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Humanity Hallows

Issue 4 Autumn

.co.uk

Manchester Met Uni Student Press Office

Get Active, Stay Fun Things To Do For Under A Fiver Freshers Advice

CABBAGE: Fighting, Hair-pulling & Lovemaking

BOOK NOW: 0161 832 1111 MANchesteracademy.net TOOTS & THE MAYTALS SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER

THE BLUETONES PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS CAST + MY LIFE STORY SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER

ALL SAINTS SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER

WILD BEASTS

SUNDAY 9TH OCTOBER

UB40

FRIDAY 14TH OCTOBER

BILLY TALENT

SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER

SUNSET SONS

SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER

SLEAFORD MODS THURSDAY 27TH OCTOBER

KYTV FESTIVAL 2016 PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS EMF + DUST JUNKYS + FEROCIOUS DOG + RINGO DEATHSTARR + DJ MILF (EMF) SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

AMON AMARTH

MONDAY 31ST OCTOBER

3 DOORS DOWN

SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

ARCHITECTS

SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

CARAVAN PALACE WEDNESDAY 16TH NOVEMBER

FORMERLY THE MDH

FORMERLY THE HOP & GRAPE

ULTIMATE EAGLES

TONY MORTIMER & HIS BAND

ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD

RED FANG

CATS IN SPACE / SPACE ELEVATOR

TUESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

FRIDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

KRS-ONE

FROM THE JAM

UNION J

SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

DESTRUCTION

AGAINST THE CURRENT

TOWNSMEN

THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

THE HUNNA

JAKE QUICKENDEN

SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER

MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER

AKALA

THURSDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER

WALTER TROUT

GUN

GLASS ANIMALS

GLASVILLE

MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER

TUESDAY 18TH OCTOBER WEDNESDAY 26TH OCTOBER

TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER THURSDAY 13TH OCTOBER

JP COOPER

ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE

THURSDAY 27TH OCTOBER

UK FOO FIGHTERS TRIBUTE

THE UNDERTONES

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

LAKE STREET DIVE

FRIDAY 21ST OCTOBER

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

BARS AND MELODY

THE SOUTHMARTINS

SUNDAY 13TH NOVEMBER

MONDAY 28TH NOVEMBER

LACUNA COIL

NOTHING BUT THIEVES

WEDNESDAY 16TH NOVEMBER

TEENAGE FANCLUB FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

LUCKY CHOPS

SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

WHO’S BAD - THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON EXPERIENCE TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 9TH DECEMBER

ABSOLUTE BOWIE

KREATOR

CHAMELEONS VOX

TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY

SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER SATURDAY 17TH DECEMBER

facebook.com/manchesteracademy

@mancacademy

Humanity Hallows .co.uk

BidoLito.259x320.MASTER.NEW.V2.indd 1

BLUES PILLS

IMPERICON NEVER SAY DIE! TOUR 2016 WHITECHAPEL + THY ART IS MURDER + CARNIFEX + OBEY THE BRAVE + FALLUJAH + MAKE THEM SUFFER + POLAR MONDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

THE GRAHAM BONNET BAND SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER

PEARL JAM UK

SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER

REAL FRIENDS

WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER

SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER

FOY VANCE

A TRIBUTE TO MANCHESTER VOL. 2: THE SECOND COMING

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

ROYAL REPUBLIC

LUSH

+ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE + CANE HILL SUNDAY 4TH DECEMBER

WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER

PARQUET COURTS

FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER

FRIDAY 4TH NOVEMBER

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE

THE FEELING

SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER

SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 2ND DECEMBER

SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER

FRANKIE BALLARD

FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

PIERCE THE VEIL

THE TUBES

MOOSE BLOOD

DAN BAIRD & HOMEMADE SIN

THURSDAY 1ST DECEMBER

THURSDAY 6TH OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK LIVEWIRE AC/DC VS FEDERAL CHARM

MARILLION

THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER

TUESDAY 4TH OCTOBER

ANNIHILATOR

FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY 31ST AUGUST

UGLY KID JOE

WEDNESDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

THE DAMNED 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

FORMERLY THE CELLAR

WEDNESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

MANCHESTER ACADEMY PRESENTS PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT FRIDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 19TH NOVEMBER

EDEN’S CURSE

TUESDAY 22ND NOVEMBER

ELECTRIC SIX

WEDNESDAY 23RD NOVEMBER

MOTORHEADACHE (A TRIBUTE TO LEMMY) FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

THE DOORS ALIVE

SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

BIG COUNTRY - THE SEER TOUR SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER

AYNSLEY LISTER SATURDAY 17TH DECEMBER

FOR UP TO DATE LISTINGS VISIT MANChesteracademy.net

18/07/2016 12:32

By Students. For Students.

#HHPhoto Winner: Ben Macwhinnie

Welcome to Humanity Hallows magazine! We hope you are all feeling refreshed and raring to go after the summer break and that everyone is ready to leave the summer behind and get back to Uni! The Humanity Hallows team would also like to give a warm welcome to all the freshers who are #NewtoMMU! We know you will love Manchester as much as we do. In this issue we have a whole host of fantastic articles created by the Manchester Met Student Press Office. As well as some great interviews with Manchester bands Cabbage and Henge, we also have plenty of tips for freshers, ideas for eating and things to do on a student budget! We also have a new feature focusing on some of the small businesses that make our city great, starting with an interview with Manchester’s own Denim Doctor. Here at the official Manchester Met Student Press Office, we are always looking for contributors to join the Humanity Hallows team. If you would like to get involved, turn to page 42 for more details. In the meantime, enjoy! Jacqueline Grima (Student Editor-in-Chief) The Manchester Metropolitan University Student Press Office is a Make a Difference project run by the IDEA office based in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. For information on upcoming features, advertising opportunities and more contact: N.Carragher@mmu.ac.uk Natalie Carragher (Student Media Officer)

Contents 4

Things To Do In Manchester For Under A Fiver

6 Keep Fit, Stay Fun! 8

Interview: CABBAGE

12 Interview: Henge 14 Freshers: Tips, Tricks, Dos & Don’ts 16 Maintaining A Positive Balance At University 17 5 minutes with Prof Dawn Archer 18

Malala Yousafzai Endorses Mother Tongue Other Tongue

MCR Spotlight: Denim Doctor

Manchester Youth Council

24 This Is England Club Night 25 Dusk ‘til Dawn: Manchester Taste Trail 26

Interview: Jay Griffiths

Interview: Wyl Menmuir

Student Voice

Love: Beating That Long Term Relationship Ache

Chernobyl Collective

Creative Collaboration

Food: Jollof Rice Recipe

Work With Us

Things To Do In Manchester For Under A Fiver

By Charlie Jordin

Bored? Stressed? Skint? The life of a student can be difficult at times, but now you’re in the fun filled world of Manchester, there’s a wealth of distractions waiting to cheer you up. Humanity Hallows is here to help you pick out the best and, most importantly, cheapest locations across one of the best student capitals of Europe. So sit back and enjoy our list of the best student-friendly places to visit in Manchester on a budget.

Bowling at Dog Bowl Who doesn’t love bowling? At Dog Bowl, students bowl half price, which means you can play for as little as £2! Open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and with lanes available for up to seven people, this is the perfect alternative night out. Students can also get a free ‘Dog Tag’ discount card by showing their student ID. It’s well worth it as you’ll also get to enjoy 25% off food, free pool and half price bowling, as well as any other bonus offers. There’s a bar and restaurant too! Save on expensive club entries and have a chilled night bowling instead. Arch 57, Whitworth St West, Manchester, M1 5WW

Cinema at HOME For a fiver you can see some of the best films the world has to offer at HOME. As one of Manchester’s cultural hubs, it boasts five cinema screens, an art gallery and a theatre and all just a short walk from the university. Moving to its new home at Tony Wilson Place last year, HOME screens films from all over the world, as well as the latest Hollywood releases. There are also film seasons and screenings of various cinema classics, so you can watch the best the silver screen has to offer on the big screen for the first time. Students can catch a film for £5 before 5pm or if booked in advance. 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, M15 4FN

Cocktails at The Font Font has an amazing array of over 60 cocktails starting from just £2 and is a popular hotspot for students. With two floors of live music, quirky artwork and chilled vibes, there is no better place to start your night or catch up with your friends over cocktails. Located five minutes from All Saints Campus and halls of residence, Font is sure to quickly become a favourite! 7-9 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP

MCR Art Gallery

Manchester Museum

With an eclectic range of exhibitions, the Manchester Art Gallery is at the heart of Manchester’s art scene. Built in 1823, the building itself was inspired by Greek architecture and is one of the city’s most unique buildings. The exhibitions vary from modern fashion to classic oil paintings so there is something for everyone. With free entry and just a stone’s throw away from the city centre, a visit to the gallery makes for an inexpensive day out to unwind, become inspired and immerse yourself in culture.

Just a short walk from university, the Manchester Museum has one of the largest collections of mummies in the UK, as well as dinosaurs and a huge collection of other artefacts! With four floors and fifteen galleries to explore, a visit to the Manchester Museum is a fun and fascinating day out. Entry is free and exhibitions change regularly throughout the year.

