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Month: January 2019

Photo: @Outside the Frame Arts

Review: Cuts of the Cloth

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Theatre.

Cuts of the Cloth is a radical play about a sexism, Islamophobia, and ‘radical Islam’ — it examines a British Muslim woman’s place in the global War on Terror. The piece is a dystopian play à la 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, and sees a Muslim woman archived in a museum. She is literally objectified, the metaphor being that Muslim women, so often thought to be objectified by Muslim men, are actually objectified by Western ignorance, discourses, and rhetoric.

Hafsah Aneela Bashir is the sole actor and also writer — the play looks at her character’s life as a mother, wife, and teacher, and how being Muslim affects everyday living: dealing, for example, with harassment by immigration officers, and fellow citizens’ ignorance and insensitivities.

In this near-future, Muslims are sent to concentration camps, realignment programmes, or simply disappear. Bashir’s character is archived in ‘an exhibit for the people,’ where people can learn about the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. Every time she mentioned the realignment programme, she uttered “all hail for peace,” signalling indoctrination by Islamophobia. This is alarming given the current ‘re-education’ missions and concentration camps for Muslims in China.

As a British Muslim, I resonated with these things — it was emotional seeing my reality performed on stage. The fact that 52% of British hate crimes are Islamophobic, but are rarely covered by the media, is evidence of why this play is needed. The piece also examined sexism; the #MeToo movement has seen lots of fiction looking at the sexualisation of women, but this play looked at racialised sexism, displaying how difficult it is to be both a woman and a minority.

Bashir sung, danced, and took pride in her Islamic culture. Though objectified as a museum artefact, she refused to dismiss her identity. She channelled many emotions, from anger and frustration to disbelief and confusion. She showed this character at her happiest and also at her most grief-stricken.

The set included two frames that Bashir stood between, signalling she was an artefact. The displayed personal belongings, including a shoe and toys, signalled that this is an ordinary woman who has had her life snatched from her; nothing more than a public attraction. There was a higher piece of set with a microphone, allowing Bashir to tower over everyone, and rise above the world’s horrors, a great directorial choice by Nikki Mailer. One of the final scenes saw Bashir stand above us and read the names of Muslim children and their horrid fates. There was a rally-like feel to it — it was both harrowing and cathartic.

Whilst the content and characterisation were both top-notch, the execution needed some polishing. Whilst Bashir corrected her few small mistakes, she pulled a face when she forgot a line — that breaking out of character took away from an interesting moment: comparing sexism faced by Western and Muslim women.

Kooj Chuhan’s videos on the screen at the back of the stage were very interesting. They included a woman describing the exhibit and discussing radical Islam. Whilst most contributed greatly to the piece, some were a little distracting; Bashir was captivating, and all eyes should have been on her.

The positives, though, definitely outweighed the negatives. The play was didactic and educational but also touching and emotional. Cuts of the Cloth is an ambitious patchwork project — it just requires a little stitching and neatening-up.

Photo: basetree @Flickr

Outing the past: LGBT History Month in Manchester

Written by Jessica Blair on . Posted in Lifestyle.

This February marks the 15th year of celebrating LGBT History Month. The month is dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the lives and contributions of members of the LGBT community. The month also works to “raise awareness and advance education on matters affecting the LGBT community”. Education is key to ensuring the well-being and visibility of LGBT people within all aspects of society.

February will see the festival OUTing The Past held on 10th day of the month. The festival is at the heart of LGBT History Month and aims to educate and entertain, focusing on the important roles played by members of the LGBT community throughout history. OUTing The Past also looks to widen the growing field of academic interest in readings of LGBT History.

The theme for this year’s LGBT History Month is ‘Peace, Reconciliation and Activism’. Such a theme feels increasingly pertinent in the current political climate. This year, Donald Trump’s administration revoked several laws and official guidance designed to protect the rights of, in particular, transgender people. Manchester has long been a city proud of its close ties with the LGBT community. However, recent funding cuts have meant the position of Trans Officer has been revoked by NUS.

It has become clear that, while attitudes to LGBT people have undoubtedly come a long way in recent years, there is still an incredibly long way to go. Therefore, 2019’s LGBT History Month is looking to reinforce a sense of celebration for diverse communities. Festivities come with an acknowledgement of the need to keep striving for equality locally and globally.

LGBT History Month will include the first performance of a new play ‘The Adhesion of Love’. The play focuses on the story of  a man from Bolton meeting queer literary hero Walt Whitman. OUTing The Past will also include a performance of the People’s History Museum’s writer-in-residence Stephen M Hornby’s production about Peter Tatchell called ‘First Rumours’.

It appears even more evident that this year is especially important in ensuring we speak up about LGBT rights and visibility within our city. Events such as LGBT History Month and OUTing the Past remind us that Manchester continues to be a city that strives to celebrate and promote inclusivity and visibility.

More information on LGBT History Month and OUTing The Past can be found at lgbthistorymonth.org.uk  and  www.outingthepast.org.uk.

JThomas @ Geograph

Manchester ranks in top five UK cities for fly-tipping

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in News.

Manchester ranks as the UK’s second-worst city for fly-tipping incidents, new research from a leading recycling company has found.

The study was published by The Furniture Recycling Group (TFR), an organisation that has recycled over one million mattresses since 2012.

TFR revealed that, over the last five years, there had been in excess of 91,000 reports of fly-tipping across Greater Manchester, placing the city second in the national rankings.

London was far ahead of any other metropolitan area, with 366,087 reported cases in the same period.

In September last year, it was claimed by Manchester start-up Dsposal that, on average, there had been 144 incidents of fly-tipping a day, costing the council close to £5 million, and a further £750,000 for non-recyclable materials.

Elsewhere in the North, figures for Liverpool suggested that the equivalent of 15% of the population had committed the offence at some point in the last five years, while 1 in 13 have fly-tipped in Leicester and Sheffield.

With the crisis fast becoming an epidemic, there have been widespread calls for the government to take action by enforcing stricter penalties and increasing investment into landfill alternatives.

TFR Managing Director Nick Oettinger was however unconvinced that harsher fines would stem the crisis.

”The Government has started to recognise the increasing problem of fly-tipping with a proposed introduction of new financial penalties for householders who fail to properly dispose of waste.

”While these new financial penalties will deter some fly-tippers, the current waste charges set by local Councils is partly responsible for the increase in fly-tipping. Many UK Councils now charge a fee to collect bulky items such as sofas and mattresses from residents.

“Additionally, we have conducted recent research indicating that England will reach crisis point soon if there isn’t an immediate focus on the recycling of bulkier waste streams which are difficult to compress and take up a huge amount of landfill space. So this is a multi-faceted problem that requires a big solution.”

Photo: Анна Нэсси @Wikimedia Commons

Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of tax evasion

Written by Harry Deacon on . Posted in Sport.

Juventus’ world-class forward Cristiano Ronaldo has recently appeared in court facing tax evasion charges. The superstar, and third richest athlete in the world according to Forbes, had to accept a £16.6 million fine.

The court appearance has come amongst a rich vein of form for Ronaldo, who has just secured his first piece of Italian silverware, lifting the Italian Super Cup and scoring the only goal in the 1-0 victory over struggling AC Milan.

On the pitch, it seems Ronaldo is his usual self, firing on all cylinders. However, the Portuguese icon has been grabbing the back-page headlines for all the wrong reasons as of late. This tax evasion case, amid a pre-existing rape allegation, is an added spotlight being pointed away from Ronaldo’s performances on the pitch and towards his more personal affairs.

