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Month: October 2016

Cruel Britannia: ABBA, Churchill and the new fiver

Written by Jack Ashworth on . Posted in Features.

The new £5 note, issued by the Bank of England, has been causing a furore amongst the British public since its release in September. With collectors offering thousands of pounds for notes bearing low serial numbers—found in the bottom corners of the obverse and reverse of the note—many have been desperately checking their fivers, hoping to cash in on the lucrative collector’s item, with prices reaching the dizzying heights of £65,000, according to The Daily Mail.

There has been similar pandemonium in regards to the apparent durability of the new note. As opposed to paper-based material used in the old fiver, the new polymer based note is “cleaner, safer, and stronger” according to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. Tear-proof, fireproof, and ovenproof, the new notes have been hailed as ‘indestructible’ (providing you don’t put them in the washing machine) and they can even be used to play Money, Money, Money by ABBA on vinyl, as a resourceful Michael Ridge from Norwich discovered.

However, the issue that is causing perhaps the most controversy amongst Brits with regards to the new £5 note is who the Bank of England have chosen as the new face of the plastic currency: Sir Winston Churchill. Located on the reverse of the predominantly turquoise note, Churchill fixes you with his instantly recognisable, defiant glare underscored by a quote from his now infamous “blood, toil, tears, and sweat” speech delivered to Parliament in the Summer of 1940, at the height of the German bombing campaign of British cities and the crux of the Battle of Britain. Now synonymous with British ‘defiance’ in the face of Nazi aggression, Mr. Churchill has clearly been chosen by the Bank of England thanks to his embodiment of the spirit of wartime Britain.

This image of Churchill and wartime Britain is a propaganda tool not isolated to the printing of new currency, but is something successive governments have used since the 1940s to gather popular support for their most morally ambiguous and divisive policies, from the sinking of the Belgrano under Thatcher, to the toppling of Saddam Hussein under Blair. The “spirit of 1945” and rose-tinted nostalgia for the bloodiest time in human history is a central tenet of contemporary British nationalism.

It’s possible then that the government are trying to utilise the image of Churchill to present to the nation their own ideas of what it means to be British in 2016; arguably nationalistic, jingoistic, and relating every facet of the British psyche as being rooted somehow in the grand old days of the Second World War.

In the wake of Brexit and with Britain facing a future outside of the European community, one cannot be blamed for thinking that this evocation of a time when Britain ‘stood alone’ against Nazi dominated Europe is no coincidence. Coupled with the increasingly xenophobic rhetoric of Theresa May’s government, this return to the mentality of ‘fortress Britain’ is not only a historical falsification but also a potential indicator of the society we are becoming. Isolationist, hostile to Europe, reactionary, divided—Britain seems to be going through major changes, and this growing social conservatism is being proliferated and encouraged by the increasingly right-wing May administration.

Although this may seem too many like unfounded pessimism, there has been much evidence to suggest that the forces of reaction have indeed sunk their teeth into the national psyche. According to Home Office figures, racially and religiously motivated attacks have increased throughout the country, and social media has been awash with individual’s experiences of violence and hatred. On 27th of August 2016, 40-year-old Arkadiusz Jóźwik from Poland was beaten to death in what is believed to have been a racially motivated attack in Harlow, Essex.

Unfortunately, incidents like this are becoming more frequent, and with new legislation being ushered in that directly targets foreign-born workers in the UK, one can only imagine this violence is going to continue to escalate in the coming months. There also been an increase in homophobic attacks (by the huge amount of 147 per cent) according to an independent study by LGBT+ anti-violence charity Galop, and the marginalisation of minority groups seems to have become a reality in post-Brexit Britain.

Although the link between the new fiver and a spike in reactionary violence in Britain may seem tenuous and melodramatic, it’s possible there is a tangible link between the two. The Bank of England, when releasing the £5 adorned with a stoic Mr. Churchill, said by issuing new currency they wanted to celebrate individuals “that have shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society”.

By placing a man who once referred to the British imperial project as “a lot of jolly little wars against barbarous people,” and who claimed “I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes”, the Government and the financial sector have worked in cahoots to present to the British public the kind of beliefs that are to be valued in England now we have rid ourselves of European influence.

For all its faults, and indeed they are countless, this is a far cry from the image of Britain the Labour governments of the early 2000s tried to present to the world. In spite of the imperialistic and Bush-enabling foreign policies of New Labour, domestically they did at least give the pretence of trying to create a more tolerant, socially just society. This is arguably why in 2001, when the last £5 note was introduced, they chose to use social reformer and humanitarian Elizabeth Fry as the face of the fiver.

Dedicating her life to the alleviation of some of the worst inequalities in Victorian Britain, Fry earnt the moniker ‘the Angel of Prisons’ due to her tireless campaigning to reform the horrendous conditions prisoners and their families were subjected to in nineteenth century Britain. She established schools to train nurses, opened night shelters for the homeless, and even took her qualms directly to the monarch Queen Victoria, who was moved to contribute financially to Fry’s cause. A beacon of light in a very dark time in Britain’s history, Elizabeth Fry is the embodiment of what many would like to see as core British values: fairness, compassion, humanity.

With the soaring cost of living and the erosion of civil liberties and social welfare, millions of people are being pushed below the breadline in contemporary Britain. With millions of people reliant on food banks and private charities to make ends meet, the Britain of 2016 may not be as far away from the country that Ms. Fry rallied against as we would care to admit.

By choosing to use people like Churchill, a divisive establishment figure who was committed to the British imperial project, and has been used a symbol of anti-European sentiment by the British right wing, the Tory government has acted so as to position itself to the political right of its predecessors. Who we choose to represent as our national heroes, and the historical narrative this creates, massively reflects the kind of societal values we wish to consolidate.

The government’s actions, by putting Churchill on the new five pound note, suggest that we are a society who values our colonial past, our national hegemony, and our isolationism over our desire to build a more just and equal society.

Another successful year for JustFest

Written by Len Cotton on . Posted in News.

On the 18th October the University of Manchester hosted JustFest, a social justice festival centred on encouraging students to engage with community projects both in Manchester and abroad. A range of representative charities were present, from University led organisation RAG to more local charities operating in Manchester.

Manchester University prides itself on social responsibility, with several active schemes in place to make sure that students are as engaged as possible with projects promoting social justice in and around the university. The Executive Team in the SU spoke out about the importance of such an event, each stating their own social justice pledge. Wellbeing Officer, Izzy Gurbez, expressed her wishes to “fight the stigma and discrimination against mental health” acting in a particularly timely fashion after the establishment of the MIND society at the SU and, more recently, in light of Mental Health Awareness Week.

After speaking to a selection of the charities present at JustFest it became clear how important such an event was for encouraging students to give back to the community. For example, representatives from Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) spoke of their need for students to help in their plight to inspire disadvantaged youths in Manchester. This year GMYN are recruiting for students to help in their ‘Boots and Beats’ campaign, aimed at building young people’s confidence and life skills through participation in sport and drama. They emphasized the great necessity of student support in order for their projects to continue, with volunteers both facilitating projects and fundraising on behalf of the charity.

Additionally, there were more internationally focused projects present, such as Travelteer Impact. They are a Sri Lankan based organisation improving local communities, environments, educating people, and generally striving to create a better lifestyle for those living in poverty. Travelteer work on a range of schemes from wildlife conservation to teaching, and running afterschool clubs. With such a vast variety of opportunities available to students it is safe to say that JustFest triumphed in supplying those interested with all the necessary means to make a real, positive impact through volunteering.

