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Month: March 2015

Feminism: Challenging inequality or pernicious social engineering?

Written by Dan Smith on . Posted in Opinion.

The Oxford dictionary defines Feminism as the following: “The advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of equality of the sexes.” I define Feminism as the following: “The advocacy of a vitriolic rodomontade on men, blaming societal maladies on the artificially constructed and nonsensical patriarchy.” Which of these two definitions is correct?

Well, one of them in coruscating fashion alludes to the notion that equality of the sexes is not going to be achieved by focusing on the rights of one sex over the other; to capriciously assign blame to the other sex whilst simultaneously claiming to be an all-encompassing movement is not being an all-encompassing movement. I am here to argue that Feminism is a dated, obsolete movement that needs urgent renovation to hold credibility, or to forever lose itself to societal critique as an extremist movement.

Feminist ideological thought finds its axis at a concept known as the Patriarchy. The Patriarchy stands as the pernicious, acrimonious enemy of which all men consciously or otherwise form a part. In common parlance; men stand with an advantage in today’s society. Feminists frequently perpetuate the “Gender-wage pay gap” myth to elucidate this point of conjecture. Yet, this is an incorrect and dated argument, and here’s why.

First, the Equal Pay Act of 1970 (superseded by the Equality Act of 2012) clearly states as law that “the right to equal pay for equal work” is one that must be maintained in any workplace. This, by definition renders any “but two of my friends are both lawyers and B earns X and G earns Y” arguments null. There has to be another explanation for any disparity between our good friends B and G, and there are a multitude of possibilities for this, instead of simply blaming ubiquitous sexism: B could have simply been more aggressive in the wage negotiations, a simple clause in his contract stating that he would be paid X amount, which just so happened to be more than G agreed to.

A recent inquiry into the Gender-wage pay gap highlights the real reasons behind any correlation that may be found of men earning a higher wage. Career expert Marty Nemko analyses the reasons behind any gap that may be found, and offers the following as suitable alternatives. First, there is a tendency for men to work more hours than their female counterparts, that is to say 15% longer than the average fulltime working woman.

Second, Men are far more likely to take work in uncomfortable, isolated and undesirable locations that pay more. This explication serves to propound the primary difference in motivation for men and women: for men, it is certainly money, whereas women place a higher premium on shorter work weeks, close proximity to their primary habitation, fulfilment, autonomy, and safety, according to Nemko.

This holds true in the business world as well, in which female business owners make less than half of what their male business owner counterparts make. Before we jump on the allegorical patriarchal band wagon, let us examine that claim for a moment. As a business owner, they have no boss, meaning it is independent of discrimination. Again, this can be attributed to the difference in motivation.

Now that you and I, dear reader, have debunked the most pernicious of all feminist myths, let us examine the nature of the patriarchal evil that feminists so vehemently promulgate. Feminism is right to recognise that women suffer in today’s society, and of course, I want equality for women as much as the next man does, but, this is not to be brought about by assigning blame to the other half of society, claiming disadvantage in relation to men’s advantaged position; equality is not a zero-sum game, one does not gain while the other loses. Men suffer just as much from the ‘patriarchy’ as women do, albeit in different ways. If we are going to play the skewered statistics game, consider that:

1. Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women. The reason? The gender role men have been forced into by societal pressures. A real man: stoic, unemotional and uncompromised. All a recipe for a emotional explosion of repressed feeling.
2. Women are in 84% of cases the winner of custody. This is important, as custody is traditionally decided on who as the ability to take care of the child (care is defined as the ability to provide for the needs of the child: food, water, a safe home), which, given that we are in a ‘patriarchal’ system, logically follows that men should have more custody…
3. 97% of combat deaths are men. This statistic maintains the argument that men are more willing to work in dangerous locations etc.

To conclude, it is clear to see that feminism is wholly right in highlighting the inequality that women suffer, the issue of contention lies in its subversive blaming mechanism which fails to appreciate the extent to which society pressures both of the sexes. Thus, I would argue for a movement away from feminism, and assigning blame to society’s matrix as a whole, rather than attributing it to a certain sex within the matrix.

There is a term for this, known as the Kyriarchy. It was coined by Elisabeth Fiorenza, a feminist, in 1992 to enunciate her theory of interconnected systems within society: it stands as a social system or connecting social systems built around domination, oppression and submission. It goes beyond gender when addressing the issue of subordination of one person or group to another, and therefore in my eyes is a far more suitable starting point when addressing the issue of inequality.

Students occupy LSE

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

A group of students at the London School of Economics have occupied a central administration room at the university in protest of the marketisation of education.

Around 40 students, as part of Occupy LSE, locked themselves with bicycle locks inside the Vera Anstey Suite, the central university administration meeting room, “to demand a change to the current university system.” For the duration, as yet indefinite, the room has been dubbed the Free University of London. The group released a list of demands early in the morning of Wednesday the 18th of March.

They are deeply critical of the “privatised, profit-driven, and bureaucratic ‘business model’ of higher education, which locks students into huge debts and turns the university into a degree-factory and students into consumers.”

Instead, they wish for higher education to be “liberating—which does not have a price tag. We want a university run by students, lecturers and workers.”

Their demands are split into five parts; the first is for non-profit education that is free and universally accessible—for tuition fees for domestic and international students to be scrapped.

Their second is for workers’ rights, which includes an end to zero-hours contracts and a close in the considerable wage gap between the highest and lowest-paid employees at the university.

They call for “genuine” university democracy—that is, a directly elected student-staff council to make university decisions. Furthermore they demand divestment from destructive companies, including the fossil fuel industry, and those who profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Their final demand is titled ‘Liberation’. They demand that the university takes a zero-tolerance stand to harassment and scraps the Counter-Terrorism Bill, which could threaten Muslim students and staff. They vocally call for the university to become a place free of “racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and religious discrimination.” Also, they directly demand that police are not to be allowed on campus.

They are running workshops throughout the day, including a talk on ‘Why Free Education?’, ideas about a change to the economics curriculum by Post-Crash Economics, and the screening of a film.

A spokesperson from LSE said: “On Tuesday evening a group of approximately 20 students occupied the Vera Anstey Room in the Old Building at LSE, highlighting a broad range of demands relating to higher education.

“LSE was founded for the betterment of society; it is encouraging that this principle continues to be a guide for many of our students.

“Exchanges between the group and LSE security staff have been positive.”

Guardian columnist Owen Jones also joined the activists on Wednesday at 5pm, and the movement has received a great deal of messages of support from students across the country.

Four years ago, students at LSE carried out an occupation calling financial ties with Saif al-Islam Gadaffi, the son of the late Libyan dictator, to be cut amid charges of crimes against humanity. They were ultimately successful in this campaign.

