The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have published their latest guidelines for students travelling abroad this summer, and say staying with your friends is their top tip for avoiding trouble.
16-30 year-olds make up the majority of victims of crime reported to the FCO and the largest proportion of arrests abroad in 2018, so they advise sticking together in order to help prevent accidents – serious incidents like falls can often be attributed to students becoming separated from their pals.
The FCO’s other top tips include setting up a group chat for everyone on holiday, which you can use to ‘check-in’ to a certain destination. One quick message to your friends to tell them you’ve safely got to a bar goes a long way in keeping you safe.
Their final tips are age-old but still important: Agree a meeting point if you get split up on a night out, and look after your mates’ drinks. If they put it down in a bar, don’t let them pick it up again.
It’s not just accidents like falls that can happen when you get split up – almost 5,000 passports were lost or stolen from young British people travelling abroad in 2018, with thefts being more common to people on their lonesome than to those in groups.
Students are also more likely to ring their parents if there’s a crisis than local police, the FCO say.
The FCO can help with emergency travel documents, information about transferring money, and information on local lawyers, interpreters, doctors or funeral directors.
On top of that, they can provide help if you have suffered rape or serious sexual or physical assault, are a victim of crime, are ill or in hospital, and contact you if you are detained abroad.
Wherever you go this summer, make sure you stick with your mates, and check the FCO’s official travel advice for the country you’re heading to.
El Camino, which translates from Spanish as “the way”, is the latest Mancunian Mexican offering in the city centre, with their menu being served at The Cotton Factory – the restaurant at the Whitworth Locke hotel on Princess Street.
Therein lies the first plus point for El Camino: Location. It’s on the doorstep of the University’s North Campus and Gay Village, as well as being a five-minute walk from student favourite Yes. It has a good niche – not all the way in town if you’re coming from Fallowfield, meaning you don’t have to spend an eternity queuing on the bus to Piccadilly, and the perfect end-of-exams treat if you’ve finished in North Campus.
The decor is certainly very 2019, but with some extra touches – minimalist tables, plenty of plants, and a bar covered in old cassette tapes – the latter being a well-thought addition to the space, which could have been forgettable otherwise. As a side note, Whitworth Locke is a beautiful hotel, featuring an exquisite old-conservatory-cum-greenhouse as an entrance, which on sunny days is the perfect watering hole for Instagram. Speaking of which, the frozen margaritas were excellent, being boozey enough to enjoy yourself, but not so full of tequila that it tasted like drain cleaner.
We were served a four-course lunch, made up of a starter, two tacos, and a desert. The starter was Queso Fundido, which is made up ofcheese sauce, red chilli, and tortilla chips. Think of it as a Mexican fondue. The tortilla chips were excellent, providing a good level of crunch but also not being too brittle to scoop the cheese sauce up as it hardened towards the end of the serving. The chillis, served on the side, also tempered the cheese – which was extremely rich. So far, so good: The only complaint one could level at this was that it was too large, resulting in you feeling quite full with more courses to come. On the El Camino menu, this is priced at £5.95, which feels fair, and is a side dish. It’s definitely a sharer.
Next up we had the tacos: First was a £3.75 single chipotle cauliflower with radish, red chilli, and sweet potato puree. This was by far and away the weakest dish of the four. The red chilli was far too strong, and covered the cauliflower and radish. The sweet potato puree was therefore quite forgettable, as your tongue had been numbed by the intensity of the chilli’s spice. It was as if the menu was in need of another vegetarian option, and this was all they had left – coming together to produce a mish-mash of flavours that just talked over one another. Tasting it was akin to being at a party where the host was being obnoxiously ‘fun’ to make up for the fact that everyone’s arriving late, and you’re left stood in the corner being overawed by how hard they’re trying to be the life and soul.
Quite disappointing. Photo: The Mancunion
Happily, the second taco was far nicer: Charred corn tortilla with feta, pico de gallo, and avo hot sauce. Not nearly as spicy, the tang of the feta acted as a nice counterbalance to the small kick the hot sauce. It was served with fish, pork, and beef, which reportedly were bland (Editor’s note: The Mancunion staff present were both vegetarian).
It’s also worth mentioning the second taco actually managed to fold far better than the first, meaning it comes recommended as a fancy-lunch option.
Photo: The Mancunion
Finally, desert. An Ancho chilli brownie with cinnamon ice cream, which was superb. Gooey as an M&S advert, flavoursome as any desert you’ve ever tried – the cinnamon ice cream wasn’t too cold, crucially, so the brownie and ice cream could melt in your mouth for some type 2 diabetes-inducing ecstasy.
That perhaps shows the way for El Camino: Mexican twists on established dishes. It certainly felt the menu was at its best when it was adding some variety to the same-old, as opposed to re-inventing the taco wheel.
As the millions currently waiting with bated breath for the return of Netflix juggernaut Stranger Things will attest to, 80s nostalgia is stronger than ever.
It’s also true in the world of indie pop, where a host of up-and-comers are piling enough synthesisers on their tracks to make The Thompson Twins blush – and Leeds darlings Heir are a case in point.
The five-piece have certainly thrown themselves into their local scene after meeting as students at the Leeds College of Music: Last year they started a collaborative arts nights called Blueprint, a mixture of live band shows alongside art and photography exhibitions.
The band soon took a back seat though as their touring career began to really take off, combining support slots for the likes of Honne and The Dunwells alongside sold-out headline dates around Britain and Europe.
With new single ‘What You Haven’t Got’, it’s easy to see why the band are finding such receptive audiences. Mining from the same Fleetwood Mac-inspired pit as Haim and Pale Waves, it finds frontman Tom Hammond’s detached lead vocal cruising over a typically laid-back groove.
Detailing a break up that inspires sadness but no little defiance, he sings “Give it up/ Why’d you want to call me up/ To talk about another love?” Lord knows why any sane person would want to hear about their ex’s new beau, but at least Hammond is having none of it. If the twinkling, cheery synth solo in the single’s outro is anything to go by, it hasn’t brought him down too much.
It’s the sort of easily dance-able track that sure to go down a treat live, especially as the band’s shows are sure to get bigger and bigger as their debut album approaches. The last few singles have received strong support from Tom Robinson on 6 Music, and the band have been camped in Abbey Road with Bowie and Beatles producer Ken Scott. With their stock on the up with each release, the dates following ‘What You Haven’t Got’s release may be your last chance to see them so up close and personal.
