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Month: November 2015

HOME Pick of the Week: Brooklyn

Written by Jane Simmons on . Posted in Film.

When hearing the synopsis of Brooklyn, one would expect that it would be a sickly sweet film about a young girl from Ireland, finding herself in the bright lights of New York. Brooklyn is however, so much more than that. It’s sweet, yes, and it’s charming, too—it will make you laugh and it will even make the hardest of souls cry.

Set at first in rural Ireland, we meet shy Eilis, who works in a local bakery and lives with her ageing mother and sister. Upon finding out that her sister has organised a job for her in Brooklyn, New York, through a local priest, she sets sail for the United States and begins her new life. Until an incident draws her back to her hometown, she must then decide whether her life is in Ireland or New York.

The first merit-worthy factor of Brooklyn is the cast. Saoirse Ronan, as always, is brilliant. We see her transform from a retreating country girl, to a woman changed by experience and life. At only 20, Ronan is an incredibly talented actress—she internally portrays and reacts how a young girl in her situation would do, showing fear and reproach perfectly; and happiness so vivid that you can feel the warmth in your brain. Julie Walters is also fantastic as her landlady—she adds a real comic element to the film. Rising tour de force Domhnall Gleeson appears later in the film as a love interest, too. The cast choice is scintillating in the way that they all mould together and perfectly convey their interests and motives.

Another reason why Brooklyn is a must-see, is because some of you might just empathise entirely with Eilis’s experience; the hesitant excitement as you say goodbye to your hometown, the nervousness as you travel to your new destination, the initial homesickness and the contentment when you finally settle into your new life… sounds familiar doesn’t it? That particular element of the film touched a nerve, and will most likely speak to the hearts of other students or those who have had to move away from home. One scene in particular, where Eilis emits a shy tear during a Christmas meal where an Irish man sings an old Gaelic tune is enough to tug tears from any eyes.

Brooklyn is essentially a young girl’s dilemma between ambition and loyalty. Eilis’s life is a constant struggle between fully utilising the opportunities that her sister and America have given her, and staying in Ireland to care for her elderly mother. The film could be praised for its strong female lead; for a film set in the 1950s you can imagine that the film might focus on issues of the heart, or Eilis’s duties as a carer or a nurturer of some sort. Satisfyingly, the film instead emphasises Eilis’s commitment to her studies, the importance of how her decisions should be best for her, and her caution when it comes to love. In one letter she writes to her sister “I now have a boyfriend… but he is important after my studies and work of course.” Not that the film encourages neglect of personal relationships, it simply highlights the struggle of maintaining those relationships when they come into conflict with each other and with ambition for a better life.

The cinematography is also beautiful—mossy greens and muddy browns accentuate the rawness of Ireland, gold and soaring blues encapsulate the new-found beauty of the United States. Visually, the film is a treat to watch.

All in all, Brooklyn is a fantastic piece of work. The cast ensemble is perfect, particularly Ronan as the strong and likeable Eilis, and the masterful cinematography only compliments this more. It should also be acclaimed for the way in which it does not approach life with rose-tinted glasses. Uplifting as it is, the film shines a light on how life is not just all romance and fireworks, life can also be hard, too. Either way, Brooklyn is a perfect watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

4/5

In the spotlight: Olivier Rousteing

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

At the tender age of 17, Olivier Rousteing began his career at Roberto Cavalli, where he went on to become head of women’s ready-to-wear. At 24 he was appointed creative director at Balmain, after just two years with the brand. Although age may just be a number, Rousteing has risen through the ranks quicker than most could ever imagine.

Not bad for the young black orphan adopted by white parents. An aspect of his life which sadly some people could not come to terms with. Rousteing discussed how the issue of race impacted his childhood and his early career in Vogue’s September issue, how he would face remarks like: “Oh, you’re a bastard, your parents are white and you’re black,” or “Your mum slept with a black man,” or “Your dad was with a black woman.” Thankfully, the love and support of his family helped him to overcome the bullying and go on with a successful career.

One of the key elements of Rousteing’s triumph at Balmain is social media. Championing Instagram ahead of the game and becoming the first creative director of a luxury label to launch their own personal account in 2012, he helped to firmly establish the historic French fashion house into the 21st century. He has recruited his very own #BalmainArmy through his collaborations—and numerous selfies—with the Kardashians, Victoria’s Secret models and many more A-list celebrities, earning the company a mainstream appeal beyond the Parisian fashion circles.

Photo: H&M

The sheer extent of this widespread popularity is showcased in Rousteing’s Balmain x H&M collection.  Released in stores last week, after months of hype, it caused what the Internet titled “Balmania.” Rousteing’s intricately embroidered dresses, tailored jackets and bold colours were suddenly available at high street prices. The perfect pieces for the party season, and quite unlike anything else out on the high street—the collection went down in a storm, selling out worldwide within hours.

It’s hard to predict what will be next for Rousteing. After inequitable success at Balmain, will he gain a Lagerfeld-esque status with the brand and become a fashion legend? Perhaps he’ll go on to head is own fashion line? Or maybe take the new seat available at Dior? Whatever he chooses, I’m sure it will send shockwaves around the fashion world.

A street free of suggestion? Live music’s struggle against sexual harassment

Written by Elizabeth Rushton on . Posted in Music.

The frequent gig-goer is accustomed to seeing a plethora of inappropriate behaviour at gigs. I’ve seen people turfed out by security for a list of crimes ranging from fighting to lighting up a cigarette or even a flare. But many of us also know that there is often something else just as inexcusable going on, yet it receives far less attention from security than an excessively frisky mosh pit.

This seemingly invisible issue is sexual harassment and assault at gigs. For many of its predominantly female victims, it’s a taboo subject—leaving them feeling powerless to seek help or speak out about their experience at all. In a time where a recent study by The Tab had found that 95 per cent of female students have been groped, it’s unacceptable—but unsurprising.

Recently however, an internet campaign has sought out to put the issue under spotlight. Girls Against Gig Groping (a.k.a. Girls Against) was founded and is run by five teenage girls who are all full-time students. In a relatively short time, it has established a strong platform for itself on Twitter and other forms of social media, raising awareness and generating important discussions.

I spoke to one of Girls Against’s founders, Hannah, whose story of a bad experience at a Peace gig earlier this year had spread rapidly over social media, which kick-started the campaign. Peace subsequently became the first—in a still growing line of bands, including Circa Waves and Swim Deep—to raise awareness of this issue both on the internet and on stage. This kind of campaign is long overdue; they’ve had enough of it being an “occupational hazard” for vulnerable audience members. “It’s just accepted within the music scene because victims don’t want to appear to be making a fuss, which isn’t okay,” Hannah says. “It had happened to all of us before at some point and we knew how awful we felt afterwards, so we decided to do something about it because we never wanted anyone else to feel the same way.”