An ‘Evening of Jazz’ in aid of Action on Hearing Loss

Written by Meghan Owen on . Posted in Music.

Of all the dreaded social situations we encounter, repeatedly failing to hear a question is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable. Leading us to ask “what did you say?” up to three times before it becomes socially unacceptable to continue, the only solution is to nod politely, utter a risky “yes”, “no” or “I don’t know” before becoming flustered and hoping that the question did not require a more extended response.

Hearing loss is heavily present in our everyday lives. Yet the severity of a disability which affects nine million people in the UK alone is often overlooked. It can lead to miscommunication, isolation, and often, in more serious cases, precarious situations with dangerous implications. Hearing loss is malicious. It can change personalities, create sentiments of negativity and anger, and advance depression or withdrawal from society. Its universal status as a mere inconvenience often shades the reality of its capability: That of a silent killer.

Often associated with old age, it is vital to understand that hearing loss can actually affect people of all ages. The stigma attached to youths with hearing loss is often negative, though this section of society is at high risk due to continuous boozy nights often involving loud pumping bass.

I am organising an ‘Evening of Jazz’ together with another music student at the University of Manchester, Vicky James, in order to raise awareness for Action on Hearing Loss—a charity “working for a world where hearing loss doesn’t limit or label people”—and to encourage other students to reconsider their attitudes towards the common disability. A chilled evening of jazz classics seemed ideal for promoting the cause.

Taking place at 256 on the 16th of April from 7:30pm, the event will feature sets from ensembles such as MSC Groove and The Doxy Quartet to name but a few. So pop along for a mellow musical mingle. We’d like to HEAR you say yes, as it will be your LOSS if you miss out.

Click here to attend the Facebook event.

Club: Zutekh presents Midland

Written by Bradley West on . Posted in Music.

6th of March

Joshua Brooks

8/10

The events that resulted in Midland headlining a night at Joshua Brooks set an odd precedent for the event. Having originally been planned as a Transmission show including the notoriously flaky Ricardo Villalobos, as well as Magda and Jackmaster, Midland was originally a member of the supporting cast, but was thrown into the very centre of the spotlight by the changing of the venue. Luckily, though, he filled that position with absolute ease.

My preconceptions of the night were that it would be a scaled down version of the intended Transmission format. However, the focus was shifted from a visceral performance including lighting and visuals, to simply the artist on stage, delivering their offerings with the best quality sound possible, focusing the crowd’s attention on the music, resulting in sets that were controlled by their mood.

The night started with a strong performance from a Manchester legend in his own right, Krysko. Having been a member of the Manchester scene for the past 14 years, he was in the perfect place to prepare the crowd, with his signature brand of genre-bending mixing, filling the brick basement for the start of Midland.

Midland took his place behind the decks with no theatre or ceremony and immediately began to build on the solid foundations that Krysko had laid. He began by testing the specially hired Void sound system to its fullest with energetic, bass-rich openers that immediately got the crowd on board, their positive reaction to this evidently influencing the following 15-20 minutes of the set, which was awash with the heavy kicks and striking sounds of techno. Amongst this, Midland slipped in some of his own productions, notably ‘Trace’ which he blended into with a deceivingly massive kick. His track changes were rapid and kept the crowd guessing, but ultimately gave them what they wanted throughout the performance.

The set was by no means linear in any way however; Midland really lived up to his name, providing the perfect equilibrium of musical styles, taking the crowd in any direction effortlessly. This was abundantly appreciated as he moved seamlessly from the industrial, distorted sound of heavy techno which dominated the middle of his set, through an almost ambient synths set to a heavy bass line, to the upbeat melodies of funk and disco of the last half hour. If anyone ever doubts the presence of skill in DJing, watching Midland move from grinding techno to ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ by Whitney Houston with ease, will crush those reservations.

The genre-defying nature of the set was reflected in the diversity of the crowd that attended. Midland commented: “I wasn’t expecting to be playing to such a young crowd, but it was great to see how musically adventurous they are… they went wild for a lot of the older stuff.” Referring to the disco-y ‘older stuff’, he played it for as long past the curfew as he could get away with, demonstrating his commitment to the crowd’s enjoyment. Discussing Manchester, he said that he really enjoyed being here, and that it was an awesome city in which to play. The quality of his set, and the reactions of the crowd, mean that he’s always welcome back.

The Fear

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As much as the media and our families would like to think studying at university is three years of dossing around, blowing thousands of pounds of government money on cheap vodka and generally not contributing an awful lot to anything, this isn’t actually the case. The truth is that most of us are usually worrying about something, from the moment we rock up to halls mid-September with our parents and all our worldly possessions in tow and wonder what we’ve let ourselves in for, right up until we’re standing in front of a fancy building holding a diploma, baffled as to where the time has gone and what on earth we’re supposed to do now. Sound familiar? Here’s a run down of ‘The Fear’ year by year, and how to fight it off.

First Year Fear: The ‘40% isn’t that hard to get, right?’
Is the ratio of food to basics vodka in my kitchen cupboard verging on worrying? Is it worth the FOMO of not going on a flat outing to Sankeys to get a grade on this essay that I can actually tell my parents about? Is it true they kick people out for bad attendance? How important is that Monday 9am lecture anyway? And when did 40 per cent start sounding more like a target than a disaster?

Solution:
Find the balance! First year is probably the least responsibility and most freedom you’ll ever have in your life, so take advantage of it. Join a society, play a sport, go out an obscene amount, but don’t be afraid to take some time out from the madness to put some effort into your work. It’ll ease your conscience, and it might even remind you why you wanted to do your degree in the first place.

Second Year Fear: The ‘I am the only person on the planet without work experience’
Maybe I should get a part-time job. Does bar work count? I could totally go and do charity work abroad. Everyone has an internship this summer. Should I have an internship this summer? What am I even going to do an internship in? I am going to end up unemployable and living in a box. FML.

Solution:
First of all, stop panicking. You still have loads of time to get valuable part-time work, if you want to. If you see an internship, work experience or volunteering opportunity that interests you, go for it! If not, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re the only person in the world whose CV doesn’t read like an application for a Nobel Peace Prize. You’re not, and you will be fine.

Final Year Fear: The ‘I must do all the things before I leave’
I need to finish that coursework/revise for that exam/write my entire dissertation. Should I have a job lined up by now? Maybe I should look at more grad schemes. Oh, and seeing as I’m leaving Manchester, I HAVE to find the time to go to that bar/club/restaurant/festival and spend as much time as possible with my friends and be happy because it’s all going to be over soon and WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

Solution:
Change sucks, but it happens. Just keep taking the time in between the stress to enjoy the company of the people who have become like family over the last few years, and when you do get some free time use it to tick something else off the Manchester Bucket List. It ain’t over till it’s over, so stop moping and make the most of it!

