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Day: 17 October 2016

America’s Game

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

The 2016 NFL season is well under way, with only 16 regular games and 3 or 4 play-off games (‘the postseason’ as they call it across the pond) played each year. Short you might think, especially compared to the 38 game English Premier League. Yet, this brevity only heightens the importance of each game, leading to often thrilling matches. Qualification to the play-offs is usually achieved with a 10-6 record of wins to losses, secured either through winning your division or being one of 2 best runners’ up within your conference; the NFL is comprised of 2 conferences (the AFC and NFC) each containing 4 divisions (North, South, East and West). You can qualify for the play-offs with a losing record, as long as it’s the best record in your division, thus every win is vitally important. It is rare to win back-to-back Super Bowls, it’s only happened 7 times. This competitiveness results in an exciting and unpredictable competition.

Last Year

Last year’s Super Bowl was contested by the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, Denver securing a 24-10 victory. Denver’s defence was able to nullify the potent Carolina attack, headed by Cam Newton. Carolina’s form of last year, they lost only 2 games (including the Super Bowl), has not continued. They have lost 4 games already, sitting bottom of their division. As well as suffering key injuries in offence and defence, Newton appears more focussed on his post-match interview attire than football: consult Google and you’ll see what I mean. Only a miracle will result in Carolina reaching the play-offs.

Conversely, the Broncos are looking very promising. The retirement of Quarter-back Peyton Manning, one of greatest ever, hasn’t dented their stride; they have a 4-1 record after 5 matches. Coach Gary Kubiak has built a formidable defence, containing star men Von Miller and Aqib Talib: they will certainly contest the play-offs.

The Contenders

For me, this year’s contenders are Pittsburgh, the New England Patriots and the Minnesota Vikings (as well as Denver). Pittsburgh are a fantastic team to watch. They have Ben Roethlisberger (2x Super Bowl winner) at Quarter-back, complemented by wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. They hold a potent offence, comparable to Barcelona’s strike force of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, scoring 15 touchdowns in 4 games. Having beefed up their defence in the offseason, they’re my bet for the Super Bowl.

However, with coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady, as well as juggernaut Tight End Rob Gronkowski, New England are always a safe bet for play-off success. Belichick and Brady have won 4 Super Bowls together: a legendary partnership. Brady was banned for the opening 4 games following the Deflategate scandal. He returned in blistering form against the Cleveland Browns, passing for 406 yards and 3 Touchdowns. Deflategate has left Brady angry.

Minnesota are this year’s unexpected package. A missed kick denied them a victory in the wild-card play-off round last season. The offseason signing of QB Sam Bradford was a gamble that is paying off thus far: they hold the only unbeaten record after 5 games. Coach Mike Zimmer has built a mean defence; their opponents are averaging merely 4.4 yards a play. They’re on a role and could be on the verge of something special.

Subsequent to these 3, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles look good for the play-offs. Green Bay have Jordy Nelson back in their armoury, missing the whole of last season through injury, he’s scored 5 touchdowns already this campaign. Dallas and Philadelphia look rejuvenated following poor seasons last year (Philadelphia finished 7-9 and Dallas finished 4-12), the Eagles benefitting from the electric start of rookie QB Carson Wentz to his NFL career. Seattle continue to be an imposing team following their Super Bowl success in 2014. ‘Legion of Boom’ members Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas III still dominate their defence, and wide receiver Doug Baldwin and QB Russel Wilson head the offence. Inspirational coach Pete Carroll will undoubtedly lead them to the play-offs again this season.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 2012 saw the New York Giants holding the trophy.

The Upstarts

After 5 games, both the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders have 4-1 records. This is a marked improvement, given that last year the teams finished with 7-9 and 8-8 records respectively. They, along with Minnesota, have surprised me with their form so far. Oakland have been reinvigorated by coach Jack Del Rio, who joined in January. The team hasn’t finished with a winning record since the 2002 season, however, Del Rio’s young team looks set to overhaul this record. Similar to Pittsburgh, Oakland have a powerful offence headed by the trio of QB Derek Carr and wide receivers’ Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

Atlanta deserve to be taken very seriously as well. They currently lead the NFL in passing yards, total yards and total points scored, with QB Matt Ryan on fire. Furthermore, they have already beaten last year’s Super Bowl contenders Denver and Carolina, a sign they are not flustered by any opposition. Last year they began the season 5-0, but crumbled to 8-8; if they can maintain their current form, they could be dark horses for the Super Bowl come February.

Tracks of the week: 17th October

Written by Mattea Bubalo on . Posted in Music.

 

1) Riverwave- ‘Tonight’

Vaporwave’s classic dreary monotony gets a computerised, glittery makeover by mysterious artist Riverwave. A new mix has been released on their Soundcloud account and it’s a tune that epitomizes relaxation. Inspired by sounds from popular ‘Anime’ shows in 1980s Japan, Riverwave will make you feel like you’re the only one driving down the motorway at midnight.

 

2) Devendra Banhart- ‘Jon Lends a Hand’

Subtle, sweet, and surreal; this tune from Devendra Banhart’s new album Ape in Pink Marble, delivers melancholy that will satisfy long time fans and surprise the new ones. There’s something gentle about this track, with its hint of harps and the murmur of the warm keyboard, that will revive tired eyes.

 

3) D. D. Dumbo- ‘King Franco Picasso’

Newcomer D. D. Dumbo is rising to prominence with his new album Utopia Defeated, crashing onto the scene with a disruptive pop-esque sound which here takes a jumpy and spooky turn—perfect for Halloween parties. This track might offend someone with a penchant for the more delicate side of lo-fi, but the odd blending elements of smooth jazz with the sparkling guitar sounds of shoegaze is refreshing.

Record Reappraisal: Oasis – Be Here Now

Written by Callum Oliver on . Posted in Music.

Be Here Now, as everyone already knows, has gone down in history as the pinnacle of Britpop’s excess. The druggy accoutrements of fame and their own hubris finally caught up with Oasis, and they collapsed well and truly into self-parody. In hindsight, perhaps it was inevitable. A band as dogmatically reverent towards the idols of the past was always going to dredge up the same tropes. The truth is, in spite of Noel Gallagher’s preposterous but somehow perfect dalliance with Tony Blair, Oasis were always a deeply musically conservative band. Any band that name-drops ‘Yellow Submarine’ in their first single has to be.

So Be Here Now didn’t come out of nowhere. If anything, it’s a flabbier and more indulgent version of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory. The songs are looser, and they don’t half go on. Perhaps the worst offender in this department is ‘All Around The World’, which stretches out a banal CBeebies jingle into a 10 minute ‘Hey Jude’ pastiche. It all ends, with depressing inevitability, with a big guitar solo, because that’s what rock bands do. Pompous, bloated and humourless, it’s everything punk set out to get rid of. Similarly, the apparently endless ‘It’s Getting Better (Man!!)’ resembles Liam Gallagher gurning in a wind tunnel while the band strike various Guitar Hero poses behind him. Yeah. Rock.

Generally, the quality of the songs feels undermined by their similarity. In isolation, ‘I Hope, I Think, I Know’, for instance, is a solid pop song. However, after a while you realise that every song sounds like the one that came before it, and the one that came before it wasn’t up to much. Perhaps the sole exception to this rule is ‘D’You Know What I Mean’, which is a genuinely dynamic and propulsive start to the album, even if it doesn’t end when you want it to, and carries on not ending for several minutes.

