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Salford students quiz Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable in Q&A session
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Sankeys competition
Jayna Patel
This month students at the University of Salford had the opportunity to speak to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy QPM. The special question and answer session was held on campus in the Chapman Building. The Chief Constable answered questions on a range of topics, from the effectiveness of prisons to graduate careers and Greater Manchester’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). He was accompanied by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Martin Hall, and the Divisional Commander for Greater Manchester Police, Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan. The session took place during a break in the “Meet the Constable” event held for Greater Manchester Police staff.
The event attracted students from a range of degrees including Law, Built Environment and Criminology. Budgets, causes of crime and high unemployment rates were among the issues discussed. Students also asked about how different agencies collaborate to prevent crime. Rebecca Lamb, a postgraduate student whose family work within the police, said: “I found it quite a privilege to be able to interact with the Chief Constable, Sir Peter Fahy, as he is an incredibly busy individual and chances to speak to him in a setting such as this are few and far between.” When those in attendance asked Sir Fahy about University of Salford graduate Tony Lloyd, the newly-elected PCC for Greater Manchester – specifically, about how Lloyd’s job would affect his organisation of the local police - he gave direct and honest answers. “The newly-created Commissioners will
replace unelected police authorities, and although they won’t be responsible for daily operations, they will have the authority to set budgets and appoint Chief Constables. “ The national elections for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner were held on 15 November, with low turnouts reported throughout the country. Tony Lloyd, who is a former Labour MP for Manchester Central, was elected for Greater Manchester with 139,437 votes on a turnout of just 13.93%. Poor government publicity, the fact that people were voting for a newly-created post and the winter timing of the poll are among the reasons cited for what was the worst country-wide turnout in history. Student safety was also discussed at the event. Chief Superintendent Mulligan described the efforts that have been made to teach students about crime prevention and highlighted Salford’s achievements in considerably reducing crime over the past
six years. Professor Hall said: “I’d like to thank the Chief Constable and Chief Superintendent for spending so much time with us today when they have so many competing priorities.” “We have a great relationship with Greater Manchester Police and we’ll be taking away many of the suggestions and points made today to reflect and act upon.” Salford student Rebecca Lamb said: “I felt it was good for him to be able to ask us questions and find out our points of view on topics, as well as being able to ask him about aspects of Greater Manchester Police. Having conducted a study on Greater Manchester Police for my undergraduate dissertation at my previous university, I found the whole experience extremely interesting.”
Do you fancy winning a pair of VIP Sankeys tickets this month? Turn to page 4
02 : NEWS
Contents Pages 1-3 News Pages 4, 5 and 6 Features Page 27 Comment Page 28 Arts Page 29 Careers Page 30 Your Union Page 31 Activities Page 32 Sports
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Editorial Amanda Mace Editor
Hello all! Welcome to issue 11 of The Salfordian. If you have any thoughts about this or any other of the other 10 issues this term, do let me know. Is there something you loved, hated, or would like to see more of? Share your views on the newspaper Facebook page: just search ‘Salfordian’. I can hardly believe that this is the last newspaper before Christmas! I’ve really enjoyed looking after this newspaper so far, and I’m definitely looking forward to next term. The Salfordian will return at beginning of February. Have a great winter break and Christmas!
Lowry Outlet mall to host Victorian Christmas Markets Cassandra Ward News editor The Lowry Outlet Mall have struck back at Manchester’s Christmas Markets by introducing their very own ‘Victorian Christmas Markets’. In a statement, Keith Hughes, Centre Manager of the Lowry said: “We are delighted to be introducing such a fantastic addition to our offering this Christmas. We are bringing the spirit of a traditional Victorian Christmas to Salford Quays this winter with our very first Victorian Christmas Market;
something that you can’t find anywhere else in Manchester.” Last year alone, Manchester’s Christmas Markets are said to have brought over £50million to the city’s economy and attracted a massive 1.3million visitors from all over the country. Understandably this level of visitors would normally overshadow the nearby designer outlet mall and although the Lowry will offer many of the same crafts, gifts and artisan goods as their competitors, the Victorian Markets will also offer Dickensian street
performers and entertainment, live music and a traditional carousel. Keith Hughes added: “We feel this unique offering will complement and benefit our strong retail and leisure mix, over the festive period.” However it seems that the Lowry will do little to detract from the enormous economy boost that was seen last year by Manchester as they are planning to offer only 50 stalls and hold the markets from 6 – 9 December, which fails to compete with the 200 stalls of Manchester that run over a six-week period.
Mentoring programme comes to Salford John McKenna
Social enterprise Girls Out Loud has come to Salford to launch its Big Sister mentoring programme for the city, asking local women to get involved. Girls Out Loud aim to raise the aspirations of young girls between the ages of 13-18 and ‘Big Sisters’ are recruited from all walks of life. The University of Salford, in partnership with the Lowry Centre, are assisting with funding the Big Sister 12-month mentoring programme from January 2013. The course will include hour long one-to-one mentoring sessions once a month and a series of group activities, and will look to partner 20 young women support girls aged between 13 –18 for a minimum duration of 12 months. All Big Sisters are trained, monitored and supported throughout by the Girls Out Loud team. Girls Out Loud’s mission is to boost the self-confidence of young girls and empower them to make positive, informed decisions about their future Head Big Sister, Rachel Ward
Lilley said: “Rolling out our work in Salford is crucial to our ongoing work in the community. However, we cannot do it alone and would love to hear from and meet with local women who might be keen to get involved as volunteers in our programme. “Our Big Sisters offer a friendly face and someone our girls can confide in: someone who has been there before and is happy to help. We work with the girls, not to guide them in any particular direction, but rather to listen, to care and to provide positive female role models.” Julie York, Director of Community Development at Harrop Fold School has been identifying girls to take part in the scheme. She said: “Many of our girls have low aspirations despite being extremely talented, caring and interesting individuals. It will be a fantastic opportunity for them to meet, on a regular basis, with women who have become successful in all walks of life.” For further information about the Big Sister programme or to find out about how to get involved, visit www.girlsoutloud.org.uk
Editor: Amanda Mace Email: editor-ussu@salford.ac.uk
Features Editor: Lowri Williams
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News: 03
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Students’ Union hosts student representation conference Amanda Mace Editor University of Salford Students’ Union representatives were given the opportunity to come together and celebrate their achievements at last week’s Student Representation Conference. Over 150 student representatives, school representatives, and postgraduate research representatives attended the annual event, which was held in the Chapman Building. The conference began with a question and answer session with Professor Huw Morris, ProVice-Chancellor (Academic) and Dean of the College of Arts and Social Science at the University. The first topic was ‘placements’. One student suggested that the University could do more to improve access to work experience at MediaCityUK. The Professor then took questions about the libraries across campus. One representative asked if it might be possible to lower the cost of printing, specifically for those who use the facilities frequently. During a discussion of staffing, one student highlighted the importance of celebrating the achievements of lecturers, while another raised concerns about the quality of teaching in some colleges following staff cuts earlier this year. Professor Morris said: “We are committed to making sure that the quality of teaching is good and getting
University holds ethical craft fair
better all the time.” At the beginning of this term, a new online timetabling system caused widespread errors, subsequently delaying class schedules across the University. Professor Morris, who also discussed the Blackboard system and employability, stated that he will be working alongside the Students’ Union sabbatical officers to ensure that similar problems are avoided next semester. The University of Salford Students’ Union President, Christina Kennedy, was then joined by the three sabbatical officers, Tom Doyle (Vice President Science and Technology), Eli Prodromova (Vice President Arts and Social Sciences) and Mishal Saeed (Vice President Health and Social Care) to highlight student representation achievements during the past few months. Finally, the representatives were treated to an appearance by British psychologist, broadcaster, and former NBA basketball player John Amaechi. The guest speaker delighted the audience with his insightful leadership advice and witty, engaging delivery. Getting involved in student representation at the University of Salford Students’ Union is a fantastic way to ensure that important issues are raised. Interested? Email the Student Representation Coordinator Kimberley Neal at studentrepresentation@salford.ac.uk
Cassandra Ward News editor Last week saw the arrival of an Ethical Craft Fair held in the Allerton Concourse on Frederick Road Campus. Amongst some of the stands were champagne glass candles, jewellery made from natural rocks, seeds and wood and hand spun wool made from natural home-made dyes. The event was aimed at promoting ethical fashion, as well as allowing students the opportunity to buy one-off accessories and crafts. Alongside students were also local and international designers. Jude Beckett of ‘The Wonder of Woollies’ set up her spinning wheel at the fair to show just how her natural wool products were made. She also sold handmade wooden toys and gifts made at home by her 86-year-old father, The fair was a great success and in the run up to Christmas, proved a welcome resource amongst students who were looking to grab some Christmas presents.
