This afternoon the Manchester Young Conservatives’ Union Jack flag was reportedly stolen by UoM Stop the War from their stall at the SU’s Sports and Societies Fair.
Around 2pm today The Mancunion heard reports of a flag being stolen at the rescheduled Sports and Societies Fair.
William Watermeyer, Chairman of the Manchester Young Conservatives told The Mancunion that “a guy came and gave us a bit of abuse before [the flag was stolen] then went away”.
“He came back about 5 minutes later and grabbed the flag which flew all of our stuff in the air”. Another Young Conservative added that they “started stamping on it” and then “they took it away and wrote ‘Tory Scum’ on it”.
Photo: The Mancunion
UoM Stop the War were alleged to have stolen and graffitied the flag however their spokesperson denied it. Regardless, UoM STW were asked to leave the freshers fair which they were holding a stall at.
Today’s controversy is another in a series of dramatic moments at the University of Manchester’s welcome events. In 2016 a cardboard cutout of Margaret Thatcher was beheaded by two students whilst at the 2019 fair Manchester Labour Students’ stall was emblazoned with the words “FUCK BORIS”.
This memorably led to a swathe of abuse directed towards the students on twitter after a photo of them was tweeted by the right wing commentator Tom Harwood.
Of course, today’s Sports and Societies Fair was rescheduled following last week’s Oxford Road flood which saw an unofficial version of the event held in the Armitage Sports Centre on Fallowfield Campus. That event, however, was mired with accessibility issues.
Additionally, The Mancunion has been told that many sports societies are missing from this week’s fair despite it being an official event. Reports have also surfaced that many sports clubs are already full with trials having already taken place, thus leaving no room for new members.
We spoke to third year University of Manchester (UoM) students about what they would and wouldn’t change about starting university.
By now you’ve probably read every ‘mistakes freshers should avoid’ article out there. But you will make mistakes and you will probably have regrets – that’s what first year is for! Freshers is really a time just to take university as it comes.
Disregarding that – here are some things some current UoM third years might have done differently.
Oak House – yay or nay?
Most students fiercely defend their halls. Oak House or Owens Park are apparently the social places to be, creating serious FOMO if you don’t live there. But the reality of the intense party scene and student bubble can be too much for some people.
Noah Silvio, a third year English Literature student who lived in Hulme Hall (Victoria Park) in his first year, said that he “doesn’t really have any regrets”.
“I was going to move to Fallowfield and I didn’t. If I had I most probably wouldn’t be living with the people I am now. And the people I could have ended up living with could have been wrong for me.”
Jade Smith, a third year medicine student, applied for Oak House because it was cheap. She said that “Some people in my flat really had a thing about making friends, going to parties and being in the centre [of it all] but I didn’t feel that pressure” because this was her second degree.
She joked that she “was definitely the boring one in my flat” and “got used to sleeping through parties”, but she says she didn’t regret her experience.
So if you do know you’re going to want your sleep, maybe Oak House or Owens Park isn’t the place for you. If money is also an issue, think about Whitworth Park even though it’s outside of Fallowfield. It’s not too late to change.
Societies: your way out
Jason Fox, a third year History student, said that the best thing they ever did was joining societies.
“Even though I did really get along with my housemates, I knew that they weren’t necessarily going to be my people […] I was on a bit of a hunt for people who were similar to me.”
They joined the Kickboxing, Vinyl Frontier and Other Sounds societies. Jason said they “felt a bit embarrassed going [to Kickboxing] the first few times, as I wasn’t very good. I felt myself improving very quickly so I didn’t regret it”. But, the Vinyl Frontier was where they met most of their friends.
Rowan Woodell, a third year Computer Science and Maths student, also went to Vinyl Frontier and Other Sounds. They said that they “were very happy with two societies and made a lot of friends through them”.
Jade did Cricket, Medics Orchestra, and Bone Marrow society. But she said that “even this time I would have liked to go to more taster societies. Even random things…I really wanted to go to Ice Hockey. You never know what you’ll like or who you’ll get on with.”
Under Pressure: friends
Beyond societies, Jason felt there was a lot they would change. “I felt a pressure in regards to sex and relationships which wasn’t really there.” I thought “Oh my god I need to find someone now”. But “once you’re with the right people, those pressures become totally artificial.”
Similarly, Rowan said looking back they “would have gone to different clubs with different people. But societies were good”.
So – overall our students are saying try and stick to what you actually want to do, no matter what you think you should do. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, as it will work out in the end.
And look on the bright side, at least your freshers isn’t in lockdown…
On the 15th of September 2021, a new security pact was signed between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America (AUKUS). This trilateral agreement will now enable Australia to have nuclear-powered submarines, making them the 7th nation to have access to such technology.
The pact has surprised the international community, as there has been a move towards nuclear de-escalation since the Cold War. It is important to note that, although Australia will now have nuclear-powered submarines, it does not necessarily mean that they can develop nuclear weapons. Despite being nuclear-powered, nuclear-powered submarines are not the same as nuclear weapons. However, there have been concerns that Australia could use this technology to develop nuclear weapons.
Whilst none of the official statements from any of the governments involved have mentioned this, analysts are interpreting the pact as a way to reassert Western power in the Indo-Pacific region. Since the end of the Cold War, China has been viewed as a rising threat to the West in both economic and security terms.
Amid recent tensions with Beijing, establishing Australia as a nuclear entity in the region would increase Britain and America’s influence in China’s territory. Concerns have also been raised over the possibility of Chinese incursions into Taiwan, which has historically been a disputed territory.
Beijing responded angrily to the news, with Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson accusing the UK and US of double standards for creating the new partnership.
What comes of the agreement is yet to be seen. The recent withdrawal from Afghanistan has shown how the West’s global power is diminishing and with China’s status as a competing power on the global stage this new partnership could be setting the beginning of a “new cold war”.
Regardless, Australia’s newfound nuclear capabilities, even if it is just submarines so far, marks a new development for nuclear issues and proves that even if the Cold War ended, the threat of nuclear weapons has not.
This summer I was fortunate enough to attend the Sundance London Film Festival during the last week of July. Over the course of 3 days, I watched 14 films including the likes of CODA, Zola, and The Nest, and attended multiple press events, notably the Red Carpet Premiere of Edgar Wright’s new documentary The Sparks Brothers.