Halls 2 Home: Putting ‘Unity’ Back Into the Community

Written by Tom Bruce on . Posted in News.

On the 7th of February 2015, some students may have been aware of a ‘Community Fun Fest’ which took place on a stretch of Derby road in Fallowfield in between Amherst and Mitford Road. The event was advertised as an effort at returning ‘unity’ to the community by allowing different people from the residential street and neighbouring area to get to know one another in a friendly, entertaining, well-policed zone.

The Derby Road Fun Fest was promoted through the use of posters and flyers in the Students’ Union building, certain places on campus as well as around the student hub of Fallowfield. Those living on Derby Road and the roads nearby were informed of the plans by posted letters.

There was a large turnout throughout the day as people came to and fro to enjoy free live music, hot food, face painting and more. One of the event’s main organisers, Community Officer Ellen McLaughlin, said: “the idea for the festival was to bring together students and local residents in a fun and friendly environment.”

In light of intense media scrutiny and criticism from non-student residents regarding the large house parties that have been going on in the community recently, Ellen said: “Community relations in South Manchester have been high on the agenda for the University and the local media and our intention was to do something positive and proactive to try and alter perceptions about the student bubble.”

On the success of the Derby road Fun Fest, Ellen stated that “it went really well. We asked people who came to the festival for feedback and by and large comments were that people wanted to see more events like this.”

The event was also used as a means of spreading anti-burglary tips and fire safety awareness among the vulnerable student body. It was also held in recognition of the hard work done by many students who volunteer in the local area. Community Officer Ellen hopes there will be another similar event in the summer and that this time students and residents that live in the local area will get involved in the process.

Poppy Humphrey, a representative from Manchester Student Homes, said: “The Community Fun Fest enabled all those that live locally to come together, learn about each other and the local area in a relaxed and family-friendly environment. We received great support from our partners, including Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, who gave personal and household safety advice to students throughout the day. We are also delighted to learn that Halls 2 Home has recently been recognised in terms of the benefit to the student experience with a nomination for an associated award.”

Forthcoming Halls 2 Home campaigns will focus on environmental issues and student safety.

La Traviata

Written by Marcus Johns on . Posted in Theatre.

La Traviata is a beautiful opera into which Giuseppe Verdi wrote joy, folly, love, and tragedy. Like any good tragedy, the idea is to become attached to the characters and enthralled by their situation.

Unfortunately for Opera North, the poor performance by Ji-Min Park as Alfredo Germont in the first act delayed the necessary affectation required for the final scene.

I am pleased to say, however, that Ji-Min Park’s disappointing start was overcome during the second act, as his love for Violetta became clear and his sorrow at her departure was sufficiently mournful. Moreover, his poor start was overshadowed by the ensemble’s joyful celebrations, which quickly distracted the audience away from his shortcomings.

It was still a shame, though, that Ji-Min Park’s voice, expression, and acting were so underwhelming in the first act, because Anna Jeruc-Kopec played the perfect Violetta. Their love story took too long to get off the ground due to the lack of emotion emanating from Alfredo.

Jeruc-Kopec played the role with grace, elegance, and a youthful stupidity that was beautiful to watch. Her vocal range was breathtaking and her gentle glides around the stage were mesmerising.

Alessandro Talevi’s stage directions created excellent ambience, especially during Violetta’s final moments. The use of masked characters applauding in the background, contrasting with the despair of Alfredo in the foreground, provided for an enthrallingly tragic moment with a hint of confusion and madness, which served as a perfect allegory of the death of a loved one.

A review of Opera North’s La Traviata would be incomplete without reference to the set and costume designer Madeleine Boyd. Boyd’s set design was both simple and subtle while providing for a strong look and excellent space around which the cast could move. The beautiful costumes really defined the first act’s celebratory feel whilst the use of gentle white bedding subtly peppered with blood stains grounded the final act in sickness, despair, and the loss of a young and innocent Violetta Valéry.

Review: All Star Lanes

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Food & Drink.

All Star Lanes offers a fantastic bowling, dining and drinking experience every night of the week. Located at The Great Northern Warehouse in Deansgate within the heart of Manchester, the building houses eight bowling lanes, a cocktail bar, a large restaurant and a fantastic whiskey tasting room. For private events, an exclusive party room can be hired, equipped with two bowling lanes, private cocktail bar and karaoke facilities. The cocktail bar is well stocked, boasting an impressive list of premium spirits, beers and wines, making for an excellent spot to enjoy drinks in between bowling and dinner. Like its décor, All Star Lane’s food revolves around classic American dishes with their indoor barbecue smoking up some great dishes.

When we visited, we sampled February’s special: the BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich. Served on a bed of crunchy slaw and topped with pickled red onions, the sandwich oozed flavour and was cooked to perfection. The highlight of the meal was the crispy chicken crackling that accompanied the main. Golden brown in colour and crispy in texture, it complimented the lighter shredded chicken perfectly. Instead of having traditional sauces, All Star Lanes provide samples of their own BBQ, mustard and spicy chilli sauce, all of which were divine. Although slightly pricey at £9.50 for the sandwich alone (all sides have to be purchased separately), the lively venue definitely justifies the price.

If you’re after an evening of fun, dinner and drinks then All Star Lanes Manchester should be right up your street; with four successful and highly-acclaimed venues already in London, this new Manchester offering is bound to be a winner.

Review: Filthy Cow

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

Once upon a hungover Wednesday, we ambled around the side streets of Manchester, near St. Anne’s Square, pushed forward by the promise of hamburgers and milkshakes. I am not usually one for the ‘dirty burger’ trend–it is alarmingly overdone in Manchester, as the burgers also often are. But the claims on the website of burgers to beat all others (plus my insatiable evening-after-the-night-before desire to sink my teeth into a hunk of meat) caused me to gleefully silence my usual protestations and see just exactly what ‘Filthy Cow’ had to offer.

Welcomed by a hanging sign of a cross-dressing cow, we opened the door and stepped into a casual haven. Tables and chairs of varying material and size (stripped wood, wrought iron) are imposed upon by exposed-brickwork walls, with an ordering-station-cum-kitchen set back from the dining space. We approached and were warmly greeted by a waitress, who served my companion a crisp white wine and myself a Diet Coke, enquiring as to whether I wanted it in a glass or just the can (feeling fancy I went for a glass).

We climbed upstairs and found the same pared-back, almost farmyard chic on the second floor; the space is great for chilling out, not feeling pressured to either stay too long or outstay your welcome. Having chosen our seats, I leapt up and made a beeline once more for the bar, where I ordered two burgers, fries, coleslaw and two milkshakes. I was issued with an extra-terrestrial looking LED-fitted plastic disc, informed that when the food was ready it would light up and vibrate.

