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Year: 2017

United Carabounce back after their loss at Huddersfield

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Sport.

In the pre-match interview, United manager Jose Mourinho made it clear that his side wouldn’t come to this match with the same attitude as the one at the weekend. He will be hoping that the Red Devils can bounce back from the result and a win against struggling Swansea may be just what they need to rebuild spirits.

Unsurprisingly, Mourinho names a drastically changed side from the one that lost to Huddersfield. Romero replaces De Gea in goal. Darmian, Lindelof, Smaling and Blind make up the back four. Tuanzebe and Herrera sit just in front, with Lingard, McTominay and Martial creating a pace fuelled attacking midfield. Rashford starts instead of Lukaku.

Tame is the word to describe the opening couple of minutes. The only player who catches the eye is Rashford, sprinting to close down Swansea players. No one can question his attitude, always running himself into the ground, the same can’t be said of the rest of the team, though.

Any accusations that Paul Clement’s side weren’t compact enough in their loss at Leicester at the weekend will be quickly forgotten as Swansea get bodies behind the ball at a startling pace. Not only that but they are organised going forward.

A poor back pass almost give Swansea an opportunity to embarrass United again. If not for a cheeky flick by Romero they would have been in. As good as it looked he definitely shouldn’t be taking chances like that and defenders shouldn’t be putting him in that position.

With 15 minutes gone Swansea look the better side. They are having less of the ball but they make the most of it when they do, looking genuinely threatening. Lindelof’s demeanour reminds me of Pogba’s last season, a player who’s hefty price tag has affected their mentality. Every mistake he makes looks like a product of nervousness. The only solution to this is coaching and playing games but there aren’t a huge amount of these ‘irrelevant’ games.

United show how they can cut apart teams out of nothing. The ball is passed into Rashford who deftly flicks the balls through to Lingard with acres of space to run into. With only the keeper to beat he finesses the ball into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-0. Even though they are now in the lead they still look lethargic.

Swansea came so close to levelling it up, but it is Daley Blind who almost scored the goal. The Dutchman completely misjudged his header and luckily for him the ball rolls just round the post.

Substitutions due to injury are never a good thing regardless of who you support. Swansea’s Martin Olsson chases a ball but a twang in his hamstring causes him to start hobbling, Kyle Naughton comes on to replace. At the same time, Rangel gets a yellow card for accumulation.

Former Hull City player Sam Clucas has a good opportunity to equalise just before the half time whistle blows. Like Lingard earlier he tries to pass it into the corner, but unlike Lingard earlier the shot goes just wide.

At half time Manchester United do not look any better than in the game against Benfica or Liverpool or Huddersfield. There is no excitement or passion — it’s like watching an England game. Most of the passes go sideways with players nervous to try any risky passing and if they have any doubt the ball goes straight back to Romero. At least Joe Hart isn’t in goal.

Swansea seem slightly surprised by the sudden energy United are playing with, resorting to cynical fouls. At the same time, Lukaku starts warming up on the sidelines, the game won’t get any easier when the substitutes comes on.

Darmian charges down the right hand side and whips in a beautiful cross. Lingard gets his head onto it and knocks it in for 2-0. When the ball comes to him it is by no means a certain goal, Lingard had a lot to do to get it on target let alone beat the keeper. Scoring three or four goals is vital in restoring confidence ahead of the game at against Spurs at the weekend.

This second goal seems to have brought back the Manchester United from the start of the season. They look utterly dominant holding possession for minutes at a time, exactly what Mourinho will want to take away from the game.

There is a double substitution for United as Rashford and Herrera come off for Lukaku and Matic. After a few games without a goal, Lukaku will be looking to get his name on the scoresheet once more.

It seems like this is just limiting the amount of goals they concede. For Swansea, who are racking up the yellow cards. They aren’t playing badly by any means, they are just getting outplayed in every area of the pitch.

The first United yellow card goes to Axel Tuanzebe. Jordan Ayew just beats the youngster to the ball and gets clattered into. A few minutes before he also missed an open goal from two yards. In his defence he wouldn’t have expected to get it but even if the goal was twice as high it would still have gone over.

Daley Blind gets a yellow card for a bad foul giving Swansea a free kick in a dangerous position. As the ball goes into the box there is an appeal for a penalty as a player seems to get pushed to the ground but the referee isn’t interested.

Good news for United fans as Luke Shaw gets a bit of play time in the last five minutes replacing Anthony Martial. Shaw was voted the best left back in a combined Liverpool and United eleven when the two teams met despite not playing a minute.

In the dying moments of the game my will to live is meeting the same fate. Neither team seems interested in touching the ball. One of the very last moments sees Swansea having a shot from point blank range but a reaction save from Romero keeps the clean sheet. I would take that initial statement back but my god that was painful to watch.

Mourinho will be happy as his side is coming away from Old Trafford with exactly what they needed, confidence. They will certainly need it as they face Tottenham at the weekend, a side that swept Liverpool away with a comfortable 4-1 win.

Weinstein’s last pillar

Written by Maddie Rodbert on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Unless you have been living under a rather large rock, you will recognise the name Harvey Weinstein that has dominated media reports in recent weeks. Weinstein is a big shot Hollywood film producer (Lord of the Rings, The King’s Speech, Pulp Fiction) who has recently come under fire for a long list of sexual assault claims from multiple women in various areas of the media. Weinstein’s success rests on quite a few pillars, in particular using the fashion industry to support him as well as launch his soon-to-be-ex wife’s brand, Marchesa.

Whilst the red carpet is frequently dominated by Marchesa outfits, Weinstein has also produced shows like Project Runway and has worked closely with Anna Wintour on various charity projects. But after the massive backlash against him, how has the fashion industry responded? And what will happen to the brand he helped create?

As of now, the answer seems pretty clear. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor in chief and director of publisher Condé Nast, made an official statement to Style only a week after the news broke in the New York Times: “Behaviour like this is appalling and unacceptable. I feel horrible about what these women have experienced and admire their bravery in coming forward…we all have a part to play in creating safe environments where everybody can be free to work without fear.”

Top fashion designer Tom Ford has also stood against Weinstein, despite the fact that it was Weinstein who produced Ford’s biographical film: “What Harvey has done is shocking, indefensible and disturbing on many levels.”

Models Cara Delevigne and Heidi Klum have both claimed they have been abused by him on various occasions, as well as Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez who was the first to come forward with evidence against the producer.

However, the fashion industry has not been a united front. In a televised interview with the Daily Mail, Donna Karan claimed it is “how women are dressing” and “what they’re asking” by presenting themselves in a certain way that is the source of the problem.  This statement drew a huge amount of backlash, to which she has responded that the quotes were taken out of context and hopes no one believes she thinks sexual harassment is excusable in any context, however it is still the source of much controversy.

However, the question remains: what will happen to Marchesa without his backing?

Georgina Chapman is the co-founder of the brand, which produces high-end dresses and outfits to celebrities, particularly for high-status events. Soon after the brand first launched over a decade ago, the New York Times published an article noting that Marchesa had “a short walk to the red carpet” in 2005, which was around the time Weinstein and Chapman began to date. Gossip claims that Weinstein showed his support for the brand by coercing the celebrities he worked with to wear the brand at events, which has since been proven true by those who wore the designs.

It doesn’t seem surprising, considering many of the actresses that wore the brand have also made claims against Weinstein, including the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Gwyneth Paltrow.  Despite Chapman announcing her split from Weinstein, the likelihood is people will not want to associate with the brand at all because of the connotations that come with it. The jewellery brand Helzberg has already backed out of a brand deal, while an anonymous retailer has predicted many stores will stop stocking Marchesa.  Weinstein’s success was key to bridging the gap between the pillars of fashion and film, so it is unclear how well the brand will do now since the fall of his last pillar in the fashion industry.

The best shops in the Northern Quarter

Written by Sophie Walsh on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Winter is coming. That means one thing: white walkers new clothes. But where do you go if you want to avoid the usual high street garb and don’t want to run into a hearty overdraft? Manchester’s Northern Quarter — known for its lively bars and music venues that have housed world renowned DJ’s, a la mode cafes and restaurants, and of course its sea of vintage shops — is your best bet.

It hasn’t always been a mecca of the young and edgy though. At the beginning of the 18th century, Oldham Street was described as a ‘muddy lane’ surrounded by ‘wild hedgerows’ (not much has changed on a Friday night). At the dawn of the industrial revolution, however, the site slowly became urbanised and by the Victorian era the area was known for its markets and, most predominantly, its pet shops.

