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Month: October 2015

Sport in the City: The 2015 UEC BMX European Cup

Written by Adam Selby on . Posted in Sport.

Over the course of the academic year, as well as paying close attention to, and prioritising the progress and successes of, our university’s very own societies, teams and campus sports, let our new Sport in the City feature tempt you into a very different sporting day out. Whether it’s a new sport, a team about whom you did not know, or just an event that interests us, we hope that we will entice you to explore the wide sporting variety that the city has to offer during your time studying at the University of Manchester.

 

In the spotlight this week: The 2015 UEC BMX European Cup

Well… what is it?

The UEC BMX European Cup is an annual BMX bike competition, featuring the elite crop of BMX bike riders, not just from throughout Europe but all over the world. Similar to the way in which the BMX World Cup operated between April and September of this year, the 2015 edition is also divided between a number of different stages in various cities throughout Europe. After touring Belgium, France, Denmark and Switzerland with two stages hosted in each country, Manchester has been picked as the lucky hosts of Stages 9 and 10, in what culminates as the final of this very prestigious event in the world of BMX cycling.

Each stage in the European Cup offers a weekend of sporting activity, with various individual races for the elite men, women and even juniors. Over 1000 riders from 12 or more counties are anticipated to be in Manchester for the most illustrious competition in the world of BMX cycling. Thus far, in the previous eight stages of the European Cup, one thing the results do tell is that in this sport, always be prepared to expect the unexpected, with the ‘Men’s individual Race #1’ being won by four different riders in four different countries.

However, regarding the Women’s competition, do keep your eye out for 24-year-old Venezuelan BMX rider Stefany Hernandez. Should the Olympian compete in Manchester and win both stages, she will make it eight stage wins out of the ten in which she has taken part.

How do I get there? 

This year’s event takes place at the National Cycling Centre—more commonly known throughout Manchester as the Velodrome—which is situated just over the road from the home of Manchester City FC’s Etihad Stadium. Although not visible from the main road, the venue is situated just before the large ASDA complex opposite the football stadium and is heavily signposted around the Etihad and Sportcity campus.

In terms of travel, the National Cycling Centre is based 3.2 miles away from the University of Manchester Students’ Union and again is easily accessible through means of public transport. Should you wish to travel by bus, you will need to catch the 216 to Sportcity from Stop D in Piccadilly Gardens, with a journey time of only 10 minutes.

However, you could catch the Metrolink from anywhere in the City Centre and get off at the ‘Velopark’ stop, which is the nearest stop to the National Cycling Centre. Trams run to and from Velopark every 12 – 15 minutes. However, please note that due to Manchester City’s home game on the Saturday of the event, take extra time to plan your travel to and from the venue.

But how much does it cost to get in?

Inevitably, as with any major competition, regardless of the type of sport, the entry price often represents the standard of athletes and competitors involved. But with a three-day pass priced at £25, a two-day weekend pass at £18, or even if you only fancy visiting for a day for £12, we think such an event is both affordable and well-priced for students looking for an afternoon of sport. Unfortunately, no concessionary options are available, but the above spectator tickets can be purchased online here.

What are the facilities like? 

The National Cycling Centre offers the only permanent indoor BMX track in the country, with seating for up to 1,800 fans. Its velodrome is often cited as the catalyst for Great Britain’s recent cycling success, with the likes of Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton being big fans of the facilities in Manchester. As well as offering several multi-purpose sports courts for badminton, basketball and even korfball, the BMX facilities are only four years old and the complex itself was constructed at a cost of £24 million in a partnership between Manchester City Council and British Cycling, whose headquarters are housed there, too.

Tell me something I didn’t already know…

Although many people associate the word BMX with the type of bike that you would ride when you were much younger, the format of BMX racing is actually derived from motocross racing and as a sport its origins are thought to derive from 1970s Southern California. After calls for the sport to be recognised in the Olympic Games, it was only in 2003 when the International Olympic Committee agreed that BMX bike riding could be considered a full medal Olympic sport from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games onwards. Subsequently, the first Olympic gold medal winners in the sport were French female rider Anne-Caroline Chausson and Latvian male Māris Štrombergs, with the latter still holding on to his gold medal after success in the 2012 London Olympics.

Finally, when can I see this in action?

The 2015 UEC BMX European Cup takes place in under a fortnight’s time, between Friday 16th October and Sunday 18th October. Therefore, you have plenty of time to plan in advance and to enjoy a different day out with more thrills, spills and skills than over the road at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City will host the 2014/15 Sky Bet Championship winners Bournemouth during the same weekend on the Saturday.

 

If you have any requests for local teams, sports or events taking place in Manchester, or if you wish to be involved, please contact: [email protected].

Preview: Sankeys Manchester

Written by Henry Scanlan on . Posted in Music.

Back to Manchester after its summer exodus, Sankeys returns with a slew of major line-ups to kick off the autumn/winter season. Long established as one of the key ambassadors of the UK and global clubbing scene, Sankeys has come from humble beginnings.

Starting life as Sankeys Soap back in 1994, it has won a place in the hearts of clubbers all over the world for it’s gritty, no-frills set up, placing the music and party revellers at the forefront of it’s agenda. As Sankeys Ibiza prepares itself for it’s last run of parties after another sell out season, Manchester prepares itself for the opening of another exciting new chapter. From Saturday the 24th of October until Saturday the 19th of December, Sankeys Manchester announce Phase 1 of their line ups.

The world famous Tribal Sessions returns to Sankeys. Originally born in 2000 from the legendary dance organisation Tribal Gathering, their “forward-thinking music without prejudice” policy is set to take the Sankeys Basement by storm once again with a loyal Tribal following. Taking over Friday the 30th of October will be the techno temptress Nicole Moudaber playing alongside Wade whose tracks have been championed by the likes of Luciano and Loco Dice. Joining them will be Jozef K and Winter Son with their live 808 + 909 set. Then after that the truly underground, much loved party returns with Tribal Sessions favourites Hector Couto, Cuartero and Traumer who all play on November the 6th.

Shelter returns to Sankeys for two special shows on Friday the 13th of November and 4th of December. Shelter has been widely recognised as one of the stand out parties that made Sankeys Ibiza so special this summer. Coming home and offering headline sets will be Doorly and Kydus plus more exciting names to be announced.

Acclaimed London and Ibiza tech house tastemakers Magna Carta also make two appearances. 20th of November sees Sankeys favourites Josh Butler, Mark Jenkyns, Alci and Igluu holding down the legendary Basement. Magna Carta pull out the stops again on the 18th of December, inviting the London duo Leftwing & Kody down to play alongside East End Dubs, Alci and Igluu.

The 27th of November sees Sankeys welcome a very special Swamp 81 takeover with Garage House King Zed Bias and Dubstep inventor and label boss Loefah playing with bass lovers Paleman and Chunky. This one is sure to put the killer Sankeys Manchester sound system through its paces. Once you’ve had time to recover from this, the 11th of December sees Sankeys play host to the turntable wizard that is Jaguar Skills who will play a genre busting show with a selection of his friends.

Alongside all these mouth-watering events, every single Saturday will be taken over by ‘Sankeys Saturdays’ featuring the finest underground artists. Curated in house, these nights will offer up a selection of first-class house and techno sounds being lead by Defected’s Franky Rizardo and Bontan on October the 24th, and a Halloween Special on October the 31st with Miguel Campbell, Djebali and Sam Holt. Joining the Sankeys Saturdays renegades will include artists such as Matt Jam Lamont, Andhim, DJ Q, Bontan, Thomas Melchior, Sonny Fodera, Dungeon Meat and Jozef K who will all take over the Basement week in, week out.

The scene is all set and with this announcement now out there, all there is left to do is start the party and buy your tickets here: www.sankeys.info / bit.ly/1V7LH6g

Update: Yiannopoulos also banned from censorship event

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

Following the decision to prohibit Julie Bindel from speaking at an event hosted by the University of Manchester Free Speech and Secular Society, the Students’ Union Executive Team have now moved to ban men’s rights activist Milo Yiannapoulos, who was originally scheduled to debate alongside her.

