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Day: 23 February 2015

Celebrate the unsung #VoluntHero at the Union this week

Written by Lauren Gorton on . Posted in News.

This week, from Monday 23rd of February to the 1st of March, the Students’ Union and the University of Manchester have again teamed up to celebrate the work of student volunteers, this year in particular spotlighting the work of the ‘Unsung Heroes’ working hard under the radar.

They aim to encourage students to get involved and recognise those at the university and outside it who give up their time for a cause such as charity work without financial reward.

A variety of events have been organised every day this week, including this Monday’s ‘Fun Day’ with a superhero themed photo booth erected in the Students’ Union Foyer.

Tomorrow’s Tuesday ‘Choose Day’ will see, amongst other things, the Bogle Stall, organised by Manchester RAG, in the Students’ Union Foyer throughout the day, whilst later in the day ‘Hungry for Change?’, a student action homeless event and collection, will be held from 5pm.

Other notable events throughout the week will include, the Unsung Heroes thank you in the Students’ Union Foyer throughout ‘Winners Wednesday’, the Reclaim the Night March and after party from 7pm at Owen’s Park on ‘Throwback Thursday’, and the sponsored Fuse FM broadcast which will begin at midday on ‘Fundraiser Friday’.

For the full scheduled timetable of events that will be held throughout student volunteering week, visit the calendar of events which can be found on the University of Manchester Student’s Union website, under the volunteering section. Further information on individual events can also be found on the Manchester RAG Facebook page.

To be more involved in Volunteering Week you can also follow the events at @VoluntHero on Twitter and tweet your pictures and information about your volunteering experience.

The VoluntHero team will be looking out all week for students using the #VoluntHero hashtag to retweet to their audience.

Review: Vagina Monologues

Written by Aimee Grant Cumberbatch on . Posted in Theatre.

What would your vagina say if it could talk? And if it were a person, what would it wear? Vagina Monologues asked all these questions and many more. Women’s Officer Jess Lishak described the play as an act of “talking about the untalked-about,” and after the production’s hours were up, there wasn’t a single vagina-related taboo left intact.

With worrying rape rates in student areas plus cuts and closures threatening Manchester’s already strained women’s support centres, the production could not be more pertinent, and in her closing speech Jess mentioned some shocking statistics that are worth repeating. Manchester Women’s Aid faces cuts of up to 40 per cent, when even a 20 per cent reduction in funding would mean closure, while at Manchester Rape Crisis, the waiting list for counselling currently stands at 6 months.

Despite the seriousness of some of issues the production touches upon, it never lost its sense of humour. The performance began with some of the more lighthearted monologues, including a helpful reminder (for anyone wondering what to call their cooch) of the many different names for what’s down there. Lawrence of a Labia and the Grand Canyon of Fallowfield were some of my personal favourites.

Telling the stories of women from 6 – 60, the play was an utterly inclusive affair which took intersectionality and gender issues in its stride. As you sat back and watched each actor conjure up a vivid portrait of their character, the play guided you through the complex emotions having a vagina can cause, from pleasure to pain and back again.

Some of the most moving and thought-provoking monologues were those which tackled the struggles facing trans- and cisgender individuals. Written by a trans member of the cast especially for the production, the ‘My Impossible Vagina’ monologue was eye-opening and heart-breaking in equal measure. From invasive doctors’ appointments to constant questioning, the speech addressed the process of what its author called “waiting for permission to be myself.”

The production also paid its dues to what is undoubtedly the vagina’s greatest ever achievement, giving birth. Coming close to the end of the play, this particular performance left a lasting reminder of the vagina’s power to give life. In fact Vagina Monologues as a whole delivers a message that is as relevant now as it ever was: Every person on the planet has a vagina to thank for their existence.

So perhaps it’s time we straightened out our attitudes towards our downstairs mix ups and gave vaginas the lifetime’s service awards they deserve. Or at least a little respect.

Students to go to Mars to read books and leave behind “legacies”

Written by Andy van den Bent-Kelly on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

“Is there life on Mars?”

For centuries people have speculated about whether the planet is capable of hosting life.

But assuming that Mars One goes ahead as planned, we will have an answer in 10 years: Yes, there is life. Well, human life anyway.

