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Year: 2017

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Film.

Director James Gunn returns to the helm in the second entry about the escapades of the Guardians of the Galaxy. After the unexpected success that was the original, the audience’s expectations were very high. An overload of pop culture references could not cover up the flaws however and the result is a film that is inferior in almost every way.

My primary issue was the soundtrack. I want to make it clear that this only covers the licensed songs used in the film. Tyler Bates’ original soundtrack maintained the same impressive quality as last time, complementing the on-screen action seamlessly. The problem lies in the promotion for the film.

Far more emphasis was put on the continuation of the Awesome Mixtape series than the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Whilst the integration of music was organic previously, this sadly did not continue. Some of the songs felt unnecessarily shoehorned in, others lacked the emotional punch the scene required and a couple, namely Cat Steven’s Father and Son spoon-fed the audience how they should feel in the scene, making it an incredibly emotionally narrow experience. Ultimately the film felt more like the music video to the Awesome Mixtape Volume 2 album.

It is hard to call the story of Guardians a story in the traditional sense, a soap opera would probably be the most apt comparison. All the main characters go off to pursue their own little emotional journeys reuniting in some grand finale. All we are missing is for Pratt and co to come out on stage and do it live.

The opening scene is the galactic avengers fighting a giant octopus-like creature. Instead of keeping the camera on the battle we watch an adorable Baby Groot dancing to Mr. Blue Sky (arguably the only well implemented song throughout the film) while giving glimpses of what goes on behind him.

From this, you would imagine the core ideology of the movie is to feature action solely as a vehicle for the comedy elements. Immediately after this though the comedy is relegated to the cracks between each mini-film.

In an attempt to hide the lacklustre writing there is an over-abundance of pop culture references ranging from David Hasselhoff to Pac-Man. This felt like a cheap attempt to deceive the audience, making them believe the wave of nostalgia they are feeling for said reference is actually appreciation for the film.

Once you have left the theatre there is nothing to ponder, no ideas to mull over. You won’t notice any subtext you missed the first time. What you see is very much what you get. Whilst this is partially true for volume one it was at least a feel-good film that can be watched on a rainy day.

Gunn tries to deliver so many emotional blows during the 138 minute runtime that, aside from the climax, they became repetitive, stale even. The only reason to watch this again is in anticipation of its sequel.

The humour was the only aspect that built upon the existing foundations. Gunn does deserve high praise for this, especially the fact this is the first film since 1999’s The Iron Giant where Vin Diesel has not been utterly unbearable. Each character’s unique idiosyncrasies were developed further and all of the best scenes stemmed from this.

My personal highlights include every scene involving Drax and an adorable scene where Baby Groot keeps fetching the wrong item to help an imprisoned Rocket and Yondu escape. The only comedic missteps came from Rocket. There are only so many times I can listen to Bradley Cooper yelling before it becomes worn out, but aside from this the humour does hit the mark.

Had it not been for the comedy elements this film would have been a huge drop in quality from the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is still a noticeable drop, but not enough to make any noticeable dent into Disney’s seemingly endless box office revenue stream.

In a preview screening of the film, James Gunn called it ‘a film about outcasts, for outcasts’. I disagree. This film represents the increasing commodification of geek culture.

Things previously considered nerdy that would result in you being exiled form ‘popular’ circles are now mainstream. But not entirely. Pink Floyd and Nirvana are not widely popular, but the association to them is. While music sales of their albums may not have increased, t-shirt sales with their logo have skyrocketed.

Bringing this back to Guardians, I feel that most of the effort has gone into the branding rather than making a high quality film. Attempting to make it fashionable to like the 70s/80s ‘outcast’ music accompanying the film rather than the film itself. This is a smart tactical move by Disney. It won’t change the box office revenue. Fans of the genre, myself included will still want to see the next instalment. Their gain is in the merchandise and album sales, which will easily surpass the box office gross.

Leaving the theatre, my disappointment was palpable. I did not expect a cinematic masterpiece, but I hoped to lose myself in more outlandish adventures of the lovable misfits. Instead I simply lost interest.

Body of missing Manchester student found on Oxford Road construction site

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in News.

The body of 19-year-old University of Manchester student Charlie Bartlett has been found on the site of the old BBC studios on Oxford Road.

Charlie’s brother Harry Bartlett launched an appeal on Facebook after not hearing from his brother for over 24 hours after he attended the Owens Park ball. The ball took place at The Principal hotel on Oxford Road on the night of Saturday 6th of May.

He was last seen in Sound Control on New Wakefield Street, a short walk from where his body was later found at 7.50am on Monday 8th May, after emergency services were called to the site on Charles Street, just off Oxford Road.

Greater Manchester Police later confirmed that the body was that of the first year Computer Science student. They added that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police cordons and a forensic team were seen at the site, which is currently undergoing development into student flats, during the morning of Monday 8th of May.

A GMP spokeswoman said: “Shortly before 7.50am on Monday, May 8, 2017, police were called to reports that a body had been found on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre.

“Officers attended and discovered the body of a 19-year-old man.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

Tributes have flooded in on Facebook for the undergraduate student, including from his brother Harry, who confirmed the news on his own Facebook page.

“Unfortunately the news is horrible – my little brother’s body has been found… Rest in peace Chuck,” he wrote.

A University of Manchester spokesman said: “The police have informed us of the death of one of our students. University staff are working to provide support to his family and we are offering counselling to all students who have been affected by this incident.”

Calls for information about student missing since Saturday night

Written by Charlie Spargo on . Posted in News.

Friends and family of University of Manchester student Charlie Bartlett, who was last seen on the night of Saturday 6th of May, have called for any information about his whereabouts.

Charlie attended the Owens Park end of year ball at the Principal Hotel on Oxford Road on Saturday evening, the 6th of May. He went from there to Sound Control on New Wakefield Street, just across the road, but has not been seen since then. He is most likely to still be in black tie having come directly from the ball.

His brother, Harry, posted to Facebook on the 8th of May, asking for people to contact him or Greater Manchester Police if they knew anything about where Charlie might be, and to share as widely as possible to raise awareness.

“Charlie Bartlett, my little brother, has gone missing in Manchester for over 24 hours now. If anyone has or does see him, or knows anything please get in contact with me,” he posted.

He asked that people either called him, on 07827292124, or the police, on 0161 872 5050, quoting the reference 154-08051.

Review: Double Zero “00” Neapolitan Pizza

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

This spot in Chorlton is talked about for its classic Neapolitan pizzas, bring your own booze rule and cheap prices. All of those things add up to a pretty tempting restaurant, so I headed over on otherwise average Tuesday to see if I could be coaxed out of my mid-term blues.

