1 OCT 2012 / ISSUE 03 FREE

WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COMSALFORD’S ONLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

For the second consecutive year, The University of Salford is a contender for the Times Higher Education Award.

This prestigious award is given specifically to ‘‘those who uphold and exceed the standard of excellence’’. Salford University has three submissions that have been shortlisted to receive this accolade.

Among the contenders for the Higher Education Award 2012 is Paul Tracey, who has been nominated in the category of the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.

Students have described Paul as ‘‘innovative, genuine and engaging’’ and have emphasised his interest in getting to know students individually before lectures, ensuring a strong relationship throughout their time at the University of Salford.

Mr Tracey, who lectures in the Construction Law and Dispute Resolution module, was also the winner of Salford Students’ Union Best Teacher Award. He was presented with the award in May of this

year. His students are ‘‘delighted’’ that he is now

competing against numerous lecturers on a national scale.

Mr Tracey said: “One of the key challenges one faces as a lecturer is that one often only works with students for 12 weeks on a particular module during a student’s time at Salford. If one is to build a good student / lecturer relationship in that time it is essential that students are able to engage with the lecturer and the subject matter from week one of the module. Student engagement must be at the forefront of any effective learning intervention. It is essential that students know what they can expect from the lecturer but also what the lecturer will expect from them.”

Salford’s Professor Mustafa Alshawi, Professor of Management and IT in Construction, has been nominated in the category of International Collaboration of the Year. His team leadership has helped develop a successful collaboration in Basra.

His project focused on building relationships between academics, local

authorities and international oil and gas companies in Iraq.

Times Higher Education says the International Collaboration Award will ‘‘recognise exceptional projects carried out between a UK institution and an international partner’’.

Mr Ashawi and his team are competing against five other universities in this category.

The MA in Wildlife Documentary Production is Salford University’s third contender for the Times Higher Education Award.

Taught jointly by the School of Environment and Life Sciences and the School of Media, Music and Performance, the MA in Wildlife Documentary Production has been shortlisted in Excellence and Innovation of the Arts Category.

The course is unique and caters for students from disciplines including media, science and journalism.

The subject has been praised for its ability to hone the skills of film makers and biologists, respectively. This creative

environment has led to the production of award-winning films, including

Amber Eaves’ ‘‘Where the Wild Things Were’’- winner of Best Cinematography and Best Documentary Award at the UK’s National Student Film Festival in 2011.

Professor and Vice Chancellor at the University of Salford, Martin Hall, describes being shortlisted as ‘‘a superb achievement’’ that ‘‘demonstrates our creativity, excellence and innovation’’.

The winners of the Times Higher Education Award 2012 will be announced on 29 November at gala ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.

Full details about the booking of tickets and further information about the Awards and those shortlisted can be found on the Times Higher Education website- www.timeshighereducation.co.uk.

We at The Salfordian send good luck and congratulations to all the students who are shortlisted to receive an award in their chosen field.

University shortlisted for three awards

THIS WEEK

S t e p h a n i n e T h o m p s o n considers the i m p o r t a n c e of street art on page 5

Sally Leibovici is gravely disappointed by the new Green Day album on page 28

Find out what the Salford sports and activity groups had to say to the sabbs on page 30

Art of the streets

Music review

Ask the sabbatical officers

Issy Allison

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Editor: Amanda MaceEmail: editor-ussu@salford.ac.uk

Postal address: Univerity of Salford Students’ Union, University House, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WT

News Editor: Cassandra Ward C.Ward4@edu.salford.ac.uk

Comment Editor: Jonathon Norrey J.Norrey@edu.salford.ac.uk

Arts Editor: Sally Leibovici sally.leibovici@yahoo.com

Features Editor: Lowri Williams lowrix@hotmail.co.uk Sports & Activities Editor: Bryony Pearce B.Pearce@edu.salford.ac.uk

Careers: Amanda Mace

Advertising : Stefan Redfernstefan.redfern@manchester.ac.uk Tel 0161 275 2930

ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Contents

02 : NEWS

With duplicate lectures, wrong rooms and incorrect lecturers, the timetabling debacle continues. The knock-on eff ect is also being realised amongst those students who did not receive their student fi nance this week.

Despite reassurances from the university that delaying week one of lectures would not aff ect payments, many students have not received their funding, reporting ‘unconfi rmed attendance’ as the reason they were given by Student Finance.

Although school offi ces have denied that delaying lectures and confi rming the attendance

of students, are in any way related, it is diffi cult to believe that the correlation of the problems reported this year could be little more than a coincidence.

The explanation from the university off ers little reassurance to those students who are paying for accommodation for week one, not attending lectures and receiving no fi nancial help. They will also be forced to pay for 11 weeks of accommodation instead of 10, to cover the extension imposed by the disastrous errors with the timetables.

Scott Mulholland, Director of Student Information at Salford University said: “the issue regarding completeness of

module information shown, for example in relation to optional modules, aff ects a signifi cant minority of students in some schools”.

The University of Salford students’ union president Christina Kennedy said: “I know there were issues with the change to the new system but this seems to be something which happens year on year and defi nitely needs some attention.”

If you are still encountering problems with your timetable, contact the timetabling hotline on 0161 295 2227 and is available from 9:00am until 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Visit Our Website www.salfordstudents.com

Pages 1-3NewsPages 4, 5 and 6FeaturesPage 27CommentPage 28ArtsPage 29CareersPage 30Your UnionPage 31ActivitiesPage 32Sports

Editorial

Timetabling update

Hello! I hope you like issue three of The Salfordian. If there’s something you loved, hated, or would like to see more of, let us on our Facebook page. Just search ‘Salfordian’. If writing, photography, or graphic design is your thing, get in touch! We’re always on the look-out for new contributors.A� er the sheer madness of welcome

week and the soaked, muddy mess that was last week (if you’ve never lived in Salford before, don’t worry, the weather isn’t always like this. Erm. Possibly), let’s hope these next few days are a bit calmer. For many of you, the � rst few weeks of term haven’t ran as smoothly as they should have done due to the timetabling problems. I hope by the time you read this that your university schedule is a lot clearer. We will have regular updates on the issues in The Salfordian until we are con� dent they are resolved.

Until next week, take care!

Amanda MaceEditor

Got an interest in graphic design? Here’s your chance to see your work displayed across every University in the country.

NUS have a launched a competition for a new poster design to promote this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), a crucial questionnaire in which graduates rate their University over the duration of their course. Submissions close on midnight October 5.

The winning design will

be sent to every higher education institution in the UK, and is open to everyone currently studying at Salford. 300,000 graduates complete the NSS annually, making a winning submission a great addition to anyone’s CV.

The market research company Ipsos MORI are responsible for the advertising campaign for the NSS. They are off ering a day’s placement at their offi ces to the winner, enlisting their help to get the design ready for print. The winning candidate will also be off ered a week’s placement with the London based design fi rm Hat-Trick,

all expenses paid. You can submit up to

three designs for the judges to choose from. The panel will be drawn from the National Union of Students, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and Ipsos MORI, who’ll be in touch with the winner on October 29.

Interested? There’s more information at www.nus.org.uk/nssposter. There’s a more detailed design brief available in the Participant’s Pack which can be downloaded from there, along with JPEGs of the NUS logo and QR code.

