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Month: November 2017

HOME Cinema Preview: 24th November

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

Films opening at HOME this week:

Battle of the Sexes

Directed by Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris — Rated 12A

Following the recent documentary by James Erskine and Zara Hayes, Dayton and Farris (Little Miss Sunshine) recreate the legendary 1973 tennis match that pitted Billie Jean King against the boorish Bobby Riggs. Featuring Emma Stone and Steve Carell in the central roles, the film succeeds both as a comedy but more importantly also as a commentary on sexism from a historical and contemporary perspective.

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Suburbicon

Directed by George Clooney — Rated 15

George Clooney returns to the director’s chair and re-teams with Joel and Ethan Coen — as co-writers — for this dark and complex tale of very flawed people making very bad choices in a seemingly idyllic 1950s community. With a cast including Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac, Suburbicon has the look and feel of a Coens movie and doesn’t skimp on the irony.

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Beach Rats

Directed by Eliza Hittman — Rated 15

Frankie, an aimless Brooklyn teenager is having a miserable summer. With his father dying and his mother wanting him to find a girlfriend, Frankie escapes with his delinquent friends and flirts with older men online. When his chatting and webcamming intensify, he finally starts hooking up with guys at a nearby cruising beach while simultaneously entering into a cautious relationship with a young woman. With a smouldering lead performance from newcomer Harris Dickinson, this exquisitely crafted, scrupulously authentic, dark, and dangerous film confirms the promise of director Eliza Hittman’s arresting earlier work.

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Films continuing this week:

Ingrid Goes West

Directed by Matt Spicer – Rated 15

Following the death of her mother and a series of self-inflicted setbacks, young Ingrid Thorburn — the always wonderful Aubrey Plaza — escapes a humdrum existence by moving out West to befriend her Instagram obsession and L.A. socialite Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). After a quick bond is forged between these unlikeliest of friends, the façade begins to crack in both women’s lives — with comically malicious results in this acerbic comedy that also looks at the destructive effects of social media.

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Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool

Directed by Paul McGuigan – Rated 15

Annette Bening and Jamie Bell star in this adaptation of the memoir by British actor Peter Turner, recounting his romance with the legendary — and legendarily eccentric — Hollywood star and film noir stalwart Gloria Grahame during the later years of her life. Detailing a trail of broken marriages and affairs, the film also offers a look at the underside of stardom.

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The Florida Project

Directed by Sean Baker — Rated 15

Sean Baker’s follow-up to the astonishing Tangerines is another lucid, brilliantly realised portrait of life on the margins. The Florida Project tells the story of a precocious six-year-old and her rag-tag group of close friends whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder, possibility and a sense of adventure, while their parents and the adults around them struggle with hard times. A synthesis of Mark Twain, Gummo and Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, this is a bold, visionary work.

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The Killing of a Sacred Dear

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos — Rated 15

Steven (Farrell), an eminent cardiothoracic surgeon is married to Anna (Kidman), a respected ophthalmologist. They are well off and live a happy and healthy family life with their two children, Kim and Bob. Their lives take a darker turn when Martin (Keoghan), a fatherless youth with whom Steven has a strained friendship ingratiates himself further into the lives of the family. Lanthimos’s follow-up to The Lobster is a brilliantly realised, Kubrickian look at human behaviour.

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The Death of Stalin

Directed by Armando Iannucci — Rated 15

Based on the graphic novel The Death Of Stalin by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, writer and director Armando Iannucci’s (Veep, The Thick of It) acerbic satire is set in the days following the Russian leader’s stroke in 1953 as his core team of ministers tussle for control. An all-star cast includes Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Rupert Friend, Jason Isaacs, and Olga Kurylenko.

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Good Time

Directed by Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Rated 15

After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Constantine “Connie” Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city’s underworld in an increasingly desperate – and dangerous – attempt to get his brother Nick (Benny Safdie) out of jail. Over the course of one adrenalised night, Connie finds himself on a mad descent into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing their lives hang in the balance.

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Special events this week:

25th November – Kubo and the Two Strings

Part of the the Bring Your Family Season

Directed by Travis Knight – Rated PG

A young boy named Kubo embarks on a magical quest to locate a suit of armour worn by his late father, so he can defeat a vengeful spirit from the past.

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25th November – School Number 3

Directed by Yelizaveta Smith – Rated 15

Speaking directly to the camera, teenagers from a school in Ukraine’s Donbass region share their innermost hopes, fears, desires and memories in this heartfelt documentary. While the war between Russia and Ukraine is never mentioned, it forms an unspoken epicentre around which individual stories coalesce. Co-directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Yelizaveta Smith and German theatre director Georg Genoux, School Number 3 was developed in parallel with a live theatre performance also created with students from the school.

The pared down monologues brim with sincerity and emotion as we listen to a generation whose lives have been directly affected by the war, but who we are not accustomed to hearing from in the global media, tell their stories. By collecting these individual, subjective narratives and providing them with a voice, Smith and Genoux challenge the abounding stereotypes – specifically of eastern Ukraine – that cling to this ongoing conflict and give us an opportunity to witness the country’s crisis anew.

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26th November – The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum + Q&A

Directed by Volker Schlöndorff, Margarethe von Trotta – Rated 15

A key political film of the New German Cinema, Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta co-directed and adapted The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum from the controversial novel by Heinrich Böll. Set in a climate of fear and paranoia, Angela Winkler plays the young woman of the title whose life is slowly destroyed by the media following her meeting a young man who is suspected by the authorities of being a political activist.

We will be joined by Angela Winkler for a post-screening Q&A.

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27th November –  Spike is 60/ Inside Man

Directed by Spike Lee – Rated 15

Inside Man represents Lee’s first move into mainstream studio features and is still his highest grossing at $184 Million. Washington teams up with Lee for the fourth time to play a detective who is negotiating with a highly intelligent bank robber who will stop at nothing to complete his task.

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28th November – Illustrious Corpses

Directed by Francesco Rosi – Rated PG

In an Italy rife with mistrust and paranoia, judges are being murdered. Lino Ventura’s quietly effective detective is appointed to investigate who is responsible and soon begins to unearth an array of corruption and duplicity within the corridors of power. Highly atmospheric, this is perhaps the archetypal political film of the 1970s and displays to great effect Rosi’s brilliant visual style.

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29th November – Man on the Roof + Intro

Directed by Bo Widerberg – Rated 15

Adapted from the Martin Beck novel The Abominable Man by legendary left-leaning Swedish crime writers Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, Man on the Roof is a great example of a 1970s Nordic Noir film. Here Beck, played by Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt, and his team investigate a brutal murder in a hospital, encountering stories of police brutality as they progress, which in turn leads to a thrilling climax on the rooftops of Stockholm. A great opportunity to see the roots of the current wave of Scandinavian crime dramas.

This screening will be introduced by Roy Stafford, Freelance Film Educator.

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Government does not give pledged £17 million to Manchester

Written by Patricia Caras on . Posted in News.

Theresa May has been accused of failing to keep her promise of reimbursing the £17 million costs accumulated in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena Bombing.

Six months after the attack it has been revealed that police, health, and council services have not yet received the £17 million in funding from Westminster.

It is estimated that the Greater Manchester Police alone are facing a cost of up to £9 million which covers bringing in emergency forces from elsewhere in the country. Health and council services have also been stretched enormously as they have amassed a total cost of up to £8 million in providing counselling and support for the people caught up in the blast and their respective relatives.

In addition, the council is expecting a total cost of up to £10 million more to come down the line related to costs in overall administration related to the May attack.

Overall, Manchester City Council has estimated that the total cost will be well in excess of the £17 million promised by Westminster.

