19 NOV 2012 /
ISSUE 09 FREE
THIS WEEK Rules & Regulations: Awareness Week
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SALFORD’S ONLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER
University’s Business and IT Placement and Graduate fair a success
Would you like to learn more about academic policy at Salford? Read about the University of Salford Students’ Union’s new campaign on page 3 USSU Better Together Week
Celebrate diversity on campus with the Students’ Union’s culture and faith groups! Find out more on page 3
Analysis
Cassandra Ward News Editor
Last week almost 600 students and graduates attended the University of Salford’s Business and IT Placement and Graduate Fair. The event gave attendees the opportunity to secure placements with some of the country’s top employers. Organisations such as Auto Trader, Hewlett Packard and Enterprise Rent-A-Car were present at the event, which took place in the University sports hall. The government recently published
figures that showed unemployment is at its lowest since last summer. It was reported that there are now 49,000 new workers between the ages of 16 and 25. But figures still show that an estimated 21% of young people are out of work, which means that students and graduates have no time to be complacent when securing their future. The aim of the Business and IT placement and Graduate Fair was to provide opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduate students to speak with representatives from leading companies. Each representative was on hand to
offer advice and an insight into the work placements and graduate programmes that will enable students to secure employment in the future. Owais Patel attended the fair to represent Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The former Finance and Accounting student graduated this year from the University of Salford. He said: “This is a great opportunity for people to get an idea of what sort of jobs are out there and how they can get involved in the different industries.” “We’ve done three fairs so far and we’ve had an incredible response. Next year there
should be around 120 graduate scheme positions and Salford students are now in a prime position to secure them. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for all involved.” Diana Tolockaite, MSC Marketing undergraduate, provided assistance at the event. She said: “Today has gone really well and we’ve had lots of people through the door and some really positive feedback.” “The fair has been mainly focused on undergraduate work placements with less focus on graduate schemes, but it’s been an all-round good day with lots of opportunities for everyone who has attended.”
The Salfordian’s c o m m e n t writers tackle some of the big questions in the world of cycling on page 28
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 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Editorial Amanda Mace Editor
Hello everyone! I hope you’re having a good November and that those dreaded deadlines aren’t driving you absolutely loopy! You can do it, I promise. By the time you read this, the four NUS Conference 2012 Salford Delegates will have been announced. Best of luck to the delegates, and well done to the remaining candidates for putting yourself forward. This Wednesday, 21 November, is #demo2012. The demo will be a fantastic opportunity to stand up for students nationwide and express dissatisfaction with the way the government is currently handling higher education, so I hope everyone who goes down to London has a fantastic time. Have a lovely week!
Investing in Volunteers awarded to USCATs On Tuesday 13 November the University of Salford Community Action Teams (USCATs) hosted a special social event to celebrate another hugely successful year. The event was primarily aimed at saying a huge ‘thank you’ to those USCATs volunteers who have worked extremely hard over the last twelve months and helped the University in achieving the prestigious Investing in Volunteers accreditation. Linda Tompkins, Head of Community and Student Engagement, opened the event by
congratulating all the volunteers. She also presented Heart of Salford Award nominees Jack Muskett and Mishal Saeed with the Investing in Volunteers plaque. Special guest Andrew Duncalf, from Sport Makers, spoke to students about Olympic values and also ran reflection sessions. Everyone who attended enjoyed a Domino’s pizza for tea and everyone enjoyed cake for dessert. Recent projects undertaken by USCATs have included: Providing interpreters to enable local people from ethnic minorities
to access local services, working on a range of conservation projects alongside the Salford Ranger Team and organising clean-ups and nature walks and offering literacy and numeracy support to young people from local high schools Julia Spencer, Community Engagement & Volunteering Officer, said: “We’d love to hear from any members of students and staff who are involved in running or setting up volunteering projects.” If you are interested in volunteering, got to: www.careers. s a l f o r d . a c .u k /p a g e / U S C AT s
University celebrates gaming and animation Jayna Patel Gaming and animation are ever evolving and hugely popular in the twenty first century and they are being celebrated through a series of events at the University of Salford’s own technology hub, MediaCity UK. #ANIGAME is a set of exhibitions presenting the latest experimental animation, research and game design by featuring the work of Salford students, academics and UK filmmakers. Leading the set of events is Animate Projects: Digitalis, which showcases 14 short films by UKbased animators and filmmakers, including commissions by Adam Butcher, Lizzie Hughes, Matilda Tristram, James Lowne, Max Hattler, and Noriko Okaku, in Media City’s Egg Suite. Exploring the use of digital technologies for artistic innovation, Animate Projects is the only arts organisation in the UK committed to supporting experimental animation and has an international standing for the high quality work that it promotes. Artist David Shrigley said: ‘Animate has consistently facilitated cutting edge animation in the UK, making the UK an international focal point
for animated filmmaking.’ At the events’ launch on the 8th November, The University of Salford awarded the first MediaCityUK Digital Animation and Gaming Prize. A board of digital industry professionals, comprising leading film and TV animation company Mackinnon and Saunders and interactive entertainment developer TT Games, spent the previous month judging Salford students’ filmic entries. Winners and runners up were presented with cash prizes and vouchers. There is an exhibition displaying the best competition entries. #ANIGAME also includes the University’s Director of Creative Media Umran Ali’s study into the worlds created by computer and video game designers over the last 30 years. Virtual Environments is a three-part series exploring the expression of landscapes as an art form in video games from the low resolution and pixelated versions in the early 1980s, to today’s detailed virtual gaming environments. Umran said:
“#ANIGAME is designed to showcase the University’s expertise in animation and gaming. Our students are fantastically creative, and at MediaCityUK they can make use of some of the latest technology to fire their imaginations and produce some really amazing and innovative work, while developing the skills and knowledge they’ll need to forge a successful career in the creative media industry.” Admission is free and opening times for screenings are: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 12noon-4pm Saturday, until November 24th. To register go to https://supporters. salford.ac.uk/animate
Editor: Amanda Mace Email: editor-ussu@salford.ac.uk
www.salfordstudents.com
News Editor: Cassandra Ward
Robert Jones The University of Salford has launched the Student Health Hub, which is based in the Sports Centre the Hub and is proving an asset to students. The introduction of the centre follows this month’s successful Healthy Lifestyles expo. Over 400 students attended the expo and with workshops, information stalls, freebies, tasters and prizes, students had plenty to keep them engaged! Highlights included the live cookery workshops ran by ‘Cracking Good Food’, free massages, breakdancing and Tae Bo workshops, as well as the fun-filled challenge zone. Amanda Rigbye, Healthy Lifestyles Manager, said: “We are really pleased with the number of students who took the time out of their day to get involved. We hope those
that attended were helped to think about their health in a variety of ways and discover new ways to keep healthy not onlt whilst here at University but also in the future.” This Hub is a space where students can access information about various aspects of your health and get advice on how to improve your lifestyle. Each day is themed around a different aspect of healthy living. Each Monday the Health Hub offer Stop Smoking Drop in and appointments with an oncampus smoking advisor. Sarah, the advisor can also prescribe nicotine replacements and tailor between the hours of 12 and 5pm. For a oneto-one appointment, call 01612952985 or email studentlifehealthpromotion@ salford.ac.uk.. Tuesdays are sexual health days where students can receive
Features Editor: Lowri Williams
Postal address: Univerity of Salford Students’ Union, University House, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WT
Visit Our Website
Salford ‘Health Hub’ launched
C.Ward4@edu.salford.ac.uk
Comment Editor: Jonathon Norrey
J.Norrey@edu.salford.ac.uk
Arts Editor: Sally Leibovici
sally.leibovici@yahoo.com
advice on contraception, sexually transmitted disease or even pick up some free condoms. They also are able to give out pregnancy tests. The service runs as a drop in session between the hours of 1 and 3pm. Every Wednesday, the hub offers a range of complementary therapies including holistic massages, Reiki, facials and reflexology. Sessions are 30mins and cost £10 each. To book an appointment you can contact the Sports Centre by calling 0161 295 5060. On a Thursday, the Health Hub offer a whole box fruit and veg as part of an ingoing sustainability scheme. From £5 each week, you will receive a box packed full of fruit and vegetables grown by local farmers. To order please go online at: www. biospher icfoundation. com/whole-box.