Former Salford student to hold charity massage therapy event Brian Cruickshank
New hope for Salford markets India Greenhalgh An independent space opened on Sunday for local traders in Salford, following the closure of Salford Precinct Markets On December 2, in a factory space on Cobden Street, Stall City gave traders in the Salford area an opportunity to sell their produce after Salford Estates shut down the weekly markets at Salford Precinct. Miss Emily Jackson, 20, co-founder of Salford Creative Hub, set up Stall City in reaction to the closure of the markets: “We noticed that people haven’t got many places to sell from in Salford. We want to give small businesses and even small artists that platform to sell their work.” The markets at Salford Precinct were shut down in January this year, which left many traders
out of business and with no alternatives, Upon request, Salford Estates refused to provide a statement as to why the markets were closed at this date. “I think not only are the traders upset that they’ve not got a place to sell from anymore, they’re upset that the community don’t have a place where they can go and socialise on a Monday and Thursday,” said Emily. Over 30 independent and local traders appeared at the event. Miss April Allen, 19, owner of April’s Kicks, was there on the day selling a collection of girl’s footwear. She said: “I think Stall City and the hub will eventually open up opportunities again for those people who lost jobs in the closure of the markets.”
Salford Creative Hub want to change the way people shop by giving them a place to buy local produce made by local people, Mr Nick Foden, 23, co-founder of Salford Creative Hub says: “Why should we be buying things from big corporations like Tesco when you can get better or the same products just around the corner from someone local?” If you are a trader or would like more information about any possible future events, email: info@salfordcreativehub.co.uk
Journalism student celebrated at O2 Media Awards
MA Journalism student Natasha Johansson, right
Photograph: O2 UK
Amanda Mace Editor A University of Salford MA Journalism student was one of the runners up at the O2 Media Awards. The annual event aims to highlight journalistic talent throughout the North West. Natasha Johansson, 22, who is originally from Sheffield, said: “Being highly commended as an Emerging Talent in front of 200 top North West journalists was an incredible experience. Natasha Kaplinsky even personally congratulated me for getting to the final, via a video from the ITN newsdesk, which was such a great surprise! Regardless of not winning outright, after the year I’ve had I feel on top of the world.
“So far this year I’ve worked with the Manchester Evening News, BBC One and BBC 5 Live, and this summer I toured the country festival reporting for Kerrang. It’s all been a dream come true, and I owe so much of it to my course tutors, Paul Broster and Caroline Cheetham, who have championed and supported me all the way. Looking at where I am now, deciding to do the MA course here was the best thing I ever did.” The winner of the Emerging Talent award was Henna Saeed from Manchester Metropolitan University. The Liverpool Echo scooped the award for Daily Newspaper of the Year, while Will Metcalfe from the North West Evening Mail won the Young Journalist of the Year award.
A former Salford University student will take on the task of giving 24 massages back to back over 12 hours, with nothing but toilet breaks in between. Graduate Alex Boylan wanted to get involved in some charity and community based work for a while, became aware of the Manchester Children’s Hospital and the work they do, and after investigating it further was really moved by what he saw. The event will take place on December 7 at Alex’s new ReCreation clinic, 2 Barlows Croft, Manchester, M3 5DY, from 8am to 9pm with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the Manchester Children’s Hospital Appeal. Health related talks will also be running at the clinic throughout the day for up to 20 people at a time, at a cost of £10 a head. Again, all proceeds will go to the children’s hospital. Alex qualified as a massage therapist in 2001 and moved into sports massage and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture which he studied here at Salford University before graduating with honours in 2005. Anyone looking to help out as a volunteer on the day or take in one of the health talks can contact Alex by email on info@ massagemanchester.org.uk or alternatively by phone on 07779243499.
Share your views about the University In 2011, The University of Salford introduced a standard referencing system which meant most students are required to use a specific version of Harvard. What do you think about this system? Share your views at: http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/ salford/studref12
04 : Features
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Comedy review: Stewart Lee Adam Hart
Recipe of the week Amy Hughes This week I took full advantage of my new utensil, my handheld blender! You will need: 450g carrots (chopped) 1L vegetable stock 1 tsp coriander vegetable oil 1 onion (chopped)
Instructions: 1) In a saucepan place the oil, onion and carrots and fry until slightly softened 2) Add the coriander, and season with salt and pepper 3) Add in the vegetable stock and bring to boil 4) Once boiled, let it simmer until the carrots are soft 5) Bring off the heat and blend with your hand blender 6) If you have some fresh coriander to hand, place on top and enjoy with some crusty bread.
As I traversed the dark and precipitous winding roads that lead to Peaks-hidden Buxton, I reviewed my expectations for the evening ahead of me and was alarmed to find that I didn’t have any. Quite fittingly too, for who could realistically expect or predict anything from Stewart Lee, re-positioner of boundaries, re-definer of limits, rejecter of clichés. At a time when stand-up comedy seems personified by just so much lazy, stadium-filling, observational kitsch, Lee has gained a belated cult following. His growing popularity each year, and the positive reception of his Comedy Vehicle on BBC2, is really quite encouraging for fans of intelligent comedy and despisers of mock-theweek mediocrity. Anyone unfamiliar with Lee’s work might question why they would find a comic of such revered seniority in the relatively diminutive confines of Buxton Opera House when so many younger, greener and, in so many ways, less successful stand-ups routinely sell-out shows in vast arenas. From the outset, however, it is apparent that the room size is not a constraint (as Lee’s carefully crafted embittered veteran persona might have us believe for comic effect) but something which invaluably enhances the context and possibilities of the performance. There is something inherently funny about
December events preview: Sankeys Johnny Blackburn Originally called Sankeys Soap (since it manufactured, yep, you guessed it, soap!), Sankeys Manchester has gone from strength to strength. After celebrating it’s 18th birthday this summer, the award-winning venue is getting ready to host 11 of the biggest parties this December to celebrate the party season in style. Located on Jersey Street in the Beehive Mill, Sankeys is in the heart of the industrial district and definitely off the beaten track. A large chimney atop the building still reads ‘Sankeys Soap’. Since it is so out of the way, the revellers that come to this place definitely want to be there.
