Skip to main content

Month: February 2014

MMU staff stage full-day strike over ‘unlawful’ pay dock

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

Lecturers from Manchester Metropolitan University staged a whole-day strike after being told that they would lose a day’s pay if they took part in the recent two-hour strikes.

Continuing strike action by members of the University and College Union in response to a “miserly” one per cent pay rise has resulted in employees of both MMU and the University of Salford being told they would be docked a day’s wages for the two-hour stoppages, despite University of Manchester staff only having two hours’ worth of pay taken away.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s Human Resources department messaged staff stating, “If there is evidence that you have participated in the strike on January 23rd then we will deduct a day’s pay on account of you having taken industrial action,” and that any work undertaken on that day would be considered as voluntary.

The University of Salford issued a statement that said anyone “who participates in two-hour strike action will be committing a breach of their contract of employment.”

Staff from a total of eleven Higher Education institutions from across the UK walked out for an entire day in response to this rule, while most universities continued with two-hour strikes.

The one per cent pay rise for employees of Higher Education institutions has lead to a 13 per cent decline in income in real terms according to UCU members, and so far a total of six full-day or two-hour strikes have been held to protest against this treatment.

According to the General Secretary of the UCU, Sally Hunt, a two-hour strike should only result in a two-hour pay deduction.

“Their hard line, aggressive action is designed to frighten us into not exercising our democratic right to strike,” she said.

The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association said that strike action has had “little or no impact” at most universities and that protestors should focus on negotiating better pay deals for the 2014-15 period.

UCU Scotland Official Mary Senior said that similarly affected staff were “furious at how they have been treated.

“We will be launching a legal challenge to recover money we believe has been unlawfully deducted.”

Human rights campaigner made Honorary Professor of Law

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

The University has made famous-human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti an Honorary Professor of Law.

Chakrabarti is the Director of Liberty, the National Council for Civil Liberties, and a trained lawyer who has spoken widely on the importance of maintaining human and civil rights in a democratic society.

Professor Chakrabarti was one of the eight Olympic Flag carriers at the London 2012 opening ceremony for the Olympics, and this year was judged as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

She was also one of the six independent assessors who advised Lord Justice Leveson in his Public Inquiry into the Culture, Practice and Ethics of the UK Press, and regularly appears on Newsnight, Question Time and the Today Programme.

Professor Geraint Howells, Head of the School of Law, said, “I am delighted Shami Chakrabarti has joined our School. She is an impressive advocate for the causes she believes in and will help us in our mission to promote debate about justice.

“Last year she took part in a poplar event with our students in the School of Law and this post will ensure that they will continue to be challenged by her perspective on civil liberties.

“Engaging with our community in these debates is important for the School of Law, and we will be planning public events where interested parties can discuss with Shami important issues related to justice and human rights”.

Shami Chakrabarti said of being appointed to the position, “Liberty began with the struggles of the Hunger Marchers 80 years ago, and Emmeline Pankhurst hailed from Manchester. So it’s an honour indeed to join a great Northern Law school at a time when rights and freedoms are once more on the line”.

The saints go marching on

Written by Andrew Georgeson on . Posted in Sport.

Last Wednesday, the University of Manchester Rugby League 1st team faced York St. John 1st XIII in the last 16 of the BUCS Rugby League 2013-14 Northern Conference Cup.

The game was played in extremely difficult conditions, most notably the horrific winds, and unfortunately Manchester narrowly lost eight points to four.

Kick-off spelt what was to come. The ball just about reached a distance of ten metres for what would normally travel four times as far; the strong winds were clearly going to have an impact on this game.

That was confirmed in the opening moments with both sides making handling errors, the emergence of which seemed to make the game a lot tighter. Often simple passes would end up a metre behind the intended target. This made exploiting the pace of wingers particularly difficult and the game became more of a forward’s battle with each team fighting for extra yards.

Nine minutes in and the game had its first try. York mounted an attack from inside Manchester’s half, successfully working down the left flank. The York forward  did well to keep himself in play and power his way over the line for a lead of four points

York went on to dominate the reaminder of the opening period, containing Manchester in their own half.

When Manchester looked like they were about to ease the pressure by launching an attack just inside York’s half, they were dealt a penalty for crossing. The resultant York attack was neutralised by the stern Manchester defence, forcing a kick after their fifth tackle, yet Manchester knocked on almost immediately to give York on Manchester’s 30-yard line.

Again the York attack brought power. York’s towering forward made a blistering run through the heart of Manchester defence, knocking over man-after-man until he bounded over the try line to increase York’s lead to eight after 32 minutes of play.

The match looked as if it could be getting away from Manchester, however, the home side’s players seemed to have different ideas, responding instantaneously.

The resultant kickoff pegged York back in there own half. Good defence allowed Manchester to reclaim possession inside York territory. After a series of unsuccessful attempts to breakthrough the York defensive line, Paddy Allen played a delightful cross field kick from left to right to use full advantage of the wind. The hapless York winger never looked like claiming the ball allowing  Jack Crowder through to claim the ball and cross for a try in the right hand corner. At halftime the score stood at eight points to four; unsurprisingly no kick for goal had been successful.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with York dominating early proceedings, making Manchester play most of their rugby from deep inside their own half.

Manchester had excelled all game in defence, they should have arguably been trailing by more points. In particular, Nathan Scott stood out for registering some huge hits, knocking defenders back in spectacular fashion, whilst always being the first to chase down kicks. It was Manchester’s attacking display that was a cause of concern for the Coaches on the touchline.