Located in the centre of the foodie hub on Barlow Moor Road, Double Zero was seriously busy when we arrived. Luckily we had called ahead to book, so could bypass the crowd to be sat down at a small table by the large windows. The very rushed, but still friendly waitress brought us over some menus and glasses for our alcohol. We noted the atmosphere was fairly loud as there were a few large tables all indulging in the bring your own rule, however we didn’t mind too much. The menu is simply split into appetisers, classic pizzas, double zero’s favourite creations, and a create your own option. As we were quite hungry, we decided to try a starter each.

I ordered a fig crostini. When I ordered, I prayed it was similar to the delicious fig and cured meat sandwich I was lucky enough to experience in Umbria, Italy last summer. When it arrived, I couldn’t quite contain my excitement. The plate was beautifully presented with small bits of crusty bread piled high with brie, prosciutto, and topped with perfectly formed figs. I quickly took a bite and was met with the ideal combination of the creamy cheese, salty meat, and sweet figs. The portion was large but I wanted more and more.

My companion order the focaccia of the day – rosemary, which came with a tomato and basil dip. This focaccia wasn’t the normal thick, fluffy bread I envisage, but was thinner and crispier. However, it was full of flavour and a faultless starter.

Having been blown away by the taste and memories my starter had invoked, I couldn’t help but notice our fellow diners’ pizzas, exactly what anyone would hope for from a Neapolitan-style pizzeria.

Our pizzas were swiftly in front of us. We both opted to choose our own options, as who can deny their own taste buds? I chose to top mine with buffalo mozzarella, ham, and mushrooms. My companion chose bacon, chicken, and sundried tomatoes. We were pleased with the generous amount of ingredients that had been used and tucked in for as long as we possibly could.

We both sat back with a third of our pizza left and confessed we were full. Despite being embarrassed for having had eyes too big for our bellies, we were happy we could grab a box and take home our leftovers for the next day.

We got up to leave and agreed that we were glad we had finally tried Double Zero and it would easily be placed in the top pizzerias in our Manchester list.

Soap and Glory are back

Written by Talia Lee-Skudder on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

This Wednesday, the 10th May, Soap and Glory are making a return to the University of Manchester campus but this time have collaborated with the Manchester Enterprise Centre to impart their wisdom on how to be a successful businesswoman.

Following their last appearance on campus which saw the brand head to Manchester in a big pink bus, handing out amazing freebies, a braid bar and dance classes, the ‘She’s the Business’ event is certainly not to be missed! The day includes talks from top speakers in the industry, including S&G, Seed, Esporta, Johnny’s Sister and many more.

As well as getting excellent advice from industry professionals, the day also includes interactive workshops tackling issues such as confidence and social media. The workshops include a session run by Jo Grobbelaar – from This Great Life, who will give a talk on how to balance work and play – something all of us need to master before we dive into the real world of 9-5 jobs.

As well as Grobbelaar, Soap and Glory’s very own Lizzie Newell – Social Media Manager – and Jasmin Rafferty – Community Assistant Manager – will give a talk on how to launch and maintain your digital presence to help give you a head start in your chosen industry.

The event is absolutely free; all you need to do is register here for your tickets! The event is being held in Lecture Theatre B in University Place, smaller workshops will be held on the fourth and fifth floor. The event begins at 9am, so prepare yourself for an early start. It is sure to be a fantastic and inspiring day where you can hear expert advice from the top women in business. Don’t miss out!

Incredible Isco – Real Madrid are a better team without Gareth Bale

Written by Dane Massey on . Posted in Sport.

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid have one foot in their third UEFA Champions League final in four years, thanks to yet another Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick in a 3-0 win over city rivals Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu. The hat-trick was the 47th of Ronaldo’s amazing career.

There seems to be no limit to the Portuguese megastar’s ability, as he continues to display imperious goalscoring form year after year, cementing himself amongst the very best to have ever played the game. Ronaldo is just one goal away from his 400th for Los Blancos — his 399 so far have come in just 389 games. Astonishing.

All the spotlight will once again be on the former Manchester United forward in the Welsh capital, if his side finish the job at the Vicente Calderon next week. The occasion would perhaps be even more special for Gareth Bale though, in the city where he was born.

While Ronaldo will no doubt be the first name on the team sheet for Zidane, Bale’s place in the team is not 100 percent certain even if the Welsh superstar is fit.

There have been calls this week from Bale’s Real teammate Toni Kroos for the £86 million man to step up to the mantle of being Los Blancos’ talisman. The fact that Bale has only completed five games in the past six months and only scored nine goals in 26 appearances this season, however, suggests he’s not quite ready for Ronaldo to pass him the baton just yet with the Portuguese on 35 goals in 41 games this term.

Since he arrived at the Bernabeu in 2013, Bale has scored a respectable 67 goals in 149 games as a right-winger. Ronaldo, though, who like Bale plays as a wide forward but on the opposite flank, has scored 198 goals in 190 games — nine more than Lionel Messi.

Despite the fact Bale cost more money, the pair simply don’t match up individually despite Spanish journalist and football expert Guillem Balague claiming last year that Bale was now Real’s best player. Balague, though, was wrong: Bale has a long way to go before he can reach the levels of his current teammate.

It’s a devastating partnership when they’re playing together. Individually, Ronaldo and Bale are Real Madrid’s two best players, but without Bale both Ronaldo and the team play better. Last night’s 3-0 win over Atletico was as good as Los Blancos have played for a long time, and absent from proceedings was the club’s record signing Bale.

Yet the starting line-up Zidane picked was arguably the strongest side he can pick from — even if Bale was fit. The man who stepped in for the Welshman was Isco, who was ice cool on the ball as always and played a huge part in his side’s immaculate performance.

With Bale out, Real Madrid appeared to rely on pace much less. They kept the ball exceptionally well, having 63 percent of possession. Of course, if Bale had played, Real would have still dominated the ball, but the selection of Isco made Zidane’s game plan more flexible and less one-dimensional.

Ronaldo gained more freedom, roaming from the left to the right flank throughout the game, while Kroos and Modric’s control of the middle third gave Isco a free role off the left-hand side of the field. The Spaniard was popping up everywhere.

Isco was selected ahead of Colombian star James Rodriguez, who has been impressive of late, but Isco’s selection was fully merited as he shown last night. Real’s number 23 completed 98.2 percent of his passes, misplacing just one of the 57 passes he attempted. It was a near perfect display from Spanish international.

It shows there is no hierarchy in a football squad. James cost £65 million, more than double the amount Los Blancos paid for Isco, who cost just £30 million from Malaga in 2013 — the same year Bale signed for the club.

The former Malaga star has been in and out of the team, with Bale a permanent fixture in the XI when fit. Zidane, though, may now have to rethink this decision.

