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Month: October 2015

England: Failure was not an option

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

Devastation and embarrassment. There can be no doubt that these words summarise the feelings of the England rugby team following their elimination from the Rugby World Cup 2015 with a game to spare. Not only are they the first host nation ever to exit the World Cup at the group stage, but the players face the prospect of being back playing for their clubs while the other nations compete in the quarter-finals.

Dissecting tournament failure has become normative regarding English sport in recent history, for the men’s teams, anyway. Here is my assessment.

For me, several crucial errors were made in squad selection for the World Cup. This is solely the fault of Stuart Lancaster. The momentum built over the last two years was lost through both squad selection and indecision over the primary fifteen.

In terms of selection, leaving out exciting players like Luther Burrell and Danny Cipriani was foolish. Burrell was prolific in last year’s Six Nations and, while it has emerged this week that Cipriani had a bust-up with England coach Mike Catt in the weeks preceding the World Cup, the attacking flair he possesses could have made the difference. For example, the demoralizing defeat to Wales – a game that was lost during the last ten minutes due to England’s lack of cutting edge – was the perfect scenario to introduce Cipriani and Burrell as substitutes. Cipriani can be filed next to Kevin Pietersen as a maverick with whom England lacked the conviction to invest faith.

Instead, the likes of Brad Barritt, Sam Burgess and Henry Slade were included. Barritt is a belligerent defender, yet, he is devoid of attacking flair. Slade was selected with the future in mind. In hindsight, it would have been more shrewd to pick blooded, more experienced players who could affect matches.

This brings me to Sam Burgess. The Burgess saga has been on-going ever since his 2014 conversion from Rugby League. I believe that he has the raw ingredients to be a good Rugby Union player. However, there is obviously a huge difference between a Premiership-standard player and an international-standard player. It is, frankly, ludicrous, that Burgess was even considered for the World Cup squad, let alone selected. He has played only twenty-one professional games of Rugby Union for Bath. His appearances in England World Cup warm-up games were his first taste of international rugby. For me, Lancaster was caught up in the Burgess hysteria. Blinded by the belief that Burgess’s raw power and resolute defence were England’s missing ingredients. Burgess’s lack of experience went unheeded. Conversely, the RFU’s investment in the Burgess conversion put overwhelming pressure on Lancaster to select him. Either way, the decision was a huge mistake.

In terms of playing style, Lancaster showed little regard for the successful formula used during the 2015 Six Nations. Playmaker George Ford was quickly replaced by the defensive Owen Farrell at fly-half, a decision illustrating Lancaster’s fear of losing. The last game of the Six Nations – England’s last fully competitive game before the world cup – finished 55-35 in England’s favour. It demonstrated the attacking potential England possessed.

England lacked said attacking intent during the World Cup. Lancaster’s tactics are to blame; his fear of losing consumed his attacking ambition.

Throughout his four year tenure, Lancaster has used 72 players in total. This suggests that English rugby has an abundance of players deemed worthy for the international stage. However, while a lot of these players would have been experiments, it does illustrate that Lancaster has tinkered hugely with his team, and leads me to believe that he does not know his best fifteen—an issue in itself.

England’s overseas policy must be mentioned: the rule that, aside from ‘exceptional circumstances’, only those who play in the English domestic league can be selected for the national team. Steffon Armitage, Dylan Armitage (Both at Toulon) and Nick Abendanon (Clermont Auvergne) all play in France. All three are arguably World Cup squad quality. In recent years, Steffon Armitage has been one of the best rugby players in Europe. His ability to make turn-overs – something so crucial in modern rugby – is exceptional. Australia’s philosophy and their victory over England illustrated the importance of being able to make turn-overs in modern rugby.

It is interesting that Australia have made exemptions to their overseas policy, particularly with Matt Giteau, previously exempt from playing, now a crucial member of the team. The rule is here for a reason (if the whole national team played abroad it would be a co-ordination nightmare), yet, S. Armitage would definitely class as an ‘exceptional circumstance’ in my mind. Lancaster and the RFU must take the blame for their recalcitrance.

It cannot be denied that the team have made progress since Lancaster took the reins. England have lost the Six Nations only on points difference for the last two years, and have competed well against the Southern Hemisphere teams. However, comparisons with Schmidt (Ireland’s coach) and Gatland (Wales’ coach) illustrate his flaws. Both possess a level of coaching experience that Lancaster lacks: both have coached club teams to European cup success (Leinster and London Wasps respectively). Their teams play a calibre of rugby that is greater than the sum of each individual part, and this is down to the respective coaches.

I don’t think that the difference is huge between Schmidt/Gatland and Lancaster. In his defence, Lancaster has triumphed over the two coaches several times in the last 4 years. Yet, in the big games, Lancaster has almost always been defeated by the nous of these coaches (vs Wales in 2013; vs Ireland in 2015; vs Wales in 2015). While Lancaster has an unquestionable ability to demand respect and to motivate a team, I feel that he lacks the ideas and the depth of experience to win the big games.

However, consider this: If you were to think of a World XV of active players, how many of them would be English?

Personally, I think you’d struggle to fit in any. This is relevant because, while we have a lot of high quality players, we lack any who are world-class. In a sense, the quality is diluted within a large player pool, rather than concentrated within a smaller number of individuals. We lack a David Pocock or a Jonny Sexton—a game-changer, a player whose overwhelming quality and skill raises the games of those around him. While selection can be heavily criticised, another way to look at it is that we simply did and do not have good enough players.

Looking forward, the RFU have to decide on Lancaster’s future. His current contract will see him through to the next World Cup. Personally, I think if a coach of international calibre (like Gatland or Schmidt) is available, then Lancaster should be replaced. A decision must be made soon, because whoever is in charge must be given a full World Cup cycle to build a team capable of writing 2015’s wrongs. If Lancaster remains, he will undoubtedly learn plenty from England’s humiliation. The painful thing about rugby, though, is that England must wait four years to redeem themselves. It is going to be a long four years.

Leaving the EU: The case from the left

Written by Ben Farren on . Posted in Opinion.

The European Union was once a group of nations who decided to draw closer in trade and politics. It is in ways a wonderful institution, allowing free trade and free travel across borders, something previously unimaginable, particularly for those deep in the Soviet bloc.

It is difficult to explain how important I think this was and is. The shift from authoritarian documented restriction to transcendent liberal cooperation was remarkable, and entirely unpredictable, even soon after 1989. While the coming together of nations and the expression of mutual trust was admirable and ostensibly a sign of human solidarity, perhaps more sinister intentions remained beneath.