Bindel and Yiannapoulos were both booked to speak at a debate entitled “From liberation to censorship: Does modern feminism have a problem with free speech?” to take place on the 15th of October.

In their initial statement the Students’ Union Executive Team rejected Bindel on the grounds that her appearance would be “potentially in breach of [the] safe space policy.”

Yiannopoulos was, however, initially permitted to attend, albeit under the conditions the event had increased security levels and was ticketed.

In a comment on the Manchester Students’ Union Facebook page to this original decision Yiannopoulos wrote, “I’m astonished that I wasn’t outright banned as well. I’ll have to up my game!”

Women’s Officer Jess Lishak posted an extended explanation in a blog post—since removed due to developments in this situation—to her official Facebook page. In this she described Bindel as a “famous transphobe,” and Yiannopoulos as a “professional misogynist.”

Since this, however, the Union has said that they have been made aware of new information and evidence regarding Yiannopoulos and have amended their original statement after seeking legal advice.

In an update to their original announcement, the Union stated: “Further to our previous decision to ban Julie Bindel from speaking on campus, we are extending this decision to Milo Yiannopoulos.

“We have been made aware of various comments lambasting rape survivors and trans* people, and as such we are concerned for the safety of our students on the topic of this event. He is a rape apologist and has repeatedly used derogatory and debasing ableist language when describing members of the trans* community.

“This undermines the principles of liberation enshrined in the Students’ Union, as outlined in the Safe Space policy. We believe these views could incite hatred against both trans* people and women who have experienced sexual violence. As we believe it is probable these views would be aired in this discussion should he be allowed to speak on campus, we have no choice but to ban him.

“As we made clear to the society, this means that this event with the proposed speakers will not be going ahead under the banner of the Students’ Union, with our support or using our resources.”

Yiannopoulos posted an article to his own blog last year titled “Transgenderism is a psychiatric disorder: Its sufferers need therapy, not surgery”.

Responding to the news, Yiannapoulos told The Mancunion: “I’m a provocateur and it’s always going to be easy for uptight, censorious types to misrepresent my tweets, jokes and column-writing as ‘hateful.’

“And I know how badly I get under the skin of authoritarian finger-waggers, so I’m not surprised to have been banned. But I’m shocked that Julie Bindel is still getting this eleven years after a column she has apologised for many times.

“I make no apologies for questioning bullshit rape statistics and setting out my views on better treatment pathways for transgender patients. That I do so in strong and occasionally waspish language is irrelevant.

“Indeed, the whole point of the debate was to consider whether feminism has a problem with unfettered speech. I think now we know.”

The Free Speech and Secular Society posted an official statement to its blog on Thursday, stating: “First, the University of Manchester Student’s Union banned Julie Bindel for views she has expressed on trans people in the past. After ourselves and numerous other students pointed out the inconsistency, the SU announce that they are also banning Milo Yiannopoulos.

“We object to this illiberal banning of both Julie Bindel and Milo Yiannopoulos. We do not endorse the views of either of the speakers but merely wish to hear them speak and challenge them on what they say. While both speakers have said things one might disagree with, they do not incite to violence and do not pose a danger to students.

“We reject the ban of Milo Yiannopoulos on the following grounds:

“1) He has notoriously questioned the efficacy of surgical gender reassignment therapy. As much as this view may be considered offensive or dangerous by some, it is in no way “hate speech” or advocacy of violence.

“2) He rejects the epithet of “rape apologist”. At no point in his literature he has justified such action.

“3) People who find his views questionable could reasonably avoid hearing them. Under the restrictions imposed by the SU, it would, in fact, be much harder to listen to him than to avoid to listen to him.

Julie Bindel also tweeted, directly to the Union: “I am going to fight you in this. You are the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Talks are ongoing between the Executive and the Free Speech and Secular Society about this situation.

 

The University of Manchester LGBTQ+ Society have fully back the Union’s decision. “We understand the importance of free speech and debate within a university. The main concern, however, was the welfare of transgender students, given that both Yiannopoulos and Bindel had written extremely dehumanising statements about transgender people (particularly trans women).

“Upon asking transgender members of our society what their view was, we received overwhelming support for the Students’ Union’s decision not to use university resources or premises to invite people who had made such statements. We have spoken to the chair of the Free Speech and Secular Society about issues regarding the effects of transphobia on trans students, and we feel that he has been made aware how these views can lead to, for example, higher suicide rates for transgender people.

“According to a survey by Pace, a LGBTQ+ mental health charity, 48 per cent of trans people in the UK under the age of 26 have attempted suicide, a figure exacerbated by high rates of harassment. We feel that the welfare of transgender students is a top priority for the society given these statistics, and hope that we are able to ensure a safe environment.”

Manchester’s House of the Dead

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

Back in August, House of the Dead Ltd brought their new interactive and immersive horror escape room, ‘Trapped Up North’, to Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse. During the summer months, hundreds flocked to try out the escape room experience for themselves.

The concept is a simple one: try to escape within the hour. There are three rooms from which to choose: Jigsaw, Quarantine and Cabin Fever.

‘Jigsaw’ resembles a scene from the ‘Saw’ franchise, complete with handcuffs and scattered hidden clues. The player’s challenge is to escape from the dreaded ‘Judge’—an escaped prolific serial killer who subjects his victims to his ‘purity test’.

‘Quarantine’ allows you to imagine yourself as a Government agent trying to track down an antidote to a deadly virus…with dire consequences. Entering the contamination zone, your mission is to retrieve the antidote and to get out without becoming yourself contaminated.

Finally, ‘Cabin Fever’ places you miles away from civilization, attacked by barely-human lunatics who have a particular disliking for pitching tourists. After losing your friend and searching for them, you come across a cabin; you become convinced that your friend, and the only way to safety, are trapped inside. You must make it back without being caught.

The escape room experience is open from August until December, with a special Christmas surprise to be announced soon. Teams are made up of a minimum of three people to a maximum of six. Prices vary from £16 per head for a team of three to £13 per head for a team of six.

However, now that October is upon, us the team have created what they call ‘the most immersive, terrifying and utterly unique horror experience the UK has to offer.’ It took the team six months to plan the experience in meticulous detail, with an army of craftsmen taking a total of two months to bring their illustrations to life ahead of the horror experience opening it’s doors to the public on the 3rd October.

With a total cast of 30 actors, the walk-through experience boasts a plethora of horror film set ups spread across 6,200 square feet and two floors. It will take around 40 minutes to walk through…if participants make it that far. The House of the Dead will be open for the rest of October and Hallowe’en season; however, it is advised that thrill seekers book in advance.

Scare attractions are fast becoming one of the UK’s biggest entertainment sectors. The industry has undertaken major innovations in the past ten years to keep attractions appealing to the general public, not just during the Hallowe’en period. The beauty of these attractions and what makes them work is the element of surprise. Not knowing what to expect, and the literal fear of the unknown has proved successful in the past and still continues to do so.

Differing from scare attractions most of us have experienced, House of the Dead Ltd have latched onto what is dubbed as ‘interactive/immersive theatre’, to the extent that you might find yourself forgetting that it isn’t actually real. The actors remained in terrifying character throughout, and weren’t the usual desultory, predictable personalities you usually find yourself paying for. It was clear that they were getting as much as a kick out of it as you were.

It goes without saying that the experience isn’t recommended to those who are claustrophobic/faint of heart.

Ticket prices range from £18 between 9th-22nd of October, and £20 between the Hallowe’en festive period (23rd October-1st November). To book tickets, you can either contact Quay Tickets on their website: www.quaytickets.com or ring them on 08432 208 0500

 

House of the Dead Ltd. are offering you the chance to try out Manchester’s Number 1 scare attraction! With two pairs of tickets up for grabs your nightmare experience will take place on Friday the 9th of October.

For a chance for you and a friend to win, simply e-mail your name, course and year, along with your best Halloween joke, to [email protected].

Entries close at 1pm on Thursday the 8th of October. Winners will be notified by e-mail by 5pm the same day.