The milkshakes arrived promptly after ordering–supplied by Ginger’s Comfort Emporium (based in Chorlton, can also be found in Afflecks), their thick and sweet creaminess was medicine to my fragile state. The chocolate was lovely and fulfilled expectations (and stomachs), but the peanut butter and salted caramel version–officially named ‘Chorlton Crack’–was really and truly something to behold. If that’s what drugs are like south of Fallowfield, find me a dealer and my nearest vein.

Jordan, the 23-year-old creator and owner of ‘Filthy Cow’ came and sat with us for a while, discussing her accountancy past, her numerous jobs in different burger joints (learning what and what not to do), and her fervent passion for finding the precise and top-secret temperature at which to cook her pure steak burgers. When we jumped at the buzzing of our digital alien dinner disc, she headed back down the stairs, returning a minute later with a plastic tray brimming with paper packages, wooden cutlery and an armful of condiments.

We frantically fumbled to unwrap our burgers, revealing shiny buns sandwiching overspilling fillings. The first, their signature ‘Filthy Beast’, was a beautiful marriage between tender, pink-in-the-middle steak burger, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and gherkin. Waylaid temporarily by logistics of working out how to a) hold and b) bite into the burger, its freshness and lack of grease was a real pleasure to eat once achieved. The second burger, their vegetarian offering, was a halloumi and mushroom stuffed bundle of joy. As Jordan had promised, the power couple managed to deliver a meatiness that would defy any vegetarian critic out there. The fries were crispy and golden and perfectly shaped, thanks to the professional potato cutter they employ specifically for that purpose. The slaw was light and crunchy and refreshingly restrained on the mayonnaise front. We squirted all manner of sauces onto our tray, troffed to our hearts content in a very inelegant manner (warning: not one for a first date), and turned our napkins into balls of saucy filth.

With only three beef burgers on the menu, the halloumi and mushroom and one monthly special, plus three sides (we missed out on onion rings), the selectiveness is testament to Jordan’s passion for quality and fresh, local ingredients. Bar the freezer full of ice cream, everything is delivered and prepared onsite daily; the veg comes from Bolton and the wines and beers are specifically selected on a rotating local basis.

Having finished in record time, we asked about the dessert menu, which rolled off Jordan’s tongue (unsurprisingly, considering it consists of one dish at a time). The 100% vegetarian lemon cheesecake currently featuring was very light and moussy, with a nice level of citrus zing. She also brought us her favourite of the Ginger’s ice creams they stock – Lyle’s Golden Syrup. We were not disappointed and, slipping into a dairy-induced coma, marvelled at the gorgeous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc she cracked open a bottle of, especially for our degustation.

Wiping our hands on the wet towels provided, we made declarations of return visits. It is neither difficult nor unlikely to imagine ‘Filthy Cow’ becoming a regular spot for crowds of diners. Its laid-back, unassuming atmosphere and menu makes it the perfect place to zip in for a pre- or post-activity bite, and the takeaway-safe packaging of the food means you can just as easily pick up and indulge in the comfort of your home or on a street corner. In a market oversaturated with expensive and hyped-up burgers, ‘Filthy Cow’ delivers honest value and honest taste, flipping this epidemic on its head, as competently as it flips its burgers.

10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB
0161 839 5498
www.filthyfood.co.uk

What goes up…

Written by Kathryn Murray on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

John Galliano, the famous Gibraltar-born British fashion designer is not exactly a refined character. From an early age his mother, a flamenco teacher, dressed him in his ‘smartest’ outfits even for trips to the shop. Apparently, this experience combined with his creative flare was what made the designer that some people love, and some people love to hate.

In his career he has been at the helm of Givenchy, Christian Dior and his own label John Galliano. He has also been decorated with the title of designer of the year (four times!), CBE and RDI (Royal Designer of Industry). Fancy.

Unfortunately for Johnny boy, it all went Pete Tong in 2011 when he was arrested over an alleged anti-Semitic tirade in a Paris bar. Not only did this set Galliano back €6000 worth of fines, but he also lost his job at Dior and the respect of many. But that is what happens when you supposedly declare your love for murderous dictators.

But if you think this was the end of his career, you are sadly mistaken. In an interview broadcasted in the US, Galliano talked about his readiness to create, stating “I hope through my atonement I’ll be given a second chance.” And a second chance is what he has got. In early 2013, Galliano accepted an invitation from Oscar de la Renta for a temporary residency at his studio. This opportunity was the beginning of his comeback and after four years of disgraced absence, January 2015 saw John Galliano’s first collection for Maison Martin Margiela.

His debut was welcomed with open arms by close fashion giants, bloggers and close friends (apparently he is best buds with Anna Wintour). His Margiela show was praised as a ‘pure triumph’. It seems that Galliano has been well and truly welcomed back to the cut-throat fashion industry. I applaud him for conquering such a feat.

Why we should restrict offensive speculative journalism

Written by Lauren Wills on . Posted in Opinion.

The growth of online journalism means that no longer are newspapers restricted by physical space in which they must squeeze in their best and most important articles, but instead they are able to publish an extensive range of material on a virtual platform every day which can be accessed globally.

On one hand, this is positive. More news can be distributed to anyone who has access to the internet for free. John Stuart Mill’s theoretical perspective of a ‘marketplace of ideas’ which is a rationale for freedom of expression suggests that ‘truth’ emerges from free discussion on social and political topics. I’m also a believer that when individuals have access to many different opinions, they are able to shape what they think about the world. The media serves as an important mechanism for enabling this.

As well as paid journalists, anyone who wants to express their opinion can ‘have a voice’ in the form of online blogging. The growth in online journalism means that you can find an opinion on practically any subject you wish, no matter how controversial or questionable.

So far, it seems like this expansion can only be positive. But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. The increased number of articles I’ve read on mainstream newspaper platforms with both deceiving headlines and content has led me to the conclusion there is too much speculative journalism out there.

The media just cannot help themselves. This is not an argument about limiting freedom of speech by suppressing people’s opinions–it’s about the consequences of publishing articles with no factual basis for those opinions which has the effect of leaving the public confused and misinformed.

Questionable content and conspiracy is fine, as long as it’s labelled correctly as an idea and not as fact. For example, last week the BBC published a story entitled “Flight MH370: Could it have been suicide?” The title renders the reader inclined to agree with the statement even though it uses the conditional “could.” On reading the article, the experts actually explain that the theory has only grown because of a lack of other evidence to confirm what actually happened.

In other words, it is pure speculation. What a tragic event the disappearance of Flight MH370 must have been for the loved ones of staff and passengers on board, but to make it worse, the BBC publishing such an article on one of the most viewed news platforms really does twist the knife. Captain Zaharie Shah, an expert in aviation, is accused of deliberately intending to commit suicide and kill the passengers on board purely because of the absence of another more pressing or convincing theory.