Three British students have made the final shortlist of 100 volunteers for the four available places on board Mars One, which is due to depart on a one-way mission to the Red Planet in 2024.

Maggie Lieu, a 24-year-old astrophysics student at the University of Birmingham, 21-year-old Oxford physicist Ryan MacDonald and Hannah Earnshaw, a 23-year-old Ph.D. student in astronomy at Durham University, are among five Brits who could potentially become the first humans to set foot on Mars.

More than 200000 people originally applied for a place on the mission, which aims to establish a human colony on the Martian surface within the next decade. This was whittled down to just 660 last year, all of whom undertook online interviews with the project’s medical adviser.

Out of those 660 people, a final shortlist of 50 men and 50 women from across the globe was drawn up and revealed recently.

The aim is to send 24 people to the planet to establish the settlement, starting with an initial group of four. They will be preceded by several unmanned missions, which will identify the best place to set up camp. Habitation modules and life support systems will be sent to the Red Planet prior to the astronauts’ arrival.

The controversial Dutch project was first announced in 2011 and is expected to cost $6 billion. It is a not-for-profit organisation led by entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp, who financed everything himself until 2013.

The day-to-day life of everyone in the settlement will be filmed as part of a global reality television series, which will enable everyone on Earth to witness the progress of the colonisers.

Hannah Earnshaw said: “Human space exploration has always interested me so the opportunity to be one of the people involved was really appealing. The future of humanity is in space.”

Maggie Lieu was equally as enthusiastic, stating, “it’s always been my dream to explore space and advance space science so being given the opportunity to one of the first ever people to physically land on that piece of space rock would be a dream come true.”

Despite its hugely exciting nature, the project hasn’t been met with universal acclaim. Multiple aspects of it seem overly ambitious and there are many individuals and institutions that have their doubts about its feasibility.

Before making the shortlist, Ryan MacDonald admitted that he shared people’s concerns that the mission would never end up happening. However, he insisted that he is still desperate for it to go ahead and stated his reasons for wanting to permanently emigrate to Mars.

“The most important thing to do in life is to leave a legacy,” he said. “A lot of people do that by having a child, having a family. For me this would be my legacy.

“Everyone will remember who were the first four people who stepped onto Mars.”

Cost is a major concern. NASA, who are themselves exploring the possibility of facilitating human exploration of Mars with their planned Orion missions, estimate that the project will cost closer to $100 billion.

A study by researchers Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that any manned mission to Mars would result in the death of all the crew members within 68 days, due to the lack of protection from solar radiation. It should also be noted that only 50 per cent of all previous missions to Mars have succeeded.

But despite the widespread scepticism, Earnshaw remains optimistic about Mars One. “It’s a very ambitious mission and requires lots of things going right for humans to leave the planet,” she explained. “But this project is encouraging other people to talk about the wider implications.

“It’s definitely feasible. Space travel is risky but at the same time, there is a time scale in place.”

The three students are joined on the shortlist by Alison Rigby, 35, a science laboratory technician from Kent and Clare Weedon, 27, a systems integration manager living in Surrey. This means that an entirely British crew could be chosen to represent humanity on the surface of Mars, although it’s highly likely that people from different continents will be chosen.

All 100 candidates will now undergo testing to see how they can cope with stressful situations as part of team. The final list of 24 people is expected to be announced later this year.

Skirting around the issue

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The This Girl Can ad campaign by Sport England aims to show that all types of women can participate in sports, and is a celebration of active females all across the UK. Interestingly, this example of empowerment in sport features a glimpse of a netball match in which a small minority of players are wearing netball skirts. The debate about women in sports is ongoing, but what part does dress code have to play?

Female athletes on the world stage such as Venus and Serena Williams have been seen wearing some outrageous outfits on court over the years, but this doesn’t detract from the fact that they are extremely talented tennis players. Although there is no overarching rule in tennis regarding skirts, a lot of players choose to wear skirts or dresses—and get plenty of endorsements for doing so. However, when female boxing was finally declared an Olympic sport in 2009, it was proposed that female boxers wear skirts to allow the spectators to distinguish them from men. Although this campaign gained a lot of support, after receiving criticism from boxers and the wider public it was scrapped. There are many other ways to distinguish a boxer than by a skirt—their face, their team colours, or simply by looking at the names of the players competing.

