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Month: March 2013

Surprise and delight at The Castle Hotel

Written by Annie Muir on . Posted in Books.

Bad Language is a literary organisation based in Manchester that holds a free evening of spoken word performances every month at The Castle Hotel on Oldham Street. When I walked into the small pub on February’s evening last week, I asked the bartender where ‘Bad Language’ was and she must have misheard me because she directed me to the toilets. The actual room was small, high ceiling-ed and low-lit, with chairs lined neatly in rows. I sat next to a young woman who offered me a cheese and onion crisp (I accepted) and told me about the novel she has been writing from her mother’s house in the middle of nowhere (Exton). Look out for a novel by Charlotte Haines!

There were a lot of different acts: a mixture of first-timers and regulars, poetry and prose pieces, and one short play/dialogue at the end. Mostly I preferred the poetry, it was snappy and funny – such as Fat Roland reading a poem from his book HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY, and a confident first-timer reading his poem about porn. Sometimes when someone reads out prose in a crowded dark room it’s all too easy to switch off for a second and miss something vital to the plot. This was not the case, though, when, for the headline prose act, Sarah Butler read from her debut novel Ten Things I Hate About Love. I was sceptical when I heard the book’s title, but she read it as if it was poetry, full of pauses and internal rhymes, so that – despite the microphone problems that made it sound like she was beatboxing when she said any word beginning with ‘p’ or ‘b’- it was very enjoyable to listen to.

I had passed the mass of people going into the Palace Theatre to see The Lion King on my way there, and I saw them flood out on my way back. I felt my evening compared favourably to theirs; as a ‘show’ where you don’t have to spend money, can decide to go an hour before, sit in any seat, and have the surprise of having no idea what you are going to hear or see that evening.

Surviving Supper: DADA

Written by Lucy Johnson on . Posted in Arts.

Background

Dada was an early 20th century avant-garde movement that was originated in Zurich in 1916 by a group of artists associated with Hugo Ball’s Cabaret Voltaire. Dada was anti-war, anti-art and against Bourgeois society which resulted in irrational, autonomous and sometimes outright ludicrous artworks, performances, essays, poems and manifestos being created. For example in Tristan Tzara’s Dada manifesto he states, ‘DADA doesn’t speak. DADA has no fixed idea’ and he declares that ‘the Holy Virgin was already a Dadaist’. This being said it was an incredibly influential movement that can be seen as the forerunner to conceptual, abstract and performance art despite the fact that the movement itself was more of a ‘meta-movement’. Dada was suspicious of the hierarchies of art and the unity of movements such as cubism and futurism. The Dadaists spread their manifestations around Europe via a series of art journals and magazines and the title of the original magazine by Tristan Tzara called ‘Dada’ gave the group their name.

Style

Dada rejected the traditions of art and developed artistic techniques aimed at the de-skilling of the artist. These included collage, photomontage, assemblage (a kind of 3D collage) and the use of the ready-made. The most famous example of a ready-made and one which aptly defines the nature of Dada art is Marcel Duchamp’s ‘Fountain’. Duchamp entered a porcelain urinal into the exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in New York in 1917 which he had signed ‘R. Mutt’ and titled ‘Fountain’. He was suggesting that whether the artist had created the object themselves or not, by signing the work, giving it a title and entering it into an exhibition, it could be called art.

Key Players

Due to the all-inclusive and non-hierachical nature of the Dada movement there were many figures who considered themselves Dadaists and Tristan Tzara stated that ‘all members of the Dada movement are presidents’. There are certain artists though who contributed more significantly with artworks, manifestos, poems or edited the various Dadaist publications and these include: Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Duchamp, Hans Arp, Francis Picabia and Andre Breton.

Works to know / Manifestos to read

Tristan Tzara’s DADA manifesto (Paris, January 12th 1921)

DADA Magazine (7 issues)

Fountain – Marcel Duchamp 1917 (replicas in various museums including Tate Modern)

L. H. O. O. Q. – Marcel Duchamp 1919

 

Interview: the life drawing model

Written by Annabel Herrick on . Posted in Arts.

We’ve all experienced the same nightmare, standing in a room full of strangers realising you are stripped naked, baring all to a scrutinizing audience, but for Olive* this is how she spent one afternoon on a stage in the union for a bit of extra cash.

After attending the MUSEA’s fortnightly life drawing class I was intrigued to find out how it feels to submit yourself to such intimate examination for 90 minutes, all in the name of art. “It’s actually quite meditative,” Olive explains, “at the initial moment I have a lot going around my head, mainly worried that I’ll see someone I know, but watching the crowd and the rhythmic sea-wave of heads going up and down, by the end my mind goes quiet.”

I point out that there are other ways to make money and they don’t necessarily involve taking your clothes off, she laughs and says “I love to do things that scare me and I’ve always had a strange relationship with my body, in fact it was a boost of confidence.” I tell her I imagine it to be quite an empowering experience and she agrees, “Life drawing is a practice that has an established historical basis and having tried it myself I understand the way in which the body is looked at. It’s seen as a shape, something aesthetic to be drawn in a mathematical way; it’s important that the proportions are accurate to get it right.”

After the interview she had not only laid herself bare physically for the sake of art but she had divulged her personal thoughts as a life model too, thoughts that usually remain hidden even while her body is completely exposed, and for that reason I think we could all use a bit of her courage. Nevertheless, it seems anonymity is key as when I tell her one of the drawings will be printed next to the article she cries “As long as you can’t tell it’s me!”

*Name has been changed

Women for Women International

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

Women for Women International is an established charity which works within eight war-torn countries. It betters the lives of women in these countries by partnering them up with people around the globe, who sponsor them to undertake a year-long program to educate them in areas such as skills, rights and health education. Many of these women have lost everything due to war, including their families and their livelihoods. The partnering scheme is not only successful on a practical level, but also offers emotional support and hope for these women at a time when they are surrounded death and violence.