By my grandmother’s time, evening dances in jazz clubs (her favourite, Band on the Wall is still going) as well as shopping became the norm. It was after the regeneration of Manchester however in the 1990’s that the Northern Quarter as a distinct area came about, with low rents attracting alternative, independent shops. It has drawn in all categories of edgy young things: your northern ‘we have an indie band, it’s a bit like the arctic monkeys’ lads, buzz-cut techno enthusiasts, parker wearing Oasis wannabes, and of course students with that hoarse 30-a-day home counties rasp.

There is something for everybody as you shall learn as I run through the best shops that Manchester’s Northern Quarter has to offer.

Cow

This is the best place to go for those who want to get their hands on designer labels at a second-hand price (wear and tear expected). Find Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Dickies to name a few. What I most like about the shop is that items are hand-picked from across the country with a focus on current trends. This therefore offers an alternative to the high street that often in its bid to keep up with fast fashion produces low quality goods as well as the fact you run the risk of matching everyone else; with Cow you know the items are unique. The focus on trends also gets away from the usual mass of wavy shirts, windbreakers, and Levi 501’s you find in every other vintage shop, creating that generic ‘thrift shop’ look.

Affleck’s Palace

Not technically one shop, but rather a multi-storey market selling vintage and alternative clothing. It also boasts a fancy-dress shop, piercing parlour, tattoo studio, café, Barbour’s, poster shop, and many other stalls. I can particularly recommend Kustom Korner, a printing stall that will print anything you want (within reason) for a cheap price, on a wide range of t-shirts, tote bags etc. Affleck’s is ideal for fresher’s who after the first month of uni want to ‘fallow-up’ their look, a re-invention if you will, so that come Christmas break friends from home can gasp at the new and alternative you. Walk in wearing skinny-jeans and Stan Smiths and strut out to ‘Smells like teen spirit’ in loose fit cords and 80’s Docs.

Vintage Kilo sale

Recently, there has been an emergence of pop-up shops selling vintage garments for £15 a kilo of clothing. It is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. Some of it is cr*p let’s be honest, but you can find some real gems and most of the fun is to be had in rummaging through the heaps. Keep your eyes peeled on Facebook as there are always postings of new kilo events going on around the city, particularly in the Northern Quarter.

Carhartt WIP

Okay. I’m going to hedge a bet. You only go on ticketed nights out, if it hasn’t got a bar code it’s not worth it. Your tinder bio reads ‘London/Manchester. Techno and chill?’. 95 per cent chance you own a skateboard, struggle to ride it, but looks damn good tucked under an arm around campus. Your Instagram only features film camera images. You dabbled in DJ’ing second year. Caps or nothing. If you fit the description, you will definitely splash out on a Carhartt anorak for £220. I don’t blame you, they sell some good quality stuff. Where else would you get that bum bag from you will wear cross body ‘ironically’?

Alfred E Mutter Ltd

I have to give this a cheeky mention. In the nineteenth century, my grandfather x2 came over from Germany following the Franco-Prussian war to make a new start in England. Arriving in Manchester, he established a jewellers shop on Thomas Street along with his son Alfred. It is one of the oldest shops to survive in the Northern Quarter and is still run by a branch of the family today. This is what makes the Northern Quarter so unique, the variation of businesses, from the old to the new, all sharing the same space.

Review: Geostorm

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

Geostorm is an abomination. It’s almost as if the ageing and out of touch head of a cable television channel such as Syfy or 5* became tired watching young talent after young talent get their scripts green lit. Deciding he could do better, he takes a week holiday to ‘let the creative juices flow’. When finished he is blinded by illusions of grandeur, thinking his script is far too good for television. He then abuses his position and friends within the industry and gets this mess of a movie made. That overzealous executive is Dean Devlin.

Dean Devlin, previously involved in such award nominated works such as 1998’s Godzilla and 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence. Those nominations were in fact for Golden Raspberry’s and Geostorm can expect a clean sweep at the next year’s ceremony. Using his own production company, Electric Entertainment, Devlin managed to convince Warner Bros. and Skydance to both come onboard, a ruse that will surely rock both to their core. I fail to grasp how anyone at those respected companies could sit through the final cut of this film and sign off.

There was a big, red warning sign for those involved to pull the plug in the form of abysmal test screenings, but rather than cut their losses they chose to reshoot certain portions in an attempt to improve. That’s why Gerard Buttler suddenly loses his bulging muscles, only to regain them in the next scene, flip flopping as the film progresses. Despite these reshoots, there were still several baffling scenes, for example when a business man in Dubai breathes a huge sigh of relief that a tsunami didn’t cause the Burj Khalifa to collapse, only for the camera to cut back and show the towering building on a 45 degree angle.

What I find most astonishing though is the ludicrous $120 million budget, given the fact that this is essentially four episodes of a low quality tv show masquerading itself as a high quality tv show with one famous actor and some poor CGI. Judging by the shoddiness of those computerised images, Butler must have commanded a large percentage of the budget. It is evident from the start that he only came to set to collect the pay check and go home. To say that he phoned it in would frankly be an insult to all those that do phone it in like Al Pacino in almost everything this last decade.

In the pre-production period it seems the answer to any potential shooting issues or concerns was ‘let’s just green screen it’. Even scenes that take place on Earth outside of a courthouse were green screened, because directing more than three people at once was too overwhelming for Devlin. The only scenes that didn’t look fake were inside the kitchen of our protagonist Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler), but even then upon a second viewing I’m quite sure I’d find something out of place.

With global warming bringing catastrophic weather events all over the world killing millions, Lawson leads 18 nations to create ‘Dutch Boy’, a net of satellites covering the Earth to control the weather by changing pressure, temperature etc. From here it’s just crossing off the boxes in your generic disaster action movie bingo card. Blatantly obvious bad guy? Check. Countdown to end of the world? Check. Copy and paste soundtrack? Check.

The only thing that’s missing is the disaster. Cinema goers who chose to go see this movie to see colossal destruction have been sold a false bill of goods. Geostorm doesn’t have a geostorm. Instead we get teased with some ironic weather events such as a heatwave in Moscow or a tsunami in Dubai. The whole appeal of a film like this or 2012 is not for good acting or plot but for damage on a worldwide scale. Without that, well, what’s the point?

Another look at the Balfour Declaration

Written by Lawrence Rosenberg on . Posted in Opinion.

Our university has come under criticism over the decision to host a ceremony, organised by Manchester’s Jewish community, commemorating the controversial Balfour Declaration. Some students have called this private event ‘totally disrespectful’ to Palestinian students — while others have gone so far as to describe it as a ‘celebration’ of human suffering.

In November 1917, one century ago, Lord Arthur Balfour penned a letter to a leader of Britain’s Jewish community, pledging that the British government would support a ‘National Home’ for the Jewish people in the former Ottoman province of Palestine.

At the time, Europe’s Jewish community was persecuted: socially isolated and living in dire material and political circumstances.

Support for a so-called ‘Jewish National Home’ was applauded by European Jewry as an unprecedented humanitarian gesture — it promised a safe refuge in the historic homeland of the Jews, where Jewish people could be free to express their culture and practice their religious beliefs, without fear or repercussion.

Yet to opponents of next month’s event, Balfour’s declaration was the beginning of a process that should never have begun. To them, the Balfour declaration was a product of imperialism which directly caused decades of Palestinian suffering. In essence, without the creation of a Jewish National Home — the State of Israel — there would be no Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Commemorating the Balfour Declaration is not about celebrating the imperialism of the previous century. The original Balfour Declaration, and the ultimate creation of a refuge the Jewish people in the wake of the Holocaust, never aimed to inflict suffering. It was created to stop suffering. It was created to put an end to nearly two millennia of Jewish persecution.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a tragedy. Palestinians have undoubtedly suffered. Israelis have also suffered. But to end this conflict, both sides must learn to live with one another — and understand each other’s narratives. It is futile to look back at the past — or even try to reverse history.

The Balfour Declaration — for all that it was — happened. Israelis now have a state – and it’s now time for Palestinians to have theirs too.

But this isn’t going to happen by protesting a private ceremony. The only way to peace is for both sides to recognise the other side’s existence; for both sides to sit down together, and to see how we can finally end suffering for all.

The new MASH Mobile

Written by Kirstie O'Mahony on . Posted in Features.

The streets around Piccadilly station during the day are bustling with business people, football fans, and people dragging suitcases. Come nightfall however, you’re more likely to find people selling sex.

