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Month: February 2017

Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour MP for Manchester Gorton dies aged 86

Written by Barney Weston on . Posted in News.

Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, has died aged 86. His family made a statement on the evening of the 26th of February. He had been suffering from a long-term illness for several months. Kaufman was known as the Father of The House of Commons. He was it’s longest-serving MP, having represented Manchester for 47 years.

As shadow environment secretary in 1980, he criticised Labour’s left turn in the 1980s, famously describing the party’s manifesto in 1983 as “the longest suicide note in history”.

Kaufman was first elected as MP for Manchester Ardwick in 1970. He became MP for Manchester Gorton in 1983 following constituency boundary changes.

In 2015, he won the seat with over 67 per cent of the vote, and a majority of over 24,000 votes. The Greens beat the Conservatives to second by a mere 45 votes. UKIP came fourth, with over 3,400 votes.

They comfortably beat the Liberal Democrats who had over 1,780 votes, who had previously come second in that constituency in every general election since 1997.

A possible date for the by-election is the 4th of May, coinciding with nationwide local elections, including the GM Mayoral election.

The constituency is in student territory, covering the electoral wards of Fallowfield, Gorton North, Gorton South, Levenshulme, Longsight, Rusholme, and Whalley Range. The southern boundary coincides with the Fallowfield Sainsbury’s. The northern boundary is Whitworth Park.

Following Labour’s loss of Copeland last week — the first gain for a governing party since 1982 — questions may be asked about whether will be able to hold the seat, however it is considered to be one of Labour’s safest seats.

The Manchester Town Hall flag is being flown at half mast as a mark of respect for Sir Gerald. Books of condolence are also being opened at Manchester Town Hall, and Arcadia, Fallowfield, Gorton and Longsight libraries for those who want to pay tribute. An online version is available at www.manchester.gov.uk/sirgerald

Will Patterson, GM Mayoral candidate for the Greens, wrote on twitter: “Today we wake to the sad news that Sir Gerald Kaufman, a political legend, has died. My condolences to his friends, colleagues and family.”
Shneur Odze, GM Mayoral candidate for UKIP, wrote on twitter: “Just because someone’s no longer of this world, doesn’t mean we should suddenly forget his delusional & divisive rants. Shneur Odze, GM Mayoral candidate for UKIP, wrote on twitter: “Just because someone’s no longer of this world, doesn’t mean we should suddenly forget his delusional & divisive rants.

Andy Burnham, GM Mayoral candidate for Labour and MP for Leigh wrote on twitter: “Truly saddened to hear the passing of my friend Gerald Kaufman. Always a gentleman & a dedicated servant of his Manchester constituents.”

Manchester Metropolitan University Union hosts second GM Mayor election hustings

Written by Barney Weston on . Posted in News.

The Union at Manchester Metropolitan University hosted the second hustings in the build-up to the election of the Greater Manchester Mayor last Thursday. Over 100 people, most of which were students, watched the hustings.

Andy Burnham for Labour, Jane Brophy for the Liberal Democrats, Sean Anstee for the Conservatives, and Shneur Odze for UKIP, were all in attendance. Following the death of Deyika Nzeribe from a heart attack in January, it was too late for Will Patterson’s attendance, as the Green Party’s replacement candidate, to be organised. Stephen Morris for the English Democrats, and Peter Clifford for the Communist League, were not in attendance.

Organised by the Manchester Metropolitan University debating society, the four candidates answered three questions: how they expected to grow Greater Manchester and live up to the idea of a Northern Powerhouse within the context of local council’s budgets being cut, and how they planned to control the policing budget within the context of the Reclaim the Night march, which happened immediately after the hustings.

The Mancunion asked the evening’s opening question: “With over 100,000 students in Greater Manchester, how do you expect to win their vote?”

Sean Anstee for the Conservatives described how he wanted to put Greater Manchester’s economy in a position where it could stop students from leaving the region having graduated. He cited the importance of working with employers, creating skilled jobs, and affordable housing.

Jane Brophy for the Liberal Democrats, who has a child at the University of Manchester, cited the importance of remaining in the EU to students, referencing the ERASMUS programme. She also spoke of the importance of the issues of climate change, job security, and getting people on the housing ladder. Within the context of Reclaim the Night, she described how “some students don’t feel safe walking around the city at night”.

Shneur Odze for UKIP explained his intentions to regulate transport, making it economical and to allow for it to get you round all Greater Manchester. He dismissed Jane Brophy’s concerns over ERASMUS in favour of the belief that they want us as much as we want them. He also spoke of suiting the need for accountability within the context of students paying tuition fees. He cited this as a way for students to get involved in civic and communal life. Testament to this, he described his intention to work as Mayor with a council of leaders from all walks of life in Greater Manchester, students included.

Andy Burnham for Labour spoke of the need to outwardly value students: “We value you, we welcome you, and we want you to stay here.” As a reflection of this, he cited the need to lower travel costs for younger people, get tough on landlords, protect the community in the context of policing cuts, get carbon neutral with support for cycling lanes, and end rough sleeping.

Asked who students thought performed the best at the debate, the answer was unanimously Andy Burnham. Asked who they would vote for if there was an election tomorrow, the answer was the same. They cited his experience and his oratorical skills as reasons why: “He was very clear and concise, I thought” said one student, “he’s got the best vision for students” said another.

One student cited Shneur Odze as performing second best: “I’m surprised how well he came across.” Another common comment amongst students was on the lack of difference between the candidates.

“Basically, they’re all the same” said one student.

Upcoming at HOME: La Movida

Written by Laura Joyce on . Posted in Arts.

Issued as part of ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival 2017, La Movida is set to be HOME’s next major exhibition. The piece offers a contemporary view of the socio-cultural movement La Movida – literally translating as “the movement”.

The movement took place between 1977 and 1985, and was set in post-Franco Spain. During this period, the country aimed to rid themselves of the cultural delay that had followed Franco’s reign. In order to move into a state of democracy, La Movida opened up the public eye to the taboo notions of open debate, sexuality, pornography, clubbing and drugs to name a few.

The popular Spanish saying “If you lived in the 80s and remember it, then you didn’t live it.” is said to encapsulate what it is that La Movida stands for.

Pedro Almodóvar, renowned Spanish film director and former member of the movement explained, “It’s difficult to speak of La Movida and explain it to those who didn’t live those years. We weren’t a generation; we weren’t an artistic movement; we weren’t a group with a concrete ideology. We were simply a bunch of people that coincided in one of the most explosive moments in the country.”

The exhibition boasts new commissions inspired by this problematic time period, along with various national works that revolve around the themes of freedom and excess. La Movida was certainly a movement ahead of its time, and it is no surprise that we see it coming up as inspiration for contemporary artworks to this day, forty years after the transition to democracy.

Group exhibition: La Movida at HOME, Manchester. 14 April–11 June 2017.

£14,000 tuition fees planned for shorter courses

Written by Emily Hulme on . Posted in News.

