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Month: February 2019

Photo: Huhsunqu @ Wikimedia Commons

Study finds Brexit may risk UK’s current standing within the United Nations

Written by claudiahedger on . Posted in News.

A recent research project carried out by the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, and Southampton on behalf of the United Nations Association has found the UK must show its value and improve its foreign policy after Brexit, in order to maintain its current influence in the United Nations (UN).

The UN is an international organisation with 193 member states, set up to encourage peace following World War II. It aims to increase cooperation on international problems through harmonisation of actions, for example through creating the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The study involved 29 interviews with UN diplomats, UK officials, and individuals from non-governmental organisations.

Currently, the UK has a strong role in drafting resolutions, agenda-setting, and negotiating – but very little influence on the General Assembly.

Interviewees from the study said if the UK fell below its commitment of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance (which aids in promoting economic activity and welfare in developing countries), its reputation would be in ‘free fall territory’. Even with this spending, they said the decline in UK influence would be noticeable.

The research indicated that as a result of Brexit, British diplomats could lose political capital which is accumulated through relationships such as being a member of the EU. This would result in less alignment of UK campaigns due to the lack of EU backing.

Whilst the UN is not an EU organisation, there are links between the two, especially since the EU gained ‘enhanced participation rights’ in 2011. While the EU doesn’t have voting rights, unlike normal observers (e.g. the Arab League), it can address the UN General Assembly under certain circumstances.

The report also suggested ways to counteract the decline in the UK’s influence after Brexit. Stating if the UK invests in multilateralism and provides a clear, value-driven leadership approach the impact could be offset. Specifically, contributing resources from London to demonstrate the value of the UK, addressing gaps in diplomatic capacity at the General Assembly and maintaining the aforementioned 0.7% foreign aid spending commitment.

While there are inevitable challenges for the UK to maintain its influence in the UN post-Brexit, there may still be hope through continued investment. Angie Pankhania, Deputy Director of United Nations Association UK said: “It is absolutely possible for the UK to be an influential player in international forums such as the United Nations, but it requires a principled and consistent approach.”

Students resort to gambling to cover the cost of living

Written by octaviaspray on . Posted in News.

Thousands of students are relying on gambling to support themselves through university – and some have been left with debts as high as £5,000.

That’s according to the National Union of Students which has claimed students are increasingly reliant on such activities due to the failures of the government student loan system.

It found that nearly half of students who gamble do so to supplement their income.

Students are particularly vulnerable to gambling in recent years due to the changes in technology and readily-available student loans. Recent technology has allowed online bookmakers to target their ads at ex-gamblers to lure them back to their websites.

The Gambling Commission has discovered that two in three students gamble which amounts to roughly 1.2 million people.

Tim Miller, the Gambling Commission’s director for research said: “Whilst many may do so without experiencing harm, for some, gambling can lead to debt, time away from lectures and potentially lead to a longer term problem with gambling.”

There is currently very little support at university campuses to build awareness or counsel students with a problem. Numerous students who are frequent gamblers blame the open-ended hours of free time at university as the main reason for their addiction. They also continually highlight the lack of a support system, or someone to turn to in helping with their addiction.

For many students, they suddenly find themselves for the first time with more of a disposable income in the form of a student loan which is all too tempting. Once involved, the gambling industry is very effective at retaining their customers through incentives, discounts and adverts.

It’s estimated that around 127,000 students have a gambling problem in the UK. This has become more prevalent since the revision of the Gambling Act that means that casinos no longer need a membership for entry and online gambling sites can now advertise on television.

Trevor David, a consultant at Gamcare, a gambling charity has stated that: “More education is needed – people need to know how to spot a gambling problem in others and what help and support to provide.

“University staff need to know how to spot a problem and what support to provide. Student money advisers, for example, should know what simple questions they can ask to find out if a student is having trouble with gambling.”

tuition fee Photo: Discott @ Wikimedia Commons

Top-ranking universities must admit fewer from middle-class backgrounds, says Office for Students

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in News.

The Office for Students (OfS) has called for universities to narrow the gap between the admission numbers of those from middle-class backgrounds and of those who are less well-off.

The move by universities is necessary to reach diversity targets, the OfS has revealed.

The universities’ watchdog has named Russell Group institutions in particular in its statement, saying they must eliminate this gap within 20 years.

The OfS has put forward two possible scenarios under which the disparity between the number of advantaged and disadvantaged students would be minimised throughout this time frame.

First, the country’s leading universities, where the gap is most pronounced, doubles its intake of working-class pupils. This scenario has been forecasted to be unlikely given the Department of Education’s current predictions for higher education attendance.

An alternative scenario that would eliminate the gap would be to directly reduce the number of well-off students that are offered places to study.

Whilst a need for greater diversity within the make-up of university populations is widely seen as favourable, the method of admissions boards choosing against middle-class students has been dubbed unpopular by experts.

Professor Claire Callender, who specialises in higher education policy, has argued that putting a cap on the number of middle-class students admitted into universities will receive great backlash from students, parents, and institutions, and might even fall short of equality legislation.

“If the only option is to have some form of positive discrimination, I am not clear whether it would be permitted under the law.”

“Targets are very useful and certainly it is important that universities do everything they can to widen the participation of underrepresented groups.”

Others, however, see this “radical” approach as necessary in order to effect real change.

“The OfS is right to look to radical solutions to increase access at the most selective universities,” Sir Peter Lampi, founder of the pro-social mobility foundation Sutton Trust, has said. “Despite efforts and some progress in the past two decades, the gap remains wide.”

“Doing this could radically shift the balance and increase the numbers of the poorest students studying at the most selective universities.”

The OfS’s scenarios were revealed as part of a set of papers written following a board meeting at which widening participation targets were set. The targets were set for Russell Group member universities and a handful of others that require high grades for entry.

Last year, it was revealed by the Higher Education Statistics Agency that the University of Manchester had a 17.1% private school to state-funded school ratio among its students – the 30th highest of all UK universities and conservatoires – compared to a national average of 12%.

In the UK, around 6.5% of school pupils are educated in the independent sector.

Photo: Flickr @ Garry Knight

Manchester has the highest number of deaths of homeless people in England, ONS says

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Manchester has the highest death rates of homeless people than any other local authority area in England and Wales in 2017.

This report came after a homeless man was found dead on Market Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The statistics show a direct correlation between the relative poverty of an area and the number of rough sleeper deaths.

In Manchester alone, rough sleeping counts have risen from just seven in 2010 to 123 in 2018, and it was found that more deprived areas had about nine times more deaths of homeless people compared to the least disadvantaged areas.

