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Month: October 2015

The resting bitch face

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As a personal sufferer of this infliction, I wanted to share my experiences to console others who have also been inflicted with this tiresome fault. “Who died?”, “Smile love! Life’s not as bad as you think!” and “You’ve got a face like you’ve been slapped with a wet fish,” along with the relentless “Are you ok?” are just some of the phrases that I, for one, am a little tired of hearing. For some of us, a friendly smile is not eternally plastered on one’s face. It doesn’t help my case that I’m a daydreamer too. Apparently whilst I’m emerged in some parallel universe, my expression in this one is not too joyous.

Resting bitch face plus a sensitive soul bring the side effects to a whole new level. At 5’3″, with blonde hair and big blue eyes, my constant look of disdain has even led me to being referred to as “really intimidating” by new acquaintances?!

At one time, I considered my permanent facial expression a bit of an affliction, but with time and an increase in maturity, I have learnt to love it. Perhaps it matches my personality? I shy from falseness and don’t enjoy the company of those demonstrate it.

When I’m happy, sad or angry, my facial expression most certainly shows it. This, too, has caused me some trouble in the past but it has also encouraged me to pursue a life that I actually enjoy. I don’t accept invitations to things that I don’t want to do anymore but I also put myself out there to try more new things than ever before.

So to all of you who suffer from this infliction: Embrace it! Be sassy and know that when you crack out a rare smile, your facial expressions are appreciated twice as much as those without a resting bitch face.

Fall favourites for fellows

Written by Kyle Zabawa on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

With temperatures dropping to below that of even my bitter old heart, and as the campus foliage begins to lose its chartreuse tinges in favour of more chestnut tones, there is no better time than autumn to add some new pieces to well and truly spice up your wardrobe (and life).

As an aspiring house-husband of Cheshire, with a penchant for style as refined as that of Shania Twain’s preferences for a suitor, it is both an honour and a privilege to impart but a soupçon of sartorial goodness to you in the format of the following five, fun-sized featurettes.

(NB did Shania—I’d like to think that we’re on first name terms—ever find out what does impress her much? Answers on a postcard to 1998, please. Thank you in advance).

1. A most marvellous mac

If, like me, you have grown bored of last year’s furry-hooded, waterproof parka, then fear not, for this next item is sure to add a touch of on-trend, 1930s art deco to your outerwear. In terms of palette, we’re waving goodbye to summer brights and saying hello to neutral, rusted shades such as burnt sienna and cocoa. And what better way to embrace the colours of the season than with this lightweight, yet structured, double-breasted mac, courtesy of River Island? Military chic has once again proved popular on the catwalks of London, Paris, Milan (and even Manchester) for AW15. An extraordinarily versatile piece, wear this coat belted in cooler climes or leave it open for those last few days of late summer sun.

It is also of note that, as of 2008, River Island has been a supporter of the ETI Code (that’s ‘ethical trading initiative’ to you and I), giving you the piece of mind that your new coat is an ethically-considered purchase.

Photo: River Island

 

2. All olive everything?

Whether at a party for two or even ‘in da club’, incorporate some dark green-hued fabrics into your ensembles this autumn. Olive (think a timeless, versatile, earth-toned green) is predicted to be everywhere this season, so make sure to invest now in pieces that will see you right through from the serotinal months and beyond. I’m suggesting a long-sleeved polo as an easily achievable eye-catching addition to your capsule wardrobe.

Photo: ASOS

 

3. “It’s okay to put your foot in it, as long as you’re wearing fabulous shoes” – Real Housewife of Cheshire Lauren Simon 

As much as it pains this writer to admit, autumn is the time to unfortunately retire those delicate, suede tasseled loafers you sported all summer in favour of comfortable and enduring leather boots. However, when this next pair of shoes caught my eye in an ASOS flash sale (sign up for their emails by the way, they will hook you up with bargains you didn’t even know that you deserved) it was love at first sight. If gaudy leathers aren’t quite your cup of tea, then similar style dress slippers in more muted, subdued colours are my recommendation to you. Needless to say, I shall not be sporting these emblems of regalia during my thrice-weekly commute from Piccadilly station on to campus anytime soon, but I am saving them for my next rendezvous with my partners in crime back home.

Photo: ASOS

 

4. Let’s get aromatic this autumn

Picture the scene. Soft, white sands. Pure, celestial waves delicately breaking along a charming shoreline. Golden rays of sunshine glittering down from the heavens above. Sprawling cliffs and dunes as far as the eye can see… blissful isn’t it? If, not unlike myself, you find yourself drawn to anything even remotely nautical, this fragrance is a joy for the senses. Clean yet masculine and with base notes of aromatic, evergreen sage and a heart note of sea salt, you and everyone who comes into close contact with this whimsical scent can be, at once, subconsciously transported to a Utopian beach retreat. Memories of summer may be just a spritz away thanks to Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne.

Photo: Selfridges

 

5. “Oud” have thought I’d be able to make a pun out of a candle?

Although I am indeed fully aware that one cannot sensibly wear a candle, for the metrosexual of 2015, my next recommendation is a must.

Housed intricately in signature smoked black glass, the incense from this luxuriously decadent Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot Candle is divinely rich and warm-heartedly woody. Just in case you needed any more convincing that this product has the potential to change your life for the better, some wider reading (a.k.a. a Google search) seems to suggest that the Agarwood included in the oil of this candle (the most expensive wood in the world by the way, for the timber experts amongst us) was frequently used, inter alia, within medieval medicine for the treatment of colds and flu.

Alas, don’t catapult your Lemsip Max sachets into your nearest bin just yet, because this candle does carry a hefty price tag. For this reason (and because student loans define the notion of ‘squeezing every penny’), I’ve located a more budget friendly ‘dupe’ version of this product—namely, ‘Oud Oasis’ by Yankee Candle.

Photo: Selfridges

 

Final Thoughts

And so ends this whistle-stop tour of modern day consumerism at its finest. Until next time, don’t forget to let us know what products you are loving this autumn over at our social media links.

