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Day: 13 November 2017

Misleading options in exec officer ‘preferendum’

The Mancunion has learned that the option for the exec officer roles to ‘stay the same’ would in fact include significant changes.

One of the officer roles would be renamed (Diversity to Liberation and Access) and the remits of both this role and the role of the Education officer would change.

There is also still no clarity as to what will happen with the result, as rumours have flown around the Union that the vote may reopen, although this hasn’t been confirmed.

The Mancunion previously reported that the ‘preferendum’ to reshape the roles of the executive officers had a turnout of only 1.5 per cent (under 500 people). This was attributed to many factors, one being that the vote was run at the same time as the part-time officer and NUS delegate elections.

The options in the vote were to keep the same positions, introduce a postgraduate officer, introduce an international officer, or introduce both.

Marketing materials were not explicit in the fact that some roles would be combined and some would be gotten rid of entirely although on the students’ union website, it gave more information when you clicked on each individual option.

However, the confusion continued as the option to ‘stay the same’ actually included a change in officer name and a slight restructure of their remit. The Diversity officer would become Liberation and Access and Postgraduate students would report to their Education officer rather than their Diversity officer. This is would change the interaction postgraduate students would have with the Union.

General Secretary Alex Tayler told The Mancunion that as far as he was aware, “the stay the same option was essentially to stay the same but with a name change.”

Education Officer Emma Atkins echoed this view, saying that the changes that would be made if that option were chosen were “very minimal.” She added that she does a lot of work with postgraduate students already, so this would just be “making it official.”

What’s On for Literature Lovers: November

What: Harry Potter: A History of Magic Exhibition

Where: The Central Library

When: now — 31st January 2018/ Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm

Calling all Potter fans! Many of us have been lucky enough to have grown up with Harry and with the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, there is no better way to retrospectively revel in the magic of his world than to journey to where it all began.

Manchester Central Library is proud to host a display inspired by the British Library’s new exhibition, Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Displays were launched simultaneously across 20 public libraries in the UK, mirroring the initial exhibition at London’s British Library. In addition to the showcasing of images of rare books (including books from J.K. Rowling’s own collections), magical paraphernalia, and manuscripts from the original exhibition, there will also be a display of Manchester Central Library’s local connection to magic and folklore from their Special and Archive collections.

Additionally, you can channel your inner Hermione and attend The Hogwarts Curriculum Lectures: Defence Against The Dark Arts with Christopher Frayling (Monday 22nd Jan 2018, 19:00 – 20:15). Acclaimed cultural historian Christopher Frayling will discuss the origins of the myths that surround the evil and supernatural in the Harry Potter books. While history does not speak of death eaters as such, it does speak of vampires – Frayling will discuss how their portyals have changed and how they have been appropriated by the Gothic imagination.

 

What: The Reformation, Radical Print – Printing Press Demonstration,  Thursday Lates: Come Join the Protest!

Where: The John Rylands Library

When: now- 4th March 2018

Find out how books, so readily available to us today, came to be so widespread. The John Rylands Library is currently running various events related to their resident 19th century printing press. This winter the library has shown an interest in the power of the printed word. The Reformation, an exhibition, explores the domino effect of Martin Luther’s 95 theses in the 16th century and the rapid religious, political, social, and artistic change that occurred across Europe as a result of its introduction. There is also an opportunity to see a printing press in action during the ‘Radical Print – Printing Press Demonstration’ events that run every day on a drop-in basis. Also, the ‘Thursday Lates: Come Join the Protest!’ event series means you can visit the library to find out how the printed word accelerated the spread of ideas, protest, and debate.

 

What: Chorlton Book Festival

Where: Chorlton Library

When: 17th-25th November 2017

The Chorlton Book Festival returns for its 13th year with another lineup of brilliant writers and interactive events – of which most are free! Local poet Copland Smith will be in conversation with special guest Cath Nichols on the 17th to kickstart the festival and discuss her new collection ‘This is Not a Stunt’. A highlight of the collection is a piece called ‘Bo(d)y-in-waiting’ that carries the story of a boy growing up trans in the 1970s, perpetually frustrated at the ignorance of the adults around him. On Tuesday 21st November, join the Feminist Graphic Novel Book Club and discuss of Isabel Greenberg’s The One Hundred Nights of Hero. For a taste of spoken word, in association with Manchester Library and Information Service and Flapjack press, join Tony Curry and Genevieve L. Walsh for ‘Word Central Open Mic’ night. Walsh will be debuting her poetry collection ‘The Dance of a Thousand Losers’, which has been described Henry Normal as “keen and urgent with an untamed beauty – like a puma caught under a streetlight”. Another highlight of the festival, with a distinct Mancunian flavour, is ‘An Evening with Laura Wilkinson – Skin Deep’ where Wilkinson discusses her latest novel, primarily set against the backdrop of Hulme in the 1980’s.

 

What: Jennifer Egan @ Manchester Literature Festival

Where: Manchester Central Library

When: 15th November 19:00-21:00

Critically acclaimed author Jennifer Egan makes a rare visit to the UK to discuss her latest novel, Manhattan Beach. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Brooklyn-based novelist delves into the world of historical fiction with this novel. It is set during the Depression and follows the story of its strong female lead Anna Kerringer, a navy diver from an Irish family, aiming to survive through a turbulent and uncertain time for women in a city populated by sailors and gangsters, tragic starlets, and mysterious tycoons. Meghan O’Rourke from The Guardian calls it ‘a remarkable work of cinematic scope’ with parts of the novel having a ‘Joycean musical fragmentation’. Egan will be in conversation with creative consultant and arts producer Katie Popperwell. Tickets for the event are available at the Manchester Central Library and Manchester Literature Festival websites.

 

What: Bad Language

Where: The Castle Hotel, Northern Quarter

When: Wednesday 29th November 17

Bad Language is an award winning spoken word night that takes place on the last Wednesday of every month. For their last open mic event of 2017 they are inviting Helen Mort, poet and lecturer in the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, to share her work. She has published two poetry collections: Division Street (2013) and No Map Could Show Them (2016). Open mic slots are available if you would like to take part and more information can be found on: https://badlanguagemcr.com/. Manchester poet Tony Walsh, who wrote the famous ‘This is the place’, says of the night: “I’m always impressed when I come along to a Bad Language night. It’s great to see a packed but attentive room for a live literature night.”

Banning online communities of misogynists is a good thing, here’s why

The 40,000 strong reddit group for ‘incels’, short for involuntary celibates, has been banned.

What does it mean to be an involuntary celibate? Incels are a group of men, almost all teenagers or in their early 20s, who find themselves without romantic partners or interaction. Their lack of romantic interaction results in a deep-seated hatred of women and men who aren’t celibate.

In one post, titled ‘I really want to punch a woman in the face’, a user writes:

‘I’m tired of the strong perfume they wear. Their high-pitched voices. I’m in the library 3rd floor. It’s supposed to be silent but these whores keep talking to these frat chads.

Fuck, I’m really on the edge and would not mind curb stomping a few women today.

Ruin their face, only thing going for them.’

Earlier this year, before the group was banned, I posted asking if any of the members would let me talk to them anonymously to learn about their views and why they held them. The users of the group were all lonely and miserable, and talking to them was interesting.

Recently, research carried out by the University of Michigan concluded that banning hate groups on online forums was unlikely to cause the views of those groups to fester on other websites or forums.

The Incels forum was a hate group, and banning it is the right decision. Here are the transcripts from my interviews, giving an insight into the views of the members and exploring the range of opinion, from milquetoast sexism to hateful misogyny.

John, 25, Ohio

The Mancunion: What does it mean to be an Incel?

John: Basically, it means to be the type of guy that has been deemed undesirable and has no chance of any type of relationship.

How did you become an Incel?

I was born with a facial deformity, but others have different things that hold them back: being short, or just plain ugly. So, it just kind of happens naturally where you miss out on normal experiences to develop on how to deal with the opposite sex and eventually it festers and gets worse and worse.

Have you ever had any kind of sexual experience?

None at all. Haven’t dated, haven’t kissed, haven’t had any sexual contact at all.

When did you come to the conclusion that you would never have any kind of sexual relationship?