Labour MP for Manchester,  Ms Lucy Powell, pleaded with the Prime Minister on 15 November 2017 to provide an additional “clear and categoric commitment that the Prime Minister will reimburse this amount at the earliest opportunity.”

Prime Minister Theresa May has subsequently declared that Westminster will endeavour to make the necessary funds available by the end of this week.

The Government’s delayed response in honouring their commitment to providing assistance in the aftermath of the May attack which claimed 22 lives has left many disillusioned with its current leadership.  Veteran city centre spokesman Pat Karney contrasted the current Prime Minister’s response to that of the Conservative government in 1996 during John Major in the aftermath of the IRA attack. He recalls that both John Major and Michael Heseltine provided immediate assistance to Manchester City Council as they had promised.

Mr Karney pointed out that the current Government’s involvement in the provision of financial support following the May attack, which is Manchester’s biggest ever terrorist attack, indicates there is a “moral bankruptcy at the centre of Government.”

‘No unemployment’? Then why can’t families afford to buy food?

Written by Jamie Bootle on . Posted in Opinion.

Chancellor Philip Hammond rightly faced notable criticism for his comments on the Andrew Marr Show last Sunday the 19th, on which, when pressed on his plan to deal with unemployment he claimed: “There are no unemployed people” in the UK.

According to the ONS, there were 1.425 million unemployed people in the UK in September, therefore it is hardly surprising that Hammond’s comment has received much scrutiny. Although the government is boasting such positive employment figures and thus economic prosperity, the use of food banks are rising at troubling rates, and there has not been a real wage rise in the UK for seven years. Consequently, there are clearly deeper issues within the economy that are not picked up on in government unemployment figures.

In full, Hammond’s rebuttal to questions over unemployment was: “Where are all these unemployed people? There are no unemployed people. We have created 3.5 million jobs since 2010. This economy has become a jobs factory.”

However, this notion of prosperity comes at a time where usage of food banks between April and September has increased by 13 per cent compared to last year — resulting in 587,000 three day emergency packages being distributed.

This is especially prevalent in Manchester. More packages were given out in the North West than anywhere else in the country (87,374). Given that the Chancellor flaunts unemployment is apparently at its lowest level since the 1970s, why does the amount of people who cannot afford their own food continue to rise?

Moreover, whilst the unemployment rate fell, so did the percentage of working age people (16-64) in employment. In May through September, an additional 140,000 working age people have become economically inactive, meaning that they are no longer included in unemployment figures — this marks the highest rise since January 2010. A key contributor to this figure are those who have stopped actively seeking a job due to the inability to find worthwhile employment.

In addition, there is a troubling increase in those who are underemployed in the UK, this refers to those who wish to work more hours than they already do, or are in a part-time job and wish to work full time. The underemployment rate in the UK is now believed to be a staggering 9.7 per cent, equating to well over three million people.

The nature of employment in the UK is changing, with employment no longer meaning a secure 40-hour-a-week job, but increasingly part-time, zero-hours or as part of the ‘gig-economy’ – in which many concerns have been raised about lack of workers’ rights and fears over their exploitation.

According to Trussell Trust statistics, the primary reason for people using food banks is low income (26.5 per cent listed this as their primary reason), as even those who are officially in employment are unable to provide enough to support themselves or their families, a damning statistic against the Conservative rhetoric of unprecedented employment levels. Therefore, for the Chancellor to boast of ‘jobs factory’ when the jobs are not providing workers with sufficient income to survive is wholly laughable.

Therefore, it is clear the way we assess employment needs to change, with jobs increasingly being part-time and not so much a job for life, these low unemployment figures are quite frankly meaningless. Instead, the government should not look to hide behind such an outdated method of assessing job prospects in the economy and instead look to promote stable, high-paid, full time jobs as opposed to using misleading statistics to reinforce a failing political agenda.

As the Budget is being announced it is clear that the Chancellor needs to address these concerns. People want their working hours guaranteed so they can actually plan their income, as well as effective employment contracts so workers are not exploited. Moreover, workers in all parts of the economy, including the gig economy, need a protected minimum wage, as well as one which needs to rise in order to keep pace with inflation to prevent workers becoming continuously poorer.

However, there is not much to suggest the Chancellor will address this and instead stand behind empty figures, which continue to give a misleading representation of employment in the country, despite the fact many workers and families are struggling.

Basel get a winner just in thyme

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Sport.

This is the penultimate game in the Champions League Group Stage and Basel will need to win to give themselves any realistic chance of progressing. Manchester United on the other hand need just a point from their last two games to ensure qualification. With the return of Pogba and Fellaini beginning to start matches it is hard to see United losing.

Mourinho makes seven changes from the side that beat Newcastle 4-1 at the weekend. Sergio Romero starts his first European game since the Europa League final. The entire defence is a fresh one too with Darmian, Smalling, Rojo and Blind making up the back four. The holding midfielders are Herrera and Fellaini, again both with be fresh. Lingard, Pogba and Martial form an attacking three behind the lone striker Lukaku.

FC Basel need to win three points to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition and you can tell it from their desire from the moment the whistle is blown. United have been forced to pass the ball back to Romero several times already due to hard pressing and one of those was a little too close for comfort.

After ten minutes Basel look by far the better team. They are hunting in packs to close down any United possession and it’s causing a lot of problems in getting the ball out from the defence. As a result they’re resorting to long balls to create any sort of chances.

Damian gets brought down just inside the Basel half and United use it as an opportunity to get the tall target men like Fellaini and Pogba into he box. Blind launches the ball it and it does reach the head of Fellaini but he heads just wide.

The game has a lot of similarities to the one in which Huddersfield beat United. Not because they have more quality but because they have a greater desire to win every battle, no matter how small. They are closing down players quickly and aren’t allowing players such as Pogba any time to find penetrative passes.

Pogba gets brought down about twenty yards out in a very central position. You’d fancy Rashford’s chances with a free kick like that but he finds himself on the bench. Instead Pogba lines up the shot but it goes high and wide, a waste of a good opportunity, he should really be hitting the target or at least getting close.

It has taken 35 minutes but United are finally starting to take control of the game. Pogba has a free role in the midfield and every attacking play is funnelled through him. The high press play from Basel seems to already be a little too much for them and they are conceding several free kicks from sloppy late challenges.

The first major chance of the game comes from an inch perfect cross from Martial. Fellaini tries to get a deft touch on the ball with his head but it’s so deft the ball hardly moves, the shot going a foot wide. Moments later Martial dances through several defenders but when he gets passed them the angle between himself and the goal is too small to beat the keeper and it results in a corner.

The delivery in is a poor one and it is easily cleared to just shy of the halfway line where Rojo receives the ball. He must be around 40 yards out but fancies his chances nonetheless. The shot deflects off the Basel captain leaving the keeper Vaclik stranded but luckily for him it ricochets off the bar.

At half time United have been marginally the better team overall but they’ve only broken a sweat in the last quarter of an hour. A draw will see them top the group but Mourinho will undoubtedly want a win. In the second half the quality of United will probably ensure their victory, especially with players like Rashford and Ibrahimovic on the bench.

Both teams have goalscoring opportunities in the opening few minutes with neither testing the opposition keeper. So far there have been ten shots in total with only three hitting the target, this will need to change if we are to see any goals.

A potentially contentious decisions comes as Martial takes on two plays and the ball bounces off a hand before reaching Lukaku. The defender is in the box and the referee blows his whistle to give…offside for Lukaku. Perhaps he deemed it ball to hand, or perhaps he didn’t see it. Play goes on.

The first substitution for United comes in the 63rd minute as Lingard comes off for Rashford. Mourinho will be looking to get a foothold in the game as Basel are getting closer and closer to hitting the target with several shots going just wide. He’ll be hoping Rashford’s fresh legs and pace will make a difference against the tiring defence, a method that is tried, tested and proved a success this season. Pogba is replaced by Matic a minute later.