Last week Women for Women International held a screening of The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. This documentary was created by Lisa F. Jackson from Washington, who is herself a victim of rape. This compelled her to highlight the trauma of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rape is used on a daily basis as a weapon of war. The documentary was a real eye-opener to the consequences of rape, not only on the women affected, but their families and the community. It really showed how damaging this weapon of war is in an already fragile country.

I spoke to the Chair Rawnak Jassm, who explains why this charity is so important and why she wanted to get involved. “I simply fell in love with the way the charity gives women of war a second chance. It educates them, teaches them about their rights in society, provides them with skills that allow them to become financially independent and allows them to become socially active. This charity does not merely hand over money or a bag of rice to a woman to sustain her for a month or so, but the money raised is an investment into a woman’s life, as well as her family’s, and the economy as a whole.”

The society aims to raise awareness for the charity, as well as raising money and offering students the opportunity to support this worthwhile cause. They organise many different events in order to raise money, including a weekly Zumba session, bake sales, and barbeques. The society is also looking into the possibility of holding an educational event to portray global issues surrounding women after war.

The society was only started in 2012, but it has already been very successful. However, their main problem is that by having ‘women’ in the name of the society, they have few male participants. In the future they look to advertise this society for everyone and not just for women. With 25 current members, they are hoping to expand in the future, especially as this society deals with such current global issues, offering support in a unique way.

“There is always space on the committee for those that feel like they have something to offer- everyone is welcome to either commit to a role or just volunteer occasionally- everything is pretty casual and the results are always rewarding.  Events and fundraisers are open to everyone and you can keep up to date by subscribing to our emails, Facebook or twitter. It would be lovely to meet anyone that is interested in the cause or would like to learn more.”

For more details you can contact them at:

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/wfwi.manchester

Follow us on twitter: @WFWI_Manchester

‘Man, Woman and not-at-all Mild!’ – MIFTAs review

Written by Ben Marshall on . Posted in Theatre.

Entering the theatre for a play whose title is a relatively unknown word is always fascinating. Audience members possess a sense of open-mindedness and intrigue of the spectacle they’re about to witness – and Hugo Timbrell’s “The Maenad” is a fine example of this.

With its Ancient Greek setting, tone and ideas, the production was an entry in this year’s Miftas. It did deal with a theme (gender) that has already been thoroughly explored in theatre, but despite this, some very impressive performances were demonstrated, with interesting visual and sound techniques, which made for a strong overall delivery.

For the uninitiated, the Maenads were the mythical, female worshippers of Ancient Greek figure ‘Dionysus’, the God of wine, pleasure and ecstasy. Timbrell’s plot presents us with the Maenad, a frustrated female in a male-dominated world where women are merely sex-slaves.

Through a chain of sexual encounters with misogynistic men, the Maenad demonstrates her ability to manipulate males and achieve her goal of redemption for women. Daisy Church, with her powerful, attention-demanding voice, shone a ray of mystery on the Maenad and managed to attribute to her a degree of masculine-style control, which was essential in showing how she was able to defeat the men.

Church’s character was also key in showing some themes of this play; frequent but gentle physical contact exerted on the Girl (Leela Carr-Bond) awoke touching connotations of a mother teaching her daughter the ways of the world, and its dangers.

The beautiful white dresses worn by the two characters further emphasised their similarity and also a supposed purity and innocence of the female kind.

However, in a bizarre u-turn, the final scene has the Maenad extracting the heart of her young companion in an unnerving ritual; indeed Maenads themselves are often perceived as drunk, over-excitable beings, and this final act questions the true intentions of this character and the disturbing methods of escaping a world of female suppression. Slow, almost sinister piano music and a bright red, lustful curtain serving as the backdrop backed up this theory of her controversial nature.

Other notable performances came from Remi Lagache and Andrew Dixon’s dim-witted personalities of ‘Man 1’ and ‘Man 2’ respectively, which provided the humorous bone of the play. Lagache was definitely the crazier of the two, with his creepy gestures, stooped posture and unhealthy obsession with sex, while Man 2 was infinitesimally more controlled, but still laughable in his failed attempts to guide his stupid partner.

A slight niggle for this reviewer is that there was an air of familiarity with key ideas and characters of this play, with various aspects strongly resembling Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, an Ancient Greek sex comedy, which also has a central female figure hitting out against the males. Theatre-lovers may notice these, and possibly more similarities that at times seemed a little too coincidental. Of course only the playwright can state the true extent to which ideas have been borrowed from other works.

Aside from this, the main questions the playwright addressed (‘What makes a man’, and ‘What makes a woman’) are treated well, and it takes a subjective analysis of the action to come up with the answers. Indeed, the men and women take it in turns to be oppressors and the oppressed in this work, and the dim stage lighting put an omnipresent mood of evilness around all the characters. This ultimately means the true positions of each gender in society is down to the individual viewer’s decision, and a good play definitely gives this level of freedom for the audience to decide.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Written by Robbie Davidson on . Posted in Theatre.

It had been a number of years since I last read Harper Lee’s ground-breaking novel, but Christopher Sergel’s adaption has maintained all the poetry and poignancy of the 1960 classic.

The beauty of Lee’s novel was that it explored the potent theme of racism in the Deep South through the prism of the bright-eyed naivety of children. The task to transport this unique viewpoint onto stage is a challenging one but one which Sergel and director, Max Webster, rise to magnificently.

Webster has cast three ‘child’ leads who perfectly balance the rambunctious and indignation needed to play Scout, Jem and Dill. In particular, Shannon Tarbet delivers an endearing and energetic performance as Scout, capably handling the scenes of both humour and pathos. Tarbet is supported by the excellent Rupert Simonian and James McConville as Jem, Scout’s protective big brother, and Dill as their friend who stays with them during Tom Robinson’s trial and whose character was rumoured to be based on a young Truman Capote.

Webster and co. have also found themselves a fantastic Atticus in Nigel Cooke. Cooke captures all the meek and mild-manners of Atticus which make him such a beloved but frustrating hero. Cooke also benefits from a great physical resemblance to Gregory Peck’s Atticus from the 1962 film which adds to the gravitas of the production.

