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Year: 2012

Leeds media censorship – hear no evil, speak no evil?

Written by Clifford Fleming on . Posted in Opinion.

Leeds University Union are set to hold a referendum on whether their student paper, Leeds Student, should be censored. Voting will be open online from 26th November. After increasing tension between individuals in the NUS and Leeds Student following the publication of an interview with MEP Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, the student body will have four days in which to vote on if reporting conducted by student media at Leeds on certain political groups should be banned.

On Friday 26th October Leeds Student published an issue in which the MEP was interviewed by an openly gay student at Leeds University. Following a tense conversation, where the MEP described two men kissing as ‘creepy’, Griffin explained: ‘You [students] may think I’m a monster, but look at what your fate would be in an Islamic republic of Britain.’ The National Union of Students, following publication of the article, responded promptly by publishing an open later asking Editor Lucy Snow to immediately remove the article from the Leeds Student website. Their argument was that fascists, such as the leader of the BNP, should not be allowed a platform to express their viewpoints.

Editor Lucy Snow stood by her decision to publish the article, and reported in The Guardian on how she felt: ‘It is essential that his views [Griffin] are exposed for what they are. Leeds Student merely gave Griffin enough rope to hang himself.’ The arguments have led to Leeds University Union calling a referendum on the issue after inconclusive talks in a Union forum. The referendum question asks: ‘Should the Union’s exclusion of fascists and hate-speakers be extended to student media?’ 1,500 votes must be cast for the conclusion to be considered legitimate. On the reason behind the motion, the Equality and Diversity Officer at Leeds SU, Charlie Hopper, states online that: ‘Freedom of speech means Nick Griffin is not arrested for his views. That does not mean that we all need to see them printed and all over our bars, libraries and lecture theatres.’

Although it can be understandable that the Equality and Diversity Officer at Leeds University Union should try to protect the minority groups that officials like Nick Griffin prejudice against, the question arises over whether this should lead to censorship. With so many platforms, such as social media sites Twitter and Facebook, openly discussing contentious issues in society why should it fall on student media to be banned on joining in the debate? Considering the issue is about a far-right politician who would support such censorship of the media, it seems rather hypocritical that the NUS would even consider such measures.

My opinion follows many of the advocates of free media; the student body should not be treated as a passive mass. Students should be encouraged to learn about politics and the difficult issues politicians address; whether it be regarding immigration or civil liberties. Issues surrounding far-right fascists and hate-speakers should not be pushed under the carpet as this will only encourage such opinions to grow. The radical opinions of such people in society should be tackled head on via healthy debate and exposure in the press and online. The press play an important role in not only exposing, but educating. Leeds Student, by tackling the issue and interviewing Griffin, are encouraging students at the University of Leeds to find out more about such issues and engage with them in our society. Students should be encouraged to learn, not ignore.

The United Kingdom has laws on free speech deliberately in order NOT to exclude any opinions. Whether Griffin’s opinions are considered vile and disgusting, he should be allowed to voice them. Students’ Unions and the NUS are there to represent the voice of the student body, and should not act so domineering. Although a referendum is a democratic process which allows individuals to voice their opinions, much of the time it isn’t needed. Much like the Police and Crime Commissioner elections last week, the likelihood is that few people will vote on such a specific issue. The students at the University of Leeds probably have far more direct worries than whether or not an interview with Nick Griffin should be published. NUS officials should encourage debate over issues in society, not seek to limit the exposure of them.

Journalism should be considered much like art; not all art depicts the niceties of life. Art can be aggressive and confrontational, trying to engage viewers to explore thoughts and ideas surrounding the piece. Journalism seeks to do the same, to spark comment and debate. Leeds Student made the right decision in publishing the interview.

The referendum at Leeds Uni follows rising tensions between NUS officials and student media over the past few weeks. At an NUS Senate meeting on 11th October, Queen Mary Students’ Union President, Babs Williams, described student journalists as ‘all dickheads’.  The NUS and Students’ Union Executives across the country should seek to work with student press, not against it.

My Political Hero: Eliot Spitzer

Written by David Burch on . Posted in Uncategorised.

You probably won’t recognise the name or image of Eliot Spitzer – he served as the Governor of New York for just 14 months before he had to resign in the wake of a prostitution scandal. But for those who worked in the banks on Wall Street – his presence was a formidable one.

As Attorney General of New York Spitzer focused on white collar crime – subtle, financially damaging to working people and often overlooked by politicians. He gained the nickname of the ‘Sheriff of Wall Street’ for his crackdown on financial institutions. He prosecuted investment banks such as Goldman Sachs for giving false information to investors, computer chip manufacturers such as Samsung for price-fixing products, and pharmaceutical firms for hiding the damage done by their drugs.

It was also during Spitzer’s period as Attorney General he made the rich, powerful enemies that would eventually conspire to ruin his career. Spitzer argued that the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange’s $150m severance pay was excessive because of a conflict of interest – the people who decided his pay were the CEOs of the companies he was meant to be regulating. Ken Laggoone, billionaire businessman, was one of these people, and was irate by Spitzer’s action. Spitzer had suddenly made a very powerful enemy who was looking to exploit any mistake he made. According to the film ‘Client 9’ made about the case, Laggoone hired a private investigator and a PR firm in order to find out what they could about Spitzer.

A suspicious web of links developed between Spitzer’s enemies – Laggoone, ex-CEO of AIG Hank Greenberg (who Spitzer had tried to prosecute in a case involving accounting fraud) and people Spitzer had fought within the New York Republican Party. A mysterious tip-off was made to the authorities that Spitzer had used a high-class prostitution service, and an investigation was launched. Even though clients are not usually prosecuted in prostitution ring cases and kept anonymous in police reports, lots of identifiable information was included about ‘Client 9’ (the name used for Spitzer in the report), while little was written about the other clients, or even evidence needed to prosecute the prostitution ring itself. After the report was published, Spitzer’s name was leaked linked to being Client 9, and days later he resigned.