Well, when I was younger I had felt extremely self-conscious about my facial disfigurement and told myself no girls would be interested in me. Eventually I tried in high school it went awfully and that reaffirmed the belief I had in my head for many years. That was nine years ago and I haven’t bothered since.

Do you resent women?

No. It’s not their fault they don’t find me attractive. Everyone wants to be with someone they feel at least some physical attraction to, myself included, so I can hardly get mad at women or hold them to some standard I wouldn’t want to be held to myself.

Why do you think some people on the Incels group seem to hate women?

I think it’s kind of a lashing out type thing. It’s an ‘if they don’t want me then to hell with them’ mentality. Some of them have had horrible experiences and eventually it becomes natural to associate women in a negative light. No more than a woman who has had awful experiences with men and assumes they’re all cheaters, dogs, shallow.

What do you make of the Incel community as a whole?

They’re guys who have had a tough go of it in life, and unfortunately they are the ‘throwaways’ who have no realistic shot at any love in life. Guys who have to accept a long, empty, and meaningless life. So, they come there to vent and have each other’s backs.

 

Calum, 20, London

The Mancunion: How did you become an Incel?

Calum: It just happened I guess? Females aren’t interested in me.

Have you ever had any kind of sexual experience?

Nope.

Do you hate women?

Yes.

Why do you hate women?

Because they hate me, and most of them are degenerates. They are sluts, they sleep with higher tier males all the time.

Can you expand on that a bit?

I despise females because they are all degenerate sluts who enjoy torturing me because I’m an ugly socially retarded virgin, even though I’m already depressed. Some even pretend to care and be nice, whilst they laugh at me behind my back with ‘Chad’ and his friends, those are the worst ones by far. The modern female has too much power over men with sex unfortunately, we should follow Saudi’s laws regarding sex and marriage, that would knock them down a peg. Females just despise me.

Why is it that females despise you?

They despise me because I’m a 1/10 and I dared to speak to them.

 

Magnus, 17, Sweden

The Mancunion: How did you become an Incel?

Magnus: I don’t think it’s something you become, people are just born a certain way. An incel is simply an undesirable male, and that’s just what I am.

Have you ever had any kind of sexual relationship?

None, the most action I’ve had in my life is a peck on the cheek playing truth or dare.

Do you have friends?

I had plenty as a kid, but with time it gets harder and harder for me to be around other people. Now, I hardly keep in touch with anyone.

Do you resent women?

I’m sad about the way the game is set up, I think it’s unfair, but I don’t know who to blame for that. Honestly, it’s more the fault of mother nature. Women naturally seek out men with good genes, and I wasn’t born with good genes, so I don’t think it is necessarily the fault of women. I know plenty of women who are very kind, or at least appear to be. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with women, the hatred online is just people venting their frustration. Sex, to me, might as well be mythical. It’s something that I know I will never get to experience.

You’re only 17, why are you so certain you’ll never have sex?

My DNA will not change over time. I’m not going to go from being 5’9 and 130 lbs to 6’3 and 220 lbs. I’ve known my whole life that I’m undesirable, and know that women have no interest in me. That’s not going to suddenly change as I get older.

Interviews have been edited for clarity and to amend errors. Names have been changed to maintain anonymity.

Senate roundup: Academy venue to honour Malcolm X

Academy 2 is to be renamed Academy X in honour of the African-American civil rights activist.

Other motions that passed through the second Senate Thursday 9th October were to  campaign to close all detention centres, to only use environmentally friendly straws in the union and to make the union halal. Campaigns Officer Deej Malik-Johnson proposed all four motions.

Alex Tayler, General Secretary, opened the evening by celebrating the Union becoming a living-wage employer, thus making it one of the only universities that have taken this policy on board.

Tayler went on to  that only as little as 429 people voted in the All Student Referendum (less than 1.5 per cent) and that improvements to the voting system and promotion of the election needed to be considered so that a greater number of people would vote in future referendums.

All four motions passed with over 70 per cent positive vote. The first to be proposed was the closure of detention centres. Deej Malik-Johnson said that detention centres were, “somewhere in-between concentration camps and prisons” and proposed that “the Union campaigns for the detentions to be closed by students”, thus helping campaigns because there won’t be any society-related budget restrictions.

The next proposal focussed on changing the name of Manchester Academy Two to Academy X, where civil rights leader El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, spoke two months before he was assassinated. This came after Lashley-Johnson had stated that ‘”here is a Turing building, one that is named after Pankhurst, so why not Malcolm X, [he] has made just as much of an impact as the others have, he was a great civil rights leader.”

An attendee to the election questioned whether X’s work for the Nation of Islam renders him an inappropriate figure to name Academy 2 after, and some suggested that a plaque in his honour should just be placed there instead. Finally, a suggestion was made as to whether an online poll could be made with a list of influential figures, with the student voting which one is chosen. The proposal however passed with no amendments made.

When asked what he though of the change, General Secretary Alex Tayler said “it was an interesting motion and, though I don’t know enough about Malcolm X to be completely sure, on balance I decided to vote in favour of it.”

In response to this, an English Language student, Sophie Billington, told The Mancunion: ” I’m all for the relevance of representation when there are the right kinds of motivations behind it, because I think that as long as these motivations are made public and clear, aesthetic changes such as this name change can hold a lot of meaning.

“However, this is the first that I’ve even heard of the idea of a name change. The Students’ Union is meant to represent the views of the student body, and I don’t like the idea that a few select people who are meant to be aware of that, haven’t worked to make sure that a move like this is something that the vast majority of the student body wants.”

David Uncle, third year Geography student, described the re-naming of the building as “rather bewildering” and questioned the Students’ Union didn’t “go for someone from Manchester.”

He also suggested that Malcolm X “was a racist himself against white people, which kind of defeated his own principles and conflicted with the work of Martin Luther King Junior.”

It was then proposed that single-use plastic straws should be banned from the Student Union. In replacement, paper straws should be used and it is the Unions ‘policy to promote environmental sustainability’, however if voted for, the board of trustees would have to discuss potential trading and cost effective methods to make sure this policy would be put in place.

Finally, the last motion of the evening, Make the Union Halal, was again proposed by Deej Lashley-Johnson, stating that a fair amount of the meat served in the Union is Halal but is incorrectly labelled and that it should be served by it should be clarified which meat is which.

An individual from the floor questions if the policy can be extended for Jewish students who only eat Kosher foods. Deej Lashley-Johnson has stated that as much as it would be ideal to have that policy at the Union, it must be cooked in a separate kitchen and with different cutlery, thus making it harder to fund this kind of policy. However, the union are working hard at making this a future possibility.

Lashley-Johnson then summarised by confirming that any halal meat sourced by the union would be certified as not being stunned before the animal was killed — the policy was passed with 38 for and three against.

Manchester Christmas markets open

On the 10th of November, Manchester’s Christmas markets officially opened, and will be here in the city for six weeks.

Though there will be the usual array of diverse stalls, this year’s markets welcome two new food and drink additions.

These include the Yorkshire Burrito, a giant Yorkshire pudding stuffed with visitors’ favourite filling, and Elsie May’s tea room, both of which will be based in Exchange Square.

Anokhi Bella Shah, Head Food and Drinks Editor of The Mancunion, said: “The arrival of the Christmas markets sparks excitement around Manchester, particularly getting my festive culinary juices flowing. I can’t wait to see what delights this year has to offer. Being a Yorkshire girl, I’ve got my eye on those burritos.”

Abbie Llewellyn, a third-year Linguistics student at Manchester University, echoed this sentiment and said: “I’m excited about the Christmas markets because they bring together different cultures in one place to get you in the Christmas spirit, and it has awesome food and drink.”

The main market hub and European market will be based in Albert Square in front of Manchester town hall, and is open from 10AM to 9PM daily.

The rest of the markets are spread across nine sites including St Ann’s Square (German market), King Street (French market), Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Cathedral Gardens (family friendly area), Market Street The Corn Exchange, and Brazennose Street. These sites are open from 10AM to 7:30PM in November and 10AM to 8PM in December.

This year, visitors can download a free iOS and Android augmented reality App to help navigate their way around the markets.

