Issue 110

Friday 15 September 2017

Issue 110

To Swipe or not to Swipe

The peaks and pitfalls of using dating apps at Uni

p. 12

Summer Showdown The summer’s best films battle it out in Screen

p. 36

Three Lions

Leadership woes keeping England from success

p. 41

Welcome to Sheffield Luke Baldwin Well, you made it. Maybe you aced your A-Levels, maybe you scraped by by the skin of your teeth.

Maybe Sheffield was your first choice, or perhaps you it was your last. You might be doing the course

you’ve dreamt of since you were young, or maybe something on clearing caught your eye. ..

continued on p. 2

Local MP to meet students at Get Involved! Students’ Union Scan the QR code to find out more about your student Newspaper, Radio and TV Station

Ben Warner

Local Labour MP Paul Blomfield is holding an event to talk to students at the Students’ Union on October 4th. The event, titled ‘Big Conversation for Students’, is

part of a series of free events Blomfield is holding around his constituancy...

continued on p. 5

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press Editorial Team Editor editor@forgetoday.com Luke Baldwin Managing Editor Freyja Gilliard Deputy Editors editor@forgetoday.com Nick Burke Michael Chilton Web Coordinator VACANT Head of News Ben Warner News press.news@forgetoday.com David Anderson Courtney Carr Gethin Morgan Comment press.comment@forgetoday.com James Pendlington Josie Le Vay Features press.features@forgetoday.com Katharine Swindells Megan-Lily McVey Elsa Vulliamy

continued from front page ...But none of that matters now because you made it, you’re here now at the University of Sheffield!

It’s a brand new start, and I’m sure for many of you a very exciting one. Likewise, I’m sure there’s many of you who are anxious about what’s to come.

It’s only natural to feel mixed emotions at such a turbulent time in your lives. For most of you this will be the first time leaving home.

You’re likely in a new city, or even a new country, and you don’t know anyone around you. But the trick is not to see this as a negative, view it as a positive. This is a whole new chapter in your life, a chance to

do or be whatever or whoever you want to be. And the best way to do this is to just get stuck in.

You’re going to hear this a lot over the coming weeks. “Get involved” and “try something new”. No doubt it will get very tiring, a lot of you will be quite content drinking and partying with your newfound friends whilst occasionally studying a degree.

But for those of you who aren’t enjoying their time at Uni or are just looking for something more than the usual drunken student escapades, getting involved in various groups or societies is the best advice anyone can give you.

It’s an opportunity to meet likeminded people or learn new skills.

There’s no place better to do just that than the University of

Forge Press

Editorial

Sheffield and its Students’ Union.

Voted best in the country loads of years in a row, the SU is so much more than a collection of food outlets, bars and club nights. The SU is home to over 300 societies and almost 60 sports clubs, all just waiting for you to sign up. And if you’re not one for putting yourself out there, I can assure you that people will go out of their way to be as inclusive as possible, regardless of previous experience. Two years ago I had never done anything remotely related to journalism, but thanks to Forge I’ve found something that I truly love, experienced running a newspaper and met some incredible people along the way.

But you’ll be able to figure that yourselves. For now, go out and

enjoy your Freshers’ Week. Drink, see the sights, soak in the culture and settle in to your new home.

Welcome to Sheffield.

Pic of the Press

Coffee Break press.coffeebreak@forgetoday. com VACANT Lifestyle press.lifestyle@forgetoday.com Harry Gold Ellie Conlan Head of Sport Adam May Sport press.sport@forgetoday.com Josh Taylor Tim Adams Music press.music@forgetoday.com Ben Kempton Florence Mooney Games press.games@forgetoday.com Chloe Dervey Arts press.arts@forgetoday.com Laura Mulvey Florrie Andrew Screen press.screen@forgetoday.com David Craig Joseph Mackay Copy Editors Connie Coombs Florence Brun Brenna Cooper Leah Fox Harriet Evans Amy King Charlotte Knowles-Cutler Photo Kate Marron

Kate Marron

T

his week’s photo is of a quick ‘Sheffield bucket list’ activity for this year’s Freshers.

Any Sheffield student should go to the top of the Arts Tower at least once before they graduate. As shown, the view reaches far across the city and its surrounding hills.

To get to the top just jump (literally) on the Paternoster, a constantly moving lift, up to floor 18. This only takes a few minutes and gives you the chance to see Sheffield from an entirely new perspective.

See you photo here Contact press.photography@ forgetoday.com with submissions

Get Involved

Want to join the team? Fancy yourself a decent writer or presenter? Then why not get involved with Forge Media! No prior experience is needed and anyone can apply. We also have vacancies for the following positions: -Coffee Break Editor - Games Editor - Treasurer - Online News Editor There is also the vacant position of website coordinator, however we advise that applicants have some experience with WordPress.

For more information, visit us at the Activities Fair or attend our Intro Meeting in the Students’ Union on Friday 22 September.

Contact luke.baldwin@forgetoday.com with any questions.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

Zoology professor given top award David Anderson A Zoology professor from the University of Sheffield has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for his lasting commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Professor Tim Birkhead, from the

university’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, was honoured with the award in August by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

A renowned ornithologist and author, Professor Birkhead has devoted more than 40 years to teaching budding biologists since completing his PhD at Oxford in 1976 and joining the University of Sheffield as a lecturer.

He said: “I’m delighted to receive this accolade – it is such an honour.

The best part of my job is working with young scientists who clearly have a passion for zoology and are

3 so enthusiastic to learn more about the animals and plants that share our planet.

“Science is such an important subject and as academics, researchers and teachers we have a responsibility to ignite that passion to learn about our world and how we can help to protect it for future generations.”

The award recognised Professor Birkhead’s innovative teaching methods, including research-led, interactive teaching and feedback, which were well ahead of their time.

HEA Chief Executive, Professor

Stephanie Marshall, said: “A National Teaching Fellowship is the most prestigious individual award for excellence in teaching in higher education. The new NTFs represent some of the very best teaching in higher education and I am sure they will inspire others as we share their innovative practice and ideas across the sector.”

Tim Birkhead, professor of Zoology

Spiderwalk to move location for 2017 event David Anderson Spiderwalk, the popular night hike organised by Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG), has moved to a new location for 2017.

The organisers of the 13-mile walk consulted with previous participants to plan the new route, which now includes a halfway stop at Whirlow Hall Farm where there will be live music, beer and a barbeque.

The hike originally took place in the Peak District, before being relocated to pass through the Three Merry Lads pub, which worked closely with RAG for many years. The sale of the pub by its owners prompted the relocation.

Johnny Nelson, retired boxer

Sheffield-born boxer backs campaign to stop suicide

Ben Warner

F

ormer world champion boxer Johnny Nelson has joined up with Sheffield City Council to help prevent suicide in his home city.

The 50-year-old is an ambassador for Sheffield Mind, a mental health charity, and is encouraging men to talk about issues to help lower suicide rates. In 2015, nearly 5,000 men committed suicide, making it the largest killer in men under 50.

Nelson said: “I know from personal experience how mental health issues can affect someone, to the point where things got so bad for me that I considered throwing in the towel.

“I have always encouraged men to talk about their issues, particularly in my profession where men don’t open up about how they are feeling. I campaign for greater mental health awareness and am willing to admit that talking about my feelings to people that I trusted was crucial in my recovery.

“You have to be strong to admit when you need help, talking doesn’t mean you are weak, it just means that you want to get better.”

The Sheffield-born boxer was WBO cruiserweight champion for seven years from 1999 to 2006, the longest reigning champion in that

world class of all time.

Mental health is becoming a serious issue for students, with several University of Sheffield students having committed suicide in the last few years.

This campaign started on World Suicide Day on 10 September and is also in conjunction with local organisations, such as the charity SToRMS. A Sheffield family set up SToRMS after their son committed suicide during his final months at university.

His mother, Suzanne McAllister, said: “Dan was coming up to his final exams at university, he was intelligent, popular and sociable.

Even when we asked him, he never admitted to feeling stressed.

“The days before he died, Dan seemed happy; he was looking forward to coming home and his plans for the summer.

“It’s difficult to put in to words how we felt in the days and months after Dan’s death, anger, confusion, guilt, but underlying was a devastating sadness, and the struggle to accept our new ‘reality’.

“We set up SToRMS to help young people, men in particular, to open up about how they are feeling and to seek help. We are creating a strong support system in the community to help others

like Dan who don’t show the classic signs, do not access mental health services, and yet may be at risk of suicide.

“It has been a way for us to keep Dan alive and try to do something positive in his name.”

The Cabinet member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Cate McDonald said: “Mental health affects all of us and one in four people will suffer problems at any one time.