James Cotterill’s set is functional and effective but adds nothing of particular interest to the production. The most interesting stage choice the producers have made is instead of having actors play the jury during Tom Robinson’s trial, they have the audience themselves stand in as the jury.

This means Atticus’ wonderful closing statement to the court is said directly to the audience. An original and provocative choice given that the one thing both the jury and the audience shared was that they were both almost entirely white.

If there are any aspects of the play which falter then the decision to have the actors break character and read extracts from the original novel is a curious and distracting one. It has the unfortunate effect of diluting the intensity of the scenes and becomes quite jarring. The three man band which played during scene changes also struck a slightly bemusing note as their role in the play was never clear and I felt their removal would have been no great loss.

However this problem is minor and does little to detract from what is a terrific staging of Lee’s seminal masterpiece bolstered by some inspired lead performances.

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Live: xxxy & Huxley

Written by Patrick Hinton on . Posted in Music.

9th March 2013

Sankeys

8/10

Sankeys holds a special significance for Manchester’s own xxxy due to it being the first club he ever attended during his musically formative years. This homecoming subtext adds to the occasion and his return is ecstatically received. With the energy levels starting high, xxxy has no reservations in immediately unleashing a string of anthems. The exultant ‘Tonite (Detroit Mix)’ is one of many euphoria-inducing highlights.

After cueing each track, the DJ’s left hand flicks away in an apparent nervous twitch, yet this anxiety is needless as the enthused crowd conspicuously display their enjoyment through unrelenting dancing. The intimacy of the venue allows for a peek at xxxy’s CD-J screen which reveals he has adapted self-productions for his DJ sets; the confidently titled ‘No More (Super Special Garage Edit)’ indicates his admirable commitment to provide a special show.

Huxley is a man at the forefront of the UK house scene. The reason for this is evident through his own releases drawing the biggest crowd responses of the night. Resident Advisor‘s inclusion of ‘Let It Go’ in their Top 10 tracks of 2012 is justified when the thumping beat instigates rapturous clapping. The range Huxley is capable of is exhibited by the dissimilar ‘Box Clever’ which builds and builds into a dazzling orchestration of piano chords and exuberant synth loops, with an Alicia Keys sample thrown in for good measure.

At times Huxley is guilty of overindulgence. His attempts to whip up a frenzy by dimming the sound before a crescendo drag on too long and this flattens the vibe amongst the assembled revellers. However, if you’re going to choose any song to save a floor then it’d be hard to improve upon the lone release of Daft Punk side-project Stardust. Not only does Huxley’s proficiency shine through with this selection of ‘Music Sounds Better With You’; the song’s title also succinctly summarizes my appreciation of each act tonight.

Live: Egyptian Hip Hop

Written by Johnny Mac on . Posted in Music.

8th March 2013

Gorilla

5/10

We get in late, brimming with the sort of tarmac cider that tastes as though bottled directly from the River Medlock. You’d be forgiven, then, for perhaps starting to suppose that tonight might be a night of youthful abandon, and that is probably the most suitable vantage point from which to talk about Egyptian Hip Hop. Few bands have garnered the sort of attention that these lads lapped up with their new-rave-pop-schtick as 17 year-olds back in 2009, earning favourable comparisons with Late of the Pier and Klaxons. Even fewer have come into any serious regard in their future trappings, but having disappeared from the face of urban Britain, the band resurfaced last year to release a very, very astute debut in Good Don’t Sleep, disregarding their former pop for dwellings of a deeper, more mature nature.

Does this mean to say that Egyptian Hip Hop have grown up, then? The band still look gangling youths – draped in, presumably, Affleck’s finest – and the songs translate well from the album, but overall the sense of fun seems to have been lost. Unlike the ace support Great Waves, who appear genuinely happy to play tonight, Egyptian Hip Hop play it far too cool. Or perhaps too moody. Either way, the snaking melody of ‘Strange Vale’ instead drags, whilst the arpeggio on entrance ‘Tobago’ lacks its usual mystery and playfulness.

There are many cries for yesteryear’s ‘Middle Name Period’, ‘Wild Human Child’, and especially ‘Rad Pitt’, but though seemingly an ideal move, given that the band fail to whip up the haze of the record and that the crowd clearly want to dance, they are never aired. Credit to the rhythm section, however, who are, frankly, tight-as-fuck, playing in semiquavers that relations Dutch Uncles would be proud of, but overall, tonight Egyptian Hip Hop just don’t feel much fun.

Live: Jessie Ware

Written by Hannah Phillips on . Posted in Music.

7th March 2013

The Ritz

Last time she played Manchester – on her first ever UK tour, at Sound Control in November – Jessie Ware noted how she hoped her family could have a box to watch her from next time. Giving a wave to her aunt on a roped-off balcony area, she’s definitely delivered. Now with two Brit nominations and a Mercury nod to her name, it’s no surprise that Jessie Ware finds herself swapping that previous intimate, sweaty room for over-triple-the-capacity venue HMV Ritz. And all within just four months.

But Jessie isn’t the only Brits nominee on the bill tonight. As if one soulful songstress wasn’t enough, Ware has brought Critic’s Choice shortlister Laura Mvula along as support on this tour – and their sounds compliment each other rather remarkably. Welcoming the evening in with her breezy and graceful nature, Mvula and her impossibly cool band harmonise their way through gems from her debut album Sing To The Moon. The likes of ‘Like The Morning Dew’ and ‘Green Garden’ are intact with off-kilter arrangements, rich choral vocals and infectiously spirited handclaps. So effortlessly charming, I can’t imagine it’ll be too long before she finds herself at the same dizzying heights as Jessie.