The app can be used to scan the Christmas Market mugs and be rewarded with a “special Christmas treat.”

Visitors can also use the phone’s camera to look at the attraction and pointers will appear on their screen including the location of toilets, cash machines, various market stalls or the ice rink based in Cathedral Gardens, which opened on November the 4th.

Cllr Luthfur Rahman, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “There’s something for everyone on the augmented reality app, and I think it’s going to help visitors find their way around and enjoy the attraction in a completely new way.”

First launched in 1999 and now in its 18th consecutive year, Manchester City Council claim to have led the Christmas Market boom, being the first city to bring a European-style festive market to the UK.

Manchester University accused of unprofessionalism and censorship

A PhD student has accused the university of “censorship” due to facing disciplinary action after taking to social media to complain about an alleged funding withdrawal.

On Friday 8th October Majid Ahmed posted on university Chancellor Lemn Sissays’ wall describing financial struggles that he faced after receiving a letter that told him he was not eligible for funding he had previously been awarded.

Photo: Facebook

He also wrote of his “disappointment” that the Chancellor had apparently refused to meet him.  In the post, he claimed he was experiencing “poor treatment and unprofessional conduct by the University of Manchester and they have left me in a position where they are unfairly pressuring me to pay them £12,000 to be awarded my PhD – no academic issues whatsoever.”

Since the post, Majid said he has been threatened with disciplinary action. He said, “after making a serious error in managing my fellowship, they were now trying to avoid any accountability, pressure me into paying more money for my PhD and then censoring me from saying anything about the way I was being treated.”

Majid’s dispute began in 2014. Majid had been awarded a (basic clinical training) fellowship from the British Heart Foundation of 164,000 pounds in April 2014. In September of the same year, Majid was given an unconditional offer to study for his PhD in Medicine.
In the letter, it clearly states that Majid’s tuition fees would be covered by the fellowship.

Since receiving the grant he had turned down the opportunity to train as a Foundation Doctor as he wanted to continue in academia. He then took a staff position within the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Manchester alongside his PhD course.

However, a couple of weeks after receiving the initial letter, the university contacted Majid in what he described as a “very frank email” that he would actually have to pay his tuition fees himself.  He told The Mancunion that this left him in a difficult financial position and he needed an advance on his salary.

Whilst on a planned academic visit to the USA, he began his dispute to challenge the alleged change in decision. He received support from his supervisor Dr Adam Greenstein (University of Manchester). However, in the last three years, Majid claims he has struggled to gain support or advice from the Student’s Union, the doctoral academy, or the Head of his department. Many have told him there was simply nothing they could do, even when he was threatened by Credit Central after accumulating masses of debt.

The Mancunion have asked for comment from all three, but have been told none are able to provide any whilst the case is still being processed.

Majid was eventually told of a “Staff Fee Remission Form” in which he could potentially claim 50 per cent of his tuition fees. “No one had told me before,” and this was “very late in the process,” Majid said. He continued that it made him wonder “who is/isn’t entitled to it.”

He went on to submit a “retrospective application” which he believed to be very “generous” as he had not expected to pay anything at all.

His application was, however, declined. He said this was because he was a “clinical research fellow” and the university claims this training is purely for his own benefit.

Majid also disputeed this claim. He had been recruited after receiving a distinction in his Masters and developing a partnership with Dr Adam Greenstein and was insulted that his efforts are, to his mind, not appreciated by the University.

After contacting Nancy Rothwell, Majid was referred to Professor Peter Clayton. Clayton had all correspondence reviewed, following which Majid finally received an apology for the alleged curtness in the original email. A review of payment was also conducted and the university offered to pay for the remainder of Majid’s final year, as well as the £300 all PhD students are entitled to.

Majid declined the offer claiming they had “not gone far enough.”

Since the post, Majid has met with Lemn Sissay in person, who Majid says has now given him support by sharing his post on social media and calling it a “wake up call.”

Majid fears his decision to go public has ruined his academic career and questions whether to leave and return to his work later on. Though he adds “maybe I won’t because I was pushed out.”

“I was handing out [flyers] and posting information to other students and staff about my situation and asking for help…The staff in my department and the faculty did not like it.”

Majid said that he is “certain” that the threat of disciplinary action against him “is not an isolated situation and actually this tendency for the University to try imposing sanctions and making life difficult for individuals who are fighting for justice, be that their own justice or the justice of others.”

He went on to say that he believes it “goes against the principles of the Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom.”

Majid is still devoted to his work, despite his struggles. He wants to encourage young people to strive for a career in science and not put them off by his own experience.

Where Brian Cox has failed

I remember when I sat down at my laptop one evening to watch Brian Cox debate the climate change denier cum Australian senator, Malcolm Roberts, I was, of course, excited to see a superstar physicist from my university tear this misinformed politician to shreds on national television.

But as the debate stretched on my elation faded, and I was overcome by a nagging feeling that I also developed watching Bill Nye debate evolution against Ken Ham. It came with the realisation that scientists and our most visible science communicators do not know how to deal with science rejectionists.

The present looks bleak for scientists. We’ve seen the popularity of politicians whose views reflect a rising rejection of expert opinions, and an increased hostility in the intersections between politics and science (e.g. women’s reproduction, sexual education, creationism in school curriculums, climate change etc.).

However, it’s not likely that people are just plain ignorant of basic scientific facts; the gap in knowledge, I’d argue, is much more profound and difficult to address. People do not know how science, as an institution of knowledge, works.

Good scientific literacy is not just about the knowledge of scientific concepts, but the understanding of how that knowledge is derived and the applications of that empirical methodology in everyday experiences. This is where scientific education and communication fails; there’s no real practical benefit of telling the public how auroras are formed when they aren’t given any indication of how we came to know that.

It’s not particularly surprising that alternative facts have come to have such a strong hold on political culture in status quo. Scientists, like Bill Nye and Brian Cox, seem to be bewildered by the sincere belief people have in ‘anti-science’, and their response to creationists or anti-vaxxers is just to re-assert scientific evidence without truly engaging how their opponents came to form their convictions.

Why does any individual who does not have a doctorate in a STEM subject believe that the Earth is round, or that the Big Bang happened? It is because their high school science teacher told them so, and so did their textbooks and the people around them.

Even I, as a physics undergraduate, am hard-pressed to recite the equations and empirical studies that prove climate change is real, but I trust that my lecturers would not lie to me. This is exactly how anyone forms their conception of the world — they are told by their family, friends, teachers, pastors, and politicians that something is necessarily true, and they take it in good faith until that knowledge becomes an integral part of their world view.

The convictions of people that aren’t necessarily experts stem from their trust in certain sources and their intuitions about how the world works. This explains why alternative facts have so much traction in society; the mechanism by which they are understood by the public is nearly indistinguishable from other institutions of knowledge. To many people, scientific fact is no different from opinion because they understand it in the exact same way.

This is why the ‘Carl Sagan’ age of scientific communication is over. It’s no longer enough to have a scientist explain how stars are formed if the goal is to win the contest for public opinion. If the way people come to know science is through trust, the distrust sowed by special interest lobbying groups, contrarian internet forums, or religious doctrine is all that it takes to break down that entire system of communication.

This is especially true when we consider that science is now involved in controversial political arenas: environmentalism, genderqueer rights, reproductive rights, etc. When the image of impartiality of science is removed, our capacity to campaign for pro-science policies suffer because people now see science as an attack on their core ideological beliefs.

Internet forums were flooded by users disowning their childhood hero, Bill Nye, after he filmed a single episode on the science behind gender and sexuality spectra. That is how powerful the politicisation of science rejectionism has become.

This is not to say that science ambassadors like Brian Cox no longer have a place. It is still essential to have communicators that aim to inspire and excite future generations of scientists, and convey the almost-spiritual wonder that science can provide. But if the goal of science communication is to increase scientific literacy, it is by far more important to ensure that people know how science works.

It’s important to educate students about how the scientific method means that trusting a scientist is fundamentally different from trusting a pastor or even an economist on certain issues. People need to learn about the checks and balances within the scientific community that make it incredibly difficult for invalid scientific theories to gain credibility; checks and balances like scientific journalism, peer-reviewing, and the replication of crucial results.

