Month: January 2017

Are letting agents doing enough for student tenants?

Written by Eliza Slawther on 31st January 2017. Posted in Features.

Student houses are notoriously some of the worst in the country, with students themselves having a reputation for being poor tenants and neighbours. However, is it always the students who are to blame for the state of their living conditions?

Having experienced first-hand the frustration of living in a house with a multitude of problems such as damp, vermin infestations and broken appliances which went unresolved for long amounts of time — despite multiple attempts to contact my letting agency — I was left wondering whether my student renting experience was the exception or the rule. I expected that renting using a letting agent over a private landlord would be far easier, and that there would be a fixed standard in terms of the condition of the house and the ease of having issues resolved, but this was not the case.

After surveying a group of students from the universities in Manchester, I found that 75% of those who rented with letting agents were dissatisfied with how quickly their letting agency resolved any problems that they had. 58% experienced problems with mould and damp, and other problems such as the property being “dirty upon arrival”, leaks, holes, and infestations of vermin. Not only this, but a few of the students I spoke to found themselves in disputes over their tenancy rights, due to a variety of problems such as noise complaints and payment disputes.

Out of the overall number of students I surveyed, including those renting with private landlords and in halls of residence, over 90% had experienced problems in general with their accommodation. One student felt that overcrowding in their shared house was a problem, another described “exposed wires, leaking boiler” and “broken fire alarms”. Clearly, such problems pose an immediate health risk, and could result in a fire or flood. Not only are these living standards uncomfortable, they are also illegal. Despite this, my experience with speaking to students would suggest that the problems are often ignored and go unresolved.

Final year English Literature and Spanish student Danielle and her housemates found themselves handed a court order, which she claims the letting agency had no grounds for. Danielle has stated that “[the] court order was supposedly because no one had paid the deposit or first month of rent”, but this was apparently unfair on the tenants as it was not made clear to them how to pay their rent, despite their best efforts to contact the letting agency through “calls, emails, and visits in person”.

Danielle went on to explain that “[the letting agency] messed up the contract like two or three times and then when we asked about how to pay they just didn’t respond. Our parents called and we called and emailed and they were like “we’ll get back to you” and the next thing we know we’ve got a bloody court order”.

This all happened before she moved in, but the problems continued. Danielle has also had problems with “mould everywhere”, and a front door with a faulty lock, which the Landlord was “super hesitant” to fix, instead trying to place the blame on the tenants. Only after “kicking up a massive fuss” did the Landlord fix the lock on the front door. I asked Danielle exactly how long it took to fix the problem, and she stated that took around “two weeks”. She further added that she “felt like [her] safety was compromised as often we would come back from uni in the evening and the door would be wide open”, and went on to point out that the “the area [is] renowned for sex attacks and burglaries”, which added to her unease.

The role of the letting agency should be to ensure that problems are resolved quickly, and that either the agency or the landlord does not leave the house in a state of disrepair. The average renting price for student homes in Fallowfield is £70-85 pppw, and agencies often charge extra fees on top of this, with flat-rates for lost keys and damage, as well as fees for late paperwork.

Another student I spoke to, who is in his final year studying Law at the University of Manchester but wishes to remain anonymous, explained that he “thought using a letting agent would be much better than a private landlord”, but he found himself to be very much surprised by the poor service experienced. I asked what was particularly negative about his letting experience, and he described the main issue as having “mice in [his] house for weeks!”, going on to add that “every time we told them about it, it was as though we spoke a different language.”

I asked how he went about resolving these issues, and he told me that “for it to finally get resolved [he] had to call the office every day for a week and nag them. Every day for a week. That should not have happened.”

Would he consider renting with them again? “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

I asked whether he feels that students bring problems such as vermin infestations upon themselves, and he replied with “No way. Why is it always students who are the scapegoats?”

I asked a group of students whether they would know how to file a complaint against their letting agent or landlord were they to be dissatisfied, and over 80% answered “no” or “unsure”, with one responding “inform the council?”. This in itself is as much as problem as the concrete issues with housing. According to Save The Student, “More often than we’re happy to admit, we hear stories of landlords taking advantage of young people’s lack of knowledge when it comes to their tenancy rights.”

Some rules and regulations tend to be well-adhered to by letting agents and landlords, such as the rule that tenants require a 24 hour notice period before visitation or inspection of the property. Other legalities are less clear cut, for instance it is difficult to know what exactly constitutes as prompt resolution of issues such as damp and broken appliances. Not only this, but actually involving the council can be a difficult task. Initially they will write to the letting agent or landlord, and provide a copy of this letter for the tenants, giving a set time frame for the landlord or letting agency to resolve the problem before further action will be taken. For students who are already suffering as a result of the state of their homes, this can be very unhelpful. Of course, the council cannot investigate every single claim they receive, but perhaps it would help to impose stronger measures against particular landlords or letting agencies whom they receive regular complains against. It seems that due to the relatively short time which students spend in one house, letting agencies can get away with leaving problems unresolved. As a student myself, I will admit that it is all too easy to accept a very poor standard of housing, rather than continually chase up problems when my contract will be over in a matter of months.

Vermin infestations are also difficult territory. Save The Student states that “When it comes to infestations of mice, rats, bedbugs and bats (yes, bats), you’ll be glad to know that it’s your landlord’s responsibility to sort them out (as long as it’s not your fault they’re there in the first place).” However, it can be difficult to prove when the infestation started and who is to blame. In terraced houses and flat blocks particularly vermin can move easily from house to house, so even the cleanest student houses can potentially become infested through no fault of the tenants. Mice can live off even a few crumbs of food, which further adds to the difficulty in finding a cause for the infestation.

However, there is hope for the lost and confused. Although most of the students I surveyed responded “No” when asked if they had used any housing advice services — and one student asking “where are they?” — several answered with “Manchester Student Homes”. Located in Fallowfield, Manchester Student Homes can not only advise you on your University accommodation, but also help you to find a property which is owned by a landlord accredited by them. They are owned and managed by the various Universities in Manchester, and their services are free.

Located in Fallowfield, Manchester Student Homes can not only advise you on your University accommodation, but also help you to find a property which is owned by a landlord accredited by them. They are owned and managed by the various Universities in Manchester, and their services are free.

Cooper Healey, the Manager of Manchester Student Homes has stated that “Manchester Student Homes runs a number of accreditation schemes for student landlords, and has hundreds of scheme registered landlords with thousands of student properties available in Manchester,” she further added that “to be part of our scheme, landlords and accommodation providers must commit to a high standard of property and tenant management, and we use feedback to ensure we only promote accredited landlords to our students. House-hunting students can also search our accredited database, have their contract checked and receive advice and guidance on housing and local Manchester communities.”

“If problems do arise at any stage of the searching or letting process – from disrepair to deposit disputes – Manchester Student Homes can help students, and conduct open and transparent investigations when code complaints are made. Students are advised to source their accommodation through our accredited providers.”

Despite reaching out to various letting agents for comment, asking whether they’d like to share their views on the matter and whether students are particularly difficult tenants, I received no response from any letting agency contacted.

Review: The Birth of a Nation

Written by Eloïse Wright on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film.

Burning with rage and revenge, Nate Parker’s directorial debut The Birth of a Nation is immediately powerful through his choice of title, the same as D.W. Griffith’s Klu Klux Klan glorifying film from just over a century ago. However, it is a great shame that Parker’s questionable past of alleged rape has detracted from how the film has been received.

This story is the biopic of Nat Turner (Nate Parker), an African-American slave who initiated the pandemonium that was the 1830s rebellion he and his followers spread in Virginia, terrorising the pre-civil war South. As a child, Turner is taught how to read from the Bible and is made a house slave, a much less onerous form of slavery and essentially the lesser of two evils. Early on in the movie, the cotton plantation runs into financial problems when the owner dies leaving his wife Elizabeth Turner (Penelope Ann Miller) in charge. Due to this turn of events Elizabeth reluctantly transfers Nat to work in the cotton fields. We see the emotional turmoil young Nat experiences on his first day of labour; he can’t quite grasp why he is being forced to do this, yet he knows something is basically wrong.

The film next picks up Nat’s personal journey through slavery two decades later, the plantation is now owned by the son of Elizabeth and childhood friend of Nat, Samuel (Armie Hammer). He appears to have survived as well as any slave could, in spite of being a white man’s personal property and bearing that man’s surname which erases his own identity.

Nat’s knowledge of the Bible has put him in a more comfortable position compared to other slaves, made to deliver sermons for the neighbouring plantation slaves which ironically widens his first-hand experience of slavery. It is painfully clear that the basic human rights promised by the Constitution were in fact not intended for this lost population, uprooted and forced into a life devoid of meaning. The key moment in The Birth of a Nation is the shift in mind-set of Nat Turner. A more than heated disagreement occurs between himself, his master and a white reverend (Mark Boone Jr.), in which Nat attempts to reason with quotes from the Bible, only to be put down by the reverend’s choice of other biblical quotes. The argument ends in the kind of violence that is particular to the mindset of the white supremacist. It is in this moment Nat comes to the realisation that the Bible on its own is not going to change a thing. As a slave, this is an argument he will never win — he needs to act.