In fact, when Isco had a run in the team under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2014/15 season, it coincided with Real’s best form of that campaign. The Bernabeu side won 22 games in a row in all competitions between September 2014 and January 2015, with Bale missing 15 of these matches. In his place came Isco, who filled the void expertly as Real won all the games while averaging more ball possession.

Last night’s incredible display from Isco could well mean that he’s ousted Bale, as well as James, in Zidane’s pecking order to force himself into their strongest XI, despite the fact the pair costing a combined fee of £151 million.  With Bale also expected to miss the second leg, next week’s game across the city could be the perfect chance for Isco to stake a genuine claim to start in Cardiff on the 3rd June.

As the old cliché goes, “there’s no ‘I’ in team.” There is, however, an ‘I’ in Isco, and after a somewhat up and down last three and a half years, the 25-year-old Spaniard is now reaching his full potential and becoming an increasingly important player for Real Madrid. It’s open for debate, but I believe Isco makes Los Blancos a better team.

Marco Silva – The New Pochettino?

Written by Dane Massey on . Posted in Sport.

Just over two years ago, I made the case that Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino could one day emulate Diego Simeone and win a top-flight title, as Simeone did with Atletico in 2014. Two years on, there is a possibility that this might come true, as Spurs find themselves in the thick of a title shake-up with London rivals Chelsea.

Now though, Pochettino has an apprentice of his own in the shape of Hull City’s Portuguese boss Marco Silva, aged just 39.

Pochettino is currently one of the hottest prospects in Europe, but let’s not forget where it started out for the Argentine in English football.  When Pochettino replaced Nigel Adkins as Southampton manager in January 2013, he was virtually unknown in the English game.

The former-Espanyol coach took over with Saints sat just above the drop zone on 22 points, and Adkins’ sacking came just two days after an impressive 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a hard-fought comeback by Southampton.

It was a questionable decision at the time, but it proved the right one as Southampton finished the season on 42 points and secured top flight status for another season.

Southampton, now managed by Frenchman Claude Puel, on Saturday secured their 41st point of this campaign at home to Hull City – leaving them just one point short of their 2012/13 points tally with five games left to play.

Hull had a share of the spoils, but if Silva had been at the helm since the beginning of the season, there is a strong possibility that they would be close to Southampton in the table – Saints currently sit ninth.

The dismissal of Mike Phelan in January this year coincided with Silva’s appointment, and it had parallels to the situation on the South Coast four years ago.

A further similarity between the two clubs’ situation is that Adkins’ results at Southampton in 2012/13 perhaps didn’t merit what their performances deserved, as was the case with Hull this term under Phelan.

Unlike Southampton, though, Hull have by far the weakest squad in the Premier League as well as having the lowest budget and wage bill of the 20 teams in England’s top flight.

Even worse, the Tigers had just 13 points when Silva took on the challenging managerial reigns in Humberside – nine points less than Southampton had in 2012/13 when Pochettino took the job at the opposite end of the country.

When Silva came in, his side were rock bottom and six points adrift of safety. They looked down and out, almost certain to take the plunge back into the Championship. Silva, though, has changed the mindset of the whole club — Hull now sit two points above the relegation zone with three games left to play.

Silva has picked up 21 points in 15 Premier League games since he became the Hull manager, and it has sent the Tigers roaring up the table – this represents more points than Pochettino achieved in his first half season with Southampton having played one less game than the Argentine.

The main reason is the Tigers’ home form. Only Spurs, ironically managed by Pochettino, and Everton under the guidance of another former-Saint Ronald Koeman (Pochettino’s successor), have picked up more points at home than Silva’s men in 2017.

Hull have earned 19 points from seven games at the KCOM Stadium since Silva took over, having only registered eight points in 10 home games under Phelan.

Home victories over AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool, Swansea City, West Ham United, Middlesbrough and Watford have seen Hull steer clear of the drop zone and in with a genuine chance of retaining top-flight status next season against all the odds.

Defying the odds has been no problem for Silva in the past either, as he transformed Estoril from second division minnows to the fourth best team in Portugal between 2011 and 2014 — behind only SL Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting Club de Portugal — widely regarded as Portugal’s big three consistently.

The Tigers have also earned two home wins in cup competitions under Silva, against Swansea and Manchester United in January. Silva’s side pushed United all the way in the EFL Cup semi-final, losing 3-2 on aggregate over two legs.

Just as Pochettino guided Spurs to the League Cup final in 2015, Silva could have achieved the same feat. If he was in charge for Hull’s 2-0 first leg defeat at Old Trafford instead of Phelan, the game and tie could have had a different outcome.

Hull’s fine performance against United at the KCOM Stadium demonstrated Silva’s hunger for medals, and he is no stranger to silverware. He won the Segunda Liga (Portuguese second tier) in 2012 with Estoril, as well as the Taca de Portugal (Portuguese Cup) in 2015 with Sporting Lisbon before moving onto Olympiacos where he won the Greek league title in 2016.

The man from Portugal has now become hot property on Humberside, he could go a very long way in the game just as Pochettino has done and will continue to do.

In contrast to their home form, Hull’s away form has not been so impressive. The point at the St. Mary’s Stadium, where Pochettino used to manage, was only Hull’s seventh point away from home this season, and just their second under Silva. It’s been tough on the road, but the home form of Hull has been key in their bid for survival.

When Silva took over at the KCOM Stadium, he made seven January signings. Alfred N’Diaye, Andrea Ranoccia, Lazar Markovic, Omar Elabdelloui, Evandro Goebel, Oumar Niasse and particularly Kamil Grosicki have all played their part in Hull’s excellent second half of the season. Despite losing top scorer and talisman Robert Snodgrass to West Ham in late January, as well as losing Ryan Mason to long-term injury just a week later, Silva has coped well with injuries and has developed a fresher look to the Hull squad.

With Sunderland up next at home, followed by a trip to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace, the amber and black army will fancy their chances to further boost their chances of staying up.

Silva will then come face-to-face with Pochettino on the final day of the season — two men who share so many similarities in the way they think about the game of football.

Just as Pochettino guided Southampton to safety four years ago, Silva, under much more difficult circumstances, has instilled belief and fight into Hull City. The Portuguese boss has turned the KCOM Stadium into the Tigers’ pit, and Hull are looking like potentially pulling off one of the greatest escapes of the Premier League era.

What does it take to be the best dressed at Pangaea?

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

Pangaea is a mainstay in the University of Manchester social calendar, and it is certainly a night where you should dress to impress. Three times a year Pangaea announces a theme for the event, meaning we attendees need (potentially) three fancy dress costumes. Best of all this means you have three chances every year to be crowned best dressed!

It turns out, after a bit of searching through the Mancunion archives, that the fancy dress crown nearly always goes to a man! Yes, sadly all the recent solo winners have been male but there have been a couple of mixed gender group victories. Is being a guy enough though? What are the fancy dress competition winning trends?

