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Month: October 2018

Photo: Angela Booth

Review: ‘Titters and Tassels Burlesque and comedy show’

Written by Bella Jewell on . Posted in Theatre, Arts.

After interviewing Mandy Tootil (Toots), seeing Titters and Tassels was highly anticipated. Together with her comedy partner Kerry Leigh (Leigh), the two were personable and hilarious from start to finish, bringing a really enjoyable informal and friendly atmosphere to the show.

Held at Gullivers (Northern Quarter), the venue was intimate and packed. The audience were constantly immersed in the performances, as the burlesque dancers sashayed past us to the stage.

Entering dressed as ironic nuns (with balloon breasts), Toots and Leigh had the audience laughing from the start as they stripped to reveal their vampire inspired lingerie. Toots was sporting a bedazzled strap-on penis on which she kept getting her mic cord caught on and both women were unapologetically messing around on stage with obvious zest and chemistry. They entertained the audience with their rendition of ‘Sweet Transvestite’ (Rocky Horror Picture Show) and worked out how many “burlesque virgins” were in the room.

Toots and Leigh described Burlesque as “Disneyland for adults” and told the audience that they’d have to make some noise otherwise it would be “like sitting in someone’s bedroom watching them get undressed.” Indeed, this appeal to the audience to embrace the performance as an art form instead of something more private, alluded to the debate over burlesque. Is it something sexually empowering, owned by the performers or another embodiment of a patriarchal society that perpetuates the objectification of women?

Millie Dollar was the first act, evoking the glamour of Old Hollywood as she appeared adorned in green feathers and sequins. She was powerful and mesmerising and showed off her dynamic moves that would have been at home at Notting Hill Carnival.

The Toots and Leigh interludes created the “Carry on meets burlesque” atmosphere perfectly. Next on the stage was Coco Love, whose fiendish demeanor certainly fulfilled the promise “dance with the demon, and it’ll leave you on fire” (Toots). The focus of her devilish performance was the use of a pair of fans trailing black and red fabric. They rippled with expert precision, creating an intense sense of strength and power.

Just when you thought the show had reached its outrageous and entertaining quota, Velma Von Bon Bon entered. Dressed as a skunk, she shimmied past the audience, tickling us with her black and white tail. Her humorous performance of Prince’s ‘Get off’ put the ‘burla’ in ‘burlesque’, given the comic origins of the dance form stemming from the Italian word for a jest (burla).

Toots and Leigh returned to the stage to leave us crying with laughter at their play on the Naughty Boy’s  ‘Runnin’ (Lose It All)’ by changing the word ‘running’ to ‘strumming’ as Toots complained Leigh was never around because she was too busy masturbating. This moment underlined the brazen display of female sexuality which ran throughout the performance.

Toots and Leigh undertook as many costume changes as the burlesque artists, at one point arriving in skeleton leotards paired with trainers, then changing into fluffy dressing gowns. Penny Lick was another stand out artist, with her “voluptuously vintage” style (Leigh) wearing a blue negligée. Her intense sensuality and platinum blonde hair certainly evoked Marilyn Monroe.

Velma von Bon Bon returned to wow us with her ‘Village People’ costume changes whilst on a unicycle. If this wasn’t an impressive enough display of multi-tasking, there was still more to come. She finished the act skipping whilst still balancing on the unicycle!

The audience was persistently involved in the show – there were birthday shoutouts, pass the pumpkin trick-or-treat games and the constant hilarity of Toots and Leigh. This show made us fall in love with the combination of burlesque and its comedic hosts. We can’t wait to go back for more titters and more tassels.

Written by Anuli Chunga and Bella Jewell

Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Dmitrij Nejmyrok

Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel criticise the Danish FA for “overly violent personal attacks”

Written by sammcgonigle on . Posted in Sport.

The last international break witnessed the most unusual situation for the Danish football association (DBU). In the midst of an industrial dispute and players’ strike, the DBU was forced to field a national side comprising of lower league and futsal players in an international friendly against Slovakia in Trnava, losing the fixture 3-0.

This chaos at the heart of Danish international football stemmed from the disagreement between the DBU and the Danish Player Association, the Spillerforeningen (SPF), over the control of player’s commercial and image rights. There was clear suspicion that at the centre of the disagreement was conflict over money and prestige.

The players were galvanised by the ambitions of the SPF, in particular by the head of the organisation, Mads Oland, to take control of their image rights. However, the DBU had no intention nor desire to lose control of the lucrative image rights, a key revenue stream for the Danish governing body. The players maintain that the dispute is principally about ensuring their image rights are not packaged up and sold off by the DBU. They are refusing to be used individually for DBU campaigns which they say compromise commitments to existing personal endorsements. One key point of friction is that, while the players are mainly signed to boot deals with either Nike or Adidas, the DBU is still under contract with Danish kit manufacturer Hummel.

At the crisis point, a crucial temporary agreement was reached, allowing the top players to be available for a UEFA Nations League game against Wales, just days after the Slovakia defeat.

However, it took till late September for the Danish Football Association and the players’ union to reach a new collective agreement for the men’s senior international team. The new deal sought to guarantee greater commercial opportunities and sporting improvements and runs until late 2024. In a statement, the DBU said the agreement offers “more flexible opportunities commercially, so the DBU and players together can increase revenues for the benefit of the national team and Danish football broadly.”

Christian Eriksen, Kasper Schmeichel and other prominent members of the Danish national side have recently said they were subject to “overly violent personal attacks” during the contract disputes and have been critical of their treatment from the DBU.

In an open letter written on behalf of the national team, three of Denmark’s top players – Christian Eriksen, Kasper Schmeichel and Simon Kjaer – say they fought for a better deal at a time when the team “is under pressure from… the big clubs and their competitions, where the big money is in football”.

It is worth noting that the players praised the “1,000 players” who refused the chance to play against Slovakia in support of the players’ union.

Photo: Fuse TV

UCU strike off as UoM members fall short of threshold

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Manchester failed to reach the required turnout for strike action in their recent ballot over pay — despite this, 74% of those who did vote were in favour of industrial action.