However, JustFest was not just the promotion of charities and projects, with performance teams such as the Mustard Tree drama group making appearances, as well as My Manchester photo exhibitions and two short films as part of the Homeless Film Festival. Organisers of the event stated that they wanted JustFest to promote the keen interest of the University in diversity and social engagement, as with 40,000 students currently studying at UoM they have a social responsibility to encourage students to become social justice ambassadors, both in Manchester and beyond.

Bursaries improve students’ chances of getting a better degree

Written by Emily Hulme on . Posted in News.

A study carried out in nine English universities has shown that for each £1,000 of financial aid awarded, the chances of getting a good degree increases by 3.7 percentage points.

Researchers at the University College London tested data of those in receipt of financial aid against test scores and the number of students completing their course. Data for 35,879 EU and UK students were included in the sample who were receiving bursaries from £50 up to £3,200.

The conclusion of the study is that “results show that students receiving bursary aid persist further and achieve better outcomes than they would have done without the subsidy.”

The new results contrast with a similar study from 2014 carried out by England’s Office for Fair Access, which found that neither the size nor the availability of a bursary had a discernible impact on whether a student from a lower socio-economic background would finish a course or not.

Although the results do not show exactly why bursaries have a positive impact, it is suggested that bursaries can assist students with their financial strains such as having a part-time job alongside studying, buying course materials, and upholding a decent living environment.

The Professors behind the study, Gill Wyness and Richard Murphy, note one of their most interesting findings is that “students from richer backgrounds gain less than those from poorer backgrounds.” The estimated impact of larger bursaries on the poorer half of the sample is about six times greater than the cohort as a whole.

The University of Manchester boasts that more than a third of students have access to a cash bursary. Students are identified to be eligible for the bursary judged on their household income, which is provided through the Student Finance Application.

We asked Manchester students how the Manchester Bursary affects them:
Final year Maths Undergraduate Riannan Singh says: “It’s great not having the stress of having to ask my mum for money when I know that would put her under a lot of pressure. I also don’t know where I’d find the time for a part-time job outside of my studying; that would definitely have a negative impact on my grades.”

Politics and Modern History student Muneera Lula says: “The bursary also means I don’t feel like I have to miss out on things like playing sports and getting involved in societies which can sometimes have hidden costs”. She adds, “It also means that when I do work it is to top-up my income rather than to scrape by, the bursary softens my financial worries at Uni. So yes, it makes my life at Uni much easier.”

The study insists that bursary distribution is important in determining the outcome of students success. It advises that institutions should streamline their aid policies to improve efficiency. For example, at high performing universities such as Imperial College (ranked 8th in the World), it would be better to distribute resources across more students, as their students are likely to gain the most.

Oxfam director awarded Honorary degree at Foundation day celebrations

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester awarded an honorary degree to Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of Oxfam International, during their Foundation Day celebrations.

On Wednesday 19th of October, Winnie, an alumna of the university, gave a speech on the ‘Advancing of Women’s Rights in an Unequal World: A personal perspective’.

As well as leading Oxfam International, Winnie also led Uganda’s first parliamentary women’s caucus, which championed ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the country’s 1995 post-conflict constitution. Alongside this she was a signatory to her country’s 1985 peace agreement.

She has a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from Manchester and was on campus earlier this year to launch the University’s Global Development Institute, Europe’s largest research and teaching institute dedicated to international development.

Speaking of receiving her honorary degree, Winnie said it was a great honour “that my alma mater recognises the work that I have done—but it’s very much an honour for the African women that I have worked with and with whom we have struggled, won rights, and changed our communities and our countries.

“For Manchester to keep sharing knowledge and giving opportunities to young people from developing countries is just amazing—I am so proud to be an alumna!”

Winnie reflected on her own experiences as a student at the university and growing up in Uganda. The speech focused heavily on the debt she owed to her mother and grandmother’s legacies as empowered women in an unequal economic landscape.

After Winnie’s speech the floor was opened up to questions from the audience.

Naa Acquah, General Secretary of The University of Manchester’s Students’ Union, asked the first question of the night: “What advice would you give to young women in Africa and in the diaspora living across the world, about what they can do to progress women’s equality?”

Winnie answered Naa’s question by sharing her experiences of when she arrived here in Manchester as a student.

When she arrived she wanted to be a part of women’s groups, and she went to the Union, there first she found a group that said they were radical women.

When she got there she said the conversation was mainly around women’s bodies and the right to own their bodies and she thought “yeah, okay, next? And they didn’t say anything more than that”, so she left.

Then she saw another group and they said they were the Socialist Feminist group in the union, and she went; she spoke of how they “talked and talked and talked, and I liked it and I was inspired, but they kept talking about issues of women workers and I kept waiting, I didn’t know about women workers, I just knew about women farmers, they never talked about women in rural Africa, it was all about women in industrial societies, I felt left out and I left.”

Then she joined the peace activists, who went to Greenham Common, and again she said they “sat and talked and talked, all about the threat of nuclear war” but that “she kept saying to them, wait a moment, in Africa we are being killed by small and light weapons, what do you have to say about that?”, to which she said they would “listen respectively and then continue talking about the threat of nuclear weapons”.

Winnie said she felt like her own issues were not being addressed, but that slowly she started to realise that women’s rights cut across every continent, and that she could be a “nomad like my grandmother and keep traversing these movements, pushing for my interests.”

She ended her response to Naa saying, “that’s my answer to you about a women whose roots are in Africa or in another region, living in this region wanting to connect—you will never find one place where all your issues will be addressed, but go and connect on the issues that matter to you.”

She ended calling for women to “traverse various groups, be a nomad, sample, venture”.

Winnie received her honorary doctorate alongside Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia and Sir Norman Stoller as the university celebrated the anniversary of the bringing together of the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2004, to form The University of Manchester.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “I am delighted that at this year’s Foundation Day celebrations we welcomed back an alumna, Ms Winnie Byanyima, to deliver our most prestigious lecture and to award her an honorary doctorate.

“Winnie’s drive to promote the roles of women and work to address global inequalities fully align with the University’s own activities.

“It is also an honour to be able to recognise the great contributions to society made by Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia, and Sir Norman Stoller with the conferment of their honorary doctorates.”

Tracks of the week: 24/10

Written by Ben Lomax on . Posted in Music.

‘Rainbow Lollipop’ – Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation

Swedish psych band Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation come of the gate hungry in this track from their sophomore album Mirage. Free from the pomp and pretence that too often accompanies modern psychedelic rock, Josefin and co. lay down a sticky, driven, shoegaze-inspired stunner of a track in ‘Rainbow Lollipop’. There’s a hypnotic swagger to it, sure to draw you in, as it saunters its way to just under the four minute mark.

‘Ordinary’ – Jagwar Ma

Taken from new release Every Now & Then, Jagwar Ma are back with a track that is slicker and sassier than anything on 2013’s baggy debut triumph Howlin. Rooted heavily in their dance influences, synth and drum machine man Jono Ma takes centre stage on this bouncy track packed with airy synths and sharp beats. A smooth refinement on their upbeat Manchester-inspired sound, the Australian trio show they’ve got a lot more to say.

‘No Plan’ – David Bowie

One of the three bonus tracks to be released along with the cast recordings from Bowie’s musical Lazarus, ‘No Plan’ debuted on BBC Radio last Tuesday. It’s a floatier affair than many of the other songs recorded around the time of Blackstar, but packed with its trademark instrumentation of eerie saxophones and stripped-back percussion. Dreamy synths and laid-back drumming carry a despondent and uncharacteristically frail sounding Bowie. If Blackstar was a final goodbye, this track feels like letting go and passing on, as ever with immeasurable grace and charm.