Nevertheless, 15 minutes into the second half, Manchester woke up and began to control the game. Starting out from their own try line, Manchester drove all the way to within 15-yards of York’s try line. Some superb offloads and a formidable run from Jack Lynch seemed to ignite Manchester’s attack.

For the rest of the game, Manchester harboured a certain desire to outdo their York St. John counterparts, something of which had been lacking in the first half. Again and again Manchester came knocking on York’s door only to just be denied, often at their own fault due to handling errors.

With no score in the second half, and a momentary lull in which the game went back and forth in the midfield, the match experienced an amusing interlude. Both team’s substitutes took part in their own battle. A shouting match of “woo” after every tackle or attacking knock down which managed to keep both teams entertained for a while until the last few moments of the game.

With two minutes to go York were pegged back deep into their own territory, Manchester had their final chance of the game. Initially attacking right, Manchester was able to suck York’s defenders in, which enabled Manchester to quickly distribute the ball left. Nathan Scott found himself on the wing with a bit of space and seemed to have beaten his man, but defensive support came and brought Scott down.

In a last ditch effort, Manchester attempted to chip and chase but a tackle meant that Manchester ended up knocking the ball on. It proved to be the final play of the game, the match finishing eight-four to York.

Captain Chris Bates (who was unable to play due to injury) singled out Jack Lynch as Manchester’s man of the match. “He led from the front all game in a weakened pack.”

The result means that Manchester are knocked out of the Northern Conference Cup; however, they are still undefeated in the BUCS Rugby League Northern 2A Division with five wins from five, and will look to bounce back from this unfortunate defeat with a win against UCLAN.

Khan he do it?

Written by Seamus Soal on . Posted in Sport.

Amir Khan has been voted fans’ favourite in an official online poll as to who Floyd Mayweather’s next opponent will be. The fight is scheduled for the 3rd May in Las Vegas. It is expected that Khan’s selection will officially be announced in the coming days (if not so by the time this is published), but the question is, can Amir Khan defeat the 45 time undefeated Floyd Mayweather?

The simple answer is… NO CHANCE. Some commentators have speculated the reason Mayweather’s next opponent was selected by an online poll was because they knew Khan would come out on top. The belief is that the heavier handed Marcos Maidana would be a tougher opponent but would lose in an online poll due to having a small hardcore fan base.

Does this mean that Team Mayweather is playing chicken with Maidana and fixing the result to an easier selection like Khan? I wouldn’t say this is the case, Maidana isn’t much of a better prospect to beating Mayweather than Khan is.

The answer, some believe, is that Khan with a twitter following of 1.7 million is a much better known fan favourite and would sell much more pay-per-views than Maidana. I’m tempted to believe that argument as professional boxing has been plagued by swindling and money-grabbing, but, is Khan just a lamb to the slaughter for a quick buck?

Well not entirely, there is certainly a case to be made for Khan and we can’t write him off just yet. Mayweather has remained undefeated in his 18 years as a professional boxer but as he gets older it is noticeable, although still a great fighter, age is creeping up on him and has started to slow down.

By the time the fight takes place Mayweather will be 37 years old and those in the Khan Camp, few as they are, believe the speed and quickness from the Bolton lad will be enough to pose a surprising threat to the aging Mayweather. Khan having fallen from glory after two successive defeats to Garcia and Peterson has made small rebuilding steps in defeating low-profiles Molina and Diaz.  This will be the biggest fight of Khan’s career and in my opinion will have a ‘make or break’ outcome.

None the less, I for one will NOT be casting my lot with Khan. The simple fact of the matter is that Mayweather is infallible. The school of thought being passed in boxing circles that Mayweather has gotten too old to keep up with Amir Khan is nonsense being thrown out to hide the truth that Khan is in for a whooping. Am sure some may have been expecting a controversially written article and give some hope towards the Khan Camp but unfortunately it will not be found here.

Mayweather is too experienced, too strong and too quick for Khan. Khan’s key weaknesses is leaving himself too open to high powered shots, something I have no doubt ‘Money’ Mayweather will take full advantage of. I will be putting my money on Mayweather for a third round KO (heard it here first) and we will see Amir ‘King’ Khan dethroned even more.

‘Khan he do it?’ No he Khan’t!

Becoming social life savvy

Written by Beth Currall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Come Dine with Me: Student Special

Every student loves Come Dine with Me, mainly because it’s played on a loop around Channel 4’s various platforms all day every day, but also because it’s the kind of thing we’d all love to do: snooping round people’s homes, getting three-course meals cooked for us, downing bottles of wine. So why don’t you grab a few friends, it could be your own housemates or people you know that are spread around Fallowfield and Withington, and start your own dining experience? Agree to a small budget for each meal, club in for a small (probably alcoholic) prize for the winner, and away you go! You get a week’s worth of good nights with friends, food and booze, for no more than £10- sounds pretty good to me!

Game night

As students who are all, let’s face it, geeks at heart, we can never say no to a wonderfully mentally-stimulating board game. So why not get together a few people and start playing one night a week? You could make up your own games to exercise your creativity, or purchase some of your family favourites. They don’t have to be in mint condition either; you can easily pick them up from eBay or a charity shop for just a few quid. Brace yourselves for some tense disagreements though- things can get tough in a room full of intellectuals.

