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Month: November 2015

Top 5: Online beauty retailers

Written by Laura Mills on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

We’re all guilty of online shopping every now and again (some of us more than others). I’m sure my postman must have a vendetta against me due to the amount of parcels that arrive at my house. However, regardless of my postman’s anger, I’ll still continue to shop online. There’s just something about being able to trawl through your favourite sites at 3am in your pyjamas, or whilst in the library avoiding work (sorry tutors). So, rather than popping into Boots this weekend, check out a few of these online beauty treasure troves instead:

 

1. Cult Beauty

Photo: Cult Beauty

This is by far my favourite online beauty store. Every single product that appears on the site has been handpicked by a panel of beauty experts who aim to filter out the “blaggers and the braggers from the gems that do what they say on the tin.” They rarely sell a brand’s full line—just the standout pieces that are worth your pennies. This ensures that anything you find is guaranteed to be amazing. Having spent hours trawling through their “what’s new” and “top 10” sections, my bank account has suffered a significant blow, but every single purchase has been well worth it.

Things to add to your basket: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Alpha H Liquid Gold, Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder.

 

2. Feel Unique

Photo: Feel Unique

The place to head if you’re after a bargain. There are constantly offers and discounts on this site; they stock some incredible brands and they offer 20% student discount all year round. Win win! I’d always check here before buying anything from a big department store as they often have the same products but with an additional discount on top. Oh, and they do free delivery on all orders over £10 and let’s be honest, it won’t be difficult to get over that mark.

Things to add to your basket:  Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm, Urban Decay Naked Palettes, Real Techniques Setting Brush.

 

3. Beauty Bay

Photo: Beauty Bay

Similar to Cult Beauty, they stock products that can be a little difficult to source elsewhere. They had originally just sold fragrance but due to customer demand, they have expanded their range to include skincare, haircare and makeup, too. And boy am I glad they did!

Things to add to your basket: Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara, Louise Young Super Foundation Brush LY34, Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Mask, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit.

 

4. Escentual

Photo: Escentual

This is the place to go for all of your French ‘pharmacie’ needs, offering everything from Bioderma to Caudalie and La Roche-Posay to Avène. Also, there’s usually a third off of French pharmacy finds so it’s always worth a look here before anywhere else. They’re also proud supporters of Give and Makeup, a non profit charity supplying essential beauty products to sufferers of domestic violence.

Things to add to your basket: La Roche-Posay Serozinc, Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector, Bioderma Sensibo H20 Micelle Solution, Caudalie Grape Water Spray, Vichy Idealia BB Cream.

 

5. ASOS

Photo: ASOS

Ahhhh… everyone’s favourite site. I can spend some serious time and do some serious damage on here. Not only do they stock hundreds of amazing fashion pieces, but they also stock some great beauty finds, too. There’s usually discounts going, free delivery and you can also use your student discount.

Things to add to your basket: Nip + Fab Glycolic Radiance Pads, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, Seche Vite Dry Fast Topcoat, Pixi Glow Tonic, Dr Bronner Liquid Soap (for washing your makeup brushes!)

There we have it, some new beauty gems to add to your wish list. Don’t blame me when your bank account takes a hit…

Interview: Back to normal with The Ordinary Boys

Written by Victoria Davies on . Posted in Music.

Perhaps you thought you’d heard the last of the laddish indie rock band The Ordinary Boys when the lukewarm How to Get Everything You Ever Wanted in Ten Easy Steps was released, following frontman Preston’s rather successful stint on Big Brother. For obvious reasons, it was met with mixed reviews. Since then, The Ordinary Boys have got on with their day jobs. It’s 2015, and they’re back to the original line-up from their debut Over The Counter Culture, plus the addition of ex-Spectrals Louis Jones. They have an ‘exciting’ new album out, and are halfway through the 27 date tour.

“Let’s not call it a comeback… it’s just a fucking album.” Samuel Preston, the one-time Big Brother poster boy and tabloid ‘superstar’, starts. “We’re just making music now.” Their new, self-titled LP was “originally intended to be more like the first album. But, it’s not like that, just because it’s not 2004 anymore.” Initially, there’s a retro-pop punk feel to the album, and when asked about their influences, Preston praises the “fucking good pop punk” on the scene at the moment. He refers to Basement and Neck Deep as the “cusp of music”, before praising them for reinventing the brilliance from the late 1990s scene.

“Somehow, we’ve absorbed that, and it’s made the album more honest to what we actually like.” James Gregory (bass) joins in, “the first album is a reflection of what we’re actually like. The second album, well, there was just too much pressure, pressure from the record label. It’s like, your record label is telling you that you need to do this to be successful, and that’s when you start being disingenuous to the music. That’s especially true with us. It was like, okay, we’re on the B-list, or the C-list… But, we need to be on the A-list.”

“So, you’ve got to have, like, a catchy fuckin’ tune,” Preston cuts in, laughing. “But, with the third album, for me personally, I was like, I reckon I can have five top 10 singles on this album. And, y’know what? I fucking did! That’s what happened, I fucking got that. I alienated everyone, and did something that wasn’t true to myself, But-” “-But, did you enjoy it?” “No, not really.” Preston stops laughing, and gives his bandmate a sarcastic smile.

There’s definitely a more mature feel to the new album, and even to Preston himself. During the hiatus, Preston had some notable successes in song writing, co-writing Olly Murs’s ‘Heart Skips A Beat’. I ask if this is what encouraged him to get back into the band. “It just brought up my financial confidence.” After a few moments of hysterical nodding between the bandmates, they calm down. “No, well, I’d tried to sort of do it before, with other people, but it never felt right. But, this feels like an actual thing now. I just want to do this forever.”

After previously contacting ex-Gallows lead singer Frank Carter, but it ending up nowhere, Preston left the project behind. Until 2014, when he decided to put the past behind him and contact drummer Charlie ‘Chuck’ Stanley. “Me and James stayed in touch, but back in 2006, we’d kicked Charlie out, did we kick him out?”

“He left and then we kicked him out.”

“Well, anyway, I phoned him up, and I was like, ‘can we be friends again?’. By the end of the conversation we’d started the band back up.”

So, here they are, with ex-Spectrals (Or, “posh indie music”, as Preston called it) Louis Jones. “I just can’t imagine doing it with anybody else.” Preston met Louis at a Cribs gig, and instantly hit it off. “Yeah… Like, when you said Louis from Spectrals, and I checked out his music… His music is not really our kind of thing. At all. And then, when I met him, I was like, this guy? Really? And, then I got to know him. His musical knowledge is just, like, vast.”

“Yeah, it’s vast, but he still just loves fucking Sum-41 and stuff.” Earlier, during sound check, we all watched as he burst into ‘Adam’s Song‘, by Blink-182, before beginning a melodic rendition of ‘Puppy Love’, substituting ‘Puppy’ for ‘Foxy’—‘Fox’ is their tour manager, I was told later on.

A lot of Preston’s comments lead nowhere, or are stopped before they reach somewhere worth going. Out of nowhere, Preston blurts: “In the 2000s, yeah? My phone was hacked by The Mirror—” before being cut off and repeatedly shushed by James. However, on other topics, he had more than enough to say before being cut off by James, again. “I just fucking love Japanese video games”, says Preston, which was followed by a grunt from James. “There’s something about J-pop, in general. It’s so poppy, and instant. It’s fucking brilliant. Y’know? Like, when you get a really nice fillet steak, and they’ve just hacked it all away until there’s just this pure bit of steak.” Preston continues, with some interesting hand movements. “They get rid of everything that’s, like—” “—that’s so stupid.” James shakes his head at Preston. “I was trying to think of something that you hack away the bullshit from.”

“J-pop is nonsense.” says James.

“All the nonsense needs to exist to make it pure.” Preston looks pleased with himself, and continues with the hand movements. “Oh, and I, um, also like Mein Kampf.”