The rebellions that follow are of a raw vengefulness, unfiltered and violent. However, they are doomed to fail, lacking structure, organisation and most of all, power. We must not overlook that it is still only 1831, we’re still a long way even from Emancipation and the Civil Rights movement for equality of the 1960s. Nat Turner’s rebellion was an isolated first-step towards dealing with what was to become the biggest problem for 20th century America — the Color Line.

Review: Silence

Written by James Gill on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film.

Seldom has a movie relied on the individual perspective of its audience more than Martin Scorsese’s latest release, Silence. This is a punishing film, both mentally (in its depictions of will-breaking torture) and physically — with an exhaustive 161 minute runtime. Perhaps my lack of faith prevents an emotional connection or perhaps it was intended as an extension of the on-screen trials, testing the limits of the most diehard Scorsese fans. What can be certain is that the film is a leap of faith, and one that very few will make.

Silence is the third in a series of religious features made by Scorsese following The Last Temptation of Christ and Kundun. Set initially and briefly in 1630’s Portugal, it tells the story of two Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) and their journey to locate their mentor (Liam Neeson) after his alleged apostasy. They decide to travel to Japan, a country where Christianity is outlawed, armed with nothing more than religious talismans and the clothes on their backs. A test of faith? Or an example of the naivety of youth?

The movie’s imperfections are wholly distracting from potential immersion in the story. For example the three lead actors, of Canadian, American and Irish descent, find huge difficulty in replicating Latin accents. As a result, the most powerful scenes are those without words or without involving them at all. There is also an overly exaggerated sense of purity in the mission of the priests. The word of God must be spread throughout Japan, no matter how many must be tortured or killed in their name.

That being said, there are plenty of positives to be drawn. Scorsese teamed up with fantastic cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, having worked previously on The Wolf of Wall Street, and the result is a visually stunning experience. There are plenty of scenes with great camera positioning and the use of overhead camerawork facilitates urgency as the Jesuit priests decide to, and then travel to Japan. Issey Ogata and Tadanobu Asano are both perfectly cast as the Inquisitor and the Interpreter respectively, showing wisdom and charisma far beyond that of their compatriots.

The beautiful locations used evoke wonder as they travel throughout Japan. Except it isn’t Japan, it is Taiwan. In a fictional work set in Japan, location of filming isn’t an important factor, however this is a non-fiction historical drama. Regardless of Ang Lee’s recommendations for setting, more respect should be paid to the source material in order to keep it as historically accurate as possible.

One cannot deny Scorsese’s deep catalogue of great movies. Sadly though this does not rank among them. He purposefully gives little away throughout the film, leaving you to your emotions but forgetting to evoke any. Silence is certainly not an experience for the masses, instead tailored probably for those who attend mass. Maybe the 25 year gestation period was too long for anything of real substance to survive.

Review: Passengers

Written by Danielle Kosky on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film, Music.

Passengers is a film that had a lot of ambition and potential but unfortunately was so focused on becoming a commercial success that it completely failed to captivate and entertain its audience. Even with the help of major international stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, this film was destined to flop from the beginning.

The mildly interesting plot revolves around Jim Preston, a mechanic on the Avalon ship where there are 5,000 passengers in hibernation all on their way to colonise a new planet. However, Jim’s pod malfunctions and he is awakened 90 years too early. Confusingly Jim spends a year in isolation with only an android bartender (Michael Sheen) for company who simulates empathy. Things are meant to kick into action when Jim decides to wake up the beautiful and funny (more cringey than funny) Aurora. This action is meant to force us to question the ethics of this. Is it morally okay to essentially sentence someone to their death in order to save your own sanity? Almost definitely not. This premise could have been significantly more engaging and thought-provoking yet director Morten Tyldum shies away from exploring this further and instead focuses on the action and romance. Furthermore, this is highly suggestive of the disturbing trend that is still seen frequently in modern culture today; of the romanticisation of the manipulative male figure.

Whilst I admire and appreciate Jennifer Lawrence’s talent as an actress, in Passengers she was dull and overly dramatic. Despite many critics thinking that the two main stars worked well together, exhibiting great chemistry on screen, I’d have to strongly disagree with this as to me their chemistry seemed too forced. Writer Jon Spaihts attempts to give both characters some substance, however the total opposite is achieved. Instead both spend the majority of the film trying to look as attractive as possible whilst doing little else except engaging in boring flirtation alongside shagging and swimming. As a result there are no actual moments that successfully evoke any heartfelt emotion. There’s one scene where the captain of the ship has been awakened, once again due to a malfunction and not because Jim has grown bored of Aurora (as I would have done) and is in dire need of more company, and subsequently becomes very ill. The entire scene reeks of clichés and is laughably dramatic in what I believe is meant to be a sad and heart-wrenching scene.

Another flaw of the movie resides with the frustratingly unrealistic plot. Imagine this — a mechanic is able to deactivate a cryopod with little issues however he can’t get it up and running again? Seems illogical to me! It’s also quite amazing how many times Jim and Aurora died (mainly Aurora) but miraculously were brought back to life. Little thought seems to have been put into basic details which would have given the film some backbone and more spark.

The plot lacks substance which paired with a too ambiguous and clichéd narrative means that Passengers aims too high for what it is— a totally average film. This is definitely one to be missed.

2/5

Review: Sky Ladder – The Art of Cai Guo-Quiang

Written by James Gill on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film.

The art of Cai Guo-Quiang is like a moment in time. A drop of creativity in the pool of conventionalism.

From humble beginnings in Zhangou, the historic origin of fireworks, Guo-Quiang’s father, Cai Ruiqin, was a highly respected calligrapher. A craft allowing for little personal expression, he found solace in books, regularly spending entire weekly salaries acquiring them to the detriment of his family. “It’s my fortune” he told his son, “and one day that will be yours, too”.

Sadly, that wasn’t to be, as a drastic new ideology was sweeping through China. Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution cleansed society of so-called bourgeois elements bleaching huge periods in history, paralysing the country politically and economically. A dangerous time for classical artists and musicians, Ruiqin was forced to burn his extensive collection of books and in turn watched his son’s future reduced to ash.

And it is from those very ashes that a phoenix rises, one symbolising the flourishing of art and culture through the 1980s, the true Cultural Revolution. A time for experimentation, to push the limits of what is possible. For Guo-Quiang, this was gunpowder. To essentially destroy a classical portrait through controlled detonation and call it art, to call that moment art, was simply unheard of, yet his work established a niche in the contemporary art community, launching him on a trajectory to international fame.

Little by little, a shift towards a capitalistic government is becoming evident. One that takes art in it’s purist form, strips away the passion and replaces it with fanfare and melodrama. There is no greater example in Guo-Quiang’s life than his 2001 APEC Conference firework show. It was conceived as a cacophony of sight and sound, coupled with suggestive themes, his trademark. With potentially the most symbolic scene following, a meeting with government officials, we watch as an increasingly desperate Guo-Quiang clings to his ideas with every aspect deemed against agenda. ‘The government is here to help you” he’s told, “you just have to figure out something creative with all these chains on you”. Prevented from abandoning the project from latent patriotism, the resulting soulless display is a tragedy, both for himself and, through MacDonald’s candid filmmaking, the viewer.

When an artist achieves high popularity, such as Damien Hirst for example, they become a brand, a large cog in the capitalist machine, often losing sight of their original cause. This issue is presented matter-of-factly, illustrating MacDonald’s disdain for the current art environment. To avoid this fate, Guo-Quiang works with the unknown. Those who create for passion and self-fulfilment, the foundations of greatness. His long awaited dream, to connect the Earth to the Universe through a ‘Sky Ladder’, has wrestled with the requirement of investment. A costly venture that has suffered multiple cancellations over two decades (due to issues with weather, and an unfortunate increase in security following 9/11 terror attacks), he plans one final attempt. This time not for the eyes of the world however, for family and friends, especially dedicated to his almost 100 year old grandmother. The affair is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by Chinese virtuosi, with work completed in secret to avoid interference from the government. After more delays due to bad weather, Guo-Quiang seizes his opportunity and what follows is simply joyous, a euphoric spectacle as dream becomes reality. His masterpiece, realised.

Sky Ladder is akin to peering through the keyhole. A brief glimpse into an ordinary man with truly extraordinary ambitions. Driven not by money, but by an incessant need to provoke discussion, instil a sense of wonder and most of all, to make his family proud. An event almost lost to the ages, MacDonald’s documentary is an astonishing extension of Guo-Quiang’s art, a profound experience and an honour to watch.

Review: Life, Animated

Written by Danielle Kosky on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film.