Start a home workout class

This kills two birds with one stone, as you’re not only staying in, but you’re also keeping fit. Rob a few exercise routines off YouTube, clear your living room and you’re all set: a gym class in your own house. You can do anything you like, and mix it up whenever you want to by doing yoga, pilates, Zumba and even boxercise. The possibilities are endless thanks to the Internet, and you’re having a free night in with mates- cheaper than that monster bag of crisps you’d buy to consume during film night, that’s for sure.

Sleepover club

Take it back to the old school and channel your inner 13 year old by arranging a sleepover. I’m talking sleeping bags/mattresses down in the same room, pillow fights, face masks, scary stories- the full works. You’ll have forgotten how good it is to the cram into the same space and talk to one another, which is often impossible on nights out as you have to sort out one mate crying in the toilet, another one that’s pulling a zero, and a third who’s pulling you along across the dance floor. Ask everyone to bring a little bit of food and something for entertainment, and that’s your night sorted for probably less than a couple of quid.

So there you go, proof that it is actually possible to see your friends and have a social life without pissing your money up the wall on a night out that you’ll live to regret in the morning. Having fun at uni without hangovers! Who’d have thought it, eh?

 

Arts Emergency!

Written by Arthur Baker on . Posted in Opinion.

More and more, a university education is seen as a commodity to be bought and sold. The Government has axed teaching grants and trebled fees, imposing a free market system on our universities. In a market like this, it’s always the poorest who lose out.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to choose a degree based simply on how clear the career path from it is, and to see Arts and Humanities degrees as a luxury they cannot afford. The fact that so many of the projects aimed at helping these students get to university are so heavily aimed at vocational and scientific courses exacerbates the problem. This is a big part of the reason that disadvantaged students are still so underrepresented at our universities: fewer than one in five went to university in 2010, compared to more than two thirds of private school students.

At Arts Emergency, we believe that this is wrong. We’re a charity, co-founded by comedian Josie Long, which exists to promote the value of the Arts and Humanities. We believe that these degree subjects are valuable, and that they should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. A university education shouldn’t just be about getting yourself the highest paying job, it should be about widening your horizons, developing as a person, and studying something you love. We chose our degrees largely because they interested us, and we think everybody should be able to do that. Education for it’s own sake shouldn’t simply be the preserve of the rich.

Furthermore, the idea that Arts and Humanities degrees aren’t valuable is a complete myth. These subjects are incredibly useful, for both individuals and society. Arts and Humanities degrees equip students with the ability to think critically, communicate well, and understand the world around them. In a rapidly changing job market, where a huge number of good jobs simply aren’t accessible via a vocational course, these are vital skills to have. In fact, social sciences graduates are some of the most employable, with higher average earnings than biological science or medical related subjects, and double that of non-graduates. All students deserve to know the benefits of academic university education. The myth that Arts and Humanities degrees are a financial gamble or a luxury is preventing disadvantaged students from improving their life chances.

That’s why we’ve set up Arts Emergency Manchester. We’ve just had our launch with Josie Long, and we’re preparing to run a volunteering project in local schools. We’ll be delivering an eight week programme, with sessions aimed at getting students interested in Arts and Humanities subjects, getting them to engage with subjects like politics or anthropology that they might not have encountered before, and giving them the support and information about university that so many take for granted. But, we need your help! We need people who can help us design lesson plans, organise schools visits, and of course, work with students. If you’d like to help give local students the support and information they need to make informed decisions about University, (whilst gaining some valuable, CV boosting experience) then come along to our second meeting on Wednesday the 19th of February at 3pm in Room 2 of the Students’ Union. We’ll be designing lesson plans giving more information about how to become a mentor, and recruiting a new committee to run the society next year. Find us on facebook, or email [email protected] for more details!

Michael Gove; why we need more women in politics

Written by Bernadette Chapman on . Posted in Opinion.

This week alone the Secretary of State for Education has announced that children at the age of five or six should be tested and he wants to extend the school day to 10 hours which would increase children’s stare out the window time by around 30 per cent.

It was announced recently that Gove would not renew the contract of Ofsted chair and Labour peer Sally Morgan, who was appointed by the coalition in 2011.  Gove’s motivations for this have been called in to question, and he stands accused of both politicising the education system and misogyny.  It has been reported that Gove plans to install a male Conservative party donor in Morgan’s place.  Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy minister, remarked that it was ‘raining men’ in Cameron’s government, and a quick scan of the front benches (and the house in general) shows a proliferation of middle aged, upper class white men.

This isn’t the first time the party has been charged with sexist behaviour, which in the past has included lack of support for female parliamentary candidates and patronising language. However, this isn’t just a Conservative party issue.  Whilst 32 per cent of Labour’s MPs are female, only a paltry 12 per cent of the Liberal Democrats parliamentary party are women, compared with 16 per cent of Conservatives.  So why aren’t there more women in politics?

The world can still be quite sexist.  Why aren’t there more female CEOs, why aren’t female sports stars paid as much as men, why is a female comedian who doesn’t get a laugh not funny because she’s a woman, whereas a male comedian who doesn’t get a laugh just isn’t funny?  One can parse the reasons for the above in to lack of opportunity, need for the reform of maternity leave, and actually existing discrimination in the workplace as examples, but all these factors have a handy umbrella term called sexism.  Female politicians are often the target of sexism.