Is money poisoning English football?

Written by James Blower on . Posted in Sport.

The words “Gareth Southgate, the whole of England is with you”, rendered immortal by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds in their song about England’s exit from Euro 1996, unfortunately no longer ring true. The whole of England is definitely not behind the interim manager or English football in general after yet another embarrassing performance in France this summer, and the even more mortifying experience of having manager Sam Allardyce sacked over corruption allegations. So is it the vast amount of money being thrown around these days the reason why the state of English football is at an all-time low?

Last season’s £5.14 billion TV rights deal saw inequality in European football tilt very much in England’s—and especially the Premier League’s—direction. It is undeniable that money from the media is the driving force behind football, with fixtures now being scheduled on Friday nights solely in order to maximise viewing numbers. This suggests that the Football Association have totally given in to the money that huge media corporations like Sky and BT sport have waved in front of their faces, with the view of making English football the pinnacle. But is this cause for praise?

Apparently not, as FIFA haven’t granted England the chance to host a World Cup since 1966, because they have openly voiced their dislike for the FA’s failure to tame commercialism in the Premier League, leaving supporters feeling deprived. Hiked ticket prices and the resulting change in the demographic of people attending games is also leaving diehard fans unhappy. Although supply does equal demand, clubs should show more loyalty to the fan base on which they are built, and should therefore not be allowed to get away with charging more each season for tickets: where will it stop? Why not put aside some of the billions received from TV rights to subsidise ticket costs in order to keep football accessible for the common man?

Even for the supporters who argue that we are lucky to be entertained week in week out by teams that on paper are head and shoulders above the rest of Europe, must be gutted with the plight of English teams in European competitions over the last few seasons. And it’s not only our clubs who aren’t faring well away from English shores but the national team too who are currently mid-way through what seems to be a never ending ‘unlucky streak’. This summer’s performance in France would be agreed by most as laughable, and unfortunately it’s not the first and will definitely not be the last time this is the general sentiment following an embarrassingly early exit on the international stage. What is going so wrong that we still fail to perform even after billions have been pumped into our football industry?

Although most English fans will find this hard to swallow, we should probably take a leaf out of the Germans’ book. Despite actually turning over less than the Premiership, the German league is much more profitable than the English due to the fact that their average player’s wage is a fraction of what it is here. Generally this has deterred the world’s best players in search of the big bucks, which has in turn allowed for domestic players to get more game time and—lo and behold—their national team are world champions…

Why not have a system of governance like they do for grade listed buildings? Although these historically buildings can be privately owned, the government is allowed to impose rules on certain things because of their importance to society. If the same sort of system was put in place within the parameters of football, then the government would be able to cap player wages as well as ticket prices in order to regulate media’s control over the sport. This would surely re-entice fans who are sick of money dominating football both on and off the field, and might even have a positive effect on the performance of our national team somewhere down the line.

If there is no way back from the multi-billion pound football world we now live in to the days of the football at its purest, then surely it should at least pay dividends? For English fans who aren’t disillusioned with the over-commercialised sport then money, money, money, please bring football home.

Parliamentary inquiry investigates football corruption

Written by George Ball on . Posted in Sport.

The House of Commons Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport last week met with Football Association (FA) bosses to discuss the recent football corruption scandal. They reviewed the allegations that cost Sam Allardyce his job as England manager and wider corruption allegations in football.

The chair of the committee, Conservative MP Damian Collins, said the lack of appropriate questioning before Allardyce’s appointment to England manager could be considered “institutional failure”. Allardyce was investigated as part of the 2006 BBC Panorama investigation into football corruption. The investigation was found four suspect transfers which concerned Allardyce. This did not dissuade the FA from appointing Allardyce as England boss in July.

Collins was forthright in his assessment: “The FA appointed a manager who was a central figure in the biggest ever investigation initiated by football into improper payments and bungs. I don’t believe the FA spoke to Quest or Lord Stevens [who led the investigation] before the appointment and to not be able to ascertain whether it was discussed with him before the appointment was made—I think a lot of people would find that astonishing.”

The committee also heard that Allardyce received a payoff from the FA, rumoured to be in the region of £1m, which they found to be “extraordinary” considering the circumstances of his departure.

Summarising, Collins mentioned comments by former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, who is on the board of the FA, who said that no one had seen the Allardyce situation coming: “I think lots of people saw this coming and it was only the FA that didn’t.”

Later in the meeting Collins used his parliamentary privilege, which grants legal immunity, to repeat allegations against Cardiff City Neil Warnock that date back to 2014. These allegations were first brought to public attention by the Crystal Palace player Jason Puncheon. In tweets which were later deleted, Puncheon said, “What I won’t accept is an opinion from a man who’s crooked and ruining the game. The man who signs players, gives them extra wages and appearance bonuses to make sure they pay him to get into the team or on the bench.” He was later fined £15,000 and apologised to Warnock.

When asked about why the FA did not contact Puncheon regarding the allegations, FA Director of Strategy Robert Sullivan stated that the case was lacking “hard evidence” so further action could not be taken. Warnock later responded to the allegations being brought up again in parliament. He stressed that the allegations were “completely and utterly false”. He continued, “The FA Commission considered all of the evidence in detail in 2014 and it found that the allegations which were published about me were unfounded. Any suggestion that the FA failed to investigate this matter is simply untrue.”

A damning assessment in parliament and fresh corruption questions does not help English football, at a time when faith in the FA is at an all time low.

Life after Fabric: What’s next for the future of British clubbing?

Written by Miranda Bunnis on . Posted in Features, Film.

With the recent closure of famed London nightclub Fabric being blamed on the rise in ecstasy deaths the venue experienced, it has prompted many to wonder about the future of Britain’s clubbing scene, and what venues could do to tackle this problem.

The era of acid house and ecstasy in the 80s is one of Britain’s biggest youth revolutions, which generated an entirely new music scene and drug culture. Over two decades, dozens of DJs, new genres, and hundreds of dance floors later, Britain’s nightclub scene has unquestionably changed, but is most certainly not dead.

Similarly, to the legendary Hacienda night club in Manchester, Britain today is still filled with renowned super clubs that are crammed with house headed party goers; The Warehouse Project in Manchester, Motion in Bristol, The Ministry of Sound and XOYO in London. However, the most recent and controversial decision to close one of London’s most iconic clubs, Fabric, has caused a buzz of outrage across the country. “It’s a worrying thing really,” Al Bradley, a DJ who has played at the legendary Fabric discussed. “I mean where do you stop, if you can close Fabric? If you close a nightclub because someone has died from taking drugs, then really you are opening up a huge can of worms.”

The debate still plays on to whether the club is truly closing its doors once and for all due to the six deaths that occurred in the venue over the last four years, as well as it acting as a base for the consumption of illegal drugs. “By closing the venue, Islington Council have simply shifted the ‘problem’ to other venues,” Bradley said. “Which more than likely won’t have the same safety procedures as Fabric did; how is that helping the situation?”

Alistair Turnham, a researcher, planner, and leading specialist on the evening and night time economy, helped to put a paper together about the context in which Fabric was closed down. He discussed his opinion on the evidence that was provided by the police and council for the club’s license being provoked. “The evidence itself is anecdotal, amateurish, and weak. The reason I believe the evidence should be challenged is because nobody was implemented for selling [drugs], no drugs were confiscated. While not doubting police are being honest in their approach of what they saw, their evidence is very interpretative, subjective.”