More than half of all deaths of homeless people in 2017 were due to liver disease, suicide or drug poisoning and around 84% of deaths were men.

Ben Humberstone, from the ONS, said: “[Today’s] findings show a real contrast between areas in terms of where homeless people are dying. Every one of these deaths is a real human tragedy and understanding where these deaths occur is particularly poignant.”

The Guardian recently revealed that council bosses have been ‘accused of deliberately hiding the scale of the rough sleeping crisis’ in England, and have done so by ‘changing the way they complied figures for the 2018 official count’.

ONS reported that there was a 2% fall in rough sleeping in England in 2018, although critics have questioned whether the decrease was due to councils changing their counting method as results ‘did not reflect the reality on the streets’.

When The Guardian contacted local authorities, they were told that they needed to change their reported estimates to a street count, as advised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Minister of homelessness, Heather Wheeler, said: “These claims are an insult to the hardworking outreach workers, local charities, and other groups that collate these figures and are independently verified by Homeless Link.

The Homeless Link is a government paid charity which aims to guide councils to collect rough sleeping statistics and to officially verify their count for their constituency.

Wheeler added: “The rough sleeping count uses a well-established method – adopted by many cities across the world – providing us with a reliable way of comparing change over time, and councils have the freedom to choose how they conduct their count to best suit their area and individual circumstances.

“We have set out bold plans to end rough sleeping – and these figures show our work is already making a difference.”

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), have put together Greater Manchester’s Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment which aims to find the right housing, in the right places for those who need it. Other aims include creating jobs and improving infrastructure to ensure the future prosperity of Greater Manchester.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, promised to eradicate homelessness in Manchester by 2020 as part of his mayoral manifesto.

Mayor of Salford and Greater Manchester Housing Lead, Paul Dennett, said: “We have always wanted this to be a plan for everyone in Greater Manchester and the only way we can be confident of this is by as many people as possible having their say.

“We listened to the response to the 2016 plan and have produced this radical redraft which will improve the city-region for generations to come.”

It is currently predicted the final plan will be adopted, and in late 2020/early 2021 which will fall behind Burnham’s campaign to end homelessness in Greater Manchester, although the plan will surely be a start to getting people off the streets.

Photo: amanda wood @Flickr

Why is turnout so low at SU Elections?

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in Investigations.

Each year, students vote for the eight full-time executive officers to lead the University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU). These executives are meant to act as the leaders of the University’s student body, representing their concerns and enacting meaningful change that makes the University a more welcoming, inclusive and thriving space for all.

However, many students feel a lack of meaningful connection to their Students’ Union as they don’t see it as a body that adequately represents them. The physical Students’ Union building is often neglected by many students – even following massive renovations in the summer of last year – who work and eat in other more purpose-built spaces around the University.

Turnout has consistently proved to be a problem in recent elections. In 2018, just 19.8% of students voted – and this was amongst the highest in the country, with neighbouring Manchester Metropolitan University’s elections seeing a turnout of nearly 10%. The SU Elections rarely see significantly higher turnouts, with previous years recording figures of 16% in 2017 and 28% in 2016. Prior to that, 2015 was a record high of 34.4%, but the significant decline since then is telling.

Clarity of message appears to be the largest obstacle for many students, as apart from banners strung up around the SU itself, there is little information readily accessible to students. A second year History and Sociology student, Bethany Veal told The Mancunion, “[she] would vote if she knew what candidates stood for… to get mass turnout [this information] needs to be around campus.”

Information is present on the SU’s own website, but a part from that there’s little to grab people’s attention other than banners containing little information other than a name and a catchy slogan. Bethany went on to say, “There are lots of signs saying who to vote for outside the SU, but none stating a few points of anyone’s manifesto etc. The only times I have seen what people are standing for, without looking for it, is when I have been directly approached in the library etc, and candidates have been very pushy about you voting there and then, only knowing their mottos and issues they want to change.”

The issue of an information gap is evident and it’s hard to direct blame at either the SU, students, or candidates themselves. Students are obviously difficult to engage with meaningfully at the best of times, so expecting tens of thousands to actively search for and read through multiple manifestos online is a huge undertaking. This leads to the predatory practices experienced by Bethany and countless other students that arguably turns the elections into a glorified popularity contest as it becomes a test of who can hand out the most flyers in the library.

While individual candidates handing out freebies may not be the best method to ensure elections are run fairly, the Students’ Union itself has resorted to such tactics to encourage turnout. People voting on specific days can expect free food from SU kiosks such as a slice of pie or a portion of chips, and there are competitions where those who vote can win a £50 Uber voucher or guest list at an Academy gig. While this may be less corrupting than direct candidate influencing, it shows the lengths considered necessary to regain past levels of turnout or even surpass them.

This strategy does somewhat appear to be a sign of the SU clutching at straws with these elections, but other potential avenues remain unexplored. The Students’ Union Facebook page, which has over 50,000 likes, seems to be a pool of untapped potential. While the page is on a surface level extremely popular, posts regularly fail to achieve double-digit engagement, proving their strategies to inform Manchester’s student population aren’t successful.

A poll on Fallowfield Students’ Group of 83 people found that only 2 of those planned to vote in the upcoming elections. There are very few people with positive things to say about the SU election process as it seems to have alienated many. Nieve Elliott, a second year Politics student told The Mancunion, “issues the student union focuses on are not meaningful and far fetched”.

There seems to be a general feeling of a disconnect between the SU Exec team and their student body, as many are unaware of the impact they have or the roles they fulfil.

Improvements to the lack of communication could certainly be inspired by the efforts of other universities. For example, Liverpool’s Students’ Union has a clear, accessible page that directly lists the recent major contributions of their Exec team, meaning students can assess the work done by recent officers, giving them more information to help future votes and hold their SU accountable.

In a recent interview, the current International Students’ Officer, Riddi Viswanathan, was asked about low levels of voter turnout in previous SU elections. She pointed out that it could be an issue with the SU and suggested students might not be entirely to blame: “Maybe we haven’t communicated well about the impact that the leadership has on student life.

“That is an underlying problem with us and not a problem with students. Students would engage if we engaged with them and we should be looking to engage with them this year by [telling them about] the changes we have brought to their lives.”

When asked what her message would be to try and persuade students to vote, she said: “There are many incentives, including free giveaways of tea and chocolate. Candidates also give their own goodie bags away. Students should use [the elections] as an opportunity to get what they want out of the university and most importantly, [students should] look at the impact that student leaders have on their lives.