Review: Jo Coffey

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

Originally from Birmingham, Jo Coffey brought her solo show ‘Curiously Caffeinated’ to Manchester’s The Castle Hotel for the Women in Comedy Festival. Being the circuit’s fourth smallest comic, Coffey has performed all over the country, having reached the final of the Funny’s Funny national competition in 2014. As well as this, Coffey, a 2014 NATYS finalist, presented an aspect of Big Brother’s Little Brother, or as she put it, “was wedged in a dark box with a heavily pregnant Emma Willis where she’d be asked what was going on on the internet.” To which she had no idea.

Rather than hosting the solo show by herself, Coffey opted to bring out four feet something guests onto the stage, granting the audience the oddest interpretation of a Royal Variety show we have ever seen. Special guests ranged from a balaclava clad terrorist with a vendetta against all Terrys to a Croatian Amy Winehouse tribute act complete with ‘Amy Winehund’. The array of characters made for a nice way for the material to be segmented; however, the complete random nature of the characters chosen made for a patched performance overall.

Her astrologist character fell a little flat with spectators, but characters such as her running gag with her Amy Winehouse tribute act and the imperative material on her playground nicknames at school, made up for it.

Vintage vs. charity shops

Written by Perisha Kudhail on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

As with any other debacle in fashion, the ethical reasoning behind vintage shops is being questioned all the time. Surely selling second-hand clothing for profit is the same as buying clothes from a charity shop, without giving to charity? What is the difference between vintage and charity? Aren’t they the same thing with different ethical outcomes?

With charity, there exists a constant suspicion as to how much of the proceedings actually go towards the ’cause’. The rent of the shop has to be paid, alongside the managers who run the store. Realistically, how much does this leave for the charity itself? This ‘could’ be argued to be immoral in its own right. Why buy from a charity shop, when you don’t even know if your contribution makes a difference?

With vintage clothing shops, there is no barricade of morals. You buy the goods, the workers get paid, and they can then go out and acquire more vintage goods. With vintage, you cannot argue that you will be able to find some good buys. They are timeless pieces that you can keep and they will remain vintage.

However, if you look hard enough in a charity shop, you cannot argue that economically and practically, buying from a charity shop can bring the same joy as buying designer gear at full price. At least a charity shop boosts morale and makes you feel like you are making a difference, as well as getting a bargain or two. Should vintage shops convert? Or should we convert from vintage?

A lot of people don’t have an opinion about the fact that vintage and charity shops do equate to each other in terms of what is being sold. The assumption is that clothes used are better than clothes thrown away. And if you’re not giving to a charitable cause, to some extent you could argue that paying someone’s wage is as good a cause as any.

Has fashion gone too far?

Written by Kassi Allcock on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The stigma about mental health has decreased in the past few years, with more people coming forward to discuss their experiences. The public is slowly starting to realise that mental illness is no different to physical illness—it cannot be helped, it is difficult to fix, and it should not be subjected to ridicule.

Despite this incredible progress, the fashion industry can still be held accountable for making light of mental health. Far too many slogan T-shirts have been manufactured in recent years, glamourising problems that 1 in every 4 people in the UK suffer from each year.

Back in 2010, Urban Outfitters released a grey V-neck tee with the words “eat less” written across the front. This caused a great deal of controversy, as it was seen to be promoting eating disorders. According to The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), anorexia is the third most common long-term illness among teenagers.

As Urban Outfitters’ target market, the T-shirt could have had a disastrous effect if it had been kept in stores for too long. Responsibly, Urban Outfitters did remove the item from their website, but only after they were heavily criticised for producing it in the first place.

Not learning from their mistakes, they released another t-shirt making a mockery of mental health. This time around, the word “depression” was written repeatedly across a white crop top. Again, after several complaints, the item was taken off their website.

Regardless of their offensive reputation, Urban Outfitters continue to create products that can be seen to demean mental health. In their quirky home section throughout 2015, they have sold mugs with the tagline “Britney survived 2007. You can handle today”, as well as the (sadly) popular phrase “More issues than Vogue”.

Both phrases hinder the progress made in understanding mental health, and further try to romanticise serious illnesses. What’s more, the public doesn’t seem to realise how offensive these slogans are—social media was full to the brim with snapshots of these products, labeling them as ‘funny’ and ‘clever’. A much bigger emphasis needs to be shone upon this problem if we are to move away from the stigma about mental health.

Urban Outfitters is not the only culprit—they are merely the brand that is seen in the brightest spotlight. ASOS have recently released a slogan T-shirt, reading “Hangxiety: A self-inflicted state of fear after a night out”, which belittles victims of anxiety, including myself. Topshop have also been known to manufacture a slogan jumper, reading “Stressed, Depressed, but Well Dressed”. Young, impressionable shoppers may be given the impression that their mental wellbeing is insignificant in comparison to their fashion sense.

As the Head Fashion Editor for The Mancunion, I am definitely in favour of the importance of fashion and the major role that it plays in society. However, fashion is all fun and games at the end of the day; what really matters is how you look after yourself and your mind. Mental health is not a trend—it’s an illness, just like cancer and heart disease.

Anybody who has ever experienced a mental health problem would say that they would never ask to be subject to such a tormenting illness; they would be rid of it if they could. If suffering from a mental illness is so heartbreakingly hurtful, why are fashion brands trying to make them seem popular, something to aspire to?

Perhaps I am being too harsh on the fashion industry, when their real intention may be to raise awareness. Instead of adding to the stigma of mental health, they may actually be attempting to decrease it. Irrespective, glamourising mental health is not the right approach. I am all for promoting self-love and widening the understanding of mental health, but how about we leave it to the non-profit professionals?

Domestic Abuse: A double standard

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

So everybody knows you shouldn’t hit a girl. It’s a lesson engrained into the psyche of every little boy. But what about girls hitting boys? Physical violence should never be encouraged, but there is a stigma surrounding it which effectively condones women abusing men, but not the other way round.

I’ll admit it, I’ve hit a boyfriend in the past, or at least tried to. Blinded by anger we all do things that we later regret. But I never felt like I had to think twice about what my friends and peers would think if they found out. However, when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s a little more taboo.