Since the beginning much has changed. Early on I’m sure I would have been in favour of some sort of a union across Europe, and in a way I still am. This European Union is a bureaucratic nightmare, which has been paralysed by political disagreements and pettiness across states. It is now clear that Germany calls the shots, whereas for a long time there was at least some, albeit self-interested, opposition from the French.

This new European hegemony has propagated and enforced the neo-liberal corporatist economics that will be the shame of our century. Corporation-centred economics has overlooked financial crises while they were certainly not unpredictable. Bubbles grew and burst and grew and burst again and again. Countries continued to misbehave. Private institutions—with permission, either explicit or tacit—behaved irresponsibly and potentially criminally, for example Goldman Sachs helping Greece hide debts in 2001 whilst joining the Euro.

This wrongdoing has poisoned the EU, and in time this poison has spread to inhibit the very Union itself, representing the wrong values rather than merely being tainted. This point has been made by individual members, but not by the EU as a whole and they failed to take action. This new European culture is poisoned, and I will not be associated with it any longer.

The single turning point, if one is needed, was the amazing referendum effectively on the Grexit. The Greek people turned down the bailout conditions placed on the table from the EU (conditions which had actually expired by the time of the referendum anyway, but details be damned) magnificently. At the time I remember specifically the euphoria and pride across the world’s Left. The behemoths of Germany and the EU Commission were stood up to by the now empty shell of post-austerity Greece. The people who had no money in the bank, services left on skeleton duty, many who were starving, and importantly many middle class people, still voted no. This final landslide victory gave a massive middle finger to the financial elite. Staring into the abyss of an unprecedented financial crisis, the Germans found the abyss staring back into them, with a defiant grin.

After that referendum the EU could have won me over, so disposed I was (and am) to European co-operation, but they did not. Rather than appreciate the fundamental rejection of their principles and methods, the EU’s machinery sought to tighten the screws on Greece, and demonstrate their power. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras did all he could to not step down. There are decisions for which he must take responsibility, but at the same time we can appreciate that at the time he was possibly the most pressurised man in the world.

The case against Greece is strong, including accounts fraud and irresponsible borrowing, to which I would like to add if there was irresponsible borrowing there was also irresponsible lending. Greece has suffered a lot, but the lenders have not. They were the biggest benefactors of the Greek crisis, as that is where the bailout money went in its majority: To German banks. One positive step I would take to make Europe better would be a strong message being enforced—lenders beware. The EU should not be held ransom to banks and financial leverage.

This is to say nothing of the purely economic mistakes made in the currency union. To give the same interest rates to Greece and Portugal as you give to Germany was never going to be sensible. I would like to say thank you to John Major and Ed Balls for keeping us out of that mess.

The EU is not on the side of the people. The EU is on the side of financial institutions and those who would prefer the corporatist status quo. If you trust David Cameron to renegotiate what you would call a “better Europe,” then go ahead, but I do not. I will not place my trust in him and I would rather start again. I feel very little European citizenship now. Perhaps productivity, and thus the economy, in this country would increase if we were working for each other, rather than for the interests of Angela Merkel?

Understanding the media’s transgender explosion

Written by Harriet New on . Posted in Opinion.

To put it simply, the transgender community are breaking strict traditional rules when it comes to gender and sexuality, and since the patriarchy’s very existence depends on everyone’s compliance, those who break the rules are a threat and usually silenced. That is, until now.

The trans movement has been slowly growing for some years, a prominent moment being black trans actress Laverne Cox gracing the cover of esteemed US magazine TIME in 2014, with a heading marking it as the ‘Transgender Tipping Point’. This, though, is somewhat small in comparison to the impact of Caitlyn Jenner, whose transition from US Olympic champion, reality TV dad and trash magazine punching bag to powerful female icon has catapulted transgender issues and stories into the mainstream.

The mass media interest in transgender issues can be baffling to someone with little previous exposure to trans identities. More confusing still is media outlets regarding transgender people as a completely new phenomenon, when equally high-profile gender reassignment surgeries were happening 60 years ago.

This though, is not just as some have suggested, a hot topic trend being pushed by a trendy celebrity endorsement, but a monumental shift in society. It is giving a voice to a previously forgotten, abused group, and encouraging them to express it. In short, the coverage only feels excessive in comparison to the nothing that came before.

I have little sympathy for those who complain that their media exposure is dominated by stories from those in the LGBT community, arguing that trans is not, as the media would apparently have them believe, a common mainstream phenomena. But after analysing the mass media’s general approach to the trans movement it is clear why people may see this civil rights movement as trivial.

Viral media picked up on the growing acceptance of this next frontier of civil rights, coming out with a series of rather vapid stories that stray away from the goals of the movement and reducing it to just a mere celebrity phase. I have heard more on Caitlyn Jenner’s wardrobe than I have about her efforts to reach out to the trans community, which just clarifies how one-dimensional this phenomena is in danger of being.

While the tabloid establishment praises Jenner’s glamourised appearance and manner, this coverage diverts attention from more serious issues facing those who identify as transgender. The tabloid media has almost completely ignored the enormous spike in murders of US transwomen of colour, and how transphobic hate crimes are rising in the UK. The sidelining of such issues highlights the media’s avoidance when it comes to addressing real issues faced by the trans community.

The current media surge is ignoring a whole spectrum of transgender people, trans men for example, who have rarely been invited into the discussion. This leads on the following troubling issue with the tackling of this community, the degrading obsession with trans-bodies. As with stories concerning Caitlyn Jenner’s ability to apply makeup, considerable amounts of the journalism concerning trans men are fluff pieces. Articles about those who conform to conventional standards of male beauty, with titles like “Look at this transman, he’s so hot” and “Insanely hot men you will not believe are trans”. These, like much of the appearance-centric media, provide unrealistic expectations for transmen, and more importantly prevent them from being seen as multifaceted human beings.

Ultimately with her perfectly feminised white face that has the widest appeal to the cisgender public, as well as celebrity connections, Caitlyn Jenner is really the most myopic view of transgender people that has been constructed. Drawing back to the disgruntled attitude of some members of the public when it comes to the amount coverage of trans issues in the media, the ‘Call Me Caitlyn’ story plays a huge role.

For as exciting as Jenner’s story has been in the past few months, it is inevitable that people will—as some already are—grow tired of her, as most have with the whole Kardashian clan. This presents an issue, as most of the transgender acceptance in the media has been funnelled through Jenner, the burnout of her moment may cause a burnout on transgender issues on the whole.