Zaharie’s widow stayed away from media platforms after the event – pretty much all that has been published is that she confirmed it was her husband’s voice in the last words from the cockpit. I cannot begin to imagine the grief and pain she went through – no-one expects their husband or wife to go to work one day and never come back, so it’s understandable that she didn’t want to involve herself in discussion on speculating what happened to the aircraft.

I can furthermore hardly imagine what she must have felt when news corporations started writing articles about the potential suicide of her husband. If there were evidence from the cockpit at the time to suggest this–any kind of factual basis–then I’d support such an article being published. However, the absence of concrete evidence on what happened doesn’t give the media free reign to publish all kinds of offensive theories. This could indeed be a possibility (as could any kind of technical fault) and I’m not denying that the article poses a question rather than making a statement saying “This is definitely what happened.” However, until there’s actual evidence to suggest this was a suicide, I think it’s extremely offensive and insensitive to publish something so bold and suggest to readers that this has legitimate backing. To me, it just looks like a cheap and fast conclusion with no real substance or forethought of the consequences of its publication.

The law has mechanisms in place to avoid people making legal claims purely on misleading article titles, as it’s a given that sensible readers should read whole articles to determine what is actually being said. Papers such as the Daily Mail, the Sun and the Daily Mirror publish eye-catching titles all the time which sometimes can even be perceived to contradict the content of such pieces. The objective is not to inform the reader, but clearly to make money, and freedom of speech shouldn’t be used as an excuse to mislead, offend and/or defame people.

At the end of the day, the media play an important role in democracy and they allow for individual and collective discussion. But it’s clear: media companies are all about selling newspapers. It’s no longer about quality, but quantity; how many articles they can extend to a wide, global audience in order to gain influence and ultimately, money?

I’m therefore an advocate for some form of media regulation, not to suppress freedom of speech but to suppress the abuse of that freedom when commercial goals are clearly the corporations’ main objective.

Food Politics: The Underlying Struggles of Social Eating

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

Does anyone else have this problem?

As a 21-year-old female, I know I don’t need to ask that question.

I opened up honestly with a friend recently about this topic—expressing the struggle that is every day in the life of the food-obsessed. Constant calculations of when I’m next going to eat, how can I make sure that it’s healthy, what is my backup healthy eating plan, would it be better to eat now at uni something averagely healthy or to wait until I get home, or would that be too late to digest? Should I just not eat?

In a world where every food on the planet is available to us in a nearby supermarket, the suggestion that we be health-conscious is not easy to dismiss. We have access to the ingredients, and thus no excuse not to subscribe to this lifestyle.

How about when we’re in uni 12 – 8, and there is no time to prepare a home cooked meal? Do we ‘cheat’ and buy a wrap or meal deal from Sainsbury’s? Not really enjoy it because we feel too guilty as we check the scientific nutritional breakdown and wince at the numbers in red? I can’t help feeling that despite the numerous benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the national obsession may be going too far.

Things I have done in the name of ‘health’:

– got distracted in 70 per cent of lectures while planning nutritious meals

– obsessively scoured menus in advance to avoid choosing an unhealthy option in a rush/under pressure

– felt unable to enjoy ‘bad’ foods due to ‘guilt’ association

– felt disappointed in myself for eating ‘bad’ foods, also associated with lack of restraint, willpower and weakness

– eaten three slices of cake to replace meals for fear of calorie overdose

– panicked at the thought of going to a restaurant socially—no one wants to be the girl with a salad, or get plate envy, or spend the entire evening thinking about food and weight when the real purpose of the event is the interaction (which is supposed to be enjoyable).

The last one is tricky. I’m sure people experience varying levels of food anxiety, and I have felt envious of those who seem to have got it down—nonchalantly ordering what they fancy and eating as much as they feel like. In public, I have previously felt obliged to choose something that doesn’t say ‘I’m on a diet’ and even points more towards the ‘I don’t give a shit about weight loss, look at me feast’. I would then eat more than my stomach was asking for, thus enlarging it and my lack of confidence.

So what is the solution? Maybe menus and quick conveniences need to universally cater for the health-conscious. Maybe.

Maybe we all just need to chill out.

I think the real issue here comes back to the notorious size-zero Photoshop perfection that is forcefully present across advertising.

Does anyone feel good when they see these images? How many people look at clothing posters in shops, try on the model’s outfit and think “yes, I look like that” in the changing room mirror? Bodies come in so many shapes and sizes and the world needs to be more aware of that. Health is an important factor in life, but it stops being healthy when the need for it becomes a mental obsession.

While I’m still personally trying to find the balance with this, I’d like to share some ideas for maintaining a healthy and nutritious mind as well as body:

– Enjoy every meal, whether it be healthy or not—you need food to survive and you shouldn’t feel guilty about that

– You are your own harshest critic, no one is judging your ‘imperfections’ in the same way as you; positive people look for positive things

– Work on your personality over your image. It’s easier to change a personality flaw than an appearance based one

– Not being a certain size or weight does not make you inadequate

– You are beautiful, and happiness comes from within

These are very important things to remember. Of course I believe in healthy eating most of the time, but I also think we need to be assured that it is okay to have something that does not necessarily satisfy the recommended quota of our daily amount.

As long as you are a healthy weight for your height and make sure you apply a reasonable amount of restraint at the urge to eat entire trays of brownies, tubs of ice cream and third helpings of chips, you should be happy. A basic knowledge of what’s good for you and what isn’t should be held on to, but the moment food starts affecting your confidence, social presence and ability to focus on other tasks, then it is time to rethink.

Why are so many of us aiming for this elusive ‘perfection’? Confidence is the biggest form of attraction, and it can hide a world of complexes than can eventually lead to their eradication. So you have excess fat on your thighs, is anyone else going to change their opinion of you based on that? If they are, do you want to be associated with them? Same goes for stomach, arms, hips, chin, neck, ankles, etc.; the list of potential body anxieties is virtually infinite.

This is a socially constructed anxiety which should not exist. The problem of obesity and binge eating cannot be ignored but the negative effects of the opposing side are not as openly discussed. Something non-existent can actually hold us back in life, make us sad and even loathsome of ourselves.

We should stop aiming for perfection and view that it’s already there, right now. Look in the mirror and see a bump or a bulge? Embrace it, it’s you, it’s alive and natural and not stopping you from doing anything. It doesn’t make you any less of a person than the photoshopped model with a thigh gap and a flat stomach. Not to say that she isn’t beautiful too.