Returning to Stockport with a stomping line-up of some of the industry’s best alternative bands were the flashy and lustrous five-piece Blossoms. After spending the past few years touring relentlessly and writing new material, Blossoms invited the likes of Cabbage, The Blinders, and Fuzzy Sun to join them in the beating sun as fans gathered in their packed-out hometown football ground.
With one swift movement and the triggering of strobe lights along the back wall of the stage, the suited and booted Blossoms entered the stage with a distinctively proud Northern groove. Bespangled in a red trouser suit, embellished with a frilled white shirt, frontman Tom Ogden fitted his old soul persona perfectly as he greeted adoring fans. Stretching one arm out towards the sea of the lurching crowd, Ogden pulled it back abruptly as the gut-wrenching synthesised introduction of ‘At Most a Kiss’ resounded in every chest that had gathered.
Blossoms have reigned the indie scene over the past three years, incessantly bringing out material that both longstanding fans adore and middle-aged mums. However, I wonder if this momentum is beginning to be overstretched as the band released their latest single ‘Your Girlfriend’ a mere 24 hours before the gig. This is by far the band’s weakest track; it’s lacklustre and it doesn’t sit within the same ballpark as the band’s discography. I was hoping that a live performance of the track would make it make sense.
It didn’t.
If anything, the band’s launch of the single live brought the energy of the stadium to a stand-still. Luckily, this was just an anomaly to the band and so when one of the band’s hits ‘Blown Rose’ followed shortly after, the crowd was yet again whipped into a frenzy as bumbag embossed and bucket hat lads lit their flares once again.
Refreshingly, Blossoms remained humble and connected with their audience throughout the entire performance which really did shine through as Ogden repeatedly remarked how thankful the lads were for everyone who turned out.
It’s no surprise that indie’s finest, Blossoms sold-out their hometown date but what was surprising was the band’s smooth transition into Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ as Ogden swayed across the stage from right to left as the crowd mirrored his newfound burst of energy. With an extensive set-list that ensured coverage of classics, their latest album, and covers, Blossoms held their audience’s attention in the palm of their hands, effortlessly.
Of course, I’d always prefer to see the lads back in a smaller, more intimate space playing more of their EP material, however, it’s certainly compelling and inspiring to see the progress they’ve made. I’m confident whatever the creative direction the band chooses to pursue for their next album will continue to be setting the standard for upcoming indie acts.
This summer a new music and arts festival is coming to Manchester: Hide&Seek Festival, located at Capesthorne Hall, just outside of Macclesfield.
In the heart of the picturesque Cheshire, Hide&Seek will be the first festival in the surrounding areas of Manchester to offer underground minimal house and techno music, alongside disco. Dan Shake, Francesco Del Garda, and Jeremy Underground have all made this year’s lineup.
Representing the new set of younger emerging artists at Hide&Seek, Josh Baker is a Manchester-based DJ and producer that has already turned the heads of the younger generation. Josh Baker’s obsession with the Manchester clubbing scene came after a trip to Sankeys with two of his friends, resulting with taking away the “raving bug”. Baker believes Sankeys alone shaped everything for him, and allowed him to experience all kinds of house and techno music.
Around the age of 16, Baker received a copy of Logic from one of his friends, which quickly lead to upgrading his computer, and growing his setup with pieces of hardware including drum machines, synths and samplers, which he still uses today to create his music. As years have gone by, Baker believes that due to the endless hours he has dedicated to his music, he is more confident than ever with his skills in the studio.
Baker has also curated an event brand called You&Me which was born after a long summer stint in Ibiza with close friends. As weeks passed, Baker and his companions realised that they had similar visions and passions for music which led to them unveiling You&Me last September in Manchester, enabling other emerging talents to showcase their music, which Josh felt was a natural step for him as a person and an artist.
Having played the likes of The Warehouse Project, Parklife, and Pikes Ibiza, Josh Baker has taken on his biggest challenge to date – Hide&Seek Festival which is a festival dedicated to exposing emerging talents in the house and techno scene.
Josh has already come to the conclusion that it is going to be his favourite gig to date. Although there are still two months until the festival, Baker claims that his team have worked “100 times harder than anticipated”, calling it his biggest achievement to date, and a “true dream come true”.
When asking what he is looking forward to the most at Hide&Seek, Baker states that just putting a smile on peoples’ faces is enough to make him happy, exaggerating that the amount of hard work put in will be plenty to do so. Although Baker would prefer festival goers at Hide&Seek to be able to see every act, the ones he thinks we should look out for are Spokenn, Ingi Visions, and Voigtmann – who are exceptional DJs who inspire and impress him every time.
Looking back at when Josh was first starting out, he still believes the best gigs he has played which will stay with him for a lifetime are in the 150 capacity Koh Tao (later called Cubo) basement.
However, following the recent closures of many clubs in Fallowfield and Rusholme, such as Cubo, Baker believes this is a step back for the Mancunian music scene, with many of those places building up an initial fan base to be able to fill up bigger clubs like Hidden. Baker thinks that in the UK there still needs to be a big shift in the way the authorities look at clubbing culture.
However, Baker does believe Manchester seems to “be on fire” right now across the whole of the electronic music scene. Keep an eye out for the rest of the You&Me crew, he says: Dan Mouino, Seba&Emile, Jacob Samuel, Alfe, and Matt Wide are all working hard in the studio and will be bringing lots of their material to life over the next year.
Hide & Seek takes place on 31st August 2019 at Manchester’s Capesthorne Hall. Find tickets here.
EAST, written by Steven Berkoff, portrays East End life in the 1970s. Three working class young people struggle in parallel with their parents, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing London. Talking to me after the preview of EAST performed at the University of Manchester’s John Thaw Theatre, director Rosie Thackery expressed how “encouraged” she is by the positive reception.
Thackeray explained that she first saw EAST “too young” as an early teen. It was her “light bulb” moment with theatre, where she realised “this is what I want to do” and in this proactive, brash style embodied by Berkoff.
Thackeray appreciates that EAST represents a group of people who have accents other than received pronunciation. She explained that she sees our generation as producing work that is “progressive and promotes politically correct ideas”. However, it is still important not to gloss over the damaging ideas of the past (that still exist in undertones today).
I asked more about Thackeray’s process, especially in creating the physical elements that are integral to this portrayal of the play. Thackeray describes EAST as a “dense script with wonderful imagery” that it is “fertile” for devising. The collaborative style of these rehearsals meant that the cast went through the script meticulously, in order to pick out key imagery in the text. The cast have fully “immersed themselves in the culture of the play” to create EAST. Thackeray recalled a moment when the cast spent an hour creating a roller-coaster scene, playing carousel music and creating different rides until it was condensed enough for the production.