Princess Leia from Pangaea Space Odyssey. Photo: The Mancunion

Well a bit of cross dressing is appreciated for starters. Let the winner you shine through by channelling your favourite female icon. So far women dressed as men has not achieved any gold medals at Pangaea, but ladies this is your moment! I hope to see at least one female Tom Hanks at this summer’s Castaway Pangaea — haven’t you ever wondered if you would suit a beard?

Strong make-up is another winning decision at Pangaea. Former winners have used make-up to their advantage, the Rumble in the Jungle winner’s costume centred on bold face paint. However, he also strongly veered off into the cultural appropriation of a stereotypical “African” tribesman which is neither necessary nor cool. But that was three years ago — here’s hoping we have become more learned individuals who would not be so foolish now.

The King of Hearts, Down the Rabbit Hole. Photo: Lorimer Macandrew

Last September’s King of Hearts won (I would say) not on the strength of his costume, but the strength of his pose. This stately costume champion serves as a reminder to all that when someone asks for your photo, you better werk it. Yes I did just say werk. Get practising your Vogue moves and dabs, scroll through Instagram for the best psoing tips, just to be ready for the photographers.

If the solo pose/costume is too daunting look for safety in numbers. Having a buddy that matches you not only asserts that at least one other person will look as ridiculous as you, but also makes your costume look better because there is two of it. While your costume may be lackluster, at least you have agreed to be that lackluster together.

Games Consoles from Pangaea Level 10. Photo: Daniel Saville

I really, strongly, adamantly hope that this year there is a bit more appreciation for the effort made by girls. Glitter and crop tops still definitely count as costumes, they may not be original but a lot of effort can go into the glitter work! I do not doubt that Castaway will bring with it a succession of flowers, mermaids, butterflies, fish and anything else in between that acts as opportunity to sparkle.

My hope, as mentioned earlier, is for a female Tom Hanks from Castaway, but perhaps with a glitter beard…

Kevin de Bruyne masterclass: Manchester City 5-0 Crystal Palace

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

If this game was a film…

Click…

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This film is shite by the way, just before I continue. Adam Sandler films are shite.

A performance today was vital from City – and the team just seemed to click right from the very beginning. David Silva’s second-minute goal eased any tensions and allowed the team to play how they wanted to – not that Palace put up much of a fight either way. Silva’s return to the team was noticeable. Despite how City have a wealth of attacking talents in their team, it is Silva who is the most consistent and always available for an alternative pass.

Silva’s goal came from a beautiful pass… from David Silva. He looped the ball over the defence for Raheem Sterling who put a short looped cross in. This was headed away, but Silva smashed in from only a few yards out.

Bored Defence

Vincent Kompany and Nicolás Otamendi back together at the back is shaping up well, as both didn’t let Christian Benteke have a sniff, and prevented Palace from having any massive chances. As the two were not especially challenged at the back, they got increasingly bored so decided to bag themselves a goal each too (I’m sure there was more tactical thinking in this than just pure boredom).

Kevin de Bruyne noticed Kompany dropping-off from the Palace back four like 2003-Thierry-Henry, played him the ball, and Kompany belted the ball into the top corner. Otamendi’s was a little more like a defender’s goal though as he used his famous head to put away the chance. De Bruyne put in a perfect cross from a central free-kick to meet Otamendi’s darting run. He headed at the near-post for the final goal of the game.

With these two showing a solid partnership, and John Stones having been impressive this season, Guardiola may consider how many defenders he will want to buy this summer. One centre-back may be necessary with Kompany’s injuries, and with Kolarov actually being a left-back… but it’s all shaping up for an interesting summer.

Post-Match Presser

Sam Allardyce described Palace’s defensive display as a “capitulation”.

Pep Guardiola revealed that he wants Manchester United to win the Europa League and finish fifth, so that England can have five teams in the Champions League.

Man of the Match – Kevin de Bruyne

After a rough few weeks for de Bruyne, he has been gradually improving and getting back to his best, and this game showed that perhaps he is back to his best again. Along with assisting Kompany and Otamendi with their goals, he bagged one for himself. On the 60th minute Gabriel Jesus brought the ball down with great strength and played it infield to de Bruyne who hit it first time low into the corner. The Belgian took a fair few heavy challenges from the Palace team during the game, but shrugged this off and his delivery was in fine form. Not to mention that he almost scored a brace, after a his free-kick clanged the crossbar on the 51st minute. It may have been Silva’s re-entry into the side that gave City the spice they needed in the early minutes, but it was de Bruyne’s end-product that set City apart from Palace.

The future

This season has been a little “oooh next year will be great, won’t it?!” and without sounding too much like Liverpool FC 1990-2017 – next year could be a very successful season for Manchester City fans. This was epitomised in this match by viewing Leroy Sané and Raheem Sterling. Sterling scored the fourth goal of the game, on the 81st minute with a low driven shot, but his game generally was brilliant. Both of the young wingers ran at the defence, cut in-field, took on shots, and drove crosses into the box, showing their versatility. Albeit, this was not always successful – with a little more patience and a little more time, these two could be very special for City next season.

In a Nutshell

·         Goals goals goals, Pep-esque fluidity, and a couple of class saves from Willy Caballero to make the whole team happy

·         Otamendi and Kompany making a great partnership

·         De Bruyne is back on form

·         Silva the necessary catalyst to get City back firing

·         Goal difference may be important to the top-four race

·         Kompany makes City look so much more stable at the back

·         Fernandinho at right-back is something worth exploring further

·         Aguero may not be missed that much if the team continue like this

Your chance to vote for the Mayor of Manchester

Written by Lily Sheehan on . Posted in News.

On Thursday 4th May, local elections are taking place across England, Scotland and Wales. In Manchester, voters will choose Greater Manchester’s first elected Mayor.

The elected candidate will have a variety of duties, similar to the role of the Mayor of London. They will be responsible for overseeing the emergency services, housing and transport. He or she will make important decisions concerning the entire city of Manchester, whilst local councils are responsible for day-to-day issues.

After much deliberation, it has been decided that the Mayor will receive an annual salary of £110,000. The Mayors of Liverpool and Birmingham will be paid £85,000. The figure is almost double the £56,000 recommendation made by Tony Lloyd, the interim mayor.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester will set the budgets for the emergency services. They will hold influence — not direct power — over housing policy, and will also be in charge of Manchester’s buses and trams. With control of timetables, routes and fares, there is some hope that the new Mayor will be able to unify the city’s transport network to create a system similar to London’s.