Good luck!

Corbyn addresses thousands during Tory Conference

Written by Marcus Johns on . Posted in News.

Thousands of people spilled out into Cathedral Gardens in Manchester City Centre last night, as the CWU (Communication Workers’ Union) People’s Post event’s capacity of a thousand fell far short of the number of attendees to the free event.

Cathedral Gardens, between the National Football Museum and Manchester Cathedral, was packed with people as speeches were given from a stage with a gazebo over it on Hanging Ditch, behind the cathedral.

Speakers including Owen Jones; Abby Tomlinson—arch-nemesis of Louise Mensch at only 17 years old and creator of #Milifandom; Natalie Bennett; and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Jeremy Corbyn defied protocol and spoke to the crowds in Manchester during the Conservative Party Conference.

Corbyn opened his speech addressing the crowd directly: “Look around you, here outside the cathedral in Manchester. We are all basically normal, decent, ordinary human beings who want to see a society and a world that actually does care for all. That is the fundamental principle of what the Labour party is all about.”

Most speakers were whooped and cheered as they criticised Conservative policy and spoke in favour of the new kind of politics promoted by the Labour leader. There was however slight dismay expressed by Labour MPs such as Rachel Reeves on Twitter over Terry Pullinger’s (Deputy General Secretary of CWU) earlier statement that Jeremy Corbyn’s election and the Corbynmania following “almost makes you want to celebrate the fact Labour lost the election.”

The quote came as part of a wider attack on the neo-liberal consensus that began with Thatcher and his claims that Jeremy Corbyn’s election has “blown [the consensus] wide open and is one of the greatest things I have seen in all my year in a trade union,” was met with rapturous applause.

Owen Jones was also met with loud applause—though he was heckled and booed whilst admitting: “I love London,” and talking about leaving the North. He laughed off the hecklers by asking his mum to be quiet.

The event took place to support the People’s Post campaign; a campaign that aims to introduce new legislation to ensure daily deliveries to all addresses in the United Kingdom are safeguarded, an end to the promotion of zero-hours minimum wage roles in the postal service, and more safeguards for a statutory universal postal service at standardised pricing.

“Transphobe” Julie Bindel banned from Free Speech debate

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

New developments have occurred since the publication of this story; find them here.

Controversial feminist activist and Guardian journalist Julie Bindel has been barred from speaking at an event hosted by the University of Manchester Free Speech & Secular Society.

Bindel, who has been criticised in the past for negative comments about the trans community, was invited to speak at an event alongside journalist Milo Yiannopoulos that was intended to take place on the 15th of October, titled ‘From liberation to censorship: Does modern feminism have a problem with free speech?’

The Students’ Union Executive Team rejected the visiting speaker request on the 5th of October, stating that it was “potentially in breach of [the] safe space policy.” Yiannopoulos has, however, been permitted to attend.

“The Students’ Union has decided to deny this request based on Bindel’s views and comments towards trans people, which we believe could incite hatred towards and exclusion of our trans students.”

The announcement to their Facebook page caused a critical backlash from commenters within a matter of hours.

Bindel tweeted that the decision to refuse permission for her and not Yiannapoulos was “pure misogyny.”

 

In a blog post on her official Facebook page, Women’s Officer Jess Lishak said: “The proposed society event requested to invite two highly controversial and offensive speakers; radical feminist and famous transphobe Julie Bindel, and journalist and ‘men’s rights activist’ Milo Yiannopoulos.

“We unanimously decided to not allow Julie Bindel to be invited to speak at an official SU event. We also approved the request for Milo Yiannopoulos on the provisos that, should the event go ahead, there will be extra security put in place for everyone’s safety.

“Julie Bindel is a journalist and activist who’s been on a crusade against the trans community, and trans women in particular, for many years. She abhorrently argues that trans women should be excluded from women-only spaces, whether that be through feminist organising or women’s sexual and domestic violence services.”

She says she “refuse[s] to allow our campus to be poisoned by this woman’s tireless campaign to deny trans people their basic human rights and… to subject our students to a campus that puts Bindel’s wish to spread and incite hatred above the safety and inclusion of our trans members.

“This is not about shutting down conversations or denying free speech; this is about keeping our students safe,” she says. “If this were about silencing people we happen to disagree with or avoiding uncomfortable conversations, we would be denying the application for Milo Yiannopoulos to speak.

“The difference in these two cases is inciting harm to a group of our students. Yiannopoulos is very careful to criticise feminist thoughts, theories and methods of research or statistics rather than calling for active discrimination against women like Bindel does to trans women.”

 

In 2013, Bindel dropped out of an event organised by the Manchester Debating Union on pornography after receiving a number of death threats.

She came under continual fire after writing an article in 2004 expressing doubt about the experiences of trans individuals titled ‘Gender benders, beware‘.

She is included on the NUS’s no platform list, alongside George Galloway, Julian Assange, and any member of the BNP.

After being informed that Bindel would not be allowed to attend their event, the Free Speech and Secular Society released a statement, saying: “We were very sad, though in no way surprised, to be notified today that our Students’ Union is seeking to censor our upcoming of event [sic].

“We were expecting a good turnout from pre-existing and new students alike, and as such are sad and frustrated to delay the event for the time being. [The Students’ Union] have banned Julie Bindel from speaking outright, and deemed Milo Yiannopoulos sufficiently dangerous to warrant a closed event, where admissions will be limited.

“The reasoning… centres around the safe space policy and her falling foul of it. We have always argued that this flimsy bit of legislature is nothing more than an insidious piece of weaponry used by our SU leadership to fashion the university in their own image, and this current act of censorship proves it.

“Speakers far more controversial and ‘offensive’ than Julie have been permitted and even suggested by the SU on previous occasions. Yet they have decided to apply the principles of the safe space policy now and on us. We feel that the manner in which it has been done is at best sloppy on their part, and at worst inconsistent to the point that it suggests an abuse of power.

“Free speech is not just an abstract concept debated upon in academic circles. It is a discernable and essential good, as well as an inalienable right for one and all. We plan on fighting for it tooth and nail on our campus. We are a nonpartisan organisation that does not promote one ideology over another. We simply argue that the freedom to express a controversial or challenging opinion is held equally and by all.”

In a comment on the Manchester Students’ Union Facebook page, Yiannapoulos added; “I’m astonished that I wasn’t outright banned as well. I’ll have to up my game!”

 

According to the official document, the Union’s Safe Space policy is founded on the ideal that the Students’ Union is “a space which is welcoming and safe and includes the prohibition of discriminatory language and actions.”

It “is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive space for all students. This policy is applicable to the whole student community, whether an individual or a member within a group.

“The Students’ Union believe strongly in the right to free speech however acknowledge that this should not be to the detriment of the rights of other individuals and groups. Freedom of speech is important, yet intention to incite hatred is never acceptable.”

Speaker forms are vetted by the university, Union staff and the Executive Committee before a decision is made.

Rugby Varsity: This is no friendly match

Written by Will Kelly on . Posted in Sport.

The University of Manchester’s Women’s Rugby Union team are raring to get the season started with a victory against Didsbury Ladies in the upcoming Varsity match. Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Manchester Metropolitan decided that they would not be providing teams for Varsity, the most anticipated student sports match of the season. Captain Adelaide Harris was disappointed at the news because she feared that Varsity would lose its “local derby” element that made it a fantastic occasion.

However, thanks to the news that Didsbury Ladies Rugby team have stepped in, this Varsity has the makings of a very unique match. The Didsbury Ladies Rugby team will be, effectively, a Barbarians team made up of some former and current University of Manchester students.

Adelaide has been delighted by the news and assures me that this has the makings of an epic clash: “They are our friends but this is going to be a fierce competition. We know how we both play and although this match maybe built up as a friendly, on the pitch this will be no friendly. It will be fierce!”

It has been fair to say that the Women’s Rugby team has massively grown in size and stature over the last few years. Adelaide tells me that two years ago, the club had only one competitive team and one development team. Their initial philosophy was solely down to participation, and the development team at the time did not have enough experience in playing rugby.