“Having a full-time International Officer role, having a full-time postgraduate role or even having lecture podcasts or increased numbers of gender-neutral toilets on campus. We are the ones that have been behind the scenes doing this for students and if students want to see more changes like these on campus then they should definitely vote.”

Photo: The Mancunion.

New student group launched to counter crime in Fallowfield

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

A new Facebook group has been set up by students to help Fallowfield residents document crime.

Fallowfield Student Crime – or FSC – also aims to ‘create a dialogue’ between students, community leaders, police, and the universities.

The page is aiming to become a focal point for reports from victims of crime, and a place for students to share advice, information, skills and ideas. Within a week of launching, the page had nearly 100 ‘likes’.

FSC is also organising a ‘Fallowfield Forum’ drop-in meeting where students can contribute ideas toward the running of the project. The first meeting took place last week in the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union, with future meetings planned at other campuses and around Fallowfield.

Last month, The Mancunion revealed that a ‘first response’ student group was being considered by students living in Fallowfield. At the time, Greater Manchester Police said that such a project had not fully been “organised in conjunction with the police,” and that they were not in a position to “advocate people taking the law into their own hands.”

When asked about the new student group, the University of Manchester declined to comment, but pointed out a range of initiatives run by Manchester Student Homes.

A spokesperson said: “The universities, in partnership with the council and police, are committed to engaging in dialogue with students on all aspects of personal safety and household security.

“Through Manchester Student Homes, (jointly funded department of the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan) students are supported on all aspects of life off campus. MSH works in partnership with external agencies, and the wider University to develop specific campaigns around safety.

“These include a regular police drop-in surgery, a landlord accreditation scheme and a student ‘neighbourhood watch’ style group known as ‘Student Eye’ which has seen a number of student properties engaged with Manchester Student Homes and Greater Manchester Police.”

The Mancunion is currently awaiting comment from the organisers of the group.

High Street, Manchester Photo: David Dixon @ geograph

Two people stabbed in Manchester city centre

Written by Rona McCann on . Posted in News.

Two people were stabbed in he city centre in separate attacks on February 24th.

The attacks on two male victims were non-fatal and are not believed to be connected, despite occurring just two hours apart.

At 7:30pm, a man in his forties was attacked with a bottle outside Morrisons at Piccadilly Gardens. He was stabbed with the bottle in his back and his head.

The victim was taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, and has since been discharged.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault.

The second stabbing took place 300 metres away at 9:56pm outside a Co-op store on High Street, following an altercation involving a woman.

The victim, a male in his 20s, exited the store to find the woman he was with surrounded by three ‘white men’. When he went to join her there was an ‘altercation’, Greater Manchester Police has said.

The victim was knifed twice by the gang and was taken to hospital in serious condition. The men also took the victim’s mobile phone after attacking him.

The man has now been discharged and is recovering at home.

No one is known to have been arrested for the incident on High Street, with investigations for both the stabbings now underway.

To aid in GMP’s investigation of the incident, council officials have been trawling through CCTV footage of the area from the night.

Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s city centre councillor, said: “We don’t want any sort of reputation for knife assaults in Manchester. You can see in London what that leads to. That’s why we’re taking this very, very seriously.

“We will be asking Co-op and Morrisons to provide any additional CCTV footage they might have. The men responsible for the Co-op attack are complete thugs [and] cowards.”

GMP first looked into whether the two incidents were linked, but has since cast its doubts on this being the case.

City of Manchester Superintendent Chris Hill stated: “We have been working round the clock to piece together the circumstances surrounding these incidents which we now believe to be isolated and unconnected.

“I would urge anyone with any information or footage of either incident to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

Police patrolling has been increased in the wake of Sunday night’s events.

Photo: Jack Greeney @ Mancunion

Live Review: Post Malone

Written by jackgreeney on . Posted in Music.

Set to headline Reading and Leeds this summer, Post Malone was looking to hype up British audiences early at the Manchester Arena on his European tour. After Roddy Ricch and Tyla Yaweh performed as support acts, Malone emerged from a large black shoebox with the siren calls of ‘Broken Whisky Glass’.

For an otherwise nonchalant figure, the 23-year old delivered a surprisingly mature vocal performance. He had consistently strong vocals through a variety of fused genres. Leg rocking like an old-time country singer, Post Malone kept his flow tight when rapping and hit his notes when singing. He even put former heavy metal band experience to good use screaming in ‘Blame It On Me’. This was particularly impressive after the singer apologised (unnecessarily) for a bad cold supposedly affecting his voice.

Between the interludes of each song, his warm and lively character shines through. Slurring his words and clutching his red house party cup, Malone lit up the second-most expensive onstage cigarette of his career, incurring a £3,000 venue fine. If they wanted a show from someone who cared, they shouldn’t have booked the guy with “Always Tired” tattooed onto his face. More professional though was the fantastic lights show. There were impressive deep red washes, stage smoke, and stylised footage which complimented Malone’s confidence as a solo artist.

Despite great performances in ‘Candy Paint’ and ‘I Fall Apart’, for large parts the set-list became an indistinct ocean of bass which meant an acoustic break was a much-appreciated reprise. Softer solitude was offered with ‘Feeling Whitney’ and ‘Stay’ which pleasantly disrupted the show, allowing for a break. Having said that, an immediate return to hit track, ‘Leave’ recaptured the audience’s excitement. This burst of energy was direly needed, yet it still fell short. ‘Leave’ isn’t a bad song (maybe he’s a Brexiteer). However, live at the Arena, a banger like ‘White Iverson’ or ‘Rockstar’ would have been much more effective.

Unsurprisingly, the latter was a particular highlight when Malone finally reached its fervour. Post Malone’s most popular song with 1.4 billion Spotify streams, ‘Rockstar’,  was performed with energy and familiarity. Here, rapper 21 Savage was one of few feature artists to have their vocals played out; any mention of his recent plight however, imprisoned by US ICE in an alleged “targeted operation”, was jarringly absent. A shout-out was in order at least.

Post Malone sang 21 songs in total (surely not some cryptic tribute), although many were shorter than record length with feature vocals cut. Then came the speech. If Post Malone’s rapping is laconic, the same cannot be said for his speeches. After droning on about following your dreams and never giving up, Malone walked out after an again snipped ‘Congratulations’. In total, the show was less than one and a half hours, speech included, encore sorely lacking.

Post Malone does not particularly bring anything new to hip hop besides setting a new record with the number of his face tattoos. What he does possess however, is an ear for hits, and is clearly working hard to push himself further. However, these gems were often lost in the vast set-list of trimmed tracks and bass-heavy narratives.