Mosley Street, M2 3JL

The University Of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL

Did your favourite cheap night make the list? Let us know over on Twitter @HumanityHallows

Keep Fit, Stay Fun! By Benjamin Frances Cassidy

Keeping fit is a vital part of well-being for everyone, but it can be time-consuming, and sometimes hard to find others to go running or swimming with. Once busy periods begin at university, keeping fit can also become a little mundane and more of a chore than a treat! This is why it’s important to get creative about ways that combine fun and exercise. So, start thinking outside the box, convince your mates to go with you and give one of these activities a try. Go Air Trampoline Park

Located in close proximity to Manchester City’s Etihad stadium, Go Air is a purpose built facility for trampolining. The set-up is a large, custom built and converted industrial unit that has large areas of trampolines you can bounce between, as well as trampolines on the side you can bounce off. Other activities include: trampoline basketball hoops, so you can nail that slam

dunk; timed bounces that challenge you to hit as many buttons as you can in a certain order; and a ‘bounce platform’ you can launch off, landing on a giant air bag! It’s safe to say that there’s no better way to get fit than indulging the child within. By bouncing and bounding about, not only are you looking after your health, but enjoying yourself at the same time. Go Air is great as a group activity and is not to be missed! Go Air, Riverpark Trading Estate, Eastlands, Manchester, M40 2XP Tel: 0161 850 4010 goairtrampolinepark.co.uk

Water Workout Perhaps gym classes aren’t floating your boat. If that’s the case, then don’t worry, you’ll be the ones afloat! One of the benefits is that with water based exercise (apart from the obvious cardio workout) is that it is easier on your joints. Being in water also means that because of the resistance of the water, you get extra mileage on the effort to results scale! You don’t have to worry about muscles you aren’t used to using aching the next day. Go on, take the plunge! Water Workout sessions are available at The Manchester Aquatic Centre. Water Workout, Manchester Aquatics Centre, 2 Booth St E, M13 9SS Tel: 0161 641 6310 manchestersportandleisure.org/venue/manchester-aquatics-centre

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Sweat & Tone

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Sugden Sports Centre

18:00-20:00 63 Likes Afflecks Like

18:00-19:00

Zumba

O2 Touch Rugby Platt Lane Sports Complex

Circuits

Trinity High School

Women’s Football Sugden Sports Centre

13:30-14:30

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Women’s Swimming Manchester Aquatics Centre

Alexandra Park

Afflecks

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19:00-20:00 Afflecks 6m in Dodgeball

Comment

20:00-21:00

20:30-22:00 min

Women’s Basketball Sugden Sports Centre

Indoor Cricket

Brooks (Sports Hall)

Sugden Sports Centre

14:00-16:00

17:00-18:00

18:00-19:00

20:00-22:00

Social Tennis

Boxercise

Women’s Strength &

Badminton

The Union

Platt Lane Sports Complex

Sugden Sports Centre

18:00-19:00

12:00-13:00

12:30-13:30

16:30-17:30

16:45-17:30

Swimming

Meditation

Back to

Cardio Tennis Sugden Sports Centre

Jogging Club

The Union

17:00-18:00 17:30-18:30 Women’s Dancefloor 72 Likes Touch FillersAfflecks Tennis Sugden Like Comment Sports Brooks Centre (Sports Hall)

13:00-13:30

16:30-17:30

Express Yoga (Stand & Stretch)

Volleyball

All Saints Park

Sugden Sports Centre

The Union 13:30-15:30

15:00-17:00

Futsal

Basketball

Sugden Sports Centre

Conditioning

21:00-22:00 Futsal Sugden Sports Centre

Brooks (Sports Hall)

18:00-19:00

18:30-20:30

20:30-22:30

Basketball

Volleyball

Brooks (Sports Hall)

Men’s Futsal Football 105 Likes Sugden Platt Lane Afflecks Sports Sports Comment Centre Complex Like

Sugden Sports Centre

17:30-18:30

18:15-19:15

18:30-19:30

19:30-20:30

Wheelchair Basketball Sugden Sports Centre

Women’s Hula Hoop Fitness

Women’s SelfDefence Sugden Sports Centre

Badminton

Dodgeball

Basketball

Sugden Sports Centre

PiYo

Sugden Sports Centre

Just turn up with your student ID to get involved

MMU SportSports @MMUSport @MMUSport MMU Rounders, Trinity Centre Astro, Cambridge St, Manchester, M15 6HP theunionmmu.org

Visit mmu.ac.uk/sport for more info

Activity Timetable

Your week in FREE sport and activities Mon

Move & Groove

12:00-14:00

12:30-13:00

13:00-13:30

16:30-18:00

18:00-20:00

Table Tennis

Express Yoga (Mat Work)

Badminton

Men’s Football Sugden Sports Centre

The Union

Express Yoga (Stand & Stretch) The Union

12:00-13:00

17:00-18:20

17:00-18:00

18:00-19:00

19:00-20:00

20:00-21:00

20:30-22:00

Swimming

Badminton

Body Flow

Squash

Dodgeball

Brooks (Drama Studio)

Sugden Sports Centre

Brooks (Sports Hall)

Sugden Sports Centre

Women’s Basketball Sugden Sports Centre

Indoor Cricket

Trinity High School

O2 Touch Rugby Platt Lane Sports Complex

Circuits

Sugden Sports Centre

Women’s Football Sugden Sports Centre

Zumba

Manchester Aquatics Centre

Men’s Football

The Union

Sugden Sports Centre

The Union

Brooks (Sports Hall)

21:00-22:00 Futsal Sugden Sports Centre

09:30-10:30

12:30-13:00

13:00-13:30

13:00-15:00

13:30-14:30

14:00-16:00

17:00-18:00

18:00-19:00

Box Fit

Express Pilates (Corrective Posture) The Union

Express Pilates (Mat Work)

Softball

Social Tennis

Boxercise

Strength & Conditioning

Badminton

Platt Lane Sports Complex

Women’s Swimming Manchester Aquatics Centre

20:00-22:00

Alexandra Park

The Union

Platt Lane Sports Complex

Sugden Sports Centre

17:30-18:30

18:00-19:00

18:30-20:30

20:30-22:30

PiYo

Futsal

Basketball

Volleyball

Brooks (Sports Hall)

Men’s Football Platt Lane Sports Complex

Sugden Sports Centre

Women’s

Platt Lane Sports Complex

Thu

The Union

12:00-13:00

12:30-13:30

16:30-17:30

16:45-17:30

Swimming

Meditation

Back to Netball Sugden Sports Centre

Cardio Tennis Sugden Sports Centre

Jogging Club

17:00-18:00 Women’s Dancefloor Fillers

All Saints Park

Brooks (Sports Hall)

Touch Tennis Sugden Sports Centre

Manchester Aquatics Centre

Fri

Sweat & Tone

Relax & Unwind

Bootcamp Workout Platt Lane Sports Complex

Tue

Wed

Turn Up & Play

09:30-10:30

The Union

09:30-10:30

12:00-14:00

12:00-13:20

12:30-13:00

13:00-13:30

16:30-17:30

17:30-18:30

18:15-19:15

18:30-19:30

19:30-20:30

Bootcamp Workout

Table Tennis

Squash

Dodgeball

Basketball

The Union

Women’s SelfDefence Sugden Sports Centre

Badminton

The Union

Wheelchair Basketball Sugden Sports Centre

Women’s Hula Hoop Fitness

Sugden Sports Centre

Express Yoga (Stand & Stretch)

Volleyball

Platt Lane Sports Complex

Express Yoga (Mat work)

Sugden Sports Centre

12:00-14:00

12:00-13:20

13:30-15:30

15:00-17:00

Table Tennis

Squash

Badminton

Futsal

Basketball

Sugden Sports Centre

Sun

The Union

Sugden Sports Centre

Just turn up with your student ID to get involved MMU Sport

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Brazillian Dance, Manchester Aquatics Centre, 2 Booth St E, M13 9SS Tel: 0161 641 631009:30-10:30 13:00-15:00 13:00-13:30 12:30-13:00 Wed Softball Box Fit Express Express manchestersportandleisure.org/venue/manchester-aquatics-centre Platt Lane Sports Complex

Activity Timetable

Your week in FREE sport and activities

Sugden Sports Centre

Afflecks

If you’re a bit worried about not being a regular John Travolta, or you’re a little out of shape, and looking to get fitter, then Brazillian Dance at the Manchester Aquatics Centre might be just the thing for you. It’s more or less ‘Zumba Light’. It takes the 09:30-10:30 12:00-14:00 pace. 12:30-13:00 traditional elements of Zumba, but delivers it at a slower Mon Table Express Absolutely perfectBootcamp if you’re looking to get fit for the first time, or Workout Tennis Yoga Platt Lane (Mat Work) get back into shape. You might even use it to build up to Zumba, Sports Complex Union The Union or another class. Give it a12:00-13:00 go. You12:00-13:00 and your friendsThewill be17:00-18:20 on 12:00-13:00 Tue Dancing in Swimming Strictly Come no time!Badminton Body Flow Squash

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CABBAGE

“All the great bands, from the the 60s to the 90s, they were all pioneers, great bands who sounded nothing like each other. Now you’ve got a load of bands who all sound the same. What’s the point?” Interview: Freddie Bruhin-Price

“

Manchester’s just resting on the laurels of the past and milking the cash cow...

“

Cabbage describe their music as “an idiosyncratic, satirical attack in the form of discordant neo post-punk.” The band are indeed idiosyncratic, but refreshingly, their idiosyncrasy is both earthily accessible and completely genuine.

hen Humanity Hallows asked guitarist and songwriter Joe Martin to pinpoint an inspiration, he quickly reasoned, “Probably a Manchester performance poet called Mike Garry. The way he performs, and is in command of an audience. But he’s the only one really.” Clearly this band is tapped into the popular conscience. Their lyrics have socio-political concerns which give the band and its music an authentic sense of Britishness. However, despite their origins in the city, their sound is a far cry from what might be described as Manchester music. They fit into the same wave as bands like London’s Fat White Family and Shame, and follow in the footsteps of the Sex Pistols, valuing inter-band camaraderie, authenticity and anarchy over polish or musical virtuosity.

Cabbage gigs have been receiving rave reviews since their debut in October last year and the band have enjoyed a whirlwind rise to prominence, recently featuring in publications such as NME, and being made The Guardian’s Band of the Week. We asked Joe about the band’s beginnings, his opinions of the current musical and political climate, and what he described as Cabbage’s collective desire “to cause a shit-storm.” How did you all get together and form Cabbage? Well, we’ve all played in bands round here before, and I had a few ideas, a few poems, and Owen (guitar) put music to them. That’s how we wrote ‘Dinner Lady’. ‘Contactless Payment’ was one of the

earliest tunes too. We started making the EP, Le Chou, in July last year, recording it using our bassist’s equipment. He has an independent record label called Play and Record based in Salford, so we released it through that. It was all recorded in a bedroom apart from the drums. Then we had our first gig, with Freakout Honey at Night and Day in October. You seem to have moved very quickly, and have really tapped into the conscience of the music scene. This might be down to the politicised, satirical nature of your songs. Is there a particular message you’re trying to put across? Well first of all, we weren’t planning on being political, but we’re in a very political time, so it’s bound to come out like this.