You don’t need to read Girls Against’s Twitter account for long before you start to see comments that they have retweeted which belittle harassment as a non-issue, from the sublime(-ly laughable) to the ridiculous(-ly astonishing). Examples include such gems as the classic: “the dress they wore is to blame,” and the thought that anyone who has had a drink bought for them is really asking for it. Hannah’s response to this is straightforward. “That’s absolute bullshit—that whole idea is part of our victim-blaming culture. At the end of the day sexual harassment is against the law, it is a crime.”

The Girls Against campaign emphasises that there is a distinction between the kind of contact with others at gigs which has to be accepted and the kind which absolutely shouldn’t. “We know that at gigs you’re constantly being touched by other people, it’s just the nature of the situation,” Hannah explains. “However there’s a line between brushing up against someone and forcefully pushing your hands down someone’s tights as they try and push you away.”

So what can be done about all this? I can’t help feeling that lesser disparity between the numbers of men and women on the stage would generate greater respect in audience members for the females among them. It’s not news that in the majority of musical genres, male artists hog the mic. Last summer the Reading and Leeds festival posters were left almost empty when the exclusively male acts were removed—revealing the shocking underrepresentation of female artists in the music industry. On top of this, the last five Glastonbury festivals have only seen one headliner featuring a female artist for every four all-male acts. There’s a certain irony in seeing a majority of male artists amongst those who have pledged their support for a cause which predominantly affects girls, but that’s probably more of a reflection that make up the music industry today more than anything else.

It’s disappointing to see efforts like Kathleen Hanna’s ‘girls to the front’ policy, which aimed to stop girls shying away from the barrier for fear of being groped and abused by opportunists. 20 years later, some girls have reported on being surrounded and unable to move away from their harassers. Yet, on the positive side, the fan-led Girls Against campaign is part of a wider trend of this issue being taken increasingly seriously. Last year, London’s Good Night Out campaign was launched, calling for venues to adopt a zero tolerance approach and to train their staff to spot and deal with harassment—something Hannah says is one of Girls Against’s future aims. The voices of female artists have grown louder on the subject, with the likes of Deap Vally, Angel Haze and Haim speaking out, and Wolf Alice’s frontwoman Ellie Rowsell lending her support to Girls Against. So whilst the struggle for an equal live music experience for all goes on, the continuation of this vital conversation is one that can, hopefully, take us closer to removing sexual harassment from venues once and for all.

Optical Opulence: Men’s eyewear and accessories

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

“R…Q…J…smiley face…question mark…” (Hans Moleman, The Simpsons)

Despite now being a twenty-something aspiring boulevardier of sorts, I will always remember, as a young boy, encountering a scene from an old episode of long-running cartoon series The Simpsons in which Springfield’s resident cataracts sufferer Hans Moleman, attempts (unsuccessfully) to read aloud an eye chart designed to assess his visual acuity. Thanks to a seemingly unfortunate combination of genes, my eyesight has always been atrocious to the extent that—still to this day—I feel a certain affinity to this peculiar character’s struggle to make sense of the visual world.

Alas, if my hours spent trawling TED Talk’s motivational speeches have taught me anything, it’s that one must always make the most of a bad situation. I tried contact lenses once but my attempt was fruitless—I was thwarted by my reluctance to apply a fingertip to my naked eye. My solution? Owning a timeless selection of the most flattering eyewear available. Join me as I divulge my secrets to help you in your quest to find the most favourable frames for your face.

 

SQUARE FACES

For a square face, your choice of frame should always aim to lightly soften and round the angles of your cheekbones and jaw. Signature, darker toned and delicately rounded frames such as those in the style similar to what was made famous by Oliver Peoples are famed for their ability to temper sharp facial features and become the main attraction of your look. Optical illusion at its finest.

Photo: ASOS

 

HEART-SHAPED FACES

In order to streamline the breadth of your forehead and broaden the chin—light, metallic frames with contrasting heavier tops should be sported in order to help to balance the proportions of your face. Small, round frames should be avoided as these can draw unwanted emphasis to the forehead. As a patron of this particular facial structure, my exclusive top tip is to remember the old mantra of “the higher the hair, the closer to heaven” as a well-coiffed hairstyle can help to draw in the eyes of others to much better places.

Photo: ASOS

 

ROUND FACES

Angular frames are about to become your new best friend. Offsetting the soft curves of the jaw should be high on your spectacle agenda. This illusion of shape can also be achieved by adding edgier frames with soft corner details to your collection. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour too—those with round faces can afford to make use of tortoiseshells, as these subdued tones don’t appear as harsh on a less angular face and can compliment the visage of brunette boys.

Photo: ASOS

 

TRIANGULAR FACES

Men with this face shape typically display a wide jawline teamed with a narrow forehead. To create an illusion of balancing both the chin and angular jawline, a pair of aviator style frames (think squarer designs) can help to highlight your cheekbones. Bold, solid colours can also bring focus away from the sharper areas of the face. Cat-eye and wraparound styles are to be avoided as these can intensify the hollows of your face.

Photo: ASOS

 

OVAL FACES

Square-edged frames can really help to fill the face and add angle and definition to the contours of your jaw. Bulky, rectangular frames in daringly dark shades can sculpt face shapes of the flatter variety, achieving an aura of masculinity and an undeniable sense of detail. Do make sure though to stray from narrower styles as these types of frames will look consumed by elongated features.

Photo: ASOS

 

There you have it for eyewear—my failsafe guide to optical fashion in consideration of your facial characteristics. Keep an eye out and always remember that a carefully selected, timeless pair of spectacles really does make a gentleman.

 

Photo: National Library of Medicine @Flickr

 

“Accessories are kind of like herbs and spices. They give zest and zing to an outfit.” (Iris Apfel)

With the festive season looming, it’s never too early to begin your hunt for the perfect trinket for yourself or for the men in your life. According to a recent study by the NPD (a market research company), overall sales of men’s accessories increased by eight per cent this year, so there has never been a better time to cut your very own slice of the accessory pie. Just don’t forget to remember that minimalism is the key here—one should never aspire to look as if they fell onto the sale rack at Claire’s Accessories.

 

SUPER SATCHELS

If like me, you’re never one to stray from a sturdy satchel, this River Island piece could be your go to bag for this or even next semester. Jam-packed with zipped pockets and compartments, house your possessions within the security of this sartorial statement. For such a versatile item, the price is also brilliantly budget friendly.

Photo: ASOS

 

COMPLIMENTARY CARD HOLDERS

This next accessory has had almost as big an impact on my life as my discovery of YouTube hair tutorials (I often ‘rest’ my hair in the week with a simple slick of coconut oil, but anyone who spots me on a night out understands my appreciation of being blowdried for the gods). Perfect for hitting up your favourite nightlife haunts, if anybody else out there laments having to squeeze their bulky wallet into their trouser pocket then you’ll understand my elated emotions when I was finally able to effortlessly streamline my silhouette through using a card holder. Leave your loyalty cards at home, and simply slip any sterling you might need into this next product.