Kelly Brook, a British model once voted the Sexiest Woman in the World, giggled as she recalled punching her boyfriend in the face, live on a nationally broadcast television show. Such trivialisation of domestic abuse was not received lightly and she was thus given a slap on the wrist for her actions. But when Chris Brown infamously attacked, his then girlfriend, Rihanna in 2009, he faced severe repercussions including a lengthy legal battle and heavy financial losses.

Why is it that men are chastised so much more severely for the same action as women? Arguments include “Surely a woman can’t hurt a man as much as he could hurt her?” and that men should just “know better.” But what if the woman is bigger than her male victim, how then should that case be addressed?

According to the NHS, men were victims of just over a quarter of incidents of domestic violence in the UK in 2010 and those are only the ones that were reported. Domestic abuse isn’t just physical though; emotional abuse, threats and intimidation and sexual abuse also come under this umbrella term. Thus the argument that men are more capable of abuse than women is completely undercut.

There’s no denying that women are equally able to threaten, intimidate, belittle or blame so maybe, just maybe, we as a society should begin to overcome our childhood lessons and view domestic abuse in the same disapproving light, irrespective of gender.

A thought on the selfish selflessness of the gap year volunteer

Written by Astrid Kitchen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I am another who can raise their hand as someone who trooped to the other side of the world to scrawl my signature on ‘genuine’ poverty in the third world. Returning with stories of ‘how these people really live’ I too felt I’d experienced a rare insight into the lives of the receivers of volunteer work, for those who really need it and, more importantly, from those who really need it.

And, indeed, for months afterwards I was an endorphin buzzing mess, gliding around with a half-smile on my face, safe in the knowledge that I had experienced something wholly unique and profound, a secret which kept me warm at night amidst the blunder that is life as a lonely Fallowfield fresher. Setting me apart from my fellow students, I was embarking as an undergraduate in Social anthropology and I was ahead of the game!

Unfortunately, unbeknown to me was the fact that all gap yah kids, impressionable and eager to experience real life, leave voluntourism with the same smug entitlement. Indeed, one of my first tutorials was spent sulking when the guy with long hair and piercings (probably a style inspired by the same trip) had beaten me to it, shoe-horning stories of the ease with which Cambodian children smile, into a discussion about the cultural significance of the burqa… Even now, almost two years on, the predominant feeling I associate with those pivotal four weeks in Tamil Nadu (I’ve been to rural India!!!!!) is guilt.

On a course obsessed with cultural relativism, this is not an easy thing to admit and yet, having spoken to my fellow do-gooders, the lingering flavour left behind from ‘volunteer’ work is a bitter one. This is not to denounce all volunteer work because of course there are life-changing projects which can bring about unquestionable positive change, but for those of us popping over to distant parts of Asia to embed ‘the volunteer experience’ into a four month trip prioritising various forms of cultural enlightenment, the hangover of guilt is not welcome nor appropriate.

To ground this rant in the specific, recalling my time spent at Kings Matriculation Secondary School often leaves my conscience begging for mercy from fearmongering chants scolding my failure to return, poor efforts to stay in regular contact with those with whom I formed close relationships, or, perhaps worst of all, the thought that I returned from holiday sun kissed and rested while my welfare receivers remain enmeshed in their cage of third world hardship.

Am I being harsh? Such remorse is of course well-intentioned, springing from a place of altruism and gratitude, but affording our work such significance is not only immodest but it also elevates us to a higher status socially, economically and morally on the premise that ‘our’ life is better than ‘theirs’ and it is for this reason we ought to ‘do our bit’ to ‘give back’ (in the native tongue of the colonial aid worker).

My gripe is with us European jet setters who, cradling our privilege, render aid receivers vulnerable and dependant peoples sat in the window awaiting our return. Sadly, speaking from experience, it is highly likely they have forgotten your name if they ever learnt it, they have forgotten the English words for household pets (which they never fully understood anyway, because why would you intentionally ensure a feral cat remained in your house when it was only eating your food and weeing on the floor) or have otherwise forgotten that is was you who taught it them and, for the most part, are going about their day to day life in the same happy fashion you left them in.

Only yes, they still don’t have an iPhone 6, and continue to eat their meals with their left hand, because, yes, they also still don’t see the use in killing the rainforest for toilet roll when God equipped us with fine functioning hands.

Album: Kode9 – Nothing

Written by Adam Rogers on . Posted in Music.

Released on 6th November via Hyperdub

9/10

Scottish-born producer Kode9, real name Steve Goodman, steps up to the plate with his first solo album, Nothing, following the passing of long-time collaborator The Spaceape. The LP comes forward from Goodman’s own London-based label Hyperdub and “revolves around an evacuated, fully automated, luxury hotel known as The Nøtel, whose corporate logo features on the album’s cover.”

Nothing opens with ‘Zero Point Energy’, a glitchy, short, ambient piece full of menace and suspense that hits you with a wall of distortion. It sets the tone perfectly for the album that—save a few pieces—is teeming with angst and malice. The single ‘Respirator’, released ahead of the album, opens with a jackhammer of a kick drum imported straight from the Chicago Juke/Footwork scene before the song is filtered through Kubrick’s The Shining. The end result is something bludgeoning and truly sinister.

There’s little surprise to the extent of Footwork found on Nothing—Hyperdub had signed the late DJ Rashad several years previously and it’s clearly left a lasting impression on Goodman. Tracks like ‘Holo’ and ‘Casimir Effect’ offer some of the more bouncy and melodic moments on the album and are heavily reminiscent of 2011’s Room(s) by American artist Machinedrum.

Kode9 also reworks the classic dubstep anthem ‘9 Samurai’ into an epic and unrelenting beatdown of a track in ‘9 Drones’. It’s a track designed for a peak-time sound system in a low ceiling basement, and will be no doubt finishing off many DJ sets to come. Another peak-time moment found on the LP is ‘Zero Work’, arguably the only straight forward dubstep track to be found here. ‘Zero Work’ somehow strikes the balance of coming across as a first-wave style dubstep track while also sounding entirely fresh and progressive.