That said, if we want to choose something less calorific at a restaurant, we should not feel embarrassed to make that choice. The friendly urges of ‘go on, treat yourself’ actually exacerbate anxieties with regard for the need to please others whilst caring for the self. We should all be more open about this topic and I would not be surprised to find that many of our consciences are alike. Having the perfect body is not a competition; there is no prize. Live for yourself, make your own choices and be comfortable with who you are and what you decide to do.

We’re all beautiful for who we are, not what we look like. Let’s be proud of that and get on with the more important things in life.

Recipe: Going Lentil

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

500g pack Heema Chana Dal: 89p

A range of spices: priceless

Well actually if you buy spices from the Worldwide supermarkets you can generally get a small bag for 69-89p. You could even stretch to £1 if you prefer to have them in a plastic shaker.

Investing in spices will save you money on buying jarred sauces, make your food taste a lot more interesting and generally transform your cooking skills. Equipped with a range of spices, you can feed yourself for at least 4 delicious meals for 89p.

I like the Heema brand as they have recipes on the back, so if you pick up a pack of lentils and have no idea what to do with them, you can confidently follow the directions on the back to ensure an authentic and delicious meal. Which is exactly what I did with my little pack of split peas.

Ingredients:

1 cup chana dal/yellow split peas, soaked overnight in 4 cups water
3 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/4tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp coriander
1 tbsp tamarind (could sub honey or treacle)
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp garlic

Method:

After soaking the lentils, drain and add to a saucepan with the 3 cups of water. Bring to the boil and simmer with the lid on for around 30 minutes, until the lentils are becoming soft. If you have a lot of time, you can leave the lentils simmering while you go about other tasks for up to around an hour –you can’t really overcook them as long as there is enough liquid.
After the 30 mins, add the spices to the dal and stir, turn the heat down and put the lid on. In a separate frying pan, heat the oil with the garlic and mustard seeds until fragrant, then stir into the dal along with the tamarind. The dal should thicken after around 3 minutes, at which point it is ready.
Serve with rice and greens, or add more water and boil with sweet potato and carrots to make a flavoursome soup.
Lentils are a great option for vegetarians, as well as the health-conscious (who isn’t these days?) They’re cheap, easy to use and act as a perfect base for lots of spicy dishes: soups, curries, stews, and as an alternative to rice.

Recipe: Hola Granola

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

Ingredients:

200g mixed unsalted nuts (I get the resealable bags from Lidl, I think £1.89)
Large handful rolled oats
Large handful seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, mixed, etc.)
Handful raisins or chopped dried fruit
Anything else granola-ey (I had toasted flaked almonds from a previous truffle-making session)
1 heaped tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 ripe banana, mashed with a fork
2 tbsp peanut butter
3 tbsp honey—if you like sweet granola, use more (mine had more of a nutty roasted flavour than standard sugary taste, but less is obviously healthier)

Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Chop nuts on a board until broken but still nicely chunky. Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl.

Separately, mix mashed banana and peanut butter. Spoon the honey into a mug and warm on high in microwave for 10 seconds, then add to banana mix.

Pour banana-ey goodness over nuts and combine until well coated.

Spread evenly onto a lightly greased tray and bake for around 20 minutes, till smelling nutty and delicious. Halfway through roasting give the mix a scrape to ensure big clusters don’t form. If you like big clusters in your granola, leave this part till the end of cooking.

Remove from oven and restrain from eating entire tray of granola. Cool and store in a sealed container. Serve on top of yoghurt, porridge, smoothies etc.

I think this would make a lovely homemade gift if packaged in an old jam jar and sealed with a pretty piece of fabric, some string and a handwritten label.

Review: Artisan

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

So the customer uniform is a sleek mix of grey, black, gold, generally swanky attire and as usual I’m in my plaid shirt.

Perhaps this is less of a student hangout and more of an I-have-a-career-and-money-to-spend kinda deal. WHICH IS FINE. Just new for me, and not quite right for me. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of students fitting in here. It’s more of a date location or a sophisticated drinks with the girls thing.

It’s located in Spinningfields, so definitely fits in with the whole vibe around that area–post-work drinks, living for the weekend, business people letting their hair down after work?

If you know Spinningfields you’ll know what I mean.

Atmosphere aside, I am here to talk about the food, and the food I shall talk about:

I’d had a look at the website prior to my visit, and as it claims that ‘fire is at the literal heart of Artisan; handmade, rustic dishes served straight from the flames.’ I veered towards dishes that would hopefully show off the use of the acclaimed wood oven. To start we ordered Mussels Marinière: ‘mussels baked in bread’. This was quite an exciting starter, as it arrived in a cast-iron dish behatted with a warm and doughy flatbread. I liked this as a sharing plate, the presentation made it feel slightly special and upmarket, although the simple garlic cream sauce was nothing I hadn’t tried before. Even so, the dish was well executed and ideal for a light sharing starter.

From scouring the menu in advance I’d had my eye on the skillet of smoked salmon, poached eggs, green vegetables, hollandaise and crushed potatoes. This is the kind of thing I would make for myself at home so I was interested to see how others approached it. Its manifestation was a little underwhelming. I’d imagined the skillet to be of a similar to size to the mussels’ cradle, with Jamie Oliver-style pan fried and crushed potatoes – crispy and soft. (As in the ones from 30 minute meals, they’re ‘squashed’ potatoes but potato potato). However, they were crushed into more of a mash, and a mush. The whole thing was a bit of a mush really due to the amount of oil and liquid going on. Smoked salmon is soft and moist, so coupled with a soft poached egg, mashed potatoes and hollandaise sauce, the dish leaves you desperately savouring the crunchier pieces of broccoli just to balance your mouthful. I also feel that the addition of the hollandaise with the egg made this reminiscent of a breakfast; swap the veg for an English muffin and it’s basically eggs benedict.

I think this dish could work with more rigid carbohydrates and without the rich sauce. At £11.50, it also feels a little steep for something that can be compared with a morning meal.

A further opportunity to sample the wood-fired offerings, we opted for the mushroom pizza. Topped with rosemary, thyme and truffle oil, this was an authentic version of an Italian classic. The thin, soft yet crisp base was perfect for folding into quarters to make each slice into a calzone (it’s the way to eat fresh pizza). My only criticism is perhaps it’s over-authenticity–it really felt like we were sat outside the Colosseum–in that it was over a tenner for a reasonably small and scarcely topped pizza.

Satisfied, but not quite full up (I wonder whether this is the purpose of the serving sizes), we chose from the dessert menu. It was no contest to choose a winner as chocolate fondant took place on the list, a personal favourite. With fond memories of this dessert from a very special meal with my Mother in Casa Marieta, Girona, I think perhaps my hopes were too high. The pudding was hot and gooey with unarguably good vanilla ice cream, but it lacked that rich depth of cocoa that one desires from a chocolate dessert.