Some of the biggest names in Spanish football are currently facing a number of tax evasion cases. Xavi Alonso could face up to 5 years jail time for supposed events when he was at Real Madrid. Other huge names including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marcelo have all also been caught up in the Spanish legal system in the not so distant past.

With Ronaldo taking a pay cut to earn just over £26 million a year after tax at his new club, it makes one wonder the necessity for using the “Beckham law” at Real Madrid to avoid taxes.

Inflation in footballers price tags has seen an almost exponential rise in the last few seasons, giving an emphasis to the importance of the player’s wages in transfers.

Aaron Ramsey’s move to join Ronaldo at Juventus on a free transfer raised a few eyebrows to say the least. However, the Welshman, who is undergoing a medical, has been able to secure a larger salary at the Turin giants due to the lack of a transfer fee.

It is evident that there is no shortage of money in modern football, and clearly some of the game’s top players are hesitant to part with their six-figure weekly salaries.

fut@ globedia

Young English footballers’ international options

Written by Harry Deacon on . Posted in Sport.

With Gareth Southgate’s men reaching the semi-finals in Russia over the summer, and drawing The Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, anticipation for the future of the English football could not be higher.

On top of this, it seems like the next set of English youngsters could propel the national side to even greater achievements, with latter stages of major tournaments being reached at all levels of the English set up.

However, the international feats of many of these players is not being replicated for their domestic clubs. With the explosion in foreign talent being brought into the Premier League it is clear to see that young English talent is being ignored.

One of the most notable and recent examples of this is that of Callum Hudson-Odoi. Odoi was part of the England under-17s squad that reached the final of the 2017 European Championship, scoring in the final as England lost on penalties to Spain.

With Odoi starring at the under-17s level and a with bright future ahead of him, it seems ludicrous for Chelsea to now be on the brink of buckling under the building pressure from Bayern Munich to sway him towards the Bundesliga.

Speaking in 2017, Dermot Drummy, an experienced academy leader at both Chelsea and Arsenal, said, “it comes from the owners. If Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich said to Antonio Conte, ‘push the youth players, don’t worry about results for a few seasons’, they would come through.

“But you won’t break the cycle until that happens”.

The drive for instant trophies and marketing success is showed by Chelsea’s decision to sign 20-year-old Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for a huge sum of £58 million, while Callum Hudson-Odoi remains sat on the bench.

Odoi could be following in the footsteps of an increasing number of young Englishmen that are diverting their immediate careers away from the Premier League and towards foreign shores, mostly in Germany.

The most notable of these is Jadon Sancho. Sancho won player of the tournament in the 2017 under-17s European Championship, as well as lifting the under-17s World Cup in the same year.

After losing confidence in his playing time at Manchester City the skilful winger forced an £8 million move to Borussia Dortmund. Sancho has grabbed the headlines ever-since, scoring 5 and assisting 6 in the Bundesliga alone this season.

Sancho and Hudson-Odoi are not the only young players being looked at by the Bundesliga and Europe’s other top Leagues. Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson is performing well at Hoffenheim while Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts is at Girona.

It seems foreign clubs have grown wise to the pool of unused and frustrated English youngsters and have turned their scouting attention towards the English youth setups.

Notable players under serious interest include West Ham’s Reece Oxford and Fulham’s Matt O’Riley, showing that the problem runs far deeper than just the ‘top 6’.

The situation is typified by the recent statement of a director of football at a Ligue 1 club: “we can’t believe some of the quality English clubs have and don’t use.” Proving that much of the continent has turned its attention to fresh English talent that is not being given first team football.

As mentioned, the last two years has seen the under-17s both win the 2017 World Cup and reach the final of the 2017 European Championship. These competitions saw Phil Foden shoot into the media headlight due to his performances.

Foden has been tipped for greatness, but only making 8 appearances, with many from the bench, so far in the 2018/19 Premier League season, may have a detrimental impact on his development and could see him fall behind the likes of Sancho who are staring more regularly.

A saviour, perhaps, is the influence of the Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. The pair, especially under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, have come alive and are proving that it is possible to reach the top level by staying in England.

However, one doesn’t even have to leave Manchester United’s youth setup to find another example of a young player using other European leagues on their path to the top. Paul Pogba used Serie A giants Juventus to continue developing his skills before returning to the Premier League and Manchester United for a record breaking £89 million.

With the England under-20s and under-19s also achieving major tournament success since 2017 it would be a tremendous misjudgement by Premier League clubs to continue allowing developing players to go abroad in order to gain first team experience at the right level.

Players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke were instrumental in the under-20s World Cup victory in South Korea. Solanke’s recent £17 million move to Bournemouth shows just how indispensable these players are to the Premier League.

On the one hand, the onus is on the managers of Premier League sides to avoid using their under-23s squad only in the Carabao Cup and Europa League dead-rubbers. It is also to stop from loaning potential talents to extremely low-quality outfits that stunts their growth as top end players.

On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the clubs’ board members and owners to give the managers opportunity to experiment with their young players in the Premier League, rather than simply favouring big money transfers and executive profitable decisions.

Although the Premier League may be dwindling in chances for these young English players, it is evident by the major tournament triumphs that their quality is still improving year by year.

As foreign scouts have begun to notice this, the English national side may have an increasingly strong pool of players, that just so happens to be playing its football on the continent.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons @DerHexer

Judd Trump beats Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4 to win his first Masters title at Alexandra Palace

Written by James Gill on . Posted in Sport.

Judd Trump pulled off a convincing victory in the final of the Masters against Ronnie O’Sullivan. The match was expected to be closely fought between two of the biggest snooker players however Trump played magnificently in the first session creating a lead that was too much for the seven-time champion O’Sullivan.

Trump had not won a Triple Crown (World Championships, UK Championship, and the Masters) event in eight years since the UK Championships in 2011, but his performance would have you believe it was only a few months. He took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first session, with O’Sullivan picking up just 45 points.

The 43-year-old O’Sullivan managed to take the next frame but could not get any more of a foothold in the session and it ended 7-1 to Trump. With the match a ‘best of 19 frames’ format, O’Sullivan would need to achieve a 9-2 or better scoreline in the evening session to win.

Whilst this may seem an insurmountable task, it has been seen in a Masters final before. Back in 1991 the defending champion Stephen Hendry came up against Mike Hallett and was expected to seal a quick and simple victory. Hendry, to the surprise of everyone except perhaps Hallet, went down 7-0, then 8-2.

With this iteration of the tournament a ‘best of 17 frames’ format, Hallet needed just one more frame to take his first Triple Crown title. Hendry proved to be far from beaten though and, in what has been called one of the greatest finals in snooker history, he won 7 straight frames to successfully defend his Masters title. Hallett later said, “it took me about six months to get over it, I was totally crushed.”

Sadly, for O’Sullivan and the audience watching, there wasn’t a legendary comeback like Hendry’s. Despite O’Sullivan getting two century performances getting three frames back, he ultimately lost to Trump 10-4. Trump wins £200,000 for his victory and receives the Paul Hunter Trophy.

After the match, Trump said: “I have waited a long time for this. It has been seven or eight years since I last won a big one. You are always surprised when you have a lead against Ronnie at any point. He looked sharp tonight. I had to be at my best to just get to 3-3 in the last session.”