Last season the club were able to field two teams for all the games, which demonstrates how rapidly the club is growing in size. Moreover, the amount of interest shown at the start of this academic year has completely blown Adelaide away.” It has been amazing really. For our taster sessions, we had over 50 girls in attendance and 200 sign-ups at the sports fair.”

Adelaide does recognise that World Cup fever has gripped the country and this has helped increase women’s interest in playing rugby. However, she gives great credit to the work being done by the RFU to promote the game. “Women’s rugby has certainly changed since I joined university. The RFU has made significant changes at grass roots level that are getting girls playing rugby at school, and at a much younger age.”

Moreover, Adelaide adds that the club are now in a position to change their philosophy: “Our club has always been about participation but now, we are in a position able to tackle the performance side of our team. Girls are joining the university team having played rugby for a few years, which is really good for us.”

Certainly one of the success stories of the club and one to watch this season is Zoë Childs Ford. Zoë was a fresher last year and her only experience of rugby had been touch rugby. Joining the development squad, Zoë improved rapidly and secured a place on the first team. Not only that, she also caught the eye of Lancashire and is now playing rugby at county level. This is a tremendous achievement and joining Zoë at Lancashire are two other University of Manchester students, Jessica Bailey and Selena Lockyer.

Seeing these girls progress is a credit to the development programme the club has run and Adelaide is visibly excited with the new girls coming into the club. “I can’t get enough of our freshers, I never want them to leave!” she exclaimed. “I am meeting girls who have never touched a rugby ball before yet they are up for anything. Last Saturday, we ran two sessions, in touch rugby and contact, and loads went for contact!”

This is certainly something Adelaide loves to see and encourages any girls who are interested to come to training. “I started playing rugby really late on in university and I am gutted I did not join sooner, I have had the best time. Socially, I found some amazing friends and through rugby, I found a sport I am good at when I always thought sport wasn’t for me.”

Speaking ahead of the season, Adelaide wants a strong performance in the BUCS and to see the second team rock up some wins in the Northern 3A division. For the 1st XV, Adelaide would like the team to push for a top 2 finish in the Northern 1 A division and to break into the Premiership.

“This is definitely within our reach”, stressed Adelaide. “We finished 3rd last season, one point behind 2nd place, having to void one of the matches. We could have beaten every team we faced last season and only lost the last game of the season by a try, we are progressing rapidly and would like to push on with our objectives.”

First things first—the test against Didsbury Ladies, and Adelaide and her girls will be looking to start the season strong with a win. This will be the last ever game for the University of Manchester for our recent graduates and I am sure they will do the purple shirt proud.

Adelaide encourages anyone whois interested in joining the club, or simply wants to get a taste of rugby, to come to a training session. The club train twice a week: Mondays 8:30 – 10:00 and Thursdays 5:00 – 6:30.

To get in contact, like the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfManchesterWomensRugbyClub

“We’re gonna smash them!” – the men’s rugby team

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

Anticipation is building around the University of Manchester this week, as the Varsity is coming to town! After having rivalries with the University of Liverpool, local Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford in the past, this year we turn to a new foe—the University of Sheffield—and the men’s team are ready for them!

After joining the team in his first year here at university, James Carding, now in his third year, is ready for another Varsity game, and he wants to win, and to win the right way. He describes the way the team want to play as quick and skilfully as they can; building phases and creating room for each other. No matter what, the captain promises an entertaining watch.

The varsity is massive for any student looking forward to being in the crowd, but the captain stresses that—despite how the game is massive for the players, too—they must concentrate on trying to treat it like any other game.

Despite this measured response, he adds that the crowd can turn a game that he “wouldn’t like to play Varsity away!” The crowd can build up the nerves, and that, he admits, is good for the team. After a fantastic home record last season, this game will be one not to miss.

Last season saw the lads have a successful year. In a hard league of eight, which saw two teams relegated and only one promoted each year, they got off to a strong start. The team had a dip in form after January, but consolidated their position in the league, ready for this season. The league itself has had some difficult opposition, including Durham and Loughborough second teams—meaning they can field first team players if they find themselves in trouble.

The hunger to succeed is in the pits of the team’s stomachs and the team have trained hard in a long two week pre-season. Carding says that the team have learnt so much about each other and are feeling fit for the year ahead.

With a lot of the same players from last year still in the team adding some necessary experience, the team are aiming to move forward and get a top three finish this year.

If there is one player to watch out for in the varsity though it is the centre, Will Simmonds. Carding says that their back is great to watch, and helps in the attacking, quick play that the team pride themselves on.

He won’t be the only one to watch too, as Carding hinted that a couple of the freshers could find themselves on the bench for the big varsity game, and could inject some fresh blood in an experienced team. After so many people have been down this year to join the team, this will pay dividends this season for the boys—and there’s still a chance for you to join too.

After 15 years in a row of disaster and defeats for Manchester Metropolitan University, our men’s rugby team have looked further afield for more of an opposition and to try their hand at a different rivalry. Despite how this may seem like a new rivalry, the two teams have history as the current Sheffield coach was the Manchester coach here two years ago, and trained Carding in his first year. Hopefully Carding can use the skills he learnt and use them against the returning coach.

Carding, who is also part of the university’s cricket team, is committed to our university rugby team—and is committed to the national side too! He thinks that England have played well so far in the Rugby World Cup and were unlucky against Wales—but admits the New Zealand team is his pick to win.

When asked about the slogan “we’re gonna smash them,” Carding smiles and says that’s how the boys will be playing. Take your seats this Friday—it’s going to be a good one.

You can contact the University of Manchester Rugby Club on Twitter at @umrc or their Facebook page UMRC.

An evening with Sir Alex Ferguson

Written by Will Kelly on . Posted in Sport.

On Friday the 25th of September, Manchester United fans spent an evening with Sir Alex Ferguson during his interview at Bridgewater Hall. In an hour-long discussion with Dan Walker from the BBC, Ferguson was in a reflective mood as he discussed leadership and the lessons he had learned during his 43-year long coaching career. The 73-year-old’s new book LEADING has recently been published and discusses how his leadership skills can be applied both on and off the pitch.

The Scotsman spent 26-and-a-half glittering years at Old Trafford winning 38 major trophies, including 13 Premier League Titles and two in the Champions League. Sir Alex also enjoyed great success managing Aberdeen—in particular, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983, defeating Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Sports Editor Will Kelly was present at the interview and discusses some of the key talking points of the night. With no messing about, let’s take a look at some of the most talked about and most controversial points!

 

World Class Players

One of the biggest talking points to have come out of the book has been Ferguson’s claim that he only ever had four world class players at Manchester United—Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona.

Ferguson said he could not believe the level of scrutiny the media had given about this, and proceeded to explain in a calm and effective manner his thoughts. Ferguson explained that as a kid, you would always quite naturally look up to the attackers. Not only were they the most entertaining, but they were also most likely to be the “game changers”.

He continued with some analysis of the world’s most prestigious individual football award, the Ballon d’Or. Whether for the right or wrong reason, Ferguson pointed out that in the last 50 years, only two defenders had won this—Franz Beckenbauer and Fabio Cannavaro. The quartet chosen were simply “game changers” and Ferguson stressed that he felt unbelievably privileged to have managed so many top players during his managerial career. Quite defiantly, he declared that the four players he had chosen “Didn’t win the trophies, the team won the trophies.”

 

Appointment of David Moyes

Describing the appointment, Ferguson kept referring to the “process” behind the decision. Was there really ever one? Ferguson kept talking of a “process,” yet never really unveiled what this process really was.

One cannot argue in his sentiments that at the time of his retirement, David Moyes had “deserved his chance.” He even said that the media even agreed that Moyes was a suitable candidate for the job. For those who have analysed the fall of Moyes from Manchester United, many point the finger at Ferguson in that he had left an ageing squad for Moyes.

Ferguson certainly does not see it quite that way, and makes his view clear in the book: “You would have thought I had left 11 corpses on the steps of a funeral home.”