“Don’t say that, you dickhead!”

The Ordinary Boys was produced by Rory Atwell (Hookworms) and Matt Johnson (producer of 180 by Palma Violets). They’re both successful and prominent figures within the genre, who clearly had a powerful impact on The Ordinary Boys’ new sound. “Maybe, in a way, they were a weird choice for what the album was. But, maybe they gave it something. I think, actually, next time we’ll go for someone less, like, of their own influence. We need people who are less strong, or good… in a way. We want somebody who we can tell what we want, and they’ll just put it all on a record. They put all of these lovely nuances of, like, interesting guitar sounds, and all of this lovely stuff… which probably, maybe, we didn’t need.” Already thinking about new material, Preston seems enthusiastic to get back to the studio.

When playing live, “they’re all a chore” for James, who jokes, before finishing, “Boys Will Be Boys. I like what everybody else likes, if it’s a crowd-pleaser, then I’m happy. I like whatever the fans get into. Y’know? You’ll see what I mean later.” As I left, they were both shining with enthusiasm, pre-gig, with a crate of Carlsberg.

Two hours later, The Ordinary Boys stumble onto the stage, pint glasses overflowing, and were met with a fairly healthy cheer from the crowd. With a gormless grin, Preston rips off his sweatshirt to reveal his “especially bought” James T-shirt. This causes a reaction from some of the older members of the crowd, bringing them up nicely for the start of the set.

They open with ‘About Tonight’, Louis takes the confident lead in an almost dual-vocal between him and Preston. It’s easy to tell from the off just how much the current pop-punk scene (that Preston adores…) has influenced the new tracks, yet, it is reminiscent of their debut, with elements of the original punk influences.

The last of the stragglers leave the bar, to bob along with the others at the front, in an attempt to watch the inevitable downfall (once again) of Preston and Co. And, this time, they’re taking a new guy down with them. “It’s hot in here, but not hot enough” Preston hits off, with the first of several naff lines, to slight applause, before launching into ‘Over The Counter Culture’. This gets a better reaction, and the room begins to buzz with the excitement of what once was a pretty good track. However, you can’t ignore the hollow feeling that watching them produces inside you.

Preston parades around onstage, repeatedly thanking the audience for their response to the run-of-the-mill performance, which jumped between new material, and old favourites. He eventually jumps on top of the speakers, and it all goes a bit over the top for ‘Boys Will Be Boys’. Of course, the fans enjoyed it. But, overall, it was a stale performance from The Ordinary Boys, only saved by the older tracks, which, let’s be honest, were the only reason we were there.

Top 5 lesser-known books by popular authors

Written by Elizabeth Gibson on . Posted in Books.

What I Was by Meg Rosoff

Rosoff’s How I Live Now is a powerful war story and a great family tale. However, it is quite conventionally structured. What I Was, on the other hand, is a hazy, salty, painfully good exploration of human relationships. Set by the sea it flows in a loose, unstructured way, following a young man, for most of the novel unnamed, as he suffers quietly at boarding school. His one source of excitement is a local boy who he idolises for his bravery and athleticism. Lines between admiration, friendship and love are blurred and you come away from the book still slightly unsure about what was real and what wasn’t.

The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

Ibbotson was best known for gothic fantasies such as The Secret of Platform 13 and the Amazon-set Journey to the River Sea. The Dragonfly Pool is a surreal volume, which combines elements of many of her other stories to create a bizarre yet delightful world. Starting out as the exploits of kids at a progressive boarding school and morphing effortlessly into a tale of a lonely prince in a made-up Eastern European country, it then morphs again into a war epic, only to end up back at the school. Its strangeness is part of its appeal, as are the exotic locations and solid characters.

Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

Don’t get me wrong, I love Anne of Green Gables—but Anne often strikes me as somewhat ethereal; too perfect and charismatic to be true. Montgomery’s lesser-known heroine, Emily, is far more flawed, cynical and realistic. She has the opposite journey to Anne; where Anne goes from a terrible childhood to a blissful life at Green Gables, Emily goes from a happy existence with her loving father to despairing times following his death. Her fight to be taken seriously as a female writer, and the amount of work she puts into this goal—such as spending all her weekends trekking around the countryside selling subscriptions to a magazine—is staggering. I realised recently that she is probably the closest thing I’ve ever had to a literary heroine. I had characters that I liked, but never one I really looked up to until Emily.

Olga da Polga series by Michael Bond

Paddington Bear and Olga the guinea pig are the animal equivalents of Anne and Emily: Paddington is just too nice, whilst Olga is feisty and fun. She often behaves selfishly and can be a serious diva but that is her charm. I also like how Olga and her chums, unlike Paddington, cannot communicate with humans—animals that can talk to humans were a bit of a book-bugbear for me as a child. The banter between Olga and Noel the cat, however, is sparkling. Unlike many animal characters, Olga is allowed to grow up and have pups; the knowledge that she was based on a real guinea pig makes her exploits even more poignant.

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

Creech is known for the multi-award-winning Walk Two Moons and the haunting Chasing Redbird. While both are excellent YA books, I prefer one of her earlier and lesser-known tomes. Absolutely Normal Chaos follows Mary-Lou, a minor character in Walk Two Moons, over the summer of her thirteenth year. In Walk Two Moons she plays the role of the class loudmouth, however Absolutely Normal Chaos reveals her to be a sensitive and kind girl, struggling to make herself heard in a huge family. The story balances precariously yet confidently on the border between comedy and tragedy, cemented by Mary-Lou’s smart, sassy, and quite sweet narrative that never falters.

Party Personalities

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Manchester is notorious for its infamous house parties, to the extent that they’ve been discussed in parliament. It’s safe to say that their sheer size and intensity put other universities to shame. Despite their immensity, there are some characters that you’ll be sure to see at every Fallowfield frolic.

The gatecrasher
Yes, the majority of attendees weren’t explicitly invited, however anyone hosting a house party in Manchester should be aware that a hoard of students are likely to turn up on their doorstep. In spite of this fact, there are always some dodgy characters in attendance. Stood in the corner unsettling fellow party-goers, this specimen just doesn’t seem to fit in. This fact is not helped by the sinister looks they give to the scantily clad but suitably edgy students around them.

The ‘this is not my scene-r’
Some people are just too cool for school and, coincidentally, grimy student house parties. Unless you’ve decided to fully embrace the Manchester lifestyle: grubby trainers, hoop earrings, vintage shirts and all, then house parties could seem like a rather overwhelming prospect. These are the kids that rock up in their favourite jacket or shoes and then leave horrified when they realise that that their prized possession has been forever ruined by cigarette burns and alcohol stains.

The excitable first-timer
House parties are a pretty exciting prospect, however it’s characteristic of Manchester students to remain cool and apparently unamused in the most thrilling of moments, so this one stands out like a sore thumb. Tell-tale signs include running from room to room, screaming and wearing a look of pure elation on their face.

The minesweeper
Maybe they just like to live on the edge, or more likely their student loan has already run dry, but for whatever reason this guest has chosen to sip on the drinks of others instead of bringing their own booze to the party. An experienced minesweeper can be quite inconspicuous, but those new to the game, clumsily swiping drinks from any surface within reach, are just amusing to watch; until their actions result in a massive commotion with an angry drunkard, that is.

The wannabe DJ
There’s always one. By now you should know that if you came from London without your own DJ set then you are in the minority. Usually found skulking by the decks, pestering the DJ for their one big shot, this character has one sole objective during the night: to play their beats.

 

Photo: sp00@Flickr

The go hard or go homer

Ironically, this person is so desperate to have a blast and to force this ‘great time’ onto everyone that they are not a particularly fun person to be around. The best thing about house parties is that there are such a mish mash of activities which you can get up to. Chilling, having DMCs with best friends or complete strangers, or just observing the oddballs that attend these parties are some of the best aspects, so a hyperactive and forceful friend can be a bit of a downer.