“However the council, when two people tragically died recently, was within its rights based on that evidence, however poor, able to close the club,” Turnham said.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder and director of Fabric is convinced that it is in fact all down to a grudge the council had with the nightclub, he recently expressed in a documentary aired on BBC Radio 1 about the closure of Fabric. In the documentary, presented by BBC Radio 1 DJ B Traits, Leslie spoke out about how the relationship between the club, council and police changed after the first death in the venue.

“There has [been 6 deaths in the last four years] and you do have to take a step back and say, in the last 4 [years] what’s changed?” Leslie said on the documentary, comparing the clubs first nine-year reign that saw no deaths. Claiming nothing has changed, not even their Saturday night residences since the club opened, Leslie spoke of the noticeable changes in societal behaviour. “What it comes down to is the massive strength and increase in drugs, that when your dealing with a micro percentage of people coming through the doors, it only needs to go wrong (once), and you see the situation that we are dealing with here.”

“It’s difficult to say whether society has changed,” Turnham said. “There has definitely been an increase in the number of stimulants taken. Overall, recreational drug taking has fallen since the 90s. You have to look at each individual case separately, rather than looking at trends, as each individual’s reaction to taking drugs is completely different.”

Turnham, who has helped develop over 100 projects to improve town centres after dark with his organisation MADE, made a point in his paper on Fabric that many failed to tackle. “The people who died took drugs hidden in a purse or bra, which has been going on for years. If you hide MDMA or a tablet in your sock or down your pants, it is impossible for any door search to find it without going too far,” Turnham said. The only way to check that is with a cavity based search, like in an airport, that is not practical in clubs. “How can you close a club down when door staff have done everything and couldn’t have prevented that situation anymore?”

“However tragic those deaths are, those people bought those drugs into the club and consumed them themselves,” Turnham pointed out, “no matter how young and inexperienced they were.”

“There is a bigger societal conversation to be had about the drug taking, in terms of what society tolerates. The taking of drugs is not illegal anyway, that is just possession of drugs.”

Tim Millar, a Reader in Substance Use and Addictions in the division of Psychology and Mental Health at The University of Manchester, gave his opinion on the ecstasy-related deaths: “There are some signs of a fairly recent ‘uptick’ in the trend for ecstasy among younger age groups.”

Many have actually even seen the closure of Fabric as a potential danger to the rise in the misuse of drugs in London and across Britain if the night club scene changes, as the venue was such a safe environment for party goers to take the substances in if they are going to be taken. “I mean it’s just a fact that people do take drugs; there’s no point pretending it doesn’t happen,” Bradley said. “Fabric was one of the most well-organised, professionally run, safest environments for people to go out to.” Turnham also spoke of how Fabric’s strict search routine was amongst one of the most thorough he had come across.

The infamous Hacienda, first opened by legendary music label, Factory Records and commonly compared to the Fabric of the 80s and 90s, was also one of the many nightclubs home to the distinguishing musical ethos of Madchester in 1988-89, the ‘Second Summer of Love’. More widely known as the name given to the ecstasy driven period in Britain, it was at a time when there was an explosion of un-licensed MDMA-fuelled drug parties. “In the early 90s it [ecstasy] played a very big part to the culture—the electronic music club scene frankly wouldn’t have happened [or] developed without it,” Bradley said.

“It allowed people to really escape in a way they’d not ever have done on a night out before. It sounds a bit cheesy, but it genuinely did bring people together; if you were at a club and the vast majority of people were taking ecstasy, then you really did feel like you were all ‘as one’.”

With the rise of nightclubs all run by top DJ’s such as Shoom, widely credited as one of the original founders of the UK rave scene Danny Rampling, the club Future that was led by the legendary Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway running Trip, and of course Mike Pickering running Hacienda in Manchester, the beginnings of rave-infused MDMA nights took off in the UK. “It was simply unlike anything else I’d seen,” Bradley remembers about Hacienda. “People cheering in a nightclub—that only happened on football terraces!”

The UK continues to have the highest rates in MDMA use in Europe, with 3.9% of 16-24 year olds reporting having used ecstasy in the past year in the latest Home Office Crime Survey for England and Wales. The rise in ecstasy-related deaths has in fact increased: in 2010, there were ten ecstasy-related deaths, in comparison to 2015’s figures of 57 deaths. However, the rise in deaths is not related to increased use, the level of ecstasy intake has remained quite stable over the last ten years. It is the increase in the purity of ecstasy tablets, compared to five years ago; tablets are now stronger, and are being made with harsher and even life-threatening chemicals, Professor Fiona Mesham, a Criminology lecturer from Durham University says in an interview with BBC Radio 1.

“The number of deaths involving ecstasy is very low compared to the number of people who use the drug,” Millar pointed out. “For example, there were almost 2,000 drug deaths involving opioids, even though the number of people who use illicit opioids is very much less than the number who use ecstasy.”

Many other European cities have also been confronting the issue of drug use in clubs. Zurich, for example, have been using front of house testing for the last seven years, and have had zero party related deaths in that time period, while the Netherlands put out a warning about the dangers of the ‘superman’ pill circulating their clubbing scene, that contained a deathly substance called PMA, and also, as a result, had zero deaths caused from the tablet.

“As someone who’s also played over in Berlin a few times, it’s amazing to see the difference in their attitudes; it’s accepted that people go out and take drugs, but their venues are treated as ‘high culture’,” Bradley said.

Many clubs and festivals all around the Britain are similarly choosing to tackle this problem head on, by introducing forensic testing on sites and in nightclubs. The Loop is an organization that conducts such testings and provides welfare support. The forensic testing reflects the high purity rates, with the MDMA crystal currently in circulation in the UK at a high purity level of 83% and even higher at recent festivals.

“The need for a better education in young adults is vital,” Turnham said: “The education we have in this country is terrible.” Turnham also spoke about how the likes of Amsterdam and Berlin were miles ahead in terms of getting a handle on their drug culture.

This also begs the question whether having such drug testing stations, that inform clubbers whether their drugs are safe to take, is encouraging young people to take drugs.

“At the moment it seems to be a very sensible approach, I think evidence exists it would work, speaking generally,” Turnham said. “I agree that we should do all that we can to reduce the potential harms that arise from taking drugs,” Millar added.

The Loop has also partnered up with some of the biggest organisations and festivals in order to help prevent potentially life threatening drugs coming into contact with party goers, including at Warehouse Project, Fabric, Secret Garden Party, and Kendal Calling. They take a sample of drugs from people who choose to use the service, and then inform them about their drug, what it contains, and the relevant risks or impacts they can have. A quarter of people that have used their services asked The Loop to dispose of their drugs immediately, while another large portion of people came back at a later date to ask about drugs they have taken in the past. They are eager to convey that though do not condone drug taking, their mission is to inform and educate.

With Fabric all set to return on November 26th, to appeal the withdrawal of its licence, can we learn from the closure of one of London’s most iconic clubs? “I don’t think by closing Fabric it really gets the heart of the problem,” Turnham answered. “We need measures, about reducing the potential harm for those who are choosing to take drugs.” Such goals are to be met through education and initiative, not by closing the club. “Those who are taking drugs will not stop, they will only take them in a place with not nearly as many precautions.”

The obvious conclusion here is that there has to be some coming together of venues, clubbers, councils, and the police. The revolution of a generation obsessed with dance music combined with substance consumption is a culture that has long been brewing in Britain, and worldwide. The clear awareness now that people will and do experiment with a range of substances—whether that be MDMA, cocaine, legal highs, or alcohol—is evident, and the aim should be to make these environments safer for party goers, not eliminate them.