The University of Salford has joined forces with local basketball side Manchester Magic, aiming to create educational opportunities as well as boost the reputation of the universitie’s basketball side.

The partnership will aim to attract top-level players from all over the country, to further the universities hopes of playing at the highest level. The University has already managed to entice two names from Magic’s side.

Joe Kilpatrick and Muftau Akintoye are currently enjoying the benefi ts of the partnership, studying full-time at the University as well as playing for both university and

Magic sides.The partnership will lead to

players having complete access to the universities expertise, in sport science, strength and conditioning, the management of injuries and rehabilitation. Salford’s cutting edge Human Performance Laboratory will play host to player performance analysis with its vast catalogue of biomechanical and physiological appliances.

James Crowley, Head of Sport at the University, said: “This is an excellent partnership for the University which will raise the standard of sport at Salford while also developing the wide range of mutual opportunities in working with Manchester Magic.”

Joe Forber, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Amaechi Basketball Centre (the home of

Magic) said: “Dealing with the University has been a fantastic experience. Salford has shown a real desire to create a true and enduring partnership.

“Everyone at the Centre is excited about the potential of this partnership to augment the opportunities and development of all the young people who participate in our programme.”

The University Men’s fi rst team begins their season at home to Liverpool Hope fi rst team, on 17 October, aiming to hopefully better their performances last season, which will be no easy task with 11 wins from 14 matches in all competitions last season, under coach Peter Paraskeva, who will be at the helm of both sides.

Jon Burgess

Are you a talentedgraphic designer?

University in basketball partnership

Cassandra WardNews editor

Matthew Cunningham

News: 03ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Can you think of a way that the Students’ Union at the University of Salford can be improved? Do you have some feedback relating to a particular part of the union? Now is the time to have your say.

This month, the Students’ Union is hosting three events that provide you, the students, the opportunity to express your ideas and opinions. The ‘better forum’ initiative was created in order to collect student feedback and work on any issues raised. Every semester, the union runs ‘better union’, ‘better university’, and ‘better city’.

Each forum is convened

by members of the Student Council at Salford, who take care to note every suggestion so that it can be implemented in future. The ‘better university’ forum, held on 16 October, will enable students to discuss issues or plans regarding university life on a wider scale, while the local area will be discussed during the ‘better city’ event on 23 October. While topics in the former will include both academic and non-academic issues, the latter will focus on student behaviour and housing within the local community.

The first of the three events is the ‘better union’ forum, which will tackle all topics relating to the Students’ Union. It is a chance to voice your ideas

about Union democracy, or make suggestions that could improve student media such as The Salfordian newspaper and Shock Radio. If you are a member of a sports or activity group at Salford, you can give feedback about your experiences at the forum. You can also share your ideas about the Union’s commercial services, which include the Union shops around campus and Bar / Café Yours.

The Students’ Union is led by students, for students, so any feedback you can provide is absolutely vital. The ‘better union’ forum is held at 5pm on Tuesday 9 October in the International Life Centre, University House, and is your chance to make a real difference.

Have your say about the Students’ Union

Researchers from both inside and outside the University of Salford can exchange ideas in a new workspace created at MediaCityUK. The Adobe Research Hotel, launched as part of September’s ICT Knowledge Transfer Network Conference has been designed to help promote imagination, free thinking, play, experimentation and co-creation.

Based on the second floor of MediaCityUK it has been developed in conjunction with technology partners Adobe, HP and NVIDIA.

The area can accommodate 16 guests a day and work stations will be available for

flexible periods. Residencies lasting up to three months are also available, subject to application .

Research and Innovation Manager Mike Hession will be part of a dedicated team who will supervise its use and development.

He said: “The Adobe Research Hotel is the new name for our technology-rich space on the second floor of MediaCityUK where researchers and innovators from a range of backgrounds and disciplines can work together using leading edge hardware and software in partnership with brand leaders Adobe, HP and NVIDIA

“We have an inclusive approach and we welcome project proposals that explore a wide range of themes and

areas. To ensure the space generates research impact we do ask that all applicants keep in mind the University’s research themes of Built Environment; Energy; Health & Wellbeing; Media, Digital Technology and the Creative Economy; and Memory, Text and Place.”

The new facility is designed to suit colleagues wanting to work on their own research in a new environment or wanting to host students working in collaboration with industry.

Applications from individuals or projects that will make use of the related Adobe, HP and NVIDIA technology, and facilities such as the Egg and the Digital Performance Lab, are particularly encouraged.

Eleanor Rees

Adobe facility comes to MediaCityUK

In the last academic year, some 125 students had to pay an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) reconnection fee of £100. The vast majority of these fees were for downloading copyright material, such as films and music.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software allows users to make files available on their computer for other users across the internet to download. Examples of P2P file-sharing software includes bittorrent, utorrent and limewire, among others.

Matthew Trump, Senior Information Security Officer, said: “There are legitimate uses for peer-to-peer file sharing, but students should remember that downloading

copyright material remains not only a breach of the AUP, but also of UK law. For the second offence of downloading copyright material, such as films, music or software, students will face disciplinary action.

“The University receives a number of copyright notifications from legal firms operating on behalf of media organisations each month and the University’s Network Team can trace these back to individual student accounts.”

There are a number of other risks associated with using peer-to-peer technology, as it can be difficult to confirm the original source of the files you are downloading. This means they may contain viruses and other malware.

Matthew added: “Peer-to-peer software will potentially open up your hard drive, giving other users across the internet access to your confidential data, as well as the files you wish to share.

“The best way to eliminate these risks is to avoid using P2P applications unless you need them.”

Students are reminded that all use of the University’s computer networks is covered by the ICT AUP.

To read the ICT Acceptable Use Policy, please visit www.salford.ac.uk/governance/policies/ictaup.pdf

For more information about IT security awareness, access the dedicated web pages at www.its.salford.ac.uk/security.

Copyright material: remember the rules online

Amanda MaceEditor

Bikes! Bikes are everywhere. Big bikes, little bikes, bikes that climb on rocks. I have been here, in Groningen, for four weeks and the bike culture is perhaps deeper than I first initially thought. It is not just a convenient way of getting around a hectic town centre, but in fact the initial mode of transport for the whole city. The purchase of a bike here is as much an act of necessity as making sure you always have a pair of shoes at hand and it seems you can’t swing a bike lock without hitting one of their many shops. I have a bike, it is as dull as John Major (if you need a reminder on the great dullness of John Major, please google him), it is grey, has no bell, and a light that works only infrequently. I was recently instructed to name my bike and I have decided to name it after the Grim Reaper’s own magnificent horse; Binky. Thanks to Binky I have managed to tap into the previously unknown bike lover that Manchester just would not let me become. In the three weeks since getting here I have already mastered the art of riding without a single hand on the handlebars, an ability that confounded me for 28 years.