Proposals for a ‘short course’ degree programme has been put forward by the government, in order to offer students the option of a more intense, more expensive but shorter degree.

University Minister Jo Johnson has announced the proposal today, in an attempt to offer students more choice when it comes to their higher education plans. Instead of paying £9,000 per year for the usual, three-year long course, students would pay up to £14,000, which is a higher fee than some courses in the USA.

Johnson says the proposal comes in response to students “crying out for more flexible course and modes of study which can fit around work and life.” But a spokesman from the Russell Group advise that the most appropriate way for students to study for research-intensive degrees, is full-time across three years.

The Mancunion asked University of Manchester students what they thought to the prospect of putting their three year course into two years at a more expensive rate.  Riannan Singh, Third year Maths student said “I could not imagine the pressure a student would feel if they were to try and cram my course into two years — and to have to fork out more debt for it at the same time? I think it would be a lose-lose situation for students. For maths, that is anyway.”

In response Johnson says, “I absolutely recognise that for many students the classic three-year residential model will remain the preferred option. But it clearly must not be the only option”.

There is a further concern, displayed by The University and College Union that it would do little to open up the university experience to more students. They suggested the government should avoid a “pile ’em high and teach ’em cheap” approach to students’ education.

On the other hand, students and parents would have one year less to pay for accommodation and other living fees. Students would also have the opportunity to increase their earnings by entering the job market a year earlier than before.

The government would have to vote on the proposal and consider to advise from education professionals during the parliamentary process before it became a solid piece of legislation.

A Student Life: The Revolutionary Marxist

Written by Jacob Nicholas on . Posted in Features.

There are few things you can say definitively about the current political climate, but one of them is that parties and groups further away from the centre are growing enormously, and have been for several years. Ed Rosier, chair of the Marxist society, agrees. “Yeah definitely, I think that point now is almost beyond doubt,” he told me, going on to argue that “there’s no way around it, people’s lives are getting worse because of the material economic conditions they’re living under, and that’s driving them to the left and the right in terms of voting trends.”

You might well think that this would see a boost for the Marxist Society, but Ed’s not so sure things are that simple. “I think it’s not so much the polarisation, I think the single biggest factor that’s affected the society in Manchester is Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader of the Labour Party,” he explained, adding that whilst this could be seen as a result of this polarisation, “this isn’t simply a reaction to the present situation, this is people seeing a leader who’s come out and said he’s going to break with the last twenty years of Labour Party doctrine about capturing the centre ground”.

Ed believes that Corbyn is now being seen, “rightly or wrongly,” as “a great hope for future success of the left”, and so although “whether or not he delivers that is yet to be seen… for Marxists now, the Corbyn movement is still an incredibly exciting thing in that people are now willing to go out and find alternative answers.”

Surely though, the Corbyn movement is more likely to benefit Labour Students than the Marxist society? “I think a lot of people have joined Labour students because of the Corbyn movement, which I think is a good thing,” Ed agreed, “but people are recognising the fact that Corbyn’s economic and social policy, as good as it is and as radical as it is, that isn’t actually going to rescue us from the crisis that we now face… whilst the Corbyn movement’s good, it needs to go further.”

So, the Marxist society is, like all more radical groups, on the up, but what does it actually do? “The main function of the society comes from our weekly meetings,” Ed told me, explaining that they alternate between public meetings and reading groups each week. “With public meetings, someone comes in — either a student from the society or sometimes we get outside speakers in, and they come and give a talk analysing the situation or analysing whatever topic we’re looking at that week, and then we throw it out to the floor to have discussions,” he elaborated.

Ed was keen to emphasise how good these discussions can be, claiming that “the level and the quality of discussion has really improved this year due to more people become more politically aware and active, due to the situation they’re in,” and that it is not just arguing over finer details whilst mostly in agreement — “we often have dissenting views which always make for good discussions.”

People with dissenting opinions are actively encouraged to attend the meetings, not just Marxists, and Ed spoke about how often people attend “who aren’t Marxists, people who disagree with the majority of opinion on certain issues,” leading to great debates, and that only those with “views that are obviously unacceptable such as racism or sexism” are not wanted.

“If you want to learn about Marxism or discuss Marxism then I’d encourage you to come along, whatever your political views are,” Ed concluded.

The society is not just a talking shop though, and according to Ed they “often attend protests and conferences as a group, which is always great and we really encourage it”.

There is also a more social aspect to the group, and “after every meeting we’ll go down to the pub, both to continue the discussion and just to have a nice time”, Ed said, and I got the impression that these trips to the pub are more of a highlight than he was letting on. “In addition”, he told me, “we do try and hold at least one, but usually two,  socials each semester. So, last semester at the end we had a Cuban social which went down well, we had cocktails and traditional South American food and people really enjoyed it, so we’re hoping to do more stuff like that in the future.”

But why Marxism in particular? “That’s obviously quite a big question… you’re going to edit this, aren’t you?” I assured Ed I would.

“Well… it’s actually the situation we’re in at the moment which has meant that I, like many other people, have realised that capitalism can’t continue for the reasons that Marx puts forward. And by that I don’t mean that in any other time of history it would’ve been irrational to be a Marxist, what I mean is that… capitalism at this point has reached an impasse, there’s no route to grow through it, and so alternatives to this neoliberal consensus have to be looked at, and if you read Marx he explains very clearly the reasons that crises in capitalism happens”, was the, somewhat edited, response.

“Capitalist crisis is essentially holding the world back, not just in terms of economic growth but in terms of cultural growth and improvements in society”, Ed went on, “so, I suppose in a nutshell that would be why I think Marxism is absolutely necessary now.”

Ed was also keen to challenge common criticisms of Marxism, such as the idea that it works in theory but not in practice. He used the example of “the early years of the Soviet Union, in which it was obviously a very imperfect system, but if you look at some of the art produced, the level of healthcare and housing that was achieved — free healthcare for everyone, little to no homelessness, the first country to legalise abortion was the Soviet Union in the 1920s, and although that revolution eventually failed, it’s important to look at the successes of Marxism in that context.”

He argued that “it was the material conditions”, that led to the failure of past attempts at creating socialist states — “it was fact that they were isolated in one country and didn’t spread into the advanced western economies that could have easily managed a successful socialist economy. The fact that so many people in Russia were illiterate starting off meant that there was a huge opportunity for the bureaucracy to take over and create a degenerated workers state in Russia.”

These past material conditions now no longer exist, according to Ed, who argues that “socialism’s more possible now than ever”, citing the increasing growth in technology making automation easier, as well as the “very small numbers of very large businesses dominating the economy and they already have systems of distribution”, which could make a planned economy far easier to run than it was in the past.

Finally, and perhaps surprisingly, Ed said that he believes capitalism is not all bad. “Although socialism’s what we want, and communism’s what we want, capitalism actually played a huge role in advancing mankind”, he argued, “it created forces of production that advanced all over the world, it created the material conditions for socialism to exist in — that of advanced economies on a global scale capable of producing on a level that would’ve been unimaginable to people before capitalism.”