43% of UMUCU (University of Manchester UCU) members cast their vote in the ballot, this was 7% short of the required 50%. This result means that the proposed industrial action is unlikely to go ahead.

In a tweet, UMUCU wrote: “Pay and equality ballot result for UMUCU: Yes to strike action 74%, Yes to ASOS 84% but turnout at 43% not enough to beat the anti-trade union laws. Very similar results elsewhere.

“Thanks to all who voted. The issues aren’t going away and neither are we.”

The dispute centres around lecturers’ pay, with members arguing for a pay rise to match the 3.5% offered to school teachers by the government.

Chris Havergal, from Times Higher Education, tweeted that overall, 69% of UCU members voted to back strike action, but only 7 institutions had managed to reach the 50% threshold to validate the ballot. These institutions are Brighton, Huddersfield, Nottingham, Sheffield, Herriot-Watt, Leeds Arts, and Courtauld. It appears unlikely that UCU will initiate strike action at these institutions, given the disappointing turnout overall.

The fallout from the results has centred around the threshold set for strike action to be permitted. The figure of 50% was set by the Trade Union Act in 2016 and has since sparked controversy; the resounding mandate delivered by those who did participate in the ballot will only add to the policy’s contention.

Students remain divided on the issue, but many will be relieved that more strikes will not follow on from lengthy industrial action taken by UCU last year.

Photo: NASA/GSFC @Wikimedia Commons

Witnessing the first ‘cosmic sonic boom’

Written by anishgulati on . Posted in Science & Tech.

A team of astronomers at Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto has recently detected a ‘sonic boom’ from a tremendously powerful cosmic explosion. It has been recognised as a Gamma Ray Burst (GRB).

Despite the intensity, the explosion remained unobserved itself. The colossal upsurge was spawned by the rupture of an enormous star in a galaxy nearly 300 million light-years away from Earth, which is much closer than usual. To give some perspective, previously observed instances of similar events have been as far as 9 billion light-years away. The star, as a result of the explosion, collapsed either into a dense star, or more likely, a black hole.

GRBs are ephemeral bursts of gamma ray radiation, which consist of the highest energy electromagnetic waves. These events can be instantaneous or can last for minutes, and are brighter than a characteristic supernova. The gamma ray release is followed by a protracted release of less energetic, high wavelength radiations including X-rays, UV, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. Typically, GRBs release energy equivalent to ten billion years’ worth of energy generated by the Sun, which is phenomenal.

The blast generates two jets of gamma rays, which travel outwards from the collapsing star in opposite directions at near light speeds. These jets are very focused and when pointed at Earth, astronomers observe intense streaks of gamma rays. However, recently, the jets were not directed towards the Earth and hence the blast remained unobserved. Instead, the GRB jets collided with the gas surrounding the original star, producing a huge shock wave analogous to a sonic boom. This heated up the gas, producing a glow that radiated radio energy in all directions.

Even though a number of GRBs have been observed since their serendipitous discovery in the 1960s, this is the first instance that a ‘sonic boom’ from a cosmic explosion has been detected. For years, the scientists have been tracking the sky for an example of this strange phenomenon, known as ‘orphan afterglow’.

Professor Bryan Gaenslar, one of the researchers, says, “This is the first time anyone has been able to capture the sonic boom from an unseen GRB explosion. In the past, people have either seen the explosion and then seen the boom or on one or two occasions have seen the boom and then looked back and recovered the explosion after the fact. But here we have seen the boom, and yet the preceding explosion seems to be completely missing as viewed from Earth.”

The discovery was made by comparing data from previous radio surveys of the sky with data from the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS), being conducted with the Karl G. Jansky in New Mexico. Further describing the discovery, Dr Casey Law cited, “We compared images from old maps of the sky and found one radio source that was no longer visible today in VLASS. Looking at the radio source in other old data shows that it lived in a relatively nearby galaxy, and back in the 1990s, it was as luminous as the biggest explosions known gamma-ray bursts.”

Law is optimistic about finding multiple instances of similar cosmic apparitions in the years to follow. He says, “Part of the story is about how much of the sky is changing, even on this long timescale, and how hard it is to test that. It is also partly about the value of new data science techniques. Pulling out information from these rich and diverse data sets are helping us do good science.”

The University of Manchester itself is home to formidable resources for radio astronomy. The e-Merlin array of seven radio telescopes now reside at the Jodrell Bank. Moreover, in 2012, the headquarters of the KSA moved to the Jordell Bank. When completed, it would be the largest telescope in the world. Together, with the bright minds of the university, we could utilise these findings and further build on them.

The discovery provides crucial new insight into the nature of GRBs and their jets. Given that GRBs are pointed in random directions relative to us, the fraction we see from Earth depends on how narrow or wide the jets are. However, we can safely infer that the new unearthing will help researchers gain a better understanding of the mysteries of the cosmos.

Are today’s video games lacking in ‘soul’?

Written by Danny Jones on . Posted in Games.

At the beginning of this busy month in the gaming calendar, Game Informer held an interview with Ubisoft’s Chief Creative Officer, Serge Hascoet, during which the long-time employee ruminated on the state of videogames at present and gave an unprecedented sound bite, at least internally, by arguing that the industry is missing one key thing: “A soul”.

Photo: ubisoft.com

This quote understandably caught the attention of the gaming community, sparking not only the inevitable knee-jerk reactions but also some serious debate on social media and the like. So, naturally, I thought I’d jump in on the discussion and give my two cents. These comments, whilst bearing some credence in their moral and ethical foundations are, on the other hand, are overly reductive and, in my opinion, seem to be missing the one crucial aspect of gaming.

If we look at the larger point that Hascoet was making in this interview, he says that “gaming is not about entertainment”, oddly enough, but that “it’s about learning”; he then goes on to say: “When you learn, you have fun,” and that entertainment signifies a pure loss of something — of time, energy and potential, I would infer.

Now, whilst I wholeheartedly admire his virtue in wanting to make games educational – the backdrop of this interview being on the eve of Ubisoft’s release of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, a series praised for its attempts to teach a semi-accurate version of history at least – I can’t help but think this man has never sat through compulsory maths lesson trying to find the value of x or needlessly trying to find out which side of a triangle is shortest.