Manchester’s streets are cold pretty much all year round, and when your job entails you patrolling the pavement for hours on end, in can become insufferable. Many women in the industry live in poverty, and may not be able to afford to restock their condoms mid-shift, or to buy some food when they get hungry.

This is where Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) comes in. Since 1991 they’ve been providing support to women in Manchester who work in the sex industry. At that time their services provided women with “condoms and clean injecting equipment together with advice and information and referrals into other services.” They “operated in the heart of the beat and late at night.”

This much is still true, but in 2010 they opened their drop-in centre on Fairfield Street, right in the middle of Manchester’s busiest area for sex work. Helen Clayton, MASH’s Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator, told me that “it’s a fully holistic support service; women can come in and get support with whatever their needs are right there and then so be that housing, if they need help with an addiction or mental health issues, or if they need to talk to someone about debts, or they’re being coerced by somebody, or they just want to come in for a brew or something to eat and drink in a safe space.”

However, the area in which it resides is changing rapidly, in a way that Helen fears will push lots of the women away.

“[The area around Fairfield Street] is becoming much more gentrified… the women are dispersing.” Helen has told me in the past that new, more expensive flats and businesses in the area, and the redevelopment of the Mayfield depo, might intimidate the women and make them less likely to want to work there.

Also, at the moment the businesses in the area around the drop-in are ones that usually shut at around five or six, but there are plans underway for lots more restaurants to open up, which will mean people will be in the area until much later at night, further discouraging the women MASH work with from doing business there.

Caroline Leavy, MASH’s Homelessness and Outreach worker, told me that other factors have contributed to women in Manchester doing sex work further afield. She explained that after the tent camps erupted in Mancehster and homelessness reached epic proportions in the city, many sex workers started to mingle with them and then start begging themselves. Given that there are more people in the city centre to give them change, this will have contributed to women moving farther and farther away from Fairfield Street.

This spurred the introduction of the MASH Mobile Drop-In. What used to be tea served out the back of a red van is now a new and comfortable camper van with an oven, electric stove, and a comfortable sofa seating area for women to relax in if they’re ever in need of a “safe space.”

I chatted to Helen and Caroline inside the van itself, which was brand new and had a gorgeous interior. It was extremely homely, made more so by the hot chocolate I was offered (and graciously accepted).

Whilst I was there, two women actually came by (Helen told me later that they were expecting a busy night). They were more than happy to meet with me and chat to me about the service, but preferred to remain unnamed. The second woman I met got a hot chocolate, some condoms, and a rape alarm. Caroline double-checked to see if the torch was working on it, and the woman thanked her, adding “you really need it when you’re in the bushes.”

Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony

I asked her what she thought of the new MASH Mobile (pronounced in my mind similarly to the BatMobile) and she gushed at how comfortable it was. She went on to say that other sex workers she knows describe it as “a god-send”, and that it’s nice to know there’s someone “floating about” that’s there for you when you need them.

It’s not just English women that MASH come into contact with though: “the other reason why we think [the MASH Mobile] will make a big difference is that we’ve seen a big increase in the proportion of Eastern European women [that are sex working in Manchester]. They’re much more difficult for us to reach because there’s a cultural and language barrier.”

In order to tackle that barrier they now have an interpreter who travels with them on the MASH Mobile. They rise in Eastern European women sex working in Manchester has been reported on extensively by the Manchester Evening News, who found that often they work in pop-up brothels all over the city.

The demographics within the sex industry are many, and it might not surprise you that students are one of them. In 2015 an Liverpool University student wrote in The Tab of her experience as a student sex worker, first of all working for an agency whose manager once took her to practice shooting his AK47 in the woods, to opening her own online escorting business. It’s a tempting industry for those students who struggle daily to afford to study.

The Student Sex Worker Project found that 5 per cent of students they surveyed had partaken in some form of sex work. In 2016 the NUS conducted research that found that 67 per cent of student sex workers that responded went into the industry to cover living expenses (such as electricity bills and groceries) and 53 per cent did so in order to pay their rent.

I asked Helen what they can do to support Manchester-based students in the industry, and she pointed out that they don’t see many students on a day-to-day basis, either because “they don’t want to come to the area”, or because they simply don’t want to tell them that they’re a student.

She added that quite a lot of students would opt to do webcam or phone work rather than roam the streets at night, which would mean they’d be less likely to come to the drop-in for some of the usual services that other women may request. They wanted to make it abundantly clear however that their services stretch beyond street sex workers, and that if students need support “then we can go to them, and we don’t have to take this big van!”

Although, if you are a student sex worker, and you do want to ask MASH for support, I would highly recommend that you request they bring the van. It’s comfortable, safe, and most importantly, Caroline makes a mean hot chocolate. What more could you want?

30 years queer: the Mancunion centre at the heart of LGBT+ resistance

Written by Kizzy Bray on . Posted in Features, Uncategorised.

Compared to the dim, greying afternoon that Manchester’s spitting skies offer outdoors, The Proud Trust centre is bright and inviting; turquoise painted walls wear multi-coloured posters and murals, tables and chairs are positioned all around the room in wait for the in-built cafe’s customers, and a welcome sign next to the door invites — at length — anyone of any orientation, gender, race, or faith to come through the doors. You would never guess the rainbow-themed interior from the outside, almost like a secret, until you find yourself transported into this quirky, fun, and safe space that is a second home for many that frequent it.

The Proud Trust is one of the only one’s of its kind. It was the first purpose-built LGBT+ centre in Europe and, due to being council owned, The Proud Trust has managed to keep going where similar centres have had to be closed down due to funding issues on private tenancies.

The idea for the centre started in the seventies and our very own university (the then Victoria University of Manchester) had a big hand in helping the centre at the grassroots of the project. “Lots of people who fought for LGBT equality had phone lines and campaigns from their own houses,” Dr. Ali Hanbury, the centre manager informs me. “As things were progressing the university actually gave them some space on Waterloo Place, just opposite where the tin can building is now.” There they could conduct meetings, focus groups and organise protests and campaigns for their rights, which, at the time mainly focused on gay and lesbian issues. “As the project expanded they started looking for more space, they got another basement on Bloom Street on what is now the village. It wasn’t the village back then, it was mainly run down, old, industrial buildings, a few bars, but it was quite rough. There was street prostitution, raids on the bars that did exist, it was all very behind closed doors.”

The initial building of the centre itself came up against a host of issues, all stemming from openly allowed discrimination against LGBT+ people under the government of Thatcher. “The local council were keen to support the centre,” Ali tells me, however it was private landlords they faced problems with. “The law back then didn’t protect LGBT people. It was perfectly fine for the landlord we approached to say that he wasn’t selling his building to gay people.”  With private landlords being able to turn away tenants based on their sexual orientation, the centre fought to be built on council owned land, in which they succeeded. The building plans that took place in the mid to late eighties, however were then protested against by a local church. Because these disagreements were based entirely on what the building would be used for, rather than the actual building itself, the plans still went ahead, and the centre, being the first of its kind, opened up to the public in November 1988.

Photo: Ali Hanbury (front left)

Around the same time, James Anderton, the chief of police in Manchester, made some wildly homophobic comments about the HIV/AIDS crisis. “He was being really abhorrent. Thatcher at the time saved him from losing his job and then introduced section 28 to say that no local authority could promote homosexuality,” Ali tells us. In response to this public and powerful hatred, Manchester hosted the “Never Going Underground” march in 1988, the UK’s largest ever gathering for LGBT+ rights of the time.  By the November of the same year the centre was open and they hosted a grand opening party to celebrate the success.

“Manchester was at the forefront of a lot of LGBT campaigning and activism,” Ali states. “We still have really strong and supportive links through the university. We’ve got about fifteen groups that meet here, alcoholic recovery groups, a BME project called Rainbow Noir; we also have an office for the lesbian immigration support group as well as an inter-faith group. We even had an LGBT disabled pride here over the pride season!” Clearly people from all different walks of life are engaged with what the centre has to offer. For many it’s a source of hope when they have no-one else to turn to. Kept away from the village itself, the centre runs little risk of publicly outing those who aren’t out yet and are perhaps struggling with the process.

“We’re quite unique for a LGBT charity” Ali admits. “We have a lot of women staff, BME, disabled, and trans members of staff. That’s not always reflected in other LGBT organisations.” This range of diversity means that those who come to the centre seeking support are likely to find someone to talk to who has had similar experiences and offer some empathy. “We have dedicated projects such as lesbian and bisexual groups as well as young men and one-to-one trans workers as well as a trans youth group.” Being able to openly talk to young people about the way they are feeling and what understandings around sexual orientations as well as gender identities are is something the centre aims to tackle. The centre just released a book aimed at primary school children called “Alien Nation” which discusses gender identity and has been received really well.  “We have quite an extensive training program where we work with professionals who may be in contact with LGBT children such as children. We’ve even given talks at the university to nursing and medical students.”