Despite these past successes, he now argues that capitalism “always creates a cycle of crisis that there’s now no longer any route out of, and that’s why capitalism now has to end in favour of socialism, because capitalism’s done all it can and now it’s a fetter, it’s a backwards influence on society and mankind’s progression.”

And how to end capitalism? “Through the forceful overthrow of the ruling class by the proletariat.” Of course.

 

Best bit: “I guess learning and discussing Marxism in an environment that’s friendly, welcoming and often has a high level of discussion and analysis.”

Worst bit: “The hangover the next day.”

Uni life/society life balance: “Well it’s gotten a bit more difficult in third year, but I think that the fact there are other people in the society who talk and chair and do some of the administrative stuff is useful. People are willing to help out and make the society successful, and the it isn’t something I see as work, it’s something I want to do and I want to make it successful.”

Where do you see yourself in the future? “I want to go into teaching eventually, but next year I’m just going to try and get a job around Manchester somewhere”

How to get involved: “Meetings are at 6.30 either in the Lass O’Gowrie pub or in the SU and join our Facebook group!”

UK’s first LGBTQ+ retirement community opening in Manchester

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in News.

Manchester city council has released plans to open the UK’s first retirement community aimed at primarily lesbian, gay, and transgender people, including all those who identify as non-heterosexual.

The announcement follows a report by the Manchester-based LGBTQ+ foundation, commissioned by the council, showed that older LGBTQ+ people experience higher levels of isolation and loneliness than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.

The Guardian noted that the report revealed that many older LGBTQ+ residents were fearful of discrimination in retirement homes and wanted a safe environment to express their identity.

Paul Martin, chief executive of LGBTQ+ Foundation, told Pink News that: “Our research highlighted that over half of the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBTQ+) people over 55 surveyed felt that their sexual orientation would have a negative impact on getting older, with social isolation identified as a major concern. Manchester prides itself as an Age Friendly City, and we welcome the announcement of this scheme as a significant move towards improving the lives of older LGBTQ+ people in the area.”

The suggested retirement community will house both heterosexuals and LGBTQ+ residents but there must be a minimum of 51 per cent LGBTQ+ residents at all times.

The housing will have specially trained staff based on site and pets will be welcome. As well as the LGBT Foundation, the project is being supported by Stonewall Housing and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Bob Green OBE, CEO of Stonewall Housing, told Pink News that: “Stonewall Housing has been talking with our communities about the need for older LGBTQ+ housing for some time because we need and want a better choice of where we live in our later lives. It is very exciting that Manchester City Council are leading the way in delivering the dream of LGBTQ+-affirmative Extra Care housing and we look forward to working with them and a range of partners in making this dream a reality.”

The Guardian reported that Manchester has the highest number of LGBTQ+ people outside London and is due to see a rapid growth in the number of LGBTQ+ residents over 65 in the next 20 years. They further highlighted that more than 7,000 over-50s living in Manchester identify as LGBTQ+.

Carl Austin-Behan, who last year became Manchester’s first openly gay lord mayor, told The Guardian: “In this day and age, when people are more open and able to speak freely about their sexuality, some of the older generation are still a little bit more reserved with it.

“It’s important that once they’ve come out and been themselves … that 20 years later they don’t feel like they can’t be themselves, and aren’t discriminated against.”

No specific site or launch date has yet been announced.

The Refuge Sunday lunch

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Let’s face it, it’s not often students cook themselves a full Sunday Roast, and if they do it just doesn’t quite compare to one cooked at home. So instead they do what millennials do best, we eat out. There are hundreds of options to go for a great Sunday Lunch in Manchester, but so far I have found none better than at Refuge.

If you haven’t ventured down to Refuge at The Principal Manchester you are definitely missing out. My last visit was my second experience, but this time rather than sharing their mouth-watering small plates, we decided to experience their newly launched Sunday Roast sharing platter.

The platter will be known to anyone who has experienced Volta in West Didsbury, and if you have you will understand me when I say it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Luke Cowdrey co-curator of Volta and The Refuge, described the platter as being “the same family style sharing vision,” and in my mind this highlights perfectly what Volta and the Refuge do so well. The experience of eating with them is shared, it feels like a family dinner – although your surroundings at The Refuge may be a little more upmarket than most of our family kitchens.

But despite this, the shared nature of the meal means you cannot help but feel comfortable and at home in your surroundings, the fact that the food works both in the cosy venue of Volta in West Didsbury and in the grander situation of Refuge is testament to this.

The platter for two people has three types of meat; rare roast beef, suckling pig and chicken, with roast potatoes, carrot and swede, red cabbage, buttered greens, Yorkshire puddings, heavenly cauliflower cheese and pan gravy.

The addition of cauliflower cheese is a stroke of genius and really adds to the feeling of it being your traditional home cooked Sunday lunch, although I don’t think I’ve ever tasted cauliflower cheese quite like it.

It is strange however, the Vimto-braised red cabbage I have not been able to get out of my mind since I went. As a massive fan of red cabbage generally this was a real treat, and even once almost bursting I was still not able to leave any left on the plate.

Our food was served with the most lavish Bloody Mary I’ve ever seen, definitely an order I’d recommend if you do decide to make a visit, although the Refuge also have a wide selection of craft beers which were also very tempting – considering the strength of the Bloody Mary I resisted this temptation.

Our meal ended with a shared apple tart, served with Madagascan vanilla ice cream – although sticky toffee pudding is definitely something I’ll have to go back for – be smarter and faster than me before you go so you have room to not have to share.

Sunday Lunch at The Refuge is served from 12 noon and priced at £39

Tracks of the Week: 27th February

Written by Alexander Corns on . Posted in Music.

‘Love’ – Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey recently claimed that whilst she had made her previous four critically acclaimed albums for herself, her fifth would be for her fans and this, the first single from the upcoming album, is unlikely to leave any of them disappointed. Whilst ‘Love’ is by no means a major reinvention, with a generally relaxed feel and familiarly short, repetitive verses, there is a noticeable transition from earlier singles like ‘Born To Die’. She is no longer ‘in the moment’, so much as looking back with experience at others, evidenced by the song’s opening lines: “Look at you kids with your vintage music / You’re part of the past now you’re the future”. Whilst her songs have often tackled the difficulties and complexities of love, she has now taken a more awoken tone, ready to embrace the emotion that has for so long driven her songs and to reassure her listener that it’s “enough”. For fans of her music, this track, for now, certainly will be.

 ‘I Bow Down’ – Pixx

With this new single (which introduces the 21-year-old’s upcoming debut album The Age Of Anxiety) the British indie-pop singer Pixx is at her most ambitious. The song’s lyrics are in themselves dramatic and, especially in the chorus (“I salute your kindness / I bow down / to your good will”) appear almost sarcastic, but it is her beautiful, unique, haunting vocals which really impose a fascinating feeling of trepidation: going by the title of the album, it is likely this is intentional. Sung over creeping ’80s-style synths and a woody guitar, the emotion of the song is easily felt. That’s not to say it’s all doom and gloom: the more the drums kick in, the more danceable the song becomes. The wonderfully inventive and spectacularly shot accompanying music video is also well worth a watch.

