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Month: September 2020

Theatre in crisis? How to support an industry in need

Written by Dolly Busby on . Posted in Theatre.

The 20th of March 2020 marked a temporary curtain call for major theatres across the UK, due to the arrival of COVID-19. Behind the scenes, a major financial crisis brewed, threatening the future of theatre as we know it.

Now, more than ever before, it is crucial that as a collective we give support and save our theatres.

The extent of the damage caused by COVID remains unclear. But in March, faced with an immeasurable period of darkness, the theatrical sector made some shocking predictions.

Investigations made by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee into the potential impact COVID would have, reveals an estimated £630 million loss for the sector if closed until June.

Shakespeare’s Globe called for urgent funding of £5 million to escape permanent closure if doors were not opened before September. Local venues supported by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival estimated a deficit of £21 million with its cancellation. A dramatic crisis indeed.

While venues lay dormant, the spirit of theatre lived on, albeit virtually.

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Welcome to our next act with live performances returning to the National Theatre. 🙌 ⠀ Performances will be staged in our transformed, socially distanced Olivier theatre. We can’t wait for you all to return safely to the building. ⠀ ⠀ Death of England: Delroy, by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams, will play in the space from 21 October, performed by Giles Terera. It explores being Black, working-class and British. ⠀ ⠀ For one year only, we're staging a panto to honour its place at the heart of British theatre. Ned Bennett directs a wild new production of Jude Christian and Cariad Lloyd's Dick Whittington, originally commissioned by @lyrichammersmith. ⠀ ⠀ Getting ready to reopen is a huge job and we still need your support for our next act. Please consider donating, using the button on our profile. To join as a member, or signup for news, visit our website.

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‘Lockdown Theatre Festival’ created by Bertie Carvel allowed shows cut short by COVID to be broadcast on BBC Three and Four. National Theatre Live streamed archive shows every Thursday from 2nd April to 16th July. Its production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ starring James Corden saw a massive 2.5 million viewers tune in.

In times of darkness and uncertainty, theatre posed as a great pillar of comfort to many, perhaps reminiscent of better days gone by. The collective experience of escaping the realities of life for several hours, immersed in the wonderful world of actors, directors, and playwrights, remained an untouchable luxury.

Collective is the key word, with several theatres reopening since the 15th of August. However, the experience itself looked very different than before. Wearing a face mask is obligatory and social distancing measures are in place, meaning theatres will not reach their full capacity. At least there will no longer be that awkward squeeze past to reach your seat!

While these efforts are laudable, they are not as realistic for smaller venues who warn that auditoriums need to be 70 to 80% full for shows to be financially viable. Theatres can reach their full capacity at stage five of lockdown, which promises no sign of implication until at least November.

As we enter these winter months, it is vital to keep local theatres warm in their hibernation through donations and active participation. While it is still unlikely we can visit most theatres in the flesh, virtual schemes continue where we can sink into the world of storytelling and help by making a much needed financial contribution.

HOME Theatre have created a new scheme, ‘Homemakers’, running from September 2020 to January 2021. It is a series of new commissions inviting artists to create works at home, for an audience who are also at home.

The scheme will be completely online, offering ground-breaking artists the opportunity to challenge the definition of ‘live performance’ through live-streaming, recordings, interactive stories, personal encounters or something completely different. Purchasing tickets will support the wonderful HOME theatre and equally allow them to support artists within the theatrical industry.

Right now, the landscape of theatre has dramatically changed. We are in uncharted territory; spotlights have gone dark, and those that have not, light the stage for a limited audience. Theatre has metamorphosed onto smaller screens, and artists create from the confines of their homes.

But we should not despair, curtains will rise once again, and the industry will regain its footing. All we must do for now is wait and donate.

Photo of bookshelves in a secondhand bookshop

Buy, borrow or swap: How to read books sustainably

Written by Maisie Scott on . Posted in Books.

I love to treat myself to physical copies of books, but sustainable book-buying is of paramount importance. The true cost of owning a new book is largely environmental rather than financial. Here is how to read sustainably.

The manufacturing of print editions of books relies on the use of an excessive amount of paper. The World Counts has recorded that ‘paper accounts for around 26% of total waste at landfills’. Sustainable book-buying can help combat the amount of paper waste produced annually.

E-readers help to combat the issue of paper waste, but they are not everybody’s cup of tea. I would like to encourage a more environmentally conscious form of reading for people who don’t have access to electronic devices.

So, here’s a list of ways to read sustainably:

  1. Borrow books from your local library

    Local council libraries have huge catalogues of books and they are both accessible and (largely) free! Many libraries across the UK allow you to order books and access e-books at no extra cost.

  2. Order new and secondhand books from the World of Books online shop

    World of Books is a Sussex-based organisation that donates its profits to charity and sells fiction and non-fiction at affordable prices.

  3. Book-swapping

    I would recommend regularly swapping and sharing books with friends and family members if you share similar tastes. Physical copies of books have more mileage when they are shared amongst people. Books are like clothes…they are made to be used many times over, and loved for many years instead of being single-use.

  4. Visit the book section of your local charity shop

    Charity shops often have a great selection of fiction and non-fiction. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find the latest book releases, but you can find some gems. Buying books secondhand is a sustainable, budget-friendly way to shop. Oxfam has an online shop, which includes extensive listings for books.

The list I have created is by no means exhaustive, so let’s discuss sustainable ways to buy books in the comments!

HOME Cinema Manchester

Manchester’s film scene in 2020/21: What to look forward to

Written by Michal Wasilewski on . Posted in Film.

Manchester has one of the most vibrant culture scenes in the country and the film scene is no different. With a range of cinemas, events, and film festivals, the city has a lot to offer to every cinema-goer and cinephile. 

Even in the current situation there is plenty to look forward to in the next few months, with cinemas reopening and some events moving online.

Grimmfest Film Festival

The autumn festival season in Manchester kicks off with Grimmfest Film Festival taking place between the 7th and 11th of October. Although the festival usually takes place at HOME cinema, this year it has moved to an online platform. As the name indicates, Grimmfest offers a variety of horror films. Across five days of the festival you can watch 20 feature films and two short film programmes.

Manchester Animation Film Festival

November brings Manchester Animation Film Festival to HOME. It is the largest animation festival in the UK and offers not only film screenings, but workshops, networking events, panel discussions, and more.

¡Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival

HOME also hosts ¡Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival. With some of the films from this year’s edition being screened in the cinema until October, early 2021 should bring a new edition of the festival with a range of hidden gems from Spain and Latin America.

Manchester Film Festival (MANIFF)

MANIFF is the biggest film festival in Manchester and takes place in March. Last year’s edition brought not only a selection of features and documentaries from all over the world, but also screenings of great classics. With plenty of time until the next year’s edition it is too early to know whether it will move to an online platform as well, but nevertheless MANIFF is definitely worth taking note of.