For all the praise this album deserves, it’s haunted by something lingering over the album, something missing—the brooding, syrup-like textures from The Spaceape, Stephen Gordon. The Spaceape passed away late last year following a long standing battle with a rare form of cancer, but can still be found on ‘Third Ear Transmission’, although unfortunately far too briefly. ‘Void’ was also written with The Spaceape in mind, spaces left where his vocals should have been.

Nothing is an astounding album that doesn’t really falter; it draws on several genres and styles, but Goodman’s filter and twist on every aspect is fresh and interesting. The album flows impeccably as a whole, but all the tracks are so concise and well executed that they work out of context—there’s no flab or filler to be found here.

Advice Column

Written by Anon on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I started seeing this guy, but then I met someone else who I instantly knew was the better one for me. Should I be honest with the first one? Do I owe him that or can I just let it fizzle out?

Dear…

“Honesty is the best policy” is a mantra that should be ingrained into everyone as a child, and this is even more relevant in every relationship you should have or should wish to embark on. This value is too sacrosanct to sacrifice… period. You have to question how feasible it is for you start something new if you haven’t finished the old?

Furthermore, put yourself in his position, do you think it’s fair for him to be strung along whilst remaining uncertain, and maybe full of hope of starting a new budding relationship, whilst you know the likelihood of this happening is slim to none. At the end of the day, the person’s feelings you are protecting are yours and yours alone and it is not fair on Guy A as ultimately he will be the one that suffers. It’s never easy ending something, but I recommend doing so soon. Let the guy get over you and find something new, and stop taking him for a ride.

Lemn Sissay installed as Chancellor

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

On Wednesday the 14th of October, local poet Lemn Sissay was inaugurated as Chancellor of the University of Manchester.

Sissay, who was elected by university alumni, staff, and members of the General Secretary in June, took over from property developer Tom Bloxham, founder of urban development company Urban Splash.

Sissay received 7,131 votes, beating the other candidates for the role—Labour politician Peter Mandelson, who gained 5,483, and Music Director at the Hallé Orchestra Sir Mark Elder.

He officially started as Chancellor on the 1st of August, but received formal inauguration at the Foundation Day celebrations last week, in which he also received an honorary doctorate, alongside journalist and presenter Baroness Joan Bakewell; physicist Professor Dame Athene Donald; theatre and film director Sir Nicholas Hytner; and judge Dame Janet Smith.

Sissay said: “My primary aim is to inspire and be inspired. Reach for the top of the tree and you may get to the first branch, but reach for the stars and you’ll get to the top of the tree.”

He starred in two university-produced promotional videos—one of which featured a poem, ‘Inspire and Be Inspired’, which he wrote especially for the inauguration. He also took a selfie with Vice-Chancellor Dame Nancy Rothwell during the proceedings.

“Foundation day is over but the journey has just begun” tweeted Sissay after the event.

For the next seven years, Sissay will act as a figurehead for the university, representing it to the world and promoting its work. He will also attend each graduation to shake the hand of every single graduate.

Photo: @lemnsissay @Flickr

“When you leave somewhere you take it with you,” he said. “I would not want everyone who has studied at this great institution to stay here. I want them to go out and experience the world and come back.

“We are a migratory species. We are, by nature, migrants.”

Get involved: Silicon Valley Comes to Manchester

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in Features.

Manchester might seem far away from the bright lights and palm trees of  Silicon Valley—the epicentre of Noughties-born, high-tech innovation and investment in the San Francisco Bay area—but on Wednesday the 4th of November, UK-based organisation Silicon Valley Comes to the UK are bringing the tech to us for a one-day summit: SVC2Manchester.

Featuring speakers varying from the top of the Silicon Valley food chain, to local and national start-ups from the North West and beyond, SVC2Manchester is an opportunity for business leaders, investors, and serial entrepeneurs, to provide networking and mentoring to students looking to get their foot in the door of the next big thing.

I sat down with Summit Lead and University of Manchester Ph.D. student Laura Jeffreys to find out everything about the upcoming event, the Manchester tech scene, and how students can get involved. One thing’s for certain—it’s not to be missed.

 

What is SVC2UK, and what were their goals for starting this not-for-profit organisation?

It was formed 9 years ago because the founders wanted to bring that Silicon Valley attitude to the UK; all the ideas were happening in the States, they could get funding pretty easily because they have all these routes to go down, whereas in the UK it was nothing like that. With the world as it is now, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have all this. So it was originally founded to network from America to England, and to build up these entrepreneurs. Now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, there are loads of new apps and products. It’s just about networking—it’s that simple. One of the co-chairs is Reid Hoffman, CEO of LinkedIn, so he brings a lot to the table.

 

Why and how was SVC2Manchester born?

Last year they decided to bring some focus to the North, and especially Manchester as the start-up community is so good here. London has a reputation for breeding entrepreneurs, but the speakers are always really enthusiastic to come here, and Manchester has got a hell of a lot to offer. This is the second time that the event has come to the North, and both times PhD students have run it, so we’re really involved with the university.

 

How did you get involved in SVC2Manchester?

I started my Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Manchester last year, and heard about the event through a fellow postgraduate student who was running it. I asked to volunteer on the day, and at the event itself I got to sit in on all the talks and listen. I really enjoyed it—it was so inspiring. Then I got asked to run it this year, and of course I said yes, so that’s how I got here.

 

Why did you want to be involved again?

At the student event, the speakers begin from where they started, so you’re not just seeing them as they are now, as billionaires, but from “When I was a student…”. They too learnt from experts, had their ups and downs, got bigger and bigger, and worked hard; they’re not the type to say “Oh I inherited £20 million from my father and invested it everywhere…”. Before the event last year I always thought “Oh I’ll never be an entrepreneur, it’ll never happen, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time and have a brilliant idea,” but they don’t make it about the idea; they got involved by knowing they were the right person for the job—someone else can have the idea. So you think, “How can I get there?”

 

So what is the set-up of the day—what can we expect to see and learn?

In the morning we have these TED-style talks from each of the five speakers, and then there are workshops, or master classes, which are really Q&As. People ask really in-depth questions that you wouldn’t have necessarily thought of, it’s really exciting.