Another contentious moment as Rojo takes down a player in the box. After watching the replay it clearly shows enough contact to warrant a penalty being given but the referee gives a goal kick. If he doesn’t give a penalty surely it’s a yellow card for simulation, but that’s a debate for another day.

Basel are dominant so far this half and if not for a timely sliding block by Rojo they would have scored the first goal of the game. It’s all about to change now though as Zlatan Ibrahimovic is coming on for Martial who has been one of the standout players of the game so far. I think replacing Lukaku would have been the right option but Mourinho never seems interested in doing that.

Serey Dié has a fantastic shot from 30 yards out forcing a good save from Romero. In the process he appears to have injured himself and is substituted off. Basel are pushing harder and harder for the goal that will keep them in the competition. This may open the door for a United counter attack as they get more desperate in the final few minutes.

Darmian gets a yellow card for clattering down an oncoming attacker. As the desperation increases so does United’s shakiness in defence. He then judo throws another player seconds later but doesn’t get anything for it. There have been several bad challenges and the tempo is increasingly dramatically. We may see more cards yet.

FC Basel finally score a goal in the 89th minutes after a low cross is met by Lang who only has to tap the ball in from two yards out. That goal may just keep them in this competition. It has been coming for some time with several close chances and there are only three minutes left for them to hold on.

Lukaku wins a corner in the 93rd minute and Blind runs over to take it, pushing players out of the way to get to the ball but it amounts to nothing and the referee blows the whistle for full time. United had 68% of the possession but as we are learning more and more this season possession doesn’t win you games.

Manchester City were also complacent in their game yesterday against Feyenoord but the difference between the two Manchester clubs is that when City are complacent they still have the quality to win games. United sadly cannot. Their next test is at home to Brighton this Saturday.

Students launch ‘boycott First’ campaign

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Students at the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University have launched a “boycott First” campaign to support the ongoing industrial action taken by bus drivers at First’s Rusholme depot.

Using the tagline “rather have no choice than first choice,” the students are urging other students to not use the First bus to show solidarity with the bus drivers.

In a dispute that has been ongoing since October, First bus drivers at the Rusholme depot have been on strike on Mondays across November after the revelation that they are being paid up to £95 a week less than colleagues working at the Queen’s Road base just five miles away, equating to almost £5,000 a year.

The campaign was launched by two second-year University of Manchester students, Leah Millward and Nathan Johnson and third-year Manchester Metropolitan University student Frankie Leach, and many students have expressed interest in it.

International Politics student at Manchester Metropolitan University, Frankie Leach, told The Mancunion: “we’re not asking people to join the campaign, it’s not like we want people to sit down in meetings; it’s literally that we just want them not to ride the First Bus, it’s the literally easiest thing to do.”

Represented by union Unite, 96 per cent of drivers voted to take industrial action leading to riders going on strike every Monday across November, and this will increase this to three-days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) until the dispute is settled.

Image: Manchester and Trafford Momentum

Neil Clarke, regional officer at Unite, said: “this is about fairness and equality. It’s about people doing the same job, for the same employer in the same city, getting paid the same as their colleagues.

“This disparity is morally and ethically bankrupt, there is no justification for it.”

Manchester Momentum has organised a “#BoycottFirstOnTheFirst” event for the 1st of December from 7am to 10am, encouraging students and others to join them on the picket line outside the Rusholme Depot, just before the ‘Curry Mile’.

Ahead of the demonstration, Frankie Leach said: “we’ve put out stuff on Facebook to invite people to the picket line but obviously it’s seen to be quite a political thing to do. We’re trying to make this not really about politics and more about supporting the drivers so even if it just means getting a different bus on a morning, that’s what we want to encourage people to do.”

University of Manchester Students’ Union Campaigns and Citizenship Officer, Deej-Malik Johnson, also said that he “completed supported” the campaign.

Deej said: “I really encourage students who are able to to get involved in the boycott, to show that bit of solidarity because students and workers, when we come together, the world is ours. We look after the workers because we’re going to be workers but we look after workers because everybody in our society deserves decent pay and conditions.

“I am going to be doing stuff around the Students’ Union, and I know that other students are putting stuff up around the University, publicising what is happening.

“One of the biggest things is about raising awareness. Knowledge is power. If we let people know, I know that people will want to help out their fellow workers.”

Image: Frankie Leach

Commenting on the ongoing dispute, Phil Medlicott, Managing Director at First Manchester, said: “we remain extremely disappointed that staff from one of our depots are continuing to strike, but I’d like to reassure customers that we will continue to operate services from our Rusholme depot.

“We are doing everything we can to resolve the situation, but I have stressed to Unite the Union that, following extensive negotiations since April, the situation has remained unchanged since our final offer at the start of October; an offer which was recommended by them.

“We already have 30 drivers who have returned to work at Rusholme and I’d urge all staff who are still involved with the strike to think about the impact this is having on their friends and families and to return to work next week.”

Leaflets given to passersby during pickets on Mondays across November said that “the last thing the drivers want to is to cause disruption to our loyal customers” but asked customers to “respectfully request that you opt for an alternative public transport service operating in the area.”

Sterling the highlight as City labour to a 1-0 win

Written by Sam Cooper on . Posted in Sport.

City’s impressive away win in Naples had ensured they would be progressing into the next round of Europe’s elite competition and allowed coach Pep Guardiola some freedom in this game. After a somewhat shaky first game back from injury, Vincent Kompany did not feature this time round but instead Eliaquim Mangala got a rare outing. He partnered Nicolás Otamendi in the centre of defence.

After a lifeless 20 minutes, captain of the evening Sergio Agüero had the first attempt on goal. Kevin De Bruyne wriggled his way through the midfield before passing the ball to the Argentine. The resultant shot though was a tame one and easily saved by Brad Jones.

Just six minutes later and it was the keeper at the other end making headlines. A poor touch from Ederson invited pressure and when Feyenoord winger Jean-Paul Boëtius latched on to it, the keeper produced a poor challenge and seemed to catch the player. The referee deemed it to be a perfectly fine challenge and waved play on. Replays showed Ederson was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch as he did catch Boëtius and played none of the ball.

City were pushing for the opening goal in particular through the partnership of De Bruyne and Agüero. De Bruyne worked space down the left flank before chipping a cross onto the head of Agüero. The striker had to get down low to meet it but could only wide.

Raheem Sterling was also looking lively down that left flank. Producing a good run to find himself on the edge of the box. His finessed effort didn’t quite have enough curl though and it arrived centrally by the time it reached Jones who punched it clear.

With Feyenoord on zero points in the group, some thought this would be a rollover for City but the visitors did not agree. They were creating chances and some good footwork from Sam Larsson allowed him space to try and find the bottom corner. The effort was just wide but Ederson looked beaten.

The sides went in level at half time with both sides having good chances to open the scoring.

City started the second half with more intensity as Bernando Silva looked to get more involved. His low driven cross from the right wing was nervously hooked over the bar by the defender. Both De Bruyne and Yaya Touré saw their efforts go narrowly wide as the home side looked for the winner.

With a quarter of an hour left to play, City fans were treated to the sight of Phil Foden making his debut. The 17 year old was the talk of the summer as he impressed with the World Cup winning England Under-17 squad and fans have been eager to see him get some minutes. During his brief cameo he completed all his passes as he begins the hard task of getting a game ahead of both the Silvas and De Bruyne.

The game was drawing to a close but there was just time for City to get their goal. A quick one-two between Sterling and İlkay Gündoğan allowed the English winger a sight of goal. He lifted the ball up over Jones and into the back of the net. It was his fourth consecutive goalscoring Champions League match and ensured a comfortable final group game for his team.