Their cleavage is discussed, as the Daily Telegraph did when they published a picture of Prime Minister’s question time and put a red ring around a female politician’s cleavage, asking , ‘Whose boobs are these?’  Whether you decide to have children or not is scrutinised, and Julia Gillard’s fitness to lead Australia was called in to question as she hadn’t any kids.  It means you take voice coaching lessons to lower your voice, which Margaret Thatcher did because her advisors feared she would come across as ‘shrill’.  My own home town MP warned Louise Mensch that, ‘A good wife doesn’t disagree with her master in public and a good little girl doesn’t lie’.  Sexism in politics stops women being judged on their merits and ability to do their job, and rather judges women on an idea of their immutable nature.  In sexism, a woman is and a man does.  This isn’t the whole story and it isn’t an all pervasive logic that refuses the entry of women in to politics at the door.  But it does put women under intense personal scrutiny that men do not face, which is unfair and unjust.

We need more women in politics and in powerful positions in the country.  If the country is run by those middle aged, upper class white men in terrible, terrible suits then it is likely that policy will serve the interests of those just like them as they make policy about what they know.  In diversifying representation, we can ensure that everyone’s voices are heard, and that the nature of politics does not stultify and stagnate from its insularity and isolation.  And this is exactly why we need a non-upper class, non-bloke opposition member or cross bencher in a position such as head of Ofsted, and in other positions of power.

We should all be Defending Education

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in Opinion.

Defend Education are ‘fighting for free and democratic education against privatization and cuts’; what should be a universal call from students across the country, in the wake of the £9000 fee hike and now the sell off of the student loan book to private companies. However, the events of January 29th reveal the shocking lack of support such protests are gaining from the student population and their respective universities. Of the protesters that day, 13 were detained for not handing over personal details, an illegal practice, and then released on bail awaiting further inquiries. The arrested students have now been suspended from university without a right to appeal, simply for being arrested as part of a protest. These events are becoming the norm as the University of Sussex protests demonstrated, when students were arrested for simply sitting down on a road in their campus. It appears it is no longer possible to protest without fear of severe retribution. Dissent, which should be a natural part of university life as we learn to question all that we know, is becoming something the increasingly economically focused higher education establishment wishes to stamp out altogether.

“The Guild is extremely disappointed with the action at today’s demonstration” were the words of The University of Birmingham’s own students’ union after the events on the 29th January. The reason given by the Union in a statement was that they “will only support lawful direct action and peaceful protest”. As Adam Rowe, News Editor for Redbrick News in Birmingham, confirmed, the protests in Birmingham became confrontational when university security staff blocked the entrance to the University’s main hall. Property was damaged on campus and some graffiti was found during the protest. Is this reason enough to condemn and withdraw all support from a campaign demanding the conservation of freedom of education?

The Vice Chancellor of Birmingham University David Eastwood is able to continue on a £400,000+ salary, whilst advocating cuts throughout the University and leaving many of the institution’s staff on less than the living wage. This pay gap, just one example of the increasingly corporate way in which universities are run, is an injustice that surely everyone must want to fight against. However, the apathy of many students to the causes of Defend Education is stark. They struggle to accept the methods used by Defend Education against the University, suggesting activists and University management engage in debates and discussions, rather than just antagonising each other. In response to this, one Defend Education campaigner wrote in Birmingham’s student newspaper “we are fighting for a democratic university”. If the University was democratic, the demands of the student population would be enacted – “it is the totalitarian power of management that forces a confrontation on anyone who wants to change how the University is run.” If the means to discuss democratically with real results are not available then protests become the only option.

Protests that have historically made real achievements have often used confrontational means in order for recognition of their demands to occur. One key example would be the suffragettes who had no democratic way to voice their demands so therefore confrontational action was necessary. Confrontation is then only exaggerated through the widely used techniques of kettling. In such a situation, containment is used to scare people within protests, but public protesting is and must remain a crucial part of our democracy.
The intention of Boris Johnson to give the go ahead for water cannons to become a means of controlling protesters is just another example of the states draconian methods in attempting to stem the rights of the public to protest without fear. These kinds of threats mean that violence can easily erupt in volatile protests; the protesters know the kind of techniques the police are prone to using and therefore fear sparks violent energy. I am not denying that protesters can be seriously at fault and irrational in cases, but the stupidity of the few should not silence the majority from being able to protest without being demonized as hooligans or criminals.

Universities are in their essence places of academic freedom, environments in which for generations students have been able to research and question the world around them through their studies. Dissent is a consequential and natural part of higher education, University studies encourage conflicting views on a range of subjects as a means of creating what will be; university studies controlled by “things as they are” decreases this autonomous power and destroy our ability to protest.

My Political Hero: David Lloyd George

Written by Ben Fearn on . Posted in Opinion.

It’s hard not to admire individuals who fought against entrenched privilege, and who took huge risks in the process. Showing conviction throughout a career is an admirable end to successfully reach. David Lloyd George achieved this goal, and more. Clement Attlee rightly gains plaudits for his role in shaping the welfare state, but it was Lloyd George who laid down the foundations.

Born in Manchester to Welsh parents and raised in Caernarfonshire, Lloyd George was the first – and to date only – Welsh politician to become Prime Minister. Having developed a successful law career in his younger days, Lloyd George was politically active in the Liberals, and was elected to Parliament in 1890 for Caernarfon in a by-election, with a wafer-thin majority of 18. He built up a nationwide reputation by opposing the Second Boer War and through displaying strong leadership during attacks on the government’s Education Act. Lloyd George entered the Cabinet in 1906 as President of the Board of Trade after the Liberals’ landslide victory, and succeeded Henry Asquith as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1908.