Years ago, women had to wear corsets whilst playing tennis; this was later abandoned because of the obvious restriction on physical activity. I personally believe that if the outfit allows you to be comfortable then go for it, but when it is unnecessarily forced then it becomes a tad ridiculous. Aimée Grant Cumberbatch reminisces about P.E. in secondary school, lamenting the stupidity of dress code rules, saying: “We used to be made to wear netball skirts over our tracksuit bottoms.” Seem a bit pointless to you?

Introducing sports luxe

Written by Sarah Kilcourse on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

As the AW15 runway shows take place across the fashion capitals of the world, it is time to draw our attention back to the here and now—SS15. The classic themes of summer bohemian and nautical were present in many a catwalk show, but sports luxe was a particular favourite. It is a trend that has been growing for a few seasons, but SS15 witnessed the sports luxe look take on classic shapes with a modern edge.

Alexander Wang showcased a multitude of sports-inspired pieces in his SS15 runway show, including neon scuba dresses, heeled trainers and sports mesh fabrics interlaced with sleek tailoring. At Topshop Unique they styled the models in scuba dresses and retro inspired cycling jumpers with flippy skirts, hot pants or trousers. Proving that the sporty trend can be styled in any way; androgynous or feminine, day or night—this is an easy look for everyone.

At the DKNY runway show, mesh fabrics breathed a youthful edge into 50s inspired midi dresses and skirts, crop tops with bomber jackets and flatform trainers amping up the show’s athletic edge. Akris made use of a retro sporting accessory, with models strutting down the runway wearing visors in an array of colours.

For students, footwear may be one of the easiest routes into the trend. Trainers have become frequent visitors to the catwalk over the last few seasons; the practical, comfortable shoe has been used as a high heel alternative and has become a favourite with street style stars. Across the high street there are various interpretations of the designer trainer at more affordable prices: Zara has a flatform style similar to DKNY’s, while River Island has most styles of trainer all at more affordable prices than their high end inspirations.

America and her rampant gun addiction

Written by Joe C. Evans on . Posted in Opinion.

It is a remarkable task to make Piers Morgan appear rational; it is even harder to make him seem anything akin to a moral compass. Despite this, resident gun nut and ardent republican Alex Jones was able to simultaneously achieve both in 2013 when he appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan Live.

“Hitler took the guns, Stalin took the guns, Mao took the guns, Fidel Castro took the guns, Hugo Chavez took the guns… 1776 will commence again if you try to take our firearms.” As convincing an argument as this is, I think we all essentially agree that Jones is somewhat deranged. What is concerning, however, is that his views don’t serve as a binary to the mainstream.

Set this to the backdrop of the shootings of three young Muslims in North Carolina by self proclaimed ‘gun-toting atheist’ Craig Hicks, and this becomes quite disconcerting.

Statistics tell us that the United States loves its firearms. Take, for example, 100 Americans; average statistics dictate that they will possess between them 88 weapons. Taking into account collections—one person owning multiple arms—that is still a hell of a lot of ‘gun-toting’ civilians.

That’s a high percentage of normal people, like you and me, who possess an efficient and completely legal means of disposing of human life.

The argument still stands that, “guns don’t kill people, humans do,” but this is surely undone when considering as an example the War on Drugs: Drugs, which were already illegal, were clamped down on by the Nixon administration with a iron fist, and perpetrators of drug-related crimes were locked up.

While its successes are still somewhat hazy, it was essentially the intent to take away what we, the population, couldn’t be trusted with. The basic equation for the War on Drugs was that drugs ruin lives, and that as the public couldn’t regulate their use of drugs, they were ‘taken away’.

Agree or disagree with the outcomes and the need for a war on drugs, this is at least a consistent train of thought. Compare this to the US’s problem with guns however, and the failure of response is staggering.

In 2010, 9960 people were murdered with a firearm in the US. In the UK, this figure was 39. Murders with firearms account for 60% of all murders in the US, while the number of murders in the UK as a whole is 58% lower. The land of the free has a huge problem when it comes to violent crime.