Photo: Flickr @steamXO

Of course, I am by no means discouraging the act of learning – The Mancunion is comprised entirely of university students, after all – so education clearly means a great deal to us; however, what I am trying to get at is that some things are more fun to study than others. Take that example of Assassin’s Creed, for instance: a franchise that became one of the main driving forces behind my love of history, but a big part of that was my being able to participate in the unfolding of that history and in a way that was fun above all else.

With that in mind, we come to Hascoet’s argument and how it almost falls at the first hurdle as he makes the strange assumption that fun can only be had through learning: the two are not mutually exclusive – I’m fairly certain I learnt little to nothing from my ‘Quids In’ nights at Factory in my first year, but I’m more than confident I had a whale of a time.

To make such a stipulation, albeit maybe inadvertently, seems wildly naïve. There is no way that Hascoet truly believes that gaming 30 years ago, roughly the time he first started at Ubisoft, was about education first and fun second. I doubt anyone walked away with a strong sense of analytical prowess or wider social benefit the first time they switched on Donkey Kong or Super Mario Bros. Games can be a great tool for learning and I love it when I come away from a game with knowledge that I can transfer into the world, but fun has always been at the heart and soul of gaming.

Moreover, it almost feels like he couldn’t have picked a worse time to make this argument about videogames given the calibre of some of the most recent games we’ve enjoyed: Ubisoft’s very own AC Odyssey has proved the perfect example of blending education and entertainment whilst restoring the series to its former glory, the latest God of War is being hailed as a definitive title in this generation, with one of the most soulful, heartfelt and visually beautiful campaigns in recent memory, and we are only a matter of days away from Red Dead Redemption 2, which is comfortably being tipped not only as game of the year but one of the most technically impressive titles ever.

Photo: Flickr @commorancy

So, whilst I completely agree with you, Serge, that making games educational is important and a valid use of our time, some games were built on the foundational idea that you could come home from school, university, work — whatever — and after a hard day of using your brain and directly trying to better your knowledge and the world around you, take a break from your immediate reality, be entertained and get lost in having fun for fun’s sake. That is where gaming gets its soul.

Games have and always will be about having fun, and if you learn something along the way, great. Some have more to offer you than others, but that isn’t limited to just education. So, no matter what, keep calm and play on, guys and gals.

Photo: UoM eSPorts

King of the North dates announced

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

The University of Manchester eSports society have officially announced the dates for the upcoming ‘King of the North’ eSports tournament, scheduling the event to run on the 1st to the 2nd of December, 2018, in MediaCityUK in Salford. This winter’s competition is to be the sixth installment of the tournament, with the previous one taking place in March of this year.

King of the North is the largest student-run eSports tournament in the United Kingdom, and its March edition attracted university eSports teams from all around the country. The University of Portsmouth, The University of Birmingham, and the University of Warwick walked away with the bragging rights for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Overwatch, and League of Legends (LoL) respectively.

The tournament in December will again feature CS:GO, LoL, and Overwatch, but has also added Rainbow 6 Siege to its roster. As well as being available live for those in attendance, the matches taking place over the weekend will stream on Twitch, as will the qualifiers, which will take place over the next two weekends, the 27th-28th of October and the 3rd-4th of November.

Tickets will cost £3 in advance and £4 on the door, with a bulk discount of ten tickets for £20 also available.

The full statement from the UoM eSports Society reads, “The University of Manchester Esports Society, in partnership with the University of Salford, is proud to announce King of the North VI. The UK’s largest student-run gaming festival is back for its sixth iteration! Join us at MediaCityUK in Salford on the 1st and 2nd of December 2018 for a day of competition, rivalries, and everything esports.

“This year we’ll be hosting the NUEL’s CS:GO University Championship finals and USL’s Rainbow 6 Siege finals as well as our own League of Legends and Overwatch tournament finals. Entry to our tournaments is free with sign-ups open now! Whether you’re a player or not, there will be plenty of entertainment over the weekend to excite you.

“Ticket sales are now online, and you can check out our website for more details at uomesports.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you all soon!”

Photo: Simon Ingram @ Flickr

UCU poised to strike over lecturers’ pay

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

The result of the Universities and College Union’s (UCU) latest strike ballot is due to be announced next week, with the result potentially causing disruption for students across the UK.

The ballot, which closed on Friday, came about after UCU members voted to reject the Universities and Colleges Employers Association’s (UCEA) offer of a 2% pay increase.

Lecturers argue that the pay offer falls short and does not keep up with the rate of inflation – currently at 2.4%. They want a 7.5% increase, or an extra £1,500 – whichever is greater. A result is expected on Monday.

The dispute follows lengthy strikes last academic year over pensions, which led to weeks of cancelled lectures.

Second-year Politics and International Relations student Tobias Soar said: “Pushing aside the thought of £9,000 a year of fees, ultimately, most people are here to learn. I want to gain a deep, nuanced understanding of politics. These strikes infringe our right to education.”

“The UCU is doing society a disservice by churning out unprepared and not-entirely-educated undergraduates into the world. Even if university was free I would be furious: I’m here to learn and my right to do so is being violated by the strikes.”

Second-year History student Keller Cannon told us: “I’m in the minority because I didn’t mind them striking at all last year even with as long as it lasted and I’d support a strike over pay.”

“University lecturers and teachers in general are wholly underappreciated and I think with how much Vice Chancellors have been known to earn a pay rise for those in the thick of it is not unreasonable. It’s a shame they have to resort to striking and I feel bad for those doing their dissertation during strikes but personally I’ll be able to cope if it’s needed.”

UCU lecturers are demanding that their pay increase to “catch-up” and “keep-up” with inflation. They argue that since 2009, their pay has declined by 20% in real terms. In their claim, UCU say: “Currently 10,144 staff earn below the Accredited Living Wage, almost double the number earning above £100,000 per year.”