lowrix@hotmail.co.uk
Sports & Activities Editor: Bryony Pearce B.Pearce@edu.salford.ac.uk Careers: Amanda Mace Advertising : Stefan Redfern stefan.redfern@manchester.ac.uk Tel 0161 275 2930
News: 03
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Students’ Union presents: Rules and Regulations Awareness Week
University presented with sustainability award Jonathan Blackburn
Introducing Rules and Regulations Awareness Week (RARA) the Students’ Union’s campaign on University rules and regulations. Recent changes to some key student-facing regulations have prompted the University of Salford Students’ Union to take to the streets, and help make sure that YOU have the full facts! During the week 19 - 23 November, the Students’ Union will be at different locations across campus talking to as many students as possible and trying to make rules and regulations
awareness less dull than it first sounds! As well as finding out about how the regulation changes will affect you, you will have the opportunity to win one of two Kindle Fires (an early Crimbo present from the Students’ Union!) by taking part in a short quiz. There will also be a variety of other interactive activities to take part in. The Students’ Union will be at the following locations over lunchtimes (11-2 approx): Monday 19 Nov - Adelphi building
Tuesday 20 Nov - Maxwell reception Wednesday 21 Nov Allerton concourse (This is the main launch event and one of the Kindles will be given out on this day, so don’t miss it!) Thursday 22 Nov MediaCity Friday 23 Nov - Students’ Union, University House RARA is brought to you by the Students’ Union Advice Centre, providing independent, friendly, professional advice that works.
The University of Salford’s Environment and Sustainability Team have been presented with a ‘Highly Commended in Promoting Positive Behaviour’ award at the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges’ (EAUC) 8th Green Gown Award ceremony. The win comes after the team ran a project called ‘A New Life for Old Pants’, which encouraged the recycling of old clothes instead of throwing them away. Bec Bennett, Environment and Sustainability Officer at the University, said: “So far, the project has resulted in 2.5 tonnes of textile waste being diverted from landfill, saving the equivalent of more than 33 tonnes of carbon.” The team have also joined forces with Greater Manchester Waste to organise a series of events that focus on recycling unwanted clothes, including a Fashion Fair, a catwalk show and free sewing workshops. The Green Gown ceremony was held at the University of Birmingham and brought the key players of sustainability together from all
over the education sector. Iain Patton, Chief Executive for the EAUC, said: “Sustainability isn’t going away, we can’t let it. Although it remains a challenging and anxious time for universities and colleges, this year’s winning and highly commended entries demonstrate that innovative institutions are taking successful action to minimise their environmental footprints and enhance their social contribution.” Iain commented: “The financial savings gained from many sustainability actions are certainly a much needed and welcomed benefit. It is therefore all the more important the whole sector learns from not only the successes of the Green Gown Awards’ winning and highly commended entries but also from all finalists. We hope some of these great achievements can be replicated by others.”
Students’ Union events: Better Together Week
Celebrate diversity on campus with your Students’ Union’s faith and culture groups. Take the opportunity to have fun trying different activities, learning about other cultures and beliefs and meeting other students. This will be one of the largest student run events on campus. So come along, get involved and show that Salford students are better together. The schedule this week will run as follows: Monday 19 November Set Free Your Prayers 11am-2pm, University House Foyer Hosted by the Islamic Society (ISOC) An opportunity to send a prayer out to the world. Come down to the Students’ Union foyer, write a prayer and then set it free outside with our colourful balloons. Greek Traditional Dancing 6-7.30pm, Allerton Main Hall Hosted by the Greek Traditional Dancers Activity Group
Watch or take part in one of the oldest traditions in the world, Greek folk dancing. As fun and alive today as it was in ancient times. The Students’ Union Greek activity group will be on hand to show you the moves. Tuesday 20 November Belly Dancing 6-7pm, Allerton Main Hall Hosted by Belly Dancing Group Getting involved with the Students’ Union belly dancing group is a fantastic way to make a new circle of friends and really enjoy your time outside of studies. Watch the display and if you fancy, try out some dancing yourself! *Sorry, female only* Hawaiin Party 8pm onwards, Bar Yours, University House. Come down in your best Hawaiin gear and join in with some fun games. There will be a DJ and Cocktails. Have a great time! Wednesday 21 November An Evening of Japanese Culture
6pm onwards, Maxwell Building, Room 922 Hosted by the Japanese Group An evening where you’ll find out loads about the fascinating culture of Japan and meet others with an interest. Japanese freebies too! Thursday 22 November ISOC Meet and Greet 11am-2pm, University House Foyer Hosted by the Islamic Society (ISOC) Interested in Islam or looking to meet others who share your beliefs? Come and meet Salford’s Islamic activity group who will fill you in on their events and plans for this year. Bulgarian Cultural event Boardroom One 2-4pm, University House. Hosted by the Bulgarian Society. Come down and join the Bulgarian group for some cultural activities including traditional dress, music and food. Now you wouldn’t want to miss out on this! Make Your Own Pizza 6-7.30pm, Cafe Yours, University
House. Hosted by the Italian Society Learn how to make the perfect pizza with the experts, our Italian Society! You’ll even get to take your creation home. As well as its amazing food, Italy has a rich, exciting culture and this is a chance to find out more. ISOC Presents ‘Intergration, social cohesion or oppression?’ 6-7:30pm, Chapman Building Hosted by the Islamic Society (ISOC) Speaker: Abdullah Al Andalusi - A comparitive look into how secular liberalism has trated religious minorities and how the Islamic state did the same. Friday 23 November Variety Show 6-10pm, Peel Hall Hosted by the Afro-Caribbean Group Poetry, fashion, African cultural celebrations and more. Don’t miss this highly entertaining variety show - you’re sure to leave with a smile on your face! British Fancy Dress Party 7pm onwards, Bar Yours, University House. Hosted by the Musicians Group and Shock Radio Kate, Wills, the Olympic athletes, The Beatles, Geri Halliwell(!) – join our party in your best British fancy dress. The Students’ Union will lay on some traditional British cuisine and a selection of the finest British beers. For more information about the University of Salford Students’ Union and other upcoming events, visit www.salfordstudents
NUS Conference 2012 Salford Delegate elections Cassandra Ward News editor
This week, the new NUS delegates for next year’s NUS National Conference will be announced. The University of Salford Students’ Union is directly affiliated with the National Union of Students and as such, sends a delegation of elected students to represent the university at the conference each year. The National Conference will be held in April 2013. Last week’s election was an opportunity for Salford students to choose the delegates who will best represent their needs and opinions on a national level. In total, 20 students put themselves forward in the elections, but only four delegate places are available so competition was fierce. The 20 candidates were: Amy Abdul, Hekmatullah Javed, Konstantin Kolev, Janhavi Puranik, Richard Welsh, Rebecca Louise Holroyd, Mark Stephen Horbury, Chidiebere Valentine Ekuma, Emma Ogden, Otilia Marinescu, Tom Doyle, Zoe Swindells, Magdalena Szadkowska, Paulina Peliwo, Wilf Reeve, Ayaz Ali, Muftau Akintoye, Madeleine Larmour and Rebecca Morgan. Each of the four elected students will have the opportunity at the conference to express both their own views and those of their fellow students on matters that affect the Salford student body. They will also have the chance to be involved in debates that will shape NUS policy. Representative students from universities across the country will also be able to cast their vote on the election of the NUS President, Vice Presidents and the NUS executive committee whom direct the work of the union as well as the direction of NUS activities and campaigns. The NUS represents the national voice of students, lobbying the government and universities for changes that impact on the lives of students on a national level. Amongst the issues campaigned for are funding, welfare, student rights and employment issues. With the significant rise in tuition fees, changes in legislation that affects international students and funding for post-grad courses being dropped or reduced, there has never been a more important time for the student body to get their voice heard. Voting opened at 9am on Tuesday 13 November and closed at 4pm on Friday 16 November. To find out more about the conference and discover which students were selected, visit www.salfordstudents.com/elections
04 : Features
