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Day: 9 October 2017

Preview: Manchester Literature Festival 2017

Written by Ayesha Hussain on . Posted in Books.

From the 6th of October, Manchester will once again be welcoming a selection of internationally acclaimed writers to its annual Manchester Literature Festival.

Previously, the Manchester Literature Festival was host to its own legendary Johnny Marr, author of White Teeth Zadie Smith, fashion designer, activist, and author of Get A Life: The Diaries of Vivienne Westwood, Dame Vivienne Westwood, and Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, along with many other famous visitors.

Although the festival has had eight years of brilliant lineups, with this year’s diverse range of writers, it will certainly not fail to impress again!

Comedian Sarah Millican opens the festival with an invitation to a discussion of her debut book How to Be a Champion. The event held on the 6th of October at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), is hosted by poet and comedian Kate Fox and promises to be a laughter-filled, uplifting evening with her colourful anecdotal stories.

Fellow comedian Alan Carr says of the book: ‘Just like her stand-up: nothing is off limits, honest, candid, but most of all laugh-out-loud funny’.

In contrast, seasoned writer Nadeem Aslam, who has often been the focus of many literature students’ study of the South Asian diaspora, will be also be visiting Manchester this year in light of the release of his new novel The Golden Legend.

Author of the heart-wrenchingly beautiful book Maps for Lost Lovers which won the Kiriyama Prize and the Encore Award will join Elif Shafak on Sunday 15th October at 2 pm at the Central Library.

Turkish novelist Shafak, whose work has been translated into over forty languages, will discuss her latest novel Three Daughters of Eve which The Guardian has rendered ‘a rich journey into romance and religion’.

The following day, world-famous television broadcaster and historian Simon Schama will be in conversation with Erica Wagner discussing the second volume of his series about Jewish history The Story of the Jews, Volume Two: Belonging: 1492-1900 at RNCM.

This continues his important exploration into the displacement and identity politics of the Jewish people. Another television personality, arguably less literarily inclined to write rich and historically relevant texts like Schama, Nigella Lawson is in conversation with Jeanette Winterson on 20th October at RNCM to discuss her forthcoming book At My Table for all you foodies!

Also in conversation with Jeanette Winterson, on Tuesday 17th October at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, is renowned author Kamila Shamsie – a welcome new addition to our University’s Center for New Writing team, who has written over six critically acclaimed novels including Burnt Shadows (2009), Broken Verses (2005) and Kartography (2002).

Shamsie’s latest novel Home Fire (2017), which has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize this year, is available to buy now. Said to be a contemporary reimagining of Sophocles’ Antigone, it explores issues surrounding Jihad, identity, and sacrifice, and this novel is undeniably yet another example of Shamsie’s unrivalled, luminous prose.

The festival ends on 5th December @ Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama with contributions from Scottish writers, Jackie Kay and Ali Smith. Celebrated author Ali Smith, whose novel Autumn has been shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize, introduces her forthcoming novel Winter (2017) which is the second part of her Seasonal Quartet. Jackie, current Scottish poet laureate and Chancellor of the University of Salford,  will share extracts from her poetry collection Bantam.

In addition to visits by prolific writers, there are several spoken word events showcasing work from people of many different backgrounds. One such event is Poets of the New Generation on 22nd October at Gorilla, showcases the work of four poets from BAME backgrounds.

Similarly, The Things I Would Tell You on the 15th of October presents the work of 22 British Muslim Women writers who challenge warped ideas and stereotypes surrounding what it is to be a ‘Muslim woman’. Also, The Writing Squad – 6 Minute Reads on the 17th of October at the previously mentioned venue is a show involving children from Manchester’s Schools presenting their 6-minute creative pieces. This lighthearted event is also part of the Read Manchester campaign.

Visit www.manchesterliteraturefestival.com for more information and to book tickets.

Take a break the right way

Written by James Johnson on . Posted in Lifestyle.

We’ve all been there — trying to claw your way through another days study, craving the seasons ‘must have’ coffee, and equally, wanting to head home and take a nap. So, why not combine the two?

One thing you’re likely to become accustomed to at University is the ability to take a nap, whatever time of day and for whatever period of time. Often you’ll wake up and you’ve missed three birthdays, the leaves have changed colour and you don’t know what time of day it is.

Taking a nap in amongst your busy schedule is a surefire way to keep your energy up and ensure you get the most out of your day; especially when you’re juggling your studies, a job, and whatever other commitments you may have.

What you may not know is that introducing coffee into your daily nap may help to leave you feeling more refreshed when you wake up and try to tackle the rest of your day. A nap powered by science; what could be more justifiable?

Many of us might claim that the first sip of coffee on a bleak Monday morning instantly makes us feel more awake, but caffeine takes at least twenty minutes to have any considerable effect on the body. Therefore, taking your coffee before a fifteen to twenty-minute nap might just jolt you into getting that assignment written a bit more effectively.

 

Photo: James Johnson

The seemingly contradictory phenomenon was initially studied by scientists at Loughborough University, finding that participants who had partaken in a caffeine-fuelled nap proved more effective whilst in a driving simulation test.

Proven to be more effective than simply drinking a cup of coffee or taking a nap alone, coffee napping, although it may sound like a major contradiction,  might just be the recharge you need during those deadline-filled weeks or exam periods!

Some students find counselling service to be inadequate

Written by Rosa Simonet on . Posted in News.

With universities being called to do more for student’s mental health, The Mancunion ran a survey investigating the University of Manchester’s counselling service. The survey reached 45 people, with 37 saying they used the service.

When asked if they found the counselling service useful, one student said:  “No. One woman called me ‘a perfect case study’ which was entirely dehumanising. I never went back.” The comments throughout the report show some students have felt “judged”, “pressured”, and “intimidated” by their counsellors.