Photo: Ali Hanbury

Ali and I discussed whether the national curriculum is failing LGBT+ youth in schools by not representing them enough. “I think the issue is that a lot of schools would deny that they do have problems with homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia,” Ali tells me. “However what we do know is that there is a massively heteronormative and cis-gendered script that schools enforce in their curriculum. By only including LGBT discussion in sexual health lessons it hyper-sexualises it, that’s really problematic. If in English lessons we spoke about how Shakespeare had same sex relationships, that would be useful. We have just been government funded to work with the education system to run a project called the rainbow flag award. We are working with around 270 schools to take a whole school approach to LGBT education. We look at cross-curriculum stuff, school uniform policies and major school policies.”

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the centre’s opening next November, The Proud Trust are hosting a very exciting array of celebrations over the next 12 months, entitled ’30 Years Queer’, kicking off on the 30th November this year. “It’s all about raising the profile of the centre and celebrating all our great work and the fact that we are still here!” Ali exclaims. “The centre has been under threat through its history and people campaigned to keep it open, so it’s important that we still get to be here.” The celebrations will include different fundraising events, as the centre is hopeful to increase in size. People are taking part in half-marathons and round-the-world bike rides, there will be parties and nights out hosted by ‘Shit Lesbian Disco’, of course there will be Pride in the summer, a walking history tour of the city connected to the centre, and even a street party on the actual 30th anniversary next year, as well as an after party.

30 Years Queer celebrates everything that the centre has faced and stood up for, all the discrimination and pride its history entails, all the struggles its members have fought against, and everything it still seeks to change now. With such a brilliant range of diversity and challenges it’s tackling, the centre is an extremely necessary part of the Mancunian cityscape and has always been. Manchester has been at the forefront of LGBT issues and rights in the UK for decades and to celebrate this and make sure this doesn’t change, we need to protect and support organisations like The Proud Trust. Whether you wish to volunteer at the centre’s cafe, fund-raise for them, or simply learn more about the centre, you can find the group on Facebook, visit their website, ring on 0161 2220766, follow their twitter, or send Ali an email at [email protected]. If you would simply like to make a donation, you can do so at www.localgiving.org/donation/theproudtrust.

Halloween in Manchester 2017

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

This time each year, the spooky in us comes out to play, and with it, an excuse to dress up and celebrate all things weirdly wonderful and slightly crazy. Whilst there’s always something fun to do in Manchester, Halloween brings a whole new array of special events to celebrate. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the spook-tacular things that are happening around the city:

Tim Burton Special @ The Bread Shed (27th October)

It can be confidently said that Tim Burton is the king of Halloween, so why not go down to The Bread Shed and pay homage to the pumpkin king himself. The night will be filled with all that is pop-punk playing the likes of My Chemical Romance, Bless The Fall, Blink 182, You Me At Six, Bring Me The Horizon, Don Broco, and Parkway Drive. Release your inner emo-teen and sing your heart out.

Photo: @Flickr Bryan Rosengrant

Stranger Things Special @ The Ruby Lounge (24th October)

Based on the incredible 80s  Netflix TV series, Stranger Things. Sound-tracked strictly by vinyl records featured in and inspired by the show.

On the night expect to hear all of the tracks from the show by The Clash, Toto, Joy Division, Foreigner, Modern English, Corey Hart, The Bangles and Jefferson Airplane — plus the likes of The Smiths, The Cure, David Bowie, New Order, Talking Heads, A Flock Of Seagulls, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Blondie, The Undertones, The Human League, Iggy Pop, The Specials, The Jam and many more.

If dressing up like a Demogorgon or as Eleven, this is the place to go for all you fanatics.

Photos: Wiki Commons

 

ANTS Halloween Takeover @ Warehouse Project (28th October)
Ants follow up previous classic WHP shindigs with a Halloween takeover. Berliner Paul Kalkbrennerheadlines – and who better to provide the drama and excitement of a Halloween show than a DJ who is renowned for his live show, where his emotive techno tracks and pulled apart then restructured into entirely new forms. He’s joined by Ants stalwarts Groove Armada, whose typically crowd-pleasing performance at last year’s Ants took the roof off. For more dancefloor thrills, Eli & Fur, Jesse Rose, Route 94, wAFF and a host of others explore the full spectrum of house, from jacking bass bombs to deep, melodic disco.

 

Bongo Bingo Halloween Special with Fatman Scoop @Albert Hall (31st October)

A Halloween special with the bombastic hip-hop icon Fatman Scoop as the exclusive guest. It’s hard to capture the unique mix of everything that happens at Bongo’s Bingo – it’s partly a show, partly a rave, partly a dance-off, and of course an amazing night of bingo as its frantically beating heart.

It’s true that Bongo’s Bingo has to be seen to be believed — the show mixes the traditional elements of bingo with dance-offs, rave intervals, plenty of heckling, audience participation, countless hands-in-the-air anthems and of course the chance to win prizes too, from Henry Hoovers, boxes of Coco Pops and life-size cardboard cutouts, to actual cold hard reams of cash.

Definitely, something that you’ll never have experienced before.

Photo:Jack Kirwin

 

Motherfunkers Fright Night @ Antwerp Mansion (31st October)

If you’re looking for the most authentic Halloween, then really you need to head down to the only place in Manchester which could actually be a part of a horror film. Expect a psychedelic haunted house fused with the very best of funk, soul, disco and Motown tunes from the ’70s to today… We’re talking live music, performers, installations, visuals, disco balls, balloons, bunting, and confetti cannons.

Casa Loco @Impossible Bar (28th October)

The recently opened impossible bar are also joining in on the Halloween fun. The has a hidden gin palace that serves 63 types of gin and has a cryogenic freezer, meaning spirits can be frozen to make edible cocktails. They also have a molecular cocktail laboratory which will have an alcoholic mist condenser and a lickable Champagne bubble machine. Impossible embraces all things weird and wonderful, and their Halloween event will follow suit, and will definitely be hard to forget… depending on how much of the champagne bubble machine you have.

This is a ticket only event, so make sure you buy them before they sell out!

 

 

 

The Black Narrative: A new way of thinking

Written by Raine Beckford on . Posted in Features.

As Black History Month draws to a close, I find myself ruminating on the wider impact of the month and the media focus it has attained. This led me to Keziah Doudy — founder of The Black Narrative, a project she hopes will spark a change in the representation of young black people in the media.

Doudy, a 19 year old Geography student from North London, is enthusiastic and insightful.

Of the project, she tells me “The Black Narrative is an online platform for young black people to document their lives, their own personal stories and their experiences. I started it with the aim of dismantling the negative stereotypes about young black people that are persistent in the media.

“But I also want to encourage people to challenge their perception of what they think blackness is. I wanted to make the point that the black community is not a monolith, there is a lot of diversity within our community and it should be celebrated.”

A relatively new endeavour, she tells me that the project was born of a frustration with Western media.

She says “about 2 or so years ago, there were suddenly a lot of incidents of police brutality where black people were being shot and killed or injured by the police. But every time something like this happened, I noticed that there was an instant attempt by news groups to justify the violence against the victim by demonising them and bringing up negative aspects of their past.

“I don’t think there’s ever a justification for that kind of violence so it was quite frustrating for me to see mainstream media outlets working so hard to turn the victim into the bad guy. It was really a response to that.”

Whilst this problem is most prevalent in America, perhaps a symptom of their outdated gun laws and complicated judicial system, we agreed that things weren’t perfect in the UK either.

Doudy says “I wanted to bring it closer to home and make it more relevant to the UK. There’s a lot of negativity when it comes to black youth and there are a lot of smear campaigns against prominent black people who speak out about these kinds of things. In the UK media there’s a dominant perception of blackness that’s just gangs and violence and a certain way of speaking and a certain way of living. I just wanted to respond to that and to challenge those ideas”.

Ambitiously, she has big ideas for the project.

She tells me “at the moment it’s very London and Manchester based because that’s where I’m based but I’d definitely like to expand it to other cities. Eventually, if I’m able to travel more, then I want to make it more international. I’m very interested in the stories of black people in non-English speaking countries because we always hear a lot about the Black American experience and the Black British experience but we don’t get much about the Black French experience or the Black Austrian experience.