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#maniff #2021 #bringiton

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MANIFF isn’t the only festival in the spring. The 6th edition of Kinofilm Festival, which is an international festival for short films, was scheduled to be held in March but was postponed due to COVID-19. New dates have not been confirmed yet but we hope the festival will eventually be able to take place.

Apart from the festivals, there is still a lot to do for a film fan in Manchester.

If you prefer mainstream cinema there are a few options, with two Vue and two ODEON cinemas, one of each located in the city centre. Those looking for a powerful cinematic experience may be interested in IMAX screens offered by Vue Printworks and ODEON Trafford Centre.

But, if you’re more into independent and international films, you should definitely keep HOME cinema on your radar. With a range of weekly releases of the best art-house films, as well as special screenings, it can quickly become one of your favourite places in the city.

Zeros Artwork - Declan Mckenna

Declan Mckenna – No Zeros without heroes

Written by Reece Ritchie on . Posted in Music.

Delayed by the ongoing virus, Declan McKenna’s second album, Zeros, signals a triumphant return for the young indie powerhouse who saw a hit with ‘Brazil’ on his first album What do you think about the Car? released back in 2017.

Zeros opens with ‘You Better Believe’. This is swiftly followed by ‘Be An Astronaut’, a song that draws immediate comparisons to David Bowie’s Space Oddity. Through these two tracks alone, the album is cemented in its ’80s influence, boosted by modern-day indie flavours. This direction was heavily alluded to by McKenna through the cover art for the record, its marketing, and his own looks, and therefore did not come as a surprise to his fans.

However, this not a negative of the record at all. In fact, the knowledge that this album was going to be different from his previous work created huge excitement around its release. Keeping this change in style a secret would not have had the same effect.

These themes are carried through into the rest of the album by both ‘Beautiful Faces’ and ‘Daniel You’re Still A Child’, two previously released singles. Not only do these tracks hold the ’80s influence of the album, they also highlight Mckenna’s strong songwriting and producing abilities, with ‘Daniel You’re Still A Child’ opening with one of the most brilliant bass licks I’ve heard this year.

As the end of the record approaches, the songs ‘You Better Believe’ and ‘Rapture’ allow Mckenna to explore modern themes of social media, love, and politics as he has been known to before, yet with more sophistication. In these final tracks, the record delivers some of its most poignant subject matters, however the constant ’80s backing tracks begin to feel slightly repetitive. Only really broken up by the gentler song ‘Emily’, another track of this nature or even a vocal breakdown could have improved the records’ pacing, especially as the slam poetry included in ‘Listen to Your Friends’ was so well received in the first album.

As a collective ten-track project, this album is very different from Mckenna’s first release. Although it is true that there will likely be some fans that will feel alienated by the strong influences of Zeros, those that aren’t will have a totally enjoyable experience. This isn’t the first time an indie band has incorporated ’80s influences in their tracks, with Blossoms doing it heavily in their record Foolish Loving Spaces. Yet, it is a totally different experience.

Coming into this album, I was worried that Declan would have leant far too heavily into his clear Bowie influences, coming across as a knockoff or not living up to the incredibly high bar set for him by his idol. Yet, it was where he separated himself from Bowie that Mckenna came across as stronger and made a more lasting impression. Declan Mckenna comes undoubtedly closer to his idol than any other artist of his generation, and still provides several more reasons to be interested in him on top of that.

Zeros may not be a perfect record but it alludes to a bright future for such a young artist and certainly deserved to fight the Rolling Stones to the very end for the number one spot.

7.5/10

 

Sacha Lord recruits celebs to encourage students to respect government guidelines

Written by Jess Walmsley on . Posted in News.

In a series of videos posted to Twitter, well-known faces ranging from Coronation Street actresses to TV presenters, pleaded with Manchester students to respect government guidelines during the current lockdown.

Ironically, it is the city’s ‘Night Tzar’ and co-founder of the infamous Warehouse Project and Parklife Festival, Sacha Lord, who is behind the video campaign.

Working alongside Mayor Andy Burnham, Lord approached Greater Manchester-based celebrities for help appealing to students to avoid the temptation of partying this Autumn.

The host of Family Fortunes, Vernon Kay, is not the hero this city expected but he is perhaps the the hero Manchester deserves – even if many freshers may be too young to know who he is.

“If you’re thinking about hosting a party or going to a student party please think twice about doing it,” appeals the Bolton local in a video posted to Lord’s Twitter account.

In the series of videos, the celebrities all shared the same sentiment for students to respect the current government guidelines but still enjoy their time exploring Manchester.

Coronation Street star Cath Tyldesley pleaded with local students to ‘sit tight’, saying: “We know all the clubs are shut and yeah, it’s depressing, but please, please, please, help protect our amazing city by not hosting or attending house parties.”

Incoming Manchester freshers are facing a troubling time when it comes to socialising and getting to know fellow students in their halls.

Restrictions and fines have been set, with universities paying for police patrols to seek out illegal raves and house parties in popular student areas.

Most recently, Boris Johnson has called for all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues to be closed by 10pm. This new regulation will be brought into action on Thursday 24th September.

For students this will disrupt their ability to meet and socialise with other freshers arriving into Manchester for the first time since many meet in student bars or venture into the city centre. 

A returning second year student commented on the new restrictions, “I feel as though pubs shutting early will just give students more of an excuse to host house parties since they have no other way of spending their evenings.”

“I have friends starting out as freshers who are feeling scared and isolated at the thought of being fined or expelled for socialising and meeting others so are confined to their rooms. It’s not the university experience new students have signed up for.”

It was in reaction to recent instances of students choosing to disobey government guidelines that Sacha Lord decided to organise the video series.

Lord has been active throughout lockdown making sure iconic Manchester clubs and venues such as the Deaf Institute are able to continue operating post coronavirus. His message to students is to follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus and to help us return to normal life as soon as possible. 

The University of Manchester have also posted videos on their social media accounts from Chancellor, Lemn Sissay who was asking students to “do your bit and take care of one another.”

Nights partying in Deansgate Locks are a distant memory for incoming freshers who are having to socialise virtually through online karaoke events or virtual cooking classes.

However nightclubs notorious with Manchester students such as 42’s and Factory have reopened as socially distant bars where the atmosphere and drinks can still be enjoyed in groups of six.

Typewriter

Calling student creatives: We want you!

Written by Jasmine Bennett on . Posted in Creative Submissions.

The Mancunion is delighted to announce a brand new Creative Submissions section for 2020/2021!

We want to help promote the University’s diverse range of creative individuals by featuring student work on our website and in print.

Publishing fortnightly, this section aims to showcase the best of our literary and artistic talent. We are primarily focused on works such as poetry, short stories, flash fiction, memoirs, and essays; however, we are also looking to accept photographs and political or satirical cartoons.