This anger, it’s bound to happen, because even peaceful protest stems from anger. It’s a source of energy for us. To be honest, we just wanted to cause a shitstorm, it’s not deliberately political. You’ve been playing up and down the country at festivals all summer. Have you got a favourite, and which bands have impressed you? Beat-Herder is my favourite festival; it’s just a proper party. We didn’t play there this year though. Bluedot was one of the best. When you’re playing at festivals though, in our experience, you don’t really check out other bands. I haven’t really been impressed by anyone else. Are Cabbage part of a Manchester scene?

We don’t feel like we’re part of any scene. Especially not a Manchester one. I think what you said about the speed of us getting our music out there in a big way might tie in with the fact that it doesn’t fit into any boxes. Manchester’s just resting on the laurels of the past and milking the cash cow… All the great bands, from the the 60s to the 90s, they were all pioneers, great bands who sounded nothing like each other. Now you’ve got a load of bands who all sound the same. What’s the point? Have you got a favourite Manchester venue to play at? I like Ruby Lounge. Actually, Soup Kitchen was great, we sold it out and the gig was incredible. It was like being in one of those legendary Detroit shitholes.

That was a crazy gig. Our gigs inspire all sorts of reactions: fighting, hair-pulling, lovemaking… necrophilia! You supported Blossoms in Liverpool, whose debut album recently reached the number one spot. How was that? That was fantastic, it went really well. It’s weird, because they’re like Abba, and we’ve been described a bit ago by one fella as “a wilder Young Ones,” so it was exciting, not knowing how the crowd’s going to react to you being so different. But they loved it. Whatever I say about Blossoms, they’re great, really genuine lads. We’re going on tour with them actually. The gig we’ve got booked together at Manchester Academy sold out in 5 minutes. Mad.

HENGE

“

We only have one band member from planet Earth but we are getting to know the place quite well since arriving last year.

“

Manchester band Henge share songwriting tips and other important messages from the cosmos. Interview: Freddie Bruhin-Price Henge have a sort of superhuman quality that marks out great maverick performers. Like The Spiders from Mars and Roxy Music before them it extends throughout their whole band and is totally convincing. Their sets include otherworldly sounds and synth blips but beneath this is a groove built on serious musicianship alongside Brian Ferry campness from Matthew Whitaker, vocalist and guitarist. We are in an era of live music, as record sales wane and YouTube converters are flooded with hits. So what a joy it is to find Henge here in Manchester, an undisputedly live band who provide an experience that leaves you coming away actually feeling something, whether it is awe, madness or spiritual enlightenment. Have you found Manchester an ideal place for forming musical alliances? Did you all meet in the city? The Henge backstory spans billions of years and many billions of parsecs in distance. We only have one band member from planet Earth but we are getting to know the place quite well since arriving last year. From our experience Manchester seems to be thriving with great bands and musicians. There are many great venues and people seem to form genuine relationships around the scene leading to a very creative and productive community. You obviously listen to and play a wide range of music. Who are your favourite acts and favourite nights which can be enjoyed in Manchester at present? As for nights, it’s good to see the return of ‘Mix-up’ at the Klondyke club after a brief hiatus. There are nights around the country that we have been inspired by,

such as Bangface (London) and Off Me Nut (Sheffield). It was a shame to see the Kazimier in Liverpool shut down earlier this year but we are looking forward to checking out the Invisible Wind Factory which has been put together by many of the same crew. Part of what’s exciting about Space Cassette nights for us is being able to book acts from other places. For example we’ve had Daisuke Tanabe from Japan, Monster Zoku Onsomb! from Australia and Chevron from Iceland. Manchester’s a brilliant but small place so, by bringing fresh music from other parts of the world, we are broadening our horizons. How do you go about writing a song? There is no one way of going about writing a song. Sometimes an idea is brought to the group in an almost complete state; sometimes things seem to come out of nowhere when we are together. We’ve made tunes inside a computer that we’ve then adapted for the band. We record our rehearsals and sometimes use a cut and paste approach. Sometimes a sound can spark off a jam; other times it can be a groove or a rhythm based thing. Other times it can be a concept that gets the ball rolling. We’ve found that having a variety of approaches is very healthy for keeping us creative. Do you find it ironic that you are space beings yet your values are more human than those of the vast majority of the population? When you’re from another planet you have a different perspective of the Earth. It seems obvious to us, as it does for astronauts who view the Earth from space, that humans are wasting precious

resources on war and, as a result, are falling behind on their efforts to explore space. This is the subject of our song 'Demilitarise'. If human beings are to outlive planet Earth (you only have a few billion years before your sun consumes the planet) you need to dismantle the military industrial complex and pour the resources into a global space program. This resonates with a lot of people and it is not surprising that they relish the opportunity to sing the song together. Your live sets work perfectly in the setting of a festival. What have been your favourite festivals to play at this summer so far and why? It’s very difficult to pick favourites when there are so many different variables which make a good festival and gig, and so many of them have been so wonderful. Our gig in Ghent, in Belgium, had an audience of around 2,000 people; prior to seeing the stage we had no idea how big (or small) that gig would be so that was a pleasant surprise. However, the size of the gig is not always the most crucial factor involved and, as testament, some of the smaller festivals have been some of the nicest. The most important thing at a festival is the vibe; the attitudes of the people there. More than who’s playing, how big it is, whether it’s raining/muddy/dry/sunny. Vibe tops everything. What are your aims with Henge for the future? Have you plans to record and release an album? We plan to have an album out by next year. Going to more places and playing to more people will help us to bring more of our cosmic joy into people’s lives. We plan to do as much of this as we can.

Freshers

Tips, Tricks, Dos & Don’ts Many of you will likely be new to Humanity Hallows, and new to the university experience as a whole. So we thought we’d take some time to give you some freshers advice. We’ve started with dos and don’ts from current students that you might want to employ over the next three years (or more if you’re smart). Words: Jack Holmes

Whether you’re expecting the next stage of your life to be a lot of fun, or the most difficult experience, we’re here to tell you that it may be a bit of both, but follow these tips and you might enjoy it that bit more. We’ve collected the best advice from students, alumni and members of Manchester Met’s abundance of societies. So read on and hopefully save yourself some hassle down the line. “Check out some of the more alternative parts of Manchester. There are loads of club nights that you’ll discover in third year and love, that you could’ve been going to since the beginning. The Northern Quarter and Gay Village are great places to start.” - Katina Petrou (3rd year International Fashion Promotion student)

“Don’t forget to use your Met Card whenever you can. If you have money left at the end of your course it gets taken off your student loans but you’re probably going to want to spend it throughout the year.”

“Stay in groups on nights out. Manchester’s a pretty safe place but you can’t be too careful.”

- Eve Sweeney, (1st year English student and Rock Society Social Secretary) “Sign up with Jobs 4 Students and apply to be a Student Ambassador. Good money for a great job.”

“Make sure you join a society. There’s one for everything you can think of and it’ll make sure that even if you’re in a house with some unlikeable people, you’ll still have some close friends throughout uni.”

Amie Richardson (2nd year English student and Head of Nerds Society)

- Hannah Reeves (2nd year Psychology student and Gamers Society Vice Chair)

“Don’t give in to going out drinking if you should really be revising. It comes back to bite you later in the year. Trust me.”

“For first year, get yourself a Wi-Fi box. Some halls only have Ethernet port, unless you’re in the newer accommodation.”

- Aaron Brady (3rd year Human Biology student and Gamers Society Social Secretary)

- Mahdi Azmi (2nd year Accounting and Finance student)

- Liam Brady (Criminology graduate) “Sign up to a local doctors as soon as you can. It really doesn’t take long and it’s good to know where to go if you need one.” - Amber Hall (3rd year Biology student)

“Keep your Student ID safe, you’re going to be needing it a lot.” - Aaron Brady (3rd year Human Biology student and Gamers Society Social Secretary) “Find your nearest ASDA as its the cheapest supermarket, and they also deliver.” - Shannon Sumner (2nd year Photography student) “House parties are a lot cheaper than clubs. That’s saved me a fortune!”

- Amie Richardson (2nd year English student and Head of Nerds Society)

“Find out where all the computer rooms are in each of the different buildings. The library can get pretty busy, especially in third term!”

- Corey Davies (MA Psychology student)

- Francielly Cristina Dias Torres (3rd year TESOL and Linguistics)

“University is a great opportunity to redefine yourself, if you want to try out a new fashion style or try out something new. There’s no better time to start than now”

“Don’t be afraid to plan a night out with your new housemates. It’s a great way to get to know people, even if you haven’t done it before. Just be careful not to go too hard.”

- Zac Gardiner, (2nd year Filmmaking student)

- Robert Booth (2nd year Engineering student)

“Keep up to date with what restaurants and shops have student discounts and get loyalty cards. Also, NUS cards are useful too.”

“Get involved in as much as you can during your first and second year. There’s plenty going on and always an opportunity to get involved in things like the Student Press Office, sport

FRESHER’S WEEK A DISTANT MEMORY?... It’s time to get down to hard work, like spending some of that hard earned loan! Did you know that between Sunday and Thursday you can get 20% off food at Pizza Hut Restaurants with your student card? That’ll help you save your cash for the important things. Terms and Conditions apply. Offer valid all day. Sunday to Thursday, excluding Bank Holidays. 20% off valid at full menu price only – Dine in only. 20% discount is given on food only. Excludes buffet, Kids Birthday parties, alcoholic drinks, Happy Hour, and all other vouchers, discounts and promotions. Valid for tables of up to 4 people. Products subject to availability. Photography for illustrative purposes only. Pizza Hut reserves the right to remove or amend this offer at any time. Deal only valid at participating Pizza Hut Restaurants. A valid photographic student ID card must be shown on payment.

activities and societies. - Helena Tomlinson (History and Politics graduate) “Don’t waste your Met Card money on coffees and food! Use it wisely to buy books and tech online. Jeb Wildbush (History graduate) “Just wash your clothes in the shower. Easy.” - Shady Brown (2nd year Illustration with Animation student)

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We’re not so sure about that last one, Shady! The most important thing to remember in your first year is that this isn’t just a time for you to pick up some extra academic qualifications. University is one of the best opportunities you’ll have in your life to make a fresh start, so don’t waste it and enjoy your three years, Freshers!