Is someone who is sick of hearing about Jenner’s experience going to be prepared to treat their trans co-worker with respect and kindness? The fear is no, and this is the real danger caused by the media’s perspective, encouraging people to form their entire opinion on a community based on one high profile individual.

There are of course other elements of the media other than the tabloids embracing the transgender movement—TV shows Transparent, I am Jazz and the BBC’s own Boy Meets Girl, all provide fresher approaches to the community, and I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

Ultimately there is no denying that this development is a momentous moment for civil rights and human acceptance. It is disheartening, then, that elements of the mainstream media refuse to approach it as such, and in turn threaten equality and understanding for the transgender community.

Overheard in Manchester

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

“Do you remember when that guy came round with a samurai sword?”

–Overheard in Fallowfield

 

“It’s so hard not to get paralytic in Manchester”

–Overheard on a Magic Bus

 

“All the French do is fucking protest”

–Overheard in the Library

 

“I personally find menstrual blood foul. It’s just a different texture isn’t it? I mean, it’s got bits in”

–Overheard in Withington

 

“Apparently he’s bi, but I’m not buying it”

–Overheard in Didsbury

 

“A guy on the floor above me came down and did a shit in our kettle. No honestly, an actual shit”

–Overheard in Big Hands

 

“You chat so much shit but you have a pretty face so it’s fine”

–Overheard in Fallowfield

 

“I’m going to start ordering sex like fast food. Would you like a medium or an extra large?”

–Overheard in the Students’ Union

 

I want to ride my bicycle

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Anybody who happens to mention that they cycle around campus will be familiar with the common responses. Ranging from “oh yeah, I keep meaning to get my mum to bring my bike,” to the hyperbolic “aren’t you scared you’ll die on the Curry Mile?!”, these responses make it very clear that, despite the rash of cyclists across Manchester, many students are simply not willing to take the risk.

Across the student population in general, you tend to find that people are firmly divided into two camps. There are those who merely observe the many cyclists and might be peeved at the recent amount of roadworks for the new cycle lanes. Then there are the actual cyclists, who often get weirdly invested in their cycling habit. Exchanges of the quickest route; horror stories from the Curry Mile; and discussions about whether their bike is a hybrid or a road bike… these palavers can ring out for hours.

When first beginning to cycle around Manchester, it can often feel like everyone else knows what they are doing in comparison to you. The very best thing to do when you first start cycling around a city is make sure that you are hyper-aware of your road safety. You’re at an advantage if you already know how to drive, or have had at least a few driving lessons. If you haven’t, it’s probably worth brushing up on your road safety—it’s easy to do online—if only to make yourself feel more secure when you first go out.

There is also a very useful function on Google Maps that allows you to find the quickest or quietest route, or even the route with the least sheer incline if you’re feeling lazy. If you’re worried about getting lost on top of making sure that you haven’t pulled out in front of the 142, you can put one headphone in and set your phone up to robotically deliver directions as you cycle along. For safety’s sake, once you get used to the route, it’s probably best to cycle completely sans-headphones.

While you’ll see many casual cyclists around Manchester without helmets, it’s not always the best idea as a novice on the roads. Likewise, it’s actually illegal to not have lights on your bike after dark; it’s worth purchasing some before you get caught out after a late lecture.

In terms of actual cycling, the best thing to keep in mind is to always be looking around you to check for any potential hazards. Make use of the cycle boxes at traffic lights in order to pull away quickly from left-turning vehicles, and always be aware of the speed at which you are actually capable of pulling away from junctions in line with oncoming traffic. The general rule for buses or other large vehicles is that, if you can’t see their mirrors, then they can’t see you.

Keeping your bicycle safe should also be a priority, try to lock it within well-lit areas if it’s after dark, and invest in a sturdy bike lock that you can put around both the frame and the front wheel (to avoid this being removed from the bike).

Many people make cycling around Manchester sound terrifying, but if you take care and respect other road users, it can be a great way of getting some exercise whilst also saving money.

Overwatch – Preview

Written by Connor McBride on . Posted in Games.

When loading up Overwatch, at a first glance you may be forgiven for thinking that you have stumbled into the Team Fortress 3 public beta. During my brief play at Gamescom, I was thrust into a payload-style game mode, where I could choose from different characters arranged into different classes. If I looked hard enough, I could have found the hat shop.

In an attempt to wean us addicts off Steam, first with MOBA replacement therapy in the form of Heroes of The Storm, and now with this, Overwatch is an objective-based First Person Shooter, where you compete in teams of 6 in two different game modes: Point Capture and Payload. Both of these are very fun, but not really ground-breaking.

The roster of characters is imaginative and they are split into four classes: Offense, Defense, Tank, and Support. There is a wide variety of characters to choose from, and subsequently a lot of team compositions to keep any competitive scene interesting.

Is it fun? Yes. Would I recommend giving it a shot? Yes. Could I convince a Team Fortress 2 player to convert? Well, it has a gorilla with glasses and a tesla cannon.

Marketing: Who’s in control of what you spend?

Written by Robert Parris on . Posted in Opinion.

Ever heard of Edward Bernays? Chances are high that you haven’t. Outside of the marketing and advertising fields, Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud, is a relative unknown. However, the legacy of Bernays is both sensational and haunting.

This man was almost singlehandedly responsible for making female smoking socially acceptable through the heavy use of psychology in his marketing techniques. Bernays is credited with being the first to theorize that people could be made to buy things that they do not actually need, by appealing to their unconscious desires.

Bernays was hired by the American Tobacco Company to encourage women to smoke. This is because, up until the early 20th century, it was not publicly acceptable for women to do so. In 1929, Bernays staged the Easter Parade in New York City, presenting models smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes, or as he captioned them: “Torches of Freedom”.

He presented this event as a news story, and then told the press to expect that women suffragists would light up “torches of freedom” during the parade to display their equality alongside the male sex. After the event, women smoking gradually became more commonplace, and subsequently the American Tobacco Company made a fortune.

The true legacy of Bernays, however, is the blueprint that he sculpted for the field of marketing and advertising, which is still largely used to this day. Various psychological tricks that Bernays developed are used to entice consumers into buying items that they do not necessarily want or even need. With advertising and marketing more prevalent in our lives than ever before, we must ask: To what extent are we truly in control of our own expenditure? Are we mere puppets influenced to a startling degree by corporations?

