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Year: 2018

Epic Games live up to their name with Fortnite’s latest update

Written by chrisglover on . Posted in Games.

On February 21st, Epic Games rolled out a rather significant update for the immensely popular Fortnite.

As well as some welcome quality-of-life changes such as allowing players to build through trees and other objects, the update kicked off Season 3 of Battle Royale, which brings new cosmetic items for players to unlock.

The update proves beyond all doubt that Epic Games are more than capable of keeping the Fortnite phenomenon alive with updates and support, prioritising player engagement without succumbing to the slippery slope of aggressive monetisation.

The first thing likely noticed by players was the performance upgrades. The game now runs in 60 fps and the moment-to-moment game play is noticeably smoother and more responsive as a result. Epic Games also removed the depth of field effect which used to blur distant objects, meaning the island now appears visually striking with its drastically improved sharpness and clarity.

The lack of blur on distant scenery is immediately noticeable. Photo: Epic Games
The lack of blur on distant scenery is immediately noticeable. Photo: Epic Games

The update added a coat of paint to a wildly successful game, but it’s the other additions that have made me enjoy playing more than ever.

I am talking, for example, about the Battle Pass players can purchase for around £10 that gives them access to a great deal more cosmetic items as they level up through Season 3. Epic Games could have charged exorbitant rates for access to cosmetic content and fell back on Fortnite’s free-to-play status as justification — just look at World of Tanks which last year charged $80 for what many players labelled as a game-breaking, pay-to-win item.

Instead, players must simply pay a small one-off fee and they are able to unlock plenty of available content by levelling up — a nice system which allows paid content whilst preserving the rewarding feeling of progression. The Battle Pass even gives the player plenty of in-game currency, V-bucks, which can be saved up to purchase next season’s Battle Pass without spending more real money.

Put simply, Fortnite’s monetisation model is jaw-droppingly reasonable when compared with the the majority of other popular titles from the last couple of years.

The Battle Pass contains tiers which unlock new cosmetic content. Photo: Epic Games
The Battle Pass contains tiers which unlock new cosmetic content. Photo: Epic Games

Another great feature of the Battle Pass is the challenges it offers — each week, seven challenges are issued to players which offer rewards upon completion. Some are very unique and enjoyable, such as finding a treasure map in one part of the island and having to figure out its location and hunt it down in subsequent matches.

Interestingly, the more important challenges are actually those that at first seem very average and run-of-the mill. One asks players to get a certain number of kills in one area of the map or open a certain number of chests in another. These challenges actually drastically change the meta game week-by-week, putting an end to the predictable flow of action in the same popular spots by forcing players to land in other locations to complete challenges.

My only concern for the future of Fortnite is in the weaponry and game modes that are added to Fortnite Battle Royale seemingly, ironically enough, once a fortnight.

New weapons are fun, such as the crossbow released for Valentines Day and the hand cannon that came with the Season 3 update, but the overwhelming frequency of new items is devaluing their impact.

The newest update hadn’t even been out a whole 24 hours before Epic Games announced a jetpack would soon be added to the game, as if the developers are terrified that the current Fortnite mass hysteria will slip through their fingers if players aren’t distracted with shiny new toys every couple of hours.

The game modes are less of a concern, as the ‘Floor is Lava’ one that has been announced sounds like an innovative idea and a great time. However, the game mode added with the latest update simply takes chance out of the loot chests to make every single weapon the highest quality tier.

The game mode, titled ‘Solid Gold’ carries the same appeal of Christmas occurring every single day which, despite the sentiment expressed by the the popular song, would become boring and repetitive very, very quickly.

Seeing gold-tier items doesn't stay fun for long. Photo: Epic Games
Seeing gold-tier items doesn’t stay fun for long. Photo: Epic Games

Again, I think the most recent update is incredible and Epic Games are doing a stand-up job of tweaking and maintaining Fortnite Battle Royale. My only advice  — to the hugely successful developers who almost certainly don’t need it — is to ever-so-slightly cool it with the influx of new items.

My concerns will perhaps prove to be unfounded when developers take action on plans to remove older weapons from the game to prevent the loot pool from growing too large. Until then, the impending addition of the jetpack will be a telling test of Epic Games’ ability to maintain such a high volume of game-changing additions without unbalancing and over-saturating the meta game.

Why you should visit the Bury Arcade Club

Written by Sarah Johnson on . Posted in Games.

Walking up a flight of stairs, hidden within an Industrial building in Bury, you don’t know what to expect. Everything sounds quiet, and you wonder where you’re supposed to go. Then, when you walk through the doors to the first floor of the Arcade Club, everything hits you all at once.

From people playing on VR, to Mario Kart on large projectors, classic arcade machines, to unique Japanese arcade products, Bury Arcade Club is truly a place that has everything you could think of — as a gamer, you feel lost in this wonderland.

This is Andy Palmer’s Arcade Club — which opened in October 2015 — with its 250+ collection that started more than twenty years ago in Haslingden. It is Europe’s largest freeplay video & pinball arcade, and a place that every gamer should know about.

photo: arcadeclub.co.uk
Photo: arcadeclub.co.uk

“The best thing about Arcade Club is the fact that we’re doing something everyone said that we couldn’t do,” said Andy, sitting down with us to chat about the club, “We get everyone coming in, from very young to very old, all the way up to 80 and 90”.

For a day’s pass, adults pay £15 to enter the club and have access to its two floors: classical gaming and modern gaming. Starting from the top, that’s what you expect to see. Classic arcade machines aligned next to one another, from Star Wars and Pac Man to Joust and Gauntlet, as people of all ages crowd along the rows playing on the machines, captivated by these games, and because it’s a free-play arcade, your choices are unlimited.

You can play whatever game you want. Browsing through the collection, I became more interested in how Andy’s collection started, and what was his first game, which was met with laughter:

“Everyone asks me that! [Our first game] was a Star Wars vector game, and an original Taito Space Invaders, which is a Japanese machine. We started in one of our computer shops with around 30 machines, and from there it just took off.”

What did surprise me, however, was the first floor full of modern games which opened in March 2017. The owner has definitely thought about catering to every gamer’s needs with this floor’s features. With PC setups and VR experience, large-scale projectors and eSports live stream setups, this floor gives gamers the chance to use consoles they may not have had the chance to before.

Whilst the classical gaming floor is the more photogenic of the two and what first-time visitors come for, the first floor makes sure your experience at the Arcade Club is truly spectacular. Even though Andy has included under ten VRs in the Arcade Club, he plans to bring in more, so much so that he plans to open a third floor to the public.

“There will be between ten and twenty VR setups on the new eSports floor, as well as possibly sixty PCs. We will back what everybody wants.” With this new eSports floor, the modern gaming floor will then be converted into a floor entirely dedicated to Japanese games that he imports.

These ambitions may seem impossible, to even have sixty PC setups, however, the Arcade Club family has this amazing mindset and drive to include all possible aspects of gaming for everyone to enjoy, and everyone should be aware of these achievements.

“I’ve been collecting for around twenty years. We’re on the ball with it, we’re changing and making the Arcade Club the greatest place on Earth.”