What followed next was truly remarkable. The 1906 Liberal manifesto had no commitment to the sort of social legislation that would become known as the ‘Liberal reforms’, yet fully in the knowledge that fierce opposition would occur, Lloyd George and Asquith enacted a series of progressive measures. Free school meals were provided for children in 1906 and in 1908 pensions were introduced for those over 70. National Insurance was introduced with the 1911 National Insurance Act, which gave the working classes a contributory system of security against unemployment and illness. These measures were met with considerable resistance from the Conservative Party, especially as they were financed by taxes on the rich by the provocatively named ‘People’s Budget’ in 1909. A fantastic orator, Lloyd George as Chancellor defended the budget designed “for raising money to wage implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness”. The budget passed through the House of Commons, but was voted down by a Conservative majority in the House of Lords. Rather than back down, the Liberals called two elections in 1910 to assert their mandate.

Crucially, Lloyd George and the Liberals challenged the supremacy of the Lords over the Commons. Before the 1911 Parliament Act, the Lords had a right of veto over financial and public bills. The 1911 Parliament Act removed these vetoes, and established thereafter the dominance of the Commons over the Lords. The triumvirate of Lloyd George, Asquith and Winston Churchill was vital in these reforms over the years. That an unelected House of Lords (which was often opposite in political persuasion to the Commons) should veto legislation from the elected Commons was an affront to democracy. Lloyd George succeeded in his challenge against such disgraceful privilege; “who ordained that a few should have the land of Britain as a perquisite; who made ten thousand people owners of the soil and the rest of us trespassers in the land of our birth?”

Lloyd-George emerged from World War I – during which he had served as Secretary of State for War and then Prime Minister – with his reputation at its highest point. However, it is his social and political reforming that make him my political hero. Asquith and Churchill were also key players during the Liberal achievements, but it was Lloyd George’s enduring charisma and oratory which was crucial. His policies entailed a crucial step away from the laissez-faire liberalism of the past, seeing the state as a positive force for good. It’s no coincidence that Lloyd George’s Keynesian economic plan for recovery during the Great Depression was entitled ‘Lloyd George’s New Deal’, echoing the work of another political hero of mine, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Lloyd George’s wisdom and influence was such that he was offered a place in Churchill’s 1940 cabinet, but refused. Fittingly, Lloyd George’s last Parliamentary vote was to condemn the government for not adopting the Beveridge proposals, which were to significantly expand the very welfare state that Lloyd George helped to create. I urge anyone, if possible, to visit the David Lloyd George museum in Criccieth, which has a fitting tribute to the great man. Perhaps a quote from the man himself will help: “The finest eloquence is that which gets things done; the worst is that which delays them”.

Beauty bible: Spring collections

Written by Stephanie Yeo on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Whilst it’s been fun donning bright reds or burgundy lips for Christmas and New year parties, it’s time to put them away as Maybelline have just launched a permanent nude collection for Spring to add to their Color Sensational range. It has 5 different shades so girls with different skin tones will be able to find the perfect nude with an affordable price tag. Another drugstore gem is the newly released Revlon Color burst Lacquer Balms. Better late than never, Revlon have jumped on the chubby stick bandwagon and they are delightful! These lip lacquers come in a matte or lacquer formula and have an extensive colour range. They also include moisturizing benefits, which allows them to be versatile and suitable for any occasion.

Instagram: @anyadanielle

Looking at high-end beauty, Guerlain have reformulated their renowned meteorites just in time for their Spring Collection. These illuminating powders have been a cult product for years and are now softer and more blendable than ever. Another notable release for Spring is the Eyebrow Kit, a universal brow product containing three different shades for different brow tones and a pearl highlighter.

Instagram: @love_me_makeup34

 

Calling all lip glow addicts! Dior have released their Trianon Spring collection and added a twist on their best-selling lipglow. It appears as a sheer coral in the tube but reacts according to your natural lip color to become a moisturizing colored balm. It is great all year round so you’ll definitely get your pennies worth!

Instagram: @fenztastic

Top 5: Spring beauty trends

Written by Nikki Patel on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

‘Out with the old and in with the new’ seems to be the defining beauty zeitgeist for the coming year with a preference for metallic lids, dewy complexions and colour pop lips. So what are you waiting for? Haul yourself out of that makeup rut and freshen up your face with the top 5 beauty trends for Spring/Summer 2014.

1.The orange lip

Rearing its bold head all throughout Fashion week 2014, orange lipstick is certainly set to be the colour of the season. Spotted in a spectrum of citric hues at DKNY, Donna Karan and Rag and Bone, the orange lip is a great way to inject some warmth and sassiness into your standard makeup palette. Feeling lustful? Splash out on MAC Lipstick in Neon Orange, (a delicious matte tangerine laced with red) or mix Maybelline’s Colour Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange and Neon Red for a perfect fruity pout.

2.Gilded lids

Instagram: @anisahadn

Metallic eye-makeup, despite being tricky to pull off is a perennially sexy makeup look that can take you from day to night with a flick of liquid liner. What’s more, this get-gorgeous eye candy channels beach goddess even on the wettest Manchester morning. Keep it simple a la Ciara at the Grammys by dabbing a shimmery powder such a Mac Pigment in Tan or Damson all over the lids, or create depth by using a dark matte shadow in your creases and highlighting your lids and inner creases with molten makeup as at Gucci Spring 2014. Finish off with natural undulating waves and you’re ready for 2014.