Although not a bad performance; some more effective set-listing choices would certainly have made it better.

6/10.

Dirty Martini Credit: Author

Believe in yourselfie

Written by rubyjohnston on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In an age whereby our Instagram feeds are under constant pressure to stay fresh, this article locates Manchester’s top 5 selfie spots so that you can be sure to snap up a like-worthy gram.

Selfie hotspot number 1: Dirty Martini, Deansgate.

The first coveted selfie location where many a visitor has taken an Instagramable snap is the neon angel wings found inside the Deansgate branch of Dirty Martini. The fluorescent lighting casts the outline of angel wings and a halo with the sign above reading, ‘Get your halo dirty’. Whether you take a solo shot or one with a friend, there’s no excuse not to have your own angelic portrait captured in this sought-after Manchester spot.

Selfie hotspot number 2: Neighbourhood.

The second location chosen for this list is Neighbourhood, a bar and restaurant located in Spinningfields, Manchester. The floral backdrop provides the perfect spot for a Hawaiian themed exotic full-length photo. Alternatively, you can channel your inner Kris Jenner as you pose on the iconic checkboard tiles that run through the seating area.

Selfie hotspot number 3: Menagerie.

Next on the list is a bar and restaurant in Salford, well known for its bespoke food and cocktails. Asides from its great food and party atmosphere, the restaurant is also well known for its freestanding bathtub filled with colourful plastic balls. Positioned next to the bathtub is a large full-length mirror with a neon light display reading ‘Trade your broken wings for mine’. There have been many a shameless snapper climb into the bath in order to capture a frivolous photo.

Selfie hotspot number 4: Sunset by Australasia.
The penultimate spot which enables a perfect selfie is in the bar come restaurant Sunset by Australasia in Spinningfields. Designed by award-winning interior designer Michelle Derbyshire, the chic interior boasts impressive velvet pink booths, huge floral displays and plush fluffy cushions. Whether it be inside or out in the terrace, it’s difficult not to get a good picture inside this picturesque space.

Selfie hotspot number 5: Cloud 23.

The final location for the ultimate Manchester selfie is the famed Cloud 23 restaurant and bar located inside the Hilton in Manchester Deansgate. As the highest restaurant in Manchester, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide an all-encompassing view of the Manchester cityscape. This is a great way to soak up the spectacular views the city has to offer and also the perfect spot for the ultimate Manchester selfie. When the sun drops, the vast metropolis illuminates the sky, providing the perfect backdrop for your picture!

Photo: Fashion Covers Magazines @Flickr

Talking To: Junior Social Editor of Glamour UK

Written by margaretward on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

If the work at University isn’t demanding enough, student distress is further catalysed by finance troubles, the pressure of settling into a new city, and the ever-crowded graduate market. Furthermore, many continue to feel anxious well beyond their first term of study, with it being commonplace to doubt yourself, your university course and your plans post-graduation. Yet, when the majority of students have only lived for two decades, believing you must have a concrete plan for the rest of your life is slightly unrealistic.

We recently sat down with Sophie Thompson, Junior Social Editor at Glamour UK, who appears to have it all figured out. Yet, although having a dream job for many, Sophie touched on her own experience at University and how it can be a difficult time for most people, especially when so many people around you appear (on the surface) to have their life together.

University is a time to explore, both your personality and your new city in order to begin to discover what you’re good at and what career you may want to enter. This certainly isn’t the time to have it all planned out. Sophie equally reflected on the gradual careers process and said: “You’re still at an age where you have no idea what you want to do with your life so a lot of it is just piecing things together that you like doing.” There’s no rush to get to the finish line, we’re all going to graduate at the same time!

Journalism is all about curiosity and a hunger for the unknown. A fast-paced career like this involves something new and exciting each and every day. Yet most significantly, like many other creative fields, journalism is a career which involves passion; without a spark of enthusiasm within your writing, your reader will be left unconvinced and shall move their loyalty to a new source or channel.

We asked Sophie what it was that first inspired her to seek a career in journalism, to which she replied: “I’ve always been a good writer and outside of education, fashion and beauty are two major passions of mine, so being able to combine them and end up in a position where I can do it as a career – I feel lucky more than anything to work at Glamour UK!”

Fashion is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and despite rapid shifts in consumer culture and the rise of ‘influencers’, it remains an incredibly exclusive space. One reason for the industry’s elusiveness is due to its small circles, it is significantly smaller than one may realise. With a fluid culture of creative freelancing and internships, many young creatives regularly move around employers, meaning individuals often hold crucial connections through former employers and mutual friends.

Although networking is a crucial skill in every industry, the compact scale of the fashion circuit means that networking within fashion is incredibly important for any prospective employee within this field. An individual may hold all of the right qualifications and experience, but by not having significant links within an industry will negatively disadvantage themselves from someone applying who is continually connecting to their wider network. It is extremely rare for an incredible opportunity to just abruptly present itself to you, meaning there’s all the more need to reach out to your contacts, or individuals you admire in order to gain experience.

We asked Sophie of Glamour UK what would be her number one tip be for someone hoping to enter the world of fashion journalism to which she reaffirmed the need to network. “Make contacts. You can have all of the experience in the world (which will of course help), but ultimately, it makes getting opportunities a LOT easier if you know the right people.

“Be sure to make time to catch up with friends from old jobs, go to events and get business cards from people you get talking with, message your favourite Instagrammer, apply to go to Fashion Week and make friends with stylists, photographers, anyone you can – because these are going to be the people that can put you in touch with the right people and get you where you want to be.”

Our last question to Sophie was what a typical day in the life of a ‘Junior Social Editor’ at Glamour UK would look like, to which she replied there certainly isn’t a boring one.

“I run all things social here at GLAMOUR UK, so my job is largely around making sure content gets out on time, making our Instagram feed look nice, liaising with influencers and that kind of thing. There are also a lot of opportunities here to learn new things and do things you enjoy, so with my degree being in journalism I also do a bit of writing for the site when I have time, which is a great way to get your name out there.

“No day is the same here – it’s massively hectic, yes, and you have to be prepared to work outside of office hours a lot, but at the same time, it’s really rewarding going to loads of cool events, meeting celebrities, getting free beauty products and clothes from brands.

“There’s also a huge buzz in the office when the first copy of our latest issue touches down on our editor’s desk and we get to see it for the first time, it’s amazing to be a part of such an incredibly friendly and talented team.”

Although Sophie’s position may seem like a distant dream for many, it appears the basic foundation needed is to be confident and pragmatic in your approach to your future career. Be confident, be passionate, and ultimately, be you!