 

The summit’s themes are ‘Scale-up’ and ‘Connected health’. Could you explain these for those who can’t speak Silicon Valley?

Yeah. ‘Scale-up’ is just a fancy way of saying their journey, the scale-up from start-up to serial entrepreneur; it’s Silicon Valley talk for that, they’ve got loads of words of their own. [Laughs] Connected health means health tech—last year we had a focus on health tech, but we had feedback from Manchester Business School (MBS) students that it was just about health tech. This year we only have two speakers talking about health tech and about the future of the industry, Andrew Thompson and Jack Kreindler.

Andrew’s product is really interesting, it’s a tablet you take but it’s an electrical device, and it tells you how fast your tablets have been absorbed, how active you are, and it sends all this data to your phone, your family’s phones, your doctor. So you can check up on a patient or an elderly relative throughout the day. This is about as in depth as the talks will get into the medicine—it’s more about the future of technology, like we’re getting closer to everything being on a wristband, it’s just so interesting, I think. Though I am a bit health techy being a Ph.D. Biochemistry student!

 

Andrew Thompson is one of the Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs—how do you tempt these people to come to Manchester?!

Well, we contact them like a chain mail sort of thing; we know someone, they know someone, and so on. They’re really busy people and most of their business is in the States, so it’s hard. But if they can get to England then it works—they like spreading the word to new places; Andrew Thompson feels like he can make a difference at a new event to new people.

 

Tell me a bit about some of the other speakers and their careers.

Well, we have Charlie Songhurst, he started out by predicting that Google were going to be really big, and his company guessed and bought shares, and he made that company so much money. So he started small, and then got bigger and bigger. He worked for Microsoft and was behind their [$8.5 billion] acquisition of Skype. With Charlie, he’s so nice that you just talk to him, and you forget that he’s worth millions. Now he has his own company, Katana Capital, where he just goes round and gives money to people—that is his job. He has about 130 start-up businesses. He invests in people, he doesn’t invest in products. One reason he’s coming back to Manchester this year is because he thinks there could be another really good business here in Manchester, as he found one last year.

We also have Dr. Neil McArthur MBE, a British entrepreneur who founded TalkTalk and is a Governor at the University of Manchester. He just founded a new charity called Manchester Tech Trust, which is about networking really. A big problem when you start up is you’ve got a good idea, sometimes even the product too, but you get that far and then it’s like: “Whom do we sell to? Where are our contacts? How do we make ourselves bigger?” So Manchester Tech Trust is about making the connections that need to be made. So he loves this event, and it’s like a mini-launch for them.

 

So if you’re a student in Manchester and you think you want to get involved, how can coming to this event change your path, or inspire you? Could you network?

Oh yeah. It gives you an idea of what the journey will entail—it’s not the sort of thing you can learn in a lecture. You’ve got to see it being done. Last year, two students met and realised they had similar passions and they’ve since developed an app—I probably shouldn’t say what it is. As I mentioned before, Charlie Songhurst gave £100,000 to a business a student pitched him last year, and now he’s done a second round of investment totalling £300,000. For students this event is to meet like-minded people and learn from the best.

There will be time as well for students and start-ups to interact over lunch. Although there is a really good start-up community in Manchester, sometimes it doesn’t interact much with students. But start-ups are always looking for new employees; start-ups in incubators look for different students to do part-time jobs, as Communications Officers for example—someone with English skills to sit and write press releases, people like that.

 

So how easy is it for students to get involved with start-ups? What is the tech scene like in Manchester?

There’s an event every week called the Silicon Valley Drinkabout and it brings together entrepreneurs from around Manchester, mainly from start-ups. At these events people just come up to you and say, “Hi, I’m so and so, and I own this company, what do you do?’ Because I do a PhD, they find it the most interesting thing ever. They don’t really meet many students, and the more people they meet, the more they know about the world. I would completely suggest it to people who are interested in tech.

I’ve seen students there before but not many; students are usually way too busy just getting the degree to think about a start-up as well. However, the university is an amazing stepping stone for start-ups; we have a lot of competitions—like Venture Out, Venture Further, and OneStart—which give students injections of cash for their start-ups. It’s a big step in the right direction for students just getting into it. You also get a lot of good advice, from the Manchester Enterprise Centre for example; they’re so encouraging for businesses and for students to be entrepreneurial. I have a friend who came Second Place in last year’s Venture Further—with the simplest idea ever for an app for Ph.D. students—and now it’s taking off, he has investors.

In Manchester there are so many spaces for start-ups, like incubators and accelerators where you rent out a desk in buildings with lots of other start-ups; there’s a community feel, and people higher up can help and inspire you. They’re all over the city, in the Northern Quarter for example, and Barclays have one on Deansgate. They have internships too; the people who run them hire interns to do the day-to-day work, and help out with all the events in the evenings. Manchester students have done summer placements there and absolutely loved working alongside these people.

 

Finally, how do students sign up to attend the event, and why should they come?

So you sign up to the Eventbrite page, then they’ll get to decide which workshops they can go to. There are six workshops with all different people, you get to choose two to go to, but you’ll still hear talks from all five speakers. Each one is different; for example, Claire Mills has a start-up to do with allergen-free food, and she is running a workshop about women in business. It’s an issue that needs to be talked about; we still need more female programmers, we still need more women high up in tech, so I think it is something that needs to be encouraged. At events like these it’s just sort of time to tell everyone, girls, students: “Go on, now is the time to try it.” So I hope the students of Manchester will come along. We want it to be full of students. I want it to be standing room only, even if there’s a fire hazard. [Laughs]

 

http://bit.ly/1O2eKcJ

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 – Preview

Written by Connor McBride on . Posted in Games.

Did you watch E3 this year? Do you remember during the EA conference the man in the oversized mascot costume and how absolutely no-one applauded? That pretty much sums up Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, a game that, like an ageing rock star or the Numa Numa guy, tries too hard to stay relevant and funny.

When PvZ:GW2 was on the EA stage, people quickly flocked to find something more interesting. Like Guitar Hero: Live. Or Farming Simulator 2016.