We know that a lot of creative students don’t get the chance to publish their work, and can often feel confined by the trappings of their degree. We want to help you get your work out there, and express your creative side.

The next two weeks will be themed, to help stimulate your creativity. But if you particularly want to submit outside of this bracket, please feel free to do so!

For our first round of submissions, our theme is all things ‘Lockdown’.

While lockdown was at times repressive, insular, and lonely, times of great upheaval can also be a source of inspiration. Whether you wish to submit something written during the lockdown or about the effects of the pandemic in general, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for short stories from 800-1000 words, flash fiction pieces up to 500 words, poems up to 500 words, and essays or memoir works up to 1000 words. We are also looking for student photographers or cartoonists to submit images relating to the lockdown theme.

We particularly encourage works by underrepresented students from backgrounds and walks of life which have historically been oppressed or ignored in this country. As a newspaper we are keen on representing the diversity of our student body, so we want our creative submissions section to reflect this.

Every two weeks we will provide a new theme, and submissions will reopen! Writing should be sent in .docx or .pdf format and photographs and cartoons should be sent in digital form to [email protected]. 

The deadline for lockdown themed works is the 5th of October, while works outside of this theme are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have any questions please feel free to email.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Photo: The Mancunion

Illegal student parties continue in Fallowfield halls despite curfew warnings

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Manchester students are still throwing massive flat parties in Fallowfield halls of residence, despite warnings from the University that a curfew could be imposed. 

The Mancunion has obtained a video which appears to show dozens of freshers partying at a packed Fallowfield accommodation block.

The video was posted as an Instagram story by one partygoer last night. Students can be seen dancing to loud music in the sweaty room with no social distancing. 

The University “strongly” condemned the new video, saying the party was shut down by security services and adding that bosses would be working hard to identify those involved.

This comes after police had to be called to Fallowfield campus this weekend and break up several mass gatherings.

University bosses said a disciplinary process had been initiated against a number of students flouting the rules. 

In an email sent to freshers this week, undergraduates were warned they could even face a curfew. 

Fallowfield is known for its dense student population, and the University of Manchester has 7 halls of residence in the area. 

But authorities have been struggling to keep a lid on mass gatherings in the area, and continued parties are likely to mean the University will have to clamp down even further. 

Last night’s party-goers are certainly not the first to break lockdown restrictions since freshers began this month. Manchester Evening News reported yesterday that four Fallowfield students were fined for organising an “after the pub party” in private accommodation. 

A number of students in Manchester Metropolitan University’s Birley Halls were also forced to self-isolate last week due to a small outbreak of confirmed coronavirus cases following a “100-strong” party.

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “We were made aware of this party and our Security services were called to shut it down. 

“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and the University strongly condemns it. We have been clear and consistent with our messaging around student conduct and behaviour in halls and we will be working hard to identify those involved.

“We have been very clear to students that they must respect social distancing rules and all other restrictions to keep themselves and others safe.

“If students do not comply, they will face disciplinary action from the University, which could lead to fines or expulsion, and we will not hesitate to involve the police if necessary. Some students have already been issued with fixed penalty notices by the police.

“Additional security officers have been deployed in Fallowfield and further reminders sent. Details of offending students are being recorded and a number of these will now go through our disciplinary process.

“Active consideration is also being given to introducing a curfew across all Halls. We really want to avoid this but if residents fail to adhere to social distancing rules we will be faced with no alternative.”

Black Lives Matter: Why better history education is so important

Written by Serafina Kenny on . Posted in Opinion.

Over the past few months, it has become increasingly clear that we do not have an adequate knowledge of historical and modern institutional racism in the UK. 

The Black Lives Matter movement has picked up a lot of traction in the past few months and, all of a sudden, many people are being exposed to realities they had previously been unaware of, like the prevalence of racism at all levels of life in the UK.

But this prompts the question: why was this such new and shocking knowledge for so many? The answer is a general inadequacy in the history and political education we receive as a nation. 

History is not compulsory at GCSE, which means many stop studying it in year 9 after having covered the basics of the World Wars and maybe the Tudors. There’s very little, if any, mention of Britain’s colonial past or the way different minority groups experienced the 20th Century, even though this is a key part of the nation’s heritage and has lasting effects on the British structures and institutions in place now. 

Yet physics is much more widely taught in secondary school, even though both gravity and institutional racism are very powerful forces in our world (admittedly, in very different ways). 

So why do we learn about how the world works in terms of forces and energy, but not in terms of interpersonal dynamics and social structures? Why are we taught about the displacement of water caused by the statue of Edward Colston that was thrown into Bristol Harbour, but not the reasons why it was toppled? 

A YouGov study from March 2020 found that 33% of the British population believes that countries previously colonised by Britain were better off for being colonised and another 32% said that the British Empire was more something to be proud of.

These statistics reflect a general unawareness of the atrocities committed by the British Empire and its lasting legacy of violence. But thanks to the surge in information on social media about the history of racism in the UK due to the Black Lives Matter movement, many more people are exposed to new knowledge about the British Empire and its impacts.

It is the Black Lives Matter movement we have to thanks for the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston. Once people knew about his involvement in the slave trade, his influence was removed. One can only imagine how people would react against institutions and structures in the UK if there was more awareness of their inherent racism.

Petitions such as this one suggested that books focused on race, such as ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge and ‘Are Prisons Obsolete?’ by Angela Davis, should be added to the curriculum for GCSE English literature in order to combat ignorance of racism in the UK.

But in English literature, the point is to analyse the language and the narrative effects of a text, rather than focusing on its ideas. Therefore, studying theoretically dense, non-fiction texts in English literature wouldn’t be as effective as incorporating the ideas into the history curriculum.

If history was compulsory at GCSE, and the provision of colonial content in key stage 3 education was improved, students would have a much more comprehensive understanding of the impacts and intricacies of racism both throughout Britain’s history and today. This would in turn lead to better-informed decisions made about issues of immigration, cultural heritage and the treatment of minorities in the election booth and therefore, indirectly, in government.

Ensuring that young people have knowledge about both the history of racism in the UK and how this has endured, by changing the secondary history curriculum, will help to decrease ignorance around such issues. This will, in turn, make racism less potent in the future, which is definitely worth sacrificing a few lessons on the Tudors for.

image depicting zoom call of online events

Online freshers events: Your guide to connecting remotely

Written by Lauryn Berry on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Starting university is daunting enough without the prospect of having to do it from over a screen. And this will be the case for many students who are studying remotely this year.

The good news? You haven’t been forgotten by your peers, students’ union or university. There’s something for everyone online, just like there is on campus.