Photo: Hugh Summers (Producer)
Due to the abrasive text and the classical illusions created by Berkoff, (at times Shakespearean), this lends “a layer of fantasy” to the troubling ideas dealt with in EAST. Thackeray recognises the relief that the physical theatre elements of the performance give to the audience given the intensity of the text. She described the text as part of a “triptych: voice, movement and text”, all needing to be balanced.
Thackeray admitted worrying about causing offence by presenting EAST. The play has a “long history”, Berkoff was initially branded a misogynist for the “problematic portrayal of women, race and class”. She is however, confident in the play and the “need to present these sides of society without moralising them or glossing over them”. EAST allows the audience and performers to explore the background and alienation of characters, how the various prejudices have been created. The play presents some difficult concepts in such outrageous ways so as to provoke laughter as well as discomfort. Thackeray wants audiences to question why a moment made them “laugh or feel uncomfortable”, further provoking audiences to look inwardly at prejudice.
This production of EAST is being interpreted by two female directors (assistant director Kate Ireland). Thackeray emphasised the exposure of the friction created between women as they are pitted against each other, both in the 70s and today: “there can only be one prima donna”. Thackeray explained that EAST remains a male dominant play, but the intention in this version is to highlight the abhorrent treatment of women in all its ugly truth.
Director Rosie Thackeray and the cast of East, Photo: Hugh Summers (Producer)
The female direction of EAST has also allowed Thackeray and Ireland greater insight into some of the more problematic depictions of women. This is highlighted in the treatment of a monologue delivered by Les (Tom Bass) where he discusses sleeping with an underage girl. Instead of the only female cast member (Abby Moss) portraying the young girl, the audience only sees what Les does to her, showing how she is silenced and made invisible in this situation.
Thackeray also explained their plan for costumes, her intention is to ground EAST in the 1970s punk movement, creating a “fractured, nightmarish” version of Berkoff’s play. Thackeray has written for the Mancunion on fashion and expressed an interest in why we dress to fit in, to be deliberately alternative or to impress, giving the example of the familiar Fallowfield style.
When asked who should come and see the play, Thackeray quoted EAST, saying: it’s for the ‘punters who pay to witness its foul and cruel beauty’, EAST is a hard-hitting play rooted in stark honesty.
EAST will play at 12th-17th August at Edinburgh Fringe in theSpace on the Mile Space at 13:00
Having just returned from a semester abroad in the US, I have experienced first-hand what it is like to live in a country where the healthcare system thrives on capitalism. This cultivated within me a deep sense of pride for the NHS which I believe that every British citizen should possess. My health insurance for the semester cost me over $1,000 and only covered a percentage of the cost of medical bills.
When I dislocated my elbow whilst skiing, the paramedic informed me on the way to the hospital that my blood pressure was unusually high. “Are you stressed about something?” he asked. I was extremely stressed, in fact, I was petrified. Petrified that high risk recreational activity would not be covered under my health insurance and I would be engulfed by thousands of pounds worth of debt.
No one should have to feel this fear, and thankfully in the UK, we do not have to. Anyone, from any walk of life, can walk into an NHS clinic, knowing that no matter how serious their illness, they will be treated.
During my time abroad I met students who were not covered under health insurance. Sam, 19, was having trouble with extremely irregular periods but was unable to get help from a doctor because her parents could not afford the university’s health insurance. “I don’t know what to do,” she said, “it could be something serious, but I can’t afford to get it checked”.
Thankfully, after months of fear, confusion and scary final demand letters from the hospital, my insurance got processed properly and almost everything was covered. I still had to pay over $500, but since my bill without insurance would have been over $20,000, it seemed like I was getting a real bargain.
However, $500 is still a hefty price to pay for something as necessary as regaining the use of my right arm (try dressing yourself with one hand, it’s insanely difficult). Health is a human right and everyone should be entitled to it regardless of their income.
The fact that the NHS has been able to provide free healthcare to the nation for over 70 years is something that we Brits should be extremely grateful for. We must do everything in our power to protect our healthcare system from privatisation, so that future generations may live without the fear of being able to afford good health.
The University of Manchester issued £37,302 worth of library fines last year, The Mancunion has learned.
The figures, which were released under a Freedom of Information request, also reveal that £25,347 was paid in library fines to the University in 2017/18.
Students can be fined for returning books or library resources late, or when another library user recalls the item in question and the original student fails to return it.
As set out in the Library Regulations, “the Librarian may also levy a fine on any user who fails to comply with other provisions of this Regulation, up to a maximum amount determined from time to time by the Board, but not exceeding £500, according to the seriousness of the offence.
Article 12 of those regulations says that “failure to pay fines levied as above may result in the user being excluded by the Librarian from using the Library’s facilities and services on a temporary or a permanent basis.”
Article 13 also goes on to say that “the assessment result for any student may be withheld if he or she, on completion of his or her programme of study, fails to return all items borrowed from the Library, or fails to pay all outstanding charges or fines”. This means a student can ultimately be denied their degree classification – which means they would not be able to graduate. However, a UoM Library spokesperson seemed to contradict Article 13 by claiming in a statement to The Mancunion that they do “not prevent students from graduating for not returning their books, losing a book or not paying their fines”.
They added: “The Library encourages students to return books and pay their fines before graduating to support our work in providing an outstanding learning experience for future students.”
Anja Samy, an English Literature and German student, said: “I think the library policy is quite fair, I’ve never been fined because they had a grace period in which I could return my overdue book.
“I accidentally took a book with me on my year abroad, and they were quite understanding that I needed time to post it back.
It’s been revealed that the Students’ Union (SU) has generated over 5,000 meals by partnering with the Foodinate scheme.
The news comes as Foodinate announced they had delivered their 100,000th meal to someone in need since 2016.
The 5,047 meals generated by the SU have come from 532 Bar and Kitchen – formerly known as the Union Bar – putting it 4th on the Foodinate leaderboard for number of dishes served.
Foodinate began in 2016 with founder Caroline Stevenson going on to generate the scheme’s 10,000 meal in January 2018. Since then, the meal-for-meal initiative has seen exponential growth. Foodinate is now having an impact in 12 deprived communities across the UK. Now, they are launching their “Business Champions Club” membership packages in the hopes of fundraising an additional £100,000 to expand resources and supercharge their impact to the next level.