The crier

Whether they’ve had a bust up with their boyfriend/girlfriend or they’ve simply just got a little overwhelmed by it all, you’ll be lucky to make it through an entire party without seeing this one. House parties are a breeding ground for drama, so fallouts are inevitable. You’ve just got to feel sorry for the friend that’s been lumped with consoling this sobbing figure.

Photo: duncan@Flickr

The unconscious one

This is the most likely result of the aforementioned ‘go hard or go homer’ or ‘the excitable first timer’ towards the end of the night. Some quite simply haven’t got used to drinking like an adult yet, and as a result can tend to take it a little far. Whether they’ve physically passed out or just laid down for a nap, just try not to fall over them on your way out.

Ask Us 20/11

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I’m in my first year and when I moved into halls I ended up on a corridor with lots of medics who I get on really well with. It was great at first when we all didn’t have that much work, but now that deadlines are starting to creep up, ours are completely different. When it gets closer to Christmas, I have absolutely loads whereas they finish early for the holidays. They’ve planned a whole week of going out every night once they’ve finished, whereas I’ll have to stay in and work solidly. It’s making me feel quite isolated and when I do have free time to go out, they have to stay in to revise. What should I do?

Periods of time at uni with lots of deadlines are never fun, but maybe you could see this as the perfect opportunity to get on with your work uninterrupted. You’ll be a lot more focused without your friends coming into your room to suggest nights in with a takeaway and film. If you schedule your time effectively and really focus, there is a chance that you could even finish your deadlines early and get to join your medic friends on one of their nights out, but don’t use this as a reason to rush things! If you don’t, maybe organize with your friends to stay one extra night in Manchester before you all go back home where everyone can enjoy it. If they’re being really insensitive, they’ll surely understand if you asked them to bear in mind that you’re still mired in work and won’t really enjoy lots of conversation about what happened the night before. During this time it also might be worth chatting to a few people on your course. They’ll be in the same position as you, you can likely advise each other with work and it wouldn’t hurt to widen your friendship group to people who will understand.

Solidarity: The aftermath of the Paris terror attacks

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in News.

The Saturday morning grocery market in Avignon is usually bustling, with traders shouting, chanting, trying to beat each other on the price of tomatoes, eggs, loaves of bread. But on the morning of Saturday the 14th of November, all was still. No-one was trying to sell me tomatoes. That was when I realised that the catastrophic events of the evening before had stricken France deep in her heart. Cashiers gave blessings instead of the usual “Merci, au revoir”; old women filled their baskets with aubergines without a glance at the prices; the swathes of busy shoppers were replaced with small trickles of people quietly wandering from stall to stall. Something was in the air, and it has remained this way since. France has been moved to its very core.

On Monday morning, a teacher broke down in tears in front of my class: “Je suis parisienne.” On Tuesday, I was asked to open my bag to security and policemen at the gates of my university. By Wednesday, there was only one gate to the campus open, so that security could keep a close eye on everyone, and everything, entering and leaving. Facebook has been full of events happening in the local area to commemorate, celebrate, mourn, and show solidarity. It’s worth noting that in Avignon, I’m roughly the same distance away from Paris that I would be in Manchester. But distance means nothing—a friend on her year abroad in Martinique has observed minute’s silences and memorial services: The French truly are one nation, united in grief.

As an Erasmus student, I struggled with how to feel about the tragedy whilst living within France’s borders; it wasn’t my people being attacked, but it was my safety being threatened, and my liberty being taken away. At a minute’s silence on Monday, hundreds, maybe thousands, of students gathered in front of the University of Avignon to join in silence and mourning. The crowd then broke out into La Marseillaise, and I felt completely at one with everyone there, despite not knowing the words. The round of applause that followed lifted every heavy heart with the one thing the French will never let go of: Solidarity.

Since the weekend, there have been a number of scares here in Avignon—from explosives reported in a supermarket, to threats to a crowd gathering in front of the famous Palais de Papes—but the reality is we are far from the centre of this tragedy. For students on their years abroad in Paris, however, their life in the capital has changed irrevocably. Some were caught up in the deadly attacks on Friday the 13th of November, and the events that followed; some were too close for comfort; and some have returned from weekends away to a city whose spirit has been broken. Thankfully, all University of Manchester students are safe, and indeed all students from all British universities. One Briton died in the massacre at the Bataclan concert hall, 36-year-old Nick Alexander from Colchester, along with over 20 foreign victims, and more than 100 French men and women. This was the greatest loss of life that Europe has seen in over a decade, and it has shaken the population of Paris and of France beyond belief.

***

Since Friday, I have spoken to three University of Manchester students who are studying and working in Paris for their years abroad, and they have shared their stories and experiences of the weekend and the aftermath of the attacks with The Mancunion.

One French student, called L for the purposes of this article, is working in a bakery for her first semester in Paris, and she found herself incredibly close to where the major attacks took place: “On the night of the attacks, I had met a friend at Place de la République at around 7pm, and we decided to walk towards Canal Saint Martin, well known for being a trendy hang-out area for young Parisians. We walked along the canal and finally chose a bar.” When they left, “we found our way was blocked by a big crowd and a fair amount of pompier vans [fire engines], police cars, and police tape cordoning off the area. I presumed it was a car crash and continued.

“We walked back towards Place de la République where we came across another crowd of people, pompiers, and police cars but in a different place. This time I actually went to get a closer look, confused at the idea of two incidents happening within 500 metres of each other, and wondered if the two were connected. At this point, I received a text from a friend saying that there had been shootings and bombings in Paris in the 10th and 11th arrondissements—exactly where we were.

“I can’t really remember how I felt at that exact moment… we knew no details but just that it would be better to get away from where we were. The atmosphere was weird and on edge, no-one was running, but no one was standing still.” They decided to take shelter in a friend’s apartment in the south of the city, far from where the attacks had taken place. “The sounds of sirens literally did not stop until we had crossed south of the river; it was a strange, unnerving silence which only felt more unnerving when we passed restaurants and bars with people still inside enjoying their meals and drinks. It was such a weird contrast going from the only audible noise being constant sirens, to silence apart from voices laughing and chatting.

“We all felt sick and didn’t really know what to say to each other. We talked about how close each of us had been and how it easily could have been one of us—something which I feel a bit guilty about now. At one point, we refreshed the news and the headline had changed from ‘100 taken hostage in the Bataclan’ to ‘100 hostages dead in the Bataclan’. We didn’t believe it. When we found out it was true, it was a really horrible feeling.

“The next day, we woke up feeling as sick as the night before. There was a sense of trying to continue with life, but which was overwhelmed with grief and mourning and almost guilt. When I finally decided to go home at around 8pm to my house in the 11th, I was really scared. I saw a police van and flashing lights near the metro station I was getting on at, and was convinced that something else had happened. I rushed home as fast as I could, spoke to no one, and went to my room.”

Alex, a French student at Manchester who works in a Parisian university on her year abroad, was in Lille on the night of Friday the 13th of November. On the Sunday, however, she got caught up in the huge scare that took place in and around Place de la République: “We decided before going to dinner that we’d light a candle at Place de la République. We were just chatting about the events of the weekend when out of nowhere we just saw hundreds of people running towards us and screaming. My friend grabbed my arm and told me to run, so we turned away and started running. Every time I heard something drop I thought it was a gunshot. The police were shouting “Bougez, Bougez! [Move, Move!]”—we ran past some press and saw the camera man drop to the floor, a lot of people started dropping to the floor, or running into restaurants and hiding under tables. Nobody really knew what was going on but the police had their guns at the ready and people were saying there was a gunman in the Marais.