Life, Animated was the first film that I felt extremely excited for this year. Since first watching the trailer, my excitement only increased and I was not left disappointed. My brother is just like our lovely protagonist, Owen Suskind, and so for this reason I wanted to see how the documentary would portray autistic people. Would enough focus be placed on their struggles? Would they be seen as hard to relate to? Or would they simply be sad little things to be pitied? Thankfully, director Roger Ross Williams did an exceptional job of showing the reality of being an autistic person and helping us to understand what it’s like to be imprisoned inside your own mind, unable to understand the world the same way that others do.

The documentary is based on Pulitzer prize winning journalist Ron Suskind’s book, Life, Animated and has since won the directing award at Sundance festival. It’s easy to see why, with its beautiful animations that intercut each scene to perfectly portray how Owen is feeling, like a reflection of the Disney films that infiltrates Owen’s mind.

Autism affects as many as one in every hundred children and so is not something that should be taken lightly. What remains astonishing is that although many are unable to interact with society normally, there are an incredible amount that possess great intelligence and skills which is clearly seen through Owen. He is a wonderful artist and is very eloquent when he speaks, definitely more so than I am. The way he speaks and reacts to many things shows us that he has the mentality of a child, however it is this mentality that makes him so pure. Autistic people tend to be misunderstood and Owen perfectly articulates this. A particularly heartbreaking scene that depicts this is when Ron (his father) recounts the story of when Owen first spoke, after years of not being able to say a word or only speaking ‘gibberish’. He took a puppet of Iago, Jafar’s evil sidekick parrot from Aladdin and, playing in the role of Iago, asked him what was wrong. To this Owen responds that he is okay, but he would like friends. This theme of loneliness constantly permeates Owen’s story but thankfully, he manages to integrate into society and even has a girlfriend when he is older! Owen throughout the years uses all the disney films to communicate how he is feeling, thus showing the way in which film can be used to aid a child’s mental progression. The illustrations are beautiful and add a tender touch to the film whilst in no way downplaying the seriousness of the narrative.

This is by far the best documentary I have seen this year, and I have seen a lot. It tugs at my heartstrings in the best way possible, just as it will do yours. The best part of this documentary is how much easier it is to understand autism, since it is described from different perspectives. Not only is it informative, but it’s fun and entertaining to watch as you support, laugh and cry with Owen every step of the way.

5/5

Revisiting: Blue Velvet

Written by Eloïse Wright on 31st January 2017. Posted in Film.

Reissued in cinemas thirty years after its initial release (1986), David Lynch’s controversial Blue Velvet remains intact in its scarring effect.

The film is packed with raw emotional scenes that construct the film’s status of a masterpiece. Despite being uneasy viewing, it demands to be watched. The trouble lies in Lynch’s apparent inability to successfully produce an appropriate setting for the intense violence of Blue Velvet.

Jeffrey’s (Kyle MacLachlan) boredom of life in Lumberton and natural inquisitiveness is the premise for what is to follow. On the way back from visiting his father in hospital one day, he finds a severed ear in a field. This leads him to the station, where he gives this lead to the local head of police, who upon their second meeting asks Jeffrey to cease all interest in the case. His previously eluded to prying nature causes these instructions to fall on deaf ears. Instead, he gets romantically involved with the police officer’s daughter, who helps him piece together this mystery that leads to Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini), a nightclub singer.

He realises he has stumbled upon a much bigger mystery than he could have possibly imagined when he sneaks into Dorothy’s flat one night, having to hide in the cupboard as she comes home earlier than anticipated. Witnessing a terrifying phone call between Dorothy and a certain “Frank” (Dennis Hopper), he is discovered by her, her reaction being how one would imagine to an intruder. The shock beings to register within the viewer as one realises she is making their first encounter into a sadomasochistic one. It is upsetting that Lynch doesn’t explore this relationship more, focusing instead on his satire of suburban life.

This early on, it is clear there are two different worlds in the movie. The first world Lynch introduces us to is the one in Lumberton, a run-of-the-mill suburban American town full of clichés that seems to be straight out of a 1950s sitcom. The second is the surreal story of emotional and psychological slavery of Dorothy, whose husband and child have been kidnapped by the perverted Frank, making her his sexual slave.

The twist here is the backward pleasure she finds within this situation and is probably one of the most disturbing, incredible things that Lynch portrays best in Blue Velvet, of which Rossellini’s acting has a lot to do with. Her mesmerising delivery almost doesn’t belong in this badly handled film, where the reality seems too sarcastic and takes away from the serious register the more violent scenes deserve. This is a recurring feeling throughout the film, as between the bland, monotone conversations of these small town suburbanites, Lynch clumsily adds disturbing scenes where Rossellini is stripped, hit and humiliated.

A vibrant palette of colours make Blue Velvet a hypnotic experience. From the plush blue velvet background as the credits roll on screen to the idyllic red and yellow flowers and green gardens, it is a feast for the eyes. Equally, the soundscape Lynch perfects is quite powerful and penetrating. At the end of the film, you will find yourself very aware of your hearing. The soundtrack alone is something out of a dream, including of course Bobby Vinton’s ‘Blue Velvet’ and Roy Orbison’s ‘Dreams’. Similar to another surreal film of Lynch’s, Mulholland Drive, the use of one of Orbison’s hit songs is used in the form of an actor flawlessly miming the lyrics in a performative way.

Blue Velvet has most certainly aged, already seeming old-fashioned in its initial year of release, but it has aged well. The performances are superb, and the soundtrack and cinematography are well worth the experience of seeing it on the big screen.

Review: The Peony Pavilion – Chinese National Ballet

Written by Ollie Kaiper-Leach on 31st January 2017. Posted in Theatre.

As one would expect, the arrival of The National Ballet of China at the Lowry this Wednesday did not go unnoticed, it’s 1,700 seat auditorium reaching almost full capacity. Indeed, the significance of this night was clear to all, as guests were welcomed into the theatre by traditional Chinese lion dancing. The atmosphere too excitable to ignore, anticipation lighting up the room, we spot the safety curtain parting to reveal the remarkably young choreographer, Fei Bo, who formally begins this special occasion with an introduction of the principal characters, explaining their roles in the fantasy world of this ancient story.

The programme kindly reminds us that this welcome is entirely appropriate, given the cultural significance of the piece we are about to see: The Peony Pavillion is considered one of the most famous Chinese love stories, written by Tang Xianzu (1550–1616) in 1598, during the Ming Dynasty — in fact, it is widely regarded as China’s answer to Romeo and Juliet, which was published in around the same year. Originally, however, this story was written for the historic art-form of Kunqu Opera, and would traditionally have taken up to twenty hours to perform in full. No wonder, then, that this piece is held in such high esteem, condensing a mammoth saga into two hours of poignantly juxtaposed Western and Eastern dance.

This concept of cultural convergence is one which permeates the entire performance. Never is this more evident than in masterful orchestration by composer Guo Wenjing, who creates a wonderfully eclectic backdrop of traditional Kunqu vocal and instrumental music, sprinkled over Western impressionism, from Debussy and Ravel, to Holst and Prokofiev, with some Respighi for good measure.

The convergence of two egos. Photo: National Ballet of China

As the tale begins, we are introduced to Du Liniang, a girl from a rich family, who is portrayed with two alter egos: the Kunqu Opera singer (played by guest vocalist Jia Pengfei) and the mysterious Flower Goddess Liniang. These, Fei Bo explains in his introduction, represent the different aspects of her personality which come into play throughout the story, and indeed the difference in physicality between the three is striking.

As we know from the splendour of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, if there’s one thing the Chinese have down to a tee, it’s the striking vibrancy of their colours. The aesthetics of each set are breathtaking, creating a surprisingly minimalist landscape which differs completely from setting to setting, be it the world of Liniang’s dreams, the brown village ‘devoid of passion’, or the black and white underworld where the Infernal Judge (Li Ke) decides the fates of the dead: this, it must be said, was the clearest of all the scenes where narrative was concerned. Partnered effortlessly with the work of Academy Award-winning costume designer Emi Wada, the artistry on stage was clearly the centrepiece of the ballet, with the narrative falling happily to the side.

Tribute of course must be paid to the company: Zhang Jian as the Flower Goddess Liniang manages to create a character who is somehow captivatingly silent, as though, were talking permitted, she would still be mute; the duets between Zhu Yang and Ma Xiadong as Liniang and Liu Mengmei were delightfully naïve, and Yu Bo, Hu Dayong and Zhang Xi were striking as the black and white Ghosts of Impermanence. The Chorus left a lasting impression in the mind no matter who they played – from teasing and playful townspeople, to the overwhelming torrent of fire in the marriage scene, they held beautiful lines, making up for a slight lack of precision with their poise and presence.