On that note, the time promptly arrives for Ware herself to enter the stage. And boy does she do it in style. Sauntering on just in time to hit the first notes of album title-track ‘Devotion’, Jessie Ware has the look and the presence of a truly established leading lady. In her glittered jacket she emits an elegance so profound that it’s almost disconcerting when, between songs, she turns to hearty chat and an endearing cheekiness. She even playfully accentuates technical issues, pulling faces as she struggles to get her mic off the stand and almost knocking over her drink with the lead. But details like this just add to Jessie’s appeal; despite her ever-growing success, she’s still incredibly grounded.

In between nattering, tracks such as ‘Night Light’ and ‘No To Love’ are rolled out as if second nature to her. Yet her cheekiness still shines through, as she mimes the words to the opening sample of ‘If You’re Never Gonna Move’ (formerly ‘110%’) to mimic the change brought about by a legal dispute. More impressively, though, is that with Jessie you don’t just get a string of album-identical versions.  There’s an extra funk and sincerity in her voice that transforms the mellower songs with more up-tempo, danceable beats. So much so that heart-wrenching ballad ‘Taking In Water’ becomes even more prominent amidst the set. Sung with true vulnerability, the ode to her little brother proves a definite highlight as her unbound vocal almost detaches itself from the surrounding production, spanning an impressive and sensual range.

Yet Jessie is eager to slow the pace even further, as we reach an intimate rendition of her Bobby Cauldwell cover ‘What You Won’t Do For Love’, before drummer Dornik Leigh is welcomed out front to lend his gorgeously soothing vocals to Sampha collaboration ‘Valetine’. “I’m so glad you all got a chance to hear his voice,” Jessie beams to the incessant applause, explaining that this is only the second time they have performed it together. There’s no time to delve into the milder tones for too long though, as the up-tempo beats soon return with the debut of a new collaboration with Julio Bashmore, as Ware attempts to “channel Chaka,” hinting at a more disco-esque direction with new material.

Before the adoring crowd have a chance to really take it all in, the familiar notes of hits ‘Wildest Moments’ and ‘Running’ embrace the room, prompting a deafening sing-along and indicating the culmination of a triumphant return. With a huge grin and a knowing appreciation, Jessie notes that Manchester is like second home to her. And tonight, she made HMV Ritz feel like just that: home.

Style doesn’t have to be seasonal

Written by Susie Coen on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

With student loans dwindling faster than Katie Price’s new marriage, strategic shopping is a must. The best way to increase your wardrobe and minimise expenditure is to make sure your buys can carry you from this coming spring right into the winter winds. Here’s my top picks of the staple pieces that are really worth the investment.

1. Ankle boots are the ideal trans-seasonal footwear choice. Their versatility gives them the green light with almost any outfit: bringing an element of grunge to pretty summer dresses or as it starts to get colder they can be worn with tartan trousers to pay homage to ’70s punk chic. As suspicious as I am that Jeffrey Campbell’s Coltranes (see above) bear a close resemblance to Balenciaga’s Cut Out Boots, at £135.00 they bring this striking design into the realms of the student budget.

2.  A midi-dress is another item that can easily be carried from season to season. Although a length that many avoid in fear of contracting a case of the frumps, if worn right it a midi can look both elegant and trendy. For the warmer season team a tight midi dress such as this one from Topshop with some flatform sandals (no creepers, please) and a fringe bag to create an effortlessly stylish look. As the winds start to change, try wearing it over a long sleeve roll neck and finish with a leather jacket to for a mature edgy look.

topshop.com

3. They were everywhere last season and they are still going strong into SS13: cigarette trousers are a breath of fresh air from the epidemic of skinny jeans and disco pants. This pair from Topshop combines the key styles of monochrome and checks to guarantee that you will look perfectly on trend. For summer, wear with sandals and a sheer top over a bandeau and, to translate into winter, team with a shirt, a fur gilet and inject some colour with red lipstick.

Topshop.com

4. Scarves: an underrated accessory that can bring life to an outfit. For when those summer evenings become a bit chillier a pretty scarf can be wrapped round your arms, giving warmth without the hassle of wearing a jacket. Equally, in winter a scarf can be worn with a coat or jacket to bring some colour into those grey winter days. I think Zara are unrivalled for their choice of scarves and their quality.

zara.com

Education Officer: Rosie Dammers

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Uncategorised.

Hey, my names Rosie and I’m a third year history student. I am really active around the university in societies. I have been considering this role for a long time, and after speaking to lots of students and societies, I have come up with a manifesto that I think is both highly achievable and representative of your needs.

If I was elected I would set up a mobile app from which students can access personalised timetables that show lectures, seminars, course deadlines and society events. I will also scrap Blackboard and bring in a better designed system that will make online learning easier and more accessible. After researching alternative software, I propose that the university changes to Moodle. Moodle is already used by other universities in the UK such as UCL and the University of Nottingham. It is designed to create an online learning environment that provides a sociable and lively experience by allowing users to create their own personalised areas and profiles, in much the same way social spaces such as Facebook do. I also think this system would help distance learners to feel more part of university life, and would help students to network with a larger group of people on their course by making it easier for students to have online group discussions. Moodle would thus create more integration between students, and allow students to easily offer each other support – something I feel is particularly important on courses with few contact hours. As well creating an online community of students and lecturers, Moodle would enhance online learning by giving lecturers the freedom to design the layout of their course in a way that reflects the structure of the course and directs students with ease to online materials.

I also pledge to increase the amount of study space available for students to work individually and in groups, particularly during exam periods. I want to do this by opening the computer clusters across campus that are currently closed during exam time. I also want to make the library computers timeout after two hours to stop people unfairly leaving themselves logged in for long periods of time. If elected, I would also ensure that lecturers and seminar leaders are meeting a high standard by setting up a feedback system that allows students to frequently comment on the quality of their courses and the standard of the feedback they are receiving. I will then make those reports available online so that students can refer to them when choosing what future courses to take. I would encourage lecturers to comment back on the report to show how they have considered the feedback and subsequently improved the course. I will also increase the number of careers events and work experience opportunities advertised departmentally and by the careers service. I realise how important it is in this economic climate that the university equips students with the skills and experience they need to feel confident when entering the job market.