Advertising is everywhere and good advertising campaigns are frequently noticed. When you scroll through the Facebook feed on your phone, there are adverts interspersed among forgettable statuses and photos of your idiot friends wearing traffic cones on their heads. Often, these online adverts are tailored to the individual based on their browsing habits and online purchasing decisions. Furthermore, they are marketed in such a way to target your unconscious desires. Whether it be a discounted gym membership because you think you’re overweight, or a sale at a clothes store because you think you are out of fashion, all are targeted at our unconscious desires. Adverts are designed to generate brand loyalty and target these insecurities, then ultimately make you spend money on their products.

You may think that you are in complete control of your expenditure, but that might not be so. Some techniques are obvious. Apple often hypes up a new iOS update with an intense publicity campaign in order to get as many users as possible to download the new update. Often these come at a severe performance cost and you are enticed to upgrade to the latest model.

Other techniques are less obvious. Case in point—the free pizza given out by Domino’s during Welcome Week. Chances are, you thought that the main reason for this was to generate brand loyalty, and to a large degree, you are correct. However, there is some dark psychology behind this. Regans Reciprocity Experiment in 1979 revealed that if a person or a business gives something to you, you feel obligated to give something back, even if it’s more expensive. Bear this in mind upon the next time you are buying yet another iPhone, or maybe ordering a Domino’s at 11pm.

In 2014, McDonald’s, the largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants in the world, spent a colossal $1.42 billion on advertising alone, according to statista.com. This insane, colossal budget is justified by one simple fact—it works. McDonald’s didn’t become the largest hamburger franchise because it provided the tastiest, most varied, and most nutritional meals. No no.

The chain succeeded because it was able to market its food in the most psychologically appealing way. This is why the Big Mac that you are served often looks nothing like the goods advertised. Various lighting and editing techniques are used to achieve this image without breaking advertising regulations. Due to the fact that McDonald’s advertising is commonplace and frequent, it has become the place to go to for a quick snack after a night of clubbing. Well, that’s what our subconscious tells us.

I certainly do not think that we are yet at a point where our free will, with regards to our purchasing decisions, is dominated by marketing. In fact, I think that now more than ever, people are beginning to catch on to the absurdity of media imaging and brand loyalty. The use of plus size models is a notable example of a consumer backlash to these techniques, this time against the fashion industry’s use of models with unrealistic proportions. But I think that it is important that we are aware of these techniques, even if it is simply to avoid a regrettable purchasing decision. Just remember that the next time that you make an impulse buy, it may not be entirely your own decision.

Papyrus

Written by Marina Iskander on . Posted in Lifestyle.

With the issue of mental health problems rising exponentially, schools and universities are merely reaching the verge of realizing the importance of addressing these problems.

Fortunately, there are many societies, social media pages, and websites that offer free (and anonymous) help to victims of depression, especially people contemplating suicide. PAPYRUS is an organization that not only hosts a helpline to advise those in need, but also trains professionals and gives talks at universities and colleges. PAPYRUS helps those facing the idea of suicide, but also aids the people around the sufferer.

On a larger scale, PAPYRUS also use their experience to campaign for the cause. In fact, their website quotes that they “draw from the experience of many whom have been touched personally by young suicide across the UK and speak on their behalf in our campaigns and in our endeavors to save young lives.” PAPYRUS does not just aim to directly help those contemplating suicide, but rather aims to raise awareness through the media and the internet. Physically, they have two offices and are regularly looking for volunteers to spread their message.

The path leading up to PAPYRUS was one of personal passion; it was founded by a mother who lost her son to suicide, and the project expanded as more parents joined. Since 1997, they have been sharing their stories and experiences in order to help to remove the stigma around suicide and to help parents and family members of victims cope.

PAPYRUS believe that one of the main reasons the number of young suicides is rising is because of the stigma around it, which keeps people from speaking out or asking for help. And so, being an anonymous website, PAPYRUS is a great place to start—whether for yourself or for someone whom you know. Ultimately, the most basic human instinct is to survive, but sometimes we forget that our greatest enemy is ourselves.

The Sound of Music

Written by Aj Mal on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Crossing the road with headphones on is up there on the stupid list alongside running with scissors and cooking whilst drunk. All of the above are activities which are likely to end in injury or worse, yet so many of us persist in doing them. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen people blindly step out in front of traffic, oblivious to the beeping of horns, whilst humming along to their favourite tune.

Headphones are ubiquitous, whether they are giving us an inspirational beat to walk or jog to, providing a soundtrack to our day, looking trendy or just keeping our ears warm. However, removing one of our senses whilst navigating the extremely busy roads of this city can be lethal. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reports a massive rise in incidents involving headphone wearers. These have included people being hit by cars or even trains, and a large percentage of incidents have lead to death.

To avoid accidents and harm to yourself (or even those expensive new headphones), pause the music or take them off when navigating busy traffic, and take extreme care when stepping into the road. This can be a life saver.

Studies by the University of Maryland state that in most accidents, a horn was sounded to warn the pedestrian, but headphones prevented this from being heard. In some cases this was combined with mobile phone use leading to almost complete loss of awareness of surroundings.

We suggest removing headphones entirely and enjoying the sounds of life around us. Without those obstructive beats in our ears, we can enjoy the sounds of crowds, people telling us to move, beeping horns, comments on our dress sense, and those annoying people in matching T-shirts in the city centre asking us for ‘just a minute’ of our time. There is so much to hear, so think twice the next time you venture out with headphones on.

Slashing the status quo, and Hillary Clinton’s lead

Written by Coby Tunnicliffe on . Posted in Opinion.

Donald Trump has been dominating conversation about the 2016 Presidential Election. His mix of bold claims and controversial statements have successfully kept the media talking about both him and the Republican nomination.

In contrast, much less attention has been given to the Democratic nomination. Most pundits have presumed that Hillary Clinton would take it without much of a fight, and although she’s still in the lead, her win is now less certain than when she announced her intention to run. A series of scandals, particularly criticism of her using a private email address while Secretary of State, have dogged her campaign and chipped away at her approval ratings.

Despite this, Clinton doesn’t exactly have anyone close on her heels; Bernie Sanders is still 18 points behind in second place, but still much closer and making gains, defying cynical expectations of many for the self-described socialist. An even bigger threat for her could be the much rumored entering of Joe Biden, the current Vice-President, into the race. Biden would be less likely to pull support away from Sanders’ younger and more radical camp but instead from Clinton’s more centrist supporters. If people in her campaign office are still complacent, they may need a shake.

