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Month: October 2017

Union Senate: how it works and latest policies

Last Thursday, the 28th of September, the University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU) held the first Senate of this academic year.

In a press conference on Monday 25th, Alex Tayler, General Secretary of the Students’ Union, told The Mancunion that he was unsure about how aware the student body was of Senate. He told us that “students can look on the Students’ Union website for details about the upcoming Senate.” In addition, he stated that the Union would be taking actions — such as promoting Senate more on TV screens around campus — to encourage participation.

Though we trust that the Executive Team does little else than forward the interests of the entire student body, before they take actions to improve student participation in Senate, here is a Mancunion summary of its functions, attendees, and troubles.

Senate decides on changes to the SU constitution, holds Union officials to account, and considers new SU policies. A two-thirds majority is required to pass motions and a minimum attendance of 40 is required for Senate to proceed.

As an example of policy, the last Senate of the previous academic year passed a motion instructing the SU to officially endorse the Boycott, Sanction, and Divest (BDS) campaign, as covered by The Mancunion. As a result, the SU is now committed to a) not engaging financially with the Israeli State or Israeli companies, and b) pressuring the University to follow the same guidelines.

Any registered student can submit such policies in advance of Senate, or indeed propose amendments to proposed policies.

This meeting of Students’ Union officials and members of the student body will be held six times during this academic year. The next Senate will be held on the 9th of October and approximately monthly thereafter. Full details can be found on the Students’ Union website.

Senate is attended by:

The eight members of the SU Executive team, including the General Secretary, Alex Tayler;

  •  Student Officers from each of the three university faculties representing undergraduate postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research students;
  •  Two Student Officers for each of the following:  BME, Women, LGBTQ, Trans, Disabled, International, Environmental & Ethical, and Working Class;
  •  Six Student Community Officers; ­­
  • Members of the Activities Committee;
  • The Chair (or equivalent) of each of the Residents’ Associations and Junior Common Rooms;
  • One person co-opted by the Senate to be a representative for each of the following:  student parents, student carers, part-time students, mature students, distance learner students, and students living off-campus;
  • 20 students ‘randomly selected’ to be representative of the general student population according to directions set by Steering Committee.

That last point is key: any registered student who is also a member of the SU can attend Senate. Although the guidelines on the Students’ Union Website state that these 20 people are “randomly selected”, attendance is actually only regulated on a first-come-first-served basis.

This fact is not without its complications. Since 40 people total are required for Senate to go ahead, this group of 20 can be a powerful voting bloc if attendance is low from Union and other representatives. This arguably undermines the elected members of Senate, including the Executive team.

Furthermore, some of the members who attend Senate — including myself as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Mancunion — were elected to their positions primarily on the basis of ability to perform a specific role, yet their roles guarantee them a vote in Senate.

Despite its flaws, Senate remains an opportunity for all students to have their say on Union policy. We encourage all students to propose policies and attend meetings of Senate. The next one will be held on the 9th of November.

 

Proceedings of Senate

Aside from the referendum to review officer roles, here is a summary of what Senate passed this week:

80 per cent of Senate voted that the Students’ Union should create both the LGBTQ & Trans students’ committees in the 2017/18 academic year

70 per cent of Senate voted against affiliation to The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC). Speaking against the motion, Education Officer Emma Atkins argued that the Union already has its own campaigns for free education and against university cuts.

94 per cent of Senate supported the policy that the Union should pressure the university to introduce more ‘green walls’ — that is, vegetation on university buildings.

97 per cent of Senate voted that the Union should campaign the University to provide more spaces for safety securing bikes at student accommodation sites.

83 per cent of Senate voted to ‘Save Our Staff’ and support the student campaign to oppose the University job cuts.

92 per cent of Senate voted to review and restructure ‘Fund It’. This policy aims to make funding more easily-available to smaller societies by, for example, preventing societies merging their proposals for funding.

Further details are available on the Students’ Union website.

 

Students protest censoring of Israel Apartheid Week event

The event had been organised by the University of Manchester’s student committee of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign as part of ‘Israel Apartheid Week’. As The Guardian reported, Marika Sherwood was scheduled to present a talk on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. A Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, confined to the notorious Budapest ghetto during the latter stages of the war, she was due to give a talk headlined: “You’re doing to the Palestinians what the Nazis did to me.”

However, after visits by Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, accompanied by his civil affairs attaché, university officials have censored the title of the talk, calling it “unduly provocative” and have “set out a range of conditions before it could go ahead.”

The enforced conditions saw academics chosen to chair the meetings being replaced by university appointees, limitations on publicity, as well as organisers being told talks would be recorded.

Huda Ammori, who leads the student BDS campaign, said to The Guardian: “In educational institutions, there shouldn’t be any sort of lobbying from foreign governments. You couldn’t imagine them sitting down with the Saudi embassy for an event about what’s going on in Yemen.” A spokesman for the Isreali embassy, however, denied the meetings were a form of lobbying.

Marika Sherwood defended the title saying “I was just speaking of my experience of what the Nazis were doing to me as a Jewish child,”

“I can’t say I’m a Palestinian, but my experiences as a child are not dissimilar to what Palestinian children are experiencing now.”

Huda Ammori told The Mancunion “meetings with the Israeli embassy over a campaign in support of Palestinian human rights is a mockery of the suffering Palestinians have faced under Israel’s apartheid regime and violates all ‘social responsibility’ ethics preached by the University of Manchester.”

“Our campaign demands the university end all ties to Israel’s apartheid regime, which includes their investments in companies such as Caterpillar.” She alleged that Caterpillar supplies armoured bulldozers to the Israeli regime.

As part of a campaign for the upcoming protest, Huda Ammori levelled allegations at the Isreali government: “Israel has continued an apartheid regime by systematically ethnically cleansing Palestinians. […] Israel continues to commit war crimes, which also include the constant demolition of Palestinian homes within Palestinian territory, to expand their illegal Israeli settlements.”

Students were asked about the BDS campaign in a recent survey conducted by The Mancunion. Those in support agreed it was an important campaign raising “awareness about the repressive measures against Palestinians by the Israeli government and military.” One student said he believed “it is appropriate for the Students’ Union to support this peaceful protest against the occupation.”

The campaign has recently been supported by political cartoonist Carlos Latuff. He created the accompanying cartoon as a representation of the University of Manchester’s investment in Caterpillar.

On Wednesday 4th of October, BDS will be protesting during the University of Manchester’s board of governors meeting, “to demand that the University and all links with Israel’s war crimes including divestment from companies that are complicit in human rights abuses.”

They will be meeting at 2:30 pm on Wednesday the 4th of October under the main arch of council chambers. They ask students to “stand for justice and join us at the #ApartheidOffCampus protest.”