PvZ: GW2 is a third-person shooter where you can play as either Plants or Zombies in six fun (their word, not mine) online game modes against up to 24 other players. There is a huge selection of characters to choose from, divided into 14 classes. There is something for everyone! In theory, at least.

The main thing they were showing off at Gamescom, however, was the 4 player co-operative modes where you play as either Plants or Zombies defending objectives from the waves of Zombies or Plants. It sounds simple enough; you find three friends, fire up the Xbox One and spend a good evening playfully yelling banter at each other while playing as a bunch of fruits.

However for that to work the game has to be good. It committed the cardinal sin of being a bit boring and, well, lifeless. This sentiment was shared by all the other people I saw leave the stand early. The real challenge was not surviving the waves of enemies, it was seeing how long you could play for before someone suggested something more interesting.

It seems to me that EA want to reinvent a franchise that really did not need reinventing. At release I’m really not expecting much from this title. I am envisioning long queue times because you have to wait for 24 other players and a co-op mode you only play when you need something to base a drinking game off. But please, EA, prove me wrong.

Mental Health in the Music Industry: A Matter of Life and Death?

Written by Alex Daniel on . Posted in Music.

Recently, Benga announced on Twitter that there was more to his 2014 exit from the music industry than had initially met the eye. He’s cited drugs and excessive touring as the respective reasons for worsening cases of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In doing so, he has sowed the seeds of a more general debate surrounding links between deteriorating mental health and professional overwork in the previously unresponsive soils of the music industry. Exhibit A—Yannis Philippakis of Foals: “If you can’t hack it, don’t do it.”

The issue at question here is, does Yannis have a point? One might argue that artists are artists. It is their job, their livelihood. Like it or not an artist, by definition, lives and dies for their art. The ever-glamorised ’27 Club’ stands as a figurative monument to this within popular culture, making a modern-day mythic cycle of those whose lives were cut short in the public eye.

Indeed, deifying the likes of Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix et al for their musical martyrdom gives these figures a sense of true immortality and there is something immediately appealing about that. Their art lives on, unblemished. Yet, the sick fact of the matter is that whilst those whose profession has caused depression and addiction are marginalised during life, their troubles become normalised in death. Yannis’s hard-nosed attitude is romantic, but would he say the same about Ian Curtis? Even geniuses need help.

Benga’s case brings this issue in the spotlight again. One of his tweets read: “The stigma around [mental health issues] is what makes you feel so alone… Nobody recognises it.” His reluctance to admit his troubles publicly for over a year after his 2014 ‘retirement’ from music is testament to this and is indicative of the ignorance that the industry commonly exhibits towards these matters.

Benga isn’t the only one experiencing problems of this sort either; Zayn Malik, previously of One Direction, copped plenty of abuse and ill feeling from 1D diehards when he announced his departure from the boy band. Was this fair? A source close to the band told the tabloid press: “Zayn went because he’d had enough. Have you ever been on the road for four years?”

Admittedly, neither of these cases are in the same horrific ballpark as the ’27 Club’ deaths, nor did either of them (it seems) have to endure the same long-term tortuous experience that led to Ian Curtis’ suicide. However, the Joy Division frontman’s difficulty in balancing his musical career with a difficult personal life, compounded by ill-health brought on by his famous epilepsy, is presumed to be the cause of his death. It may seem a long way from Benga and Zayn Malik, but the formula is roughly the same in each case. It must be taken seriously.

One possible source from which those subjected to such problems might draw hope, however, is the charity Help Musicians UK. Though it tends to work on a smaller scale, their mission is essentially to provide support for musicians who find themselves in dire straits, helping them through to continue on the road to success.

Perhaps it isn’t on the same level, but the existence of organisations such as this will only help to provide exposure for those who are suffering in the industry. If there had been a more visible movement or school of thought that addressed the mental health issues brought on by the inconstancy and insecurity of a musician’s life on the road throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, perhaps there wouldn’t be a ’27 Club’.

With all this in mind, is Benga just garnering unnecessary sympathy when he actually squandered a charmed existence? He made it; he got to do what he loved for a living; was able to express himself and travelled the world for several years in a highly successful career as a relative dubstep-pioneer. I’m sure there are many who would happily swap lives with him, and even more who would happily show him the true meaning of being mentally ground down by an arduous professional life.

Perhaps Yannis is right: “People destroy themselves for their art, for their calling.” The trouble with this sentiment is just how true it can be.

Leading think tank proposes half a billion in cuts to Higher Education

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

A leading think tank has proposed that the government should cut half a billion pounds from higher education to be redirected to further education.

The paper entitled ‘Higher, Further, Faster, More’ by Policy Exchange argues that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) should take £532 million of grant funding, aimed to aid widening participation efforts and provision for high-cost subjects, and use it instead to safeguard the further education sector.

Policy Exchange, established in 2002, is one of the leading UK think tanks and is thought to be David Cameron’s “favourite think tank”.

The aim is to boost higher-level professional and technical education and any money left over should go to universities with limited financial reserves.

They propose that “universities should not only be required to maintain their responsibilities in these areas but to now partially fund them themselves”.

The think tank highlighted that since the introduction of tuition fees, funding for higher education has increased by 26 percent since 2009-10 and universities have £12.3bn of unrestricted reserves.

Further education in comparison has seen a reduction is funding. The National Audit Office has warned that more than one in four institutions could be bankrupt by the end of the year.

Policy Exchange argue that by prioritising the funding of higher education the government is not addressing the need for more students to be trained for technical and professional jobs.

The paper also proposed a widening of maintenance support for students in further education, not just limiting it to higher education students. They argue that no matter which education route a student takes they should have access to financial support.

Johnathan Simons, head of education policy at Policy Exchange, said the UK needs “many more people with high-class technical and professional skills.”

“That is why we think a proportion of the government grant to universities should be reallocated towards offering more students higher-level technical qualifications at further education institutions, and why the student loan system should be expanded so that young people have access to finance to support their higher-level study whichever route they choose.”

John Widdowson, president of the Association of Colleges, said that the paper made a “strong and convincing case” on the redistribution of education funding.