“Although it was a false alarm, the panic was so genuine, I’ve never seen so many people running in my life. It was probably the most terrifying moment of my life. Now, every time I hear a siren, I wonder, what’s happened? Speaking to a lot of French friends, they think this is only the beginning; whether this is the reality or just the media warping things I’m not sure, but either way, I don’t really feel comfortable here at the minute.”

Despite this, Alex adds: “This week, there has been a movement called #Tousaubistrot [Everyone to the bistros], which was a way of showing we weren’t scared by going out for dinner in Paris, and also to mark respect for those restaurants and bars that were involved in the attack. There was a minute’s silence at 9pm… not only was this showing solidarity in the sense of ‘même pas peur’ [Be not afraid], but it was also a nice way to get people to continue their lives as normal.”

Photo: Alex Beveridge

Emma is a Manchester student studying at the Sorbonne University in Paris. “There’s a real sense of panic and fear still in the air: People jumping at every little thing, like the lights in our lecture going off. Lots of international students have been asked to go home by their universities. It was very difficult going into the Sorbonne on Monday, with three students here being victims of the shootings. Students in my classes knew those who died on such a personal level; one girl was on my course. One teacher invited, instead of a lesson, an open discussion about the events and what was to come. I was surprised, it caused more anger than solidarity amongst students: Anger towards Hollande for the reaction against Syria, anger in turn from those who believed the military action to be necessary, and so on. Pupils had to leave the class because they were so distressed. I’ve never been so frustrated at wanting to get involved but also feeling so voiceless, as a year abroad student here.”

She stresses the importance of the attitude of solidarity of Parisians: “We went to Place de la République, the Bataclan, and La Belle Equipe on Sunday to lay candles and pay our respects, and were minutes away when the second scare happened. But there was a real sense of solidarity; the sun was rising as we walked towards Place de la République, and people were singing La Marseillaise in unison. It was very moving. There’s also lots of street art to project people’s mourning but also resilience.”

L reiterates these experiences on the Sunday: “I walked along past the Bataclan towards the road where I live, where another shooting had happened. It was the first time that I’d been past the café since it all happened, and I’ve never seen so many candles and flowers. Part of me felt happy to have paid my respects and participate in Parisian solidarity against terror, but another part of me felt a little guilty and strange to have looked at the sights of the attacks as if it was some sort of tourist attraction.” She adds to me later in the week that, “even today, every time I pass the café on my road there is always a crowd, morning, noon, and night, showing their respects and mourning, moving on but not forgetting.”

***

This sense of solidarity, and the belief that French people can come together in sorrow and hope, stretches far beyond the walls of the capital. In Avignon, and all around the country, French citizens are united in hope, not fear. At Wembley, an entire stadium of English and French people came together to sing La Marseillaise. In Manchester, a Gathering for Solidarity took place at Piccadilly Gardens to commemorate the lives lost many miles away; Manchester French student, and director of Fuse TV’s documentary of the vigil, Maximilian Steyger, said: “Candles were lit in the centre of the congregation of people. Everyone was silently paying their tributes. Some were made by speakers, notably from the Muslim community of Manchester, who condemned these awful attacks. It was a very emotional and sombre occasion, but it was very moving to see people from all religious backgrounds and all ethnicities of Manchester come together to show solidarity with the victims and with France.”

Hearing the stories of the Manchester students living in a Paris that has been changed forever recalls the words of Francois Hollande shortly after the events took place: “That’s what was attacked on the 13th of November. These barbarians targeted France in its diversity. It is the youth of France that was targeted, because quite simply it represents life.” But if the youth, along with the rest of Paris—and indeed of France and the world—can come together and be strong, then life is what will keep on being represented, cherished, nourished, and loved.

Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Written by Hannah Foy on . Posted in Theatre.

The National Theatre’s multi award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to The Lowry to complete its year-long tour. Adapted by the Stockport born Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s best-selling book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has racked up an impressive seven Olivier awards including ‘Best New Play’. After reading Mark Haddon’s book many years ago, I was intrigued on Tuesday evening to see how the book could be presented in a play.  How would the audience be able to understand Christopher’s autistic mind? Especially alongside portraying a range of themes, characters and the all-important detective story: Who killed Wellington?

Much to my surprise, the audience was transported into Christopher’s mind, using a mixture of lights, sound and physical theatre, it made me feel as though I understood Christopher’s way of thinking, his logic and his sense. It allowed us all to capture his desperation in discovering who killed Wellington; woven within his own unknown story of a disappearing mother. It was certainly very clever.

In addition the characters appear self aware, firstly of the written book, then its evolution to the stage. This added a further dimension to the incorporated story, of the many twists and turns in Christopher’s life. All of this engaged the audience, placing us into a world previously unknown, while simultaneously allowing an autistic viewpoint to take centre stage, something rarely done.

What I found most impressive, however, was the stage; its use of lights to depict the different scenes and just how many secret cupboards and doors it could hold (even squeezing in a table). It made me re-evaluate the use of the stage, it’s ability to incorporate props rather then simply depicting the scene. How in turn this is reflected back to the audience, not just with flickering lights but how it cleverly takes us from Swindon to London by train, and then imitates a tube station with precise details.

Joshua Jenkins was impeccable in his portrayal of Christopher, opening his mind to the audience and transforming us into Christopher’s story. I felt I understood autism, to view the world from another perspective, see the truth and confusion the world brings to everyday life. The company equally propelled Christopher’s mind to the audience, incorporating the everyday normality to the exceptional while weaving in comedy in their acknowledgment of this self-aware play.

Overall I came out of the theatre beaming, amazed by the clever telling of the book, the acting, the staging and most of all the story. Curious certainly educated me on autism, of stories unknown, and most importantly who killed Wellington.

Concluding its year long tour, you can see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at The Lowry Lyric Theatre until Saturday 21st November. Be prepared to be amazed, spell-bound and taken on a journey.

Manchester to provide free education to over a million in warzones

Written by Tori Blakeman on . Posted in News.

This week it was announced that the University of Manchester will provide free education to more than one million young people in areas of conflict across the world.

Delivered by the award-winning University of Manchester initiative In Place of War, the creative entrepreneurial course will provide an internationally-recognised qualification to young people of the world’s poorest and most troubled communities.

Certified by the University of Manchester, the entrepreneurial programme will provide education in music and the arts throughout conflict areas in Africa, the Middle East and South America. The university will set up a series of new cultural spaces to deliver the course, aiding growth of local economy and encouraging social endeavour, whilst providing facilities to train their own communities.

Now in its tenth year, In Place of War brings exciting opportunities to sites of conflict, war and social upheaval through the realm of music, art, theatre and dance. With the support of music industry figures, the initiative will reach 25 countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Egypt, Lebanon, Columbia and Brazil.

Funding awards from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Leverhulme Trust have provided more than £360,000 to deliver this free education to more than one million young people.

Many people whose lives have been torn apart by troubles and unrest will have access to the programme, with initiatives varying across regions. In the Middle East, a debating programme will be set up, and creative entrepreneur workshops will work to tackle extremism by providing an alternative to violence.

Workshops and showcases of warzone artists will be delivered in Africa and Brazil, with a network of cultural spaces also being created, promoting social creativity and the importance of community spaces. The spaces provided by In Place of War will allow a platform for sharing art and music around the world.

Co-director of In Place of War at The University of Manchester, Ruth Daniel, said: “This work will change lives in some of the most disrupted and disconnected parts of the globe. Over ten years of research and fieldwork we have seen the positive difference that the facilitating the arts can make in sites of conflict. Thanks to this funding, we can now turn that into real education and training opportunities with the potential to enhance local economies and take people out of deprivation by connecting with people both in other areas of unrest and far beyond.

“As academics, it also provides us with a continued evidence base with which to understand the role that this type of intervention can play for people living through war and upheaval.”