‘My One and Only Love’ – Bob Dylan

In anticipation of his 39th (!) studio album, a three-disc set comprised of songs from the Great American Songbook, the septuagenarian enigma that is Bob Dylan has released a second single, and a second cover of a Sinatra classic (lyrics by Guy Wood and Robert Mellin). His notoriously smoky voice sounds far more relaxed, happier even, than it has in years and the track is all the better for it. Dylan’s admiration for Sinatra is obvious and it is for this reason that this song comes across with all its intended emotion. Dylan’s arrangement of string, horns and steel guitar work perfectly here and, whilst fans of the Nobel-prize winner may crave another album of original songs, Dylan continues to sing what Dylan wants to sing, to nobody’s great surprise.

“Micemageddon” in the Learning Commons

Written by Tom Patterson on . Posted in News.

A video of a mouse that was spotted in the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons building has been widely circulated on Facebook this week. The video, titled “Micemageddon”, was shared via the ‘Spotted: The University of Manchester page’ and has been viewed over 17,000 times.

‘Spotted’ allows people to anonymously post pictures and videos of unusual things that they see around the University campus including several showing rodents.

In March last year, another video of a mouse in the Learning Commons was viewed on the ‘Spotted’ page over 16,000 times.

Mice eat sporadically from a number of different food sources throughout the day rather than relying on larger meals. According to the Manchester Council website, in order for traps to be effective “all rubbish and food waste should be removed.” So any crumbs and other food that is being dropped on the floor in University buildings, may be providing an alternative to the bait in the pest control traps.

There has also been extensive work on Oxford Road since last year, as part of the council’s GROW project which aims to “see more than £1 billion invested into city centre infrastructure by 2017”.

However, a council spokesperson told The Mancunion that they haven’t had an increase in the number of rodent reports in recent months. Which, they say, suggests that the problem hasn’t been exacerbated by the work. They did add that there are other pest control services that operate in Manchester so they couldn’t definitively say whether or not the road works have had an effect on the overall reports across the city.

The Mancunion contacted the University to ask if they were aware of any rodent problem and has received the following statement from ‘a University spokesperson’:

“The major building works currently taking place on campus are disturbing the ground, which will inevitably bother rodents and bring them to the surface. We are currently carrying out extensive baiting and trap laying in the buildings and areas surrounding the works as a result. If anyone spots a pest, they should report this to House Services on 0161 275 2606, who will arrange for our pest control contractor to attend to the issue.”

Two men in custody after man shot outside Moss Side takeaway

Written by Araddhna Patel on . Posted in News.

Two men have been taken into custody after a man was shot in the thigh. Armed police were called to Great Western Street near the Silver Spoon takeaway at 3pm on Sunday the 19th of February 2017.

The victim was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

Crime scene investigators and a team of forensic officers started work on Monday at the scene of the shooting to determine what happened.

The two men, aged 20 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and questioned by the police.

It was later reported that this targeted attack may have been due to rising tensions between an old established gang and a new crime group.

Manchester Evening News learned that the police believe the victim was associated with the notorious Doddington gang, based in Moss Side.

Detectives believe he may have been involved with the new gang, the majority of its members being of Libyan and Somali heritage.

According to Manchester Evening News, Chief Inspector Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester Team stated: “When something like this happens it can cause worry and unrest in the community.

“I want to offer my assurances that we have extra patrols in the area and a dedicated team of detectives working on this case.

“Our enquiries are at an early stage but we do believe this was a targeted attack, and that there is no wider risk to people living in the area.

“We know that Moss Side is a very tight knit community so it is possible that somebody may hold key information about those responsible.

“If you do know who is responsible, or have any information about what happened to this man, who is seriously injured in hospital, please come and talk to us.”

The police stressed the severity of the crime and pleaded for anyone who had information on the attackers or what happened to the victim to contact the police directly or anonymously report to Crimestoppers, the independent charity.

Since then, we have learned that the victim remains in a serious condition but is expected to recover.

Top 5: Oscar Acting Snubs

Written by Shema Begum on . Posted in Film.

5. Jacob Tremblay (Room, 2015)

Last year Brie Larson took home the Oscar for Best Leading Actress for her role in Room. The Academy however failed to recognise her counterpart in this film – Jacob Tremblay. The now 10 year old played her son, Jack, through whose eyes we see this film, and emphasis must be given to his age. Tremblay gives one of the best child performances ever, it is powerful, raw, and will move you to tears. The harrowing story of a mother and child who —SPOILER ALERT — escape from their captor would not have been as profound, if it wasn’t for Tremblay’s strong performance. The Academy has many times previously nominated child actors, most recently Quvenzhané Wallis, so it is a shame that Jacob Tremblay could not be added to this exclusive list.

4. Amy Adams (Arrival, 2016)

Critics and audiences alike presumed Amy Adams would be nominated for her role as linguistics professor, Louise Banks, so it was quite the surprise when she was excluded from the Best Leading Actress nominations. Adams is the soul and driving force of Arrival. Her performance brings realism and emotion to what is a sci-fi film. Having previously been nominated five times before, she is now considered to have inherited Leonardo DiCaprio’s bad luck with the Oscars.

3. Michael Fassbender (Shame, 2011)

Michael Fassbender brilliantly portrays Brandon in Steve McQueen’s Shame. For a character that does not speak a lot, arguably it is a very challenging role, though this only proves to demonstrate how impressive Fassbender is in this film. He effortlessly brings depth, and humanity to his character. The intricacies of Fassbender’s gestures and expressions, reveals the nature of Brandon and the emotional battle within him. Michael Fassbender’s performance is the anchor of this film, and he most certainly deserved an Academy Award nomination at the very least.

2. Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine, 2010)

Derek Cianfrance’s brutal relationship drama shifts back and forth in time, depicting the courting and slow deterioration of a married couple. Despite Michelle Williams’ very well deserved Leading Actress Nomination, the film as a whole was overlooked. Though particular attention must be given to Ryan Gosling — who was snubbed completely — as he arguably gives his best performance as Dean. Blue Valentine is an example of a film driven by its characters, and Gosling is exceptional at portraying the emotional evolution of Dean. How he did not receive an Oscar nomination is beyond me, however perhaps the same can be said for his performances in Drive, and Lars and the Real Girl — what has the Academy got against Ryan?

1. David Oyelowo (Selma, 2014)

Selma celebrates the journey of Martin Luther King Jr, as he advances the civil rights movement through an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, which meets resistance from local authorities.  This was one of the most critically acclaimed films of all at the time of it’s release and there was a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding it. The biggest shock of the 87th Academy Award nominations was David Oyelowo’s exclusion, and his snub has since gone down in Oscar history. It sheds further light on the underlying issue of diversity in the industry.