Photo @ Elena Bradley.

Yard and Coop: Chicken Fever?

Written by Elena Meritxell Bradley on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Tucked away in the Northern Quarter opposite the likes of ‘V-Revs’ and ‘Luck, Lust, Liquor and Burn’ hides ‘Yard and Coop’. The edgy punter’s KFC and with decor to match; the only place to eat lunch in a fairy-light-adorned chicken coop. Whilst predominantly poultry-based, vegetarians and vegans do have some options which are mainly based around halloumi and cauliflower (what’s new?). Admittedly, for a restaurant called ‘Yard and Coop’, the multiple attempts at providing for non-meat eaters are creditable. However, it does seem like an afterthought.

Yard and Coop has a great atmosphere; super chilled and very spacious, lending itself perfectly to lunches with friends or laid back dinners. In an equally chilled capacity, the food doesn’t try to be something it’s not – which I respect.

The menu is based around different parts of the chicken. From wings, to boneless thighs, drumsticks, and monkey fingers (their own sexy chicken fingers which combine white and brown meat).

Once you have picked your chicken appendage of choice, you move to seven different options of accompanying sauce. These range from classic buffalo, ranch and Korean style to the bees knees; their own cayenne and lime hot sauce. Next on the chicken conveyor belt, you pick your style of fries. Sweet potato, classic with cheese sauce, salt and pepper or dirty (buffalo, Dr Pepper BBQ and ranch).

There are also alternative options of burgers, larger plates, and sides like mac n cheese and ‘amaizeballs’. These were (quite frankly) life-changing sweetcorn fritters with Korean coriander and lime.

The actual food is nothing ground-breaking – but the menu doesn’t promise this, it promises ‘kick-ass’ chicken and I’d say it does this to the full. Crispy, buttermilk pieces of chicken with a variety of flavourful sauces and loaded fries: this restaurant is definitely for your chicken cheat days.

I ordered the chicken drumsticks with classic buffalo and salt and pepper fries and was very content. The chicken is clearly well sourced; being both fresh and cooked perfectly. Whilst the sauces are great accompaniments, I would prefer the chicken to be glazed in the sauce, as it was just placed on the side in a small McDonald’s-esque sauce pot which didn’t feel like enough. Equally, I will say the salt and pepper fries were a let down: just chips with soy sauce, garlic and red and green peppers thrown onto them; which doesn’t qualify as salt and pepper chips for me.

Overall, for a one person lunch you’re expecting to pay around at least a tenner, but more likely upwards of £15. The food is not exactly cheap. Having said that, the portions are absolutely massive – five big drumsticks per person (!) – and so I had more to take home which is always a bonus. In my opinion, Yard and Coop is what it says on the tin: great chicken and chips.

7.5/10.

photo: niekverlaan @ pixabay

Apathy towards climate breakdown is not an option

Written by oliverstorey on . Posted in Opinion.

On the February 15th, thousands of students took to the streets across the world to protest against climate breakdown.

It was a rare show of post-millennial generational solidarity and a clear message to our leaders. A message to stop griping amongst themselves, to quit placating us with short-term solutions and paper straws, and address climate breakdown.

Before the accusation that I am being hysterical and we are in fact making great strides to a carbon-neutral economy, I will give credit where credit is due. The advances in both solar and wind energy have shown effective reform within our current system of incentives is possible. This government has begun changing consumer behaviour and a decrease in plastic waste is encouraging.

However, meagre targets of generating a third of energy using wind by 2030, wasteful investment in expensive nuclear plants and the cutting of solar subsidies are all holding us back. And, however many coffees I have from my reusable cup, it will have no impact on the 71% of greenhouse emissions that are produced by just 100 companies.

This hypocritical policy, which preaches environmental solidarity while maintaining structures and incentives that perpetuate climate breakdown, has been tackled recently by People and Planet. Like the FridaysForFuture student movement, they have taken their campaign Fossil Free directly to power – challenging a meeting of the University of Manchester’s governors.

The campaign accused the university of being “naïve” as they increased their investments in the “dying industry” of fossil fuels from £7.6m to £10m. Those included are Shell, BP, and Exxon Mobil – stars of the 100 most polluting companies.

The university is simultaneously contributing to our climate breakdown and reneging on its own principles of its ‘Environmental Social Governance’ strategy. It is, like most institutions and leaders in society, not only shirking its responsibility to radical change but is undermining its own integrity as a leader.

While 71 other universities have divested from fossil fuels in the UK, our university is worse than failing to be a leader. It is a follower of this government’s own hypocritical strategy, 99.4% of whose foreign energy investment is in fossil fuels. Banning paper straws and ‘sustainable’ goals become embarrassingly hollow when the detail is revealed.

We of the post-millennial generations have been born into a paradoxical world where everything is simultaneously getting far better and far worse. Those aware of the latter are willing to forgo the ultra-consumerist, short-termism that is driving this climate breakdown. We need more of the public to support a call for radical sustainable change.

I want us to make such a noise that our societies’ leaders take notice and implement the radical change that billions of people and this planet needs. I want the university and others to stand by worthwhile principles and not be on the side of those willing to accelerate our climate breakdown. It is time to for the majority of our generation to stand up and be counted; remaining apathetic to this issue will land you on the wrong side of history.

Photo: Creative Commons @ max pixel

Kosmos Taverna: Fallowfield’s hidden Greek gem

Written by Catrin Stewart on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Tucked away behind a small doorway, between the popular takeaway shops of Fallowfield, is a charming Greek restaurant. With an understated blue and white decor compared to the garish neon and brightly coloured signs we see surrounding it, it is easy to walk past without noticing. Not least, because the restaurant’s name is written in Greek letters. I imagine the alphabet is blinding our English eyes from attempts to de-code it.

But this place is an oasis, a small taste of the Mediterranean in dreary south Manchester. You’ll find traditional feeling decor with the white walls and green plants. The lighting is soft and calming but bright enough to still see your food.

The menu is extensive, with plenty of variety between and within courses. There are traditional dishes such as vine leaves, stuffed peppers and moussaka. The Greek names might throw you at first but the descriptions of the food speak for themselves. I had the vine leaves to start – unlike many slimy incarnations of the dish that I have tried, these were perfect. A side of tzatziki provided sharp yoghurt and fresh cucumber that perfectly contrasted the richer flavours of rice and dried fruit.

Main courses come with a choice of plenty of different sides – I would recommend the cracked wheat pilau. It’s easy to overlook in favour of trusty chips, but you won’t be disappointed. The grain is soft, full of flavour and the perfect accompaniment to most of the dishes on the menu.