Photo: ASOS

 

“HI, HI. WE’RE YOUR WEATHER GIRLS, AND HAVE WE GOT NEWS FOR YOU.”

If there would be one warning that I would give to anyone moving to the North West of England, it would be to prepare for a seemingly never-ending barrage of rain clouds. So, when the humidity is rising and the barometer is getting low, stay dry and scare off any signs of H2O underneath this retractable, black umbrella, made complete with a sinister skull handle detail. The collapsible style of this piece of weather-combatting paraphernalia also makes it an easy addition to dwell within your favourite bag or vehicle.

Photo: ASOS

 

Whether as a result of this article you’re planning a trip to your nearest opticians to find the right spectacle frame for your face, or if you’ve scoured the internet to find a high quality video version of ‘It’s Raining Men’ by The Weather Girls to play the next time you’re faced with some Manchester drizzle, let us know over at our social media links what accessories you couldn’t be without.

Splodge cake

Written by Hope Rapp on . Posted in News.

A family favourite demanded at every birthday, and presented without fail at any occasion offering an excuse for a tasty treat, this is a joyful recipe that needs to be spread. Meet and fall in love with the oh-so-simple but scrumptious SPLODGE.

Ingredients: 

Skinted:

Can of Nestlé condensed milk
230g butter
Large tablespoon of golden syrup
300g Sainsbury’s basics milk chocolate
150g Sainsbury’s basics plain chocolate
1 x jumbo pack of Sainsbury’s basics rich tea biscuits (sainsburys basics)

Or when you’re minted:

300g Green & Blacks milk chocolate
150g Green & Blacks plain chocolate
McVitie’s rich tea biscuits

 

Method:
Line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper, cutting out double the length of the tin so you can cover the cake once it has been poured in.

Melt all the ingredients together in a large pan. Start with the butter, then add the golden syrup, broken up chocolate and condensed milk. Stir together.

Crumble the biscuits up. You can do this as a stress buster by bashing the biscuits with a rolling pin, or by simply breaking them up with your hands.

Stir all together and pour into loaf tin.

Pull the surplus greaseproof paper over the top of the cake and place in fridge for 3-4 hours to harden. (Be sure to take a melted spoonful though before this stage, it’s too good to miss!)

Extras: Add marshmallows, maltesers, nuts, dried fruit or anything that takes your fancy to the mix. Just be sure to reduce the amount of biscuits appropriately.

“My housemates styled me for a date”: The ‘Sebstitute fashion’ challenge

Written by Rebecca Thomas on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Meet Seb Marshall, third year music student at University of Manchester. Marshall is a very nice guy who enjoys singing ‘Barber Shop’, using his garlic crusher, and has a solid friendship with knitted jumpers. When asked what his signature go-to style is, he gave an uncomplicated answer. “Um I quite like t-shirts. And trousers. Yeah.” The question: could a new look make for a new Seb?

In a battle of the sexes, Seb agreed to be styled by Pierre Flasse and Rebecca Thomas, to see who could create the best ‘Sebstitute’, and whether a new look could unleash Seb’s inner style demon.

 

Rebecca’s Mr Debonair look. Photo: The Mancunion

First look by Rebecca. Called ‘Mr Debonair’, the look consists of a Zara turtleneck under a tweed Topman blazer, coupled with an ASOS dagger chain, and the trousers and shoes are the model’s own. The look channels brands The Kooples and All Saints, and meets with Father Ted—but the look could improve if, overtime, Seb grew his hair to shoulder-length and gave it a ruffle.

Rebecca: “I was going for the suave look of a yuppie graduate, who has recently enrolled on a wine-tasting course, and is really proud of his telephone voice. I really think this brings out the sophisticate in Seb.” The makeover got mixed reviews, with Seb’s girlfriend Amber suggesting that she would give it one out of three on the Amb-o-meter scale. Seb’s response, “Yeah, I don’t hate it. I could wear it around the Northern Quarter or Spinningfields. It might encourage me to adopt a miniature dog.”

Pierre’s look for Seb. Photo: The Mancunion

Second look, courtesy of Pierre. Consisting of a multicoloured Adidas sweater, sourced through Ebay, Topshop leggings, and an ‘Angel’ snapback. Pierre: “I imagined Seb as a rude boy 90s hip hop star.”

This look turned out to be the most divergent from Seb’s taste, his response: “I’m horrified”—a reaction duplicated by the Amb-o-meter. Channelling a grime version of Moschino, this would be a serious statement if Seb were to pair it with a bucket hat. Sadly, this look was too incongruous to his taste and had no success in summoning his inner mad dog fashionista.

A crowd survey deemed Seb’s first look as a win by a very close call. The general lesson learned was that, while it might be worth trying to persuade your housemate into some new wavey garms to impress a date, they will probably end up looking awkward and a bit sad. Don’t.

Debate: Competition in sport

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

Competition encapsulates the essence of high-quality sport. While this assertion can be debated, I would argue wholeheartedly that competitiveness is one of the essential elements of an engaging and interesting sport and sports league. Competition leads to unpredictability, and unpredictability leads to debate. Indeed, without competition, sports journalism would be largely redundant.

Competition is vital for both consumers and those involved in sport. Yet, why is the English Premier League the most watched football league in the world, and allegedly the most desirable league to be a part of, when only five teams have won it in 23 seasons? (Manchester United (13), Chelsea (4), Arsenal (3), Manchester City (2) and Blackburn Rovers (1)) Surely, this is evidence of an uncompetitive league?

Perhaps not. While this shows that few teams are capable of the consistency needed to finish top of the table, I would argue that the league as a whole is competitive. The decline of Chelsea this season has shown that dominance might only be temporary. Furthermore, it is becoming a weekly occurrence where a supposed ‘big team’ is beaten by lesser opposition. Teams like West Ham, Crystal Palace and Leicester have competed well against the ‘big teams’.

Obviously, competition is not the only thing that can be attractive about sport. The dominance of Ferguson’s Manchester United during the Premier League years is admirable purely for the fact they consistently quelled the rest of the competition. However, dominance provides extra motivation for the rest, and seeing United eventually overcome by other teams was satisfying for the neutral observer. Moreover, the quantity of world-class footballers playing in the English league these days is a further reason for its attraction and resultant consumption worldwide.

Sir Alex Ferguson. Photo: Minhquangle87

This season we will see, bar nothing short of a Mourinho miracle, a different team winning the Premier League to last season. While this is good, competition for the league title can be whittled down to three teams: Arsenal and the two Manchester teams, with Manchester City being the favourites.

