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Day: 7 March 2015

Students’ Union hosts Sex Week 2015

Written by Elena Losavio on . Posted in News.

The week between the 2nd and 9th of March saw a collaboration between the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union and Sexpression Manchester, to bring to campus Sex Week 2015, the aim of the initiative being to explore different aspects of sexual health, LGBT+ issues and consent.

During this week several stands were available in the Students’ Union Foyer such as the sexual health and guidance stall on Monday the 2nd, hosted by Palatine Clinic, and a free STI testing stall on the Wednesday.

Numerous talks were also given during the week. One such talk on the 3rd of March by Katherine McGuirk, GP Surgery Project Manager for the Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) and Jess Bradley, a member of Action for Trans* Health, discussed what medical and psychological services are available today for LGBT+ people.

During the talk on Tuesday, Katherine McGuirk explained what her job involves, especially related to GPs’ training sessions—a new project called Pride in Practice.

The LGF is a charity based in Canal Street, Manchester. It is one of the biggest organisations which provide support to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people and in August 2014 they announced that also they’re going to develop new projects and collaborate with trans communities. Among the services they offer are support groups, counselling, HIV testing, adoptions, informative conferences, and events about health issues.

McGuirk stressed the importance of awareness GPs need concerning LGBT+ issues and procedures and encouraged sharing with the LGF both positive and negative experiences with GPS, as a way to support the LGBT+ community.

Talking about her work experience in Salford, North, and Central Manchester, McGuirk said that it is vital to re-educate people about the way services are delivered. Equality is an important goal that the LGF is making an effort to achieve.

Jess Bradley for Action for Trans* Health, an organisation which offers support and GPs’ training sessions, also gave an expert insight on the trans community and related health issues.

According to NHS websites, there are seven main Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) in the UK that can address transgender health issues. However, to have access to these kinds of treatments trans people need to be referred by their local GP.

Bradley asserted that often GPs don’t have much experience in transgender health issues and so are unaware of when to refer individuals to GICs. NHS websites, in recognising this fact, also encourage trans patients to be informed and to take the latest guide on gender dysphoria services to the appointment with the GP.

Bradley stressed that it is a delicate situation and a stressful period for trans people, needing to go through two or three years with psychiatric treatments and hormone therapies before surgery—sometimes mental health issues can also occur. It is necessary during such times to have appropriate medical support available, which identifies with their specific needs, but also does not discriminate trans patients.

A survey published in November 2014 by Pace, a mental health charity for LGBT+ people, shows that 48 per cent of trans people aged under 26 years old said that they had tried to commit suicide, whereas 59 per cent asserted that they had at least thought of doing so.

Besides the stalls and talks on offer throughout the week, a range of different activities were also organised each day, from discussion groups on sexual health issues to interactive workshops like Sex Week Craftivism on Thursday.

Speaking with The Mancunion, Rosie Dammers, Wellbeing Officer said: “Sex Week has been loads of fun. We have made felt vaginas, had students dress up in a giant penis suit and attended a sexual pleasure workshop.

“We have also addressed some really important issues such as unequal access to healthcare and consent. It has been great to see so many students talking openly about sex and sexuality.

“The students who have been working on this have done an amazing job, and I hope it is something that continues for years to come!”

Government invests over £500000 into student voting

Written by Joe Astill on . Posted in News.

A sum of £530000 is to be invested into a scheme devised to persuade students across the country to vote in the upcoming 2015 General Election.

£380000 of the money will go to the NUS who will use it to host a nationwide competition involving creating and promoting ideas to persuade students to register to vote.

The Students’ Unions of universities across the country will ask their students to team up and think of ideas that will be most effective in getting students to register to vote. The best idea will receive £10000 to fund their project.

The remaining £150000 will go to other organisations in the further education sector.

This news comes as a link was recently suggested between the newly introduced Individual Electoral Registration method (IER) in June 2014 and a drop in the aggregate registration rate in each constituency.

IER means that everyone wishing to vote in future elections will have to register individually rather than one person in each household registering on behalf of all the occupants of the household.

Previously, if students lived in student accommodation then their university would be able to register everyone living in halls of residence at once. However, since IER has been introduced, students have to register themselves individually regardless of whether they live in student accommodation or not.

Due to this, there are fears that students will be under-represented in the upcoming election.