Instead of having a single face represent science, viewers should be given insight into how vast the entire global scientific community is, and that to undermine the views of one scientist quoting a significant paper would be to undermine the views of us all. Alternative facts have rapidly adapted to be more effective and persuasive, it’s time that science does the same.

Rutherford centenary marked with new exhibition

100 years after first splitting the atom in a milestone of nuclear physics, the work and life of Manchester alumnus and Nobel Prize recipient Ernest Rutherford will be celebrated with the opening of a new exhibition.

The new guided tour of one of the University’s most significant scientific spots is set to offer visitors unprecedented access to the laboratories where this ground-breaking discovery was made.

One of the University’s Heritage Heroes, Rutherford began his scientific research in Canada, developing theories which would lead to him being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908. Often called the father of nuclear physics, his work led to the discoveries of the now well-known concepts of radioactivity, such as half-life and the different varieties of radiation.

Following his relocation to Manchester in 1907, he began work on his hypothesis of atom structure, revealing the small nucleus at the centre containing charge, which would be confirmed by the infamous ‘splitting’.

The 1917 experiment that resulted in the split involved an artificial nuclear reaction – the first of its kind – between helium and radioactive alpha particles, and also led Rutherford to discover the proton, the subatomic particle which carries the atom’s positive charge.

This discovery has been credited by Professor Sean Freeman of the university’s nuclear physics department as having “created the modern field of nuclear physics right here in Manchester”.

The pop-up exhibition, entitled “Rutherford’s Manchester: the birthplace of nuclear physics”, will take place in the Rutherford Building. In the Rutherford Room, which was once the private research room of its namesake and still contains his original laboratory bench, visitors will hear about the history of advancements in science and computing made at the university by its more than 20 Nobel laureates in science, and learn more about Rutherford’s life and the impact of his work. A current science PhD student will guide visitors through the exhibition, which features replica scientific equipment, interpretation panels and archive photographs. Today the Rutherford building is home to university administration, meaning that this guided tour offers its attendees a unique opportunity to step inside one of the university’s most historic sites.

Although one of the most famous, Rutherford worked here alongside other researchers who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics — the Geiger counter, a device for measuring radiation, was co-invented in Manchester by Hans Geiger. Later on, another Manchester researcher would discover another of the essential component parts of the atom — James Chadwick, whose research would form the foundation for the construction of the American atomic bombs which would end the Second World War, discovered the neutron in 1932.

Following its inaugural viewing last week, guided visits to the Rutherford Room will be held monthly (with the exception of January), and a place can be booked through the university’s history and heritage website.

The centenary of Rutherford’s breakthrough has also been marked this year with the announcement of a government fund of £100 million, intended to entice international scientists to travel to the UK to conduct research.

Speaking at the scheme’s launch in July, Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson spoke of Rutherford as “one of our most distinguished scientists,” going on to stress the value of the work carried out in the UK by talented immigrant researchers, such as Rutherford himself.

“The Prime Minister has made clear she wants us to be a country that attracts the brightest and best minds,” Johnson added. “Rutherford and his immense contributions to science exemplify our vision of a Britain that is open to the best minds and ideas in the world, and stands at the forefront of global collective endeavours to understand, and to improve, the world in which we live.”

Money saving app CityMunch Launches in Manchester

As students we are often put off from going out for tasty treats due to our small bank balances, but now there may be a solution.

CityMunch is the perfect app for foodies on a budget and students after some tasty cheap nosh. After successfully launching in London and Bristol it has arrived in Manchester, offering real time discounts at some fantastic independent restaurants including Yard and Coop, Kettle Bell Kitchen, Oké Poké and Bosu Body Bar.

Rob Lynch, CEO and Founder of CityMunch, shares his excitement to be launching in Manchester. “We’re thrilled to have launched in Manchester. There’s such a rich culture here and it’s reflected in an amazing spread of independent restaurants. We want to celebrate the quirks of each place by sharing not only their cuisine but also their personality – what part they play in the culture. Through our real-time offers platform, we can help spread the word to a wider audience.”

The app is free to download and diners can reserve a city much voucher straight to their phone, show on arrival and you can get 20-50% off the food bill. Once you have downloaded the app, you will be notified on new deals in restaurants in your area. The app seems to be proving very popular with restaurants as well as the diners who get more than their moneys worth. It allows restaurants to spread the word at times when they have spare capacity or when they have over produced so they can prevent wastage.

CityMunch is available to download free on both Apple and Andriod App stores.

Get Munching…

Review: Federal

Millie Nettleton

By Friday morning, I was definitely feeling ready for reading week. The desperate need for the comfort of mother’s cooking and cuddles from my dogs had kicked in. Just to make it through that last day, I needed a pick me up — a quiet brunch, sat by the window, free to read my book and people watch.

I chose Federal, first city centre cafe to come up when typing in “Best Brunch Manchester” into google. The website greeted me with rustic pictures of eggs on sourdough and perfectly foamed coffees — just what I was looking for.

Upon arrival, there were people queuing out the door: turns out Federal also do their drinks and sandwiches to go. The counter near the door caused some confused hustle and bustle, but eventually I got a seat on the end of a high table. It was packed, and there wasn’t much room. I was perched on the remaining bit of a bar type table of four, leaving me undeniably a little uncomfortable. I couldn’t truly unwind in the way that I had hoped.

Nevertheless, the food made up for it. To start with, I wanted absolutely everything on the menu: I couldn’t decide whether to go for the delicious looking Banana bread, or a sandwich, and did I want the delicious smelling coffee, or a good old cup of tea? I finally settled on a tea (I’m slimming, you know), and a rather curious sounding bagel: “Citrus Avo, with dukkah mix and mushrooms”.

Best decision I’ve ever made.

What I’m assuming was the dukkah mix gave the bagel an indian-style spice kind of taste, and the mushrooms must’ve been cooked in it, as they were out of this world.

No wonder the restaurant was so busy then, though I couldn’t help but think that they should definitely invest in an expansion; it would be difficult to seat a party of more than two here.

Since this first experience, I’ve been back for a delicious bowl of porridge, and nicked a bit of my friend’s banana bread which was warm and a definite possibility for comfort food. I plan to keep going back till I’ve tried everything on the menu.

Francesca McClimont

If you have the time and energy to drag yourself out of the student comfort zone that is Fallowfield for a brunch with friends, Federal Café is the place to go.

Only a short walk from Piccadilly Gardens and Arndale, its location is ideal to take a break from shopping (or, in most students’ cases, window shopping).

The staff were genuinely nice and friendly: when we arrived we were received with a warm welcome and despite the fact the café was full we only had to wait a couple of minutes before being shown to a table.

Federal’s all day New Zealand Australian inspired brunches are sure to cure even the worst of hangovers — yes, I’m speaking from personal experience. The menu options vary from French toast to corn fritters, so it’s perfect to satisfy any craving, whether it be sweet or savoury. I had the corn fritters with bacon — which was initially startling as it had some of the brightest colours I had ever seen on a plate, but most importantly its taste exceeded my expectations.

The corn fritters perfectly complemented the crispy bacon and the egg was fried to perfection so the yolk was runny — the dream! The Sriracha hollandaise gave it a pleasant spicy kick, even though I’m not a spice lover, as it was just the right amount, which made it a brunch that stands out in my memory from others I’ve had. My cappuccino was also good, as well as being extremely aesthetically pleasing with the prettiest chocolate stencilling I’ve ever seen. So if you’re keen on instagramming your coffee this is the place for you!

I highly recommend the Federal Café and Bar because it ticked all the boxes for me: great service, great food, pretty and tasty coffee and a relaxed atmosphere.

Live: Tash Sultana

28th October, 2017 — Manchester Academy 2

I wasn’t sure what to expect going to see Tash Sultana at Manchester Academy.

Although she didn’t begin with a welcoming speech, she asked anyone racist or homophobic to “get the fuck out,” and the audience welcomed her with cheers.  One might say it was not very appropriate for her to do this, but it set the tone and sent a definite message: Tash is here, and she has no time for your shit.

I had initially seen her on YouTube and I had seen her rock some small setups on my screen, but wasn’t sure how she would handle a full stage. Now, having seen her for myself, it’s pretty safe to say: from her first step onto the stage, her presence connected with the crowd.