Reclaim the Night: We do not live in a rape culture

Written by Francis Edge on . Posted in Opinion.

On Thursday 23rd of February, protesters took to the streets of Manchester to “reclaim the night” in protest against “sexual violence against women, street harassment, rape culture and victim blaming”. All of those causes are absolutely worth fighting.

Any proponent of equality will understand and agree with the sentiments expressed. That is, except for one thing: the idea that we live in a rape culture. The phrase describes a society where rape is omnipresent and sexually normalised. This claim requires inspection.

In January 2014, the subject of rape culture gained international attention when former President Barack Obama remarked: “It is estimated that one in five women on college campuses have been sexually assaulted during their time there.” However, according to a United States Department of Justice study released in December 2014, on average, one in 164 college women aged 18-24 reported experiencing rape or sexual assault (including unwanted touching) between 1995 and 2013. These statistics cast substantial doubt on claims that we live in a rape culture.

The origin of the one-in-five statistic is from a 1985 survey of college campuses conducted by Professor of Psychology Mary Koss. A little over 3,000 women were asked 3 questions to determine how many had experienced rape or attempted rape. 15.4 per cent of these women had been raped and 12.1 per cent had been victims of attempted rape.

The media picked up on this story instantaneously but scholars questioned the results as they represented a severe deviation to previous estimates. It turns out that one of the three questions was: “Have you had sexual intercourse when you didn’t want to because a man gave you alcohol or drugs?” As Christina Hoff Sommers, author of Who Stole Feminism?, points out, the ambiguity of the phrasing was called into question:

“If your date […] encourages you to drink with him and you accept a drink, have you been administered an intoxicant, and has your judgement been impaired? Certainly, if you pass out and are molested one would call it rape. But if you drink and, while intoxicated, engage in sex that you later come to regret, have you been raped?”

Furthermore, only 25 per cent of the “raped” women described the incident as rape, and 40 per cent chose to have sex with their ‘rapist’ afterwards. Correcting for biased data interpretation, the actual number of victims fell to three to five per cent. Nevertheless, feminist lawyer Catharine Mackinnon famously proclaimed: “By a conservative definition rape happens to almost half of all women at least once in their lives.” Is this viewpoint accurately represented by studies?

If we add the more inclusive definition of rape then we would expect, or have been told so by activists, that there would be a dramatic rise in the number of reported rapes. According the FBI’s legacy definition, there were about 80,000 incidents of rape in the U.S. in 2013. Using the revised definition, which includes drunk sex, the number of rapes increases to approximately 109,000 with a rate of one incident per 2,900 persons, both male and female. Does this support a notion of rape culture?

Furthermore, as well as statistic inaccuracy, there is the pressing issue of victimisation of men. Since the 1970s, one of the most prevalent claims has been that just 2 per cent of rape accusations are false. The main source of this was Against Our Will: Women and Rape, a popular book written by American feminist Susan Brownmiller — a claim for which there is no data available. Though, this didn’t stop it from becoming one of the official slogans amongst feminists.

A more accurate figure is that 41 per cent of accusations are false. This figure comes from a report carried out between 1978 and 1987, in which researchers investigated rape reports in a small metropolitan area with a population of about 70,000 people. The researchers determined that the “false charges were able to serve three major functions for the complainants: providing an alibi, a means of gaining revenge, and a platform for seeking attention/sympathy”.

If for a moment we assume the accuracy of rape reporting, the women in this town experienced seven actual rapes a year. Based on our previous calculations, this amounts to an exaggerated 0.7 per cent lifetime probability of being raped, or 1.7 per cent, if we assume only 40 per cent of rapes got reported.

Bruce Gross, director of University of South California’s Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioural Science, points out the lack of accountability for making a false rape accusation:

“Essentially, there are no formal negative consequences for the person who files a false report of rape.” Furthermore, “when rape cases go to trial, alleged victims are protected by ‘rape shield statutes’. In brief these statutes are designed to prevent defence attorneys from using the accuser’s sexual history ‘against’ her. At the same time, these rape shield laws may suppress evidence [including] prior false accusations of rape filed by the alleged victim.”

Amongst this, there is a tragic reality for some men. This was exemplified by the case of Jay Cheshire, a 17-year-old boy who, after rape allegations were made against him, was cleared. According to coroner Grahame Short, Jay was a sensitive young man who had “found it difficult to cope with the police investigation.” Allegations made against the 17-year old were withdrawn by the complainant just weeks after being filed, resulting in the investigation being closed — and she was not prosecuted. Yet, two weeks after the teenager was acquitted of the charge, with his adult life still ahead of him, Jay hung himself from a tree in his local park.

Not one second was reclaimed for him.

Review: The Eyes of My Mother

Written by Tara Bharadia on . Posted in Film.

The Eyes of My Mother opens with the penultimate scene before regressing back to the early years of Francisca’s childhood to tell the story of how things came to be. The use of monochrome is a bold decision by cinematographer Zach Kuperstein. A technique more commonly used in art films, the producers have married art with horror in a way which attempts to show the terror that can be hidden in the beautifully simple.

Unlike classic horrors, the chronological depiction of Francisca’s life helps aid explanations of why she is the way she is. From mutilation of others to stealing of a baby, Francisca is a truly terrifying woman, formed from of the deepest recess of your nightmares, capable of anything and very much so a product of her environment.

The actions of Francisca are driven, and almost excused, by her love for her mother, but we’ve seen the power of her own volition (even when her mother was alive) besides Francisca choose perform eye and vocal cord removal at no older than the age of 12 and on the day of her mother’s death. As Francisca grows, there a lot of unanswered questions relating to the death of her father and Kimiko. There are apparent signs but it is what is not said, which gaps are not filled, which make the film more horrifying by letting the viewer explore the possibilities.

Francisca’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of animals, is alluded to heavily during the film. This naming is purposeful and this is evident in Francisca’s traits in her need to make her own animals out of Charlie. The torture and killing of Charlie is very different, in purpose, to that of Lucy. Charlie is kept as a friend for over 10 years, blind and mute, she believes he gives her life purpose. When things go south for Charlie, Francisca sees Antonio as a gift from her mother but the reason she keeps Lucy captive like Charlie is not quite clear, as she treats Lucy differently to Charlie. Lucy’s attempt to scream after her disfigurement is one of the most blood-curdling sounds you’ll hear this year. Her desperate attempt to escape the madness is heart-breaking and chilling — especially when we know how useless it is.

The classic hero of the film is Antonio, Francisca’s stolen son, who inadvertently frees his mother from captivity in the barn. And even though the classic villain is and should be Francisca, I can’t help but feel that Charlie is also at fault for the beginning of the spiral of events and her silent father only helps to isolate her more, causing her tendencies to rise to the surface. Francisca may commit gross acts of violence in the most tender manner, but at the end of the day, she is just a woman trying to salvage her loneliness.