Critics of this correlation have called it spurious as the initial data showing registration rates in each constituency was an aggregate and did not actually show how many students had fallen off the register.

However, a study conducted by contributors to the London School of Economics General Election blog found that there was a strong correlation between the proportion of students living in halls of residence in each constituency, and declining registration rates since the introduction of IER—suggesting that it has had an effect on students living in halls.

For details on this study, visit here.

TV Binge: Better Call Saul

Written by Ross Huskisson on . Posted in Film.

As with many other avid fans of Breaking Bad, I could have contentedly watched Bob Odenkirk’s slippery criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (still going by his real name, James ‘Jimmy’ McGill) bicker over parking stickers with Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) for an entire episode of any spin-off. The interchanges between two of the most entertaining, and remorseless, characters from the critically-acclaimed series are extracted across the opening episodes of Better Call Saul for every potential moment of hilarity.

There are also many stylistic executions within this prequel to occupy the casual viewer, whether or not they have previously seen Breaking Bad. We are treated to a litany of pop culture references, acerbic one-liners and a distinctively idiosyncratic soundtrack, while creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould retain their ability to devise grand set pieces that mark a dark space in the minds of their viewers.

Fortunately, Better Call Saul does not descend into a series of disjointed televisual devices as it easily could have done, and it is to the great credit of its team of writers that the show thematically accumulates into more than the sum of its parts. Each aesthetic flair and barren cold open is precisely deployed to craft a coherent character study of the man who becomes Saul Goodman.

This is memorably displayed in a desert-located set piece which sneaks up on us in the second episode. Our anti-hero must bargain with an unhinged gangster over the fate of two young accomplices (marking a cameo appearance of a fans’ favourite), debating the relative justice of a limb-breaking compared to a tongue-ripping. The scene is a demonstration of the way that Better Call Saul is prepared to use its apparently farcical overtones as a sleight of hand to reveal the underlying horror of the world which our protagonist inhabits. The tone is further established by the acidic humour in the following comic vignette, in which a creative montage comprised of bread sticks at a dinner date conveys the way that this horror has been mentally internalised by McGill.

As the series moves forward, its utmost challenge will be to create a sense of narrative momentum, even as the hectic pace of the early episodes settles down. It is likely that the dramatic rhythm will be driven by its intriguing set of supporting characters, which includes a smart love interest at his law firm in Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) and older brother Chuck (Michael McKean), who suffers from a mysterious illness. And of course there is Mike himself, whose dry presence is always welcome on our screens, and there are suggestions that the ex-Philadelphia cop will play a significant plot role as the series develops.

Ultimately, Better Call Saul is pervaded with an inevitable sense of tragedy. Odenkirk superbly expresses McGill’s manifesting desperation, and we are constantly made aware of the limitations to his fast-talking and quick-thinking, even when he tries to be a good man. This makes for a compelling way to investigate human failings, and I challenge viewers not to be encapsulated by this story of moral transformation.

Whetting your sexual appetite

Written by Perisha Kudhail on . Posted in Lifestyle.

There is always a toss-up between two of our basic human pleasures; sex and food. We continue to debate which one is the victor and which one we could live without, but why miss out on a good thing? What’s wrong with two pleasures working in harmony or is double definitely trouble?

Food in the bedroom is a growing trend with the appetizers to our sex lives no longer being a bit of smooching. The idea of chocolate spread all over the sheets tickles the nerves in laundry lover’s brains, whilst others may relish the idea of licking a bit of whipped cream off a lucky someone’s crotch.

So when it comes to food and sex, what is it that turns us on and what will inevitably put us off our dinner? Here are my top five aphrodisiac foods which will certainly turn up the temperature in the bedroom.

At number five: The avocado. A low fat option for those of you who’d rather calorie count or skip on the stickiness. There’s no doubt about the stimulating shape of the avocado.

Fourth on our list of sexy foods: Honey. As the symbol of procreation, there’s a reason why it’s a holy food. Not only is this sweet treat great to get things started, but we’d all love to know that’s not the only thing we can have for dessert.

Three is the magic number, which brings me to chilli peppers as one of the best aphrodisiacs. After all, who doesn’t need a little spice in their life?

At number two we have the sensual strawberry. This cute fruit is ideal for feeding each other and getting the taste buds tingling.