However, the song also typifies the worst of the album’s blue-you, me-see lyrics. “D’You Know What I Mean, yeah yeah?” Well… no. And I don’t think you do either, Noel. In fairness, people don’t listen to Oasis for their scintillating lyrical qualities, which is just as well, because there aren’t any. They listen to them because they are songs you can bellow along to in fields, and at this, Be Here Now broadly succeeds. ‘Stand By Me’ is a strong enough song to survive its chronic overproduction and 20-odd choruses. Even ‘All Around The World’ is almost endearingly daft in this department.

However, the amusingly overblown, Spinal Tap excesses of this album aren’t enough to redeem it. The excess permeates everything, right down to the garish kow-towing to the old guard of rock on the cover. With this album, Oasis continued to shove indie (whatever that means) away from fey, gauche outsider music into a lumpen dad-rock cul-de-sac. Despite a handful of undeniably great songs, they represent a glum re-establishment of the safe and familiar in British music.

What next for Wayne Rooney?

Written by George Ball on . Posted in Sport.

Seemingly having been around forever; Rooney burst onto the scene in 2002 aged just 16, scoring that famous goal for Everton against Arsenal. Since then he has won Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup with United. However, in the past few seasons he has struggled for consistent form in a below-par United side.

To attempt to combat this lack of form, Rooney has been tried out in a number of positions in recent seasons. Initially he was moved from his natural number nine role into a number ten, behind the striker, where it was hoped his loss of pace would not stop him contributing to the United attack. After mixed performances Rooney was moved further back still, into a central midfield role. It was hoped he could use his creative ability to spray balls across the pitch and create chances for his teammates, again this did not go to plan.

The arrival of José Mourinho at Old Trafford in July signalled a return to his previous attacking position, with Mourinho saying, “For me, he will be a No 9 or a No 10, or a number nine-and-a-half, but with me he will never be a No 6, not even a No 8.” However, this change did not lead to improved form for Rooney, who has managed just a single league goal this season, in the first game of the season against Bournemouth. His poor form led to calls from fans and the media alike for him to be dropped from the starting eleven, which he was for the game against Leicester City. He was also named as a substitute for the following games against Zorya in the Europa League and Stoke City in the Premier League.

A potential cause for Rooney’s absence of form in past seasons is the fact that Manchester United have not been playing consistently well for a number of seasons now, arguably since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. They have had three permanent managers in that time: David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and now José Mourinho. Moyes and Van Gaal in particular failed to bring the attacking football to Old Trafford that the United fans enjoyed under Ferguson. Whilst the jury is still out for Mourinho, he is known for favouring defensive solidity over more positive football. This does not bode well for players in attacking positions like Rooney, especially as he is now no longer guaranteed a position in the starting eleven.

So what next for the once talismanic striker? If the United management team think his time is up at the club, there will be a queue of teams abroad who would love to take a chance on him. Clubs in the MLS in America and the Chinese Super League have been rumoured to be keen to sign Rooney, who would be a landmark signing, even if his on-pitch ability is not what it used to be.

Speculation earlier this year linked 30-year-old Rooney with a move to Shanghai SIPG, who are managed by former England boss Sven-Goran Erikkson. Last year MLS commissioner Don Garber told the Manchester Evening News that he would be keen to see Rooney play in the MLS. He said, “We would love players like Wayne Rooney, and those who have been able to be really successful at the highest level, to be thinking about Major League Soccer.” Rooney himself also spoke about a potential move to America last year. He did not rule it out, saying “when that time comes, that (the MLS), that will be something that I will think about.”

Rooney has a contract with the club until 2019 and is rumoured to be earning around £300,000 per week. This is not something he will be keen to give up lightly, so any prospective club would realistically have to match or better it.  He is also still a headline name and is able to help the club draw in large sums through sponsorship deals. Yet much like his position in the starting eleven, this is also under threat. The summer signing of Paul Pogba was noted as a big signing for United, not only for his technical ability but also for his marketability. Soon Rooney may not have the same attraction to sponsors, and that is when he may find himself out of the door at Old Trafford.

On the pitch Wayne Rooney is a fading force, dropped by club and country, with his commercial value under threat. It might not be long before he is playing his football in Los Angeles or Shanghai rather than Manchester.

Review: Evelyn’s

Written by Miriam Mizzi on . Posted in Food & Drink.

The name Evelyn’s directs my thoughts to something rather classic and traditional. Evelyn’s height of popularity, as a girls’ name, was in 1915, a time so far away my Grandma has not even touched.  However, once I browsed the website, shouts of cumin, lemongrass, and yuzu littered the menu, and to be honest I was quite relieved.

When my eating partner and I found Evelyn’s, just of Thomas Street, and entered, we once again felt a mix of the old and traditional being fused with the new and creative, a scene so apparent in the city’s coolest quarter.  The building’s rusticity hung overhead in the shape of open metal piping which then climbed down the side walls, and as our eyes were drawn to a normal level, we were delighted to see a spotless open kitchen, located in amongst the restaurant’s chic, well-presented tables.

Unfortunately, we were seated on a bar style table that looked out onto the street rather than into the beautiful interior that surrounded us, this caused us both to sit half turned around in order to soak up some of the visual atmosphere. Our welcoming waiter brought over the already looked at menus and scuttled off to get us our drinks order.

Like many Northern Quarter restaurants, Evelyn’s offers the option of ‘small plates’ and ‘large plates’, so, of course, we decided to get a mixture of both. The menu was actually slightly different to the one shown online, but we were not disappointed and went on to order Korean fried chicken, a crispy duck salad, an Asian laksa, and a lamb salad.

Whilst we waited for our food, we both slightly wearily discussed the volume of the music, without wanting to sound like boring third years. As much as we are both impartial to a decent night out, we continue to find the level of volume used in Manchester restaurants recently, to be overbearing and quite unnecessary (what happened to that good old thing called conversation?). The overall vibe, therefore, did not quite do the delicate building any justice.

Our ‘small plate’ starters arrived and our feelings towards each of them differed massively. The Korean fried chicken bowl boasted numerous pieces of crispy, yet succulent bites, which worked well with the included chilli side dip. However, the amount of duck in the salad was disappointing, and it largely consisted of plain tasting leaves.

With mixed first impressions, we were eager for our main dishes to arrive and when they did, we were pleased to see generous sized portions and vibrant colours. On taste, however, we were once again thrown into a state of opposites. The Asian influence Laksa, which consisted of ballotine chicken, sweetcorn, and thin noodles in a liquid broth, was completely flavourless. The broth was under seasoned and entirely lacked any kind of spice, the chicken had unwelcome strings of fat around it, and the dish as a whole was, in our eyes, a thorough disaster. In contrary, the lamb dish was pleasant. The tender lamb pulled apart desirably, and the pearl barley added a healthy yet hearty spin. This dish finally gave us some Middle-Eastern flavours we so dearly love.

Despite the offer, we passed up on dessert due to the rather confusing savoury experience we had just undertaken. Instead, we asked for the bill while we finished our drinks. The steep prices, which we felt were not worthy, added to our slight discontent with the restaurant. We were left, and still are, confused about the hype that continues to surround Evelyn’s. Maybe it’s just that on point lighting?

 

Varsity Match Reports: Men and Ladies

Written by Ben Ryan on . Posted in Sport.

