apparent that nearly all aspects of life as we know it were nothing but a dream or fantasy. Firstly and most obviously, most men up to 39 years of age were drafted unless they were needed in other important areas that directly aided the war effort, such as energy production, farming, or factory work.

We think we understand this, but it’s difficult for most of us to imagine being a left alone by our fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. It’s even more so difficult to imagine a family member being a prisoner of war. It’s also hard to comprehend living in constant fear for your family’s lives, not having the chance see relatives for up to five years with minimal communication.

It’s difficult to imagine scrapping our career aspirations and meticulously planned lives to go and fight in war at young ages. Indeed, almost all of the young men studying at our university would have been sent to fight on the continent—regardless of their country of origin.

On top of this, it is impossible to imagine the austere lifestyles of families, particularly in relation to rationing. It has been said to have completely changed the social landscape of the UK for generations to come.

Everything was rationed from food to clothing; my grandmother was one of three girls and said that she can’t remember getting anything new as a child because of clothing coupon allowances. In comparison, we are clouded by modern consumerism. We are showered with gifts, we always desire the next new product, and things are relatively easy to obtain.

Even the comparatively rich during World War II couldn’t purchase luxuries because there was nothing available to buy. Everything was suffering from shortages, everyone too.

Food wastage is common in today’s society, but people living in the 1940s were taught from a young age to appreciate and finish their food; a person’s typical weekly allowance was: one fresh egg; 4oz margarine and bacon (about four rashers); 2oz butter and tea; 1oz cheese; and 8oz sugar. Meat was allocated by price and points could be pooled or saved to buy different products. Even as students it’s difficult to imagine such a lifestyle, bound by a ration book and seldom able to experience variety.

Something that struck me about listening to my grandmother was the fact that she didn’t speak about those days as if they were terribly difficult. She said everyone made do and got on with their lives. In regards to rationing, she said everyone helped each other, or as she put it, “there were better neighbours in those days.” If someone lacked food, then another with enough food would provide at their own expense. Altruism was the norm, and there wasn’t a culture of needing to be repaid or recognised for good deeds.

My perception of Western society today is that everything concerns money; goods and cash are only given away when they are in abundance and charitable obligation where there is always recognition and praise for having given. Whilst this is not wrong, I think there is something beautiful about a society where people shared what they had, even if what they had was very little.

Overall, the lifestyles most of us enjoy today are nothing like that of those living during past major conflicts. We seldom see the freedom for which was fought as our own freedom. I would encourage all, especially young people, to appreciate what people went through, whether it was in the military, raising a family in difficult circumstances or trying to get by.

It’s also important to remember more recent tragedies, and even the present where members of the Armed Forces continue to put their lives on the line for the sake of our freedom, regardless of our, or their, political opinions on current affairs.

The First World War and the Second World War affected everyone, and it’s true that we don’t know what kind of society we would live in if it weren’t for others’ courage and bravery all that time ago.

I was shocked and saddened that the 15-year-old army cadet selling poppies for Remembrance Day was recently attacked in Manchester.

DI Liam Boden said, “This is an absolutely appalling attack on a young man who was raising money to help remember all those who gave their lives fighting bravely for their country. At this stage we are keeping an open mind as to what motivated the offender to commit such an attack”.

The Guardian reported that it was sheer luck that the individual didn’t sustain more serious burns to his face and body.

Whatever the motivation of the attacker, it is saddening that a person wished to suppress the deeds of a 15-year-old who was encouraging people to remember those who gave their lives fighting bravely in the wars and dying so that we could live as we do today.

I hope this shocking, thoughtless and horrific incident propels our society into a continuous state of gratefulness for our heroes, to be vocal in our thanks, and that we never forget the heavy price of freedom.