“It’s so important to speak out about how you’re feeling, and we want to break any stigma around this and make conversations about our mental wellbeing part of our normal life.”

There’s a real sense of achievement at the end of it The Chair of Sheffield RAG, Ciara Murray, said: “Spiderwalk has drastically evolved this year, we are now introducing live music and a completely new walking route.”

A portion of the money raised by the event will go towards supporting Whirlow Hall Farm’s work with young people at risk of exclusion and disadvantaged schools, while

People on Spiderwalk 2015

students will be able to vote for which other two organisations will receive funding.

Murray said: “We are hoping these changes will encourage more students to take part. The more money we can raise, the more we can give.

“These changes also help us to support charities in different ways, such as using Whirlow Farm for our midpoint. This local charity supports young people from disadvantaged and inner city backgrounds to explore the environment and expand their horizons.

“We have chosen to support three charities for this event, Whirlow Farm being one. Our other two charities will be chosen by students.”

Last year, RAG and the Bummit hitchhiking event together raised over £110,000 for predominantly local causes.

To get involved, visit RAG’s Facebook page: facebook.com/SheffieldRAG.

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

First students move into Chinatown development Luke Baldwin Students have begun taking residence in new development New Era Square, dubbed ‘Chinatown’, near Bramhall Lane.

Once completed, the 21 storey tower will accommodate almost 600 students.

The tower is due to be finished in May and will bring the total number of flats to over 400.

According to New Era Development, 60 of the 100 studio flats currently available have already been reserved with interest in the remaining flats high. Rents range from £145 to £175 a week.

The company will also soon be taking bookings for its second block of apartments, due to be completed in January, which will feature a mix of one and two bedroom suites. A common room will also become available, complete with gym,

Students’ Union concourse

SU to host annual Activites Fair Ben Warner The Students’ Union is to host its annual fairs this year, to get new and returning students more involved in the SU. Proceedings will start off with the Activities Fair on 21 September, followed by the Sports Fair the following day.

Over 300 societies and sports teams will be present at these events, trying to persuade freshers to get involved. Many will hold taster meetings, for those not sure on whether they would like to get involved.

A Fresher’s Fair will also be held on 27 September, featuring many businesses giving out free food and merchandise.

The newly-elected Activities Officer Tom Brindley said: “This

£65m

is the first step to creating your own community at Sheffield with people who share the same interests, beliefs and passions as you do.

“I got stuck into Theatre and Performance throughout my time here and have made lifelong friends. Joining a society has been one of the best things I’ve done at uni.”

Charlotte Smith, the president of Bake Soc, said: “We’re really excited to meet all of the prospective students interested in joining us at Bake Soc.” The deadline for applications to set up new societies is 23 October.

is the cost of the development

games room and cinema.

A KH Oriental Supermarket will be added to the complex next month.

Giveaways

to celebrate Give It A

Go’s 15 Years

Government urged not to cut student interest rates David Anderson

P

rominent conservative think tank Bright Blue has warned Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond against cutting the interest rates on student loans.

Senior Tories are viewing the chancellor’s autumn budget as an opportunity for the government to demonstrate that it has heard the concerns of voters during the election campaign.

Labour’s pledge during the election campaign to slash tuition fees proved popular with young voters, and Downing Street was considering cutting the interest

rates as their response to this.

However, Bright Blue, which is backed by more than 100 Conservative MPs, said in an article on The Guardian that the move would only benefit the better off.

The CEO of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, said: “The Conservative government needs to and should make a big offer to young people. But reducing tuition fees or reducing the interest rate on student loans would only benefit high-paid graduates.”

Shorthouse instead proposed raising the earnings threshold at which graduates start to repay their loans.

Currently, once a graduate begins

earning over £21,000, nine per cent of their earnings must go towards

Reducing the interest rate on student loans would only benefit highpaid graduates.

Ben Warner

repaying their student loan.

Shorthouse wants the threshold increased beyond £21,000, despite the fact it is set to be frozen until 2020.

“This would mean all young people repaying student loans would pay a smaller amount from their salaries each month. It would effectively be a tax cut for graduates,” he said.

Hammond has asked all MPs to submit 250-word proposals on how they would fix the student loan debt issue in the UK.

The Students’ Union is giving away several prizes over the month of September to celebrate Give It A Go’s 15th birthday.

The Give It A Go programme was launched in 2002 as a way to get students to try things they wouldn’t normally think they were interested in. On offer over the first weeks of the new academic year are sessions for Quidditch, yoga, boxing and more.

Every student who purchases a ticket to a Day Trip from the Box Office will be given a scratchcard, revealing if they are a winner or not.

Prizes on offer include tickets to events put on in and around the SU, a £50 SU voucher and an Instax Mini Camera.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

Changes made to Sheffield RAG Committee David Anderson Sheffield Students’ Union’s Raising and Giving (RAG) committee is undergoing many changes to its service this year, following alterations to its structure.

Student ownership of the committee has increased following

the removal of the RAG Assistant post, resulting in changes to the way Societies, Sports Clubs and Committees fundraise under the Adopt a Charity scheme.

All fundraising activity will now be required to submit an application for support a minimum of 10 days before the date of a fundraiser, and up to six weeks before for big events.

The scheme will also no longer operate during vacation and exam periods.

Ciara Murray, chair of Sheffield RAG said: Sheffield RAG is excited to be expanding and improving this

5 year, we feel the changes within committee will help us with this

219

hours spent raising money for charity through RAG in 2015/16

to the Adopt a Charity, although less events will be taken on, more time will be spent on the events that are being chosen, this means more events will be successful so we will raise more money for charity.

“All societies and sports teams working with us will need to become aware of the changes being made.”

For more information on the application process for fundraisers, or to get involved, visit sheffieldrag.com.

goal.

“Other changes are being made

Sheffield Town Hall

Council given grant to combat climate Michael Chilton Labour City Council member Jack

Paul Blomfield MP, outside the Information Commons in 2017

Local MP to meet students at Students’ Union (cont.) continued from front page ...over September and October to listen to the views of the people and to find out what they think is important.

The event is being held at Coffee Revolution, and is a good opportunity for new and returning students to talk to their MP, and find out what he does for them in Parliament.

Blomfield, former general manager of the Students’ Union, regularly holds his ‘Big Conversation’ series, with issues such as Brexit, the NHS and inequality regularly being brought

up at meetings.

It is up to students to decide what they want to talk about at the meeting, although Blomfield will give an introduction to his role for students who may not be familiar with what he does.

“This event is a great way for me to listen to your concerns so that I can take them up in Parliament,” said Blomfield.

“I set up all-Party groups for students and for international students, to make sure that the student voice is heard in Parliament.

I’m also centrally involved in the key issue facing the country as a Shadow Brexit Minister.

“So I hope lots of people will come along to tell me what they

think and I’ll take their concerns to Westminster.”

Blomfield is holding 24 events

A great way for me to listen to your concerns and take them to Parliament over the month, many of them in student areas such as Broomhill and

Walkley. They are all free, and many of them are in the evening, outside of course hours.

The MP stood up for students in a recent debate on the £250 increase in tuition this year. Afterwards, he said: “Calls for a radical overhaul of the student finance system grow louder every day. The current system is deeply unfair for students and unsustainable for public finances.

“The Government should restore maintenance grants for students from low income backgrounds, reverse their frankly fraudulent retrospective changes to the repayment terms for student loans, and bring back bursaries for student nurses, midwives and those on allied health courses.”

Scott has slammed a £100,000 government grant to help research ways to improve air quality in Sheffield, saying “the government are badly letting Sheffield and the country down” while calling for Westminster to take more radical action such as clean air zones.

This grant comes with Sheffield being classed as a city with poor air quality in certain areas, an issue that has recently become prevalent in national politics with a recent report on air quality criticising the government.

Measures have already been taken by the council to try and deal with the air quality problem such as moving a local Sheffield school away from the more heavily polluted area of the M1.

The backlash from the council has been centred on the claim that the government is not doing enough to help deal with the air pollution issue given the severity of the problem; saying the government is providing “only small grants for exploratory works, but Labour will make sure this money goes as far as possible”.

Sheffield City Council have pledged to undertake more work to ensure cleaner air for the city.

Forge Press has reached out to the Department for Food, Environment & Rural Affairs for comment.

Paul Blomfield has been the MP for Sheffield Central since 2010, and took over 70% of the vote in the recent general election, in part due to the high student turnout in his constituency.

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

Uni of Sheff up to 104th in the world David Anderson

Firth Court

University wins award for international students campaign David Anderson

T

he University of Sheffield and its #WeAreInternational campaign has been honoured for its support of international students.