It is easy to see why Trump has gained so much attention. Crude insults make what has previously been considered a dry and boring political process by many unpredictable and entertaining. So much so that the latest Republican debate gave CNN its highest ever ratings. However, time spent talking about insults and personal feuds has come at the expense of conservation about virtually everything else. Other issues, and the Democratic race, have not found a platform and are being neglected in the public discourse.

Joe Biden sits comfortably in the ‘Washington Circle’ that Trump and Sanders have done well to not appear a part of. In this respect he is a very different threat to Clinton than Sanders. Biden being in the political mainstream means he will be able to pick up the big donors that Sanders will never have, allowing him to challenge Clinton with the infamous expensive television ads and campaigning that win American elections.

There is already talk of some donors preparing to jump ship from the Clinton campaign in favour of Biden. Despite all this, Biden is not currently officially running for President, but rumours of him running are so rife that many pundits and polls speak about him as if he is. There are reasons why Biden may not make a bid, the most prominent being the tragic death of his son earlier this year, however if he does enter the race it may provide the media attention that the Democratic election thus far lacks.

The student vote is crucial for the Democrats, but they are a group that Clinton fails to impress. Recent polls show she has just 18 per cent of students support compared to Sanders 59 per cent. The self described socialist has successfully positioned himself as the anti-establishment candidate—something that Hillary certainly is not. She’s been a face in government for as long as most current students can remember, and shares her surname with a former President. This is an area where Biden is unlikely to seriously challenge—he scored an even lower at 14 per cent—and is much less likely to impress students than Clinton or Sanders.

The support of students is important and as they are much more likely to volunteer their time to support a candidate than people in employment, so are a valuable asset to a campaign, particularly one like Sanders’ that lacks big sponsors.

Liam, a 21-year-old student in New York, a solid Democratic state, said: “I don’t trust Hillary less than anyone else in politics; I like Sanders but I don’t really know enough about him to say for sure; Biden seems likeable but I don’t have any real thoughts about him.” This lack of interest in politics, and question of trust in politicians, appears to be the rule on campuses around America. Never have I heard a student talk enthusiastically about the prospect of Hillary becoming President, but talk of Sanders goes some way to getting an interest from people who are otherwise apathetic.

After losing the Democratic nomination to Obama in 2008, Clinton remained active in politics. She served as Secretary of State from 2009 – 2013. In many ways her tenure was relatively successful considering the challenges she faced during that time: For starters, she began the negotiation of the Iran Nuclear Deal.

However there were enough mistakes and failures to give her detractors ammunition to challenge her competence, which they have done viciously. Clinton has been unable to silence talk about her use of a private email address while Secretary of State. Her often contradictory responses to questions on the matter have in some ways added legitimacy to portrayals of her as untrustworthy.

Sanders has taken a lot of criticism for his socialist views but few would call him untrustworthy. It has not only left people thinking Clinton is untrustworthy but also incompetent. Jared is a 27-year-old independent resident in Pennsylvania, a state with a tendency to swing: “It has me asking, ‘Was she just too lazy to use an encoded email?’ I don’t want to put someone who can’t pay attention to the details in the highest office.”

It may seem peculiar that an e-mail account is becoming the defining feature of a 3-year stint in one of the most important positions in the USA, especially when other events included the first murder of a US ambassador in office in three decades and the beginning of talks that would help to unfreeze US-Iranian relations. Clinton’s lack of a satisfactory response to the rumors has also been pointed to as a sign of her complacency. She needs to answer the concerns of voters like Jared. It could also be seen as another example of the conversation in the debates not focusing on the most relevant issues.

Focus on Trump’s controversial statements have blinkered the public’s view of other areas of the presidential debate. This has limited discussion on the Democratic nomination, with what little there is having been about Clinton’s email scandal, the rise of Bernie Sanders and the potential of Joe Biden entering the race; in short, nothing positive for Hillary. It is no longer foolish to suggest someone other than Hillary Clinton will be facing the Republican candidate in the final debate.

Orthorexia: The healthy eating disorder

Written by Sonia Mansouri on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Fitness has never been cooler.  Scroll down your Instagram timeline and you will see numerous celebrities promoting ‘teatoxes’, namely Skinny Mint and Bootea, which promise magical phenomena, from banishing bloating to curing bad skin. They are also effectively laxatives. Switch on the TV or open any gossip weekly and you’ll find every member of reality shows past and present promoting their own fitness DVD or a workout regime that “changed their life.” After all, health is wealth, right? Yet the downfalls of a super-health-conscious lifestyle can sometimes outweigh the benefits.

In 2003, Kate Finn was reported to have died from orthorexia, a ‘modern-day eating disorder’. Coined by Dr. Steven Bratman, it refers to an obsession with health that can lead to mental and physical problems. While not an officially recognised eating disorder, orthorexia highlights the unfortunately ironic idea that a fixation on eating ‘right’ can lead to bad health through over-restriction of food groups and calories, and an obsession with perfection that can lead to self-punishment and can negatively affect relationships, interests, and self-esteem.

Cutting out foods is not new. Be it vegetarians with meat, Muslims with pork, Coeliacs with gluten, people have for a long time been fastidious with their food for health, political and/or religious reasons to name but a few. Orthorexia often starts out as a well-meaning attempt to get healthy, but it is the transition from cutting out one or two food groups—such as carbs—to cutting out so many that a person becomes malnourished, that makes it physically dangerous. But what fuels this fixation on perfect eating and the fear of ‘bad’ food?

That question takes us to the internet—that endless abyss of information, inspiration and desperation. In this particular case: Fitspiration, or #fitspo. The images are familiar—Victoria’s Secret models or headless, shredded bodies, oiled up and made of steel. The quotes vary—“unless you puke, faint, or die, keep going” to “skinny girls look good in clothes, fit girls look good naked.”

Instagram’s First Lady of fitness, Jen Selter (@jenselter), has over 7 million followers. If you haven’t heard of “the most famous bum on Instagram”, well, I think that title pretty much sums it up. Known for her super-toned figure and photos of her healthy lifestyle, Selter is a poster child of both the trend in curvy athletic bodies and of how social media created and creates celebrities based on looks. Consider Serena Williams’s Instagram account, which has only 2.1 million followers in comparison—perhaps it’s not legitimate athleticism and fitness that we are interested in, but pretty, filtered images of it.