UMWRFC 72 – 12 Manchester Metropolitan Ladies

This was the first time the two teams had played each other in three years and so, as expected, the contest was billing up to be an electric one. There was also the added spectacle of the event’s recent move to the AJ Bell Stadium, new home to the men’s Aviva Premiership side Sale Sharks. With the stadium superbly lit and the temperature adding a bit of bite to the air, there was rousing atmosphere in and around the stadium.

UoM Ladies started the brighter of the two teams, working the phases and controlling possession. Fly-half Megan Grant-Harris began to dictate the game and on the 15-minute mark the ball was excellently spun down the line to find Outside Centre Olivia Ball just outside the 22. Ball was able to race away from her opposite number to break the line and score. The conversion was missed. Score 5-0.

MMU had seen barely any of the ball in the first quarter before UoM started to show off a few things they had been working on in the training ground. UoM’s forwards worked four phases in the middle of the park with a series of offloads gaining them territory before an unfortunate dropped ball in the opposition half. Here UoM were able to demonstrate their authority at the set piece. They turned the scrum on its head and the forwards rumbled towards the line. Second Row Annie Lyles performed a quick pick and go and was bundled over on 19 minutes. The conversion was missed and the score hit 10-0.

UoM displayed their elegant running rugby again as they neatly drew their men to send winger Georgie Palmer down the line, showing unbelievable pace to run 50 metres and score. UoM were brimming with confidence as the half progressed, able again to exploit defensive holes as number eight Lauren Muddiman was put in to make the score 22-0. Further gaps began to appear in MMU’s defence as they seemed to begin to tire early on. Just before half time UoM were operating as if routine, backs running hard lines, always freeing their hands for the offload and again, exploiting the ever present doglegs in MMU’s defence. Fullback Lisa Viktoria was rushed in the corner to make the score 27-0.

UoM started the second half where they left the first, spinning the ball about with ease, selfless support runners always offering themselves. 2 minutes into the second half it was inside centre Miguela Kerin’s turn to get on the score sheet, straightening play up to break through the line, step the fullback and score. UoM did, however, suffer a slight blip as MMU got a rare chance to attack. Several overlaps were almost butchered after countless phases but MMU’s tighthead was eventually sent over to make the score 34-7.

UoM scored three quick tries in succession, once again deploying their skilful, quick backs out wide as their score reached half a century on 70 minutes. Grant Harris, for the most part, unable to find her rhythm from the kicking tee as scores were not maximised but the overall tally rose to 51-7. As the game entered the last five minutes, MMU began to look depleted both physically and mentally. A couple more tries from UoM before a sensational effort from Lisa Viktoria who cleaned up a messy ball in her own 22 before racing towards the blindside and running 70 metres up the field—almost caught might I add—before touching down to make the score 72-7. One more try to add insult to injury just before the final whistle expounded a remarkable and exhilarating display by the ladies’ team in what was, in the end, barely a contest.

 

UMRFC 5 – 10 Manchester Metropolitan University

The outstanding display from the ladies’ team unfortunately could not be replicated by the men’s team. UoM did not get off to the best of starts as a dropped ball from a high kick off foreshadowed what was to be a clumsy, incoherent contest. MMU were given a chance to attack off their own scrum but could only reply with another knock-on. Inside the first five minutes a number of mistakes were made as both sides tried to get a grip and find their rhythm. Despite this, both sets of supporters were loud and vibrant in support of their teams and an interesting territorial chant off between MMU and UoM supporters began to develop.

MMU began to dominate possession and work the phases as UoM found it hard to get their defensive lines organised. MMU’s back line looked confident and eager to make things happen, progressing into UoM’s 22 with some neat passing moves. UoM struggled to recover the ball, looking fractured. MMU’s centre was put through on a hard line and eventually scrambled over in the corner to make it 5-0.

The resulting kick off evoked a sense of déjà vu as MMU failed to catch the ball and an attacking scrum was given to UoM. This time UoM were able to work their back line into the game, putting themselves on the front foot before the forwards showed their strength and finally an audacious flick on pass found fullback Joseff Edwards in the corner. The conversion was missed and the score was levelled at 5-5.

The game remained fractured and tight despite MMU retaining most of the possession as the half progressed. MMU won a penalty in UoM’s half and opted for a kick at goal. No doubt the stadium erupted with jeers as the kick was missed and UoM were allowed to go again from the halfway line. UoM began to get a fair share of the possession, working the phases and spinning the ball out wide to winger J. Hunt, who, after showing dancing feet, was bundled into touch and certainly let know about it by MMU players as the game began to get quite feisty for the first time.

As the half progressed on you would be forgiven to describe it as error-prone from an attacking point of view, with possession perennially handed over by both sides. Nevertheless, as the first half drew to a close it would be a disservice to UoM not to credit them on their tireless defence as they held out for a constricted half-time.

UoM came out in the second half looking fired up and raring to go, putting in a few big hits and their stamp on the game. But, like the first half, their share of possession was lacking due to frequent mistakes. It wasn’t too long before UoM conceded another penalty and were pinned back in their own 22. Several more penalties were conceded before the pressure told and MMU were able to finish off in the corner. Score 5-10 as the conversion was missed.

All UoM needed now to get in front was a converted try but, after building some momentum, number eight P. Marmoin was sin-binned. Further momentum they built was again thwarted by a string of errors and a short interlude courtesy of a couple of brave streakers. The last ten minutes of the game was all UoM as they looked for that elusive breakthrough. Hooker J. Mowatt made a good break out of his 22, UOM won a penalty on halfway and went for the corner. Unfortunately no breakthrough could be found as the ball was knocked on in midfield. The game drew to a disappointing end as UoM were ultimately unable to take control of a clumsy, tight and incoherent game to edge past their fierce rivals.

Police evict squatters from city centre

Written by Araddhna Patel on . Posted in News.

Police began evicting squatters from their encampment across from the Ducie Bridge Inn in Manchester city centre on the morning of Tuesday 11th October.

They had previously been evicted from the pub itself, but had set up tents on a grassy knoll across from the site and decided to stay there instead. Around 30 homeless squatters had been living in this pub for several weeks—including a pregnant teenager—even though a Manchester County Court judge instructed the squatters to leave the site in September.

Christopher Blaine, spokesman for the group, spent over 10 hours on the roof of the pub in Manchester city centre in protest, during which he shouted abuse at the police. The protesters had previously stated that they would resist efforts from the authorities to evict them, as they believe it is a violation of their human rights.

The Ducie Bridge Inn first opened in 1923 and was closed in August of this year. It is thought to now be ready for demolition, but builders have reported the presence of asbestos at the site so it may require further work before construction of new buildings can start . The ‘NOMA’ scheme, part owned by The Co-operative Group, is set to build offices on the 20-acre site, set to create four million square feet of offices, homes, shops, and leisure facilities at the cost of £800 million.

Security staff working for NOMA told the Manchester Evening News last night that the squatters had been evicted ‘for their own safety’, as there is asbestos within the building.

The squatters have argued that the development of the area should instead be focused on the housing needs of the locals and the homeless.

Charlotte Cox, a journalist for the M.E.N (Manchester Evening News) reported on Twitter that some of the remaining campaigners claimed that they had to take their belongings with them, so refused to leave. One squatter said: “This isn’t a game—people are dying on the streets. Police telling us to move our stuff; where [are] we moving it to?”

Later, Cox reported that many of the squatters left, and were said to be moving to a site near Salford Central.

Bob Dylan is awarded Nobel Prize in Literature

Written by Roma Havers on . Posted in Books.