“I was getting sick of losing and watching other players winning all the titles on TV,” said Trump. “The likes of Mark Selby consistently staying at world number one, Mark Williams coming back to form and winning the World Championship and obviously Ronnie O’Sullivan.

“This is easily the biggest event I have won now. I used to play all-out attack and it worked now and again but this week I did not play brilliantly apart from against O’Sullivan. I am very pleased with how I dug in and showed patience.

“It has been a long time since I won a massive event and it has taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice. The rewards have paid off for the practice I have done over the last four or five months. Hopefully it is a major turning point in my career now and I can kick on.”

With the next Triple Crown event coming in April with the World Championships, the result of this final seems to have changed a few people’s minds about who could win. Six-time world champion Steve Davis said: “It’s put the cat among the pigeons for the World Championship because all of a sudden he is a credible winner. He plays a modern-day game.”

“It’s no-compromise snooker. He doesn’t shirk up his responsibilities on the table. He can play safe, he knows how to mix it up, but he’s happiest among the balls the same as O’Sullivan is. Some of the modern players coming through, they’re changing the equation for what are the right and wrong shots.”

Photo: Albert Bridge @ Geograph

Students overpaying hundreds for housing as landlords inflate prices

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

New research from Mojo Mortgages has found that students in Manchester and a number of other UK cities are paying higher than market price for their housing, with prices being inflated by agencies who rent properties either exclusively or mostly to students.

A comparison of prices on popular house pricing websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla with prices quoted by student letting agencies for the same properties found wide disparities in pricing in a majority of major university cities, with Exeter, Norwich, and Newcastle the worst offenders.

Mojo Mortgages looked specifically at 30 different four-bed properties in each of the cities surveyed and found there to be a difference of at least £10 per person per month between the online Rightmove price and the quoted price from a student lettings agency.

Manchester found itself on the upper end of the spectrum, with an average £17 increase by student lettings agencies, which in the context of a four-bed house would amount to £816 over the course of the year. With a house of four being somewhat less than the usual size of most student houses, with many colossal ten-bed properties on offer around Fallowfield, the figure of £816 would be much less than what most students can realistically expect to be overpaying during a year of study.

Other nearby cities such as Leeds and Nottingham made an appearance just above Manchester on the list, with average rent increases of £49 and £27 per person per month respectively. Liverpool and Sheffield appear right at the bottom of the list, with students in these cities paying a few pounds under the quoted Rightmove prices. Rounding off the bottom of the list was Bristol, where student house prices sit at a remarkable £40 per person per month below online prices.

Mojo Mortgages also included data on the outright most expensive student areas based on average rent per person per month, with Manchester falling just outside the top ten with an average cost of £390.50. Lancaster was the most expensive city in the North West with an average cost of £406. Liverpool, Leeds, and Sheffield all appeared below Manchester.

The data released by Mojo Mortgages earlier this month should come as no real surprise for Manchester’s students, many of whom struggle with finding affordable housing that meets all of their needs. A second year student currently living in Fallowfield, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Mancunion: “We had to buy our own microwave and kettle, and they only just put a table in the kitchen.” This house costs £105 a week, including full summer rent and a substantial deposit.

Another second year Fallowfield student described house prices in the area as “generally too high”, highlighting the exploitation common with including bills in a property’s rent. “Landlords are aware that students are not knowledgeable in how to organise bills and how much they should cost, so they often do them as an inclusive price which is more than they will actually spend on bills, so make profit.”

While it can be argued that the extra fees would cover the convenience of not having to manage bills between students, the attitude of maximum profits many landlords seem to have comes at the expense of financially-stretched students, many of whom already take a great financial risk in coming to university in the first place and have to get part-time jobs to support their studies.

Students are ill-equipped to tackle the full scale of housing issues presented to them so early in their university lives. As soon as two months into their first year, there exits immense pressure to not only find a fair, affordable house to live in but also a whole group of people to populate it with. This social pressure only adds to the panic of wanting to secure the perfect house, and makes the barrage of new information, subtle fees, and lengthy contracts incredibly overwhelming for students who find themselves at the mercy of lettings agencies. With Mojo Mortgages’ research highlighting the exploitative raising of rent, the question of accountability must be raised.

There is definitely a sense of impermanence that helps support exploitative rent practices, as most students have just two years of rented housing in their time as a student, meaning there is little incentive for landlords to retain tenants due to high demand. Students find it easy to change their housing situation for something more favourable in their third year, but that doesn’t negate the thousands paid to a dishonest letting agency in the meantime.

Information is certainly out there in the form of Facebook groups denouncing certain landlords and university-approved landlords from Manchester Student Homes, but these are all too easy to miss for freshers eager to live out their Fresh Meat-inspired student fantasies and have somewhere other than the green walls of Oak House to display their proud collection of event posters.

A University spokesperson said: “Manchester Student Homes runs a number of accreditation schemes for student landlords. To be part of our scheme, landlords and accommodation providers must commit to a high standard of property and tenant management, and we use feedback to ensure we only promote accredited landlords to our students.

“If problems do arise at any stage of the searching or letting process – from disrepair to deposit disputes – Manchester Student Homes can help students, and conduct open and transparent investigations when code complaints are made. Students are advised to source their accommodation through our accredited providers.”

More information can be found on Students’ Union Advice Service website.

Photo: Afghanistan 18 by davric @ Wikimedia Commons

Review: Godsend by John Wray

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

John Wray travelled to Afghanistan to research a non-fiction novel about John Walker Lindh, an American who joined the Taliban and was captured by US troops months before 9/11. While in Afghanistan, Wray heard more and more about a “girl” who, like Lindh, left America to join the Taliban. Wray’s biography of Lindh turned into a novel about this “girl”, who he calls Aden Sawyer, a Californian Muslim revert, who on arrival in a Madrasa in Pakistan, takes on a new name, Suleyman Al-Na’ama.

Aden’s name isn’t the only thing that changes. When she arrives, she starts to wrap her breasts in a bandage under her shalwar kameez, deepens her voice and keeps her hair short. She passes as a boy throughout the novel much to the annoyance of her companion, Decker, who just wants sex. Decker, a Muslim American, travels with her for fun, excitement, adventure. Aden’s reasons for leaving her parents in California are more deep-rooted and harder to understand.

Wray is at his best when he writes the space between characters, between Aden and Decker, her teacher, Hayat, her commander, Ziar, and her father, who is a secular Islamic scholar. You’ll notice that every relationship she has is with a man, we see next to nothing about her mother. While this makes sense as training camps are likely male-dominated areas, it can get a little tiring to see Aden passed from man after man as the plot winds on. 

At first, I was a little wary of Godsend, unsure how an American could convincingly write about the Middle East. I needn’t have been worried. Perhaps because Wray started this novel as non-fiction, Godsend is clearly well-researched – though Wray doesn’t fall into the trap of bombarding readers with facts.

This is a novel about border crossing, a journey from America to Afghanistan, via Pakistan; a crossing between genders as Aden passes for a man and a crossing from righteousness to violence, from right to wrong, a border which, Wray shows, once crossed is easy to cross again.

To me, American fiction about the ‘War on Terror’ almost always falls flat. The white protagonist travelling East often sticks out as problematic, the male author embodying the female character often falls short of convincing. Wray, however, shows that there is worth in traversing these borders, that as long as a writer has researched well and has empathy for their subject, they can write about whatever they want.