Here is where I would like to introduce a comparison with the National Football League in America. While I admit that comparing sports with completely different codes can only go so far, there are some telling stats.

First, since the English Division One became the Premier League (1992/1993 season), there have been 13 different winners of the Superbowl, the final between the winners of the two conferences that comprise the league. In addition to this, there are nine teams that have played in a final but not won a Superbowl since 1993. If we compare this to the variation in winners and runners up in the Premier League, only 3 teams have finished 2nd without winning it. On the surface, the statistics indicate the NFL to be the far more competitive league.

Obviously, it’s not as simple as this. There are several factors that mean the NFL will be inherently more competitive and the Premier League inherently less so.

The biggest aid to competition is the NFL’s structure: 32 teams divided into two conferences (AFC and NFC), which are then divided into four divisions of four teams each. The winner of each division qualifies for the playoffs along with two wildcards (the two best runners-up in each conference). The play-off games are internal within each conference.

This structure means that, if the quality of the AFC was markedly bad in comparison to the NFC one season, an average team could feasibly make their way through the season and the play-offs to the Superbowl. Effectively, if the best teams in one particular season all happen to fall in one conference, they will have to fight it out between them for one Superbowl place. Thus, there can be a tendency for the Superbowl to not contain the two perceived best teams of that season.

This can be looked at both ways. For the fan that wants to see the two best teams fight it out for the grand prize, this system will not deliver every season. You could argue this system creates variation rather than competition.

On the other hand, the longevity of the Premier League season (38 games) will always mean that the winner is the most consistently successful team over the course. It must be remembered that consistency doesn’t always reflect quality. The tactically-astute team that plays for results can often triumph over the team that plays the higher quality football. Arguments over quality are ultimately subjective.

There are other factors that create competition in the NFL, namely the salary cap and the draft system. On an elementary level, the salary cap universalises how much can be spent by each team on player wages in each season; it is adjusted every season and stands at $143.28 million for the current season. This is something that theoretically could be instated in football, as long as it is enforced across the whole of Europe, and ideally, worldwide. It would conceivably mean that the best players wouldn’t simply be lured to the richest clubs, namely the 4/5 teams that realistically compete for the English league each season, plus PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. However, attempts at trying to curb spending in European football via the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules have been ineffective. In football, competition for titles is stifled by the riches of a handful of clubs.

The draft system is the way in which teams acquire new players in pre-season. It is rigged so that the perceived worst team of the previous season gets the first pick of new talent. The draft system sounds good theoretically; however, it is based on potential; the new players coming into the league are a risk and incomparable to those established as the league’s best. Stumble across one gem and your team can be successful for a decade.

Ultimately, competition comes down to the spread of quality, both of players and coaches. While you can attempt to spread it more equally, if the right combination ends up at one team (lured by potential riches), there is little that can be done.

Sport in the City: Manchester Giants Basketball Club

Written by Adam Selby on . Posted in Sport.

Well… what is it?

After over a decade outside competing in the professional basketball circuit, allowing other teams such as Manchester Magic the opportunity to represent the city in the sport, Manchester Giants Basketball Club returned for the 2012/13 season, and in doing so, helped to resurrect one of the sleeping giants in British Basketball. Playing their home games at what is now the Manchester Arena, attracting crowds of up to 15,000 each game, Manchester Giants was the biggest club in UK basketball in the late 1990s. Alas, financial difficulties sounded the final call for the club 14 years ago, but thanks to the continued popularity of the sport within Manchester, with an abundance of enthusiastic fans and players calling for the Giants’ return throughout the city, Manchester Giants have jumped through several hoops, and have a point to prove this 2015/16 season.

How do I get there?

If I had been writing this article 12 years ago, you would have been directed to what was then the Manchester Evening News Arena in the heart of the city. And had I been writing this article two years ago, you would be en route to Wright Robinson’s Sport College on the outskirts of the city. However, as I am bringing you Manchester Giants in their current campaign, the Giants play all of their home matches at Trafford Powerleague Arena, situated just off the M60. Hosting up to 1100 fans at full capacity, the arena is a throwback to the team’s days at the Manchester Arena, offering a well-appointed, high-quality playing area for the team and spectators alike. But still, how do you get there? Well, thankfully, the Trafford Powerleague Arena is situated adjacent to the Trafford Centre, so if in doubt, I would aim and follow directions to the famous shopping centre. From Manchester Piccadilly, if you are unfamiliar with the bus station, it is based next to Primark, tucked away behind Piccadilly Gardens, and from there you will need to catch either the X50 or 250 bus, both of which are operated by Stagecoach, meaning you can use your UniRider if you own one! Alternatively, from Manchester Victoria Train Station, the 100 or 110 bus can be caught from the station entrance. Also, since it’s an international break in the domestic football season this weekend, not only do you have no excuse not to go, but you also don’t need to allow for any extra time on your travels, because both Manchester City and the nearby Manchester United are not back in action until next week. Slam dunk!

But how much does it cost to get in?

Tickets can be purchased online via the official Manchester Giants website http://manchestergiants.com/ under the Fixtures and Tickets section to the site. Although general adult admission is £12 if purchased in advance, a concession ticket shouldn’t make too much of a dent in your pocket with entry costing only £9.

What are the facilities like? 

Trafford Powerleague Arena offers a multi-purpose playing surface and can accommodate a total of 1100 spectators. The venue itself on a wider scale has undergone a significant amount of redevelopment and, following financial investment, the centre boasts a fully refurbished bar and eating area inside the venue, as well as playing host to an abundance of state-of-the-art facilities, which make the centre one of the largest and most prestigious 5-a-side football centres in the world. Manchester Giants Basketball Club use the multi-sports playing surface inside the venue, and away from the action on the court, fans can also purchase both refreshments and official club merchandise.

Tell me something I didn’t already know

Well, Manchester Giants were the first northern team to challenge the southern dominance of the early National League years, becoming league runners up in 1976-7 and were formed initially during the mid-1970s. Early competition included a team planned by Manchester United as The Red Devils. They dipped their toes into the basketball scene in the mid-80s, buying out the Warrington Vikings team. During the mid-80s Manchester Giants lived on, albeit under the guise of Stockport Giants, and it wasn’t until the early 90s that a sub-franchise Manchester Eagles and Stockport Giants combined to restore Manchester Giants before they were bought by the American medical devices company ‘Cook Group Inc’, which saw the club go from strength to strength. In terms of club legends, you simply can’t ignore a man who goes by the name of Jeff Jones; player and coach of the club in their first incarnation in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and he even returned after their rebirth before the 2012-13 campaign. He has now, however, gone on to work with Manchester’s National Basketball Centre, which opens later this year. The Giants are managed by Yorick Williams.

Finally, when can I see this in action?