On the red carpet I interviewed Edgar Wright alongside the subjects of his documentary, brothers Ron and Russell Mael of the band Sparks. Below is an abridged transcript of the interview which is also available to watch here through The Mancunion website.
Edgar Wright and Sparks on the red carpet. Photo: Joe McFadden
Interview:
Joe McFadden: Edgar, so you grew up listening to their [Sparks’] music, how does it feel going from a budding filmmaker and a lover of film and their music to be able to make this documentary about them and also introduce Sparks to a whole new generation?
Edgar Wright: Well, I think what was really important with the documentary was to make a celebration for fans and an introduction for others. I don’t think any music documentary should presume prior knowledge. Even a Beatles documentary shouldn’t do that because somebody might watch it in a 100 years and need to learn the basic facts! So it was important to me to make a film that was as much an introduction as a celebration.
Russell Mael: We’re really just happy that the film does work on so many levels and really works for people that have no knowledge of the band at all. It’s been out for a few weeks in the States and we’ve found that the feedback coming in is that people may have no knowledge of the band at all have come away wanting to investigate more of the 25 album catalogue that we have. And also just being inspired by the story and the perseverance within a creative environment and what you have to do to weed away all the obstacles that might confront you along the way in pursuit of your creative visions. We’re really just happy that those different elements evolve in the documentary.
JM: Thank you. Going back to Edgar’s comment about The Beatles in a hundred years time do you think that people will be listening to Sparks in a hundred years time?
Ron Mael: [smiling] We’ll still be working then!
JM: Well it did say in the documentary about advances in medical technology!
Russell Mael: [laughing] You were paying attention!
Edgar Wright: Don’t count out the cryo!
Review:
Edgar Wright returns to cinemas for the first time since 2017’s Baby Driver with a documentary chronicling 50 years of modern music history. Focusing on the acclaimed yet underrated band Sparks as his subject matter, Wright’s signature style works wonderfully with the idiosyncratic but delightful band. The documentary serves as much as a commentary on art and what it means to be an artist as it does a conventional music documentary.
Wright makes good use of a wide range of talking heads. These range from “Weird Al” Yankovic to Joy Division/ New Order’s Stephen Morris alongside, of course, the Sparks Brothers themselves. Each interviewee is taut and used sparingly but all manage to say a lot in little time. The variety of talking heads makes the documentary more than just an exercise in history, but a celebration of Sparks‘ artistry by artists themselves.
Wright excels at making a niche subject both interesting and enjoyable to watch. His quirky, fast cutting style immerses the audience in how the brothers were able to reinvent themselves and their music multiple times over the course of their 40 years career and 25 studio albums. The documentary never once slips into pretension or boredom – every minute is full of insightful comments or fascinating facts. Whether you are a Sparks super-fan or a newcomer like myself, there is something here for everyone.
Edgar Wright has not just crafted a great music documentary but has created a truly entertaining and touching piece of cinema driven by personal experiences and memory of the band.
The University and College Union has today announced that from Monday 18th October to Thursday 4 November, strike ballots will open at UK universities.
The union announced that ballots would open on these dates and that in total 152 institutions would be balloted. It is not clear how many, if any, university institutions will take up the opportunity for strike action. However, the UCU also stated that the results of the ballot would be discussed on Monday 8th November and that strike action would likely take place before the end of the year.
“University staff propped up the entire sector during the pandemic, but they are now being thanked with huge cuts to their pensions, unbearably high workloads, and another below-inflation pay offer – all whilst universities continue to generate a handsome income from tuition fees.”
The union say that the strikes come in response to “pensions cut of 35%, pay down by 20%, a gender pay gap of 20%, nearly half of teaching staff on insecure contracts and increasing workloads.” As a result, the UCU wants the employers in these universities to come back with better offers for staff, and are threatening that, if the strikes were to happen, they may bleed into the end of term and the following term.
The NUS, National Union of Students, has supported the move indicating that vice-chancellors and employers must address the issues that have been raised by university workers.
It is unclear yet how this would affect the University of Manchester, or other universities in Manchester, and if university staff would take part in the strike action if it were to take place. However, the University of Manchester has been balloted for both pay and USS pensions, meaning there will potentially be strikes on both terms.
In February and March 2020, staff from 74 universities across the UK took strike action for selected days across 4 weeks in response to similar issues. In November and December of 2019, staff from 60 universities took strike action, again against cuts to pensions and pay.
In their statement the UCU said on the demands:
“UCU is demanding a £2.5k pay increase; an end to race and gender pay injustice; a framework eliminate the use of precarious contracts, such as zero-hours employment; and meaningful action to tackle unmanageable workloads.“
This comes after UCU general secretary, Jo Grady, recently addressed a ‘packed room’ at a Young Labour conference, many of whom we not following social distancing guidelines, which the UCU has demanded by implemented by universities nationwide.
In response to the July easing of restrictions, the UCU released their position saying on masks:
“Face coverings should continue to be worn by all those able to do so when in indoor spaces.”
The photo, which has now been deleted, showed these were not the actions followed at the event, causing backlash with people pointing out how this contradicts the position taken by the UCU.
A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “We urge the UCU to work with UUK on behalf of the many employers in the USS.
She added: “In addition we are concerned that industrial action would affect our students’ experience, taking away the opportunity to learn after many difficult months.
“It is disappointing that UCU intends to ballot its members on the USS pension when we have all worked hard to achieve the best outcome possible. We are obviously concerned that industrial action will have a further damaging effect after a significantly disrupted 18 months.”
University campuses have long been a favourite setting for authors, from Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis to On Beauty by Zadie Smith. This may be because they are places of learning and ideas. Or perhaps it is because there are so many young people embarking on new adventures away from the watchful eyes of their parents.
Often campus novels are concerned with the lives of lecturers and academics. So how many of these books are an accurate reflection of student life at university? Are any of them a helpful read for freshers starting at The University of Manchester?
Here’s a (non-comprehensive) list of books to read to get you started, and a list of books to avoid when searching for a reflection of true-to-life experiences.
