Alastair Campbell opens up about phone hacking, the coalition government and, inevitably, Iraq

Youmeatsix were one of the highest rising bands of 2010, having played the British invasion of the US Warped Tour (which also included Enter Shikari and Bring Me the Horizon); the main stage at Reading and Leeds and finally ended the year supporting the album, Hold Me Down, released in January.

Before listening to this album, my only previous encounter with Iron & Wine was via the overly twee ballad ‘Such Great Heights’, courtesy of the Garden State soundtrack. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall content of Kiss Each Other Clean.

Deerhoof have lingered in the left field of pop idiosyncrasy for more than a decade, loved by critics and existing as a name that is ever-present in the music blogosphere. While their influence is cited by many of the most innovative artists in the alternative world, they have yet to pierce the skin of the mainstream in the way bands such as Grizzly Bear have in the past couple of years. With Deerhoof vs. Evil, their critical adoration will continue, although whether they can gain the level of visibility that has so far eluded them remains to be seen.

A society which deals with male health and social issues made a request not to be placed near a number of left wing and feminist groups during last month’s student fair, it has emerged.The Masculinity Exploration Networking and Support (MENS) society feared they would be disturbed by members of feminist, communist and socialist societies on other stalls if placed too close to them.The MENS society was formed last year amidst extensive debate over their aims and purposes, with some accusing the latent group of sexism.Gareth Morris, the society’s Chair, said, “The MENS society did ask to be allocated a stall away from other societies – to wit Communist Students, the Socialist Workers’ Party, the Riveters and New Student Writing. The reasoning for this was very simple; in the past, certain members from these groups (though by no means all of them) have disapproved of the activities of the MENS society.

The words ‘Canal’ and ‘Manchester’ may nowadays be most associated with a famous street, but 250 years ago they became synonymous with the dawn of a new era in Britain. The world at that time was changing dramatically, as pioneers of new technology invented machines that would bring the fruits of manual labour to the wider world and propel standards of living to levels beyond imagination.Mancunion Photo Editor, Nicholas BojdoThe words ‘Canal’ and ‘Manchester’ may nowadays be most associated with a famous street, but 250 years ago they became synonymous with the dawn of a new era in Britain. The world at that time was changing dramatically, as pioneers of new technology invented machines that would bring the fruits of manual labour to the wider world and propel standards of living to levels beyond imagination. Between 1740 and 1901 the population increased fivefold thanks to improved living conditions, sanitation and healthcare. During that time the urban landscape of Manchester changed considerably, thanks in part to the emergence of a new transport system: the Canal.

Most grime novices will know the name Skepta as being that of the man partly to blame for an embarrassing dance craze, known as the ‘Rolex Sweep,’ (a kind of, ghetto Macarena). But he may also have reached your radar lately in the form of the recent chart tracks ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Rescue Me,’ from his third studio album Doin’ it Again.

Alex Lynham discusses the importance and relevance of the letters page.

This week, Comment Editor Yasna Hawksley, is in conversation with Sarah (S), Emma (E), Abu (A), Greta (G), Andrew (AS), Elly (ES) and Dani (D) discussing LGBT week:

With divorce rates rising and marriage no longer being the the ‘Happy Ever After’ it once was,

Gerald Brent muses on whether or not the closure of public libraries marks a wider trend towards the marketization of education.

Students were handed out exam papers with answers attached to the back during a geology exam last month.Geology students sitting a second-year Geophysical Techniques exam were free to use the answer sheets for around half of the test before invigilators were made aware of the mistake.The exam will now be made void and senior staff members say they are looking for “a solution that is both academically robust and as fair as possible on the students.”

“This latest mutation of ‘trendy teaching’ is hugely detrimental to helping a child recognise and fulfil their true potential and thus to social mobility, which has stagnated over recent decades.”

A man was handed a life sentence after being convicted of raping a student at knifepoint. The rape occurred in a Rusholme halls of residence after the man broke in through an open window.Paul Atta, 41, of Roberts Avenue, Rusholme, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday 12 January 2011. Atta was convicted of two counts of rape, one of assault causing actually bodily harm, two counts of burglary and two counts of fraud by false representation. He will serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole.Atta broke into a Halls of Residence on Lower Park Road in Rusholme in the early hours of Monday 19 July 2010, and entered a 19-year-old woman’s bedroom. He demanded a laptop, and threatened the victim with a knife before raping her twice. Atta then forced the victim to hand over her bankcard and pin number, which he used to withdraw cash from a nearby petrol station later that day.

By Adam Farnell Catering areas in Halls of Residence will no longer serve disposable cups, after a ban from the University of Manchester. Ten FoodinResidence outlets will be affected by the change. A University of Manchester spokesperson described the ban as “just the start if a plan to discourage their use altogether” at the University. […]

By Adam Farnell Dover Street building was temporarily closed after the theft of copper piping containing asbestos. On Thursday 3 February, at approximately 1pm, staff members closed the building to for environmental testing and the presence of asbestos. Copper piping had been cut away and taken from a section of the building on the first […]

The University of Manchester is among the top five universities being targeted.

Valentine’s day is once again looming its ugly head and the pressure for every lonely-heart to find somebody to share a meal with is on.

MTV has been a bastion of music television for years, why does Jonathan Ridge feel that it needs to readdress its priorities?

Was Martin Amis worth the money? As a marketing strategy, yes.