Voting in Student Rep Elections now closed

On the 29th of September at 5 pm, voting in Student Rep Elections officially closed with results due to be announced in the near future.

Student Reps are defined by the Students’ Union as the “voice of the students on their course”, providing a “vital link between the student body, the University, and the Students’ Union.”

Their fundamental role is to listen to students’ concerns, thoughts, and suggestions about their course and pass this feedback back on to staff.

Nominations to become a Student Rep are usually held at the start of every academic year, though every course or School has a specific co-ordinator who is responsible for overseeing the Student Rep elections within their department meaning election processes can vary slightly.

Maheen Hussain and Mia Strand, two former Student Reps, told the Students’ Union: “All in all, the role of student rep itself is viewed positively by students as it provides them with a voice which gets counted for, and we are very happy being a part of that.”

Usually, in the first few weeks of term, a member of staff will contact students, inviting them to both stand and vote in the elections.

Successfully elected Student Reps will then receive training before starting their role, and there are various workshops on offer throughout the year including “An introduction to digital campaigning”, “Why is no-one listening to me?”, and “Making the most out of Meetings”.

Student Reps will also be awarded the HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Award) at the end of their post.

Additionally, as part of the Students’ Union’s Annual Celebrate Week celebrations, there are three Student Rep of the Year awards (one for each faculty), with staff and students nominating student Reps that have been consistently active and engaged throughout the year.

Winners in 2016/2017 were Hannah-Rose Ford (School of Medical Sciences), Bruna Frydman (School of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering), and Roisin Ni Chulachain (Alliance Manchester Business School).

#COMIX4CORBYN

SelfMadeHero, an independent graphic novel publisher, launched The Corbyn Comic Book on the 25th of September in line with the Labour Party Conference in Brighton last week. This anthology of comics celebrating Jeremy Corbyn’s surprisingly wonderful rise in popularity – arguably one of this year’s most uplifting and increasingly promising highlights.

The collection consists of winning submissions from over 100 entries, from artists who took on the task of creating a comic concerning a certain beloved jam-making enigma, green-fingered guerilla and, according to the publishers, “the Daily Mail’s worst nightmare”. Yes, our Jez.

Depicting Corbyn as the unlikely superhero throughout, The Corbyn Comic Book illuminates and applauds ‘the Corbyn Effect’. The anthology is not particularly politically angsty or vicious – nor is it charged with an often ridiculed socialist rhetoric.

It is a lighthearted, refreshing tribute to a man who, for many, this year, has been a glimmer of hope and genuine humanity, amongst politicians who are quite frankly absolute shells of humans. Running through fields of wheat? It’s a no from me.

There is nothing spectacular or unique about the opinions illustrated in this anthology, as many pieces draw on things such as Corbyn’s humility in the face of his school-bully-like peers, his relationship with his famous feline El Gato, and the failure of the press to acknowledge Labour’s achievements and ongoing efforts.

One piece, by artists David Hine and Mark Stafford entitled Uncle Jezza’s Bedtime Stories stood out to me as it is perhaps representative of the underlying message of most pieces in the anthology.

While many pieces deal with the reality of the current political situation between the government and its opposition, with satire, sarcasm, and pure wit, this piece’s narrative takes an unsettlingly satirical yet dark approach to Corbyn’s politics.

The narrative introduces the idea of ‘Happyland’, which is a place, where ‘the monsters’ that ‘ruin everything’ do not exist; ‘Happyland’ of course, only exists when you close your eyes – it is imagined.

The comic re-enforces the stark reality of how in many ways, in the face of current affairs, there really isn’t very much room for Corbyn’s politics and to some extent it also presents a view of Corbyn that many of his opponents have of him. In one frame he is actually sitting down reading a book of ‘Fairytales’.

There are conversely, lots of less complex but equally brilliant pieces in the anthology. Joe Henson’s piece is a pleasant addition to the anthology as it presents The Many Faces of Jezza – from Manhole Man to patron of the Tour De Islington!

Seeing Red by Rebekka K. Jones makes a point of how the chant  “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn”, which even moved from Glastonbury to Pangaea this year is still misunderstood by his largely out of touch opposition.

The Corbyn Comic Book is available to buy now on Amazon at £4.99.

Five easy-to-care indoor plants for your room

I’m not sure about you but one of my favourite things about going back to university is having the chance to redecorate my room all over again. Shamelessly, I end up turning my room into some sort of tropical jungle as I fill it with all sorts of plants.

Not only does it significantly add to the decor of your room but it has actually been scientifically proven to brighten one’s mood. The simple act of shopping for a plant can better your well-being — I am an advocate for that particularly.

Studies by the The American Horticultural Therapy Association have proven that indoor plants can improve your self-esteem as well as help anxiety, stress, and depression. Something as simple as a plant in your room can go a long way on a rainy, grey day — and we have plenty of those in Manchester.

Well, you might be thinking ‘nah, I really don’t have time to take care of a plant’, which is fair enough. We have plenty of other things to do as a student. However, the beauty of indoor plants is that there are plenty of them that need almost zero of your time — you’ll probably spend more time choosing it than actually tending to it.

Here are my top five indoor plants that I haven’t managed to kill yet:

Snake Plant

Although it’s advised to water the plant once a week, I confess I have left it unwatered for 2/3 weeks and have come back with it exactly the same. It is a succulent with thick, waxy leaves and thrives off being a potted plant. It is suitable for all levels of light.

Cacti and Succulents

Inevitably, these were always going to turn up on any list regarding indoor plants. With their small size and extremely easy maintenance, it is a no-brainer purchase. The only thing to remember is to keep them in near the window where they can get some light!

Aloe

Another beautiful succulent sure to brighten up your room, Aloe only needs watering every few weeks. This plant is as low-maintenance is it can get.

Sago Palm

One of my absolute favourites because it is literally a mini palm tree! Probably the cutest addition to a room, the Sago is suitable for all levels of light (although preferable to be high-light) and will only die if overwatered.

Monstera Deliciosa a.k.a. Swiss Cheese Plant

This is my top indoor plant, not only because it is gorgeous, but the name in itself does it for me. It is perfect for low-light rooms/wintery days and only requires watering once a week. The only thing to remember is to give it space to grow (not a window sill plant).

To find these plants check out Flourish in town near Debenham’s or House of Plants online!

America shows its true colours

Like many avid American Football fans last night, I tuned into the BBC’s NFL This Week, eager and apprehensive as to whether the show would substantially deal with the urgent racial inequalities brought to the fore by recent player protests. A significant part of me feared that the programme would tow the Government line and skirt around America’s problems, instead choosing to focus solely on the week’s sporting action.