So well thought out was the characterisation of the Chorus that the dainty blossom petals were almost certainly a nod to the swans of Swan Lake, in-keeping with the recurring fusion of Western and Eastern choreography. However, the significance of the different flowers which appear throughout the story keep it firmly grounded in Chinese heritage: for example, the peony itself is said to represent female beauty, while its Chinese name, fùguìhuā, means wealth and honour. The blossom, then, is not only a reminder of spring, but a symbol for Liniang herself. The Orchid, which appears on the robes of Mengmei, is said to represent moral virtue, its powerful scent a metaphor for how a man’s reputation precedes him, much like the way Mengmei appears in a dream before we see him in real life. Most significantly, however, the blossom of the plum tree, under which Liniang is buried, is officially recognised as the National Flower of China. For all its western elements, this is still very much a Chinese ballet.

An overwhelmingly beautiful production, the National Ballet of China certainly do not disappoint in this understated and sensitive, yet passionate retelling of this classic story. With stunning imagery and captivating characterisation, this is a momentous reminder of how art can bring two starkly different cultures together.

Alex Ferguson presents leadership awards in Manchester

Written by Alex Whitcomb on 30th January 2017. Posted in News.

The inaugural Launching Leaders awards were presented at the Manchester Universities’ Catholic Chaplaincy on Friday, by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who since retirement from football has written books and given talks on leadership.

After managing Aberdeen and the Scottish national team, Ferguson won thirteen League titles and two European Cups with Manchester United, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.

In his speech, he talked of his difficulties of managing an incredibly successful group of people, and how he has approached management.

“In all the years [in management] my door was always open, to anyone who came for advice and I think that is a really important part that you have to give away” he told the audience, noting that “you don’t expect anything back, because you’re the leader”.

The awards — founded by Professor Brian Grim of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation — are the first of their kind, combining business and leadership teaching with interfaith dialogue.

Participants in the twelve-week programme took part in workshops, talks and online modules that aim to aid personal development and integrate their religious beliefs with decision making.

Launching Leaders is part of the Empowerment+ programme, and included those of Catholic, Muslim and Mormon faiths.

Professor Grim’s uses his research findings to argue that there is a correlation between religious freedom and economic output, and that promoting dialogue between faiths can increase productivity.

Also, speaking on the reasons why they chose Manchester as the pilot venue for the new interfaith programme, Grim said that: “This really is the place where the innovation and the driving spirits and the diversity is coming and where great champions like Manchester United come from”.

New Year New Manchester

Written by Laura Joyce on 30th January 2017. Posted in Arts, Uncategorised.

Manchester is no stranger to top-notch arts and culture, and it looks as if 2017 will be no exception for the city. With more art galleries and museums than is humanly fathomable, it’s clear that we are truly spoilt for choice.

Following the roller-coaster that was 2016, we welcome a new year of high-end anticipation regarding what art in Manchester has to offer. Manchester, we love you, and here are three upcoming and exciting reasons why:

John Hyatt: Rock Art
4th February-29th March 2017
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Here at the Mancunion, we love HOME. There is always a new and exciting exhibition to be found, not to mention the great atmosphere and the fact that they provide us with a cool place to watch the most exciting indie films. They also find fantastic and prolific modern artists and provide the perfect platform for their innovative work.

One such artist is John Hyatt. A ‘punk professor’ at the Liverpool School of Art & Design, and one-third of the 1980s post-punk band The Three Johns, Hyatt will undertake a gallery takeover starting in February. The exhibition is drawn from a wide range of influences, including the afterlife, alter-ego, magic and metamorphosis.

Hyatt produces works that are truly one-of-a-kind, with the promise of intrigue at every turn. He even invites visitors to enjoy a limited edition hot beverage in the form of Hyatt-as-a-blend-of-tea. This is definitely one show that is not to be missed.

Rip It Up: A Celebration of the Counter Culture
16th February 2017 6pm-9pm (one night only event)
The John Rylands Library

Keeping it close to home at the University of Manchester, this event is set to be a real eye-opener. Described as ‘an evening of experimentation and celebration of the counter-culture’, the exhibition is a part of the library’s ongoing Off-Beat show. The exhibition focuses on experimental art of the 1960s, and allows us to view (and hear) it in a truly unique fashion. Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in the ‘zine’ workshop and create their own ripped-up mini-mag. So retro.

As if that wasn’t enough, to end the evening, there will be a live performance of music, spoken word and video from experimental artists Devi. The exhibition will take place between 6pm and 8pm and is free to enter.

Lucienne Day: A Sense of Growth
1st April – 11th June 2017
Whitworth Art Gallery

The Whitworth is without a doubt a personal favourite when it comes to exciting exhibitions and this year already has me itching to visit as often as is physically possible. As part of the nationwide Lucienne Day centenary celebrations, this collection is set to open in the Spring of this year. Virtuoso pattern designer and colourist Lucienne Day (1917-2010) was an enthusiastic gardener, and so it is no surprise that so many of her designs were floral-inspired.

The show is affiliated with the gallery’s innovative GROW project. The inspiring project almost mirrors the popular idea of mindfulness, and promotes the inclusion of horticultural activities in our lives in order to benefit mental wellbeing. The works chosen to be displayed at the Whitworth have been chosen by those within the local community who are struggling with social isolation and other issues surrounding mental health.

The Whitworth manage to collaborate art with a sense of community, and once again, this is a show that I predict you will not want to miss.

Well, Manchester, you’ve done it again. This is simply a taster of what’s to come over the next twelve months. Needless to say, we’ll be on the edge of our seats.

The four phases of supporting a team in a relegation battle

Written by Joshua Jenkins on 30th January 2017. Posted in Sport.

There is nothing that quite tests your loyalty as a football supporter than witnessing your team being neck-deep in a relegation battle. With each opposition goal that leads to yet another defeat, it becomes harder and harder to be upbeat about the team that you support.

“Why do you care about them so much?” is what my non-football supporting friends ask when I moan about Swansea. That question usually follows with me looking at them with a face of utter disgust.

As a football fan you can’t stay away. No matter how bad it gets each week we turn up hoping that this week will be better than the last. I’m a Swansea City fan, and this season is the first time I have had the experience of them being in a relegation battle, and believe me, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

It’s the end of January and I feel like I’ve aged by about 16 years.

As the season has gone on I’ve noticed that I and my fellow Swansea supporting friends and family have gone through the exact same phases throughout the season so far. The best way to describe a relegation battle is that it’s an emotional roller-coaster, and these are just four of the phases of this roller-coaster.

Pre-season Dread
Come the beginning of the season the majority of supporters hold the belief that this season will finally be their year. Whether it’s a new manager, impressive transfers, or just that sense of optimism, a supporter’s positivity is always highest the day the season starts.

But not at Swansea.

Our transfer window was atrocious – poor signings, selling our best players, and not signing Joe Allen made me realise that even before a ball had been kicked, we were going to be flirting with relegation this season.

You’d think that by setting yourself up for hell to come would make it easier. But being proven right makes it just as hard.

Soul-crushing Disappointment
Swansea have lost twelve out of sixteen games this season. From a 1-0 defeat at Southampton to a 4-0 crushing to Arsenal two weeks ago, the Swans have been utterly awful this season.

Focus your mind and think how soul crushing that is, pretty much every single week you have to watch your team lose and get further and further way from the promised position of 17th.

Once you’ve done that, think about how bad it would feel to lose 5-0 against Spurs, 3-0 at a Middlesbrough side who had only scored three home goals previously, 4-1 against West Ham, followed by a 3-0 drubbing at home to Bournemouth.

You just can’t get that Friday afternoon excitement of knowing that tomorrow is football day because all it means is another day where Swansea lose by about four goals and make you feel even worse than the week before.

Anger
I will always watch the Swans. It wouldn’t feel right to turn my back on them and just let them stare down the tunnel of defeat alone. But… I seriously did contemplate it. I was so annoyed by the useless displayed by both the players and the manager Bob Bradley – even just writing his name riles me up.

‘I am not watching those useless overpaid players again until they sort themselves out.’ That’s what I told myself Saturday morning – by 4.00pm I was screaming at my laptop after we conceded another goal to Tottenham.

By Sunday my anger starts to fade away just in time for the week ahead. Then my dad rings me and ‘bam’ all that rage comes right back flowing through my veins. A 20 minute back and forth episode of releasing anger to my dad leads to me hang up before I even speak to my mam.

Momentary Euphoric Delusion
Being sad after every game leads to scraping the barrel to find any positives you can from a game to make you feel better than you currently.

At least Manchester City only scored three against us. Could have been worse – Middlesbrough were denied a clear penalty. Least we scored against West Brom when we were 3-0 down. I look for anything to make me feel more upbeat after witnessing another defeat.

A 0-0 draw at home to Watford was celebrated like a win and allowed me to finally watch Match of the Day for the first time in weeks.

And when we actually win, then there is no excuse not to have a massive Saturday night sesh. Beating Crystal Palace 5-4 led to me convincing my house mates to go on a night with pre-drinks starting at 7:30, and recording MOTD so I could watch the highlights over and over again.