True:
Snowflake by Louise Nealon
Louise Nealon’s debut novel Snowflakefollows Debbie, a student in her first year studying English Literature at Trinity College Dublin, as she balances her home life with her new university world. Nealon accurately writes about fear of making friends, fear of speaking in lectures and about the culture shock of commuting to Dublin from her family’s dairy farm in County Kildare.
Starter for Ten by David Nicholls
Starter for Ten is set in 1985, as protagonist Brian begins his first year at university. As the title hints at, Brian’s ambition has always been to appear on University Challenge. David Nicholls’s debut is funny and effortlessly readable. It also still rings true, even if a few moments feel a little dated.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
While Conversations with Friends and Beautiful World, Where are you both offer glimpses of university experience, it is Normal People that gives the most sustained depiction of student life. Marianne and Connell need little to no introduction. As students, they both experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and social anxiety at times, and Rooney writes this with poignant accuracy. The key lesson any reader can take away, however, is that clear communication with those you love is always a good place to start.
False:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt’s debut novel follows a tight-knit group of six students attending a small Vermont liberal arts college. They would seem a little out of place in Manchester, where on the whole you’ll find your fellow students are less exclusive and generally don’t speak much Ancient Greek. Oh yeah, and there is considerably less murder.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
In Brideshead Revisited in 1923, protagonist Charles Ryder is reading history at Oxford. At university Charles is quickly distracted from his studies by his friendship with Lord Sebastian Flyte, who introduces Charles to his eccentric, hedonistic and rich friends. Friendships at university do often begin in unusual and unplanned ways, and Charles and Sebastian meet after Sebastian drunkenly throws up through Charles’s open window. This wouldn’t be unheard of in Owen’s Park, though the chances of being overwhelmed by flowers and given an invitation to lunch by way of an apology is probably less likely.
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
The Secret Commonwealth is the second volume of Philip Pullman’s planned trilogy The Book of Dust. The story is set ten years after the conclusion of the original His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra is now a student at St Sophia’s College Oxford. She and Pan are dealing with the student angst of losing the fun and imagination of childhood, and it causes them to drift apart. That’s probably where the similarities with real student life end, and daemons, botany and Dust take over. Manchester may be magical, but if you notice your pet talking to you, perhaps you need to go to bed earlier.
While you can turn to novels for advice, no book can truly prepare you for your own experiences at university, which will be unique, impossible to predict and maybe even novel worthy.
It seems you have stumbled upon The Mancunion film section! Welcome!
Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting cities. The cultural hub of the north. The city is home to some of the most diverse and alternative artistic circles in the UK. Known predominantly for its sport and music, Manchester also has a thriving film scene.
Manchester Town Hall and the centre of the city
Home to Danny Boyle, Bernard Hill and even for a time Ben Kingsley, Manchester’s edgy, student-led culture has attracted filmmakers and actors for decades. Manchester also boasts an array of fantastic cinemas, from blockbuster multiplexes to alternative picture houses tucked away within the city.
The city’s cinematic calendar is also packed and full of annual film festivals. Whether you prefer to be terrified by upcoming horror festival Grimmfest or would rather celebrate the beauty of independent film at the Manchester International Film Festival, Manchester is always teeming with cinematic life for you to engage with.
As the largest student film section in the country, The Mancunion aims to capture some of that cultural energy, to review, study and enjoy the array of films coming out around us. An historic part of Manchester student life, the section even has the honour of counting the UK’s most notorious film critic, Mark Kermode, as one of our alumni.
Hence, we urge you to take the dynamic and historical spirit of the city. Engage your critical faculties and immerse yourselves in all that Manchester film has to offer. Are you a budding director, an avid film critic or simply someone with a passion for motion pictures? We are always looking for new writers to help cover everything film-related from Hulme to Hogwarts!
Come and join us on our Facebook page ‘Mancunion Film 2021/22’ or turn up to one of our weekly section meetings on Mondays in the SU. We cannot wait to meet you!
If you were out for a stroll around the countryside of Cheshire a few Saturdays ago, you may have found the sounds of birds cooing deafened by techno beats. Hide & Seek Festival brought legions of electro fans to Capesthorne Hall, a stately home set in gorgeous surroundings. This weekend though, it was less Downton Abbey and more DMC. The line up included Jeremy Underground, YouandEwan, Apollonia and Just Jam to name a few, drawing an audience of mostly mid 20s-30s.
Festival wear reflected the theme of the day, ‘Life in Colour’, resulting in a sea of bright colour, patterns and neon. This summer has been a slightly grey one in the UK, that was nowhere to be seen here. Even the coach there was buzzing with anticipation, festival goers excited to be back in the thick of it.
The Contour Stage
Live music has suffered under COVID, particularly festivals facing financial risk, logistical problems and constant uncertainty. Hide & Seek is still a fairly new festival, having started in 2019 and postponed in 2020.
Its youth is evident in its organisation, which saw revellers queue for over an hour to get drinks. Compared to bigger festivals such as Leeds, the team here was clearly unprepared for the day and ran out of most drinks. At a British festival, that’s almost a sin!
The cashless wristbands that I’ve seen work at other festivals also seemed to be more hassle than they were worth. They cost £1.50 to top up, and most food stalls didn’t accept them. We were beginning to wish we’d pre-ed on the coach, nevermind it being at 11am.
Hide & Seek Festival, 2019
Not to say people didn’t get their kicks elsewhere. As my friend Saskia said ‘this is the most ket I’ve ever seen’. And she lived in Oak House! By the end of the day, the field was strewn with monged out middle-aged men, simply unable to do anything but nod their heads to the music. Besides the challenges of organisation, the day was carried by the music.
“you could forget the last year had even happened”
We arrived, unsure what to expect, techno being a genre I only really listen to at clubs or out of the tinny earphone of someone on the bus. One of the first tents we found our way into was Dj’d by Laidlow, and was an immediate hit of energy and good vibes. He gave the audience what they wanted, playing upbeat tracks that got everyone’s hands in the air. The tent was hot and sticky, everyone pressed against each other so closely you could forget the last year had even happened. Nothing mattered but the beats blasting out of the speaker and the sense of joy around.