From virtual tours of Manchester, to crazy bingo, to even getting taught how to recognise a serial killer. The variety is wide and tailored to all kinds of interests. Here’s everything you need to know:

Students’ Union

The Students’ Union has prepared a selection of online events that cater to anyone and include all those who cannot make it to on campus socials. After kicking it off with a Virtual Welcome Fair and Escape Room, they didn’t stop there:

Society Expos – Studying from home doesn’t mean that you can’t join a society. This year our societies have taken to virtual platforms to show what they’re all about and how you can fit into their family. You will have the chance to explore what different societies have to offer and choose those that take your fancy. Free to attend. (1st October – 15th October)

Virtual Craft Corners – Whether you’re passionate about art or just fancy a fun chat with new people, this free event is for you. (28th September – 2nd October)

Fyreside: A Virtual Chat with Andy King – Ever heard about the infamous ghost festival that was documented through Netflix? Want to know more about how they pulled this off? This event is for you. Tickets cost £4. (29th September)

Bongo’s Bingo with Special Guests – The legendary Bongo’s Bingo goes virtual! Win prizes, listen to music, and have fun, all from the comfort of your own home. Tickets cost £5. (1st October)

How To Profile a Serial Killer – Whilst it doesn’t sound like the most upbeat of events, let’s face it: who isn’t fascinated by true crime documentaries and podcasts? If you are, this online lecture with Dr. Glenn Wilson is for you. Tickets cost £4. (3rd October)

Live Q&A With Advice – Worried about starting university or coping during a pandemic? Bring your questions along to these sessions run by the Welfare and Community Officer at the Students’ Union, and the Advice service. (6th and 7th October)

International Society

Many of you will be international students who haven’t had the chance to visit Manchester yet, or who have and just miss it like mad.

international society social event
Photo: Linda Teo @ International Society

But International Society director Alex D’Netto reassured us they are continuing engagement with all students, whether they are on or off campus.

“Coming to university is an exciting time for all students and despite the current pandemic, we would still very much like to ensure that students feel welcomed and are able to meet and make new friends,” he said.

“The best memories of uni are always the ones shared with friends. The International Society has over 6500 members yearly from 130 different countries and this year we are still here to help you do that by organising a range of welcome events and weekly socials both online and face to face.”

Here’s what the International Society has to offer:

Virtual Tour of Manchester – Studying from home doesn’t mean you can’t get to know the city of Manchester and all the history, art, and entertainment that comes with it. (30th September, 7th October & 14th October)

Meet the members: Q+A Workshop – The International Society has members from different universities in Manchester, so these workshops are great opportunities to seek advice and to get to know people from other cultures and nationalities. (28th & 29th September, 2nd October)

Online Friday Socials – The Friday socials go virtual this year! Join a session every Friday to make new friends and play games. This is a members only event; however, membership is currently free for all University of Manchester students. (Every Friday)

Online language & cultural exchange – This is a great opportunity to learn a new language or pick up some cool idioms by chatting to native speakers from all over the world. The sessions are for members only. (2nd October, 6th November & 4th December)

Online Book Club – Share what you’re reading with other members and get suggestions when you’re stuck for your next read. (13th October, 10th November & 8th December)

Manchester Media Group

Are you reading this article right now and wishing you could write your own? The Manchester Media Group will be holding their online Welcome Meetings throughout the first two weeks of October:

Mancunion Welcome Meetings – If your passion is student journalism and publishing then come along to one of The Mancunion’s welcome meetings to join your favourite section groups and start sharing your writing. (1st & 8th October)

UoM Living at Home

Finally, if organised events aren’t your thing and all you want is to meet new people and have a good chat, there’s a brand new Facebook group solely dedicated to at home students.

The important thing to remember is that there is no one true way to experience university. We all have a different story to tell when it comes to our time in Manchester. The pandemic is affecting everyone in one way or another, but it is still our right as students to enjoy our degrees and learn, both inside and outside of our lecture halls.

Photo: Alex Pepperhill @ Flickr

The chemistry of the Curry Mile

Written by Blake Crompton on . Posted in Science & Tech.

I, like many people, enjoy spice. It adds a hot burst of flavour to our meals, giving them more to savour. Not only is spice a taste adopted by most students when they begin to cook for themselves, but it is also an integral part of Manchester student life due to the wondrous Curry Mile. But what is the science behind these flavourful kicks that dominate the cuisine of the Curry Mile?

During any meal, the taste receptors in your mouth are registering all of the organic compounds – whether they are complementary or not. Interestingly, this depends on what culture your meal originates from. In Boston, USA, researchers investigated over 55,000 meals and recipes that found evidence supporting the “Food- Pairing Hypothesis”.

This states that compounds which are shared in ingredients are often paired in Western meals e.g. sweetcorn and tuna. However, this was not the case in Eastern cultures. In fact, the opposite was found. A follow-up study investigated over 2,500 curry recipes and showed that pairing organic compounds for taste rarely occurs in Indian cuisine.

Photo: Blake Crompton

The way you cook and store spices cause various chemical transformations to occur. For example, dried spices can have different effects compared to fresh ones. Ground and fresh ginger both have a punchy taste due to Gingerol. However, when dried, moisture is released and a carbon bond transformation (a retro-aldol reaction) occurs and forms Zingerone: the sweeter, milder molecule found in gingerbread.

Depending on how the spices are used and in what conditions they have been stored, the overall taste will be affected. This is because the longer ground or processed spices are stored, the more their chemistry will change and more reactive organic compounds can be lost, altering the taste further. These effects are specific to each type of spice due to their unique chemical compositions. The end taste could therefore be more or less spicy. Using ginger as an example again, it becomes sweeter when dried whereas oregano is less susceptible to this.

In short: if a curry house chops and grounds its ingredients fresh on the night, the sooner you get to it, the fresher that spice will be. If you look in recipes for curries you will often find that the spice mix is added at the end of cooking the main ingredients to account for any taste lost in molecular evaporation.

The main spice in chilli is Capsaicin, a flavourless vanilloid substance possessing a long hydrocarbon chain with water insolubility, hence why water doesn’t affect the spiciness and pain. Within your taste buds, there are various chemical receptors for vanilloids. When the two bind, calcium ions are triggered to migrate across the receptor which sends signals to the brain that something is hot and spicy, causing pain.

So, whenever you tuck into a curry, burrito or just crunch on a raw pepper and you feel liken your mouth has been hit with lit safety matches, impress your peers with some lingo e.g. “wow, that capsaicin is triggering a calcium ion movement like a bull rush right now!”

In a cooking context, ingredients containing capsaicin and other such spices are fried in oil which acts as a solvent, due to spices being insoluble in water. This allows for even movement of the organic molecules into the cuisine and will produce a better final product.

However, capsaicin is an acute irritant so when used its initial chemistry must be respected to know how this will pair with other parts of the dish. In curries, “Ghee” containing dehydrated butter and fat, creates new molecules via reactions between amino acids and reducing sugars.

Fat in butter would be more effective in managing the pain as capsaicin can be dissolved in oils and fats. Therefore, having milk or dairy can help ease any pain. These contain organic saturated fats that remove the vanilloid from the receptors by dissolving it and preventing any neuro-chemical reaction to spice.