“If the closure of Fabric leads to a greater understanding and working together across all nightlife…” Bradley said, “then I guess that can only be a good thing.”

Review: The Book of Dhaka

Written by Danielle Kosky on . Posted in Books.

The Book of Dhaka, due to be released on the 26th of October, is a lovely little anthology consisting of ten short stories, written by prominent Bangladeshi authors and edited by Pushpita Alam and Arunava Sinha. Comma Press’ latest addition to the City in Short Fiction series aims to conceive a sort of literary map of the city, something that is achieved by weaving wonderful tales of love, learning and growing up in Dhaka. The book begins with a short introduction detailing the significance of the novel, which was surprisingly helpful (I’m not usually a massive fan of introductions as I find they can be tedious). The Book of Dhaka shows us a city full of vitality and hope whilst expertly contrasting this with tones of desperation, portraying a mixture of emotions which emanates from within the city.

Although I found the book interesting enough, I was unsure of the structure of the stories. It frequently read too much like a work of non fiction, which doesn’t exactly get my heart pounding. What I was hoping for was something which would make me feel more fully engaged with the plot and the characters as opposed to what it really felt like — coming across as something that read more like a text book. I understand that these stories are trying to teach us about the morals and culture in Dhaka however, for me anyway, a lot of these plots could have been a lot more engrossing if they had felt a little less educational and a little more magical.

Another thing that didn’t appear engaging was that most of the short stories didn’t seem particularly unique or different to anything else I’d read before. It was quite ‘been there, done that’. Very few of the stories grabbed my attention and had me widening my eyes in shock at some crazy plot twist. Reading back on this review, you may guess that there is a general sense of dislike for The Book of Dhaka, however there were some stories that tickled my funny bone. ‘The Circle’ by Moinul Ahsan Saber brought a smile to my face, with the plot revolving around a woman who is taken on a trip around the city for the first time by her husband on his motorbike. Wildly though, the motorbike seems to have a life of its own as it forces the couple to go round and around the same streets and see the same sights, much to their annoyance. I must confess that this short story is perhaps my favourite within the whole anthology. It stood out to me in a way that the others didn’t, the tone suddenly picking up and becoming faster paced, which made it a lot easier to get stuck into than some of the other stories.

The Book of Dhaka is a collection that at times was hard to get into but also provided some entertaining and stimulating reads, taking us through the vibrant city of Dhaka and allowing us to enter the minds of many of its citizens, from gangsters to slum kids.

Crowdfunding success at Manchester

Written by Alec Wilby on . Posted in News, Uncategorised.

Crowdfunding has become a common part of internet life in the last few years, with sites like Kickstarter, GoFundMe and Patreon regularly funding projects, charity work and art. Where though, would you turn if your society wanted to buy expensive equipment or if you needed help funding a research expedition?

In May this year the University set up its own crowdfunding platform, Crowdfunding at Manchester, and the platform has already been used to fund five student-led projects. The platform, hosted by Hubbub—a company that specialises in crowdfunding for universities and non-profits—operates in a similar way to Kickstarter: Money put forward by backers is only actually taken if the project’s minimum target is reached.

Successfully funded projects include Madex2016: A medical expedition to Madagascar during which the team was researching Schistosomiasis—a parasitic tropical disease—whilst also administering treatment to children suffering from the disease. Money raised through the crowdfunding platform allowed the team to cover the costs of their expedition not included in grants and led to the completion of the team’s research, as well as treatment of nearly 2000 children.

Closer to home, the University of Manchester’s Men’s Lacrosse team raised £625 to purchase new helmets for the club. One of the problems the team highlighted in their campaign is that getting into a new sport such as lacrosse can be very expensive (with helmets alone costing  around £75) and therefore off-putting to newcomers. With the University of Manchester serving a large proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the club believed it was important that a good stock of kit was available for members to train and play with. The campaign allowed 8 new helmets to be purchased (supplementing 12 purchased with other funding), providing enough to kit-out two teams and significantly reducing the cost to participate in the society.

Part of what the crowdfunding platform provides is support from the University’s Development team in setting up and raising funds for a project. Elizabeth Ogilvie, a medical student who was part of team raising funds for medical outreach in Uganda said “without the support of the Development team we would’ve really struggled to make it to our target—they really carried us through when we were dealing with all the other stresses of setting up our project.”

If you want to find out more about how to fund a project you’re interested in, a crowdfunding information session is being hosted on Thursday 27th October at 5 PM in University Place 3.209.

The art of the penalty

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

‘Top bins’? Down the middle? Giving the keeper the eyes? There are many weapons in a player’s arsenal when it comes to taking a penalty. However, with such variety, are they over-complicating what appears to be a straightforward task? Conversely, are there hidden complexities below the surface of the penalty? Having only played football to a Sunday league level, I don’t claim to know all the answers. Yet, recent events, namely Manchester City’s penalty horror show against Everton a few weeks ago—both De Bruyne and Aguero missed penalties—and Zaza’s catastrophic attempt in the Euro quarter-final in the summer—look it up on the internet, it’s shambolic and utterly hilarious—provoke a fresh consideration of the penalty.

Initially, there are certain maxims that exist in football culture related to the penalty. Every football fan would have heard them painfully reiterated by blithering commentators. Statements like “don’t change your mind on the run-up” and they’ve “put it beyond the keepers’ reach” or “given the keeper the eyes”; if a penalty is saved, the phrase “it was a nice height for the keeper” is usually peddled out. These notions form the fundamental thinking when it comes to taking a penalty.

However, the modern game has added to, and further complicated, the process of taking a penalty. While the chip down the middle may appear highly innovative, the method has been around since 1976, pioneered by Antonín Panenka for Czechoslovakia at the Euros of that year. This method has proved very popular, players both successfully and unsuccessfully emulating it: Pirlo’s decisive chip penalty in the shoot-out against England at Euro 2012 resonates in the memory. The stuttered run-up is a truly modern addition, brought into the game in the mid-2000’s. This method, in which a player will break, sometimes varying breaks in, stride when moving to take the kick, is an offshoot from the ‘feinted’ penalty. The ‘feinted’ penalty, when players could stop, and move back and forth, during their run-up, was rightfully banned in 2010.

Moreover, Goalkeepers have developed responses to modern development: They attempt to impose themselves. They bend the rules, stealing a few yards in front of the goal-line even though laws state that goalkeepers should be on the goal-line when the ball is kicked. Similarly, they employ distraction methods: Manuel Neuer is known to bounce around in his goal, hanging off the crossbar like an orangutan, while Joe Hart has previously taunted the opponent with fake laughter and childish faces.

On the evidence of this season, the complications to the methods surrounding penalty kicks have had a negative effect. The Telegraph reports that only 71% of Premier League penalties have been scored so far this season, the lowest since the 2001/2002 season, while in the Champions League before last week’s games, only six out of 14 penalties had been converted. Neymar’s terrible effort against Manchester City last week was further evidence of the malaise that has overcome European football.

Perhaps goalkeepers have got better at anticipating, and subsequently saving, penalties? In 2014, Brunel University suggested that ‘world class’ goalkeepers have an 80 millisecond head start when it comes to predicting the actions of their opponents, citing minute movements and body signals that provide clues.

It is true goalkeepers do a lot of homework these days, studying videos of future opponents and their penalty tendencies. However, for me, it is the unnecessarily complex methods that players bring to the penalty kick. Attacking players are forgetting that penalties fundamentally favour them. It is a psychological standoff with the goalkeeper: Removing unnecessary complexities would enable clear focus and greater success.