Stevenson said she began the initiative after seeing many people struggling to afford a meal in Manchester.
On the news of Foodinate’s 100,000th meal, she said: “I’m so proud of the team and will be forever grateful to our dedicated partners for believing in this idea and making it happen with us.
“Unfortunately, with more than 13 million people in the UK living below the poverty line, our work has only just begun, and we have huge plans to take our impact to new heights.”
Another notable participant in the scheme is ex-Manchester United footballer and co-owner of GG Hospitality Gary Neville, which means every person attending a private event at any of CG’s venues, including Hotel Football and Manchester Cathedral, results in a meal for a person in need in the local community through Foodinate.
Neville added: “When we heard about the Foodinate scheme, we knew it was something we wanted our events and catering company to be involved with.
“Homelessness is a serious problem, so for our clients booking events through us to know they are making a positive difference in the city at the same time as holding their event, it’s a very special thing.”
It all started on a Thursday afternoon, with varying degrees of sleep and preparation the night before, 5,000 people set off on their pilgrimage to the Welsh countryside all in search of the Carreglwyd Estate, more commonly known amongst festival-goers as ‘Gottwood’.
Gottwood, being labelled one of the most scenic festivals in the UK, lived up to this tag on arrival: You’re greeted by the stunning Welsh coastline that weaves its way into the horizon or – as they say in Wales, ‘it was lush, it was’. In store was an unforgettable weekend that offered an enormous range of selectors, from the talented up-and-comers to the heavy-hitters, in a setting so picturesque, no one even cared they were in Wales.
What better way to direct the energy of a crowd riled up on their first night of a festival than sending them to a sweaty barn to dance their hearts out? On Thursday night we were graced with the dulcet tones of Enzo Siragusa’s jungle set; it was quite the way to kick off four nights of grooving and dancing in the only converted barn in the country that had the potential to be used as a festival stage. The room retained its crowd throughout the set, no one being brave enough to holster their gun-fingers and fight their way through the sea of the sweaty masses.
Friday offered the first full day to explore and was probably my favourite, despite the now decidedly Welsh weather. It is a testament to the efforts of those who put on Gottwood that they are able to design so many unique stages that all felt intrinsically different in their own way. Each stage has its carefully curated feel from The Walled Garden, which was a tucked away haven from the Godless sweat-pits in The Barn.
Some of the more open stages such as The Curve and Trigon offered people the opportunity to dance in the open as they enjoyed their completely natural, un-supplemented euphoria.
Peach b2b Nathan Micay was a real highlight and Ricky’s Disco offered the perfect environment, being one of the tighter spaces to pop a whine in the festival. The compactness of the tent resembled something of an Oak House flat party or a Saturday night queue for Turkiss, as people were so rammed up against one another, they had little else but their will to survive to ensure they didn’t start weeping.
The set itself was one of the more entertaining ones in the weekend as they both tried to outdo each other in terms of the ‘wickedness’ of their tracks. It proved that these two DJs were people who took their profession seriously enough to be able to cooly drop a set of ridiculousness to cap off the weekend.
The amount of talent on show on Sunday really made it a great way to round off the weekend. Bradley Zero b2b Shanti Celeste was a real highlight of the weekend’s music. They brought the techno, we brought the tech-yes. Move D also seriously knows how to ‘shake-his-thang’ and watching him propel everyone through a somewhat weary Sunday afternoon showed that.
As everyone tried not to pretend the end was nigh, Crazy P took the reins. What could have been quite a mellow way to end the festival was greeted with Danielle Moore doing what she does best: Singing. The crowd was one of the biggest of the weekend, all summoned to wave goodbye to the tenth year of Gottwood. As the set came to an end, over to our right a fireworks display began which was perhaps the best culmination of what was described as a particularly over-zealous friend as “one of the best weekends of their life”. I couldn’t help but agree.
The weekend was brought to a close with a pub lunch in a neighbouring town; the infamous Black Lion Inn, Llanfaethlu. I said I would drop them a review on Facebook but thought what better way than to name them here. The fish and chips were hot, Welsh, and good.
Climate activists People and Planet have ended their occupation of the University of Manchester after 24 hours.
Eight protestors initially entered the John Owens Building, where Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell’s Office is, on Wednesday morning – claiming they wouldn’t leave until they spoke with Rothwell herself.
She is thought to have been out of Manchester until Friday, meaning the protestors would have had to stay in the sport for at least 48 hours.
During the course of the day, People and Planet claim the University blocked their access to food, visitors, WiFi, and crucially toilets and running water.
The group described these tactics from the University as “heavy handed” in an open letter seen by The Mancunion. The University commented that it “supports the right of any student to protest peacefully and legally. However, our responsibility as a University is to ensure that we do everything we can to minimise disruption to other students and to our staff.”
In that open letter, People and Planet called on the University’s Senior Leadership to “sit down to discuss divestment with us”, citing support from UoM UCU members, SU Officers, and attendees of the EUAC Conference on the issue of divestment.
The EAUC Conference was the driver for the protest, with People and Planet’s Sophie Marriott calling the decision from University leadership to not speak to the group “despicable whilst the EAUC Conference is on across the road”. The conference aims to promote sustainability within the post-16 education sector.
Photo: The Mancunion
Tensions had been running high over the group’s treatment, with SU Education Officer Olivia Meisl saying it was “vital that the University offer welfare support to the students involved in this protest.
“It’s in no one’s interest for the University to inadvertently impose a hunger strike on protesting students; the dispute must not be resolved at the cost of student wellbeing.
“The University prides itself on developing intelligent students that engage with the world around them, and a by-product of that is sometimes they will contest the University’s choices. The University should listen to and engage with these students’ concerns in a constructive manner, and the students should work to listen to the university and the current and historic reasons it’s taken the positions it has.”
Meisl and SU International Students’ Officer Riddi Viswanathan took water to the group yesterday evening, and checked in on their welfare.
The EAUC Conference draws to a close this afternoon, so it is possible that further activism could be seen on campus. During the occupation, solidarity protests were seen, with People and Planet members graffiting the pavement outside Whitworth Arch.
The University of Manchester declined to provide further comment.
Miss Julie, written by August Strindberg and translated by Michael Meyer was a clear success on its opening night at the Hope Mill Theatre. Elysium Theatre Company has already built up a reputation for bringing excellent theatre to the North, often shows that had previously not been seen outside of London. Having seen Days of Wine and Roses and Jesus Hopped the A Train, I knew to expect excellence.