Capsaicin does dissolve sparingly in alcohol; however, this usually requires a strong concentration. Spirits can work – a reason why vodka and coke is very popular on the curry mile – which could also explain the higher alcohol percentage in beers in Indian establishments. To be sensible, wine would be a better compromise in managing the pain.

You may think having a spicy meal is exciting, but next time you indulge along the Curry Mile take a moment to think about all the exciting chemistry dancing around your tastebuds. Whether you are a local, entering your third year or coming to Manchester for the first time, always trust your olfactory senses when tracking down that perfect curry.

Photo: The Mancunion

Introducing the new Covid-friendly Manchester SU

Written by Hannah Connery on . Posted in News.

Manchester Students’ Union (SU) has reopened with coronavirus safety precautions in place for Welcome Week, including mandatory face masks and more bar space.

The SU will operate a one-way system, with floor signs to encourage social distancing. There are specific entry and exit points to the building for the new academic year.

Manchester Academy, the SU’s live music venue, is open as an extra SU bar throughout Welcome Week. The Foodhall, Brew coffee shop and 532 Bar & Kitchen have also reopened with social-distanced seating spaces.

To enter the SU building, people can only use the main entrance and rear ramp.

The staircase with a passenger lift can be used to access other floors. The central staircase is closed to comply with the one-way system.

Photo: The Mancunion

In the Academy, tables of up to six people from the same household can be booked for at least two hours during Welcome Week. The NHS Track and Trace system will be used to monitor visitors.

Outside seating is also available in new greenhouses at the Academy.

Food and drink can be ordered directly to tables through the Round app. Half price off all orders before 4 pm will be available throughout Welcome Week.

An SU spokesperson said: “Joining the University of Manchester means you’ve become part of the Mancunian community. We ask all of our members to be considerate of each other and the community this Welcome period.

“Please make sure you’re wearing face coverings where possible, to keep up social distancing and to only socialize as a group of six from your own household outdoors.

“We trust you to make good choices, to be responsible and to be an example of the highest standard. Together we can get through this pandemic and be stronger for it.” 

The SU will be hosting both face-to-face and virtual events throughout Welcome Week and the following induction week. These range from virtual Bongo’s Bingo to DJs and Drinks evenings in the Academy.

To book events held by the Student’s Union, click here. Join the Official University of Manchester Welcome Group 2020-2021 on Facebook for updates on Welcome Week. To contact the Students’ Union, visit their website.

Photos: The Mancunion 

Photo: Johny Rebel @ Wikimedia Commons

Here’s how Stagecoach will keep buses safe as students admit they’re ‘terrified’ to use services

Written by Luke Keohane on . Posted in Investigations.

The ‘Wilmslow Corridor’ is one of the busiest bus routes in Europe, serving the massive student communities of Rusholme, Fallowfield and Withington.

Stagecoach, the main operator of this route, is well known for its ‘Magic Bus’ services, with students able to pay a reduced single-ticket price of £1.50 or a yearly bus pass costing £265.

In normal circumstances, students do not hesitate to use the bus to get to and from university. Services tend to be busy throughout the day, and it’s not unusual to see students crammed onto double-deckers with standing room only.

But with the start of the university term coming up, students have spoken to The Mancunion about their worries using bus travel in the coming term due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All lectures have been moved online and only limited face-to-face teaching will take place on campus, but students have still expressed concerns about over-crowding and questioned if there will be enough buses to cope with demand.

Stagecoach insists that it is bringing forward “a range of measures” of help staff and students feel safe, including daily deep cleans and a greater number of services.

The provider has also launched a ‘busy bus’ feature to the Stagecoach app, which can be used to help students plan journeys at quieter times of the day.

Jasmine Taylor, a master’s student at Manchester, told The Mancunion it was the prospect of buses being too full that she was most fearful of.

She said: “As a disabled student, I am reliant on buses, the return of students and the overcrowding of buses is frankly terrifying for me.”

Megan Holtmeyer Cole, a second-year student Linguistics and German student, added: “It makes me quite anxious every time I get on – I’m just hoping that there are enough buses to cope.”

Megan also said she hoped some students and the public would change their mode of transport so it was possible to keep socially distanced.

Some students have decided to stop using bus travel altogether and find other forms of transport to commute.

Cameron Hartwell, a third-year History and American Studies student, said that he had decided to stop using bus travel.

“I don’t see much point in buying a yearly bus ticket,” he said. “I don’t trust Magic Bus to be able to put on enough services to allow for proper social distancing. I feel much safer making my own way into uni by biking it.”

Elisabeth Tasker, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester told The Mancunion: “We want to make sure that all students who arrive in Manchester can be confident about their journey with us.

“We have in place a range of measures to help our staff and customers to feel safe. These includes a comprehensive regime of daily deep cleans. With everybody playing their part and following the rules on wearing face coverings and hygiene, students can travel by bus safely and confidently.

“We closely monitor the number of people travelling on our services. Therefore, we will be adding in additional buses where we can to make sure students are able to get to where they need to be safely.

“We’d encourage students to protect one another by observing the social distancing on buses and wait for the next service if requested by the driver.”

Photo: Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street @ Flickr

Coronavirus: What do the new rules mean for students?

Written by prashamsheth on . Posted in News.

If you are on campus or planning to arrive in Manchester soon, this is everything you need to know about the latest coronavirus guidelines following Boris Johnson’s address to the nation last night. 

With the number of daily cases having almost quadrupled to 3,929 compared to 1000 a month ago, admissions into English hospitals have also more than doubled in the last fortnight. 

The UK’s coronavirus alert level has now raised from three to four, meaning transmissions are high or rising exponentially. 

“The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing,” Johnson said. 

But the new restrictions are not as severe as the full lockdown which we had in March. Johnson says the government is following the principle of “a stitch in time saves nine”. 

So, what does this mean for university students? 

Students with part time jobs should work from home if possible, but continue to attend their workplace if this is not the case. For those working in retail, they will have to wear a mask or face covering when working.

From Thursday, pubs, bars and restaurants will close at 10pm, with takeaway service only after this.

Staff and customers at indoor hospitality venues will also have to wear facemasks, except when seated at a table eating or drinking.  

Face masks are to be worn at all times while travelling in taxis or private hire vehicles. And people risk a  £200 fine if they do not wear a mask or break the rule of six.

The rule of six has also been extended to all adult indoor team sports, which will affect clubs at the university. 

There are massive fines of up to £10,000 for those who fail to self isolate, with the restrictions are set to remain in place for up to six months.

 Marcus Dsouza, General Manager at Ziya Asian Grill, a busy restaurant on the Curry Mile, said his establishment would have to adapt to he new guidelines. 

“The restaurant will now close at 10pm and we shall not accept any customers walking in after 9:30pm,” he said.