Another fantastic tent was Fantasia, which was circus shaped and had a massive disco ball projecting white spots of sun onto everyone’s faces. Just Jam and Tristan Da Cunha both brought the crowds, who came swirling, dancing and laughing into the light.
Voigt.mas took the stage last here, a big opportunity considering they have only 41 monthly listeners on spotify. After their dreamlike performance of their debut album, they’ve definitely gained a few more! Other highlights included Raresh’s impressive 3 hour long set at the Tentree, atmospherically surrounded by trees at twilight.
By the time Apollonia had taken to the Contour stage, the sun had set and the field was illuminated by bright light. The music pulsated through the crowd, bringing the day to a perfect end. For the festival’s second year, it delivered on both music and entertainment. With a few logistical issues ironed out, Hide & Seek can only become bigger and more exciting. So it’s good news for techno fans everywhere: Hide & Seek is one to watch!
Check out Hide and Seek festival here in time for next year!
Lewis Hamilton finally gets his 100th Grand Prix win as heavy rain causes chaos and leads to heartbreak for Lando Norris near the end of the race. Max Verstappen enjoyed a sensational drive to secure second place, after starting in last place, and Carlos Sainz had a strong recovery at the end to pick up third place and the final podium spot.
Lando Norris, who took pole position during qualifying and became the fifth youngest pole sitter in F1 history, got off to a bad start as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz found the slipstream and overtook him to take the lead after turn one.
Lewis Hamilton started the race in P4 and fell down by three positions, with Lance Stroll, Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso all moving ahead of his Mercedes in the opening lap.
During lap 13 Norris re-took first place from his former team-mate Carlos Sainz, before extending his lead to twelve seconds from Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton at the halfway stage.
Lewis Hamilton redeemed himself after his poor start, getting past Fernando Alonso’s Alpine in the second lap before Lance Stroll’s early pit stop, but the Mercedes driver was then stuck behind Ricciardo. The Australian’s slow pit stop during lap 23 allowed Lewis to get into clean air and attack his fellow compatriot Lando Norris for the remainder of his race.
Photo: Lukas Raich @ Wiklmedia Commons
With a light drizzle starting to show up on the track, Lando almost lost his lead to the seven-time world champion as he went wide with just over seven laps remaining.
As the rain started getting heavier, drivers started to lose grip and control over their cars, and had to make the tough decision of whether to stay out on slicks or pit for intermediate tyres.
Lando was adamant that he wanted to stay out on his hard tyres even after his race engineer insisted that he change to intermediates. Although Lewis also refused to change his tyres at first, he came in for his pit stop during the 49th lap, after his pit crew warned him that more rain would follow.
With just over three laps to go, McLaren and Norris would come to regret their decision to stay out. The young Briton lost control of his car and left the track, allowing Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes to take the lead and eventually win the race.
It was picture perfect for Lewis Hamilton, who showcased his race-craft after enduring a tough start to the race, to clinch his 100th win in Formula One.
“It was the wrong one at the end of the day but I made the decision just as much as the team,” said a devastated Lando Norris, who was on track for his first ever win in Formula One.
“We didn’t get it together as a team in hindsight, it was the wrong decision to stay out,” said team principal Andreas Seidl.
Photo: Lukas Raich @ Wikimedia Commons
Max Verstappen ended up with a second-place finish after starting in last place due to a grid penalty for taking a new engine. The Dutchman got off to a strong start, making up five positions during the first six laps, and clearing Mercedes’ Valterri Bottas along the way.
However, the Red Bull driver was starting to slow down during his second stint, even losing out his sixth place to Fernando Alonso in lap 38. When the rain started to pour down, Max was one of the first drivers to pit for intermediate tyres and making the decision this early meant he was able to finish the race in second place.
With only two points separating Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for the Drivers Championship, the last leg of the 2021 Formula One season promises to end with some sparks and fireworks.
So – you’re an incoming fresher and you have no idea how to look cool in front of the veteran second and third years in the Friendship Inn. Thank god for our handy tips!
Raid your mum’s closet from when she was young and hip in the early 2000s. Failing that, stock up on overpriced Avril Levine outfit dupes from Depop. The baggier the jeans, the better!
Form an opinion on a favourite post-night-out takeaway. You need to pick a side in the Kej’s vs. Turkiss feud and be ready to defend your choice to debate-trained private school kids at flat parties.
Get a Nectar card. You will start out with the best of intentions trying to shop cheaply at Lidl, but as the uni work starts and you get lazier, you will inevitably resort to buying your freezer pizzas and ingredients for pesto pasta at big Sainos.
Join all the student Facebook groups. Manchester Student Group (MSG) is essential for keeping up with uni events, finding housemates and buying/selling festival tickets. And UoMLove and Mancfessions are perfect for ranting, sharing gossip, or confessing your secret love for your new flatmate. If you can get a post on UoMLove, you’ve made it.
Take up chain smoking. You will need an excuse to procrastinate at the Main Library or Ali G (Alan Gilbert Learning Commons), and what’s a better (or cooler) excuse than a quick fag? It also means you can fit in with the posh girls from Surrey by asking, “Rah, where’s my baccy?”
Go to clubs other than Factory. Listen, we get it. Factory plays music everyone knows, it’s easy to pick up a fitty, and it means you don’t have to trek into the city centre. But there are so many other clubs with different types of music and clientele! Try any club on Canal Street for LGBTQ+ venues, or if you don’t want to venture far from Oxford Road, the Deaf Institute puts on lots of themed nights. Find a big list of student friendly bars and clubs here.
Wave at Boombox Barry. Barry will perplex you the first time you see him cycling up Oxford Road blaring music from his speaker. But from then on it will fill your heart with joy when you get a wave back from the real BNOC (big name on campus).
Test your drugs. The Students’ Union is now offering free drug testing kits so find out what you’re taking and stay cool by, like, not dying!
Take up DJing. If you want to be a highly desired party guest at Oak House, you’ll need to splash your student loan on some decks and get them out at literally any occasion – including in the middle of the day when your flatmates are trying to study.
Most importantly – stay safe, don’t take all our tips seriously, and enjoy settling into Manchester.
As a student who is passionate about science, I know it’s sometimes hard to discover places related to your interests.