The novel is told in a relatively straightforward way, it’s a chronological journey, a coming-of-age story. Aden’s conversion can be seen on a surface level as teenage rebellion, but it also shows a person’s deep desire for meaning and purpose. She is a relatable character in extraordinary circumstances.

Godsend works best at the big picture level. Sentence for sentence, it’s nothing to shout about and, at times, the dialogue reads as a little stilted. It’s an ambitious book and for the most part Wray delivers on what he sets out to achieve. You can tell why Wray dropped his other book to write this one, the story of an American teenager disguising herself as a boy to join the Taliban is full of potential. I couldn’t help but wonder though, as I finished it, whether it would have been better as a biography of the mysterious “girl” than as a novel imagining her.

Photo: 'Milky Way' by Abdul Rahman @ Flickr

Spotlight: Science non-fiction

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Books.

Non-fiction is a challenging genre to master, and the difficulties in writing science non-fiction are in a league of their own. Communicating engaging science requires huge amounts of artistry and skill, especially seeing as most people are glad to never learn Maths and Science after their GCSEs.

If done wrong, authors can alienate their readers. They may add to the false belief that science is a purely academic discipline, and not something for the average layman to understand or enjoy. But if done correctly, authors can convey the rich tapestry of scientific knowledge and history. Just like art, and drama, science lends itself organically to narratives full of humanity and intrigue.

Here are a few authors that do their subjects justice.

The Shock of the Anthropocene by Christophe Bonneuil and Jean-Baptiste Fressoz.

Bonneuil and Fressoz explore one of humanity’s largest existential threats: climate change. The Shock of the Anthropocene seeks to combat our depoliticised history of environmental destruction. They weave together the big sociopolitical ideas that created our reckless attitudes towards our own planet: industrial capitalism, war, Western colonialism, and the arrogance borne by the scientific Enlightenment. This book is unique in how it rejects climate change as a problem isolated to researchers and lawmakers. Rather, it is a strong interdisciplinary examination of nature’s long history in our collective psyche.

The Ambidextrous Universe by Martin Gardner.

Our left hand is profoundly different from our right, and yet they are mirror reflections of one another. This asymmetry is one of nature’s most profound concepts, and it is the subject of this book. The Ambidextrous Universe will take you from everyday mirror images to pharmaceutical chemistry and supersymmetry in physics.

The author, Gardner, is best known for his ‘Mathematical Games’ section in Scientific American. His playful attitude towards challenging concepts in mathematics and science is sustained throughout his book. Gardner is careful when first introducing key concepts so as not to patronise the reader in later chapters. He does what any science communicator strives for: to create a sense of awe at the elegant complexity of our universe, starting with something as simple as ‘left’ and ‘right’.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddartha Mukherjee.

Mukherjee examines cancer through the deft perspectives of a scientist, a historian, and a biographer. The Emperor of All Maladies sees the disease not only as a scientific problem, but also as a character who continues to shadow us. There are disturbing and exciting stories of different medical treatments, and how they have trickled down to benefit or destroy the lives of real people.

Mukherjee treats society’s fixation on combatting cancer as an epic conflict, and a somewhat misguided one. Though he comes from a position of optimism, there is a refreshing skepticism towards those searching for an easy and magical silver bullet. Slowly, the story of cancer develops to be not one of an external villain, but a story the antagonism of our own human bodies.

Photo: MaryOliver_Percy by SSJE @ Flickr

Celebrated poet Mary Oliver dies age 83

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

Mary Oliver, the celebrated writer of 15 collections of poetry, has died at the age of 83. One of the great modern writers of the Romantic tradition, Oliver was known for her tender and affecting portrayals of nature.

Oliver won the Pulitzer Prize and The National Book Award for her poetry but she lives on in popular poems like Wild Geese and The Whistler, which perfectly address a wide range of themes, from love, happiness and death. In a time when dense and opaque poetry was popular, Oliver wrote with searing clarity. In a time when male writers dominated, Oliver found success.

While many come to Oliver for her Nature writing, I liked her love poems most. She had the ability to condense small everyday moments into profound ones, and will stay a key part of the American poetry canon, as well as the LGBTQ+ one.

Like the kind of crisp walk through the woods that Oliver liked, her work is refreshing, grounding. She wrote in the kind of way that could reset a reader, so that when they put down the book and got on with their day, things were a little clearer, a little easier to get on with. The message throughout her work is to pay attention to the world around you, to the people near you. 

For readers looking for a good place to start in Oliver’s body of work, I would recommend her New and Selected Poems. Much of her work can be found online as well.

Image: Gurnaik Johal

The Mancunion’s most anticipated books of 2019

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

January

Image result for an orchestra of minorities uk cover

An Orchestra of Minorities, Chigozie Obioma (Little, Brown)

A contemporary retelling of The Odyssey set in Umuahia, Nigeria.   

Thick and Other Essays, Tressie McMillan Cottom (New Press)

A wide-ranging essay collection from a writer praised by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Roxane Gay, and compared to bell hooks and Rebecca Solnit.

Adèle, Leila Slimani (Faber)

An erotic exploration of addiction and sexuality from the bestselling author of Lullaby.

Kingdomland, Rachael Allen (Faber)

A debut poetry collection that makes the everyday surreal, the familiar strange.

February

Image result for mouthful of birds samanta schweblin

The Spirit of Science Fiction, Roberto Bolaño, tr. Natasha Wimmer (Penguin)

Another posthumous novel from the author of The Savage Detectives and 2666, about two poets in Mexico City.

You Know You Want This, Kristen Roupenian (Jonathan Cape)

This debut collection from the author of the viral short story, Cat Person, is full of timely horror stories.

Mouthful of Birds, Samanta Schweblin, tr. Megan McDowell (Oneworld)

A dark and eery collection of stories from one of Argentina’s most exciting Spanish language authors.

Where Reasons End, Yiyun Li (Hamish Hamilton)

An imagined conversation between a mother and her dead teenage son, as she tries to deal with the grief of his suicide.

The Plotters, Un-su Kim, tr. Sora Kim Russell (4th Estate)

A thrilling crime novel set in an alternate Seoul, full of violence and lyricism.

Late in the Day, Tessa Hadley (Jonathan Cape)

The death of an old friend drives three friends apart.

A Mouth Full of Blood, Toni Morrison (Chatto & Windus)

Four decades worth of essays, speeches and meditations spanning issues of race, gender and globalisation, American history, and current politics, from one of our greatest living writers.

Who Killed My Father, Édouard Louis, tr. Lorin Stein (Harvill Secker)

An unflinching portrait of a father, addressing issues around homophobia, masculinity and class.

Bangkok Wakes To Rain, Pitchaya Sudbanthad (Sceptre)

A multi-generational novel that stretches into the past and reaches into the future.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon James (Hamish Hamilton)

The first book in James’ much anticipated Dark Star Trilogy, a fantasy series drawing on Ancient African mythology and history.

March

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Lanny, Max Porter (Faber)

Porter follows up the hugely successful Grief Is A Thing With Feathers with this tale of the English countryside.

Hark, Sam Lipsyte (Granta)

An absurd social satire following a lifestyle guru who becomes a modern-day messiah.

Berg, Ann Quin (And Other Stories)

Quin’s postwar avant-garde masterpiece comes to a new audience.