Andy and his family have created a very successful arcade within Manchester, bringing people from around the world to play at the Arcade Club, and whilst you’re a student at the University of Manchester, this is definitely a place you need to visit.

Photo: Kanomi

Review: Metal Gear Survive

Written by David Uncle on . Posted in Games.

As a fan of the Metal Gear series, survival-horror is the last place I expected Konami to take the series.

The story goes that immediately after the end of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – in which XOF destroy the first Mother Base – a wormhole opens and sucks you into a parallel world called Dite, a boring and uninspiring wasteland populated by zombies called Wanderers that have strange crystals forming where their heads should be.

You’re saved and advised by Laurence Fishburne, oddly enough, who helps you survive. Metal Gear is no stranger to the paranormal, so the story didn’t feel too out of place, though was certainly less engaging than any other game in the series, and lacked the Kojima magic.

Image: Konami. He even makes a Matrix joke.
Image: Konami. He even makes a Matrix joke.

My biggest gripe with this game is the ludicrous AI. Picture the scene: I flee from an abandoned facility having retrieved valuable supplies, when a horde of grotesque Wanderers notice and chase me. They’re hot on my heels, and I’m equipped with nothing but a crude spear.

‘What will I do, there’s too many to take on at once!’, I thought. And then I remember. I turn around, construct a thin wire fence between me and them, and poke them through the fence in the face until they die.

One clever chap realised he could simply walk around the fence to get to my tasty flesh, but his friends didn’t quite get the memo. Perhaps I’m being too harsh; they are zombies with crystals instead of brains, after all. But even so, this seems silly.

photo:Mancunion
photo: Mancunion

Otherwise, the combat is decent overall. The shooting mechanics are the same as in Metal Gear Solid V, so are tight, but ammo is rarer, and it’s tougher to headshot a shambling Wanderer than a soldier. The melee combat is clunky though. Close quarters weaponry such as crafted spearsand machetes are invaluable tools due to their low crafting requirements and decent damage but fighting with them is awkward and repetitive. Poking faces through fences is, as far as I can see, the safest and most effective way to fight these guys up close, which gets dreadfully boring.

Let’s talk about stealth. Stealth is a fundamental aspect of the series and does play a part in Metal Gear Survive. In some places, there are very large hordes of Wanderers that are nigh on impossible to fight alone (unless you have a fence, of course), in which case it is recommended you sneak around. Except, Konami made the baffling decision to make crawling consume stamina, so you can only move while prone for a short amount of time. In fact, slowly crawling along the ground uses more stamina than running! This makes stealth disproportionately difficult.

It’s important to remember this game is a survival game — apparently. Konami themselves stress this is a survival game like any other, meaning you must manage your hunger and thirst. The issue is I can’t think of any game where you become thirsty and hungry so quickly. It felt like I spent a lot more time searching for food and water than in other survival games, despite being in relatively less demanding circumstances.

I did, however, enjoy the material scavenging aspect of the game. I enjoyed picking up and hoarding anything and everything I found and managing my stockpile of garbage. These materials could be used in crafting, repairing, or upgrading your weapons, gadgets, and base fortifications. The base building is also surprisingly deep, and watching it grow larger and more impenetrable is rewarding.

It’s not as comprehensive as other survival games with base building; ARK: Survival Evolved and Subnautica have freeform base building, whereas in this you’re locked into grids within a large square, which means you have less freedom. It’s by no means a great base building system, but it’s more than I expected from this game, and gave something to work towards. If you like resource grinding like me, you’ll enjoy this aspect of the game, but if not, it’ll likely be tedious for you.

It wouldn’t be 2018 if there weren’t microtransactions, and Metal Gear Survive takes them to a new level. If you want to have multiple save slots, you must purchase 1150 ‘SV Coins’ for £7.99. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this – It’s awful that Konami feel they can charge the consumer for a service as simple as having multiple saved games – nearly every game ever has offered for free.

Image: Konami
Image: Konami
Image: Konami
Image: Konami

On the bright side, there are a couple things that I enjoyed. It runs on the FOX Engine, which is smooth as butter and looks good too. The addition of co-op is a touch I dearly wish they had implemented in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, so it’s nice that this game has it. The problem is I have no friends who own or are willing to buy this game — though I don’t blame them.

Regardless, I think this game is probably a good laugh in co-op and a great deal more fun than it was alone. I also found that getting spotted by a horde of Wanderers was genuinely scary and would give me a hit of adrenaline. The areas covered by ‘the Dust’ — a poisonous cloud covering parts of the map — had a suspenseful, creepy atmosphere, as well as some of the more desirable weapon and gadget schematics. Limited visibility in these regions mean it’s easy to accidentally stumble into a stray Wanderer or even worse, a horde, and these were thrilling moments.

It’s just a shame that all it takes to defeat these creatures is a fence. Areas in the Dust are the only places that feel like a survival game should.

Metal Gear Survive is ultimately the result of some questionable design choices culminating in a very confused game, which is emphasised by all the internal references idolising Hideo Kojima and slating Konami. This internal conflict comes across loud and clear: it tries to be a survival-horror without sacrificing the classic ‘tactical espionage action’ of the franchise but doesn’t quite pull it off.

It has its moments of genuine fear and anticipation, as well as a co-op mode which probably makes the game better, but the repetitive and clumsy melee combat, a strange stamina system, and possibly the most outrageous microtransaction model to date make this game hard to recommend.

In the end, playing this game made me want to do two things: go back to MGSV: TPP, and play better survival games such as Subnautica or The Long Dark.

4/10

 

Photo: Daisy Tolcher

Review: sunday roast at Store Street Exchange

Written by Daisy Tolcher on . Posted in Food & Drink.

As someone who loves nothing more than tucking into a Sunday roast, the news that Store Street Exchange were launching a new Sunday lunch menu grabbed my attention. For any main at £12.95 and two courses for £15.95, the pricing was within my student budget which further spurred me to make the trip to Piccadilly to try it out for myself.

Situated in the decadent Hilton hotel, just a stones throw away from Piccadilly station, Store Street Exchange is a must for its modern yet relaxed atmosphere. Once inside, diners can watch juicy chicken slowly cooking in a rotisserie oven and can see other dishes being cooked in an open kitchen. We chose to sit by a window, on big plush sofa-style chairs that made the dining experience incredibly comfortable. We were served by the very attentive Jacob, who made a real effort to ensure our needs were met.

Just next to the restaurant is the Store Street Craft Bar, which serves an array of locally brewed craft beer as well as an assortment of other beverages. Jacob asked us if we would like to try some of these drinks and presented us with a sample of three craft beers, explaining the differences between them and demonstrating an evident understanding of the produce on offer. We opted for Jacob’s recommendation of  a locally brewed craft beer and it was delicious!

To start with, we were presented with some freshly baked bread and a selection of Italian olives. Then we opted for the two course option of a main and dessert for £15.95. I decided on the rotisserie half-chicken and my companion went for the Chefs Roast of the Day which was Pork. When our food arrived we were initially concerned that the portions looked small and were lacking in any greens, with the plate predominantly consisting of meat and plenty of juicy gravy.