It has been revealed this Thursday 13th of October that Bob Dylan, who recently turned seventy-five, will be awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016. Dylan is most known for his activist folk songs such as Blowin’ in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone. Previous winners include Alice Munro, short story writer, in 2013, Harold Pinter, playwright, in 2005 and Seamus Heaney, poet, in 1995.

This has come as somewhat of a surprise, since, while there had been murmurs surrounding Dylan’s potential, he was certainly not the favourite going into the discussions, since his work is somewhat outside of the usual remit for literature. Several other names had been speculated, including Haruki Murakami and the Syrian poet ‘Adonis’. It has been suggested that the delay in the release of the details of this award, which is generally released alongside the science prizes that were released last week, is as a consequence of potential disagreements with the panel of judges at the Swedish Academy. Their statement on the final award was for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Bob Dylan is the first American to be awarded the prize since Toni Morrison in 1993.

What then does this mean for the state of literature in this modern climate? Certainly there seems to have been a shift in atmosphere towards the popularity of arts such as spoken work poetry, with the BBC showcasing several spoken word events such as Words First, Brave New Voices and a live filming of Kate Tempest’s new work Let Them Eat Chaos. These performances are often musical, especially Kate Tempest’s work which is released in album form as a music piece— she too has been awarded both The Mercury Prize for music and The Ted Hughes Poetry award.

Does Bob Dylan therefore fit into this category? Symbolic of the cross-platform nature of modern artistry, with huge numbers of artists performing and releasing work on multiple platforms, actors releasing books, performers who write and act their own work and music that is also poetry. Despite some arguments, this isn’t a new phenomenon, clearly, since Dylan’s work epitomises the crossovers between music and poetic genius. In this way it almost seems as if Dylan’s work across the decades has foreshadowed, or even fore-fathered this new wave of boundary-crossing, multi-platformed work.

As Bill Wyman wrote in 2013, when pre-empting Dylan’s win, he is the ultimate poet, he is “demonstrably timeless”.  Master of his realm and endlessly innovative and fully engaged in activism, Bob Dylan certainly transcends the over-simplistic title of singer-song writer. He has written novels, Tarantula, and made films and played his hand at many different artistic endeavours, and succeeded, having won Oscars, Golden Globes and Grammys.

As stated in Time’s 100 Most Important People of the Century he is “master poet, caustic social critic and intrepid, guiding spirit of the counter-culture generation”, with such accolades as this under his arm is it truly so surprising that he has been awarded this step? I would argue in this case that this choice echoes the cultural zeitgeist, wherein the words, content and emotional and political drivers come first in literary works, form and structure come after. Of course this folk-singer-writer-protester-activist-poet and self-defined “Spokesman for a generation” is the new holder of the Nobel Prize in Literature award. We are in the age of the consummate artist, and it is Bob Dylan’s constant renewed energy and inspiration that makes this award so richly deserved.

 

British universities use trigger warnings to help students’ mental health

Written by Elrica Degirmen on . Posted in News.

Across the country, many students are being given pre-lecture warnings in order to notify them about potentially disturbing content such as violent crimes, racism, and abortion. These notifications are known in the academic sphere as “trigger warnings” and a range of universities, including the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Edinburgh have already included them in their teaching.

This is a result of a recent trend that has arisen in US colleges; that many students are given the option of leaving a lecture on the grounds that the material presented would be too upsetting for them to experience.

However, many academics are completely against this measure, including Professor Dennis Hayes, who works at the University of Derby as well as being the Director of Academics For Academic Freedom. He has stated that the use of trigger warnings is akin to treating students “like children” and that they “corrode free and open debate”.

The Cambridge classics scholar Professor Mary Beard shares his views, affirming that students should “not be shielded from difficult subject matter.

Many argue that trigger warnings are a help those who suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety. Gabriel Moshenka, lecturer at University College London, states that students are free to leave her lectures if they feel distressed. She claims that these measures are necessary if the content being presented might induce psychological trauma at any level.

Most recently, undergraduate law students at the University of Oxford were issued with pre-lecture trigger warnings. The result was an outcry as to how students at one of the very top universities in the world needed to be placated when dealing with topics necessary to the study of (criminal) law.

A spokesperson representing the university stated that “the University aims to encourage independent and critical thinking […] however there may be occasions when a lecturer feels it is appropriate to advise students of potentially distressing subject matter”.

Izzy Gurbuz, Wellbeing Officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union speaking to The Mancunion said: “Trigger warnings simply allow those whose mental health could be significantly affected by certain topics to make informed decisions about their health. For example, adequately preparing themselves so they’re able to take part in particular discussion, or avoiding a situation which would cause them flashbacks or a panic attack.”

Student mental health is a growing concern. According to research by the National Union of Students in 2013, it was reported that “20 per cent of students consider themselves to have a mental health problem”, which suggests that a lot more needs to be done to tackle mental health within our universities.

Sexual abuse scandals at universities akin to Savile and Catholic Church cases

Written by Eleanor Forrest on . Posted in News.

The discovery of sexual abuse in institutions has, unfortunately, been on the rise in recent years, including reports of abuse committed against students at UK universities. The Guardian recently published an article reporting numerous cases of sexual abuse and assaults, including rape, in the academic world of our universities between established professors and doctoral students, with some cases appearing as early as the 1980s and 1990s.

These instances of abuse all follow a similar pattern involving the abuse of power and influence by professors, used to create an atmosphere of secrecy, culminating in the fear of these victims that reporting the crimes could damage their academic careers.

Rachel Krys, co-director of End of Violence Against Women, calls for change, claiming that universities are legally obliged under human rights and equality laws to protect victims. Due to how these institutions have approached past cases, including one instance where the victim was suspended and walked off the premises, Krys believes that they may be in breach of these laws.

Unfortunately, a factor that dissuades victims in reporting these cases may be the lack of coverage and discussion of abuse at university level. The organisation, Universities UK (UUK) will soon be publishing a report of sexual abuse at UK universities, however there is a concern that this report will only focus on solely student-related incidents that have risen in numbers, as well as the ‘lad culture’ associated with them.

What is clear is that these cases are not widely known about due to the influence of the perpetrators. This has culminated in a lack of arrests and investigations in which victims feel that they’re being accused of fabrication. Also contributing to this situation is that in many cases the harassers are allowed to remain in their positions or simply move to another university with a financial settlement creating an untouchable aura around the abuser. In the case of Lee Salter, a former professor at the University of Sussex, he was found guilty of assault by beating, but was allowed to continue teaching in the 10-month period before the beginning of his sentence.

However, after the treatment of Lee Salter, more than 300 students at the University of Sussex sent a letter to their Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell, calling for the university to publicly acknowledge its mishandling of the situation. Tickell responded that the institution should “learn lessons from this case and rectify any failings”.

A survival guide to the Ali G

Written by Yinka Oyetade on . Posted in Lifestyle.

So you’ve survived the plague that is freshers’ flu, you’ve managed to make it to one 9am lecture and still have at least £10 to your name. But before you think you have university all figured out here is a survival guide to help you survive one of our university’s most challenging environments, the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons—or, as it’s commonly known, the Ali G. It has become notorious for its many unwritten rules, so here are 4 do’s and don’ts to help you successfully conquer it.

1. Do get there early. Timing for the Ali G is key. Seats go fast, so strolling in at 1pm means you most likely won’t find somewhere and you’ll probably end up opting for the library after awkwardly searching for a space on every floor.