Freshers

Maintaining A Positive Balance At University Words: Rosa Methol

Starting university is exciting. It’s meant to be fun, and with interesting new people to meet, groundbreaking ideas to develop and a wonderful city to explore, it probably will be. However, the reality for some students is that things aren’t always perfect and, in the first year in particular, students can be susceptible to stress. Between socialising, studying and relaxing, it can easily feel like there is just too much to do and, as it often appears as if others are coping just fine, you may feel like it’s not the norm. No matter how prepared you are for it, the adjustment to university life can be tough for some. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you maintain that all important positive balance. Know that it is not unusual to be struggling. Remember that you are the most important priority on your list and make sure you invest time in yourself and doing what makes you happy and relaxed. Communicate about things that are stressing you out. The likelihood is that once you’ve discussed your difficulties with someone, they won’t seem as ominous. If you’d rather, speak to someone you don’t already know. Use your weekend to wind down and take in what the city has to offer. There is so much art and culture in Manchester to explore and the museums and galleries are a great place to start and they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Get outside and take advantage of Manchester’s green spaces. You’ll probably already know about Platt Fields Park and Heaton Park. Less-known gems are The Gaskell Garden Project and The Fallowfield Secret Garden, both volunteer-run community gardens. You’re also not far from the countryside with the Peak District and a walk in the hills at Edale is only a short distance away. Take some deep breaths. Manchester Buddhist Centre in the Northern Quarter has beautiful meditation halls and runs tasters and introductory classes that are very reasonably priced for students. Find a time management and planning technique for you. Whether this is using a diary or planner, post-it notes or alerts on your phone, this lesson doesn’t have to be learnt the hard way. Save yourself unwanted stress by taking time to plan ahead for deadlines and other commitments. Take advantage of the help on offer. MMU Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service are a team of professionally qualified counsellors and a mental health advisor experienced in helping students with problems. They can assess, offer counselling, wellbeing and health advice, as well as refer students and liaise with other services. Mental equilibrium doesn’t come naturally and it can take some dedication to get there. Being aware of what helps you relax and feel like yourself during high stress periods when you’re studying is as essential as getting your work done on time. If you can keep this in mind, your mental health will thank you for it in the long run!

5 Prof Dawn Archer minutes with...

How to spot a lie

Interview: Nima Khorramrooz

We influence others with language every day. So, how can we spot if someone is lying? Is it all about eye contact? Body language? Humanity Hallows speaks to Manchester Met’s Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange for Languages, Information and Communications Professor Dawn Archer to find out. In recent years, you’ve been working on projects such as ‘Truth telling’ and ‘How to spot a lie’. Can you share your findings with us? There isn’t always agreement across researchers as to the specific details of how to spot a lie, and what the truth looks like. Many researchers are concluding that it makes sense to look across the words, voice, face, body language and gestures. If we communicate with someone face to face, we can focus on their face and gestures, as well as their words and voice tone. What we do, then, is to pay attention to the information, from the voice, face, etc., and ‘notice what we notice’. We’re especially interested in mismatches across the channels. The words might be saying one thing and the face might be indicating something else, for example. How many times do people lie in a day? It goes back to how many times you try to be nice to others versus trying to deceive them. People will quote numbers to you. However, often, those numbers are based on research studies that are used as though they apply to every context, which is misleading. In what ways can people improve their lie detection skills? They have to check whether they’re believing some of the myths of deception detection. Unfortunately, some of the

books on deception detection seem to propagate these myths. This is true of some culturally-specific behaviours such as looking away, rather than having sustained eye contact with someone, for example. Looking away isn’t a reliable sign that someone’s lying. But it can be part of some people’s cultural practices, as a marker of respect.

“We should be careful, then, when we’re interacting with people from different backgrounds that we’re not misjudging them, because of a behaviour we have wrongly associated with deception.” In fact, we suggest that people who are attempting to mislead may well maintain their eye contact with us as a deliberate means of convincing us that they’re telling the truth. You’re interested in the ‘language of emotion’. Can you tell us more about this?

I’m interested in emotional talk. That is, how the words and voice show different levels of emotion without an emotion being labelled, necessarily. If someone says, ‘I’m fine, but their voice is clipped, and their jawline is tight, I’m going to pick up that they’re not fine but they don’t want to tell me anymore. Here, I’m getting a mismatch between what they tell me and what I see. There’re certain universal triggers of the face that we can look for in respect to emotions. You may have personal experience of this if you’ve been around an individual who has a tendency to get angry frequently. You may have even sensed the emotion before the person noticed it happening to them. What language techniques do we apply when we lie to others? I’m not sure that people think about lying to that level. What’s more revealing to me are the linguistic concepts that can help us to better explain what people do when they lie to others. I often explore ambiguity, misrepresentation and evasion strategies, etc. There are findings that relate to

words such as pronouns too. I’ve done some research where people’s changes in pronouns pointed to distancing. One of the reasons for wanting distance can be deception but it’s not the only reason. Any other lie-spotting tips you can share? Spotting lies isn’t as easy as some of the books suggest. Where you can, start from the premise of believing others. Learn about potential indicators of deception so that you avoid the trap of believing the myths. But remember, even the indicators that are validated by the research are still indicators only. In which case, my advice is to not go looking for them. Instead, be genuinely interested in others, and then ‘notice what you notice’. When you notice anything that appears to be a mismatch across the communication channels, remember to hypothesize. Deception should be the conclusion you come to when you’ve exhausted all other possibilities. Where you don’t have enough information, you should avoid making conclusions.

Words: Jacqueline Grima

Students, teachers and poetry lovers from all over the UK gathered at Manchester Metropolitan University this summer to celebrate the winners of the Mother Tongue Other Tongue Poetry Competition. The multilingual competition was launched in 2012 by Routes into Languages North West as part of Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy’s, Laureate Education Project and this year was supported by the British Council. It aims to celebrate the vast array of languages spoken in the UK, both at home and in schools. This year, the competition was endorsed by activist and human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai. From a young age, Malala promoted education for girls in her home country of Pakistan. After she was shot by a member of the Taliban in 2012, Malala came to the UK for medical treatment, where she continued to tirelessly campaign, becoming the youngest ever person to receive the Nobel Peace prize. Director of Routes into Languages North West and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Dr Sharon Handley, opened the prize-giving ceremony commenting, “Today is a national celebration. It is a celebration of all of your achievements, of multiculturalism and multi-lingualism.” Malala’s father Ziauddin, himself a human rights campaigner and activist, spoke to the audience at the event about his own multi-lingual background. He said, “If you want to be bigger, if you want to be stronger, if you want to be great, you must believe in multi-culturalism and multi-lingualism.” The British Council works in 100 countries worldwide, providing a vast array of educational opportunities for young people to work and study abroad. Programme Manager for the British Council Manchester Yogita Patel talked about the importance of enabling intercultural relationships by promoting language learning. She said, “Learning languages and working with people from different cultures is the way forward.” Over 20,000 young people from across the UK entered the competition, with poems written in over 70 languages. For more information about the competition, visit mmu.ac.uk/mothertongueothertongue For more information about the British Council’s Study Work Create opportunities, britishcouncil.org

He also talked about how it’s important that multi-cultural communities keep their mother tongues alive, saying, “Your mother tongue is the ultimate language in which you express yourself most powerfully. We must be proud of who we are.”

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The event began with entertainment from the Punjabi Roots Academy who performed a series of Bollywood style dances with many of the students enjoying joining in. Also performing was dancer Michelle Pender, who taught some of the students some traditional belly-dancing moves.

If you want to be Then, Director of Routes into Languages North West bigger, want to and Dean of Manchesterif Metyou Humanities Languages and Social Science Faculty Dr Sharon Handley if “Today youis welcomedbe guests.stronger, She told the audience, a national celebration. It is a celebration of all of your want to be great, you achievements, of multi-culturalism and multi-lingualism and I am delighted to be here to host it.” must believe in multiDr Handley went on to talk about how there are 200 culturalism and different languages spoken in Manchester alone and how one in four young people speaks more than one multi-lingualism. language. She said, “Those languages are all part of

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Malala Yousafzai Endorses Mother Tongue Other Tongue National Competition

Malala’s father Ziauddin, himself a human rights campaigner and activist, spoke to the audience at the event about his own multi-lingual background and how he very much identified with the competition’s themes. He said, “If you want to be bigger, if you want to be stronger, if you want to be great, you must believe in multi-culturalism and multi-lingualism.”

the multi-cultural heritage of the United Kingdom.” Routes into Languages Project Manager Yasmin Hussain added, “Mother Tongue Other Tongue is a fantastic project that enables young people to express themselves and to engage with their own cultural identity and the multi-cultural world around them.”

MCR Spotlight

Denim Doctor Stepping off the main streets of the city, Manchester’s shoppers will find a thriving community of sucessful small businesses. We’re shining a spotlight on these hidden treasures to celebrate the people that make Manchester great, First up is Manchester’s very own Denim Doctor and his make-do-and-trend family business. Interview: Jacqueline Grima Michael Pendlebury’s tailoring business, in the heart of Manchester city centre, is an Aladdin’s cave of tailoring paraphernalia, the walls decorated with images of satisfied customers and the narrow, three-roomed emporium lined with every kind of suit fabric you could wish for.

“When I was 17, I left and went to college to do business studies. I went to work with my brother for a while and took the opportunity to learn some new things. I still had a hankering to come back and work with Dad, though, and I began to see how it could work long term.”

The business, James Personal Tailor and Son, was established by Michael’s father, James Pendlebury, in 1973, with Michael running the shop alone since his father passed away last year. Humanity Hallows asked him where his interest in tailoring began.

When Michael came back to work with his father, he decided to use his new skills to modernise the business, launching jamespersonaltailor.co.uk.

“Between the ages of 13 and 16, I worked here with my dad every day after school, doing a full day on a Saturday. When I left school, I started here full-time as an apprentice. ” The route to employment, however, wasn’t quite as easy as Michael anticipated and, after a year or so, he felt compelled to take some time out.

off-the-peg is clear: “It’s so much better value when you compare how many hours and how much care has gone into making one of our suits. A good suit should last you 20 years, whereas you would probably get two or three years out of an off-the-peg.” So, how can we convince the current generation of the value of bespoke, growing up as they are in a seemingly throw-away world?

“We went from doing a suit a week to doing three suits a week. It was like flicking a switch. At the time, there were no other tailoring businesses on the internet so it gave us a kind of shop-front. Now, we get most of our business through the website or through word-of-mouth.”

“It’s difficult. I think maybe it’s something that just comes with age and maturity. Something that comes when you value your money more. Cheap clothing is so accessible now, so, of course, people on a budget are going to buy it.”