“The government must now… ensure that the further education sector has the funding it so desperately needs to enable colleges to tackle the massive skills challenges faced by this country,” he said.

“The outdated practice of highly funding our universities while continually taking money away from colleges is creating a surplus of graduates and not enough people with the qualifications required for technical and professional jobs, such as engineering and construction.”

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, has argued however that it should not be an “either-or” choice between the two and it is “misleading to suggest universities are awash with cash reserves.”

“The increase in the fee cap in England to £9,000 was largely a replacement for cuts in direct government funding. Fees, also, do not cover the cost of high-cost subjects such as science and engineering.

“Universities also need capital investment to invest in world-class facilities and to leverage additional funding from external sources.”

Michael Spence spoke to The Mancunion about these proposals and argued: “This proposal is a ludicrous race to the bottom in which they tackle to chronic underfunding of Further Education by underfunding Higher Education.”

“The suggestion that we should take money from widening participation programmes, aimed at getting people from less well-off backgrounds to university, is a callous attack on these very people.”

Visa restrictions for international students is ‘racial discrimination’

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

A number of UK universities are reported to be turning away applicants from countries based on the ‘credibility’ of the area they come from. Offences are often based on graduates from the same country as applicants not leaving the UK after the end of their courses.

Stricter visa rules implemented by the Home Office are said to cut the number of overseas students in the UK by 15 per cent. They have said there is no limit to the number of ‘credible’ students wanting to study in the UK.

Speaking to The Times, the NUS International Students’ Officer Mostafa Rajaai said the move was “very unfair” and that because of this policy “prospective students from these countries have a very negative view of the UK now.”

Refusal rate for non-EU applicants over the last two years is at 9 per cent, based on nearly 250,000 credibility interviews conducted by the Home Office. Universities must reach a 10 per cent refusal rate in order to keep their sponsorship licence, prompting reports they were being forced to make more decisions based on ‘credibility’.

One source claims that “some universities were told by the Home Office to stop recruiting from certain regions, mainly in Pakistan”.

This news comes only a couple of weeks after Home Secretary Theresa May announced her plan to continue to include international students in net immigration numbers, stating they are a major factor in escalating migration numbers. Her approach has been described as “chilling and bitter” and received criticism from her fellow cabinet members and various refugee charities.

New Home Office rules and May’s plan are seemingly against the position of the prime minister. “As I’ve said before, no cap on the number of overseas who come and study at our universities,” he has said on the matter.

Overseas students make up 18 per cent of the UK student population, with 435,500 studying here in 2014. The current worth of international students is estimated to be £7bn annually.

Overall, refusal rates have dropped within the past year falling from 15 per cent at the start of 2014 to 5 per cent at the end of 2015.

Strict university security at MDU Israel debate

Written by Isaac Atwal on . Posted in News.

The Manchester Debating Union hosted on Thursday night what was arguably their most over-subscribed event to date. Entitled “This House Believes Israel is a Force for Good in the Middle East” speakers included Yiftah Curiel, an Israeli diplomat and spokesman of the Israeli embassy in London, and long term human rights campaigner and journalist Peter Tatchell. The motion did not carry, with 64 per cent voting against.

A restriction on the amount of people that could attend was imposed by university security who would only allow the event to take place on campus if the audience was limited to 200.

Despite debates usually being held in the Roscoe building where the capacity is much larger, the debate was moved to the fourth floor of University Place in a smaller lecture theatre.

Students queued to get into University Place, which meant the debate started 25 minutes late.

There was a high level of university security at the building entrance and two private bodyguards for Curiel remained in the lecture theatre throughout the debate. The atmosphere however was far from overbearing as the audience listened to what each speaker had to say.

The participants of the debate enjoyed a robust and fair discussion with the audience largely staying quiet when the motion was being proposed and opposed. Despite the topic of the debate being whether Israel was a force for good in the Middle East, the conversation often slipped into the familiar discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict and the prospects for peace between the two parties.

There was however one interruption when Yiftah Curiel was responding to a question about the treatment of people inside Israel with a member of the audience demanding that he “give proper facts.” This stopped proceedings as the chair of the debate and head of the Mancester Debating Union, Jack Mellish, appealed for calm. When Curiel then gave his response, the heckler left mid-way through, much to the amusement of the audience.

Speaking after the debate Yiftah Curiel said it was unfortunate that more people could not have been at the debate and that it was important that this kind of dialogue took place.

Peter Tachell echoed this sentiment saying, “the more the better, if the debate venue has been predetermined [with regards to numbers then] it’s very wrong.”

Regarding the the audience restriction, Jack Mellish said it was “unfortunate that only 200 could attend as so many hundreds wanted to,” but he could also see why security may have wanted to limit the numbers attending. He added, “the Students’ Union were absolutely brilliant and got us a big a venue as possible.”

The University of Manchester has been approached for comment regarding the security arrangements of the event.

Medical Students Left Out of Contract Negotiations

Written by Elinor Bridges on . Posted in News.

Earlier this month, The Mancunion reported that junior doctors and other healthcare professionals marched through Manchester in protest of the proposed changes to junior doctor contracts. Similar marches took place across the UK, and the doctors’ protests have gained much media attention.

However, the Manchester medical students who have been involved in the campaign still feel as if they are being ‘ignored’ when it comes to negotiations.

There is fear amongst medical students that their voices will not be heard, as they are not yet employed by the NHS. This reduces their power in comparison to junior doctors, because while they can march, they are unable to go on strike. In an effort to combat this, Manchester students are making plans of their own to oppose the changes.

One student, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, said, “medical students are becoming increasingly concerned about the outrageous situation we see unfolding in front of us. I am in my final year of medicine which means I will be signing that contract next summer. It seems only fair that we should get a say on it. It certainly feel that we are not getting a chance do that—even though we stand to lose the most from this new contract.”

The student, named Alex, went on to say: “Anger amongst medical students is at an all-time high, coupled with an ever-shrinking level of morale.” While this is partly due to the fact that junior doctors could lose up to 30 per cent of their earnings, Alex also emphasised that it was not just about their pay: “Patient safety is paramount to us and we want to know that the system we’ll be working in is going to safe.”