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Lowri Williams Features editor Vanity is rapidly taking over the world, one lip pumping gloss at a time. Take a step back; strip the world bare of cosmetics, beauty tools and enhancements and envisage our obsessing world without vanity. Au naturale. The scary truth is, as a society we are obsessed with our appearance and are most definitely in denial. When will this exhausting race for flawlessness and overall completion come to an end? And who exactly is winning? When we watch television, browse the Internet and flick through magazines, we are bombarded with the latest tricks and tips on how to look ‘perfect’. From the air brushing foundation to the teeth whitening toothpaste we are under an enormous amount of pressure to achieve perfection. We absorb this brainwashing information leaving us to assume that beauty is the norm. Once we get an idea or a look into our heads, we will do anything - and I mean anything - to achieve it. Nowadays cosmetic surgery visits are as popular as check ups at the dentist and it is sad to see so many women changing their appearances so drastically. The increasing demand for cosmetic surgery has risen 17% in the past two years and in 2009 Britons took out loans worth nearly £5m to pay for operations. Statistics show that Britons spend about £2.3bn a year on cosmetic treatments, including Botox, chemical peels and
laser treatments that smooth out wrinkles. What is the world coming to? Some shocking studies show that attractive children are more popular; both with classmates and teachers, teachers will give higher evaluations to the work of attractive children and have higher expectations of them. No wonder kids are wearing make-up at the age of 10 nowadays. We are all brainwashed into thinking being beautiful is key. Where has our intelligence gone? Every period of history had its own definition of beauty. In the 19th century corsets enabled a woman to have the silhouette of an hourglass. Curves were the aim, and having big boobs, a big bum and great thighs defined a woman’s beauty. Whether or not the corsets were breaking ribs and preventing a woman from breathing, this was beauty… no pain no gain. This ‘uplifting’
Photograph: madelineyoki @ www.flickr.com / Vanity Fair
Paying the price for perfection
saying has stuck through to the 21st century, as pain most definitely means gain in the beauty industry nowadays. Models take to the catwalks
The weekly round-up
Carl Spurling Last week Newsnight were forced to apologise after broadcasting unfounded allegations and false information. Given Newsnight’s current record I wouldn’t be surprised if they had to apologise again next week as they ‘inaccurately claimed we
were sorry…we were not actually sorry and regret broadcasting this false information’. DISCLAIMER: I would like to make it clear that I am not actually stating that Newsnight will retract their apology for being inaccurate, this is simply humour based on the lack of trust surrounding recent issues with claims broadcast on the show.
Lowri Williams examines society’s worrying obsession with beauty
with diminishingly tiny frames parading down runways in towering toe breaking heels. And in the modeling world, the thinner you are, the better. How
is it through the years we can go from one extreme to the other concerning figures? History allows us to see the definition of beauty at two entirely different
ends of the spectrum. What will define beauty in years to come still remains a mystery.
Carl casts a caustic eye over current affairs
Eddie Mair ends Newsnight by saying, “That’s all we have for tonight. Newsnight will be back on Monday. Probably.” DISCLAIMER: On the behalf of Eddie Mair I would like the state that the previous quote was sarcasm and not actual doubt over Newsnight returning on Monday. Philip Schofield joined in the
unfounded allegations with ‘list gate’. Something which existed unconfirmed as rumours in a fairly obscure corner of the internet until he paraded the list around breakfast television allowing everyone to seek out and gossip about these accused names…which was nice of him. DISCLAIMER: I do not actually believe this was nice of Philip
Schofield, actually I strongly believe that it was not nice of him. ‘Which was nice of him’ is purely sarcasm. Jermaine Jackson has changed his name to distances himself from the ‘Jacksons’. He has changed his surname to ‘Jacksun’…which has really distanced himself and not at all got himself in the papers
reminding everyone he is a Jackson despite is identically pronounced new surname! DISCLAIMER: Again, sarcasm . Justin Welby has been named the new Archbishop of Canterbury an instantly praised for being forward thinking due to his acceptance of homosexuality. Says a lot about the Church of England that acceptance of homosexuality is considered forward thinking. Next they will be saying he is a radical, new age modern Bishop as he believes men and women are equal and that racism is bad. DISCLAIMER: Sarcasm. Obama will continue as the US president after beating Herr Romney in the presidential election. This is a massive shame as Romney had planned, instead of a speech, to approach the podium with the first two buttons of his shirt open and sing a heartfelt, twelve minute version of ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ complete with a slow dance routine and metallic gold microphone. Then he planned to simply drop the microphone, fall to the floor, vomit, then run off stage without having said anything. DISCLAIMER: I wish to state that the above is actually true and not sarcasm or humour.
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Features : 05
Recipe of the week Amy Hughes Who said students can’t eat well? This posh version of bangers and mash will have you on Come Dine With Me in no time.
Instructions: 1) In a saucepan, season and boil the potatoes (keep an eye on them so they don’t over cook) 2) In a hot, oiled frying pan, fry sausages until brown on both sides 3) Slice the red onion and add to the frying pan with the sausages
Photograph: FaceMePLS @Flickr.com
You will need: 1 Packet of good quality sausages (no Richmond) 1 small bottle of red wine Half a red onion Gravy granules Salt and Pepper
Thyme Rosemary Potatoes Garlic mayonnaise Butter Milk
4) After the onions appear softer, add half the bottle of red wine and reduce. 5) In a mug, mix some gravy granules with hot water and add to the pan. 6) Season the sausages and gravy with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. 7) Once the potatoes are cooked, strain and put into a bowl with some butter, garlic mayo and a dash of milk. 8) With an electric mixer, whip the mash mix together for a light and fluffy mash. 9) Place the mash on your plate and smother it with the sausages and red wine gravy. (There will be excess oil, so drain before you put on the mash)
National Novel Writing Month Nina Campbell Have you ever wanted to write a book? People tend to be astonished when I tell them that I have. They tell me that they wish they could write a novel, and whenever I ask what’s stopping them it’s usually because ‘they don’t have the patience’. Or ‘they never got round to it’. Or ‘they never had the motivation to finish it’. You get the idea. What if I told you that it’s possible to write a book-length novel within one month? A lot of you may know November as ‘Movember’ or ‘No-Shave-November’, during which some of your friends may start sprouting questionable moustaches, but I’m writing to tell you about a different type of November: NaNoWriMo. This is a delightful acronym for ‘National Novel Writing Month’, and it runs from the 1st of November right up to the 30th. The idea behind it is simple: write a novel. This may seem like an almost impossible feat – trust me, when
I first heard about it in 2008 I thought my friend was joking around or must have received a severe blow to the head – but the aim is to write 1,667 words a day. If you do this, by the end of the month your fledgling novel will have transformed into an impressive monster of 50,000 words (50,010 if you want to be exact). That’s around the same length as a 200 page book impressive, right? …And that’s pretty much the gist of it. Simple. NaNoWriMo awards everyone who reaches 50,000 words before midnight on the 30th of November with a shiny, gold ‘you’re a winner!’ trophy on their profile. For some reason the first thing that people tend to ask me is “do I win a prize?” To be blunt: no (unless you count a cool online badge as a ‘prize’). This question always disappoints me because I feel that those people are missing the point of the challenge. NaNaWriMo exists only to give you motivation to write – not materialistic reward. No one’s going to force you to do it; it should be something you want
to do. NaNoWriMo draws writers together from all over the world for thirty days of ‘literary abandon’ (in other words: frenzied writing and group panic attacks). It’s organised by the ‘Office of Letters and Light’, a nonprofit charity whose goals are to spread creativity to children and adults across the globe. The first NaNoWriMo occurred in 1999 and a whopping 21 people took part. Last year there were over 256,000 participants –36,843 actually ‘won’, which is a success rate of just under 15%. The people of NaNo exist not only as personal cheerleaders who share your pain, but they’re also invaluable sources of information; the forums are a great place to make a beeline for in times of need. Not sure what to name your character (or world or town)? Unable to make the physics behind your villain’s floating lair believable? Can’t figure out how your zombie apocalypse should begin? Discovered a plot hole in your story that’s big enough to reduce a bus to scrap metal? Head on over to the forums and you’ll
Do you love to write but find it difficult to imagine yourself writing an entire book? NaNoWriMo is the idea project for you, says Nina Campbell