My stay here has not all been about bike rides and fun though. For the past couple of weeks I have started my lessons in earnest. They are grueling to say the least. We often remark on the amount we have to read

and I know that sometimes the odd page or two can be skipped when the clock is running late, the friends on Facebook are suggesting nights out and that boyfriend or girlfriend need your attention. Here, however, you read or you fall behind. And falling means failing. In a way it’s good so long as you cross the water in the hopes of some serious study, which I am. If I was here for the party culture I would be in deep trouble. Each week, for each module – of which I’m doing four – I am required to read roughly 20+ pages of A4 text. If that was not enough for one module I am given a weekly quiz on said text and should I fail too many of these quizzes, I am not permitted in the exam. I have to attend at least 80% of seminars, if I do not, I am not permitted in the exam. Weekly discussions are made by students during the seminars, if I fail to ask enough question, or if the tutor feels the questions are not best suited, I am not permitted in the exam. This may seem draconian but it works. The reading is read, the seminars, and lectures, attended, the questions well thought out. The tutors are great, intelligible, funny, helpful, and nice. My fellow students are understanding of my lack of Dutch and, for the most part, practically fluent in English (something which makes me feel quite ignorant). I still feel lonely sometimes but I think I’d be

worried if I wasn’t. Stress is I think one of my overriding thoughts and emotions right now but when

I am caught up with my reading and get into a routine I’m sure I’ll be fine. Until then I will make sure

the space under my desk is clean so if I need to curl up into a ball and hug my legs while rocking

backwards and forwards, I have a place.

04 : Features ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Going Dutch! Nathan Thompson

Ingredients:•350g unsalted butter (extra to

grease)•275g caster sugar•225g golden syrup•450g rolled oats•1 tbsp ground ginger

Method1) Preheat oven to 180C2) Grease and baseline a

deep rectangle cake pan, at least 2 inches deep with greaseproof paper.

3) Put the butter, sugar

and golden syrup into a large pan and and heat until gently melted

4) Add the oats and ginger until all mixed together well

5) Pour the mixture into tin and bake for 30-35 mins until golden brown at edges

6) Cool in the tin for 15 mins then, while warm, cut the desired shape of your flapjacks and then leave to cool in tin completely

7) When cool, turn out and enjoy.

Amy Hughes 1) Buy fresh fruit and vegetables from markets. You will save a lot of money and this can be proven by the fact that it is possible to purchase four huge, succulent Granny Smith apples from the Arndale Food Market for a mere pound. A far cry from the supermarkets that seem to charge by the gram.

2) Cook in bulk. Unfortunately, most food items are not sold in packets designed for the lone diner and some people discard whatever is left over. Do not do this! Place these leftovers in a Tupperware container and freeze them to use as a future meal.

3) Do not go shopping when you are hungry. If you shop in a hunger-induced frenzy, you will pile the trolley high with unnecessary impulse buys. Instead, go shopping after lunch and take a list with you…and do not divert from this list!

4) Purchase own-brand goods. It is easy to turn your nose up at anything labeled as being a member of the ‘Simple Range’ family out of fear of an inferior taste but 90% of the time, this is not the case. You cannot beat a tin of soup for 19p! Besides, it is always possible to add spices or even salt and pepper to liven up the taste.

5) Bar or Café Yours in the students’ union is the ideal place to grab a quick bite to eat but if you are short on money, snacking here daily can soon knock a dent in your budget. An alternative lunch option could be to buy a loaf or two of bread and a jar of sandwich filling. That would be lunch for a whole week for less than £5!

6) Carry an empty bottle around. A bottle of Coca Cola can be more than £1 and when you are thirsty, this can seem quite reasonable. Remember, though, tap water will always free so get that bottle filled up!

7) Shop late at night! At the end of the day, major supermarkets often reduce stock that is going out of date,

and you can find yourself some great deals.

8) If you have not already, purchase an NUS card. It can cut the cost of things such as clothes and haircuts by up to 20% and can save you a lot of money when used in conjunction with other offers. For example, if you visit the Odeon with a friend on a Wednesday, providing one of you is on the mobile network Orange (who run a 2 for 1 offer on Odeon tickets on a Wednesday) you can pay only £2.50 each by flashing your NUS card and visiting at an off-peak hour.

9) eBay! A lot of students use this gold mine of a site as a means of purchasing a cheaper version of their reading

list but it is also a bargain bin for household items such as mirrors and lamps.

10) Do you have a passion for a certain sport or activity? Then check out the list of societies ran by students on the Student Union website. The yearly memberships of some societies can be as low as £3 which is a lot cheaper than clubs and societies outside of the university.

These tips show that you can enjoy your university life without getting yourself into debt and over the course of the upcoming year, you will most likely discover your own money-saving tips too. Enjoy your new year at Salford!

10 ways to...save even more money!Jasmin Jackson

Recipe of the week:sticky ginger flapjacks

Salford student Nathan Thompson is studying in the Netherlands for a year as part of the

exchange programme. This week, Nathan is going...nuts.

Features : 05ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Retro trainers are having a revival. And it’s massive. Forget Toms for five minutes, please. And leave behind your battered Converse. Instead opt for a fresh pair of Puma’s, New Balances, Nikes, or Reeboks.

A few of my favorite pairs this month are the Nike blazers in burgundy, or the vans classics in black with the gum sole. The Nike Air max are another pair of trainers on my wish-list at the moment, bright colours against cold whites maintain a fresh and up to date look. I’m currently furiously bidding on a pair on Ebay.

The Nike Air Safari, known for being popular in the 80s are making a much-anticipated revival. Straight from the old school, Nike take advantage of its classics, and rightly so.

I bought a pair of orange Nike Oceania classics and then went back for a pair of grey ones. Paired with jeans or slouchy joggers a pair of retro sneakers will freshen up your look and appear effortlessly cool.

The haute sneaker has blossomed due to the unmissable athleticism trend that has become hugely popular this year.

The wedge trainer has also made a huge impact in the world of fashion too, when the ever so fabulous and queen of bohemian cool Isabel Marant displayed them on the Spring / Summer 2012 catwalk. Continuing through to Autumn this trend has gone global and within days of her debut on the runway, high street shops around the world were bringing out their own version of the sneaker wedge. They are everywhere. A few places on the high-street that I would say offer the best ones are Topshop and Aldo. Online I would say hit Asos for a range of chic options.

Pair your wedge sneakers with pretty much anything, skinny jeans, shorts, silk shirts or tee’s for a casual sports luxe look.

Follow me on twitter for regular blog posts and updates @LowriWyn_1 You can catch my next fashion update in issue 4 of The Salfordian, which is out on 8 October.

Lowri Loves... retro trainersLowri WilliamsFeatures Editor

When pondering the definition of the word ‘graffiti’, it’s likely that most people picture an act of vandalism; non-specific threats scrawled across the walls of an inner-city public toilet perhaps? True enough, this is a common sight in cities like Manchester and Salford, but in no way, shape or form is this be-all and end-all of what is now considered an art form by many.

There is a whole community out there working hard to show the majority of society that graffiti can be a real form of art, requiring substantial talent to create, and something to be admired and pondered over. It’s not just graffiti either; there are plenty of different types of street art to discover all around us, which should be appreciated instead of insulted by those unaware of its cultural significance.

It’s hard to walk down any one street in Manchester or Salford without coming across some form of street art, be it a life-sized portrait of renowned Salford poet John Cooper-Clarke stencilled onto some fencing down Chapel Street, or a commissioned, full-scale mural painted onto the side of a building in the Northern Quarter.

Sadly, a lot of the small-scale art gets removed by the council before people have a real chance to enjoy it. This is due to the fact that it is often being painted there illegally. Thanks to the growing popularity of art installations and commissions in large cities however, street art - in its more legal form at least - is becoming more accessible and the stigma is slowly-but-surely fading away.