However, our worries were quickly overturned as our server returned with plates of honey glazed carrots, huge Yorkshire puds, and garlic steamed greens. The idea was that diners shared these plates and distributed them amongst themselves which I feel added a nice communal touch to the dining experience.

Despite prior misconceptions that the portions were small, I found that they were very generous indeed. We certainly got our moneys worth and finished the meal feeling very satisfied. I would recommend both the pork and the chicken however I did feel that the chicken was slightly better in terms of taste, and it was nice to see it being cooked in the rotisserie oven prior to being served.

Photo: Daisy Tolcher
Photo: Daisy Tolcher

For dessert, I opted for the Lemon and Mascarpone Cheesecake whereas my companion went for a melt in the middle chocolate pud. Both were presented very nicely and my friend felt that the pudding was one of the best he had ever had! For £15.95 the two course option is differently worth it and I am planning on returning to try some of their starters.

Photo: Daisy Tolcher
Photo: Daisy Tolcher
Photo: Daisy Tolcher
Photo: Daisy Tolcher

Overall, the service was exquisite and we felt that every need was taken of. In terms of the food, I will definitely be returning as the roast was one of the best I have had in Manchester. Store Street Exchange is definitely a must-go for foodies and roast lovers alike as  the decor, service, and food makes it a dining experience that is not one to forget.

Photo: Sam Cooper @The Mancunion

City take big step to Premier League title with Chelsea victory

Written by Sam Cooper on . Posted in Sport.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City took another considerable step towards the Premier League title after defeating Chelsea 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium. A solitary goal from Bernardo Silva in the second half was enough to win the game for City as they move 18 points clear at the top of the table.

Straight from kick-off the game settled into its natural rhythm as City dominated possession in the opening stages. The rigid back five of Chelsea looked to prevent Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva from finding any space near the area and the Chelsea defence marshalled City well.

Chelsea had opted to play a front three of Pedro, Willian and Eden Hazard with the Belgian operating in the false nine position. It was clear from the onset that Conte was looking to play the same tactics that earned him a 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League. Sit deep and look to hit rapidly on the break.

This plan largely did not come off for the visitors though as City did well to suffocate the London side in their own half. When they did break, Chelsea gave away the ball to easily with Pedro being particularly guilty of this.

City continued to look for the opening goal without creating any real chances. If they were to score, it looked like it would come down the left flank operated by Leroy Sané as the pace of the German allowed him to get in behind on frequent occasions. A last ditch block on the line denied Sané the opening goal.

The teams went in level at the break with City dominating possession and looking the more likely to score.

The domination was quickly turned into goals as within one minute of the game restarting, City were ahead. In the same way, a Christensen mistake had cost City in their Barcelona tie, he cost them here as failed to deal with a long pass. Instead of knocking it clear, he played it into the path of Sergio Agüero who rolled the ball into the path of the incoming David Silva. David crossed to his namesake Bernardo who beat Marcos Alonso to the the cross and turned the ball past a diving Thibaut Courtois. It was 1-0 to the hosts and it was deserved considering the balance of the play.

Despite being a goal behind, Chelsea continued to sit deep and their tactic of launching long to the diminutive Hazard, Willian and Pedro was failing. The tactical choice of playing Hazard in the false nine position was not working as it limited his time on the ball and meant he was easy to defend against for the City back line.

With the goal advantage, City slowed the pace of the game right down to a walking pace. Knocking the ball about between their back line, the home side were in no rush to push forward and could comfortably maintain possession.

With the game drawing to a close, Conte finally looked to make changes. Introducing a natural number nine such as Olivier Giroud did look to make a noticeable difference and made it all the more puzzling why he was benched. Chelsea looked to mount a final attack with Álvaro Morata also now on the pitch but it was too little, too late as the final whistle blew at 1-0.

An ecstatic Guardiola stepped out into the Manchester rain to congratulate his players and had the look of a man bearing down on the title.

Photo: Question

Question reveal The Blackout Club

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

Indie developers Question have outlined their intention for a new game titled The Blackout Club,  described as a “a cooperative horror paranormal mystery” game.

Developers Question, whose staff credentials include experience on Bioshock, Dishonoured, Prey and Thief, say of the game’s premise: “Set in a small town with a monstrous secret, The Blackout Club follows a group of teens who band together after learning they’ve all been temporarily losing consciousness – waking up in strange places with no memory of what they have done.

Recently, one of their closest friends vanished entirely. When none of their parents, teachers, or even the police are willing to believe them, the friends launch an investigation. Together they will discover a maze of tunnels – a hostile underworld filled with hypnotic music and populated by a clandestine group of adults — all beneath their seemingly idyllic suburbs.”

photo:Question

Possibly drawing on the recent popularity of coming-of-age via horror releases such as IT and Stranger Things, The Blackout Club looks to add to an already strong roster of upcoming indie games, such as The Occupation and We Happy Few. 

Question have underlined the importance of co-op in The Blackout Club. According to Question co-founder Jordan Thomas, “Our story is about vulnerable heroes — for whom co-op gameplay is a matter of survival — who unite to save their friends […] Every member of the group will play a distinct role and utilise devices like drones or deployable traps to outwit their foes and gather evidence of their crimes.”

photo:Question

It also looks set to feature RPG elements, as well as sneaking mechanics, with Question saying “Surviving the dangers of night will require intelligence, improvisation, and skill. Sleepwalking adults that could be their neighbours or relatives now seek to drag them underground. Players must create and coordinate diversions and use other tactics to break the enemy’s vice-like grip. The last player left standing must avoid attracting the attention of an even more dangerous entity – one that pursues its prey relentlessly – one that can’t be seen with open eyes…”

“Player characters will be customisable with a variety of powers and equipment loadouts. Every member of the group will play a distinct role and utilise devices like drones or deployable traps to outwit their foes and gather evidence of their crimes. When the mission is complete, players will head back to the hideout, where they can level up and acquire new abilities for use on future outings.”

The first teaser trailer is as enigmatic as one might expect. Showing stylised but clean, polished aesthetics, the trailer depicts a sinister-looking group strumming sonorous guitar-like strings that resonate through the network of tunnels under the town. Following this, a teenager wakes abruptly in their bed, and there follows some indistinct cut-aways of chasing and grappling, followed by a door emblazoned with a symbol opening to engulf the screen in red and reveal the game’s title.

The Blackout Club has been touted for a Q1 2019 release.

Image: pomdu @ Commons Wikimedia

Universities threaten to cut pay of striking staff

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Universities are threatening to withhold the pay of staff who have taken industrial action following ongoing pension disputes between University and College Union (UCU) and Universities UK.

That’s the claim of UCU, who say that some universities have told staff that they will withhold their entire pay for undertaking ‘Action Short of a Strike’ (ASOS) and have warned that “overly punitive measures would annoy members and do nothing to help progress talks” which begin on Monday the 5th of March.

On Thursday the 1st of March, University staff at 61 institutions returned to work to undertake ASOS, which consists of working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action and not undertaking any voluntary activities.

UCU claim that if University of Sheffield staff have not rescheduled missed lectures within two days, it will deduct 25 percent of their salary and after five days it will withhold 100 percent of salary.

The University of Sheffield denied that this was their position but said that “the University reserves the right to make proportionate deductions for partial performance where this is in breach of a contract”.