find lots of lovely people willing to lend a helping hand. Even if you have absolutely no idea where to begin, there’s this great section of the forums called the ‘adoption society’. There you’ll find a plethora of characters, plots, catchphrases, spaceship names, murder ideas, opening sentences.. (the list is truly endless) suggested by fellow writers for other writers to use. Some of the ideas are hilarious and will truly make you laugh out loud; others might make you think a little deeper; some will give you the kick needed and will truly inspire you to start writing. Let’s also dismiss the myth that most writers are shut-ins. Sure, it might be nicer in your bedroom where there’s no rain or pesky social interactions (we’ll be laughing at you when the zombie apocalypse occurs), but for those of you who are less socially inept and are looking to chat with fellow writers or bounce new ideas off friends, you’re in luck. There’s an area on the NaNoWriMo website which allows you to join a home
region. Through there you will be able to chat (and complain) with other people from the same area as you. The Manchester WriMo group has a weekly writein event planned (mornings on Tuesdays and evenings on Fridays) and social events on Saturdays. There’s also the much anticipated ‘Thank God It’s Over’ party to look forward to at the end of the month. For more details, you’ll have to search for the ‘Manchester WriMo’ Facebook group or join the Manchester region on the NaNoWriMo website. There isn’t much more I can tell you. NaNoWriMo will by no means be easy. It will demand your time and tears and blood and sweat (and will possibly wear your fingers down to little stubs). You need to accept the fact that the biggest hurdle is yourself and that the hardest part is to actually start. Once you’ve started the ball rolling you’ll find that the words flow and the pages fly by. That first page will be the worst. The second will only feel minimally better. By the 50th page you may
be starting to feel hopeful. The 200th will feel fantastic. By the end of the month you’ll never fear 500 word essays again. Or 1000 word essays. Or 50,000 word essays (okay, so maybe that last one – just a little bit). You may forever develop an irrevocable fear of the number 1,667 but I will say this: at the end of the month you will have written a book. I’ll repeat that: you will have written a book and you’ll be able to tell people ‘hey, I’ve written a book’. You’ll have accomplished something that countless others couldn’t; something that you’ll be able to keep for the rest of your life and one day you may even see it printed and on the shelf of your favourite bookstore. Having completed NaNoWriMo four times, I can guarantee that it is one of the most stressful, ‘I-want-to-tear-my-hair-out’ ordeals I have ever subjected myself to on a yearly basis. I can also promise you that it’s the most rewarding.
06 : Features
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Lowri Loves...bags Every week, The Salfordian’s features editor shares her fashion tips.
Photograph: www.lovemaegan.com
Lowri Williams Features editor Bags are huge this season, and I mean that in the literal sense. This trend fulfills needs for both style AND functionality in one item. Perfect. As for bags, the bigger the better this winter. Mary Poppins bag- you can store your life in your bag and still look effortlessly chic. The Autumn / Winter runways were abound with large bags; models carted large bags up and down the runway. Tassels, buckles, charms, gems and so on are long gone. Simplicity is key for this trend. Stream lined designs are proving to be the most popular. In terms of fabrics, leather seems to be the most popular, in both black and tan. Suede is also proving to be a popular fabric for the doctors bag as well as ponkyskin. This is a fabric that is cropping up on many items this season. Block colours work great with large bags, take the Marc Jacobs collection for example, working old school leather gym
bags with bold block colours. Rucksacks are proving to be a very popular trend this season also. As well as being greatly practical, they also carry a cool air about them, following on fantastically with the athleticism trend. I have a black leather backpack from Topshop, which is used, on a daily basis, over a slouchy boy fit oversized coat. Topshop and American Apparel are probably the best places to go if you are looking for one of your own. I have my eye on denim rucksack with white piping from American Apparel that I may have to get my hands on pretty soon. Bags seem to be a huge focus this season, used as a statement piece you could be working a bin bag and still look strangely fabulous with a large leather streamlined bag on your arm. Follow my blog at www.lowriwyn. blogspot.co.uk or follow me on twitter @ LowriWyn_1 You can also read the next ‘Lowri Loves’ in the next issue of The Salfordian, which is out on Monday 26 November.
Erasmus corner Salford student Nathan Thompson is studying in the Netherlands as part of the exchange programme and writes for The Salfordian each week Not long after meeting my roommate, I formulated a plan. It wasn’t exactly a complex plan but it was a plan that I resigned myself to. The plan was thus, after the first semester; ask for a single room. That was it, majestic in its simplicity. However, in the words of Robert Burns ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley’ (gang aft agley = often go wrong) my plan has been forced to change. Why? I may hear you ask. We are so close to the end of the first semester anyway. That is true, however, you would first have to meet my roommate and know his habits and understand his little regard for others. Perhaps that is unfair; it might be fairer to say he has regard for it, but not enough to actually change anything. He isn’t really a bad guy. He’s young, or at least a lot younger than me, and cocky, and this sometimes comes across as arrogance. Not only that but he
The lasr time Marta was in Portugal!
Portuguese student Marta Ribeiro, who is studying at the University of Salford this year, shares her experiences They tell us that university is one of the most important parts of our lives, when many decisions have to be made. I chose Design as my path and the city of Aveiro as my second home, and that’s when I started to realize that what they said was true. I have always had many dreams and ambitions and I had finally reached the age when they began to come true. Studying in England was one of those dreams. In my second year I decided to sign up for Erasmus and seeing my name on the list of accepted students was incredible. There’s a lot that goes through your head and a mixture of
feelings: excitement, joy, pride and fear. It’s something new that changes us; a new place, new experiences and new people. All that adds up to an experience that is exciting and scary at the same time. I don’t remember much about the phone calls I made to break the news, but I recall that my father’s voice didn’t seem very strong - unlike usual. And when the voice of those important people become weaker, you feel a little weak as well. Thinking about a life in which your people are not there is complicated and saying goodbye is even more complicated. The secret is to close your eyes and
breathe deeply, because when you breathe the air of your new world you become inspired and courageous. You feel like you own this fantastic and unique adventure. I will never forget the first coffee I had in a small café near Adelphi and the way I felt. It seemed like it was a different flavour, not because of the coffee itself, but because of the way I savored it as I looked around and got lost in the smallest detail. I wanted to take it all in, as if I had an insatiable thirst because I finally arrived where I wanted to be. In that moment it clicked for me: You did it: you are an Erasmus student.
doesn’t seem to grasp roommate etiquette. When I realised that I was soon to have a roommate, I went to a shop, bought a small pair of headphones and thought, right, now I will be able to listen to my music without disturbing him. He went out and bought two speakers and a subwoofer. I have always maintained a hands-off policy when it comes to drugs. When I walk in the room, I am fed up with the smell which permeates the room. The decision to move up my plans was brought to a head a week or so ago when, after having had a long day in university, and not doing as well in assignment as I thought I had, I came to the room which should be my sanctum to find him and a group of a dozen people smoking with music blasting. I had had enough; I could have, and indeed did, ask them all to leave, which they did, with my roommate giving a couple of grumbles about it being his
room too. I then sat down and typed my email asking for a room change – or a Bedhop as the procedure is called – and thankfully, within minutes, I received a reply granting just that request. Hopefully within a week I will have my own room, my own little sanctuary from the world where, if things become too much, I can escape to. A place I can be comfortable. You might ask what took me so long. Simply put, the reason was price. Merely to do the move from one room in the building to another, it has cost me €75. Just for the pleasure of moving. Also, my rent has increased. I now pay €95 a month more which is, needless to say, a significant increase. Still, I felt my study was suffering and what the point of being here if my grades are bad. I would rather pay more and do well, than waste less and do awful. This is just one of those unhappy costs. I just hope it’s worth it. Watch this space.