By the grace of God we somehow beat Liverpool last weekend, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I’ve watched the highlights over 15 times. The highlights binge consists of the Palace win, followed by our win against Sunderland, then the victory at Anfield.

The sacking of useless Bob Bradley was cheered like we had just beaten our rivals Cardiff 5-0 away. Paul Clement was greeted like a glorious knight who had just arrived on horseback to save the club and city from the mess we found ourselves in.

Preview: Super Bowl LI

Written by Mancunion on 30th January 2017. Posted in News.

This Sunday, the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons will battle it out to be named the champions of Super Bowl LI.

The team’s stories could not be more dissimilar. For the Patriots, this is their 7th Super Bowl appearance since 2000, a time span defined by the excellence of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Together, they have formed a footballing dynasty unrivalled in the history of the NFL: they are pursuing their 5th Super Bowl win together. Conversely, the Falcons have progressed to the Super Bowl for only the 2nd time in their history, their only previous appearance being a 34-19 loss to the Denver Broncos in 1999. At once, this is a match-up of experience and inexperience: the Patriots are Super Bowl aristocracy, while the Falcons are undeniably ‘the new kids on the block’.

The Patriots and the Falcons have overwhelmed teams on their paths to the Super Bowl. The Patriots finished the season with a record of 14-2, wins to losses, while the Falcons finished 11-5. Moving into the playoffs, both teams secured a bye for the first week, the Patriots the 1st seed in the AFC while Atlanta were 2nd seed in the NFC. Subsequently, the Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 34-16 and the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to progress, while the Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks 36-20 and my beloved Green Bay Packers 44-21 on route.

Coming into the playoffs, there were questions over the Falcons’ pedigree in knock-out football, especially as quarterback Matt Ryan had a losing record of 2-4 in playoff matches. However, Ryan has been infallible in both games; against the Packers, he became the first QB to throw 4 touchdown passes and run for a touchdown in a playoff game. On the flip side, the Patriots were uncharacteristically inaccurate and error-ridden against the Texans, although crucially picking up the win. Against the Steelers, they were sensational, Belichick and Brady conjuring an almost perfect game.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In my opinion, the NFL’s current system has functioned successfully, with the season’s two best teams progressing to the Super Bowl. My preview will begin with an analysis of the teams.

Firstly, the Atlanta Falcons. This team has an offence to rival the best the NFL has ever seen. The team has been likened to the 1999 St Louis Rams: they were nicknamed ‘The Greatest Show On Turf’ because of their incredible offensive power. The Falcons have consistently scored points all season; they were the league’s highest scoring team, averaging 33.8 points per game. They are spearheaded by Ryan in combination with Wide Receiver Julio Jones, who topped the league in receiving yards with 1409. Jones has the build of a tight-end combined with speed; his 73 yard touchdown run against Green Bay was incredible, demonstrating a formidable blend of pace and power. Similarly, Ryan is largely predicted to be named the league’s MVP after an exceptional season.

While Jones gets all the plaudits, the Falcons’ potency arises from a range of offensive weaponry. If it’s not Jones making plays, Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel and Running Back Devonta Freeman have been doing damage. Part of Ryan’s success this season has been the variety of options he has on offence. The Falcons offensive power has allowed the defense to be very aggressive in the pass-rush. Vic Beasley Jr. has had a fantastic season, amassing 15.5 sacks. Ultimately, they present a complex and threatening task for the Patriots.

The Patriots’ aptitude goes without saying: 7 Super Bowl appearances since 2000 shows the permanence of class. In Bill Belichick, they have the greatest head coach in NFL history, no arguments to be had. In Tom Brady, they have arguably the greatest QB in history. Brady’s playoff record, 24-9 wins to losses, is leagues ahead of the next best, Joe Montana with 16-7. Whether Brady is truly the ‘greatest of all time’ is a debate for another day. However, a 5th Super Bowl win for Brady will immortalize him as the most decorated QB in history. The Patriots are the most fundamentally sound team in the NFL. Their consistent level of execution is so much higher than anyone else; they force their opponent to make mistakes, subsequently capitalizing. While Brady is their star, injury to Rob Gronkowski has meant the Patriots’ Super Bowl run has been sustained by the team as a unit. Recently, Chris Hogan, Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman have all made game-changing contributions. They lack the star-studded line-up of the Falcons, but are much more consistent.

The Patriots and Falcons pose a tantalizing match-up. Analysts are predicting it could be one of the most offence-driven Super Bowls in recent memory. The QB battle is fascinating. Brady is sure to perform while it will be interesting to see how Ryan functions. Moreover, the coaching battle will be similarly crucial: who can edge the other? Belichick has luxury of massive experience, while the Falcons Head Coach Dann Quinn is only in his second year in the job. The Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been the orchestrator of their incredible scoring power. However, he is yet to face a defense as fundamentally watertight as the Patriots: ingenuity and guts will be required. The offence/defense battle will be crucial in the early stages. I expect the game to be high-scoring, with defensive stops a rarity. The game will come down to one or two big plays on defense.

If the Falcons can win, it will signify a changing of the guard. However, I will go with the safe bet: history suggests the experience of Belichick and Brady will pay dividends for New England. I expect both teams to score at least 4 touchdowns, with the Patriots securing a victory of around 37-31.

Finally, if you are interested in watching the game, the American Football Society are covering it at Revs Fallowfield. The American Studies Society will also be there. Entry is £3, with proceeds donated to CRUKSoc.

Whitworth director Maria Balshaw becomes first female director of Tate

Written by Georgia Welch on 30th January 2017. Posted in Arts.

Back in January the Whitworth Gallery’s long-standing director, Maria Balshaw announced her departure from the gallery in pursuit of her newly-appointed role as Director of Tate. After spending 11 years at the helm of Manchester’s Arts scene, it’s fair to say Maria has contributed greatly to the enrichment and development of Manchester as a cultural centre of the North, additionally holding the position of Director of Culture for Manchester City Council during 2015 and receiving a CBE for services to the arts.

The Whitworth itself has played an instrumental role in bringing art to the masses, perhaps most notably with its recent and currently ongoing Andy Warhol exhibition, during the press preview for which I was lucky enough to meet Maria. I was hugely impressed by her stance on encouraging people from all backgrounds to experience art, and by bringing such exciting exhibitions to the Whitworth it gave everyone a chance to see some of the most important and seminal pieces of modern art from the 20th century.

Becoming the first female Director of Tate is, of course, a fantastic achievement both in terms of the worldwide reputation of the Tate as a cornerstone of modern art in the UK, as well as being another important stride forwards for gender equality in the arts field as a whole.

Commenting on her new role, Maria herself had this to say: ‘I am honoured that the Tate trustees have asked me to be Director and take forward the next exciting chapter of Tate’s life. I’m immensely proud to have played a part in making Manchester one of the leading cultural cities in the world and I look forward to seeing what my wonderful colleagues at the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery do next.’

Having played a key role in the Whitworth’s £17 million redevelopment and making changes which have encouraged a whole new generation of visitors to the gallery, Maria will undoubtedly be missed, and remembered for her excellent contributions to our art scene, but the Whitworth’s loss is certainly the Tate’s gain.

How to nail a job interview in 2017

Written by Lily Sheehan on 30th January 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

The graduate job hunt can be daunting. Facing hundreds of fresh-faced graduates with similar qualifications, all vying for the same positions… it’s utterly terrifying.

With the media regularly reminding new graduates how tough it is out there, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the job hunt also represents an exciting new start and even a chance to show yourself off. The Mancunion spoke to Charlie Taylor, founder of graduate recruitment app Debut, to get his best interview tips. Considering he has just made the Forbes 30 under 30, I reckon he has got some wisdom to share. Here is what he had to say:

Study yourself: You may be a smooth talker or consider yourself to have the ‘gift of the gab’ but never attempt to wing an interview. Before you throw yourself into an interview setting, take the time to study yourself. Consider how friends, family, bosses and lecturers perceive you: what do they consider your strengths or weaknesses? Know yourself inside out and practice boiling down those key strengths to a sharp, succinct one-liner before you go in.

Diversify your CV: You have every right to be proud of winning runner-up in your school’s ‘painting with watercolour competition’ 9 years ago, but consider how relevant it is to your CV. You have to show diversification in your experiences; show how you seek out new experiences on a regular basis. Did some volunteering? Joined an obscure new society at university? Went freediving? Use it to liven up your CV beyond the usual education, employment, and skills layout.

Share stories, not lies: You’ve probably been told at least once that it’s okay to lie on an application, and the temptation is understandable. Even if you’ve convinced yourself (shame on you) that it is OK to lie, you’re putting yourself at risk, as interviewers know how to sniff out the truth and will be ready to pounce on any slip-ups. Rather than setting yourself up for failure, think about the details of the experience you want to talk about. Practice anecdotes — a little theatrical flourish on a thought-out story will get you a lot further than an insubstantial lie.