After the game, Guardiola was in a bullish mood: “we play to win the games and after that we will see how things finish. It is important that City have got 15 points at this stage for the first time and we are going to go now to Shakhtar to try to finish well and to try to go and win the game. In the last 16, it doesn’t matter which one [you get], it always will be complicated.”

City’s final group stage game of this season is away at Shakhtar Donetsk on the 6th of December.

Rugby League World Cup 2017 – Quarter Finals Round-up

Written by Jamie McEvoy on . Posted in Sport.

It was a weekend of surprises and pressure in the Rugby League World Cup. All the heavy hitters were fighting to retain pride whilst smaller teams were pushing to shock their opposition and exceed all expectations.

The first fixture was Australia v Samoa. Samoa had scraped through their group with a mere one point – a feat which Ireland will be raging at after they were eliminated from Group C despite winning two games – but they were still not deemed an easy opponent for the co-hosts.

Unfortunately for the Samoans, this proved not to be the case, with the Kangaroos easing to a 46-0 victory and booking their place in the semi-finals. Valentine Holmes scored a record five tries in the demolition meaning he is now two behind the Fiji’s Suliasi Vunivalu who is currently the leading try scorer.

Next up was Tonga who faced Lebanon. Tonga have won over a lot of support since the start of the tournament. Finishing their group with a 100 per cent record beating New Zealand along the way. They would have been licking their lips at the prospect of facing the Lebanese yet the game was not as straight forward as predicted.

The Tongans remained ahead throughout the 80 minutes but Lebanon were hot on their tails and the match ended 24-22. Despite elimination, the Lebanese will doubtlessly be happy with their performance this tournament after being written off by many prior to the start of the competition.

However, the biggest shock of the round came when New Zealand faced Fiji. Fiji had breezed through the group stages and were looking to capitalise on a ropy Kiwi side who were recovering from a shock defeat against Tonga. In one of the most bizarre Rugby score-lines of all time, Fiji won 4-2. Only the second try-less game in Rugby League World Cup history. The Fijians will be hosted by Australia in the semi-finals and although the Aussies will be relieved they do not have a home-turf show-down versus New Zealand, the prospect of playing this ferocious Fiji side will be daunting.

The final last eight fixture was England vs Papua New Guinea. The match was fiercely fought, and errors came regularly from both England and the Kumuls. However, England emerged as victors in a 36-6 victory which very much flatters the home nation side. Jermaine McGillvary shook off the controversy surrounding his biting of Robbie Farah and the Huddersfield winger scored twice to help his side claim a semi-final encounter with Tonga.

The semi-finals will kick off on Friday 24th November when the only remaining host nation Australia play Fiji and then on the Saturday Tonga and England will also fight for a place in the final. Both games are potential high-scoring thriller and after all the shocks and surprises so far in the competition, it is extremely difficult to predict who will be the 2017 finalists.

Quarter Finals Results:

Australia 46 – 0 Samoa

New Zealand 2 – 4 Fiji

Tonga 24 – 22 Lebanon

Papua New Guinea 6 – 36 England

Semi Final Fixtures:

24/11 – Australia v Fiji (09:00)

25/11 – Tonga v England (05:00)

 

Millennial railcard good but not enough, say students

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Frustrated students have told The Mancunion that the new “millennial railcard” is a good start, but does not go far enough.

An extension of the current 16-25 railcard pass, the “millennial railcard” will cost £30 and give 26- to 30-year-olds a one third discount on rail fares.

Available in digital format online, the discount can only be used if passengers spend more than £12 between 4:30AM and 10AM Monday to Friday, applying to all types of tickets.

10,000 cards will be trialled in the Greater Anglia area before they are rolled out across the country in Spring of 2018, though the pass can be used anywhere nationwide.

Leah Millward, Manchester Labour Students Events Officer, described the so-called “millennial railcard” as a “helpful plaster for a larger wound.”

The University of Manchester Politics, Philosophy and Economics student added: “On behalf of MLS I’d like to say it’s a good idea. However, it’s a temporary solution to the bigger issue that is the extortionate prices of train tickets that people simply cannot afford. Therefore, it sort of seems a necessity now to have railcards for discounted ticket prices, for people of every age… this Millennial Railcard is not valid at peak travel times so unhelpful for most travel to work or University.

“Young Labour voted recently at their Policy Conference that nationalising the whole industry would be a better solution, so every person of every age could stop being ripped off for journeys on public transport. YouGov’s May 2017 research says 60 per cent of the public would like to see this re-nationalisation of railway companies too.

“When it’s cheaper to drive or even get a flight than travel by train there’s a clear problem.”

27 year old University of Manchester PhD student, Kieran O’Brien, welcomed the creation of the new railcard and said it is “good because it’s cheaper for young people, who are often financially struggling.”

Kieran added that railcard was “strange” and said: “It means 30 to 59 year olds are the only age demographic not entitled to discounted rail fares. Considering people of working age are more likely going to be using the rail network to commute to and from their job, it makes sense to extend discounts to this age range too.

“However, in that case you might as well just have cheaper rail fares, which is the ultimate crux of this issue; there shouldn’t need to be railcards in the first place, as trains should be cheap anyway. This is of course impossible so long as they’re run privately and for profit. A publicly owned, democratically run rail network will be a lot more efficient and negate the need for small concessions like a new rail card from the Tories.”

Alex Bromell, a third year Business Management student at Manchester University, said he was concerned that “the government would just mess up nationalisation” and “liked” the new railcard “because trains are expensive.”

Isaac Atkin, second year Geography student at Manchester University, also welcomed the new railcard and said “the discount looks very good, especially in London and the fact that it can be used by all train companies.”

Commenting on the fact the railcard is only available in digital format, Isaac said: “I think it could be a good idea. People can use e tickets and most young people like to use smart phones. I guess for trains so it’s just an extension of that and a cut down on plastics.”

The “millennial railcard” was unveiled on the 22nd of November 2017 as part of the Government’s Autumn Budget.

The railcard is viewed by many commentators as the Government’s attempt to win the votes of “millennials”, with YouGov estimating that 63 per cent of 25- to 29-year-olds voted for Labour in the last general election compared to the 23 per cent estimated to have voted Conservative.

Another policy of the 2017 Autumn Budget arguably targeting millennial voters was the announcement that stamp duty would be abolished for all first-time buyers up to £300,000.

Students’ Union General Secretary to go “on tour”

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

The Students’ Union General Secretary, Alex Tayler, is to go “on tour” to give students the opportunity to ask him questions and find out more about the work of the Students’ Union.

Following the 1.3 per cent turnout in the recently held ‘All Student Vote‘, Alex previously told The Mancunion that more “face-to-face engagement” was required between the Students’ Union Executive Officer team and the student body.

On the 23rd of November from 11AM to 2PM, the General Secretary will be in the main lobby in the library and outside Owens Park reception on the 27th of November at 6PM to speak to students about the work of the Students’ Union and to capture students’ thoughts, ideas and concerns on student-related affairs.

Speaking to The Mancunion, Alex said: “I’m really looking forward to it as it should be a great way to engage with students. I am doing it to find out more about current student issues, what they want from the Union and tell people more about some of the things we have been working on.

“It is also a good way for people to tell us what they would like us to feedback to the university.”

Rory, a second-year University of Manchester History and Spanish student, told The Mancunion: “It’s good the General Secretary is making the effort to go out and hear what students think and want from the Students’ Union, because most students don’t engage with that. Many don’t even know what the Students’ Union does – but being asked in person like that, put on the spot, I probably wouldn’t have anything to say.”