UCU also claim that the University of St Andrews has said it will deduct 100 percent of salary for any form of action short of a strike, and also that the University of Kent will withhold 50 percent of pay for ASOS, but reserves the right to withhold 100 percent and any work staff then undertake would be voluntary.

A spokesperson for the University of St Andrews said: “no pay is being deducted from staff who are carrying out all their normal contractual duties and any suggestion to the contrary is utterly false.”

We contacted the University of Kent for comment. They sent us a link to their policy page, where UCU attained their information, and said, “we regularly review our position and will communicate any changes as and when relevant.”

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “Universities that wish to exploit the law and punish their staff as much as possible are storing up problems for the future and risk prolonging the dispute.

“Action short of a strike highlights just how much universities rely on the goodwill of their staff who go the extra mile. Universities will need that goodwill when this dispute is all over, so it seems foolish to find ways now to maximise the punishment of their staff.

“It is encouraging that some universities recognise we are at a crucial stage in this dispute and are adopting a more conciliatory tone. We would urge institutions like Kent, Sheffield and St Andrews to do the same or risk being seen as the pariahs of the sector.”

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “A deduction of pay will be made for all employees who take any strike action. The University is entitled to withhold pay for staff who take strike action and it has been decided to deduct pay at 1/365th of annual salary for each day of strike action taken.

“The University will not benefit from strike pay deducted from staff and will use it to the benefit of students.

“Provided that the ASOS carried out by individuals does not impact upon the “proper discharge of their duties” then this should not result in partial performance of duties and no deductions of pay will be made. However, this is without prejudice to the University’s right to withhold full pay in the future for partial performance, should it be determined that there is an impact upon the proper discharge of duties.

“Should that be the case, then it has been decided to deduct 20 per cent of pay at 1/365th of salary. The University reserves the right to review the basis for making any deductions in respect of ASOS which may include refusing to accept partial performance and making deductions from salary of up to 100 per cent and will write to all staff to confirm the basis for any future calculations should these be changed.”

Strikes are scheduled to commence on Monday the 5th of March for four days, concluding with a five-day walkout from Monday the 12th of March to the Friday 16th of March.

Image: Nicole Wootton-Cane

Storm Emma disrupts University teaching

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Teaching at the University of Manchester was disrupted as the ‘the Beast from the East’ and ‘Storm Emma’ battered Manchester as it swept across the UK.

Train, bus, and Metrolink services in and around Greater Manchester were heavily affected by the heavy snow showers, strong winds, and icy conditions, meaning some teaching staff were forced to cancel seminars and lectures due to being unable to commute to the University.

It is unknown exactly how many lecturers and classes were cancelled, as decisions ultimately lay with individual teaching staff and departments, but courses such as Architecture, Nursing, and Theological Studies were affected.

Robyn Carty, a second-year University of Manchester Children’s Nursing student who had University classes on Thursday the 1st of March and Friday the 2nd of March, said: “Cancelling classes was a good decision because it meant that attendance won’t be affected. This is important on our course because it’s government funded so you’re expected to have 100 per cent attendance.

“Cancelling classes in advance meant people didn’t have the pressure of feeling like they have to come in when it might not be safe or they might get stranded. It was especially beneficial for people that live further away from University like me, or students who have to worry about childcare if their kids’ schools have closed.”

Jack Dickie, a first-year University of Manchester Architecture student who also had teaching cancelled, suggested that students who commuted from home weren’t given enough notice about the cancellations.

Jack said: “I wasn’t too bothered if classes were cancelled or not. The email was sent at 7:16 am and the lecture was at 9 am.

“Plenty of time for students living away yet those that commute, we left enough time due to the weather and found out when we were on our way.”

According to recently published research by the Sutton Trust, 23 percent of UK University students commute from home.

Military personnel were drafted in to rescue stranded lorries and cars on the M62 motorway, trains were cancelled from Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly, and bus services were cancelled due to the wintry conditions.

On Friday the 2nd of March, weather forecasts indicated that ‘Storm Emma’ could bring up to 50 cm of additional snow to parts of the UK and a red weather warning for snow was in force for south-west England and South Wales until the early hours of the day.

The University of Manchester was contacted for comment.

Image: Policy Exchange @ Flickr

Refund students for lost teaching, says Universities Minister

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

Students should receive compensation for lost teaching as a result of the ongoing strikes by university staff due to pension disputes.

That’s the view of Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah, who told universities at the launch of the new higher education regulator that this was the “age of the student” and that students deserved better value for money.

Tens of thousands of students nationwide have signed petitions demanding refunds for loss of teaching after the University College and Union backed a strike, which started on the 22nd of February and could last several weeks.

Mr Gyimah said: “students should not lose a day of the education they are paying for and I expect young people to get compensation for the lost study time, as some universities like Kings College London have already started looking in to.

“Universities should also look to provide additional lectures where they are missed due to strike action, which is so important at this time in the academic year.”

Melis Royer, a University of Manchester student who started a petition signed by almost 7,000 people addressed to the University of Manchester demanding compensation, said: “I don’t think it’s fair that we are treated like consumers in every other way except when it comes down to us using our consumer voices. Universities and more specifically government can’t have it both way.

“You can’t make students pay an extortionate amount of money, treat them like consumers, treat staff poorly and run universities like a service and not expect a backlash. I think what we’re seeing around the UK from students like myself is a positive step. This is the age of the students.”

The University of Manchester Vice-Chancellor, Nancy Rothwell, released a video updating students on how the ongoing industrial action might affect students and what the University was doing to minimise disruption.

Hana Jafar, another University of Manchester student who authored an open letter to the University signed by several hundreds students also demanding compensation for lost teaching, commented: “senior management needs to know that it is not enough to release a video with a statement expressing that they share our concerns. We want to see tangible action, and we want transparency in this process.

“Turning a deaf ear to lecturers’ concerns is hostile, and students will not stand by and watch this injustice. Mitigating the damage is not limited to making sure students get the material and hours they have paid for. An institution with staff resorting to strikes is doing something very wrong and has let it get out of hand.”

A University spokesperson said: “since the University charges a composite fee for our courses we cannot reimburse individual students for specific elements of missed teaching and assessment.

“A ‘composite fee’ covers more than just the face-to face-tuition a student receives and includes: registration, examination fees, access to IT, use of the library and student support services such advice and guidance services, and the careers service).”

On Monday the 5th of March, University College and Union and Universities UK (UUK) will begin further talks, which will be mediated by the conciliation service Acas.

Strike action will commence on Monday the 5th of March for four days and will then conclude with a five-day walkout from Monday the 12th of March to Friday the 16th of March.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “we are pleased the employers have agreed to more talks. We have listened not just to our members, but also to the many university leaders who have contributed ideas.

“At the core of our proposals is for universities to accept a small amount of increased risk, but only at a level a majority have recently said they are comfortable with. Doing this would enable us to provide a decent, guaranteed pension at a more modest cost with smaller contribution increases.”

The University of Manchester said that “the University fully understands the concerns of students and staff and is pleased that UCU and UUK will shortly be meeting for further talks.”