Their claim also addresses the gender pay gap, stating: “Whilst the gender pay gap in higher education may have reduced, there is still a significant problem that needs to be addressed with an overall median sector pay gap of 12.2% and a mean sector gap of 12.0% for academic staff and gaps of 11.1% (median) and 9.9% (mean) for professional support staff.”

A UCEA spokesperson said: “It is disappointing for all in the sector that, after extended talks over the spring and summer and a genuine attempt to address the unions’ concerns through joint working proposals, UCU is balloting its members for industrial action. We advised our employers that the pay outcome for 2018-19 be implemented as employers do not feel it right to make employees wait to receive their significant pay increase for the several more months.”

Students remain divided on the issue, with many voicing anger about further disruption to their education. One student, who chose to stay anonymous, told us: “I feel for £9,000 we already (without a voice to decide on what to pay) pay far too much for the contact hours we received so it is unfair and we shouldn’t be the ones suffering.”

However, other students were more sympathetic to the cause. Recent Zoology graduate Kayleigh Lee-Simion said: “I think the anger is misdirected. We shouldn’t be angry at the lecturers who are striking. They are striking over their pay and pensions after all, it’s a matter of them earning enough live on. Our anger should be directed at the University and higher management, who have failed in their talks with the UCU, resulting in the strike.

“We should be angry at the University being run more like a business than a place for higher education, prioritising profits instead of teaching, resulting in them being reluctant to give lecturers the pensions and wages they deserve. And we should be angry at the vice chancellors who sit on £200k+ a year whilst the rest of the staff are underpaid and underappreciated.”

The University has declined to comment until the result is announced.

Fallowfield’s food under the microscope

Written by Felix Hanif-Banks on . Posted in Investigations.

Fresh data has been released by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) detailing exactly how clean Fallowfield’s favourite takeaway establishments can claim to be, with some of the student population’s most loved chicken shops, chinese takeaways, and noodle bars occupying the bottom spots of the list.

The FSA states that any business is able to achieve the maximum hygiene rating of 5, with the scale going down to 0 (in urgent need of improvement). Businesses are graded according to handling of food, storage, preparation, cleanliness, and management of food safety, meaning late night quests for a pizza or some chicken and chips might have to be slightly more considered if a personal favourite has been branded with an unfortunate 0 or 1.

From the last ratings, published in April of this year by the FSA, it seems there has been little widespread change or improvement. In April, 32 businesses in the Fallowfield, Withington, and Rusholme areas found themselves with ratings of 0 or 1, a number that is now a similarly disheartening 31.

Despite little improvement across the board, there were rare success stories of a diamond-encrusted wing in the rough. Those who enjoy getting their chicken fix slightly off the beaten track will be delighted to hear Allen’s Fried Chicken has gone from a lowly 1 in April to a now ‘generally satisfactory’ rating of 3. Elsewhere, brunch lovers and fans of Fallow Cafe will be interested to try their hand at Haus, a new restaurant in the same space that will hope to break from its predecessor’s rating of 1.

A number of establishments still leave a lot to be desired, as Wilmslow Road underdog Krunchy Fried Chicken, usually a spot for the more traditional fried chicken crowd, keeps its 1 rating. A few doors down, the people’s champion Chester’s has maintained a 3 rating, meaning the unmistakable scent of red salt will likely continue drawing in passersby like the pied piper of box meals and burgers that it is. However, Dixy Chicken on Wilbraham Road holds the fried chicken hygiene crown as it rests on a ‘good’ rating of 4.

Those on the hunt for a dinner defined by excellent hygiene shouldn’t fear, as Manchester still has many success stories. Fuzion Noodle Bar, Kosmos Taverna, and Jaipur Palace make up the most popular restaurants in and around Fallowfield with a 4 rating, meaning the general standard locally appears fairly high.

The dizzying heights of a full 5 rating aren’t seemingly too unachievable; more businesses in Fallowfield have achieved the top rating than any other number. The unapologetically traditional Battered Cod, a real local sweetheart amongst Fallowfield students, maintains its excellent standard with another 5, as do The Great Central Wetherspoons and Revolution. Interestingly, all the universities catered accommodation is also subject to inspection and ratings; thankfully it’s 5s across the board.

Check out the hygiene rating for your favourite takeaway or restaurant here.

Hair politics: reconfiguring beauty for black women

Written by Sophia Ashby on . Posted in Lifestyle.

There is a strong link between femininity and hair that is integral to most women’s identity, but this version of femininity applies only to certain hair types. Cara Thompson talks about how we can configure afro-textured hair into this beauty narrative. Hair politics is a term not often used, but it is a point of discussion integral to racial identity issues.

I asked Cara about her hair journey, as she has recently decided to wear it naturally for the first time in years. “I had worn braids since I was 14, but it became less about my creative expression, and more performative”. Feeling like her hair defined her is one of the main reasons why Cara decided to remove her braids. “Initially they were liberating, but after a while they consumed my identity… I became known for my hair.”

It is no secret that there is a lack of understanding surrounding Afro-textured hair within predominately white cultures. Cara believes that a contributing factor to this is a lack of representation. “There is only one form of acceptable afro, its big and made up of loose curls. The issue is that black culture is accepted to a point, but never fully”. According to Cara, the normalisation of afros is key to making women feel comfortable with their natural hair.

But it is not easy, “I’ve had women from my own culture approach me and say, ‘I would never let my child walk out of the house like that.'” Backlash from her own community signals how deeply entrenched our racial prejudices are. The belief that European hair is more acceptable is so strong that it infiltrates all cultures. Speaking about her mother, Cara explains how she influenced her position on hair politics. “She’s great, but it is complicated because she comes from that generation where relaxed hair is viewed as more professional”. Relaxing is a chemical treatment used on afro hair to make it straight. Cara said she had her own hair relaxed when she was younger, which destroyed it. “It started snapping off… I think my mother carries a lot of guilt about that. Afterwards she gave me a lot of autonomy with my hair”.