Q&A with Free Fire director Ben Wheatley

Written by Alasdair Bayman on . Posted in Film.

Introducing Ben Wheatley’s new film Free Fire, the director and actor Michael Smiley are in a jovial mood. “I have just bought a new pair of jeans that have lycra in them” Smiley pronounces in his deep Irish accent, whilst stretching this legs to emphasis the joke. Almost acting as a warm up act to the film’s black comedy, Smiley knows how to work his audience. Focusing on the film, its cast is an international one with the likes of Armie Hammer, Oscar winner Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, alongside the British talent of Smiley, Cillian Murphy, and Sam Riley.

As a defined auteur who isn’t afraid of tackling any genre, Wheatley has established himself as a film workaholic who regularly creates a film every year. With producer credits on the absurdist The Greasy Strangler, Gareth Tunley’s upcoming The Ghoul, and Peter Strickland’s mesmeric The Duke of Burgundy he is more than just a director. As the post-screening Q&A would reveal, he is one of Britain’s best film-makers and a true cinephile.

After Wheatley’s homage to the action genre / 70’s B Movie, the director and Smiley once again reappear. Joined by HOME’s Artistic curator Jason Wood, the two men undergo the formalities of any Q&A — still both men’s passion for their medium shines through. Starting where he left off, Smiley inquisitively asks a member of the audience on the front row if he, like the actor “has any elastic in your gullet”. After another few minutes of comedic rambling, Woods interjects, “well that’s all we have time for’’. Hallelujah it wasn’t.

After interviewing the film-maker at the London Film Festival, Wood wastes no time in getting into the really meaty subjects of the outlandishly hilarious film. Free Fire is executive-produced by the godfather of contemporary American film, Martin Scorsese. Wheatley described that a meeting between himself and Scorsese was set up in New York when touring with Sightseers in the US.

The Italian-American had been made aware of British films such as Andre Arnold’s Red Road and Wheatley’s second feature film Kill List when shooting Hugo in London. “It’s a weird thing when you talk to someone who you have bought really expensive coffee table books about’’, which I myself can ditto. “As I looked at him as he was talking and thinking I’m not just one hand shake away from the history of cinema.”

After Wood’s conversation with Wheatley and Smiley expanded to the audience, I wasted no time in raising my hand. The promise of a free t-shirt was on the line for any audience member who asked a question. Yet, as I had seen on the director’s twitter account there was a secret second option: A funky orange Japanese Free Fire tour poster. Asking for said poster instead of the t-shirt, Smiley jokingly implied ‘F**k your t-shirt’. Greeted with a nervous laugh, I continued: “Obviously you are working with Laurie Rose (cinematographer) again who did such great work on High-Rise and your other films. As Jason suggested, it is quite a claustrophobic film. But he (Rose) adds a lot of depth to the scenes with Dolly shots and POV shots of canisters exploding. What was the experience of that?” Redeeming my request of a poster with a respectable question, as Woods himself pointed out, Wheatley explained that there was a lot of planning and story boarding involved in the cinematography.

Continually he and Rose “built the whole set initially in Minecraft because it is the only 3D programme I can use”. Further, 1700 drawings were created in an attempt to film the organised chaos found in the shootouts. Filming with sometimes up to six cameras in very long takes, Rose was enabled to run the action right through to capture every inch of the warehouse. With the continual use of Laurie Rose, writer Amy Jump, and actors such as Michael Smiley, Wheatley has furthered his winning formula.

What become most apparent in the Q&A was his urgency to just be working in the film industry and both men’s humility and humour. Free Fire manages to capture the comedy of previous works such as Sightseers whilst working as a step forward for the director in terms of scale and budget.

Free Fire is released on the 31st March by StudioCanal.

More from Orange 4

Written by Farah Elhouni on . Posted in Books.

The Arabic collection in Main Library’s Orange 4 is a relatively small but rich collection of books. Three books only begin to scratch the surface of the Arabic literary experience. The following are three more to delve into the treasure trove that is Orange 4. Set in two countries, Lebanon and Sudan, these books are all available in English, adapted from Arabic in Main Library.

Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih [Orange 4 (892.73 S73 )]

This novel written by Sudanese novelist Tayeb Salih is a beautifully written and structured work on postcolonialism and power. This is essentially a reflection on the relationship between postcolonial Sudan and its former colonists, subtly dealing with the power play and the divide between the global north and the south; the west and the east. It raises the question of whether a disequilibrium between cultures can be a cause for their differences.

The story follows the protagonist who recently returned to his homeland, whom we learn more about through his relationship with the mysterious Mustafa Sa’eed. Through these odd conversations we learn about his life in London, the global north, and his professional and sexual adventures. We later learn that Mustafa may or may not have a reason to confide in our protagonist  himself. Through them we learn more about the differences that exist between societies and how the imagination of Salih, the author, attempts to remedy them through his use of symbolism.

Selected by a panel of Arab writers and critics as the most important Arab novel of the twentieth century, his story is especially important for readers interested in Arabic literature, not only for the literary status this work holds, but also for a chance to decipher the political, social, and philosophical symbolism that is characteristic of his work.

The Broken Wings by Khalil Gibran [Orange 5 (892.78 K51 )]

Kahlil Gibran, a leading figure of idyllic literature, wrote The Broken Wings to document his first encounter with love, albeit never realized.

Published in 1912 Beirut, Lebanon, traditions and customs of that era are chronicled in this novella. The story follows Gibran himself, and his beloved Salma, and the way they face familial and societal pressure in the form of circumstances and traditions.

One of Gibran’s most popular works, this is a cliché love story which depicts the turbulences many lovers face in a conservative society.  Gibran’s ‘version’ of this widely circulated scenario of star-crossed lovers is set apart from other similar themed stories in its descriptive and poetic nature. His romantic use of metaphors, not quite lost in the English translation, shows a side that is unique to Arabic literature.

Beirut ’75 : a novel, by Ghada Samman [Orange 4 (892.7309 S10 )]

Ghada Samman’s first full-length novel was written and published months before war broke in Lebanon, predicting what later came to be known as the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). Not only is this a story about the dangers of war, it is also a social commentary on the Lebanese society, set in the capital city of Beirut. As many socially critical novels set in the Arab world, it follows the lives of a number of characters within the city to illustrate certain stereotypes about the people and reflect social problems ranging from poverty to sexual repression to desperation and problems rising from sectarianism.

It raises questions that delve deep into human nature: its inevitability, its repetitiveness, its necessity. It examines the human condition and leaves it to the reader to decide whether or not war has to be a part of it. To paraphrase an oracle — a character in Beirut ’75 — we come to realise that the result is always ‘sadness and blood. Lots of blood’.

It is relevant today because it tells us that just like the author, paying close attention to social problems allows us to predict when societies might crack. But it also gives us hope that maybe, if we act in time, we might be able to turn it around before it’s too late.