Without too heavily hammering the statistics, 4.5 deaths per 100000 in the US is caused by a firearm. To put that into context, the US has a higher gun-related death rate than Pakistan, and is just 0.7% behind the Democratic Republic of Congo. Arms-related deaths in the US are not that far behind a country feeling the aftershock of civil war, where democracy is something that remains completely unfulfilled.

On a microcosmic level the issue becomes even more shocking. In a graphic published by The Atlantic online, Detroit was evidenced to possess the same murder rate as El Salvador. This becomes all the more incredible considering the fact that in 2012, El Salvador celebrated its first ‘murder-free day’ in three years. Detroit has the same murder rate as a nation where the armed forces are required to control the streets.

It is true that the US does have some regulation surrounding firearms. Unlike the certainty and coherency of the war on drugs however, the manifesto designed to control arms is nonsensical. Seven states have regulated the possession of an assault rifle, while, paradoxically, 30 states have regulated the possession of a handgun.

This evidences some progression for example in New York and New Jersey, where assault weapons have been banned outright. The paradox however is that a large number of states have assessed their gun laws and come to ridiculous conclusions. What rational individual would consider the regulation of handguns an issue worthy of dealing with, while allowing the perpetuation of lax licensing of assault rifles?

The clue is given away in their name alone. Assault rifles are designed with assault firmly in mind. How the possession of heavy duty weaponry like that is compatible with a safe environment seems lost on almost the entire world.

The popular response of gun advocates, such as Charlton Heston, is that Switzerland is never rebuked with such criticism. Despite all men between 20 and 30 storing their personal weapons at home the country was host to just forty homicides in 2010 related to firearms. Likewise they have one of the lowest homicide rates of any country.

A strong response then from the pro-gun campaigners. That is until you consider that all men in Switzerland are armed with a firearms in accordance with their conscripted military service and training. These are not arms bought and sold in Wal-Mart. These are trusted to those trained in their use and considered responsible enough to hold them in their homes.

An argument leaning on the Second Amendment is likewise as deeply flawed as Alex Jones’ capacity for reason. The conservatism that dominates American thought has a detrimental effect on the progression of their society away from widespread arms ownership. While the Second Amendment does declare the rights of all men “to keep and bear arms,” the Constitution must be considered an evolving document.

The originalists in American politics would disagree. Those such as Jones, who consider the Constitution a static document of prevailing truth, would, it would appear, have the right to bear arms maintained in the face of any objection.

This pseudo-religious treatment of an antiquated document cannot be shaken. A two-year-old child shooting his 12-year-old sister dead in Philadelphia cannot dampen the belief of such dogma. This is a system of belief so deeply entrenched that it cannot be deconstructed by statistics.

It must feel impossible that a society can progress in the face of such backward attitudes. Guns are totally incompatible with the suppression of aggression and the improvement of safety. Despite the seemingly irreversible attitudes prevalent in the US, widespread acknowledgement of the clear flaws in American gun legislation is making a difference. The world’s media is beginning to rebuke such ideas and, as already mentioned, there has been some progression.

What remains to be seen, however, is how contagious this progression can be.

Fitness beauty fixes

Written by Nikki Patel on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Activity: Jogging, ‘Mare: Chapped lips
Dry, chapped lips are often a sign of what’s going on inside your body, meaning that you’re probably dehydrated. Bump up the water intake and tone down your coffee and alcohol consumption (apologies) to hydrate from the inside out. Breathing through your mouth and licking your lips during your session also dramatically dries them out so try to tweak your technique. Failing that, a good slick of Burt’s Bees Pink Grapefruit Lipbalm, £3.69 before and after your workout will soften any flakes and leave them feeling supple.

Activity: Swimming, ‘Mare: Itchy skin
Diving into chlorinated water without some form of dermo-protectant is a skin sin, so think twice before you hit the Aquatics Centre. There are loads of ‘skin-shields’ out there for avid swimmers, but coconut oil slathered on the skin and hair works just as well due to its acidity. A post-dip shower is essential, as is nourishing your skin while it’s still damp. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, £4.15, has never failed me.