2. Do keep your socks on. While this may seem like common sense some have been spotted with bare feet, even on desks. So as beautiful as your feet may be, please keep them covered at all times.

3. Don’t use your laptop in front of a computer space. For University of Manchester students this is one of the worst things you can ever do.

4. Don’t “reserve” a computer by putting all your stuff on the desk and leaving for hours on end. While the Ali G is a dog-eat-dog world, this is just plain selfish.

Abide by these rules and you’ll survive.

Loading, ready, run

Written by Connor McBride on . Posted in Games.

Here at the Mancunion, we try our best to keep on the pulse of new games and any news that comes from the world of gaming. I would like your permission, however, to step back for a bit and have a look back to what I would call the most interesting decade in gaming for the UK: the 1980’s.

While the US was lording over by the Atari 2600, the UK and most of Europe were getting involved in the home computer. Computers were no longer the size of the Manchester Baby and could start doing slightly more than number addition. Early prophets boldly predicted that every household in the country would someday own one and that computers and programming were the next big thing.

Home computers started becoming available in mail order “complete assembly required” kit form in the late 70’s, where only the die-hard hobbyists would go through the struggle. That was until Clive Sinclair came along. Clive Sinclair’s vision for home computers was a very philanthropic one. He wanted to make cheap, easy to use home computers that you could learn to program on. This was no more evident than in the ZX Spectrum. An incredibly affordable home computer (£175 in 1982) designed for the masses. It even came with a hefty manual on how to make programs for the device. The ZX Spectrum took off straight away, becoming the first mainstream home computer in the UK.

It was about this time that the BBC created the Computer Literacy Project, an initiative to teach computer programming to the masses. They partnered with Acorn and came out with the BBC Micro. A home computer released in 1981 designed with expandability and ease of use in mind. Accompanied by a myriad of peripherals and government subsidisation for education, the BBC Micro soon found its way into British schools around the country.

So, the year is 1982, Thatcher rules, there are two hot new home computers on the market and a sudden enthusiasm for learning how to not only use these computers, but make programs for them. Even the government is subsidising computers in schools to help educate schoolchildren. Out of everything you could program, what does a young, impressionable audience choose to make? The answer is video games, of course it’s video games.

This drive in computer literacy accelerated British video game development at a cracking pace and made it somewhat of a cottage industry, which was more than welcome in a recession hit 1980’s Britain where other, more traditional industries were failing. Programming was suddenly somewhat in vogue and an entire culture developed around it. There were magazines that printed reams of code for video games that, once painstakingly typed in by hand, became yours to jiggle around and poke at to see how it worked. The BBC aired The Computer Programme, complete with demos on how to use your new BBC Micro. Some (slightly unscrupulous) publishers even allowed bedroom programmers to send in their newly made games and, if good enough, would even publish them. There was opportunity abound to learn and perhaps get your foot in the door in video games here.

Both the ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro could run programs in one form or another of BASIC, a programming language where the clue is in the name as to how easy it was to learn. Both the ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro were literally designed to learn how to program on. This hype over the hot new trend, coupled with how easy it was to use them, led to a surge of great British born games. The ZX Spectrum had classics like Manic Miner, All or Nothing and Jet Set Willy while the BBC Micro had the legendary Elite and Starship Command, and that is still discounting the vast amount of great arcade game ports made for both of the systems. Of course there was also a lot of tripe released, like any generation of video games, but it was British tripe. It was homegrown, bedroom reared tripe inspired by these home computers that wouldn’t have ever seen the light of day were it not for the ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro.

While the Spectrum and BBC Micro were both successful in their own rights, it was the ZX Spectrum that took the lead in the UK. Even if it floundered against the likes of the Commodore 64 state-side. Being considerably cheaper than its rivals and easy to code for, the ZX Spectrum was the home computer of choice in the UK. Sinclair even received a knighthood for his efforts. But to declare a “winner” somewhat defeats the point. The point I want to make here is how influential the 1980’s were not only in video game culture, but in British programming. This period was the stepping stone for many developers to get into the industry. Remember Elite: Dangerous? David Braben made the original, Elite, on a BBC Micro. You like Goldeneye? Tim and Chris Stamper, founders of Rare, got their start on a ZX Spectrum. Even the British powerhouse Codemasters got their start in this era. It is thanks to home computers like the ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro that the British IT and video games industry is what it is today.

Fast forward 30 years or so and some of that 1980’s give-it-a-go-yourself pluck can be seen to be having somewhat of a renaissance. The Raspberry Pi, a bare bones, credit card sized computer designed to help promote the teaching of computer science in schools (Sound familiar?) has surpassed 10 million sales and the BBC Micro lives on in the Micro Bit, another small computer which will soon be given to every 11 year old in the country, courtesy of the BBC. Perhaps we might see a new generation of inspired programmers making great British games in the near future.

Passport to paradise

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in Features.

A year abroad is about broadening your horizons in every possible way; you meet new people, discover new cultures, try exotic foods, and become a real global citizen. For Languages students, the year abroad is a given, and deciding how you’ll spend it is a huge and daunting decision.

For most people, the big choice is whether to work, study, or teach—how do you want to spend your year away from the comforts of home and the novelties of your university town? If that wasn’t hard enough, it turns out that there’s actually a much bigger choice to be made that can sometimes slip under the radar: Where on earth should you go?!

Most students aren’t even aware of the huge wealth of countries available to them for their year abroad travels. The Erasmus scheme is so well-known that it’s usually assumed you’ll go and live in a European country and accidentally spend most of your time speaking English (oops). I study French, and spent my year abroad in Paris and Provence—the north and south of mainland France was exotic enough for me. A lucky few, however, have the opportunity to travel to all four corners of the world in pursuit of a completely new way of life, a deeper understanding of language and culture, and a super cool Instagram feed.

This is particularly true for French students, as there are over 270 million French speakers worldwide, living in 29 countries in which French is an official language across all six continents. If the seemingly endless choice of towns and cities in l’Hexagone wasn’t enough, the reality is that if you’re prepared to travel across the mighty oceans, the world really is your oyster.

I spoke to six French students at the University of Manchester about their exciting, enriching, sometimes difficult, and definitely life-changing years abroad around the globe.

Photo: Bethan Jones

First stop: The Caribbean. English Language and French student Bethan spent her year studying in Martinique, an overseas French department in the Caribbean with a population of 380,000. I asked her why she chose to live outside of mainland France: “I love adventure and exploring new places. Growing up I’ve holidayed quite a lot in France, so when I heard that venturing outside of the mainland was an option, it was a no brainer.

“I was excited by the thought of a completely different way of life. Surfing, hiking, kayaking, and diving became regular pastimes. I also travelled to Barbados and St. Lucia—the dream! Although Martinique’s Franco-Caribbean mix was a bit strange sometimes, it has the best of both worlds: Beaches and boulangeries!”

However it wasn’t all sunshine and blue skies: “Occasionally I found myself feeling quite claustrophobic being on a small island, and one of the main struggles was dealing with the impossible mix of French bureaucracy and Caribbean pace, which took some getting used to.”

To anyone considering it, Bethan says: “I think my best advice would be to not overthink and just go for it! Take this chance of a lifetime and come back with better French and a killer tan.”

Also living the island life was Alex, a French Studies student, who spent her first semester working in Paris before moving to La Réunion, an overseas department in the Indian Ocean. “As I study just French I wanted to have both experiences. I love city life, but I wanted to experience a different part of French culture.”