I’ve rarely seen someone with so much energy and passion on stage and with such a great ability to transmit it to her audience. Everyone was so switched on to Tash and you could feel the love in the room. Starting with ‘Gemini’, a song from her first album, Notion, she created a magical atmosphere, her universe of creation, and took all of us there with her.

Musically, I was pretty astounded. A mix of soft pads, shredding solos on guitar, mandolin and trumpet, and even a bit of pan-pipe beat-boxing at one point, Tash filled the room with a depth of sound, such that it is hard to believe it was all created by one person. However, seeing her layer the soundscape with her loop-pedal, you don’t need to believe, you just have to sit back and let the waves wash over you.

Tash has definitely been one of my favourite live performances, and I look forward to seeing where she goes next. I’m excited for her.

— Review by Mirela Soca —

10/10

On the trail to wellbeing

Bill Bryson wrote about the countless opportunities for discovery on the trail. Cheryl Strayed beautifully recounted the healing potential of walking in the wild. Lorelai Gilmore even tried to rediscover herself in the great outdoors in the recent Gilmore Girls revival. In the rapid pace of 21st Century life, taking a minute to disconnect has never born so much potential for calm

At this time of year, it’s commonplace to groan at the darkening afternoons and dropping temperatures. It’s commonplace to feel like the outdoors are best avoided at all costs. This can sometimes be the case, but getting outdoors at this time of year is an opportunity to seize the few hours of daylight we can and grab ourselves a moments respite from the daily chores we really should be groaning about.

Often in relation to well-being, we talk of hauling our lives at a one-eighty, reversing our habits and changing our regularities. But can it be just as simple as to take a walk outside? Perhaps it can be.

Hiking isn’t just about climbing to the tallest peak in the country and posting a picture to show people of your might and determination, but it is an opportunity to take a moments peace in the great outdoors, refocus, re-energise and relax.

Guilty of succumbing to any great pop-culture phenomenon, I left the cinema after watching Wild in 2014, assured that I could take a timely jaunt in the Peak District and all my troubles would be cured.

Naive? Perhaps. Optimistic? Definitely.

Stepping off of the train in the Peak District national park, I stood awkwardly at the station platform, not knowing whether to hastily walk left or right. Train stations are places for determined and speedy direction after all. Ambling, not so much.

Uncomfortable and mildly distressed at not knowing where I was or why exactly I had chosen to do this, I began walking through a beautifully picturesque Peak District countryside. Looking for some kind of footpath or some sort of direction, I began to walk for hours upon end, no real goal in mind, just an attempt to take a moments notice.

It seems burdensome to relay that hiking is the answer to all of your well-being needs. Because it likely is not. It is however, a basic and free activity that allows you to gain a little perspective whilst you may be unnecessarily worrying yourself over exams, assignments or daily anxieties.

It’s not the physical strain that makes a walk in the country such a rewarding feat, but the opportunity to be truly alone, without connection or distraction. After a few momentary waves of panic involving the inability to refresh one’s social media feeds, it can only be healthy to be isolated for a moment.

So rarely do we get the opportunity to disconnect ourselves from social media, from work, and from studying, that it becomes naive to think we can truly ‘switch-off’ in the scramble of our daily city lives.

Following a trail in the country or wandering aimlessly in the woods forces you to become present. Taking care of where you’re treading is an elementary task in avoiding the repetitive anxieties of our lives whilst appreciating your natural surroundings. It also doesn’t hurt to be starting and finishing a task — a surefire way to feel a little more accomplished.

Living in the midst of Wilmslow Road congestion, it’s easy to become a little tired of the pace and repetitive nature of spending hours stuck in commuter traffic.

Taking a moment to take in some greenery doesn’t have to involve travelling by train into the great unknown. Manchester has an array of beautiful parks for you to take a crisp, winter walk, be it alone or as a social activity.

Plattfields, Birchfields, Alexandra and Ladybarn are just a few of the parks within close proximity to the Oxford Road corridor. Perfect for a quick walk in those precious daylight hours.

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, the Peak District national park is the perfect place to take a weekends hike in the great outdoors. Maybe consider hopping onto the Sheffield-bound train and head to the beautiful village of Edale. There’s even an opportunity for a rewarding drink once you’ve taken a well-earned break — the lack of mobile signal is but an added benefit.

Image: James Johnson

Rushing from point to point in our daily lives leaves little time to appreciate our surroundings. Taking a well-deserved rest need not involve sitting inside, hidden away from the outdoors. A brisk walk in the country may be the all-too-obvious remedy to a busy week’s chores and anxieties.

Why not disconnect for an afternoon? Take a moment to appreciate your surroundings, take in a little exercise and switch off, even for a little while.

Review: Wolfenstein II: The New Colussus

BJ, Blazko ‘Terror-Billy’, whatever you want to call him. B. J. Blazkowicz is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of Nazi’s of Wolfenstein II, just as strongly as it has for decades. Though it may go under the radar amidst current blockbuster shooters, the Wolfenstein series predates most, with Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993) — same universe — existing as landmark titles that paved the way for the modern FPS. There is certain pedigree to this series and this may be the best to date.

The game kicks off right after the events of the previous game, Wolfenstein: The New Order, with one the greatest opening sequences I’ve played in a long time. Not to spoil too much for you, but the first hour or so features a wheelchair, lots of bullets and leads in to one of the darkest introductions to a story villain you’ll find anywhere.

Photo: Bethesda Softworks

The first thing that struck me about this game is that it is absolutely gorgeous — or as our Texan-born protagonist would say: “gosh-darn perrrdy”. In all seriousness, the game is very easy on the eye, hitting that sweet spot between striking realism and the slightly exaggerated, with Tarantino-esque blood-splattering to boot.

Whilst we’re on the subject, it really is one of the bloodiest games I’ve played in a while and certainly not one for the faint hearted. By no means is this to say that the previous games did not have their fair share of blood and guts — at least not those with the graphical capabilities to do so — but it takes the act of obliterating enemies and sending viscera flying into the air to a new level.

In terms of the combat itself, the gun play is virtually identical to the previous game, favouring that arcade-like, hip-firing madness over finely-tuned and accurate shooting mechanics. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It makes a nice change of pace from the style of firefighting we’ve come to expect from the likes of Battlefield, or even the more accessible Call of Duty.

The weapons themselves have that added appeal that comes with the sci-fi genre, offering you the chance to melt excessively armoured beef-cakes with heavy lasers cannons and even souping up more familiar tools for killing, such as turning switching out the double-barrelled shotgun for the rotisseried and triple-barrelled automatic number.

All of your firepower can be modified too, with upgrade kits to be picked up as you play through each level. In truth, dual-wielding often seems to be the best and only option at times, but damn it ain’t half satisfying to emulate Terminator.

The arsenal itself is a tad limited, however, and although the customisation is a nice bonus to add to the base weapons available, I often found myself not really feeling the benefit — with the exception of the silencer for stealth missions perhaps, of which I pleasantly surprised to see quite a number of in most levels.

Though this helps diversify game play, it by no means offers you respite from the bedlam of true combat, as the pressure you feel in sneaking around hordes of Nazis, trying to hunt down the commander before he calls in another wave, is just as stressful. The soundtrack does you no favours either, scoring deep, descending drones as well as the heart-palpitating dub step during all-out war.

It seems only fair that at this point, now that I have your attention, to let you come to terms that with the fact that you’re going to die — no I don’t mean “let’s all discuss our own mortality” — I’m talking about the absolutely certainty that is your regular demise whilst playing The New Colossus.

If you’re like me and you struggle swallowing your pride when it comes to games, then you might not want to hear this: Wolfenstein II is extremely challenging, so much so that I genuinely had to drop the difficulty for a minute or two when it became clear that my grasp of the harder difficulties is not universal.

So just accept it now: you’re going to die and you’re going to die a lot, but do not jump to throwing your pad against the wall and being passive-aggressive with everyone in your house. Just take your time and realise that this is a different type of game you’re playing. The level of challenge here is really refreshing and it feels like shooters of old.