The campaign, which was founded by Sheffield Students’ Union and the University and is now supported by more than 160 universities and organisations across the UK, won the Professional International Education’s Marketing Campaign of the Year at the inaugural PIEoneer Awards 2017.

Judges at the awards praised #WeAreInternational, which

aims to ensure universities remain diverse and inclusive, for celebrating international students’ contributions to the UK’s knowledge base.

Keiran Maxwell, president of the Students’ Union, said: “We value and welcome our international members. International students are represented in our Union at the highest level, through our excellent International Officer, Santhana Gopalakrishnan.

“We draw our strength from the diverse student community we have here. This award recognises and reaffirms our commitment to our campus, helping to make our university into a truly global community.

International students parade flags outside the Diamond

“In Sheffield, we are proud of our international members, we are proud of our diversity and we are proud to say that #WeAreInternational.”

They enrich the lives and experiences of British students

Vice-Chancellor Keith Burnett said: “We are delighted that the #WeAreInternational campaign has once again been recognised for its support of international students.

“It’s now more important than ever for universities to join forces to champion the value that international students bring to the UK and how crucial they are to our communities of scholarship.”

This comes after a recent study showing that the majority of international students leave the country after completing their studies in Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield has risen in the latest global university table, as the top two spots are filled by UK universities for the first time.

Sheffield has risen five places in the annual Times Higher Education World University Rankings, from 109th to 104th, and remains Yorkshire’s highest placed university. York and Leeds both fell in the rankings, to 137th and 139th respectively.

It means Sheffield is now 13th in the rankings table for just the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Oxford retained their spot at the top of the table and Cambridge rose from fourth place to second, meaning the pair take the top two spots for the first time in the 13-year history of the rankings.

The California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States make up the rest of the top five.

Boeing doubles factory spending David Anderson

Boeing has pledged its commitment to Sheffield by doubling its investment in its Sheffield factory to £40 million.

Boeing Sheffield will open in Sheffield Business Park at the end of 2018 and will make parts for actuators, the motors which move wingflaps on airplanes. It will be their first site in Europe.

James Needham, a Sheffield Hallam University mechanical engineering graduate who will be in charge of Boeing Sheffield, told the Sheffield Star they had merged phases One and Two of the project, doubling the investment and the manufacturing space in one go.

The factory will initially employ 30 workers before expanding to more than 50, and planned to source all supplies locally, Needham explained.

He said: “Boeing likes to do things big. Since the project was announced it’s had more and more support from within the company, so the factory is doubling in size.

“That means it will be producing more components, and means more jobs and investment in the region.

This comes 16 years after Boeing partnered with the University of Sheffield to found the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, based nearby, where Mr Needham spent 12 years working on research projects.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017 number of potential new sites” for

Tramlines next year’s festival.

This year, artists including organisers looking Libertines, Primal Scream, and Cate Le Bon played over the three main at new venues stages, which included Devonshire Ben Warner Sheffield’s signature music festival Tramlines could move to Hillsborough Park in 2018, a statement released to local music website DeeJayOne has said.

Tramlines is normally held at Ponderosa Park in Crookesmoor, but the organisers are considering “a

Green in the city centre and Folk Forest at Endcliffe Park.

Tickets were around £45, but there are concerns that prices could go up if the festival is to accommodate larger acts in the coming years.

It is unknown yet whether Hillsborough Park or alternatives would be made the new main stage, rather than the Ponderosa, or whether they would be added to the existing list of stages, to increase

7 the amount of acts that could be accommodated over Tramlines weekend.

10 Tramlines 2018

will be the festival’s 10th anniversary

Tramlines started as a free festival in the city centre in 2009, headlined by local band Reverend and the

Makers, but since 2013 has charged for entry to the various stages, with prices increasing most years.

In 2013, they charged just £6 a day, before doubling that the following year.

This isn’t the first time the festival has moved its main stage, having started off with Devonshire Green as the hub in its initial years. That stage remains as a key venue even now, indicating the organisers could still use Ponderosa in coming years.

2018 is the 10th anniversary for Tramlines, and it has been rumoured that the Arctic Monkeys could headline next year.

David Blunkett

Former Home Sec. to visit University Ben Warner

Ponderosa Park as the main stage during the 2015 festival

Greens express concerns over housing Ben Warner

G

reen Party councillors in Sheffield have expressed concern over the amount of purpose-built student accommodation being built in the city.

They submitted a motion to the council meeting on 6 September, detailing their worries about the relative supply and demand of student accommodation in the city centre.

This comes following several planning applications for more student accommodation to be built in the city centre. A £65 million development is currently in the process of being constructed in the Chinatown area of the city, with the first residents having recently

moved in.

Douglas Johnson, Councillor for the City ward, said: ““The Council hasn’t reviewed its student accommodation strategy since 2013 and, even then, there were concerns about the over-supply of single-room, purpose built student accommodation.

“Changes in student populations can happen quickly but big building projects could blight our city centre in a few years if they turn out to be the wrong type of housing. There is already a shortage of family housing in the city centre.”

The Green Party want more students to live in the local Sheffield community, which many students do after their first year. However, many choose to stay in third-party flats in the city centre, rather than

move into houses in areas like Crookes or Broomhill.

In the meeting, the Labour-run council said that planners need

Building projects could blight our city centre in a few years if they’re the wrong type to work in line with the National Planning Policy Framework, which

encourages accommodation built specifically for students. However, they did support the Local Plan aim of making all purpose-built student accommodation easily convertible into normal residential flats, to add flexibility to the market.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Development Ben Curran said: “We also know that there needs to be flexibility in the housing market.

For instance, if student numbers go down it is essential that properties aren’t left empty but can be used as residential homes.

“This is why Labour will be looking to change planning requirements so that all new purpose built student accommodation be capable of conversation to residential accommodation, should a need for this arise.”

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is to visit the University of Sheffield next month to give the 12th Roberts Lecture.

The ex-Sheffield MP will speak in Firth Hall at Firth Court on 12 October, but tickets sold out within hours of going on offer on 14 September.

Blunkett was the Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough for almost 30 years from 1987 until his retirement in 2015. He often brought his guide dog to sit with him in the House of Commons with him due to his blindness.

The University of Sheffield graduate was an important figure of Tony Blair’s New Labour cabinet, serving as Employment secretary and Home Secretary during Blair’s height of power.

The lecture at Firth Court will focus on whether power has changed over the last 50 years, especially in an age of social media, which is of increasing importance. Social media is credited with helping Labour gain 30 seats in the 2017 general election, along with increased turnout.

Blunkett now sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, having been given a life peerage upon his retirement.

A Labour councillor for the city centre also expressed her happiness at the decision to make all accommodation capable of conversion.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to announce our intention to make all new purpose built student accommodation capable of conversion to residential accommodation,” said Moya O’Rourke.

“Hopefully, there may never be a need to do so, but it is important to future proof buildings in the city for generations to come, especially as we’re renowned for our postgraduate retention rate.”

Friday 15 September 2017

8

Features facebook.com/forgetoday @forgetoday press.features@forgetoday.com

Hello! To all new students, welcome! And to everyone else, welcome back! Thanks for picking up a copy of Forge, and for flicking through to our humble features section.

We love features because it can be about literally anything - we’ve published pieces on everything from homelessness, to Donald Trump to make up.

And that’s where you come in - we need to hear

Forge Press

Meet your Features Editors

Katharine Swindells

from you! Everyone's an expert on something, however weird or obscure, and we want to know about it.

So if you fancy submitting something and seeing your work on these coveted pages, send your ideas to our email at press.features@forgetoday.com

Elsa Vulliamy

Megan Mcvey

Not your AVERAGE Fresher When they picture their first week of uni, most freshers have a pretty clear idea of how it’s going to go. Get drunk, stumble into the chippy, pass out fully dressed on crisp new Ikea sheets, blearily drag yourself to useless introduction lectures, make small talk with your flatmets, get drunk, repeat.

These two students share their experience of what it’s like when your freshers experience is a bit unusual.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

9

When you’ve been there done that Alice Horsley

S

itting in a desolate village courtroom in Kenya during my first gap year, hearing a man be sentenced to a week’s community service after running at a man with a machete, I had a sudden epiphany that law and order was the path that I must take. Big mistake.

I soon learnt that a glorified sense of justice in a foreign country does not mean that you can handle a law degree. It’safe to say that law isn’t as riveting as Judge Judy,

and that thoughts abroad do not necessarily follow you home.

After a few months of minimal contact with the university law school, I figured, however much I debated it, it wasn’t worth the £9000 a year simply for the Freshers’ lifestyle. As it was too late to swap to my new course (English Literature) I was faced with a second gap year. I had to pack up my plant, say goodbye to my amazing flatmates and hop back to Leamington Spa.