Like Bethan, she “loved the nature in La Réunion; each weekend we would do a hike or go to the beach—there were only three beaches you could swim in because of sharks! We would often hike, even to the top of Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.”

There were, of course, some challenging setbacks: “The public transport was rubbish and quite often after nights out we would hitch a lift. We once had some Dutch drug traffickers who threatened to throw us in a ravine before dropping us off on the side of the motorway in the middle of the night!”

Moreover, “at times in Réunion I felt a little trapped, as you’re so far from home.” Alex describes La Réunion as “a really big mixing pot” of people and cultures: “It is unusual in the sense that it doesn’t really have an identity. It’s so multicultural.”

All in all, it was a positive experience: “I would highly recommend seeing other parts of the Francophone world rather than staying in l’Hexagone.”

Photo: Alex Beveridge

Across the pond, French Canada is a sure bet for students, with over seven million Canadian Francophones. Chloe, a French and History student, studied for the whole year in Quebec, at L’Université de Sherbrooke. “I’d been to France several times, so I wanted to do something a bit more exciting and different. I knew it would be a challenge but that was part of the appeal.”

She loved “the people, and also the landscape of huge beautiful lakes and mountains,” but found the language “quite challenging, because I had to get used to the different accent, as well as the Quebecois slang.” Chloe was a true traveller, visiting “New York, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Quebec City, Cuba, Mexico, Miami, Seattle, Vancouver… to name a few!” To sum it all up? “I had the time of my life.”

Elizabeth, an English Literature and French student, worked in a school in Quebec City for a semester before studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. “I found Québécois people to be more open than French people, especially Parisians! Quebec City itself is incredibly picturesque and really unique; it’s very much a combination between American-Canadian and French culture. I would 100 per cent recommend Quebec, but I’m really glad I chose to also spend a semester in France—I think that gave me a really good balance.”

Photo: Chloe Bonfield

Over to Africa, where 120 million people speak French in 24 Francophone countries. Kennetha, a French and Linguistics student, spent her year in Togo, working as an English Language Assistant in an international school. Here, “pupils and teachers were from all over the world, and it was so much fun watching the different cultures merging and interacting with each other.”

So why Togo? “I chose to go to Togo because, even though I had never been and knew no one there, I’m from nearby Ghana… so the culture of that area is familiar to me. Once there, I loved the ease of life. It was very comfortable, everyone was welcoming, and the weather was almost always great.”

For Lena, who studies French and History, moving to Senegal was a big change after a semester studying in Paris: “I decided to work in an office for the NGO ActionAid in Senegal’s capital Dakar. I wanted to use my year abroad to travel to a completely new place, and to communicate with more people globally by moving as far away as West Africa.

“Everything I was doing and seeing was nothing like England or even Europe. And, of course, sunshine every day and living next to a beach was great too.” While travelling far and wide, Lena did experience certain struggles being in such a different environment, such as “low level street harassment and sometimes feeling uncomfortable with wanting to travel outside the capital by myself or walking alone at night.”

However, the positives far outweigh the negatives: “I would definitely recommend it. It really broadens your opinions on how truly useful a language can be—no one in Senegal really spoke English, so it taught me to adapt and prepared me for more travelling and challenging situations in the future.”

Photo: Kennetha Brown

The list of amazing experiences that people have on their years abroad is endless, but it’s important to remember that this is a big choice that will impact your life in a major way. To be informed before deciding, visit fco.gov.uk to look into all the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice, and help inform your own year abroad decisions. Don’t forget to follow @FCOtravel on Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest emergencies and travel warnings as they happen. Your year abroad is all about immersing yourself in new cultures and creating the best memories of your life—so make sure you do it while staying safe and healthy.

Panel Discussion for World Mental Health Day

Written by Aliya Ismangil on . Posted in Lifestyle.

The events of World Mental Health Day kicked off the newly founded Manchester Open Mind Network’s big plans for the year. Co-founder Sakib Moghal shares what the society hope to achieve, “Our two goals are to support those students dealing with mental health issues and to educate all students on keeping a healthy and happy lifestyle.” They want to create a diverse student community at any point in their mental health journey.  “…we just want to do justice to all of our members who are keen and keep coming to these events and are seeking our support”, says Moghal.

“I don’t know a lot about mental health.” Exchange student Siyu Chen explains why she came to the panel discussion on mental health at university, “We all know about physical health, but because mental health is abstract it’s more difficult to think about.” This view is not uncommon and was reflected in the personal stories of the panellists. Manchester student and committee member Irum Islam opens up about her experience with bipolar disorder, raising issues surrounding the cultural effects on lack of understanding of mental health, “I feel like a lot of people don’t know enough about mental health. My own father before me thought depression was just an excuse.” Kel O’Neill, eating disorder counsellor and activist also finds that there is an absence of knowledge in professionals with regard to eating disorders, which is especially worrying in these often life threatening cases.

Duncan Craig of Survivors Manchester highlights the important issue of men’s mental health, having been through mental trauma himself. Craig called for Universities to get behind his campaign to improve support for men going through sexual abuse trauma, “Not a single university representative came back [to my challenge]… What does that mean? What messages are we sending out to men about their mental health? …I think we need to stand up for everybody’s mental health. We need to make sure we’re finding the right support and that means men too.”

It seems however that the professional support needed for everyone is just not there. NUS disabled students’ officer James Elliott shared some eye-opening statistics, “…as many as 4 in 5 students experience a mental health problem at some point during their time at university, a huge number, less than half of those actually get a diagnosis, and only 12% end up seeing a counsellor…” largely due to under-funding of mental health services. Elliot also raises the issue of over-dependence on peer support services, such as Nightline, “…we just need to be really clear in our minds that these are two separate things. They both have a function, they’re both really important, but peer support can’t really replace professional things like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy”.

It is not all doom and gloom however; many of the panellists also highlight the human potential for resilience and recovery. Clinical Psychologist Azza Aglan, who takes a special interest in trauma, says she’s a firm believer in human strength, “I’ve worked with asylum seekers and in refugee camps around the world for a number of years, and they’re so resilient.” O’Neill also feels it’s important to share survival and recovery stories, “otherwise what we see of eating disorders, is that people die of eating disorders.”

The panellists each gave one piece of parting advice on how to maintain good mental health as students:

“Mindful balance” — Azza Aglan

“Environment; if your environment is good you’re gonna feel good” — Duncan Craig

“Exercise…I personally feel great after doing exercise” — Irum Islam

“I would echo what has been said…one more thing I would add is being able to seek support…and we have to make sure that these services are there” — James Elliott

“I’d say be honest, be honest with yourself…be honest when you’re approaching someone” — Kel  O’Neill

Manchester Open Mind Network are planning more events like this as well as relaxed socials, film nights and bigger policy campaigns. Islam hopes to integrate the arts into their mental health work, knowing that art is a common coping mechanism in people with Bipolar, “Maybe get involved with some art students… It’s just a case of finding them. Sometimes art can speak to us in a way that words can’t.”

If you’d like to get involved head over to their Facebook page, they’re open to any ideas and welcome any amount of time that you can give.

What it’s like to go to a Snooker tournament

Written by Barney Weston on . Posted in Sport.