I was thus delighted to find NFL This Week’s black co-hosts, Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora, launching from the get-go into a scathing criticism of President Trump’s comments regarding NFL players refusing to stand for the American national anthem. The most powerful and moving contribution came from Umenyiora, a Brit who declared his love and even his willingness to die for the country which took him in and facilitated the fruition of his wildest dreams.

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that these are not the ‘disgraceful’ hallmarks of anti-American sentiment. Yet, in the interest of BBC balance, this did not prevent primary host Mark Chapman from reeling off his list of painfully blatant pre-prepared retorts, cycling lackadaisically through the assembled alt-right favourites, “What about the flag?” and  “What about the veterans?”.

This ten-minute section of the programme was turning into quite the emotional rollercoaster as my bouts of seething anger at the unreflective trash on Chapman’s script were quelled by the elegant, affable responses of Bell and Umenyiora. The two football experts pointed out that the protests are nothing to do with the flag or the military and that America was founded by a protest of individuals against untenable circumstances.

Nevertheless, I can’t help but think that there is a major point being badly missed on both sides of the debate. Do Trump’s followers who label the player protests as disrespectful to the American military not realise that African-Americans constitute a significant proportion of United States servicemen and veterans?

African-Americans have a long and proud history of service in the United States military, often while they were facing barbaric drudgery at home. Over the course of the American Revolution, 5,000 mostly enslaved black Americans volunteered to fight for the freedom of a fledgeling nation that recognised them only as property. When the First World War ravaged Europe, hundreds of African-Americans heeded the call to carry into battle the flag that their descendants now stand accused of disrespecting. Despite having fought to make the world free for democracy, many of these brave veterans could expect to be hanged from trees and burned alive for daring to wear their uniforms in public. Throughout the latter half of the 20th Century and continuing up to the present day, African-Americans are still overrepresented in the U.S. Armed Forces.

As is quickly becoming the norm in American affairs, the reaction to NFL protests exposed the perceptions and prejudices of white Americans in measures equal to and greater than the injustices faced by black Americans. By misrepresenting a protest against social inequality and police brutality faced by America’s people of colour as slating the military, flag, and national anthem, the aforementioned symbols are coded by the accusers as being white institutions.

The fact that a protest initiated by black American Football players immediately led President Trump and a significant chunk of the white American public to jump to the defence of the symbols of state power — in the very act of doing so implicitly claiming them as white symbols — serves as further evidence of the white nationalist outlook currently flourishing in the United States and its governing administration.

It remains for these prominent African-Americans, as it does equally for players and fans of all backgrounds, to stand firm in their fight for justice, even in times where America shows its true colour.

Could empty properties provide a solution to the housing crisis?

Last year I worked in a small shop in Oxford. It was tiny, and the successful retailer we worked for would not agree to move us to a bigger shop because renting prices in the area were extortionate. A 5×2 metre space was meant to serve as our office, staff room, kitchen, and stock room, and this was obviously impossible.

Several years earlier, the businesses which occupied the four floors above us were pushed out by the rent prices and kindly gave us the keys to use while the space was empty. A few years later, we were using the space as our stock room, staff room and kitchen, but this did not even begin to make a dent in the space. Most of the building, located on Oxford’s main high street, was empty and disused, while on the other side of the road, dozens of homeless people were asleep in doorways.

This is a familiar scene across a country in the midst of a housing crisis. Unaffordable property and rent prices have led to a sharp rise in homelessness, a generation of people for whom renting is the only available option and an increased pressure on councils to provide housing. This has led to many calls for the development of new, more affordable houses across the country, with both Theresa May and London Mayor Sadiq Khan pledging billions of pounds to the development of homes concentrated in London and other major cities across the UK. Many have called for the green belt to be opened up for development to allow cities to expand to fit this demand for housing. This is overlooking a resource that we already have: empty homes.

According to DCLG Housing Statistics, there were more than 635,000 homes lying empty in England in 2012, with other sources estimating around 1.4 million properties empty as of 2017. Surveys have shown that 79 per cent of people think that the government should focus on refurbishing existing properties, and 81 per cent would avoid living in new builds. This is hardly surprising, the recently unveiled plans for Sadiq Khan’s ‘naked’ homes looking more akin to the backdrop of a Samuel Beckett play than a family home.

In Oxford, we were technically squatting in the space we used; this can provide a temporary solution and is often an important form of political activism (the recent group at the old cinema on Oxford Road being one local example), but it is not a safe or long-term solution to housing. Despite this, it is the best option for the thousands of homeless people across the country, yet squatters continue to be evicted with no alternative solution but to return to sleeping rough. When this happens, councils are allowing properties to lie empty and fall into disrepair while many sleep without a roof over their head.

Not only is this bad for the thousands who are homeless and the millions struggling to pay rent, but failing to recognise the opportunity in these empty homes is a threat to the environment. Not only does it take a huge amount of energy and resources to build new homes, but to keep developing we risk impinging on the vital green space both in and outside of cities. The homes are more often than not less durable and hardy than their predecessors and create entire communities of clinical and cold houses which lack the character and beauty of many old buildings left neglected.

Above all, it is absolutely unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of houses lie empty at a time when people desperately need places to live, either paying extortionate prices to do so or not being able to afford to at all. This is a scandal that has been brought to light most recently in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, with many surviving residents of the tower block still living in hotels or temporary accommodation. This is in one of the most affluent areas of London, with many large properties across Kensington lying empty, being disused or second homes or belonging to foreign investors.

It is clear that our greatest resource in facing the housing crisis lies in using empty homes, which need to be opened up for property guardianship or, better yet, acquired by councils to be used as social housing or refurbished and rented or sold at affordable prices. Homes are a necessity, not a luxury; the government must be called on to provide this housing without wasting resources and land.

Review: Sarah Close

 

Very much a part of the move towards untraditional methods of career building, Sarah Close used Youtube as a platform to help her connect with the ‘music industry’. Using the internet to feel less isolated and to push her music talent whilst living in her family home on the Isle of Wight, she rose to fame on the website as a cover artist, with her most popular video ‘The Hills’ by the Weeknd reaching 4.3 million views. She released her debut single ‘Call Me Out’ in March, followed by her first EP Caught Out in April. With her own record label The Kodiak Club, as well as a record deal with Parlophone, she is quickly flying through the milestones of the run-of-the-mill musician.

Close played a very intimate gig, with her three-piece band, sticking at first to the tracks on her newly released EP. However she surprised the audience by debuting three brand new songs, ‘Fake It’, ‘Patterns’ and ‘Do You Believe’. Whilst it was a treat for the audience, we didn’t know the songs which changed the atmosphere of the gig. However, all were well received and it was a welcome change to be able to hear the full song without the questionable accompaniments from the audience.