When the news reached traders on the New York Stock Exchange, they cheered and opened bottles of champagne. It is sad to think that the man who fought for more women to be employed in upmarket restaurants, for delivery men to gain the minimum wage, who proposed a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in New York and railed against the companies that often act as if they are above the law will be remembered by many purely for the sex scandal. There is much that current politicians can learn from Spitzer – yet the story of how the vested interests he attacked colluded to destroy him acts as a warning – and perhaps an explanation for much of the government inaction on the pressing issues Spitzer fought so hard for.

The Confused Storm

Written by Vicky Carter on . Posted in Theatre.

Two Stars out of Five Stars

The Coming Storm is the most deconstructed piece of theatre I’ve ever seen, and even anti-performance. A fellow student remarked “It was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen”, and I might just agree with them. The actors continuously break the fourth wall and perform straight to the audience, communicating to them and including them in their humour. The set is simple apart from a few clothes racks, chairs and a piano on the side, but within the performance the actors arrange the set to how they like it at that precise moment.  An interesting concept yes, but most of the time led the performance to seem chaotic and random.  Constant unrelated costume changes and the lack of characters within the performance further emphasizes the destruction of the fourth wall, and the actors seem to be playing exaggerated versions of themselves constantly conflicting and confronting one another.

The show begins with six actors strolling casually on stage and they begin to tell us “What makes a good story”. They then intertwine stories on different topics, different issues and different themes. I say tell us, but in fact they leave the stories unfinished as each actor jostles for the focus from the audience, and having only one microphone on stage, they make the competition for their voices to be heard humorous. Although funny, it leaves audience members disappointed and even confused, as once you’re gripped by a story, it is then lost over someone else’s voice,  or even live music at times.

The performance is an erratic montage of narrative, comedy, physical theatre, live music, dance, and slapstick humour.  I say humour, as the audience had a very diverse response to it; some of the audience was finding it hysterical, whilst other members like myself looked on in confusion and bewilderment.  Although I can see what they were trying to achieve, with their seemingly improvised performance by presenting a critique of theatre and society rather than crowd pleasing entertainment, and how they are breaking boundaries in this radical performance through their non acting style, however I just didn’t get it. Leaving the theatre I noticed I wasn’t the only one. A student studying at a drama school in Manchester said, “I felt like it was my mate’s parents drunk at a house party”, whilst the other exclaimed, “I just don’t know what to say.” I’d recommend going to one of their performances to see this style of theatre for yourself, just don’t say you haven’t been warned.

The Coming Storm ran between the 14th and 16th November at the Contact Theatre

My Political Hero: Lyndon B. Johnson

Written by Aidan Gregory on . Posted in Uncategorised.

Modern politics is all about image. In the media age politicians must sell themselves as people as well as selling their policies. Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy and even Tony Blair are all examples of how being suave gets you elected. But when it comes to politics, forget being suave. My political hero is a curious political rogue who was once described by Robert Kennedy as a “big ass”.

Lyndon Baines Johnson hailed from humble origins. He was born in 1908 on a Texas ranch to a farmer-turned-state legislator and his wife. He would work his way through college to become an elementary school teacher. Whilst teaching impoverished Hispanic children he observed poverty and its effects at its worst. The experience gave Johnson a sense of empathy which would stay with him all the way to the White House.

After a distinguished congressional career, then the Vice Presidency, Johnson was catapulted into the highest office in extraordinary circumstances on 11th November 1963. Johnson would soon embark upon on the most ambitious legislative agenda since the New Deal; the ‘Great Society’. Progressive reforms were made in areas such as healthcare, education, the environment, media laws and gun control. Most importantly, he took the fight to the Southern states over segregation and voting. Johnson supplied the political muscle that the civil rights movement desperately needed to achieve its goals. For example, the Civil Rights Act and Voter Registration Act were passed despite the revolt of the Southern Democrats, thanks to Johnson’s talent as a politician. The victory over the South is perhaps the greatest legacy of Johnson’s political career. Under his leadership, Jim Crow laws were ended, and the widespread legal blockage of black suffrage vanquished. Admittedly, the civil rights reforms were by no means the end of America’s racial problems. What they did serve as was a great symbolic and legal step towards racial equality. In four years Barack Obama has secured the passage of three bills outside of the budgets, Johnson pushed through 105 bills in 150 days, even with the Southern voting bloc against him. The man possessed a heroic and remarkable talent for political coercion that every politician should seek to emulate. In brief, he was one of the few Presidents who actually got things done.

Yet you cannot overlook the Vietnam War. It was the disaster that ruined what otherwise would have been a very successful presidency; it became Johnson’s mess. The war inflicted a tragic human and economic cost. It sucked time, energy and funding away from Great Society programmes, which inevitably did not allow them to achieve their full potential. By the latter years of his presidency, Johnson had become obsessed with trying to win the war, raising troop numbers to 536,000 by 1968. He was not, however, as callous as the contemporary press and the anti-war movement portrayed him. Johnson was an intelligent, empathetic man who was moved deeply by the sufferings of American servicemen; aides would often find him slumped at his desk in tears at the sight of newly published casualty lists. It was Johnson, not Kennedy or Richard Nixon who ultimately paid the high price for the conflict. It cost him his political career, but it also contributed to his untimely death.

LBJ died at his ranch in Texas on 22nd January 1973, aged 64, of a heart attack. For much of his life Johnson had been a 40-a-day smoker, and having left office he reverted to increasingly self-destructive behaviour. War guilt and already-fragile health took their toll. He left office savagely criticised from both the left and the right, perhaps unfairly. Yet arguably he had much less room to manoeuvre than it seemed. Vietnam was a debacle dumped on Johnson by two previous administrations, and in the goading climate of Cold War power politics he had very little choice other than to escalate.

Some may never forgive him for Vietnam, which cost the lives of 58,000 US soldiers. He also often made corrupt bargains to get what he wanted, had an insatiable lust for power, and was rarely honest with the press. In spite of this, no other President in US history worked harder for non-whites, the poor, the old and the sick. The legacy of his Great Society reforms such as the Civil Rights Act and Medicare are apparent today. They cemented the Democratic Party’s liberal credentials and changed US society for the better. Had the war in Vietnam never happened, he might have been instead remembered as one of the greatest modern presidents.