“However, we will remain open for delivery via UberEats and Deliveroo until 11pm. The safety of our staff and customers is very important to us and therefore we will follow the new guidelines very seriously.

“Every staff member will have a facemask on, and the resturant will be kept sanitized and clean at all times.”

 Johnson added: “The tragic reality of having Covid is that your mild cough can be someone else’s death knell.

“And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable – with all the suffering that would entail – I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers.”

Talking in the House of Commons, the prime minister also said cases are growing fastest among young people between the ages of 20-29. But he made it clear that schools, colleges and universities will remain open.

Watch the entire adress on YouTube.

French pharmacy beauty products

French beauty products worth the hype

Written by Alexandra Bikard on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The French girl aesthetic has taken the beauty world by storm for decades. The French exude a certain laissez-faire which the world desperately aims to emulate.

Thanks to the internet, the secret to their effortless beauty has at last been unravelled: pharmacy products.

In France, pharmacies are not only a place where people get their medication, you can also get your hands on beauty brands ranging from Avène to Bioderma. These offer simple paraben- and scent-free products which have attracted a massive international crowd.

The sheer quantity of products, which beauty influencers claim to be the best of the best, might feel overwhelming. But are these products really worth the attention, or are we being blinded by the hype haze?

Well, fear not: we’ve come up with a definitive list of the products that we truly think are worth spending your hard earned money on.

The best lip balm 

NUXE: Rêves de miel (£11.00)

Everyone from Jeanne Damas to yours truly will tell you that this product is a-ma-zing. Apply a thick layer before you go to sleep and you will wake up with lips so soft that you will never go back. 

 

The best toner 

Christian Lenart: Eau de Rose (£9.99)

This is not strictly speaking a toner, but it does act as one. This rosewater based product will leave your skin feeling incredibly fresh and glowy. 

 

The best sunscreen 

Vichy: Capital Soleil Dry Touch SPF50  (£16.50)

This sunscreen is the best to use all year round for all skin colours. It doesn’t leave a chalky finish but rather a smooth canvas to either apply your makeup over or just as a final step to your morning skincare routine. 

 

The best micellar water 

Bioderma: Sensibio H2O (£15.80)

A unoriginal choice, but it is really the best. This is a great product to use if you wear minimal or no makeup, as it will collect all the dirt that might have accumulated throughout the day, leaving your face clean and fresh. 

 

The best drying mask 

Juvaflorine: Natural Purifying Mask  (£4.40)

This clay mask is as simple as it gets and will do the job without any fuss. It isn’t harsh or too drying, but will definitely help your skin shed its superficial layers. 

 

The best multi-purpose oil 

NUXE: Huile Prodigieuse (£18.50)

The famous Huile Prodigieuse is prodigal indeed. You can use it as a makeup remover, body oil, or hair treatment. Believe us, you will definitely rebuy this one over and over again. 

 

The best dry shampoo 

Klorane: Dry shampoo with oat milk (£9.99)

Dry shampoo is a French girl must-have for styling on the go and this one is top notch. Unlike most dry shampoos it is not merely designed to conceal a bad hair day but it truly aims to keep your hair healthy.  

 

The best body moisturizer

Naturé moi: Lait Corps Nourrissant (£4.34)

Sometimes moisturizers ironically dry out your skin: not this one. It is also smells heavenly and feels insanely luxurious for its price point. 

Hatice Sosyal @ Flickr

Tech guide: The best laptops for university

Written by Zain Alden on . Posted in Science & Tech.

As a computer science student, the nearing of university usually means one thing: debates on the best types of laptops. Especially in the current situation where applications like Zoom will be widely used, a reliable laptop is a necessity. I have compiled this list from my own experimentation and research of various laptops to share my opinions on what the best laptops are for general study use.

A general guide on what to choose

The main things to look for in a laptop are:

  1. Processor type
  2. RAM
  3. Storage
  4. Battery

The rule of thumb for choosing a processor is pretty straightforward: i5 is found in standard models, whereas i7 is typically used in high-end devices.

Depending on what you’re looking for, when choosing RAM the higher the better. 8GB or 16GB is suitable for standard devices, but if you’re looking for a more high-end laptop, 32GB might be the way to go.

For storage, SSD is, in my opinion, the best option. It is light and more durable than HDD, as well as faster.

The battery is generally overlooked by buyers but is still important. Admittedly, what makes a good battery is hard to measure, but 55WH batteries and higher tend to keep your device going without having to run to the socket every three seconds.

1. Dell XPS 15 – from £1,749.00
DELL XPS preview image
Photo by XPS on Unsplash

This is definitely a top of the line Dell laptop, but maybe I’m biassed as I’m using an older version to write this article.

It is very capable of running high-demanding tasks. Although on the expensive side, it comes with a full array of add-ons, meaning the price is flexible depending on what extra features you want. The one I’d recommend is the i7 16GB which has a FHD non-touch screen. There is a 4K touch option but it costs a steep £2,119.00.

2. New Inspiron 15 7000 – from £699.00
source @ Dell
Photo: Inspiron 15 700 @ Dell

Personally I think this is a really good, mid-range laptop and great value for money. It is good for everyday and university use. The baseline laptop comes with an i5 10th generation processor, 8GB RAM and 256 SSD storage. If this storage seems too small for you then for £200 more you could upgrade to a 512GB option. Dell’s website contains more information and also offers a student discount. If you have an interest in any Dell product, send an email to: [email protected] with the subject line  ‘Mancunion Discount’ for even more discounted offers. *

3. Lenovo YOGA C640 13 – £849.99
image for Lenovo YOGA C640 13
Creator: siavash mirzaei
Copyright: ©Huncel | https://huncel.com/

This 2-in-1 laptop is, in my opinion, one of the best in Lenovo’s series. It comes with high specifications: an i7 with 8GB ram and 512GB storage. Comes with a Full HD touch screen and a pen included. Being only 13-inches, this laptop is on the smaller side.  However, if lightweight is something you are looking for, this could be the laptop for you.

4. Any older Linux models
Photo: Thinkpad laptop by Jemimus @ Flickr

Originally when I was told about using an old bulky laptop with Linux I thought it was a weird option. However, if you are someone who loves experimenting with building computers, I’d recommend this option. eBay is a great place to find old devices, especially old ThinkPad laptops, which can then be improved by installing a new RAM and hard drive yourself.

Ultimately, whichever laptop you choose make sure you know exactly what you need. Try not to be tricked by aesthetics, sometimes you are better off with a mid-range device over a high-end option. Do your research, ask around and you will find the perfect digital companion for the online year ahead.

 

*DISCLAIMER: Dell did not promote this piece nor was any marketing agreement determined prior to the writing of this article. A representative came into contact with us to offer student discounts via the email above.*

Photo: The Mancunion.