September soon came and I was an Endcliffe Fresher once again. I was honest with my new flat and confessed that I was a dropout, unlike my previous flatmate who’d been at university for a year and pretended not to know where the SU was.

I get why people don’t come clean about it, though. Who wants to be that anomaly who couldn’t hack university first time round? But I soon learnt that it really wasn’t that dramatic. Being in the ‘gap-year’

block, a lot of people were in the same boat as me. Perhaps I wasn’t as uncommon as I had thought?

Although nothing could beat my first time round as a Fresher, I wouldn’t take away my dropout status. I sort of thank the man with the machete, as he gave me three extra months of Endcliffe village, blue pints and Thursday regrets.

When you’ve got a Guide Dog

M

y Freshers’ week was not dissimilar to anyone else’s. I drank too much, nearly set the kitchen on fire, met a million people (half of whom I couldn’t tell you the name of now), entered my student overdraft and lived on takeaway pizza. In most respects it lived up to expectations as one of the best weeks of my life despite the fact my entry to university was hardly what one would describe as ‘normal’.

I am deafblind. I wear two hearing aids and rely upon a Guide Dog. When it came to applying for university I was adamant that my impairments would not define

Ellen Watson where I go or the experience I had.That’s not to say, however, that I wasn’t extremely nervous. I was the first student ever to have an assistance dog living in halls: how would people respond? What if people didn’t like her?

Moreover, I’d lived my entire life with friends who knew all about my difficulties and how to accommodate them. What if people felt uncomfortable? Would they be happy to guide me? Without some support from my friends I wouldn’t be able to go out, what if I became isolated?

Of course it turned out I had literally

nothing to worry about, everybody loved my dog, to the point I couldn’t walk to the village shop without at least 10 people stopping for a fuss. I had moved in a couple of days before my flatmates and was there when they arrived with an open door and food supplies.

Within hours of knowing each other we’d hit the SU and they guided me, made sure I was safe, and never made me feel like a burden. They learnt to laugh with me when I fell into a bin, or face planted a bus stop, or try to convince security that I’m not too drunk, just ‘a bit blind’. I felt so lucky,

any questions were purely inquisitive and I never felt any sense of judgement. Why should I? I was just an 18 year old trying to have a good time like anyone else.

And as for my dog, she took to the student life like a fish to water, a lover of early nights and lazy mornings, she was tucked up in bed by the time we were leaving, overall it was perfect and, bar the horrific hangovers, I wouldn’t change a thing.

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Friday 15 September 2017 Forge Press

“...CONVERSATION

CLUB

For more than 100,000 refugees living in the UK, settling into a new life can be tough. Many have limited English skills and may have been forced to leave behind everything and everyone they know. Megan McVey spoke to volunteers at Sheffield’s Conversation Club, which offers a place where refugees can go to speak with each other and with UK-born volunteers, practice their English and make new friends.

T

he city of Sheffield is known for warmly welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into its multicultural communities. From being the first city to be granted ‘City of Sanctuary’ status in 2007 to hosting numerous charities who aim to support refugees and asylum seekers already living in the city.

One organisation, in particular, Sheffield Conversation Club is rewarding for both volunteers and those they assist.

The aim is to offer a place for asylum seekers to practice their English and meet new people. Though it only received

these trips is also impactful and greatly appreciated as they are given just £36 a week to live on by the government and have no right to work in the United Kingdom, with their identification cards acknowledging this.

The club commends the profound impact the University of Sheffield has had on the it, offering five scholarships specifically for asylum seekers each year and the sheer number of volunteers that attend the club each week from STAR (Student Action for Refugees), which saw a 30 per cent rise last year. Thanking STAR for their wonderful help by representing the club at the university’s volunteer fair and hosting events such as Refugee Rhythms to help fundraise, Ralph counts the society as a partner of the club as well as the University’s French Society, who adopted them as their charity.

Volunteers are not expected to come every week, but the benefits derived from acting as a helping hand are plentiful through adding to the friendship group that is the club. Ralph has been coming to the club for thirteen years as a volunteer, committee member and trustee: “I never tire of the company of members and volunteers. We make countless friends, both new and those who have been coming for years. We are a family”. His friends and fellow volunteers Pat, Barry and Jane make the journey from Bakewell each week for the

We make countless friends... We are a family charity status in 2011, Sheffield Conversation Club is celebrating fifteen years of serving the Sheffield refugee and asylum seeker community. Its founder, well-loved local charity worker Myra Davis sadly passed away in 2014, but the club and her second Sheffield charity ASSIST have grown extensively since their inception and have become much more than the volunteers who organised the first meetings.

Meeting twice a week at the Victoria Hall on Wednesdays with other City of Sanctuary charities and the Central United Reformed Church on Fridays, volunteers, asylum seekers and refugees come together to talk about their backgrounds, countries and cultures over a cup of tea or coffee and sometimes a game of Scrabble. A more formal class taught by a trained ESOL teacher takes place also on a Friday.

There’s something inspiring about the simplicity of the conversations between what volunteer Ralph Hancock describes as essentially a “friendship group”. “Of

I never tire of the company of members and volunteers

course”, Ralph adds, “we listen too and help where we can, signposting people to help agencies when necessary” meaning volunteers act as a listening ear and a guide in situations where attendees may have nobody else to turn to. Various events and activities are also held by the charity, with day trips to museums, films and archeological sites to offer the opportunity

to see a new side of the city. Day trips to the seaside or the Peak District, which are funded by the Peak Park, are organised for a change of scenery. It is these trips that provide a chance for asylum seekers and refugees to both practice their English and gain a sense of community by finding a common ground with others. The fundraising to bring asylum seekers on

Friday afternoon club and look forward to meeting new people from different places each week, including Syria, Iraq, Eritrea, Yemen and many more. “Through offering friendship, a listening ear, playing games, and of course conversation, we have made many good friends. It is delightful to see their enthusiasm for wanting to improve their English and to widen their knowledge of culture and ways of life”.

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Friday 15 September 2017

To swipe or not to swipe?

That is the question Connie Coombs on the peaks and pitfalls of using dating apps at university

O

has 50 million users, making 26 million matches a day and 79% of its user base are millenials. It’s little wonder that dating apps have seeped into the cultural fabric of university.

There’s something much nicer about using dating apps at uni than at home. For one, there’s little worry that you’ll see people you went to school with. There’s something uniquely awful about someone you fancied in Year 9 cropping up, and having to decide if they’re as out of your league now as when you were thirteen. One of my friends uses every app under the sun at home (Tinder, Her, OKCupid, the list goes on) and doesn’t let that worry affect her, but I’m not brave enough to do so. Maybe it’s just me, but there seems to be more of a stigma around using dating apps at home.

Of my five flatmates in first year, three of them used Tinder. We turned it into a communal activity, deciding who to swipe right on and who looked like they were creepy/unpleasant/ an axe murderer. There was a kind of thrill to it: would we spot a course mate? Would we find a friend who had a painfully cringey bio?

Would we accidentally superlike someone we hate? If you are (or find yourself) single and want to enter (or reenter) the dating world, any shame about using apps is non-existent at university.

nline dating is weird. One day you’re harmlessly flirting over text with someone you’ve never met and organising a date at Brewdog, and the next you’re on a self-imposed ban from Upshot Espresso because you’re ghosting the owner. (Side note: try not to ghost people. It’s a shitty thing to do.)

But whatever opinions people voice about dating apps, trust me, they’re using them. Tinder

to anyone who might be interested. Are you looking for love, or just casual hookups? Make sure you’re open about your expectations from the very start. When it comes to finding the right app for you, Google is your friend and it’s well worth asking for recommendations from people you know who have had success.

One thing to remember is that success isn’t always immediate, and it might not be long-

26 million

There are more options than just Tinder. Her is womenexclusive, Grindr is well-known for the male dating scene, Bumble deletes matches after twenty four hours if the woman hasn’t sent a message, OKCupid has its own following, and for the kinkier among you there’s always FetLife. As a general rule, there’s an online dating site for anyone who’s interested.

The crucial thing is to be totally open with yourself about what you want, and then make sure that information is clear

Tinder matches are made every day

term. Furthermore, it’s been argued that it takes the passion out of dating. Nothing says romance like “let’s listen to redbone while we bone ;)”. Another potential problem is that people painstakingly cultivate their profiles to the point where it’s almost fiction. It’s easy to get attached to people based on the profile alone - after all, people are portraying themselves in their best light. In the same way that real products never look as good as advertised, people rarely live up to the expectation they create on dating profiles.