Miss Julie has an early history of being rejected by theatres for its unashamed focus on sex and class warfare. This production proves why it still needs to be seen. As the play is set on Midsummer Eve (1888), everything is subverted when Miss Julie sleeps with John (her father’s valet). At the beginning of the play it is clear that Miss Julie is above John and the cook Christine. However, the encounter causes fluctuations in class power and reputation.
The production’s set design (Louis Price) was excellent. The whole play was set in a slightly damaged yet stately kitchen which felt authentic to the time. It was interesting to see an aristocratic lead deal with her actions solely in a place of ‘power’ for the servants of the house.
The atmosphere of Miss Julie was created before the performance began, as the audience were greeted at the entrance by a violinist (Elliot Moore – music composed by Emily Winters) and surrounded by servants as we waited to enter the space. Using the students of ALRA North and the Arden School of Theatre to create an ensemble of servants, cleverly created the atmosphere of watching eyes in the manor house. The ensemble only featured in one raucous scene accompanied by Moore on violin. Although this demonstrated the gravity of the situation, it seemed unnecessary to the production given the strength of the three principles.
Danny Solomon as John showed impressive complexity in his performance. At first he had the audience believing he was spurning the advances from his mistress. The later revelation that he was using her was therefore a surprising power shift. Solomon kept the audience guessing about kind of man he was. At times his eyes seemed to flash dangerously as he gained power over Miss Julie, yet remained unsure of whether to pursue her further – we were kept almost constantly in suspense.
Alice Frankham was also powerful in her role as Miss Julie, embodying the entitlement and condescension of a lady of the house. This gave her ‘fall’ from grace and reputation after sleeping with John that much more impact. Even the aristocratic Miss Julie was at times relatable in her erratic nature and insecurities, questioning her own strength and position. This play is human in its writing and in delivery by these accomplished actors.
Lois Mackie grew on the audience as Christine, the cook of the house. Christine provided another perspective due to her unofficial engagement. Mackie portrayed Christine as seemingly innocent intially, but this too shifted to reveal a steel in her character. Ultimately Christine cared more about how Miss Julie’s actions gave the servants nothing to better themselves for, rather than John’s indiscretion.
The dark wit of the writing was impressively navigated by the direction of Jake Murray. Miss Julie demonstrated that Elysium have the diversity of expertise and the creative range to bring a classic play to life, not only modern productions. There are clear parallels in Miss Julie to the fear of being judged for seemingly trivial reasons exacerbated by social media today. It is completely believable (if entertainingly absurd at times) that one improper act spiralled into the characters emotional turmoil.
This fast-paced production worked well without an interval, Miss Julie was gripping from beginning to end. Another excellent production from Elysium.
Student climate activists, the People and Planet society, have occupied various areas of the University of Manchester campus – including outside Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell’s office.
People and Planet say the occupation is due to the University hosting the annual conference of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) which awards European higher education on their sustainability.
Members of the UCU, the trade union which represents university teaching and academic staff, are also participating in the occupation.
Their demands include the University divest from all fossil fuel companies, with People and Planet claiming the University has £11.3 million invested in various extraction firms, including BP and Shell.
The activists say they will occupy the space outside Nancy Rothwell’s office until she speaks to them directly. She is not thought to be in work until Friday, so the protesters will have to stay in the space 24 hours a day.
In a recent interview with The Mancunion, Rothwell said the University “continually review” their investment portfolio, but also said she doesn’t “want to make a gesture, if you like, just to keep some people happy when the bigger issue, and it is a big issue… is that we’ve got to reduce our use of fossil fuels.”
A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “The University of Manchester supports the right of any student to protest peacefully and legally. However, our responsibility as a University is to ensure that we do everything we can to minimise disruption to other students and to our staff.”
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (NGHFB) played an epic homecoming gig at Manchester’s Heaton Park. As chief songwriter and lead guitarist of Oasis, Noel last played at Heaton Park exactly ten years ago – so the gig was undoubtedly a landmark in Gallagher senior’s solo career and highly anticipated by fans old and new.
The set-list satisfied those coming to reminisce over Oasis and experience Noel’s solo material. As with most NGHFB’s gigs, Noel’s solo work mostly made-up the first half, with Oasis tracks coming later. Kicking off with ‘Fort Knox’ and ‘Holy Mountain’– tracks from his last album, Who Built The Moon?
Gallagher excited the crowd who faced the typical mud and drizzle of Heaton Park in summer. Later came ‘Black Star Dancing’ which, despite mixed reactions from fans upon release, garnered a lively response from the audience. Played live, the track surprisingly impressed me, since I had initially been critical of Noel’s new disco vibe.
As expected, the crowd truly erupted once Noel delved into Oasis’ back catalogue. It was at this point in the gig that I don’t recall hearing Noel sing again. With the likes of ‘The Importance of Being Idle’ and the undeniably perfect ‘The Masterplan’ being played – along with a few more NGHFB fan favourites like ‘If I Had A Gun…’ – the crowd sang every single word at the top of their lungs. I would have loved to have heard Noel sing ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’, originally sung by younger brother Liam in Oasis, but alas, no sound system in the world was going to beat this crowd, which perhaps made the moment all the more magnificent. Perhaps Leeds United fans were a little less enthralled, however, with Gallagher mockingly enquiring “is anyone here from Leeds?” right before playing the track.
No Noel Gallagher gig would be complete without the obligatory encore performance of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger.’ Again, this was a special moment for all who sung their hearts out. A cover of The Beatles’ ‘All You Need is Love’ – a staple of NGHFB’s recent performances – concluded the unbelievable evening.
Whilst Noel’s singing was excusably drowned out, it was a little disappointing that he failed to address his fans very often. Having released his first solo album eight years ago now, Noel lacks the excuse of not being used to the frontman role. Admittedly, Gallagher rarely majorly engages with crowds at his gigs, however, whilst he did thank the audience for making it out in the rain and had an occasional cheeky jab at crowd members, I was really expecting more interaction considering the size and significance of the gig. I can’t help but feel like Gallagher was a bit indifferent about the whole thing.
Despite Noel’s absence of apparent enthusiasm, Iremain enthused over the gig. Overall, the show was unforgettable and evidently lapped up by the crowd. In fact, I’d perhaps go as far as saying that the crowd made the gig.
With exams over and graduation looming, the Students’ Union (SU) would like to send their congratulations to all students graduating this year, and also deliver a special ‘thank you’ to all those who attended The University of Manchester Students’ Union Official Graduation Ball.