Most of the crowd would be categorised in the 18-24 age bracket of Youtube, but  some wary parents of younger members sat reservedly at the back. Close noticed this and encouraged them to dance at her more lively songs, however, it appears youthful pop music isn’t for everyone on a Sunday night.

Sarah Close varied the concert with heartfelt interludes describing the origins of her songs, admitting to crying during ‘Perfect After All’ in a concert the previous night in Nottingham. Whilst no tears were shed in front of us, we were touched by her candid accounts of her trials to create the songs on her EP.

The roots of her music career could be clearly observed as the energy of the concert was lifted as she started a medley of well-known songs. She mixed ‘We Don’t Talk Anymore’, ‘Teenage Dream’, and ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ amongst others. Her strengths as a cover artist shined through livening up the audience encouraging everyone to sing together. I’m sure as her music becomes more well known, she will be able to garner the same reaction from her own music.

Whilst the set was relatively short, she managed to pack in the balance of lively pop songs with quieter ballads. This was also reflected well in her choice of warm-up act, Callum Stewart, who provided acoustic versions of his own original songs.

I’d recommend going to see her perform, but perhaps wait until the album comes out as I’m sure there will be plenty of songs from it that you’ll want to hear live.

7/10

Valve Cracks Down on Metabombing

‘Metabombing’, more widely known as review bombing, is a relatively young phenomenon, but one that is becoming increasing common and, more importantly, increasing influential. Metabombing is the practice of negative reviewing en masse in response to something a developer or publisher has done. It invariably takes place on metacritic or steam, as they are the platforms which put the greatest emphasis on user reviews.

This is different from simply reviewing the game negatively due to not liking it. Metabombing is an organised movement (usually initiated by online communities like Reddit or Steam forums) that attacks games for one issue in particular rather than the quality of the game in its entirety.

There are a number of examples of this. Most recently, 2K’s basketball game NBA 2K18 was metabombed for its excessive use of microtransactions and its ‘pay-to-win’ mechanics. Grand Theft Auto V was also review bombed recently for issuing a cease and desist to the makers of popular online modding tool OpenIV. It currently sits at a lowly 64% approval rating on steam – a dire state of affairs considering in March 2017 it was ranked the sixth best game on the platform.

GTA V was review bombed in July. Photo:Valve

These are arguably examples that are closer to conventional negative reviews, as they criticise issues that pertain directly to gameplay. There are examples, however, which are arguably less judicious.

Chief amongst these was DOTA 2, which was review bombed in 2013 for not being Half Life 3. Yes, that’s right – DOTA 2, a generally popular and consumer-friendly game, was attacked for not being the sequel to 2004 cult hit Half Life 2.

Elsewhere, indie title Firewatch was review bombed by the so-called “Bro Army” after developer Sean Vanaman issued a DMCA takedown (copyright strike) against PewDiePie’s Firewatch gameplay videos, whilst Horizon Zero Dawn was attacked by Zelda fans in an attempt to make it hold a lower aggregate score than the concurrent Breath of the Wild.

Although the games subjected to these more bizarre metabombs were not affected as significantly as GTA and NBA 2K18, the practice remains problematic.

On the one hand, it grants a genuine collective voice to consumers who often feel ignored or disrespected by developers. It also offers a way of gaining a corporation’s attention over a particular issue by attacking their potential profits – bad reviews put off prospective buyers – and their professional pride. This was particularly the case with Rockstar, who take a lot of pride in releasing games that are critically acclaimed. They eventually altered their stance on OpenIV.

On the other hand, it is a system that can clearly be exploited for unrelated, bizarre or unethical reasons (Mass Effect: Andromeda, for instance, was metabombed for apparently being on the side of ‘social justice warriors’).

Earlier this month, Valve introduced the first countermeasure for review bombing on Steam, enabling viewers to break down review scores by date in order to see huge anomalies in scores. This solution has not been universally praised but does well to maintain a democratic review system whilst at least exposing a metabomb, if not preventing it. In this way, the consumer maintains the power to critique en masse, but also to analyse negative or unrepresentative trends as an individual.

The Low-down on Console Crossplay

Hostility between gamers is nothing new – in fact, the only thing gamers enjoy more than their chosen console is saying mean-spirited things to people who were stupid enough to buy a different one. This is particularly true of Xbox and PlayStation fans, who fight a console-war as old as – well, the Xbox and PlayStation.

Imagine a world, then, where all console gamers could play together in online games: a utopia in which cross-platform camaraderie could prosper – where it isn’t the controller in your hand that matters, but the friendship in your heart.

Whilst a future in which players of differing consoles will be nice to each other may still be centuries away, a future in which they can play together certainly isn’t – Microsoft and Nintendo have already begun to wholeheartedly embrace the idea.

E3 2017 was abuzz with crossplay announcements, with developer Psyonix proudly declaring that they would be enabling cross-platform play on their eSports sensation Rocket League, allowing Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC players to share in the turbo-powered football fun.

Also announced at E3 was global phenomenon Minecraft’s “Better Together” update, which is an implementation of crossplay and not – strangely enough – anything to do with Scottish independence. The update turns Minecraft into a true cross-platform game – allowing users on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, iOS, and Android to play with each other.

You may notice that Sony’s PS4 was completely absent from this inter-console friendship bonanza, and it isn’t because the other kids on the (cross)playground didn’t invite them; Jeremy Dunham of Pysonix stated that they would do “whatever [they] would need to do” to make cross-platform play on Rocket League work with PS4, whilst Minecraft spokesperson Aubrey Norris tweeted that Mojang would “love to have Playstation players along with the unified Minecraft”.

Nor is it a matter of technical issues – countless developers have spoken on the ease of incorporating cross-platform online play in their titles; Jesse Rapzach, developer of Ark: Survival Evolved said that allowing Xbox One and PS4 “would not take more than a few days”. Enabling cross-play is so very simple, in fact, that earlier this month developer Epic Games managed to enable Xbox One and PS4 crossplay on Fortnite reportedly by accident. For a brief few hours, PS4 players reported seeing players with Xbox One Gamertags – which a representative claimed was down to a “configuration issue”.

So why is Sony not willing to join in the crossplay fun? Well, their official stance cites a lack of control over players outside of the Playstation sphere. In an interview with Eurogamer, Sony’s head of global sales and marketing said: “Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it’s something we have to think about very carefully.”

This explanation doesn’t quite fly – if Sony really did want crossplay, they would be more than capable of internally resolving issues of child-protection using methods such as profanity filters which have been commonplace in family-friendly platforms for years.