Creative writing professor urges ‘tax avoiders’ to fund libraries

Written by Pippa Allen-Kinross on . Posted in News.

Jeanette Winterson has called for Starbucks, Google and Amazon to fund a countrywide library revival.

The award winning author, and professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester, suggested that the millions of pounds in profits that these companies allegedly owe in tax avoidance should be used to expand the UK’s library network.

Speaking at the Reading Agency Lecture at the British Library, Winterson said that “either we stop arguing and agree that libraries are doing their best to reinvent themselves, and that with a bit of help – financial and ideological – they belong to the future, or we let them run down until they disappear.”

She continued, “Libraries cost about £1bn to run right now. Make it £2bn and charge Google, Amazon and Starbucks all that back tax on their profits here.”

This follows outrage at the accusation that the companies in question have been diverting millions of pounds in UK profits to secretive tax havens, and has led to a debate which has raised questions over whether Starbucks stores should be allowed on campus.

Winterson argued that libraries should be accounted for in the national education budget, rather than local councils’ leisure budgets: “I don’t see how this can be classed as `leisure’ nor do I see how we have a choice between getting our bins emptied and putting cash into libraries.”

The John Rylands Library on Deansgate has recently received Manchester’s `Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ award, and was described by judges as “progressive” and “exciting”.

However, the Public Libraries News website estimates that 300 libraries have been closed or under threat since April.

Winterson urged her audience not to “hand kids over to computer games and wall-to-wall TV – bring them to books early and see what happens. Give them real choice – let them find out what books are, what they can do.”

 

The Artist: Long Live McQueen

Written by Miles Zilesnick on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest names in British fashion and known to
 be equally as outlandish. His shows have consisted of placing models in a wind tunnel for the exploration of displaying fabric, torn clothes symbolising the rape of Scotland by England and even using a hologram model of Kate Moss on the runway.

In regards to his ‘unwearable fashion’, one of his most extreme pieces includes a collaboration between graffiti and art, where a model was elevated in the midst of a show and spray painted, not too unlike the Citroen Picasso advert. If you haven’t seen the McQueen video yet, I’d highly suggest you put down this paper and watch it. To some, the piece would appear to be a wedding dress violated by a Banksy wannabe, or for other fashionistas, an expression of the fluidity of fashion. Personally I just thinks it looks really cool.

Another favourite of mine, yet more predictable, are McQueen’s iconic Armadillo shoes. His 10inch heels famously featured in the video for Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’, which appear impossible to walk in, let alone dance in. These glittery devils look incredible, but I can guarantee it is not acceptable to wear them in any respectable social situation, (unless of course you know of a higher class edition of Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.) Either way, I still think they look amazing despite their potential excessiveness.

Photo: Sartorial Editorial Blogspot

Since the tragic death of McQueen however, his old work has taken on a certain kind of reverence. His fashion house still lives on through the like-minded work of Sarah Burton, who designed Kate Middleton’s stunning wedding dress, now on display at Buckingham Palace. A timeless classic, representative of British fashion.

Style Icons or Style Crisis?

Written by Alice Tofts on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

TV shows and films are renowned for their fantasy worlds. Superheroes, vampires and wizards challenge reality. But when unconventional outfits are worn by characters who are supposed to live in the real world, the viewer is left either baffled or inspired. Whether entertaining or setting trends, these characters make us question the endless possibilities of dressing with artistic licence. Spanning the last 30 years of film fashion, here is a list of the best through to the worst and the geniality to the absurdity.

Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl– see featured image): Their extravagant outfits reflect their extravagant lifestyles. Expected to dress to impress and to wear the latest designs, their outfits can never be described as boring. Rejecting conventional school uniform, they pioneer a more innovative school style, which includes clashing brightly coloured socks, ruffled blouses and silk ties. These girls do not shy away from experimenting, yet they manage to avoid the terrible mistakes often made by other film characters.

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Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City): Confused about her age and sometimes gender, her outfits are rarely within the boundaries of the norm, nor suitable for the occasion. Striding shamelessly down a New York sidewalk, shopping bags in hand, Carrie wore a gold prom dress and fur jacket. Despite claiming to be a ‘normal gal’ her brave fashion choices hardly reflect the average New York street style. Carrie reputes conformism yet beams with self-confidence. It is this carefree attitude which is so inspiring; helping to make her one of the most influential on screen fashion icons of the last twenty years.

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Eddie and Patsy (Absolutely Fabulous): Perhaps the least inspirational of TV stars, these two ladies present a very flamboyant image of British Fashion. Eddie and Patsy’s costumes were designed to entertain rather than inspire. Taking fashion trends 5 steps too far, Eddie and Patsy put the fun into fashion. Patsy’s polka dot coat and Eddie’s snakeskin trouser suit were as outrageous in the 90s as they are now yet we cannot help but enjoy the fun and frivolity of their unique style.

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Rebecca Bloomwood (Confessions of a Shopaholic): Addicted to shopping, her wardrobe is bulging with items in every shade of pink imaginable. Full of colour and volume, her outfits reach the extent of being ridiculous. Daring and bold colours, textures and prints, her outfits are fun and eye-catching. However her style is less respected than other film characters and it is less likely that her style is seen replicated on the high street.

Top 5: H&M Collaborations

Written by Grainne Morrison on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

1) Marni – 2012

This recent collaboration was a hit with the fashion crew. Such a hit, in fact, that on its first day in store the London shop had to limit shoppers to ten minute slots each. The New York store had sold out of the collection in less than an hour.

Lanvin for H&M ad campaign. Photo: H&M

2) Lanvin – 2010

In November 2010, Lanvin provided party goers with bold frocks and statement looks. Giving those on less than A-list budgets a taste of Parisian, high-end fashion. The success of the collaboration saw H&M’s sales rise by 8%; so, apart from the unlucky latecomers, everyone was happy.