Manchester Giants face Newcastle Eagles in their fourth home league game of the season at 6PM on Sunday 15th November. After a poor start to the season, an 82-90 away victory over the London Lions could be the turn in form they have desperately craved, so please head to Trafford and show your support for the city’s sole representatives in the British Basketball League. For further information on anything to do with Manchester Giants, head to: http://manchestergiants.com/

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

Keen on Green

Written by Astrid Kitchen on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Increasingly, studies are illuminating the wondrous effects of plants on cognitive performance, so much so that local primary schools have been noticed raiding garden centres for as much foliage as a state budget can accommodate.

Apparently, this is with good reason: The Independent this summer mulled over Australian findings which demonstrated the positive correlation between green and brain. Using satellites to gauge the surroundings of schools, researcher’s noticed improved concentration levels and memory retention for those with a cheerful plant-orientated hike to school compared to their unfortunate urban counterparts. Interestingly, levels of greenery around homes had no impact, but results recognised a five per cent increase in brain development which, on a population scale, could have a massive effect.

Not only are these findings affecting our little ones, but care homes too have caught drift of the news. Its most sincere implementation is perhaps visible in the work of the famed Bill Thomas as noted by Atul Gawande in his book Being Mortal (the man is all the rage at the moment in the medical world—give him a Google). Bill’s introduction of plants and flowers of all sizes accompanied by an excessive abundance of animals (parakeets included) for each floor of a nursing home in upstate New York appeared to revolutionise the mental and physical health of residents.

Indeed, in line with ideas of the mutually soothing process of petting felines—a body of theory even the University of Manchester can’t deny (take part in the therapeutic puppy petting days held at the SU!)—the study found that prescription levels dropped to half the level of those at the control care home, (particularly for drugs prescribed for agitation) while death rates fell by 15 per cent.

For those of you floating about in the middle age-range and fretting over looming coursework deadlines, maybe it’s time you treat yourself to a quick plant purchase and jazz up your uni room with a fern or two (landlords seem pissy about parakeets nowadays).

Talking from experience, in the desperate days of trying to give Oak House the kiss of life it urgently needed, I trekked to Hulme Garden Centre in first year and spent a measly £25 quid on a six-foot Christmas tree and, ask anyone, Maple 28 had a legendary festive shindig. (Fun and games in December, less so in January when an abandoned and white-with-mould fir tree drove my flatmate to buy a saw, when the only means of disposing of it became dismemberment.)

For those of you who not bothered with venturing out of the Oxford Road bubble, pop to our very own weekly plant sale in Owens Park on a Wednesday. Rumour has it a cactus will only cost you a Magic Rider bus fare; a cheaper and healthier alternative to Ritalin kids!

Man in the Browser

Written by Ashley McGovern on . Posted in Arts.

A courtroom illustrator has no choice over their subject matter; their pastel sketches must record the various revealing looks of the accused as faithfully as possible. But when a newspaper has to typify an anonymous criminal responsible for a spurt of online hacking, they have definite artistic choices to make.

Glancing through the recent reports of TalkTalk and Vodafone hacking, the common features given to the unknown culprits seem to be disembodied heads, or sometimes typing hands, surrounded by a sinister jumble of computer code.

Metro’s article (October 30th) on the “dark side of the web” had a large three-quarter page image of a bionic woman staring out at the reader. She had blue microchip-veined skin, dark lips and flared eyes—a Marvel Comics villainess out to ransack the net. The Daily Mail’s report (October 31st) on how stolen information is traded using Bitcoin on the grubby ‘Dark Web’ included an image of a man’s head, face shadowed except for stray hairs, covered by a fluttering matrix of digits.

A Guardian article (October 31st) revealing the truth behind hacker stereotypes came with a more painterly version: Shoulders topped with a computer screen head, white keyboard and, of course, the expected background of overlapping code, the lingua franca of the hacking world.

They’re all trying to suggest the ghostly trespassing of the people responsible for over 2,000 yearly online attacks that cost £300 billion, and every part of the pictures means something. The glare of encrypted data represents the onslaught of DDoS attacks that lesser skilled hackers, known as “script kiddies,” use to bombard companies with traffic; the dark backgrounds are the lonely dens of hacking addicts; and the faceless baddies stand for the smarter, less visible hackers, hiding via the ‘Man in the Browser’ theft tactic.

Of course the images are visually influenced by the snide methods of hacking, but there may be another political crisis, an even craftier precedent, behind the aesthetic. Recently The Economist looked back at the great 2008 sub-prime mortgage disaster and published a series of five articles that traced the causes. In their first piece, the accompanying picture had skyscrapers obscured by a shower of numbers, arrows and dollar symbols.

The falling cash signs visually mirror the cascade of code used, as we’ve seen, so often in the cybercrime feature images. This is not the only example either. Take a look at some of the retrospective pieces about the crash, or just Google image it, and a lot of pictures use devices like sad faces reflected in Wall Street monitors. Graphs whose lines and bars are plummeting frame the heads of despondent brokers. The banking elite are surrounded by screens that forecast dire news.

These political scenarios are linked and their similarities shine through the throwaway images that caption the news stories. Hacking could be seen as a vengeful response to freewheeling capitalists, or it could be the refuge of those who want to play heinous games with money but don’t have the banking authority to do so. Either way, both cases rely on valuable information being distorted without anybody being aware of it. Not before a bank defaults and it is bought in a shotgun merger or account information is stolen and credit card details flogged do the manipulators get noticed.

It’s this shadowy criminality that the media portraits are trying to capture. To do this they revert to the doomsday aesthetic of the computer screen, or financial index monitor, which all of a sudden reveals the bad news that you’ve been had. Only if the Talk Talk scandal comes to trial will a courtroom artist sketch the true face of guilt. Until then, as with all our online dealings, we’ll have to put up with a malign presence peering through our browsers.

Review: The Pen and Pencil

Written by Felix Sanders on . Posted in News.

I’ve only been living in Manchester for five weeks, and before that I had little or no preconceived idea about what the food would be like. I had read one review that dubbed Manchester “a city that drinks first and eats after, with its mouth open.” To generalise a whole city’s cuisine is perhaps unfair, but I do not think it unreasonable to first call The Pen and Pencil a bar, and in distant second, a restaurant.

It gets its name from the now defunct New York steak house and hangout of Mad Men’s Don Draper. One thing that sticks in my mind about the series was the protagonist rarely being without a drink in his hand.

A wonderful old friend and I went on a Thursday lunchtime to assess the latest addition to the Northern Quarter. When you walk in the door it’s the bar that takes pride of place, with a sleek metal countertop and tiled lining. The seating is informal; benches and tables.

We found ourselves a table and after about five minutes were offered drinks. The strawberry and basil smoothie my friend ordered proved that, when it came to drinks, the barmen knew what they were doing. A coupling of flavours that made you simultaneously think tomato sauce and British summer. My coffee was as good—decent beans and it arrived at sipping temperature.