“In a year’s time, I think I’d like to take it internationally and be documenting stories of people all over. In 5 years time, I’d like to come out with a book with all these stories and possibly set up a charity organisation through The Black Narrative. I’d like to give children in disadvantaged areas the chance to travel as well and see places like South Africa or Canada so they can have those experiences and see beyond where they immediately live.

“I feel the reason that there is so much inter-generational deprivation and poverty in some areas is because people can’t see beyond where they are. They don’t imagine themselves doing other things and being in other places. Travelling is so important because it exposes you to new and formative experiences.”

Already the project is making waves, going from strength to strength.

We reflect on the journey so far and Keziah tells me about one of her more memorable interviews: “One of my favourite interviews was with a guy called Kome. He told me about how he would often get teased by other black people because of his interests. He was a classical musician, he played rugby, he did art, and he felt that there needed to be more encouragement of black people pursuing things outside of the realm of what we consider to “black” things.

“Things like rugby, which is seen as a predominantly white sport, and classical music shouldn’t be fields where only white people can excel. I thought it was very introspective of him because sometimes, as black people, when we talk about our issues and our problems it’s very easy to point the finger and say well ‘white people conditioned us to think like this’ but sometimes we need to be more responsible for ourselves.

“We need to take responsibility for uplifting other members of the black community, even those that are different from us.”

Whilst the project has so far been an individual labour of love, Doudy is excited at the prospect of involving more people.

She says “I’d love that. If you want to share your own personal story you can email me or follow the project on twitter at @TBlackNarrative. There’s also an Instagram page but it’s just great to have people interacting with the website in general. I love to hear what people think or what they’ve learned.

“As well as sharing stories, I’ve included a feature page so if people don’t necessarily want to talk about themselves they can talk about issues that they think are important or are affecting young black people today. I’ve just had a piece that a guy has written about what it is to be a young black man and how to deal with hyper-masculinity and the battle of how to be vulnerable and how to express yourself emotionally and it was amazing so I welcome outside contributions.”

The project can be found at theblacknarrative.co.uk

Manchester University questioned over Brexit teaching

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester has received a letter from a government chief whip demanding a list of academics teaching about Brexit and the material they are using, The Mancunion has learnt.

Chris Heaton-Harriss, Eurosceptic Conservative MP for Daventry, wrote to vice-chancellors at the start of this month asking for Universities to disclose the names of any academics involved in the teaching of European affairs “with particular reference to Brexit.”

Asked by The Mancunion about whether the University has received such a letter, a spokesperson said: “The University has received the letter and replied, directing the writer to sources of publicly available information.”

Last week, the government warned that Universities that fail to uphold free speech on campuses amidst the culture of space-spaces could face being blacklisted by the new higher education regulator.

Emma Atkins, the Students’ Union Education Officer, said that it was “a bit rich for the government to lecture universities about freedom of speech when they pull a stunt like this.”

Although Universities minister Jo Johnson MP described the letter as “research for a book”, academics have accused the government whip of “McCarthyite” behaviour – in other words, making accusations or insinuations without full evidence.

David Green, vice-chancellor of Worcester University, told The Guardian: “This letter just asking for information appears so innocent but is really so, so dangerous. Here is the first step to the thought police, the political censor and newspeak, naturally justified as ‘the will of the British people’, a phrase to be found on Mr Heaton-Harris’s website.”

A YouGov survey indicated that 80 per cent of academics voted to Remain in the EU referendum and Students’ Union Education Officer, Emma Atkins, told The Mancunion that she believes the letter “shows how terrified the govt is about the public realising what a disaster Brexit is going to be.”

Despite this, academics have insisted that students have been encouraged to think critically for themselves and that personal views have not affected their teaching.

Director of the European Centre in the politics and international studies department at the University of Cambridge, told The Guardian: “I told the students what my personal views were and emphasised that they were personal views. I voted to remain, but as an academic, my job is to impart knowledge, encourage debate and develop skills of analytical argument, not to impose doctrine.”

Pro-Brexit academics have also suggested they are unhappy with the behaviour of MPs.

Lee Jones, reader in International Politics at Queen Mary University in London, said: “It is really troubling that an MP thinks it is within his remit to start poking his nose into university teaching.

“Universities are autonomous and politicians have no right to intimidate academics by scrutinising their courses. I have colleagues who are diehard Remainers. But I know what they teach and it is not propaganda.”

However, the Electoral Commission has suggested that Universities have nothing to fear from inquiries of this nature.

They said: “we produce guidance to help all non-party campaigners understand the rules on campaigning and we can advise universities in cases where they may be affected.

“These do not prevent campaigning or engagement in public debate, but provide the public with transparency about who is spending what in order to influence their vote.”

Students’ Union Education Officer Emma Atkins was clear that “university staff are right to voice their concerns about this”, telling The Mancunion that the “government interfering with academic autonomy is dangerous.”

‘Garms for Grafting’ – an afternoon with Topman and Chris Hughes

Written by Amy Nguyen on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The nation’s favourite Love Islander and Topman Brand Ambassador has released a shoppable capsule collection of TOPMAN AW17 essential pieces to reflect Chris’ own personal style. His ‘Garms for Grafting’ comprises of handpicked items ideal for “grafting in the club, bantering with the lads, or staying in with your son who may or may not be an inanimate toy doll.” The range features those infamous skinny jeans, a snug shearling aviator coat, caps and hats, and much more, – all at a very affordable high street price.

We caught up with Chris and quizzed him on some of our burning questions.

 

Tell us more about your Garms for Grafting Edit with Topman.  

This capsule edit is really about focusing on clothing you’re comfortable in. Whether it’s for occasions or being out and about on weekends, its pieces that are really wearable.

Obviously, it’s about taking things, like I’ve done with this collection, and making it your own to create your own personal style or using the Topman complimentary services to find what suits you.

What’s your favourite piece from the edit?

I would have to say currently my favourite pieces are the jackets, especially as we are going into Autumn. I’m a huge fan of bomber jackets, and the Topman Dark Green Puffer Jacket (RRP£65) is perfect to chuck on with jeans and is proper snuggly.

What’s your favourite kind of style on a guy? (You’re not allowed to say Kem)

I’m a big fan of long line tee’s, they are my go to item. Topman have even designed a long line T called the ‘Chris’ which is coming out later this Autumn which is pretty perfect. Pop those on with my signature skinnies and we’re good to go.

What’s your favourite kind of style on a girl?

There is absolutely nothing better than class on a girl. Classy clothing, with long knee high boots and jeans really do it for me. Olivia seems to pull it off extremely well.

What is your biggest fashion faux pas to date?

Unfortunately, there was a phase in my life where I used to wear T-shirts that were ridiculously, shockingly tight. So tight in fact to the point I couldn’t move in them, they had little to no sleeves, it was just too much and not the right look.

If you had to pick a fashion icon, living or dead, who would it be and why?

People ask me this question a lot and I’m never 100 per cent certain on who to pick. I think if men can pull of a suit, they can look good in anything, take Daniel Craig and David Beckham for example. I’m a firm believer, if you’re smart and well groomed, the clothes will follow.

If you could pick one item of clothing to take to a desert (love) island, what would it be and why?

It would have to be a pair of boxers or my undies. I need that support to hold it all up! I feel very uncomfortable when I don’t have anything on and it’s all free flowing, do you know what  I mean!

Following on from this, which item of clothing did you wear most in the love island house?

The white jeans. These have actually sold out in Topman now. It was the first time they were left in stores and collection during the Autumn/Winter season as they usually take them out by this stage of the year! Absolutely the white jeans went off and are great with a tan, which is harder to maintain now in the UK. (We feel you Chris)

Obviously grooming is as equally as important as the right wardrobe choices, do you have a grooming routine that you stick to or do you steal Olivia’s products?

Absolutely. Every four days I give my beard a little trim on level four, run it over and keep it tidy. I have my haircut once a week, it just makes me feel better and fresher. On top of the standard washing routine, sometimes apply bit of make up when necessary. I like using the matte stuff you put on before makeup. (That’s primer Chris!)

As the father and baby daddy of Cash Hughes, do you have any preference in how you style him?

It’s funny you should say that as I’ve got a new outfit waiting for him when I get home this weekend. A new hat and a matching bib for the boy. He sits on the sofa watching TV with us every night.

Your L’Eau de Chris  ‘Don’t bottle it up’ campaign to promote mental health awareness and anxiety is such an admirable collaboration with mental health charity CALM and will resonate with lots of our readers. What would you say to those suffering with anxiety issues and bottling up their emotions?