Study history and culture: Taking a look through the company website is a no-brainer before heading into an interview and what you know about the business is a question that’s bound to be raised. A little more effort, however, can go a long way. Put those Sherlock skills to good use with a little social media stalking. Check out your interviewer’s LinkedIn and see if you share any interests. Also, explore the company culture beyond the ‘About’ page (which probably hasn’t been updated since 1998).

Don’t just think, speak: Once you have completed your research and undertaken a bit of social media investigation, it’s time to talk through your interview. Practice your answers out loud into the mirror, or, if you’re embarrassed your flatmates will think you’re losing your marbles, rope them in to help. It may feel silly, but having someone run through the questions with you will help immensely (and prepare you well for those dreaded ‘role play’ interviews).

Look around: If you get a chance, take a quick trip to the area you are interviewing in, or arrive early and take a wander around. When you get through the door, make a comment about the locality: perhaps you spotted a nice park or café nearby you can ask about. Starting with a quick casual comment will show you are at ease and will put the interviewer in a conversational mood — remember, they don’t want it to be awkward either.

There’s always some truth in a cliché: Everyone’s heard it, but: be yourself. Interviewers want to meet you, not just a sales sheet of awards and achievements. It’s not going to be the same as hanging out with your mates, but show some humour and relatability alongside your professionalism — you’ll be surprised by the impact that can have. Once you’re prepared, let genuine excitement, interest and confidence carry you through!

The Debut app can be downloaded via iTunes and Google Play.

90% of Manchester students are victims of crime

Written by Jennifer Sterne on 30th January 2017. Posted in News.

A student safety study by the University of Manchester Students’ Union has revealed that almost all students have been victims of crime while studying in Manchester.

The study, which gathered 1,031 responses from University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University students, found that 9 out of 10 students are victims of crime while studying in Manchester.

The study included unreported crimes, otherwise known as ‘the dark figure of crime’, revealing that many students are unlikely to report their victimisation to the police. In particular, almost all sexual crimes were left unreported.

Sexual crimes were the most common crimes to be committed against students, with 1 in 2 students victimised sexually, and three-quarters of women.

Of these sexual crimes against students, not including rape, a staggering 90 – 99 per cent of them went unreported, and 60 per cent of rapes were unreported. The most common sexual crime was street harassment (41.5 per cent), however only 0.8 per cent of these were reported.

The issue of leaving crimes unreported was particularly prominent among certain subgroups, including 98 per cent of LGBTQ students who did not report their sexual assault, 99 per cent of women who experienced street harassment, and 100 per cent of men who experienced rape.

The study also revealed that the top three victimised students in Manchester were non-binary students (96.4 per cent), LGBQ students (93.2 per cent) and female students (89 per cent), and it is in the popular student areas of Rusholme and Fallowfield that students feel most unsafe.

When asked what made them feel unsafe students largely responded that it was from reading stories about crime in the media, with lack of lighting and walking alone following close behind.

The impact of these crimes on wellbeing was also apparent, with 40 per cent admitting feeling unsafe in Manchester had a detrimental impact on their mental health, social life, and studies.

Despite sexual victimisation being the most common crime, awareness of many of the services in place which act as preventative measures against these crimes were found to be the lowest overall, with only 20.7 per cent aware of the free attack alarms, and only just under half of students aware of women’s self-defence classes and the safe taxi scheme.

Students were more aware of the counselling and advice services offered by the universities and Students’ Union than they were of the preventative initiatives on offer. The report admits that the preventative measures need to be relaunched to ensure more awareness including Student Safe Zones, which the report admits currently has out of date information online.

The recommendations of the study included ensuring that the creation of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority includes crucially a collaborative student safety strategy.

Higher Education institutions are also being urged, as sexual crime was found to be so prevalent, to design an “educational campaign addressing issues of consent, healthy and abusive relationships”. The report suggests that sex and relationship education should be part of all students’ induction into university.

The report also suggested that current mitigating circumstances provisions need to be reviewed, highlighting current grounds for “mitigation for both University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University students make reference to the circumstances being ‘unforeseeable’ and ‘unpreventable’”, which could be discouraging students from applying.

Jenni Smyth, Women’s Officer of the University of Manchester Students’ Union responded to these findings in a statement to The Mancunion in which she said: “The impact of crime can have devastating consequences for individuals and nobody should ever have to experience this; we want all Manchester students to have the best possible experience whilst here in our City.”

The organisers of the recent LightUp Fallowfield event, speaking to The Mancunion about these findings, said that they did “not find the results surprising”, adding that they “believe that the solution needs to be preventative rather than reactive; more lighting, more officers, specials, and Police Community Support Officers on the ground, and more awareness of campaigns such as GMP’s Student Safe Zones, which can help if you feel under threat.”

To raise awareness and to combat the continued safety issues that students face at night, on the 23rd of February students from Manchester will be taking to the streets for the annual Reclaim the Night march, which saw 3,500 students attend last year.

A University of Manchester spokesman said in response to the study’s release: “The University takes student safety extremely seriously. With our own security staff and by working the police we take an active role in crime reduction and prevention.

“Through initiatives such as the We Get It campaign and the free student shuttle bus, we have a number of measures in place to ensure students can feel safe and report problems. While we believe there are issues with the way in which this report’s data has been collected and presented, we will work with the Students’ Union on its findings, alongside other universities and authorities in the city, to develop an action plan.”

The Mancunion contacted Greater Manchester Police for a statement, however they were unable to provide a comment by our print deadline.

We also contacted the MMU press office and MMU Students’ Union for a comment.

A student life: The Wild Washerwomen

Written by Emma Shanks on 30th January 2017. Posted in Features.

With that post-exam fresh February feeling, recharged student loan and vague summer plans being formulated, have you ever wondered how to productively use those rare three month holidays us students are lucky enough to see?

Meet Zoe Darling, the French and Spanish student at the University of Manchester, who, along with her friend, Flora Thomas, bit the bullet and launched their very own non-profit grassroots organisation. The Wild Washerwomen is a service providing a mobile launderette for residents of the Calais ‘Jungle’ refugee camp, and I caught up with her to find out more.

First up, she explained to me how after spending an Erasmus year abroad split between Paris and Buenos Aires, they began by getting involved with other alternative modes of volunteering at the Calais ‘Jungle’.

“Many residents of the camp have lost their homes, their families and some feel that they are struggling to hold onto their dignity.”

They felt there was more they could be doing, and noticed a lack of clothes-washing facilities around the place, in comparison to the success of the laundry service in the new Dunkirk camp.

“Clean underwear is a basic human requirement but people would often just wear the same set until they had to throw them away, which is not only undignified and unhygienic, but also a massive waste of clothes donations.”

The girls sought to provide at the same time “a friendly place of relaxation and conversation”, where deckchairs and free chai tea and biscuits could be enjoyed alongside informal language classes for anyone interested in preparing for possible asylum abroad.

Hence the ingenious idea of creating a mobile launderette was born — combining basic skills to make something that could be moved all around the camp, cleaning clothes whatever the weather.

After intense planning, the girls headed to France towards the end of July, after getting a Ford Transit fitted with an industrial-sized generator, two environmentally-friendly washing machines, a tumble dryer, a water tank equipped with tubes for evacuating waste water, beds and nightlights; all fitted by a group of guys called the Travelling Toolbox.

“We were lucky enough to get the van from a very generous private donor, and we crowdfunded for the rest.”

Next, after getting the project approved, they set out to find a water point in the camp that would fit their hose attachment, with the help of the camp’s water team from French NGO, ACTED.

“Neither of us had any experience with plumbing or even washing, so it was an interesting start, but we soon got the hang of it with the development of a fairly off-the-cuff ticketing system and log book.”

The next problem to transpire was finding out that the low water pressure took the machines twice as long to run as they should, which meant that some appointments got severely delayed. Quite often machines were mistaken to be broken and were unplugged several times before the girls realised that this just added to the problem.

“Things rarely went to plan in the ‘Jungle’ and the washing van was absolutely no exception.”

She tells me, now retrospectively able to see the funny side of it, about one time when the van broke down and they towed it to a local garage, only to be told that it needed a 600 euro part to be fixed. The girls were forced to spend a few days in the Calais town launderette to see through all the washing orders that had been piling up.

After a month, the whole thing fell apart and they were forced to give the van back to the garage for a recovery period, but Zoe and Flora continued to move back and forth between home and the camp until the demolition in October, when 10,000 people were displaced once again and moved to accommodation centres elsewhere across France.

“After this mass dispersal, as a blatant attempt to silence the media buzz around Calais in anticipation of the French elections, it became much more difficult to identify what help was needed and where. Don’t get me wrong — the ‘Jungle’ was a stain on Europe’s morality, but there was a system, there were communities.”

When asked if the girls ever plan to return to Calais to revive the project, Zoe told me that, if given the opportunity “we would be on the next ferry out but because of the need all over Europe it is, in my opinion, best to directly donate funds to external charities who buy blankets, food supplies, and general necessities for refugees”.