A great indication of how much more popular street art is becoming in Manchester especially, is the inclusion of events like the Eurocultured Festival in the city’s Summer schedule. Eurocultured is a weekend event which showcases dance, theatre, and live art across different European cities. New Wakefield Street off Oxford Road - home to much loved student haunt The Font bar - plays host to graffiti artists and painters

during the festival, providing them with a blank canvas in the form of the railway’s surrounding walls and arches.

P r o m o t i o n a l companies like Don’t Panic! Manchester and It’s a Bag Thing are great at getting the work of local artists out there too. They distribute event fliers, posters and stickers in monthly packs using the work of some of the best urban artists in the area. One such artist whose work has been promoted this way is a person who goes by the name of ‘Sneak’. Sneak is one of the most prolific street artists in the area thanks to his simple yet effective illustrations in the form of Wheatpaste art.

Wheatpaste is a type of street art which is done differently from the traditional graffiti-style method. The idea behind it is to create a design on a piece of craft paper, and then use a mixture of what is usually flour and water to glue it to the surfaces of buildings and walls.

Sneak’s work is dotted around

both cities, from Salford Crescent Train station to the Manchester University campus. Sneak uses his art to illustrate the banality of some of the ‘first world problems’ we encounter in modern times, such as the painful moment the battery runs out on your iPod.

Another piece of Wheatpaste art that Sneak has created includes the image of an origami bird in a cage which has been popping up more and more recently, again in parts of both cities. Its great seeing art like this in the same places that you would normally find all-too-common graffiti tags belonging to Salfordian individuals who go

by the name of ‘Krush’ or ‘God’ for example.

Exploring Manchester and Salford when you have a spare day is like embarking upon a 2D art version of an Easter egg hunt, because you never know what hidden gems you might come across. There are so many different forms of urban artistry in one place at the same time that it’s nigh on impossible for anyone to validly dismiss all graffiti or street art as unsavoury, illegal or lacking in morals. Without it, the cities of Manchester and Salford wouldn’t have half the character and individuality that they have today.

The art of the streetsStephanie Thompson

A new study has suggested that Liverpool (among a few other places) has the lowest life expectancy in the country…which comes as a relief to anyone who lives there. This new information was presented in the news as shocking; if I had to live in Liverpool I would be overjoyed to die (same goes for Birmingham). Just joking of course, and I am sure any Scousers reading this will see the funny side as they are famed for their sense of humour and an ability to laugh at themselves…oh no, hang on, it’s the opposite.

The Mars Rover has been sending tweets back to earth! So far the rover has only really found that Mars is a desolate waste land with no signs of intelligent life. The same results were achieved during testing…in Norfolk. Joking aside, people unfairly stereotype Norfolk as being a bit backwards but it is often forgotten that many residents of Norfolk are incredibly important in the scientific community…as they give scientists a rare chance to study primitive man. Glasgow is sometimes unfairly described as being like London but 25 years behind. If that is true Norfolk must be London two million years behind.

A nationwide monitoring project has revealed our illegal

d o w n l o a d i n g habits. Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran came out on top as our most d o w n l o a d e d artist. When asked whether he was concerned by this he remarked that was a sign of popularity. Could be that, or maybe it was because people were too e m b a r r a s s e d to physically go into shop and be seen buying something with his face on. (Only joking Ed).

The Round-UpCarl Spurling

Carl casts a caustic eye over current affairs

As a student, it’s basic instinct for us to try to sniff out the cheapest eateries and bars in town. Although we do not have the funding to indulge in delicious food at delicatessens, this does not necessarily mean that we should become accustomed to dreadful delis and dodgy dives in an attempt to tighten up the purse strings. With this in mind, I have comprised a list of some of Manchester’s hot-spots for money conscious students to enjoy.

If you’re looking for somewhere with a friendly vibe to have a few drinks and a natter with your friends then you’ll love The Font. £2 cocktails all day every day, a tasty no-nonsense menu and a huge plasma screen TV equipped with an x-box await you for the ultimate student bar experience. The Font is located on New Wakefield Street, just a stone’s throw away from Oxford Road station. With its easy-going atmosphere and true student spirit; this bar will make you a regular in no time.

Bem Brasil is a restaurant with a twist and should be at the top of any ravenous students list. Although it is situated in the up-market area of Deansgate, it

offers fantastic value for money with its continuous service of roasted meats and all you can eat buffets for an all-inclusive price. Bem Brasil’s elegant décor and warm service will make you forget the price tag and you’ll soon feel like you’re dining in one of Manchester’s exclusive restaurants.

If you’d rather shoot yourself in the foot than feel like you’re in ‘exclusive’ territory then The Alibi could be the place for you. The comfy furniture, traditional menu and real ales make Alibi a popular choice amongst students looking for a wind down after lectures. This bustling city-bar can be found opposite The Palace Theatre on Oxford Road; a popular part of town amongst Greater Manchester students.

Not all food has to be traditional and contemporary to be cheap. For the more adventurous amongst you I would recommend the KRO bar, ideally situated near Piccadilly gardens. Indulge in an alternate breakfast of Muesli for £2.95 or if you really want to push the boat out then request a special Danish Experience Menu upon arrival for a meal worth talking about. The black

and white interior and oversized windows give KRO bar an ultra-modern feel for an enjoyable experience all round.

In the heart of Manchester the amount of places to choose from

for a light bite or a drink can leave us bewildered and often results in us visiting the same haunts time and time again to avoid the constant dilemma of choosing where to go. If you really want to

find your Manchester hot spots, then my best advice to you is to get out there and take in as much of the culture and cheese burgers as you possibly can. Few cities offer such variety and value for

money so make sure you take advantage of the vibrant city on your doorstep.

06 : Features ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Local hot-spots for...a student budget

Whenever I see the poorly-defined, queasy, piscine, pouting, Mr. Bean-like face of Michael Gove leering gormlessly across a discussion panel like some kind of inexplicably well-connected Lovecraftian fish-man, I’m overwhelmed by a sense of irony, for it amazes me that a man of such elitist principles, with such devastating influence over the qualifications of young people, could be so

fundamentally unqualified for his job. In his latest retrospective educational re-jig, Gove, flanked by the highly suggestible and politically-neutered procurer of magic beans Nick Clegg, announced (yesterday at the time of writing) that GCSEs would be scrapped from 2017 in favour of the new English Baccalaureate, much to the displeasure of the actual educational professionals who regard him as an out-of-touch, impractically-minded oaf trying to use a Latin dictionary to fend off the proletariat whose

existence so unnerves him (as one might vampires with a Bible). The man simply has not had the right education, formal or otherwise, to be in a position to influence how the most important job in the world is done.

I know this because I work in a school, and have worked in an array of inner city comprehensives via an agency over the past few years. My current role consists of working with GCSE students to support them in the study of English. I’ve

always had a good forum for this sort of thing: my brother is an English teacher, my sister is an English teacher, my mum used to be a supply teacher, and so I have a fairly good understanding of how one approaches this often unpopular subject with a group of unfamiliar teenagers of varying degrees of literacy. I’m no professional, but I see professionals at work and learn from them. The ability to inspire a thirst for knowledge in adolescents who would normally sneer at the suggestion

of reading a book, to blow the dust off the English curriculum and find a way of making it an immersive subject for young people poised on the brink of disaffection, comes from a wealth of experience and continuous learning on the part of teachers. Without this key receptiveness and understanding, even the most extensive subject knowledge is practically useless in the school environment. An English expert is not inevitably an English teacher, just as a man possessing a range of tools and materials is not necessarily capable of building a bridge.