Manchester students face curfew after “significant” Covid breaches

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester has warned students living in halls they could face a curfew after “significant breaches of covid regulations”. 

An email to students said that despite repeated warnings students had been flouting social distancing rules over the weekend.

Large numbers of university security staff and Greater Manchester Police officers were in attendance at one mass gathering in Fallowfield. 

The email to students currently living in halls read: “This is placing additional and unnecessary pressure on these teams. 

“As a result of this, active consideration is being given to introducing a curfew across all Halls and/or other restrictive measures.

“We really want to avoid this but if residents fail to adhere to social distancing rules we will be faced with no alternative.”

Photo: The Mancunion
An email received by students. Photo: The Mancunion

According to the email, a disciplinary process has been initiated against a number of students.

Others have been warned they could be handed fines or even kicked off their academic courses if the behaviour continues. 

The email went on: “You should also be aware that GMP are actively monitoring the situation and are very concerned at the scenes they have witnessed.

“They have already handed out some fixed penalty notices to students and will be reviewing footage gathered over the course of this weekend. 

“They have the power to issue fixed notice penalties for which repeated breaches can rise up to £3,200.

“Whilst appreciating that the start of the university year is traditionally a time of significant social interaction, we ask that you each help support the wellbeing of everyone in halls, and in the wider community, by following the law and the University guidelines for COVID.” 

It comes after students in Manchester Metropolitan University halls were forced to self-isolate after a “100-strong” party.

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “We have been very clear to students that they must respect social distancing rules and all other restrictions to keep themselves and others safe.

“If students do not comply, they will face disciplinary action from the University, which could lead to expulsion, and we will not hesitate to involve the police if necessary. Some students have already been issued with fixed penalty notices by the police.

“Additional security officers have been deployed in Fallowfield and further reminders sent. Details of offending students are being recorded and a number of these will now go through our disciplinary process.”

Photo: Dhruvkumar Patel 1563 @ Wikimedia Commons

Investigation: Are UoM module cuts leaving students high and dry?

Written by Ella Robinson on . Posted in Investigations.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt studies, and when students return to campus this month it will look very different.

Lectures will now be delivered online, masks will be compulsory around campus, and freshers week will be largely virtual. 

But many students believe one issue has been overlooked amid the upheaval caused by the pandemic: a removal of many of the study choices that have been afforded to them in previous years. 

As the university pursues cuts as a result of budgetary pressures, module choices across the university have been slashed. 

Third years on the BA Social Sciences programme have had 39 modules cut, and the Social Anthropology department has removed all optional modules for second-year students. 

Now angry students have spoken out, saying that they weren’t consulted on the changes and had no time to plan. 

One second-year sociology student, who chose to remain anonymous, told The Mancunion that when they came to choose their preferred modules they no longer existed. They added that the University gave them no time to respond or even suspend their studies. 

Following last years strikes and the Covid-19 pandemic, Libby Mercer, a second-year Social Anthropology student, said the university experience was “not what she signed up for”.

Mercer will now be forced to study core modules, with no choice over her degree. “Because it’s affecting everyone right now its kind of the mentality that I just have to get on with it, but your degree shouldn’t be something you just get on with,” she said. 

Other students have told The Mancunion the cuts will be detrimental to their mental health, with some emotionally distressed when they found out. 

While nobody could have foreseen the pandemic, some said they had chosen to attend UoM based on the wide range of modules available, most of which are no longer offered.

A second-year Drama with French student added: “I knew the second year would be compromised, but this comes as a double whammy.” 

Another concern among students is that most cuts to modules are on topics beyond the core curriculum, raising questions in light of the university’s statements supporting Black Lives Matter and the decolonising the curriculum.

Modules such as ‘Black Identities in Latin America’ and ‘Social Thought from the Global South” in the School of Social Sciences have been temporarily scrapped.

The social anthropology department says it will offer alternative workshops and reading groups on topics such as “decolonising anthropology” but campus campaigners see these modules as crucial to challenging the western canon.

The Mancunion asked the University to respond to this, and to questions regarding students’ mental health and the longevity of the module changes. 

In response, UoM issued the following statement through a spokesperson: “As an institution, we understand these are extremely challenging times for our new and returning students, but the University is doing its utmost to ensure the return to campus and study is as straightforward as possible.

“To provide the best possible teaching and learning experience for our students we asked all faculties, schools and departments to review their courses for the forthcoming academic year.

“The portfolio of course modules is subject to change every year but, due to the pandemic, the scale of change has increased this year as we need to plan and prepare for all eventualities.

“We recognise that student choice is important, but we also need to ensure that the University can deliver the timetabled and required course options reliably, consistently and to the extremely high standards our students have come to expect.”

Have you also been affected by changes to your module choices? Please let us know at: [email protected]

13 miles, 3.5 hours, 3 centres: One student’s journey to get a coronavirus test

Written by Robbie Beale on . Posted in Features.

When I started experiencing Covid-19 symptoms – a new prolonged cough and flu symptoms – I filled out the Covid-19 self-assessment form on the NHS website.

I was met with the chilling message: You must self isolate.

I informed my housemates and booked a test for the following morning. The GOV.UK webpage helpfully informed me that a slot was available at 10:30 am at my nearest walk-in centre: Denmark Road Sports Hall in Moss Side, Manchester.

I set off on the 2-mile bike ride at 10 the next morning, without leaving enough time for breakfast. During the booking process, numerous warnings of low availability had left me keen to make it on time. Besides, I had the rest of the day to eat, sleep, and do a whole lot of nothing whilst self-isolating in my room.

I arrived at Denmark Road Sports Hall, and was immediately baffled by the lack of an obvious entrance.

The main door was shuttered, and all the lights were off. I did a couple of loops of the block searching for any signs of life, but to no avail. With a minute to go until my scheduled appointment, I tried the entrance to one of the sports grounds on the side of the complex but found only rubbish bins behind the strangely unlocked gate.

It was at this moment that I realised I had an audience. An elderly gentleman and two young men, likely students, were watching my frantic search for a test centre from the other side of the street. As they too were wearing masks and looking very cautious I called out to ask them if they were also looking for the test centre.

They were. We had all booked tests the day before and had been directed via text and email from the government to make our way to this lifeless sports centre. There was no other excuse for leaving the house with symptoms. As I had a bike I investigated the school across the park, led astray by the astro turf’s promises of a sports centre. When I returned to my fellow isolators our numbers had swelled.

My appointment time had been and gone but plenty more people were arriving for their own tests. At one point there were maybe one to two dozen people with Covid-19 symptoms waiting outside the sports centre, either on the pavement or in their cars. After unsuccessfully looking for a phone number (or any details at all) for the Denmark Road test centre, I called 119, the new NHS phone number for people looking to book texts.