If you decide to go there in December, you’re guaranteed to be in for a treat. The club plays host to some of the biggest names in DJing, such as homegrown Tim Westwood, Italian Davide Squillace and, on New Year’s Eve, the American duo, the Martinez Brothers. Resident DJ, Josef K, 23, says: ‘The club promises to bring a very intimate feel to the shows. From wherever you stand in the club, you can see the DJ.’ Sankeys’ unique blend of dance music, mixed with its obscure location and knack for party-throwing has made it legendary. Having won ‘2010 Best Club In The World’ by DJ Mag’s global readers’, Sankeys has replicated itself onto a sister club in Ibiza, with another planned in New York City.
David Vincent, the driving force of the Sankeys brand, said: ‘This is a dream come true as we open a Sankeys venue in Ibiza. This really is a new beginning for the club, me as an individual and a pivotal time for Sankeys as we take Sankeys to NYC and continue to build on what we have created over in Manchester too.’ Josef added: ‘It’s more or less an exact copy. I’ve played there and the atmosphere is immense. It’s the clubbing capital of the world. We have something to offer everyone, and if someone is coming over to Manchester for a night out, they might think ‘lets go to Sankeys’, so we wanted to get that there in Ibiza.’ For more information about Sankeys and full listings, visit www.sankeys.info
the way the middle-aged University lecturer lookalike in an ill-fitting suit walks nonchalantly onto the stage amid the customary show-business extravagances of loud rock music and billowing smoke that would not be as successfully appropriated within the MEN Arena. Immediately, Lee begins to use the intimate setting to his advantage, admonishing latecomers for ruining his entrance, despairing at the inconsistency of response across the audience, abandoning his microphone in a fit of rage (and, in previous live shows, the stage itself ) while remaining audible and visible to some degree. All of this is geared towards creating an intense performance that makes the audience feel like more than just idle observers, but an actual part of something unique and exciting. In terms of content, by Lee’s standards, the show wasn’t much of a departure from tradition. This isn’t to say it was disappointing – you can’t hold a performer responsible for your own unreasonable expectations, or complete lack thereof – but we saw the revival of many comic devices established in previous shows: division of the audience, mimicry of lazy observational stand-ups, complaints of being repeatedly mistaken for someone else (Terry Christian, the lead singer of UB40, a 90’s Eskimo…). There is even a frank admission of format, when Lee warns presumably baffled newcomers
that they can expect him to “go on about something for too long” during the conclusion of the show. What sets Lee aside from other comics, and assures us that he is in no danger of becoming too predictable, is his ability to reapply such previously successful devices in a way that draws the anticipation of his fans, creating an opportunity for him to further deconstruct these patented comic tools. The “what usually happens” rhetoric established in previous show If You Prefer a Milder Comedian Please Ask for One is taken further, with Lee relying on audience inconsistency to create several opportunities to berate them for their unreliability. A number of apparent false endings stem from what can only be either painstaking preparation for different audience responses or masterful manipulation of audience response. By deliberately creating a show that has “gone wrong”, Lee displays a comic virtuosity that puts the giddy crowd-pleasers frequently seen on the Dave channel to shame. I won’t ruin the show for those of you who are eagerly waiting for the DVD, or frustrate you with second-hand humour. Let me conclude by simply stating that Carpet Remnant World was definitely worth the perilous drive across undulating rural-dom and effortlessly met all of the expectations I didn’t have. I’ll look forward to seeing it again from the even more intimate setting of my living room.
Win a pair of VIP Sankeys tickets! Fancy getting your hands on two tickets for a Sankeys event this December? The lucky winner will get a VIP booth for two and a bottle of champagne at ‘Continue – Ostgut Ton Showcase’ on Saturday 15th December. The event will feature Norman Nodge, Ryan Elliot, Marcel Fengler and Jozef K. For your chance to win, email Amanda Mace at editor-ussu@salford.ac.uk and answer the following question: What anniversary did Sankeys Manchester celebrate this summer? Good luck!
06 : Features
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Photograph: Yuliya Libkina @ www.flickr.com Photpograph: www.lovemaegan.
Erasmus corner Salford student Nathan Thompson is studying in the Netherlands as part of the exchange programme . Each week, he shares his experiences of living abroad. This week, Nathan is stressed!
Lowri Loves... monochrome Lowri Williams Features editor
Nathan Thompson
The nights are cold, the days are short, nerves are frayed, money is tight and the going out feel has got up and gone. Yes, in the words of Eddard Stark, ‘Winter is coming’ or more precisely, winter is here. The Sinterklaas parade has been marched here and the Christmas feel is already in the air. I have been informed through Facebook that already the Coke Cola advert with Father Christmas on the lorry is being broadcast meaning that it is officially ‘Xmas time’ and this also means that we are almost one semester down. Those of you who have been reading about my progress as I try to carry on in a foreign country, far from family and friends, there may be one question on your mind. Missing birthdays, weddings, parties – but making it back for a funeral at least – you may be wondering: has it been worth it? I’m not surprised, I’m still wondering that myself. I arrived here on August 18th, which was over four months ago and so far what have I really got? I work in a place where they
speak Dutch all the time unless they are talking directly to me. I live in a student accommodation that charges me €378 rent per month which is €378 more than I was charge at home. I can’t get the same foods as at home, I miss UK TV and just once I’d like to walk into a shop and read a DVD case in English without having to guess what a film is about from the cover. The work seems harder, the tutors are harsher markers, and the weekly test by my tutors is a weekly chore. I have almost done all my assignments; I have done well in some and less well in others. I have a whole new appreciation for study groups and have hit a new depth of loathing for authors like Fredrick Jameson who intentionally make their articles hard to understand. I’m tired of being introducing myself to people names I don’t understand, can’t pronounce, and will doubtless forget after about four minutes. I never thought I’d say this but bring on the scouse accent, hell, even Brummie would be a welcome relief from the constant German, Irish, and Spanish which seems to override all other voices. I miss my friends, my family, and especially my dog. Taking everything into account though, yes,
so far it has been worth it. Harsh markers are the fairest markers. Making me work harder has had the strange effect of actually making me work harder, meaning I have learned to do more with less time. The names may be hard to pronounce but they all belong to interesting friendly people, each one with an interesting story of their home lives or other places they have studied. Working here has given me a confidence I never thought I could find and excellent work experience for the future. I have learned to stand on my feet. Many people won’t be here long next year. They only chose to do a single semester and a new wave of students will be taking their place. While they are finding the ropes I’ll be the guy handing them out. I think now that I know how things happen here I will be better equipped for next semester. Until next year my fellow students, have a great Christmas, or whichever holiday you celebrate, I will soon be home too but I will be back here when the paper starts again; as the Dutch say ‘dank u voor het lezen.’