And our victor at number one is everyone’s favourite: Chocolate. This naughty treat is fab if you fancy a little flavour. And don’t worry about the calories, I’m sure you’ll burn them off.

Not having sex?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Sometimes it seems like sex is everywhere. Everyone’s doing it, talking about it, writing about it, singing about it or, as we’ve seen recently, making films about it. This is all well and good, as long as you’re one of the lucky people with a recent anecdote to contribute. But if you’re having a dry spell, not that interested or just choosing not to have sex, here are 21 things you can do that might just be equally as satisfying:

1. Buy yourself some really fancy cake. Eat lots of it.
2. Treat yourself to a posh bath bomb and luxuriate in the glittery bubbles like a resplendent unicorn.
3. Eat your drunk food of choice just as the craving is at its peak.
4. Put petrol in someone’s car and get the price dead on the pound.
5. Take a large gulp of wine after a looooong day at uni.
6. Actually finish a book that you’re reading for pleasure, not because it’s on a required reading list.
7. Stick your hand in a bag of lentils, à la Audrey Tautou in Amélie
8. Finish a whole Vaseline lip care tin.
9. Take the price sticker off something without leaving any sticky bits behind
10. Peel a whole orange in one go.
11. Wake up. Realise it’s Saturday. Go back to sleep.
12. Put a screen protector on your phone and leave absolutely no air bubbles.
13. Hug a puppy/kitten/other adorable small creature.
14. Watch your all-time favourite film with someone who doesn’t care if you recite the entire script.
15. Win the lottery.
16. Failing number 15, get a part time job and make it rain on payday.
17. Put clean sheets on your bed. Wear clean pyjamas. Experience heaven.
18. Pick a Sporcle quiz (we like the ‘countries of the world’ one) and start a house leaderboard. Come top of said leaderboard.
19. Slice a mushroom.
20. Be the first person to walk across fresh snow.
21. Find bubble wrap. Pop bubble wrap. Repeat.

Curbing the no-carb: 5 healthy swaps for under £1

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

Instead of going cold-turkey from the white stuff (bread, rice, pasta), why not wean yourself off it or simply cut down by making a few small changes to your existing diet? Incorporate these swaps into your meal plan at least three times a week and bask in the glory of your guiltless, bulkless satiety.

1. COURGHETTI

Sainsbury’s: 1 x (3 for £1.50) = 50p
ALDI: 1 x (3 for 89p) = 30p

Slice your courgette in half lengthways, then slide your knife across in half again—still lengthways. Cut the courgette into thin strands that somewhat/in no way resemble spaghetti. Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the courgette and cook or steam for 3 – 5 minutes, until tender. This is the healthiest way to cook as it involves no oil. Treat the courghetti as you would pasta—top with pesto, sprinkle with toasted seeds or simply drizzle with olive oil, crushed garlic, and black pepper.

2. FLICE (CAULIFLOWER RICE)

Sainsbury’s: ½ x (1 for £1) = 50p
ALDI: ½ x (1 for 75p) = 38p

Halve cauliflower. Grate or finely chop one half (refrigerate the other for later flice meals), put into microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of water, cover with clingfilm or one of those plastic things and microwave for 2 minutes. Serve as you would normal rice—with curry, grilled chicken, and vegetables—or bring to life as an individual dish by adding spices and chickpeas.

3. MUSHABON (MUSHROOM BUNS)

Sainsbury’s: 2 caps at (£1/250g) = 70p
ALDI: 2 caps at (89p/250g) = 50p

These amalgamations are getting tedious, I know. Gently rinse 2 large (portobello) mushroom heads under cold water, heat a frying pan with olive oil and a tsp of crushed garlic and fry the shrooms ‘til nicely browned. Use in place of burger buns or make a whole other tasty meal by crumbling feta on top and browning under the grill. Best served with hot and crispy fried halloumi, a tomato slice, gherkin, lettuce, and carb swap no.4.