You could suggest that the rise of orthorexia stems from the ascending attraction of having a super-toned body, like the media representations and celebrity aspirations in previous years of size 0 models or Kim Kardashian, just with a different body type that cannot be achieved by surgery or starvation. But unlike them, super-fitness—and its risk of orthorexia—applies to men and women equally.

Consider marketing campaigns for protein powders and supplements. Aimed at men and driven by ‘gym culture’, selling aesthetic perfection under the smiling mask of good health. The products may be healthy but the messages… not so much. Perhaps comparing yourself with others can be used as a way to assess your accomplishments, but unfortunately, the marketing industry is using this to manipulate the public in a negative way. A sense of competitiveness with other people could very well contribute to that unhealthy mindset and to extreme behaviour. Without an end destination, being ‘fit’ can seem unattainable, and many are unaware of when to stop.

Orthorexia could be dismissed as a kind of ultimate first world problem, but the fact that reported cases are on the rise, and it is being talked about more and more recently, is surely cause for concern, regardless of whether it is an ‘official’ disorder or not. A difference with orthorexia is that its associated behaviours are socially acceptable, but the message here is certainly not that exercising, eating carefully, determination, working towards goals and looking after yourself are bad things!

The obsession and the fixation on ‘perfection’ are dangerous. And these just so happen to be augmented by media and marketing in a culture where too much is never enough; that is what makes it dangerous, and we must start taking it seriously.

Is SAD making you miserable?

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Manchester’s uncharacteristically good weather may have temporarily lifted your hopes into believing that maybe Manchester isn’t the UK’s rainiest city but, trust me, the rain will come. For some people, however, the darkening skies, shorter days and colder weather will have a bigger effect than the encouragement to whip out your trusty winter coat.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is now a recognised depressive illness. It is affecting many who are unfortunate enough to live in a country that is plagued by miserable weather all year round. But at what point does a preference for the ‘sunnier’ months become a mental illness? According to SADA (the UK’s only non-commercial support organisation for SAD) symptoms for the disorder include lethargy, poor cognitive function, increased vulnerability to winter illnesses, sleep problems, over-eating, social problems, loss of libido and an altered mood in springtime. However, for those who suffer more intensely, depression and anxiety may occur, too.

But why do sunless skies and chilly temperatures affect some people in such a way? SADA says that “Light passes through the eye to the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls a wide range of functions.” Sounds a little complex though, right? Your hypothalamus is a section of the brain responsible for the production of copious essential hormones. These hormones control many functions, including body temperature, thirst, hunger, fatigue, sleep and libido.

When this part of your brain doesn’t get its daily dose of sunshine, it may cease to work correctly. Being the producer of so many important chemicals, this can negatively affect the mind and body of an SAD sufferer. Changes will include a spike in melatonin, which will result in increased fatigue, whereas their serotonin levels (controlling mood, appetite and sleep) will plummet, resulting in feelings of depression. Their circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock) will also be affected, thus worsening the symptoms.

If all the symptoms sound a little too familiar and you’re dreading the impending winter months, you don’t need to start saving for your expatriation to the Caribbean (although that would be nice, wouldn’t it?). There is treatment available. Solutions include a change in lifestyle measures, light therapy, talking therapy or antidepressant medication. Diagnosis is usually made after the sufferer shows symptoms for three or more consecutive winters. But there’s no time like the present to communicate with your GP if you’re feeling blue. After all, ‘winter is coming’.

Student rep election results announced

Written by Emily Hulme on . Posted in News.

Last week, student elections for part-time repstook place. Candidates have been seen drumming up support from around Owens Park and around campus, in an attempt to gain students votes for a number of positions on the executive.

Positions range from Women’s Officer, to Ethical and Environmental Officer and Student Community Officer to name a few. In short, the elected representatives do all in their power to improve life for University Of Manchester students.

 

The results this year are as follows:

Undergraduate Humanities Officers: Ally Routledge, Fred Craig

Postgraduate Taught Humanities Officer: Amber Guan

Postgraduate Research Humanities Officer: Ros Wolfe

Undergraduate Life Sciences Officer: Sarah Choke

Postgraduate Taught Life Sciences Officer: Laura Castro

Undergraduate Medical and Human Sciences(MHS) Officers: Mohammed Alli Safdar, Chloe Brookes

Postgraduate Research MHS Officer: Helen Parker

Postgraduate Taught MHS Officer: Natasha Motsi

Disabled Students Officers: Dorian Gordon, Nayab Begum

Women Students Officers: Muneera Lula, Jess Lowe

BME Student Officers: Felicia Odamtten, Deej Lashley-Johnson

LGBTQ Officers: Liss Anckorn, Yi Ye

Ethical and Environmental Officer: Alexandra Cuschieri

International Officer: Duan Sun-Sundy

Undergraduate EPS Officers: Miruna Pislar, Mushfique Hossain Pavel

Postgraduate Taught EPS Officer: Zhao Chenhoe

Postgraduate Research EPS Officer: Imhotep Baptise (Imo)

Community Officers for Fallowfield and Withington: Jacob Morris-Davis, James Riley

Community Officers for Rusholme and Whitworth: Fran Lester, Louis Appolinari

Community Officers for City Centre: Joseph Clough, Andrew Yau

 

The turnout this year amounted to 2459—the highest amount of votes cast in an election for part-time officers in the university’s history. This perhaps reflects the recent increase of young people becoming more engaged in politics.

Ally Routledge, the successfully-elected Undergraduate Humanities Officer said: “The high turnout from the election proves that students really do care about how their university is run—I will work hard to represent the views of all humanities students to make their time at university the best it can be.”

This year the elections had a bit of a shake up. If successful, candidates are now allowed to help set the direction of the Senate, allowing them to assist in shaping university policy. This gives the newly elected officers a chance to really put their mark on how things are done. Students are encouraged to approach the newly elected committee if they want to suggest how university life could be improved.

Sussex to pay student protester £20,000 in damages

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

An anti-privatisation protester at the University of Sussex has received a formal apology and £20,000 in damages after being accused of criminal behaviour for a protest in late 2013.

In 2013, hundreds of students joined protests on the Sussex campus against the outsourcing of more than 200 jobs to an external company. Five protesters, including Michael Segalov, then an undergraduate law student, were disciplined.

22-year-old Segalov was  suspended, banned from campus, and accused of “intimidating behaviour, theft, damage and violence” by the University after sit-ins and demonstrations in November and December 2013.