I also think it is important the university recognises the hard work of students who dedicated themselves to societies and campaigns. To make this happen, I will introduce a UoM Societies and Campaigns award. This will be an official university award that deserving students receive at the end of their degree, which reflects the commitment they have shown to a particular cause or group. There would be an interview and selection process in place to ensure that only worthy students receive the award.

Finally, if I was elected I would put my time into making the university into an international hub of learning that celebrates a range of cultures and forms links of solidarity with other universities and student union bodies worldwide. To create this climate, I want to promote language courses to all students and set up student-led conversation clubs so that students can help each other to learn other languages and make cultural exchanges.

So if you would like to see the university revolutionise their online learning, gain recognition for the hard work you put in to societies, see exactly how your courses are being improved, and learn a language from a fellow student then vote for me for Education Officer.

Education Officer: Myonoway Toles

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Uncategorised.

My name is Myonoway Toles, I am from Los Angeles, California and I am currently pursuing my masters in International Relations. I am standing in the upcoming Student Union Election for Education Officer, and I am writing you today to ask for you endorsement. As an international student, I know the importance of education especially when the price of one continues to increase while the quality decreases therefore, making it difficult for students to afford higher education.

If given the opportunity to become your Education Officer, I promise to oppose all governmental and university tuition increase and cuts because I truly believe education should affordable for all students regardless of economic status. Not only will I oppose all cuts I will also continue to push for an increase in funding for Women in STEM   because although women make up just more than half of the population, only thirteen percent of engineers are women.  Women are similarly underrepresented in other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions, so organizations that encourage young women to study STEM in higher education are vital.

As Education Officer, I will fight to lower the cost of external specialist equipment particularly for students in the medical and science filed such as lab coats, stethoscopes, and eye-protective goggles. For students in other fields, I would like to work with the university to give students limited print credit at the beginning of every school year therefore reducing extra cost to students.

My goal and aspiration as Education Officer is to enhance the student experience for every student regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, and religion both at undergraduate and graduate levels in hopes of obtaining quality higher education.  Whether that is fighting for more prayer rooms, or free water dispenser stations, or female, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ recognition in academia, or more twenty-four hour access study areas in halls and around both campuses, or Wi-Fi in every all or better meal plans for catered halls, I hope to help make such significant contributions to students’ lives.

I would like to, in recognition for your work to enhance student experience, ask for your support and endorsement to help me in the upcoming student elections to help realise my ambitions. With your help, we could work collectively to make Manchester University a more conducive place to groom the future leaders of tomorrow.

Remember, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belong to the people who prepare for it today.”

 

Diversity Officer: Marijn Ceelen

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

Hi, I’m Marijn and I’m standing for diversity officer. I stand because I believe the union should increase accessibility, challenge inequality and celebrate liberation. If elected, I want to change some policies, and create awareness throughout the university and start from the beginning of the student experience.

My first point is the increase of inclusion of international students, at university, at the union and in the halls of residence. I want to organise more events to celebrate the various celebrations our student body celebrate at home, and advertise these to a wider audience so everyone can enjoy them. Halls of residence should have more events, held throughout the year to include the international students and promote integration whilst staying respectful to cultural values and differences. Each RA team should have one reserved place for an international student, who can give input into what events they want to do, and what kind of trips are desired. I want to change the focus from alcohol to enjoyment during Fresher’s, and I want to look into offering non-alcohol flats in the Halls of Residence.

My second point is about the zero tolerance policies that are in place at the union. Welcome packs should contain information on these, and provide information so students are aware of them before even arriving at Manchester. I want to hold workshops tailored to the various diversities, and announce these in the welcome packs as well as making them available on the union website. I want to create a week full of workshops (Diversity Week?) and films where we focus on all issues, whether related to race, religion, LGBTQ or students with disabilities. I want to enrich the student experience for all students, and make people more aware of the amazing diverse community we have here at Manchester.

I want to work closely together with the careers service, for a couple of reasons. This year we had a part time jobs fair, but I believe this can be bigger and better, tailored for those students in need of a part time job to be able to support themselves, such as students from a lower economic background or post-graduate students. I also want to help them liaise with the DSO to cater specifically to students with disabilities.

My other points relate to specific groups of students, so I will list them here:

– Post-graduate students: I want to support the organisation of the society, to ensure a longer time consistency. As many PG students only study here for one or two years, it is important to keep the flow going and encourage student involvement, by organising more diverse events and focus on careers and employability. These events can be advertised in the welcome packs, to make all PG students aware of the society, in increase involvement.

– Mature students: this group is often forgotten, and I believe they are in need of more support. This can be easily achieved through a mature society, where they can socialise, organise events and maybe even set up a mentoring scheme for other students.

– Faith students: I want to start an interfaith committee, to provide a platform for discussion and joint events. I also want to assess the amount of prayer rooms, and if necessary, increase that amount to provide for all students of all religions. I also want to assess the regulations in place for faith students in the halls of residence, and maybe look to reinstate single-sex flats in the cheaper halls.

–Disabled students: I want to increase accessibility around campus, whether this is about wheelchair access, or the availability of online material that is easier to read. I also want to start, in coalition with the elected reps, a disabled history month.

– LGBTQ: I want to increase the amount of events held at the union, and work closely with the reps for their campaigns and to organise a bigger LGBTQ history month. I want to fight for gender neutral titles.

– Black students’ campaign: I want to support this campaign to become bigger and more present, to enrich the student experience through events and a bigger Black history month. This could be achieved through lectures, speeches, films, or any form of social that might be suitable

 

Women’s Officer: Nanon Lingwood

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Uncategorised.