Roberto Cavalli for H&M. Photo: H&M

3) Roberto Cavalli – 2007

One of the more glamorous collaborations, Cavalli brought a splash of Italian style to the Swedish chain store. Leopard print and glitter won over dazzled shoppers. There were even reports of physical fights breaking out over the sought after items in the New York store!

Stella McCartney for H&M. Photo: H&M

4) Stella McCartney – 2005

This Brit favourite’s contribution to high street fashion came under controversy when Kate Moss( star of its ad campaign) was snapped taking cocaine. The line made its own headlines though for quality designs and happy customers.

Karl Lagerfeld for H&M. Photo: H&M

5) Karl Lagerfeld – 2004

The scandal loving designer caused a furore when he said of his line “What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people”, upset by the store’s decision to produce his line in sizes up to (shock horror!) 16. Despite his controversial comments, the line lived up to Lagerfeld’s Chanel credentials.

5 Academic Sartorial Stereotypes

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Sleepy Student

Shuffling about like an extra from the latest low budget zombie film, you’ll find this student species napping at the back of the lecture theatre (when they bother to turn up) or snoozing in a secret corner of the library. Their uniforms are barely disguised sleepwear teamed with beanies (doubles up as a pillow).

Business Guy

Out of Oak House and into the office

This breed of student belongs more in the boardroom than in the classroom. Suave and sophisticated at all times, jacket and shirt are a must, briefcase glued to one hand, blackberry to the other.

Trustafarian

Often found roaming Oldham Street clutching an Urban Outfitters satchel and raving about how they’d been a fan of Alt-J way before they were even nominated for the Mercury prize.  Most Trustafarians would ask if we could please retake the above photo, using Instagram instead.

Leavers

You can take the student out of Sixth-Form…

We all know them; we also know what school they went to and what year they left. These are the (mainly female) students that love the ‘I didn’t put any effort into this outfit’ look whilst wearing so much mascara they find it hard to blink. Can be identified by the fact their face and neck are two different shades, the former usually being a vibrant shade of orange.

Gap Yah

The Gap Yah student is easily spotted in the remnants of their travelling attire, finding it hard to accept they are no longer hiking in South Asia. Often sharing their enlightening tales of the life changing experience the Full Moon party in Koh Phangan gave them. But be nice, a Gap Yah student means well – like, they’ve worked with orphans, yah?

From the vault: Manic Street Preachers – Generation Terrorists

Written by Tom Ingham on . Posted in Music.

The effect of time and age on a band is a joy to behold. Generation Terrorists, the Manic Street Preachers brash statement to the world is now celebrating its 20th Birthday. And from their initial manifesto of releasing one album, taking over the planet and then imploding, to performing  soft-rock ballads on Strictly come dancing – the Manic Street Preachers are essentially the same politically charged punks, but just a tad more grown-up.

The working title for the album, Culture, Alienation, Boredom & Despair is pretty damn effective in covering all the bases for the album. The Manics in themselves were ‘Generation Terrorists’ if you like; highly politicized nutters with no regard for establishment –thankfully they favored guitars over grenades.  Take the opening track ‘Slash ‘n’ Burn’ straight away it’s a cold hard slap in the face. The Guns N’ Roses style riffs coupled with the bitterness in the lyrics “Madonna drinks Coke and so you can too, Taste’s real good not like a sweet poison should”.

Nicky and the late (we assume so anyway) Richy provide most of the ammunition for the album, however the real credit for me goes to JDB for crafting actual songs given lyrics such as – “Obedience to the law is free desire, Under curfew from neon barbed wire, Wasting away this country, wearing like a born dead, Free heroin shots for those who never beg”.

As a whole piece, my first encounter with Generation Terrorists was a difficult one. Over faced by the sheer audacity and arrogance, tracks like ‘You Love Us’ I’m ashamed to say kind of passed me by. On first impressions the abrasive nature and no-frills production was quite overwhelming, but the album is actually pretty varied in its styling. From the amalgamation of Rage Against The Machine and Guns N’ Roses-esque tracks like ‘Another Invented Disease’ to the lush softer sounds found on ‘Little Baby Nothing’, James Dean Bradfield really excels as the sole musical contributor, and shows why many consider him the guitarist of his generation.

To most, the creme de la creme of the album is the anthemic  ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ – comfortably taking the title of ‘that song you know, but aren’t sure who it’s by’. It epitomises the whole album, and in many ways showcasing the best of what the Manic Street Preachers have to offer. 20 years on and Generation Terrorists is still as potent and relevant as ever.

 

Deciphering Dreams

Written by Emma Richards on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Following the typical student lifestyle, we have all undoubtedly spent too much on *insert here* at one point or another, only to spot an amazing addition to our wardrobes, guaranteed to make you stand out from the manic Mancunian crowds. However, you now inevitably simply cannot afford the luxury (not even with that looming overdraft…)

THINK THRIFTETTE.

Having started out travelling between Vintage Fairs and fuelled by their dreams, Thriftette’s founders, Lucie Benjamin and Grace Avery, began their own market stall in 2011 and have already managed to open their first shop, which can be found in Affleck’s Palace, in under a year. An astonishing success for a business that has been in existence for such a short period of time, as well as providing a highly inspirational example for anyone out there to take note of.

Having met while at University, the trendy duo realised that they both shared a passion for everything vintage, already with the ability to stand out, and could offer a product and ideas that differ from every other, while still staying bang in vogue. Having studied the fashion industry it was inevitable that these two fashion super-savvies would create something stylish yet equally affordable.

In addition to this, unlike a lot of other stores, the girls effortlessly create an incredibly welcoming, friendly and sociable atmosphere with an eagerness to help their customers, something which I definitely felt when I paid them a visit for an interview. Here is what they said:

Did you always know that you wanted a fashion-orientated job?

We always dreamed about it but never actually believed that it would happen. One night Lucie and I just sat up talking and sharing ideas, then we began doing vintage fairs. It was a good place to start because apart from the clothes, all you really need is a car! We did that for quite a while, but it did start to get boring doing the same thing every weekend and we also found it to be too focused on money-grabbing as they charge stalls to attend, which just seems ironic! When we realised we wanted to open our own store, we each gave an input of £150, so it really can be done. We also model our own products for our online store, as that helps to cut down the cost as well. Although we did have a photo shoot yesterday and the model we got was really good. Of course now we have earned that money back…and more.