I didn’t know what to expect as I approached the entrance to EventCity, the ‘box’ across from Trafford Centre and host to the first English Open, as part of the new Home Nations Series. Yet, from a distance I noticed, what looked like, several seemingly heavy smokers by the entrance. Of course, there were casuals. However, one man was dressed in referee attire. (Except there was no white glove in use. Nothing to separate the cigarette and the skin of the man’s hand.) Another seemed uncomfortable in his silk waistcoat. Yet, I ignored the occasional uncomfortable shift and pulling down of the waistcoat, so as not to show his belly. Instead I was focused on the cue case leaning on the wall next to him. It was this prop that made me realise who this character was; a snooker player.

Now, this was my first snooker tournament. I walked into that event hall having picked up an understanding of the game from listening to BBC Sport snooker commentary whenever I chose to study. Put it like this, I had to remind myself what order the higher value coloured balls had to be potted in at the end of a game. (It’s yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, then black by the way.) So, naturally, when The Mancunion asked me to cover the tournament, I couldn’t resist.

Anyway, as I passed that superhero who wears that silk suit instead of a cape, I was pleased to find myself in the midst of day one of the tournament. But it certainly wasn’t as busy as expected. In here, more referees and snooker players strolled through the lobby than casuals; much to my pleasure! I went up to the desk to my right and asked the elderly man behind it where I could pick up my press pass for the week. Here, I was told. I told him my name, and he began to frantically shuffle through the spread stack of papers in front of him. Out of the corner of my eye I pointed out to him an envelope with the word; ‘Mancunion’ on it. No pass with my name in there though. So the man printed one out for me. But a second attempt was required. The first had printed a pass from a previous tournament, when Betfred, not Coral was sponsor. Whilst I waited, different men came up to the man. It was when one commented to me how bad of a referee the man had been when I realised how communal the atmosphere was here.

This became even more obvious as I explored the venue. As I walked into the press room, I was greeted by quiet. Everyone was focused on the games, populating several television screens. The only sounds were those of the gentle taps of fingers on keyboards, and the hum of the flame heating the journalists’ lunch. A player’s lounge was open to the public. I was astounded. These sportsmen who were so idolised (as any sportsman is) were here, drinking cups of teas and picking crisps out of McCoys bags.

What was so surprising is how these men played snooker; one of the world’s most skilled, absorbing and tactically subtle sports. When you watch the game live, this becomes clear. It’s different to watching it on a screen because it forces you to realise how tough a sport this is, in comparison to your rubbish performance the last time you decided to have a game.

These men seem to control every aspect of the game. From the different coloured balls to the tables they inhabit, as a snooker player you have got to not only think about what to do, but do it well. Ronnie O’ Sullivan was the best example of a snooker player according to what I saw over the course of the tournament. Snooker halls brim with the sounds of those coloured balls cracking together, either as the referee sets up the next frame, or as a cue tip strikes that white balls, often interrupted by an (often muted) applause or a suppressed cough. It’s this that made me fall in love with the game.

My point is, it’s important to note a certain romance in attending a snooker tournament, and it seems to stem from the working man’s embrace of the game. This sport isn’t commercialised and it reminds me of, what some would refer to as ‘good ol’ days of sport’, when players were respected by the audience, respected each other, and respected their profession. Crucially though, these are key aspects of the game and it doesn’t seem like they’ll ever disappear. So if you’re looking for a game like the one I’ve described aspects of, then look no further: snooker is your sport.

Clickbait culture is killing our news

Written by Len Cotton on . Posted in Opinion.

On the 2nd of October 2016, one of the most monumental decisions in the history of Latin America was made. After 52 years of brutal warfare, Colombian citizens voted to reject President Juan Manuel Santos’ peace proposals to end fighting with the guerrilla group, FARC. But I bet you did not hear about this. In fact, I can guarantee the vast majority of people reading this will not have even realised Colombia was in a state of war. Instead, our newsfeeds are plagued with endless drivel on the ins and outs of Rihanna’s sex life, Brangelina’s divorce and most recently Kim Kardashian.

Last week Kim Kardashian was subject to mass media coverage, possibly the greatest of her career (since that video) after her hotel room in Paris was raided by armed robbers. And so, once again, Mrs Kanye broke the internet. Facebook became a minefield of minute by minute Kardashian updates: Kim’s alive, Kanye’s flying over, North is safe, Khloe’s still crying.

Then there was the tsunami of backlash from Kim K’s defence army, pleading with the public to view her as a person, with like, real feelings and emotions and stop criticising the icon of our generation! But this idea of Kim being just a ‘person’ is what I would like to draw on; because that is indeed what she is. Just. One. Person.

Meanwhile in Colombia, millions of citizens have been subject to unimaginably horrific events. Trauma beyond the realms of belief as a result of 52 years (52 years?!) of civil war. That is longer than World War One, The Russian Civil War, Spanish Civil War, Second World War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War and Bosnian War combined. The lengthy combat has resulted in 6.9 million citizens becoming displaced as refugees. 46,383 people have ‘disappeared’, 29,682 have been kidnapped (actually kidnapped, sorry to rain on your parade, Kim), and over 260,000 people have been killed, the majority of whom are citizens. These citizens are everyday people like you or me. Everyday people with hopes, dreams, aspirations, families. Yet, no one is talking about this.

When researching for this article google produced 137,000,000 results for ‘Kim Kardashian’. For ‘Colombian Referendum’ there were just over one million results and many of them were about Brexit. All this begs the question: why? Why are the 260,000 Colombian lives lost being forgotten whilst the Kardashians weep into their silk handkerchiefs?

One justification many news platforms would give for this is the phenomena known as ‘clickbait’. The print press is (regrettably) a dying species and thus online media has divulged into an intense competition to gain the most views. Unfortunately, this has meant that many keen, up and coming journalists are fixated on grabbing the latest gossip and not the breaking headlines. From Jesus on a crumpet to Hitler-esque cats, one thing is consistent with this evolving medium: it is all awful. Imagine a combination of That’s Life magazine with the script writers of Made in Chelsea and you will start to get an idea of the current state of online media.

Whilst it may seem my views are expressed in jest, this journalistic transition from facts to frivolity is not something to be taken lightly. If our timelines are constantly clogged with Taylor Swift’s latest squeeze, then Kim’s multi-million dollar jewellery stash will not be the only thing lost. We will have lost the very purpose of journalism. A purpose to inform, inspire, promote, provoke. If people actually knew the extent to which cases like Syria, like Colombia, and like many others, are far from existing in isolation then sure as hell is hot they would be angry. And anger, in its purest form, is what will incite change. To assume the world alone is so uninteresting that there is both a need and demand for petty tit-for-tat weeklies on the developments of Pippa Middleton’s glutes is absurd.

If anything, we are living in an age where news has never been so exciting. Real news, that is: Brexit, Trump, Syria, Colombia. There is an overwhelming wealth of exciting content to command the attention of the general public. Though, I cannot deny there is a place for celeb news bulletins (and who does not love when the mundane is turned into a meme?), that should by no means be the leading actor in the world of reporting. Ignoring the likes of something as crucial as the Colombian referendum acts as a form of denial. It might be easier to laugh at ‘Ten Times Donald Trump resembled a hay bale’, but it is far more important to be in the know of developments which could (and most likely will) have global ramifications.

Although the UK may not be directly involved with Colombian events, as citizens living in a stable and war-free country we have a moral obligation to inform ourselves of the catastrophic situations of those abroad. It is about time the media gave Colombian citizens the respect they deserve and provided a voice to the silenced, not to the celebrity.

A response to ‘Dear fresher females studying STEM’

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News, Opinion, Science & Tech.