Memories of the Future, Siri Hustvedt (Sceptre)

A writer finds a draft for a novel she wrote in her twenties and relives her youth.

The White Card, Claudia Rankine (Macmillan)

A one act play that interrogates the invisibility of whiteness and sets about understanding race divisions.

Sing To It, Amy Hempel (Scribner)

The first new collection from legendary short story writer Amy Hempel in over a decade. 

Spring, Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton)

The next book in Smith’s Seasonal Quartet, ranging from Beethoven to Brexit.

April

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The Tradition, Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

Brown invents a new poetic form, the Duplex — part sonnet, part ghazal, part blues — in which he explores fatherhood, queerness, blackness, and legacy.

Soft Science, Franny Choi (Alice James)

These poems, inspired by the Turing test, explore queer Asian-American femininity in a world of automation and technology.

Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams (Trapeze)

The story of a 25-year-old Jamaican British journalist as she makes one questionable decision after another, looking for love.

Tokyo Ueno Station, Yu Miri, tr. Morgan Giles (Tilted Axis)

Writing about Japan’s most vulnerable people, Miri creates a powerful rebuke against the imperialist system in a narrative that starts in 1933, but is as timely as ever.

Black, Listed, Jeffrey Boakye (Dialogue)

Boakye writes about words used to describe black men and women, and in doing so explores “world history, race theory, and popular culture.”

Autumn Light, Pico Iyer (Knopf)

A meditative piece of memoir that reflects on loss, Japan, and Autumn.

May

Image result for Manchester Happened, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The Polyglot Lovers, Lina Wolff, tr. Saskia Vogel (And Other Stories)

With wit and precision, Wolff creates characters looking for love across Europe.

Girl, Woman, Other, Bernadine Evaristo (Hamish Hamilton)

A polyphonic portrait of twelve different characters, exploring modern black womanhood.

Underland, Robert Macfarlane (Hamish Hamilton)

The famous nature writer goes underground in his latest book, from Greenland’s Glaciers to Bronze-age burial chambers.

Thirteen Months of Sunrise, Rania Mamoun, tr. Lissie Jaquette (Comma Press)

A debut short story collection that paints a portrait of modern-day Sudan, brought to English-reading audiences by Manchester’s Comma Press.

Orange World, Karen Russell (Knopf)

Surreal short stories about transformation from one of America’s best writers.

Manchester Happened, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Oneworld)

Short stories set in Manchester and Kampala detailing the experience of immigration, from the winner of the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

June

Image result for uk cover On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong

Deaf Republic, Ilya Kaminsky (Faber)

This long-awaited poetry collection follows the story of a country whose inhabitants all suddenly lose their hearing.

My Seditious Heart, Arundhati Roy (Hamish Hamilton)

Twenty years worth of essays from one of India’s most acclaimed writers.

This Brutal House, Niven Govinden (Dialogue)

A queer protest novel set in New York’s drag ball community.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong (Jonathan Cape)

A letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. This debut novel from the award-winning poet explores Vietnamese family histories and trauma.

Plastic Emotions, Shiromi Pinto (Influx Press)

Set in London, Chandigarh, Colombo, Paris and Kandy, this novel charts the true story of feminist icon Minnette de Silva, the first female Sri Lankan architect.

The Girl at the Door, Veronica Raimo, tr. Stash Luczkiw (4th Estate)

This Italian novel is a tense, timely piece about a rape accusation in an idyllic commune.

July

Image result for If You See Me, Don’t Say Hi, Neel Patel

Ducks, Newburyport, Lucy Ellman (Galley Beggar Press)

The inner thoughts of a housewife from Ohio are laid out in this 750 page novel told in one sentence. It is an exploration of domestic life in Trump-era America.

Beowulf: A New Translation, Maria Dahvana Headley (MCD X FSG)

A feminist translation of Beowulf that brings out parts of the poem that previous translators have ignored.

If You See Me, Don’t Say Hi, Neel Patel (Flatiron)

A collection of short stories that tackles stereotypes of Indian Americans with a host of empathetic characters.

August

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The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead (Fleet)

Following up the Pulitzer prize winning The Underground Railroad, this novel follows two boys in a reform school in Jim Crow era Florida.

Trick Mirror, Jia Tolentino (Random House)

A debut essay collection from a writer I’d happily call a voice for our generation.

Everything Inside, Edwidge Danticat (Knopf)

A new collection from a consistently masterful short story writer set in Miami, Port-au-Prince, and an unnamed country in the Caribbean.

September

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Frolic and Detour, Paul Muldoon (Faber)

A new collection from one of Ireland’s most respected poets.

Coventry, Rachel Cusk (Faber)

A wide-ranging collection of essays from the acclaimed author of The Outline Trilogy.

Rusty Brown, Chris Ware (Jonathan Cape)

Twenty years in the making, Rusty Brown is the latest from the genius graphic novelist.

The Testaments, Margaret Atwood (Chatto & Windus)

The long awaited sequel to Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale looks set to be a hit, with Atwood setting the novel 15 years after the ending of the first book.

October

Image result for Grand Union, Zadie Smith

Grand Union, Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton)

10 brand new stories alongside 10 previously published ones in Smith’s first collection.

Nudibranch, Irenosen Okojie (Dialogue)

Okojie’s second collection of stories shows memorable characters in unusual situations.

The Topeka School, Ben Lerner (Granta)

Lerner turns his autofiction style to high school, writing about an aspiring poet navigating a culture of toxic masculinity.

In The Dream House, Carmen Maria Machado (Serpent’s Tail)

This memoir from the author of Her Body and Other Parties, details queer domestic violence in what looks to be a reinvention of the memoir form.

Manchester-based Odd Bug announce Tails of Iron

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

Odd Bug Studio, Manchester, have announced that they are working on their second game, titled Tails of Iron, and have released a trailer alongside the announcement.

The game is being made in partnership with the newly founded United Label Games, who will act as publishers. United Label, who are owned by CI – the developers behind Lords of the Fallen and Sniper Ghost Warrior – also announced three other titles alongside Tails of Iron.

Tails of Iron will be Odd Bug’s second release, following The Lost Bear, a cinematic 2D PSVR platformer with a hand-painted art style. The Lost Bear was generally well received, currently holding a metascore of 77 on Metacritic.

However, whilst Tails of Iron looks to share a similar art style with The Lost Bear, Odd Bug indicated in a Twitter reply that they currently had no plans to make the game for VR, instead focusing on a flat screen release.

United Label have described Tails of Iron as, “an Adventure RPG-lite game set in a charming and brutal world.” The trailer’s depiction of seemingly cute but violent animals set against a murky, industrial palette certainly suggests this is very much the case.

On the premise, United wrote that, “Playing as Redgi the Rat, you are heir to the throne when your kingdom is raided by the Iron Frog. Players face challenging, tactical and stunning combat encounters in order to rebuild the Rat Kingdom.”

No release date has yet been given.

Photo: Eva Renaldi @Flickr

Review: Welcome to Marwen

Written by Matthew Johnston on . Posted in Film.

Welcome to Marwen, the latest effort from Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) stars Steve Carell as real-life assault victim Mark Hogancamp, who, after being violently attacked for admitting to a group of fragile male egos in a bar that he likes to wear high heels, builds a fictional village of dolls in his backyard as a coping mechanism for his PTSD. Just as Mark built his land of toys to escape the trauma of his assault, I wanted to enter my own imaginary land so I could escape the mess that is this film.