The practical elements of wearing your hair natural also appealed to Cara: “I used to spend a whole weekend in the hairdressers getting my braids. Its exciting to try out new products that work for my natural hair, but its also a learning curve. Every day I’m conscious of how my afro looks.” Admitting that she is on a path of discovery with her hair is important in understanding how little we know about non-European hair types. “People forget themselves when they see afro textured hair and feel they have a license to touch it.” The lack of understanding around afro hair projects it as a point of fascination, or as Cara describes it: “fetishisation”.

Women’s hair is highly sexualised, and Cara explained that she was “often fetishised” because of her hair. On discussing hair with an ex partner, she said “I asked him what he would think if I shaved it all off. He said he wouldn’t like it, but could not explain why”. According to Cara, hair “is bound up with femininity and sexuality. To put it blatantly, people have a lot more internalised homophobia than they think”. The symbolic importance we place on hair as an outward signifier of identity is clear. As a black woman, how you wear your hair is always a political statement; one that you can rarely win. “You’re either seen as ashamed of your culture  or not professional or beautiful”.

Navigating hair politics is undeniably difficult for black women. However you decide to wear your hair, undesired responses will follow. “I want to make it clear that I would never judge another girl for not wearing her hair natural. I know how scary it is, but I also know how liberating styles like braids can be”. For Cara, hair is as much about personal preference and practicality as it is a cultural statement.

The University of Manchester's Students' Union has become a living wage accredited employer. Photo: Students' union

Students unhappy at soaring Vice Chancellor pay

Written by Felix Hanif-Banks on . Posted in Investigations.

New data has revealed that an overwhelming majority of students support all university staff being paid a living wage as well as pay of university Vice Chancellors being lowered.

A survey from the Living Wage Foundation, which polled 1,473 students across the country, found students almost unanimously felt salaries were uneven, with those in leadership positions benefiting massively, almost entirely at the expense of staff such as cleaners, caterers and security.

Vice Chancellors at Russell Group universities now earn an average of £289,910 – almost double the Prime Minister’s salary and four times that of other MPs.

The University of Manchester’s 2017 financial report — the most recent available — shows basic pay for Vice Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, is £260,399. It has increased by 5% since 2013 but was frozen in 2016 and 2017.

According to the report, this salary is 17 times higher than the lowest at £15,420, and seven times the median rate of £35,000.

The figures do not detail her pension benefits, but according to the document all staff receive a contribution worth 18% of their base salary. That would add £46,800 to her package, taking the total to £307,200.

In the report the remuneration committee said: the “University is aware of the need to balance the challenging financial climate, the external perception of senior salaries and the university’s ability to pay with the need to recognise the contribution and performance of individuals and retain its best staff.”

Responding to The Mancunion, the University said: “In 2017, the Vice-Chancellor’s pay was £260,399 for a second consecutive year. In August the university implemented the 2018-19 pay increase, between 2% and 2.7%.

“We are very mindful of concerns about salaries for senior staff and always ensure that the total spend on salary increases is less than the average for staff across the University.”

Some 86% of students polled by the Living Wage Foundation believe Vice Chancellor pay should be lower, with 54% saying it should be cut by as much as a half. However, despite this strong opposition, 58% of students underestimated Vice Chancellor salaries by as much as £90,000.

About a third of students supported a cap on Vice Chancellor pay in order to help fund higher salaries for all employees.

Will Ranger, from the University of Manchester Living Wage campaign, said: “Students are shocked to hear that the staff protecting us at night and cleaning our halls aren’t paid enough to cover the cost of living. Vice Chancellors are awarding themselves huge pay rises and spending money to get poorer families into university but failing to pay a real living wage to all staff.”

Tess Lanning, a director at the Living Wage Foundation, said: “Universities are important employers and civic institutions for many towns and cities across the country. We want universities to show leadership by committing to ensure everyone earns a real Living Wage based on what they need to get by, not just the government minimum.

“Our research shows that students agree. When universities set pay scales for those at the very top of the organisation, the basic test of fairness is whether their cleaning and catering staff earn a wage that they can live on.”

Currently, of the country’s 130 universities, less than a quarter are accredited by the Living Wage Foundation. Its hourly rate is set at £8.75 outside London, and employers who sign up to the campaign must extend that wage to third party contractors.

It is separate to the government’s various minimum wage rates which are enforced by law. These stand at £5.90 for 18 to 20-year-olds, £7.38 for 21 to 24-year-olds, and £7.83 for over 25s.

The £7.83 rate is called the National Living Wage, but has nothing to do with the Living Wage Foundation. The University of Manchester says its own staff are paid £9.04 an hour, but this does not account for contractors.

Locally, the University of Salford and Liverpool’s John Moores University have signed up to the Foundation’s campaign. The University of Manchester’s Students’ Union has also done so, which means it pays the campaign’s rate of £8.75 to all of its workers, a majority of whom are students.

Of the 29 Universities accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, just seven belong to the Russell Group. Its research also found the salaries of Vice Chancellors at Russell Group universities are on average just over £40,000 higher than elsewhere around the country.

Importantly for universities themselves, the survey found a university’s wage policies could have broader financial implications. Over half of students polled answered that they would be more likely to financially contribute to their university if it paid a living wage to all staff.

Jill Adam @ Flickr

Louder than words Festival Returns to Manchester for 2018 edition

Written by mariakulik on . Posted in News.

This year Manchester will again open its doors to the celebration of creativity that is the ‘Louder Than Words’ festival, a place where discussions about literature and music will take place, and where creative people can come together and share their energy and experience.

This November, Mancunians and students alike will have the chance to become a part of this cultural celebration and investigate the more intriguing sides of the music and literature industries.

The event will take place across three days, from the 9th to 11th November at the Principal Hotel. The festival’s co-founder Dr. Jill Adam was keen to stress its inclusiveness, saying that ”Louder Than Words has a little bit of something for everyone.”

A number of high-profile figures will be in attendance including singer Guy Pratt, famed for his work with Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson, as well as Radio 1 presenter Gemma Cairney, who will be offering advice in her role as an advocate for the young generation. World-renowned photographer Kevin Cummins will appear on the 10th of November to discuss his experience of touring with Morrissey.

Returning for its sixth incarnation, the festival will revolve around a varied structure, with performances, as well as Q&A sessions and panels with some of the event’s main contributors.