Is the fashion industry as stereotypical as people immediately think?

At uni we felt like the losers, it was always just the two of us, we did everything together, lived together. There really was a lot of bitchiness on our course, especially because there were sixty girls! People used to laugh at us or just not really want to get to know us because we were different. I still have some of them on Facebook and it makes me laugh now because a lot of people now, even after they have graduated, work in supermarkets and things like that.

What was the reason you moved back to start a store in Manchester having studied in Leeds?

I [Grace] grew up in Manchester and so I suppose I always knew that I was going to come back after I graduated, and when Lucie and I had the idea that we did want to start our own store, we looked around and found this shop space in Afflecks really quickly. Too good to turn down!

A lot of people would love to do what you have achieved, but worry at the thought of having and managing their own business. Have you had any major setbacks or difficulties on the way?

It’s still really hard to know. We have only been here for eleven months so we do not really have any previous figures to work by. Not that long after we moved here, a lot of customers would come in and ask us where other (vintage) stores were, and when they left we would think, “come and try our stuff!”

We were already established here for the post-Christmas madness in January, and I suppose, for us, we didn’t really know how well we were doing since it was all new to us, any time customers came in and bought something, we thought it was great! There is a lot of trial and error involved. It will be interesting to compare the figures at the end of the year.

Where do you get your clothes from?

Well, we do pretty much all of the design work ourselves. We get a lot of things from Wholesalers and then revamp the products ourselves. My [Lucie] parents also moved to France so I often travel there to the flea markets, they are a great place to find new ideas and I always come back with loads of things. The only thing is, whenever I go to France I get a lot of French people shouting ‘Lady Gaga’ at me (which she pronounced in a perfect French accent). I think it is because people in France must not see people with blonde hair!

How would you describe your style and/or the style of your product?

We definitely create things that we would wear. [They both demonstrate their outfits, which in some cases, can either be identified hanging on the walls or have a very similar look]. We really don’t like it when we see what some models wear on the catwalk and you just know that you would never dream of wearing that on the street, especially since a lot of people do not like to look too different. We are of course also providing for a target audience similar to ourselves. If you come in store you will often see us wearing our own products. The things we sell are one-of-a-kind that you would not find anywhere else. We are very pro self-expressionism and try to inject our own personality into everything we design. I [Grace] wouldn’t say that we ever stick to a particular style rigidly, we always change, it just happens at the moment that we have a bit of a grunge theme. Whatever style it is, we definitely wear it with a purpose, we know why we like that particular look at that particular time, that is something that is really important to us. Lucie often changes her hair too. At uni you’d never know what colour it would be the next time you saw her! I [Grace] am in the process of growing out my blonde and returning to my natural, brown. We don’t even know what we will do next.

On my way to Thriftette this morning it was hard not to notice the vast amount of vintage stores all in such a close vicinity to yourselves. How do you deal with that sort of competition and does it affect your business?

[Grace] I don’t think we have ever noticed it really. I mean we have our own stand-out ideas. For example, as we said all our products are 100% original so you won’t find them in any other of these vintage stores. We also offer T-shirt printing within the store, so that of course is something else that makes us unique. We also have a Loyalty Card system, so you get a stamp every time you buy something, then after five stamps you get £10 to use in store. Oh, and 10% student discount, which, actually a lot of other independent stores will not offer.

So, now that you have made it so far, where do you see yourselves in a couple of years time?

We would like to branch out and maybe develop into a chain store in locations all over the country, but obviously also where there is a good space for fashion. London or Birmingham would be good. And since I [Lucie] am from Essex, maybe that could help to get us going in different places. I’d like to open a store in the South. Developing our online store is also a big issue for us.

What do you both enjoy doing in your free time?

We work in the store an awful lot since it is just the two of us, but on our days off we do a lot of designing, updating our blog and do enjoy guilty pleasures such as TOWIE, oh, and Made In Chelsea.

 

If you haven’t already, a visit to Thriftette is an absolute must. Not only will you be spoilt for choice in great fashion, you will also get a lovely chat from two very talented young ladies. SOLD!

Students disciplined for Savile social

Written by Michael Williams on . Posted in News.

Students at Durham University have been disciplined after holding a Jimmy Savile-themed social.

St. Cuthbert’s Society Men’s Rugby Club asked freshers to dress up as young girls, second years as Jimmy Savile and third and fourth years as policemen and Panorama reporters.

Members of the group also reportedly tried to steal a dartboard from one campus bar, and one person stripped naked in another.

In response the club has been banned from all fixtures for the remainder of the year, and the social secretaries and club captain are being made to undertake 20 hours of community service. Every person who attended the social will also be fined £50.

The club has requested that if the fine is to be paid, that the funds go to the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamstead – the charity the club is supporting for ‘Movember’.

The college rugby website lists the A and B teams in the bottom two positions of the league tables. The A team were runners up in the Floodlit Cup last year, and the B team were First Division champions. Their seven games still to play this year will be counted as 40-0 losses.

A University spokesperson said: “The University has been made aware of an incident. We take such matters very seriously.”

“The students’ college has investigated the incident and disciplinary action is being taken.”

‘Mafia Twitter trolls’ and my morbid obsession with celeb gossip

Written by Sophie Donovan on . Posted in Music.

Gossip is an activity we partake in almost every day. Usually but not exclusively of a sexual nature, we are fascinated by what everyone else is doing. Apart from affirming our feelings of superiority by sniggering at the mishaps of others, the purpose of gossip is usually to impress.

 
Not unlike endlessly repeating quotes from Alan Partridge, we blather the hearsay of others in the hope that our audience will fall about laughing; duped into thinking that we are hilarious and interesting.

 

But the more tenuous our link to the subject, the less interesting the tale – so why am I so fascinated by the relationships of pop stars I don’t even like?