James’ customers are given a unique and personalised suit-fitting service, with fabrics on offer including mixes of bamboo, cashmere, silk and 22-carat goldthread. Michael’s passion for bespoke over

Despite our throw-away ways, however, Michael’s Denim Doctor side of the business, which specialises in repairing jeans and denim jackets, is thriving.

Michael shared some fantastic stories about the business including the time father and son were called to Manchester’s Lowry Hotel by a certain famous celebrity.

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We were escorted up to the hotel room by security and Lionel Richie answered the door. He had a pair of Roberto Cavalli leather trousers that needed repairing. He wanted to wear them on stage the next night.

“It was a horrendous job. We don’t usually do leather and it was a bad rip. Luckily, we figured it out in the end.”

gym three times a week and is maybe broad-shouldered wants a suit that fits properly.”

Other celebrity clients have included Barry Manilow, Paul Scholes and George Best.

Indeed, as well as coming through the recent recession, James Personal Tailor and Son seems to have survived more than its fair share of hardship, with James’ first shop being destroyed by the 1996 Manchester bomb.

“After he had had surgery, he had lost lots of weight and nothing fitted him so Dad made him six or seven suits. He came for a fitting and we chatted about all sorts of stuff. He told us how he often hung about at the playing fields in Salford wearing a cap and a big coat to watch the Sunday League players.” With menswear retailer Austin Reed recently having gone into administration, it is difficult to see where the future lies for businesses such as James Personal Tailor and Son but Michael seems optimistic.

“Our shop was on Corporation Street. It was early Saturday morning and a policeman came in and told my dad that they were evacuating the area because of a bomb threat. It wasn’t a forced evacuation but they were advising that everyone leave. He took my dad outside and pointed to a lorry, saying, ‘Apparently, it’s in there and, if it is, then it’s coming your way.’

“There are a lot of tailors out there but most do made-to-measure, not bespoke. Some of them get their suits made in China but don’t tell their customers, or use factories in Italy, but a lot of people want suits made in England out of English fabric. 95% of our fabrics are made in England.

“Dad was reluctant to leave. He spoke to Billy, his manager, and they decided to flip a coin to decide if to leave or not. Dad flipped the coin but, in the end, he didn’t look at it. Even though there’d been quite a few hoax calls about bombs at the time, he said he had a funny feeling. Just as they left, the bomb went off.”

“Men’s health and image is a big thing now. Lads are into preening and gentrification is back in a big way. Who’d have thought that men would ever be moisturising or having their eyebrows done? There’s a lot of emphasis on how you look now and a lad who goes to the

With a clear family intuition and celebrity endorsements, Humanity Hallows is sure that James Personal Tailor and Son will be making bespoke suits for years to come. For more from James Personal Tailor and Son visit: tailorsinmanchester.co.uk/thedenimdoctor.

Photography: Sara Da Silva

“We get jeans from all over the world. At the minute, I’ve got a pair from Sweden and another from Philadelphia. One guy sent me a Levi’s jean jacket that he had spent a whole week’s wages on in the 60s. I repaired it and he was over the moon.”

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Manchester Youth Council: Getting young people heard We caught up with the Manchester Youth Council to find out more about their campaigns on the issues facing young people in our city today. Words: Nima Khorramarooz Additional reporting: Manchester Youth Council With so many changes taking place recently in British politics and culture, it seems more important than ever that the young people of the UK engage with their socio-economic environment. Indeed, with a new Prime Minister recently taking office, the student loans system going through major changes and, of course, the British public voting to leave the European Union, the UK is going to start changing massively over the next few years. It means that the current younger generation, who will soon be leading the way for Britain’s future, feel that now is the time to have their voices heard. One way that the young people of Manchester can have their say is through the Manchester Youth Council.

The Manchester Youth Council (MYC) are a group of young people, aged 11-18, (Young Leaders 19-25), who represent the youth of Manchester. They run meetings, events, training and campaigns at local and national levels to ensure they are

influencing decisions and shaping future services for young people. MYC Engagement Coordinator Joanne Aungier has worked with the young people of Manchester for many years. Humanity Hallows asked her what constitutes a young person: “To me, they are any young person who wants to be engaged and is old enough to make a change for themselves and their community. My role is to work with young people aged 11 to 25 and up to 30 if they are working on a European project in Manchester.” MYC is recognized by Parliament to be the voice of young people in Manchester and is also involved with the ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign, which decides what is debated by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons. Last year’s ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign ran from 1st September to 14th October, with

approximately 22,639 young people taking part in Manchester. Issues explored included the living wage, transport, mental health and how to tackle racism and religious discrimination. The issues were then debated at the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons with mental health, racism and religious discrimination voted as the main issues to be addressed in 2016. Member of Youth Parliament for Manchester Ali Drabu, who proposed the motion to tackle racism and religious discrimination, said, “At UK Youth Parliament, Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) debated other forms of discrimination. It’s not just about certain religious groups. People discriminate on any grounds, such as physical and mental disabilities, cultures, colour, age, gender and transgender.” These campaigns have since evolved into the ‘Don’t Hate, Educate!’ and ‘Time to Talk’ campaigns.

The Youth Council has recently undergone an extensive restructure, allowing them to recruit more members and affiliate groups, as well as having an elected group to lead the Youth Council. Speaking at the time of the launch of ‘Don’t Hate, Educate!’, Kaitlynn Fenton of The Hive, the group responsible for leading MYC, talked about how the new structure of the MYC helped the campaign: “In the new structure, we are in charge of leading Manchester Youth Council, communicating with the affiliate groups and doing our best to support and encourage the youth of Manchester. The ‘Don’t Hate, Educate!’ campaign is currently in its early days and we are trying to make it one of the strongest in the North West and in the UK. We have a number of schools and groups that we communicate with to get ideas of how we can lead our campaigns.” The 2016 Make Your Mark campaign goes live from 12th August to 13th October and MYP’s Sam Remi Akinwale and Vanessa Attipoe stressed the importance of sharing the campaign’s message far and wide.

“Manchester are aiming to break their own ballot record, and be the best in the UK. Help us to share this on social media and pass it on to make Manchester Youth Council no.1 in the UK and represent the voice of young people!” Other successful campaigns have included the 2014 ‘Curriculum for Life’, which equips young people with valuable life skills. Former MYP Michelle Saidi told us: “‘Curriculum for Life’ is to do with teaching students skills that they’re actually going to need. Learning a second language, financial planning, sexual health & relationships are just a few of the topics that were covered. This is now back on the agenda for young people. “Manchester has been shortlisted to be the European Youth Capital for 2019. We talk to people and many say that they don’t feel European. But it’s not about the European Union, it’s about being part of the continent. Following Brexit, we want to make sure that young people have a voice in Europe and our bid for European Youth Capital shows that young people identify as European, we would like as many young people as possible to get involved.”

Michelle has since gone on to be a hugely influential member of the steering group at North West Youth Focus and also represents Manchester at European and international meetings for the UK. Additionally, 2014 MYP, Yasmina Lee, led the campaign for Manchester Council to lower the voting age to 16. This was passed in 2014. This follows previous MYPs Leon Gledhill and Patrick Farrell putting Manchester on the Map in 2013 by raising participation in the Make your Mark campaign from 12 young people to 10,500 taking part for the first time in Manchester. Manchester Youth Council prides itself on its diversity, with young carers, looked after children, care leavers, refugees, asylum seekers and members from a variety of different cultures and abilities all part of the extensive community that MYC has built. The council always need the help of amazing volunteers to help run workshops and events and there are numerous ways the young people of Manchester can get involved. You can find out more about the MYC on their Twitter and Facebook pages as well as their website at manchesteryouthcouncil.co.uk

Clubs

This Is England Club Night Comes to Manchester Earlier this summer, Sankeys welcomed Manchester’s first This is England club night featuring classic tracks from the Shane Meadows directed masterpieces. We spoke to Andrew Ellis, or ‘Gadget’ as you may know him, about what we can expect from the This Is England club nights. Interview: Jack Holmes The original film and the follow up TV series follow a group of school kids and young adults as they find their way through life and the rapidly changing British landscape, from the original film set in 1983, right up to the final series which took place in 1990. Each soundtrack instalment was designed to reflect their place in the British musical timeline, so you can expect to hear everything from ska to acid house, all presented by the members of the cast. The night will be spread across two rooms, the first devoted to indie and Madchester, and will feature DJ Sets from Thomas Turgoose (Shaun), Andrew Ellis (Gadget), Andrew Shim (Milky) and Johnny Walsh. The second will focus on rave, acid house and 90s club classics, with sets from Allister Whitehead and K Klass. Each instalment of the This is England story featured an amazing soundtrack, how are you going to balance the ska and reggae classics of the 80’s, with the Madchester and Acid House anthems of the 90’s? We mostly play the 90’s anthems at the club nights. We mix in a few bits of Ska and 80’s jams in there too, it just depends what the audience (and ourselves) are feeling on the night. We always keep our sets fresh though and play some great indie and hip hop anthems that aren’t in the soundtracks too. What other aspects of This is England will you be bringing to the night?

I’d have to say the ‘gang’s banter’. Myself, Andrew Shim and Thomas Turgoose are all really good mates, all the cast are to be fair. We don’t see each other as much as we’d like so we have a good night and a great laugh when we do. You’ll normally find me dancing to some indie jams, Thommo smoking outside halfway through and Shimmy just looking cool as always. Any special surprises planned? Nothing major really. Like I say we just join in and have a good night. We never just sit in a box and change songs. It’s a night out for us too so we make the most of it. Will the soundtrack be entirely British? This is England after all. No, we’ve got ska in there and loads of American influences like hip hop, etc. Beautiful music made by beautiful people from all corners of our world! Can we expect to hear some of the classic tracks from the original film and as well as the latest series? Some Specials and Dexys Midnight Runners, perhaps? Thommo loves playing 54/46 Was My Number by Toots and the Maytals. It’s a great track and goes down a treat. Again, we just see where the night takes us really. Will the cast be attending as their characters or themselves? It’ll for the most part be us but once we get

together and have a few drinks we tend to slip into our character and act a bit like them, haha! Is there a stand out track on the playlist for you personally? I always play Sit Down by James. It’s a personal fave of mine and I try and make the whole crowd sit down to it too which is… eventful! Should we expect the This is England club nights to reinvigorate the Madchester scene? I hope so. That music has never really died. I went to the Stone Roses gig at the “Emptyhad” the other month and it was beautiful because the audience was so varied. I was stood next to both young kids and people way into their fifties - it’s a great scene and it will be around for a long time. Which is more fun? Acting or being the DJ of your own club night? I’m an actor, that’s my passion and I’m at my happiest when I’m doing that. Shane Meadows (the director of This Is England) has recently hinted at the potential for a second film to finish off the This Is England series, care to comment? I’ve heard the same as you guys really. I know Shane and everyone involved, myself included, would love to do more, so if Shane ever pens it we are all there for sure.