In addition to celebrating the achievements of industry-leading names, ‘Louder than Words’ also places significant emphasis on the younger generation, with the Slam Poetry group set to run workshops across the three days.

Tickets for individual performances and appearances are available on the festival’s website, and the chance for discounted student entries has also been mooted.

 

Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Patrick Ch. Apfeld

Women-only motorsport series created

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Sport.

The new female driver-only motorsport series, the W series, has been launched amid controversy. The W Series will start in 2019 and hopes to have 20 of the world’s best female drivers competing over six races for a $1.5 million prize pot.

The competition is free for drivers to enter and the final 20 will be chosen through an intensive program that will test the abilities of the candidates. The overall winner will receive a third of the total prize pot, $500,000, to be used to break into competitions such as Formula 1.

“What a sad day for motorsport,” said Mann, adding: “Those with funding to help female racers are choosing to segregate them as opposed to supporting them. I am deeply disappointed to see such a historic step backwards take place in my lifetime. For the record, I stand WITH those who feel forced into this as their only opportunity to race. I stand AGAINST those who are forcing the above-mentioned racers into this position as their only solution to find the funding to race.”

On the website for the W Series they state “there are no biological or hormonal impediments” to a women’s ability to compete with the best male F1 drivers, and that they “expect that the best graduates from W Series will be able to compete in Formula 1 on level terms.” This begs the question if the best graduates from the series should be able to compete on level terms with the likes of Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel then why is a women-only series needed?

“That’s why we’ve chosen to create what we hope will be a sustainable business that uses commercial sponsorship to create a series for women to race in, some of whom wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to race at all.”

Michele Mouton, president of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, is dismissive of the W Series. “One of the objectives of the commission is to help ensure females have equal opportunities to compete at the highest level of the sport. We know from our recent driver-assessment programme that there is a pool of very talented women drivers who deserve the chance to do this. As competitors, they want to be the best and the only way for them to benchmark their performance is to compete in a mixed environment, which they are already doing.

“While this new series is obviously giving an opportunity for women to showcase their talent in a female-only environment, our objective is to have more of them competing alongside men and demonstrating they have the same ability and potential to succeed in top-level FIA championships.”

Since the first F1 series in 1950 there have been over 900 drivers, of which only two have been women. Maria Teresa de Filippis started three races in 1958/9 and fellow Italian Lella Lombardi competed in 12 races between 1974 and 1976, yet despite several more female drivers being on the fringe of F1, none have managed to break onto the starting grid.

This was not helped by Bernie Ecclestone, former Chief Executive of the Formula One Group, being dismissive of women driving in F1 saying that they “would not be taken seriously”. He has also said multiple times in interviews that women “should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances.” Ecclestone left his position in 2017 and many are hopeful that this could represent a turning point for female involvement in the sport.

With the recent news that 21-year-old Ann Carrasco has become the first female rider to win a motorbike world championship in the World Supersport 300, it seems that the only thing holding women back from excelling in top motorsport competition is opportunity, not skill. So does the W Series offer that opportunity? Whilst there has been a lot of criticism, especially from prominent female drivers, there has been praise for the competition too.

Former F1 driver David Coulthard believes that men and women could compete equally but the current structure for finding female talent has “not worked”. He said “if you want a fundamental change in the outcome, you need a fundamental change in the process. W is a fundamental change in creating an opportunity to bring through female talent to the highest possible level.”

Interestingly this is not the first time a women-only racing series has been attempted. ITV presented ‘Formula Woman’ to viewers in 2004 in an attempt to boost the female audience of the sport and bring more women drivers to the major competitions. There was not a happy ending for the series as the main sponsor, Mazda, pulled out at the end of the first season and within three years it was axed.

Only time will tell what the impact of this new competition will be, but every female drive that enters the W Series will be hoping to use it as a stepping stone to greater things. “As female racers we are racers first, and our gender comes second. We grew up dreaming of winning races and winning championships, against everyone – the same as every male racer does. We did not grow up dreaming of being segregated and winning the girl’s only cup.”

medieval quarter Photo: Rept0n1x via Wikimedia Commons

First plans submitted for Medieval Quarter revamp

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Plans have been submitted setting out the first stage of the regeneration of Manchester’s Medieval Quarter. The plans would see the historic area transformed into more green spaces including a river park and a network of walkways and greenery along the river Irwell. The medieval quarter is home to Manchester Cathedral and Chetham’s School of Music.

A ‘masterplan’ setting out the project and the vision for the Medieval Quarter’s transformation, including a 19% increase in green space, was approved in 2016. The original masterplan described the Medieval Quarter as “rich in both cultural and historical significance”.

Planning permission has been lodged with the city council and if approved, work is expected to begin later this year. The huge construction firm, Galliford Try, has reportedly been picked to deliver the project in a £2m contract.

The Manchester-based architecture firm SimpsonHaugh is taking the lead on design. The firm has been responsible for many of the new developments around Manchester city centre.

The original masterplan, published 2 years ago, identified a number of key issues in relation to the Medieval Quarter including a lack of physical and visual coherence and a need for pedestrian linkages to be improved.

The masterplan stated that the Medieval Quarter would be transformed from a “fragmented and incoherent area into one of the most impressive destinations in the city centre, enhancing the investment taking place in the area’s key assets.”

Parts of the Medieval Quarter contain what are thought to be among the oldest buildings in the city of Manchester, with some dating back to the 1400s.

Photo: Time to Change @ Newcast Online

Three quarters of people in North West suffer mental health problems alone

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

New research released revealed that, when asked, 81% of people in the North West of England would tell their friends or family that they were ‘fine’, even if struggling with a mental health problem.

The survey, consisting of 2,000 people nationwide, showed that the top concerns in the North West were: Just because people ask how you are, doesn’t mean they want to know (54%), I don’t want to burden people (63%), and I’d only talk if I was confident my friend or family member wanted to listen (40%).

Time to Change, launched in 2007, is a growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems. Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, Time to Change are releasing a new mental health campaign called ‘Ask Twice’.