Michael Gove is not a man capable of teaching or learning. His convictions are fixed with the kind of ignorant self-assurance that comes from objective distance, his ideals contradict the majority of the people they affect, his proposals are not open to discussion or amendment

(we may remember how his leaked plans for a two-tier 80s throwback system had been smuggled past relevant parties who might object, presumably in order to set the wheels enough in motion that Labour wouldn’t be able to pull it back if elected in 2015). In July, he undermined the teaching profession by announcing that directly funded academies would be given permission to employ teaching staff with no educational qualifications or experience, providing they had adequate subject knowledge - a cost cutting exercise comparable with hiring a man to build a public bridge solely on the assumed strength of his tool collection.

The English Baccalaureate will see students assessed entirely by exams, with no coursework or modular learning, or as Gove arrogantly calls it, “bite-size learning and spoon-feeding.” And what about the students who thrive on modular learning; the ones who need validation and support, who rely on gradually building up a qualification rather than being given a single, ceremonial shot at making years of work amount to something? Well Gove unashamedly admits that this new system would mean a considerable proportion of students leaving school with no qualifications. This is exactly how he sees the educational system - a mechanism for separating the wheat from the chaff. His definition of academic success is dependent upon the relative failure of this considerable proportion. When I hear him barely veiling these opinions, I reflect upon the

“bite-size learning” methods I’ve sometimes adopted to help a struggling student achieve their potential, which is essentially my job description. I’m no gifted educator - I’m not even a qualified teacher. I can’t command a classroom and the futures of scores of children don’t depend upon me. Staff like myself just offer a bit of extra support for the ones who need it (a job well worth doing, in my opinion). Gove’s ideals are frankly demoralising to support staff. Why should students struggle towards these moving goalposts only to have their achievements undermined by an aloof and pompous elitist at the end of it all? The educational institutions of this country, the hard-working individuals who are so committed to them and the young people passing through them, deserve an Education Secretary who can do more than deride those most in need of support from the high-horse he was born onto, and who can offer more than discarded systems and clear definitions of the line between success and failure.

It’s easy for Gove to be so simultaneously judgmental and unhelpful because, as I have said, he is not a teacher. He doesn’t even know what a teacher is. The Right Honourable Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, is an unqualified individual, an empathic underachiever, incapable of relating to grassroots teaching standards. In short, he needs to go to school - and I don’t think he’d last five minutes.

Fundamentally Unqualified

Helen Frances Vaudrey

Adam Hart

How will the change from GCSEs to English Baccalaureates affect

young people after the switch-over in 2017? Adam Hart investigates.

Feeling the pinch already? Our features writer seeks out the best places for food and drink

Comment : 27

As hundreds of thousands of students across the country embark upon their chosen degrees this year, there is one big question still niggling in the back of many a concerned students mind: is university really worth the investment?

Some critics argue that young people would be better off pursuing professional or vocational qualifications instead of going to university, which will arguably put you in just as good stead as many graduates. Surveys conducted by the Office for National Statistics states that one in five graduates actually earn less than those who went straight into employment after school.

Economic uncertainty, increasing debt and constant complaints of nepotism in the work place also influence public opinion that obtaining a degree is a “waste of time”. So why are so many people still fighting for acceptance onto HE courses? In light of the trebling of tuition fees, it is unsurprising that these questions are being raised time and time again. Students who made the difficult decision to shoulder this enormous debt have done so for a reason. Yet despite the uncertainty, there has only been a 9% drop in university applicants this year.

In the run up to September, my parent’s uneasiness over the debt I was committing to resulted in relentless advice for me to forget about university, obtain a full time job and steadily work my way up the career ladder. Instead I opted to slip and slide my way up the

greasy wobbly pole of higher education along with countless other students in an ambiguous struggle to try to get more out of life. My response was simple and resolute every time this dispute arose in my house: I wanted the university experience.

The university experience can be defined in many ways. It can no longer be marginalised into the age-old categories of ‘partying’ or ‘studying’. In the past it may have been justifiable to attribute these generalisations to students however with the evolution of higher education, fierce competitiveness amongst prospective employees and the seemingly unattainable demands of employers in the work place, our expectations of university to equip us with as much opportunity as possible to succeed in the outside world have risen dramatically.

One increasingly relevant experience of student life is the opportunity to engage with people you may not otherwise have had the opportunity to socialise with. Universities are increasingly international which allows students from all walks of life to interact and learn from each other. This, along with the popular option in many universities to take a year abroad, offers an unrivalled opportunity to gain real world experience along with a broader understanding of differing opinions, cultures and customs in an increasingly globalised world.

The extra-curricular activities that students undertake also underline the worth of higher education beyond the degree classification. The wide range of

activities available contributes to our institutions’ aims of producing good citizens as well as well-rounded employees for the future. Here at Salford, societies such as debating and Shock Radio help to serve as a platform for students to find their voice. We are able to suddenly have our opinions aired and challenged by others in an environment where our voice is valued, broadened and most importantly listened to.

Although life after university can sometimes seem blurred, especially during fresher’s week, for most students, the experiences encountered and overcome at university are enough to prepare them for any challenge that lies ahead. Our expectations during our higher education stint are considerably and justifiably higher than graduates in previous years. It is no longer good enough to simply cut yourself off from the world, bury your head in your books and walk away with a job, no more than it is to drink and party three years of your education away. The evolution of higher education in compliance with an ever developing world has resulted in a new breed of student that has the potential to succeed in all walks of life.

Students expect to be provided with all the necessary tools of success by their universities in return for their tuition fees. Accepting that they may be paying up to £27000 for this service is a gesture of confidence by the student population; every effort should be made by the HE system to ensure that each and every tool is implemented and taken advantage of.

Is university a waste of time or a wise investment into our future?

ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Helen Frances Vaudrey

“Never say never” and “you should try everything once” are commonly used expressions by adventurous people who want to get the most out of life, and I agree with them – in theory. It is, of course, good to try new and exotic foods; it’s good to travel to numerous worldwide locations and experience different cultures; it’s even good to try out a few ‘extreme’ activities like snowboarding, bungee jumping, paragliding, jet skiing and maybe even the increasingly popular naked skydiving for the more confident, attractive and well-endowed among us (I like to go about twice a month). I do, however, think that mass murder based on militant intolerance is where humans need to start drawing the line. I won’t say I haven’t ever thought about it; those damn Taoists have a tendency to aggravate me with all their peace, harmony, kindness, moral virtue, pacifism, acceptance of all humanity, preservation of nature and liberalism – the b*stards. But I graciously abandon that hatred in order to observe another prevalent expression which is arguably more important to human coexistence than any other: live and let live.

Just over a month ago, Anders Behring Breivik was sentenced to ‘preventive detention’ with a time frame of twenty-one years and a minimum of ten years (the maximum penalty in Norway) following his atrocities of 22 July 2011, on which he bombed government buildings in Oslo, killing eight, before undertaking

a mass shooting at a youth camp on the island of Utøya, killing a further sixty-nine; most of whom were just teenage kids. In total, he murdered seventy-seven people, and injured two hundred and forty-two others. While his sentence can be extended for as long as he is deemed a danger to society, there does actually exist a possibility that he will one day walk free – surely that can’t be right, can it? Well it is, and it seems to me that there is an obvious flaw in the Norwegian justice system, along with that of many countries worldwide, that more extreme measures aren’t being adopted in cases like this – after all, his sentence is somehow more disappointing than the topless holiday snaps of a certain royal and even less convincing than the Nick Clegg apology video.