3.Ethereal eyes

Instagram: @fashionchalet

Whether it’s ghostly liner, nymph-like shadow or even light mascara, the white eye makeup trend will be a force to be reckoned with. Showcased this year at Alice and Olivia Tibi and Altuzzara to name a few, it is an edgy and clean alternative to the reliable smokey eye. Wash your lids with iridescent shades of pink and white such as Bobbi Brown eye shadow in Bone and Shell for a fresh, doe-eyed look or get graphic with Illamasqua Precision ink in Scribe with a frosty feline flick across the top lid.

4.Low-key nails

Instagram: @nailsby_am

The Spring 2014 runways at Nina Ricci, Milly and Lela Rose went back-to-basics simple and sophisticated two-tone nails. 2013, the year of graphic prints, dagger nails and embellishments has officially passed in favour of a cleaner, shorter and more natural look. They key to this look is in its neatness so keep a nail file handy and make strengthening a habit. Ready for the trend transition? Create a fresh yet preppy nail look with a pastel pink base and baby blue crescents at the nail base. Essie polishes in Fiji and Find Me an Oasis are fail-safe.

5.Get the glow

Instagram: @narsissist

As much as I love a natural sun-kissed look us Northerner’s should know by now that when it comes to ‘getting the glow’ you have to fake it to make it. As we welcome the new year, Philip Lim and J Mendel gave fresh, matte bases the boot in favour of dewy, subtly shimmery complexions and it’s high time to follow suit. Get the balance between luminescent perfection and shine overkill just right by mixing a few drops of Nars illuminator in Copacabana or Revlon Skinlights into your regular foundation.

 

Thugs bunny

Written by Natalie Clark on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In an era where hybrid cars occupy the roads, vegan restaurants are popping up everywhere, and even infant children know the ins-and-outs of recycling, it comes as a shock that the fashion industry still promotes the use of animal furs and skins. When the quality of faux fur lining the rails is just as good as the real thing, why is there still a need to indulge in ripping the hide from an animal’s back because it would look ever so cute on a pair of gloves?

 

Image: Topshop

This is a heated debate that still continues to create friction within the world of luxury fashion, but the latest animal cruelty issue has turned heads away from the catwalks of Paris and Milan towards our very own high street. In late 2013, undercover footage in China shot by PETA, depicted live rabbits having their precious fur ripped from their bodies, the pain and shock so unbearable the animals’ screams resembling those of a child. I assume your mind is plastered with horrible and disturbing images, and the graphic nature of the video is not for the faint hearted, but it is extremely important to acknowledge the fact that the wonderfully soft angora jumper you’ve been dying to buy from Topshop has been sourced from these incredibly cruel circumstances. Naively, we have believed that the cultivation of angora fur came from the gentle brushing of bunnies, but this luxury fibre’s production has evolved from being a worldwide industry to having 90% (according to the International Wool Textile Organisation) being sourced in China. It is well-known that China’s legislation concerning animal protection is pretty much (or definitely) non-existent, and of course the temptation of low production costs and high profits is too enticing for companies to pass by. So no wonder all of our favourite high-street stores have been filled with these unethical and cheaply-produced angora garments.

Since PETA’s reporting of this vile practice, outrage amongst shoppers has sparked many big high-street brand names, such as H&M and New Look, to suspend the order and sale of any angora garments. However, frontrunners such as Topshop and Zara, only when confronted with petitions containing hundreds of thousands of signatures did they too halt all production of angora products. Yet despite all of these brands’ attempts to publicly right this very bad wrong, the cruelty in the production of angora, as well as other animal skins, seems unnecessary in this day and age. Mock leather and faux fur provide an extremely effective alternative to the real deal, with the benefits of subtracting the trauma and slaughter of innocent animals from the equation. In a world where it is second nature to recycle our tins and plastic, why is it still considered the norm to wear a tortured bunny on your back?

Cyclist killed in collision outside Owens Park

Written by Jonathan Breen on . Posted in News.

A man has died following a collision with a cement mixer in Fallowfield.

Emergency services were called to the junction of Wilmslow Road and Landcross Road – next to The Joseph Whitworth pub – at about 3.25pm on Tuesday 11 February 2014, to reports of a collision between a truck and a cyclist.

21-year-old Joshua William Jarvis – who lived in Fallowfield – was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Following the incident Wilmslow Road was closed in both directions up to the junction of Old Hall Lane and Wilbraham Road, but began to open to traffic after 6:00pm.

Sergeant Lee Westhead from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said, “Our thoughts and sympathies are with this young man’s family as they try to come to terms with their loss.

“We are investigating the circumstances leading up to this collision and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to call us as soon as possible.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4742.

Volklore

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Volklore: :Völk |foelk|; people. lore 1 |lôr|; knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.

Every season begins with a design vacation. We pack up our everyday carry and go away some place new, taking in our surroundings as we go, recording all new inspiration with sketch, paint, illustration, photography and collected memorabilia. Our collections start here. Designer Sam Giles, whose printed textile background and natural love for fabrics and production processes developed over 15 years in the industry, give Volklore its unique flavour.

Led by their own interpretation of contemporary fashion, Volklore design around a simple framework: follow the imagination to create then allow the process of design and manufacturing to inform, but not decide the result.

We have a great network of friends, folks we have met on our travels throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S., from Borneo and Bali to Vancouver. These are the folks we party with, laugh with, whose music we dig and whose creative work we believe in. We’re pretty lucky to have them believe in us too, and they have agreed to become contributors to the content area of the Volklore website, the Guild which was created to showcase their talents along side ours.