It was stated by Time to Change that asking ‘How are you?’ can often prompt no more than a meaningless exchange. To tackle this, Time to Change is urging people to ‘Ask Twice’ if they suspect a friend, family member, or colleague might be struggling with their mental health. The campaign says the simple act of asking again, with interest, shows a genuine willingness to talk and listen.

Jo Loughran, Director of Time to Change, said: “We all hear it dozens of times a day: ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine thanks, how are you? ’Our research shows that, as a nation, we find it hard to answer honestly.

“This could mean someone close to you is struggling with their mental health – they might just be waiting for your cue to talk about it. Asking twice is a simple, effective way to show our friends and family members that we are asking for real; that we are ready to listen, whether that’s now or whenever they’re ready.”

Depression and anxiety, the most common mental health issue within universities, have led to 1 in 4 students accessing counselling services whilst in education, although many are still suffering in silence.

The government wants to make mental health a priority, but a controversy was raised when Sam Gyimah, the higher education minister, said: “if universities don’t run with this, the government will enforce it.”

Gyimah has argued that universities should act as stand-in parents to their students, but university officials argue that young adults at university are clearly adults and do not need extra parenting.

He stated: “This is not about mollycoddling or cushioning students from the experiences that are part and parcel of university life. But if someone has threatened to take their life three or four times, and as an institution you know that but you only contact their parents after they have done it, that is just not acceptable.

“Some of the arguments against this are designed to sidestep rather than face up to the serious problem over mental health in universities.”

Some universities are asking students at enrolment for their permission to contact a parent or guardian if they are suffering from a mental health issue.

Time to Change, coinciding with Gyimahs’ claims, aims to help students push themselves towards wanting counselling services.

The University of Manchester offers counselling services in the form of one-to-one sessions, audio therapy, and Silvercloud, an online therapeutic resource.

Photo: Charlotte61404 @ Wikimedia Commons

University of Manchester climbs 27 places in rankings of world’s most innovative university

Written by Maurits Bekkers on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester has surged 27 places on Reuters’ list of the 100 most innovative Universities, becoming the 53rd most innovative university in the world.

The university was the biggest climber on the news agency company’s annual list, whilst for the fourth consecutive year Stanford University (US) has been given first place.

Jumping from 80th to 53rd place, the University of Manchester’s climb of 27 places in Reuters’ rankings is mainly due to the new studies conducted at the university on the supermaterial graphene. Graphene is one of the strongest materials on this planet, and was first produced in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, two University of Manchester scientists.

Since then, the University of Manchester has had the upper hand in the world’s research for this new material. In 2010, both scientists received the Nobel Prize in Physics for “groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene.”

In total, the United Kingdom has five universities on the list, while the United States has 46. The second most innovative university-containing countries are Germany and Japan with nine each.

Photo: Robert Cutts@Wikimedia Commons

State of the City report discusses plans to move students out of Fallowfield

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

Manchester City Council have released their annual ‘State of the City’ report to the public. The report aims to monitor Manchester’s progress as a city by gathering together statistics on life in Manchester such as homelessness, recycling and education. It also details issues directly relevant to students, such as student housing and graduate retention.

Significantly, the report highlighted a growing trend of students moving closer to the city centre, away from the traditional student neighbourhoods of south Manchester, stating: “This migration matches a long-term aim to free up homes in the south of the city, which are in high demand for families, and ensures that students are housed in well-managed accommodation in the right parts of the city.”

The attempt to move students northwards has been used by some to explain the council’s decision to restrict opening hours of bars in the student area of Fallowfield. Recent graduate Robert Firth commented: “The special licensing policy where they’ll basically refuse any new license for bars/venues seems intended to rip the soul out of the area.”

Others were concerned about the quality of property available for families in south Manchester. Jack Swan, a second-year Politics and Sociology student said: “If the Council is genuinely trying to move students out of Fallowfield, then the local families who do move in will be moving into properties owned by private landlords with no guarantee of quality.”

“Manchester City Council ought to be looking into developing new council housing and opening up land for community land trusts, so local residents can move into decent housing managed responsibly, rather than the private sector.”

However, some students noted the positives of a shift towards the city centre, with students in Fallowfield threatened by a notoriously high crime rate, including muggings and burglaries.

The report also discussed the growing population of students in the city, which has been consistent ever since a dip in 2012 following the introduction of higher tuition fees. It stated that “the city’s two main universities (The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University) attracted approximately 73,500 students in 2016/17”, with nearly 48,000 of these living in the city.

The document highlighted the growing number of both graduate and international students in Manchester, citing that they now make up over one in five students enrolled at a university in Manchester. One example is the number of Chinese students in the city, which has increased by 75% over the last five years.

Graduate retention figures were high, with 36% of graduates originally from Manchester choosing to work in the city after leaving university and a further 33% working elsewhere in Greater Manchester. The career direction of graduates was varied, with the report stating:

“Six months after graduating, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) destination of leavers’ 2016/17 survey reported that most degree graduates working in Manchester were employed in the education, health and social work, and professional, scientific and technical sectors.”

Photo: Via. Carl Peachey on Facebook

Cyclists protest lack of police support amid crime spree

Written by joehurdman on . Posted in News.

Up to 350 cyclists took to the Fallowfield Loop cycle path last Wednesday to protest at the increase in muggings and assaults in the area.

Organiser and Guardian journalist Helen Pidd, 37, expressed frustration with a lack of police interest.

“We’re scared to ride our bikes,” she explained. “We want GMP (Greater Manchester Police) to take us seriously, because at the moment we feel like second-class citizens.”

The Fallowfield loop is, according to the group, one of the few bike trails protected from traffic. Olympic gold medal cyclist, Callum Skinner, 26, who attended the protest, spoke about the importance of peaceful roads such as the ‘Floop’. He said: “For cyclists who aren’t very confident in traffic, these are really useful routes.”

However, this has lead to riders becoming an easy target for criminals as the trail’s privacy hides them from the police and general public.

Sian Lambert, 40, was one cyclist who was attacked by a group of men. She told us how “[The attackers] kicked my leg to unbalance me. I started screaming; I hoped someone might hear me and come but no one did.”