Experiencing numerous instances of multiculturalism at its best and not typically being an intolerant d*ck, I’ve generally adopted left-wing philosophies; therefore, it isn’t in my immediate nature to say the following: the very least Anders Breivik deserves to be put to an excruciatingly painful death. And no matter how it’s done, I’m sure there aren’t too many relatives of his victims – nor many others for that matter – who would oppose the opportunity to tie the noose around his neck, flick the switch, administer the poison, pull the trigger, or, my personal preference, release the ravenous pack of wolves.

Most level-headed people say that you can’t condone capital punishment in a truly civilised society and that the figures support the fact that it doesn’t act as a deterrent,

and I completely agree; but that shouldn’t apply in a case as clearly exceptional as this – one in which there are no extenuating circumstances. The trial of Anders Breivik wasn’t to decide the fate of a man who committed the homicide of his wife and her paramour in a fit of rage – this is a man, declared legally sane, who performed the merciless, calculated, callous and brutal killing of seventy-seven defenceless people. Just think for a second about how large a number that actually is; think how many family members have lost the most important thing in the world to them; think how many lives are forever ruined; imagine that one of his victims was a loved one of yours and try to extrapolate that anguish by factoring in the terror he instilled in all he killed in the moments leading up to their untimely demise. Seventy-seven human beings sacrificed due to insane, misguided extremism – with absolutely no remorse shown since by the perpetrator.

Some people would rightly say that his execution wouldn’t bring back any of those who died and in that respect is unjustified, but I believe that knowing he’d be gone forever and that he could no longer perpetuate his repugnant propaganda (which apparently he is being allowed to do in some capacity from prison), would at least provide a morsel of closure for those who deserve it most. It only further damages the world to keep a person like this alive. In cases as extreme as this one, I believe that there should be no alternative: Anders Behring Breivik should face the death penalty.

Jon’s verdict: the Anders Breivik caseJonathon NorreyComment editor

28 : Arts ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

¡Uno! came out a few days ago and it stands as the 9th studio album of Green Day’s repertoire. It’s also the first out of three albums that are set to be released in the upcoming months.

Unfortunately, it’s surely not one of their best albums. Obviously nothing can stand in the way of ‘Dookie’, but it would be extremely nice if they would have bothered to try to reach that standard. Their front-man stated that they are at their creative peak and that they’ve never created music that’s as good as this. EEEEEEH....wrong answer. So wrong!

If you manage to give it a listen you’ll be walked down a memory

lane that’s laced with sounds from the 90s. It’s cute like that, but so are drawings from five year old girls. You know- the ones with the balloons and smiling horsies and so on... That’s exactly what this album feels like; a theme song to Ed, Edd & Eddie. One critic said Scooby Doo, I disagree. Scooby-Doo targets young children fascinated by the macabre, this music is still aimed at fourteen year old hormone crazed, acne-embellished nihilists.

...And all the band members are in their 40s. It’s basically what Blink 182 tried to do with their album ‘Neighborhoods’ a while back, but failed miserably. Why don’t people learn from others mistakes? There is literally no song on this album that is worth mentioning. I mean it’s not particularly bad, it’s ok if it’s the first

time you’ve listened to them, but for the ‘connoisseurs’ it should be like a punch to the face.

The album starts off with ‘Nuclear Family’- one of the worst songs to start an album with and goes on to the same rhythms and “ideas” in ‘Stay at Night’, ‘Loss of Control’ and ‘Sweet 16’. They have even got a song titled ‘Kill the DJ’...and they probably have kids that need their intellectual advice and shaping. Stadium punk is going downhill and with the inclusion of “words” such as “DJ” in titles it really is no surprise.

I hope that they’ll find the right track because if they don’t I’m sure the fans that grew up with them (myself included) will refrain from giving them another chance.

Indefinable and matchless 21 year-old Delilah (born Paloma Stoecker) has come away from her dance tracks with Chase and Status and Wretch 32, and hit the music scene with an outstanding debut ‘From the roots up’.

Whilst listening to her I tried to think of where she would fit within the music industry, but I could not place her into a box. With a mixture of sounds from R’n’B to indie and then pop, she has created a unique sound which overall has a definite urban presence.

The album captures the listener with its smoldering nature and intense lyrics. You could listen to all 15 tracks from start to finish without skipping. Despite finding myself saying, “I love this one” to nearly every single track, there are a few that stand out from the rest and linger somewhere in my mind until I listen to them again.

Most of the songs sound instrumentally busy but Delilah’s distinctive and bluesy voice smoothes them over, creating a hauntingly beautiful effect.

‘Insecure’ opens with a quiet beat from the piano and strong lyrics “So you’re afraid what

about me?” She goes on to confess her vulnerability to a lover who makes her feel insecure. The changing beats in the song and pitter patter of the piano assist the mood of the lyrics and in doing so involves you.

Creative, deep and poetic, Delilah sings lyrics such as;

“I am strong when I’m quietI never let you see me stallI can hate what you say and still smileOnly play on an open court”on the second track ‘Breathe’.And from the sexually driven ‘Inside my love’;“You can see inside me, will you come inside

me.Do you wanna ride, inside my love”Between songs Delilah switches between

sexy, vulnerable and self assured.She has made a bold move with ‘From the

roots up’ as it may not initially appeal to the ordinary listener, but she was wise to ease herself into mainstream by releasing the stunning single ‘Shades of grey’, which is also one of my favourites on the album!

Sally LeiboviciArts Editor

Rachael Marie Fraser

Delilah - ‘From the Roots up’

Green Day - ‘¡Uno!’

Ever since the members of what had been No Doubt had announced that they were getting back together I have been slightly excited. It’s the nostalgia of it all. Ska-punk that wasn’t really ska-punk and Gwen Stefani , who used to be one of the most kick- a** chicks in the music industry...who wouldn’t love the band?

Well, now they’ve released their sixth album entitled ‘Push and Shove’. Wow, I mean WOW! What a disappointment. Sad to say, sadder to have to listen to it. The influences from Gwen’s solo career are all there. No one wants to listen to No Doubt under the Hollaback Girl stigmata, but that’s exactly what they came out with. It seems that the other band members have to write their music under the strict tyranny of the “Rich Girl” (la la la la...urgh).

The debut song on the album is ‘Settle Down’ which is reminiscent of Rihanna’s musical style from a few years back. In no way is there the grrrl power that No Doubt stood for. Gwen’s Annaheim-ska days are over, people, and she’s slandering the dignity of her band mates as well (it’s a fact). How Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont went along for this ride is a bit surreal...but in the end it’s all about the bling-bling and the cha ching, and truthfully what have you heard of them over the years?

The second song of the album is a bit better, although it doesn’t really scream “No Doubt”, but more “Black Audio” with a bit of Harajuku nonsense. One youtuber said that not coming back at all was far better than coming out with this piece of junkyard scrap. I kind of have to agree. ‘Looking Hot’ is nothing like their ska roots, but more of a club frenzy cantata.