Dusk ‘til Dawn: Manchester Taste Trail By Adam Mckinney

When you first arrive in Manchester, the Northern Powerhouse of Britain, you may feel understandably overwhelmed by the sheer scale of choice available for culinary delights. Here is a taste trail of recommendations pieced together following my first year as a student in the city that will keep you out of your overdraft with a full stomach from noon ‘til night.

Breakfast: Grano After some time in the city, you’ll begin to feel the rhythm of the place, your early morning scurry to the coffee shop, seeking that essential caffeine injection, perhaps accompanied by a delightfully filling bacon and scrambled egg on toast. But if you want the best there is to offer in a morning, your first choice should always be Grano. Grano is independently run (no conglomerate chains here!), boasts an excellent atmosphere throughout the day and serves coffee to die for, which is ethically sourced! Founded by Manchester Met graduate Boki Shinebayar, and situated on the Birley campus, this place is a must-visit before or after morning lectures and, with the opening hours and the variety on the menu, you could easily stay the entire day. Grano, 49 Stretford Rd, Manchester, M15 5JH granomcr.co.uk @GranoMcr

Lunch: Umami Noodle Bar In the early afternoon, you may find yourself in one of the multiple ramen noodle restaurants in China town, but my personal favourite is the Umami Noodle Bar opposite All Saints campus. Ordering a Chicken Satay

starter and Chicken Teriyaki noodle soup main on a cold, and typically wet Manchester afternoon can be extremely comforting, especially with the £4.95 price of the 12pm3pm lunch express menu. Washed down with a bottle of refreshing lager, a noodle lunch can be a nice way to wind down after a morning’s hard work in the library, but if you need to get back to lectures, the turnaround is quick and you can easily fit two courses into half an hour.

marinated pork steak with jerk glaze, green seasoning, sweet plantain, Caribbean slaw, rice ‘n’ peas and sweet potato fries which are the epitome of the true tastes of the Caribbean, succulent and packing a delightfully fiery punch. Alternatively, the Mo Bay Chicken in a creamy jerk spiced sauce will make your mouth water.

Umami Noodle Bar, 147/153 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 1EE Tel: 0161 273 2300

Dessert: Ice Stone Gelato

Dinner: Turtle Bay Just a short 10-minute walk from campus, a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere awaits you. Inside Turtle Bay, bartenders conjuring up multiple rum-based concoctions, making you feel close to the delights of the Caribbean while you enjoy a rest from work or student life. Especilly if you’re enjoying the two-for-one cocktails such as ‘Jammin’ or ‘Tobago Tea’, during Happy Hour. To eat, you can order exquisite Jerk Chicken Wings accompanied with a sour orange chutney. Or, if you prefer, the Dipped Pork Steak with grilled jerk spice and the

Turtle Bay, 33-35 Oxford St, M1 4WB Tel: 0161 236 4101 turtlebay.co.uk

Yes, you have room! When you see the vibrant colours and vast choice of flavours available at this little Italian-styled Gelateria, it immediately transports you back to your childhood, although my personal favourite, the Minty Sundae Classic, may have a grown up taste to it these days. With exciting and exotically flavoured scoops, gateaux, fruit ices and cheesecakes available, you are spoilt for choice. If you are trying to be healthy, go for one of the frozen yogurt options (Blueberry is a favourite!) This place rivals any Baskin Robbins and is a perfect cooling treat on sunny and rainy days alike. Ice Stone Gelato,133-135, Oxford Rd, M1 7DY icestonegelato.co.uk

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I felt acutely aware of the human mind as landscape, having oceans and cliffs and mountains, and in this manic-depressive state, I felt like I was moving in different terrain at different times.

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Interview: Daniel Broadley

Jay Griffiths is somewhat of a modern day adventurer. Unlike the explorers of old, Jay’s mission is not conquest but rather a concern for exploring the wildernesses of planet Earth, as well as the wild plains of the human psyche. Jay is the acclaimed writer of such works as Pip Pip, Wild and Kith. She’s won the Orion Book Award and the Barnes & Nobel Discover Award for Best New Non-fiction Writer. She’s spent years travelling, meeting indigenous people from the Amazon, Papua and even the Arctic. In Wild: An Elemental Journey, she recounts these experiences, which include drinking ayahuasca (the world’s most powerful hallucinogen) with Amazonian healers and singing alongside Papuan freedom fighters. In her latest book, Tristimania, Jay writes a courageous account of a year-long episode of manic depression which culminated in a solo pilgrimage across Spain. It is a rare recording of someone suffering from depression and, in a time when mental illness is only just starting to be taken seriously. What drove you to travel to the wilderness? I was - and remain - fascinated by the necessity of wildness, how the human spirit finds answering cadences in the nonhuman and untamed world. I also have a great respect for indigenous cultures, and I felt it was important to write about wild lands by asking the thoughts of the people

who lived there: indigenous Amazonians, Australians, West Papuans, and Inuit cultures. Their knowledge has an ancient beauty, and I think it is true to say that there are songlines - a kind of music of the land all over the world. You drank ayahuasca with shamans in the Amazon. How was that? I had been suffering a severe episode of depression, and an anthropologist had invited me to talk to shamans he knew, and to drink ayahuasca, which they use medicinally for many purposes, including psychological distress. It was profoundly helpful in lifting the depression I was feeling, but it has a far wider reach. It is rightly treated as a spiritual ritual, a profoundly sacred act, and it gave me a powerful sense of the inalienable ecocratic nature of our world; that everything, from a tiny insect to a human, to a parrot or a piece of moss, all had its place, its story, its necessity in the congruence of the world. And that there is a sacred duty towards the world. In your latest book Tristimania, you describe a yearlong episode of manicdepression. How did your experiences of travelling the world affect your illness? I felt acutely aware of the human mind as landscape, having oceans and cliffs and mountains, and in this manic-depressive state, I felt like I was moving in different terrain at different times. Probably the longest lasting sense I had was that I was climbing high in the death-zone in these mountains of the psyche, and I kept trying to remember all the best safety techniques from actual climbing. This might look

like ‘just’ a metaphor, but in that kind of madness, the metaphors the mind uses are crucial, in part because someone in psychological distress needs to know that their spirit can be ‘found’, and it is important to express how that inner landscape feels. So I tried hard to remind myself that in the mountains, one should not drink alcohol, should never undo the safety line, and also that more accidents happen on the way down. This was as true for my psyche as it is for a climber in the actual mountains. Anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental illnesses in the UK. Do you think that reconnecting with the natural world may help people? Yes! With all my heart! In that green world, one is not judged. There is a fluency, a continuous movement in the natural world which can work its way through the awful paralysis of depression. The company of cats, dogs, hares, trees, flowers, bees - all of it - continues to supply a melody of vitality to the mind. Indoors can feel deadening for the depressed mind. We once met at a Buddhist retreat in Scotland. Do you think practicing meditation may help those suffering? Practising meditation within the context of Buddhism may be enormously beneficial because it works in part by acceptance of one’s feelings, and moves beyond oneself into a greater sense of compassion opened outwards into the world. In contrast, the practice of mindfulness seems to me to have a sense of claustrophobic, and often quite mindless, self-absorption which misses entirely the wider and kinder and cleverer aspects of Buddhism.

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Write the story that needs to be told, the one you haven’t read anywhere before.

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Interview: Jamie Stewart

Wyl Menmuir, a 36-year-old father-of-two from Stockport, had just graduated from Manchester Met’s MA in Creative Writing when he found out his debut novel The Many had been long-listed for the 2016 Man Booker Prize. A keen follower of the Man Booker, Menmuir wasn’t expecting a nomination, and initially missed the call. “When the news came in I was having a coffee with my grandma, my mum and one of my aunties. I could see my phone lighting up, but ignored it for quite a while and when I eventually checked my messages I wasn’t sure whether or not it was an elaborate hoax.” Three weeks later, Menmuir still doesn’t quite believe the nomination. “I think it’s only just starting to sink in now. It’s not something I was expecting at all and still feels surreal to have been long-listed.” The Many is a short novel that teeters on the edge of gothic horror. We discover a great deal about Timothy and Ethan, the main characters, through flashbacks and dream sequences, and it is clear that the theme of the unconscious is mirrored in how Menmuir uses the sea as a device.

“The sea is a great metaphorical device in fiction. I, like a lot of other people, I guess, am obsessed with

the sea – it’s huge enough to project onto it whatever hopes, fears and desires you throw at it. It’s all that and more. I wanted the sea to be as much a character as any of the people in the village, almost as though it had its own sentience.” Yet the sea is just the beginning of the horror for Timothy, an outsider who has bought a dead man’s house, and finds himself both increasingly surrounded and isolated by those in the village.

on, getting up close with the fishing boats. I was surprised at how open and friendly people were, not at all like the characters you meet in the novel.”

unlock something in my own writing.”

When asked about his experience of studying at Manchester Met, Menmuir praised the online Creative Writing MA.

“I originally trained as a journalist and I think I’ve developed a Pavlovian response to editors. I need someone breathing down my neck, saying ‘I need that article in the next hour’ or ‘I need 3,000 words on my desk by Tuesday’ to get anything down on paper, so it really helped me with discipline.”

“It was never going to be set in a picture-postcard fishing village – where’s the interest in that? I wanted to scratch the surface and get beyond the chocolate-box image.”

“The thing that helped was having that community of writers around me, all of whom were struggling with the same thing. It was incredibly valuable to workshop sections of the novel with others and I’m still very much in touch with many of the people on the course, despite never having met them in person.”

It isn’t surprising that Menmuir visited more than one village as part of his research.

Menmuir also acknowledged the input of the staff at the Writing School.

“I did quite a lot of research, not just in Cornwall but in the North East as well, on Scotland’s east coast, on the west coast of Ireland. The village you meet in The Many is stitched together from about 15 villages I know fairly well.