The British Medical Association has expressed concern that the new proposals, which include longer hours, will impact on doctors’ abilities to perform their job to the highest standard.

Medical students and the Campaigns executive have been contacted for comment, but have not yet responded.

Girls scared away from science by gender stereotyping

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

The Opening Doors project focuses on inadvertent gender bias shown by students and sometimes teachers throughout 10 schools based in the South of England. The guide urges schools to prioritise gender bias as well as more recognised racism and homophobia.

It was noted that although all schools involved had policies on tackling derogatory language surrounding these issues, complaints involving sexist behaviour were treated less seriously.

This ‘harmless banter’ was shown to considerably affect the confidence of students who despite efforts from the school “found it difficult to break out of their roles, and many girls, in particular, passively accepted the situation.” Cases in which a teacher was thought to have shown gender bias were not perceived to be sexist. However, such behaviour was seen by female students as reinforcing gender prejudices.

An Improving Gender Balance survey included in the guide collected opinions on gender from 921 female students across Years 9 to 11. 45.6 per cent of these students thought that “girls are often steered towards humanities,” and 64 per cent said they were “aware of at least two examples of gender issues in choosing careers.”

The Telegraph reported in February this year that only 13 per cent of science, technology, engineering and maths workers are women.”

A similar guide published by Institute of Physics in 2012 found that girls attending private, single-sex schools were “four times more likely to choose physics than their contemporaries in mixed, state-funded schools.”

The report, made this year, attributed this substantial difference to a school’s environment. It claims that 81% of schools are not doing enough to ensure female students progress into subjects such as mathematics or the sciences at a higher level.

Dame Mary Archer, the chair of London’s Science Museum, spoke on the subject science in single-sex schools earlier this year. She said that “going to a single-sex school is quite a traditional route for women my age because nobody said ‘you shouldn’t do that, dear’—not until it is too late anyway.”

Speaking further on the subject she went on to speak about self-confidence in young girls and said that, unfortunately, “there’s a sense that ‘I can’t be as womanly as a scientist as I could be as a beautician or a journalist.'”

The University of Manchester’s student population is 53 per cent female and 47 per cent male. This balance is not seen throughout the university, with the School of Physics and Astronomy estimated to have only a 20 per cent intake of female students.

Physical Education (PE) was another focus, as it was a common grievance with female students. Schools with strong PE departments had a range of sports available to both genders through mixed sessions showed less evidence of gender bias. However, it was noted that within schools lacking in a range of activities “girls resented being prevented from taking certain sports considered unsuitable for them.”

On the matter of gender stereotyping in schools, the government has said that “no woman should feel that their gender is a barrier to their success.”

Residents oppose Owens Park plans

Written by Elinor Bridges on . Posted in News.

It was previously reported by The Mancunion that plans for a £200m revamp of the Fallowfield accommodation campus are moving forward. While this may seem long overdue to those who have lived in the outdated buildings, many local residents are concerned that this will have a negative impact on their community.

The plans include an expansion of the living accommodation into a student village, which will be able to house an extra 1,000 students—more than a 50 per cent increase. This has sparked concerns amongst residents that local services will not be able to cope with this large influx of young people.

Peter Bowers, chairman of the South East Fallowfield Residents group, has said: “The topography of Fallowfield is already very unbalanced—several streets are totally dominated by students. Most behave perfectly appropriately, but there are enough of them so that we do suffer.

“There have been several large house parties and we have a lot of transient noise when groups of young people move down the road making a huge amount of noise. And that’s any time of the day or night.”

These concerns have arisen just weeks after it was claimed that a police crackdown on student noise levels during Welcome Week was ineffective.

Resident Paul Jefferies believes the new housing would be better in a city centre location: “Fallowfield has become a free-for-all festival of selfishness, and council tax payers foot the bill for mopping up.”

Despite the intention to oppose the plans, residents have admitted that it is time that the halls got a facelift, with Bowers stating: “Parts of the plan look really good.”

As previously reported, this won’t be the first time that residents have opposed changes to the Fallowfield campus, as similar plans announced in 2001 were pulled due to resident opposition.

Better sex education key to tackling sexual assaults, campaigners say

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

The growing problem of sexual assaults on the country’s university campuses has fuelled calls to reform sex education for adolescents. In an era of ‘lad culture’ where objectification and degradation of women is rife on campuses, campaigners insist the consequences of systemic sex education failures are clear to see.

The Sex Education Forum (SEF) claims that many incidents of sexual harassment and confusion over consent derive from a poor or non-existent sex education earlier in life. The forum asserts that the most effective means for tackling these issues is prevention through a comprehensive sex education programme—implemented earlier on—that will produce better informed and more responsible adults.

Many young adults today characterise their sex education experience as vague and biologically-centred, barely touching on issues of consent or the emotional implications of sex.

The term ‘consent’ has become increasingly problematic and the varying notions of what people perceive as consent are “as starkly different as they are concerning” one female student said. In a 2014 survey, only one third of respondents said they had learned about consent during their sex education.

These hazy perceptions around what can be considered consensual or non-consensual sex are, according to campaigners, indisputable symptoms of a society that is in desperate need of an earlier and better sex education.

In spite of this new pressure to reform sex education in British schools, it is still not even a mandatory part of the UK school curriculum; many students do not even receive teaching under the current system that campaigners deem to be inadequate.

The SEF and other campaigners are asking the question: “When people are never taught what consent means or what is respectful behaviour towards others is, how can we expect them to act appropriately?” A recent survey showed that at the beginning of this academic year, 17 per cent of students had been sexually whilst two-thirds of that group did not know how to report their abuse. A different poll has shown that one in seven female students are sexually assaulted in the UK during their time at university.

Campaigners say these statistics are unacceptable and Universities UK echoed their sentiments, saying there must be a “zero tolerance” approach.

As evidence showing the prevalence sexual assault mounts, campaigners argue that there needs to be a conversation about sex education; one that will pressure the government to make it compulsory, occur earlier in children’s lives and provide useful, life-long guidance that goes beyond how to open a condom packet.