Matthew Hutchinson, 28, was riding with a friend when a group tried to steal their bags. “They chased us for five or six minutes”, said Hutchinson, who is reluctant to ride the path anymore.

Police report 10 similar instances have occurred in the last six weeks, with a possibility that more have gone unreported. GMP has established an investigation, looking at who are committing the robberies.

Protesters greeted the news, but there was more to be done, they argued. “Presence, coming down here and riding the route more often would send a message”, said Niki Tragen, 51.

However, the GMP has 2,000 fewer officers and its budget has been slashed by £180m since 2010. This has led to a weaker police presence in areas like the Floop.

Many sympathised with the police. Callum Skinner said: “All we’re asking for is a bit more attention for cyclists.” However, to many it seems an increased police budget is the only thing that will bring permanent change.

Photo: Amtec Photos @ Flickr

Student LifeStart aims to boost CVs with new challenges

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

A new programme called Student LifeStart is aiming to push students further and boost their CVs with business challenges such as pitching app ideas to solve student money problems.

LifeStart has been developed by Virgin Money and Virgin Startup and describes itself as a “website and growing community for students to take real business challenges, evolve their professional skills and receive mentorship directly from associates who work in top UK companies.”

One current challenge includes helping Sony Pictures find new ways of gifting digital movies and making it a more purposeful experience.

The free service is attempting to help students break the cycle of being unable to get work experience to boost future career prospects, without having a significant amount of experience beforehand.

David Hall, Director of Future Generation Banking at Virgin Money said: “it’s become increasingly challenging to enter the world of work and we want to give students an opportunity to gain entrepreneurial skills and connections that will help make their CV stand out and boost their career chances.”

He added that “we’ve seen students turn their projects into start-ups or even get jobs with the companies who hosted a Challenge with us. It’s those personal successes and the ability for us to boost students’ self-esteem that we’ve found especially rewarding.”

Students and young people aged 16 and upwards from all over the UK can submit their suggestions and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and rewards like tickets to the London Marathon.

Lowri Owen, the Enterprise Projects Manager of the University of Bangor said: “participating in a LifeStart Challenge is a great opportunity for students to learn to pitch to companies and even win great prizes.”

Current challenges and more information about how to get involved on the Student Lifestart website.

The deadline for the Sony Pictures challenge is midnight on the 29th of October.

Photo: UoMSalcStudents @Twitter

Financial struggles put third of students at mental health risk

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in News.

Financial difficulties are one of the leading causes of mental health issues among university students, with over 30% admitting that they feel embarrassed about their economic situation, according to new data produced by loans company Satsuma UK.

The eye-opening research suggests that the burden of student debt is having a serious impact on the well-being of young people, who are suffering from a range of resultative conditions, including anxiety disorders and depression. The identification of financial matters as a significant factor behind negative student wellbeing is relatively new, with loneliness having previously been long seen as a key cause of such issues.

The Mancunion previously reported on economic anxiety among the student population, suggesting that 31% have daily money worries. It was revealed that even essential living costs, such as accommodation, food, and course materials were outstripping the total available through student loans. Satsuma UK identified a similar trend in their investigation, showing that some were having to work towards a monthly budget of nearly £1200 to stay afloat financially at University. For many, the further use of overdraft facilities is rapidly becoming a painful necessity.

With spending at such astronomical levels for young people in higher education, post-university debt is far outstripping expected totals, with the average debt upon graduating at around £50,000, according to YouGov.

University debt had previously been linked to long-term issues, such as decreased job satisfaction and delaying of retirement plans. However, the idea that concerns over paying back loans could be a serious contributory factor towards psychological issues while still in higher education is a relatively new concept. Satsuma’s study delved further into the topic, to show that the likes of gender and sexuality both have an effect on mental health problems in the demographic. A higher proportion of female students (34%) reported experiencing issues, than their male counterparts (19%), while LGBT individuals were found to be 23% more likely than heterosexual students to develop a mental health condition.

Such a level of scrutiny in the area is newfound, with mental health on campuses across the country only recently becoming viewed as an epidemic. This changing perception led to the universities minister Sam Gyimah announcing the first ever national charter on student mental health in June, along with £1 million of funding in the area.

The charter has already set out to achieve effective solutions and has implemented a reward-based system that will incentivise institutions to develop good practice in dealing with mental health among their student populations. However, the issue of student finance remains a serious problem, with students often left only with advice-based charities or economic support from parents as sources of support in difficult times.

Aubergine Parmigiana

Details announced for Manchester’s Christmas Light Switch-On Spectacular

Written by charlottebayliss on . Posted in News.

Manchester City Council have announced details about their annual Christmas lights switch-on, which will take place on Saturday 3rdNovember in Albert Square at 7:30pm.

The official star who will push the button, commencing the beginning to Manchester’s festive activities, is Jonas Blue. Following Jonas Blue’s success producing numerous hit records including ‘Rise’, as well as global hits ‘Fast Car’, ‘Mamma’ and ‘Perfect Strangers’, he is expected to draw a large crowd to the event.

The council has also confirmed this year to be the final Christmas lights switch-on hosted at Albert Square for the next four years. The event, which has been hosted in Albert Square for the last two decades, is relocating due to the £13 million revamp of the Town Hall.

The Christmas Market is yet to have its location for 2019 confirmed. Rumoured locations for the next four years include Spinningfields, Piccadilly Gardens, Castlefield Bowl, and St Ann’s Square where the first Christmas lights switch on was located in 1989.

Other headlining acts performing alongside Jonas Blue are; Max George, performances from Wicked and Dr Dolittle the Musical, Mel Brooks’ comedy ‘The Producers’, as well as former Coronation Street star Vicky Entwistle.

The Manchester-based celebrities will partake in solo performances and speeches, and attendees can expect to enjoy musical numbers.

The show will be opened by Manchester Show Choir followed by The Dance Academy and is partnered with Hits Radio. The crowd can expect music popularly heard on the radio station.

The celebrity-packed entertainment portion of the evening will finish with a ten-minute firework display.

The event is free for all to attend and will be alcohol-free.