To help you out, I’ve put together a list of my top five science-themed places in Manchester. Some will help you learn about science, some are more science-adjacent, but all five provide fun opportunities to explore Manchester and hang out with friends.
1. The Alchemist
Photo: David Dixon @ Geograph
Although now a nation-wide chain, The Alchemist was founded in Manchester, and has still has three locations in the city: New York Street, Spinningfields, and Media City (although this may be a little far for most students).
It boasts of bar tenders who are “masters… of molecular mixology”, which combined with its stunning restaurant, should make it a favourite for scientists and non-scientists alike.
2. Escape Rooms
Manchester is home to many escape rooms, which are hugely popular for students who love to work together to solve problems. If you’re searching for one with a specific science bent, you may enjoy ‘Zombie Lab’ in Breakout Manchester on Church Street, or the new Cryptic Escape Rooms in Ashton-under-Lyne.
3. The Science and Industry Museum
Photo: David Dixon @ Geograph
Probably my top pick, The Science and Industry Museum provides a safe haven for students who love to discover more about how the world works. Entry is free, and their plethora of activities and special exhibitions means you’ll want to return again and again.
Currently on show is a new exhibition that delves into the history of Factory Records, one of Manchester’s most famous record labels.
4. Science and Industry, Cane and Grain
Hidden behind a door to the left of their ground floor bar lies the stairs to Cane and Grain’s secret cocktail lab, Science and Industry. The bar staff seek a genuine scientific approach to their cocktails, with the original team taking part in workshops with the University of Manchester’s Chemistry Department to learn distillation, filtration and crystallisation techniques.
Although a little pricey, this bar should provide a great night out for special occasions.
5. The Rutherford Building
Photo: Doctorneroli @ Wikimedia Commons
Although not currently open to the public, the Rutherford Building is a great example of the rich scientific history of Manchester. It was in this building that Bohr and Rutherford first developed their model of the atom in 1915, and was where the atom was first ‘split’ in 1919. Go take a look and get inspired, or visit with a geiger counter, as there’s a rumour that the old nuclear experiments have left their trace.
Manchester’s important role in world history means there’s always more to see. So get outside, go explore and find out more about the fantastic city we get to enjoy.
The 2021 Italian GP saw Australian Daniel Ricciardo take the win with his teammate Lando Norris coming in second to complete a McLaren one-two. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas rounded off the podium finishing in third place after starting at the back of the grid due to engine penalties.
Max Verstappen started at pole position after winning the sprint race on the previous day. His ex-Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo got off to a flying start in the first lap and took the lead after turn 1 and never looked back.
With Max struggling for pace at the start, Lewis Hamilton caught up alongside his Red Bull but was forced off the track. At the second chicane, the Dutchman left him no room to overtake.
Both Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda had to retire their cars after the first lap, and Italian Antonio Giovinazzi fell to the back of the grid after colliding with Carlos Sainz while attempting to re-join the track.
Photo: Lukas Raich @ Wikimedia Commons
That wasn’t the last time the two drivers would lock horns either. Max Verstappen endured a horrifically slow pit stop during lap 24 which saw him stationary for more than ten seconds. Lewis took the lead from Lando Norris while the Red Bull driver was in the pits.
During lap 26, the seven-time champion also suffered a slow pit stop which saw him re-join the track just in front of Max Verstappen ahead of the first corner.
Verstappen tried to go around the outside of Lewis and ended up alongside the Mercedes, which put him on the inside for the second turn of the chicane.
After Hamilton left Max with no room, the Red Bull car was lifted above the ground after making contact with the sausage kerb. The car ended up with two wheels on top of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. Fortunately, Lewis was left unharmed after the incident after being protected by the Halo.
The incident was reviewed by the FIA after the race, with Max Verstappen being awarded a three-place grid penalty for the Russian Grand Prix taking place on Sunday.
Max put the blame on his title rival during his post-race interview: “I didn’t expect him to just keep on squeezing, squeezing, squeezing, because he didn’t even need to. Even if he had left me, just a car width, we would have raced out of Turn Two anyway, and I think he probably still would have been in front”.
“He just kept on pushing me wider and wider and at one point there was nowhere to go, he just pushed me onto the sausage kerb. That’s why, at the end of the day, we touched, because the rear tyre bumped up to his tyre.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also had his say on the turn 2 incident: “I think in football you’d say it was a tactical foul. He [Verstappen] probably knew that if Lewis stays ahead, that is the race win possibly.”
With both title contenders out of the race, this gave McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo the chance to win his first race in over three years.
The Australian drove brilliantly from start to finish, leading every lap of the race. He also ended up with an extra point for the fastest lap and was also voted as the Driver of the Day by fans. “To anyone who thought I left, I never left, I just moved aside for a while,” said the McLaren driver.
McLaren, who has won their first race in over nine years since Jenson Button’s Brazilian GP victory in 2012, completed a one-two at the podium with Lando Norris holding onto second place after overtaking Charles Leclerc during the safety car restart.
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas topped off a sensational drive starting from the back of the grid with a third-placed finish. He was moved up from P4 after Sergio Perez was handed a five second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Italian GP result: Top 10
1) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
2) Lando Norris, McLaren
3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
7) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
8) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
9) George Russell, Williams
10) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
All eyes now move to the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday to see how takes the lead in the Drivers Championship standings, as the battle between Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen continues.
The Students Union’s Official Sports and Societies Fair has been postponed to next week, but an alternative makeshift event was set up in the Armitage Sports Centre on Fallowfield Campus.
The move comes after a water main burst around 5am near the University of Manchester’s main campus, causing substantial flooding on Oxford Road and parts of the University Campus.
Students have told The Mancunion that they were informed of the fair’s cancellation around 8.50 AM only for it to then be rescheduled for 11.30 AM. Sports societies said they were informed of the event’s new location between 9.30 AM to 10.00 AM.
The fair finished at 4.00 PM and was advertised via social media to the student body. No official email communication from the University was sent to students despite the alternative fair being sanctioned by the Senior Leadership Team.
Andrew Miller, the University’s Business Operations Manager for Sports, told The Mauncunion that the University communicated “with the students union as well to make sure that we’re not just supporting the sports teams that UoM sports supports, but also in supporting a range of the activities that obviously are supported through the Students Union”.