This being said, the service was faultless and Artisan did demonstrate everything their menu maintains to be. However, with the dim lighting not bright enough to capture the food *sob* and clubby music at a similar volume to the venue its designed for, I get the feeling that Artisan’s philosophy is not all about the food. As the bitter-from-the-bill couple next to us aptly remarked, “you’re paying for the ambience”.

Artisan strikes me as the place you should go to with people that you don’t know very well: the volume ensures there’ll be no awkward silences, and the elaborate cocktail menu is a great conversation starter in more ways than one.

People want to show off that they’ve been there, take an insta and tag it. There’s even a ‘bitchin’ lounge’ otherwise known as photo opportunity, as well as a booth to print snaps of you and your mates looking all pretty. Personal comments aside, the restaurant was buzzing and every table booked, people were enjoying themselves–Artisan is doing it just right for their demographic and I’m not recommending they change.

Artisan
Avenue North,
18-22 Bridge Street,
Manchester

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Review: Ask Italian

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

When the longstanding (and, in my opinion, long-disappointing) Piccadilly branch of Kro closed its doors at the end of 2014, many Manchester diners were filled with speculation, wondering what may take on the imposing space arguably slap-bang in the centre of the city. Shortly after Kro’s admittal of defeat, I read that two businesses had signed up to split the place down the middle. The first, another of the fast-growing ‘Byron’ burger chains (because we need more burgers in Manchester), and the second, an Ask Pizza. Growing up around York, I have always been familiar with this chain, as many of my friends from the South are. To me, it has the reputation as one of the better corporate pizza places, delivering dependable and familiar food favourites. However, funnily, Ask seems to have eluded the Manchester dining scene, the newly opened Piccadilly Gardens branch being their first in the city.

I was invited along to their launch event, and as soon as we were seated and happily gulping down glasses of complimentary Prosecco, we were introduced to Chris, the Brand Manager; I asked him why Manchester had so long remained off Ask’s map. His response, that they were waiting for the perfect site and would settle for no less, cannily both asserted the high standards of the chain and implied that the chosen site is something special. On the second point, he was certainly right: the space is huge, with high ceilings and lofty acoustics. There is plenty of light, with candles ensuring intimacy on each of the many tables that snake around the bar and open kitchen. Floor to ceiling windows make for excellent people watching, and anyone who has cast their eyes around Piccadilly Gardens will see the merit in such a vantage point (I once saw a guy walking his pet raccoon around there).

With no raccoons in sight, however, we turned our gaze to the menu. Whilst perusing, we nibbled on ‘Piccanti’ almonds – served hot, lathered in chilli oil, they were an unusual and delicious addition to the bog-standard menu we expected. To start, we split a single serving of the ‘Fritto Misto’ – a mixture of peppers, courgettes, calamari and whitebait all battered and fried and served with a zingy aioli dip. The vegetables retained an al dente bite, while the seafood – in particular the salty, meaty whitebait – added softness to the dish.

For mains, we decided to go Dutch, a seeming geographical fauxpas. On Chris’ recommendation, we shared one of Ask’s intriguing new sourdough pizza bases, this one, the ‘Carne’, topped with Luganica sausage, dollops of pork and beef ragu, smoked prosciutto and fresh herbs. The base was light and the distinctive sourdough flavour gave a delightful undertone to the rich, meaty and smoky toppings. Our second sharer was the ‘Ravioli Marittimi’ – soft pasta pillows filled with crayfish, crab, salmon and ricotta, served in a creamy tomato sauce, with a massive shelled king prawn whacked on top for good measure. The sauce was sweet and mellow, lifting the delicate taste of the ravioli, and I had a high old time seductively sucking the meat from the mammoth prawn shell. All was accompanied by a large glass of red wine (unfortunately, due to the previously mentioned Prosecco-necking, I do not remember exactly of which variety).

Slowly approaching satiety, I sounded the alarm with my companion, and we got what remained of our mains packed up to go in order to make way for dessert. Sadly, the special I had my greedy eye on, a pistachio and olive oil cake, was sold out, so I settled for a slice of warm chocolate and almond cake, served with hazelnut gelato. I wasn’t grumbling; the cake was rich and strong, yet surprisingly unsweet, leaving the ice cream’s sugariness to cut through. My companion chose a warm almond, plum and pistachio cake, which stood rather solitarily on its plate, but the harmonious flavours of which served to explain its lack of accompaniment. These we washed down with single measures of Disaronno amaretto, and squiffily discussed the lunacy of those who don’t appreciate its glory.

With nowhere on the menu left to venture, we stirred our stumps to leave. Promptly, however, we were sidetracked by the offer of more free Prosecco. After all, it would have been rude to let it go to waste. Finally defeated, we tottered out of the vast glass doors and parted company. On my 500-metre walk home, I mused on the difference between my expectations of a meal at Ask Pizza and the realities of my evening. I went in expecting tasty yet unsurprising and unimaginative food. I got the tasty part right; however, considering the variety and authenticity of their menu, I saw a healthy amount of surprise and imagination in their food. Enough to warrant a return trip, but not too much to repel the everyday diner. Ask me about Ask, and I’ll tell you its appearance in Manchester may just have been worth the wait.

Pub of The Week: The Beagle

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

The Beagle is a bar/eatery in trendy Chorlton which has recently undergone a major menu and interior revamp. We had been drooling over their Tex-Mex food on Twitter for a while now, so we decided to swing by and check them out. We were glad to be seated in the conservatory, which seemed to be the buzzing heart of the bar. The funky orange wall paintings and candlelit tables combine to create this sort of perpetual warm summers evening vibe.

The beer selection was impressive, and you’d expect nothing less from the sister bar of Port Street Beer House. We stuck to the Beagle pale, an impressively hopped session beer brewed in collaboration with Summer Wine Brewery in New Mills. It was nice to drink, a really enjoyable house beer especially after hundreds of ram lagers.

We didn’t have starters, we had ‘pick and mix snacks’ (we secretly think these may have just been starters). We went for Jalapeno Cornbread, Popcorn Shrimp, and because we came with a vegan, the Korean Tofu Tacos. All were a success, the Jalapeno cornbread was lovely, nice and buttery and perfect with the spicy sauce, we would have appreciated a bit more of that though. The Korean Tofu Tacos went down well, it’s nice to see a place make a real effort to cater to the vegans amongst us. The highlight though was the shrimp, lovely and crunchy and balanced well with the chipotle mayo.
On to the mains, which we had decided upon well in advance. Our vegan continued the tofu theme, this time a burrito stuffed as tight as can be with various veggie goodies including sweet potato fries. The Mexican Burger had beef (from a local butchers) jalapenos, nachos, pico de gallo and copious amounts of cheese and hot sauce, all nestled between two brioche buns. It’s the kind of burger you excitedly smash into your face, and you actually could taste each individual component, provided those components aren’t running down your arm and into your lap.