I recently had the misfortune of being sent a Mancunion article entitled ‘Dear fresher females studying STEM’ by the seemingly delightful Elrica Degirmen. As a woman in science I was initially intrigued. In such a male-dominated field, it is always enjoyable to read about the experience of fellow females studying a STEM subject. I cannot say this optimistic outlook stayed around for long.

In spectacular fashion, I was already offended by the end of the first paragraph with what has to be my favourite quote of the article. Quite possibly resembling a soundbite from Donald Trump’s now infamous 2005 tape, she states that just because you are a woman in science, it “does not make you special, princess.”

Obviously this writer has never come across the phrase: ‘If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ I suggest she implement this immediately.

Now, despite her claims that “there is no discrimination in science”, as an individual with a science background I prefer to find evidence to back up my opinions. According to Women in Science and Engineering, only 12.8 per cent of the STEM workforce are female. Also, in 2013, the Higher Education and Skills Agency findings showed that science undergraduate courses were 52 per cent male and 40 per cent female, with the remaining eight per cent non-binary students. For postgraduate science courses, this gap only widens further.

Truthfully, you could argue that these figures are not evidence against the supposed “myth” that is gender discrimination in science. However, these things are not usually defined by numbers, but by experiences. When I first read this article an incident in my past sprang to mind instantly.

Over the summer, between academic semesters, I work in a restaurant back home. One night, I was speaking to a couple about my future plans. I mentioned my desire to do a postgraduate degree (which I am currently doing) and move to London after I graduate. The man, who had stated he worked in the pharmaceutical industry, then said: “But when will you find the time to start a family?”

For a moment, I almost felt like I had transported back in time to the 19th century or prior. It was a question that would have had Emmeline Pankhurst staging a protest, and therefore I felt that it did not warrant an answer. If my silence had not told him enough, he continued to say, “maybe you should just become a teacher instead.”

It is not the suggestion of becoming a teacher that offends me. I think it is a great career path that I would have considered if I had the necessary patience with children. However, it is the idea that, as a woman, I only have a certain amount of choices available to me. Therefore, if people like this still exist in the world then yes, I do think that as a woman in science I am “tackling the ‘patriarchy’”.

Beyond the obvious offensive nature of the aforementioned article, I have to comment on the nice dollop of ignorance the writer has shown. Just because you have not personally experienced something, does not mean it does not happen. For example, the horror that is police brutality against African-Americans; it has not happened to me, but I know it does to other people. Hurricane Matthew, that has devastatingly killed thousands of people across the Caribbean; I was not there. It still happened. My housemate found a fiver on the bus the other day—again, I unfortunately was not there for this joyous occasion, but I still believe that it happened.

We do, surprisingly, agree on one thing: “Diversity comes from your interests, your personality, and the parts of you that make you an individual.” Where we differ is that I consider science to be a part of that. I would like to address the suggestion that you should “never define yourself as a female studying science throughout your university career.” My rebuttal? A simple ‘why not?’

Studying science is one of my interests and part of my personality. It is what got me the position of Science and Technology Editor at The Mancunion, it is what drives me towards my chosen career, and most importantly it influences my personality. I’m not sure my family and friends would look at me the same if I did not come out with ‘boring’ facts about microbacteria or retinal ganglion cells.

Through the blur of emotions, that I was no doubt experiencing due to the fact that I am an unstable woman, I saw the words, “You should feel no sense of pride for doing so, because you have not actually achieved anything yet”; referring, of course, to getting into university. Girl-power at its finest right there ladies and gentlemen. At this moment, I start to notice the slightly self-deprecating nature of this article. For if this contributor is speaking in this oppressive manner to all women, surely this includes herself?

This embittered writer, whose career I feel would flourish at a top-notch media outlet such as The Sun, has written extensively about the absence of demeaning attitudes towards women in science, and has consequently taken on that tone herself, therefore proving the existence of said attitude. Well played.

I could not disagree more that “the reality is that most people could not care less that you are a woman studying STEM”. Well I care that I am a woman in science, and so does my mum, and those are the only opinions that matter to me really. I also have the support of L’Oréal, Nature Publications, many higher education institutions, and most importantly, all of the female editors of The Mancunion. But what do experts know anyway?

Maybe you should call up disgraced Nobel Laureate, Sir Tim Hunt, and share your opinions—or as you so poetically put, “claptrap”—with him.

Review: Women’s Hour

Written by Elete Nelson-Fearon on . Posted in Theatre.

Women’s Hour is a play presented by Sh!t Theatre (also known as Becca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole)—a misnomer that is quite appropriate, given the amusing and self-deprecating content that the female duo present.

The play is an honest discussion of what it is to be a woman today, made more effective by the lively, interactive and inviting performance by Becca and Louise. The hour is jam-packed with the mocking, sharing, laughing and dancing.

As we enter the theatre we are greeted by two females dressed in shirts, ties and boxers drinking beer and dancing to Dolly Parton’s Potential New Boyfriend—this song is to be repeated countless times as the duo dance around in a vaguely choreographed manner. I wonder at this point whether previous audiences sang along to the music, as after the first three plays I certainly knew at least a verse off by heart.

Once they have sufficiently warned the audience about their potential new boyfriends, the show begins. The lights go down, and the duo leaves the stage and re-enters, comically shuffling into position. The show’s structure loosely follows that of a morning TV show (except the theme song is a synchronised dance routine to Mambo No. 5) as they discuss some headlines with a satirical and painfully truthful edge. I had not read the news that morning, but I soon learned about L’Oréal’s new slogan—’L’Oréal- ‘cause real ain’t worth sh*t”—and the current fad of mink eyelashes, tusk teeth and tiger head face.

What I enjoyed about Women’s Hour is that none of the candid truths of being a woman were lost in the characters, odes and parodies employed throughout the show, but they became more palatable to the whole audience. What better way to lament the unpleasant side effects of periods and the weight obsession that society projects onto women by putting it into a remixed version of Talk Dirty to Me?

We also have the pleasure of meeting the German CEO of Kinder who launches the new range of gendered Kinder Eggs; the pink eggs contain gifts of a pony, tampon and a sign reading “you’re fat.” Later on in the hour we watch an interview with a female serial killer who angrily denounces the sexualisation of her and her counterparts: “Focus on our terrifying body of work, not on our bodies.”

However, the pair did not joke their way through the whole 60 minutes. Every so often the stage would black out and they would each give a monologue about an issue that has affected them personally. The first time round, Becca speaks in a sombre manner about the meticulous daily routine that includes checking various aspects of her appearance and her weight.

Another of the highlights of Women’s Hour was the ingenious way in which Becca and Louise introduced the discussion of the infamous tampon tax. The two women took an onstage break, complete with a cup of tea, and engaged in a discussion with the audience about what they consider to be a luxury. They then share their personal indulgences: “After a hard day of tiny sugar cake decorations [one of the many items that are classed as an essential item, alongside some other kitchen staples: exotic meats and tea cakes], treat yourself to a tampon.” A hilarious string of scenarios in which the girls reward themselves with tampons ensued.

Sh!t Theatre excels in the task of explaining the essence of being a woman in just one hour; the show is filled with cutting, crude and carefree comments that are coated in dance routines, alter egos and spoofs.  I would most definitely recommend experiencing one of Becca and Louise’s productions, for a quick game of crumpet volleyball to the soothing sounds of Mambo No. 5, at the very least.