Christmas gift guide 2012 Alys Eames
Photograph: Alan Clever @ www.flickr.com
Lets strip back to basics! Black on white, white on black. Minimalistic, yet bold and classy, monochrome is back and looks better than ever. This trend is gorgeous and has my earned my seal of approval indefinitely. Monochrome is a huge trend this autumn, and I have no doubts in the trend continuing on through to the spring / summer collections of 2013. My wardrobe palette at the moment has a lot of black and white, with a few pops of colour and to be honest I think it’s going to stay this way for now. Sheer paneling and pleat detailing is extremely popular with this trend, Stella Mcartney, Diane von Furstenburg, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Moschino to name just a few of the designers taking the monochrome trend by storm this season. Black and white is chic and timeless, the key is to take bright whites, and pair them with luxe jet blacks. One way to wear the monochrome look is to wear a wool crepe pencil skirt paired with a black jersey knit and crisp white blazer, or black bomber jacket. Either piece will look effortlessly chic against the black and white components of your outfit. A minimalist white shirt paired with tight leather trousers is a classic look this season, it’s smart and crisp. Embracing stripes and prints into the monochrome trend can work too so don’t be afraid to incorporate them into your outfits. The monochrome trend portrays sophistication and class and as boring as it may sound, it is a trend that will never tire in the fashion industry. Accessorise your monochrome outfit with bold accessories, silver, and gold watches, rings, necklaces. These statement pieces will stand out against the monochrome. In this trend, opposites most certainly attract.
Yes, it’s that time of year again already! It’s crept up on us and although you may try to put off the present shopping, Christmas is almost here. The festive period is of course one the busiest times of year in the retail industry and UK toy sales over the Christmas period last year totalled around £1,013 million. Since as early as June this year retail giants have been predicting the top presents for Christmas 2012. The ‘wishlist’ function on sites such as Amazon is a great tool in helping predicting what will be popular. The current top wished-for item is the Kindle fire which also appears on the list of predicted bestsellers. The toys list seems to be experiencing a revival of old favourite’s such as Cabbage Patch Kids which turn 30 next year, Furbies that sold 40 million in just their first three years and timeless favourite Lego. The adult gifts on the other hand seem to be dominated by flashy gadgets. So whether you’ve saved up for a special gift for a loved one or you’re wondering what kind of gifts you might receive, let’s take a look at a selection of the predicted top presents for Christmas 2012.
Apple New Ipad 3rd gen - £399.99 Kindle e-reader – From £89 Google Nexus 7 Tablet - £199.99 Kindle Fire – From £129 Krups Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine - £89 Lego Lord of the Rings: The mines of Moria £68.99 Furby - £59.99 Cabbage Patch Kids - £29.99 InnoTab2 Vtech - £84.99 Web Shooting Spiderman - £34.99 Don’t worry if these gifts seem a little pricey, the top wished-for items list provides some more affordable options. Books – Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver £11.99 Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart £9.00 Music – Now That’s What I Call Music! 83 £11.99 Take Me Home by One Direction £10.00 DVDs – Batman: The Dark Knight Rises £9.99 Ted Extended Addition £9.99 Games – Halo 4 £34.99 Call of Duty: Black Ops II £35.00 Beauty – Bomb Cosmetics Bath Gift Set £6.99 Nina Ricci Nina Femme EDT 30ml £22.45 Don’t forget these lists are only predictions; you may want to keep the receipt just in case... Good luck with the Christmas shopping and I hope you get whatever you wished for!
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Comment : 27
Why on God’s Earth do discrimination laws not apply to the church? Hannah Kathryn Around two weeks ago, the Church of England voted on whether or not to allow women to be bishops. Apply this to any other profession and the very idea is preposterous: imagine instead the newspaper headline on Wednesday was ‘the General Medical Council voted not to allow female doctors to become consultants’. Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? The fact that the Church voted against allowing women to become bishops (to give credit where credit is due, the House of Bishops and the House of Clergy voted for, and it was only the House of Laity who voted against), is somewhat irrelevant. It is the fact that such a vote is even allowed to take place that is the issue. The Equality Act 2010 set out a number of exempted professions to which antidiscrimination laws do not apply, and in most cases these are justified: actors, actresses and models are exempted – fair enough, you will normally need to be a man to play a male part in a play, or a woman to model a dress (but not always – see Andrej Pejić). Also, roles where there are ethnic or gender-based sensitivities are justifiably
exempted, for example, victims of rape may want to speak to a female counsellor, and male victims of domestic violence may want a male support worker. However, I see no valid reason why a woman – or a gay man – should not be able to hold a position equal to that of a heterosexual man within the clergy. If a woman is capable of being a vicar, she is capable of being a bishop, and to suggest otherwise is ludicrous. Opposition to women becoming bishops is based purely on sexism. I see no reason for Anglicans to be uncomfortable with having women in positions of power within the Church other than plain and simple prejudice. To allow women to do a job, but not to be promoted to a more senior role, is nothing short of scandalous. Although the Bible preaches tolerance and mutual respect, many Christians who are against the ordination of female bishops back up their arguments with nothing but outdated, misogynistic, men-are-leaderswomen-are-subservient rhetoric. In an online piece for Channel 4, Pete Myers, of campaign group Together 4Ward, says: “Men are called to emulate Christ as head over the church. Women are called to emulate Christ as he submits to his Father.” That fact that several senior Church
leaders have publicly expressed their support for women bishops is heartening. These include the Right Reverend Justin Welby, the next Archbishop of Canterbury, who has been a strong advocate of female bishops, and the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, a recent convert to the cause of women bishops, who said: “I now believe that for the mission of God to the people of England it is right for women to take up their place in this House of Bishops.” However, sadly, many did not hear their voices, and the legislative process will now need to be started again before another vote can take place. It is unlikely that this would happen before 2019. For the Church to be allowed to continue to discriminate against women for at least the best part of another decade is just not right. The exemption to the Equality Act simply should not be there, and the Government must legislate to remove it. To give any organisation carte blanche to exercise misogyny and homophobia at will is completely unjust, and as the Church has proved that it is unable to modernise itself, the time has come for the Government to force its hand.