Volklore is currently selling to ASOS.com, Hypebeast.com, and Urban Outfitters in the US. In Hong Kong, we sell to the best boutiques in the city, namely Kapok and Konzepp, whose second store in Singapore also carries Volklore. We also sell through our own web shop at Volklore.com. With our AW14 collection we are looking forward to expanding via wholesale into the independent menswear market in the UK.

 

Visit: volklore.com

Secret Supper Club

Written by James Jackman on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Secret Supper Club

A what? A secret supper club is essentially having dinner with people you don’t know, in a secret location, eating food from a mystery menu. But don’t worry, it was far removed from a horror-film experience.

 Booking

 

There are several supper clubs spread around Manchester and spread around the country. The one I went to was “Wendy’s House Supper Club”. I found this particular one through the utilisation of tools such as Google and Twitter, just search for “Manchester Supper Club”.

Wendy’s House is a vegetarian supper club, run by a lovely chef called Wendy (funnily enough), in a secret location in Manchester. The event I went to was titled “Mexico Monday” and for £25, you are served top quality, chef-cooked Mexican food, along with an experience which you won’t soon forget.

Food

 Upon arrival I was treated to a tequila based cocktail named Paloma, which was dangerously drinkable. The dinner began promptly as soon as all the guests had arrived, with 5 home-made courses being served in total. Beginning with tortillas and dips, it quickly evolved into black-bean soup, with hints of chilli (delicious). The main course was a serve-it-yourself feast, consisting of several delectable dishes. The pudding was served up soon after, which was mango cooked in tequila and chilli, served with ice cream and a sauce from the heart of Mexico. It was all topped off with a hot chocolate, which guaranteed satisfied stomachs all around.

 

Yes, a big part of the experience is dining with other people who you have never met. It may sound worrisome, but I found it to be a great way to meet a lot of people who you normally would never come across. For a student, it was a brilliant way to escape the “student bubble” for a little bit. The great bit is that you probably won’t meet the same people twice, so it will be a different experience each time. Have faith and your stomach will thank you soon enough!

Chef Wendy’s Supper Club

Preview: Darkside

Written by Rachel Connolly on . Posted in Music.

27th March

Ritz

Darkside, the duo comprised of electronic virtuoso Nicolas Jaar and bassist Dave Harrington will play a Manchester show at the Ritz, one of only 4 UK tour dates. This performance will likely be anticipated with excitement and curiosity by electronic and experimental music lovers alike.

The excitement generated by anything attached to Jaar’s name is understandable; at 24 he already has his own record label, Clown and Sunset; the critically acclaimed Space is Only Noise and an impressive reputation for live sets.

The catalogue of work produced by Jaar and Harrington since the pair were introduced in their final year at Brown has signaled a departure for Jaar from the minimal techno of Space is Only Noise. Last year Darkside entered the mainstream consciousness by mixing the massively hyped Random Access Memories to an almost unrecognizable and other wordly form, riding the wave of publicity to generate interest for their own album Psychic.

Psychic is informed by a completely counter intuitive catalogue of influences. Jaar describes it as ‘the closest thing I’ve ever made to a rock and roll album’, think Pink Floyd meets CAN meet Villalobos via Santana. If Darkside live was a recital of the album, this would make an extraordinary show, however Jaar’s transformative live performances promise it will be something much, much more.

With Jaar it seems the only thing to expect is to be surprised. The strange minimalism of Space is Only Noise seems completely at odds with a sweaty, dancy sellout Warehouse Project show, as does a live band complete with saxophonist. Yet Jaar seamlessly adapted to mainstream dance for a highlight opening weekend performance last year. In a Pitchfork interview, Jaar described Harrington as the more experimental of the two, a promising suggestion for his live contribution. The Ritz is a fitting venue to highlight the departure from electronic music and I am curious about how Psychic will be warped to this environment. This March show is not to be missed.

Live: Lo-Fi launch night with Boddika

Written by Matt Gibney on . Posted in Music.

31st January

Joshua Brooks

8/10

With so many longstanding parties running across the city it can often be difficult for new promoters to establish themselves in amongst such a sea of competition. One way to make yourself standout is to nail your bookings and Lo-Fi – Manchester’s latest techno offering – certainly managed this with the announcement of Swamp 81 stalwart Boddika as guest selector for their launch night. Equally renowned for his solo work, his collaborations with Joy Orbison and for the careful curation of his Nonplus label, Boddika is one of the most respected figures about and so a chance to see him in the intimate confines of Joshua Brooks wasn’t one we were going to miss.

The Lo-Fi residents were more than capable of getting bodies moving, working through a set dominated by punchy percussion and big basslines – the filtered euphoria of Damiano von Erckert’s “Housem” proving a notable highlight. With the crowd suitably warmed up, Boddika took to the decks. Although apparently suffering from illness on the night this failed to hamper his performance as he delivered a typically abrasive set of pummelling techno to the packed out Joshua Brooks basement. While in the past the Joshua Brooks sound has suffered from being too quiet, there were no such problems tonight with the system seemingly tailor made for the take-no-prisoners techno unleashed. Including a healthy dose of his own material such as ‘Mercy’ and ‘Heat’, Boddika proved adept at raising energy levels in the room. Arguably the biggest reaction of the night was reserved for ‘More Maim’ – his latest collaboration with Joy Orbison – which sent the crowd into frenzy as it was expertly mixed out of Matrixxman’s equally banging “Protocol”. All in all the night was a resounding success and, given the equally impressive booking of Surgeon for their next event on 8th March, it looks like there’s a lot of life left in the Lo-Fi locker.