Feature: In conversation with Laura Marling

Written by Rebekah Shaw on . Posted in Music.

13th February at Goldsmith’s Students’ Union

In a musical career spanning just nine years, Laura Marling is imminently releasing her sixth studio album, and it is clear that Semper Femina represents a new stage in Marling’s artistic career. Working on a collaborative project The Reversal of the Muse last year, and self-directing her music video for first single ‘Soothing’, the singer-songwriter has been exploring her creative abilities.

Her exclusive student press conference, broadcast live on Facebook, was an opportunity to be grabbed, considering Marling has only given interviews sparingly over recent years. Her eagerness to emphasise the importance of student journalism seems evident, and this excitement was keenly shared by the representatives from student newspapers all over the country sat in Goldsmith’s Students’ Union, decked out in ambient dusky lighting.

The conference followed a format interspersing selected questions from students and online fans with three acoustic performances from the album tracklist: recent single ‘Wild Fire’, and the final two songs of the album ‘Nouel’ and ‘Nothing Not Nearly’.

Charmingly flippant and relaxed, yet serious about her wishes for the album, Marling happily answered questions on her inspirations, experience in the music industry, and the importance of exploring — even if not fully understanding — femininity.

Addressing the big question of her inspiration for Semper Femina, Marling highlights her focus on female experience. Initially wanting to exercise power over the trope of men writing about women, she later decided to write from a woman’s perspective.

Vehemently insisting on not attempting to assert a defining position on feminism and feminine culture, she instead sees this album as a way of exploring her experience amongst others in the world we live in. This seems a particularly apt response to a purportedly ‘post-gender’ world in which misogyny nonetheless remains rife.

The subtleties of this argument are present throughout the album, and legitimating feminine experience is just the start of it. “Fickle and changeable, semper femina” sings Marling in ‘Nouel’, paraphrasing the Virgil quote which inspired the album’s title.

Now tattooed on Marling’s body, the phrase roughly translates to “always a woman”, subverting the meaning of the whole sentence, which associates femininity with less flattering characteristics. In this sense, Marling and her new album embody a fitting challenge to male attempts to define womanhood.

Photo: Press shot

Marling was eager to talk to me about the impact of her recent project The Reversal of the Muse upon her latest creative work. The project, a series of podcasts discussing creativity in the female experience with other women working in the music industry in positions ranging from production to songwriting, saw Marling work with guests including HAIM, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.

The project inspired her to further probe other creative industries such as visual art and film, as well as widening the discussion about the nature of femininity. Most importantly, it confirmed to Marling that she was on the right track by inquiring after a multi-faceted, thought-provoking issue in understanding feminine experience. She concluded that Reversal of the Muse “allowed me to keep asking questions about these things, and that’s what I want to keep doing”.

“Whereas Short Movie [her 2015 album, recorded in anticipation of a move to Los Angeles] was based on a landscape, this album was more based in thought,” Marling explains when questioned on her creative move between the two. She ascribes English homesickness on tour as an important feeder into Semper Femina’s reflective core.

In comparison to the anxious urban bustle of Short Movie, Semper Femina is calmer and considered, yet Marling remains just as passionate, if not more honestly so. Despite being in search of answers, she is exploring them with an older and wiser head upon her shoulders.

Suitably placed as the final track of the album, ‘Nothing Not Nearly’ has a sense of finality about it, stopping short of concluding the issues raised within the album but certainly learning from them. Distorted guitar and assertive lyrics such as “love waits for no one” are indicative that Marling has gained both knowledge and confidence through the exploratory creative process behind Semper Femina.

The discussion ends on a more personal note, with Marling suggesting that if she had not become a musical artist, she would have wanted to become a chef or a writer. For anyone dying to know Laura Marling’s favourite self-written song, it’s ‘Rambling Man’, from I Speak Because I Can, which has never been off her touring setlist. “It’s very satisfying to sing and it’s quite fun to play,” she explains with a smile on her face; “I’m probably playing it in my sleep now, I suppose!”.

She finishes the conference on a question about her experience in the music industry, busting the myth of a glamorous lifestyle with an exhausting, scary reality, particularly for a female. The restricting fear of being alone, which she highlights here as part of the female experience as a touring musical artist, is a recurrent theme of many of her songs, even before Semper Femina. Marling doesn’t proclaim to have the answers to these issues, but she’s continuing to ask the right questions.

Semper Femina is released on 10th March 2017.

Preview: Highly Suspect

Written by Katie Shepherd on . Posted in Music.

With three Grammy nominations in the past two years, and a new single that has been dominating the Billboard Rock chart, Highly Suspect are a band that have been making a lot of noise in the scene recently — and with good reason.

Following the success of debut release, Mister Asylum, which saw the band receive fantastic critical reviews, Highly Suspect are back with their signature sound for a second studio album. Their latest release, The Boy Who Died Wolf is a marriage of 90’s grunge, early 00’s pop-rock with something refreshingly new and exciting.

In most recent releases, ‘My Name is Human’ and ‘Serotonia’, earnest lyrics are met with punky guitar in an explosive combination. Lyrics range from political commentary to loss and love in an album that is by no means afraid to deliver itself.  What is evident from these tracks is that this is a band with everything needed to deliver a great live show.

Formed of twin brothers Rich and Ryan Mayers and Johnny Stevens, Highly Suspect are back on tour in the UK next month, gracing Manchester’s Sound Control on the 7th of March and it is set to be a fantastic opportunity to see the trio in one of the city’s most renowned intimate venues. With the success they have received already, this may be your last chance to catch them in such a small venue.

Tickets to see Highly Suspect on their March UK tour are on sale now, though selling fast.

Andrew Wakefield returns to UK for controversial documentary screening

Written by tabitha hanks on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

Earlier this month, Andrew Wakefield, well known for his now discredited paper on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and its association with autism and bowel disease, received an award and gave a Q&A session at the UK premiere of his controversial film Vaxxed.

The event took place at Regent’s University in London  and was hosted by the Centre for Homeopathic Education (CHE). A university spokesperson said in a statement that the university had not been provided with the title of the film and had since severed links with the CHE.

Wakefield was the chief author of the 1998 paper “Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders,” which alleged a link between the MMR vaccine and increased rates of autism in children. The paper was declared fraudulent by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after an extensive follow up study conducted on over 95,000 children.

The original paper was published in The Lancet, which retracted it in 2010; the same year that Wakefield was removed from the General Medical Council’s medical register in the UK.

‘Vaxxed’ is a documentary directed by Wakefield in support of the anti-vaccination (‘Anti-vaxx’) movement. The film focuses on the claim that the CDC omitted data in their study dispelling the link between the MMR vaccine and autism, and heavily defends Wakefield’s 1998 study. Wakefield is currently a leading member of the ‘anti-vaxx’ movement, which has support from President Donald Trump.