The inflated egos of modern players have spilled over; the penalty kick has become a vanity show, players attempting to show how skillful and alternative they can be. Moreover, they are desperate for the limelight, desperate to score a potentially match-winning goal for the team. Twice already this season, players have argued with teammates over who would take the penalty; Eric Lamela with Son Heung-Min and Alexis Sanchez with Santi Cazorla. In both cases, the subsequent penalty was missed.

The penalty kick has been unnecessarily over-complicated by modern footballers. Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier were experts when it came to penalties: Shearer converting 62/74 (Premier League and international) and Le Tissier converting 48/49. Both maintain that simplicity is the key. On his method, Le Tissier stated “I stuck it in the corner, and if the keeper went the right way it was hard enough to beat him,” while Shearer’s emphasis was on “stay[ing] in control of the situation.” The adage goes ‘if it ain’t broken don’t fix it’. When it comes to penalties, modern players should follow the lead of Shearer and Le Tissier: drop the complexity and the rewards will follow.

 

Brexit decisions will not affect funding for EU students in the UK

Written by Amy Bradley on . Posted in News.

The government has reassured worried EU students that they will still receive financial support to study in the UK.

As an ambiguous Brexit continues to instil confusion and doubt among many UK and non-UK students, they have been assured for now that their time studying together within British universities is not over yet. It has been confirmed that EU students wanting to apply for places at UK universities will still be eligible for funding, despite Brexit.

Uncertainty has hovered over the thoughts of many internationals since the UK made the decision to leave the European Union in June. However, the government has reassured university goers that student funding will still be available to those that want it. The number of international students choosing higher education within British universities makes up a large proportion of the overall student count and their skills are highly valued within academia. Many fear that decreasing the number of talented and creative minds entitled to study in UK due to lack of government support would be a step in the wrong direction.

Clarity has been needed for current and prospective EU students about their future and the UK education system for a while now. The government has been encouraged to consider the role that international undergraduate and postgraduate students play, when developing a post-Brexit plan for Britain.

President of Universities UK, Dame Julia Goodfellow, spoke of the UK as being an “attractive destination” for all qualified international students and that such students play an “important role in towns and cities, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.” Following government claims that funding will continue, pressure has now been put on SNP ministers to do the same for those wishing to study in Scotland.

Great Barrier Reef dying from climate change damage

Written by Megan Harvey on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

If you’re planning a year abroad off the beautiful east coast of Australia, you might be a little disappointed. A recent tongue-in-cheek obituary by popular environmental journalist Rowan Jacobsen claims the Great Barrier Reef has “finally died in 2016, after a long illness. It was 25 million years old.”

Jacobsen’s claims, although greatly exaggerated, are not far from the truth. The recent survey by the Australian Government Marine Park Authorities have found that earlier this year there was the worst mass coral-bleaching event on record; where by the coral tissue cells turn white and die due to environmental changes. This is on top of the 93 per cent of reefs on the Great Barrier Reef that are believed to already be in the process of bleaching. Historically, there have only been three mass bleaching events recorded in this area, all of which have occurred since 1998.

The process of coral bleaching is not a new event, but never has it occurred on such a mass, global scale before. Unfortunately what is being seen on the Great Barrier Reef can be seen on reefs all over the world. The reason being a combination of human caused climate change, pollution and El Niño events – natural climatic temperature cycles, which are also getting worse as a result of climate change.

But this catastrophe should not just be a matter for the marine biologists and divers, because coral reefs have given more to people than we can imagine. Other than being the most diverse – and arguably the most beautiful – ecosystem on the planet, some of the most important anti-cancerous, heart disease and potential HIV drugs have been discovered and resourced from coral reefs. Along with most fancy imported fish and shellfish, and being the worlds greatest water filtration system.

In fact the Great Barrier Reef alone generates more than $1.5 billion a year to the local economy and even more globally, as well as acting as a protective energy barrier to everyone that lives along the east coast by absorbing the impact of potential tsunamis. It also produces almost equal the amount of energy as rainforests do, so its destruction should be equally as controversial.

But is the Great Barrier Reef really a lost cause? Experts believe there is some hope if we act fast, with an emergency global reef summit is being staged as a result of this year’s disaster — bringing together 20 experts from around the world. Manchester University’s Dr Simone Turchetti specialises in the history of international decision-making, specifically in regards to conservation and environmental science.

He believes that damage to the Great Barrier Reef is of worldwide concern and that global government policies are not doing enough to protect out world’s oceans. But a major problem is how well current rules preventing damage to our oceans are being enforced. He highlights the less famous example of the Mururoa reef, which was destroyed by French nuclear testing in the 1990’s. Despite the reef being part of a nuclear-free zone sanctioned by an international treaty in 1985. So Turchetti states, “how many reefs’ obituaries should have already been written?”

Although Jacobsen’s prank will be forgotten in a month or so, the damage to global reefs will persevere, without effective interventions or regulations being obeyed. It can be easy to ignore the destruction of such a beautiful ecosystem, since its so far away. But its services to humanity make it an international concern — if rainforests are considered the lungs of the earth, then coral reefs should be considered the gills. Only through global governmental cooperation can we start to fix the problem.

Preview: This Week at HOME

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Film, Uncategorised.

Queen of Katwe

Making its debut as part of the BFI London Film Festival’s Black Stardom incentive, Queen of Katwe received great reception. The story explores the constant struggle of Phiona (Madina Malwanga) in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. Yet, when Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) visits the area on a mission, her life is transformed by his chess teaching. Under his supervision, Phiona matures both on and off the board. With her success in the sport, new opportunities arise and a window of possibility opens up to escape poverty. Alongside Lupita Nyong’o and the direction of Mira Nair, the film celebrates diversity at its finest. With emotive story telling at hand, the film pushes a subtle nuanced approach, whilst cementing race as something more than background noise. As Oyelowo himself says on diversity: “It is only going to happen if the demographics of the decision makers changes.”

Photo: Sixteen Films

I, Daniel Blake

At 80 years old, Ken Loach shows no signs of losing his ability to create powerful cinema that transcends the medium in a political sense. As a direct response to the government’s increasing cutting of benefits to those in need of support, I, Daniel Blake does not shy away from true realism. Scripted by Paul Laverty, the story orientates around Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), who has recently been involved in an almost fatal accident at work. With the government rejecting his benefits claims, whilst his doctors tell him that he cannot work, Daniel is stuck in a state of purgatory. What is so touching about the film is it accurately captures the social injustices of our time, alongside it being a calling of political change. If there is any film to see in this calendar year, then I, Daniel Blake is the one.

Photo: British Film Institute

American Honey

Andrea Arnold’s coming of age drama and road film explores how the life of a teenage girl called Star (Sasha Lane) is changed when she joins a travelling sales crew on the road, leaving her previous life behind. During this time she experiences plenty of parties, alcohol, and falling in love. With bold and vibrant cinematography layered over a bleak political and economic backdrop, this montage of youth, danger, and fun is certain to be a breathtaking watch.

Live: Death Grips

Written by Eliza Slawther on . Posted in Music.

16th October at Academy 1

8/10

It’s the 16th of October, Sunday at 8:30pm and the Manchester Academy is already packed full of Death Grips fans, anticipating their promised early start. In place of a support act is a somewhat sinister electronic buzzing sound that continues to build and build, adding to the growing excitement.