All major UK parties will be represented in the mayoral election. The Labour Party have selected Andy Burnham as their candidate. The Warrington native is a former member of both the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet, and Burnham came second to Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership election. He was the MP for Leigh until May 3rd and did not stand for re-election.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Burnham said that he wants to make sure Greater Manchester Labour has “its own voice”.

Sean Anstee is standing for the Conservatives in this election. Anstee began his finance career at 16 at Barclays in Timperley; ten years later, he was working for the Bank of New York Mellon and running Trafford Council. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the candidate spoke about his background: “I think people might have this stereotype of a silver-tongued Tory boy. I quite like not to be the stereotype.”

Acknowledging that his political leaning is unusual in Manchester, Anstee said: “I want to use the mayoral election for people to rediscover what they think conservatism could mean for them.”

Liberal Democrat Jane Brophy is also hoping to become Mayor of Greater Manchester. Her focus is mainly on health and the environment: she drives an electric car and was part of the first household in Manchester to install a wind turbine. Brophy also holds healthcare dear; one of her sons has special educational needs, and so she has witnessed “the frontline” of the NHS.

As an Orthodox Jew, UKIP’s Shneur Odze believes that it is wrong to view his party as racist and anti-immigration. In a Manchester Evening News article, London-born Odze said that UKIP “don’t believe in discriminating against anybody on the basis of race, colour, country of origin… multiculturalism has patently failed. We need a new vision that will allow people to play a full part in communal life.”

The Daily Mail recently published an article that claims Mr Odze, a married rabbi who lives in Salford, is part of an online fetish community.

Although poll cards in the Manchester Gorton constituency state that this polling day will decide the area’s new Member of Parliament, this is now inaccurate. Due to the snap election, this vote will now take place on June 8th when the rest of the country takes to the polling booths.

You can register to vote in the general election until 22nd May.

Review: Piccolino

Written by Holly Pollard on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Surrounded by Prosecco drinkers basking in the afternoon sun, Piccolino Restaurant Manchester falls somewhere under the category of a slightly upmarket Carluccios or Zizzis. We were greeted at the door by the reassuring mumble of sound one gets at any popular restaurant, whilst Piccolino’s staff were quick to wave a ‘Ciao’ as they passed amongst the comforting buzz.

With the sunshine twinkling across chandeliers and mirrored walls, one could almost be convinced we had stumbled into a trendy London restaurant and at a push even a Milano Bar but the cheesy UK Top 40 that tinges the atmosphere is quite useful in reminding you not to get ahead of yourself.

One thing I would like to point out, is that everyone in the restaurant took the form of either smartly dressed businessmen or the middle-class families of Didsbury, so if you are planning on coming to Piccolino, perhaps remember to leave your ripped jeans and hoodies at home, as we ended up feeling slightly out of place.

After taking our coats, we were seated at the bar to wait for our table (we were early) and so decided to order some drinks. In terms of price, the drinks here are not cheap, but if you are willing to spend around twenty-five pounds each on a nice lunch, then you can have it all — cocktails included.

For drinks, we had a glass of the house white and a ‘Paloma’ cocktail, which consisted of ‘Jimador reposado tequila’, elderflower liquor, lime, agave nectar and a drop of trademark Italian San Pellegrino. Contrasting to the many bad cocktail experiences I’ve had, the cocktails here aren’t sickly sweet and syrupy but instead really refreshing and palatable, I could have easily had another.

The whole experience of sitting in Piccolino is part of the meal. The restaurant is trimmed with deli counters that flaunt their wholesome produce whilst simultaneously working up your appetite. As for both of us, who were very hungry by this point: the meats, cheeses, cakes and breads that filled the glass cabinets of each delicatessen; worked synonymously with the lavish plates of food drifting around with waiters, teasing our appetite and making our mouths water.

Despite being a chain, the menu at Piccolino covers all bases, many of which are avoided at most Italian chains. Emphasised by the decor, Italian speaking staff, plush baby blue leather seats and copper pizza oven, the menu feels genuine and the ingredients good quality.

For our meal, we decided to order a Spaghetti Carbonara, as we felt this was a good control for judging any Italian restaurant and Piccolino’s scored highly in comparison. Topped with a poached egg and a rasher of bacon, the carbonara is creamy and rich but does not tread the dangerous boundary of being overly salty or cheesy which can be the case for a lot of Carbonaras in British chains.

We also shared Beef Carpaccio with a rocket and parmesan salad, bread-crumbed Asparagus accompanied by a poached egg and Courgette fries, all of which was delicious, the Courgette fries in particular. Although, I would probably not order the asparagus again as it is quite expensive and you only receive 5 stalks for your eight pounds, which weren’t remarkably sweet to justify such a price.

Seated behind the Patisserie counter, with the warm, soft waft of Crème Patisserie tempting our noses, it would have been a waste not to order a pudding from their extensive desert menu. We shared a chocolate and almond tart accompanied by vanilla Ice-cream — warm, gooey and smooth, with that melting texture that quenches even the severest of chocolate cravings. Piccolino’s chocolate and almond tart is everything a chocolate tart should be; so delicious, we were left passive-aggressively fighting over the last forkful.

Although perhaps too expensive for a daily visit, Piccolino’s is the perfect place for the occasional lunch with your mum and with wine glasses as big as your face, there’s not much at fault with this sunny, friendly Italian.

Masterchef winner Simon Wood set to open his first restaurant in Manchester

Written by Miriam Mizzi on . Posted in Uncategorised.

If you can’t remember Simon Wood’s appearance on Masterchef, then you’re not nearly a good enough fan. His gentle demeanor, mouthwatering ingredient choice, and classy plating skills left every viewer in awe. Now, the Oldham chef is set to open his first restaurant named WOOD in Manchester.

The restaurant, which will be located on Jack Rosenthal Street at First Street, will be serving an a-la-carte lunch and dinner menu, a pre-theatre and concert menu, and a seasonal tasting menu. The interior space is being designed to reflect nature and natural wood, and an open-kitchen will dominate the restaurant.

The North West’s only Masterchef winner has also confirmed two top professionals are joining his team. The Head Chef will be Mike Jennings, who honed his skills by being mentored by world renowned Shaun Rankin at Bohemia Restaurant in Jersey.

After seven years he brought his knowledge home and began working at Northcote before taking over Grenache in 2012. Located in the suburbs of Salford, Mike was able to carve out his own style, achieving a Michelin recommendation in the first year, two AA Rosettes on his first inspection and a nomination for the Good Food Guide’s Best Restaurant amongst many other awards.

Mike comments: “Simon’s vision and enthusiasm excites me, he’s not afraid to cook from the heart, something I share completely. I can’t wait to work alongside him creating amazing food that this incredible city deserves.”

In addition, James Cunningham will join the team as general manager. James has worked for successful names spanning from Michael Caines to Harvey Nichols.