The waiter was attentive and friendly. He explained certain aspects of our dishes and why some sauces were matched with different elements. He highlighted the courgette and herb fritters as his favourite vegetarian dish, and I can vouch for that claim. They were light and packed with many fresh herbs but still felt like a filling main course

Finally – if you only do one thing that I have recommended in this review (other than going to Kosmos) save room for dessert and order the Baklava. I might be biased as it is one of my personal favourites, but the light filo pastry and generous layer of mixed rich nuts drenched in Greek honey should not be missed

Kosmos offer a ridiculously reasonable student deal that can get you two courses and a glass of wine for £10.50 any day of the week other than Saturdays. If that doesn’t convince you I don’t know what will.

9/10.
Photo: Chris Beckett @ Flickr

Exclusionary student politics

Written by nimoomer on . Posted in Opinion.

I never want to dampen any enthusiasm young people may have for politics, or dismiss the small amounts of political engagement that are specifically designed for BME students.

But when it comes to political life on campus; whether it is formal political societies or radical activist groups, it for the most part, seems to be aimed at a specific type of student.

The politically astute, articulate – and let’s not forget probably white male – is the perfect combination for the feeble discussions about everything from the free market to global communist revolution.

There seems to be a total and complete lack of urgency within student politics at this University to encourage greater diversity within these groups.

The diversity that is evident across the city and the campus seemingly disappears whenever I walk into these spaces and frankly I am tired of feeling like an outsider. This becomes somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy with BME students, including myself, deciding that student politics is just “not my thing” and avoiding it altogether.

My problem is with student politics as a whole, but I think there’s a particular issue with left-wing groups on campus. They claim to be radical, anti-racist, and in favour of the emancipation of minorities, and yet manage to exclude minorities themselves. I’m not sure what’s worse: the hypocrisy or the faux radicalism.

At one meeting, it wasn’t just the lack of minority voices that was an issue, but it’s the effect of not having minorities in a room full of people discussing radical change.

Bizarre is the only word that comes to mind. It was a total and unfettered spectacle of white privilege that both confounded me and yet was not entirely without anticipation.

Whilst it was not verbalised, the colour-blind ideology permeated every single part of the meeting. There hovered the unspoken assumption that race did not need to be discussed – there were bigger fish to fry.

By ignoring the importance of race and geography these “radical leftists” reproduced exactly the same ideas that they claim to deride. And this is where the problem lies – these people will become the political activists, the journalists and the individuals that help shape this country’s political future.

All the while, they cannot or choose not to acknowledge the importance of black and brown voices in political change. What does that mean for us?

When BME students are left out of these spaces our concerns, our problems and our anxieties are left out too and this is simply unacceptable. I mean this not as derisory but rather constructive criticism.

I am calling for all of the political groups on campus to take a step back, reflect and at least show willing to try and tackle this issue.

Transport in Manchester Photo: David Ingham @ Wikimedia Commons

Polluted pennies

Written by Cachella Smith on . Posted in Opinion.

I don’t doubt that your February sunbathing sessions have been plagued by concerns of the environment this month. With temperatures reaching as high as 19C in what is known to be one of the rainiest cities, environmental change has certainly been a hot topic this week – awful pun intended.

Andy Burnham has not been left out of the conversation. Asking the government for £116m in order to instigate a Greater Manchester ‘clean-air scheme’ has not, however, been greeted with rainbows and sunny skies.

Citing statistics such as the 1,200 premature deaths of 1,200 people caused by poor air quality in Greater Manchester alone, Burnham wants to reinvent the city as a clean-air zone – ‘drastically’ reducing nitrogen dioxide levels by 2024. A pretty precise date for a pretty non-precise goal, it seems.

The way to go about achieving such a positive goal is of course an attempt at dissuasion through forcing the general public to put their hands in their pockets. Figures floating around at the minute are £100 per day for buses and HGVs, threatening another Magic pass rise, with older taxis and private hire vehicles subject to a £7.50 charge per day.

The controversy comes from the fact that private cars have been exempted, unlike other cities in the UK. This is an attempt to protect those who would not be able to afford a new car that fits with standards, thus avoiding placing a tax on poorer people.

The problem then, is that instead of targeting private cars and vans, (note that diesels currently contribute to more than 70% of nitrogen oxide levels), the levy will, in the majority, affect those who take the bus. I might have missed something but have we not spent the past 20 years trying to encourage people to use public transport over their own cars?

Obviously, the idea behind the scheme is incredibly positive, and I appreciate the sentiment behind trying to reduce the tax burden on the less wealthy. I have a question however as to who exactly considers those who typically take the bus to have less in the bank than someone who owns a car? Surely no one could agree that increasing the chance of a further rise in public transport prices, could ever be a positive move for the environment?

That said, I can’t help but feel that my real issue stems from the idea of using money as a ‘dis-incentive’ at all. I appreciate that this seems to be the way the world spins these days, yet surely there is a more effective way of combating climate change that taking more pennies out of people’s pockets. Perhaps advertising how many deaths are provoked by polluted air each year might do the trick?

And yet that seems to be the problem itself. Everyone has access to facts, statistics, and we all learn about it in school. Lord knows I have spent many a French oral exam discussing the benefits of recycling. We are all aware. So why is real harm to the planet, real harm to ourselves, not a ‘dis-incentive’ enough?

It’s an old argument but I think it says something about our society if the scariest thing about climate change is the threat that our wallets may end up a little lighter.

Photo: Pascale Chalmers-Arnold

Live Review: Jungle

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

As the lights dimmed and thick smoke filled the Manchester Academy stage, Jungle’s live band strutted out to raucous applause. Their signature graphics hung above the set, shining white through a haze of red. A guitar chord sounded, the drums and percussion started up, and the band launched into the opening bars of ‘Smile’, their latest album opener, singing “When you smile / The world feels a little better / I just wanna see you smile”.

West London duo Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland have history in Manchester, having played their debut show at the Roadhouse venue back in 2013. Hailed as “fucking amazing” by Noel Gallagher, their eponymous debut album released in 2014 was cool yet commercial, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Their brand of throwback funk and modern soul appeals to both an older generation and newcomers to the genre. One identifying with a nostalgic sound of their youth, the other enjoying dance floor-worthy funk tunes for the first time.

Jungle’s Manchester date comes in the middle of the band’s massive worldwide tour, which started in Las Vegas back in September 2018, and is continuing until August 2019. Since their second and most recent album For Ever was only released five months ago, their set is comprised of new hits and old favourites.