Russell Group universities that were established before 1992 currently pay into what is known as a ‘defined benefit scheme’ pension that is managed by the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), although decisions made about it are made by Universities UK (UUK).

USS take a percentage out of employees’ pay, which is then matched or more by the employer. This is invested in a pension fund which they can then withdraw at the point of retirement.

UUK announced in November 2017 that they now want to change this to a ‘defined contribution scheme’ (that will still be managed by USS) in order to counteract the apparent pension deficit.

This would mean that employee and employer contributions will be invested in the stock market, with the aim of growing it over the years before retirement. Each employee in the scheme then receives a share of the pot when they leave the employer.

This can pose a substantial risk on the employee, as it is not guaranteed that these investments will be fruitful. Their resulting pension may in fact be less than their initial contribution.

Members of the UCU at 61 Universities voted to take strike action on Monday the 22nd of January after talks with Universities UK (UUK) over the future of staff pensions ended without an agreement, amidst fear that new pension proposals would result in an average lecturer losing £200,000 in retirement.

Photo: David Dixon @Geograph

Council to take action over affordable housing crisis

Written by George Walker on . Posted in News.

A complete absence of affordable housing in Manchester City Centre has brought forth questions about cost of living and gentrification in Manchester.

A report by Greater Manchester Housing Action revealed that out of 15,000 recently built homes in the city centre, not one can be classed as ‘affordable’.

The report showed specifically how people would need to be earning up to and beyond £10,000 more than the average salary in Manchester in order to reliably pay mortgage repayments on the new flats.

The new report was commissioned by Greater Manchester Housing Action from Dr Jonathan Silver, an academic at Sheffield university. He found that roughly half of the new Manchester homes had been funded by international wealth, from countries such as Singapore, Germany, China, and the Middle East, some of which operate through off-shore vehicles with limited financial transparency.

The overall effects of such a model are clear, he believes — the apartments are primarily assets for investors, not homes.

On Tuesday, the council released plans for “Innovative housing schemes” which “will help bring affordable homes to Manchester people”.

In a press release on the 1st of March, Councillor Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “we know that affordable housing is a real concern for Mancunians and a subject of considerable debate and some speculation. We want to reassure people that affordable housing is a very high priority for us at the Council…Last week [we broke ground on 40 new council homes in the city and we have many more in the pipeline.”

“We are overseeing the delivery of thousands of new decent affordable homes and will continue to make the best use of our resources to maximise this, as well as continuing to maximise section 106 planning contributions which help pay for lots of public infrastructure works as well as affordable housing.

“Manchester is a sought-after place to live and for the city to continue to thrive it’s essential that we meet the demand for all types of housing.”

Two new housing schemes are to be introduced to make affordable housing for first time buyers and lower income households. A Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) is also to be established, which would be used to subsidise affordable housing projects.

Manchester’s affordable housing problem was first revealed in a report from Shelter last year, which said Manchester had one of the worst outcomes in the country for affordable housing. Whenever developers used ‘viability’ assessments in the years 2015 and 2016, it resulted in no affordable housing being built.

Shelter’s chief executive Polly estimated at the time that Manchester had lost nearly 500 potential affordable homes, and stated that: “What this research reveals is the scale at which developers are able to use legal loopholes to protect their profits and dramatically reduce the numbers of affordable homes available for people.”

In theory, the council’s policy dictates that all Manchester’s new housing developments of more than 50 units are obliged to contain at least 20 affordable units; otherwise the financial developer must make a contribution. However, since Manchester and Salford’s post-crash development took off in earnest a few years ago, their councils have been allowed to ignore the housing requirements.

Developers initially claimed profits were low, thus ruling affordable housing and contributions for cheaper homes out of their budget. Only planning officers in the town hall could disprove these claims since financial ‘viability’ assessments are kept private from most councillors.

Planning reports have since simply repeatedly claimed that “The developer has indicated that to provide any affordable housing would make the project unviable.”

However, housing is not the end of the problem, it is part of a trend in Manchester. For example, it was recently revealed the alternative clothing shop Rockers in the Northern Quarter may be forced to close due to increasing rents and the fact that the shop is due to be halved due to a new development project.

Owner Katherine Parsons said: “Our lease ran out in November and they haven’t renewed it. We’re on a monthly contract, so we should be here until April. They said it could be summer when the planning application is passed and they would look to rehouse us.

But when I looked at the plans my shop would only be half the size after the changes….Everyone is really upset.”

Richard Ward, consultant for Millerbrook Properties, said “Rents are going up significantly in the Northern Quarter, it’s changing rapidly with a lot of new money coming in” but that “we want to keep the independents in the Northern Quarter — that’s what it’s all about”.

The force of new money and investment in Manchester is a concern for independent retailers in the Northern Quarter and Manchester at large.

Image: Rept0n1x @ Commons Wikimedia

University performs well in world subject rankings

Written by Cameron Broome on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester has been placed in the global top 100 for each of the five broad subject areas measured in the independent 2018 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

These subjects measured were Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Management.

Measured alongside 1,129 universities around the world, the University of Manchester was in the UK top ten for each of these and was also ranked in the top 100 for 37 individual subjects.

A University spokesperson said: “We are pleased that the University has again been placed highly in all five subject groups in this ranking and that we have also had some significant successes in individual subject areas. This independent ranking and others like it demonstrate that in teaching and research Manchester is one of the world’s elite institutions.”

The University ranked 4th in the UK and 53rd in the world for Engineering and Technology, 10th in the UK and 40th in the World for Arts and Humanities, 8th in the UK and 35rd in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine, 5th in the UK and 40th in the world for Natural Sciences and 7th in the UK and 39th in the world for Social Sciences and Management.

To compile the results, the QS team analysed over 22 million papers, producing close to 200 million citations. 1,130 institutions have been ranked across 48 subjects in five subject areas, creating 14,000 published entries.

The Subject rankings complement the QS World University rankings which were published last year and ranked the University of Manchester 34th in the world.

Photo: Public Domain Pictures

Over 200 million NHS ‘medication errors’ per year says report

Written by Jordan Ross on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

The collaborative report, presented last week at the World Patient Safety Science and Technology Summit, focused on how common medication errors are and how they may affect patients’ health and increase the financial burden on the NHS.

It used economic modelling to estimate that approximately 237 million medication errors occur in England each year, with around 66 million of these leading to harm. These may contribute to between 1,700-22,000 deaths from avoidable adverse drug reactions and cost the NHS £95 million per year.

A medication error is a “preventable event that may lead to inappropriate medication use, increase costs and cause minor or severe harm including death.” These errors may arise when prescribing, dispensing, administering or monitoring drugs.

Professor Mark Sculpher, University of York, said: “Although these error rates may look high, there is no evidence suggesting they differ markedly from those in other high-income countries.

“Almost three in four errors would never harm patients and some may be picked up before they reach the patients, but more research is needed to understand just how many that is.”

While the study recognises that most errors do not lead to any harm, it also concedes little is known about how the remaining 27 per cent leads to injury or illness in patients and increases costs.

Fiona Campbell, a researcher on the report from the University of Sheffield, explains, “Measuring harm to patients from medication errors is difficult for several reasons, one being that harm can sometimes occur when medicines are used correctly, but now that we have more understanding of the number of errors that occur we have an opportunity to do more to improve NHS systems.”