He went on to say that “the original fair had something like 96 exhibitors and actually we’ve got capacity to accommodate all of those so I know even though they’re the vast majority of sports, which would have been the case in the Students Union, as well, that there is still a facility for support”.
Despite the last minute reschedule, the event was still well attended with a high turnout and most Sports societies having a makeshift stall at the fair.
Sports society representatives were mainly positive about the reschedule, saying that they needed to be able to advertise their sports this week due to trials starting next week as well as the fact that when students begin lectures there might not be time for them to attend such an event.
Alex Fish, Chairperson of the Taekwondo society told The Mancunion that he “was glad that the event had gone ahead” because “after 18 months [of no sport] the societies really need it”.
The Students Union has said that there will still be an official Sports and Societies Fair sometime next week which will better resemble what today’s planned event was intended to be.
The University of Manchester (UoM) has lost its position as a top 20 university, also being ranked 119th in teaching quality and joint 109th in student experience to add to the woes.
The Times notes that part of the reason for the fall was student dissatisfaction with the response of UoM to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the student backlash to the fences put up around the Fallowfield halls of residence. This is the latest in the fallout from the handling of these events by university administrators.
Last year the University of Manchester faced immense criticism for the move to put up fences around residences. They were also criticised after accusations of racial profiling from security officers and a rent strike occurred against the response of UoM to the pandemic.
However, UoM did retain a high ranking in research quality, claiming the 13th position, beating Warwick, Leeds and Nottingham notably. In addition, UoM was ranked 22nd in graduate prospects beating Edinburgh, Birmingham and Exeter.
The Times are also quick to point out that UoM is the most applied to University in the UK though and that applications even increased in the last year by 12%.
Theology and Religious Studies was the top-ranked subject for student satisfaction with 88% saying that they were satisfied with the course, with Drama, Dance and Cinematics and American studies coming in second and third, respectively.
Elsewhere, the University of St. Andrews pipped both Oxford and Cambridge to the top spot based on their performance during the pandemic. Manchester Metropolitan University also dropped down in the ranking from 65th to 71st, with The Times also citing a large drop in student satisfaction being the main reason for this change.
United Utilities (UU), the water company serving Greater Manchester, has been urging its customers to reduce their water usage this week as the city faces shortages. The shortages come as the water levels of the reservoirs that serve the city are 44 percentage points lower than they should be.
UU sent out an email to customers this morning which stated that water levels in reservoirs are currently sitting at 36%, down 4% from last week. This is worrying as the expected water level for this time of year is usually 70%.
They also urged customers to save or re-use water as much as possible, encouraging them to use washing machines once less a week and to swap baths for four minute showers.
Customers need not worry about their water supply being cut off, as UU have access to water sources in Wales and the Peak District which they can tap into if the need arises.
The shortages have occurred because Manchester’s water comes from reservoirs such as Thirlmere and Haweswater in the Lake District, which experienced a very dry summer. Although there may have been characteristically wet weather here in Manchester over the summer, the city is still facing shortages caused by unusually dry weather in Cumbria.
This is partly due to climate change – with more extreme weather (either very wet or very dry), comes more problems with consistent water supply.
The pandemic also plays a role in the shortage. There has been increased water usage across the country for sanitation and gardening, and people using their home water supplies rather than those of their workplaces or holiday accommodation.
The shortages have revealed previously submerged villages in Mardale Valley, an area which was flooded in the 1930s to create what is now the Haweswater reservoir. Some of the ruins of the village are once again visible due to the lower water levels.
The Manchester Arena Bombing Inquiry has continued over the summer, with a number of developments looking at how emergency services responded on the night.
The inquiry has sought to find answers to questions surrounding the events of the Manchester arena bombing, with revelations on emergency services actions on the night.
Since starting over a year ago, the Manchester Arena Bombing Inquiry has attempted to investigate how the events took place on the night and if it could have been prevented, looking at the response of the emergency services most recently. The Inquiry follows on the Kersalke report, a report looking at the response of the emergency services on the night in question.
Assistant fire county officer David Keelan, apologised to the families of the victims saying they had been “let down” by the response time of emergency services. He later went on to describe the response as woeful and unacceptable.
The Inquiry was set up in order to investigate what could have been done to stop the attack before it happened, the arena security, the emergency response and the radicalisation of Salman Abedi.
In the last weeks, three terrorism experts, Ian Dickinson, Scott Wilson and Iain Sirrell have suggested that the Greater Manchester Police failed to work effectively with the rest of emergency response to produce a coordinated response.
Medical supplies could have been distributed more effectively to aid with the injuries of the wounded, medical expert Christian Cooper has said. Some supplies were even left outside of Manchester Victoria station, failing to make it to those in need.
The inquiry will continue with looking at the radicalisation of Salman Abedi, with MI5 staff to be questioned in a part of the inquiry which will not be made available to the public, in the interest of national security. However, on Monday, representatives of the victims’ families have put forward an appeal to have MI5 questioned by these families.
With no specific date for the enquiry to be finished, there is still much to learn about the events that happened on the night and the extent to which they could have been prevented.
To follow the Inquiry in real-time, follow the Manchester Arena Inquiry YouTube channel showing live coverage of each day or visit the site manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk for details on the Inquiry so far.
England has given up its plan for Vaccine Passports as Sajid Javid told the BBC “We shouldn’t be doing things just for the sake of it.” However, you can still be asked to show proof of vaccination or a Covid Pass at every venue’s discretion.
The government describes the Covid Pass as a method of sharing your vaccine records and test results in a secure way. The government website states that these vaccine passes are needed for:
– crowded indoor settings such as nightclubs and music venues
– large unstructured outdoor events such as business events and festivals
– very large structured events such as business events, music and spectator sport events
When this was announced it wasn’t well received by members of the public in the UK. Many felt that the vaccine passports could restrict the rights of people as they may be refused entrance into arenas. This led to an official petition which was called: “Do not roll out Covid Vaccine Passports.”
With the petition gaining 375,209 signatures it demanded a debate in parliament. The government responded to this saying that the passports were for ensuring the safety of the people and that they were to be introduced by the end of September.
However, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid has said that they would no longer be going forth with plans of Vaccine Passes in England. Yet, this announcement was met with backlash by many LibDems and Tory backbenchers, with the nightclubs saying the lack of passports may be chaotic.
This was a month after the government announced that students will not need the Covid Passes in lecture theatres. The department of education had said that it encourages people to get vaccinated, and emphasised the importance of this to ensure that education goes ahead unhindered.
After all this, the NHS still has the link up for getting the pass, and anyone who requires it can get it for both domestic and international use. Some places will still continue to ask for a negative lateral flow test or the pass, to ensure the safety of the people visiting the venue. This includes the University’s own freshers fair, as they have also set guidelines for entering the fair based on the covid status.
Therefore, the actual status of the vaccine passports is still rather ambiguous and vague. While the government says they may review their current stance on the passes if the cases surge, it is still left rather unknown as to what it actually is.
The other devolved nations have set out their own ideas for Covid passports, which may differ from those set out in England.
The Students Union (SU) has announced that they will be offering free drug testing kits for the first semester of this year. The SU’s activities and development officer, Camila Florencia Rusailh, made this announcement on Instagram, with the kits being handed out along with the help of the Students on Sustainable Drug Policy (SSDP).
Manuela Memi, the main coordinator of the SSDP, told Fuse FM that the kits will be available throughout the semester on the first floor of the SU building.
Rusailh’s post mentioned that on the 13th of September the SU’s Executive Team met with the Senior Leadership Team to discuss the University of Manchester’s (UoM) zero tolerance drug policy. She believes the current policy is outdated and patronising, with excessive punishments that stigmatise drugs. As the policy states:
“All illicit drugs are banned across campus, […] ResLife have no a strict zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and the University undertakes random checks using canine detection support services. Students in the past have been caught with these substances and were consequently expelled from halls.”
She said, “Suspensions, evictions, and surveillance are not the answer to a welfare issue, and have had no measurable success in addressing the real issue at hand.”
UoM is also believed to provide a lack of advice and support to the students. Further to this, an article by The Tab has previously mentioned that the university only spends £1000 on awareness, per student in the last year.
As a reaction to the lack of awareness and excessive punishments, the SU and Student for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) have partnered up. Memi told Fuse FM that the SSDP are an organisation “focused on drug education, drug harm reduction and changing the policy to a more sensible policy based less on punishing people who use drug and more supporting and rehabilitation.” Together they would be providing free drug testing kits to students for the first semester. This campaign wishes to reduce the harm of drugs and provide education on rather than stigmatising them, with Rusailh saying:
“Harm reduction does not condone drug taking, it accepts (for better or woser) that legal and illegal drug use is part of our world, and takes steps to minimise its effects, rather than ignore or condemn them like the university’s current zero tolerance policy.”
Camila Florencia Rusailh – Activities and Development officer
An article posted recently by Jess Walmsley on MDMA at Parklife has suggested that drugs currently being sold may have some adulterated and high-potency substances. Memi mentions the dangers of these substances and wants these kits to reduce the harm that such substances could do to students as they could test the legitimacy of the drug that they have been offered. In turn, she believes that the kits would end up increasing awareness and education on drug use.
In 2018, the National Union of Students (NSU) conducted a study, which showed that 2 in 5 students have used drugs. According to the study, students have been given sub-standard education on drugs and substance abuse. Given all this, this is why the SU feels it’s important to spread more awareness on drugs and calls for a change in the University’s policy.
This year’s sports and societies fairs were meant to be the most accessible yet, but instead, students have been left feeling dehumanised as the fair, rearranged with a few hours notice following the Oxford Road flood, abandoned all accessibility measures for disabled students.
Syd King (he/they), Chair of the Disabled Students Society said, “As a wheelchair user and a stallholder, I was actively advised against attending as an inaccessible location can actively harm me, and the organisers wouldn’t communicate with the SU about access measures – presumably because they took none.”
The original societies fair contained “extensive provisions around accessibility for disabled students.” Daz, the SU’s Diversity and Liberation coordinator explained: “The fair [on Thursday], and the postponed fair that will happen sometime [this] week, will have a Quiet Hour between 11am and 12pm, large print maps, and ear defenders, ear plugs and lip-reading badges available on request. Students with hidden disabilities are encouraged to wear their sunflower lanyards as all stallholders have been briefed on the different access symbols and how to accommodate students with various impairments.”
Photo: The Mancunion
They are encouraging students with access concerns to attend the official SU fairs organised on Thursday and this week, not the Armitage event last Wednesday.
Syd, Chair of the Disabled Students’ Society said, “The Disabled Students’ Society has been trying to set up accessible sport events with the AU for a while, and everything today has highlighted why this isn’t working: the AU does not appear to view disabled people as a part of their demographic.”
The AU does not appear to view disabled people as a part of their demographic
– Syd King, Chair of the Disabled Students’ Society
“Ultimately, as a society and a disabled person, I feel completely dehumanised – I actually intended on viewing some sports societies, but they won’t be getting my membership now, as I couldn’t even speak to them.”
Maia Roberts, who was manning the Ultimate Frisbee stand said the lack of accessibility measures “discriminates against a lot of people who come to university. I think it is important to have [them in place] because people will come to uni and be scared of joining a society if it’s not accessible or if there’s no consideration of them.”
The unofficial sports fair at 11.30am was certainly worlds away from the planned quiet hour. Stallholders were doing keepy-uppies whilst waiting, whizzing past students on surfboard shaped skateboards, and blasting loud music to encourage students to come to their stalls.
As a society and a disabled person, I feel completely dehumanised
– Syd King, Chair of the Disabled Students’ Society
Fran Spink, Head of the AU responded to accessibility concerns saying: “we’ve pulled something together as quickly as we can. It is an accessible site, we’ve made sure there’s plenty of room between the stalls and there’s ramps and step free access. The best thing to do is to direct anyone who’s concerned to our fair next week which will have way more infrastructure there with accessibility.”
Photo: The Mancunion
But Andrew Miller, Business Operations Manager of UoM Sport said “obviously we’re not excluding any students, ultimately all students are welcome to this fair, and the fair is fully accessible, disabled accessible.” This goes against the recommendations of the Disabled Students Society and Daz, the SU’s Diversity and Liberation coordinator.