Perhaps the real reason Sony has thus far refused to play nice with their console rivals is much more obvious; they don’t have to. Whilst the Nintendo Switch has indeed had a successful launch, it faces a Herculean task in ever catching the PS4, which has already sold over twice the amount of units as the Xbox One. It may be that Sony is reluctant to believe things would be “Better Together” when they’re already doing “Pretty Good Alone”.

There is also the speculation that following the monumental hack of their online services in 2011, Sony is still understandably hesitant to take any action that may even slightly compromise their security. This would, of course, be the less cynical reasoning and more forgivable truth behind what is undoubtedly an anti-consumer stance by Sony.

It’s possible that Sony’s dominance of the console market is enough to allow them to get away with occasionally being the villains when it suits them. This is certainly not the first time Sony has been criticised for anti-consumer policies, and, despite their careful branding of being “For the Players”, they have attracted criticism for raising the price of their online subscription, heavily limiting game mods and continually refusing to allow name-changes for its users.

It remains to be seen whether Sony will continue to rely on its favourable position in the industry to refuse to yield on matters they don’t want to, or whether pressure from players will eventually force Sony to play nice with its console rivals.

Review: Horrors Album is “V” Good

The Horrors? Remember them? They released ‘Still Life’ a few years ago. It was fun, but nothing too groundbreaking. This album is fun, and nothing too groundbreaking — there’s no Faris Badwan impersonating Stormzy. This time though, there’s a difference. The difference is that it’s really, really good. Seriously.

V is the fifth release by The Horrors, which gives the new album its name. What’s more, V is another major milestone for the band — it’s ten years since their first release, Strange House, in 2007.

V starts with a brash, magnificent electronic opening, akin to a medieval king returning home from a long-running war victorious to rapturous celebration. It’s clear to see that the band have taken some significant steps in terms of production: it’s a rich, adventurous sound that really appeals to the listener. Ambition has also been upped, too: as ‘Press Enter To Exit’ breaks down and slows up — which is on par to Kid A-era Radiohead — an explosion of synths washes over you. It’s not done cheaply. It serves a purpose in the album to keep the pace ticking on nicely, which is excellent throughout.

There are still touches of the old Horrors around, as well. ‘Machine’, the lead single released in June, is rawer than the opening tracks which are beautifully produced by Paul Epworth. What’s evident is that the partnership with Epworth is paying dividends for The Horrors. V is just as well produced as any other release, but it has an extra swagger that they lacked in previous albums. ‘Point Of No Reply’ is another good example of this new found swagger, as are ‘World Below’ and ‘Ghost’ — raw and on edge at times, thought-provoking at others.

This album isn’t perfect, though, as shown by ‘Gathering’. Obviously aware that synth-pop and shoe-gaze couldn’t furnish the whole album, the band try something new with an acoustic set up. That’s fine, but the problem is it feels like that the band were also aware an acoustic-only track on an album like this would very quickly be forgotten. That leads them to another dream-pop chorus. As a song, it’s perfectly competent and well-written, but in the context of the whole album, it doesn’t quite fit. It’s also important to remember that ‘Gathering’ is only a slight blemish on a terrific piece of work.

A special mention must go to the final two tracks of V — titled ‘It’s A Good Life’ and ‘Something To Remember Me By’. I implore you to listen to these two together, because the simplicity of ‘It’s A Good Life’ having just one chorus and one verse perfectly balances out the shoe-gaze and techno twist delivered in ‘Something To Remember Me By’. It’s not as if the twist is unexpected, with the build up to it being drawn out. The unexpected element is just how good it is. It might be the best closing song off any album in last ten years. Seriously.

Overall then, V is by far the finest Horrors album to date. It may lack the well-known single such as ‘Still Life’, or the following of other synth bands like The 1975 or Tame Impala, but it’s undeniable that the quality of production from Paul Epworth has made The Horrors more ambitious, more adventurous, and cleaner. No record is perfect, but this comes pretty damn close to being it, which is why it’s my favourite record of 2017 so far.

IX/X

Review: This & That, Manchester’s hidden gem

At first glance, the exterior of this family-owned cafe can be misleading. Situated in a fairly shabby Northern Quarter backstreet and with only a small sign marking its entrance, it is fair to say that initial appearances were not profound. However, from the first tentative peek into its interior it became apparent that this joint was an incredibly popular, bustling establishment.

Photo: Daisy Tolcher

They have been serving customers for over thirty years and apparently, the restaurant’s design has not changed much. The décor largely resonates a school canteen. Long communal tables and chairs stretch across the room and a kitchen with a buffet style serving table occupies the far end. It is from this serving counter that the most amazing smells of spices and curries fill up the room and set eager customer’s stomachs rumbling. Impressively, the menu changes daily and encompasses a range of both vegetarian and meat curries.

Photo: Daisy Tolcher

During the busy lunch period, This & That offers its customers a range of deals including rice and three veg curries £3.90 – rice, two veg and one meat £4.50 – rice, two meat, one veg £5.50 and so on. Impressively, the curries they serve change daily which means you can visit here in any one of your lunch breaks and not grow bored of the menu.

I visited here on a Wednesday and chose the rice, two veg and one meat deal. The options available included a lamb and split pea curry, saag aloo, daal, vegetable biryani, keema (minced meat) and a chicken curry. Spoilt for choice, I was deliberating for quite some time, however, I finally decided on the saag aloo, lamb and carrot curry – their lamb and potato dish had proven so popular they had swapped in the carrot – and the daal. Whilst the presentation of my plate was unsurprisingly sloppy, the portion sizes blew me away! If you want to get more than your money’s worth then This & That is certainly the place to visit.

Photo: Daisy Tolcher

 

Before I was served my curries I had greedily also asked for a chapatti to accompany my meal, however upon eating this mound of delicious food I quickly realised that supplements were not necessary to leave feeling full. Nevertheless, the choice of ‘sundries’ the cafe offers are very cheaply priced and deliciously made, so I do recommend. I can not fault any of the curries I tried as they were all delicious and, considering my meal was under five pounds, I was very impressed with the quality.  Therefore, If you are looking for somewhere cheap to eat that’s off the beaten track of the curry mile then This & That is well worth the visit. They are open seven days a week and you can also have your meals to takeaway if you are on the go. Visit their website here to find out more.

 

Changing course? Don’t panic!

Thinking about changing course? Don’t panic! It isn’t uncommon to experience worries about your course and the Student’s Union Advice Service is here for you to talk over any of your concerns.

If you aren’t sure what to do, you might find that giving things a bit more time is the best starting point. You can use your first semester as an opportunity to explore the reasons you are worried and give yourself a chance to really try out the course.