The documentary is estimated to have grossed over $1 million in initial box office sales, but was recently removed from both the Tribeca Film Festival and the Curzon cinema prior to screening due to the controversial message of the film. It had also been due to be shown to European Parliament, but this was abandoned after public protests.

Concerns have been raised that the film could reignite public doubt in the MMR vaccine. This could lead to another generation of un-vaccinated children and further outbreaks of preventable disease, such as the 2012 outbreak which resulted in 1,219 measles diagnoses in children across Swansea.

Dr. Simone Turchetti from the University of Manchester’s Centre for the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine commented: “What is interesting about scientific controversies is that they never end. Uncertainties always keep on haunting us. But vaccines affect so many people that this lack of closure heightens public concerns.”

Although it has been almost 20 years since Wakefield’s paper linking MMR to autism was published, there is still widespread public doubt on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and propaganda from ‘anti-vaxx’ groups could reignite public skepticism and endanger the health of many who go un-vaccinated.

BUCS Success for University of Manchester Karate

Written by David Brierley on . Posted in Sport.

The BUCS University Nationals occurred in Sheffield on the weekend of the 17th-19th of February this year, seeing action from 6,620 athletes across nine disciplines, all vying for medals and coveted BUCS points. Just under 500 Karate-ka from across the country converged on Pond’s Forge International Sport Arena to take part in this huge sporting weekend, competing in the disciplines of individual and team Kata (athletic performances of set techniques) and Kumite (semi-contact combat).

Manchester set off in the young hours of the morning across a misty Snake Pass, taking a team of 12 members, 10 of whom were competing for the very first time.

Saturday saw the performance of Novice, Intermediate, and Senior Kata, which saw former medalist David Brierley competing in Senior for the first time after moving up from Intermediate, Zuzana Bujnovská seeking to improve her Bronze in Women’s Intermediate from last year, and many novices competing for their first time.

A string of close 8th place finishes presented encouraging results for future competition success for our novices, and first year students Allen Wang and Theo Fisher made strong first impressions in a Senior category with 81 competitors all seeking BUCS Gold – David unfortunately bowing out in the 3rd round 3-2 to Sunderland. However, the day was Zuzana’s, who took home silver in her final BUCS performance in a close final under the Pond’s Forge spotlights.

Sunday brought the Kumite events, where novices James Turner and Nick Hemingsley both claimed 8th in the Men’s Novice -80kg event.

A frustrating fight for Allen Wang saw him narrowly lose his first fight, and unfortunately Theo also lost out in a slim margin in the second round of his senior -75kg category. However, in -67kg Macedonian National Team member and Manchester fresher Adil Mehmed stormed into the final in stunning style, winning his first fight in 45 seconds, and making it through without dropping a single point against his opponent.

With the lights dimmed and the crowd baiting their breath in anticipation, Adil took to the tatami against his opponent Adam El-Shafei from Strathclyde, who had previously won the -60kg event.

A lightning punch from Adil sent him into an early lead, but Adam soon overtook him in points with a heavy roundhouse kick to the side, putting him 2-1 up. Over halfway through the match and Adil retook the lead with a show-stopping head kick, placing him at 4-2 into the closing seconds of the match, with Adam’s only options being to score with a head kick or a throwing technique to win.

The tension mounted as a bad kick from Adam sent Adil to the floor, worrying the crowd that had already seen four injuries end the hopes of gold that day. However, Adil recovered and took to the tatami for the last fifteen seconds, defending himself against an onslaught of techniques from Adam who hoped to either score with a kick or force Adil off the mat, with the potential of disqualification.

Adil stood his ground and held Adam off in the dying seconds, with Pond’s Forge erupting in a massive roar from the Manchester crowd as his victory was assured. To take a gold and silver from such an inexperienced and young team was a great result from the weekend, and the University of Manchester Karate Club looks forward to BUCS 2018, where our team will be returning more experienced, more eager, and even more Purple and Proud.

2017 Formula 1 Season Preview: New Excitement

Written by Jack Greeney on . Posted in Sport.

The 2017 Formula 1 season is “lights out and away we go” next month. On March 26th, the new year of motorsport’s premier competition will start off where it has for all but two of the past 20 seasons: Melbourne, Australia. However, Formula 1 will be looking very different to last year: and not least due to the absence of a reigning champion, after Nico Rosberg’s “classy” retirement.

Although there won’t be any new circuits for the drivers to get to grips with this time around, the destination list remaining largely unchanged aside from the removal of a German GP, there will be major rule changes in action for the developers to handle. In a renewed effort to generate greater appeal for the sport, new F1 regulations aim to enable the machinery to race faster and appear more dramatic. Tyres will be fatter, increasing in width by around 25 per cent compared to 2016, with rears up to 405mm and fronts up to 305mm. The front wing will be 150mm wider, aiming to eke out every morsel of downforce it can possibly get ahold of, for vastly improved cornering speeds.

The new plan seeks to make the cars up to five seconds per lap faster than in the previous season: a sizeable quickening of the pace. Wider, longer, and much faster: it’s as if last year’s batch of cars spent all the winter off-season in the gym. At least on paper, these changes point towards a new era of physicality in Formula 1, testing the drivers in ways they have not been tested for a decade. These changes hope to take the sport by the throat and inject a sense of rawness that some feel has been declining over recent years: and in the process, end years of domination from Mercedes. Whether these intended aims will come into fruition, however, is yet to be seen.

There is certainly the possibility that the results will entail a dramatic change. Senior F1 insiders say downforce gains could hit a 40 per cent increase by the end of the year, a huge increase. Engineers have certainly become excited by the news, the BBC reporting talk of 130mph bends becoming 150mph belters, new sections of full throttle track space opening up, and cornering forces ballooning upwards by more than 1G. All of these exciting new statistics remain only as educated guesses until testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona gets underway on February 27th; but the signs are certainly promising.

Whether the increased speed will lead to better racing, however, is still an open question. In these modifications, the FIA did not seek to render overtaking any more difficult than it already was, but there are fears that the new shape and size of car will have just that effect regardless. Increased width will lead to increased drag: with cars slower in the straights and faster in the corners, braking distances will be reduced, which will make overtaking a bigger challenge for each and every driver in each and every seat. On the other hand, the changes might lead to a closer pack of race cars, especially at the front: a prospect which always makes for exciting viewing on the race track.

It’s not just a thrilling prospect for the viewers, either: teams hoping to reap the benefits of a shake-up in the order also seem to be returning to the sport with a newfound enthusiasm to bring down the current order. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner promises a “brand new engine” and a “change of philosophy” after a big winter for the outfit, describing the atmosphere in the camp as “excited for the year ahead”. If it’s enough to get the blood pumping for even the most well seasoned and highly decorated of Formula 1 bosses, that surely bodes well for the humble spectator.

The new season of Formula 1 has certainly continued to set itself up to be one of the most pacey and exhilarating years the sport has seen in many a year. Let’s hope that this newfound speed leads to not just better lap times, but more stirring and competitive track racing too.