Putin, The Church and Pussy Riot Alexander Holbrook
An ambivalent relationship has seemingly always existed between Russia and Freedom of Speech. From Serfdom and the Tsars through Stalinist Communism and onward to Yeltsin and Putin, the Russian people and the surrounding territories have endured a few centuries’ worth of oppression and menace from those in power. Vladamir Putin, in particular, is worthy of intense scrutiny. His highly questionable administrations as President of Russia highlighted both a murderous contempt of dissenters and indulgence in
kleptocracy, in the shape of the Ukrainian Pipeline Disputes, the assassination of Anna Politkovskaya by FSB agents and the disastrous Spetnaz assaults on the Dubrovka Theatre and Beslan School. Whilst these atrocities punctuated his first presidential term, his current incumbent presidential term is littered with the hallmarks of a totalitarian despot – protests against his rule (and especially his dubious electoral results) are constantly broken up with ruthless prejudice from the Russian Police and security services. Freedom House, the U.S.-led initiative against Totalitarianism and censorship, has had Russia declared a nonfree, authoritarian state ever since the Beslan bloodbath and
the Federation’s odious attempt at censoring state and private media in the aftermath, not to mention its draconian legislation in dealing with not only the Chechen and Ossetian Rebels, but also the anti-Federal body at large. However, the recent trial and conviction of feminist punk band Pussy Riot is indicative of something far more sinister within Putin’s cult of leadership. As well as being another blatant instance of Putin cracking down on his enemies by vague legislation, this case also has a heavy dose of Theocratic intervention about it. Although the charge was officially ‘Hooliganism motivated by Religious Hatred’, the presiding Judge Marina Sirovaya said that
Pussy Riot’s ‘punk prayer’, which explicitly states ‘Mother of God, Drive Putin Out!’, was aimed at ‘undermining social order’ and ‘offending the orthodox church.’ This statement is as creepy as it is laughable – the protest was aimed at Putin, regardless of the band’s supposedly crude behaviour, and in any case was not worth a two year jail sentence. Furthermore, the frightening part of Sirovaya’s statement lies in her assertion that the Russian Orthodox Church is not only part of Russia’s social order, but also that it holds rank over individuals who dissent. The clear collusion of a corrupt oligarch and the opportunistic state church is scary enough, but it is clear of the kind of superstitious infection
only seen in a banana republic is rife in the Russian Federation. Not that this is anything new in Russia’s long-suffering history with the Authoritarian Dictatorship – Stalin’s upper hand against the Trotskyist faction in Post-Tsar Russia lay within his resurrection of the old gods and silent rule within the Russian Orthodox Church, as it was the only way he could readily have won over the largely uneducated peasantry; a paradox brilliantly embodied within Napoleon and Moses in Orwell’s Animal Farm. In continuing with this ugly legacy, it is now a crime to use any public theatre as a platform for protest and the crime is merely one of causing ‘offence’ – a contemptible recent substitution for what were once ‘blasphemous’ or ‘heretic’ crimes. The Second Chapter, Articles 28 and 29 (Part One) of the Russian Federal Constitution establish religious freedom and expression, as well as freedom of speech and expression as a whole, much in the same manner, wording and delivery as the First Amendment to the US Constitution, if not even more emphatically. If they are so similar, however, why wasn’t Pastor Terry Jones imprisoned for burning the Koran? Why are the KKK and The Westboro Baptist Church still allowed to march? How can the White Aryan Resistance still publish their snotty magazine? The plain fact of the matter is that the Russian Federation is choosing to ignore its own documents on personal freedom in favour of ruling by secrecy. But most terrifyingly of all, it isn’t just Russian Citizens on the other end of the cloak-anddagger politics of Putin. In August of this year, The Private Eye reported the story of an unnamed British grandfather was so moved by the Pussy Riot ruling that he wrote to the
Russian Embassy to voice his disgust with the verdict, further stating that the members’ stoicism and grace under pressure were an inspiration to his Granddaughters. The man received an anonymous e-mail from the culture department of the embassy with two videos attached and the ominous message ‘We see you are interested in the creative activities of the band Pussy Riot. Here are two more of them for you to enjoy (Please do not show them to your granddaughters as it might lead to your inclusion on the sex offenders’ register).” The attached videos were of the performance art collective Vojna with whom Pussy Riot are affiliated; the first showed the members having an orgy in a museum and the second showed a woman going into a supermarket and stuffing a frozen chicken into her vagina. Shocked and appalled, the man asked if this was a response from the ambassador, to which he received another response telling him it was merely ‘cultural awareness’ and not a response from the ambassador. When the Eye challenged the embassy on these actions – surprise, surprise – the embassy offered no comment. Putin is quoted as saying ‘Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.’ Given this recent streak of increasingly erratic and despotic behaviour, a drastic reassessment of his morals may be in order. The immoral and illegal imprisonment of a punk band whom most of the world cared less about before their exercise of free speech is testament to the fact that, every single day, Russia is slipping back into a dark age of suspicion, malevolence, threat and intimidation.
28 : Arts
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Music review: The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin Sally Leibovici Arts editor
Photograph: JScott Penner @ flickr.com
The Flaming Lips have rarely achieved mainstream success in their twentyeight year career, but with the release of “The Soft Bulletin” they have teleported unexpectedly into the collective mind. Virtually all named the 1999-release, the album of the decade, but is it truly so? Is it in fact a superb display of musicianship or is it just another attempt at uniqueness? Wayne Coney has been the driving force of the lineup, a feat that surely shows in the consistency of their music. Much like The Cure, the inspiration and musical direction are dictated by one artist alone. In an era where musical experiments have been done inside and out, where stage presence has left the poetic to join vulgarity, it’s chivalrous of them to try and save the poor souls subject to a culture of mediocrity, but do they succeed? There are many bands that chose bypass techniques in order to achieve that rawness of pure melody, but with The Lips it’s not the case. They are somewhere in between, multiplying their layers in order to express primitive emotion, but it force-feeds the listener spoonfuls of condescension.
Building a pop-like innuendo, “Race For The Prize” is the first track. With layers upon layers of instruments and an upbeat chorus line, this song reminds of something a one-hit wonder would fill his sterile track-list with and not the cosmic experience that is promised. The most enticing song off the album is “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton”. There’s a beautifully crafted tribute to great progressive bands like Yes or even Pink Floyd amidst the signature Lips sound. The song also plays with grave electronic harmonies and subtle drum licks, all the while living in the decor of “Strawberry Fields Forever”. It’s a song that will stick, being utterly beautiful in its childish swoon. “Waiting For A Superman”, “The Gash” and “Sleeping on a Roof ” are tracks that try to surprise by simplicity, but only manage to voice more layers, while the remixes of “Race For A Prize” and “Superman” scream “album fillers” from the top of their lungs. With lyrics that could be filed under “Contemporary Poetry” it’s truly regretful that they didn’t manage to deliver their message. It could have been the album of the decade , but it fails to deliver the experience of a lifetime. Instead it’s only a shadow of the greatness it could have achieved.
Concert review: Buckcherry @ Manchester Academy Sally Leibovici Arts editor
Pouring rain and a bladder that seems to mock your every move don’t make two of the greatest elements to start your night out with. But no matter, we were in for a night of hard rock, sweaty people and Buckcherry. Knowing the gig was going to be held at Manchester Academy we got lost trying to find it as it was actually happening at
Manchester Student’s Union. Two other guys, just as wet and confused as we were, managed to figure it out in the end and we got to our dry haven. The night commenced with a band named The Howling, a snazzy mix of good old hard rock and mainstream vibes. However, the band was forced to play in front of an audience that seemed to be fixed in a kind of rigor mortis hypnosis. With great adrenaline pumping riffs
and attire that reminded of a toned down Misfits the band could have done without the Jim Morisson, or Axl Rose allure. It seemed as though they were trying too hard to be “Rock ‘n’ Roll” in front of a crowd that couldn’t be bothered. The highlights of their set list were a song named “Champion” and their cover of “God Save The Queen”. After a short intermission and a hellish queue at the bar, Kobra sprinted on stage. A
symphonic metal band, with a good looking female vocalist seemed completely out of place. With amazing prospects, they disappointed by their cookie-cutter songs. The problem with their set list was that you couldn’t tell the songs apart. A tepid audience and falsely heavy riffs made their gig unbearable. The boredom just simply set in. The awaited concert of the night started at around 9:15 pm. The members of Buckcherry waltzed on stage like they owned the placeand for an hour and a half they did. As they played their hits, people were going wild in their inertia. Sways and slight head nods were the ways in which this Mancunian audience showed their appreciation. It was sad to see a band that was once in everybody’s CD Players, have to play on the small stage of Manchester Student’s Union. Regardless of the circumstances, Buckcherry did not diminish their energy and played as if their life depended on it. With seemingly no ventilation system, the air in the venue got so thick with sweat vapors you could cut it with a knife. People started swaying a bit more when the members of
the band took their shirts off and surely the women in the audience appreciated that. Even though they must be hitting 40, the guys from Buckcherry rocked the sweaty, tatooed look and when their sexual innuendos hinted at their next song people went wild. Crazy B*tch came on with a bang and everyone in attendance shouted the lyrics. Guys with girlfriends fondled them, guys without girlfriends looked around for someone to fondle and the girls resonated with the song as if it had been written about themselves. The encore comprised of two songs. It seems like these days encores are completely staged, the band always knows they are going to be coming back on stage. The audience knows it even better when the venue doesn’t start playing their generic music after the band has exited the stage. It’s a shame really, but at least bands still appreciate their fans. With a half-ballad, followed by a hard rock song Buckcherry ended their night in Manchester. It was one of those unexpectedly good gigs. It was one of those gigs you go to for lack of a better past time and leave surprised by the good music and time
you’ve had. When it comes down to the venue, the booze was expensive and the sound really wasn’t the best. The instruments were all turned to the max and the voice unfortunately was muffled. There were awkward moments when you just knew that the singers were frustrated by the sound and they kept looking at the sound manager trying to get him to fix it. It didn’t work. The venue could have had signs telling people that the concert was going to be held there. They shouldn’t rely on the detective traits of each individual because on rainy nights, panic and frustration sets in. All in all the organization of the whole gig could have been better, but even so the concert was a home run for the bands. I highly recommend The Howling to everyone who reads this, because they manage to make contemporary rock great again. Also, go see Buckcherry if you ever have the opportunity as it is probably one of the last tours they will ever be having in the UK. And they do deserve it!