The official Grad Ball only takes place once a year, and always promises to be a unique way to celebrate graduating with friends from any course in a beautiful venue.
AdLib string quartet played a live concert whilst a three course meal was served. Photo: Matt Eachus
Last week, the Graduation Ball took place at the Whitworth Hall and provided a meaningful way to wind down after students’ hard work over the last few years.
Students told The Mancunion that they believed “the venue was beautiful, the band was amazing and I think for the food and free drinks you got it was decent value for money”. Another added that it was “mesmerising to hold it in the Whitworth Hall”.
Students dress to impress for the Grad Ball. Photo: Matt Eachus
Lizzy Haughton, SU Activities Officer, said: “Congratulations to all students coming to the end of their courses and for finishing the gruelling exam period. It’s so exciting to celebrate the end of such a monumental achievement in students’ lives.
“The SU is so happy to provide students with the event they deserve at this time of year!”
This is advertorial for the University of Manchester Students’ Union.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell will have been the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Manchester for nine years come June 2019, having taken over from Alan Gilbert in 2010. It’s fair to say that 2018-19 might have been her most testing year yet, having seen the aftermath of the spring 2018 UCU staff strike, a large fall in the University’s surplus, and frequent calls from student activists to divest.
On top of this, Prof Dame Rothwell also plays an active role in researching “what causes the damage in the brain after a stroke or in dementia”, as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Society, Co-Chair of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester, Chair of Corridor Manchester Board, a member of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership Board and a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Board.
She’s got a lot on.
So, in a climate of genuine uncertainty surrounding Higher Education funding, given the recent Augar Report and Brexit uncertainty, where does the Vice-Chancellor see the University heading in the next few years, and how has she seen this academic year?
Perhaps the most pressing issue is the University’s finances – the 2017-18 accounts revealed that the surplus – profit, in effect – fell by nearly £40 million to £25 million in that year, which meant Manchester missed a crucial target of having a surplus equivalent to 5-7% of total income. The final proportion was just 2.4%.
“I think there’s no Vice-Chancellor in the country who wouldn’t say they have [financial] concerns, because fundamentally our income streams are level and not going up with inflation and most of costs are going up – which means we have to look at different ways of doing things.”
Staff are the main driver for those increasing costs: Manchester now is a real living wage employer, as well as “the fact that the [University] trustee has recommended that there are additional payments to meet the deficit” in the pension pot which created the industrial dispute last year.
That strike of spring 2018 is still clearly in the psyche of University leadership. Whilst “it had no effect on the balance sheet”, Rothwell is clear in saying she thinks “it had a big effect on students… [and] obviously staff – [for] many of whom it was distressing”.
She admits that she hasn’t “seen any cases that have come through” for students wanting compensation for their lost teaching, and points to the fact that there are “very small numbers in some universities” across the country.
Photo: The Mancunion
Finance is evidently a challenge for the whole Higher Education sector, and with Manchester being the largest player in terms of student numbers, the effect of even small changes would be huge. These challenges also come at a time when students are increasingly demanding the University divest away from industries associated with some of the world’s largest issues – climate change and human conflict.
Prof Rothwell is keen to point out that Manchester’s “investments are determined not by me but by the investment committee”, regardless of the areas in which students are concerned.
Anti-climate change student activists have been very prominent on campus this year, with the People and Planet Society storming a meeting of the University’s leadership. So, the question is: will the University divest the £9.7 million they have invested in fossil fuels?
“I think you have to be careful about the difference between what is an important statement and what is a gesture.
“I worry about the fact we are a university that uses a great deal of fossil fuels, because we use a lot of electricity, for our students, for our facilities, for our research. I don’t want to make a gesture, if you like, just to keep some people happy when the bigger issue, and it is a big issue – I am really worried about climate change – is that we’ve got to reduce our use of fossil fuels.”
She also adds that it’s not a ‘no’ forever, by saying the University “continually review” their investment portfolio, and Manchester are taking steps to de-carbonise, including the 10,000 actions programme. However, there is also another element of message-sending: Activists say that if Manchester divest, then other Russell Group universities may follow suit, and so on.
“I think that’s a reasonable argument but I come back to putting [it] into the context of the vast use that we put to [fossil fuels]. We’re trying to think about ways to discourage people from flying, that would have a much bigger impact, I think, than not investing £9.7 million or whatever it is today.
“So I think it’s a balance, I prefer to do things that I know will make a difference rather than ones that are popular and might. I take their case; I have huge sympathy with them. I feel somewhat reassured that young people are really taking climate change seriously where others in the past have not.”
The other investment which draws criticism is the University’s money in Caterpillar, the machinery company. The BDS Israel movement say that Caterpillar machines are used by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) to destroy Palestinian settlements, which should be cause enough for the University to pull their money from Caterpillar to send a message to the American giant.
“Caterpillar is a company that makes materials, goods, for lots of different purposes. Once we go down the line of saying any company that makes anything that is used in any military context, we’re into every form of clothing, every form of food, every form of footwear. It doesn’t make military equipment – it makes equipment that can be deployed for military purposes so that I think then you get into the impossible then of trying to trace a whole supply chain”.
Rothwell also wants to draw a distinction between the two investments: “fossil fuels are undoubtedly linked to climate change. That’s a different issue, it’s about [contextualising] fossil fuels in a modest investment versus doing active things to not use fossil fuels.
“Caterpillar is completely different as far as I’m concerned, that’s not to make any comment about Israel and Palestine, it’s just that you can’t go down that supply chain route forever.”
Photo: The Mancunion
Having dealt with the financial side of the University, it was time to ask some questions from students themselves – over 90 were submitted from one FSG post, a group which Rothwell was made aware of in this interview. The first issue raised was the future of Fallowfield Halls of Residence and the ResLife programme.
Rothwell was very plain when asked if she felt the staff and student criticism of the new ResLife format was valid, with those concerned claiming it followed the system at Bristol University too closely: “I think that’s a completely unfair comparison… suicide rates at Bristol are not higher than the national average. Bristol’s had a hard time for it, we’re looking at putting in professional staff rather than having staff who are not professional – so I think it’s completely spurious.”
ResLife is of course not the only uncertainty surrounding Fallowfield: Owens Park and Oak House have long been earmarked for demolition, and it looks as if that’s still the case, due to the fact the new £152-per-week Unsworth Park will supersede the pair of older, cheaper Halls.
“Eventually, at some point it will [be the end for Owens Park and Oak House] yeah, because the money we’d have to put in to make [them] sustainable – all of them have a large carbon footprint – it would cost more to get them up to a reasonable standard then it would to build new [residences]”.