If you can, speak to your family or friends about how you are feeling. Writing a list of pros and cons can also be useful to help you work out how you are feeling.

Your academic advisor or course tutors can give you support from an academic point of view. You might want to talk to them about your current course content and see if it’s possible to choose modules that you will find more interesting.

The University’s Careers Service can also help you to think about what you want to do after you have graduated and whether a course change would be best if you are interested in a particular career path.

If you have only just started at University, it may be possible to switch courses within the same academic year. However, if there are no spaces or you have missed more than a couple of weeks, you might not be able to start your new course until the next academic year –a deferred entry). You will need to contact the relevant School Admissions Team to find out what is possible. The Admissions Team should be able to confirm if there are spaces on the course and what you will need to do to complete the transfer.

Deferred entry isn’t a reason alone not to pursue the course change but you will need to think about your accommodation and student finance if you are going to start a new degree programme in September 2018. At the Advice Service, an advisor will explain the full implications of taking a year out and help you with the practical side of things.

Speaking to The Mancunion,  James Johnson said “Having begun my degree programme in a subject I wasn’t enjoying, it seemed as though I might have to persevere through four tough years of studying. However, after being reassured by The Advice Service and my programme administrators, I was able to transfer to a course that allowed me to pursue my real interests and now, as a postgraduate student, I’m thankful for the reassurance that it wasn’t such big a deal. I took some time out, refocused, and managed to build up my CV in the meantime.”

If you really want to change course, in most cases, something can be sorted out. It can be disappointing if there isn’t space in the current academic year but deferred entry gives you more time to try out your current course. There could also be opportunities to gain work experience or volunteer if you do end up taking some time out.

The decision to change course is very personal, but the Advice Service is here to guide you through your options and help you find the best way forward.

 

Recipe: Thai Panang Curry

Ingredients:

400ml Tin coconut milk

100g Red or Panang curry paste

300g Chicken — optional if you’re vegetarian

Vegetables of choice; mangetout, baby sweetcorn, spinach, broccoli

1 Red onion, sliced

40g Palm sugar or caster sugar

30ml Soy sauce

30g Fresh ginger

15ml Fish sauce

4 Kaffir lime leaves (two left whole and two finely shredded)

1 Red Chilli

1 Bag of microwave rice or straight to wok noodles

A handful of fresh coriander

1 spring onion

Handful unsalted peanuts crushed

Method

1.       Add half the coconut milk to the wok and fry for about 5 minutes, or until the oil has begun to separate out from the milk. Once separated, add the curry paste and fry for about 3/4 minutes, or until the paste has begun to smell significantly stronger.

2.       Add the meat to the pan and seal. If using prawns then leave these until a later stage to avoid overcooking.

3.       Once the meat is browned, add the palm sugar, onion, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger, ¾ of the red chilli finely diced, and the kaffir lime leaves to the pan. Fry this mixture for approximately 5 minutes to cook out the ingredients.

4.       Add the remaining coconut milk and bring to the boil. Once boiling, add the vegetables and then reduce the heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked. If using prawns then add at this stage, and if using noodles then check the packet to see how long the manufacturer recommends cooking them for and add as many recommended minutes from the end. If using microwave rice simply heat as per packet instructions.

5.       To garnish, finely shred the coriander, spring onion, crushed peanuts and the remaining red chilli and place on top of the curry.

 

 

Lukaku makes it 10 goals in 9 games as United continue their 100% European record

After a 3-0 win at FC Basel, Mourinho will be looking to maintain his winning start to the Champions League campaign. Interestingly, this will be the first time United will wear a grey third kit in 21 years. The last occasion was in April 1996 against Southampton and was a complete fiasco. At half-time with the score 3-0 to the Saints, they abandoned the kit claiming they couldn’t see each other. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen today.

Multiple injuries have forced United to play a 3-4-3 formation. De Gea is preferred in goal to Romero. Lindelof, Smalling and Bailly make up the back trio. In the midfield, we have Young, Matic, Herrara and Blind. Up front, there is the attacking trio of Mkhitaryan, Martial and Lukaku.

United get the game kicked off in grey, with CSKA in red and blue. There is high intensity from both teams, pressing hard in an attempt to take early control of the game. It takes a few minutes of sloppiness for play to settle down and United appear on top, holding possession well.

In the fourth minute, Martial receives the ball near the Moscow corner flag and, under pressure from three defenders, makes the space to cross it. Admittedly, an average cross doesn’t make a difference to Lukaku, who uses his impressive strength to get his head on the ball and knock it into the back of the net. Lukaku is simply sensational.

Moscow try to equalise immediately to stay in this game. After one player tries to shoot and accidentally kicks it with his other foot, he inadvertently lays it up for another player who forces a fantastic save from De Gea.

For around five minutes following the goal the play gets scrappy again, but United eventually regain dominance of the game. Matic is acting as the driving force for the attack, pushing into the Moscow final third. Mkhitaryan plays in a free role again and is devastating, finding pockets of space all across the opposition half.

Even when Moscow do get possession, they can’t string more than a few passes together without giving the ball away. If they do get so lucky as to tread into the opposition half they immediately get swarmed by United players.

Simply brilliant one-touch passing slices Moscow into a thousand tiny pieces, but the final shot by Mkhitaryan is saved well by the keeper Akinfeev. That won’t matter though because Mkhitaryan is then brought down in a senseless tackle. You shouldn’t go to ground like that unless you are certain of winning the ball, and he clearly wasn’t.

Martial steps up, having already assisted the first goal, and sends the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0. The final score of this game could easily be six or seven nil. Moscow’s defenders are static and can’t handle the pace of United’s play.

CSKA’s day goes from bad to worse as a defender tries to clear a cross by Martial but ends up missing it all together. Lukaku has a simple tap-in to get his second of the game. Martial is phenomenal this game, assisting two goals and scoring the third.

The second notable Moscow attack leads to a shot that against almost any other keeper would have gone in. De Gea’s one-handed save is magnificent and proves why he is one of the best keepers in the world right now.

Just before half-time, Golovin gets a yellow card for taking out Herrara. That tackle sums up the half for the Russian side: slow and brainless.

As the second half gets underway, Mourinho has obviously told his side to slow it down a little. At 3-0, the fate of the game is all but sealed and isn’t worth getting injuries for. Lukaku and Martial obviously didn’t get the memo though, and if not for a great save, Lukaku would have had his hat-trick.

Wernbloom gets a yellow card for an elbow to the throat of Mkhitaryan. Looking at the replay of this challenge I’m not entirely sure it wasn’t a red card, although United don’t seem to contest the yellow.