All negative criticism aside (which doesn’t leave much else to say), on the surface this is a touching story about the power of art and the role it can play in helping us to process emotions: ultimately it is Mark’s artistic talents that aid him in his recovery. Unfortunately, we are not left as inspired and moved as Zemeckis might have wanted. It’s the thought that counts, I guess.

Mark uses the animated world of Marwen primarily to explore his revenge fantasy on the men who assaulted him (they feature in doll form as Nazis). Together with a group of female dolls inspired by the women in his life, they spend their time battling the Nazis and living in fear of an evil witch (who serves as an obvious metaphor for Mark’s drug addiction). This can be viewed from two perspectives: (1) women and man in heels kick ass, (2) lonely man objectifies the women of his life as sexualised dolls. Unfortunately, due to weak writing and poor character development, the latter is the impression we are left with. Imagine an older, slightly creepier Andy from Toy Story.

It’s disappointing to see a talented cast of stars like Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, Janelle Monàe, and Gwendoline Christie (who comes with an interesting Russian accent) have their talents wasted on mostly one-dimensional and conservative female narratives. This could have been a progressive drama about an innocent man’s recovery from a hate crime and an important moment for non-stereotypical male identity in mainstream cinema but unfortunately, it provoked smirking, cringing, and wincing from the audience.

This is not at the fault of Steve Carell, who is as good as he could possibly be with the material that he’s been given. It is the lack of depth in explaining Mark’s backstory, his interest in women’s shoes, and the strange portrayal of his relationships with women that gives little meaning to the story and diminishes the fact that he is a victim of a very serious, hateful act. This man was beaten within an inch of his life for admitting that he likes to wear women’s shoes, had his memory erased, and now suffers from PTSD yet we find ourselves laughing at him?

So rarely do queer audience members see characters on screen that they identify with and it’s disheartening and disappointing that when we do, the character is made out to be… odd.

My absolute favourite moment was a line said by love-interest Roberta (played by Merritt Wever) as Mark reveals the new name of his village Marwencol, inspired by his crush on new neighbour Nicol (played by Leslie Mann): “oh now I get it, the Col is from Nicol”. The idea that the writers included a statement so painfully obvious suggests that they had little faith in the audience having any idea as to what was going on as they watched this movie and I can confirm that this is exactly how I felt.

This would have worked a lot better as a completely animated feature inspired by the world of Marwen which would have been a touching tribute to Mark’s creativity and imagination (I’m so here for an animated franchise based on a male action hero who fights bad guys whilst dressed in high heels) but instead the combination of live action and animation adds to an already ambitious plot and we are left asking who this movie is actually for.

1/5.

Photo: Press Shot

In Conversation with The Japanese House

Written by PASCALE CHALMERS-ARNOLD on . Posted in Music.

In an age of pop dominated by cinematic singles and concept albums, The Japanese House is bucking the trend and releasing music with no stage persona or agenda. Unapologetically honest, and freer for it, Amber Bain took time out to discuss her soon-to-be-released record Good at Falling.

‘Lilo’ was the first single to be released in advance of the debut album, back in September 2018. “I definitely don’t know what is going to be logistically a good song,” Bain said, and while this ballad was “probably the most simple song on the album”, it “summed up everything I was thinking and feeling at the time”, which is what the record is all about.

The accompanying video was just as personal, showing Amber with her ex-girlfriend singer-songwriter Marika Hackman. Most exes wouldn’t be so clearly in each other’s lives, but it is obvious they are still best friends. “It was such a personal track, it felt like the best thing [to have her in it].”

Good At Falling signals Bain’s transition from a girl hiding behind her metaphors, to a woman looking inward. As an album, it offers lyrical directness, exposing Bain’s life and anxieties to the masses, through tracks about her romantic relationship, drinking habits, and state of mind. Being so emotionally vulnerable takes confidence and guts, but Bain said she didn’t worry about opening up to the mic. “I was more worried about my personal relationships with the people I talk about in the songs than about what the world thinks

“I’ve learned to love being honest and open and accepting my flaws… it feels freeing. Everyone experiences heartbreaks, worrying about their relationship with alcohol and mental health issues – I’m not saying anything crazy, so it’s not a big deal.”

The Japanese House have cultivated a unique sound which defies comparison, and that’s how Bain likes it is. “I really just wanted to make something that sounded different. Everyone seems to measure music off how alike something else it is. So I’ve tried not to have any reference points, that was a rule I made.

“But I mean obviously, you’re always influenced by what you listen to. When I play back older songs, I can hear bits that sound like Foals or Beach House – whatever I was into at the time. But now I’ve really stopped trying to sound like someone else.”

Talking to Bain, it is clear how much fun she had when it came to her album’s production, experimenting and trying new things out while recording the arrangements. “It was stressful though, it’s a lot of pressure putting an album together.”

“But I need that, otherwise I’d be chilling at home watching Gilmore Girls”. It was an intense period and “all I was thinking about for a while”, Bain said, but “aside from my family and friends and my dog, music is the thing that matters most in my life.”

When asked about her favourite song of the album, Amber chose ‘Follow My Girl’ “because its the one that pleases the musician in me most” – but said that she goes through phases with them all – “it is so hard to pick… ‘Maybe You’re The Reason’ is the most musically upbeat, and I’m really proud of ‘Wild’ too.”

The record itself came together quite naturally, Bain said, and she found her best feedback came from Marika “sometimes a harsh critic, but she’s someone who I trust very much”, and another friend, Kate Gavin, of LA band MUNA “because she just gets it.”

After the album’s official release, The Japanese House will set out on tour, visiting Manchester in March, so we discussed what being on the road is like. “I got sober and that changed everything” Bain explained, “since then, the last two tours have been great… It makes the connection with the crowd so much more significant. That people are paying to come and see you which just feels insane – it’s an amazing experience.”

As for now, Amber Bain is back in the studio, writing and recording new tracks. “I’m not really giving myself a break” she said, “because [making music] is all I want to do”.

And when it sounds this good, we can’t help but hope The Japanese House doesn’t stop anytime soon.

The Japanese House perform live at Academy 2, Manchester on Saturday 16th March. Tickets are on sale now. The debut album, ‘Good at Falling’, is due out 1st March 2019.

A Roundup of London Fashion Week Men’s

Written by Jack Sedgwick on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The buzzwords flying around amidst the air of this year’s London Fashion Week Men’s or ‘LFWM’ were diversity, creativity, representation, and reflection. London has long been seen as the place for frontier fashion, both in ethos and design.  Samuel Ross’ pioneering label A-Cold-Wall* (commonly referred to as ‘ACW’) delivered his cult following with not only new pieces but a fresh perspective on the responsibility of fashion’s global spotlight to highlight current issues. Ross’ feelings on the world’s water crisis were evident within his show, where two troughs of water enclosed the runway. The brand seems to be going from strength to strength following their recent coveted collaboration with Nike’s iconic AF1 trainer, showing the exponential growth of the new label within a year.

Other brands put forward a message of sustainability, using recycled materials for the fabrics in their pieces, showing the sexy side of fighting climate change. Gender fluidity also seemed to be a trend a number of designers were looking to incorporate into their show, embracing the greater appreciation for men’s cosmetics and more liberal fashion.