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Arts : 27
Steve Thorley - one of the last “old schoolers” of this new generation Sally Leibovici Arts editor
A few days ago I met up with what I believe to be the next great Mancunian photographer. In a crowded coffee shop down in the city centre we met to discuss his work and where he plans to go. Steve Thorley, a recent graduate, showed up with an immense folder - his portfolio. Back at university his work wasn’t appreciated in its totality by his lecturers as his style went far beyond contemporary work, a style he isn’t too fond of. “I can spend one entire week working on a single photograph and I’ll be happy” he says. Not working with digital cameras, Steve spends a lot of his time in dark rooms which are harder to come by these days. Most of his work is created as a concept.
“I don’t like waiting for something to happen with my camera in my hand” he says when asked about street photography that seems to be the trend these days. With his series of photo’s entitled “Life of a Boxkind” he brought his work down to the street in order to see how people would interact with it. He comments on that particular work as being more “public performance art” rather than photography. Steve’s main channel of expression is through collages. He states that that is what he wants to be most known for. He believes that traditional photography is unique and that there is also a lot more to do with it. “Instagram is a way in which people can mimic vintage photography. Why don’t they pick up a camera and go develop it in a dark room” he says. He also states that with traditional photography one can never get an exact sense of the
finished product. He doesn’t like using generic editing softwares to make his work look better because he thinks it doesn’t look real. He isn’t too keen on working with models either as he believes that what he wants to express in a photo can be expressed way better by himself. “I use myself, because I know what I want for my photos.” he says when asked about the lack of models in his work. The North is where he would like to continue to work as most people go down to London- which is an oversaturated city. He wants people to know what he can do and prove that he knows what he is doing even in a city where there may not be as many opportunities for artists. Steve wants to make a name for himself in Manchester before moving anywhere else.
Nina Nesbitt @ Academy 3, Manchester Laura Moya
Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt has come a long way since her days of uploading videos on YouTube. Now in the middle of her UK tour, it’s hard to believe she is only 18 and already has a loyal fan base. Academy 3 is a quaint little venue and although bland inside (think plain black walls) it is small and cushy enough to play host to Nina for the evening. Looking around at the audience it was clear that Nina’s music mainly appeals to young teenage girls. They made up the majority of the crowd and stood eagerly at the railings opposite the stage waiting for her to make an appearance. Following the support of Josh Kumra, Billy Lockett and Ethan Basdenn, Nina graced the stage, tentatively greeted the crowd with a brief ‘Hello’ and plunged straight into song with
Film review: The Campaign Sally Leibovici Arts editor
Will Ferrell should never be anyone’s favourite actor, especially now after the latest idiocy bonanza has come out“The Campaign” is a mindless, mind-numbingly idiotic piece of “cinematic” experience. It’s not cinematic, it’s a hybrid between “Scary Movie” (the later, far more moronic examples) and “Anchorman” (let’s just not even go there). I’ve recently heard someone use the expression “you can find his IQ on a die”. Those eight words are sufficient to explain what type of audiences this film caters for. Will Ferrell plays the role of Cam Brady, a congressman who likes nothing more than pounding sweet pieces of tushy and Zach Galifiniakis (I hope I spelled that right!) is the generic american hick who challenges
Brady with only a few weeks to election. The audience is then sadistically walked through cheap jokes and disgusting scenes. The low that Ferrell’s character reaches is unimaginable. And while it is obviously a parody of contemporary american election races, I for one would not like to see it downplayed to the level that this film dwells in. Yes, everyone can marvel at the lows that real life campaigners achieve, but somehow this movie just reaches disgusting lengths. While I’ve always vowed not to insert spoilers in my reviews I’d like to just name a few scenes, so I can convert anyone who would like to watch it. I’d like to pride myself in being the savior of IQs this time. At one point Cam Brady goes as far as to sleep with Marty Huggins’ (Galifiniakis) obese wife- films it on his iPhone, and then makes
it into a campaign video that is then broadcast nationally. The scenes in this movie just make your skin crawl. With a Galifiniakis (who doesn’t even come close to bordering on attractive) that is constantly dressed in those cheesy “winsconsin-esque” sweaters and Cam Brady that can’t help but get a stiffy from eyeing his hair in a mirror- it really makes your cringe. The movie could have been a great pamphlet, a great parody about what US elections have come to, and with the presidential elections the timing could have been just right. Whoever you are, please remember that you paid a lot of money to go to university and become a cultured young person- DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. If the tape from “The Ring” were real, it would feature scenes from this movie.
‘Noserings and Shoestrings’, an upbeat melody closely followed by ‘Glue’, an equally catchy song from her ‘Live Take’ EP that left the audience dancing along. Nina appeared to be timid in character and extremely humble considering her success to date (touring with Ed Sheeran and Example, anyone?) but her combination of powerful vocals, quirky guitar riffs and sincere piano melodies let her ability shine through and well and truly captivated the audience, especially in ‘Hold You’- a song she wrote when a friend became ill - during which the room fell silent and you could only hear the occasional tinker of noise from the bar at the back as she sang. Despite her shy personality, throughout her set she made every effort to create a sense of camaraderie with the crowd, even joking that she had “decided to make the stage a bit like a living room” and proceeded to invite people up
to sit on her bean bag before she continued with a cover of Kodaline’s ‘All I Want’, a slower song gracefully performed that showcased her vocal talent. Closing the show after only an hour with her most well known song, ‘Apple Tree’, Nina informed the audience that she would be hanging round the merchandise stand afterwards to do signings and chat to fans – apparently a regular feature of her shows. It rang clear from this gig that Nina goes out of her way to show appreciation for her followers, which is a refreshing approach to have as a musician and left me in good spirits on the walk home (despite the grim Mancunian weather!). Nina’s songs already show a high level of maturity and depth, which can only mean that her fans are in for a treat with the release of her upcoming album in early 2013.