 

Complacency is a disease

Dan Walker was desperate to ask what Ferguson had said to the European Ryder Cup team in 2010, as many of the players had spoken of the impact Ferguson had on them to come from behind and defeat the USA.

At first, Ferguson recounted a funny story with Billy Foster, a golf caddie working with the European team. He was a massive Leeds United fan, and scolded to Ferguson “You robbed Eric Cantona off us!”

“But we paid for him!” responded Ferguson, referring to the £1 million Manchester United paid to Leeds United in order to acquire the services of Cantona which was described to be the bargain of the century.

Speaking about the Ryder Cup team of 2010, he touched on the issue of complacency and how this was a “disease” for individuals and organisations who had enjoyed success. Speaking about Manchester United in his book, he said he that liked to think that “United’s ability to avoid lapsing towards complacency was one of the characteristics that distinguished the club.”

He admitted that they were not always successful but were always eager to “stamp out the slightest trace of complacency,” something that organisations should look to accomplish. In particular to the build-up to the games, Ferguson said he never thought that victory would ever be in the bag. Nothing was ever guaranteed.

During the talk, he recounted his visit to the US Women’s Open Championship final in 2012. Victoria Azarenka was on the verge of beating Serena Williams, after being 5-3 up in the final set. Ferguson vividly remembers Azarenka giving a fist pump to her family and friends in the box. From that point on, he said, it went downhill. She lost the game she was serving to win the championship, and Williams went on to win the trophy.

Turning back to what he had said to the European Ryder Cup team, the USA were leading the Europeans by 10 points to 6 and only had to win 4.5 points from the remaining 12 in order to win the trophy. He told the team to focus on one point at a time because it is human nature to get complacent. The moment that happens, things start to go wrong and the Europeans could swing the momentum in their favour.

He described how players would forget what they are supposed to do, and were incapable of calming themselves down. Eventually, teams would capitulate and sure enough, this is what happened to the USA team, and the European team came off as famous winners.

He also retold a story to the European team—one that he had originally told Fabien Barthez during his United days. He described how geese would fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in a V-formation, but the second ones don’t fly—they’re the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over, so its “teamwork.

“If one goose falls ill, two always have to go with him. What I was saying was I’m only asking you to go 38 games in the league to win it, I’m not asking you to fly 5,000 miles!”

Sure enough, as the European team celebrated with the trophy, a gaggle of geese flew over the team. The team commissioned a painting of this moment, and it sits proudly in Ferguson’s office. One can only think that the issue of complacency certainly came into play in England’s defeat to Wales in the Rugby World Cup. Wales kept chipping away at the points deficit and broke away with a try to equalise the game. England appeared shocked and in disarray as they had been leading the entire match, and sure enough, they gave away the penalty that Wales kicked to win the match.

 

Communication

One of Ferguson’s key tactics was “communication.” He described that, in any organisation, it was very important to have constant communication with all the staff, whether it’s the owners or chairman, tea ladies or even the people in charge of the kit.

In doing so, you create a spine of support, which is particularly important when results are not going your way. Ferguson also told an anecdote about Kath in the laundry room, telling him off for not giving her six weeks of money for the lottery tickets she had got him!

Certainly the interaction with people surrounding the club is something that Ferguson misses the most. He revealed, “I miss the people, the buzz about the place. The consolation is as an ambassador and director, I can still watch the team.”

 

Manchester United’s current form

Ferguson was visibly delighted with David De Gea’s decision to stay with the club—something he is very proud of as it was Ferguson who brought De Gea to the club in the first place. Asked about the chances of adding to the string of trophies won during Ferguson’s 26 years, he said that “De Gea can win United the league this season.”

He also praised new signing Anthony Martial, who has never panicked when through on goal. On Martial’s coolness in his finish, Ferguson explained that you cannot teach that and that some players are “Born with that ability.”

 

No regrets

One thing Ferguson made abundantly clear was that he had no regrets, largely down to the fact he had had so many great moments. “ I think we should had have had more than three Champion’s Leagues,” he added, “but I can’t look at the career I had at United as a failure.”

Sir Alex Ferguson left the stage to a standing ovation, with myself and many alike visibly delighted to have spent a bit of time in the same room with a true legend to the game.

SPORTICIPATE: The Launch

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

Two weeks ago, The Mancunion SPORT brought you the news of the returning programme of SPORTICIPATE by the University of Manchester, after funding continued to bring recreational sports to everybody at the university! Not only is SPORTICIPATE a fantastic little pun, but it is also a great programme trying to get more people involved in very different sports at the university, and reminding people that very competitive team sports at the university aren’t the only ones on offer.

This week we bring you the news that SPORTICIPATE will be officially kicking off on Saturday 10th October at the Sugden Sports Centre, and they are inviting you. The programme itself is in place to try and get everybody at The University of Manchester—whether it be an Ancient History lecturer, a French seminar leader, or a Dentistry student—involved in sport, all for free!

The launch event will have taster sessions of some of the sports on offer throughout the academic year by the programme. The event will include; indoor cricket (12 – 2pm), korfball (2 – 4pm), volleyball (12 – 2pm), futsal (2 – 4pm), badminton (2 – 4pm), table tennis (12 – 2pm), lacrosse (2 – 4pm), racketball (12 – 2pm) and touch rugby (2 – 4pm) at this Saturday’s event.

SPORTICIPATE

The usual weekly timetable will start in the week beginning the 12th of October; an amended* version to the SPORTICIPATE timetable is below:

SPORTICIPATE Timetable

Last year, SPORTICIPATE was very successful at getting more people involved in their numerous one-off events and usual timetabled events, and this year are aiming to get even bigger.

Each session is led by a student from here at the university, as the aim for SPORTICIPATE is to get everybody included in every capacity of the programme. The one-off events are a great way to try something new too, as last year events varied from Christmas specials on ultimate frisbee and mixed netball, or even human table football. Furthermore, this year there is a current opportunity for a free trip to Jump Nation advertised on the SPORTICIPATE Facebook page.

The programme offers a large variety of sports, including some that most people haven’t tried before. A few examples of these sports are lacrosse, korfball, gymfit, bokwa, bagra, and belly dancing! People come to university to try many different things, so with such a wide variety of very different sports on offer, why not choose one and give it a go?

Equipment is provided and, in a world where a Freddo could set you back half of your student loan, everything is free! The Mancunion will be bringing you more from SPORTICIPATE throughout the academic year, to inform you even more about these different sports and activities.

You can like SPORTICIPATE on Facebook, follow @SPORTManchester on Twitter, and email them about any queries on [email protected].

Enjoy SPORTICIPATing!

*The Mancunion Sport apologises after incorrectly publishing last year’s timetable online two weeks ago.

Live: Rat Boy

Written by Elizabeth Rushton on . Posted in Music.

21st September 2015

Ruby Lounge

Before Rat Boy and his band had even played a note, a stage invasion—commonplace at his recent gigs—felt imminent. One joyful youth had scaled one of the pillars in the centre of the Ruby Lounge and had been ordered down by security staff before even the crew left the stage. It was hard to discern whether the older attendees, who propped up the bar, were there to witness his speedy ascent to prominence, or to supervise the under-18s who make up most of the audience.

There was a sense of the lunatics having taken over the asylum, and this feeling escalated when the man himself (aka 19-year-old Essex boy Jordan Cardy) emerged to take pre-show selfies with the crowd, and to distribute an assortment of headgear, including bucket hats, snapbacks, and beanies. On social media he indicates a fondness for hats, and I wondered then whether he ever considered the moniker Hat Boy.

After all of this, much of Rat Boy’s performance was surprising for someone whose music bristles with so much youthful energy. He had little to say apart from a quick “thank you” in between songs (every song mind you, so his manners do deserve credit), and he seemed happiest when diving into the crowd, or larking about with his fans after the show. It would be inaccurate to describe his on-stage expression as nonplussed, lest it conjure images of Cobain-style nihilism. It was more a case of him simply standing on stage, chugging through the songs.