Student and parent group protests budget cuts for disabled students

Written by Rossy Natale on . Posted in News.

A group of students, carers, and parents—all outraged over recent council cuts for disabled students—staged a protest outside of Trafford Town Hall on Wednesday the 18th of November.

The protest group, aptly named ‘Save Our School Bus’, have scrutinised the city council’s new policies regarding transportation for disabled students which reduces school to home bus services for severely disabled students.

Council members have told parents that they are not responsible for transportation of students over the age of 16. They have instructed the parents and carers to have their children utilise public transport or other forms of transportation.

Sean Anstee, the town council leader, stated: “It is no longer sustainable for us to fund transport for those who don’t qualify, over and above our statutory responsibility.” Cutting transport was first put forth by the council in 2011 but has only been recently implemented.

Sally Wheatman, the ‘Save Our School Bus’ co-ordinator said: “It’s very easy for some local decision-makers to see issues in terms of budgets and figures. We thought, as parents, it was important for councillors to see our children and the daily challenges they face.”

“This is causing serious hardship to our families. One parent has lost her job because she had to take time off work to take her daughter to and from school. For many families, transport to and from school is all the support we get, and it can be vital in helping to keep a job and fulfil other family commitments.”

After the protest, Wheatman stated, “there is no-one in that council chamber who can now legitimately claim that any of our teenagers can travel independently on public transport.”

Come next May, parents of children at sixth forms in the Trafford area will now have to apply for transportation. Only those with ‘exceptional circumstances’ will be granted any.

“If our children don’t fit into those exceptional circumstances,” says Wheatman, “I’m not sure who does.”

Academics have really been ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

Universities are often the site for important debate and groundbreaking discussion, covering a range of topics pertaining to current affairs and life’s big questions. So that is precisely why, on the 26th of November, Brunel University will be hosting a conference on the Kardashian family—a ‘Kimposium’.

International scholars will be gathering in London for the all-day event on Brunel’s campus, where attendees can opt to go for the entire day or drop in for particular “sessions” on certain topics.

One of the conference’s organisers justified the conference, saying: “You may love them or hate them, but the Kardashian family must be examined.” Reportedly, the discussion will relate to issues concerning beautification, femininity, image and social media.

The Kardashians’ presence in today’s media is inescapable and their meteoric rise to fame came from their reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which is now in its 11th series.

The show came after most famous sister Kim appeared in a sex tape which prompted her rise to fame. Kim recently married controversial singer-songwriter Kanye West, and the couple have named their child North West.

Despite “having no obvious talent,” the sisters appear to have maintained a prolonged period of extreme fame and have a dominant hold on social media platforms. Kim has over 50 million followers on Instagram.

One of the conference leaders claims the interest in the Kardashians on an academic level is their exhibition of the “values and tensions” in modern society. In other words, their popularity stands for what are now perceived as important attributes; vanity, egoism, materialism, etc. with their lack of talent being ostensibly insignificant.

So whether you hate, love or are just intrigued by the family, Brunel University is offering the rare opportunity of nine straight hours of Kardashian-themed, academic conversation for you to get the full story.

International Men’s Day celebrations cancelled amid protests

Written by George Ball on . Posted in News.

The University of York has cancelled plans to celebrate International Men’s Day (IMD) after protests from staff, students and alumni. They came after controversial comments made by Dr. Adrian Lee, a member of the equality and diversity committee at the university.

Dr. Lee, speaking in favour of celebrating the event, founded in 1992, said, “in academic staff appointments, the data suggests that female candidates have a higher chance of being appointed than men.” He went on to say “in academic departments, the support staff complement is often heavily weighted towards women, with some departments employing no men at all.”

This was not well received, and prompted students and staff to pen an open letter to Dr. David Duncan—registrar and secretary of the university, as well as chair of the equality and diversity committee. The letter gathered almost 200 signatures and called for a “full account” of the means by which a decision to promote men’s issues “in this way” was reached by the committee. The letter went on to criticise the university for associating itself with “radical” ‘men’s rights activist’ groups.

The decision to mark IMD was also widely criticised on social media. Jennifer Saul, from the philosophy department of the University of Sheffield, wrote on the Feminist Philosophers blog that IMD was “very counterproductive.” She went on to say “by all means, let’s talk about the ways that patriarchy harms everyone. We need to overturn the stranglehold of gender roles on men in order to achieve gender justice.”

Dr. Duncan released a statement in response to the letter, announcing that the university would no longer be marking the occasion. It reasoned that “the intention was to draw attention to some of the issues men tell us they encounter and to follow this up by highlighting in particular the availability of mental health and welfare support which we know men are sometimes reluctant to access.”

International Men’s Day aims to “provide a focus on men’s and boy’s health, improve gender relations, promote gender equality, and highlight positive male role models.” It took place on Thursday the 19th of November 2015.

US academic salaries do not cover basic living costs

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

Concerns have been raised that the trend of the payment of UK academics will follow that of the US, where 76 per cent of academic posts are casual, with some earning as little as $15,000 (£9,800) a year, reliant on state assistance to live, and that this move has already started.

Noura Wedell, a lecturer at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design has said the situation has reached breaking point. “I have to sublet my apartment during the summer and live with my mother—at 43. I have put off having a family because of this. The situation is obscene.”

Despite her two decades of experience, Ms Wedell’s non-permanent contract has fluctuated between $21,000 and $24,000 in recent years depending on the amount of classes she is allowed to teach. In the UK, her lowest salary would be just under £14,000.

Many are concerned that this worrying situation has already reached the UK, with positions at modern universities—former polytechnics—most vulnerable.

An anonymous source from a university in London says that “there are thousands of lecturers like me at ‘post-92’ universities who should be on permanent contracts,” instead of the hourly contract she is stuck with currently.

“Probably a third of our staff—and I’m one—have terribly little notice of what [classes] they’re going to teach. You don’t get any pay of the summer. You come back in September and [only then] are you told how many hours you’ve got. Because you are getting very few hours pay for the actual work you do, you end up working for something like the minimum wage.”

She continued, stating that “many are terrified to say anything” about the financial and psychological strain they are in.

This news comes after last week’s revelations that more than 7,500 HE staff in the UK earn over £100,000 a year. One member of staff at the University of Oxford is reported to be on a £690,200 salary.

A University and College Union (UCU) survey this year discovered that 33.7 per cent of the 1,800 university academics that took part said they struggled to pay their rent or mortgage. 35.5 per cent find difficulty in affording household bills and 17 per cent even said food was a problem.

A spokesperson for the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association has defended these allegations, remarking that HE institutions “cannot simply provide full-time or open-ended employment to everyone who wants it; like all employers, they will always have variable and temporary needs.”

Increasing financial problems for these academics has been attributed to government pressures to cut costs at universities. HE institutions have been struggling since the 2008 financial crisis.

Xanthe Whittaker, a Ph.D. student in the UK, says the situation is far too common already. “Sometimes I work 16-hour days” and that is still not enough, she says. “I feel guilty about spending money on food, that’s how low my income is. I get to the end of the month and I can’t get the tube because I can’t afford it.”

Alternative Spain

Written by Aj Mal on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Unlike the stereotype of sunburnt, package holiday Spain, the unique region of Galicia has a reputation for amazing food, for a history of smuggling, for superstition, and for some of the most spectacular (and unspoilt) coastline in the world. If you can brave a scary landing at the tiny hilltop airport in Vigo, you will find yourself in a city surrounded by stunning beaches, quaint coastal villages, and almost year-round sunshine, due to an unusual microclimate. A ferry from the city travels to the uninhabited Islas Cies—home to one of the world’s best beaches: Praia de Rodas. The Pristine white sands and clear blue waters are protected from the wild Atlantic Ocean by a ring of rocky peaks along the western coast, and as far back as the Roman era, Julius Caesar described this island as paradise.