The homeslice chicken bucket was what we had all been looking forward to, however. An actual stainless steel bucket, bursting with homemade fries and buttermilk fried chicken was carted over to our table. Now, we have eaten a lot of fried chicken. I’d go ahead and say I’m a fried chicken connoisseur, and I approve. The wings were just greasy enough to be fantastic, and the coating was crispy and on point.

In all honestly, we were really impressed with the food at the beagle, and we would return again to get better acquainted with their burritos and burgers. We did like the atmosphere as well, but us being a bunch of students, there is little chance of us returning for a casual pint with their beer prices as they are.

Review: The Breakfast Club

Written by Annabel Cartwright on . Posted in Theatre.

With the recent growth in hipster trends, 80s pop culture has never been more prevalent (since the decade itself, of course). With this new interest in the old, the university’s arts scene is no stranger to its influences, having recently seen the debut of Sam Ebner-Landy’s stage adaptation of the 1985 cult classic film The Breakfast Club as part of the University of Manchester Drama Society’s Manchester In-Fringe Theatre Awards season.

On a long Saturday in 1984, one teacher and four unwilling Shermer High School students find themselves stuck indoors for a day’s worth of detention. When asked to write an essay about who the students think they are, they unwittingly discover that the ‘brain’, ‘athlete’, ‘basket case’, ‘princess’ and ‘criminal’ have more things in common than they ever knew. The Breakfast Club presents a typical journey of self-discovery, packaged in an atypical way; over one day, in one room.

Needless to say, audience members flocked to see this exciting new piece of drama, and the attention was well-deserved. The difficulty with film-to-stage adaptations often seems to lie in the task of staying ‘true’ to the source material, both in terms of narrative and spirit. In his role as adaptor and director, Ebner-Landy succeeded in accurately bringing the story to life with astounding attention to detail, whilst maintaining 1980s Zeitgeist, and the essence of the coming-of-age genre. To die-hard fans of The Breakfast Club, this MIFTA performance could certainly have been the perfect homage to the film, however it might have been interesting to see Ebner-Landy take more of a risk and put a little more of his own flair into the adaptation.

Once again, the Drama Society displayed more of its impressive range of acting talent. Each member of this ensemble cast took on their role with incredible sensitivity and boldness. As the play’s unconventional protagonist, Bender, Ollie Kaiper-Leach took on the most complex role. In all aspects of performance, he put across every ounce of Bender’s humour, anger and vulnerability in a moving and candid way. Similarly, the other members of this ensemble cast took turns to encourage laughter and tears from the audience, building up delicate layers of emotion before the ultimate realisation of the plot.

The Breakfast Club represents another triumph for the Drama Society, thus maintaining its stellar reputation for producing plays of a near-professional standard. Both the thoughtful direction of Ebner-Landy and the acting skills of this staggeringly talented cast made this MIFTA play a production to remember.

UKIP chairman advocates “a UN nuclear deterrent”

Written by news on . Posted in News.

A debate focusing on the foreign policy lines of the five major British political parties took place on the 6th of March in the Samuel Alexander Building. Approximately 70 people attended the event, which was hosted by the university’s International Affairs Society (IAS).

The debate was chaired by Professor Dimitris Papadimitriou, from the university’s Politics department, and the panel comprised Harry Williams (member, Conservative Future), Kevin Peel (executive member, Labour Movement for Europe), Dominic Hardwick (Liberal Democrat activist for South Manchester), John Stanyer (chairman, UKIP North West) and Laura Bannister (Green candidate for Fallowfield and Gorton).

Some controversial statements lit up what could otherwise have been a tasteless occasion.

John Stayner, chairman of UKIP North West, said: “I would almost like to see a United Nations nuclear deterrent. A deterrent that was kept as a second-strike only weapon; that an independent organization was there to say that should anyone in the world use a weapon or sell weapons or attack any member, that they would then be attacked by this force.”

The event also made use of some of the political talent deriving from the University of Manchester. Harry Williams, who was representing the Conservative party, is a music student at the university. Dominic Hardwick, the Liberal Democrat speaker, is a recent Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate.

There were five preselected questions that were put forward to the debaters. These involved the relationship between the UK and the European Union; Russia; and IS, and also the amount spent by the UK in foreign aid and the importance of the country’s nuclear deterrent. The speakers then had two minutes each to make their case.

Speaking to The Mancunion, IAS Chair Matthew Amey said: “We had really great discussion between the party representatives, and some really interesting points raised and some real clashes of styles as well.

“The turnout was great. Debates like this are hugely important because we have to remember, even in election times, that we’re not the only state with problems. There are countries like the Ukraine and Syria who need our assistance, we can’t act like we’re the sole civilisation in this world and that goes for voting, too.

“Also, I hear that we had some protesters outside the building because we had a UKIP representative coming in. It’s good to see people exercising their right to protest, we need more of that at university.”

About a dozen protesters were outside the Samuel Alexander building before the debate, distributing leaflets and voicing their opposition to UKIP. They were from a socialist organization.

Top 5 Feminist Books

Written by Leonie Dunn on . Posted in Books.

5. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Jeanette Winterson (2012)

Winterson’s novel is a memoir about a life’s work to find happiness. It’s a book full of stories but also a book about other people’s literature, one that shows how fiction and poetry can form a sting of guiding lights. This work, if anything else, highlights the power of the individual and the hope of finding an identity and equally a belonging.

4. Fat Is a Feminist Issue, Susie Orbach (1978)

Orbach’s original exploration of the body fascism of diets and body obsession was ground breaking in 1978 and yet is, sadly, even more relevant in today’s society. This book is a pioneer on the focus of body image and anti-dieting which has now firmly established itself as a classic.

3. The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler (1996)

The Vagina Monologues, a play made up of a series of monologues, premiered in New York City in 1996. The monologues cover a variety of topics from a feminist perspective from sex to menstruation, birth, rape, female genital mutilation, and more. When the play first debuted, Ensler performed all the monologues herself. Now it’s been staged internationally and televised by HBO.

2. The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan (1963)

Friedan’s investigation into ‘the problem that has no name’—that being the unrepentant unhappiness she found among housewives—is by far on of the most influential books of the 20th century. Friedan originally intended to publish an article on the topic, but no magazine would publish her article and, as such, her book became a controversial bestseller and is generally credited with being the catalyst for the rise of the second-wave of feminism in the US.

1. A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Mary Wollstonecraft (1792)

One of the earliest works of feminist philosophy. It is a response to 18th century political and educational theorists who did not believe women should have an education. As a result, this principled and logical tract has been an inspiration for three centuries of subsequent human rights thinking. While in today’s world it is lacking in many areas, this book has been credited as one of the most original and influential feminist works ever.