Nevertheless, the fans lapped it up. The final songs, ‘Sign On’ and ‘Fake ID’, which are gaining online popularity, and a brief jam of the ‘Fool’s Gold’ riff, were particularly well received, and his sharp lyrical take on today’s England still cut through. His riffs were fun and catchy, which, combined with his punchy, Jamie T-style delivery, did all the work for him.

The set was only 10 songs long, and fans chanting for an encore were disappointed, so if Rat Boy keeps this up as he expands his repertoire, it looks like the hearts and minds of the world’s youth are his to capture.

7/10

The Cultural Appropriation Game

Written by Elliott Mills on . Posted in Opinion.

At this year’s Freshers’ edition of the Pangaea Festival, many people were disappointed to discover that cultural appropriation was kicked off the bill. After it was revealed that the theme of Pangaea would encourage people to dress up in Native American attire, such as the outfit of Tiger Lily from the well-known tale of Peter Pan, the festival then issued a statement prohibiting such practice.

They claimed that the culturally insensitive nature of such a costume simply made it off-limits. Worse still, this catastrophe was compounded when rumours suggested that, whilst cultural appropriation would not attend, Example would.

I was keen to get some feedback from those students who were going to the festival on the news that borrowing cultures was off limits this year. I took to the streets and the responses were mixed. Some said that this move from the festival’s organisers was not only sensible but necessary, because it halted the act of dominant cultures using strategic anti-essentialism to steal from minority cultures that have been historically subordinated.

Others claimed that the proposed fantasy and boundless exploration, as well as expression of the costume theme in question, undermined the notion that cultural appropriation could even be applied within this hermetic and unique situation. On the other hand, one student simply told me that he was gutted that cultural appropriation was banned because “they were sick at warehouse project” when he last saw them.

It is difficult to know where exactly to stand on this issue really, but with this semester’s ‘Dress Up As Your Favourite Childhood Minority character’ social just around the corner, it seems as though the fun police are sure to be back before long.

Tickled Pink: top five beauty buys for Breast Cancer Awareness

Written by Millie Kershaw on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Clinique Cheek Pop ‘Pink with a purpose’ – £17.50

£2 donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation

This shocking pink blusher, emblazoned with the Breast Cancer ribbon logo, is the perfect way to show your support for the good cause this October.  Owned by cosmetics giant Estée Lauder, Clinique and its sister brands have plenty more limited edition products available for you to check out.

 

Photo: Origins

Origins ‘Make a Difference’ hand treatment – £19.50

£5 donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation

With ‘Rose of Jericho’, and ‘oceanic flora’ featuring on its ingredients list, plus a substantial £5 being donated to Breast Cancer Awareness with every purchase, you’ll be sure to make a positive difference with this magnificent-smelling hand cream.

 

Photo: Crème de la Mer

Crème de La Mer ‘The Lip Balm’ – £45

£9 donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation

One of the more luxurious purchases on the list, but with almost a tenner donated to the charity with each purchase, be sure to treat yourself to this dreamy lip balm. Consider rethinking your food budget for the week if you decide to splash your student loan on this.

 

Photo: Ciaté

Ciaté Paint Pot Duo – £18

£3.60 donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation

If Barbie-pink glitter nails are your thing, keep your eyes peeled for these glitzy offerings from Ciaté. Complete with pretty pink bows on the bottles and 20 per cent of the price going to charity, it’s too hard to say no.

 

Photo: escentual.com

Jean Paul Gaultier ‘Classique’ – £23

£2.30 donated to Brest Cancer Research Foundation

The iconic fragrance in its ‘femme fatale’ curvy bottle deserves centre stage on any girl’s dressing table. Part of Escentual’s range of over forty products in its Breast Cancer Awareness Month promotion, 10% of the proceeds of the selected items will be donated to the charity.

Review: The Sea of Tranquility

Written by Solin Hanna on . Posted in Books.

Self-inflicted mute Nastya Kashnikov wants nothing more than to get through life in her new high school as a miasma of anonymity. She craves a clean slate and to make the person who tore her life apart pay; yet can she really have both?

Josh Bennett is no mystery, everyone knows his story. By the age of 17, everybody whom he has loved has been torn from his life, and now he refuses to let himself get close to anyone.

And yet this all changes when Nastya falls into his life, giving him no choice but to care. When the worlds of these two teens collide, everything changes; secrets are revealed, mysteries uncovered; but can these two find it within themselves to see past their tragedies and to find solace in one another, or will their pasts come back to haunt them? Told in dual points of view, this book is incredibly moving and unforgettable.

Admittedly, the book has a slow build-up, but I believe that this reflects the reality of life. One’s stories unravel slowly, and this motif is reflected well throughout the book. With this debut novel, Katja Millay has raised many heads. I cannot find exactly the right words to express my feelings about this book. It was… beautiful, emotional, light-hearted and heart-wrenching at the same time. Two damaged teenagers, the survivors of equally devastating and traumatic tragedies, who come together and somehow find safety, love and happiness in each other, and slowly begin to heal together.

“We’re like mysteries to one another. Maybe if I can solve him and he can solve me, we can explain each other. Maybe that’s what I need. Someone to explain me.”

The characters are complex and beautifully presented and they each have so many layers to them, revealed chapter by chapter until they are presented to you in their rawest form. Nastya is both vulnerable and yet tough as nails, which is why I loved her so much. She was strong and intelligent and sarcastic. It is hard to find protagonists like this in YA novels. Then we have Josh, who was angry and damaged but strong with a heart of kindness and compassion. The Sea of Tranquility is a poignant coming-of-age novel that highlights the durability of the human soul.

Painfully life-affirming poetry

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in Books.

Poetry can, like a sealed crypt, appear inaccessible, impenetrable, and without reason. However, like any other art form, certain poems can, and will, move certain people. I don’t think there is a such thing as “getting” poetry, but the closest I’ve come to this is through encountering poems that kicked me in the stomach in some way or another. I have selected four poems from the ‘Staying Alive Trilogy’, published by Bloodaxe, which I find almost painful to read… but in the best possible way.

They “distil the human heart as nothing else,” as Jane Campion commented on the collection. They draw upon love, mortality, godlessness, and the meaning of life. These poems are heavy but with a light, readable touch.

1. You Don’t Know What Love Is by Kim Addonizio

but you know how to raise it in me
like a dead girl winched up from a river. How to
wash off the sludge, the stench of our past.
How to start clean. This love even sits up
and blinks; amazed, she takes a few shaky steps.
Any day now she’ll try to eat solid food. She’ll want
to get into a fast car, one low to the ground, and drive
to some cinderblock shithole in the desert
where she can drink and get sick and then
dance in nothing but her underwear. You know
where she’s headed, you know she’ll wake up with
an ache and a terrible thirst. So to hell
with your warm hands sliding inside my shirt
and your tongue down my throat
like an oxygen tube. Cover me
in black plastic. Let the mourners through.

 

2. A Brief for the Defense by Jack Gilbert

Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere. If babies
are not starving someplace, they are starving
somewhere else. With flies in their nostrils.
But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants.
Otherwise the mornings before summer dawn would not
be made so fine. The Bengal tiger would not
be fashioned so miraculously well. The poor women
at the fountain are laughing together between
the suffering they have known and the awfulness
in their future, smiling and laughing while somebody
in the village is very sick. There is laughter
every day in the terrible streets of Calcutta,
and the women laugh in the cages of Bombay.
If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,
we lessen the importance of their deprivation.
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the
stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world. To make injustice the only
measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.
We must admit that there will be music despite everything.
We stand at the prow again of a small ship
anchored late at night in the tiny port
looking over to the sleeping island: the waterfront
is three shuttered cafés and one naked light burning.
To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence as a rowboat
comes slowly out and then goes back is truly worth
all the years of sorrow that are to come.

 

3. Missing God by Dennis O’Driscoll

His Grace is no longer called for
before meals: farmed fish multiply
without His intercession.
Bread production rises through
disease-resistant grains devised
scientifically to migrate His faults.

Yet, though we rebelled against Him
like adolescents, uplifted to see
an oppressive father banished –
a bearded hermit – to the desert,
we confess to missing Him at times.