Dating apps also aren’t necessarily for everyone. I went on a couple of dates as a result of it (all of which were perfectly nice) but I was reminded of exactly why I hate dating. My own undesirable experiences with dating apps were hardly uncommon, and many people agree it’s

Forge Press

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

not the place to find true love.

That being said, there are success stories. Some people have fantastic experiences, and go on to form genuinely meaningful connections with the people they match with. One of my friends found her boyfriend on Tinder, and they’ve been going out for nearly two years as a result. Another went on a date

13

after a lecture or seminar. Socials are a great way to meet people, be it through your course or activities.

It’s pretty common knowledge that shagging your flatmate is a bad idea, but if you’ve given it a lot of consideration (and you know you’re both emotionally stable enough not to drag everyone you live with into a breakup) then there are definitely worse things you could do. You’re more likely to find a lasting connection with someone you know well.

Some would argue that if you go on a date with someone attractive after chatting to them for a couple of days, you’re much more likely to have terrible missionary sex that lasts a minute and a half, complete with perfunctory foreplay.

These are your prime years: don’t waste them having bad sex with attractive strangers.

with a girl who went on to be her maid of honour. But speaking from personal experience there’s much to be said in favour of doing things the old-fashioned way.

There are plenty of ways to do this. If you fancy a course mate, ask them if they want to grab a coffee

All told, there’s nothing inherently bad about using dating apps at uni for whatever purpose. Almost everyone tries it, and there’s no fear that you’ll accidentally stumble upon former teachers like you would with your radius set to ten miles from your home address. It can be a great way to meet new people and find your feet with casual dating. Some pointers

for those of you who might be new to the whole thing: check your privacy settings on Facebook, so that you’re only showing strangers what you’d be happy for them to see. Remember to keep personal information private. Only go on dates in public areas, and tell your friends where you’re going and who with. You can always block people who make you feel uncomfortable, and you can walk away from a conversation at any time. Dating apps and sites are supposed to be casual and fun, so make sure you don’t take it too seriously. Above all, stay safe, and never forget that there are aspects to the single life that make it worthwhile.

53%

of people lie on their dating profiles

F u up? yeah wuu2 Be a features writer! Submit your ideas to features@forgetoday.com to see your work here!

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Friday 15 September 2017

Opinion facebook.com/forgetoday @forgetoday press.opinion@forgetoday.com

James Pendlington & Josie Le Vay Opinion Editors

If you enjoy reading the opinions of whinging students with little writing experience then this is the section for you! We at Opinion are committed to voicing your

|

ultimately trivial thoughts and quibbles as we love drivel.

Some of you of the older generation (ie not Freshers) will have noticed that we’ve undergone reassignment surgery and now identity ourselves with Opinion as we transitioned from Comment

Fresher Prince of Broomhill... air (sorry)

Stoodents

Image by Shaun Murphy

over the summer.

The tyrannical oligarchy ruling over Forge kidnapped us and waterboarded us into submission until we caved after 36 hours simulated drowning. This is why this section is now called Opinion.

All joking aside (the torture was real though) we do enjoy providing a platform for students to voice their opinions, so if you have any opinions please do email us at press.comment@forgetoday.com or look out for any contributor meetings by joining the Forge contributors Facebook group.

We hope to here from you soon, unless you have an article about Trump.

James & Josie xxxx Amy King

L

ove it or loathe it, Freshers’ Week is upon us! Whether you’re a pub quiz champion, dark fruits dancing queen or a proud Southerner on a bar crawl up North – Freshers’ Week in Sheffield has something for everyone.

My love affair with Sheffield began in Freshers’ Week of first year, and three years down the line we’re still going strong. One of the key elements that makes Freshers’ Week in Sheffield brilliant is the Students’ Union. Whether it’s during the manic Freshers’ events in the daytime, or the club events at night – Freshers’ Week will keep you on your toes from day one. You’ll soon understand why it’s ranked the best Students’ Union in the country.

For a lot of people, Freshers’ Week is about having the ultimate nights out, and the sheer variety of club nights alone is amazing. One night you’ll be bopping away to ABBA on the stage at Pop Tarts and the next you’ll be screaming ‘I bet that you look good on the dancefloor’ at the Leadmill silent disco. Yes, clubs like Corporation and Code are particularly grimy and your favourite Converses will be lucky to survive the

Forge Press

James Pendlington 3rd Year Economics student

Josie Le Vay 3rd Year Journalism student

night, but it’s all part of the city’s rough and ready charm. Whether you’re walking into Freshers’ Week in a sparkly dress and heels or a pair of polka-dot dungarees – Sheffield doesn’t care. Sheffield tells you your outfit is fab, invites you to do a Jäger bomb, and then drags you back to the dancefloor because the Arctic Monkeys are playing (again). I’ve done Freshers’ dressed up, dressed down and occasionally I’ve done fancy dress, but I’ve never once felt out of place.

I love that each night has the potential to be completely different from the last. If Freshers’ Week starts to tire you out (from personal experience this happens

by Thursday) there are alternative events throughout the week which will provide you with some hangover recovery time. In the daytime, it’s good to explore the city and take advantage of all the initial Freshers’ offers in various shops and restaurants. At night, there are events such as live music, karaoke nights or pub quizzes as a great clubbing alternative. It’s incredibly cliché to say, but there literally is something for everyone at Freshers’ Week in Sheffield.

John/Joanna Lewis/Louisa Emma Atkinson

A

lthough it’s only just making headlines, John Lewis introduced gender-neutral clothing last year in association with Let Clothes Be Clothes, a group of parents who have come together to ask UK retailers to rethink how they design and market children’s clothing. Let Clothes Be Clothes are concerned about all children and the negative effects of marketing towards such a young age. In their own words, “taking some of the worst stereotypes about gender... is only going to perpetuate problems in our society”. And some of the negative responses received by John Lewis at their decision proves just that.

As a woman it’s easy to be affected by the sometimes ridiculous clothing marketed towards girls. Even as a young child, I was aware (in some sense) of the pressure of marketed clothing. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t sophisticatedly discussing the harm of gender roles at seven years of age, but I felt the pressure and the frustration of having to wear things I did not like. I’ve never liked t-shirts with slogans such as ‘Born

to be a Drama Queen’, or dresses with bits of lace sticking out. I still don’t today. I would argue, that these frustrations followed me into my adult life. I’m not saying femininity or liking anything associated with ‘being a girl’ makes you weak or is troublesome, I’m purely encouraging society not to pigeonhole young girls and boys into concepts of gender that hasn’t even occurred to them yet.

But I also remember young boys competing with male classmates about who had the deadliest shoes from Clarkes (there was a ‘spy’ range, each pair of shoes came with a gadget), just as the marketing companies had sadistically planned.

It’s time for us to realise that our childhoods, including what we wear, how we are taught, and how we treat others, affect who we become as people. I couldn’t commend John Lewis enough for their brave and revolutionary decision to immerse themselves into the 21st Century.

And for those who love to say ‘this is political correctness gone mad’, I personally think the ‘Bell-Sleeve Bardot Bodysuit’ that River Island sell for girls as young as five (?!) proves gender expectations are slightly more insane.

Forge Press

A rich man

Friday 15 September 2017

15

Image by Vinod Divakaran

Paymar: Inflation strikes football Tim Adams

T

here is a truth to football. A purity, an intensity and a spirit which makes it irresistible to take part in and to watch.

From the point of view of those ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese who played the earliest form of football, the current nature of the beautiful game will look unrecognisable.

Yet go back 10 years, and the football played today will still look like it’s in another universe. Not concerning the format of the game but the levels of money involved.

There’s an underlying truth that plagues domestic football across the elite European clubs. Most commentators who have watched, observed and studied the nature of European football have witnessed it lurch year on year towards ever increasing globalisation.

In the Premier League, a continuing expansion of its coverage reaches fans across the world as they get to view the blockbuster action of Manchester, Merseyside and the

North London derbies.

There is a major problem though: money. The recent TV deal agreed in 2015 stood at £5.136 billion, a figure nearly five times higher than the package agreed with the Premier League in 2009.

Man with ball

Image by Marcello Casal Jr

the income of a select number of clubs at the top (probably less than five) and in PSG’s case, this is owing to the fact they are state-owned by Qatar.

The country has underlined their vast oil and gas wealth by saving

Football may be circled with money, but the man at the centre of the transfer which optimises its influence is still aware of his roots.

No surprise then that at £93.5 million Sunderland last year, who finished bottom of the league, received more prize money than Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, Ligue 1 champions Monaco and Serie A victors Juventus.

Nonetheless, in European football there is a mass inequality between

what was a financially stricken club and turning it into an economic powerhouse. Incredibly, a majority of PSG’s income originates from the Qatar Tourism Authority’s €200 million a year sponsorship deal.