 
I was genuinely upset to hear that Taylor Swift had gone out with leather-choker-enthusiast Ed Sheeran and I didn’t know about it. But why would I know? I don’t buy their records, I don’t follow them on Twitter and I don’t even like them (although respect to Sheeran for writing a lyric that describes a face as “crumbling like pastries” without anyone noticing). I would understand my interest if I adored them artistically or loved boys with ginger bum-fluff.

 
It would make sense if I was passionately anti-Swift and detested Eds – then I could jeer at the Daily Mail website and spitefully remark “you deserve each other!” But what baffles me is why I expect to know the personal details of people who, otherwise, I have no interest in whatsoever.

 
More Swift news that I was shocked I didn’t know was that she’d been spotted holding hands with pube-less heart-throb Harry Styles and had received a barrage of Twitter-hatred from furious fans. One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson referred to their terrifying online troll mafia as aggressive “extremists” in a recent interview, and suggested that it was a “minority offence”. The viral crimes of these offenders have meant the permanent abstinence of Burberry model, Edie Campbell from Twitter, after she posed with the band for a photo-shoot and was ironically told she “looked like a troll”. More extraordinary tweets from 1D fans include the remarkably medieval “I WILL KILL YR FIRSTBORN”, and the simply put, “If u dating my harry, i kill u’.

 

Now, it’s clear that these maniacs have a vested interest in this gossip. They’ve publically announced their plots to murder a celebrity and their future children. They care. And despite myself, so do I.

 
I happened upon “Cheryl – Coming Home Cheryl” on ITV, and like my bewilderment at the title’s extra “Cheryl”, I was confused at the audible gasp that passed my lips at the candid announcement that ‘Tre’ wasn’t just a background dancer featured in the documentary, but was in fact her boyfriend as well!

 
Why hadn’t anyone told me? I have no interest in Cheryl and clearly I’m unaware of Tre’s work, but I was visited by the same inner turmoil that plagued me at the Swift news. I have faith, at least, that I will not be using this gossip to impress nor affirm my superiority, as clearly spreading the news of the ordinary relationships of happy rich celebrities will achieve neither. But, I’m unsure if this voluntary hysteria will pass soon.

Is it us or them?

Written by Ellie Riley on . Posted in Theatre.

Four Stars out of Five Stars

Blue/ Orange, Joe Penhall’s award winning play comes to the Opera House on a typically wet and bleak Manchester evening. Sporting a fairly star studded cast, that is if you’re a fan of Hollyoaks and Downton Abbey. It is a highly realistic story questioning the relationships between psychiatry, race and insanity, with a satirical twist running throughout.

 

It tells the story of Christopher, played by Oliver Wilson, who delivered a highly engaging and believable performance, he believes his father is military dictator, Idi Amin, and has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The ultimate power and ego struggle ensues, as his doctor, Bruce, played by Gerard McCarthy, believes it is too soon for Christopher to be released, diagnosing him with Schizophrenia. Whilst consultant Psychiatrist Robert, is keen to release him back into the community. Played by Robert Bathurst, Robert, best known for his roles in Downton Abbey and Wild at Heart, delivers a thoroughly entertaining performance, whose dry and satirical delivery provided light relief and humour at such a complex issue.

 

Through research like The Human Genome project, it has been discovered that in 90-95% of cases genes are not the cause of Schizophrenia. Therefore Blue/Orange addresses the more controversial, confusing, potential underlying causes; race, environment and culture. Issues that, as we see portrayed in Blue/Orange, can evoke extreme opposing views, and throughout the play my perceptions of the two sparring medical professionals continued to intertwine. At one moment I had labelled Bruce as genuine and good, and Robert as arrogant and obnoxious. At one point I was questioning their sanity! Are the medical professionals probing and thinking too deep? However as the performance progressed I found myself wavering and I could understand both sides of the arguments and issues raised.

 

The sparseness of the staging was extremely eye catching upon first glimpse of the stage, I heard utterances of, “well, they haven’t spent much money on the set”. With just a desk, water cooler small table, fruit-bowl and 3 chairs, the set was minimalist to say the least. This along with the fact that there were only ever 3 actors on stage created a really engaging performance for the audience, as it drew all your concentration to the extremely complex topic being dealt with.

 

By the end of the play, we are still questioning who is right and wrong, and trying to resolve certain issues. This to me represented the limited and differing insight into mental illness and in particular Schizophrenia, in today’s society. It leaves you questioning sanity, we blindly assume we know what ‘sane’ is. Penhall has blurred the boundaries between what and who we believe to be sane and insane, forcing you to question your own opinions. This is a deeply thought provoking performance, which I found really intriguing. It may not be to everyone’s taste, it requires concentration throughout, discussing a fairly taboo topic.  Nonetheless it is fast paced, engaging, brilliantly acted and will leave you questioning your perceptions of the two debating sides.

Blue/Orange runs until 24th November at the Manchester Opera House

No Women Bishops? No Bishops in the Lords

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Opinion.

In the wake of the Church of England’s decision not to let women become Bishops, what place does the Church have in our political system? Currently with twenty-six automatic seats in the House of Lords, the bishops of this country have significant political presence. The recent vote of the church to not allow women to become Bishops shows further that the church is an outdated, sexist organisation – with no right to influence politics in this country.

The decision of the vote is not supported by those most influential in the Church. But one glance at the tweeted response of Justin Welby, the soon-to-be leader of the Church, and it becomes pretty clear that religious bodies have no place in politics. He tweeted that it had been a ‘very grim day, most of all for women priests and supporters’. Welby also spoke of the need to ‘co-operate with our healing God’. It’s hard to imagine David Cameron emerging from a political vote bemoaning a result in which the vast majority of the country and its political representatives had been thwarted by such a small a minority of unelected, unrepresentative misogynists. Welby may say that the problem lies within the voting procedures and not within the institution as a whole. However, no Prime minister can hide behind a ‘healing’ third party, rather than tackling the issues at hand. If the House of Lords acts to challenge the government and ensure that the will of the electorate is represented in the Commons, what place have the leaders of an institution which can’t ensure that the voice of its own majority is heard?