Some felt forced to retell traumatic incidents and details of abuse, even when they expressed that they weren’t comfortable with sharing such information. Many of these students have gone on to receive private therapy or care elsewhere.

Another student gave a detailed list of her counsellor’s unprofessionalism.

“She told me that when she counselled me it felt like she had the Sword of Damocles dangling over her head, ready to crash down at any moment if she did the wrong thing, she told me in sessions that it felt like I was slapping her down and it was hurtful to her to sit there and listen to it, usually in response to my habit of using dark humour to avoid topics I was uncomfortable with talking about directly.”

“Overall, [the counselling service] was more harmful than helpful.”

University counselling services have been under strain due to the dramatic increase in demand. According to a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), “Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by The Times published in 2016 show a rise of 68 per cent in counselling service users at Russell Group universities since 2011.”

However “none of the major mental health strategy/policy aims published by government organisations — ranging from the 2000 NHS plan to the 2016 Five Year Forward View for Mental Health — give any special focus to students in higher education, despite it being such a vulnerable period.”

Many have criticised university action nationwide, and claim university Presidents and Vice-chancellors may even earn more than put into university mental health support.

The services at Manchester were criticised earlier this year, following the suicide of Philip Langdon, 22. Philip, who had a history of mental health issues, had sought help from the university before taking his own life. Both friends and family reported to The Manchester Evening News, saying the “services available were very confusing.”

The university offers a range of support, encouraging students to begin with other resources before seeking counselling. Information on workshops, groups, online, self-help materials and suggested reading are all available on the university counselling website.

However, Ms Orpe-Hudson, who shared a flat on the university campus with Philip, reported to the Manchester Evening News, saying “It sounds complicated to me and I have been there for a year.

“If someone is having problems they should not have to reach out to all these different services. Only after this happened were they highlighted to me, and I still had to go and find them myself.”

One student who reported back to our survey said they didn’t find the workshops useful. She said, “It might have been useful to someone who wasn’t really familiar with [cognitive behavioural therapy] CBT as a concept, but because I know a little bit about it I found the introductory workshop pretty pointless.”

Some students also reported cultural incompetence within the counselling service. These ranged from comments on “headscarves,” to counsellors being unable to help students with ‘“issues based around racism.”

Saqib Mahmood, Wellbeing Officer for the Student’s Union, said as well as “looking at increasing the availability of Counselling Service appointments,” he wanted to ensure these services were “accessible to people from minority groups such as BME, LGBTQ+, and Faith groups”

As stated on the Rethink Mental Illness website, students and young people rely on counselling to simply talk to someone “away from family and friends and who is trained in listening and supporting young people.”

“Many young people have said that feeling listened to and taken seriously by a counsellor helped them to feel more positive and in control of their lives.”

With mounting pressures on new university students, young people are more vulnerable than ever. However, the results from our brief survey imply the needs of many students at the University of Manchester are not being met.

When presented with the report the university replied stating, “university counselling services are available to any student and are run by trained staff working to the highest professional standards.  We would encourage any student who has a complaint about the University Counselling Service to contact us directly and we will listen and act on any issues as appropriate.”

Saqib Mahmood also responded to the survey results. He said, “according to the survey, the counselling services are failing in reaching out to students in their services.”

“These services should be provided to any student in the University of Manchester who feels like they need support, and they should be able to supply that support to a high standard. Obviously, something needs to be done to improve the experience that students receive through the Counselling Service, and this is something that the Student’s Union will make a priority this coming year.”

Ben Stokes Understands, Allegedly

Written by Arthur Salisbury on . Posted in Sport.

Footage has emerged of a man absolutely giving it to two other men outside a nightclub in Bristol at half two on Monday morning. The green-shirted man in the video appears to be threatened with a bottle, but rather than backing down he squares up to his opponents, one against two, and has them. The first goes down like BHS and the second is the victim of a vicious swinging delivery. Ben Stokes was arrested in connection with this video, and I for one hope he did it.

If we’re going to beat the Aussies in their own backyard we need fighters. Not just backs-to-the-wall fifth-day rearguard fighting but actual literal fighters. People who use their fists and their feet because this is Australia baby and it’s a language they understand.

On the first morning of the first test in the 2002-03 Ashes series, the great Simon Jones suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury while on the field. As he lay on a stretcher at the side of the Gabba, an Australian came over and told him to ‘Get up you weak Pommie bastard’.

Of course, he got sweet revenge two-and-a-half years later when his mastery of reverse swing would win England the Ashes after an 18-year drought. But wouldn’t it have been even better if he’d also glassed Matthew Hayden?

Cricket is warfare by other means, but do they have to be so other? The threat to your personal safety is integral to the game. Marshall, Garner, Holding, Croft – they would not be so effective were the ball made from sponge.

All cricket supporters are hypocrites and weasels. What if the man in the green shirt was Grievous Bodily Harmison, and the man with the bottle was Ricky Ponting? And what if instead of thumping him, greenshirt had instead hurled a hard object towards his face at 90mph, drawing blood? Far from being called into a disciplinary meeting, he’d be treated as a hero and quite right too.

We travel to Australia this winter with some unresolved issues. Most obviously, regarding the top order. Mark Stoneman has played three test matches with a high score of 52 and averages 30.00 yet is considered a certainty. Toby Roland-Jones is out of the pace attack and the Kookaburra ball loses its swing early, a problem for both Broad and Anderson. Moeen Ali too will have a hard time, facing the twin pressures of being an off-spinner and a Muslim in a country that favours pace bowling and white immigration.

So let’s not turn on our own eh, lads? On top of the unproven allegations of actual bodily harm, Ben Stokes has mysteriously suffered a fracture to his right hand. If for any reason he misses the first test we’ll lose all five, mark my words.