Course: Undergraduate French and Spanish (BA Joint Honours)

Where from: Sussex

Worst part: “The first time the van broke down we had a day full of appointments to make. Unfortunately, it was at this point in a trailer park about four miles from the ‘Jungle’. In a desperate attempt, we employed the help of an Italian mechanic who attached jump leads from his car which didn’t work. We then tried to get towed by another van, but ended up breaking its tow rope and, arguably, the vehicle. So, we found ourselves stuck on a man’s driveway, of which the owner asked us to move on. Flora and I reluctantly headed to the local bar while waiting for the tow truck but unfortunately, the police got there first and ordered their own to impound our van, which arrived just ten minutes before ours. Then a fairly obliging and now redundant tow man had to give us a lift to the impound lot, where we paid a hefty sum to release the van. Good times.”

Best part: “The best part was undoubtedly all of the amazing people we met. The resilience, kindness, and good humour of those who have borne witness to such hideous atrocities casts a shadow of shame on the small minded little Britain Brexit culture here in the UK.”

Where does she see herself in 15 years: Travelling or living abroad.

How to get involved: “You can donate directly to an organisation like The Worldwide Tribe, who are doing amazing work all over Europe. They survive purely on public generosity, and donations are always welcome.”

To find out more about The Wild Washerwomen, head to their Facebook page.

Why Manchester does not need your poetry ‘crown’

Written by Roma Havers on 30th January 2017. Posted in Books, Opinion.

On the 15th of January 2017, the Manchester Evening News published an article stating the reasons why Manchester should be ‘crowned’ for its poetry. On the surface level, the article seemed to shed light on our wonderful city’s creative scene and celebrate its poets, but it quickly became apparent that the poets of Manchester were not impressed. ‘RW’ commented “Why does this list look so academic when Manchester actually has an exciting scene?”

In the article Adam O’Riordan, poet and lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses the influence that both The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University’s poetry has on the city, for example that “ two universities that have poets as their chancellors” and the “writing school[s]”. Consequently, the heart of Manchester’s poetry scene, was mysteriously left out.

Manchester Evening News, asked a lecturer and poet to address this issue, so I thought it only fair we gave the other poets of Manchester a chance to speak.

Elizabeth Gibson, student and poet, stated that the article left out the wonders of Manchester Literary Festival:

“I’ve been a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival since 2012 and it is one of the peaks of my year. Not only have they showcased many excellent poets, but they approach events from a new angle, often combining person and place to create something unique. From Simon Armitage talking softly about the sea in the beautiful Central Library, the audience silent and mesmerised, to a diverse group of Spanish poets igniting the intimate space of the Cervantes Institute — the Festival creates memories and presents poetry in exciting and thrilling new ways.”

Anna Percy, poet who runs popular night and workshop Stirred Poetry said:

“As someone who moved to Manchester to undertake a Creative Writing MA at UoM, and is a current PhD Candidate at MMU, I can categorically state that the universities do not deserve the credit given in the article for the bustling live poetry scene in Manchester. They have a hand in why there are so many great writers living and writing here certainly but to overlook grassroots operations is foolish. I perform and host at a poetry, live literature night at least once a week. This week: I have performed at Verbose in Fallowfield, which welcomes all spoken word but has a flash fiction focus. On behalf of my feminist poetry collective Stirred I ran a poetry workshop, and have been on the open mic for Bad Language which has been running since autumn 2010, like Stirred, and has a fiction focus again welcoming all forms of spoken word. That is a typical week for me. I could never have imagined that before I moved here.

“There are not one but two (that I know of) experimental poetry nights, The Other Room and Peter Barlow’s Cigarette, there is Evidently in Salford with a performance poetry focus, there is Beatification in Withington with a Beat Poetry vibe. Contact Theatre and Home showcase exciting live poetry shows from the most diverse range of poets. I don’t have space to map out all the events that I know of here, that is how vast it is.

“My event Stirred Poetry has in the last six years surprised me we have a feminist focus and work on encouraging and providing a space where especially women, queer people and people with mental illnesses feel like they can share their poetry the fact that we continue to exist and pack out a venue with such a niche idea is testament to the appetite for all forms of poetry in Manchester; but just remember look outside of the universities, they play their part I would never have moved here otherwise but there is city wide poetry happening nearly every night, sometimes more than one event a night, we have the biggest scene outside of London and those of us who work hardest for the poetry community for little to no financial reward should be mentioned.”

Sarah Clare Conlon creator of Verbose and head of the Literature section at the Creative Tourist stated:

“I was pleased to see an article in the MEN about poetry in Manchester, but was immediately struck by how university-centric it was. Not one of the entries picked by Adam O’Riordan (as it happens, the new Academic Director of the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Met) was independent of one of the larger establishments; even Poet in the City featured MMU’s Helen Mort on the bill.

“It might have been nice to mention the great live lit and spoken word scene in Manchester, and how many established as well as one-off events there are. Stalwarts like multi-Sabotage Award-winner Bad Language, Evidently (hand-picked by Guy Garvey to showcase their wares at last summer’s Meltdown Festival on London’s Southbank), exponents of the experimental The Other Room (nine years old this spring), Stirred and Pen:chant at 3MT, Speakeasy and Beatification in the ’burbs…

“Yes, there are a lot to list, and maybe that’s why they didn’t, but to not even give a nod to the amazing scene of live lit seemed a little, well, rude. Aside from the resident nights, there’s a regular turnaround of visiting speakers, not least through Manchester Literature Festival, which has been going under that moniker for a decade (bursting out of the chrysalis of the Manchester Poetry Festival). No mention. No mention of the invaluable work of the likes of Young Identity at the Contact, or community events, reaching out to those less engaged in the arts, such as Scribble Festival organised by Cartwheel. No mention of how big the live lit scene is, and how many students and former students of the universities support it.

The evening before the feature was published, I was one of 26 performers at the Manchester leg of the North by North West Poetry Tour, bringing together writers from around the region for specially commissioned collaborations – another example of how creative the independent scene is. Verbose turned two last week, once again welcoming three curated headliners and ten open micers to its stage. For the uninitiated, I’m afraid Adam’s piece might be off-putting — there’s more to live lit than lecturers’ launches.”

And finally, Ciaran Hodgers, Spoken Word poet and organiser of the Axis Slam stated:

“It could be said that Manchester’s deep and rich commitment to poetry is so nationally significant and regionally pioneering solely because of those driving forces in the academies and universities, but they don’t function in a vacuum. They are responding the scene, built by volunteers and people investing years of graft to contribute to the intangible spirit of Manchester poetry. People like, amongst hundreds others, Evidently, Bad Language, Young Identity and Flapjack Press.”

It would be challenging to manage to fit the scope of Manchester’s expansive poetry scene into one article, as I’m sure Adam O’Riordan found, but I hope here we’ve levelled the playing field a bit, as Ciaran Hodgers states: “Don’t mistake, our institutions are important to us. We’re proud of them, but it would be shameful to forget the gentry when crowning this city the poetry capital of the United Kingdom.”

LGBT History Month: Street Harassment

Written by Michael Petch on 30th January 2017. Posted in Opinion.

February is LGBT history month, but with the recent growth of LGBT rights, many are asking why we still need a month dedicated to LGBT people. Hopefully, throughout this series, I will be able to argue why LGBT history month matters by examining the experiences that LGBT people face.

Street harassment is a violation of such a basic part of everyday life and something that I personally have encountered. Having discussed it with some of my LGBT friends, they too have received verbal abuse and physical intimidation. Depending on the encounter, such incidents can be anything from baffling to terrifying.

The first incident of harassment I encountered in Manchester was more on the baffling side of things. I was walking to university, outside the church near the Stopford Theatre, when someone stood in front of me to block my path and said, “You alright queer?”. It didn’t actually sink in at first; I just automatically stepped around him and continued on to the Samuel Alexander building, where it finally hit me what he had actually said. I did not actually feel too intimidated, as it just felt so out of place, though I still think of it whenever I walk down that road. Things like this have happened on other roads, and in other cities, and it still causes some discomfort.

I have also experienced more physical abuse. Just outside my university hall in first year, a bottle was thrown out of a car at me as someone shouted “batty”. This felt much more intimidating as it happened less than five minutes from somewhere I called home. Equally, this happened at night and there were a few men in the car, so the possibility of being assaulted was much higher.

Interestingly, I noticed that I started to get much more harassment after I had bleached my hair and got a septum piercing. Equally, I get glances and hear whispers when holding hands with my boyfriend, even now that my hair is back to a natural colour and I no longer wear my piercing visibly. I think this speaks a lot about the attitudes towards LGBT folk, whereby people now say that they don’t mind, but that they don’t want to see it. It’s almost as though by me dressing in a certain way or hugging another man offends them, and they simply must correct me.