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Careers : 29
Stand out from the crowd at Salford!
Dalia Jaffar
Are you trying to find ways to stand apart from your peers in the job market when looking for work placements and graduate jobs? I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about how competitive the job market has been in recent years. Well we think we have part of the answer. The Salford Advantage Student Life Award gives you an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other students by getting involved in experiences that you can talk about with future employers and that give firm evidence of the skills they are looking for. It will also help you to learn how to articulate your experiences and sell yourself to the best of your ability – a skill in itself! But on top of all this, completing the Award shows that you are in a minority of Students at The University of Salford and have gone over and above the requirements of your
course, committing to something extra, dedicating your time and showing that you are motivated to learn new things and get stuck into University Life. Think how much this says about how you would carry out a role within a future company? A lot. The Student Life Award team have close links with graduate employers such as The Cooperative and Enterprise-RentA-Car who endorse the Award. We’ve heard directly from them how the students who succeed in the job market are students who have a multitude of experiences on and off their course that they can reflect on to prove their skill set and passion to learn, and those that know how to articulate this confidently in application and interview procedures. They think that Award students are able to do this. But for them it’s not about getting a certificate and checking a box that says ‘Award Gained = Job’. It’s about making the most of the experiences on
the Award and knowing how they have and can benefit you when looking for future employment and work experience, relating the skills learnt in these experiences to your career. This is the competitive advantage that having the Award gives to students. If you’re already involved in extracurricular activities whilst at University; so things like Volunteering, Students Union activities, Enterprise projects and setting up your own business, Mentoring, projects that have an International or Creative agenda, work experience in your Summer Holidays or on your course, part time work and training courses then you are already half way to achieving the Award; you’re already building points towards the Award, you just need to make sure you are signed up! You will need to do a few additional tasks across a one year period, but these tasks are designed to help you develop, add to your employability skills and to
ensure that you are ready for the job market and the rigorous application procedures that some graduate employers enforce in a competitive time. If you aren’t involved in these activities, then you should be if you want to find the graduate job that’s right for you. We’ll equip you with the knowledge of how to be involved in some great extra-curricular activities available to you both on and off campus. Not only will you build skills, but you might find your niche and have some fun in the process! On the Award you’ll be able to choose a Pathway that suits your career aspirations and helps you to focus in on one type of activity you have been involved in; this will be highlighted on your certificate when you complete, which last year students received from the Vice Chancellor of the University, Martin Hall, at a Ceremony held at MediaCityUK. At the moment our pathways are: Volunteering, Enterprise, International, Mentoring, Work Experience, Creative, and Leadership – year on year they’re growing! Our Leadership Award is for students who are, or want
to be leading a team in any of these areas. Students on this pathway attend a series of Leadership Workshops (which are open to all students at the University) to learn about leadership theories and strategies and how these can be applied in practical settings, so if you aspire to be the next Obama – then this pathway might be for you! You can read more about how the Salford Advantage Student Life Award works and some great student and employer testimonials at www.studentlifeaward.co.uk. If you would like to sign up to the Award, please go to http://www. careers.salford.ac.uk/page/sslaregister and book a Sign Up Session, where we will explain the Award in more detail and give you the opportunity to sign up if you want to. Sign Up sessions are run regularly throughout Semester 1 and 2 and the Award is open to all students at the University – you can sign up at any time. There are two sessions left in December, which for final year students is the last chance to sign up to the Award. We hope to see you in a Sign Up Session soon!
SIS forges links with University of Salford to offer students placement opportunities SIS, who are based at MediaCityUK, are offering four placement opportunities to students from the University of Salford. Three students will have the opportunity to join SIS for a year industrial placement and a fourth student for a three-month summer placement during 2013/14. The placements offer students a potential foothold in the world of media and business. Members of SIS management teams have delivered a series of presentations to students at the university to introduce students to SIS and the career opportunities available in a growth industry. SIS are keen to attract the best candidates from the University of Salford and identity new talent. There is the possibility for permanent jobs after graduation for students who have successfully completed the placements. The one year placements are available at the Infocentre, which manages data for betting shops, with the TV production team, and the finance department and are open to 2nd year students who are looking to embark on an industrial placement year out as part of their course. The summer placement is aimed at Media Technology students who will work alongside SIS’s broadcast engineers. Applications are now open for students to apply, the closing date is Wednesday 12th December2012. Suzanne Hitchman, Employer Liaison Consultant (Student Life – Careers & Employability) will be managing the initial application process for SIS. Full job descriptions can be found at www.myadvantage.salford.ac.uk or you can email Suzanne for more information at futures@salford.ac.uk
You are USSUnique Amanda Mace Editor Did you know that getting involved with your Students’ Union can have an incredibly positive effect on your time at university and improve employability in your future? USSUnique is a great campaign designed to highlight the range of great opportunities the Union has to offer and how they will benefit your student life. At the University of Salford, the union believes every student is unique, and should be recognised as such. Joining a society or sports team is a brilliant way to make the most of your time as a student. Not only will you make lots of new friends and learn new skills,
being an active member of a group means you’ll really stand out to future employers. From boxing to belly dancing, there are far more societies than you think! Do you dream of being a journalist or radio DJ? You could be presenting your own show on Salford’s Shock Radio or writing for these very pages! If you’re passionate about the student issues that really matter, there are exciting opportunities to get elected into the student council or as a NUS conference delegate every year. You will also have the chance to become a student rep, which means you will represent your fellow course-mates should an issue arise. So, what are you waiting for? Now is your chance to prove you are truly unique.
To find out more about careers and opportunities, or to apply for the volunteering or job openings below, visit www.careers.salford.ac.uk
Volunteering opportunity
of the week Organisation: One to one Literacy project Deadline: 31/3/13
of the week
Position: Voluteer Adult Reading Tutor
Location: Salford Part-time, out-of-pocket expenses paid, temporary More details provided on request. Everyone is welcome to apply but people with patience and compassion, who have good literacy skills are ideal. Anyone interested please call Amanda on 07769503149 or 07919661195 Or email angelsandponies@yahoo.co.uk
Job vacancy Organisation : Furnitubes International Ltd Salary: £8/hour + travel expenses Location: Manchester and beyond
Position: Freelance Photographer Part time, immediate start
Furnitubes International specialise in the manufacturing, designing and supplying of street furniture throughout the UK and worldwide. Our product range includes bollards, cycle stands, outdoor seating, cycle shelters, litter bins and more. We are constantly seeking photos of newly installed products for use on our website and brochures, and therefore are looking for photography students or graduates who can take photos on our behalf on a freelance basis in the Manchester area and beyond. Photographers will be fully briefed on the location, product(s) to be photographed and the shots required. Photographs will need to be taken in daylight hours and on days where the weather is satisfactory, otherwise photos can be taken at a time that suits you (weekdays preferred). The photographer will be paid travel expenses and will be paid for their time if the photos are satisfactory.