The daytime menu is an all day brunch, with sandwiches, in the style of modern American comfort food. The corned beef hash came with two fried eggs. Test any chef by his eggs—they’re simple, nothing to hide behind. Mine were good with sufficiently runny yolks.

When you order a Philly cheesesteak sandwich for £7.00, it’s a given that its going to be a little chewy, but when you put on the menu “tender strips of steak,” you run the risk of being done for false advertising.

The one surprise was the taco salad that we shared. The pico de gallo was delicious, so was the shredded beef. But the best part was the taco basket the salad sat in. A battered dome that provided an indulgent addition to the salad.

Despite the trend having stuck with the catering industry like a bad smell, I still hate eating off anything other then a plate so, when two of the three dishes came in wooden boxes I heaved an internal sigh of despair.

One thing my friend and I did notice was the quality of the music. We both have a place in our hearts for Wilson Pickett so were instant fans of whoever put together that playlist. The music in a bar or restaurant can sometimes be completely inconsequential, but in this instance it provided a nice touch.

On my journey back from the Northern Quarter to Fallowfield I noticed that amongst the posters at the Lidl end of the curry mile, Pen and Pencil have one offering “DJ’s ‘til 2am Friday and Saturday nights”. There’s nothing essentially wrong with a new establishment trying to deliver on all fronts—look at Soup Kitchen—but Pen and Pencil runs the risk of stretching itself too thin, and the food will end up suffering.

Also does Manchester really need a another DJ-centric bar?

Get Lost

Written by Aj Mal on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Many of us have been bitten by the travel bug, and cheap flights have made it easy to escape abroad for less than the price of a night out in Manchester. Web-based companies, NightSwapping and Couchsurfing, are excellent ways to travel whilst not spending a penny on hotel rooms.

The well-known Couchsurfing website arranges free nights in a host’s home. NightSwapping takes this concept further and allows users to have free stays either with or without a host, in exchange for allowing your home or room to be put on the site for potential visitors, or alternatively paying a small fee. Insurance, reviews and stringent checks help make this a safe and flexible option, with a greater degree of choice than Airbnb and Couchsurfing.

Cutting accommodation expenses has opened up previously unaffordable destinations, and these sites are also a great way to meet locals and fellow travellers, and fully immerse yourself into cities and cultures around the world.

A flight down to Portugal can bring warm temperatures and sunshine even at this time of the year. The sprawling city of Lisbon is a melting pot of cultures. Leaving the metro at Restauradores Square, it is possible to walk through over a mile of narrow, cobbled streets full of music, bars, restaurants and crowds of people enjoying the electric ambience of this area.

These streets lead down to the vast expanses of Praça do Comércio, a huge square by the water’s edge, lined by fantastic bars such as the Museu da Cerveja (Museum of Beer). The square is the venue of a variety of festivals and live music performances in the centre of a city full of history and culture. Further up the coast is the lively city of Porto, famous for its amazing food and wines, and the surrounding coastlines which features fantastic beaches such as at Nazare, a magnet for the world’s best surfers keen to ride the record breaking giant waves.

The epic waves at Nazare were conquered by British Surfer Grant McNamara, who rode a 100-foot monster wave back in 2013. Big wave aficionados are currently taking part in the World Surf Leagues annual event, with Sebastian Steudtner currently leading the way.

Further north in Europe, the snow is beginning to fall, and ski season is starting. In Mayrhofen in Austria, the hills come alive with the sound of music, for the annual Snowbombing music festival, with the best live acts and DJs blasting their beats amongst the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Recent years have featured The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Rudimental, Carl Cox, Basement Jaxx, Sigma and Skrillex amongst many others. With fun filled days and vibrant nightlife in a location like no other, this really adds to the charm of the traditional ski and snowboard village.

There really is no excuse to be bored during free weekends, and experiencing somewhere new has never been easier.

Live: Hawktoberfest 2015

Written by Tom on . Posted in Music.

3rd October

Academy 1

8/10

Hawkwind returned to Academy 1 on Saturday night to curate another Hawktoberfest. This year’s alternative autumn ‘fest’ featured entertaining dub punk rock from Ruts DC, and psychedelic rock from Manchester-based Amplifier. However, the main attraction of the night was a two-hour set from space rock founders and sonic innovators, Hawkwind themselves. Nurtured in the Ladbroke Grove commune of the late 1960s, Hawkwind fast became central to a new wave of experimental rock music. Despite forming 46 years ago, Saturday night showed that Hawkwind’s music hasn’t aged a second. The range of sounds used by most other experimental artists is still a cosmos off those heard in 1970s classics such as In Search of Space and Warrior on the Edge of Time.

Hawkwind opened with the metallic ‘Utopia’, which must have lasted for about 20 minutes. From then on, they presented a staggering array of sounds, with most songs ascending into what seemed like free-form improvisation. Just as everyone was getting used to the lightshow on offer, onto the stage came a dancer dressed as a Blade Runner replicant, and she preceded to throw fire-coloured linen around and dance with death near the summit of a blue curtain.

After about an hour, there was a long interlude of electro-psychedelia while the drummer caught his breath. “Oh my poor heart”, commented Hawkwind’s only constant member, 74-year-old Dave Brock, before he launched into another freak-out full of synth crescendos. Just as impressive as the range of sounds was the cohesion of the whole performance—the rhythm section never deteriorated, even at the height of improvisation.

Hawkwind have about them the air of a religious cult, and towards the end it was repeatedly demanded that “All hail the machine!” Also played was “just a little taster from next year’s project”—there may be more to come from Hawkwind! From Dave Brock personally, there’s definitely more to come: His new solo album Brockworld is out next month.

Hawkwind’s encore featured high tempo, swooshing rocker ‘Silver Machine’, often covered by The Sex Pistols. As this suggests, Hawkwind represent one of the few bridges between the hippie and punk movements. Minor disappointments were that Hawkwind abstained from early 1970s ‘hits’ (always relative) such as ‘Assault and Battery’ and ‘Master of the Universe’. But who ever wanted Hawkwind to stick with the familiar? Unanchored, heavy psychedelia triumphed in Academy 1.

Interview: The View

Written by Tom on . Posted in Music.

Dundee’s finest, The View, returned to Manchester in October as part of a UK tour of their new album Ropewalk. Their recent fifth studio album Ropewalk certainly demonstrates that the band have departed from the punk-influenced indie rock that had characterised their 2007 UK number one debut album, Hats Off to the Buskers.

“It’s had really good reviews, pleased with that. It’s been enjoyable playing the tunes live,” comments Kieren on the experimental sound of the new record. “Listening to material that we don’t normally do,” such as “Michael Jackson and The Jesus and Mary Chain” has certainly created a record of more variety and complexity than the more anthemic rock that typified their previous albums.