Martial gets involved again — this time a fantastic shot of his from just outside the box gets parried into the path of Mkhitaryan, who slots it home for a fourth. United will undoubtedly slow the game down even more now that it’s decided.

Another elbow goes flying into a United face for a yellow card, Kuchaev on Bailly this time. Three subs for United happen in semi-quick succession; Mkhitaryan, Young and Martial come off for Lingard, Darmian and Rashford. Martial seems to be limping off and may have picked up an injury.

There really isn’t much happening anymore. United are content to pass the ball around, and CSKA are content acting all defeated and sorry for themselves. The supporters behind Akineev’s goal seem to be slowly taking all their shirts off, making a wall of flesh.

Ten minutes later and the only change is that more Russians are getting topless. How they can do that in the bitter temperatures of a Russian Autumn is baffling, but they carry on nonetheless.

The fleshy tactic seems to be working, and a little dink goes through to Kuchaev who slots it past De Gea to make it 4-1. No clean sheet today, but the result with still leave Mourinho very impressed. It only took 90 minutes for the Moscow team to wake up and show what they are capable of. Is this the start of a comeback?

No, no it’s not.

Recycling Rapture

Debbie Harry, otherwise known as Blondie, dazzled all as she walked for an environmentally conscious VIN + OMI collection at London Fashion Week.

Singer Debbie Harry catapulted to stardom in American pop-punk band Blondie, named after her iconic platinum blonde locks. Since the 1970s she has been a fashion icon for many, with her new wave style that involved double denim, studded leather and statement t-shirts. Her look even inspired artist Andy Warhol, who created four silk printed portraits of Harry, one of the most well-recognised bodies of his work.

Debbie Harry once famously declared that “Being hot never hurts!” and she clearly still lives by that today at the age of 72, stunning audiences at the VIN + OMI show during London Fashion Week. The singer opened the show in a leggy lime green, draped hem dress and metallic trainers. The fashion house is known for their creative designs, making the eccentric Bubbles costumes for Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Their recent collection for Spring/Summer 2018 maintains this innovation and focuses attention on renewable fashion, using materials made from plastics removed from the sea. For example, they use rPET yarn which is made from recycled bottles. Furthermore, the catwalk was covered in plastic, with protest posters splattered on the walls which reinforced the purpose of the show. The designers hope it “will encourage more designers worldwide to explore their local textile options and turn discarded plastic into clothing”. They want to “highlight how innovative eco fabrics can be fun, high fashion and wearable”. The show was attended by a number of celebrity names who showed their support, including Boy George and Jasmine Guinness.

Harry is the ideal model for this collection. Her high-profile reputation brings public attention to the cause but more importantly, she has also long been a supporter of Riverkeeper. The New York-based organization helped pass the Clean Water Act in 1972 and continues to protect the Hudson River from unwanted waste that could pollute the water and its inhabitants. About the show, she declared that “they believe, like I do, that we should STOP F*CKING THE PLANET!”.

Debbie Harry is currently set to tour the UK in October and November this year. She will wear designs by VIN + OMI on stage. Find her Pollinator tour dates in the link below.

 

Shows

Oké Poké

So, Hawaiian food. Hawaiian food comes to Manchester, from one archipelago to another. Poké cometh, a good premise, healthy, clean, and clear food married with a clean and clear business model. Oké Poké is the fourth venture of restaurateur Saman Golesorkhi, albeit his first in England. His other three restaurants lie in Barbados. Golesorkhi studied in Manchester before his Barbadian adventures but now he’s back, and he bringeth the poké with him. All hail, the poké has arrived, and if you’re to believe the narratives on the slick Oké Poké website, “being healthy has never tasted so good”.

Deconstructed sushi is a phrase that’s been going around to describe poké, essentially rice bowls adorned with an array of vegetables and raw fish.

The decor is well done, lots of time and energy has been exerted in more or less the right places. The only problem seems to be the execution. The food was good. The quality of tuna reflected the price — £7.95 for the classic ahi bowl. The rice was over-salted — nothing overtly offensive, but enough to notice. I’ve seen a lot of people griping online about the price, I think it’s a fair amount to pay. I was happy with what I got.

But.

If you’re going to take six hours to make a smoothie it better be the Dom Perignon of smoothies, I’m talking the Moet Chandon of blended juices. In the time it took to for our drinks to arrive we’d already finished our food, thus our mouths were already loaded with a bitter taste, and the tepid fruit water did little to wash it away. The smoothie I ordered was called an O’kai Do’kai, £3.95, which allegedly contained apple, pineapple, pear, and chia seeds. The reality was a cup of water that tasted of apples.

But I think that was a blip on the radar for a venture that definitely has a lot going for it. The Northern Quarter needs more restaurants like this, less USA worshipping burger and chicken orgies. Having said that, Hawaii is America’s 50th and newest state. So perhaps it’s not that the NQ has to stop looking towards America as a whole, but that it’s got to start focusing on America’s more digestible qualities.

My dining companion for the day, Mr Taylor, opted for the Tofu Tastic which came with black rice, an incredible if hard to find ingredient. When you’re boiling black rice it smells like bread is baking. It’s chewy and coarse in a brilliant way. Oké Poké is by no means short of good ingredients, the juice counter has an open fronted fridge displaying fruits and vegetables in all their raw and unadulterated splendour. It was the preparation of them that seemed to let the restaurant down.

City and United Maintain European 100% Record

The top of both Group A and Group F in the UEFA Champions League starts with one word, Manchester. The red and blue half of the city have both had a strong start to their European campaign with two wins from two, giving them a three-point lead over second place FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Basel 1893 respectively.

United faced a potentially tricky away tie to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night but quick to get on the front foot. A shimmy from Frenchman Anthony Martial allowed him the time need to glide a cross onto the head of Romelu Lukaku who headed home after just four minutes.

The Red Devils continued to press and probe looking for their second and it was through Henrikh Mkhitaryan that they got their opportunity. A short dribble into the box was met with a clumsy challenge from the CSKA defender and the referee confidently pointed towards the spot.

Martial, who had started the game very brightly, stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev dived the wrong way and United’s lead was doubled before the 20-minute mark.

Having scored one and assisted one, Martial created another goal in the 27th minute. Another cross from the left wing was not dealt with and a well-timed bounce allowed Lukaku to get his toe on it and steer it towards goal. It was the Belgian’s ninth goal in eight games as he enjoys a fine start to his Manchester United career.

Mkhitaryan registered United’s fourth before the hour mark having followed in from a Martial effort and CSKA’s consolation goal in injury time was not enough to worry José Mourinho. The manager will be pleased with his side’s goalscoring ability having notched 28 in nine games this season. This lethal form has proven to be a strong blueprint for Champions League success and Mourinho will be looking to capitalise that in their next two fixtures against Benfica.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City meanwhile endured a more difficult night at the Etihad. City too had been in incredible goalscoring form and many were expecting another battering of visitors Shakhtar Donetsk, some bookmakers were even offering odds of 7/1 for a draw. The Ukrainian side though had different ideas.