James comments: “It is a fantastic honour to be asked to be involved with WOOD Manchester. Simon’s cuisine and vision are incredibly exciting and will bring something new to the Manchester restaurant scene. I can’t wait to open this amazing new venture to the Manchester public!”

When it launches this summer WOOD will be open Tuesday to Saturday and will be sure to be Manchester’s new favourite foodie paradise.

Live: The Amazons

Written by Amy Matthews on . Posted in Music.

6th April at Deaf Institute

8/10

Reading rockers The Amazons have had an extraordinary few months, from being nominated for Radio 1’s Sound of 2017, playing Radio 1’s future festival and supporting the likes of You Me At Six and Jimmy Eat World. There is no stopping the band, who formed in 2014.

After months of relentless touring, travelling across Europe and around the UK, the band return to Manchester during the second leg of their sold-out UK tour.

Tonight the band play Deaf Institute. Walking into the crowded room, it was so full I couldn’t even get to the bar, and no wonder because the 300 capacity room was bursting at the seams, so much so that I’m told people viewed the show from the stairwells due to the lack of second hand tickets or touts.

Admitting defeat and choosing to stand on a tiny space on the balcony for the entirety of the set was clearly a blessing in disguise: I got a perfect view of the band, minus bruising from the mosh pits or the inflatable shark being thrown amongst the crowd later into the set. To this day, the shark’s significance to the band remains unknown (if anyone could clear up this confusion for me it would be greatly appreciated).

The band open their set with newest single ‘Black Magic’ (a previous Mancunion and Radio 1 track of the week), which receives enormous roars from the crowd.

It’s hard to believe the band have been on the road for so long, since lead singer Matt Thompson’s voice sounded even better in person, holding notes like I had never seen before. The crowd are jumping up and down like mad. The band introduce themselves, with Thompson saying “We’re gonna have a f***ing good time” and we certainly do.

They proceed to play old fan favourite ‘Millions’ as mosh pits open up and audience members move all over the place. ‘Lets keep the party going’, Thompson shouts, which is received with roars and cheers. They then play old fan favourite ‘Stay With Me’, which is shortly followed by the gleaming ‘Ultraviolet’ from their 2015 Don’t You Wanna EP.

These tracks certainly go down a treat, with many audience members being hoisted onto one another’s shoulders. After thanking the audience for selling out the show and hinting at their new album due in May, the band play a new song off the album entitled ‘Burn My Eyes’. This loud and dark track goes down well with the crowd, and is shortly followed by popular single ‘Night Driving’.

After thanking their highly impressive support act The Pale White, the band proceed to play new track ‘Raindrops’, a slow and sharp contrast to their heavy rock sound, which still goes down a storm with crowd.

‘Little Something’ increases the crowd’s spirits and cause a sea of phones to appear, while ‘In My Mind’ sees Thompson throw himself around the tiny stage and into the crowd. This is followed by one of their oldest and most popular tracks to date, ‘Junk Food Forever’, which sees the audience — a mix of both young and old —jump up and down, swaying everywhere.

Two young, excited concert-goers attempt to jump on stage, but are swiftly removed by security: another tries their luck, which earns them a shout-out from Thompson after being chased out of the venue by security. Oh, the joys of being young and fearless.

The band then leave the stage for their encore, before storming back onto the stage — a roar of “One more song, one more song” is heard by the crowd. The band then return to play ‘Something In The Water’: this melodic track is clearly aiming for bigger venues and is a ferocious end to a glorious set.

The band thank the crowd, saying they will be a back soon. With the release of their debut self-titled album due in late May, after tonight’s performance the wait for the bands presumed return to Manchester in the new year is now all the more unbearable. One thing is for sure: it will be worth the wait.

Album: Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

Written by Ben Lomax on . Posted in Music.

Released 14th April via Top Dawg Entertainment

9/10

‘Kung Fu Kenny’ came out kicking last Sunday as he closed the final night of California’s Coachella festival. With a handful of guest appearances, cinematic interludes and a multitude of hits from the Compton rapper’s back catalogue it was dramatic way to end a festival already packed with world class performances. DAMN. had only been released two days previously but the risk to play a lot of it certainly paid off, with tracks from the album easily providing some of the set’s highlights.

Sunday also marked a disappointing end to the rumours that after dying on the opening track to DAMN., he may rise again on an accompanying album release. Despite the excitement around a second album that never materialised, going back to reflect on what we did get comes with little in the way of disappointment. DAMN. is a landmark hip hop album for 2017. Paying homage to rap’s history, with references to ‘Pac and Jay-Z, Kendrick decisively aligns himself with the genre’s greats.

One of the cornerstones of DAMN., and the reason many were left speculating about the possibility of an accompanying album, was its focus on duality. Even on the track listing, ‘PRIDE.’ comes before ‘HUMBLE.’, ‘LUST.’ comes before ‘LOVE.’. Putting ‘GOD.’ next to ‘DUCKWORTH.’ (the latter referring to his father), he once again aligns himself with greatness.

Ultimately this pervasive sense of duality translates into a conflicted narrative of the kind we aren’t used to hearing from Kendrick. Along with all the posturing and assertions of his talent we’re presented with contradictions and vulnerability. Much as he appears on the cover artwork, DAMN. paints a sometimes-unflattering picture of a man, in many ways torn: torn between his faith and his fame, uncharacteristically unsure of himself at times, but articulate as always.

Lyrically he remains as cryptic and diverse as ever, while the instrumentation often takes a more stripped back, punchier approach. That’s not to say the backing tracks on here don’t deliver. From the Life of Pablo-esque overlapping vocal samples on ‘DNA.’, to ‘HUMBLE.’’s bouncing, bassy piano riff, and sudden changes of pace — along with a surprisingly good U2 feature —on ‘XXX.’, there are plenty of rewarding moments in the instrumentals here.

Changing up his style once again, Lamar has produced yet another confident effort that’s likely to be remembered as a step above the work of his contemporaries. With the old legends dying out, there’s room for a new vanguard of musical greats and Kendrick clearly intends to not just sit among them, but at the head of the table. Not only though his repeated declarations as “the one and only king…” or his epithet of “Mr. 1 through 5” does he project his, but also with the sheer standard of his work.

Proclamation of greatness is one of the oldest trends in hip-hop, but few have had the material to back it up as much as Kendrick Lamar. Whether teaser track ‘The Heart Pt. 4’ was calling out Drake or Big Sean or whoever, DAMN. sets a standard and makes the message clear to all those listening: sit down and be humble, or step up and match this.

Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

The Future is Manc

Expectations were high when Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho took over the Manchester teams this season, and both have fallen a little short from what was expected of them, but something big is obviously shaping-up at both Clubs.