The university published two bulletins about the protests on its website, titled ‘University starts disciplinary process over persistent disruption of campus’ and ‘Disciplinary processes continue as University lifts student suspensions’, in which they made accusations that Segalov organised and led unlawful occupation of University property, and carried out criminal behaviour.

Over 200 academic staff wrote directly to Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing who has recently announced he will step down, criticising the University’s response as disproportionate and threatening to the right to protest.

The university have now released an official apology, acknowledging “that there is no truth in any of these claims, and is happy to confirm this is the case. In particular it confirms that Mr Segalov did not engage in any form of intimidation, theft, assault of a member of staff and/or damage to university property.”

“Throughout my time as a student, I maintained that the campaigns I was part of were peaceful in nature, leaderless in their organisation, and had the support of the majority of students and staff,” said Segalov.

“The University of Sussex administration showed a blatant disregard for basic principles of law when attempting to clamp down on protests—suspending students wrongfully, banning protests, and publishing defamatory statements about me online.

“I’m relieved that the apology and statement in open court will show once and for all, and encourage students and activists across the country to continue to campaign for a fairer and free education system, and acts as a warning to administrations considering to act in similar ways as Sussex.”

The university have agreed to pay Mr Segalov’s legal fees, as well as £20,000 in damages.

Texas students protest gun laws with dildos

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

Students from The University of Texas in Austin are protesting laws that allow people to carry concealed weapons on campus by hanging dildos from their bags.

The ‘Campus (Dildo) Carry’ protest was organised by Jessica Jin through a Facebook event. On their page, they highlight the irony that “the State of Texas has decided that it is not at all obnoxious to allow deadly concealed weapons in classrooms, however it does have strict rules about sexual expression, to protect your innocence.

They add, “you would receive a citation for taking a dildo to class before you would get in trouble for taking a gun to class.”

The protest is against the signing by Governor Greg Abbott of S.B. 11, also known as the “campus carry” law. The law allows license holders to carry a concealed handgun throughout university campuses. The law is set to come into effect in August 2016.

Contrastingly, the state prohibits the exhibition of any writing or visual image that is considered obscene on campus grounds.

Over 9,000 students have signed up so far to the protest planned for next year when the law is passed.

The students plan to strap “gigantic swinging dildos” to their backpacks on August the 24th 2016. They have welcomed anyone to join them, declaring on their event “Come one dildo, come all dildos”.

Many gun rights supporters have posted criticism on the Facebook event, with one arguing, “we don’t blame cars for drunk drivers; why blame guns for violent people?”

Another gun rights supporter wrote “a grand example of the decline of value in American University education.”

Supporters argue that gunmen target “gun-free zones,” such as university campuses and cinemas, because they know that they will not be met with resistance.

The BBC reported, however, that a while a student was armed during a recent college shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, he chose not to use his weapon.

He was reported to have said he feared police would mistake him for the gunman and didn’t want to put his life in danger.

Students have appealed to the University President Gregory Fenves to limit the new law. The law does give public universities some discretion to regulate campus gun carry.

Jessica Jin concludes her invitation to the event with: “You’re carrying a gun to class? Yeah well I’m carrying a HUGE DILDO. Just about as effective at protecting us from sociopathic shooters, but much safer for recreational play.”

Students in solidarity with staff at risk of redundancy

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

As the IT jobs dispute continues, with staff working at the University of Manchester under threat from compulsory redundancies if voluntary agreements cannot be reached, students and staff rallied in solidarity by staging a protest on Thursday the 15th of October displaying banners and distributing flyers to “keep up the pressure on the university and raise awareness” of the situation.

Speeches were made by staff, students and union members who all emphasised the need to resist the new measures and to negotiate fairer redundancy packages and better job security.

Speakers asserted these moves targeting IT workers are symptomatic of a changing attitude centred on generating profit, though the university denies this. One union member claimed the cuts were a result of the university’s efforts to ensure it adhered to a “sound business model.”

The unions say measures by the university which have given rise to this dispute, represent changes to the Redeployment Policy which states staff cannot be made compulsorily redundant, which focuses on finding alternative employment elsewhere within the university for staff.

Previously, staff were entitled to remain on the redeployment register indefinitely, but this has been reduced to just three months, offering little long-term job security.

The university plans to outsource much of IT services to private companies, a move which is strongly opposed by current staff who claim it will result in a “poorer service for students” and that it is primarily in the interest of profit.

The university maintains that offloading staff is necessary at a time of economic difficulty, when budgets are tight and cuts to expenditure are needed. But this is something staff, who feel like they are victims of “growing privatisation in higher education,” refuse to accept. With the leader of Unite stating that “we feel as though we have been backed into a corner over this”, strike action now looks increasingly likely.

A University of Manchester spokesman said: “The university has consulted with the campus trade unions concerning the position of staff who have been on the redeployment register for more than three months and has made an offer of voluntary severance to all those staff affected.

“The university has also made an offer of voluntary severance, in consultation with the unions, to those IT staff affected by the changes. The university remains willing to engage with the campus trade unions and is holding further discussions with them.”

Preventing Prevent

Written by Lucy Menage on . Posted in News.

Prevent is one part of the four-pronged government counter-terrorism strategy along with Prepare, Pursue and Protect, and was first introduced to the UK in 2006 by Tony Blair following the 7/7 attacks on London.

The Prevent strategy claims the “risk of a terrorist attack in our country is extremely high,” and therefore the counter-terrorism strategy needs to contain a “plan to prevent radicalisation and stop would-be terrorists from committing mass murder.”

The 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act has made the Prevent programme a legal duty for all public sector workers including teachers, doctors and university lecturers. It essentially encourages public sector workers to try to identify those they believe are being drawn into extremism.

The Home Office has stated that “changes in behaviour and outlook may be visible to university staff,” and those universities need “to have the necessary staff training, IT policies and student welfare programmes to recognise these signs and respond appropriately.”

Despite Prevent not mentioning any particular religious group, there have been a series of incidents that have raised questions about how the government regards the actions of Muslims.

On Wednesday, BME MCR and the University of Manchester Islamic Society (ISOC) held a Preventing Prevent event. Speakers at the event included lecturer Dr. Katy Sian; Hannah McCarthy, Campaigns and Citizenships Officer; Vice-President of Student Affairs for the Islamic Society Saffa Mir; and Ilyas Nagdee of BME MCR.

All four speakers highlighted how detrimental and offensive they thought the initiative was, with Nagdee stating that “the entire agenda is steeped in Islamophobia, it will criminalise dissent and create an environment of fear for Muslim and black students on campus.”