As one of the possible consequence of medication errors is adverse drug reactions, this research further looked into their effect on the NHS. It drew upon 36 studies on the matter, ranging from primary healthcare settings, such as a GP practice, to secondary settings, like emergency care.

The data reveals that most harmful errors take place in primary settings and that the cost of such medication errors depends on the level of complication. Costs of such errors can go from £60 per error for a basic problem to up to £6 million for a major complication.

University of Manchester researcher on the report, Professor Rachel Elliott,  argues: “the NHS is a world-leader in this area of research, and this is why we have a good idea about error rates. There is still a lot to do in finding cost-effective ways to prevent medication errors.

What this report is showing us is that we need better linking of information across the NHS to help find more ways of preventing medication errors.”

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

Students fight for Living Wage at University of Manchester

Written by Tilly Gambarotto on . Posted in News.

After successfully campaigning to encourage the University of Manchester Students’ Union to become an accredited Living Wage Employer, students are now putting pressure on the university to follow suit. Accreditation by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) would guarantee the Living Wage for all those directly or indirectly employed by the university, including subcontracted hospitality and cleaning staff.

Not to be confused with the ‘national minimum wage’ which has been set at £7.50 as a minimum legal requirement since April 2017, calculations to establish the Living Wage take into account accommodation, travel, healthy food, and small miscellaneous expenses. It is a voluntary minimum payment by participating employers, currently set at £8.75 outside of London and £10.20 inside the capital. The wage is designed to allow recipients a “basic but acceptable standard of living”, according to the LWF website.

The student campaign group have set up a Facebook page and penned an open letter to the university: “Research from [The University of Manchester] repeatedly praises the Living Wage’s benefits both in social and economic terms.  It cannot be right that the university explicitly claims to support the local community whilst also refusing to ensure all workers are paid enough to live on.” Over 40 lecturers and academic staff have signed the letter in support of the campaign.

The students have teamed up with Greater Manchester Citizens, a community pressure group and local branch of Citizens UK which launched the ‘National Living Wage Campaign’ in 2001 and coordinates the LWF.  Since then the organisation has successfully brought over 150,000 people out of working poverty.

Citizens UK’s website claims that 93 per cent of accredited business have benefited from paying the Living Wage, and have reported a range of improvements including “lower staff turnover, higher team morale and higher productivity”. Over 20 other universities including Oxford and Cardiff, esteemed employers such as KPMG, ITV, Burberry and Oxfam, as well as nearly 4,000 other businesses who “believe their staff deserve a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work” are accredited by the LWF.

“Across the UK one in five working people earns less than the Living Wage; there is still an awful lot to do” the website warns.

When asked to comment, a University of Manchester spokesperson said: “salaries for University staff have consistently met with the Living Wage Foundation’s (LWF) levels in previous years – we do not feel there is a need to become accredited, as we review our pay rates and raise them in line with the LWF rate.”

Chair of the Living Wage campaign at the university Will Ranger, however, says that accreditation is still necessary: “The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that the people on the lowest pay have their incomes rise with inflation so that they continue to be paid enough to live on.”

“It stems from the simple principle”, he argues, “that if you work a full-time job, it is insanity that you should still be unable to live on your income. Manchester University claims to be a ‘socially responsible’ institution but doesn’t guarantee its staff enough to live on”.

Will has found that students, not unfamiliar with the experience of being paid poor wages for tough work, have been sympathetic to the cause and encourages others to join the campaign on Facebook to get involved.

The campaign raises its intensity in the wake of a tumultuous month for the University of Manchester as lecturers embark on a wave of strikes in their dispute with Universities UK (UUK) over changes to their pension scheme.

Photo: Geoff Dexter @ Flickr

Universities to be challenged over spiralling salaries

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

Universities will be forced to be more transparent under new proposals to establish an Office for Students (OfS) in April.

The office, which is set to replace the Higher Education Funding Council for England, will see the widely enjoyed autonomy that has governed the relationship between universities and ministers for decades coming under increasing scrutiny, in a bid to tackle spiralling salaries and an unprecedented rise of graduates leaving university with first-class degrees.

This follows after a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation revealed the extravagant expense accounts of some British university vice-chancellors, in which the heads of academic institutions were found to be enjoying a lavish lifestyle full of 5-star luxuries such as fine-dining and first-class air travel.

In total, it was revealed that vice-chancellors racked up an extensive bill of £8 million in expenses over a two-year period.

200 Freedom of Information requests were sent by the Dispatches team to universities in regards to their expenses claims. One university, the University of Surrey, even paid £1,600 for ‘Oscar,’ the Vice-Chancellor’s dog, to be relocated from Australia.

Whilst the University of Manchester failed to respond to the initial investigation, when contacted for comment, a university spokesperson told The Mancunion that: “In the Channel 4 programme it was noted that our university did not respond to a Freedom of Information request for expense details.

We have investigated this in detail, and have found that the information was provided by the President’s Office but due to a procedural error elsewhere in the university, the information was not provided to the journalist involved.

“The information requested has now been provided to the journalist and reveals that the expense claims and credit card payments for costs while on university business for the President amounted to £ 3,899.61 for the period 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2017.”

Controversially, the Dispatches investigation has added fuel to a growing consensus of anger around the excessive pay brackets of some British university chiefs, with Sally Hunt, leader of the University and College Union stating that “if you’re a leader, you have to be open and clear about what’s going on, and hiding in a toilet, going out for a cup of tea while your mate decides your salary — sorry, that doesn’t make sense to me.”

The investigation comes at a time when 61 universities are undergoing extensive strike action as a result of proposals that could see the average lecturer lose a total sum of £200,000 from their pension pay packet.

Last week, Theresa May branded the UK university system one of “the most expensive systems of university tuition in the world.”

Under the proposed OfS, all university governing boards will be expected to appoint students in order to challenge the PM’s accusation that the “levels of fees charged do not relate to the cost or quality of the course.”

Once the OfS is established, one of the key regulator’s assignments will be tackling the spiralling salaries of vice-chancellors. As of present, more than 60 university chiefs earn upwards of £300,000 a year.

However, under proposed measures, universities will be forced to declare the number of staff on salaries exceeding the annual sum of £100,000. For those raking in over £150,000 a year, full details will have to be provided in order to paint a ratio of the vice-chancellor’s pay to the average salary at the university.

If the university fails to accord with these measures, fines or de-registration will ensue.

The OfS will also aim to gain a greater insight into academic matters, such as the increasing number of students leaving university with first-class degrees. Last year, more than a quarter of students graduated with first-class honours.

However, with extended powers, the OfS will be able to investigate those universities who see a continuous rise in those who ascertain first-class honours degrees without good justification.

Talking to the BBC, Sir Michael Barber, chairman of the OfS stated that: “We do have powers and we won’t flinch from using them if we need to, but we’d much rather if universities ran this regulator themselves rather than [us] having to intervene. But nobody should be under any illusions; if we need to, we will.”

Image: Students' Union

Students’ Union Exec elections open for 2018/19

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

From Thursday the 1st of March at 12pm, students will be able to vote in the Students’ Union Executive Officer elections.