After 5-10 minutes on hold, I got through to an operator. She seemed flustered, and told me that the call that she was on to another man had dropped unexpectedly, and the system had immediately put me on the end of her phone. I waited as she finished whatever she was doing for the previous caller. She had no way of contacting him to let him know that his query had been processed.

As I explained the situation on Denmark Road she tried to escalate my concerns to her supervisor, but was herself put in a queue with 9 other helpline workers. She said candidly that she could be in that queue all day, and instead sent off two emails in full caps to try to bring the situation to the attention of her superiors.

People were still arriving in cars, taxis and by foot – only to be greeted by me and others telling them the centre was closed. Many gave up and went home, and I do wonder whether they will bother with the hassle of isolating for another full day and booking a follow-up appointment.

Whilst I was there, from 10:20 until 11:45, I estimate that roughly 30 people arrived at the centre to be met with a closed door, like me. The phone operator who stuck with me for 30 minutes eventually consoled me with the information that there was another site at Belle Vue, only a 20-minute cycle away. Another man at Denmark Road, also on a call to 119, was told that if he presented his appointment QR code at any other centre he would be given a test. Armed with this information, I made my way to Belle Vue.

I met two men at Belle Vue who I recognised from Denmark Road, so we made our way to the entrance. Two security guards met us. We informed them of our situation and they told us Belle Vue wasn’t ready to open until 2 pm, and even that might have been a difficult deadline to reach as the staff there were being trained as we spoke.

Despite their friendliness, they made no attempt to inform anyone that people were being sent to a closed test centre at Denmark Road, and they told us that we could either wait 2 hours for the planned opening of the site, or make our way to another centre. Whilst we were there a pregnant woman arrived. She had taken a bus to get to Belle Vue from Denmark Road, and said she couldn’t afford to get another bus to another centre. The security gave her a fold-out chair to wait the two hours on the pavement.

I booked myself a slot for 1 pm at the Ancoats testing site in central Manchester and set off from Belle Vue at 12.20. I never received any word about my missed appointment that morning. I finally found the Ancoats site tucked away just off the canal. It was incredibly easy to miss if you were to come from the wrong direction, as I had, and I almost walked into Ancoats Primary Care Unit by mistake. I had symptoms. This was no time to be on a wild goose chase, and certainly no time to be wandering into NHS buildings to ask for directions.

I finally got my test at the Ancoats walk-in site, and it was a mild disappointment given the morning of build-up. The staff there had no time to hear of my ordeal that morning, and shrugged off my concern that dozens of people were being wrongly sent to a closed site.

I made my way back home, knackered and incredibly angry. Throughout the day the only remotely official person that showed any concern for the situation was the 119 call operator – and she was unable to do anything about it. I cycled 13 miles and visited 3 test centres in 3.5 hours just to self-administer 1 test. I dread to think what I would have done had my condition or situation been worse.

I visited Denmark road on the 5th of September and it supposedly opened on the 4th. As of the 10th of September, I still haven’t received any explanation for the events I went through.

Robbie Beale has kindly agreed to let The Mancunion republish this article. He has since tested negative for Covid-19.

Photo: Gerald England @ Geograph

Engineering students blast ‘unfair’ UoM after being told they must be on campus

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Manchester University engineering students who wanted to study remotely due to Covid-19 have been left fuming after they were told they must be on campus to complete their degrees. 

In an email from the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE), students were told that it “may not be possible” for them to study remotely as certain “accreditation obligations” required them to be on campus. 

But MACE students said this goes against the University’s official position that students won’t be disadvantaged for choosing to do their course remotely. 

“It is important that we ensure you graduate from Manchester with a degree that is highlight sought after by employers, and officially recognised by the relevant professional body,” the email to students read.

“These professional bodies have accreditation obligations that require students to be on campus to acquire certain engineering competencies.” 

In a MACE group chat seen by The Mancunion, students were left raging following the news, which many blasted as ‘unfair’ and said put a huge question mark over their living arrangements. 

One student wrote: “That’s pretty unfair of them to say a month before classes start, [especially] after saying that things would be fully online and we would have a full choice whether to attend things in person. Then again, all they care about is money.” 

The University has said that if students have “extenuating circumstances” that prevent them being on campus it will support them through their studies.

One student in the department, who chose to remain anonymous, told The Mancunion: “Lots of people had already made plans to stay based on a survey sent out weeks ago, the group chats are pissed.”

“I want to stay home and have made plans to extend my lease by 6 months with my landlord,” the student added. 

In response, Professor Peter Green, Vice Dean Teaching, Learning and Students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “In order to reduce the amount of face-to-face interaction for safety reasons during the pandemic, we are putting a huge amount of effort into making sure that our students are able to access significant amounts of teaching and learning activity online. 

“There are many disciplines in Science and Engineering which are highly valued by employers because they are professionally accredited – this official recognition can be dependent upon our students developing practical and technical skills by completing specific activities that can only be delivered on-campus.

“Should a student have such extenuating circumstances that prevent them from being able to attend on campus, we will, of course, discuss this with them and do whatever we can to support them through their studies.”

Fallowfield, the South Manchester suburb where many students will return this month. Photo: James Shuttleworth @ The Mancunion

Behave yourself or face action, incoming students warned

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Students arriving at universities across Greater Manchester are being warned that they must adhere to Covid rules – or potentially face disciplinary action.

In a rare joint statement, university leaders from across the region sought to “remind” new and arriving students of their “responsibilities in minimising the transmission of the virus”.

Greater Manchester is gearing up to welcome around 100,000 students in September at universities including Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford and Bolton.

Traditional freshers activities like mass gatherings and boozy parties won’t take place this year, and will be replaced instead with online and small scale events.

The universities are working with the police, public health bodies and local authorities to ensure students are clear on how to keep themselves and the wider community safe.

Bosses say community night-time support patrols will also take place in areas such as South Manchester with large student populations.

And students could face sanctions if they fail to follow the rules.

The statement read: “Across our universities, staff and students have worked tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19 – many on the front line in healthcare, volunteering, or at the sharp end of research to treat those suffering with the virus or to protect those at risk.

“This commitment to fighting COVID-19 continues as we bring students back on to campus and surrounding areas in our cities.

“As new and returning students join our community, we remind them of their responsibilities in minimising the transmission of the virus in our city region and in acting as ambassadors for our universities in the areas where they live and socialise.

“Together we commit to ‘doing our bit’ for Greater Manchester and we ask our students to do the same.”

Meanwhile, Bolton has become the latest town to have new restrictions imposed as a result of a rapid increase in coronavirus cases.

It’s unclear if this will impact students arriving at Bolton University or those travelling from the town to study elsewhere in the region.

Catherine Fletcher, a professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, said in a tweet: “Teaching at MMU – which has many commuting staff and students from Bolton – starts on the 14th of September. Two or more sets of rules for people at one institution is going to be tough.”

The government also announced yesterday that gatherings of more than six people in England would be prohibited under the law with police given powers to break up such groupings.