As well as less 1.3 per cent turnout in the ‘All Student Vote’ on the make up of the Students’ Union Executive Officer team for the academic year 2018/2019, over 35,000 students did not vote in the National Union of Students delegate and Students’ Union part-time officer elections held at the same time as the ‘All Student Vote’.

Alex previously told The Mancunion that “people care about what the Union delivers but they don’t care as much, I don’t think, about how we’re run.”

Reflecting on the low turnout of the All Student Vote, Alex said that “the comms around [the vote] was actually quite good”, stating that “everyone got an email, so everyone that checks their e-mails would have known about it” and citing the “stuff on social media.”

The General Secretary stated that “the real issue was there wasn’t enough face-to-face engagement” and the event is described as an opportunity to “ask questions, give feedback, find out what’s on or simply have a chat, get some freebies and get to know Alex and your Students’ Union!”

The Manchester Marrow Charity Ball

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Features.

Every day, Anthony Nolan matches incredible individuals willing to donate their stem cells to patients with blood cancers and blood disorders who desperately need lifesaving transplants. Manchester Marrow is an off Branch of Anthony Nolan based on campus. It seeks to raise funds and awareness of the charity. As such, myself (Joseph Brammer) and Indy Burgess, members of Marrow, are organising a charity ball for students in support of Anthony Nolan.

This cause is close to my own heart. After donating myself this March, I have come to realise how easy stem cell donation is and how many lives it can save. The process is painless, it’s really no different to giving blood, except a little longer. Additionally, being on the register is a really rewarding experience, as you have the opportunity to literally save someone’s life.

For those students living in the Fallowfield area, there are currently 1136 registered stem cell donors in Gorton, Manchester, which is fantastic — these potential lifesavers give patients a second chance when all other treatment options have failed. However, with one in eight people across the UK failing to find a match, there’s clearly more that needs to be done to get donors to come forward.

This is where the Manchester Marrow ball comes in. It gives the opportunity for students to sign up to the register, raise money for Anthony Nolan, all whilst having a great time in the process. The ball is open to anyone, and if there are any societies out there looking for a Christmas event, they are welcome to come along.

Tickets are priced at £25, however this can be reduced if you use the Circle app. With your ticket you will receive a two course meal, a bottle of wine per table, the prosecco tower (a free glass of prosecco for each person), discounted drinks and DJ entertainment all evening long. The ball will be celebrating the Christmas season in style with a Great Gatsby theme!

There will be tables of seven to ten. You will need to message Joseph Brammer or Indy Burgess on Facebook the names of your group for a table. Additionally, please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

We also hope to have some exciting guest speakers that will be confirmed soon.

If you’re hoping to save £5 on your ticket, the Circle app may be for you. If you’ve not used the app before, downloading it through our event link, and then using it to buy your ticket will provide you with £5 free — making your ticket only £20. More importantly, for every person who does this, the Anthony Nolan charity will receive £5!

Circle aims to enable students to transfer cash from their mobile, instantly and securely. Friend owes you money from that last grocery shop? Always buying the rounds and never being paid back? Hassle over paying back your housemate for bills? Worry no more – Circle removes the stress from any money situation with friends.

If you would like to attend the ball, or for more details of the occasion and Anthony Nolan, simply search UoM: Charity Christmas Ball on Facebook.

Do you know what goes on in the Stopford Building?

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Opinion.

Animal rights is often a divisive issue where people benefit from treading carefully and thoughtfully. However, it is difficult to avoid being reactionary when one reads about the animal testing that happens no more than a block or two away from the student union building.

The sheer scale is shocking — multiple studies that require the lives of hundreds or even thousands of lab animals over the course of a few years all happening simultaneously, resulting in an average animal mortality rate of 500 per day.

The severity of suffering is several leagues above what many of us are exposed to — the infliction of burns, the inducement of heart failure, parasites that induce side-effects of fevers, inflammation, and open sores.

I want to be clear. I believe that the UK has some of the most comprehensive and well-enforced regulations on animal testing, at least within university research communities. All University of Manchester researchers operate under strict frameworks that require the number of animals used and the pain they undergo to be minimised as much as possible after they justify why they cannot replace animals with in-vitro methods.

Researchers are also required to take examinations that test their understanding of animal welfare law and philosophical ethics beforehand. In the lab, their research is continuously monitored by a licensed supervisor and an on-site vet.

But herein lies the problem: I did not know about any of these regulations, and I do not believe many of us know about them either.

When talking to people from varied backgrounds, I found myself becoming increasingly agitated for reasons I did not quite understand. Though I came from a position of complete ignorance about the type of research that went on, I was distressed when individuals seemed to be even remotely apathetic to the issue — even if their intellectual understanding of Manchester’s animal testing far outweighed mine. My reaction was only exacerbated for people who were unaware but also emotionally indifferent to it.

It was only later that I realised that my response betrayed a bizarre moral burden I implicitly placed on people. Independent of their principle beliefs about the ethics of animal testing, they needed to be emotionally invested in the issue in some sort of way.

In other words, I wanted people to feel bad about animal testing even if I, like many people, believe that animal testing plays an often underplayed and significant role in scientific research. And so originates the core question of this article.

Does there exist a moral obligation to acknowledge the costs of animal testing, which we benefit from every day, in a way that is non-trivial?

Many of us would rather not engage with the thought of animal suffering. It is not only viscerally unpleasant, but it’s incredibly difficult to reconcile with the moral frameworks that we live our lives with on a day-to-day basis.

For the vast majority of us, it is convenient to ignore the very real costs for our everyday comforts, ranging from effective antibiotics to delicious food that came directly from the mass slaughter of animals. Any engagement we have with the subject tends to be glancing, a spare thought once every couple of months, a brief vegan phase etc.

The disaffection of normal people concerning animal welfare is also intensified by the polarisation of animal rights activism that isn’t necessarily reflective of majority opinion.

Mainstream media often paints animal rights activism with an extremist brush though most of activism is probably moderate (e.g. writing to your MP, volunteering at a dog shelter).

But the views that are often the most visible vocalise some uncomfortable opinions. Inflicting any sort of harm on animals for whatever reason has the same moral gravitas as torture or murder. Due to this, a lot of public discourse and normative values about animal welfare has been stunted by moral absolutism, allowing a lot of us to get away with treating the subject with frivolity.

This is the moral objection of this article. Society does not take animal suffering very seriously even if it directly contributes to the quality of life we are able to achieve. Even if you believe that animals have lower moral statuses than people, the fact that we use them as a means to achieve an end necessitates that we invest ourselves in the subject to some extent.

The fact there hasn’t been an expectation that we do so has had real consequences. One of them is that many of us aren’t unaware about the testing that goes on in the Stopford Building, and whether or not the experimentation is even conducted remotely ethically (it is).

There are pragmatic benefits to forcing ourselves to care even if it is difficult. It’s much more likely that we inform ourselves of the protections we give to animals — and the ones we don’t. It’s much more likely we make moral decisions based upon that knowledge like changing our consumer choices so that they more accurately reflect what we authentically believe to be right. Perhaps this week’s issue on the Stopford Building can be a start.

Review: Football Manager 2018

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

Football Manager 2018 released last week with all its usual accompanying social-media hype: videos of men leaving their wives on the altar to play, memes of partners complaining bitterly about its inception, and images of managers suited up in their bedrooms ready for an F.A. cup final. But does Football Manager live up to its reputation of a socially sanctioned time-sink this year?

Having already sunk a good amount of time into successfully steering the mighty Association A.F.C. Fylde away from relegation and unsuccessfully trying to do better than Ronald Koeman at Everton, I can safely say that ‘FM’ is still as addictive as ever.

At its core, the game is largely unchanged, and Sports Interactive seem to have followed the same “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” line of other annual sports releases. That’s not to say that there aren’t changes, additions, and tweaks, but those hoping for a complete overhaul will be largely disappointed.