Manchester City have instilled a certain possession-based style of play – which saw them have 69 per cent possession against Manchester United in this match – but have struggled at stages to balance this with a strong defence.

Meanwhile United have become the team in the League that are the most difficult to beat, but have struggled to get the goals to turn draws into wins. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata out for this game, United fans were not expecting a goal fest which probably explains why Mourinho went with a defensive style of play.

Obviously, this game was much more entertaining for Blues’ fans as they watched their team try to break down United, who did not see much of the ball, but the Reds will be happier with the result.

Things are beginning to click with both these clubs and I’ll eat my hat if they aren’t shooting it out for the top prize next season. And I bloody love that hat.

If this Game was a Film…

Return of the Jedi

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

As a guardian of peace and justice, Vincent Kompany is basically a Jedi. Well, I think so – I’ve never seen Star Wars, I hope my Googling has gone well. I’m that guy that turns up to parties and tells everyone “I’ve never seen Star Wars”.

Kompany’s return to the back four in the past few weeks has installed a sense of security at City, and everyone has picked up their game. Both Kompany and Nicolás Otamendi had a fantastic game, breaking any opportunity that United sought, handling the pace of United’s attacking players, and starting City’s attacks well.

Kompany was in fine form, stepping forward from the back and pulling out the bag some beautiful old-school slide tackles. I’m also pretty sure that Otamendi will be necking MigreLief as we speak now, because he won almost every aerial dual thrown to man.

19 seconds in paradise

Ahh I remember playing ‘19 seconds in paradise’ when I was a kid! They used to chuck me in a store cupboard with a girl at school for ‘5 minutes in paradise’ and for some reason it only lasted… I think it’s best we get back to the football.

Of course, 19 seconds in Paradise refers to the amount of time that it took Marouane Fellaini to commit a foul, get booked, do another foul, head-butt a player, and get sent off.

Fellaini was having a pretty good game to this point. With Ander Herrera struggling against the Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, Fellaini had to pick up some of the slack and was good at holding up the play and knocking on to the pacey Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

That was until he fouled Sergio Aguero twice in 19 seconds and then head-butted him before being shown red.

Possession with intent

With 69 per cent possession, you would expect City to have broken down United in the end, but the Reds held on for a 0-0 draw, with Eric Bailly displaying an impressive performance at the back. On the ninth minute Aguero set the tone for the night, as a great de Bruyne cross met Aguero a couple yards out from the goal, but he hit the post.

With all this being said, Gabriel Jesus made his return and was substituted on the 85th minute when Guardiola saw Fellaini’s sending-off as an opportunity to go for goal.

Eight minutes later Jesus had the ball in the back as he headed in from close-range after an Aguero cross. The linesman ruled for offside in a hideously close decision. That will haunt the City team until their last days.

United’s only real chance came on the 25th minute. Bravo palmed away a cross that honestly didn’t really need palming away, and it fell straight to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. His shot was saved well by Bravo though despite how the goal was at his mercy. Bravo was his match. Unfortunately, though Bravo picked up an injury on the 76th minute and was substituted for Willy Caballero. He could miss the rest of the season.

Finalists announced for Venture Further’s business catergory

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

The finalists for the four prize categories in this year’s Venture Further competition have been announced.

This article looks into the people and ideas behind the four finalists in the business category. The other shortlists for the research, digital and social categories have also been announced.

This year’s finals take place on Wednesday the 3rd of May, at Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester.

Venture Further invites students and recent alumni to submit a business proposal to an expert judging panel of enterprise and business professionals.

There are four prize categories to choose from – business, social, digital and research – with the winners receiving a £10,000 cash injection to get their businesses off the ground.

The business category recognises companies that have real commercial potential, through new products or services. This year’s ideas range from data analysis to phone cases, and affordable food to clothing rental.

The entries that made it through to this year’s final four in the business category are below:

Neurolytics 
Eleanor Trimble, Siddharth Kohli, Mohammed Abdulaal, Meera Dulabh, and Dr Alex Casson

Using biometric data analysis, Neurolytics’ vision is to enhance marketing solutions through insights into consumers’ subconscious behaviours. The team’s goal is to bridge the gap that currently exists between academic research and commercial industry.

UWispa 
Bilal El Sayed and Benedict Vardey

UWispa is an innovative mobile phone case that allows for clear communication when whispering or when speaking even in the noisiest environment. The mission of UWispa is to extend the privacy and communication clarity of your home phone to your mobile phone when out in public.

Wardrobe in the City 
Crystal Bromwell

Wardrobe in the City is the first UK-based company to revolutionise clothing ownership, providing women with unlimited access to new outfits through a clothing-rental subscription service. This offers a commitment-free alternative to buying and storing clothes that quickly become outdated and/or unwanted. Furthermore, it discourages women from fraudulently returning worn goods.

Russell Food Group 
Drs. Amir Khorasani and Mohammad Hajhashem

Russell Food Group’s aim is to bring healthy and locally sourced food at affordable prices to all consumers. To do this, the team plans to harness the power of technology in order to democratise the rural economy, empowering farmers and disrupting existing supply chains, for the benefit of both consumers and stakeholders.

Finalists announced for Venture Further’s research catergory

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

The finalists for the four prize categories in this year’s Venture Further competition have been announced.

This article looks into the people and ideas behind the four finalists in the research category. The other shortlists, for the business, digital and social categories, have also been announced.

This year’s finals take place on Wednesday the 3rd of May, at Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester.

Venture Further invites students and recent alumni to submit a business proposal to an expert judging panel of enterprise and business professionals.

There are four prize categories to choose from – business, social, digital and research – with the winners receiving a £10,000 cash injection to get their businesses off the ground.

The research category recognises businesses that focus on the application of university-based research to real-world problems and needs. This year’s ideas span everything from particle manufacture to graphene, and boosting grid capacity to wearable e-textiles.

The entries that made it through to this year’s final four in the research category are below:

MicroSpray Technologies Ltd 
Drs. Salman Malik and Muftau Akanbi

MicroSpray Technologies’ mission is to revolutionise particle manufacturing using an innovative, simple and cost-effective spray technology. This platform technology is considered the ‘holy grail’ of particle manufacture in aerosol generation methods and the team can now provide the sufficient production of particles for high-value added applications, such as pharmaceutical drug delivery.

GrapheX 
Denis Bandurin and Alexander Obraztsov

GrapheX develops x-ray sources with graphene-based cold cathodes. Due to their low power consumption, the team’s x-ray sources find their application where portable technology is required, e.g. in urgent medical imaging, oil and gas pipe testing, food inspection and so on.

Cable Coatings 
Niall Coogan and Barry Johnston

Cable Coatings is a novel, low-cost solution to the increasingly prevalent issue of how to boost electricity grid capacity.