So, it is not surprising that PSG spent more on Neymar than the biggest Euromillions jackpot. What

is eye raising is how that deal, added to the Mbappe transfer, could pass UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.

FFP was introduced by UEFA seven years ago to stop clubs involved in European competitions from spending more than they earn.

The fundamental principle is that, beyond a small loss currently set at €5 million over three years, clubs’ outgoings must match their incomings.

Since then, UEFA has become more lenient, and they’ve allowed owners to spend an additional €30 million of their own money over a rolling three-year period, a move which has aided PSG. There is an inner belief within PSG that they can recoup any losses through increased revenue into the club.

Neymar can draw more star players to the club and is exceptionally marketable. He is also likely to increase the chances of PSG furthering their ambition to win the one prize that has eluded them: The Champions League.

So, what of Neymar? It’s easy to criticise a player who left the club which gave him a platform in Europe for one shrouded by money, but the Brazilian has also moved to Handicap International, becoming an ambassador for an organisation helping refugees in Cambodia and Thailand.

The Brazilian started his footballing career as a kid playing street games in a quiet district in Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paolo. His family home was located half a mile from a garbage dump, with barefooted children playing with a partially deflated ball through the streets.

Football may be circled with money, but the man at the centre of the transfer which optimises its influence is still aware of his roots.

If more players can do the same, then football may recover from its time on the sick bed.

Fascism is so unfashionable right now Alex Holland

C

harlottesville has exposed some grim realities about life in the age of Trump.

Prior to Charlottesville, the altright were mostly dismissed as a bunch of internet trolls at risk of asphyxiating themselves to anime pornography.

However the concerns about Trump’s ties with the alt-right can no longer be dismissed as being hyperbolic. Charlottesville is a symptom of this allegiance. It’s an ugly and undeniable example of Trump emboldening violent fascists.

Trump was quick to conflate these violent fascists with the antifascists in a spectacularly misjudged statement about “violence on many

sides”.

So critical was the reaction that two of Trump’s advisors were subsequently fired: Die Hard villain Sebastian Gorka and Resident Evil boss monster Steve Bannon has since returned to Breitbart. It can only be a good thing that Trump is now one of the last of what I would call bigots left in the White House.

Meanwhile, those protesting hate groups have discovered they cannot rely on the support of an honest press: the Washington Post has published thoughtless think pieces claiming that violence against somebody loudly encouraging another holocaust is morally equivalent to violence against an unarmed black protestor. Keen not to be outdone on the chronically

stupid ideas front, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah described Antifa as “vegan ISIS”. (Humour is fine, it’s just best when it’s not used for Nazi apologetics.)

Liberal commentators are doing pro bono PR work for Nazis because it’s an opportunity to undermine the flourishing left-wing movements in the US (with which Antifa are typically associated). Milder (but still totally naïve) critiques suggest that protesters should just stay home while torch-wielding, hate-spewing Nazis chant about murdering Jews. This is exactly the sort of smug, Beltway insider input that completely overlooks the powerful emotional factors that drive these events.

Those interested in transforming

US society for the better, or even just taking a stand against selfdeclared Nazis, can expect plenty of reproval from the media. That so many continue to protest regardless is a reassuring sign of people’s resolute and serious commitment to defeating racism.

Charlottesville serves as a wake up call for newly motivated activists.

The racism rife during Trump’s campaign wasn’t just empty rhetoric, the racist wing of his base aren’t just harmless morons and any person serious about opposing them cannot rely on wide support from the media.

Image by Mark Dixon

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

Opinion Debates Could you date someone with opposing political views?

Yes Laurence Smith. Chair of UoS Conservative Association

F

or me this isn’t so much an issue of whether I could be in such a relationship, but reflecting on what I have noticed during my own relationship with someone from across the political divide.

For some their politics – and dare I go as far as to say ideology – means they cannot even begin to contemplate a relationship with someone who is on the other side of the political divide. This is something I am accustomed to and well aware of but still mildly saddened by. I don’t feel sad for myself; more so that I feel sad for them.

Before going any further: this is not me suggesting that a Marxist ought to set aside their views in favour of being able to date a Nazi for the sake of practicing a degree of emotional maturity. Letting this collapse to such absurdities only serves to have us lose sight of the wood through the trees.

The real battleground of this debate lies with the capacity for us to ask whether the political ought to take centre-stage in determining the potential of a relationship, and to what extent should we tolerate such differences if we do choose to date those with whom we disagree.

Take one of the defining mottos of the radical feminist movement from the 1960s – “the personal is political” – and turn it on its head for a moment: “the political is personal”.

If your politics mean so much to you personally that it determines the nature and construct of your personal and social relations so much that you cannot date even those only moderately set against your own beliefs – say your average Tory and Labour voters – then I imagine you’re actually in the minority. We know most of the student populace aren’t political animals. They don’t let ideology dictate their every personal decision. Generally I find

those within my own society who have that capacity to shelve that aspect of their personality – even if only for a short while – are the happier ones. To put it somewhat crudely, they have the ability to relax. Being able to date someone from across the benches is an example of being emotionally confident enough to address and understand differences in a way that allow you to relax even in the company of those politically opposed to yourself.

In fact, during the General Election this year I found my girlfriend to be a source of great support and effectively an escape. Between a campaign, placement preparation and exams, our relationship was the most significant part of being able to cope with the pressures. I wonder whether dating a fellow Tory would have allowed me to be able to switch off from it all as effectively as I was able to when I was with her.

We appreciate and understand each other’s positions. In many ways what has been more complex and challenging isn’t an issue of our own capacity to tolerate our differences, but those of others we know. She is a liberally minded progressive Europhile, while I’m a libertarian Eurosceptic conservative. Somewhat tellingly during the GE this year I never once received a message or remark of surprise at our relationship despite our different voting intentions, but she did receive such questioning.

So for us political differences – while a point of minor tensions sometimes – don’t override the rest of our relationship. The biggest difficulty we have found is not from within the relationship, but unwelcome commentary from others on the outside. Indeed, this is evidence of some becoming defined by what they define themselves against. Their identity is political and the political is not only personal for them: the political is their personality.

For me and my girlfriend we appreciate and understand each other’s positions

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Friday 15 September 2017

17

No

Elizabeth Day

And I too am prepared to make the same bold statement: I could never date a Conservative.

I

t has been more than two weeks since Labour MP Laura Pidcock shocked the nation by saying she doesn’t fancy being mates with Tory MPs. Some people call it intolerance. I label it an unexpected example of political consistency.

Pidcock’s comments were not controversial. Two ideologically opposing parties, what Labour and the Conservatives are intended to be, should not be sitting around having afternoon tea.

And I too am prepared to make the same bold statement: I could never date a Conservative.

Now before you start with ‘But what if you were the perfect match?’ - let me explain. Dating is all about weeding out the frogs, those you are not compatible with

- and my perfect match could never be my political opponent.

If I saw ‘Chairman of the Conservative Society’ on Tinder, I would be unashamedly swiping left in rapid time.

This isn’t a self-sabotage in the form of restricting my dating pool; this is about preferences and commonality. And I’m not talking about a slight difference of opinion on education policy (no, more grammar schools shouldn’t be introduced). I mean the serious stuff.

I can’t date someone who supports exploitative zero hours contracts and someone who cares more about the rights of an unborn child than children drowning in the Mediterranean. Someone who denies climate change and

definitely not someone who sees nothing wrong with rolling out the British red carpet for the bigoted President of the United States is not not someone I could date.

This is not about intolerance, this is about dating deal breakers.

I don’t want to have to debate with my partner about my core values and beliefs 24/7. I want us to be individual players on the same team.

I want to know that my other half is as disgusted as I am by the one million people having to turn to foodbanks to feed their families because they aren’t being paid enough. I want them to be strong in their belief that higher education is a fundamental right, not some sort

of Dickensian privilege. I want us to fight together against the underhand dismantling of our public services.

Dating is fundamentally about want and desire. I desire someone who is my equal, my better half and politics cannot be divorced from that criterion.

I am unashamed that I refuse to compromise on my rigorous selection process. I cannot make allowances on the issue of sound morals and compassion.

This is a clear and shut case of not settling for any less than you deserve. We all reserve the right to be selfish, picky, selective (whatever you want to call it) with who we grace with our time.

And no, we shouldn’t feel bad about it.

Could you be friends with someone with opposing political views?

Yes

James Dunstan

I

t seems like more and more people are unable to see past a friend’s opposing political beliefs. I’m sympathetic: nothing is more infuriating than a good person holding immoral or irrational beliefs. But to refuse to be friends with a person merely for differing political beliefs is childish, arrogant and ultimately bad for both of you.