In my opinion, there were three central houses that delivered the strongest collections in terms of their garments. Again I mention A.C.W, whose collection represents an evolution of previous years’. The clear rhombus that was a signature on their tops has developed into an iconic look for the collection as a whole, where negative space has been stylishly incorporated. Some of the materials used could be described as tactical and stylistically versatile. The shape must stand out, because the colors are mostly limp and desaturated, representing the bleak dystopia that’s clear to see in the stark cold steel of the runway and the choice of musical backing.

Industry prodigy Kiko Kostadinov presented a largely monochrome collection, with the understated flair of those designers which he used as inspiration for his runway show. In one shot, a black patterned bomber jacket and a pinstriped overcoat caught my eye.

The third designer of note is Qasimi: a London based brand with a creative director from the United Arab Emirates. The ethos seems to be to highlight social issues, without outdating or taking away from the garments themselves. Streetwear supplements exaggerated workwear in this collection. LFWM refer to it as “relaxed sophistication” on their website. Colour blocking, cuffed trousers of every kind, and oversized shirts comprise much of what’s on show, to great effect. Some of the brand’s most interesting outfits here play with slight but distinctive colour differences and bold silhouettes.

 

Raf Simons. Credit: Aaron Mok @Flickr

Raf Simons takes his Calvins off

Written by rosiethackeray on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Raf Simons, the esteemed Belgian fashion designer has recently exited his position as Creative Director at Calvin Klein. During his short stint at the American superhouse, he rebranded CK’s ready to wear collections under the name ‘Calvin Klein 205W39NYC’ in an attempt to rebrand and shift their target demographic to a more progressive and contemporary ideal. Yet despite the seemingly positive changes, it appears Simons’ exit has been enforced amid looming concerns of the brand’s financial success. It appears Calvin Klein have been feeling short-changed following Simons’ extremely expensive appointment, costing the house an astronomical $18 million a year.

The announcement of Simons’ departure came the Friday before Christmas and sent shocks throughout the industry, with many industry insiders feeling disappointed; this follows a string of shows that were critically well-received and revitalized the increasingly stagnant reputation of New York Fashion Week. Yet, it appears that it is Simons’ distinct aesthetic which has alienated Calvin Klein consumers. His brazen collections for Calvin Klein205W39NYC had been questioned for their commercial appeal, as the artistically elevated styles have led to a shocking $21 million dollar loss in year-on-year sales. In a press statement published by the New York Times, Calvin Klein Inc. have neatly summarised that the premature split – 8 months before the completion of Simons’ 3-year contract – has simply been a matter of requiring a ‘new brand direction’.

Raf Simons’ progression in the fashion industry over the past 20 years has been nothing short of extraordinary. He had gained notable critical traction from his early work at his own eponymous menswear brand for his distinctive urban aesthetic and exploration of European subculture. His appointment as Creative Director for Jil Sander proved to be a lucrative risk well taken; Simons, alongside the likes of Lee McQueen, managed to translate his experimental attitude into pioneering designs which captured the spirit of the new millennia. Nevertheless, the strain caused by such a sense of responsibility can be seen to push the designer to near breaking point in the 2014 film Dior & I, as he works to produce his first couture collection for Dior – a partnership that was equally as short-lived as Calvin Klein, lasting only 3 and a half years.

With Ralph Lauren suffering a decline in sales, and European competitors Gucci thriving after a creative overhaul, Simons’ appointment at Calvin Klein felt serendipitous. Indeed, his tenure delivered a sartorial reflection of the current political angst felt across America, as he updated the brand’s now vintage Manhattan-chic with a fusion of patriotic colours and bold Americana. The cultural relevance of his designs prompted an impressible FROW of celebrities and earned him 3 CFDA awards. Yet the disillusionment that Simons so brilliantly captured can be seen as the precursor to his own lack of an ability to connect with his desired consumer. His first campaign shot by long-time collaborator Willy Vanderperre can be seen as ironically foreshadowing: underwear models turned nonchalantly away from the camera as they observe various modern artworks. Calvin Klein will no longer feature in the coming New York Fashion Week, whilst his role remains unfilled.

In conversation with: the Manchester Debating Union

Written by Chloe Hatton on . Posted in Societies.

This week we sat down with Jacklin Kwan who, besides being The Mancunion’s Science Editor, is also the president of the Manchester Debating Union. It’s the main student society for debating, and is not just open to UoM students. Anyone from any of Manchester’s higher education institutions can give debating a go through the Union.

They debate absolutely everything, from feminism, to international relations, to ethics, to economics. There’s bound to be something for everyone, no matter what degree subject you study or what areas of interest you have.

“It’s a common misconception that only people who do subjects like humanities and law are good at debating, but it’s definitely not true. People who enjoy reading widely and who keep an open mind are the ones that tend to do the best, regardless of degree subject. Don’t be put off if you do a STEM subject — the last five presidents of the Debating Union have all been STEM students!”

Founded in 1996, the Union is now one of the most active debating societies in the country, with debating tournaments almost every weekend! These tournaments are part of the cross-country inter-varsity debating competitions, but if you don’t fancy tackling one of these immediately, there are a whole host of other activities that you can get involved in, whether it’s in a collaboration with another student society to host a public debate, going along to the training sessions, or heading to the Ford Maddox Brown for a post-session social. Be warned though, their socials often contain a special drink called ‘yakka’.

“It’s a potent brew of vodka, lemons, and sugar,” she laughs.

One of the highlights of the Debate Union’s event list is the Manchester Intervarsity. It’s the largest tournament in the North and the Midlands, and every year universities from all over Europe come to compete. It’s certainly not something to be missed.

Every week there are two training sessions that you can get involved in. The first is the Novice session, for people from all backgrounds who are keen on debating. These will cover the fundamentals of debating and arguing persuasively, as well as helping you with your public speaking, and are held every Tuesday from 5pm-7pm in University Place. The second is the Advanced session, aimed at active debaters who want to compete. These sessions go much deeper into specific techniques and strategies of debating as a sport and take place on Mondays from 6pm-8pm in University Place.

“Just come along to a training session and introduce yourself! In every session, we’ll always have a friendly practise debate where everyone can apply the skills we’ve taught them. If you’re feeling more confident, why not ask a committee member about competing and representing Manchester as part of the debate team?”

So how has Jacklin found her debating journey so far?

“When I first started debating in high school, I really struggled to articulate a lot of the opinions I had. I knew what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the words. I remember how frustrating it was to be shut out of discussions just because I couldn’t speak loudly or confidently enough.

“Debate has not only made me more able to express the opinions and knowledge that I do have, but also made me more aware of my own ignorance. You cover so many topics in debating that you realise just how much you don’t know. I once had to give a speech about whether the African Union should create a free-trade zone! This really pushed me to read widely into other subjects.

“The ability to structure your thoughts coherently and convincingly is truly a life skill. It translates well in the workplace, but also in more personal aspects. I’ve found that my ability to reflect upon my own emotions and come to calm, logical conclusions about why I feel a certain way has meant that I am empowered to form more meaningful connections with others as well as myself.

“And honestly, it’s good fun. We’re all nerds and we love talking about nerdy things. I’ve found myself naturally flowing into conversations about how to teach the history of colonialism in post-colonial states, or whether Facebook should take an active role in policing its content and user behaviours. No shame in being a nerd at the MDU!”

For more information on the Manchester Debating Union, check out their Facebook. If you fancy giving debating a go, why not turn up to one of their training sessions?