Further inland lies the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela. Enveloped by mist and rolling green hills, it is the destination of over 200,000 walkers every year, who travel the Way of St. James, or Camino de Santiago. This is traditionally a Catholic pilgrimage that has existed since the Middle Ages, and leads to the stunning Cathedral at the heart of the city. This is actually thought to be the rainiest city in Europe, though the weather does not put off the crowds who soak up the lively atmosphere in the tapas bars and cervecerias that line the maze like streets of the old quarter. And like Manchester, Santiago is a University City, with a large student population and nightlife to match. The Rua de Franco is the site of a famous bar crawl, dubbed the Paris-Dakar rally after the name of two bars at either end of the street. With many of the city’s bars being small in size, there are at least 30 on this one street, and the bar crawl involves a drink of the local Ribeiro wine in each of them. Helping to wash that down, there is a variety of delicious tapas dishes on offer, with the Galicia region being especially famous for Pulpo (octopus) and Empanada (like a pie, but definitely not a pie).

The stunning capital city, Madrid, is famous for its pulsating nightlife, fashion and food. Madrid is also a magnet for art lovers, with an astounding number of exhibitions at galleries such as the world famous Prado. Whilst many visitors enjoy the traditional Retiro Park, Bullfights and glasses of Rioja at pavement cafés, there is a growing alternative scene represented by Malasana and Lavapies. Lavapies is an edgy part of town, with a melting pot of cultures and people from all over Europe, Africa and South America. The vibrant streets dance to the beat of exotic rhythms and the scent of a diverse food scene. The hipster haven of Malasana has a vibe reminiscent of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and the exciting nightlife is centred in the multiple bars of Calle Luna, with Bar Picnic being a personal favourite.

Loving & Loathing: online shopping

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

It’s safe to say that I have a complex relationship with online shopping—we’ve shared some turbulent moments. There have been great days, like when I got my beautiful black velvet wrap dress for the Christmas ball last year, but then there was my sixth form prom…A completely different story. I ordered five dresses online, and none of them fitted—typically! Here is a run-down of the reasons why I love and loath online shopping.

Loves:

ASOS: There is pretty much anything you could ever want or need on ASOS. They photograph the models from so many angles, and give you a runway video for the full 360 effect. If you like what you see: Free postage! If you don’t like it when you get it: Free returns! Plus, online only retailers like ASOS, Missguided, Boohoo et al charge less for their own brand products because it’s so much cheaper to run an online shop. What more could you ask for?

Preparation: This may sound a tad strange, so bear with me. Looking at clothes online allows me to know exactly what I’m looking for in each shop if I brave it into the outside world. It makes shopping quicker and easier. I hate traipsing around Manchester when it’s raining, looking for my dream pair of Chelsea boots, only to discover that I don’t like any—or even worse, that they don’t have my size. Thanks to the internet, I can plan where I’m going to look, and some websites, such as Topshop allow you to check stock online.

Trends:  It doesn’t matter how many times you read Vogue, Elle, or Cosmo—nothing gives you a better understanding of what is on-trend than looking at the clothes in shops. I’m not a die-hard follower of trends, but I like to be aware. Looking at the ‘New In’ section gives a swift overview of what is fashionable right now. You can quickly gather that, this winter, we’re all expected to be wearing a lot of velvet and lace.

Loathes:

Models: I get it—they’re all very pretty, slim, tall girls, and I have no issue with that. However, saying that the model is wearing a size 10, when she is clearly a size 6, does not enable you to understand the fit of the item. It is also slightly heartbreaking when you realise how fabulous the model looks, while you’re left feeling a bit… meh in your new dress.

Jeans: This is part of a wider rant I have about trying on jeans. It is horrific. There is no consistency across any brand or within any brand for that matter. I think they might as well not be available to purchase online because the fit is so hit and miss.

Returns: The real flaw in online shopping is if you need to return an item. Fortunately, many companies do offer free returns or collect plus, but it is still a complete faff. Worst of all is the 2 – 4 week wait to get the money back on your return, especially if you have already spotted another pair of shoes that would look absolutely incredible…

Classic Review: Double Indemnity

Written by Alasdair Bayman on . Posted in Film.

What happens when you get a femme fatale, a life insurance firm, and a detached member of The American Dream? Double Indemnity, of course. Made within the reign of the Hay’s Production Code, Billy Wilder’s 1944 film noir is arguably one of the genres finest—a true gem in the catalogue of American film due to its mesmerising script, artful performances and cinematography.

Focusing upon an insurance agent, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurry) and his quest to finally achieve some sort of cohesive position in society and his life. He seeks the aid of the married, promiscuous Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) to help achieve this idea; the only small problem for Neff and Stanwyck is successfully pulling off a profitable murder scam against Phyllis’ husband, Mr. Dietrichson (Tom Powers) and the company that Walter works for, as headed by the enigmatic Edward G. Robinson’s Barton Keyes.

The ability to transcend the basic features of film noir at the time of its creation, by rejecting the societal constraints of its time, is paramount to the plaudits of this fundamental piece in modern film history.

Opening the film with the streets of a dark and dirty L.A.—as opposed to the stereotypical New York, Double Indemnity sets out on a path of switching the known formulaic narratives and features of previous film noir films out of the window.

This is not to discount such classics as Public Enemy and Scarface as inferior to Wilder’s piece, but they lack the creative fluidity that is permeating to Double Indemnity. Effectively beginning the film with its ending, Neff is injured by a bullet wound and speaks eloquently into a cylinder recorder about the whole insurance scam, as if he wasn’t slowly loosing blood.

Neff is a charming but broken man whose meaty prey for the menacing and beautiful Phyllis Dietrichson, one of film’s most distinguished femme fatales. Instantly creating a hierarchical relationship between the two twisted lovers, Wilder’s ability to convey a manner of themes and translations in a single shot is unprecedented in most modern film making techniques.

The relationship between Stanwyck and MacMurry is electrifyingly unprecedented—their relationship is witty, charming and alluring, even if Phyllis is always one step ahead of her male counterpart. Acting as a symbol for America’s dominant patriarchal society as well as being Neff’s father figure, Edward G. Robinson delivers one his finest performances, alongside Little Caesar. His quick-talking, articulate Barton Keyes is built to win, and does so.

Nonetheless, Wilder’s direction formats low-key lighting and deep silhouettes into his cinematic framework. The conjuring of this technique is known as chiaroscuro, and is a marvellous joy to behold. If only all films were filmed in black and white, and an hour and a half long.

Double Indemnity truly placed film noir’s importance in American cinema—its thematic exploration of femininities’ vindication and the pursuit of the American Dream positions it towards a contemporary context. Though both Neff and Phyllis are born to lose, it is one hell of a ride.

Live: Warehouse Project – Life And Death

Written by Oscar Talbot on . Posted in Music.

As I escape Manchester’s oily rain and enter the legendary Warehouse Project, Joy Orbison is finishing up. It is the perfect soundtrack to an exploration of the cavernous building. It’s a surreal experience; hundreds of sweaty semi-naked people bop around to Orbison’s loops, accompanied by an expert light show. As Orbison stares at his mixer, thrashing jungle pumps in the cathedral-like building. We squeeze to the front and manage to dance for a while until Orbison is whisked away.

Seamlessly he is replaced by my favourite act of the night. Recondite seem to specialise mainly in nuanced build ups and bouncy square waves. The first track stood out, sadly an as yet unreleased and nameless song, but undoubtedly one to look out for. The drops are perfectly placed and the crowd is almost crushingly packed. Almost directly under the Northern Powerhouse’s link to the south, a massive crowd is cutting loose.