The match engine, for example, remains its old, idiosyncratic self. Though some of the bizarre behaviours of old have gone, many still remain. Whilst much of this, in my mind, is down to animation rather than programming, it is still irksome to see passbacks, for example, represented in a way which looks unlike anything you’d see in real football.

photo:SportsInteractive

However, there are some improvements to the experience of the match itself. In particular, SI have nailed the proportion of goals scored in certain ways. Free-kicks are now sufficiently rare so as to be special rather than routine, whilst shots from outside the box have returned after last year’s hiatus. Crossing has also been balanced more appropriately, whilst corners fly in at a rate I’d consider only marginally above normal.

Granted, this may be down to my inability to set up a good defence at corners, but this brings me onto my next point of which set-pieces are perhaps the most notable example – old issues left unaddressed.

Set pieces have long needed an overhaul, but remain exactly the same as last year, and the year before. When the set-piece editor was added however many years ago, I assumed it would be the first step of a gradual improvement, but, several years later, it still remains neglected and unwieldy to the point of encouraging the players to ignore it.

This, sadly, can be said for a number of facets of Football Manager, press conferences being a particularly annoying example. Football Manager’s in-game media have been bombarding me with largely the same questions since 2012, and it’s now getting so incredibly tedious to the point that I click through on autopilot or storm out in ludonarrative protest.

Training is another example of this, remaining woefully basic. When setting up training, all you can do is assign a week of training to one, broad category (e.g. attacking, tactics etc.), and that’s as far as it goes. Arguably, even the shell of a management mode in FIFA incorporates more detail into training than this.

There are a number of positive changes, however. A new ‘dynamics’ tab has been added to the main panel of options, which provides insight into the personal relationships between groups of players, a thorough breakdown of player happiness, and a hierarchy of club influencers. Whilst the integration of this is still relatively basic, it is still an important innovation which adds something further to consider when building your squad over a number of years.

In line with this, the importance of partnerships on the pitch is also emphasised this year. Building effective partnerships is a crucial part of Football Manager 2018, particularly in the centre of the pitch, and really builds the sense that you are in charge of a team rather than twenty-three or so individuals.

photo:SportsInteractive

The single biggest change, however, is a subtle one. As opposed to previous years where a tactic could last months or even years before opposition teams wised up to it, tactics in Football Manager 2018 last sometimes only a few weeks before being sussed out which keeps you constantly on your toes and does not allow you to slide into tactical complacency.

This also forces you to engage with the other management tools that have sometimes seemed less important, and constantly pushes you to innovate with gameplans as well as promoting more thorough engagement with opposition tactics, forcing you to be reactionary and methodical. Allied with an improved – though still imperfect – presentation of opposition reports, this makes the tactical side of management deeper and richer than ever.

All in all, it’s the same old story with Football Manager 2018. Much is left unchanged but functional, there are some worthy new innovations, but a number of features remain stale, out-dated and obsolete. Unlike last year’s edition, however, I would argue that, this year, the tweaks and updates nullify the weaknesses of the game.

Whilst I still think that the annual full-price release model of sports games is quickly becoming a means for allowing companies to cash in on minimum effort, this is an axe to grind with the likes of FIFA, Madden and NFL rather than this year’s solid improvement in the Football Manager series.

8/10

Recipe: Salmon with soy sauce, ginger and fennel seed

Written by Alex Ross on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Serves two

Ingredients:

2 salmon fillets

2 spring onions, finely sliced

1 inch of fresh ginger root, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

Soy sauce

Runny honey

Fennel seeds/chilli flakes (optional)

Sesame oil

 

Method:

Preheat an oven to 180˚C.

Line an ovenproof dish with enough foil to line the dish and fold back over and seal in the hot air when cooking the salmon. This will prevent the fish from drying out.

Brush a tiny amount of sesame oil — it has a strong flavour — on the bottom, to prevent the salmon from sticking to the foil.

Place the salmon fillets in the dish.

Whisk a generous dollop of honey with an equal amount of soy sauce, the garlic and ginger, and pour most over the salmon.

Sprinkle finely chopped spring onions, as well as (optionally) a few fennel seeds and/or chilli flakes over the top.

Fold the foil over the top and seal.

Put in the preheated oven and cook for 15/20 minutes.

Serve with the rest of the honey/soy/ginger mix with broccoli and rice.

 

 

Review: Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

Fresh Complaint, Pulitzer prize-winning author, Jeffrey Eugenides’ first collection of short stories, is made up of work spanning his thirty-year career. It is filled with flawed characters in difficult personal and financial positions but there is nothing flawed about Eugenides’ writing. He is a solid story-teller; there’s not a bad sentence in the book, let alone a bad story.

Eugenides manages to write about surreal situations in a realist style and it makes for very funny reading. Each story is pushed just far enough from reality that reading the book is to be shown life from a new perspective, but not so far away as to become gimmicky and contrived.

Here, I’m thinking of Baster, which opens with the line: “The recipe came in the mail: Mix semen of three men. Stir vigorously.” It is undoubtedly a funny story but it subtly reveals a much sadder, emotional core as it progresses.

This is typical of the book. Eugenides delivers moments of compassion in small measured jabs. Despite his previous long novels, the economy of the short story seems to suit his writing style. Highlights for me are Early Music, Capricious Gardens and the title story, all of which feel like they could not have possibly been shorter and would not need to be any longer.

It’s impossible not to sympathise with the characters in the book, and this is an achievement as a lot of them do pretty awful things. For example, the hilarious way in which the protagonist in Find the Bad Guy is portrayed makes it easy to look past his very clear character flaws; reading it I found myself feeling bad for a man breaching a restraining order and stalking his ex-wife and children. Fresh Complaint is a testament to how Eugenides is a master of empathy, these stories are written with heart as well as wit.

For people who have read some of Eugenides’ other work, some of the characters in this collection will be familiar. There is a Middlesex spin-off in The Oracular Vulva and Mitchell from The Marriage Plot makes an appearance in Air Mail.

It’s clear while reading that this is not a book that was sat down and written in one go but compiled over years (each story ends with the date in which it was written). Interestingly, the stories aren’t placed in the order in which they were written, and the reader finds themselves flicking from 2017 to 1988 to 1996.

There are, however, no jarring shifts in style or tone, which proves that Eugenides has been a consistently good writer over the course of his career, but also that he hasn’t changed that much either. One criticism of the book is that there isn’t an incredible amount of range and that perhaps the lack of giant shifts between stories shows a lack of improvement.

I would argue, however, that Eugenides’ style is less stagnant than at a point where improvement would be hard. The book is a great example of well-crafted writing; every word earns its place, each sentence is laced with meaning. Eugenides achieves what a good short story can do better than any other form.

Through examining small cross-sections of characters’ lives, he creates a bigger picture surrounding them and directs the reader  to think about the world around them. Alongside his sprawling novels, I believe the stories in Fresh Complaint show that Eugenides is one of America’s best writers and this new book is a great bite-size introduction to his work.

Over 35,000 students did not vote in NUS delegate elections

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Over 35,000 students at the University of Manchester did not vote in the recently held National Union of Students (NUS) delegate elections.

1,617 votes were cast during the NUS delegate elections, equating to a total turnout of around 4.3 per cent of the 37,000 students at the University eligible to vote, which took place simultaneously alongside the Students’ Union (SU) part-time officer elections.

NUS delegates will represent the University of Manchester Students’ Union, the UK’s largest Students’ Union, at the 2017-2018 NUS conferences, setting the NUS’ agenda for the coming year, debating policies, and voting for the NUS’ national president, vice-presidents, and officers.