“I really benefited from having fantastic tutors, in particular Nicholas Royle, who subsequently became my editor for the published novel with Salt. Nick supported and challenged me in equal measure. He has that knack of knowing just the right question to ask, as well as a seemingly prescient knack of reading suggestions that seemed to

“I did a lot of walking and sitting in different places, just watching what was going

It seems as though Menmuir’s past also helped him to finish the manuscript.

Menmuir also had some advice for novice writers, “Write the story that needs to be told, the one you haven’t read anywhere before. Read adventurously – the novel is incredibly flexible and there are incredible writers out there who are playing with the form, pushing its boundaries and doing endlessly interesting things with it. Push yourself. You are your own first reader and if what you’re writing doesn’t fascinate you, doesn’t excite you, what’s the point? And above anything else, finish what you start.” The Many is available now from Salt Publishing and other retailers.

Book Corner Moranifesto

A Boy Made of Blocks

By Caitlin Moran

By Keith Stuart

Caitlin Moran is a well-known journalist and an all-round funny lady. Let’s just mark that down as fact. Her latest addition to her bestselling book collection is Moranifesto, a collection of hilarious anecdotes mixed in with informative and serious issues that she believes must be dealt with by society. Dealing with issues such as how public libraries are slowly being shrunk to non-existence due to austerity cuts, and how we must stop teenagers feeling worthless. Moran’s essays may be heavily political but she delivers her sharp tongue with witty humour by mixing the hard hitting subjects with ones such as ‘the real purpose of Starbucks’ and ‘a woman’s monthly faultiness’. Moran connects to you in so many ways that reading her work makes you feel like you’re chatting to an old friend. Overall, Moran is the queen of humour-laced political text. Her ability to mix the downright hilarious with progressive movements will drag you in and force you to take note. She’ll even explain why printers are pure evil! [Joanna Shaw]

Humanity Hallows

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Manchester Met Uni Student Press Office

Freelance contributor opportunities available Visit www.humanityhallows.co.uk/work-with-us

A raw, emotional and unfalteringly honest debut by Keith Stuart, The Boy Made of Blocks is a standout novel of the year. Inspired by the author’s relationship with his own autistic son, the story charts the despair of an ongoing family breakdown and an unlikely, and beautifully touching, connection made between father and son, over the computer game Minecraft. Newly single, Alex is struggling with skeletons in the closet and desperately attempting to bridge the emotional gap between him and his son. When, together, they enter a computer simulated world, Alex begins to find ways to pick up and rebuild his life, brick by virtual brick. Funny and true-to-life throughout, The Boy Made of Blocks will grip you from the first few pages and not let you go until you are openly weeping in public. Drawing comparisons to Nick Hornby and David Nicholls, Stuart’s first book holds a great deal of promise. [Jeb Wildbush]

Student Voice

Can We Live Without Mobile Phones? Words: Jacque Talbot Culture can plant ideals and behaviours into our minds from a very young age and can stay with us throughout our lifetimes. It is worrying, then, to see children prefering to play Candy Crush than playing outside. As technology advances, we find the line between what is ‘human’ and what is ‘technology’ is becoming more and more blurred. When you are out in public, particularly when you’re enclosed in a small space such as on a train or in an elevator, you will perhaps have noticed the seeming ‘zombification’ of your fellow humans.

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Using mobile phones is becoming so embedded in our cultural fabric that they are almost an electrical extension of our body, which is troublesome when you learn of the effect it can have on our mental health.

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The overuse of these devices gets in the way of our natural social stimulus, and, in extreme cases, can arguably end up completely replacing it. Studies have shown that withdrawal from gadgets and technology had similar effects as going ‘cold turkey’ has people addicted to drugs. A number of studies explicitly show that there is a correlation between over usage of our phones and an increase in both depression and anxiety. This is interesting considering that, according to Psychology Today, today’s average high school student suffers from the same level as anxiety of a psychiatric patient from the 1950s. Another study carried out by Anxiety UK showed that 1 in 6 youngsters will experience anxiety.

Try it for yourself. Put away your phone for a few hours to see if you can do it. Many people will undoubtedly feel uncomfortable and apprehensive. You may even reach into your pockets or bag unwittingly forgetting you don’t have it. Upon the end of this experiment, you may conclude that your behaviour and thoughts are not perhaps very healthy or natural. Or if you feel you don’t have the time to go without your phone, you may want to look at the following symptoms to see if your phone is having a negative effect: social withdrawal, a lack of interest in activities that don’t include a gadget, a feeling of restlessness and unease when without a gadget, computer or phone, a feeling of elation or euphoria when online and constant Facebook, Twitter and or text message checking. If you find yourself with any number of these symptoms, it’s highly possible that you have ‘phone addiction’. The trouble with our phones is that they are just so easy and accessible. They are a great way to interact, but how do you know when to stop? When is it too much? How many times have you checked your phone in between reading this article? The problem with our habits, especially bad ones, is that when they become wired into your brain, they are there for life. It’s why you will always know how to ride a bike. Just as bad habits are easy to pick up, however, so are good ones. Have you ever noticed how hard and long your first day at work was? It seemed like it took a lot of effort and focus. But as soon as that particular habit became routine, you found you could do it without thought. It is lucky then that we can put down our phones, just as easily as when we started to overuse them. It may be beneficial to take the time to practice being vigilant in taking time off from your phone. Perhaps set aside two hours a day when you can put your phone down and focus on doing worthwhile activities instead. We know a balanced lifestyle is important, so by implementing these ‘nophone time zones’, you may find that you feel better. There is no surprise that a profitable product such as the mobile phone finds itself without scrutiny with regard to health and safety matters, which is why it is our responsibility to educate ourselves. Control your phone, don’t let it control you.

Learning To Be Different

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Recognising differences helps us to appreciate that being unique is something we should celebrate, not something to be scared of or judgemental about.

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WE BAD

Words: Benjamin Frances Cassidy Starting university in a strange new city can be difficult, but, for some new students, there may be additional reasons adapting might be a struggle. During my Access to English and Creative Writing Diploma, I discovered I have a disorder called Developmental Coordination Disorder, also known as, Dyspraxia. Once diagnosed, lots of things I’d experienced, and behaviours I’d demonstrated when I was younger, suddenly made sense. Some people know very little about Dyspraxia and this can lead to assumptions being made. These are potentially harmful to sufferers, creating stigma that may typecast them, giving rise to beliefs such as that those with Dyspraxia are of lower capability than others. Learning to adapt to academic life, including independent study, in the fast-moving environment of higher education is tough enough. Recognising differences helps us to appreciate that being unique is something we should celebrate, not something to be scared, or judgemental about. It’s important to consider the following: no medical evidence exists to support links between Dyspraxia and capability. Myths exist due to the lack of facts about Dyspraxia being shared; certain individuals with Dyspraxia have been shown to have above average IQs and an ability to excel at lateral thinking. It may seem like success is a target with ever-shifting goal posts, but once you understand how you learn as an individual, it gets easier to find approaches more suited to your personal learning style. Misconceptions surrounding people with Dyspraxia include the assumption that they cannot read, write, or do basic maths.

Some individuals do struggle with aspects of forming letters, and pronouncing certain words, but, with the right support, great levels of success can be achieved. Celebrities with Dyspraxia include: Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, who managed to read all those scripts; Jack Kerouac, whose generation defining book On the Road is testament to his achievements; and, none other than Albert Einstein, the original and for many, the definitive Mr Clever Clogs, who proved himself more than capable, sharing his work with the world. Support is available, it’s just a case of knowing where to find it. A good starting point is the Dyspraxia Foundation, who offer a wealth of tips, facts and even products that may help you. The Disability Service, based in the Business School at Manchester Met, offer a wide range of services, including help with applying to Student Finance England, guidance on seeking additional support, and appointments with a Disability Advisor, who can discuss a Personal Learning Plan with you. Time to Change are a society within the university, set up to raise awareness of mental health and emotional well-being. Some of the volunteers, including myself have experience with difficulties, so they’ll have some idea what you might be going through. Time to Change also has links with other organisations and charities, such as, Mind and The Samaritans. For more information about dyspraxia and support available visit: Dyspraxia Foundation: dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk Student Services: mmu.ac.uk/sas/studentservices Societies at the Union MMU: theunionmmu.org

Beating That Long Distance Relationship Ache Words: Melissa Birch Illustration: Catherine Player

Getting an offer from university is a great feeling for any future fresher. But after the initial excitement settles down and the nerves kick in, so do some pretty big questions: ‘Will I have enough money?’ ‘What if I can’t get a job?’ ‘Will I make new friends?’ and, most importantly, ‘Should I go to university single?’

Firstly, do you stay together?

The initial heartache feeling The feeling of missing someone is often painful, especially if you haven’t had to deal with it before. It might come in waves when you have some free time which you would have usually spent with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Instead, you will find yourself bored and not sure what to do with yourself. Use this to your advantage. You have free time to be alone and create stronger a sense of self and develop your own identity. Try finding a hobby or doing something new. At Uni there are plenty of societies and sport activities to join to meet new people and hopefully find out something new about yourself at the same time.

Feeling held back As a young person it can be so easy to put your main focus into a relationship and to neglect friends. You might have seen this happen with either a friend who has a new boyfriend/girlfriend and maybe you’ve done it yourself accidentally, too! Try to avoid this if you can help it. Your first few weeks at university should be about making new friends - it’s all part of the experience. It’s possible that you may start feeling like you can’t go out and have fun with new friends and see new places because your partner won’t like it. Or maybe you feel bad that they’re stuck at home while you’re out having fun and wish they were there. Either way try to remember you living your life isn’t stopping your partner living theirs. In any healthy relationship your partner should understand that there’s a mutual trust involved and that having fun and socialising is part of the university experience. You will miss them but you shouldn’t feel guilty for enjoying yourself. Remember they are around family, friends and familiarity at home whereas you’re somewhere new and don’t know many people yet so you should be getting to know new people and having fun. Exploring your new surroundings and socialising with course friends and housemates will take your mind off it. You will even know a few new places to go and see when they come to visit; such as quirky cafes that Manchester isn’t short of, vintage shops within the Northern Quarter, or cocktail bars that are spread across the city for some evening entertainment.