Having never been to the Warehouse Project before, the scale of it amazed me. As an Oxford boy, going out usually consists of finding the least shit place before being verbally assaulted by some moron yelling along to Teenage Dirtbag. WHP is almost cinematic in scale, and Recondite revelled in the attention he received, breaking what seems to be the cardinal rule of DJing, that you have to show no emotion and just keep on twiddling a knob.

We drift into the second room, where Mind Against are playing in a sadly half-empty room. Although they are good, combining a compulsive drum track with sonorous horn-like synths, they sadly can’t compare with the more listenable Recondite, which is less dubstep and more techno.

The biggest act of the night, Tale of Us, seemed to be popular, although I was disappointed by them. Not being any sort of expert on dance music, I made a point of listening to each of the acts, and I was genuinely very excited for Tale of Us. Sadly it felt less like an avant-garde, energetic delivery of space age beeps and more like eating a large chunk of popping candy while the same slightly syncopated beat bombarded me for 40 minutes. ‘Silent Space’ was particularly annoying, feeling piercing, and a rough transition from Recondite. Maybe it was just me. Certainly everyone else carried on dancing, but maybe it was that time of the night.

NATO and the illusion of safety

Written by Colm Lock on . Posted in Opinion.

Under the shadow of the Russian bear, no one is truly safe. Britain has the luxury of distance between itself and Russia, but what of the rest of mainland Europe? What about Finland and the Baltic states? Where do they turn when Russian aggression boils up? They turn to NATO of course.

NATO is an alliance originally set up to safeguard Western European nations against Soviet aggression by preventing Russia from goose stepping into West Germany and the rest of the continent. Back then, the alliance probably could have held off the Soviet onslaught rather respectively, yet I despair to see the weakness of our alliance today.

At present, NATO is currently conducting one of its largest exercises for the best part of a decade, named Trident Juncture. It is currently taking place in the western Mediterranean where they are making a great song and dance about the whole thing and saying that it shows the strength and willingness of NATO to fight any aggression that may be targeted at its weaker partners.

This is however, total cods-wallop. The central command are very pleased with themselves for being able to gather 36,000 troops and around 30 maritime assets for this exercise, attempting to delude us that this will be enough should an attack come. To believe such lies is a sure fire symptom of idiocy. At the enemy’s disposal are over 1,000 attack aircraft, a standing army of over 400,000 with around 10,000 tanks at its disposal, and a navy numbering some 280 ships.

These numbers are colossal and NATO in its present form could not hope to match them. Should Russia choose to invade Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Finland with even a quarter of this force, our armies would not even be able to muster a credible defence before Putin was taking in the sights of Riga.

Now those optimists amongst you will say that I am wrong, that Putin would never try such a thing and that another European war is completely impossible in today’s day and age. Well, to you I say, read up on recent European history.

After the Holocaust, people imagined that another European genocide was impossible and then, just 20 years ago, the Srebrenica massacre occurred. If you had said to someone 10 years ago that Russia would go on to invade and annex parts of Georgia and Ukraine, while NATO sat by and watched, they would have laughed at you.

All of this has come to fruition and it has all happened because we have become naïve in believing that we live in a world where we can all sit around a campfire and sing kumbaya, holding hands and existing in a world of mutually cooperative nation states.

Russia is on the march. They rolled over Georgia to take South Ossetia and Abkhazia without so much as batting an eye. They moved onto even bigger game when they seized Crimea without a skirmish. It is only right to assume that Putin is now looking to one up himself and this time seize a whole country predicting that NATO will do absolutely nothing. It neither has the stomach nor the resources to fight a European land war or fight at sea.

The Americans have become tired of Europe constantly slashing its defence budgets safe in the knowledge that big brother America will protect them. They are fed up, and would not bare to lose thousands of troops in defence of another foreign land. Britain has trimmed its armed forces to such a shamefully small size that we could not even hope to hold the Russians off in the North sea.

We hear ever increasing reports of bombers flying ever closer and closer to British airspace and Russian ships skirting the south coast yet we do not increase our number of jets. Germany is reliant on Russia for energy and fuel while its minuscule military is plagued by inefficiencies and failings while the French cannot be relied upon.

NATO has signalled its weakness by thinking diplomacy will be the answer. The diplomatic solution, however, died when the west failed to uphold the terms of a treaty which said they would protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. No troops have been sent to fight the “rebels” to help keep Ukraine intact, and why is this? It is because no one powerful in NATO has the balls to do so.

America is currently facing serious pressures in the South China Sea and the Middle East. Britain’s defence spending should match Americans at 3.5 per cent of GDP, yet we languish at 2 per cent. The Germans won’t fight, the French are unreliable and the Spanish and Italians lack power projection.

The only NATO member really stepping up to the plate is Poland but, being so small, one doubts their ability so significantly halt any concerted Russian advance into the Baltics.

So, fellow students, what is the answer? Some will say more diplomacy, some will say to withdraw from NATO and abandon the smaller nations to the mercy of the Russian bear. But I say there is a different answer.

It is time that we as students stopped harping on about cultural appropriation, lad culture on campus and censoring speakers. Instead, we should be demanding that our government be able to defend our rights and liberties as well as those of our fellow students in weaker nations who might not be able to defend these freedoms themselves.

Think of the peoples of eastern Europe to whom democracy is only a couple of decades old. Democracy which now is at risk from the autocratic rule of Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin cronies. Russia must be stopped, and an increase in military spending across NATO and regaining a willingness to fight is the only way to deter Mother Russia from launching another European expedition.

Review: Richard Forster

Written by Neil Greenhalgh on . Posted in Arts.

Sandwiched between a historic collection of British watercolours and the refreshingly contemporary (and very aptly named) Art_Textiles, you will find Richard Forster’s meticulously crafted photo-realist graphite drawings. The level of quality and attention to detail in these drawings is absolutely incredible, with the majority of uninformed visitors entirely convinced that they are looking at photographs. Of course, when they realise that these works were in fact drawings made to look like photographs, they instantly treat them in a different way. We undeniably treat the experience of looking at drawings different to that of looking at photographs.

A great deal has been written about this matter and it can be said that photographs are usually seen as factual documents, whereas drawings are representational and more capable of fiction. If we understand this to be true, it is no surprise that visitors should decide to change their viewing experience once they learn the reality of the medium. But what happens to the concept of truth and reality in this entanglement of fact and fiction? Are we to say that at one time the viewer was happy to accept these as documents and now spends longer looking at them, admiring their fictional scenery? Or is it more about the viewer deciding that these pictures are worth looking at more because they clearly took longer to make? To what extent could it be both?

The concept of time is as important for Forster in the creation of these works as it is for us in looking at them. Forster works in very meticulous ways, timing how long it takes for the tide to come in, taking pictures at regular intervals. Or on train journeys, taking a picture every so often on a small stretch of the rail tracks. The resulting pictures become the subject for his drawings which take a split second snapshot through a laboriously time consuming drawing process and into the realm of representation.

In short, Richard Forster’s drawings are intelligently crafted pieces of work that explore the relationships between fact and fiction, fast and slow, as well as photography and drawing.

Until the 3rd of January 2016.

Corbyn needs to play the game

Written by George Bolton on . Posted in Opinion.

According to Sarah Gordon and George Parker of the Financial Times, “Jeremy Corbyn has refused an invitation to speak at the CBI’s annual conference, snubbing the leading business lobby organisation as it tries to build bridges with the opposition leadership.”

In addition to this, the director of the Confederation of British Industry claims, “there has been no contact between the CBI and either Mr Corbyn or the new shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, since they took on their roles in September.”

As a Labour supporter, I am very discouraged by the decisions the new Leader of the Opposition has made. If Jeremy Corbyn wants to have a serious chance of becoming Prime Minister, he must win over a large proportion of the electorate, most of whom were not inclined to vote for Ed Miliband in the last election.

The right wing press slated Ed Miliband throughout his election campaign for being “anti-business.” Does not one of Corbyn’s advisors, therefore, think that refusing to speak to the CBI, with over 100 leaders of UK business present, was a huge strategic error?