In response to the decision of the vote, MPs have begun an e-petition to remove the right of the Church of England to have automatic seats in the House of Lords. Their petition is as follows:

The Church of England on 20th Nov 2012 voted not to allow women to be Bishops. Though that is within its rights to do, this should worry the Government as Church of England Bishops are awarded legislative power through seats in the House of Lords.

The Church has chosen to be a sexist organisation by refusing women the right to hold highest leadership positions and therefore should not be allowed automatic seats in the House of Lords, as this clearly does not comply with the spirit of UK Equality law.

We call on the Govt to remove the right of the Church of England to have automatic seats in the House of Lords, in line with its commitments to equality and non-discrimination, set out in the Equality Act (2010) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979)”

The e-petition can be found at : http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/42117

Arguments of democracy, equality and secularity are the strongest for this case. In practical terms, the Bishops have little influencing power. It is hoped that this petition will encourage the removal of Bishops from the Lords due to their symbolic presence, more so than their power in practice.

Out of the 760 seats overall in the House of Lords, the Church holds only twenty-six of them. This is compared to 212 Conservative, 225 Labour, and 90 Liberal Democrat peers. So in practical terms, if turnout were 100% in the House of Lords, and party lines held all the time, the Bishops would never influence law – the vote would go to the coalition every time. However, allowing Bishops automatic seats in the House of Lords undermines the credibility of our democracy. We are a highly developed liberal country, and this appears to contradict our morality. An organisation that is exempt from some aspects of the law, such as the Church of England is with the equality legislation act has no place in our parliament.

Speaking to students unaware of the issue, it was surprising how many were shocked and appalled that such an undemocratic practise was still operating in this country. Laurence Jones-Williams, a member of Manchester Universities Humanist Group, told The Mancunion ‘It’s a wonder how in the 21st century we still allow seemingly 18th century practices. The recent decision of the Church further shows the illegitimacy of the Bishops’ presence in the House of Lords’.

If you agree with the arguments above, I urge you to sign the petition. The fact the argument is in the political spectrum at all in the 21st century is unnerving, a stark reminder of one of the many obstacles we still have to overcome to become a truly liberal progressive society. The recent vote has shown that sadly the Church is not moving with the times, let alone reflecting the vast majority opinion in this country.

 

Breakthrough in search for arthritis cure

Written by David Burch on . Posted in News.

A major breakthrough has been made by University of Manchester researchers looking for a cure for arthritis.

The groundbreaking study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, involved scientists studying the DNA samples from more than 27,000 patients with the disease.

Researchers already know environmental factors such as smoking, diet, pregnancy and infection can cause the disease, but new research shows that genetic disposition also influences the likelihood of developing it.

14 new genes were discovered that can lead to rheumatoid arthritis – a disease that affects around 70 million worldwide, and over 400,000 people in the UK.

Alongside 32 genes already linked to the disease, the researchers now feel they have discovered nearly all the genes that contribute to the disease.

Study author Dr Stephen Eyre stated the potential of the findings to be used for the development of drugs to help those afflicted with the disease.

“This work will have a great impact on the treatment of arthritis. We have already found three genes that are targets for drugs, leaving 43 genes with the potential for drug development”.

At present a third of patients don’t respond well to medications that have been developed for the disease.

Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, hopes that these discoveries will lead to a “greater understanding of the disease and allow us to develop targeted drug treatments for the people currently living with rheumatoid arthritis.”

The study also reveals the genetic association between rheumatoid arthritis and the X chromosome, helping to understand why three times more women develop the disease than men.

But the researchers’ work is far from over, as Professor Jane Worthington indicated.

“Our future work will focus on understanding how the simple genetic changes alter normal biological processes and lead to disease. Ultimately, this will help us to develop novel therapies.”

Lord of the Rings: Guardians of Middle Earth – Preview

Written by Jack Crutcher on . Posted in Games.

Monolith Productions will bring the latest entry in the Lord of The Rings franchise Guardians of Middle Earth to Xbox 360 and PS3 on December 4. This time around console gamers will be introduced to the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) style of game-play. The pressure to impress is huge and in no small part due to the hot competition offered by the rival PC platform which can boast such titles as League of Legends and Starcraft.

The game will offer a choice between five classes and 20 characters, gamers will be encouraged to specialize according to their preferred style of play early on. Warriors, Strikers, Enchanters, Tacticians and Defenders complete the options available to the player with each bringing a distinct set of strengths and weaknesses to the table. For example, where Enchanters like Gandalf lose out in terms of health and minimal resistance to incoming attacks, they will make up for in devastating offensive moves. Defenders on the other hand are able to withstand high amounts of damage, but offer little in terms of attack.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Guardians of Middle Earth is the character customisation made available through three forms; Potions, Commands and Guardian Belts. Potions and Commands are typically purchased with credits earned through mission advancement. However the Guardian Belts are a unique feature introduced by Monolith. The Belts are carried by every character in the game and can hold up to seven gems and/ or relics each (more slots are unlocked with game progression). Each gem or relic gives the holder a unique trait that increases their ability and can be placed in order of importance within the available slots. The higher a relic or gem is placed, the greater its effect on the character. The game should impress when it comes to character personalisation if nothing else, something that will attract RPG fans to the genre.

This is certainly a brave release by Monolith and could prove to be a stroke of genius if it lives up to the hype.

Teething problems for Wii U US Launch

Written by Alasdair Preston on . Posted in Games.

Nintendo’s Wii U was released stateside last week, marking the dawn of the next generation of home consoles.

As with all launches, there were teething problems. The biggest complaint that arose from the first wave of Wii U owners was about a firmware update. Gamers were complaining of a slow download that was required to get most of the Wii U’s online features to work. Despite rumours of it being a hefty 5GB, official sources claim its only 1GB.

Frustrated fans took to the web to complain. With one Twitter user summing up gamers’ frustrations: “Things I have enjoyed doing so far with my Wii U: Waiting for things to download. Waiting for things to install. Entering passwords.”