I found myself wondering if the experience is the same for lesbian couples, and so I reached out to a fellow member of the LGBTQ Society, an English literature student, who had previously mentioned some of the harassment she had faced. The majority of her harassment centred around the fetishisation of lesbianism. She has had “groups of men shouting various things…‘kiss her’, ‘get off with her’, ‘I want to watch’”. This is not something I have encountered; the majority of my harassment has been at the hands of men. Interestingly enough, all of her experiences of harassment have also been carried out by men. This is, of course, not to say that all men are harassers; rather, that the majority of harassers in these instances are men, regardless of their victim.

Finally, I wanted to discuss with her how she felt, both at the time and looking back: “Scared, mostly, especially when they happened at night”. The threat of sexual violence is far more present as a woman in the night. In addition to the aforementioned sexual jeers, the fearful reaction is understandable.

Equally, these experiences ring true for trans people. The Trans Mental Health Study (2012) conducted research that found 81 per cent of trans people have encountered silent harassment, and a further 38 per cent have encountered sexual harassment specifically on account of them being trans.

This can worsen their gender dysphoria — a condition or feeling whereby a person is distressed with, and can be severely depressed by, some factor of themselves which in some way conflicts with their gender identity. Many slurs used against trans people imply in some way that they are being deceptive by moving away from the gender that they were identified as at birth. This can cause conflict with regards to gender identity and so may worsen their feelings of dysphoria.

To come full circle, the problem of street harassment tells us a lot about why LGBT History Month still matters. Pride and defiance have always been an important part of our history. We should not just take these incidents of harassment as a given part of our lives; they should be spoken about and called out. These people should know that their opinions are outdated. My friend says that she feels angry after having such experiences. We need to collectively channel these feelings of outrage to motivate change. With recent legislation calling for better LGBT education in schools being shot down, we as a community must take it upon ourselves to not allow the ideals of liberty behind this bill to be worn away.

The Women’s March: Sexism on social media

Written by Sarah Jane Thoms on 30th January 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

The word ‘feminist’ has become a word that we constantly see and hear over the recent years, especially on social media platforms. You would think that this would be a good thing, to have people talking about the social, economic and political equality of the sexes, right? However, it appears that a lot of people have adopted the term ‘feminist’ as a word of negativity and a form of insult. Is it because gender equality frightens people so they feel that they must tarnish the word that represents the very idea of it?

Some people may feel more strongly about finding gender equality in social situations, others may feel more focused on finding political equality and others economic, and a woman from one culture may be more privileged in all three of these aspects in comparison to a woman from another culture. Feminism may have different meanings to women of different social class, working professions, sexuality, race and religion but this does not mean that anyone should have to justify their reasons for wanting gender equality. Sadly, it seems that not everyone agrees with this stance, especially on social media. Following the Women’s Marches throughout the world, posts appeared on the internet that shamed women for participating in the protests for various reasons.

Photo: MissyHii @ Twitter

In one tweet on Twitter, a woman claimed that she was ashamed that model Emily Ratajkowski and singer Madonna were protesting for Women’s Rights alongside the hashtag ‘makes no sense’. The only thing that does not make sense is why a woman is ashamed that two fellow women want their gender to have the same rights and opportunities as men. Some of the responses to this tweet talked about Ratajkowski’s profession as a model.

To claim that Ratajkowski is unable to have a political voice or a so called valid reason for wanting feminism because of how she chooses to show her body to the world is just one example as to why women protested and why Ratajkowski protested whilst holding a sign which read the words of Naomi Wolf, “we deserve to be sexual and serious or whatever we please.” Rightly so, women do deserve to be whatever they please, including the ability to wear whatever pieces of clothing that they desire.

Photo: Shannon Clark @ Twitter

One Twitter user shamed singer Ariana Grande for the outfit that she chose to wear whilst protesting, which consisted of a large sweatshirt and a pair of thigh high boots. Unless you are complimenting a girl for what they are wearing, you have no right to make comment on their outfit or to act in a certain way towards her because of what she is wearing. One of the reasons why millions of women protested was for women to have the right to wear the clothes that they want to without men using their outfit choice as a sexual invitation. Of all places, a Women’s March for women’s rights should be where a woman can wear whatever she pleases without ridicule. Shannon Clark appears to think differently.

Sadly, these sorts of comments are not abnormal on social media and it would seem that the Women’s Marches highlighted this even more so. I scroll through Twitter and Instagram and constantly see women being shamed for wearing “too much” make up, shamed for not wearing any make up, shamed for wearing revealing clothes, shamed for wearing clothes that do not reveal anything, shamed for the shape and size of their bodies, shamed for their behaviour, shamed for their display of sexuality, shamed for their lack of sexual display. The list goes on but one of the saddest parts of reading these comments is when I see that a woman has posted them and the last thing that women need right now is to be scrutinised by fellow women.

If anything, it is these posts that prove that to be a feminist does not mean that you have to be a woman, a misconception that many seem to make. Despite the comments of negativity on social media, the beautiful photos and posts of unity and strength outweighed them all. The Women’s Marches that we have recently witnessed are just the beginning and I hope that social media continues to spread the movement far and wide.

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

Women’s marches: a cathartic movement with the wrong targets

Written by Francis Edge on 30th January 2017. Posted in Opinion.

Supposedly, the women’s marches aimed to have women “join in diversity” whilst at the same time relay “a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights.” What this has to do with extremely privileged women from across the pond screaming “not my President” is something that I found confusing. No doubt this confusion is sourced from my own white and male privilege that I obtained on the 22nd of June, 1995.

Nevertheless, these marches faced further justification because “the rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonised and threatened” women. This, ceterus paribus, is genial. This spirit was further exemplified by the exclusion of “New Wave Feminists”, a pro-life women’s group, as a sponsor of the march.

It is a little known fact that early feminism, to which the modern disease owes its existence, was based around such pro-life views towards abortion. Founded by Mary Wollstonecraft in 1792, there is an organisation, based around this specific issue, called “Feminists for Life”. It has campaigned for the rights of unborn children for over 200 years. Wollstonecraft did not condone those who “either destroy the embryo in the womb or cast it off when born” and further went on to say that “nature in everything deserves respect, and those who violate her laws seldom violate them with impunity.” It would be dishonourable not to mention that Mary Wollstonecraft died from complications following the birth of her second baby girl, who was subsequently named Mary in respect to her mother. Younger Mary would later become a great writer, producing one of the greatest novels to ever address to issue of violating nature: Frankenstein.

Nevertheless, this made it clear that the notion of diversity, to these women, does indeed have limits — dependent on the diversity of your opinion. This inclusion, to a certain degree, is something that has been beautifully campaigned for by leftists and is a direct reason for the rise of the diversity they despise. Ironically, the website for the movement calls “on all defenders of human rights to join” them, whilst ignoring and denying human rights to unborn children. Although babies can be born as early as 22 weeks, this is a philosophical distinction that will never be devoid of diversity.

Despite this educated effort to celebrate diversity, this whole series of marches reeks of a simple notion of privilege defined under the notion of “not in my back yard”. Here, we have a group of well-organised and privileged women speaking about alleged sexual assault. Where were these women when Bill Clinton was settling rape cases against himself?

This is a state of biographical identity politics. On one side, we have those who we can actually define as victims of economic uncertainty, job insecurity and widespread mockery of their opinions by snobby leftists who do not seek and wish to define themselves as victims. On the other side, we have those who are, only, victims of their own perceptions — who in fact exist in stable employment with far too little free time to gallivant around Twitter.

These marches demonstrate that those with unconvincing victimhood complexes are enraged by the choice made by millions of men (and women) who have genuinely been victimised by an Obama administration. The former administration killed more American citizens, bombed more countries, suppressed free speech and persecuted more whistleblowers than any of its kind. These co-exist with the fact that the Obama administration enriched the top five per cent more than under George W Bush.

Where were the Women’s marches when one of Obama’s military strikes in Yemen killed scores of women (and their children)? We have justified anger at Trump imposing a visa ban on Yemen, but where was the anger at Obama’s killing of Yemenis and the support of a Saudi war that formed vast pockets of poverty and famine in the former? We have justified anger with Trump for starting temporary bans on Syrian refugees coming into America, but where was this when Obama instigated policies that ripped Syria apart and saturated it with weaponry, doing little to help refugees? There is further justified anger with Trump for his beginning of the wall building process, but there is systemic radio silence on the fact that Obama kicked out more Mexicans than any president in history and the fact that Hillary voted for the building of a 700 mile security barrier between America and Mexico (essentially, a wall).

This hypocrisy and stupidity is why, despite being equally sceptical of Trump, I sympathise with the “white trash” women that voted for him rather than the “diverse” and genial women that voted for a woman who made extensive efforts to suppress the victims of Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades.

I wonder if Iraqi Yazidi girls look at these western women and sympathise with their oppression while they are being sold as sex slaves by the Islamic state.

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