You’ve got to remain strong and know that you can and will get through it. Be brave enough to speak to your loved ones, friends and family and don’t bottle it up. It’s important to know there’s always someone at the end of the phone that want to help you overcome your current state which is why charities like CALM are so great as you never have to go it alone.

And finally, you’ve obviously found love so do you have any parting words of wisdom and pieces of advice to our University of Manchester student readers looking for short flings and the real thing?

**Que that infamous cheeky grin**

Well, if you’re looking for a short fling, you can go about it in just any way you want, if you bed someone you’ve done alright. But if you’re looking for long term, treat a girl how she should be treated, take her out, spoil her and don’t go all in too quickly flying off the handle and frightening them. Be chilled, and if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be.

Photo Credit: Amy Nguyen

It is clear from our time with Chris that his ‘Hashtag Looks, Hashtag Game, Hashtag personality, Hashtag everything’ statement made during the hit TV show this summer is most certainly true, and he wasn’t just bantering. We can’t wait to hear his platinum rap album with lyricist genius and partner in crime Kem and see what he has in store next.

You can shop the ‘Garms for Grafting’ edit and enjoy the stores personal shopping service at Topman, intu Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AA.

 

Child sexual exploitation assurance review underway

Written by Hannah Murray on . Posted in News.

An independent review will seek to provide assurance that Greater Manchester has the right culture, and best systems in place, to protect children from sexual exploitation (CSE).

The report has been commissioned by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in response to public concern regarding issues raised in recent broadcasts.

The Mayor stated: “Sexual exploitation and abuse of children is abhorrent. I want a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of exploitation and abuse, where we constantly challenge ourselves to improve how we identify those at risk, give them a voice, investigate all reports, and prosecute those responsible.”

The review will provide a detailed timeline of events, actions, and decisions taken in previous reviews and reports. It will examine the recommendations in all published inquiries and reviews, following the convictions for the Rochdale child sex scandal in 2012, to highlight any gaps and risks which may remain.

The effectiveness of policies and processes now in place, under the Project Phoenix partnership arrangements, will also be reviewed. This will include an assessment of whether findings suggest that child sexual exploitation is being adequately addressed in Greater Manchester.

Finally, the review will provide recommendations which will help to guide the future direction of the response to CSE in Greater Manchester. This will include any changes to prevent victimisation and to further enhance services provided to victims.

The independent assurance team will report directly to Baroness Beverley Hughes, deputy mayor for Policing and Crime who said: “This review is important as it is being carried out on behalf of the people of Greater Manchester, who rightly expect our children to be properly protected from harm and abuse.

We want to ensure not only that current practice is the best it can be but also that we can respond effectively to any emerging new risks in the future”

Findings will be reported back in spring 2018 and will be published.

Review: The Snowman

Written by Esmee Samsworth on . Posted in Film.

It’s true that the world is becoming increasingly enamoured with Scandinavian style. The clean lines, effortless minimalism and gorgeous fusion of style and function are hard to resist, let’s be honest. But this is perhaps unsurprising when you consider the fact that Scandi-noir has long been one of the region’s top cultural exports.

Just look at the Swedish-American 2011 film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher, based on a novel of the same name by Steig Larsson. Or Wallander, the UK TV series adaptation of Swedish writer Henning Mankell’s crime novels.

This genre is crime reinvented for the modern age — in a society that is increasingly appreciative of minimalism, Scandi-noir’s distinctive style and its penchant for cutting right to the heart of the matter ticks all the right boxes. You’d imagine then that The Snowman would be an instant success.

The film is based on Jo Nesbø’s 2007 bestseller, directed by Tomas Alfredson who has garnered praise for both Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and Swedish foreign language film Let The Right One In (2008). It stars Michael Fassbender as disillusioned, alcoholic, police detective Harry Hole who must put together the links between ages old cold cases before the serial-killer known only as The Snowman strikes again.

It has all the elements of an entertaining, if not slightly predictable crime thriller, but something doesn’t quite hit the mark. The film feels pieced together and rushed, as though screenwriters Peter Straughan and Hossein Amini didn’t have Jo Nesbø’s novel on hand when they were putting the screenplay together.

In defence of the film, Alfredson himself admitted that filming did not go entirely to plan, stating that when they reached the editing stages he “discovered that a lot was missing… like when you’re making a big jigsaw puzzle and a few pieces are missing so you don’t see the whole picture.”

It’s a shame, but not one that ultimately ruins the film. The Snowman is entertaining and visually spectacular. The filming took place principally in Oslo and Bergen, offering Alfredson and the Director of Photography Dion Beebe the chance to highlight the differences in Norway’s geography. Urban metropolises are starkly contrasted against icy countryside.

Michael Fassbender adds some weight and subtlety to Harry — if that’s possible given that there are a fair few shots of him yelling into nothingness, with only the mountains to hear him. Though Harry’s backstory is perhaps clichéd, Fassbender is nuanced in his approach to the character, making him likeable or at least understandable, whilst still playing a recognisably noir detective.

Along with Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson — who plays newbie police officer Katrine, stands out. Chloë Sevigny and Anne Reid both have small cameos and give very strong performances.

In fact, the acting by nearly all the cast leaves little to be desired, the only exceptions being Val Kilmer and Toby Jones who give quite frankly bizarre performances as two hard-nosed police officers in a flashback segment that is jarringly out of place with the rest of film. You get the impression that this is what Alfredson meant when he said that filming in Norway was rushed and incomplete.

2.5/5

FA Cup First Round-up

Written by Arthur Salisbury on . Posted in Sport.

For the pundit class, the FA Cup first round draw is an opportunity to display some authenticity. Non-entities like Tim Lovejoy — who, in his autobiography, referred to a ‘League Three’ — can earn some cred by talking wistfully about The Magic Of The Cup™ over clips over Hereford ’71 and Sutton ’89.

Four years ago Luton Town beat Norwich City 1-0 with a late strike, the first time a non-league side had won away at a top division side since 1986, and yet this clip is never shown. The problems with the FA Cup are more deep-rooted than can be addressed with the sticking plaster of nostalgia, and part of it is to do with the appropriation of The Magic into the establishment narrative. When Ronnie Radford’s goal won it for Hereford, that match was the last game shown.

Of course the FA Cup is still important to the non-leaguers, and of course, the financial aspect is a part of this. Heybridge Swifts currently play in the Isthmian Division One North — they sit one point outside the playoffs but have six games in hand. The reason for this is their long cup run — they beat five teams over seven games to reach the first round. Haverhill Rovers, Arlesey Town, Metropolitan Police, Frome Town and, sadly from my blinkered North London perspective, Haringey Borough.

Their run has already netted them upwards of £30,000 and a lucrative away trip to Exeter City — the gate money in the FA Cup being split down the middle. This is money that can build a new stand, lay down a new pitch, or just keep the club going.

But a great deal of the loyal following the competition still has in the lower echelons lies in the opportunity to travel. It’s more a truism than a cliché to say that Saturdays are a great day out interrupted by a football match. The chance to explore new places through regional bus services is exciting — what else could possibly take me to Dereham?

Thus, to make the first round, to finally escape the regionalisation of the qualifiers, is very exciting for clubs playing at the sixth level and below.

I know London and Suffolk very well from my time following the Isthmian League, and though Enfield Town fell in injury time of the last hurdle replay, I can still feel vicariously thrilled by the journeys of my non-league comrades — Maidenhead in Coventry, Bromley in Rochdale, Chelmsford in Gateshead.

The bigger sister of the interesting-away-tie is the big-name-home-tie, and Hyde United have caught one alright. They’ve got one of the biggest clubs in the draw and also easily the evilest: MK Dons.

Distaste for the club, for many, crossed the line from run-of-the-mill footballing grudge to deep-burning ideological hate, merely by its formation. The relocation of Wimbledon F.C. fifty-odd miles North, with a change of name, colour and badge and the resultant destruction of a community — or rather, attempted destruction, with the genuine fairytale of AFC Wimbledon — has soured their image for most.

Get yourself over there on the 4th of November. It’ll be spicy. It’s a game where a draw will feel almost as good as a win, and hopefully, Hyde will stick the boot in and flood the dressing room — make them feel uncomfortable. It doesn’t just make footballing sense, it is a moral imperative too.

The Red Devils narrowly win in a tough match at Benfica

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Sport.

Jose Mourinho will be feeling very confident about his side’s chances in Lisbon tonight. Benfica have failed to earn any points in their opening two games and have a miserable goal difference of -6. This is exactly the opposite of United’s start, who have won both their games and have a goal difference of +6.

Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof will both be returning to their former clubs, with Mourinho also returning to the team he first became a first-team coach with. Formerly the assistant to Jump Heynckes, he took over in the fourth week of the 2000/2001 season after Heynckes left the club under a mutual agreement.

Several injuries mean that the United line-up is a very predictable one — 4-4-1-1 —, with the only doubt being whether Rashford or Martial starts. De Gea is in-between the sticks with Valencia (c), Lindelof, Smalling, and Blind making the back four. Herrara, Matic, Mata, and Rashford play in the midfield, sitting behind Mkhitaryan and Lukaku.

Benfica get the game kicked off. They were the second club ever to lift this trophy after Real Madrid, and it is they who start the game better, getting the ball into the United box in the hopes that someone can connect to it but to no avail.

A yellow card comes in the fifth minute as Mkhitaryan gets an elbow to the head. The Benfica player had his eyes on Mkhitaryan rather than the ball so he can have no complaints about that.

The game settles down after the first ten minutes and it is United who are on top and controlling possession as expected. They are playing to the very limit of the Benfica backline with two of their attacks in quick succession being stopped from offside calls.

A fantastic chance for Benfica as Grimaldo takes on three United players stylishly before crossing it into the box. The resulting shot didn’t have any of that quality though and it goes high and wide.

That chance switches momentum in their favour and United struggle to hold possession, barely stringing two or three passes together before losing it again. The pace in which Benfica break away with is surprising the Red Devils who can’t handle it.

At the 30-minute mark, United finally wake up and turn on the gas with the ball not leaving the Benfica half for the past six minutes. Mata and Matic are looking very bright, the creative sparks in a team which before this really lacked forward thinking. The latter made a driving run through the defence and fired a shot straight at the keeper.

Valencia gets the second yellow card of the game for using his hand to block a player, making contact with his face rather than the body. The free kick is near the corner flag and gives Benfica the chance to get players into the box and test Mourinho’s set pieces training. It barely reaches the first man though, rather pathetically bouncing towards the mass of players.

As the first half comes to an end, neither side look more likely to win in a back and forth game. The main story though is a number of offsides from United attacks at 6, which is just a lack of concentration and needs to be addressed. Mourinho will not be amused, and the side that comes out in 15 minutes will undoubtedly be more focused.

From the whistle blow, it is already obvious that United have stepped it up, closing down attacks quickly and turning that defence into attack. They are yet to test the young keeper though, with their only on target shots going straight into his gloves.

The third yellow of the game as Rashford breaks on his own and gets wildly dragged down by the Benfica defender in a desperate to stop the attack. Fouls aren’t limited to just the one side though as Lukaku does the exact same thing a moment later, not a card though.

This Benfica team is looking worlds apart from the one that lost 5-0 at Basel. That said, it may only take one breakthrough goal for United to cause them to capitulate. I think the substitutes will make the difference, especially the fresh legs of Martial and Lingard, against the tired legs of the defence.

After almost scoring directly from a corner, Rashford scores a free kick from a ridiculous distance, something extraordinary. It would be a shame if that was the goal to defeat Benfica as their defence has been absolutely phenomenal up until that point, forcing United to settle for long shots.

A sad sight for fans as Rashford goes down and takes off his shin pads, it looks like he isn’t going to make any further contribution. Hopefully, it isn’t anything serious. Anthony Martial comes on in a like-for-like change, the first of the game for United so far.

The tempo is slowing down now as United are currently in the lead, looking content to hold possession and wind down the clock in the last 10 minutes. They have a ridiculous 72 per cent possession so far but that really doesn’t do justice to the great performances by Benfica this game.

Lingard comes on in the 82nd minute for Juan Mata, who played a fair amount longer than his usual stints in games. Mourinho is opting to not make defensive substitutions showing that he isn’t packing it in just yet.

Benfica pushing hard for a late equaliser but haven’t managed to turn countless corners and final third possession into shots. As the board comes up for four minutes extra time it seems more likely that United get a second on the counter.

The third and final substitution comes as McTominay takes the place of Mkhitaryan. The Armenian has been lacklustre this game, quite uncharacteristic given his performances so far this season.

A red card in the 93rd minute as captain Luisao slides on McTominay to receive a second yellow. This will indeed mean that he misses the return fixture at Old Trafford, a major blow for a team that has won no points in their first three games.  Jesse Lingard gets a yellow card for time-wasting in the final event of the game

It wasn’t a pretty performance, more reminiscent of the game against Liverpool than one of the 4-0 wins we’ve become accustomed to. Nevertheless United go top of the group with nine points out of a possible nine, their qualification to the next round all but confirmed.

Robots take over Manchester

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

A new blockbuster exhibit Robots is now open to the public at the Museum of Science and Industry (MoSI). The new exhibit headlines the ongoing Manchester Science Festival. It is just one of many robotic themed events that make up the 11-day long Manchester Science Festival, which kicked off on Thursday the 19th of October.

The Manchester Science Festival is a creative celebration of science that welcomes people to take part in over 100 unique events across our city. Antonio Benitez, the director of the festival, has poured a love of science and an emphasis on inclusivity into all of the events. Antonio wants to ignite a passion and curiosity for science in people of all ages and backgrounds, from preschool children to practising researchers.

Next week Antonio hopes to achieve this goal, and Manchester’s passion for science will come to life. Events like Tape and Dinosaurs in the Wild give Mancunians the chance to walk through the unknown. Tape, another new exhibit at the

Tape, another new exhibit at the MoSI, is a gigantic spider’s web created by award-winning artists Numen/For Use. EventCity’s Dinosaurs in the Wild workshop provides the magical opportunity to learn about the world 67 million years ago. For the more robotically-inclined there are several robot themed events, and Robots is one of the most awe-inspiring.

Upon entering the exhibit patrons are greeted at by an animatronic baby mounted to the wall. This striking feat of engineering waves patrons into the wonderful world of robots.

The animatronic baby immediately challenges the idea that all automatons are either terminator T-800 killing machines or sleek Apple devices that want our jobs and leads into an exploration of 500 years of automation history. Taking us from the 16th-century Catholic clock automatons, through to the machines that powered the industrial revolution, all the way to the modern era.

Ben Russell, the curator of the Robots exhibit, assembled this extraordinary collection of robots over the course of six years. Mr Russell and his team have gone to extreme lengths to gather their exhibit.  From rescuing the fantastical Shadow Biped Walker — the first human-sized biped — from a collapsed roof, to contacting local talent to restore the robot to working order. Nothing would stop this passion project.

Mr Russell and his team are aiming to show that robots are not scary — an increasingly relevant challenge in today’s rapidly automating world. There is a strong emphasis on how humans understand themselves through our robotic creations. As we travel through the decades of innovations the machines become more human.

Robots’ shows a friendly and optimistic vision of the future. The last robot of the exhibit, the EU-funded iCub, drives this point home. iCub is the world’s most advanced learning robotic toddler which cheerfully picks up and plays with children’s toys with increasing dexterity — a skill it figured out all by itself!

The final day of the Robots exhibit ends with an evening discussion called Robot World with Professor Barry Lennox. Professor Lennox researches ways to operate robots in the extreme conditions, from the hazardous environments of a nuclear power station during their decommission, to performing critical research at the bottom of the sea. He will explore the impact of AI on jobs, and the pros and cons of the rise of the robots.

At just £8 for students, Robots is a fantastic way to spend a few hours. It truly is a labour of love. Robots show the potential and exciting ways automation will affect our lives and challenges our ideas of how robots will live amongst us.

Balfour ‘Celebrations’ on campus enrage students and staff

Written by Hana Jafar on . Posted in News.

Students at the University of Manchester have organised a protest against the university allowing celebrations of the Balfour Declaration on campus, organised by pro-Israeli groups.

The Manchester Balfour 100 event is set to commence on Tuesday the 31st of October at the University of Manchester’s Whitworth building. It is part of a number of events marking a century since former British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour released a statement on the 2nd of November, announcing support for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then under the Ottoman Empire with a Jewish population of 90,000.

According to a section titled ‘Manchester’ on the official Balfour 100 website, zionist groups were established in Didsbury by Jewish businessman Chaim Weizmann after the first world war, and it was in fact philosopher and former professor at The University of Manchester, Samuel Alexander, who arranged the meeting between Weizmann and Balfour. For supporters of the Zionist cause, this was imperative to the creation of Israel in 1948.

However, for Palestinians, this has led to the loss of land and illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, with collateral damage including the expulsion of around 800,000 Palestinians and the destruction of approximately 400 villages over the last 50 years.