Firstly, who else is better placed than a friend to change a person’s mind? Have you ever changed your beliefs when somebody was a dick, or because of an angry Facebook comment? Rather, an

impassioned discussion over a pint or two works wonders. People are more open when they’re at ease, not defensive. If you don’t care to change a person’s beliefs, then

right about all your political beliefs.

If you surround yourself with people of the same views, you’ve just created a comfortable echo-chamber where you’re never challenged. That

Who better to test your beliefs than a friend who thinks differently? both of you must not be passionate enough for it to come between you.

Political discussion, whether you’re on the defensive or the offensive, is an excellent way to check and develop your own views.

It is arrogant to assume that you’re

serves nobody, as not only will you be unable to argue your point in a debate setting, but you will probably believe things which are just plain wrong. Confirmation bias is deadly to truth. Who better to test your beliefs than a friend who thinks

spectrum are based in extreme

lenses from which we see, judge and

differently? They’ll actively be looking for holes in your arguments, and you theirs. A politically different friend is excellent for developing your own opinions.

Finally, besides these practical concerns, reducing people to their political beliefs is just dehumanising. True, a person’s political beliefs are indicative of their values. But don’t we expect to have somewhat differing values than your friends anyway? Imagine if every time you and a friend had a disagreement, you just ditched them. The point of a friend is that there is something about them which overpowers the differences you have with them. Spending time with them is enjoyable and intrinsically valuable. And besides, what power do either of you have

No

Foteini Kolovou

P

olitical views and manners constitute an extension, or a mirror of how we act and behave in our social and personal environment. We can and should interact with people that have different political beliefs, debate with them and both expand our minds and reach concrete conclusions regarding the status quo; sometimes these differences if managed properly, can make our relationships beautiful, fulfilling and exciting. However, there are important exceptions regarding such interactions. If the political views of the interacting individuals lie in the extremes of the political

Even if you try avoiding talking about these politcal views, they will eventually create problems dogmas, this could lead to nonconstructive discussions and can significantly worsen their relations.

The social class of our families and the imposed thought patterns and opinions construct the first

experience the world. Subsequently, proper education gives us the opportunity to expand, reshape and change our views When referring to education, we should not just consider the ‘superficial’ layer of

knowledge, but most crucially the acquired skills of critical thinking that will enable you to digest what you are being given. Lastly and most importantly, personality virtues of the individuals such as empathy, respect, open-mindedness, conciliatory, tolerance to the difference etc. is what will balance the interests against the rest your fellow citizens. Even if you try avoiding talking about these political views, they will eventually create problems in everyday interactions because the conflicts touch on core human beliefs, rather than intellectualized social structures and systems.

to change things? You might argue over which sports teams is better, but neither of you are the manager.

Ultimately, your differences make very, very little practical difference.

Of course, I’m not saying that it is not either justifiable or understandable to not want to be friends with a Nazi or extremist. Nobody must tolerate dehumanisation or intolerance, and this shows a clear flaw with the person’s values. But most people are relatively moderate, or simply aren’t passionate about politics.

So, give your friends a break. They can be wrong sometimes, and just maybe you’ll end up thinking you were a little bit wrong too.

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Friday 15 September

Lifestyle |

facebook.com/forgetoday

Ellie Conlon

@forgetoday

Hey guys, welcome to Lifestyle’s first issue of the year - we’ve been really excited to get knuckled

press.lifestyle@forgetoday.com

Every fresher’s favourite place in Sheffield!

Lifestyle Editor

down and write some funny and interesting content for you lot to feast your eyes upon.

If you enjoy reading about interesting places people have

travelled to recently, cool food places around Sheffield or even just stupid things that have happened in Sheffield in the past week, you’re most definitely in the right place.

We’ve also included a little guide to the best pubs in Broomhill for you Freshers who live in Endcliffe and Ranmoor. We wanted to save you all from having to treck all the way into the City Centre for a pint. (And both just wanted a decent excuse for going on a pub crawl around Broomhill again).

We have a lot of funny article ideas lined up that we’re eager to get out to you guys, so definitely keep

Forge Press

your eyes peeled for us throughout the year. And of course, if you fancy writing for us, drop us an email on press.lifestyle@forgetoday.com.

Write for us as little or as often as you want, we’re always looking forward to welcoming new people to our little lifestyle team.

Wikipedia

What’s on in Freshers’ Week Ellie Conlon - Lifestyle Editor Monday 18th September – Mark Labett hosts the Original Bierkeller Quiz Yes, you heard right. Mark Labett, otherwise known as Mark ‘The Beast’ Labett (that clever guy from the Chase) will be hosting Biekeller’s weekly quiz.

To enter, it’s just £2 for a team of up to 6 people (sorry if you’ve been whacked into a flat of seven - but then again it is a quiz, it’s probably best to leave the Geography student at the flat anyway). And, you also get a FREE sharing platter for contributing – we know how much students love free stuff.

With £4.00 steins all night, prizes up for grab and a meet and greet from 10pm, who’s going to turn this one down?

Is there a better way to one up all your mates’ from home’s Freshers pictures on Facebook than having a picture with Mark Labett from the chase? No, I don’t think so either.

Tuesday 19th September – Modern Love at Maida Vale If aren’t familiar with West Street yet, you’re in for a treat. Right down at the bottom of the street is Maida Vale, who are launching their new Indie Disco night this Freshers. Love the Arctic Monkeys? Love The Smiths? Want a place that welcomes your edgy shirts, your Gallagher bowl cut and your love of Tame Impala? Here you have it, taking place every single Tuesday from 10pm – 2am.

With free entry, £2.50 double vodka mixers and 4 whole hours of your favourite tunes, this new night is almost impossible to say no to.

Pop down to Maida Vale’s massive launch night event on Tuesday 19th September, to see a guest DJ set from Jamie MacColl from Bombay Bicycle Club. This is possibly the most exciting thing to happen to Sheffield since Honey G did a DJ set at Code.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for other Modern Love events, as Maida Vale are also hosting the Amazons’ official after party on 3rd October after their sold out Leadmill Show.

Wednesday 20th September – Skool Disco at Corporation Forget your induction week. Forget the welcome talks. This will be your official introduction to the University of Sheffield.

Welcome to Corp, the place you will probably dedicate every single Wednesday night to for the rest of the next year.

If you haven’t yet heard of the ‘Corp Wednesday’, it’s probably every Fresher’s

favourite place in Sheffield. With three different rooms playing three different types of music, 80p vodka mixers and Corp’s infamous £2.40 blue pints, you’ll learn to love this place more than your own family.

Dress up in your school shirt and tie for £3 entry before midnight every Wednesday. See you there.

Who doesn’t want to spend their Thursday night dressed as a giant palm tree?

Thusday 21st September – Miami Rice at The Harley This event probably won’t be at the top of every fresher’s agenda, but it’s definitely not one to be missed. The Harley are hosting their very own tropical themed disco party, dropping the grooviest funk, soul, disco, house, r&b and afrobeat tunes. Whack on some fancy dress and turn up at any point during the night for just £4 entry. Who doesn’t want to spend their Thursday night dressed as a giant palm tree? With your fancy dress, your sunglasses and a Red Stripe (or three) in hand, this will most definitely be a

night to remember. Or probably forget. After all, it is Freshers.

Friday 22nd September – Bonkers Bingo at Mecca Bingo Forget sitting in an old, small bingo hall with a packet of crisps and your grandad. Welcome to Bonkers Bingo. It’s mad. It’s crazy. Some would even say it’s bonkers. With rubbish prizes, massive tunes and loads of alcohol, how else would you want to spend your Friday night?

Saturday 23rd September – Danza at Tank Sheffield’s Underground Music Venue, Tank, are launching a brand new event – Danza, showcasing some of the biggest names in house music including Solardo, Cristoph and Mihalis Safras. It’s open from 11.30pm – 6 in the morning, which is perfect if you’ve ended up a bit nocturnal during Freshers week.

The Students’ Union The Union will be hosting various club nights all week. Visit su.sheffield.ac.uk for the full list of what’s on.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

19

Broomhill’s Top 5 Pubs

“The York is Broomhill’s upmarket alternative to the surrounding student haunts”

theyorksheffield.co.uk

Harry Gold Once described by former poet laureate John Betjeman as “the prettiest suburb in England”, Broomhill is one of Sheffield’s most picturesque outlying areas. Incidentally, it’s also where a large amount of the city’s student population is housed, as the suburb is home to Ranmoor and Endcliffe as well as endless terraced student houses. Broomhill is safer, cleaner and less of an eyesore than Manchester’s Fallowfield or Leeds’ Hyde, but clearly, we’re avoiding the real issue – can the pubs hold their own? Well, yes. Here’s Broomhill’s top 5 pubs.

bottle adorning every table. The York is Broomhill’s upmarket alternative to the surrounding student haunts, and a good place to take your parents in an attempt at fooling them that the student life isn’t entirely accompanied by squalor and filth.