 Worse still turning off the console during this update bricked the machine completely for some. Word eventually got round about how to shift the download to the background, and Nintendo of America hastily released a warning to those yet to download. But for many this was too little, too late.

The Wii U’s online space suffered some day one downtime. For a new system this kind is to be expected, but it surely caused disappointment for those who had been looking forward to launch since summer 2011. One user reported accidentally hacking the admin side of the social hub, and being presented with the option to moderate all submitted messages (although he claimed that it wasn’t fully functional). Nintendo were quick to point out that this menu was just a mock-up, and has since been removed.

Despite all this, Nintendo should be pretty happy with the launch. They successfully avoiding the usual stock shortages that we have come to expect, and launched some great first-party titles.

The MiiVerse, Nintendo’s biggest step into the online world by far, seems popular and is being compared favourably to the Xbox Live and PSN services by many. There is plenty to look forward to on November 30, but early adopters would do well to prepare for that big download, or risk turning their Wii U into a £300 paperweight.

Retro Corner – Batman: Vengance

Written by Thomas Lee on . Posted in Games.

I may be speaking to a niche audience when I ask “Does anyone remember Batman: Vengeance?” But hear me out.

As a kid, I loved superhero cartoons, but was too young to catch Batman: The Animated Series (which I’ve since purchased on DVD, and can heartily recommend). I did however play the video-game spinoff, Ubisoft’s 2001 Batman Vengeance.

It was my first video game and my first encounter with the caped crusader. Eleven years later, I still collect Batman comics. And I still swoop around Gotham beating up Joker thugs, but now I tend to do it on a seventh-generation console. The Arkham series has been tremendous, but for me, Vengeance will always be the original. In more ways than one.

Vengeance was great fun. The decopunk noire of the animated series was captured beautifully in a game where Batman roundhouse kicked his way through his usual rogues gallery in a chain of episodes that were bound together by a shady criminal conspiracy, with voice talent from Misters Conroy and Hamil. Some things never change. The plot worked and the dialog was ripped right out of a 40s gumshoe detective novel, but the controls were awkward – the Arkham series make Batman’s utility belt much more utilitarian.

The new games are, objectively, much better (even if they haven’t yet let me drive the Batmobile). But it’s hard not to notice how they ‘borrow’ from Vengeance. There are several intentional tips of the hat, including Joker quotes and Oracle’s reminder of what happened the “last time” Batman fought Mister Freeze – but Arkham Asylum’s plot of Joker is putting strange fluids in the sewers was an almost direct steal, as was the miraclous ‘Titan’ formula. The theme of the Joker’s death features in both game and the fact that Vengeance ends with a remarkably farsighted cutscene of the Asylum makes you almost wonder if the Joker has something in store for us.

Far Cry 3 – Review

Written by Sam Dumitriu on . Posted in Games.

Far Cry 3 is a rare breed, the thoughtful first person shooter. When you’re first introduced to protagonist Jason Brody, he strikes you as nothing more than a rich kid out of his depth, but your view of Brody will soon change as you break out of psychotic pirate Vaas’ prison camp.

It’s a rare FPS that has the lead character recoil in horror at his first kill and delivers a truly emotional moment when he has to apply pressure to stop his brother bleeding from the neck, all before you’re even given a gun.

Jason Brody is a reluctant hero, a man who at first refuses a gun, yet as time passes, he begins to feel at home in the role.  He starts to enjoy the violence, comfortably burning down villages with his flamethrower and setting loose wild animals on his enemies.

His character arc is reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman’s in Straw Dogs; he goes from being repulsed by violence to eventually embracing it as a fundamental part of him.

At times it is a little hard to suspend your disbelief; for a man who’s never used a gun Brody has an incredible aptitude for killing trained pirates armed to their teeth.

Once you escape the prison camp, you spend a good hour getting acquainted with the key-mechanics of the game. Gathering herbs in order to create drugs that can heal you and enhance your combat abilities, and learning to hunt pigs, goats and leopards to make equipment from their hides.  It is important to pay attention at this point, as you won’t get far with the bog standard gear.

You also get access to the game’s levelling system, where you can develop new skills such as, stealth kills or being able to reload while sprinting. In a nice touch, the new skills that you purchase appear on your characters left arm as tattoos.

What sets the gameplay of Far Cry 3 apart from the other big titles on the market is the freedom it gives you in approaching each mission. You get to decide whether you run in guns blazing or attach C4 to a vehicle and create a makeshift car bomb or sneak in taking each guard out with your knife. You can also use the environment as a weapon setting fire to crops in order to block off your enemies paths or lure wild animals like leopards and even water buffalo to the enemies for backup.

The freedom isn’t just limited to how you approach the missions, you have free reign over the massive map, which spans two islands. You can go hunting, try some off-roading in one of the game’s many vehicles and even explore the island from above with the help of Far Cry series staple the hang-glider.

The freedom extends to your weapons giving you a vast choice, from handguns and machine-guns to flamethrowers, rocket launchers and my personal favourite the bow and arrow. All of these weapons are customisable superficially with different paint jobs and functionally with scopes and magazines.

The graphics are strong. The islands are nice to look at, with realistic water effects, lush foliage and sharp textures. The character animation is strong as well, which alongside quality voice acting helps the story draw you in. The distressing healing animations from Far Cry 2 remain, popping Brody’s bones back into place and picking out bullets with your knife, will cause even the most-hardened gamer to cringe.

As well as the main story, the game also offers a co-op mode separate from the main plot where you play as one of four misfits drawn together when pirates attack their ship. The free roaming is traded for more linear gameplay here, although the levels are still vast. The levels are designed for four players and it can become frustratingly difficult playing with just two.

The multiplayer isn’t much cop either, compared to Black Ops 2 and Halo 4; it’s likely to get ignored. The levels lack the scope of the main game, and force you into closed quarters. Thankfully, the game has provided players with a map editor allowing you to create your own levels.

Far Cry 3 is a great shooter that excels with open-ended gameplay, a strong story and a huge map to explore. While the multi-player doesn’t live up to the single player, it’s a must buy on the quality of the single player alone.

9 out of 10