4. SWEDGES (SWEET POTATO WEDGES)

Sainsbury’s: 2 small potatoes at (£1.20/kg) = 40p
ALDI: 2 small potatoes at (92p/kg) = 30p

Hmm, this might still be a carb but if we start cutting nutritious veg out of our life in the name of health then there is no hope for anyone. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, place a roasting tin with a drizzle of olive oil in there to heat whilst you slice around 2 small potatoes into wedges. Add the wedges to the hot pan along with spices—think rosemary, paprika, dash of cinnamon—and a restrained sprinkle of salt. Roast for 25 – 30 minutes until soft when prodded with a fork and looking irresistible. Skin on or off down to preference. I prefer on.

5. BOODLES (BEANSPROUT NOODLES)

1/2 pack x (60p/400g) = 30p
ALDI don’t seem to stock these, but 60p at Sainsbury’s? Can’t argue.

When you come to make a stir fry, just add more beansprouts instead of noodles. That’s literally it. Be sure to add substantial amounts of protein (chicken, pumpkin seeds, peanut butter) and crunchy veg so that you’re sufficiently full up. The best thing? Half a pack is 100cals, so you can have oodles of boodles if you’re in the moodle.

Correlation between financial pressure and eating disorders

Written by Joe Astill on . Posted in News.

Recently, The University of Southampton and Solent NHS Trust carried out an assessment on 400 undergraduate students at universities across the country.

They asked them to answer questions in the Eating Attitude Test (EAT) relating to their daily lives. Once the test results had been collected they were published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders and analysed.

The analysis showed that there is a link between financial problems and eating disorders.

More specifically it showed that women from a lower socio-economic class were more liable to develop an eating disorder. Interestingly, the same findings did not apply to men coming from a lower socio-economic background.

Conclusions lead analysers to suggest a vicious cycle between initial anxieties about food, prompting short-term financial pressure, which would then elicit negative eating attitudes in the long-run.

The leader of the study, Dr Thomas Richardson, said this: “It may be that those at higher risk of having an eating disorder feel like they have no control over events in their life, such as their financial situation, and they may then restrict their eating as a way of exercising control in other areas of their life.”

Financial problems were defined in the study as frequently having to borrow more money to get by on and often going without eating. An eating disorder was defined as ‘I feel extremely guilty after eating’ and ‘I am preoccupied with a desire to be thinner’.

This comes as big news as it was recently revealed that eating disorders cost the country a total of £15 billion due to the financial burden of sufferers, their carers as well as lost income to the economy. This financial loss, however, does not reflect the human cost as many sufferers report a much better quality of life after treatment.

University celebrates ‘philanthropy day’

Written by Kathryn Murray on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester will be kicked off a month-long celebration of the importance and impact of philanthropy on Tuesday the 3rd of March. It is hoped that the celebrations will encourage both students and staff to recognise the generosity of donors.

Since UMIST and Victoria University merged in 2004, over 9300 individuals have donated over £22 million to support students and research at the University of Manchester. On philanthropy day students could visit stands at University Place and the Students’ Union where thank you cards for donors could be signed.

Donations made to the university go towards projects such as helping students from low-income backgrounds and developing countries, battling cancer and climate change, and enriching the Manchester experience for students.

Students can get involved on social media. The best selfie explaining what they love about UoM will win a University of Manchester hoodie. Enter by using #ILoveUoM on Facebook or Twitter for your chance to win.

You can also be in with a chance of winning a Summer Term Unirider Bus Pass (worth £60) or a Key to the City Card Manchester discount card (RRP £35) by sharing your views on charitable giving. The survey closes on the 13th of March. Follow this link to enter: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/studentphilanthropy2015.

Throughout the month the University of Manchester Alumni Association will be posting a lot of interesting facts and stories about the impact of philanthropy at UoM via their Facebook page and Twitter account. Follow @alumniUoM to keep updated about events such as Celebration of Philanthropy day for donors on the 26th of March.

When asked by The Mancunion why philanthropy day is important, Emma Brownlow, a Regular Giving Officer from the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, said:  “The idea behind the day is both to raise awareness and to express thanks. Students often go through their whole university careers without realising that each day they are supported, in one way or another, by many generous people—most often people who were once Manchester students themselves, who love Manchester and choose to give something back by making donations.”

She added further that, “for the most part, there is a lack of understanding among students and staff members about why the University fundraises and asks for donations—hopefully this day will go some way in changing that. For those students who receive donor funded scholarships, these donations are life changing. Yet, other students may not realise that many of the activities they do, or facilities they use, have been made possible by our donors.”