Women’s issues should be everybody’s issues, I guess that’s been my tagline this election. You’ll see it in my manifesto, my Facebook page and be sick of hearing me say it by mid march. That’s because I wholeheartedly believe that ensuring women’s rights, at home and across the world, to education, safety and freedom of speech are the most important issues society must tackle today. My manifesto outlines how I want to instigate these ideas from a grassroots level. I want the Women’s Campaign to be more visible on campus so that women’s issues are at the forefront of everybody’s minds and women’s voices are as loud as ever. I will begin this by mapping sexual harassment on campus so that students awareness of sexual harassment and assault increases at the University of Manchester. For my second manifesto policy, I already have some great ideas lined up for the Workshops for Women, such as bringing in Cecelia Knapp from the London Roundhouse Poetry Collective to nurture Manchester’s talent and referee a poetry slam. I want our Workshops to build a community for students where we can socialise as well as transfer skills. I want the Women’s Issues Database I will set up to be easily accessible for all Manchester students, an archive of women’s issues material so that anybody with any level of interest in women’s issues can find something of interest to them. I want to lobby Manchester Police and ensure that they are not preserving, consciously or unconsciously, messages of slut-shaming or victim-blaming in student areas such as Fallowfield or Withington as I have previously witnessed.

A lot of students ask me isn’t feminism over? Don’t women have equal rights? Yes, granted most of you reading this are very lucky. We live in Britain and have generally experienced equal rights to education, healthcare and bank accounts. We’re allowed to leave the house past dusk and we have the right to wear what we want. Yet women on our campus and across our city are still relentlessly treated as second class citizens. We at the University of Manchester must work to ensure women on our campus from all walks of life, as well as those across the world struggling with issues very different from ours, are treated equally.

My involvement in the Union amounts to the fact I work there, that is how my interest in running for the Exec Team began. I still feel however that I have the outside perspective that the Union needs. I see the Union from the point of view of students that aren’t involved and will be able to attract those students to get stuck in. Although the Union is a political body, the career politicians shouldn’t scare so many students off. The Students Union should be about the student community just as much as it is politics.

Column: Why Look Back in Anger?

Written by Joe Goggins on . Posted in Music.

The great thing about living in a society where so much progresses so rapidly is that there’s always something for Noel Gallagher to make ‘acerbic’, ‘biting’ comments about. This week, it was the e-cigarette, after he saw the drummer for Muse with one at the Brits – “go outside and have a proper one or don’t fucking bother.” Astonishing insight as usual, but of more interest to me were his comments on the new David Bowie record, The Next Day.

Gallagher claims that the release of an album with almost no fanfare and (as yet) no touring plans has provided something of genuine interest to music fans, with reunions aimed purely at exploiting nostalgia being “fucking shite.” It’s a fair enough point, even if we all know that repeated attempts by both Gallagher and his brother to distance themselves from the idea of getting back together are merely cynical attempts to drive up the currency of the inevitable Morning Glory reunion tour in 2015. The idea that nostalgia is of no worth when compared to new music, whilst noble in principle, is often proven not to be the case in practice.

Despite fielding questions as to whether the band would ever make another record so often that he included “THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR ANOTHER POSTAL SERVICE LP” in his Twitter bio, Ben Gibbard has reformed his electronic side-project for a slew of shows this year, in celebration of the ten-year anniversary of Give Up, the one album they did get around to making. As much as there’s obvious commercial potential in a second record – their debut was the first release on the legendary Sub Pop label to go platinum since Nirvana’s Bleach – he remains adamant that the band won’t produce another full-length. That hardly means, though, that there’s no value in a reunion for purely reflective purposes; it’s perfectly OK for fans to be excited at the prospect of seeing the original lineup of a band play songs most thought would never be aired live again. In The Postal Service’s case, with Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis back in the fold, the mere opportunity to see two of U.S. indie rock’s most iconic figures of recent years onstage together is musical justification enough for a few money-spinning shows.

It’s a spirit nicely captured by ATP’s Don’t Look Back series, which has allowed fans to see classic records played in full by bands who remain creatively potent; Belle and Sebastian’s If You’re Feeling Sinister, Slint’s Spiderland and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Fever to Tell all serve as good examples. Billy Corgan is in Gallagher’s camp, claiming he’d never play Siamese Dream in its entirety, but does he honestly think the masses would rather hear his alleged ‘Smashing Pumpkins’ play two hours worth of material from Teargarden by Kaleidywank or whatever their newest project’s called? Fuck off, Billy. I suppose you shouldn’t really try to get inside the head of anyone who’s been romantically involved with Courtney Love.

I saw Sonic Youth a couple of years back and they played a set dominated by their last record, The Eternal. I’m glad I took the opportunity to see them, especially now that it looks like they might be finished, and it’s nice to be able to boast to you all about it, but honestly, it was a decent show that could’ve been amazing if they’d played more from Daydream Nation or Sister. Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia.

 

Live: Foals

Written by Joe Goggins on . Posted in Music.

2nd March 2013

Academy

Reviews of Foals’ latest record, Holy Fire, have been largely underscored by constant reference to progression and maturity, so it’s perhaps a little surprising to see them playing the Academy tonight, a venue they’ve sold out with ease twice before; the first time I saw them was here, way back in 2008, towards the back end of their commitments for Antidotes.

That isn’t to say, though, that there aren’t obvious signs of development elsewhere. The signature instrumental opener is present and correct, but tonight’s is a different beast entirely from their Antidotes­-era intro, ‘XXXXX’; if the intention is to draw the crowd into a frenzy, then ‘Prelude’ aims for controlled chaos – its hypnotic groove builds gradually, carefully, towards a climactic clash of guitars. It serves nicely as a microcosm of the sonic road the band have been moving down 2010’s Total Life Forever, the title track of which swiftly follows; a rhythmically choppy number with a chant-along bridge, “let’s take life slow”, that offers another insight into the Foals mindset post-Antidotes.

I mention their first record because I’m of the generally unpopular opinion that Antidotes is Foals’ masterpiece; like some of their contemporaries’ debut efforts – Franz Ferdinand and Vampire Weekend spring to mind – it’s an album that they’ll likely spend the rest of their careers trying to top. Media coverage of Holy Fire widely suggests that the band have capitalised upon the promise displayed on Total Life Forever, with their debut paid little heed and often dismissed as uneven, or weak outwith the singles; it’s a view that makes the mind boggle on tonight’s evidence, where Antidotes provides a slew of set highlights.