28 : Comment
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
The big questions: cycling
News of Lance Armstrong’s doping doesn’t come as a surprise to those of us who have followed cycling prior to the rise of Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins as British Cycling’s newest heroes. It does, however, highlight the complete and utter failure of the UCI to properly police the sport. As professional cycling tries to put one of the biggest scandals in an alreadytarnished history behind it, a larger problem looms. How can Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid, the two men who it appears wilfully ignored what has been described as “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme” sport has ever seen, be trusted to clean up the mess they are at least partially responsible for? When announcing that the UCI would back Usada’s decision to strip Armstrong of his record-breaking seven Tour De France titles, McQuaid stated unequivocally that Lance Armstrong needs to be forgotten for cycling to move forward. He could not be more wrong. With all of the negative press and hand-wringing surrounding cycling after the USADA report broke, burying their heads in the sand and hoping for the scandal to blow over must seem like a tempting prospect. But without acknowledging, understanding and learning from the mistakes of the past, it seems that cycling is doomed to repeat them. One of the main issues faced by the UCI is that it is responsible for simultaneously promoting
and policing the sport. This is an obvious conflict of interest. Setting up an independent body that deals solely with tackling the use of PEDs within the sport should be the first step the UCI takes. Working closely with those who have admitted drug use in the past and are now committed to cleaning up cycling must be the next. A number of ex-dopers within the sport have spoken eloquently about the pressures placed on them and how to them, the choice to use performance-enhancing drugs wasn’t really a choice at all. Is it any wonder that, when placed in a situation where they have to choose between compromising to carry on with your dream career or packing up and abandoning it all, so many chose the former? I don’t believe at all that this should be taken as an acceptable reason to cheat but it is at the very least an understandable one, especially when you consider just how thoroughly ingrained into the professional cycling culture the use of EPO, testosterone and blood transfusions were at the time. Jonathan Vaughters, an exdoper and current manager of the Garmin-Sharp team, has called for the UCI to work closely with the World AntiDoping Agency and help set up an independent body that can audit all anti-doping procedures within the sport. Vaughters also strongly believes that the whole Armstrong saga should be used as a catalyst for change within the sport. Encouraging openness and honesty from
those still involved in the sport that have a history of using PEDs is clearly the best way to learn and move forward. The key to making sure that the sport doesn’t face another crisis of the same magnitude further down the line is to understand the factors that contributed to such a large percentage of the pro peleton using PEDs and then working tirelessly to limit these factors in the future. For this to happen successfully, those who do come forward and want to contribute to cycling’s must not be demonised. People such as David Millar, Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis have and should continue to show contrition for their actions. Any first-hand knowledge and understanding of doping in cycling is vital in preventing it in the future. For this to happen though, all ties need to be severed with Pat McQuaid. Although the actions of any ex-doper must be scrutinised, McQuaid went as far to describe Hamilton as a ‘scumbag’ for denying that he used PEDs for years until finally admitting the truth as part of a federal criminal investigation into Lance Armstrong’s actions. There is no place in the future of cycling for people who are clearly unwilling to shift their position and adopt a more understanding and preventative approach to the use of performance enhancing drugs. And if at some point in the future, Lance Armstrong admits his discretions and genuinely wants to contribute to rebuilding the sport’s reputation, he should be forgiven.
Photograph: AngusKingston@Flickr.com
Adam Hart
Photograph: ludovic @Flickr.com
Is anyone really shocked that Lance Armstrong has been involved in drug cheating?
Is Manchester’s bike park enough to encourage cycling? Jenni Hill A brand new ‘bike park’ has recently been built in the centre of Manchester. Situated beneath City Tower in Piccadilly, it has been created as part of a new council initiative to make Manchester the cycling capital of Britain. Standard membership for cycling enthusiasts at the £500,000 facility bankrolled by the government is £100 a year. Premium membership, which includes access to showers and full length lockers, costs a whopping £200 a year. For £200 a year I’d expect more than just a wash upon my arrival at the ‘state of the art’ facility, I’d expect a full cooked breakfast before work each morning and unlimited repairs! The chairman of the Transport for Greater Manchester committee, Andrew Fletcher, said: “This new facility will make it easier for them to come into town on their bikes. We want to make it easier for more people to make it the norm, rather than the exception.” Despite the fact that the park is supposedly designed to encourage cycling in Manchester, many cyclists themselves are sceptical about the new facility, which is rumoured to be the first of many underground bike parks to be built across the city. Days after Bradley Wiggins and his coach Shane Sutton were knocked off their bikes in two separate incidents which occurred within mere hours of one another, it is unsurprising that the last thing on cyclists’ minds is finding somewhere to lock their bikes. When it comes to encouraging people to cycle, what we need is reassurance that the roads are
safe and that drivers are looking out for us. Following the popularity of the Olympics and the success of the likes of Wiggins, Hoy and Pendleton, sales of bikes have gone through the roof. Cycling is considered an easy, accessible sport that anyone can take part in – yet I wonder how many of the budding cyclists who invested in a set of wheels over the summer have actually racked up a decent set of miles since then. I wonder how many cyclists worry about getting to where they want to go due to the lack of cycle lanes and the evidence that drivers repeatedly show a complete disregard for the safety of riders on the road. The new bike park has a number of serious downfalls which I suspect will greatly hinder the popularity of the facility. The first issue is membership. One of the perks of cycling is the fact that bike and gear aside, it’s free to do and relatively cheap to maintain in comparison to driving a car. To add a £200 fee on top of it in exchange for a locker and a shower seems ridiculous and considering the initial cost to tax payers, it just adds insult to injury. One might argue that the £200 bike park fee is minuscule compared to the increasing cost of public transport throughout the city centre and surrounding areas. However, the offer of a safe place to park your bike doesn’t come across as enough of an incentive to use the hub. It would be far cheaper to purchase a couple of good quality bike locks to increase the safety of your ride. Besides, hidden away in the FAQ section of the City Tower website it states that bike locks are not
included with your membership and members must supply their own anyway! With regards to the tempting shower facilities: every cyclist knows how frustrating it is to get off your bike and begin your day drenched in sweat, but all it takes is some wipes, a can of deodorant and a change of clothes to make sure you survive the day at work without offending anyone. For those that can afford the membership and are willing to pay the money for the promise that at the end of the day their bike will still be where they left it that morning, the location could pose an issue. The bike park is only really beneficial to those who work right near it. I highly doubt that there are many cyclists out there who have ditched spending an hour in their car en route to work in the morning for a brisk twenty minute bike ride, who would be happy with more than a five minute walk from their bike to the office. In addition, the somewhat limited opening hours (6am-8pm in the week and from 8am-5pm on weekends) could also dissuade those who could otherwise benefit from the facility from signing up, particularly if there is a chance that they may not make it on time to pick their bike up at the end of the day. It seems completely futile to create a safe place for cyclists to lock their bikes if they have fought their way through a battleground in order to get there. As any bike rider will tell you: the only way to encourage more cycling in the city is to make the roads safer. Until we do that, cycling in Manchester will be an uphill struggle.
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Photograph: Chad J. McNeeley
Analysis : 29
In Defence of Veterans and Foxhole Campaigners Alexander Holbrook
It’s a depressing spectacle as a leftist and an anti-war activist to see your own side completely misrepresent their own cause by diving into cynical and shortminded tabloid rhetoric. One such case was in this very paper a few issues ago, when a ‘caustic’ column sifted through current events with a sneering and jaded look. This might not have been anything for me to quarrel with at first, until I reached the final paragraph, which described Prince Harry’s return to active service thus: “Prince Harry’s back in Afghanistan! And, given the army’s human rights record, we’ll soon see ‘Prince Harry Naked’, but with the words ‘torture’, ‘prisoners’ and ‘human pyramid.’” This sentiment and delivery stinks for starters, plus it is also misleading. Firstly, it reveals a deep seated contempt for the Armed Forces by syndicates of the anti-war left, the tabloid media and ‘populist’ opinion, which isn’t so much based upon experience and real cases as projective fabrication, and secondly, that it completely misrepresents the work the Armed Forces have achieved, continue to achieve and also what veterans inexorably scarred by war achieve by protest.