Miss Him during the civil wedding,
when, at the blossomy altar
of the registrar’s desk, we wait in vain
to be a fed a line containing words
like ‘everlasting’ and ‘divine’.

Miss Him when the TV scientist
explains the cosmos through equations,
leaving our planet to revolve on its axis
aimlessly, a wheel skidding in snow.

Miss Him when the radio catches a snatch
of plainchant from some echoey priory;
when the gospel choir raises is collective voice
to ask Shall We Gather at the River?
or the forces of the oratorio converge
on I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
and our contracted hearts lose a beat.

Miss Him when a choked voice at
the crematorium recites the poem
about fearing no more the heat of the sun.

Miss Him when we stand in judgement
on the lank Crucifixion in an art museum,
its stripe-like ribs testifying to rank.

Miss Him when the gamma-rays
recorded on the satellite graph
seem arranged into a celestial scorem
the music of the spheres,
the Ave Verum Corpus of the observatory lab.

Miss Him when we stumble on the breast lump
for the first time and an involuntary prayer
escapes our lips; when a shadow crosses
our bodies on an x-ray screen; when we receive
a transfusion of foaming blood
sacrificed anonymously to save life.

Miss Him when we exclaim His name
spontaneously in awe or anger
as a woman in the birth ward
calls to her long-dead mother.

Miss Him when the linen-covered
dining-table holds warm bread rolls,
shiny glasses of red wine.

Miss Him when a dove swoops
from the orange grove in a tourist village
just as the monastery bell begins to take its toll.

Miss Him when our journey leads us
under the leaves of Gothic tracery, an arch
of overlapping branches that meet
like the hands in Michelangelo’s Creation.

Miss Him, when, trudging past a church
we catch a residual blast of incense,
a perfume on par with the fresh-baked loaf
which Milosz compared to happiness.

Miss Him when our newly-fitted kitchen
comes in Shaker-style and we order
a matching set of Mother Ann Lee chairs.

Miss Him when we listen to the prophecy
of astronomers that the visible galaxies
will recede and the universe expands.

Miss Him when the sunset makes
its presence felt in the stained glass
window of the fake antique lounge bar.

Miss Him the way an uncoupled glider
riding the evening thermals misses its tug.

Miss Him, as the lovers shrugging
shoulders outside the cheap hotel
ponder what their next move should be.

Even feel nostalgic, odd days,
for His Second Coming,
like a standing in the brick
dome of dovecote
after the birds have flown.

 

4. Late Fragment by Raymond Carver

And did you get what you
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on this earth.

Pomegranate: Persian pearl of West Didsbury

Written by Hope Rapp on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Having arrived in Manchester after a gridlock drive from the South, ferried a year’s worth of life contents to my new attic room and then manoeuvred the four-wheel drive of my suitcase up three flights of stairs, my companion and I rewarded ourselves with a meal in West Didsbury. Indecisive when choosing where to eat, a beautiful yellow and pink mosaic sign reading ‘Pomegranate’, scattered with delicate illustrations, caught our eye. We ventured in.

A waitress welcomed us into a warm, lantern-lit room, where a clutch of wooden tables rested, with an orange candle steadily melting on each. Soft aromas of sweet almonds, tangy plums and hints of saffron wafted from the kitchen as the sounds of Persian music reached our ears. True to its name, it was as if we had peeled back the shell of a pomegranate to reveal colourful seeds full of sights, tastes and smells.

Ordering two pomegranate juices was an obvious choice; however, the vibrant menu full of fresh dishes was much harder to select from due to the array of enticingly described options. We selected a traditional starter called ‘Musto gole surkh’, recommended by our waitress. A savoury cake arrived, consisting of walnuts and spinach with hints of lemon and garlic and accompanied by a small salad and yoghurt dip scattered with rose petals. Although the texture of the starter was thick – unlike anything I had tasted before—it was complemented by the cool yoghurt, the nutty taste on the warm naan making for a delicious bite.

Our expectations for the main chicken dishes that we had ordered were now very high. My companion had the ‘Morghe Alouie’; chicken cooked in saffron with dried plums, lemon and herbs and topped with flaked almonds, which she confirmed was “as delicious as it sounds”. I chose the ‘Zereshk Polo’: a lemon and thyme based dish with sweet peppers, which was perfectly set off by the delicious barberry and pistachio rice.

Portions were generous and the red spotted dishes against the Turkish bazaar decor created the feeling of a home-cooked meal. As for the quality, the chicken was tender and infused with subtle flavours, and unlike an Indian curry that can often make you feel full to the brim, we were pleasantly satisfied and still felt like we had just enough room for something sweet.

Ordering a scoop of ‘Bastani’, a traditional Persian ice cream perfumed with saffron and studded pistachios, made for a sweet creamy finish. It was accompanied by fresh mint tea served in miniature Persian prince glasses and saucers.

Pomegranate’s mission to send customers on a Persian journey was certainly achieved. Not only through its authentic blend of tastes, but aromas and sights. Its décor all added to the experience, and made the food so much more than just the moment where the fork touches the lips.

True to its name, ‘Pomegranate’ delivered mysterious deliciousness in its seeds. More striking still, was the friendliness and ambience of this Didsbury gem, which fulfils proprietor and head chef, Sia Yazdani’s aim that the restaurant become “a temporary home for the night.”

Leaving the glinting Persian den I found myself rather stunned to see a garish ‘takeaway’ sign flashing and felt cold air on my skin. The contrasting Mancunian high street and the reminder of the unpacking that awaited me back home confirmed Pomegranate’s subtle, yet authentic, charm. We had indulged in more than just a marvellous meal that night; we had been transported to another culture.

Pomegranate,
202 Burton Road,
West Didsbury,
Manchester,
M20 2LW

pomegranate-restaurant.co.uk/

Cravings and Savings

Written by Phoebe Nickalls on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Stick with The Mancunion Fashion editors for our attire cravings and savings; there’s almost always a cheaper alternative!

The Faux Fur Scarf

Pink? Check! Fluffy? Check! You’ve seen them all over Instagram and now you want your own… but at £200 a scarf, the Charlotte Simone Popsicle (faux fur, of course) does not come cheap.

Craving – £200
Photo: Charlotte Simone

 

To avoid living off baked beans for the rest of the year (yes, we’ve all been there), you could just bag yourself this Topshop number at £32, and that’s not even accounting for student discount!

Saving – £32
Photo: Topshop

 

The Black Backpack

We love how minimalist and stylish the Whistles Mini Verity Backpack is! Backpacks are perfect for carrying all of your uni essentials, while also saving your shoulders.

Craving – £180
Photo: Whistles

 

However, instead of shelling out the cold £180 for this Whistles number, why not go for the Glamorous Backpack with Zip Detail from ASOS, at £35.99. It won’t break your shoulders… or your bank!

Saving – £35.99
Photo: ASOS

 

The Longline Parka

Although we’re all enjoying the mild weather at the moment, every Manchester student knows that a cold winter is just around the corner! A longline parka is the perfect way to stay fashionable, while also beating that icy chill! We love the Diesel W-Pury Parka coat, but we’re not sure that our student loans will cover the £310 price tag.

Craving – £310
Photo: Diesel

 

However, this New Look option at only £49.99 is a great choice for keeping you warm during the colder months!

Saving – £49.99
Photo credit: New Look

The Coffee Column: Anchor

Written by Ben Walker on . Posted in News.

I’ve been fortunate enough to drink in some of the best coffee houses in the world, and I’m over the moon to say that we have some genuine world-beaters right here in Manchester.

With Welcome Week behind us, and classes and normality set to begin, it’s my reckoning that you should start term with somewhere quite brilliant, so what better than something right on our very University doorstep? I am of course talking about the Anchor Coffee House, 508 Moss Lane East, just the other side of Whitworth Park.

This little gem is owned by Vinelife, a local church group whose leaders dreamed of having a cafe specialising in top coffee, delicious eats, sophisticated style, and a welcoming atmosphere. It is a rare achievement indeed to tick every one of those boxes, but the Anchor does so with ease and charm, knocking shades off all of its local rivals, and many of its Northern Quarter counterparts too.