A key energy behind this shift was The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr., who produced the album and pushed The View creatively. When asked if he thought Ropewalk was more soulful in style, Webster replied: “Aye, it’s definitely a different style. Albert really put his fingerprint on it. He was a cool guy, really down to earth and really enthusiastic.”

The development of The View’s sound bears a resemblance to the Arctic Monkeys’ recent change in style—but it didn’t seem to influence the band, on a conscious level at least: “That was never mentioned. Never really thought about that before.”

Unlike the Arctic Monkeys, The View have certainly retained the tongue of their roots as rhotic Dundee Scots. This is in spite of The View’s diaspora that has developed over the last few years: “I’ve just moved from London up to Glasgow this year. Kyle [The View’s frontman] is all over the place just now. Pete lives in Liverpool, so all over the place.”

Webster definitely thinks that the band’s sound “has gone a bit more experimental. Hopefully we can go even more experimental in the future. Sort of get away from just the guitar, bass, drums; which is my favourite sort of song, but just to keep it moving.” It seems like Ropewalk may be a sign of things to come. There’s even a smattering of psychedelia on the new record: “Aye, we got some synths out and that, got some moogs out. We got quite into it. That was the first time we’d kind of fucked about with them.” The result is a surprisingly interesting and, as always, enjoyable record.

A problem The View currently have to deal with is the changing tastes of sections of the music press. However, Webster didn’t seem overly concerned, commenting, “show’s a bit smaller than back in the day, but hey-ho. Aye, it’s all still good fun.” On the current indie music scene Webster added, “There’s definitely some good stuff around. But I’d like to see bands getting more publicity, more radio play— especially traditional, four-piece, five-piece bands.” When asked if that was down to the changing nature of Radio 1, Webster said: “Aye, but these things just go in swings and roundabouts. It’s down to the powers that be… Just have to get on with it.”

Strangely, The View are still banned from Japan, eight years after their last tour there. As Webster described: “We apply for a visa every year. We eventually got back to America so we’re hoping the same thing will happen with Japan. They’re just really strict. They don’t like drugs at all.”

They certainly make up for their absence in Japan with the amount of gigs they have done around the UK each year, and the band also look set “to do a tour towards the end of the year. Probably a smaller one with bigger venues.” If they return to Manchester at the end of the year, it would be The View’s third Manchester gig of 2015. They’ve also got plans for 2016, with Webster outlining: “Next year it’s our anniversary, ten years since we released our first album, so we’re expecting to do some stuff to do with that. Not re-release it, but a tour I think.”

Given the band’s high-energy style when performing live, I asked whether the new album was harder to play live; but Webster replied: “I wouldn’t say it’s harder to play live. There’s some stuff that we just don’t play live that’s on the record. But it still works.”

As Webster had said to me earlier, The View’s gigs still have the “same sort of energy” as their chart topping early days, and this was epitomised by Webster’s full-blooded performance of ‘Skag Trendy’ towards the end of the set. As this suggests, the gig itself followed the traditional ‘raucous start, mellow middle, euphoric ending’ formula, and it made for an entertaining gig. The tracks on Ropewalk that made up most of the ‘mellow middle’ (the highlight being ‘Under the Rug’) were generally well received and definitely gave a variety to the set.

Before the encore, Webster said to the Manchester crowd: “Best school night gig for a while,” and a fairly trivial stage invasion during ‘Superstar Tradesman’ shows that The View continue to maintain a dedicated following.

Fallowfield ALDI robbed by armed men

Written by Lucy Menage on . Posted in News.

On Tuesday the 10th of November, ALDI, located on Lloyd Street South in Fallowfield, was robbed by men wielding either axes or sledgehammers. The incident took place at 2:15pm and was carried out by four men. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt; however, a security guard required treatment from paramedics at the scene due to having an injured hand.

The four culprits managed to escape with an unknown sum of cash just after staff had raised the alarm. Witnesses who arrived just after the event describe how “the whole store was cordoned off and there was an ambulance outside as well as lots of police. All the staff were still inside and thankfully it looked like none of them had been seriously hurt”.

This is the second time that a local ALDI has been targeted by armed robbers this year. Just five months ago in July at the ALDI store on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury, a robbery was carried out by two men in balaclavas, yet again armed with axes.

Student Parents and Carers Awareness Stall

Written by Miriam Amies on . Posted in News.

The Student Parents and Carers Awareness stall will take place outside University Place next Monday, with the aim of improving the welfare of students who care for a family member or child.

To recognise Carers’ Rights Day on the 20th of November, the stall will offer information and a wide range of support that the University of Manchester Students’ Union has on offer for these students.

They are “calling all students who are parents or carers—if you have a caring responsibility your Students’ Union is here to support you.

“Here in Manchester we’re playing our part in raising awareness about carers, their rights and the obstacles they face in seeking higher education.”

An NUS report in 2013 estimated that 3 – 6 per cent of students have caring responsibilities, usually for an older family member with a physical disability or illness, while The Guardian found that students with parental caring responsibilities is even higher at approximately 10%.

Student parents and carers tend to be incredibly hard working yet have a higher drop-out rate for a multitude of reasons, one being lack of community support.

A new Student Parents and Carers group will hold family friendly events and regular lunch meet-ups, promoted through their new Facebook group. “we’re hoping to create a friendlier university experience for students who are parents or carers,” say the organisers.

If you’re a student parent or carer come to our Student Parents and Carers Awareness Stall, outside University Place on Monday the 16th of November, from 11am – 3pm.

For further information on student parents and carers support contact [email protected], and find useful links here and here.

University funding body mixes up state vs privately educated students statistics

Written by Lina Jfairi on . Posted in News.

In a report released this summer by the university funding body, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) claimed that state sector students were more likely to obtain a first or an upper-second at university than independent sector students.

It has now been revealed that these statistics were actually the other way around.

The HEFCE has now admitted that the statement released over last summer that 82 per cent of state school graduates are more likely to achieve a first or an upper second classification compared to that of 73 per cent of private school students, were in actual fact in reverse.

HEFCE’s mistake has enraged many independent sector head teachers, including the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference that represented 270 the top independent sector schools and the Girls’ School Association.

Hilary French, the headmistress of the Newcastle High School for Girls specified: “We all want every pupil to reach their full potential but this will only happen if society takes the right actions based on true facts. Pretending that most state school pupils do better at university won’t help them actually do better.”

This mistake was initially found by Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research (CEER) at Buckingham University. He claims that although HEFCE changed the figures within the report, they did not carry out a public correction on the issue.

He further argues: “So long as these figures out there are uncorrected, they will continue to influence both perceptions of schools and how universities are expected to go about recruiting students.”