Activity: Spinning, ‘Mare: Rogue tendrils
Despite our greatest efforts, that pre-workout bun/ponytail of steel never seems to behave, meaning a quick, extremely fuzzy sprint out of the gym doors and onto the Magic Bus. The Goody Simple Style Spin Pin, £5.49 grabs your hair from underneath for a tight hold and a flawless sporty finish as you spin to victory.

Activity: Aerobics, ‘Mare: Dry, over washed hair
If you’re an avid hairwasher because you can’t stand leaving the house with sweaty hair, it’s important to invest in a silicone-free hydrating shampoo. Kerastase Elixir Ultime Huile Lavante Bain, £16.00 is worth splashing out for to save your precious tendrils from overdrying and split ends. A weekly nourishing mask such as Kerastase Masque Nutri-Thermique, £21.00, is also vital as it gives our chance a hair to recover from the heat, sweat and over-washing that comes with your extremely admirable active lifestyle.

Activity: Yoga, ‘Mare: Frizz
All of that twisting, turning and grinding on your yoga mat can leave your previously sleek ponytail in disarray. To avoid any hair ‘mares, be sure to mist Batiste Dry Shampoo, £2,99 along your hairline and the nape of your neck as these are most fuzz-prone areas. Combing in a leave-in serum is also a good idea and means that you can go from the gym to uni without the trauma of brushing it through afterwards.

Sportswear: when to wear

Written by Kathryn Murray on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In life there are rules. To save some confusion, I am going to write down a few guidelines on how to style sportswear.

You might think it is a good idea to go out in your gym kit but is it really? Think about it.
Places where you can go with your running leggings on:
1. Lectures, because who really cares?
2. The gym, because duh
3. Sainsbury’s Fallowfield, even pyjamas are acceptable here
4. Around the house, or someone else’s house
5. Wherever you are immediately before the gym

Places where it is not appropriate to be gym ready:
1. An interview—dress to impress, not to show your commitment to exercise
2. Formal occasions such as the Grammy Awards (Helen Lasichanh, take note)
3. Meetings with academic advisors or seminar leaders
4. Nights out—if you need a sports bra for support, you might be dancing a bit too hard
5. Restaurants, although sometimes leggings are needed for buffet-style events

Are you still feeling a bit unsure? Don’t worry, most people are. As long as you know your limits,you will be ok. Although, swimsuits on the street will never happen.

And if you are really struggling to keep pace with this sportswear as daywear trend, try to aim for a more luxe look. Less going-to-a-spinning-class and more just-off-the-runway. Simple, yet effective. Think slouchy jackets, mesh with chiffon, neon highlights, streamlined accessories. If you style yourself well; sleek hair, high heels, racing stripe all-in-one, then you just might be dressed to Grammy standard. Maybe.

Ask Adrienne

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Dear Adrienne,

I’ve recently had a realisation about my everyday casual dress sense. Almost all my daily outfits consist of black skinny jeans, of which I have several pairs. Although they’re appropriate for my daily shenanigans as a student, I’m starting to feel a bit repetitive and need some advice on how to switch it up.
The first thing to do is not to panic because at one point or another we’ve all experienced, or are still experiencing ECA (Emotional Clothing Attachment). Holding on for dear life to that one clothing item that suits our needs perfectly, that has grabbed our heart and refuses to let go. If you’re a casual dresser then jeans are likely to be one of your go-to clothing objects, especially with the unpredictable weather conditions that we’re currently experiencing. What I will say is that a little experimentation never hurt anybody. Why not try different colours and/or styles that fit your practical needs but also add a little edge to your outfit. Try pairing light blue mom jeans with a black belt and long sleeve crop top to channel Janet Jackson’s statement Poetic Justice look.
Finding the right pair of jeans is a strenuous but important fashion voyage for anyone who wishes to blur the distinctive line between ‘I made a conscious effort today’ and ‘I woke up 10 minutes ago’. The denim industry has recognised this and has styles to cater to all shapes and sizes. Boyfriend, mom, ripped (sometimes almost to shreds), distressed, acid wash, ankle grazer, high waisted or combinations of the above. Invest time and effort into jean shopping and soon you’ll have much more to work with than black skinnies.