The urgent opening of ‘Balloons’, drums racing over interlocking guitar lines that tick like time bombs, remains one of the most thrilling weapons in the Foals arsenal, whilst ‘Olympic Airways’ proves that raucous singlaongs can still be atmospheric. ‘Electric Bloom’ provides a memorable set closer; it’s the perfect platform for Yannis Phillippakis to prove why he’s fast becoming one of rock’s most engaging frontmen, howling the track’s refrain as he less plays a floor tom than brutally assaults it. I still haven’t mentioned ‘Red Socks Pugie’, a song frequently singled out by the band as the one they’re most proud of; desolate verses, driven by little more than vocals and drums, explode into a full-throated roar of a chorus, with the band eschewing the recorded version’s gradual fade out in favour of a rollicking instrumental outro.

It’s not difficult, then, to understand why Foals aren’t quite as frenetic a live force as they were back when those songs were all they had to offer; Total Life Forever moved into more expansive territory, with mixed results. ‘Spanish Sahara’ is unquestionably the band’s lighters-aloft moment, and has all the anthemic properties required to work perfectly in the live environment. ‘After Glow’ on the other hand, is turgid, uninspired and disastrously-placed in the thick of a number of similarly-downtempo numbers, including the vastly superior ‘Late Night’, which is abound with something I felt Total Life Forever, for the most part, lacked: atmosphere. There’s obvious ambition in the decision to include the more reflective likes of ‘Milk and Black Spiders’ and ‘Moon’ tonight, but the predictably-boisterous Saturday night crowd don’t really give them a chance.

Foals’ finer moments on the last two records have come when they’ve embraced their funkier side; ‘Miami’ and ‘My Number’ are taken from different records, but clearly born of the same influence – they’re perfectly-constructed, hook-driven pop stompers, showcasing the band’s sharp ear for combining melody and groove and providing the evening’s most irresistibly danceable moments.

Foals are at a crossroads; never more popular and never more ambitious, bigger venues than the Academies they’re frequenting on this current jaunt are now less calling their name than screaming it. When they finally get there, starting with a couple of shows at the Royal Albert Hall later this month, they’ll have a precarious balance to strike; the newer material is bound to sound huge, but they can ill afford to lose any more of what once made their live shows genuinely thrilling; if they can bring both the rawness of Antidotes and the sheen of Holy Fire to the inevitable two-night stand at the Apollo later in the year, they could represent one of the most potent live propositions you’ll find anywhere.

 

Khan seeks redemption on home soil

Written by Alex Underwood on . Posted in Sport.

 It was announced last week that Amir Khan will fight in Britain for the first time since April 2011 when he takes on Julio Diaz in Sheffield on April 27th. But contrary to the fight’s tag-line “Return of the King”, this will be anything but a coronation for a man who is struggling to stamp his authority on the boxing world.

Bolton-born boxer Khan has flattered to deceive since he burst onto the scene at the 2004 Olympics. He won a silver medal, Britain’s only boxing medal of the Games, at just 17, and was quickly tipped for big success. But since turning professional in 2008, Khan has been defeated on three separate occasions and has not lived up to the potential he showed from such a young age.

Against Colombian Breidis Prescott in August 2008, Khan suffered a shock knockout defeat within 54 seconds. Questions were asked about his brittle defence and inability to withstand a punch. But Khan recovered and by 2011 was the WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion after defeating highly-rated American Zab Judah in Las Vegas. It looked like Khan was on for the big-time, being tipped for mega-fights against Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquaio. The Prescott defeat was consigned to the past, a one-off mistake.

Then things started to go wrong. Khan lost, again surprisingly, to Lamont Peterson in Washington DC in 2011, although the defeat was more than a little controversial. Khan was twice docked points for seemingly innocuous offences and video evidence after the fight suggested that a mysterious man at ringside had interfered with the score-cards; a rematch was scheduled but soon thereafter Peterson tested positive for the banned substance synthetic testosterone. Against Peterson, Khan had been unlucky.

But there were no excuses for his next defeat to Danny Garcia. Khan entered the fight as the 1-7 favourite but was caught cold by a searing left-hook that penetrated his defences. It was this third defeat more than anything that left Khan out in the wilderness as he looks to take control of the welterweight division.

Since then Khan has made changes. He dispensed with trainer Freddie Roach in favour of Virgil Hunter, who has been tasked with working on Khan’s defensive problems and containing his tendency to react with emotion, rather than the mental awareness to step away, when caught. In none of his three defeats was Khan ever comprehensively out-boxed; rather he was caught by individual blows that could easily have been avoidable.

Khan is already on the comeback trail having defeated Carlos Molina last December. Diaz should not create any major problems for Khan; at 33 he is well past his prime and having fought predominately in the lightweight division he is not naturally a welterweight. But then Peterson, Garcia and Prescott should never have caused Khan a problem either. 

There is now no room to manoeuvre for Khan. His career is on a knife-edge and, at the age of 27, he cannot afford to be defeated again. He is still a very capable boxer but he has been forced to climb the ladder all over again. Should he miss a rung this time, he may well never get to the top.

Touch rugby tour hits Manchester in style

Written by Cal Millar on . Posted in Sport.

Britain rediscovered its sporting pride last year in quite spectacular fashion with the London Olympics, which Mayor Boris Johnson hailed as the start of “a golden decade of British sport”. While it was hoped that this “decade” would be concluded with a FIFA world cup, England have still won the rights to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with several games to be played in Sale, and the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup. England will again expect, with the latest odds at the bookies 5/1 in League and 4/1 in Union for them to lift the trophy. But for the Rugby Football Union, the managing body of rugby union in England, the main aim of the event is to create a lasting legacy, promoting the sport in England like it hasn’t been since they brought home the Webb Ellis Cup back in 2003.