That said, I suppose it is prudent to begin with the coffee—oh, the coffee:

Here we have the only place in MCR selling the famous Monmouth Coffee of London; the internationally renowned roasters, founded in the 1970s, and remain leaders in ethics, quality, and commitment to coffee. Anchor is staffed exclusively by volunteers, though you would think them all highly-trained baristas. From the espresso, to the drip, flat whites to frappes, high end beverages are consistently delivered. This is the best coffee you’ll get around campus, and for £2 a go, it well undercuts the so-called ‘competition’.

When it comes to food, the Anchor specialises solely in bagels. Amongst others, there’s bacon and home-made tomato relish for the hangover. Roast vegetable and hummus for the veggie, and smoked salmon for the sophisticated. There is also ‘Bagel of the Month’, a show stopping whopper of a thing clocking in at a very reasonable £4, which includes the latest delicious bagel filling.

The soup is made fresh in-house, and usually supplements the lunchtime bagel. All the holey-bread is supplied by the Barbakan deli and bakery of Chorlton, and the cakes by North Star Deli, housed both in town and Chorlton. Anchor help out by using locally- and skilfully-made produce, and there’s no reason to settle for anything less.

Anchor is a very popular study venue and hangout; an alternative space to the Union Starbucks, the characterless Alan Gilbert, or overly-busy library. And there is so much to get involved with too, if you’re so inclined. The Anchor participates in the wonderful Suspended Coffee scheme, where you can donate a coffee to those less fortunate—a great idea to allow everyone to enjoy a top cup of joe. “The entire system is based on good faith and kindness; those who buy do not know who gets the coffee and help; those whom receive do not know who bought it for them.” There is also a food bank to contribute to as well.

Having been open since January 2013, and having personally spent quite a ridiculously large amount of time hanging out, and/or ‘working’ here, with complete assuredness, I can do nothing but wholeheartedly endorse this lovely coffee house. It’s a 5 minute walk from University and just far enough to get out of the student bubble for some down time. If this wasn’t enough to win you over, there’s a 2-4-1 offer on at the start of term, so there’s even more reason to get on down to Anchor. See you there!

Anchor Coffee
508 Moss Ln E
 Manchester
M14 4PA

anchorcoffee.co.uk/

The history of breasts and fashion: A rise and fall

Written by Sarah Kilcourse on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Breasts, boobs, tits—whatever you like to call them—have undergone multiple makeovers in recent years. In the early noughties, getting a boob job was a status symbol for WAGs and low list celebrities—the more fake they looked, the better. Meanwhile, the fashion industry was embracing dangerously thin models with boyish figures.

Then along came Mad Men and the buxom Christina Hendricks in 2007, showcasing the gifts she had been given. Since then, breasts, in a variety of ways, have been ‘in fashion’. Whether it be the sideboob, the underboob, or just the traditional cleavage, décolletage has been, and still is, taking the spotlight.

It no longer matters what your boobs are like naturally; you can transform them with the wide range of lingerie solutions available. Push up bras can now make your humble bosom appear two times bigger or, if you prefer a more natural look, just wear no bra at all. Throw caution to the wind and let your boobs be free—everyone else is doing it.

Social media has created a platform for women to share, embrace, and appreciate their bodies. This includes people from across the globe sharing the stories of women who have survived breast cancer, encouraging other women to check their breast health. Angelina Jolie’s preventative double mastectomy was definitely a turning point for breast cancer awareness. When one of the world’s most famous ‘sex symbols’ announces that she has had her breasts removed for the sake of her health, it encourages women everywhere that, by choosing their health over their breasts, they will not lose their femininity.

Developments in plastic surgery mean that there are more procedures available for breast augmentation, but this does not mean that there is no risk associated with the surgery. Back in 2012, PIP silicone breast implants were discovered to contain non-medical silicone that were susceptible to ruptures, arousing fears for the safety of the 40,000 UK women who had paid to have the implants privately. The risk associated with the procedure became a mainstream news story and arguably led to increased interest in other forms of procedure. One popular treatment is saline injections, offering a 24-hour boob lift, favoured by celebrities for the ‘red carpet’.

Despite there being trends for breast size and shape, women are always going to have individual preferences. What does it matter if yours don’t fit the status quo?

Rocket League – Review

Written by Deven Kara on . Posted in Games.

It has been nearly three months since Rocket League came out, and during that time, it has been one of the most popular games played. Who wouldn’t want to play football with little rocket-powered battle cars? The idea for smashing a six-foot ball around a huge football arena is not a new one, though. A previous game, by the same developers, was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, with one of the longest names for a video game ever. Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars was a minor success, with around 2 million downloads. However, the resounding growth of Rocket League (much better name) meant that by the end of July, it had been downloaded over 5 million times.

The premise of the game, as it is with football, is to score more goals than your opponent. That, however, is easier said than done. Imagine Top Gear’s car football matches. You could be on the ball, and then suddenly out of nowhere, someone side-slams you. It happens… a lot. The ball may be six feet tall, but it feels like it has been filled with helium. You could tap the ball, and it travels no further than the length of your car, or you could belt it, and it will bounce off the side of an opponent and back to where it started. Playing the game made me reminisce in the times when I played footy in the street, involved in 2v2 matches.

The thing that makes Rocket League such a good game is the learning curve along which you must rise to succeed. The early matches are usually and “everybody flails around” scenario, where you can see if you manage to get a single hit on the ball (I am guilty of this). But as you progress through the game, your skill level increases and that’s when the game gets interesting. The way the game works means that you are matched against people of the same rank. The higher the rank, the more experienced your opponent is likely to be. It can get quite hard, with some goals and shots just leaving you sitting there, speechless.

Photo: Psyonix, Inc.

The fancy ball work is all done by the players, but the game objective is simple. Just score goals. You have five minutes to do so, and if it ends in a draw, Overtime occurs, which is basically Golden Goal. First team to score, wins. It takes football back to its basics (whilst adding in cars, obviously), and allows you, ultimately, to have fun while messing around. For some it is just the playing that is appealing, but for others, tactics and positions are involved, and it can turn into a real football match, along with the dirtier tactics, such blowing up other cars or bashing them out of the way. To put it bluntly, Rocket League is football with cars and no rules. If that does not sound tempting, then I do not know what is.

The games are not long. As I mentioned earlier, they are only five minutes. By itself, that does not seem like a lot of time, but a lot of five minute sections together can equate to hours upon hours of playing because you simply cannot say “enough is enough.” Playing with friends also takes a bit of time. As with anything, you enjoy it more when doing it with friends. This is no exception. I have sometimes lost track of time playing this game with friends, with some sessions going on into the early morning, whether it be 1v1 or playing against others in a ranked match. It does come into its own as a multiplayer game when playing with friends. It is something that is lacking with console games, with the majority being first-person-shooters and role-playing-games.

Photo: Psyonix, Inc.

Despite all of this, Rocket League is not a perfect game. There are always problems with the launches of games. The main issue was with connection. The server lag was sometimes so obvious that the ball would seem to be in one place, but would actually be in another. This has, however, been resolved… to a certain extent. The lag isn’t as harsh as previously, and doesn’t occur as often. It seems to be a more solid connection. This fix came in a recent patch, which also introduced the first of three moderately-priced DLC packs. It introduced two more cars, new décor and new decals. Psyonix have taken things in their stride by adding items that seem to joke about problems that the game had upon launch. At least they have a sense of humour.

Rocket Leagues success may be down to the fact that it is a brilliant game, but it may be more to do with it showing up on PlayStation Plus, PlayStation’s subscription service. Rocket League was one of the free games offered to subscribers each month. With the sheer number of subscribers, it is no wonder that this game became such a success. It does seem that many, including myself, picked up the game through PlayStation Plus, and I am so glad that I did. I would definitely recommend this game to play. It is probably the most fun you will have in a football game. For those who do not have it, there is a price, but it is worth every penny.