Ballots will remain open until Thursday the 8th of March at 5pm.

The roles up for election are: General Secretary; Education Officer; Campaigns, Community, and Citizenship Officer; Liberation and Access Officer; Welfare Officer; Women’s Officer; International Student Officer; and Activities and Development Officer.

A few changes have been made from previous elections, including the scrapping of the Diversity officer in favour of the International Student and Liberation and Access officers. Also, the roles of Community and Campaign officers have been merged.

Every day between the 1st and 8th of March, the Students’ Union will be giving away a prize to a random student who has voted in the Exec Elections including a £60 Deliveroo voucher, a limo ride to a lecture and bus pass worth £150.

Students can vote at ballot boxes around campus or online via the Students’ Union website.

To find out more about each of the candidates and read their manifesto, students can visit the Students’ Union website.

The results of the election will be announced on the the 8th of March.

Photo: Hannah Brierley. Reclaim the Night march

Reclaim the night: as told by those who marched

Written by Liv Clarke on . Posted in Features.

There isn’t a lot that can stop the constant stream of traffic down the Curry Mile, but it always disappears for Reclaim the Night, which took place this year on February 22nd. The annual event is an opportunity to fight back against sexual assault on the streets of Manchester, and every year other aspects concerning Women’s Rights get thrown into the mix too, reflecting that this is not a localised issue but a worldwide problem.

Last year, President Trump’s attitude towards women was reflected on a lot of placards and this year the focus was on the #metoo and Time’s Up campaigns. Just over a month ago, a Time’s Up rally was held in London, a year after the initial Women’s March.

Often it can feel like there is a lot of distance between these large-scale movements about gender equality and the average person. The fact that today more and more people are talking about discrimination against women, sexual assault, and rape culture is positive; these discussions can lead to actions which get results.

When an actress talks up about the problems she’s had to encounter because of her gender it keeps the subject in the media and increases awareness; people should not and cannot ignore these issues any longer.

But it is difficult to associate yourself with someone who lives a very different life; how are these wealthy, famous actresses who don their Times Up badges going to help change the lives of students in a gritty city in the north of England?

This is why an event like Reclaim the Night is so important as it tackles the issue at a grassroots level. It’s a chance to take back the streets where we no longer want to feel unsafe and afraid.

Photo: Hannah Brierley
Photo: Hannah Brierley

With Reclaim the Night, ordinary students come together and make their voices heard. Placards are made with old cereal boxes and cardboard packaging; one side will have ‘Girls just want fundamental rights’ painted on it, the other will be covered in the remnants of Amazon prime tape and an address of a resident of Owen’s Park.

These small details are a reminder that every person who takes part in Reclaim the Night is just an everyday student, who in fact makes up a significant proportion of the population of Manchester.

The event also celebrates different voices all united with the common goal of making the streets safe. The march isn’t just a line of “women”; there are blocks dedicated to Muslims, the LGBTQ community, and this year a ‘Pro-choice’ block was added as a response to anti-abortion protests in Fallowfield.

People attend the event for different reasons, some have been victims of discrimination and assault — as the #metoo movement illustrated, this is a scarily common occurrence even today. Others are there purely because they don’t feel safe walking home at night alone.

For Rosa Gane, a final year student who’s attended the event each year and has helped to organise it in previous years, “Reclaim the Night is an empowering event which helps you feel part of a community of people who will support you if or when anything terrible happens”.

Anybody who’s taken part in the march will know the sense of comradeship you get from walking out from Owen’s Park and chanting in unison. “I think the march helps to attract the attention of Greater Manchester Police,” says Rosa, “and the University to get on their radar about what matters to students in the area.”

Photo: Hannah Brierley
Photo: Hannah Brierley

Indeed, Reclaim the Night is a very public way of highlighting the problem of sexual assault; a crowd of people marching for what they believe is something you can’t easily ignore.

For me, Reclaim the Night is an inspiring event because the passion people have for the cause is evident everywhere. The march is against something very negative, but the event itself is incredibly positive. Students come together at the banner making sessions, volunteers decorate the Students’ Union for the after party and there’s always confused laughter when the chants get mixed up.

It’s been 100 years since some women in the UK gained the right to vote, but women are still uniting and reclaiming the night.

Photo: Pixabay @ Pexels.com

Science news around the world this week

Written by Sophie Boyd on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

Arctic seed vault set to reach one million mark

The stronghold of the world’s most precious seeds, held in Svalbard, Norway, is set to have a delivery of 70,000 seeds on the 10th anniversary of the Global Seed Vault next week.

The vault has varieties of important food crops that are regarded as essential for safeguarding the world’s food supplies amid fears of drought and climate change. The store acts as a back-up for other seed banks around the world.

The upcoming delivery contains unique varieties of rice, wheat and maize. It has been estimated that there will eventually be 2.2 million unique varieties of crops deposited in this Arctic vault.

Researchers develop online game to educate public against fake news

Researchers from Cambridge have developed an online game, ‘Bad News,’ where players have to compete to become the “disinformation and fake news tycoon.”

This has been created to educate the public about fake news and to allow people to spot unreliable claims. The aim of the game is to maximise Twitter followers by using fake news whilst attempting to retain credibility.

At each stage, players are asked if they are happy with their actions or if they feel shame. Data from the game will be gathered over the next six months to understand how well players spot the tactics used.

King penguins face trouble due to climate change

A team of French scientists have found that fragmented populations of king penguins in the Southern Oceans are likely to become increasingly unstable.

The fragmentation in their population was caused by movement away from usual nesting sites due to a lack of food. As the climate warms further, foraging sites will eventually be too far away for the penguins to feed their chicks.

King penguins can forage up to 700 km before exposing their chicks to starvation. It has been estimated that almost 70 per cent, around 1.1 million pairs, of king penguins will have to relocate before the end of the century as a result of climate change. If they can’t relocate, their numbers will reduce drastically.

Photo: Alicia Love

Disadvantaged students three times more likely to live at home

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News, Opinion.

Disadvantaged students are three times more likely to be in the 23 per cent of University students who are estimated to live at home compared to their wealthier peers, according to a new report.

The Sutton Trust has investigated mobility for students across the UK, providing insight into the reality for thousands of students across the country who commute to university campuses.

While the concept of student living in halls is considered to be a quintessential aspect of university life to some, the reality of the Trust’s findings provide a considerably-different picture, finding that over a fifth (23 per cent) of students aged 21 or under live at home, with that figure 12 per cent higher for those in Scotland.

Predictably, economic concerns appear to be the primary motivation behind the decision to live at home while studying, with over half of UK students enrolled at universities less than 55 miles from their homes.

This appears to confirm the worrying possibility of a “postcode lottery” with regards to access to Higher Education, with young people restricted in their choices of institution based on their home address.

Students in the South of England were found to be much more likely to move considerable distance than fellow students in Northern areas, with the North East of England identified as the peak region for students living at home.

Findings revealed that students from recognisably-disadvantaged backgrounds were three times as likely to be forced into commuting to university, with a difference relating to educational backgrounds was also noted, with state school students found to be increasingly likely to attend a university within close proximity to home.