The University’s decision to allow celebrations to take place has stirred outrage from students, academics, and activist groups on campus including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the BME Campaign, Action Palestine, and the ‘Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!’ Campaign.

These groups have organised an ‘Apartheid Off Campus’ protest outside the hall on the evening of the celebrations. Over a hundred students have confirmed attendance to the Facebook event, with students from Sheffield University’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign sending a coach of supporters to join in. A rumoured total of around 200 students are expected at the protest.

The University’s Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign, which was recently endorsed by the Students’ Union, has also written an open letter to Vice Chancellor Nancy Rothwell, entreating her to consider revoking the right to hold the celebration at the University and to cancel the event.

“Celebrating the Balfour declaration is a mockery of the suffering of the Palestinian people, and is greatly disrespectful for Palestinian students at the university who have, alongside their families, been forced to live their entire lives under the boot of the Israeli army.

“A large number of students have expressed fear for their safety with Israeli security personnel roaming our campus. By allowing this event to take place and hosting the Israeli embassy, the university is failing to uphold its basic duty of care to staff and students.”

The letter was signed by activist groups and campus and other student societies, including the Arab Society, Islamic Society, Sri Lankan Society and Tamil Society.

Senior Professor of Sociology at the University, Nick Thoburn, said he was “dismayed” that the institution had allowed the event to take place on its campus, which he said commemorated the moment Britain, “with its imperial chauvinism and entitlement, knowingly gave the green light to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.”

“That this could be a cause for celebration, hosted in whatever way by a British University, when the consequences then and now have been so devastating … is indicative of the contempt that Israel and its advocates hold both for Palestinians in the region and in exile,” he added.

The Mancunion contacted the University for a statement, and was informed by a University Spokesperson that: “The University allows some of its premises to be hired by third parties for external events, provided that the events in question comply with the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech.

“This [Balfour 100] event is one such commercial booking and it has no connection to, nor is it endorsed by, the University.”

According to a representative of The University of Manchester’s Jewish Society (JSoc), “This event is not a student event and is a Jewish communal event. We support the right of Jewish students to attend and the wider Balfour campaign is to celebrate the British support for Jewish self-determination.

“The student Balfour campaign aims to commemorate the role of the British government in backing the Jewish struggle for self-determination.”

These sentiments were also echoed by organisation North West Friends of Israel, who, when contacted by The Mancunion, stated that Zionism was one of many nationalist movements at the time, concluding that “It is absolutely natural for the Jewish Community of Manchester to celebrate the centenary of Balfour given the close affinity that community has with the Jewish State of Israel.”

In the past, pro-Palestine events held and organised by student groups have been disrupted and cancelled, with University administration imposing strict guidelines on speakers.

The University statement continued: “The University will not suppress freedom of thought and expression, consistent with the Statement on Academic Freedom. However, the University has a duty to ensure, wherever practical, that such thoughts and expressions do not go beyond the articulation of points of view and do not constitute incitement to riot, insurrection, racial hatred, religious hatred, sexual harassment or other activities (beyond the right of peaceful protest) which are likely to cause a breach of the peace or public disorder or otherwise to be unlawful.

“The University will not unreasonably refuse to allow events to be organised and held. The expression of controversial views which do not breach the law will not constitute reasonable grounds for withholding permission for an event.”

Mayor Andy Burnham awarded Doubleday Award

Written by Cliona Linehan on . Posted in News.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been confirmed as the 2017 awardee of the Doubleday award, in recognition for his work in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing that took place just five months ago.

The attack of May 2017 resulted in the death of twenty-three people, including ten people under the age of twenty, and two-hundred and fifty wounded after a suicide bomber detonated their device in the Manchester Arena, towards the end of a concert by pop star Ariana Grande.

On the morning following the attack, Andy Burnham, who only became Mayor of Greater Manchester some weeks earlier, gave a statement depicting the attack as “an evil act”, and continued to praise the response of Manchester residents, ending his statement saying that “it will be [the] spirit of Manchester that will prevail and hold us together.”

The Doubleday Fund, which runs the award, was established by the Doubleday family after their son Edwin tragically died before his final examinations in 2000. The fund’s focus is on medical evaluation, and its support of the Doubleday Centre for Patient Experience permits further interaction between students and the public in the training of future doctors.

The award, running since 2002, is granted to any individual who is seen to have significantly contributed to society, and former winners have included Rabbi Julia Neuberger, former director of the Kings Fund, as well as former Chief Medical Officer Sir Kenneth Calman.

The award will be presented to the Mayor by John Doubleday before the Mayor gives his Doubleday lecture at the University of Manchester this month. In his lecture, Andy Burnham is anticipated to focus mainly on issues concerning extremism, alongside discussing ideas on political participation and the impact of possible increased devolution.

Reflecting on the Mayor’s contribution, Director of the Doubleday centre, Dr Robina Shah, commented on Mr Burnham’s receipt of the award, saying that: “Andy Burnham showed great leadership for our community in the wake of the tragic events.”

She added that his “support for the victims, the families, the emergency services, and local people who did so much to help those affected is praiseworthy, and we are delighted to be able to recognise his important contribution.”

3 travel magazines to feed your wander lust

Written by Sophia Macpherson on . Posted in Lifestyle.

As we approach the last few weeks of October, the cold of winter is imminent and, with that, the desire for a holiday grows feverishly. The idea of skimming through travel magazines whilst stuck in the gusty winds of Manchester could seem a rather sad and depressing thing to do or it could be the perfect way to let your mind wonder.

Either way, the glossy pages of these magazines are definitely a form of escapism. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing but offer voices to people who tell real stories about people and places that are unique. As deadlines approach us, these magazines are the perfect thing to flick through as a study break or before bed.

SUITCASE magazine

Branded as a ‘fashion + culture’ magazine, SUITCASE blends together insider travel knowledge and visually stunning fashion editorials and releases four issues a year. The magazine gives a voice to creatives who have unique stories that can also act as a gateway for other cultures around the world. Issues are focused on different places which have a concurring theme. Their latest issue is named ‘Homelands’ and looks at Peru, Ladakh, Japan, Prague, Santa Monica, Sicily, and Trancoso. Priced at £6.99.

BOAT magazine

The people at BOAT focus each issue on a new city. They uproot themselves and live in these places for weeks on end, in order to fully immerse themselves in the lives of the locals. Content is a mixture of locals’ voices and the outsider perspective, which results in a refreshing take on the city in focus. Their latest issue to buy looks at the Faroe Islands. Priced at £10.

Cereal magazine

One of the most well-known and loved independent travel magazines, Cereal prides itself on its minimalist design. Boasting stunning photography and evocative writing, the magazine does well to take you away from reality and into your imagination. The biannual magazine tailors their issue to a few cities focusing on stories centred around design, art, fashion, and feature interviews. Their latest issue to buy is ‘Cereal Volume 14: Autumn Winter 2017’. Priced at £12.

All prices correct as of the 17th of October 2017.

Top 5 Craig David songs

Written by Yasmin Duggal on . Posted in Music.

Craig David returns to Manchester this November for this season’s Warehouse Project, bringing his famous TS5 set to the Store Street stage. Expected to be a whirlwind of spectacular progressive house, R’n’B, and garage, David will bring his wealth of experience to the highly anticipated event.

He will be supported by grime MC Big Narstie, reggae legend David Rodigan, and People Just Do Nothing‘s Kurupt FM, all set to get the crowd hyped ready for the man himself to take to the stage.

Fill Me In

Taken from debut album Born To Do It, this smooth R’n’B number takes us straight back to 2000 — what a year for music. His first solo single shot to number one, making him the youngest British male to reach the top spot in four decades.

7 Days

A slow jam classic — let’s be real. David’s biggest hit to date, there’s no justification needed. It’s the perfect excuse to ‘chill on Sunday’, and we can’t help but melt at that dated noughties romance vid, oozing with just enough cringe.

Re-rewind – Artful Dodger ft. Craig David

This tune is a club tradition, and Craig David’s vocals elevate the track to a legendary status. It was the first we heard of the young singer, all the way back in 1999. It’s become a garage anthem and a British festival banger.

When The Bassline Drops – Craig David x Big Narstie

A more recent track, this collaboration with grime MC Big Narstie saw Craig David make an incredible comeback after a break from the industry. Featuring a garage-inspired style, this took David back to his roots and put him straight back into chart limelight.

Walking Away

Another super chilled R’n’B track, the third single from Born To Do It is a great track for a lazy hungover weekend when only retro classics will get you through.