He also claims that HEFCE need to straighten out these figures to depict a truer picture. HEFCE corrected this and added, “for all but those with the very highest A-level grades, state school graduates tend to have higher degree outcomes.” They also claim to have reversed the available information on their website and on social media.

Manchester City Council opens its doors to the homeless

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

After the widely-publicised decision by former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs to open their city centre property to homeless people in need, Manchester City Council has begun proceedings that will allow squatting in empty council-owned buildings for those sleeping rough.

The move appears to acknowledge both the vulnerability of Manchester’s homeless as winter approaches and the apparent futility of current infrastructure in dealing with an overwhelming and growing homeless population. The Town Hall’s decision comes barely two weeks after the heavily criticised eviction of The Ark homeless shelter on Oxford Road, jointly forced through by the council and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The opening of Giggs and Neville’s grade two listed property, to the amazement and jubilation of its inhabitants, seems to have acted as a catalyst for action on the homeless crisis and has ignited public debate. The council is set to co-operate with charities and volunteering organisations to establish functioning homeless shelters in the disused buildings, although there has been no date set for completion and no indication on which buildings have been earmarked for temporary conversion.

The original squat, the footballers’ former stock exchange building has, after receiving intense media attention as a success story, experienced difficulties; prominent Manchester activist Wesley Hall who was central in negotiations with Gary Neville, was asked to leave in an unexpected development.

Hall, who seemed to briefly become the unofficial leader of Manchester’s homeless after appearing in multiple interviews with national media, came under intense criticism by aggrieved residents for “running a dictatorship.” He was accused of refusing entry to homeless who were entitled refuge and forcing out existing residents in an arbitrary fashion.

The so-called ‘sock exchange’ under his leadership “failed to offer shelter to those in need and to fulfil its intended purpose” according to one homeless campaigner. The homeless camp on Market Street underneath the Arndale shopping centre was reportedly established by individuals prevented from entering the building.

Homelessness in Manchester has been thrown under the spotlight over the past few months as greater numbers of rough sleepers seek to establish some form of residence in the city, often in defiance of the law. Critics of the government say such social issues faced by Manchester, and other British cities, reflect a national housing crisis in the wake of Tory austerity measures that harshly attack the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable.

Since David Cameron’s government came to power in 2010, the numbers of rough sleepers in Manchester has surged sixfold and by almost half nationally.

Multiple campaigns have responded to these “alarming” figures; Manchester-based Student Action in Solidarity with the Homeless (SASH), who were unsuccessful in their initial aim of protecting The Ark, have continued to campaign after its removal. The space it formerly occupied now bears metal fencing to prevent any access to the shelter provided by Mancunian Way, although groups of homeless still gather at the site.

SASH are currently holding negotiations with MMU and pressuring the university to raise funding for a homeless support initiative designed by students. Their aim is to provide alternative shelter in response to the forced removal of the Ark—an act SASH has called “social cleansing.”

While the council is taking steps to address the issue, the seemingly contradicting actions of both evicting and opening doors to the homeless is, some say, symptomatic of a city struggling to find a viable, let alone sustainable solution to soaring homeless numbers.

However, the decision to open the doors of vacant buildings to the city’s most vulnerable will represent progress for the homeless and for activists, even if there is not yet a long-term answer to this difficult problem.

Oxford University accept £75 million donation from oligarch

Written by Elena Losavio on . Posted in News.

The University of Oxford has been accused of “selling its reputation and prestige to Putin’s associates,” after having accepted Leonid Blavatnik’s £75 million donation.

Pavel Litvinov, the Soviet dissident leader, and others, including former Oxford academics and human rights activists, wrote a letter to The Guardian denouncing this. They assert that the university has failed to examine Blavatnik’s involvement with the state-sponsored harassment campaign against British Petroleum (BP) in Russia.

The letter said that Blavatnik and other Russian billionaires are members of a consortium called Access-Alfa-Renova (AAR), which was accused of being behind the harassment campaign, when western managers “were forced out of Russia” in 2008 and 2009.

Andrew Garfield, Blavatnik’s spokesman, said: “I don’t think we are going to comment. The allegations are primarily directed at Oxford.”

The university commented that they did not examine the quarrel between BP and AAR.

A spokesman for the university said: “Oxford University has a thorough and robust scrutiny process in place with regard to philanthropic giving. The Committee to Review Donations conducts appropriate due diligence based on publicly available information. The university is confident in this process and in its outcomes.

“The university is a world leader for research and education at a time of growing global competition. Generous philanthropic donations help make this possible, supporting outstanding teaching and research discoveries of worldwide benefit.”

As a result of Blavatnik’s £75 million donation in 2010, this autumn the Blavatnik School of Government will move into a brand new building at the University of Oxford. This donation has been said to be one of the biggest donations received by the university for 900 years.

Nevertheless, signatories of the letter to The Guardian, calling for transparency on Oxford donation procedures, state: “It is time to open a cleaner chapter in UK-Russia relations.”

Sturgeon has created a “debt mountain” for Scottish students

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, speaking about the SNP pledge made in 2007 that stated that they would eradicate student debt in Scotland before the impending election, asked: “Did the First Minister ever have any intention of keeping that promise?”

The accusations come after a report, published by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, showed that under the current SNP government the average bursary or grant had been cut by almost 30 per cent. Figures also show that borrowing had rocketed to £467 million, nearly doubling in the two years after state grants were cut back in 2012.

Nicola Sturgeon argued back, highlighting to her opposition that, “when you look at average student loan debt, what you find is the figure for Scotland is significantly lower than any other part of the United Kingdom.”

She said that current figures tell us that the average debt for England stands at £21,180, with Wales and Northern Ireland at £19,010 and £18,160 respectively. Student debt in Scotland is significantly below these at £9,440.

The First Minister continued, saying: “We live in tough financial times, everyone knows that, and tough choices always have to be made, but we will continue to make sure we are providing good support for our students, so that more of our students from the most deprived parts of our country can take the opportunity to go to university.”

She also noted that at a time when the UK is taking steps to cut bursaries all together, the Scottish government are acting to increase the bursary element of the support package.

NUS Scotland president Vonnie Sandlan also hit out against the Scottish government’s decision to increase student borrowing, whilst all the while keeping to its free university tuition policy.

“Without access to the necessary financial support, students are forced to turn to commercial debt, take on unreasonable amounts of part-time work, or even drop out of education all together.”

Poorer undergraduate students are said to borrow 30 per cent more a year on average, around £5,900, than their more well-off counterparts.

She advised that other parties look to tackle these issues before the upcoming Holyrood elections next May. She added: “We need to look at the wider cost of studying, and how students are supported in education.”

Speaking further on the matter, Ms Sandlan said that it is “simply a huge waste of some of our brightest potential, and a huge waste for our country.”