Live: Kevin Devine

Written by Ruby Hoffman on . Posted in Music.

7th February

Soup Kitchen

6/10

“This is the best show we’ve played on this tour,” Brooklyn-based indie folk artist Kevin Devine announces to the crowded basement venue of Soup Kitchen, and based on his ability to fill out this particular  venue, perhaps it is.  Devine has been touring Europe and the UK in support of his recently released records Bubblegum and Bulldozer, which he terms to be a mix of his typical acoustic tracks and “more angry garage rock” (the latter might be a stretch).  There’s no doubt that Devine has talent, and captivates the audience with his sincere lyricism and wry humor, but there’s something to be said when the most rousing applause of the night comes from his Smiths cover of ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’.

Although an hour and a half set list isn’t too unusual, there comes a time when there is only so much to be heard of similar sounding acoustic songs.  To be fair, this may also have been due to the choice of support act Sorry, No, another solo acoustic artist hailing from Manchester who, despite his best efforts, didn’t come across as much more than a watered-down version of Devine.

At least Devine seemed comfortable on stage, albeit very self-deprecating (introducing songs by means of “all I do is write is love songs, and they’re mostly shit, but this one might be alright” doesn’t seem to instill a vote of confidence and very high expectations, especially considering Devine has been touring for more than a decade).  All in all, the fact that Devine has been at it for so long makes it confusing that the whole performance seemed a tad reminiscent of one by an insecure songwriter at an open mic.  However, there’s no denying that he has a genuinely good voice, and that’s what counts in the long run.

Live: Sepultura

Written by Emily Castles on . Posted in Music.

5th February
Ritz
8/10
“We are the real Sepultura!” growled front man Derrick Green before kicking off the set with the first track from their new album, Trauma of War. After over fifteen years with Sepultura, Green has certainly put his mark on the band, his formidable stature and authentic sound brutally bringing the Brazilian metalheads into their thirtieth decade.
Sepultura gigs always have the power to bring together both “the oldies” as Green referred to them and the new generation of metal fans, their unique combination of thrash and Brazilian melody entrancing many. The mixture of both songs from the past ten years, particularly those from their new album The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart, and those from the Cavalera era, pleased all those who ventured out on the cold and windy Manchester night. But there is no doubt that the likes of ‘Arise’ and ‘Refuse! Resist!’ achieved the biggest cheers of the night, the classic tracks triggering the largest and fiercest mosh-pits of the evening, fans chanting the lyrics with dedication.
Always musically flawless, guitarist Andreas Kisser, one of the members who has been in the band from the start, gave a truly vivacious performance. As he threw out his plectrums at the end of the night, the screams from the crowd were fierce, all desperate to get a piece of the Brazilian guitar God. Bassist Paulo Jr. and drummer Eloy Casagrande gave equally skilful performances, and Derrick himself even ventured to the side of the stage to play drums during the classic Ramahatta. Ending with the almighty Roots Bloody Roots, Sepultura proved on this night that they are just as big and just as brutal as ever. Fans will be waiting in anticipation to see what the Brazilians come up with next.

Album: Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness

Written by Michael Crick on . Posted in Music.

Released 18th February, 2014

Jagjaguwar

7/10

While there’s certainly no shortage of American, folk-oriented singer-songwriters these days, Angel Olsen manages to stand out from the crowd. Along with Joanna Newsom and Marissa Nadler, she offers an original take on a familiar sound and, like those two, her power lies in her beautifully idiosyncratic voice. Olsen’s acrobatic vocals present an incredible range of timbres, moving from a gentle keen, to a Patsy Cline-esque yodel, to a dramatic howl that sounds like a distant call to prayer from a minaret.

Her first full-length album, 2012’s Half Way Home, marked a significant progression from the previous year’s Strange Cacti EP, as Olsen discarded the lo-fi, reverb-soaked sound of that release, embellishing her songs with a backing band and bringing her mournful vocals to the fore. With her new LP, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, Olsen has refined and developed the sound of her first two records.

The album sees a remarkable widening of the sonic palette. The second song, ‘Forgiven/Forgotten’, is a grunge-influenced track that recalls early PJ Harvey and is Olsen’s heaviest to date. Fast-paced and driven by distorted chords, the song climaxes with the anguished cry of an electric guitar, reminiscent of the Pixies’ Joey Santiago, and a whirlwind of distortion surrounding Olsen’s tormented vocals. The next track, ‘Hi-Five’, a triumphant ode to loneliness, similarly showcases a newfound sense of aggression, ending with a swell of feedback.

However, the record is most moving when Olsen returns to the skeletal sound of her earlier material. This is seen with the stripped-down opening song, ‘Unfucktheworld’, and the acoustic offering, ‘Enemy’. But the album’s standout moment is ‘White Fire’, a delicate, finger-picked dirge, over which Olsen whispers a fatalistic tale of isolation.

While the album stutters somewhat towards the middle – ‘Lights Out’ is a little melodramatic, getting dangerously close to power ballad territory – Burn Your Fire for No Witness is still a success. Olsen has progressed, creating a more expansive sound, while retaining the intimate, funereal atmosphere that makes her music so stunningly heartrending.