The report highlighted a link between student mobility and ethnic factors, with British Pakistani and Bangladeshi students reported to be over six times as likely to live at home than their White counterparts.

Sutton Trust Chairman Peter Lampl was insistent upon the effect of increased tuition fees on a such a phenomenon, noting that the tendency of disadvantaged students to live at home, “has become more pronounced since the introduction of tuition fees of £9,000 per year in 2012”, meaning that “for students living at home access to the most selective universities is limited”.

Lampl led the list of recommendations offered by the report, by suggesting that selective institutions should reserve a select number of places for students from local low and moderate-income backgrounds — although some have questioned how this will aid the mobility of disadvantaged students to travel to institutions nationwide.

The Trust also suggested the revision of university timetables to accommodate students travelling to lectures from home, and further argued for increased awareness of the restrictions on certain students to study away from home, due to cultural reasons.

Furthermore, the Review of Post-18 Education has been advised to consider the possibility of reforming the current student finance model, with the possibility of re-introducing previously-popular policies, such as means-tested fees and maintenance grants.

Afzal Khan, currently an MEP, will stand for Labour at the Gorton by-election [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

Interview: Afzal Khan comments on Safety in Fallowfield

Written by Lucinda Obank on . Posted in Features.

Following the recent spike in crimes over Fallowfield, students are now demanding change. Many see no improvement in safety as the regularly updated Fallowfield Students Group is still flooded with stories of muggings, attacks, break-ins, verbal abuse, and stalkings.

Earlier this month, Louis O’Halloran urged students to contact both local MP Afzal Khan and their MPs from home. He created a template for other students to use with the intention to illustrate the widespread prevalence of crime that still exists. Hopefully, the increased pressure on MPs, as a result, will start to trigger action that is much overdue.

Personally, I was interested in what Afzal Khan had to say himself as MP for Manchester Gorton constituency. I arranged a telephone interview to speak with him directly.

Firstly, I asked his opinion on whether he thought Louis’ approach was a good one. Khan congratulated Louis on taking initiative to contact MPs as their job is to serve the communities in which they lead. He later commented that many students have got in touch, whether this is a direct result of Louis or because of their own experiences is uncertain, but “there is clearly a problem.”

Khan said he welcomed any support on offer to help improve safety in Fallowfield but claims that ultimately there needs to be sufficient resources available for the professionals.

He attributes eight years of austerity policies which have seen police departments cut in numbers the reason for high levels of crime: “This has increased the pressure on the police and strained resources.”

I then asked his opinion of the Night Owl Scheme which emerged out of the petition last October. Khan commented the petition was “impressive” in terms of volume and demonstrated the needs of students in Fallowfield.

However, although the Night Owl Scheme is yet to launch Khan expressed mixed opinions of it. “Any support people can give is welcome, [however, the] safety of Night Owls is a concern.”

When asked what students can do themselves to help he advised that keeping in groups and staying alert is key. Remaining vigilant at all times on the streets as the theft of mobile phones by thieves on bicycles has increased.

I then asked what he is doing to help as our MP because students have felt unsafe for a long time. He emphasised the importance of working collaboratively with students, the university, police, and the council to be most effective. Khan seemed keen to point out that, “students are our future.” He plans to meet students themselves and talk to them about their issues. Apart from this, he didn’t mention any other steps or plans for the future which was disappointing.

I finished the conversation by informing him of some of the ideas students have suggested themselves. This included improving street lighting, improving student-police relationships — as many feel neglected when crimes are just logged on to a system with no follow-up — and increasing police presence on our streets. Khan agreed with all of these contributions, but only time will tell if any of these will be implemented.

The marvel of the real Black Panthers

Written by Mohsin Uppal on . Posted in Opinion.

Possibly what is already the blockbuster of the year is out: Marvel’s Black Panther. It’s a film chronicling comic book hero Black Panther, also known as T’Challa, King of Wakanda.

Black Panther was the first black superhero, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. And as we reach the end of Black History Month, it is T’challa’s namesake this article wishes to address: the Black Panther Party.

The first appearance of Black Panther in Fantastic Four #66 predates the founding of the Black Panther Party by only a few months. However, it is clear that he has been treated better by history over the years than the revolutionary political party of Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale.

The Black Panther Party has been vilified ever since its inception as a result of disinformation operations at the behest of the state. It’s often being touted as a black KKK, or a violent gang. This could not be further from the truth. 52 years after their founding, it’s high time we learnt about the marvel of the real Black Panthers.

The party was founded in Oakland, California by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966, as the Black Panther Party for Self-defence.

Although California was not a Jim Crow state such as Alabama or Mississippi, the problems African-Americans faced there were just as real. Often black people found themselves to be living in the poorest neighbourhoods with the least government support and the most crime.

Tensions between the urban African-American populations and police in cities such as Compton, Harlem, and Detroit were high, as a number of high profile police shootings of unarmed black men raised public consciousness. Just 16 out of the 661 police officers in Oakland were black, which exacerbated this divide.

Newton and Seale were both former students of Merritt College, and had studied the works of influential black figures such as Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael.

They saw the teachings of figures like these and wanted to create a way for urban African-Americans to defend themselves in the wake of police brutality, and to organise their own communities in the wake of government neglect.

They drew upon far-left socialist and Marxist theory and combined that with black power thought to develop a 10-point plan in which they called for an end to police brutality, adequate housing for all, black pride, black participation in politics, and (famously) calling for black people to arm themselves in the face of oppression from the police, the KKK, and other white supremacist groups.

Some of their most remarkable work was their Community Survival Programmes in which they provided free breakfasts to school children, free adult education, free clothing, healthcare, transport, and self-defence classes, amongst a myriad of other social programmes. The Panthers were stepping in where the government had consistently failed black people.

Unfortunately, however, not everyone was comfortable with black people exercising their second amendment rights in the same way a white person could. Ronald Reagan, then governor of California, passed the Mulford Act of 1967, banning open carry in California in response to the Black Panthers.

Yes, you heard that right, a Republican hero enacting gun control – all because those who had the guns were black and wanted to defend themselves, just as anyone of any other race would. But the organised disruption of the Black Panthers by the establishment did not end here.

The most consequential was the FBI’s COINTELPRO operation, a covert, and often illegal operation designed to discredit and dismantle the Black Panthers. The operation sought to, in their own words, “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralise the activities of the Black nationalists.”

One of the most shocking incidents were the deaths of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, who were asleep in their apartment when they were killed by Chicago police officers.

The police claimed that it was a heavy gun battle in which more than a hundred rounds were fired. Later inquests indicated that only one of these bullets were fired from the side of Hampton and Clark, and that the FBI had a significant role in leading up to the raid.

The COINTELPRO operation is where many of the myths surrounding the Black Panthers came from. They were not a hate group, and although they had revolutionary ideas, the closest they came to a revolution was to give school children free food.

They were a reaction to the oppression of African-Americans at the hands of an institutionally racist state, and sought only to uplift the downtrodden in society and to build up their own forgotten communities. The price they paid for this was vilification. In 1982, after years of disparagement, the party finally disbanded.

They were not perfect by any means, but as black people all over the globe rejoice as the first black superhero film tops the box office, let us not forget the black superheroes of the past.