30 : Your Union
ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
USSU LGBT Society raise awareness for World AIDs day
The Big Ask: win £50 for a five minute chat!
Bryony Pearce Sports and Activities Editor
The Students’ Union is out and about on campus this week speaking to students as part of the Big Ask. Come and have a chat with us and you could win £50 cash, £20 in shopping vouchers or one of five NUS Extra cards, just in time for Christmas! The Students’ Union exists to enhance students’ lives at Salford. Staff and sabbatical officers will be talking about everything we offer to help you have the best time possible at University. We’ll be asking how satisfied you are with the Union and what the organisation can do to make life at Salford better. Every Salford student is automatically a member of the Students’ Union, a charity led by students for the benefit of students. The Union represents the student voice at the University as well as offering over 80 activity groups, advice and support, a bar and café, plus plenty of opportunities
Saturday December 21st marks World AIDs Day, and to get involved with the occasion Salford’s LGBT society set up a stall in the foyer of University House last Thursday, where they offered more information about both the commemorated day and their society. To raise awareness of such a life changing disease, the society handed out leaflets and safe sex packs, along with many other things. As well as this, people were given the opportunity to purchase a red ribbon in order to show their respect for those who have died
or suffered from AIDs. An LGBT Society committee member said: “We’d like to say that even though in the past we have not been able to get more involved in campaigns and charities and things like this, we thought this year we’d make more of an effort to do so. We think World AIDS Day is an extremely important part of the LGBT calendar, but we also believe that reaching out and making it known to everyone is just as significant because HIV and AIDS can also affect non-LGBT people too, and is a universally common virus. “ “We want to be a part of not only helping to eradicate AIDS but eradicate the stigma
Students’ Union launches design competitions Our students are talented, creative and inspirational. Your Students’ Union will be celebrating the creativity of Salford students with our brand new Student Design Competitions. Each month we will run a design competition following a particular theme or format, from photography to memes, posters to short films. Just participating will be a chance to showcase your talents to the world, as we’ll display all entries on our website which has more than 100,000 visitors a year - from Salford, across the UK and far beyond. Winners will receive a £10 Amazon voucher and we’ll celebrate your win on our website, Facebook and Twitter sites where we speak to thousands more students. If you’re into design, this is definitely something to add to your CV! This Month’s Competition Welcome to this month’s competition - Meme of the Month! The competition starts on Thursday 23 November and the winner will be announced on the Monday 10 December. Remember to keep it funny
but clean! We can’t show any offensive designs. All entrants must be current students at the University of Salford. Entrants should send their file in jpeg or psd format to digitalmarketing-ussu@salford. ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 7 December. Entries must be received with your student roll number, email and a mobile number to contact you on. The winning meme will be decided by our Sabbatical Officers. The judges’ decision will be final. The Students’ Union reserves the right to disqualify any entries deemed offensive or contrary to our equality and diversity policy. All entries will be displayed on the Students’ Union website. The winner will receive a £10 Amazon voucher and will be publicized across our website and social media If you do not collect your prize within three days of the winner being announced we will put it towards a competition of the future. We look forward to seeing your memes in the coming weeks! Good luck!
that comes with it and the discrimination many people face just because they have it. We set up the stall in hope that it would increase the awareness of HIV and AIDS and the work the National AIDS Trust does.” As well as hosting their stall, members of LGBT society also joined in on the Candlelight Procession on December 1st, an event organised by Manchester World AIDs Day Partnerships. The walk commenced at 6.30pm from Sackville Gardens, making its way round the village, finishing at the gardens once again, where people placed candles in the memoriam.
Exam stress? We can help Thousands of you will have exams in a couple of months and that means a stack of revision to get through. Everyone gets stressed about exams but it’s important not to let it get out of control. If you feel things are getting that way, come and chat to our friendly advisors in the Students’ Union Advice Centre. The Advice Centre provides thousands of Salford students with friendly, professional advice that works. We’re located in University House, in between The Library and The Sports Centre on the Peel Park campus. Drop in or book an appointment by calling 0161 351 5400 or email: advice-ussu@ salford.ac.uk - That could save you a wait to see an advisor. Remember, if you’re struggling with any aspect of your academic life, the Students’ Union Advice Centre is here to help. You just need to ask!
to meet people, increase your employability and build a life outside of your studies. We are completely independent from the University. Look out for Union representatives across campus in their bright yellow t shirts with our brand new gazebo! Find out more about all the Students’ Union can offer you at: www.salfordstudents.com
Having any problems with your course? Is there any issue that you would like to raise? Find out how to contact your sabbatical officers below
Christina Kennedy President president-ussu@salford.ac.uk 0161 351 5400
Eli Prodromova Vice President Arts and Social Sciences vpcass-ussu@salford.ac.uk 0161 351 5400
Mishal Saeed Vice President Health and Social Care vphsc-ussu@salford.ac.uk 0161 351 5400
Tom Doyle Vice President Science and Technology vpst-ussu@salford.ac.uk 0161 351 5400
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Activity groups at Salford
For more information about Students’ Union activity groups, visit www.salfordstudents.com
Almost Famous to stage ‘Allo ‘Allo! David Hamilton Almost Famous Chairman
Ríain McAuley Shock Radio station manager
It’s been a long eighteen months for Shock Radio, off air for all but 15 minutes of the 2011/12 academic year they’ve landed back on the airwaves with a bang since launching on the 22 October. With a new studio and website the once dreary Adelphi-based station has truly come into its own. Taken off air by a combination of aging equipment and the University IT department, the team behind the station worked tirelessly throughout the year to pinpoint the faults that had brought the station to its knees. Once identified, plans were put in place to give Shock a muchneeded refurbishment, ripping out the old infrastructure and
laying frame work that will provide Shock Radio with solid foundations for years to come. As the project developed plans for the studio space got more and more ambitious. By moving the broadcast equipment into some storage space the team were able to make the most of the existing office, allowing them to expand into podcasting and providing an area that can be utilized by news and production teams as the station grows. Since launch Shock has broken all-previous records for listen figures, with a combined 4000 listeners for the first week’s broadcast, listening across the live stream, Tunein Radio app and MixCloud listen again service. As Station Manager I must
point out that none of this could have been achieved without the hard work of the Activities team at the Students’ Union, the Sabbatical Officers, various friends and housemates that were drafted in over the summer and most importantly the Executive Committee. A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in moving the station forward over the past 18 months. To listen head over to Shockradio.co.uk or search “Shock Radio” in the Tunein mobile app, Once term has ended you can always listen back to our content on Mixcloud.com/ShockRadio. For an idea of what to listen to head over to our website to see what our “Pick of the week” is!