There are aspects that make things even harder, with some clumsily designed environments here and there, as well as it not always being clear on what to aim for when the boss-fights come knocking. You’ll spend a good amount picking up health and armour too, as well as trying different approaches to get the job done. The game rewards being quick and clever overall, as neither caution nor blind fury will get you very far, you have to plan and think on your feet all at once.

Before I come towards a verdict on this game, I cannot fail to stress the sheer level of creativity, class and comedy that the developers bring to the story itself.

In The New Colossus, the bar is set extremely high, all the way from the writing to the performances of the actors both individually and as part of the ensemble.

The dynamics between the likes of Fergus and Grace are a great source of comedy, even if a bit caricatured at times, and BJ’s harrowing internal monologues add a tragic poetry that was totally unexpected. No character, however, stands out more than the maniacal Frau Engel.

Photo: Bethesda Softworks

In the opening scenes touched upon earlier, her big reveal feels epic and once the full extent of her cruelty is understood moments later, she firmly cements herself as one of the best videogame baddies since Far Cry 3’s Vas.

The significance of Engel is not merely in her compelling performance however, it is more so in the sheer evil that she symbolises as the game’s figurehead for the Nazi regime. Wolfenstein II is not only an excellent game, but the marketing surrounding this game’s launch is unlike any I can ever remember.

Photo: BethesdaSoftworks

Bethesda Softworks made a bold move in generating a buzz around this game and one that showed real spirit. Killing Nazis in this game is not just about the go-to villain or because it’s what the franchise is built around. This time around they serve to make a serious political statement. The team behind Wolfenstein II have been unapologetic in spreading their message and rightly told those who don’t agree that they are not welcome playing their game.

8.5/10

Cluny MCR: a magazine opening doors for all Manchester creatives

Manchester is a place brimming with creative talent, which can often prove difficult for creatives who want to get recognition. In an environment that can sometimes be competitive, it is easy to get disheartened with your work. This is where Cluny MCR comes along. This free-to-use website and print magazine helps artists who may not have been as lucky in getting their work out there by offering them a creative space. It is a platform that gives a voice to the cast-aside artists. Created by young student entrepreneurs Louis Haynes and Jake Macleod, it has proven fairly popular, garnering almost a thousand likes on Facebook and close to 2,000 followers on Instagram.

To find out more about what the magazine and website advocates, I sat down with one of the founders, Louis, to speak about his inspirations and ideas.

What does ‘Cluny’ mean to you and what spurred you on to create it?

L: I first met Jake, my partner and best friend, early on. He is a bit older than I am, and has lived in Manchester a year longer. He basically opened my eyes to the amount of creativity in the city. You don’t need to look far to see amazing work in every medium imaginable, but it’s hard for artists to really display their work in an effective way. The internet is really awful. It’s just this horrible chasm in which everyone has to sift their way through infinite content… so Cluny was born to try and showcase the city’s creative endeavours and bound them together in a themed issue.

Creative expression is obviously important to you – do you think it is imperative in our current society? If so, why?

L: I mean I guess that’s a difficult question for me to answer. I mean of course it is imperative, but creative expression exists in so many forms. I can only really talk of my experiences.

I originally set up Cluny as a way in which I could fully immerse myself in the city’s art & culture. I played music in a band from when I was very young until just before I came to university. When that finished, I felt really quite depressed. It was as if there was a huge gap in my life. It wasn’t necessarily playing music, it was the focus it gave me, and the opportunity to invest time in something beautiful and fulfilling. I suppose everyone desires that kind of feeling, so I guess creative expression is imperative.

How do you decide your themes and what do you mostly lean towards?

L: Our themes have varied a lot to be honest. We used to favour seasonal themes, we still try and use seasonal colour palettes, but we have moved to trying to capture more explicit feelings in each theme. This works well as it gives each artist a clear focus and stops the temptation they might have to submit new work. Our newest issue is called ‘The Glad and Sorry Issue’. It’s a reflection on summer’s long days and heady nights and the consequences of actions.

What was the inspiration behind the name and is it related to your content?

L: The name comes from a character in the Brian Jacques children’s book series ‘Redwall Abbey’. Cluny is the name of the villain in the books. He’s an evil rat with a poison-bladed tail hell-bent on raiding this little civilisation of woodland animals that live in a monastery called Redwall Abbey. He’s driven by a desire to steal this amazing tapestry that the brave house mice in Redwall have been protecting for thousands of years. The relevance of the name is a little tenuous. I guess that Jake and I are a little like Cluny, trying to steal art for our own desires. Also Jake does have a poisoned-bladed tail to be fair…

How can students get involved?

L: We update progress on each issue and submissions through our Facebook and Instagram. So to keep up with themes and deadlines I would advise following us. Jake handles the visual side of the content – art, photography, graphics, illustration, film. I handle the writing, music and mix tape side of things.

Be sure to follow ‘Cluny MCR’ on Facebook and Instagram, here and here so that you can follow their progress and contribute any creative pieces.

The launch party for the new issue is on the 11th of November and the event can be found here.

Website: http://www.clunymcr.com/

Should dopers be accepted back into sport?

In January 2016, Maria Sharapova failed a drugs test at the Australian Open and was found to be taking Meldonium. The substance is used to treat ischaemia and can increase exercise capacity in athletes. Sharapova claimed she had been taking the substance for ten years because of a magnesium deficiency before it was banned at the start of 2016.

The Russian born tennis star was hit with a two-year ban that was later dropped to 15 months and made her return to competitive tennis in April but was wary of the backlash. Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard labelled Sharapova a cheat and said she should not be allowed back into the sport. Bouchard’s comments raise an issue on whether returning drug offenders should be welcomed back into the sport.

The most notable example of a doper is Lance Armstrong. The cyclist won the Tour de France seven times but had his titles voided due to a long history of doping abuse. Key to the Armstrong case was that the revelations came after his career had finished. Despite being given a lifetime ban, the hypothetical situation in which Armstrong would have served a ban and been able to return to the sport seems unimaginable. The backlash would have been too strong for him to ever seriously consider returning.

One of the sports most plagued by doping abuse is athletics. Every year there are new revelations about a winning athlete who had been taking banned substances and one of the most famous is Justin Gatlin. The American Track and Field sprinter has been banned on two occasions for drug abuse and his repeated return is a particular thorn in the side of many.

Gatlin returned from an eight-year ban in 2017 to win the 100m event at 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships. This was a very sore point for the purists, as Gatlin beat the sport’s golden boy Usain Bolt in what was the Jamaican’s last race. There are those that argue Gatlin and other dopers should be immediately banned for life regardless of the severity of their doping. However, others argue the athletes should be allowed a chance at redemption and shouldn’t be treated as dopers for the rest of their life.

It is a subject that divides fans. There are those that believe all dopers should be dropped from the sport and those that believe the bans handed out by governing bodies suffice and ex-doping athletes should be treated as any other athlete after their suspension.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) face a difficult task. If they continue to hand out shorter bans, then it may encourage dopers to continue knowing that even if they do get caught, there is a chance they can return.
For WADA, they have to make the punishment so severe that the potential rewards of doping are nowhere near as impactful as the potential punishments.

In terms of the fans, it will continue to create a divide between those that believe dopers should be accepted back and the staunch believers that once a doper, always a doper.

How to avoid deadline stress

As the time of deadlines emerges, I think about how I can prevent the usual agony I put myself through every year. The ever familiar phrase “I’m going to start my work early this time” rings in my head as I look down at the list of things I have to do.

I’m sure everyone can agree that this is said and not done. It is often the case that we forget to start early because this task gets pushed to the back of our heads as it is not as urgent as other things.

But do not fret! With these tips, you’ll find yourself managing your time more efficiently so you don’t end up with sleepless nights.