Fallowfield’s other major uncertainty is of course crime. Rothwell is aware of it, and is more concerned with keeping students safe, rather than burglaries.
Photo: The Mancunion
Mental health has arguably become the biggest problem to face the student community as awareness has grown to show the true scale of the issue. Interestingly, students face mental health issues at the same rate as those outside of university, but that hasn’t stopped the University “upping the funding again”, and also invested in a new mental health facility for all four Manchester universities on Oxford Road, open for September.
“I really hope it’s going to benefit students in that they would know they have a single place they can go to which bypasses what can be a difficult route to get into specialist NHS treatment.
“The idea of this is that there will be a very rapid triage, that it’ll be dedicated to students, there’ll be experts on site, psychiatric nurses, that will be there to get students the help they need quickly, rather than having to wait. I don’t think it will solve all the problems, I think it will be a big help.”
Of course, prevention is better than cause with mental health, and exercise is known to help with well-being, which is why the University run well-being sessions featuring exercise during high-stress times. However, many of the student-generated questions put to Prof Dame Rothwell were around sport funding, with students saying it was chronically underfunded – what does the Vice-Chancellor say to them? “It could always be better funded, it needs work, it needs expenditure – and it will be a difficult balance between ‘do we put money into sport, or into the library, or into student counselling, or student residences’ – there’s always that balance of course, all really important [things] to put money into.”
One area in which the University does put money and makes a loss is campus food – the cost of which Rothwell puts down to the fact “[we] pay above the living wage, we have very generous sick and maternity leave, we pay a very generous pension, we try and source locally, we try to give a range for our students, which isn’t always available in other [outlets]. We’re putting a lot of money and effort into trying to abolish the use of plastic and to improve recycling”.
That brought the end to the interview, aside from one FSG question that was too good not to ask: What’s Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell’s perfect Sunday?
“I’ve just had one! Perfect Sunday: Our house in Sweden, out-walking, lovely weather, countryside, lots of trees, lakes – emails in the evening!”
And that perhaps is the forgotten side of Professor Dame Rothwell: Nancy.
Whilst she is paid handsomely by normal standards, she’s paid averagely compared to her peers. She’s devoted to her work, extremely knowledgeable in her research field, and in Higher Education as a sector – alongside having steered the University of Manchester ship for nine years.
Weeks of endless revision and stress inducing exams are finally over for the year; that could only mean one thing for the thousands of neon-donning revellers cramming on to the shuttle buses and trams across town – time for Parklife.
Over the course of the weekend, some 80,000 music fans descended upon Manchester’s Heaton Park for a two-day celebration of the best and brightest in music. Now in its tenth year, Parklife 2019 managed to pull out all the stops, from extravagant set designs and lighting to some truly electrifying artists and performances that defied the soggy weather, thereby cementing the festival as one of the best in the country.
This year’s lineup was incredibly diverse, with a wide range of artists from across genres each getting their moment to shine across the many different stages at the festival. Upon getting in to the festival on the Saturday, I decided to head straight to the Parklife Stage to catch Little Simz’s performance. Despite having three albums under her belt, Simz still hasn’t really hit the mainstream, which is a crying shame considering how captivating her raw, experimental style of rap is. Simz and her live ensemble delivered a punchy performance onstage, all dressed in crisp white clothing which (thankfully) nobody decided to ruin by stagediving in to the mud below.
Elsewhere at The Temple stage, a drum-and-bass paradise unfolded throughout Saturday with the likes of My Nu Leng, SASASAS, and Andy C performing some electrifying sets, ensuring all those that braved the elements had something to dance about. This was undoubtedly topped by the legendary Chase & Status headlining the night. Their performance was nothing short of phenomenal; a furious career-spanning journey from their early house days to their most recent colossal jungle anthems all amplified further by an insane light show that cut through the gloom of the evening.
Performances over the weekend at The Valley, an immersive skyline-styled stage, were equally as enthralling despite the ground being somewhat of a swamp. Kaytranada’s neo-soul set was full of infectiously funky R&B jams that had the crowds grooving along despite the muddy terrain. This energy was also present during Octavian’s Sunday performance, with the young rapper declaring his love for the Manchester crowd’s passionate reaction to his new single. Disclosure’s masterful closing performance on the Saturday was as emotional as it was enthralling, with timeless anthem ‘Latch’ going down a storm with audiences.
The Sounds of the Near Future stage provided some much needed respite from the weather whilst also playing host to some of the industry’s most interesting emerging talents. Mura Masa’s Sunday show was an intense mix of smooth dance tracks and experimental electronica. Alex Crossan (the mastermind behind it all) deserves endless praise for his ability to orchestrate and play a multitude of instruments for his live performances, seemingly without even breaking a sweat. A cameo appearance from Slowthai for their collaborative track ‘Doorman’ sent the entire tent in to a frenzy, one akin to the storm Slowthai himself whipped up during his performance the previous day.
What perhaps made Parklife even more of an immersive experience was the superb set designs and lighting programming. Each act had their own unique visual signature to it, whether that was through animations or videos on giant screens across the stages or with strobes, smoke or lasers pulsing in time to the beat of a track. It was apparent that so much time and effort had gone in to cultivating a unique visual display for everyone performing at the festival, and the organisers should be highly commended for this. I was a fan of the Sounds of the Near Future stage being upgraded from a tent to a hangar, allowing for more people to come inside and more importantly, giving you space to dance around once in.
Rain is possibly a festival-goers greatest foe and in true English summer fashion, it tipped it down for most of Parklife. However, this is Manchester, and a bit of drizzle wasn’t going to stop everyone from enjoying themselves. Despite the ground below being a literal bog in some places – I’m looking at you, The Valley – wherever you looked there would always be a group of mates shuffling along, bopping around and just having a ball. At some points, the crowd was a sea of ponchos and bucket hats, swaying wildly in time with whatever bassline was washing over them.
Parklife might have the reputation of being a bit gritty or full-throttle but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, the weather may have made moving about a bit trickier but the atmosphere was infectiously bright. Nearly every stranger I had a conversation with over the weekend was joyful and friendly, giving the expansive festival somewhat of a communal feel to it.
Almost as soon as it had started, Parklife 2019 was over. As I trudged out of the festival gates, my shoes essentially fossilised under several layers of mud, I felt elated rather than fatigued. Parklife is a festival that truly does care about its reputation and patrons, and always manages to consistently pull off a dazzling weekend. It’s always sad to hear the thumping bass fade in to the distance as you board a tram home, but with next year’s plans already well underway, it seems that the good times are just around the corner again.