Paulo Fonseca’s team started much brighter, using a high line that nullified City’s midfield whilst also took Sergio Agüero out of the game. The away side were determined in their plan of playing football and some neat one-twos in around the City area yielded chances.

A particular target for Shaktar was Kyle Walker as they repeatedly looked to get in behind him. Walker is a full back known for enjoying getting forward but this often left space on City’s right side and either John Stones or Fernandinho was required to drop deep and cover. It was the latter who along with David Silva were the only City players who played well in the first half. Everyone else looked sluggish and struggled to get going.

Similar to the Crystal Palace game the weekend before, City’s form in the first half was markedly different from their game in the second. There was more of an urgency to their play and the midfield began to move as a more cohesive unit. David Silva was seeing more of the ball and continued to produce moments of magic to create chances.

It was Silva who got the assist for City’s opener. Looking for runners on the edge of the Shakhtar box, the Spaniard looked up to see a free Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian had all the time in the world to pick his spot with a curled finish. The effort was De Bruyne’s first of the season and it relieved some tension from a quiet Etihad crowd.

Wary of a late equaliser which would perhaps have been a fair result, City continued to move forward. Leroy Sane was seeing plenty of the ball but his decision making was not always the best, often choosing to go for goal when a simple square ball was on and would have surely produced a goal.

The German did, however, give City a penalty. The winger took a tumble and from inside the stadium, it looked a very harsh decision. Sergio Agüero stepped up and saw his effort saved, continuing his less than stellar penalty record.

Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gündogan, and Bernardo Silva were all introduced and it was Sterling and Silva who combined to double City’s advantage. Silva springs the offside trap before sliding the ball to the feet of Sterling. The Englishman hit his effort high and it just tapped the underside of the post on its way in.

The goal confirmed City’s three points but it was a patience-testing night for Guardiola as his side never really looked at their best.

Brexit panel finds that young people hold huge stake in negotiations

The need for a more comprehensive discussion about Brexit and how it affects universities was understood at a cross-party panel discussion held at the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union.

Its aim was to provide further information on young people’s views, which will be taken into account by an All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Better Brexit for Young People.

Students of all ages took part in the talks that were chaired by Polly Martin, representing the Manchester Debating Union. The discussions were structured around three major questions.

The first issue to tackle was what will be the biggest change for youth and students upon leaving the European Union. Answers ranged from alterations of tuition fee loans policy to the availability of the Erasmus+ programme, and the loss of research grants from the EU.

Concern was expressed about the possibility of UK university degrees not being recognized on the European continent after Brexit, which contributed to the already established uncertainty students feel with regard to their future opportunities.

Soon after came the question of how the relationship between the UK and the EU will work in the future. The panellists discussed the idea that the UK has proven rather arrogant and overconfident on its course so far, which may contribute to a gloomy diplomatic future.

At the same time, there was a general consensus on the point that, so far, the Brexit negotiations have been clearly unstable, with differences of perspective between the electorate and the negotiators.

Conclusively, on the issue of how a still-large deficit in youth engagement in politics could be addressed, answers ranged from taking a closer look at the potential harms and possible benefits of having political education in schools to regarding the current political system as one in which safe seats allegedly deter young voters from taking part in the electoral process.

Regularly providing answers and facilitating dialogue were panelists Chris Green, Conservative MP for Bolton West, Alex Davidson from the Manchester Trades Union Council, Fergie Naeem from Citizens UK, Antonia Bright representing Movement for Justice, and Emma Atkinson, Education Officer at the University of Manchester.

The evening made clear what a large role students and young people have to play in not only the future of Brexit, but the future of politics as a whole.

Wednesday in Salford, 1971 in Glasgow

The heritage of curry in Britain is a long and contested one, with one specific account claiming that the Chicken Tikka Masala, now a national heritage dish, was created ‘on a typical dark, wet Glasgow night’ – see The 5th of April 2013 Episode of The Hairy Bikers: Best of British Series. While this particular origin story dates back to 1971, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi spices had been known to the U.K. for centuries, stemming from the dark years of British colonialism, and later through the vast web of the East India Company.

While this brutal period of history arguably stained the European Age of Discovery, it did also provide the heat that we might associate with pan-Asian food, as the trading nations of the west took chilli to the east, keeping a little for themselves on route, and thus providing all the ingredients for that dark, fateful night in Glasgow.

Now, curry is eaten by roughly 23 million people each week, has its own National Awareness program that runs from the 9th-15th of October each year, and has been adopted by the UK as a “national dish”.

While I was unaware of all of these things as I wandered around on a dark, wet night in Salford with some friends, I am nonetheless partial to a belly-warming, tongue-tickling taste of… erm, Britain. I had seen a “Curry Night at The Egerton Arms, Salford” sign at The Islington Mill earlier in the day, and so in want of warmth in our bones and food in our bellies, we made our way to the little pub just opposite Salford Central train station.

Upon arrival I was made to go and ask the chef in the kitchen if they were still serving food, and was greeted by a woman and her son, who told me that they only had the chicken left, with the son, who seemed to act as the pub’s walking mealtime salesman, chirping in: “It’s masala. Dead spicy. You’ll love it”. I’m a fairly impressionable customer at the best of times, and when the salesperson is an 8-year old boy working nights, I’m quickly sold.

With a pint of Wobbly Bob’s in hand, we found a corner that wasn’t occupied by elderly United fans revelling in their thrashing of CSKA Moscow and waited for our masalas, rice, and poppadoms to arrive.

Her son briefly made an appearance behind her wearing a single blue kitchen glove, turning to look up at the screen, shout penalty, shake his head in vague disappointment, and return inside. The word ‘Masala’ originates from the Urdu word for spice, and The Egerton’s take on the national dish certainly had something to it, with vague hints of the cardamon, ginger, cumin, and coriander that our ancestors fought hard to steal.

The poppadum was a naan bread, and the chips came with rice. Ultimately, had it been in a restaurant, I may have sent it back. On rare occasions, however, I feel taken in by the setting of a meal, and the people that make it and begin to totally forget that my main reason for being there was to eat in the first place. The food became an accompaniment to CSKA’s lacklustre performance, the 4 for £5 ‘house shots’, and the pint of Wobbly Bob’s and Holts beer loyalty cards being passed over the bar.

It was an ok meal, but a fine time on an evening reminiscent of that night in Glasgow in 1971.