After ‘Smile’, came their lead single ‘Heavy, California’. Their preoccupation with the Californian Dream, and the disillusionment they have felt for it, is a running theme throughout the new album, with Lloyd-Watson and McFarland both having given LA a go, before dejectedly returning home. Yet despite the lyrics being about failing to chase the dream — “Can’t afford you… I’m a lonely heart / You’ve been miles away / Held up at the border” — this classic Jungle funk anthem really got the audience grooving along.

Having set the upbeat tone, Jungle then cranked up the glitz. Gold lights shimmered out, illuminating a crowd dancing wildly, hands waving above their heads in time with ‘The Heat’, the lead single of their debut album, before jumping to a big crowd-pleaser ‘Julia’. The disco beat kicked in, as they crooned lyrics describing the perfect girl they desperately longed for – “Julia / I don’t know a thing about you…Soon enough / You’ll be all I ever need”.

The previous songs seemed to act as a rousing intro to the standout track of the latest album, ‘Happy Man’. Belting out the lyrics “Buy yourself a car and a house to live in… Buy yourself a dream and it won’t mean nothing” certainly got the crowd singing along, but words condemning consumerism would have felt more authentic from another band considering Jungle’s best known track was used in an advert to sell cars.

Having ended long relationships whilst writing For Ever, it is unsurprising the album chronicles heartbreak and grief. ‘Beat 54 (All Good Now)’ played next, offering a slower sound to accompany devastating lyrics: “I never had enough for you/ But you said someone/ Would come and replace me/ How can you replace me”. This melancholic mood continued with ‘Cherry’, an even slower track featuring the chorus, “You’re never going to change me”, sung on repeat, and leading into ‘Pray’, a song about taking charge.

The following tracks ‘Lucky I Got What I Want’, ‘Platoon’, ‘Crumbler’, and ‘Lemonade Lake’ notably favoured style over substance, and were found to be lacking since neither McFarland or Lloyd-Watson possessed the vocal range or sonic style to convey the depth of feeling needed to give the songs conviction.

While the break-up theme continued, the calibre of song improved with ‘Casio’ – a funk number filled with falsetto that had the crowd clapping along to the beat – and ‘House In LA’. Grand crescendos and buzzing synths filled the venue as the band exited the stage during ‘Drops’. The crowd were having none of it, begging for a fitting encore, which was provided when the band came back out to finish with flashing lights, the well-loved chorus of ‘Busy Earnin’’, and the blistering guitar solo from ‘Time’ — providing that epic assault of the senses all gig-goers long for.

6/10.

Photo: badgreeb RECORDS @ Flickr

Record Reappraisal: Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

Written by Josh Sandy on . Posted in Music.

Whether it’s The Beatles with their three-solo-records-in-one White Album, or Pink Floyd’s famously fraught The Final Cut, there is a certainly a case for musicians doing their best work whilst under extreme pressure. However, the circumstances behind these albums pale in comparison to the immense turmoil that unfolded behind the scenes of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 record Rumours.

Following the success of their eponymous 10th studio album, which notably featured a departure from their blues roots in favour of a soft-rock sound and the acquisition of the US folk duo of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac faced the unenviable task of continuing their momentum. Along with the existing difficulties of following up a critically acclaimed album, the band faced the divorce of bassist John McVie and keyboardist Christine McVie, and the breakdown of Buckingham and Nicks’ long-term relationship. This, coupled with the band’s excessive and well-documented cocaine usage, led to a range of issues during the album’s recording.

The band’s internal strife is reflected heavily in the album with the full complement of band members only sharing joint song-writing credit for one song, ‘The Chain’. This is ironic when considering the song’s message about staying together against all odds, but also demonstrates their remarkable resilience and commitment. The highlight of the album’s lyrical content can be found in the stark dichotomy of Buckingham’s and Nicks’ views on their break-up. Whereas Nicks favoured a positive outlook in ‘Dreams’, Buckingham took a more negative approach in ‘Go Your Own Way’, and even included the infamous barb directed at Nicks: “Packing up, shacking up’s all you wanna do”.

The most genuinely affecting song, however, belongs to Christine McVie with her self-penned stripped back piano ballad ‘Songbird’. The track focuses on the self-sacrifice required in love and the need to finally let go in order to move on, which creates a truly heart-breaking, but ultimately encouraging, message.

Sonically, the album builds on the soft-rock sound of its predecessor, but also contains some interesting flairs throughout the course of the record. The album’s opening cut, ‘Second Hand News’, is a unique blend of Celtic-rock with a Bee Gees-inspired groove that produces a strikingly distinctive sound. In addition, the country-folk sound of ‘Never Going Back Again’ invokes memories of Buckingham and Nicks’ pre-Fleetwood Mac days, and provides an unusual degree of nostalgia for a song about moving on. However, the album’s true magnum opus is the ethereal ‘Dreams’, which can certainly stake a claim as the greatest break-up song of all-time. The track bleeds raw emotion, and the combination of Mick Fleetwood’s understated drums and Buckingham’s finessed backing guitar provides the perfect backdrop for Nicks’ graceful vocal performance.

Overall in Rumours, Fleetwood Mac managed to do something very few bands could emulate. The sheer tenacity from the band and their ability to create a seminal album during this period is truly inspiring. Ultimately, at a time when the music industry seems fickler than ever, we could all do with learning a lesson or two from the ‘Mac’.

Photo: John LeGear @ Flickr

Which sun is shining on us?

Written by sophiemarriott on . Posted in Opinion.

A delightful Springtime scene; young people relaxing on a patch of grass, sipping fruity ciders and eating whole-food picnics in buttery sunshine.

If you squint in a certain light you can even imagine the Ali G was a seaside cliff-face, or a rolling mountain range. The weather is lovely, but people do seem to think they’ve just been dropped into the centre of the Sound of Music.

I do hate to be a killjoy, but whilst the green spaces on campus have become countryside picnic spots, it should be pointed out that it should not be like this. At all.

February is a grim month, notoriously so. We plan in holidays specifically to cheer up what is otherwise the novelty of the new year being eroded by rain and mist. So of course this unseasonable warmth is celebrated, and the massive ecological crisis behind it is easy to scoff at.

“If this is global warming, bring it on!” To be honest, half of me is tempted to agree. Obviously, however this is not the overall effect of global warming.

In October last year an entire Hawaiian Island, was wiped off the map by a Hurricane. East Island was only a small spit of land, about 100 Acres in total, but it was a valuable haven for the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal. More than anything it was a piece of our Earth which we have destroyed through our actions.