Accessibility goes beyond ramps and wide spaces for wheelchair access. The SU’s accessibility plans were supportive of people with hidden disabilities, who are hard of hearing, or might feel overwhelmed, and could therefore make use of the multiple exit points.
The AU and sports teams did stress the need for the fair to take place this week, with Andrew saying: “The key for us was to try and support our students to make sure that they have the opportunity to promote their activities and get new students involved. And from a sports perspective, timing is actually quite critical because actually, a lot of sports teams will start trials next week; they’ll then start competing in fixtures in October”.
Fran further reiterated that students had been away from sport for so long, and suggested “I think just any way to get students signed up to clubs is a positive, we’ve not been able to do anything in person for absolutely ages so it’s really nice to like get people back and all clubs are really excited to be here.”
When contacted for comment, Fran Spink said:
“As mentioned on the day, our aim was to try and provide a positive response to the flooding and fair cancellation to ensure groups, both sport and non-sport, had some opportunity to promote themselves and giving the student body an opportunity to meet the groups. The whole intention being to be more accessible by having something rather than nothing and certainly not to restrict opportunities for people to join activity groups due to the unfortunate leak on Oxford Road.
“Whilst we tried to accommodate as much of the original plans into this event, such as Covid passports, this was not the same event and certain aspects planned by the SU like the Quiet hour were just not possible due to the time constraints we were under. We therefore did not promote or implement these in this event. However, the priority was always to ensure a safe and compliant event. The fair was accessible and any individuals who came to us with further access concerns on the day were supported on an individual basis.
“Regarding accessible sport more widely, we pride ourselves on providing programmes that are inclusive for everyone at every level. We are always open to discussing new opportunities to get more students active and are not currently aware of any approaches from the Disabled Students Society that have not been responded to and we remain extremely keen to work together with them, and other relevant stakeholders, to provide inclusive avenues in to Sport & Physical Activity.
“In fact, during my short time in post, one of my key aims is to continue to broaden the opportunities for any individuals wanting to get involved in Sport at Manchester, including people with disabilities, and encouraging a welcoming and inclusive environment, I look forward to progressing with this further.“
It’s that time of year again. Herds of young people are filling the streets with their baggy clothes and tote bags. There’s an unmistakable sound of DnB coming from every basement window at 3am. Breadcrumb trails of Swan filters lead you directly to the front steps of Friendship Inn. Yes, it’s a brand new year and the students are back.
All of these endearing traits, combined with the melting pot of different accents and backgrounds, help to create the Fallowfield ‘vibe’ that we know and love. We’ve all been there. You move in wearing skinny jeans and a parka and then two weeks later you’re cutting about in cargo trousers and a North Face puffer.
There is, however, an unfortunate side-effect of the urge to conform to Fallowfield’s edgy non-conformity. Although it is far from a new trend, the middle-class contingent of the student body have a habit or unintentionally, or perhaps knowingly, slipping into ‘playing poor’.
Poverty is often glamorised by the student lifestyle in Fallowfield. In a trend almost as common as Y2K fashion, many middle class students downplay their wealth because the working class lifestyle is seen as an aesthetic choice – rather than an unavoidable reality. They appropriate typically working class traits and fashion trends. Attempting to hide their backgrounds in order to seem just as broke as their less financially lucky peers.
Yet while this ‘poverty aesthetic’ is viewed by some as cool and trendy, choosing to dress or act as though you are down to your last fiver is worlds away from the realities of a working-class life. When I was growing up in Blackpool, those who wore tracksuits, hoodies and big hoop earrings were given the derogatory label of ‘chav’. Now every girl owns a pair of hoops, and you can buy a pair of trackie bottoms for £90 from Urban Outfitters. These trends, for which the working class were once made fun of, are now being imitated and applauded by the wealthy.
There have always been harmful associations of laziness and worthlessness with the working class. But wealthier people don’t have to suffer such damaging stereotypes, when they imitate stereotypically working class behaviour. Hugo from Surrey will call the group of boys wearing tracksuits in Piccadilly Gardens ‘rough’, but then rock up to his sociology seminar in joggers and a hoodie. And Tilly from Chelsea will claim a working class community like Fallowfield is a ‘shithole’, but then go and trash Platt Fields as soon as the temperature goes above 20 degrees.
For some rich students, university is now an expedition to observe and imitate the poor in their natural habitat. Yet, instead of sporting khaki shorts and hunting boots, they wear second-hand clothes with intentionally frayed hems and roll baccy. These people often complain about how skint they are throughout term time. Then will soon return to their huge houses come Christmas and spend New Years in a chalet in Chamonix. They can pick and choose what they like from the working class lifestyle without facing any of the challenges and social barriers that go alongside it.
This phenomenon, also known as the ‘poverty safari’, is one that Pulp pointed out in their 1995 hit ‘Common People’. They tell the story of a posh student who ‘thinks that poor is cool’ and wants to slum it with the regular folk: ‘Rent a flat above a shop, cut your hair and get a job, smoke some fags and play some pool, pretend you never went to school’.
Poverty is fetishised not just in student culture, but in the media and fashion industries – from designer photoshoots in front of council houses, to Puma’s ‘council estate drug-dealing party’. This ‘poverty aesthetic’ has been shoved down the consumer’s throat. It has churned out a generation of young, middle-class people with a taste for class tourism.
If I had a pound for every time a Fallowfield resident has moaned to me about being so incredibly skint, I probably still wouldn’t have as much money as they get from their parents each week. We’re talking about the people who nick crisps from your cupboard and beg you for a rollie. But then gets Daddy to send them a few hundred quid to ‘keep them going’ for the last two weeks of term.
While no one can help what family they were born into or how rich their background is. It’s frustrating to come to university as a working class student and see how oblivious some people are to their own wealth and the advantages they’ve had in life. You don’t have to say you’re from Brixton when you’re actually from Herne Hill. You don’t need to tone down your RP accent and shove working class slang into stories about your gap yah (no whey). There’s no shame in being from a wealthy background as long as you’re aware of your privilege – and maybe if you give me the odd rollie or pay for the Uber from time to time.