As part of this drive, they’ve sent a touring party around the country to promote the opening of some seventy-five touch rugby centres by the end of this year, and another hundred the year after. To help them with this, they’ve brought together some rather unique individuals to create an exhibition rugby team, with a twist. Drawn from the realms of parkour and choreography, some of the most skillful athletes and dancers in the country have merged to form rugby’s answer to the Harlem Globe Trotters: The Untouchables.

So it was that on a bitterly cold morning in Albert Square I was to be found at the side of a piece of hallowed Twickenham turf surrounded by inflatable walls, awaiting the arrival of this super team. Already there was England Women’s twenty three times capped Vicky Fleetwood:
“Everyone can get involved, all ages, so it’s a really good sport in that respect. It’s great for fitness and skills, and they’re starting to promote it in schools now- it’s getting a lot more promotion, which is great. If you want to get involved, just get in touch with your local club!”

As the day progressed, many innocent passers-by were lured onto the pitch to try their hand, all enjoying themselves in the sunshine that eventually showed up around eleven. And then, the perfect promotion opportunity: a school day trip. As a rugby fan it’s always a treat to see enjoyment of the sport in young people, and here were a batch of youngsters eager to learn. The class of year sevens got individual time with the Untouchables who passed on their tips and tricks, which lead to one boy performing a catch behind the back I’m sure I could never have managed. All were given links to the new touch rugby centre and a free O2 water bottle to boot.

For the more experienced rugby players, the famed Martin Bayfield challenge from the BBC Six Nations coverage emerged twice during the day- just imagine a giant cardboard cut-out of Martin Bayfield and all you have to do is pass the ball through the hole where the hands would have been. After hearing that England scrum-half Danny Care had only managed one in the allotted sixty seconds, I was feeling confident of impressing. In reality, I got a brutal reminder of why I played in the forwards: par with Care; one clipped in off the lip in the last second. Meanwhile the guy I was lined up against nailed sixteen…or so he said…

But the special guest I was keen to meet was Sale Sharks very own Rob Miller. An Under-20s England star, he’s touted as one of the exciting prospects of the future and could perhaps be key to Sale avoiding relegation from the Aviva Premiership this season. As a Sharks fan, and having seen him play live at Salford City Stadium, I hoped he’d be the perfect person to help promote rugby to Manchester.

“We’re trying to get as many people involved in the sport as possible, which O2 are doing a great job of- there’s tournaments and prizes to take part in and hopefully we’ll get loads of people playing rugby. Touch is a fantastic and simple way of getting into the game, there’re no line-outs, scrums, and no contact so it’s a safe route for youngsters. The Untouchables with their street-dancing and free-walking skills have a great display of skills with the ball and without so keep an eye out for them on tour! There’s a lot of rugby played in Manchester and in the North-West, if you want to get started, the RFU advertises a lot of touch rugby tournaments online in the summer, which is a great way to stay fit in the summer, and take it from there”.

All said, it was a fantastic day of exhibition for the sport and with six legs left of the tour (at the time of printing) I’m hoping we’ll see a lot more youngsters brought into the family of rugby. If the Untouchables can kick on to turn England to the way of the oval ball the RFU will be well on their way to building that legacy. They resume touring after the conclusion of the Six Nations, with England on course for their first Grand Slam in ten years, which can only help their cause. Manchester: mission accomplished. Next up: Portsmouth- catch them if you can!

Old Trafford added to Emirates catalogue

Written by Matthew Naylor on . Posted in Sport.

Lancashire County Cricket Club has struck a deal with Dubai-based airline Fly Emirates for naming rights to Old Trafford. The stadium is in West Manchester, just around the corner from Manchester United’s home of the same name. The ten-year sponsorship agreement will see the ground, home of Lancashire CCC for 150 years, renamed Emirates Old Trafford, as the club ends its hunt for greater income ahead of their ongoing redevelopment. The effects of the deal will be implemented immediately, as Lancashire renovate their unique pavilion in preparation for the busy summer ahead.

This is not the only such sporting deal for the airline, which also has sponsorship rights to Durham’s Chester-le-Street ground – officially the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground – as well as the Emirates Stadium in football, at Arsenal’s Ashburton Grove arena. Much like the Arsenal kit, Lancashire’s domestic T20 strip will also now adorn the company brand.

Emirates’ skyway rivals, Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, are the current sponsors of Manchester City, holding both stadium naming rights and kit sponsorship. With wealthy Middle Eastern investors financially backing sport in both the west and east of Manchester, the city is further establishing itself as an internationally recognised sporting hub, following on from the great success it achieved as host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Currently, cricket is very much at the forefront of the minds of British sports fans, as England prepare for two Ashes series against Australia this calendar year – first on home soil, before travelling Down Under this coming Winter.
The newly-named Emirates Old Trafford will host its first Test match for three years this summer when Michael Clarke’s men come knocking, the Aussies hoping to reclaim the bragging rights after back-to-back Ashes defeats in 2009 and 2011. Manchester will host the third test in the five-match series, and will be followed by Chester-le-Street in a sponsorship double whammy for Fly Emirates. The last time the Manchester complex saw Ashes action was the third test of the famous 2005 series, which was fought to a nailbiting draw. The club will, no doubt, be hoping for similar positive publicity in August, side by side with their new investors.

For sporting teams around the world, outside endorsement and stadium sponsorship are now one of the commonplace lucrative factors that have contributed to the universality and much-publicised financial attraction of sport. For that, there have been many detractors. Lisa Pursehouse, chief executive of Nottingham CCC, has been quoted as saying that selling the naming rights to their Trent Bridge stadium would be akin to “selling our soul”. Many fans and experts alike, however, understand that the financial outlay of modern sports clubs means that sponsorship is a necessity if the books are to be balanced.

Although stadium-naming rights are frequently attributed to the modern era of sport, the practice is believed to be trackable as far back as 1912, when Boston’s Fenway Park baseball diamond was so named after the owner’s company, Fenway Realty. It retains the name to this day.