reservations for the show, you can contact the group at almost.famous@hotmail.co.uk, or alternatively call them on 07807207650. Tickets: £7 adults, £5 commission. To find out more about Almost Famous, visit www. salfordstudents.com/ almostfamous
Photograph: Scott Reid
USSU station Shock Radio renovated
Almost Famous is a society built around theatre in every respect. Each semester they put on at least two performances, and this December they are bringing ‘Allo ‘Allo to you! A lot of hard work and dedication goes into making each show as spectacular as the last. From actors and directors to painters, musicians and technical people running the show, they all gel together to give you a performance to remember. This December Almost Famous are staging ‘Allo ‘Allo, based on the classic comedy series by the BBC. Director Matt Fox describes the show: “Set in Occupied France in World War II, the action revolves around café owner René; a sometimes unwilling collaborator with
the French Resistance. He must balance affairs with his waitresses, absurd plans with the Resistance while hiding two British Airmen, all under the watchful eye of the German officers and Gestapo, but mostly his long-suffering wife Edith.” This chaotic comedy is full of double-entendre, ridiculous wordplay, and escalating absurd situations to make you laugh out loud. It will be performed at the Adelphi Studio, which is located at the Adelphi Building on Peru Street. Everyone is welcome and we hope that you enjoy the show! Performances will be held on the 13th, 14th and 15th of December. Evening shows will begin at 7.30pm, and the Matinee on the 15th will commence at 2pm. If you are interested in making
Upcoming event: USSU Wildlife Photography Society exhibtion Bryony Pearce Sports and Activities Editor The University of Salford Students’ Union Wildlife Photography Society is holding an exhibition on Friday 7 December, and you are all welcome to attend! The exhibition will take place at the Horlock Court complex (formerly the book shop) from 3pm onwards. There will be a drinks reception at 7pm. A wide range of photographs taken by society members will be on display. The pictures will show off the members’ greatest shots, from animals and flowers to landscapes. As well as pictures, calendars and Christmas cards will also be available to purchase. Of the profits made from the exhibition, 10% will be given
to wildlife charity RSPB, and the remainder will go straight back into the society to help fund future trips, meetings and events. The exhibition will be open to students, staff, family, friends and the general public, making it a great opportunity for society members to display their most favoured photographs, so don’t miss out on your chance to see what Salford wildlife society has to offer! Outside of the upcoming exhibition, the group runs an action-packed schedule, offering numerous trips throughout the year. They welcome students from all backgrounds who share an interest and appreciation for wildlife. Their meetings and trips provide photographers of all standards with the opportunity to discuss and develop their
skills in wildlife photography and to share their work with others. If you don’t have a camera then do not panic! The group strives to get as many people enjoying wildlife as they possibly can. They encourage everyone to come along to trips and experience some of the outstanding wildlife that our country has to offer. The society’s next trip will be on Thursday December 13, where they will be able to take photos of Atlantic Grey Seals from just meters away, at Donna Nook LWT. Membership for the year is a steal at just £3, for more information you can contact the team through their Facebook page, by searching ‘University of Salford Wildlife Photography Society.’ You can also find out more at http:// w w w. s a l f o rd s t u d e n t s .c o m / photography
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ISSUE 11 / 3 DECEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Men’s basketball: Salford 1st v MMU Cheshire 3rd
Rowing: Race Report: BUCS Indoor Rowing TJ Hollis On Saturday November 24th, it was the first round of the BUCS indoor rowing championships in Sheffield. The Unviersity of Salford Students’ Union Boat Club turned out in force with some medal hopes. The event kicked off with the fresher men’s 1km race. The first heat being won by Salford’s own Si Horner with a time of 3:07.8, that would beat many in the senior squad. Other notable performances were from “Mad” Max Taylor and Callum Lambert. Although Horner led after his race, he was pipped to
Luke Betts On a day where temperatures must have been in their minuses, Salford’s first team prepared to face Chester’s third team in a match which quickly turned in the home sides favour. In the early minutes Salford broke the deadlock with a strike from Paul Flanagan and this lead was shortly doubled by Kris Saric who slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner on the half hour mark. After this the action settled down a little and did for most of
the game, with the ball mainly being stuck in the middle of the park which restricted both teams to a limited amount of chances. David Roach who commanded the midfield nearly stretched Salford’s lead before the break though with a free kick which was coolly dinked into danger, but was deflected wide. The second half began in slow fashion but it was Salford who looked more likely to capitalise with Salford’s winger living up to the number 7 with some flashy cutting runs down the wing. A shot from Kris Saric was well saved by the keeper but he
almost scored on the deflection to nearly double his goal tally. But on the 60 minute mark Chester pulled a goal back with a quick reaction by the striker from a deflected shot, to head his side back into contention. This gave Chester some confidence and they began to create some pressure as the atmosphere began to warm up. With a few rash challenges from both sides, the referee was struggling to keep the game in order, but in the end Salford did just enough to hold their first half lead and walked away from the game with three points in the bag.
Students’ Union sports round-up: semester one Bryony Pearce Sports and Activities Editor As the The Salfordian draws to and end until the new year, we thought it fitting to fill you in on the Students’ Union sports teams progress in their starting campaign of the BUCS league. The men’s indoor cricket 1st team have had a flying start to the season, topping their league table after winning all three of their games, giving them a maximum nine points. Although some of the other teams in the league are yet to play their third game, Salford’s score difference of 85 will keep their head above the rest regardless. The men’s basketball 1st team have also had an inspiring start to the year, currently sitting in second position behind local rivals University of Manchester
1st. With just three points separating the two teams, the lads have it all to play for in their next few games. Women’s football got off to a slow start, placed down in sixth position in their table, with their solitary win of the season coming in the BUCS Cup against Manchester Met 3rd team. The men’s badminton team is also struggling back in sixth position, with the women’s 1st hockey team settled in fourth place, following one win, one draw and two losses. After one win and three losses the netball team currently lie in sixth position with three points, but with two other teams on three points and three teams on six points, a couple of wins could easily bring
the girls back into contention. Onto rugby, the men’s league team got off to a steady start sitting in fourth position as it stands, with three win and three losses, and just four points adrift from table toppers Manchester Metropolitan. The league team on the other hand trail are in eighth position and are yet to win a game this season. With minus three points and a goal difference of -296, they will have an up hill battle from here onwards. Other results come from men’s squash who are in fifth position, the women’s football team who currently remain in sixth position with their one solitary point. On six points the women’s basketball team start their season confidently remaining in third position, while the men’s hockey team top their table having won all of their four games. Men’s football are currently in second position with a game in hand, with the women’s rugby union team fifth.
the medals by 0.3 seconds. Next were the fresher women, also doing a 1km race. There were great performances from Abbey Scanlon, Katie Meyers, Charley Lunt and Sam “Dangerous” Donald, who managed not to flip her ergo. In the following lightweight men’s division, Danny Fawkes and Oscar Rodmell, along with others, pulled hard for the 2km and got deserved times. However, Salford missed out on medals in this division too. The open weight senior men and women were up next, and were expected to pull the fastest times of the day. In the women’s division Harley Pantall and Harriet Cornick were
representing Salford. Pantall pulled a good time, but was overshadowed by the heroic performance put in by Cornick, who managed to defeat a strong Leeds senior woman to take the gold. Harriet’s time of 7:33 is just 18 seconds off the required time to take the water test for the under 23 GB team. In the open weight men there were several personal best’s and one heat win, however York University put in some impressive times to seal the win for themselves. It was a great day all in all, with many players representing, but credit has to go to Harriet Cornick.