  • Create your own checklist. By creating smaller tasks that don’t seem as intimidating, you can build up the amount of work you do. This will avoid you being overwhelmed by too much work at once and means your work won’t mount up.
  • Set reminders on your phone! By creating your own mini-deadlines on something that you use every day, you will be constantly reminded of the little tasks that you need to do to meet your bigger deadline.
  • Start a week before you think you normally would. Giving yourself as much time as you possibly can is probably the best thing you could do. I know, this usually never happens, but if you stick a reminder to do this every day for that week on your phone, it’ll be almost like one of your teachers/parents are nagging you and you’ll (hopefully) eventually do it.
  • Put up visual reminders around your room! Having physical reminders surrounding you can really help spur you on to work. Stick up some post-it notes on your walls or pin board! Even buying some neon coloured ones will help make you notice it more.
  • Attach a small reward to each task. If the motivation of finishing your work is not enough, adding on rewards that you’ll actually enjoy will really urge you to work. For example, tell your friends that they can’t let you go out with them unless you finish a chapter of reading or reward yourself with a chocolate bar after an hour of working. Having something to look forward to will mean you have something to work towards.
  • Work at intervals. For me, trying to concentrate on one thing can prove difficult after about half an hour. Set timers on your phone for realistic times. Work for twenty minutes then take a break for five – don’t go on your phone!
  • Don’t stress! I am definitely guilty of stressing out even when I tell other people not to. This is so easy to say and not do. The trick is to take a step back when you are. Leave whatever is stressing you out and go do something else for half an hour. Exercise is particularly helpful in these cases – go for a walk!

Keeping in mind these few things can really take you a long way and save you a lot of grief. If you don’t trust yourself to remember, then ask one of your friends or maybe even a family member to remind you every once in a while.

Review: Call of Duty: WWII

2016 wasn’t a great year for the Call of Duty franchise. Infinite Warfare vastly under performed in sales despite Activision’s dastardly tactic of holding the remastered version of fan favourite Modern Warfare hostage.

People who wanted to play Modern Warfare Remastered could only do so by buying the £70 deluxe version of Infinite Warfare. Activision became your mum, only letting you go to the park if you took your awful little brother along with you.

The general consensus seemed to be that everyone was burnt out on futuristic warfare, so developers made the wise move to return to the franchise’s roots with a WWII game. Enter Call of Duty: WWII after three years of development — much of which was no-doubt spent thinking of the name.

WWII’s campaign is probably the best Call of Duty story since the Modern Warfare series. I’m not sure whether it’s because of genuinely engaging character development or just the fact the series is finally grounded in history again, but I found myself really quite attached to Daniels, Zussman, and Turner.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

I was expecting most of the narrative to consist of the usual superficial American centrism. Whilst there was a lot of this, there was also a tactful treatment of the darker aspects of war. American soldiers will comment that the dead German soldiers on the road were just guys with mothers like themselves, characters speak of how their superiors see them as dispensable, and when undercover, you overhear German women in a toilet talking about whether they’ll ever get to see their spouses again.

Graphically, the single player is where WWII shines. The missions take you from the beaches of Normandy, to the streets of Paris, to the snowy Ardennes Forest — and they’re all truly beautiful environments.

I don’t want to overstate it — it’s still the classic Call of Duty cinematic sequences. Time still conveniently slows down so you can kill multiple fully-armed Nazis with just a handgun. You still have the obligatory tank mission and chase scenes, and you still spend an obscene amount of the game with a blurry screen, ears ringing as your commander shouts your name in the background.

However, WWII did impress me with its addition of a stealth system to the game. It’s a pretty basic mechanic — enemies have a meter above their heads which displays how close you are to detection — but even little changes make a big difference to a series on its fourteenth instalment.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

The best implementation of stealth is undoubtedly in the mission “Liberation”, which sees you play as Rousseau, a female leader of the French resistance who goes undercover amongst Nazi officers. It has a real Inglorious Basterds feel, and the speech-based gameplay in which you have to remember your cover story is a nice break from the gun-play.

Another good addition to the series was the new health system. You no longer magically heal over time from being shot multiple times in the chest. Instead, you request health packs from certain members of your squad. The same system is in place for ammo, grenades, and smoke signals to call in airstrikes. This forces you to stick with your comrades, and strips you of the immersion-breaking ability to charge around on your own like a super-soldier — my usual go-to tactic for Call of Duty campaigns.

The campaign is definitely an experience that deserves a headset. The music and sound effects are both great. Wilbert Roget II has succeeded in composing one of the best Call of Duty soundtracks to date, and the gun sounds are all crisp and satisfying. This was a relief, as Call of Duty developers seem to flip a coin every year to decide whether their guns will sound throaty and powerful, or like pathetic pea-shooters.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

The game runs at 60fps, and aside from a few minor frame rate drops during hardware-intensive sequences, it manages to achieve its target. Smooth and responsive gameplay has long been a hallmark of Call of Duty games, and this one is no different. Both the campaign and the multiplayer feel delightfully polished.

The biggest pull of Call of Duty is, of course, multiplayer. WWII delivers magnificently, but in true Activision style, it’s not without its trademark anti-consumerism.

For example, WWII features a multiplayer hub area called Headquarters, which functions very similarly to the Tower from the Destiny games. It’s a fantastic addition. Players can face off in the 1v1 pit, go head-to-head at the firing range, or even throw a ball back and forth.

The issue is the way that loot boxes are insidiously woven into the headquarters experience. You now open loot boxes in front of everyone in the Headquarters, and you even get bonuses and challenges for watching other people open them. It’s a vulgar method of driving micro transactions — an attempt to transform players into walking billboards for paid content.

Worst of all is the fact that the Headquarters area is situated on the beaches of Normandy — having these flashy loot boxes constantly fall out of the sky on one of the bloodiest sites of the Second World War feels tone-deaf to the point of becoming self-parodic.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

Just as disappointing is the fact that the base multiplayer only contains nine maps, which feels awfully threadbare when considering that usually Call of Duty games ship with around 12-16. Presumably, this is because the new War game mode has its own three maps — but as these are only playable in the War game mode, this isn’t really much of a consolation.

What makes the lack of maps truly unforgivable is the fact that the first map pack has already been announced for January, and it consists of some maps that players have discovered are already in the core game’s files. That’s right — Activision have cut content from the game in order to sell it back to you at a later date.

Regarding the War game mode itself, it really is a welcome innovation to the CoD franchise. The matches are quite a bit longer than other game modes and borrow elements from more objective-based shooters like Overwatch and Battlefield.

Players battle it out over multiple objectives on large maps. If the attacking team can complete an objective within the time limit, the defenders must fall back to a further part of the map to defend the next. It’s exactly the kind of objective-driven gameplay Call of Duty was lacking, and gives casual players who perhaps aren’t as good at killing a chance excel as part of a team.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

Unfortunately, the multiplayer experience has thus far been plagued with server issues. The Headquarters area is currently always empty, matches disconnect from the server, and the waiting time for joining lobbies was so long that I began to wonder if Activision had used real WWII-era technology for their network infrastructure.

When I did get to play, the experience is near-flawless. Partying up with friends is effortless, and Call of Duty once again demonstrates why it’s such a leviathan of Multiplayer games: it’s refined, responsive, fast-paced, and accessible.

Photo: Sledgehammer Games

As a quick note on Nazi Zombies, it demonstrates how much the mode has evolved from being a bit of side content that only briefly holds your attention, to its own fully fleshed-out experience. Only two maps are available — a tiny house reminiscent of the original Nacht der Untoten map from World at War, and a much larger map full of explorable areas and easter eggs. It’s a testament to how much thought has gone into the large map that my first playthrough, despite only reaching round 14, took almost an hour, and we only managed to uncover a fraction of the hidden objectives.

Call of Duty: WWII isn’t revolutionary. It isn’t going to convert you if you’re sick of CoD, and it certainly won’t if you never liked it in the first place. What it does offer though, is a wonderfully polished addition to the series that innovates just enough to feel fresh and exciting, but not too much as to alienate its core audience.

8/10

Review: The Manchester Contemporary 2017

The Manchester Contemporary, a display of the UK’s most exciting galleries and artists, returns for its 10th edition. From kitsch waiting room pieces to the pop and the abstract, there is more than enough for everyone. These are the highlights from the opening weekend:

Salford’s Paradise Works gallery presented their minimalist space as a taster of what was on offer at their Politics of Paradise exhibition. One might accidentally trip over Hilary Jack’s Turquoise Bag (2016), as an unassuming bronze cast of a plastic bag placed on the floor. It is ironic that something so naturally light and free to blow in the wind is suddenly heavy and unmovable.