At exactly 9pm, MC Ride appears on stage and, without directly addressing the crowd, opens with ‘Whatever I Want (Fuck Who’s Watching)’. Usually there is a huge surge forward at gigs, but with Death Grips this is less of a surge and more jumping, pushing and shoving in all directions. The performance of each song is delivered with such high energy that there is barely a dip in the movement in the crowd and the noise created by both Death Grips and their fans singing—or, rather, shouting—along.

Towards the middle of the set I find myself three rows from the front, drenched in sweat and struggling to stay upright. This is all part of the fun, and I’d expect no less from a Death Grips gig, but it is still extremely intense and I wonder how some fans have managed to stay at the forefront of this mass of limbs and perspiration for the entirety of the evening. I also wonder how MC Ride, Andy Morin and Zach Hill have managed to perform each song (25 in total) without seeming to become tired at any point—every vocal and beat is perfect, there are no pauses and no song goes under-performed.

The entire night is sweaty, rowdy and a resounding success: It’s everything that anyone could want from a Death Grips gig, and the change of venues from the smaller, more intimate Academy 3 to the much larger Academy 1 was certainly not a sacrifice as many initially thought it was.

Ending with ‘The Fever (Aye Aye)’ and no encore was yet another excellent move by the group, leaving the crow fully satisfied and beginning as abruptly as they began. Any support act or encore would have detracted from the mass of energy which was maintained throughout, and despite leaving feeling extremely bruised and dehydrated I cannot find a fault in the entire gig.

Bloody chokers, they’re back in fashion again!

Written by Sophie Billington on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

It might frighten you to find that those tight-fitting necklaces we call ‘chokers’ have a long and dark history suitable to their name.

Subtle, small and discreet chokers are currently seen as the perfect accessory to add an edge and vamp up any outfit. However their past in fashion has not been short-lived and their significance bears a tribute to the short-lived, making their presence throughout time decidedly spooky.

‘A la victime’ was a horrifying and defiant movement in late 18th century French fashion. It mirrored the image of those who met a swift yet brutal public execution during the Reign of Terror, a bloody period of the French revolution.

High society mocked and mimicked death by adorning the neck with red ribbons in literally cut-throat fashion. Not only was this the case but decadent and exclusively aristocratic balls are rumoured to have been held in honour of murdered relatives.

At the ‘Bals des Victimes’, the elite wore extraordinarily precious red rubies around their necks to emulate droplets of blood.

If you opt to follow in the footsteps of modern day beauties such as Lily Rose Depp, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Poppy Delevingne for Halloween, allow yourself to feel not only justified but proud in your minimal effort to look elegantly intimidating.

On the other hand, say what you will, but the ruthless irony with which vampy teenager wears the choker today is nothing on the gothic grotesque of the 18th century aristocratic French elite. A revival of the 90s is not quite the same as a revival of the dead and buried.

Vamp it up: Halloween inspired makeup

Written by Shannon Winterbone on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Halloween is one of those dates in the calendar that screams for a night out, and for this night out especially you need a range of makeup that is not going to disappoint. Forget your usual makeup routine and get creative because Halloween is only for bold ideas. Whether you are going for the ultimate Halloween look as a vampire covered in fake blood or keeping it casual with a daring shade of lipstick, these three makeup ranges have everything you need to complete your look.

Makeup Revolution 

If you are looking to create a ghoul or skull effect, try the Ghost Powder (£2) and Ghost Sculpt duo (£4) to contour even the palest, more ghost like faces (use over primer and/or foundation to keep that definition lasting through the night). Next, add a pop of colour from the Vamp Collection (£1 each); use ‘Rebel Without Cause’ to add a blood-red lip, or if you are not feeling the ghostly complexion, try ‘Black Heart’ for a statement, matte black lip.

Eylure

These seasonal lashes will enhance any look and stay on all night. The ‘Carnival’ lashes (£6.95) have a full lace-effect to add a gothic touch which would go well with a dark, bold lip colour. Eylure has also expanded their ‘Enchanted’ range to create the ‘After Dark’ line for Halloween—check out the ‘Into Darkness’ lashes (£5.95) for the over the top flare, and remember that these are limited edition so snap them up while you can.

Illamasqua

If you are more into creating bold makeup looks then get creative with Illamasqua’s ‘Dark Magic’ products which have been tailored specifically in  celebration for Halloween. Using only their Halloween bestsellers, try the Precision Gel Liner (£20) in the new shade ‘Quixotic’ for a teal green eye liner that will make your eyes pop. Pair with the Powder Eye Shadow shades (£16.95 each) in ‘Inception’ and ‘Obsidian’ for a starkly contrasting smoky eye.

Whether you decide to splurge on the Illamasqua collection or opt to buy products from purse friendly makeup revolution, these cosmetic buys will be sure to help you create the Halloween look you desire. And you never know that teal green eyeliner just might be an investment.

 

Picture: illamasqua.com Picture: illamasqua.com

 

TV Catch Up: The Night Of

Written by Imran Bukhari on . Posted in Film.

When critiquing and analysing any form of media there is always the danger of exaggeration. There is a risk of overplaying the flaws of a film or the pitfall of heaping too much praise upon a TV show. Hyperbole is evidently a writer’s worst enemy. So I sincerely and unequivocally mean it when I write that there are not enough superlatives to describe The Night Of…

HBO’s The Night Of is an eight-part miniseries chronicling the events surrounding the death of a young woman in New York. You would be forgiven for thinking there’s nothing untoward or unique about this synopsis. However The Night Of soon reveals its true colours as a much smarter and more provocative beast. What sets the show apart from its peers is the level of detail. The narrative is driven meticulously by the processes, language and culture of the law and order system. Never have the intricacies of a crime and its aftermath been handled with such deft magisterial control. The show’s ingenious writers Richard Price and Steven Zaillian are surgical in their treatment of both the characters and the unfolding dynamics of the case. The pilot episode is a perfect example of the writers’ desires to linger uncomfortably long; creating a slow burning tension that gnaws away at the viewer’s nerves.

All of this drama is generated by our potential murderer Nasir Khan, played by peripheral star Riz Ahmed. Conveying the same quiet charisma he brought to his role in Nightcrawler, Ahmed creates an endless well of empathy as Nasir. Every decision, nay every mistake he makes, generates another piece of incriminating evidence. Through Ahmed’s overtly expressive eyes the audience are privy to an all too relatable soul; whose terror and isolation elevates as the reality of his situation dawns upon him. Ultimately it’s the show’s sobering commentary on the cost of a life behind bars which really strikes a resonant chord. Even if Nasir is found not guilty there is no certainty that his fading innocence will last his imprisonment.

The supporting cast provide stellar performances across the board. Michael Kenneth Williams is terrifyingly calm as the prison kingpin; however it is Nasir’s lonely lawyer John Stone who steals the show. The role was originally envisaged for James Gandolfini, but with his untimely passing and the likes of Robert De Niro passing on the part, the door was opened for John Turturro. On paper Turturro seems like a strange replacement for the previously mentioned actors, but he shines as the eczema ridden attorney, bringing a much welcome warmth and amiability to what is an undeniably bleak story.

It would be easy to label The Night Of as being progressive, for simply placing the story around a Muslim protagonist of Pakistani descent. In actual fact what makes the show truly pioneering is its infrequent use of this aspect of the character. Yes, it is referenced to in terms of its societal effect and yes, it does play a part in the racial politics of the trial. The show however makes it clear that there is far more lurking inside Nasir than his religion and what truly defines him is that he is an American. An American accused of a murder he believes he did not commit. The bravery in highlighting the possibility that a Muslim can be a regular person and not the post 9/11 terrorist the media wishes to depict is admirable. In this way The Night Of is a propulsive show for both television and within the wider world which requires, nay demands, compulsive viewing.