Felix-Hanif Banks, a first-year University of Manchester History student who did note vote in the elections, said: “I think the NUS generally focus on using their union as a political platform not necessarily linked to student issues, and then the union loses sight of making positive change for actual students in the country.”

“People aren’t aware of the Union because they don’t see any tangible benefits to it. It doesn’t do anything for them they feel is necessary or present in their day-to-day student lives, so they’re less likely to interact with it.”

Second-year Mechanical Engineering student, Max Salatta-Barnett, told The Mancunion that “the NUS will always have issue engaging students because we’re only here for 3 years, so anything you want to happen wouldn’t get implemented until we’ve left.”

Explaining why he didn’t vote, Max said: “I heard very little about it. Being in North Campus, I haven’t even seen a poster, yet alone got details about it. The only place I’d be able to get info about it would be online.”

University of Manchester student Toby Zambardino told The Mancunion that “having such a small fraction of students responding to these votes shows that students are still fairly unengaged in SU politics on the whole.”

Despite this, Toby Zambardino said: “If the student body are passionate enough about issues, I’d like to think I have reasonable faith that delegates will respond and properly represent them.”

The third-year Politics and Philosophy student said he did not vote in the elections because he thought that “the vote wasn’t publicised as an urgent or even important issue to students.”

Echoing this idea, Victoria Gosling, a first-year Politics and International Relations student who also did not vote in the elections, said that she “didn’t know anything about it or that we even had an NUS delegate.”

Emma Atkins, Students’ Union Education Officer, said the NUS delegate elections had “a really good turnout”, commenting that “more people ran for NUS delegate positions than last year, which I think shows that as a SU we have political students who want to get involved in national issues, which is great.”

Emma added: “I think it is a rare student who is engaged with NUS politics, but I think that’s totally OK. I don’t think students need to know every single thing about the NUS, they just need to know that the SU and the NUS will be there for them if they need them (i.e. they get the NUS card for discounts, use the SU advice service). I think there is a misconception that if students aren’t hyper engaged with everything then it’s a bad thing. As long as they know they are being supported behind the scenes, that’s the most important thing.”

Described by the General Secretary of the Students’ Union, Alex Tayler, as “very successful”, the elections took place alongside the Students’ Union ‘All Student Vote‘ on the composition of the SU Executive Officer team for the academic year 2018/2018, which had a turn out of 1.3 per cent.

Almost 500 animals killed a day by University of Manchester research

Written by Amy Wei on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

The University of Manchester has been found to kill more animals for scientific research than nearly all other universities in the country.

Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has published data on the number of animals they used for research in 2016 in accordance with Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK.

174,120 animals were experimented on throughout the year, averaging to almost 500 animals a day. All animals are killed either during experimentation or after research is completed.

The majority of tested animals were rodents. Other animals, such as sheep, fish, birds, and amphibians, were also experimented on in 2016.

Reports on current experiments have also been published. In one experiment, University researchers are creating severe burns and open wounds in 300 pigs’ backs to test “novel dressings,” to see if they reduce “abnormal pigmentation” in scars more than conventional dressings and treatment. All pigs will be killed after their wounds heal.

Another current study will take the lives of 2700 rats. Pregnant rats will be injected with agents which make them sick, have parasites inserted into their digestive systems, and be subjected to stressful situations, to investigate how brain disorders will develop in them. Afterwards, all rats will be killed.

The University of Manchester are also inducing heart failure in up to 800 sheep.

Last year, anti-vivisection organisation Cruelty Free International submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for information on animal testing at the University of Manchester. The University did not respond, although a spokesperson for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health said they have no record of such a request.

The University just released their 2016 figures as part of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK. The Concordat is a commitment to be more open about the use of animals in research in the UK.

However, the University of Manchester has not published information on animal experimentation approved prior to 2014, although a spokesperson for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has told The Mancunion that this is available upon direct request to the department or, if the data is from before 2012, it is subject to an FOI request.

Under the online database of 2014-2016 reports, the University website reads: “Find out about our research involving animals in previous years on our data archive page.”

There is only one file on the data archive page: an infographic on animal research in 2016 (the same year the website was launched).

 

Image: The University of Manchester

When asked by The Mancunion why information on research involving animals has not been made publicly available online, a University of Manchester spokesperson stated: “The University of Manchester is committed to openness in how it conducts its research involving animals.

“When we launched our award-winning website in 2016, we were one of the first Universities to produce an infographic of our most up-to-date figures, which we are committed to doing each January when they become available.”

The University website declares that “animal welfare is a priority at The University of Manchester.” It explains: “We employ a full-time named animal care and welfare officer (NACWO).”

What it doesn’t explain is that NACWO is just a secondary title for the Deputy Director of Biological Services. When the position of Deputy Director was advertised in Summer 2017, it listed requirements that the successful applicant be an “effective communicator” and have “a high level of planning and organisational skills.”

At the very end of the job listing, it acknowledged that applicants should also have a “good working knowledge” of the Animals Scientific Procedures Act the University must adhere to.

“You will fully deputise the Director,” the job description read. “You will also be a Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer.”

116 UK organisations are now signatories of the Concordat on Openness. The ten universities which conduct the most animal testing in the UK have all released their animal experimentation figures. The University of Manchester places fourth in the top ten.

The University of Oxford conducted the most animal experiments out of all the universities, with 217,765 procedures, followed by University College London and the University of Edinburgh.

In total, 1.4 million animals were killed in 2016 by the top ten universities. They account for a third of all animal research in UK universities.

Last year, Cruelty Free International discovered some details about animal experiments taking place at universities in the UK. Some universities deprived monkeys of food and water, blasted noise at monkeys trapped in boxes, injected acid in rats’ brains to cause brain damage, and punctured pregnant sheep’s ovaries.

Two-thirds of Concordat on Openness signatories now publish some data about animal testing online.

Wendy Jarrett, Chief Executive of Understanding Animal Research, which developed the Concordat on Openness, said: “The Concordat has fostered a culture of openness at research institutions up and down the country.

“Institutions now provide an unprecedented level of information about how and why they conduct medical, veterinary and scientific research using animals.”

Enactus to host social hackathon

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

Enactus Manchester, a student action society, will have 11 hours (9am-8pm) to plan, design, and create models of eight social ideas which will help work towards the United Nations sustainable goals.

The objective of the event is to “spread awareness on the importance of student involvement in social responsibility” as stated by the President of the Committee, Kenji Chai. The aim is to bring together new social enterprise ideas by young entrepreneurs in Manchester and allow Enactus to “gain traction as an environment for students to improve business skills,”  leading them to expand their own networks.

The workshop will take place on Saturday the 25th of November in the Bright Building, with Professor Jonatan Pinkse hosting an ideation seminar. Each group attending the session will be asked to prepare research briefs on challenging demographics that the population of Manchester faces, such as: homelessness, elderly in Rusholme, students facing crime in Fallowfield, and marginalised low-income women in Moss Side.

Following this, charity representatives will discuss their role in the community and will work with the entrepreneurs, giving feedback, and discussing how they’ll be able to collaborate with them in the future. Finally, each group would have to present their ideas with a short Q&A to follow.

The panel of judges will be made up of three Enactus representatives, several business advisers and a university specialist in social enterprise who will discuss whether the entrepreneurs have fit the criterion they are seeking.

The grand prize will include the opportunity to showcase the project idea under Enactus and will receive a fast-track in Accelerate M-E, the nation’s first student-run startup accelerator, with the winner receiving £1,500 towards investment, mentoring, and office space.

Events like this hosted by Enactus will allow businessmen and women in Manchester the opportunity to grow socially and economically, as well as giving them a chance to tackle the current issues Manchester face.

Review: Nioh

Written by David Uncle on . Posted in Games.