I can’t tell if the other band members actually contributed to the creation of this album or were just the puppets of the producer.

Then there’s “Push and Shove” (song number: I don’t know) which is hilariously stupid. It features these people called Busy Signal and Major Lazer (yeah, that’s the name). It’s so Rihanna it’s truly twisted. There’s no musicality here. It’ simply something that wants to remind its listeners of ska and reggae, but goes into something which is profusely dumb.

The songs that follow are not worth mentioning at all. With titles like ‘Undercover’, ‘Undone’, ‘Sparkle’, and ‘Heaven’, it’s not really a surprise. They seem to have come out of Paris Hilton’s lyrics book.

All in all this is probably the worst album of the year. It is bad by definition. There is nothing worse than this. Even amateur dub-step on YouTube seems more enticing than this. Why No Doubt ever decided to come out with this sad excuse for an album is mind-boggling. Go back to your Harajuku girls, Gwen, and the rest of you go back into the collective amnesia of your fans. Jeez Louise, it’s so BAD that I’d like to Push and Shove the whole band until they forget their own names. Excuse the “clever pun”.

Sally LeiboviciArts Editor

No Doubt - ‘Push and Shove’

ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM Careers : 29

To � nd out more about careers and opportunities, or to apply for the volunteering or job openings below, visit www.careers.salford.ac.uk

Welcome from the Careers and Employability Service at Salford, to all of our new and returning students. You will probably have chosen to come to University for all sorts of reasons.

Perhaps it’s the fi rst time you’ll be living away from home, or an opportunity for you to further your academic or career ideas and meet people from diff erent cultures. Ultimately it’s about building up your knowledge, skills and experience, to enable you to make the successful transition into work.

So here are some top tips to help you to stay on and stand out, whilst at University.

1. Make connections. A lot of your peers will be in a similar situation to you; they might not know the local area or indeed have many acquaintances here on arrival, so it’s a great opportunity to make new friends and for new beginnings. Friends are not just great company on nights out, but could also act as peer mentors and be a part of your social support network here at University, whether it’s attending the same lectures, going to the gym, working or volunteering together or being a member of the same student society.

2. Study is only half the story; make work experience count for you! You might have heard media stories about a degree not being enough anymore, not sure I’d agree with that, but similarly you’ll be in danger of missing out on so many wonderful opportunities if you just solely focus on your lectures whilst you are here.

University can be a great time for your personal and professional development. Use this time wisely by challenging yourself to do something diff erent, whether it’s meeting new people, attending careers fairs, joining a student society, volunteering or engaging with entrepreneurial activities. Without doubt these value added extras will develop key transferable skills employers expect from you such as excellent communication and teamwork skills, time management and problem-solving capabilities.

We also have various opportunities to suit your needs, whether one-off events or fl exible volunteering opportunities. Check out our jobs and volunteering pages www.careers.salford.ac.uk/jobs

3. If you don’t know, please ask! University life can take some adjusting to, trying to fi t in studies, work, extra-curricular activities and friends and family can seem like spinning plates at the best of times. If however you fi nd yourself in need of extra support, be it fi nancial, visas, and health or careers advice, please get in touch! Students’ union and university staff are on hand to help you out should you encounter any

problems. If you would like further help to explore career

options related to your degree, or ideas on where to look for part-time work or support for International students, then download some of our handy Career Basics Guides www.careers.salford.ac.uk/downloadzone

4. Study Skills support. It’s also important to remember that it can take some time to adjust to academic life at University. So if you would like advice on how best to set out your assignments, presentation skills, refl ective writing, reading and note-taking or the Harvard referencing system, then help is at hand via the Study Skills team. www.careers.salford.ac.uk/studyskills

5. A CV is not just for Christmas! You’re probably keen to get some part-time work to supplement your income whilst at University. You should avoid a one size fi ts all CV and we can advise you on not only where to look for part-time work opportunities but also walk you through how to set out your CV to match the employer’s requirements. Here is how you can get further CV advice www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/apply_interview

6. Read all about it! Keep up to date with all the latest careers news, events and opportunities by following us on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or one of our careers blogs: www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/interactive

7. S k y p e us! If you can’t call into the Careers and Employability Service for whatever reason, we also off er careers information, advice and guidance using the instant messaging service on Skype. http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/skypefront

Remember we’re here to help you make the most out of your time whilst you are here at Salford, we’ll also help you to explore opportunities both during and beyond university and to make that transition from the lecture theatre into the workplace as seamless as possible.

University can be the best time of your life!Some words of advice from a member of the careers team at Salford

Tahira MajothiCareers consultant

Organisation : Swinton Park Golf Club

Location: Manchester - Swinton Park

Job title: Marketing assistant

Closing date: 15/10/12

Pay: Minimum wage

Job description:

Involves - Working on a marketing strategy, corporate sponsorship, dealing with website and social media, advertsing, working with posters, fl yers, banners and brochures, and bar work

Candidate requirements:

Those who apply should have skills in - Marketing, e-marketing, telephone skills

JOB of the week

Organisation : British Red Cross Position: Collection Volunteer Closing date: 12/10/2012 Unpaid, part-time, unpaid, out of pocket expenses paid.

About the organisation: Red Cross is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, refusing to ignore people in crisis in over 187 countries worldwide. Our network of committed volunteers support over 1 million vulnerable people aff ected by disaster, confl ict or personal crisis across the globe and right here in your localcommunity.

Do you have excellent people skills? Do you want to really make a diff erence to people in a crisis? Collections are a very simple way to raise valuable funds. Collecting for one day alone can bring in up to £1000! As collections volunteer it would be your role to stand with a British Red Cross bucket and t-shirt and help raise money for the British Red Cross You will meet lots of new people and have the chance to meet existing volunteers. You will also be making a huge diff erence to people in a crisis, both locally and internationally. What will I be doing? Interacting with the general public. Representing British Red Cross. What do I get out of it? Fun! The chance to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The chance to make a lot of funds in a fun and simple way

Candidate requirements: Good people skills and enthusiasm and motivation to raise funds

.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY

of the week

30 : Your Union ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

What can your sabbatical officers do for you?

vpst-ussu@salford.ac.uk0161 351 5400

vpcass-ussu@salford.ac.uk0161 351 5400

Tom DoyleVice President Science

and Technology

Eli ProdromovaVice President Arts and

Social Sciences

Your sabbatical officers asked some of the sports and activity groups at Salford how they could improve their student experience. Here’s what they had to say...

Fencing

vphsc-ussu@salford.ac.uk0161 351 5400

president-ussu@salford.ac.uk0161 351 5400

Mishal SaeedVice President Health and

Social Care

Christina KennedyPresident

Women’s rugby league

Men’s rugby league

Contact your sabbatical officers

ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM Activties: 31

Join an activity groupFor more information about activities at Salford, visit www.salfordstudents.com

THE Society of Nigerian students welcomes new and returning students to the University of Salford. The society is one of the student activity groups within the University which aims to bring Nigerians and other interested students together. Our society promotes the values, and rich cultural heritage of the Nigerian people, as well as educating and rendering relevant information and assistance to students, in order to avail them with a greater study experience at the

University of Salford. For membership details

and for further information,

go to: www.salfordstudents.com/Nigerian Contact us at ussunigerian@gmail.com

ARE you a musician looking to create your own band at university? Or do you just prefer jamming and playing in front of an audience at open mic nights?