Is Nick Kyrgios abusing his privilege and wasting his talent?

Written by Ben Ryan on . Posted in Sport.

The Australian world number 14 Nick Kyrgios has been banned for eight tournament weeks and fined $25,000 for his unsportsmanlike behaviour at the Shanghai Masters last week. Kyrgios was guilty of several unacceptable offences and court violations, some both petty and outrageous, during his match against Misha Sverev. Kyrgios not only lost to a player ranked over 100 places below him, but was utterly disinterested throughout: lightly tapping the ball over the net to serve then walking to his chair before the point had finished at one stage, swearing to fans and arguing with the umpire, asking him to “call time so I can finish this match and go home” midway through, some of the notable misdemeanors.

Kyrgios has, fortunately for himself, agreed to an ATP plan in which he consult a sport psychologist over his behaviour not just at the Shanghai Masters but also over incidents dating back to 2014. Upon consultation with the psychologist his ban will be reduced to three weeks. Contrary to some of his post match comments, Kyrgios did have some remorseful words in his press conference: “I regret that my year is ending this way. I do understand and respect the decision by the ATP. The season has been a long one as I battled several injuries and other challenges towards the end of the summer. My body finally just gave out in Shanghai both physically and mentally. This is no excuse, and I know very well that I need to apologise to the fans.”

Kyrgios’ professionalism, as mentioned, dates back to 2014 where at the US Open he was almost disqualified for for audible obscenities and racquet smashing. In the 2015 Australian open he was fined  $4296 for smashing his racquet and audible offences such as swearing. Wimbledon 2015 was also eventful for Kyrgios. His match against Juan Monaco saw him demand of the umpire: “What did he just say to you?” after a line judge complained to the umpire about a string of expletives, before losing his temper when he was not provided with this information. “Does it feel good to be up there in that chair? Does it make you feel strong?”. Later on in the tournament he was fined fined $12,470 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Richard Gasquet. For several points in the third set Kyrgios mentally vacated the match, refusing to play, much like last week in Shanghai. The same match he was also fined $2625 for swearing.

Perhaps one of his worst defences came during a match against Stanislas Wawrinka in Montreal, 2015. Kyrgios transgressed the boundary of not only sportsmanlike conduct but common decency, mentioning to Wawrinka that “Thanasi Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend”. He was fined fined $13,127, handed suspended penalties of $32,818 and a 28-day ban for this offence. Swearing fines were also tallied up at the Australian, French Open and Wimbledon this year. This years Wimbledon proved to be particularly damaging for Kyrgios, not learning from a $3360 fine against Radek Stepanek for a spat with the chair umpire in the opening round, to then find himself hammered by another of more than $5000 for losing it against Dustin Brown in the second round, to then finish off by labelling his support team “retarded”.

There have been many notable personalities to denounce Kyrgios’ behaviour as an abuse of the privilege of being a professional sportsman, a privilege few attain. Australian Rugby legend Michael Lynagh made his feelings known after a match with Andy Murray: “Well done Andy Murray. Give this guy a hiding. He is a disgrace,”. John McEnroe has commented in the past that “it doesn’t look like Kyrgios wants to be out there”.  BBC presenter John Inverdale called him ‘pitiful’ during his match with Gasquet in 2015.  Former Australian cricket legend Shane Ward echoed Lynagh’s thoughts: “You’re testing our patience mate—show us what you’re made of and how hungry you are to be the best in the world”.

There is no doubt Kyrgios can be placed in a certain category of modern athletes who, because of stupid and unprofessional behaviour, waste their talents. Although most of Kyrgios’ offences and misdemeanours have come on the field of play, they are offences equally equitable to those off it, such as perhaps smoking and drinking, because they leave him in a position where he is culpable of wasting his talent and abusing his privilege. With this in mind, can he be comparable to sportsman such as Tyson Fury who was recently found guilty of taking cocaine and forced to retire. Or, perhaps the likes of Jack Wilshere, Danny Cipriani, Manu Tuilagi and Ravel Morrison, who in the past have raised questions over their ability to fulfil their potentials after night club bust ups, smoking, drinking and other off-field disgraces.

Nick Kyrgios must take advantage of the time he is due to spend with the ATP psychologist in order to get his career on the right path and develop a professional attitude towards tennis. Lets not forget this is a guy who has beaten Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon and is ranked number 14 in the world, but right now things need to improve.

How about decolonisation ‘debates’ fall down, instead?

Written by Elrica Degirmen on . Posted in Opinion.

In the latest barrel of laughs that has arisen in the student decolonisation movement, a video has circulated the internet whereby a student studying at the University of Cape Town suggested with full sincerity that “Science Must Fall”—the justification being that science is apparently racist and oppressive.

For those who are unaware of the current trendy terms at university, decolonisation is the concept that we should aim to break down the apparently-Eurocentric curriculum that we teach at our universities. It is specifically focused on the idea that, in many arts subjects, there is too much emphasis on British European history. It has come about through the wider debates that facilitated the ‘Rhodes Must Fall’ movement—as started by the pathological narcissist, Ntokozo Qwabe. He was the South African Rhodes scholar who studied at the University of Oxford and led the movement to take down the state of Sir Cecil Rhodes that is erected at Oriel College. It beggars belief that he should wish to disrespect a statue of historical importance—especially since his scholarship bears the name of that man—for reasons of ‘decolonisation’. Clearly, he is keen to destroy the past.

Now, the woman in the “Science Must Fall” video states that the whole framework on which we have built the foundations of our scientific understanding on needs to be taken down. She claims science is a “product of Western modernity” and needs to be “scrapped”. With full arrogance she says we should “restart science from an African perspective”, whatever that means. I think she is oblivious to the nature of what science dictates: an objective way of looking at the world, not one shaped by experiences. It stands up to scrutiny, irrespective of the eye of the observer or the observed.

In a grand show of her ignorance, she claims that “black magic” causes “lightning to strike someone” and asks the audience to explain that with science. This just demonstrates the importance of scientific education, and wide understanding of the scientific method. Just because the majority of scientific achievements are the results of the pursuits of white men does not mean that the way we view the world excludes other racial perspectives. This is because there are no other racial perspectives. Science is objective and so has no personal perspectives of any kind. Lightning is lightning and would strike each of us in the same way. Witchcraft is fictional; science is best way we have to describe our natural world. If witchcraft exists, I call on people to cast a black magic spell and strike me down with lightning.

Too many people complain that many courses are not inclusive to those of other races. This, frankly, smacks of racism. It suggests that those of other ethnic backgrounds aren’t able to engage with the material that white students can. This is completely ridiculous. There should be a certain expectation that you study the history of the country that you’re living in if you applied to study History at university. Often, there are optional modules where they frequently teach the history of other cultures of the world. These courses are accessible to students irrespective of their background.

I remember when learning about the wonders of the British Empire that I could not help but be fascinated by the achievements of many in that era. One cannot deny that it is an amazing accomplishment to bring about the introduction of the English language and traditions to many countries around the world. It was only after leaving school that I realised how important it is to have a true understanding of the foundations on which this great nation has been built on. In the same way, it is important for people to have a solid grounding of basic science.

It is beyond me that people are calling their courses racist; they could have just applied to the School of African and Oriental Studies. Perhaps they would have been happier there, academically-speaking. I doubt anyone who believes that “Science Must Fall” is studying science at university—or at least, I hope not.