The warming of the oceans as a result of climate change is causing storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis to intensify. Making them more dangerous and putting more lives at risk. Luckily East Island was uninhabited, the Indonesian coast of the Sundra Strait wasn’t. 281 people died in the Tsunami in December, and over 11,687 were forced to leave their homes.

It is the same climate change which means you can eat ice lollies over your seminar reading and which is destroying lives and ecosystems around the world. This is not intended as a rant to tell you not to enjoy the good weather whilst it’s here.

I for one will be relishing the warmth; obsessively counting how few layers I’m wearing as if I score points for how few I dare to leave the house in. It is imperative, however, that we do not shy away from what is really causing this and the real trouble we are in.

The recent IPCC report which gave us 12 years to drastically change our emissions and energy consumption warned against letting global temperatures rise about 1.5C. At this temperature 50% fewer people would be facing disaster and displacement from rising water levels than if the planet was half a degree warmer. It could save coral reefs; 99% of which would die at 2C temperatures.

This isn’t even the worst case scenario, at the moment when the report was released, the world was on target for 3C of warming. This would be disastrous for the planet and the animals and people on it.

If we are going to enjoy this glorious weather, and we absolutely should, we also need to remember that the same sun beaming down on us is not so kind to others. So, lets not forget that it will likely turn its nasty side on us if we don’t do something now.

Photo: Go Miyazaki @ Wikimedia Commons

Japan touches down on a new frontier

Written by euanhall on . Posted in Science & Tech.

Japan has taken steps towards a future of asteroid mining. On the 22nd of February, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that its Hayabusa-2 probe had successfully landed on the near-Earth asteroid, 162173 Ryugu, collecting a sample of the asteroid’s surface.

The operation was one of several planned for the Japanese spacecraft. Having launched in December 2014, Hayabusa-2 rendezvoused with Ryugu in June 2018, sending back pictures a few days later from a distance of about 700km, revealing its diamond shape and reversed rotation.

Ryugu was first discovered in 1999. It is about 1km in diameter, orbiting the Sun every 16 months. At times the asteroid can come as close as 95,400km from Earth. While this sounds like a long way, this is only nearly a quarter of the distance to the Moon. Ryugu owes its name to a Japanese folktale, in which a fisherman travels to a magical underwater palace on the back of a turtle. He returns with a mysterious box.

In September, Hayabusa-2 successfully deployed and landed two cylindrical rovers on the asteroid. Most rovers, including the recently deceased Mars Opportunity, trundle around on wheels, whereas these football-sized MINERVA-II rovers hop, bouncing across the surface meters at a time. There were fears that Ryugu’s weak gravity, which is nearly 90,000 times weaker than on Earth, would lose the rovers to space. The hopping-bots were, however, a success, and the French-German Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) landed 10 days later. The heavier, cube-shaped MASCOT lacked the mobility of MINERVA-II, jumping only once before its batteries ran out after 16 hours. A third MINERVA-II hopping rover is planned for deployment this summer.

Upon descending to the surface of Ryugu, Hayabusa-2 fired a 5-gram ‘bullet’ made of tantalum: a hard, unreactive metal. The bullet displaces particles on the surface, sending them into the air. Hayabusa-2 then collected this dust with its sampling equipment and began its ascent from the asteroid.

Two more sample collecting trips are planned for the spacecraft. Its third will use explosives to blow a crater into the asteroid, ejecting deeper materials from under the surface to be captured and returned to Earth. This sample will contain materials that haven’t been exposed on the surface, unaffected by wind and radiation. JAXA plans to return the samples by December 2020.

This is not the first time a spacecraft has landed on an asteroid. In 2001, NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker landed on Eros, and many will remember ESA’s Philae landing on comet 67P in 2014. JAXA itself landed the first Hayabusa spacecraft on 25143 Itokawa in 2005. However, comets are made of ice, and Eros and Itokawa are both ‘stony’ asteroids. Ryugu is a carbonaceous asteroid. These asteroids have a high carbon content, and Hayabusa-2 marks the first time a spacecraft has landed on such an object.

By visiting a carbonaceous asteroid for the first time, scientists hope to learn more about life’s origin. Ryugu could contain organic material and traces of water from when the Solar System was born. If what we find is similar to chemicals on Earth, perhaps material from space helped give rise to life on our planet. This mission could help answer an important question: where did life on Earth come from?

Beyond this, the mission has not gone unnoticed by fledgeling space mining companies that have begun to sprout up in the last decade. In addition to rare and valuable elements to be returned to Earth, asteroids could be mined for important materials and fuels for missions deeper into space. Planetary Resources Inc, a key player in the space-age gold rush, has already launched two test spacecraft. They hope to design a spacecraft that can use water mined from asteroids as fuel. Planetary Resources has estimated Ryugu’s value for mining purposes to be US$82.76 billion, which is higher than the GDP of nearly two-thirds of the world’s nations.

Preview: SU Elections 2019

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Every year, students vote for the eight full-time Executive Officers to lead the University of Manchester Students’ Union (SU). Here is The Mancunion’s preview.

From the 28th of February, voting will be open for the roles of General Secretary, Education Officer, International Students’ Officer, Women’s Officer, Liberation and Access Officer, Activities and Development Officer, Welfare and Community Officer and Postgraduate Students’ Officer.

58 candidates are running for the various roles and have now begun campaigning on social media and around the Students’ Union. Fatima Abid, Lizzy Haughton, Sara Khan, and Olivia Meisl are all running for re-election.

Polling stations can be found in the SU, North Campus, and Owens Park, Fallowfield. Voting opens at 12pm on 28th February and closes at 5pm on 7th March. Results are expected at 8pm on the same day.

The SU are offering daily incentives and prizes in an effort to drive voter turnout. Incentives include free food from the SU, and prizes include guest-list at an Academy gig and a £50 Uber ride.

Manchester Students’ Union is the largest in the country and represents over 40,000 students — but previous SU elections have struggled with low levels of turnout and been characterised by student apathy. Last year, just 19.8% of students voted in the Executive Officer elections, although this was amongst the highest in the country.

When asked why the SU elections are important and why students should vote, Riddi Viswanathan, the current International Students’ Officer, said: “This is one chance were all University students can make their voices heard, in fact, this is the time where they can reshape what the SU and the university looks like by electing their leadership.

“I don’t think they should miss out on the chance to exercise their democratic rights because the elected leaders do so much and they leave a very good impact on student life. I don’t see why students would lose this opportunity [and] not vote.”

You can find more information about the elections, including a full list of candidates, daily incentives and prizes on the SU website.

For full coverage of the election, visit The Mancunion’s live blog.