I cut down samurai after samurai, ninja after ninja. My uchigatana is a whirl of death as I spin around, dismembering my unfortunate foes. And then a huge demon walks out of a doorway and kills me with one swing of his axe. This is the more-or-less the Nioh experience at its finest.

Nioh is an action-RPG produced by Team Ninja, known for the Xbox classic Ninja Gaiden. You take control of William, an Irishman who finds himself in 1600 Japan to stop the exploitation of a mystical resource called Amrita by Queen Elizabeth I to gain an upper hand in the Anglo-Spanish war. He then becomes a samurai-ninja because… Well, he’s in Japan.

Don’t worry if this has left you bewildered, I was and still am fairly perplexed by the story. The story of Nioh isn’t the most coherent and lacks the strong storytelling of the Dark Souls franchise.

Indeed, Dark Souls comparisons are all too frequent these days, yet Nioh is quite obviously inspired by FromSoftware’s hardcore RPG series, so it is fair to say Nioh is a mix between Dark Souls and Ninja Gaiden, which is by no means a bad thing. If anything, this game is actually tougher than Dark Souls in some respects.

In Nioh, combat, especially against bosses, demands rapid reflexes and patience. In Dark Souls it is possible to tank damage with a shield, and even without you can withstand a handful of hits, whereas in Nioh even the most basic enemies can end your life with two or three hits. While difficult, this results in the combat system being incredibly satisfying when you’re doing well.

In fact, Nioh’s combat is what sets it aside from other games. It has a stance system, where you can choose to have fast and weak, medium and balanced or heavy and powerful attacks, and interpreting your enemy’s movements and changing stance appropriately is what makes the combat tick.

Furthermore, while similar games have stamina, Nioh has ‘ki’. It acts almost identically to stamina, with the notable exception that if you press a button at the right time following a combo, you instantly regain the spent ki, allowing you to keep attacking. It’s similar to the quick reload feature from the Gears of War franchise.

Photo: Team Ninja

Supplementing the combat system itself is the wide variety of Japanese weaponry to choose from. Katanas, dual-katanas, axes, kusarigama, bows, flintlock rifles, and even more. Some weapons, like the katanas, are easy to pick up and use straight away, whereas the kusarigama for example takes a lot of practice to use it effectively, which makes for a fulfilling challenge.

The PC port of Nioh is a bit sloppy: It almost entirely lacks a mouse and keyboard control set, making using a controller mandatory — fortunately, I prefer to use a controller for games like this. Moreover, the graphics settings can be hit-or-miss, and I had to set the game to 1080p multiple times before it changed to my desired resolution.

In summary, Nioh makes you feel like a ninja warrior god when you succeed, before humbling you and making you want to cry with frustration when you fail. It is sincerely one of the most brutal games I have ever played, but I keep going back to it to try and try again. Its story is mostly forgettable, but its combat is truly excellent, very fun, and does indeed set it aside from Dark Souls.

7/10
Reviewed on Windows 10.

11 PM booze ban proposed for the Ancoats area

Written by Emefa Setranah on . Posted in News.

A plan to ban the sale of alcohol in licensed venues in Ancoats after 11 pm has been proposed. There will be an allowance of half an hour drinking up time afterwards.

Recent renewal in the Ancoats area of Manchester has seen small businesses and increased accommodation turn it into an urban hotspot for young professionals. This year, the Times newspaper ranked the area number two on its list of 20 coolest places to live in Britain.

The transformation of Ancoats has however been a cause for concern. Issues of anti-social behaviour and excessive noise due to the arrival of bars, restaurants and breweries are being tackled by Manchester Council.

This alcohol limitation strategy is aimed at dealing with the issues a bourgeoning nighttime economy is having in the area.

There is a copy of the policy committee report on the Manchester.gov website.  In the report, it states that the councils aim for Ancoats is: “to guide the positive regeneration of the area comprehensively and to deliver an attractive and successful residential-led neighbourhood.”

If the 11 pm ban is activated it will affect local drinking establishments the most.

In an interview with The Mancunion, Mark West, manager of popular sports bar Second City, said: “I think it will affect my business negatively, especially on weekends.”

When asked how the 11 pm ban may affect future businesses, Mark expanded, “I think we’ll end up with empty units eventually. People won’t be able to afford the area. With the licenses cut shorter I don’t think people will be able to sustain a business.”

Also voicing her concern was Megan Bews, manager of famed Ancoats pizzeria Rudy’s. The 11 pm ban does not directly affect the restaurant because it closes at 10 pm. However, Megan was still worried about the indirect effect it would have on customers. She told The Mancunion, “we won’t be taking as much money as we could on the weekends because no one will want to come down this end if everywhere is closing that early.”

She added, “Its an area that’s really up and coming and voted one of the trendiest places. I think everything closing at 11 o’clock is not living up to the reputation it wants to have.”

The booze ban is intended to be beneficial to the area’s residents. But Megan stated that she had been sent the link to a petition started up by locals to try and stop the ban.

Many residents have also been voicing their opinions online. One stated: “Licenses should be decided on a case by case basis, this blanket ban will stifle so many places from even attempting to start-up in the area.”

A different comment agreed to the ban for weekdays but stated: “I really don’t see the point on the weekend.”

Voicing an alternative opinion to Mark and Megan was Seven Brothers brewery co-founder, Keith McAvoy. In his interview with The Mancunion, Keith said, “11 pm isn’t that unreasonable to be fair.”

He continued, “It won’t affect my business greatly. We close at 11 pm every evening anyway. This is a residential area, not an overspill from the Northern Quarter. Residents in Ancoats shouldn’t have to worry whether nightclubs will be popping up next to their homes.”

The council is planning a 12 week consultation period which will end on Monday 29th January 2018. After this,  it will be decided whether the 11 pm ban will go ahead or not.

Review: Habesha

Written by Samuel Pigott on . Posted in Food & Drink.

It isn’t often that one comes across an Ethiopian restaurant. In fact, according to Habesha they are the only one in Manchester. I nearly had as hard a time finding this restaurant as I did picturing what might be on their menu — I didn’t really know any Ethiopian food!

Tucked away behind Canal Street and accessible only via a spiral staircase in the corner of a kebab shop, Habesha offers a rare opportunity to glimpse authentic Ethiopian food. The restaurant may be more suited to the more adventurous among us.

Browsing the menu certainly takes less time than finding the restaurant, given that there is just one option under the “chicken” heading, two under “beef”, three under “lamb” and two more under “vegetarian”. This means there is a grand total of eight dishes with names such as Kitfo, Yetsom Beyaynetu, and Doro Wot. Hence why earlier I suggest the restaurant to someone more at home out of their culinary comfort zone — this is no lemon and herb Nandos.

To get a good feel for the overall quality I ordered one each of the meat dishes. The Kitfo, a minced beef dish served, as with all the dishes at Habesha, with a traditional flatbread called Injera; rich and spicy, and flavoured well with cardamom. A sort of African curry, that worked very well with the flatbread. However, the meal would have been enhanced with the introduction of rice to add a little more texture to the dish, as was probably the case for all of the dishes.

The Yebeg Wot — slow cooked lamb to you and me — was also very well spiced with an excellent kick coming from the traditional hot sauce, or berbere. It was obvious the lamb was indeed slow cooked as it almost fell apart in the process of trying to scoop it up with the Injera. The chicken dish was perhaps the worst of the three, but that is not to say it was terrible. It slightly lacked the same depth of flavour and the same punch, perhaps being designed to cater for the slightly less adventurous.

All in all I would wholeheartedly recommend Habesha to anyone who likes to experiment with food. You will have the opportunity to try a very different cuisine in a unique location, all washed down with a traditional Ethiopian lager for just £2.50 a bottle. Alternatively, if you prefer to stick to what you know then perhaps steer clear.