After a group discussion, a collective decision was made that students needed to work with the university to stop Prevent having a negative impact on its Muslim students. It was also suggested that working with Trade Unions across campus and setting up a public blog for students who have been unfairly policed by Prevent would be effective.

Preventing Prevent comes at an extremely relevant time, with recent headlines full of negative stories about Muslims and Islamophobic attacks on the rise, with a 68 per cent increase in London alone from 2013 to 2014.

Ex-Dragon’s Den star calls on young people to choose apprenticeships not university

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

Former Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis has claimed young people are better off not going to university. Instead of landing themselves in heavy debt, Papthitis says they should instead seek apprenticeships or learn a trade.

As a self-made businessman who boasts a net worth of over £200 million, Paphitis’ career exemplifies the view that there are alternative opportunities aside from university.

The retail tycoon claims “times have changed” and that going to university no longer guarantees a job afterwards, only debt. He challenged the notion that graduates are ahead in the job market, saying that graduates can actually fall behind their counterparts who already have three or four years of on-the-job experience.

He also hit out at university drinking culture, alleging that campuses around the country foster excessive alcohol consumption as much as they do education. His stance on universities is certainly an impassioned one but for some it was too far. “You don’t need to slate university to promote apprenticeships”, one Twitter user responded.

Undergraduate students currently pay triple the tuition fees paid just a few years ago, and many graduates struggle to find jobs. Paphitis suggested many young people still choose university as they feel a pressure to, and that there is an expectation they should do so if capable.

With the average student incurring at £27,000 worth of debt in tuition fees alone, many would-be students may opt for a different path. Despite this, many argue the merits of a university education warrant the financial impact due to the broad job opportunities it opens up.

People will undoubtedly challenge Paphitis’ claims by saying that many jobs require a degree as standard, usually alongside work experience. Nonetheless the businessman’s comments will have an impact in the wider conversation about higher education and employment in the current economic climate.

LSE report recommends mandatory quotas to reduce gender inequality

Written by Katie Buckingham on . Posted in News.

On Tuesday the 12th of October, the London School of Economics’ Gender Institute published a report titled ‘Confronting Gender Inequality’. The report, co-directed by Professors Diane Perrons and Nicola Lacey, argued that gender inequality could be reduced in the economy, law, politics, and media and culture with recommended changes.

The Gender Institute said, “the Commission was designed to draw on LSE research and external experts to provide theoretical and empirical knowledge to inform public and policy debates in the UK.”

Across all the four sectors, the study highly recommended and emphasised the importance of mandatory quotas in order to see real reductions of gender inequality. The study stated that this would ensure “greater gender balance,” as well as being one of the most significant ways of effecting change. The authors argued that “presence alone is not sufficient.”

The report called specifically for quotas for women in internal government positions. The report acknowledged that “quotas can, on occasion, be cumbersome or feel overly mechanical,” but still contended that “this is the only way to ensure that questions of equality and diversity are taken seriously within a party.”

The stark difference between male and female employment in politics was highlighted with statistics on female representation within elected bodies. Just 29 per cent of UK MPs, 35 per cent of MSPs (Members of Scottish Parliament), and 42 per cent of AMs (Members of the Welsh Assembly) are women.

Although the report credited the UK as being significantly ahead of the world average of female politicians, which is approximately one in five, it emphasised that “we cannot assume that change is set to continue in a steady upward curve.” The Guardian reported that Kate Green, the Shadow Equalities Minister, said: “The report is right—radical action is needed to push for greater gender equality and representation.”

Mandatory quotas and audits were also advised to be introduced into the practice of law. The study criticised the limited impact the new system of equal opportunities in legal work, introduced in 2005, had made; only 10 per cent of QCs were female in 2010.

The study also stated that “the UK has never sent a woman judge to key international tribunals such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) or the European Court of Justice (ECJ).”

The government’s economic policies were criticised as the study gave evidence showing that current austerity measures are causing more harm to women, especially those on lower income.

The report recommended socially fair and gender-sensitive macroeconomic policies; the authors argued that public expenditure is vital in order to protect the local services that provide crucial facilities for women. These included childcare centres and law advisers which provide accessible legal aid to lower income families.

NUS President joins national campaign to keep Britain in Europe

Written by Elena Losavio on . Posted in News.

Britain Stronger In Europe, the main national campaign to keep the UK in the European Union (EU), was launched on Monday the 12th of October. Megan Dunn, President of the NUS, and Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, joined the board of the campaign.

Politicians from several parties, including Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Greens, together with eminent businesspeople and others working in arts and entertainment are involved in this campaign.

An in-out EU referendum will be held in the UK by the end of 2017, according to the Conservatives’ election manifesto. The electorate will be asked to vote if Britain should stay in or leave the EU. British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 years of age who live in the UK will be eligible to vote.

In addition, people who have a British nationality and have lived abroad for less than 15 years can also cast their vote. EU citizens, unless they are from Ireland, Malta or Cyprus, cannot vote.

In 1975, the UK had a nationwide referendum in order to decide if Britain should have continued to be a member of the European Economic Community (EEC). At the time, more than 67 per cent of voters cast their votes in support of the campaign to be in the EEC.

Since the creation of the EU, many projects and collaborations, particularly for young professionals and students, were instated between the 28 European countries, such as the Erasmus Exchange Programme, a key partnership.

Since 1987 over 200,000 UK students, and over 3,000,000 Europe-wide, have been abroad to study or work with the Erasmus scholarship without worrying about expensive Visas. According to NUS President Megan Dunn, about 15,000 UK students joined the programme in 2012 alone.

Reflecting on the EU’s influence on UK education, she wrote in The Independent: “The EU supports our education sector in Britain and ploughs close to a billion pounds a year into higher education funding and research alone. There are students up and down the country today benefitting directly from the courses and resources that come with this money. This income is increasingly important.

“EU funding now provides an additional 15 per cent on top of the UK government’s own science and research budget. If we sleepwalked out of the EU, this funding—or at the very least our influence over it—would be at risk.”

She highlighted that for UK students, whom she represents, staying in or leaving the EU is not only an issue concerning money, but also and above all an issue of multicultural and international identity. She added: “I, like most young people I speak to, simply do not recognise the picture of Britain painted by those campaigning for us to leave the EU.

“Students in Britain do not fear today’s modern, diverse world. We fear isolation, not internationalism. We do not want to turn the clock back and whilst we recognise the world is a complex place, the answer is to campaign for change together, not quit and walk away.”