 

Welcome Week: University of Manchester's Freshers' Fair Photo: Markus Arnold

Refresh yourself with a new society

Written by Liv Clarke on . Posted in Societies.

If you feel like exams have drained you of all motivation and the thought of the semester ahead fills you with dread, why not take up something new during refreshers week? There are lots of societies to get involved in — it would be a shame not to experience a few during your degree, which is exactly what I’ve done during the past four years.

It all began as a bright-eyed first-year browsing the stalls at my first ever freshers fair. The choice of activities was mind-blowing, and at the end of the week my tiny bedroom in halls was full of flyers of everything from Blogging Society to Extreme Picnicking Society; I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. So, I took up the opportunity of a taster session with the Scuba Diving Society. There I was, full of fresher’s flu, bobbing around in the aquatics centre. I never quite got the gas levels right, which sent me either straight to the bottom of the pool or floating at the surface. Safe to say, scuba diving wasn’t for me, although the taster session was a fun experience and gave me a funny story to tell.

Fast forward to second year and it was time to try another new activity. The stall which lured me in that year was Latin and Ballroom Society (the dazzling sequins, the glamour, the thought of meeting my own Patrick Swayze!). The taster session went well, and before I knew it, I was a fully fledged member, attending dance classes every week. I learnt how to Waltz and Foxtrot and met some lovely people, one time even practising a routine in an empty SU bar. It was fun, different, and a great stress-release when work all got too much. I did lose interest as work became harder during semester two, but it was good while it lasted.

After a year abroad, I came back to the freshers fair with a new found enthusiasm. This was it, the final year, last chance saloon. It was time to get physical. I sought out Squash Society, something which had eluded me in previous years. I went along to the sessions each week and it wasn’t easy — they like to work you hard. It felt good to be playing a sport rather then being cooped up in a gym, although I did have to employ a ‘This Girl Can’ attitude when faced with a court dominated by guys.

It’s not always easy to drag yourself away from a night at the pub with your housemates, but it does feel good to get out and do something different. Refresh yourself this semester and try something new.

Photo: Lance Cpl. Damany S. Coleman @ Wikimedia Commons

Science research has caused Spice to become such a big problem

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

A synthetic drug problem is sweeping much of Europe and North America, making the war on drugs much harder to fight. Synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic cathinone are becoming increasingly popular as recreational drugs. The street drugs give a much more intense high for a fraction of the cost.

In 2018, Manchester was hit with an epidemic caused by the drug Spice, which mainly affected the city’s homeless populations as users were seen in public disorientated, confused, and violently vomiting.

The synthetic drug problem is multifaceted that creates devastating consequences. The drugs are created in laboratories, and new ones pop up every month with slight bits of their chemical composition tweaked to exploit legal loopholes.

Because of their novelty and constantly changing chemistry, the drugs will not show up on most conventional drug tests (which is part of their appeal). Healthcare professionals and police forces are therefore challenged when attempting to identify users and administer proper treatment to those overdosing. The potency of synthetics is also so much greater than drugs derived from plants, such as cocaine or marijuana, that the danger of overdosing is substantially higher.

One of the first major synthetic drug outbreaks occurred in Germany 10 years ago. Back then, the strange drug causing people to act like zombies and crash their cars while high is all too familiar now: Spice. Since then, the use of synthetics has only proliferated following the globalisation of pharmaceutical production.

Over the past few decades, many US pharmaceutical companies have outsourced their drug production to factories in China. This has meant that many facilities now have the capacities to create a whole range of compounds, including recreational drugs. They can do this at a fraction of the cost as well. Unlike drugs derived from plants that need to be cultivated in specific conditions, chemists can just synthesise new highs for a few pence, making the entire business incredibly lucrative.

The source of their inspiration? Science journals.

For decades, scientists have researched the chemical composition of cannabinoids, opioids, and their possible medical uses. This means that there are hundreds of research papers detailing the composition of synthetics that are easily accessible by the public. Because experiments need to be replicable, researchers also need to publish exactly how they made their synthetics as well.

Spice, with the formal name JWH-018, is one such example. It literally carries the initials of its creator: John William Huffman, a professor emeritus of organic chemistry at Clemson University. Professor Huffman has spent much of his career studying the interactions of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) with receptors in the brain. Researching how the chemical interacts with our body to affect appetite, sleep, and pain could possibly result in the creation of new medicines (especially those that can alleviate the effects of chemotherapy).

JWH-018 is but one of hundreds of novel compounds that Huffman and his colleagues created and tested. By an unfortunate turn of events, valuable medical research has been hijacked to create a modern drug crisis.

Legislators, healthcare providers, and police forces have all been pushed to come up with new solutions to tackle the rise of synthetics. Recently, the Greater Manchester Police have collaborated with the Manchester Drug Analysis and Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE). MANDRAKE can analysis the chemicals in a drug sample under 60 minutes, and relay that information to emergency services to facilitates effective treatment. MANDRAKE has also trained law enforcement and prison staff to use drug analysis machinery to collect important data.

Though producers have exploited scientific transparency to create harmful street drugs, forensic scientists and chemists have stepped up to help combat the problem.

To Let signs, Belfast by Albert Bridge@Geograph

A guide on choosing a student property and reporting issues

Written by Sophia Ashby on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Choosing a letting agent and property can be a complicated affair, especially for students. For many, this will be their first interaction with letting agents and landlords. Unfortunately, complications with the legal side of renting or the property itself are common. Here are some tips on how to choose the best estate agent for you, and how to avoid and resolve issues.

Before you decide on a property, make sure the agent is registered with a redress scheme. This is a legal requirement and all legitimate agencies can be found at www.tpos.co.uk/find-a- member or www.theprs.co.uk/consumer/members/.

Noted below are some of the requirements of letting agencies. If an agency breeches these requirements, you have the right to make a formal complaint.

  • Deposits must be put in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
  • Estate agents should give appropriate notice to current tenants concerning viewings. Unless you have agreed other arrangements, expect a 24-hour notice period.
  • It is the responsibility of the estate agent to respond promptly to maintenance issues.
  • Agencies must give tenants up to 7 working days to read and comment on inventories.

Moving in and avoiding future issues:

  1. Document the property when you first move in, and when you move out. Your agent will provide you with an inventory when you arrive. Make sure you fill this in thoroughly, but also take photos of any issues or damage. Documenting issues straight away will help estate agents to resolve them more quickly. It also means that you have evidence that any damage was pre-existing to you living there. This could mean you avoid nasty charges at the end of the year.
  2. Keep a record of contact you have with the agency. Whether this is in person, by phone or email, make sure you note down the content and frequency of contact. Again, this is vital information that could help you if the agency continues to be an issue.
  3. Inform your landlord  of any issues. Contact them directly, as often they have more power and can sort problems immediately. It may even be the case that the letting agent is withholding your complaints from the landlord and they are unaware of ongoing problems.

How to complain if problems persist:

  1. Take your complaint to your agent, who will have an internal procedure. Make sure your complaint is in writing, and explains clearly why you are unhappy with their service. They must respond within 15 days.
  2. Take your complaint to the relevant redress scheme. The scheme can sanction the agency appropriately, but you will need to provide hard evidence. This is why documenting the property is important when you move in.

Remember, the Student Union’s Advice Service can provide further detail about your rights as a tenant. They can also help you make decisions about how to proceed with complaints and issues. Happy house hunting!