As the insinuations of the writing point out, this piece is referring to the scandal at Abu Ghraib prison which, I hasten to add, was committed by members of the US Army, not the British Army. Lest we forget, those US jailers who perpetrated the odious actions at Abu Ghraib were removed from duty, dishonourably discharged and are now serving terms in Military and Civilian prisons of up to ten years, their commandant also reprimanded for Dereliction of Duty and demoted from Brigadier General to Colonel. Furthermore, the case of Abu Ghraib was broken to 60 Minutes by the US Army Criminal Investigation Command, not by civilian journalists. Of the abuse scandals attributed to the British Army, the first claims made by the Daily Mirror were found to have been fabricated by the toxic hack Piers Morgan in search of sales, following Abu Ghraib. All other cases which have been brought to light have all resulted in legal inquiries, prosecutions and jail terms for those involved, the most recent of which being the Public Interest Lawyers’ prosecution which represents the claims of over 100 Iraqi civilians, following an intervention of the UK Court of Appeals. The decision of the UK Court of Appeals to overturn the MoD’s official investigative body, the Iraq Historic Allegations
Team, for being too politically motivated, was welcomed by the Iraqi authorities and plaintiffs and is said to have ‘restored faith in the British Army and people’. What emerges here is not so much a shady history of dirty tricks and institutional torture, but rather of a brilliantly policed and well-disciplined unit which is far from exempt from the reach of both International and Domestic Criminal Law. It also indicates that the Armed Forces are not afraid of airing their dirty laundry in public for everyone to either ridicule or admire, not to mention that the supposedly complacent legal systems of both the US and Great Britain have done everything in their power to guarantee the victims of torture and murder (I hesitate to say ‘war’) a free and fair trial with all the legal privileges bestowed upon any other American or British Citizen. Even as a leftist and an anti-war campaigner myself, I cannot and will not denounce the Armed Forces for doing their duty, or rather the bidding of unscrupulous men of power, and duly punishing those who cross the line. But I digress – on the other side of this coin, War is still a place which breeds physical and psychological injury regardless of legal safeguards and still brings out the worst in people from soldiers to politicians to civilians. However, there are those within the Veterans’
Sphere whom campaign relentlessly not only for the right of Veterans to receive proper care and attention for wartime trauma, but also for there to be a future reproach from warfare. Simon Weston, the famous veteran campaigner disfigured during the Sir Galahad fiasco, was outspoken in his criticism for the Iraq Invasion and blamed Tony Blair’s culture of spin: “Politicians with so many different agendas, spin and bluff and throwing smoke in the air and I have to say even lies... so often that we are not sure what we are actually listening to now.” The Retired Colonel Tim Collins, the head of 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment at the time of the Iraq invasion, authored of the now famous ‘We go to Liberate, not to Conquer’ speech and one of its finer points is the stirring line: “If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest for your deeds will follow you down through history. We will bring shame on neither our uniform nor our nation.” After exiting the Regiment in 2004, Collins has been a fierce critic of the operation, using the following words to describe the various interventions to The Guardian: “The UK and US pour blood
and treasure into overseas campaigns which seem to have no ending and no goal ... Clearly I was naïve.” However, allow me to look upon some more extreme examples; specifically, those of Ben Griffin and Malcolm KendallSmith. Kendall-Smith, a New Zealander who served in the RAF as a Medical Officer, refused to carry out preliminary checks and duties on the grounds that the Iraq War was a blatant violation of International Law, regardless of UN Resolution 1546. He also reiterated the fact that he did not consider himself a conscientious objector, but rather someone who thought the war was fundamentally unlawful. For this, Kendall-Smith was imprisoned for eight months and received a fine of £20,000. Ben Griffin, on the other hand, is a far more controversial example of Iraq War dissention – a veteran of the Parachute Regiment and Special Air Service, Griffin was appalled by the use of Extraordinary Rendition as a means of capturing prisoners and by Delta Force’s complicity with torture, furthermore feeling as if his expert advice as a tactician to his US counterparts was falling on deaf ears. He resigned from the regiment shortly after his tour in Iraq with an exemplary record from his Commanding Officer, whom further asserted that Griffin’s opinions were evidence of
unshakable ideals and excellent character. Despite the fact that Griffin did not earn my personal vote by appearing upon the Iranianbased and funded propaganda outlet Press TV, denouncing the UK government for ‘recruiting child soldiers’, a ridiculous idea at best and a downright smelly one at worst, Griffin is still in a unique position to speak out against the war as someone who has experienced it at close quarters all over the world. For his polemic, Griffin was issued an injunction preventing him talking about his experiences with the Regiment. Furthermore, both Griffin and Kendall-Smith have had facebook pages demanding they be indicted for Mutiny and Treason. Regardless of Griffin’s shortcomings, I can’t help but feel that the public mantra of ‘Help for Heroes’ is becoming increasingly selective. These issues are the result of populist rhetoric turning into propaganda, the wilful neglect of the complex issues addressed by members of the armed forces on a daily basis and the petty extraction of a cheap laugh at one’s own opinion. If we are to absolve ourselves of any of this wrongdoing, the veteran dissenter needs as much respect as the humble soldier and the persons in charge need greater scrutiny and greater attention from our critical faculties.
30 : Your Union
President’s blog The latest from USSU President Christina Kennedy
ISSUE 08 / 12 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
NUS are holding a National Demo on Wednesday 21 November in London and we have booked a coach to take students along to have their voices heard! The tagline for the Demo is Educate, Empower, Employ. The message of the demonstration is to fight for our future. We are at at time when sudents will pay £9k fees for an education that no longer promises them a brighter future or that well paid job they dreamt of, unemployment levels are forever on the rise, the government is threatening to take away housing benefit for under 25s, and to top it all off we no longer have the pension safety net to rely on. Postgraduate education is seeming even more of a long shot for many students with no restriction on the cost and fees once more on the rise. I
hope to see as many Salford students as possible in London on 21.11.12 fighting for their future and for this government to see the public good of education. Not only are students being hit as students but public sector cuts will affect our career opportunities and those of our friends and families. Education should be a right, not a privilege. When you, the students at the University of Salford elected me as your Students’ Union President I promised to fight for a more accessible route to Postgraduate study and I will not go back on that promise. This year Salford went through an Academic Realignment Project and the University’s Transformation Project Phase two, which seen staffing changes across the institution. Although the changes cannot all be
The Better Forums: your feedback Thanks to all of you who made the effort to come along to the Students’ Union forums last month. These were great events and it’s fantastic that so many of you took part. It is student feedback that drives what the Students’ Union does as an organisation. So here’s a list of all we’ll be doing as a result of the ideas you shared with us at Better Union, Better University and Better City. You told us: the University shouldn’t be charging activity groups to use its facilities such as playing fields and theatre and rehearsal space. So we are: lobbying at the highest level of the University for these unfair charges to be removed. You told us: we don’t make a big enough fuss about all we achieve for students. So we are: promoting three Students’ Union wins for students every month via a poster campaign, social media including Facebook and Twitter, our website and The Salfordian newspaper. You’ll soon be able to chat to our sabbatical officers about our wins and what you’d like the Union to achieve for students in our brand new outdoor gazebo! Look out for it on campus and come and say hello. You told us: you were concerned about the poor condition of the car park in front of the Adelphi Building which you pay
£2 each day to park in. So we are: raising this as an issue with Salford City Council. We found out that they own the car park rather than the University so will be demanding they take action. You told us: you’d like to see more evening events in Bar Yours. So we are: working with a group of students who will help shape every event held in the bar and come up with some bright ideas for new ones. You told us: That you were concerned about general safety and security issues while studying at Salford. So we are: Inviting the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester to next semester’s Better City forum to hear your concerns. You told us: that Adelphi Studios had been closed on Saturdays when many of you need to access them. So we are: we found out this was due to staff resourcing issues but our lobbying has ensured that the studios will reopen in the new year. Next time it could your ideas that help direct the Students’ Union. Join us for Better Union, Better University and Better City at 5pm on Tuesday 5,12 and 19 February in University House.
blamed on the government, there was some outside pressure on the University due to things such as Student Number Control, which seen Salford lose over 400 student places and forcing the institution to rethink its staffing structures. The University is not entirely blameless and we held a ‘Carnival Against the Cuts’ back in May to voice student concerns about staff and department cuts as well as compiling a report containing recommendations which the Vice Chancellor responded to point by point. So why am I telling you all this? I am telling you this to reinforce the importance of the National Demonstration this Autumn. There may not be a parliamentary decision being made, however, it’s about time that students started setting the
agenda for the 2015 General Election as the attack continues on the public sector and education. We will continue to face local cuts if the government continues this attack so it is time for us to unite with students, young people and communities across the country to say that we will not stand for this ideologically driven austerity anymore. I hope those of you who have already bought tickets are excited for our 5am set off from Salford and I look forward to seeing you all bright and early on Wednesday morning! We are also holding a placard making session on Monday 19h in Boardroom 1 in University House for anyone who would like to get creative before the Demonstration!