All Labour supporters, whether on the left or the right of the party, should be calling on their leader to end his petulant, symbolic behaviour. Refusing to speak on the Andrew Marr show to attend a fundraising event in his constituency is another key illustration that Corbyn has not adapted to his new role as the leader of the party.

Attending every 30-people-strong cake sale in your constituency is all well and good when you are on the backbenches, but when you are the Leader of the Opposition you must prove to the wider electorate that you are capable of being the Prime Minister. There aren’t many better platforms in which to do this than the Andrew Marr show and at the CBI.

Declining to appear on probably the most respected political chat show in the country or speak to the country’s business leaders may merit a momentary round of applause from the more hard-core Corybnites, but what does it say to the rest of the country? The British electorate want a Prime Minister that can responsibly handle the economy and defend his policies under intense scrutiny, not one that sticks to his principles no matter what.

Each one of these strategic errors produces untold scrutiny from the right-wing press. The most recent example of this was the matter of bowing at the Remembrance Day ceremony. This should not be a contestable issue, or an opportunity for Corbyn to display a noble moral act. If it means not adding fuel to the Daily Mail fire, above which Jez is constantly dangling, then surely it is worth avoiding the controversy and just bowing low enough to satisfy even Britain First.

While on the topic of the right-wing media blowing things far out of proportion, it is worth noting what little fuss was made over Downing Street Photoshopping a poppy on the David Cameron’s Facebook photo. If that were Jeremy Corbyn, we wouldn’t have stopped hearing about it for months.

Let us not dwell on this—the fact of the matter is that any mistake Corbyn makes between now and 2020, if he lasts that long, will be morphed, amplified and magnified. Surely, then, it would be wise to simply minimise these events.

Some will argue that there are not many valuable lessons to be learned from Tony Blair’s time as Prime Minister, but something that is plain to see is that he was a master of campaigning. He wooed Rupert Murdoch and held fancy cocktail parties with the country’s business elite and, for this, outraged the left of the Labour Party. But in the light of his more admirable achievements, such as the drop of relative child poverty rates from 27 per cent in 1996 to 18 per cent in 2010, doesn’t the fact that he didn’t adopt an adversary stance to the media and business elite seem petty?

If Corbyn’s Labour is to even put up a fight in 2020, he is going to have to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer a member of just the intelligentsia or the backbenches. He must dilute his principles, adopt some Blairite pragmatism, and try to win over Middle England.

Can we all just remember why we’re here?

Written by Adam on . Posted in Opinion.

Each year we remember those who have died in conflict. We remember and pay our respects to the contribution and sacrifices that servicemen and women have made, particularly over the past century. It is a time to remember that whilst war might be a solution in extreme cases, it is a decision not to be taken lightly, which can result in terrible consequences that last long after the original reasons for war have been forgotten. It is not a time for politicians and the media to be political point-scoring.

It is always a humbling occasion when I go to a remembrance service, and this year was no exception. Representatives of all faiths and none, public service organisations, youth movements and members of the government all reverentially paid their respects, and went about their business after the Sunday service had finished.

But upon my return home and the days followed, the British public were subject to a barrage of smears. Not only were these smears often untruths, they were incredibly disrespectful, especially when they were carried out by people claiming to be upholding servicemen’s dignity and honour.

Alongside many other newspapers, The Sun decided the next day was a fitting date to not only score a cheap political points against Jeremy Corbyn for not bowing low enough, but also to post this smear attack alongside a semi-naked young woman frolicking about in her underwear. For The Sun, a supposedly socially Conservative newspaper to plaster this image after Remembrance Sunday, right alongside an attack on Corbyn for being disrespectful, strikes me as hypocritical. This hypocrisy is consistent with the fact that Corbyn staying behind to applaud the horse guard parade by WW2 veterans was ignored. His decision to stay and to talk to veterans of old and recent conflicts, whilst many other politicians went to a VIP reception for a free lunch, was clearly deemed irrelevant. Naively, I thought the VIP’s were the veterans.

What’s more, The Sun‘s sister paper The News of the World has previously hacked dead soldiers phones, to which the Royal British Legion’s response was to suspend all ties. If that wasn’t bad enough, let’s just remember that The Sun reliably backs a party that has cut the Armed Forces’ effectiveness by a third through cuts, has decided that the best thing for low morale is to cut pay rises to Armed Forces personnel in this parliament, and has responsibility for 9,000 homeless veterans on the streets. The hypocrisy of The Sun was so bad that the outspoken Richard Dawkins waded in to both criticise the publication publicly, and question the intellectual capabilities of anyone who bought the paper.

The next faux outrage came from the Twittersphere. As anyone who attends a remembrance service knows, the service ends at about 11:30 am, with a two-minute silence held at 11:00am. This year however, as soon as Corbyn did his bow to the cenotaph and placed his wreath, Twitter was alight with claims that he did not bow low enough or even didn’t do it at all. The irony here is that these accusations of shame and lack of patriotism were coming from people who themselves didn’t bother to attend a remembrance service, and were sat on their computers at home during the two-minute silence watching the whole thing on telly. Those that did report from the scene of the crime clearly didn’t understand the significant amount of disrespect it shows to be at a Remembrance Service, supposedly in thoughtful silence, but instead tweeting rambling accusations about a man not bowing enough towards the cenotaph. You do have to ask yourself who is showing the greatest amount of dignity in this situation.

One such outspoken defender of veterans, a man who’s given himself the task of smiting down the unpatriotic, is Sir Gerald Howarth MP. He claimed that Corbyn was “an embarrassment to his party” and an “embarrassment to our country.” This is a man who has previously defended a stag do in France, organised by Tory MP Aidan Burley, with a dress code of Nazi and SS officers. Our self-appointed moral abettor is an individual to whom it didn’t seem to matter that this is categorically illegal in France. It was “just a bit of fun” and the criticism was “a very nasty witch hunt by some sections of the press”.

Howarth is also concerned about the welfare of servicemen and women, especially on the issue of homosexuality. This is because he has served in the RAF reserves for a grand total of one year (1968 – 69) and therefore is thoroughly committed to driving up standards. In 2000, he called the abolishment of the ban on homosexuals in the Armed Forces “appalling” and said that the “decision will be greeted with dismay, particularly by ordinary soldiers in Her Majesty’s forces.” Of course, this is nonsense, and soldiers have been largely indifferent to the fact that some of their number are gay, supporting their mates coming out, given that one day they may save their lives.

The last bastion of faux outrage and ignorance that decided to bombard the British public with their bile is the far-right group Britain First. As I am sure most readers of this already realise, Britain First are a bit of a joke, which is why they will only get a brief mention.

These hardcore patriots who supposedly love our servicemen and women, decided to post on their Facebook page a meme about Fish and Chips during the two minutes’ silence. Britain First also ignored pleas by Lee Rigby’s family, the soldier who was brutally murdered in London, not to exploit his name for political propaganda, and posted his photograph five times during the weekend with the caption “lest we forget.”

Lastly, Britain First activists exploited children poppy sellers with their “protect the poppy” campaign from “leftwing anarchists and Islamists.” This protection was in the form of two overweight, middle aged, unarmed men, tasked with single-handedly stopping an attack by hardcore terrorists in the suburbs of Nottingham. They of course forgot to pose for photos wearing their own poppies, or if they did have them, forgot to wear them correctly on their left breast.

As ever the vast majority of us managed to observe Remembrance Sunday with respect and regard for others. However, again as ever, the minute minority successfully harnessed the day in a tirade of hate. As benign as it sounds, perhaps laughing at them is the only way around them. Anger won’t stop them, censoring hasn’t worked, so why not just deprive them of the satisfaction, and provide them instead with the ridicule they deserve.