It creates an environmental critique on the damaging effect of plastic bags, which remain in the environment for thousands of years once disposed of. Yet it may also be interpreted as a comment on art itself, on art losing its cultural significance — on its way to become discarded and forgotten as art institutions lose their funding.

Kieran Leach’s Mid-Air, Don’t Care (2017) puts a twist on a Michelangelo’s David-like, classical-inspired sculpture. The sculpture sports pink shades and rests upon a camouflaged podium. The ensemble strips the figure of its antique solemnity and humorously merges the classical and the modern.

Continuing the theme of tradition-vs-progress is Robin Megannity’s painting Bicep (2017), which portrays a classical bust in a pastel-tinted void. The juxtaposition of an antique artwork reworked in a smooth, digital characterisation is somehow reminiscent of the internet phenomena of ‘vaporwave’. The artist succeeds in producing an illusion of the digital in an oil painting done by hand. With such works, Paper gallery accomplishes contemporary authenticity.

Exhibited by Leon Martyn, Pryce Lee’s sculpture captures the moment a paper plane hits and shatters a mirror in Untitled (2016). The piece expresses the unlikely and unexpected power of something weak and frail having the power to destroy — a reference to the fragility of life.

John-Powell Jones, displayed by The International 3, presented sculptures aiming to challenge the disconnect between meat industry and consumer. If the Booth Fits (2017) is a ceramic boot, which appears to be fabricated out of meat, with the addition of entrails and blood. The grotesque gore remains a permanent mark, an imprint of trauma experienced by both, animal and man, within the walls of a slaughterhouse.

A female energy pervaded through Goldtapped gallery’s stand. Paola Ciarska’s gouache pieces are expressions of personal freedom within one’s sanctuary. The vulnerable, the embarrassing, and the childish become exposed as the viewer oversteps the boundary and is invited to view women in a state of liberation from the pressures of beyond their bedroom, indulged in intimate acts of independence.

Furbies watch over a naked woman smoking from a bong in Untitled (2017) while another woman takes nudes in a mirror, next to her princess bed in Untitled (2016). Juliet Fleming contributes to the feminist aura with Large Digital Clitoris (2017). Its resemblance to a neck pillow presents the subject as inviting and comfortable, rather than taboo and vulgar.

Castlefield Gallery presents Omid Asadi’s Paradox (2017). The piece is a carpet, a hybrid of an intricate Persian design and contrasting loudly-coloured geometric shapes. Rather than one half of the carpet being removed, it is instead painted over as a sign of moving forward. It is an appreciation of the contributions of tradition which also fully embraces modernism and its anti-traditional tendency.

The event presented an array of artistic media, from Jamie Fitzpatrick’s twisted clown-like wax pieces, to Elliot Dodd’s 3D printed human-burger hybrid. Inspirations from previous art icons were plenty, one of them being Thirsty Bstrd’s works which explicitly appropriated Banksy, presenting his stencilled monkeys holding products from Burger King or Starbucks. Amongst original pieces by Banksy and Damien Hirst were also multiple kitsch artworks depicting Pop figures such as Batman, Deadpool, and even Jon Snow, topless underneath his cloak. Art talks, art classes, and a children’s corner were also hosted over the weekend.

The Manchester Contemporary was a quality display of the UK’s galleries’ acceptance of artistic and technological progression. New media, old ideas, politics and tackiness, the below average, and the above average were all experienced that weekend.

Association of Tennis Professionals in hot water after embarrassing Next Gen draw

The inaugural Next Gen tournament took place in Milan but it was the drawing of the groups that caught the media’s eye.

In a sport consistently questioned about regarding the equality between female and male players, it was shocking to see how the groups were drawn for this tournament.

Players were asked to choose one of two female models who would then remove an item of clothing to show the letter A or B. One of the players was asked to remove a model’s glove with his teeth and one model lifted her lace dress to the revel of a certain group.

The draw has rightly been hit by criticism. Judy Murray tweeted it was “awful”. Amelie Mauresmo said the draw was a disgrace. The poorly conceived idea appears to be a tribute to Milan’s history with the fashion industry.

The ATP along with joint hosts Red Bull released a statement apologising for the event: “ATP and Red Bull apologise for the offence caused by the draw ceremony for the Next Gen ATP Finals. The intention was to integrate Milan’s rich heritage as one of the fashion capitals of the world. However, our execution of the proceedings was in poor taste and unacceptable. We deeply regret this and will ensure that there is no repeat of anything like it in the future.”

The event was in particular poorly timed, given the work of recent years in looking to make the game more equal between the sexes.

Interview: Newton Faulkner

It’s hard to pin down an exact musical style for Newton Faulkner. It’s been ten years since the dreadlock-sporting guitar master from Surrey released his first album, Hand Built by Robots. Newton says he’s come a long way since the release of the album and the popularity his most well-known song ‘Dream Catch Me’ brought him in 2007. I ask him what genre he would class himself as. “I like having no rules,” he responds. “That’s my favourite thing about my career — I kind of do, and have done… a whole bunch of things. All my albums are different.”

Newton released his latest album, Hit the Ground Running, this year. “This one feels like it’s landed in a spot I’ve been trying to find for a while, especially production wise.” He recalls how on his previous albums, certain sections of his fan-base berated him for either having too much or too little ‘stuff’. However, with this album, he now feels he’s “found [his] recorded sound.”

He mentions that “this album has a little bit of most things. The heftier, more layered stuff, but also the more stripped back stuff.” Speaking about the themes on Hit the Ground Running, he tells me that its strength lies in the fact it was written over a couple of years. “Some of the albums that were written a lot quicker, they were all about the same feeling; this one covers everything.”

This is perhaps because this is the first album he released on his own label, Battenberg Records, started with his sister. I ask him about the experience of setting up a label and how his production process varies as a result. “It was never [judged by the record label]. No-one was like… ‘Can you do it more like this?’”

He explains that his preceding album, Human Love, was made with the eventually unfulfilled promise of radio play. “It was leaning in a direction that it never really got to take advantage of. It was designed for radio. But then it just didn’t get play-listed. It was after that, I thought… I’m not playing these games. I’m gonna do whatever the fuck I want.”

He expresses that once he was free of the shackles of making a record for anyone else but himself, “anything you make, you’re going to be proud of it. You made no compromises… you just make something you really like, and it’s great!” I’m keen to agree — Hit the Ground Running is, in my opinion, his most soulful album to date, and you can tell he had as much fun making it as I do listening to it — something that carried over into his exquisite live performance in the RNCM concert hall. It’s not just me that agrees. “It’s by far the best reaction I’ve had from the hardcore fanbase, pretty much ever.”

Newton Faulkner performs at RNCM. Photo: Callum Lunn

I follow on from that, asking him if he thinks that the complete upheaval of music culture towards the internet and less dependence on big labels and physical access to media meant he could start his label and get his music out there more easily. He disagrees, stating  “I’ve spent years building a loyal fanbase that I really tap into, and communicate with, through all these new media; but without the fanbase I wouldn’t have been able to release my own record… If you’re a new artist […] it’s possible, but you’d need an incredibly solid team.”

Speaking of loyal fans, Newton issues a wristband to the first 50 fans into the gig which grants them access to a special meet-and-greet event after the show. He explains the motivation behind it. “It means I can actually meet the fans. A lot of these gigs are too big to come straight out. I’ve met people out by the bus […] but they are out in the cold, and I don’t like doing that to people… And it favours the most eager fans — some people have been here since two in the afternoon.” He thinks that the experience is much more genuine than “a hasty sign and a photo.”

Newton is no stranger to festivals having played dozens in his time, and I talk to him for a little while about those. “It’s the people that make the festival, and the British are really good at it. We have a kind of attitude that I haven’t seen anywhere else. It’s the hunger to have a great time in the face of rain, or whatever. To just work around stuff.”

At this point, Newton’s tour manager gives us a warning, and I wrap the interview up. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into the interview, but it was an absolute pleasure meeting and chatting with Newton, and it’s evident in everything that he says that he has a real passion for what he does — and that shines through in his expert guitar work, witty stage banter, and the passion he shows for meeting and interacting with his fans.