Activties: 31
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Activity groups at Salford
For more information about Students’ Union activity groups, visit www.salfordstudents.com
New this year: USSU biology society Bio logy society committee Hello all! It’s nearly that time again: Christmas! Yes, we know it’s over a month away, but can you help but be excited? Let the countdown begin! The thought of Christmas is a great distraction for a busy university student, and we hope that you will find our newly formed Bio Society just as entertaining! Conversational starters out of the way, we - the committee members of the newly founded Bio Society - are hoping to bring together students studying biology related subjects, or those with a general interest in biology, for a year of fun and excitement! As it is the society’s first year, we hope to make it an exciting one. We’d like to add to your university experience, and offer the chance for you to get involved in several organized events that will give you the
opportunity to meet new people with similar interests. We’re currently organising a range of events that might just be of interest to you including charity events and nights out clubbing, for all you party animals out there. Drinking not for you? Well, no problem. We plan on having themed parties (like the upcoming holiday everybody loves - Christmas!) loaded with home-made festive treats and friendly banter. They will be informal events, so whether you celebrate holidays like Christmas or not, all ethnicities and religions are welcome to
partake in the food and fun! So, if you find yourself in need of a distraction from your studies, and have an interest in the biological sciences, why not join our society! We hope to see you at future events and will pride ourselves in making your time at the University of Salford as enjoyable as possible! For more information or if you have any questions, you can contact us on Facebook by searching ‘University of Salford Biology Society’ or by visiting our mini-site at: http://www.salfordstudents.com/biology.
USSU Dance Society Bryony Pearce Sports Editor The University of Salford Students’ Union Dance Society has been running for over four years now, and has prospered in each one of them. In 2009, the group won society of the year. This year, the group are offering two additional classes, flexibility and fitness, to offer more to new and existing members. These classes are open to society members, and will not involve any extra fees. As well as the two extra classes for members, SUDS have also put on Tap and Jazz lessons for any students at Salford. Classes will take place on Thursday evenings, and will cost £2.50 for non-members, and a reduced price of £1.50 for members. SUDS meet every Tuesday and Wednesday 5-9pm in the Adelphi
Dance Studios, and their schedule runs as follows, in hourly slots; Tuesday: Flexibility class, beginner jazz, beginner street; Wednesday: Fitness class, intermediate commercial, intermediate contemporary, intermediate commercial l/ jazz. Membership costs just £30 per year, and this includes; student choreographers, all classes, all shows, extra workshops throughout the year, and insurance-there will be no other fees for the entire year...bargain! The dance group aim to make everyone feel as welcome as possible, strive to cater for all members, and value any opinions to help the society flourish even more. For more information on the group, you can contact them at: salforddancesociety@googlemail.com, or find them on Facebook by searching ‘SUDS Salford University Dance Society.’
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Sports : 32
ISSUE 09 / 19 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM
Rowing: Race Report: Agecroft & Chester Head Races
TJ Hollis Following their victorious summer beating Manchester in the Two Cities Boat Race, the University of Salford Students’ Union’s 1st VIII eagerly approached their first race of the season against local clubs in the Agecroft Head-a 3.2km fast paced time trial. Salford’s first VIII started near the back of the pack, and were soon being chased down by local rivals Agecroft. Having not raced in five months they took some time to find their feet, but by the final 1km they were well and truly in their rhythm, and went onto pass the crew that started 10 seconds ahead of them. Charlie Seagar’s plea for a final push hurled the men over the line, giving Salford a three second lead and their first win of the season.
Other crews to race included the Men’s fresher VIII, who after just a few weeks rowing did not come last in their category. The Women’s fresher VIII, helped out by Seniors Harley Pantall and Lottie Fathers, completed the course comfortably. A special mention should also be given to Harriet Cornick, a prosthetics and orthotics student who recently made the grade to join the GB Start program, and raced in a single for the first time, missing out on second place to a far more experienced sculler by just 3 seconds. The senior Men’s IV also raced, narrowly missing a medal. A couple of weeks later the men’s VIII crew took to Chester to race against teams from the North West, including local rivals Agecroft. Once again Salford started near the back of the pack,
but got off to a great start closing the gap on Mersey within the first kilometre. As they moved by, a number of hero strokes from the powerful captain TJ Hollis, with the help of his crew, carried the boat onward into clear water. From here, the entire crew pushed hard to maintain the fierce pace they had laid down in the early stages right through to the finish, passing another crew and gaining hugely on the one ahead. This impressive pace allowed Salford to crush the opposition in their category, winning by 21 seconds. When asked about the season so far, Josh Cox, Salford’s 2 man in the 1st VIII said: “I think we can all be very happy with it, we’ve put the work in, and under the good leadership of our new captain, TJ Hollis, we’ve got a 100% undefeated record.”
Men’s rugby union: Salford 1st v Keele 1st
Photograph: Richard Meftah Photograph: Richard Meftah
Photograph: Richard Meftah
Placed eighth in the BUCS league and yet to win a game this season, Salford displayed a more promising performance against Keele, despite failing to score any points. Keele, four places higher than Salford in the league, inevitably went into the game with more confidence, and this showed as they soon racked up a couple of tries and conversions. After a rocky start, the home side soon got into their stride and began applying pressure. At one point they teased their touch line for the best part of five minutes, coming excruciatingly close to getting their first touchdown, but the away side’s strength and stability got the better of them. Salford were managing to keep Keele at bay for a large part of the first half, but a momentary lapse in defence allowed the Newcastle side to sneak
in a few more tries, and with an unsuccessful last minute surge from Salford, left the half time score at 21-0. Despite a positive end to the first half, Salford conceded early in the second. They were coming forward and really making Keele work hard to keep them away from their touch down line, but unfortunately kept getting pushed afar from their scoring zone. The match ended at 52-0 to Keele, but the scoreline did not reflect the match completely. Although the away team were the stronger side, Salford put up a valiant battle, and kept Keele on their toes as they continuously applied pressure throughout. Ryan Snape commented on the men’s performance: “Salford are looking like they are building a lot of structure from previous weeks, and we are seeing a lot of improvements from the boys.”
Men’s hockey: Salford 1st v Edge Hill 2nd Luke Betts
Photograph: Richard Meftah
Bryony Pearce Sports Editor
It was a red hot performance for Salford’s Hockey team on a surprisingly mild winter’s afternoon. From the start Salford dominated the play, leaving Edge Hill’s team under constant pressure as they tried to salvage some sort of counter attack, but for the first ten minutes the ball didn’t even leave their own half. Salford were creating a host of chances early on, mainly through Chris Atherton and Will Charlsworth, but they were not reaping the rewards as close shots were saved by a strong Edge Hill keeper or just narrowly wide. But Salford’s persistent pressure and patience eventually paid off as the big attacker Paul Robertson found the net through a classy finish which saw him convert from long range, straight into the top corner. And this goal seemed to be the bit of inspiration which lead to a fantastic team effort for Salford as they went on to score a further seven goals
throughout the match to leave Edge Hills side eight goals behind. Extra credit was due to Salford’s attacking force through the quartet of Atherton, Charlsworth, Robertson and Sam Taylor, along with Jonny Towers who also found his name on the score sheet. The attacking duo of Atherton and Charlsworth was simply unstoppable as both men found themselves creating and scoring chances all game. This was mainly due to Charlsworth’s powerful cutting passes which always seemed to find Atherton to finish. And even in the second half after a feisty team talk from the Edge Hill players the game formally introduced Taylor and Robertson who featured more readily as they ran riot on the wings. The pair shared an impressive five goals together to round off a threatening attacking force. At the end of the game Salford would have had no regrets and can now only look forward to their next game with bags of confidence in the talented squad.