Lizzo — rapper, singer, and flute player — is a performer that must be experienced. Like all truly great artists, it’s difficult to do her justice in words in terms of her musicianship, stage presence, and sheer joy that she exudes.
The O2 Ritz buzzed with energy as Lizzo took the stage on Sunday night. The 31-year-old American musician belted out the opening lines to ‘Cuz I Love You’, the title track of her album that of the same name was released in April. Rocking a long-sleeved metallic leotard and rhinestone brassiere with fishnet stockings and combat boots, she commanded the stage both visually and vocally. From the first few notes, it was evident that an incredible show was in store.
The opening song ended to a roar of continuous cheering from the audience, and Lizzo stopped for a minute with her hands over her heart, as if to humbly soak in the moment. The show had been sold out for months and had moved from its initial location at Gorilla. Lizzo told the audience that before the show, she wondered if anyone would have heard the new record. She had nothing to worry about, the audience sang along to nearly every lyric all night.
Four backup dancers, “the Big Grrrls,” supported Lizzo for most of the show. The craftsmanship and energy on stage remained incredibly high all night, with Lizzo’s powerhouse vocals ringing throughout the room. Lizzo was clearly having an incredible amount of fun on stage, and she brought the audience right along with her. Even when she slowed it down to sing ‘Jerome’ — one of the ballads off her new album — the audience held up their phones and swayed their arms back and forth in the air.
Lizzo has become something of an icon for self-love and body positivity. In speaking of her latest album, Lizzo told the audience that it is about these messages, but also “If you listen closer it’s about survival. It’s about loving yourself in a world that doesn’t love you back.” It feels nearly impossible not to love Lizzo, though. Her honesty, wit, and humour are everything you would want in a friend, and it’s easy to leave a Lizzo show feeling like you’ve made a new friend.
Toward the end of the night, the crowd quieted down, and Lizzo said, “So I heard y’all are looking for a new Prime Minister,” to which the room filled with laughter and applause. She notes that the U.S. could learn a few things from the U.K. before breaking into ‘Like a Girl’ that opens with the line, “Woke up feeling like I just might run for President.”
Lizzo described her shows as half music and half TED Talks. “We call them Liz Talks,” she said. True to form, the performer gave a pep talk about self-acceptance and love before breaking into ‘Good as Hell’, a song which epitomises those ideas. Following a roar of cheering from the audience, Lizzo played a two song encore, which included the first flute performances of the night with ‘Coconut Oil’ and ‘Juice’.
As the audience filed out of the hall that night, it’s hard not to think that everyone there loved both Lizzo and themselves more than ever before.
She was also the largest spender of any Officer, having shelled out £4,318.81 on various projects. She received an allocation of £1,000 from a different Union department, taking her net spend down to £3,318.81 – 41% of the total budget for all eight Officers.
Most of her spend – £2,525.81 – was on Black History Month, which was the reason £1,000 allocated to her. Khan says this money was spent before “the SU took the measure to allocate budgets specifically for each history month.”
Following Black History Month, Khan says she learned lessons from this and delivered “a much more cost-effective success” in LGBTQ+ History Month, spending £391.45.
Khan attended 65.2% of her scheduled meetings this year, citing “complex mental health issues” in semester one as the reason as to why she took sick leave, causing her to miss a large portion of her meetings. She added that she believed her “attendance and performance in semester two, along with [her] health, has been improved”.
In terms of her manifesto, Khan named five pledges for 2018/19, which were: “Make the mitigating circumstances process more accessible”, “improve childcare provision on campus”, “improve and diversify the counselling service”, “lobby for more multi-faith prayer spaces on campus”, and “lobby for a diverse curriculum that is inclusive of the achievements of women, ethnic minorities, and LGBT+ people”.
Riddi Viswanathan, the inaugural International Students’ Officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union, has had a middle of the road year in office, in SU terms.
Spending £1,143.75, or 14.3%, Viswanathan has been closest to spending an equal 12.5% share of the £8,000 Exec Officer budget, with £1,000 of her spending mainly on an 83-second-long video for mitigating circumstances information. The remainder of her expenses went on travel for work.
Viswanathan told The Mancunion that she “felt the need to invest in this project as this is a long term resource for the Union and the University and it has also received appreciation both from students and University staff.”
Viswanathan recorded the third-best meeting attendance rate, going to 85.2% of her scheduled appointments.
In terms of her manifesto, Viswanathan had five pledges listed on the SU website: “Make the Union and the University an international student friendly and a diverse welcoming body”, “work to empower international students to take up leadership positions locally and nationally”, “make the Union a home for international students who stay back during Christmas and Easter breaks”, “make the Union an inclusive and an engaging place for postgraduate students and liberation groups”, and “fight to ensure that international students have access to equal opportunity within the University”.
It is difficult to define what making the University and Union a welcoming body for international students means, as well as ensuring international students gaining equality of opportunity within the University and making the Union an inclusive and an engaging place for postgraduate students and liberation groups.
It is however easy to measure the opening hours of the Union during holidays – whilst the SU was more open than in previous years over Christmas for various events in Academy venues, it still had to follow University general opening hours, which includes a week long shutdown between Christmas and New Year. Over Easter it remained fully open.
On the point of empowering international students to take up leadership roles locally and nationally, next year’s Exec team includes two internation students: Rana Phool as Postgraduate Officer and Kwame Kwarteng as General Secretary. This is double the 2018/19 figure, with Viswanathan herself being the only ex-international student on the team.
What is noteworthy about the International Students’ Officer in 2019/20 is that Jake Garrett, who will hold the role, is a UK student.
When asked about her successes this year, Viswanathan told The Mancunion her “biggest success this year is getting the university to commit that the international placement year tuition fee will be reduced from 50% to 20% from September 2020. I hope this initiative will encourage more students to go on placements thereby bridging attainment gap”
“I have also had other successes including an international welcome, organising events like #Christmasawayfromhome with the international society, increasing support for cultural societies, starting conversations on de-stigmatising mental health, raising awareness about plagiarism and mitigating circumstances among the international student community through quick videos and the best of them all, opening work experiences and internship schemes in the SU to international students.”
However, the International Students’ Officer also highlighted the”amount of hate I received this year for standing up against far right extremism was definitely one of the hardest times” as a challenge, alongside the fact the Exec “team dynamics could have been much better… this year”.