Communication This goes deeper than the ‘Good morning’ and ‘Goodnight’ texts a lot of us make sure to send. When the only interaction you are having regularly with your boyfriend or girlfriend is digital, it becomes hard to notice if something is really wrong. You might not want to discuss anything negative during that small time you get to speak over the phone. It is important to understand that communication is key to make any relationship work. If your partner has an issue you have to make time to listen. This works both ways as well so, if you have something on your mind, then you speak to them about it too. Neglecting real problems rising in the relationship will only result in pushing each other away and creating a real divide between the two of you.

Additional tips Plan dates It’s important to set a date for the next time you see each other and plan something fun. It will put your mind at ease knowing you something to look forward to. FaceTime regularly We all get busy but making time to speak on the phone a few times a week is vital and FaceTime makes things even more personal. Don’t get jealous Try not to get jealous when your partner starts seeing their friends more often. Feeling left out is normal but it is better for both of you to fulfil your time doing fun or productive things. Split the journeys Travel can be expensive so try to go home to see them as much as they come to see you. This won’t work for everyone and sometimes you might not want to go home because of all the fun you're having with your new friends. Trust is a must Trusting each other is the most important thing in any relationship regardless of how far apart you are.

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When the only interaction you are having regularly with your boyfriend or girlfriend is digital, it becomes hard to notice if something is really wrong.

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You may be questioning if you should leave your relationship at home before you have even set off on your new adventure. If that is what you really feel is right for you, then go ahead. If not, then there is nothing wrong with trying to make it work. After all, absence can make the heart grow fonder.

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They are just passing the buck on to the next generation. It’s a ticking time-bomb.

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26:86 Collective visited the Chernobyl exclusion zone to create a multi-disciplined body of artistic work inspired by Chernobyl. We speak to Manchester School of Art students Claire Baker and Sam Price to learn more about their trip. Interview: Jacqueline Grima

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Everyone on the trip had their own personal focus.

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April 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the world’s most devastating nuclear accident, during which an explosion and fire at a reactor near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, sent massive quantities of radioactive particles into the air.

This year, a team of artists known as the 26:86 Collective visited the 30km wide site immediately surrounding the disaster, known as the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The aim of the collective, which included Manchester School of Art students Claire Baker and Sam Price, was to create a multi-disciplined body of artistic work inspired by Chernobyl that will be shown at various events throughout 2016/17. Claire spoke to Humanity Hallows about how the project began: “We had a wide range of research topics to look at and I was particularly interested in dark tourism. I found out that you could visit Chernobyl so I went with my daughters in 2015. When I was there, I found it so evocative and emotional. I had also been to Auschwitz but I just somehow felt more connected to Chernobyl. It

was amazing. I had to go back.” Claire immediately set about recruiting other artists who might be interested in taking part in a tour of the exclusion zone with a guide. “People either said, ‘Oh my God, why did you go there?’ or ‘Wow, that’s amazing. I want to go!’ Sam was on board right away and then the whole idea seemed to organically evolve into the 26:86 Collective.” Sam spoke to us about the personal drives behind the members of the 26:86 collective. “Everyone on the trip had their own personal focus. I myself am very interested in urban decay, or derelict and decaying buildings, so having the chance to visit Chernobyl was like going to fantasy-land.” Asked about the health risks still associated with the exclusion zone, even 30 years on, Claire said: “The radiation levels are very carefully monitored. If you spend two days in Chernobyl, you are actually only exposed to the same amount of radiation to that of a long-haul flight.”

Sam added: “The main issue there is actually the fact that it’s so derelict. The buildings might fall down at any time.”

Even today, huge issues surround the fate of reactor number four, which is still producing radiation years on.

At the time of the explosion, families in Pripyat were immediately evacuated to Kiev, many having to trawl the city to find a place to stay. The area surrounding Chernobyl eventually became a ghost town, evacuation measures also put into place in surrounding areas such as Belarus and parts of Russia.

Claire explained, “They put a concrete cover over the reactor to contain the radiation but it has huge holes in it. The new sarcophagus put into place is only designed to last 100 years. They are just passing the buck on to the next generation. It’s a ticking time-bomb.”

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It’s a very calm place, with few birds or animals. It’s so peaceful, but then you see a nuclear reactor in the distance and look at the derelict buildings and you are reminded of why you are there.

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The explosion, said to have been many times more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped at Hiroshima, killed 31 people and still impacts the lives of Ukrainians generations later, with many future deaths from radiation-linked conditions still predicted.

So, have lessons been learned? Claire thinks there has: “The positive thing about Chernobyl is that nuclear power stations are now ultra-safe. One thing not many people know is that a second explosion was very narrowly avoided through the actions of some of the individuals at the site. If that had happened, we wouldn’t be sitting here now. It would have wiped out the whole of Europe.” Upcoming exhibitions: 1/12/16 - 12/1/17, House of Blah Blah, Middlesbrough 9-25/2/17, St Joseph Church, Stanley, Co. Durham 10/10/17 - 9/11/17, Hartlepool Art Gallery For more information, visit 2686collective.tumblr.com

I am Now, as I look down my shadow doesnâ€™t fall in front of me, Now, as I inhale, I am not choked by a vacuum, but gorge on a warmth that infiltrates my bones, Now, as I step, my feet finds the floor pulling me forward, Now, when I speak, my voice finds the air and lands on kinder ears, I am, letting go of the weight which fought to sink my heart, I am, pushing past the fog which was so determined to set my soul to stone, I am, making a choice, to be free, Free to have a smile which isnâ€™t paper thick Free to let my scars be artefacts of a distant memory Free, to be something, free to be anything Now I am standing up I am not looking where I fell, but where I slipped An author has not finished with my story, there is more, there is hope, The story begins again, I am not scared of the unknown, but scared of the certainty, the absolute, waiting behind me I am walking, I am looking, I am breathing, And I am laughing, Now, I am free. By Tom Gallagher

Revolution! Cameras are turning... Revolution! Turning into plastic people, Plastic smiles in fashion, Counterfeit compassion, Revolution, revolution, revolution... Sage smoke throws out demons old, Rock n roll preserves the soul, Freshly shot revolvers stare at turntables and shudder. This plastic planet, Hard hearts smoothly carved in granite, Used to be alright, you know Revolution changes everything. New beginnings again, Revolutions every generation, Looking at you Through the rose tinted view Of a memory... It seems Civilisations progress and Regress with the wind. By Freddie Bruhin-Price and Hannah Cornall

Illustration: Antony Cross

Recipe

Damilola Oladokun

Words: Ola

Jollof Rice and Chicken

As students, we are often on a tight budget and at assessment peak times we want to cook something cheap, quick and tasty that can be stored in the fridge for later. We also love to give ourselves a treat after a hard day’s work without necessarily going broke. Jollof rice is a meal from the western part of Africa that serves as a good treat. It is also a perfect meal for a lunch or house dinner. It is a versatile meal and you can add whatever suits you to make the meal more interesting. Perfect for students who might have ingredients lying around the kitchen!

(Serves 4-6) Ingredients 8 chicken drumsticks 3 tblsp sunflower oil 1 large onion sliced Tomato puree Chicken stock cube

400g rice 1 red pepper sliced All-purpose seasoning Curry powder 400g can plum tomatoes 1 scotch bonnet chilli

“

“He who asks for stew on top of jollof rice has trust issues." - Alexander III

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Recipe: Jollof Rice and Chicken

Method Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 2tbsp of the oil in a large deep pan over a high heat then add the meat and fry for about 5mins till golden all over. Lift out of the pan onto a plate.

Add the chicken then bring to the boil and simmer for 15mins. Wash the rice in water until the milky colour of the water thins out.

Add the rest of the oil to the pan and fry the onions until soft but not golden for about 5 mins. While the onions cook, you can make the tomato and chilli base. Put the tomatoes, scotch bonnet, red peppers into a food processor or blender and whizz till smooth.

Add the rice to the pan and cover. Bring to boil for about 10 mins then turn the heat down to a simmer for 15 to 20 mins or until the rice soaks up all the moisture and softens. If the rice feels hard after soaking up moisture, gradually add about 100ml of water and allow to simmer until rice is tender.

Add the tomato puree to the onions, fry for another 2 mins then add the blended tomatoes and chilli mix. Add in the stock cube, stir and pour in 600ml boiling water.

Serve and enjoy with any salad of choice! If you are a vegetable lover, you can also add vegetables to the rice to make it healthier.

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Humanity Hallows Manchester Met Uni Student Press Office

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Issue 4, Autumn 2016

Print Editorial

Photography

Special Thanks

Contact:

Melissa Birch Daniel Broadley Freddie Bruhin-Price Natalie Carragher Benjamin Francis Cassidy Jacqueline Grima Neil Harrison Jack Holmes Charlie Jordin Nima Khorramrooz Rosa Methol Damilola Oladokun Joanna Shaw Jamie Stewart Jacque Talbot Francielly Torres Lucy Madelaine Watson

Natalie Carragher Neil Harrison Jack Holmes Ben Macwhinnie 26:86 Collective

Lisa Bach Rachel Bruce Natalie Carragher Angela Cole Claudia Conerney Helen Darby Kevin Danson James Draper Dr Jess Edwards Dr Sharon Handley Neil Harrison Samantha Harwood David Liptrot Manchester Youth Council MMU Design Studio MMU Print Services Number Five Media Dave Porter Lucy Simpson Martin Robinson Kaye Tew Lisa Vincent

Email: HumanityHallows.Editor@gmail.com Telephone: 0161 247 1951 Address: Humanity Hallows, Manchester Metropolitan University, 212 Geoffrey Manton Building, Manchester, M15 6LL Humanity Hallows is distributing 2000 copies on Manchester Metropolitan University campus and across Manchester. A wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business are available. Get in touch to find out more. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Manchester Metropolitan University. Printed by MMU Print Services

Illustration Antony Cross Catherine Player Design Natalie Carragher Martin Robinson

Short Courses in English and Creative Writing

Creative, Literature & Film, Gothic

Postgraduate units taught by practising writers and world leading researchers that can be taken as stand-alone courses or with assessment for formal Masters accreditation. Courses include: Teaching Creative Writing Media Skills Crime Fiction Historical Fiction Writing About Relationships Creative Writing Summer School

Time Space Body Rise of the Gothic Twentieth-Century Gothic Post-Millennial Gothic

For further details, dates and costs, and to apply: mmu.ac.uk/english/course/short or contact: postgradenglish@mmu.ac.uk