2Dtronics 
Mohammad Nazmul Karim and Shaila Afroj

2Dtronics is a R&D company offering simple, scalable, cost-effective and environmental friendly 2D materials–based technology for wearable e- textiles applications. This patent pending technology would be used in developing 2D material-based e-textiles that would monitor body temperature, heart rate and muscle activity, all in real time.

Live: The Orielles

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

14th April at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton

8/10

The Orielles are shaking things up within their music; the fresh-faced trio bring a strange new and modern twist on the 90’s grunge feel. The female-led group, with Esme on bass and vocals and Sidonie on drums, was refreshing to watch in a time where music is male dominated – however, this isn’t to say that guitarist and vocalist Henry Carlyle Wade was short of the spotlight; he was full of energy and impressive moves which really pulled in the crowd.

Set in The Hope & Ruin in Brighton, the grungy but cool venue emphasised the mood and reflected the vibe that the band were trying to relay, the whole room was brimming with excitement and intent to experience the group. Whilst there were no magic light shows or extra visuals, it was not necessary nor would have added anything extra to the performance.

The 30-minute set was filled with swirling and sultry melodies transporting you to a world full of surf pop, magnetic vocals and sea green. Despite their young age they are all really making ripples in the music world.

Sometimes old-school sounding music has a tendency to have most songs sound very similar and merge into one other; this was not the case for the Halifax-based band. Each song had its own unique sound, each song cleverly thought out and causing a dreamlike trance with its ooh’s and ahh’s or inducing a intense urge to dance around by its incredible riffs and solos.

For a band, who are relatively new to the game and such a long way from their home town up in Yorkshire the trio did surprisingly well to pull together a relatively large audience; and still only partly way through their tour, one can only imagine that this will be same the case up and down the country.

The Orielles performed tracks from their last EP ‘Jobin’ which is Abe to transport you to the middle of a feel good rom-com from the 90s. Light jingly melodies and airy vocals make you want to blast it from a car with the roof down a perfect summer soundtrack.

The standout song for me was ‘Sugar Tastes Like Salt’. Normally the idea of an eight-minute song would quickly get boring, yet the ever-changing tempo, which took us from a slow and lulling mood to rapid beats, synths and distortion, kept everyone moving and engaged. It really was spectacular.

The Orielles are something not to be missed or underestimated; they are making ripples in music, and have a large eventful career ahead of themselves. I highly recommend and look forward to hearing what they make next.

Manchester Students’ Union support of BDS could be breaking the law

Written by Lily Sheehan on . Posted in News.

Support of the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign at students’ unions around the country is being investigated by the Charity Commission amid claims of a rise in anti-Semitism.

The University of Manchester is one of the many UK students’ unions to openly support the BDS campaign. BDS define themselves as a “global citizens’ response of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality”, campaigning to “challenge international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism” in disputed Israeli/Palestinian territory.

In 2010, students’ unions became registered charities, meaning that they have a legal obligation to support the views of their members. In universities across the country, many Jewish and Israeli students have complained of feeling discriminated against. Last year, an ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ was held at SOAS in order to “raise awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies over the Palestinian people”.

Charity guidelines state that a union should only make public statements on matters that directly concern the welfare of the university’s students. Because of this, universities’ support for the pro-Palestine campaign has been reported to the Charity Commission. David Holdsworth, the Commission’s Chief Operating Officer, said that students’ unions cannot discriminate against students “of a particular faith or race.”

Support for the campaign has grown quickly in the last two years. London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) began a boycott of Israel in 2015, and, in a university-wide referendum in the same year, voted in favour of formally supporting the BDS campaign. The BBC reported that 17 universities in the UK have now passed motions in favour of supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. In a vote last December, 60 per cent of the Manchester Students’ Union Senate voted in favour of endorsing the movement.

In February this year, current National Union of Students President and BDS supporter Malia Bouattia was found guilty of making anti-Semitic remarks involving the Israel/Palestine conflict. A Home Affairs Select Committee investigation found that “referring to the University of Birmingham as a ‘Zionist outpost’ (and similar comments) smacks of outright racism,” though Bouattia was not disciplined for this. She yesterday lost the NUS presidency to Shakira Martin after running for a second term.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said the reports of support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement within university organisations will be “assessed consistently” by the organisation. If necessary, it will “take regulatory action.”

Speaking to The Mancunion, a spokesperson for Manchester BDS said the movement has “overwhelming support from students and academics,” but also spoke of the “difficulties caused by the university, such as disciplinary charges.” The organisation claims to have never received any complaints of anti-Semitism or discrimination. The spokesperson also said that BDS “welcomes members from the whole community…we would never condone any form of discrimination.”

The University of Manchester Students’ Union did not respond to a request for comment.

Finalists announced for Venture Further’s social catergory

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

The finalists for the four prize categories in this year’s Venture Further competition have been announced.

This article looks into the people and ideas behind the four finalists in the social category. The other shortlists, for the business, digital and research catergories, have also been announced.

This year’s finals take place on Wednesday the 3rd of May, at Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester.

Venture Further invites students and recent alumni to submit a business proposal to an expert judging panel of enterprise and business professionals.

There are four prize categories to choose from – business, social, digital and research – with the winners receiving a £10,000 cash injection to get their businesses off the ground.

The social category recognises businesses that will improve the lives of people and communities. This year’s ideas range from empowering the homeless to youth training, and celebrating the LGBT+ community to tutoring disadvantaged students.

The entries that made it through to this year’s final four in the social category are below:

Second Shave Barbers CIC

Dr. Salman Malik and Jamshed Malik

Homelessness is a global problem that could affect any one of us. Second Shave Barbers is a barbershop that will empower homeless people to develop new skills as a professional barber and re-enter the world of work. The team knows that barbering can be an effective tool to alleviate homelessness – and create a new wave of entrepreneurs.

Somewhere MCR CIC

Kathryn Pierce

Somewhere MCR Community Interest Company is a new dynamic social enterprise designed to support and celebrate the LGBT+ community through innovative partnerships and cultural projects. The organisation will create and deliver value as a new arts-based LGBT+ creative heritage and learning hub, through the celebration of LGBT+ arts, culture, heritage and enterprise.

The Science League

Hamza Arsbi and Farah Abu Hamdan

The Science League is an educational platform combining online gaming with affordable hands-on learning to train children and youth on creative skills for the 21st century, and challenge them to be change agents in their communities.

Bounceback Education

Duncan Swainsbury, Eve Chancellor, Jessica Stalmach, Ashton Coates and Neil Stewart

Bounceback Education is a ‘buy one, donate one’ tutoring service giving disadvantaged students in the North West access to free tuition. Following a successful pilot, the team is building an online platform that will level up the private tuition market across the UK and tackle inequality in the education sector.