Any person with any form of music experience, either as a total professional or a complete beginner can join the Salford University Musician’s Society (S.U.M.S) for just £5. We have lots of activities, and lots of exciting events lined up over the year, so be sure to sign up if this appeals

to you.If you have any queries or even

any ideas to suggest to us, be sure to email us at ussumusicians@gmail.com You can find out more about us here, at our mini-site: http://salfordstudents.com/musicians

Nigerian Society

THE Salford University Business Society is a new and prospering group that by their own admission ‘don’t necessarily know the limits of their abilities’. The society provide extra curricular events and learning material for both business students and students with an interest in business. The group hope that members will get involved and shape the aims of the society, and all paid members will be provided with times of the open committee meetings, and will along the line hopefully help run events, and even run events of their own.

By joining the Business Society you will be opening yourself up to numerous activities and opportunities, such as; social events (mixers, bowling, boat party etc.), workshops; including presentation skills, creating a business plan etc, training (budgeting), team building events, guest speakers, trips and tours, networking events, competitions, sports events and lots of support.

The group strives to take note of any contributors to the society and aim to recognise

their work by distributing accredited certificates, each specific to the individual’s efforts, at the Annual Awards Ceremony at the end of the year. These certificates can then be used to approach future employers with, and will show for your efforts throughout your time at the society.

If you wish to be a part of this evolving group you can join by either visiting University House where the general office will give you further assistance, or alternatively you can register at www.salfordstudents.com by creating an account and signing up online. If you want to speak to society members in person,

their office is based in Maxwell Building, room 226.

Membership for the year is £10 per person, this contribution will go towards providing each member with a Business Society lanyard, and the rest will be used solely to provide extracurricular facilities and events.

For further information visit our mini-site: w w. s a l f o rd s t u d e n t s .c o m /business You can contact the group on USSUbusiness@gmail.com, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/salforduni.businesssociety.

Musician Society

Business SocietyBryony PearceSports Editor

Agibe Agibe

Ryan Horton

Debating Society

Everyone has an opinion; from something as simple as which type of food is better, to something a little more complex such as; is the death penalty an acceptable punishment? This range of opinions is what makes The Debating Society different; our debates evoke a reaction from our members. Everyone is welcome regardless of your stance on certain issues. Having different opinions is what makes the society interesting. Each debate is picked the week before by the members with the exception of our first debate. This ensures that all debates are topical at the time and of interest to the members in attendance. After our topical debate, we have a more light hearted debate which we refer to as the fun debate.

We have a couple guest speakers lined up, however

we are looking for input from our members for what sort of guest speakers they want to have, as what the committee would like to have may be different from what the members themselves want. What events we have planned and intend on planning will depend on what the society members want, to make your experience in the society as enjoyable as it can be.

If the society sounds of interest to you, we meet once a week on Tuesdays at 6pm in Boardroom 2 of University House. Afterwards we meet in Bar Yours for a drink; this is intended for the members to get to know each other outside of the boardroom; however you may find that the debate spills over into our social time if it stirred up a lot of debate with the members. Our first debate of the year is inspired by the summer of sport we have had; ‘Should the Olympics be segregated?’ And we will be holding this debate on Tuesday 25th September 2012.

Madeleine Larmour

The chairman of the Nigerian Society

ISSUE 03 / 1 OCTOBER 2012WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM Sports : 32

Join a sports teamFor more information about sports at Salford, visit www.salfordstudents.com

FOR those unaware of the great game, Rugby League is similar to the 15-man union code but with two less men, making the game more attacking and fast paced, culminating in a great sport to both play and spectate. Salford is no stranger to the sport, it has its very own professional team, the Salford City Reds, who compete in the European tier Super League. The students’ union club has a great link with the Reds, having their teams training sessions overseen by one of the Reds coaches.

The club competes in the

BUCS league against other universities in the region, cup games, and one off Varsity games against close rivals Manchester University, where they have been unbeaten for the past two years. As well as all of this, the Rugby League team won the University of Salford students’ union Club of the Year Award in 2011.

Team spirit is a key factor within a rugby team. The Salford boys achieve this by regularly socialising and participating in University social events, to build a tight bond and help newcomers feel part of the squad. Whether you have never touched a rugby ball in your life, or if you play regularly for

your local team, Salford Rugby League wants you to join them!

Training sessions are held on Monday and Thursday nights 7-8.30pm at Castle Irwell, and matches on Wednesday afternoons. For more information on the team and how to join, visit the Students’ Union website at www.salfordstudents.com/rugbyleague, or send them an email at USSUrugbyleague@gmail.com.

To keep up to date with the team you can also join their Facebook page ‘Uni of Salford Rugby League’, or follow them on twitter @SalfordUniRL.

Rugby LeagueThe University of Salford

students’ union has four men’s football teams, all of which finished last year’s season with their heads held high, in respectable league positions. The first team made it all the way to the semi-finals, but were robbed of an elusive place in the title match due to some poor judgments by the referee, and subsequently went out to the eventual BUCS Cup winners, Chester University.

When asked about the upcoming season, the team have kept their cards close to

their chest, and simply await to see what the arrival of new footballing talent from their trials last week will bring to the team. With such popularity and interest the men’s football team is one of only a few sports clubs at the university that have to actually turn newcomers away, making it hard to accept more players after trials. But if you think you’re good enough and still want to join, contact the team at USSUfootmen@gmail.com.

If you need more temptation to be apart of a highly driven football squad, here’s what some of the players have to say: “The

social side of being in the group is as good as the football side, so it’s worthwhile getting involved”, said Alex Thorpe.

Vice Captain of the team, ‘Simple Rick’, adds: “We are all a family, we’ve got a great atmosphere, and we have a good laugh.”

For further information about the team and to find out how to sign up, go to www.salfordstudents .com/mensfootball or alternatively visit their Facebook page for more details: www.facebook.com/USSUMensFootball.

Men’s Football

Hockey TeamBryony Pearce

THE universities Hockey side boasts the largest mixed sex club at Salford with two men’s and women’s teams. The team welcome all abilities, from beginners to international standard players.

The women’s goal keeper, Becky Higginson, spoke of the teams previous season: “All of the teams played well last year, the women’s team won two tournaments and we have increased in members, unfortunately we weren’t able to move up in the leagues, but we all train extremely hard and make sure we have fun playing the game.”

All teams of the Hockey club meet every Monday 6-8pm, and Thursday 8-10pm on the Castle Irwell astro turf, with games being held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. When asked about the upcoming season, Becky said: “I’m looking forward to this season with all the new team members, and seeing how well the teams

can play together. Our aim for this year is to move up in the leagues and to keep doing our best in tournaments too.”

The players work close as a team and as well as enjoying themselves offer constructive help to aid improvements to each others games. Becky’s team mates have ‘helped her to become confident within herself by encouraging her to become more vocal during games’.

Trials for the 2012/13 season take place on the 5th October on the astro turf, if Hockey sounds like the club for you why not head on down for your chance to be a part of the team.

The hockey club is a great way to meet new people and to get the most out of your student experience. ‘We have a massive social scene and can introduce you to the best (and cheapest) places in Manchester!’

For more information visit www.salfordstudents.com/hockey You can contact the team on USSUhoc@gmail.com.

Sian Reed Bryony Pearce