The Broomhill Tavern Let’s be clear – the Broomhill Tavern isn’t a pub designed for students. It very much has the air of a traditional English pub with a regular, tight-knit clientele considerably above the age of your average student. This doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t a pleasant place to visit. The Broomhill Tavern provides an opportunity to escape from the loudness of everyday student life and have a quiet, relaxed (and cheap) drink

The York Like the Broomhill Tavern, The York isn’t exactly your standard student haunt. In a way, it’s best kept that way – a visit to The York always feels like an indulgence. The pub’s interior feels strangely like an aristocratic country house, filled with taxidermy and slightly unsettling illustrations accompanied, of course, by the ubiquitous Henderson’s Relish

The Bloomery The pub formerly known as The Place, The Bloomery has recently undergone a refurbishment as well as a name change. Featuring pool tables, Sky and BT Sport, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Despite the drinks being on the costlier side, there’s a massive selection to choose from. More of a bar than a pub, the Bloomery admittedly lacks the homeliness of Broomhill’s best drinking haunts.

Fox and Duck One of the simple pleasures of being a student in and around Broomhill is being able to grab a Broomhill Friery and sit and eat it in the Fox and Duck over a pint due to the pubs ‘bring your own food’ policy. The Fox and Duck is also closely affiliated with Sheffield’s Little Critters microbrewery, so they have a great selection of ales at exceptional prices.

The Nottingham House The pies are potentially the best thing to ever happen to Sheffield. Or the North. Or the world. Spectacular pies aside, the Notty House is every student’s favourite Broomhill pub because it strikes the near-impossible balance between being authentic and homely as well as friendly, cheap and welcoming to students. Your flatmates will be there. Your course mates will be there. Even that random guy you threw up on in Corp will be there. And with a strong selection of Sheffield’s finest beers, a pile of board games, a weekly quiz that offers a free plate of nachos just for participating and frequent live music showcasing local talent, it offers everything you could want from a student pub in Sheffield.

Everything that will happen in Freshers’ Week Ellie Conlon

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elcome to Sheffield: the place you’ve probably worked your socks off to get into for the past two years.

Unless you applied to Oxford and came through clearing to enter (what has often been wrongly classed as) a smaller and shitter version of Leeds.

I mean I’ve never actually been to Leeds but I’m adamant that’s an absolute lie and nobody who holds that opinion has ever set foot inside Corp. Unless they did it sober. In that case, fair play.

Here’s everything you should expect to happen in your first week here in Sheffield.

Someone will turn up a day later than everybody else Meet Gaz (a bit laid back and studies something like history), who rocks up on the Sunday to meet a flat who’ve already bonded, found out each other’s biggest secrets and have probably all already shagged each other by the time he’s walked through the door.

Gaz will be spending the next year keeping his stuff squashed into the top of the mop cupboard because his flat have taken up all the kitchen cupboard space and have left no room for him.

Someone will hide the fact they’ve never actually drank before Get ready for the one person in every flat that will go out of their way to let everyone know they were an absolute legend back at home and have been on the lash every single weekend since they were, like, 17.

Turns out they’re lying - half way through the flat’s first game of Ring of Fire, they’ll be two Koppabergs down, won’t be able to use their legs and will probably be found passed out in a corridor by half 10 in a pile of their own vomit.

(They’ll end up being the group chat picture for the foreseeable future.)

You’ll bring way too much stuff Turns out you probably didn’t need 8 frying pans, a wok and that mini fridge your mum bought you for taking to Uni considering you’re going to be spending the next year eating beans on toast, pot noodles and the occasional Tesco’s ready meal.

You’ll go out the night before a 9am induction meeting If you haven’t already seen your introduction week timetable, it’s not a very pretty thing to witness.

Freshers all over campus will be being dragged into uni at 9am for

introduction talks, lectures, and registration to the University.

There’s something pretty beautiful about sitting in a lecture theatre at 9 in the morning surrounded by hundreds of hungover first year students and trying not to vomit back up the seven jager bombs you downed in 4 and a half minutes last night.

Quick heads up – if you’re planning on going out the night before registration, at least attempt to brush your hair a bit before you have your student card picture taken. You don’t want to be looking hungover and instantly reminded of that time you drank your body weight in spiced rum every time you try and get a 10% student discount in Topshop.

You’ll wear white shoes to Corp Stuck to the floor? Don’t worry, we all are. After visiting Sheffield’s number one fresher’s destination, you’ll be ankle deep in piss and vodka and your white converse will never be the same again.

You’ll break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend from home You shrugged off everyone’s doomladen predictions, vowing to try long-distance with your sixth-form boyfriend/girlfriend. Five days and three bottles of vodka into freshers and you’ll have forgotten their name. Sorry.

Someone will set the fire alarm off at three in the morning Whether someone’s tried to cook a pizza drunk, or they’ve lit up a joint in their bedroom at three in the morning, someone will undoubtedly set the fire alarm off in your Uni block.

And what could possibly be worse than getting a £150 fine for accidentally alerting the fire brigade? Having to leave your nice cosy bed and stand outside for a good half an hour in your big fluffy dressing gown surrounded by all your new mates.

Someone will piss in your sink Yes, that is where you wash your bowls. And yes, that is where your flatmate has urinated. And thrown up. Probably more than once.

Why walk all the way to the bathroom when you have a perfectly good sink three metres away?

You’ll sleep with your flatmate Your mates will tell you not to. Your sister will tell you not to. Even your mum’ll probably tell you not to. But let’s be real, it’s inevitable.

Day 1 and flat E6 can already feel the sexual tension between Charles and Melissa. They’ve planned tomorrow’s trip to Morrisons together, have drunkenly bonded over their love of the Communist Manifesto and are now necking at pre-drinks.

Three weeks later, they now both hate each other. Welcome to the height of awkwardness, sat in the kitchen every morning with your brew, a digestive and a pile of regret.

No biggie though, everybody does it.

Someone will drunkenly drag miscellaneous items back to your flat By the end of freshers week, you’ll probably have a road barrier, a shopping trolley and a traffic cone wedged in a cupboard somewhere just in case the cleaner tries to comes round and takes it away.

But why walk all the way to the bathroom when you have a perfectly good sink 3 metres away from where you’re sat?

You’ll pay about 18 quid for a night out you’ll spend the next year paying 3 quid for A club that usually charges £3 entry will charge you about a tenner entry because they’ve whacked an inflatable palm tree in the corner and told you to dress up. But we all continue to pay it anyway because it’s freshers.

You’ll probably only remember about three of the above actually happening. Have a great Freshers’ week!

City vs Endcliffe vs Ranmoor Dan Cross

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got into university through clearing which meant I ended up in city accommodation as all the people who had done as well as they expected in their A-levels ended up in Endcliffe and Ranmoor. Now don’t get me wrong, the accommodation itself was nothing to turn your nose up at.

I was in Sheffield 3, a relatively modern apartment complex in Shalesmoor (it’s near Kelham Island - look it up). All the halls were modern, well furnished and within 10 minutes walk of campus. The staff were brilliant and it was within a 5-minute walk of a huge Tesco. Our kitchen was even newly refurbished (albeit at the end of the year when we were about to move out but hey, it probably saved us our deposits).

As it was an enclosed block, flats could leave post it messages on windows to communicate across the courtyard which added a certain charm to an otherwise bland looking building. I was also just a few minutes walk from Kelham Island which is a real up and coming area of Sheffield. The local bars, photography opportunities and brewery cement its place as one of my favourite parts of the city.

The main difference between city and Endcliffe and Ranmoor is probably the size of the flats. The largest one in my block was 6 people and is quite a reduction compared to the main student halls.

If you’re lucky, you end up with a really closeknit group of friends or, you may not get along with everyone with their being fewer people and therefore a smaller pool of interest to mix with.

This isn’t such a bad thing though, less rooms in the flats means more flats themselves and in close proximity to each other. You can quickly end up making friends across a group of 12 or 15 across a couple of flats on your floor. It’s easy to pop in and see people and we often ended up tagging along with a couple of other flats on nights out which is just as good as having one large, flat group like you get in Endcliffe or Ranmoor.

In some ways this helps push you to use your initiative and go out and look for things to get involved with which I think is a good metaphor for university experience as a whole.

It reminds me of something my politics teacher told us at college. I’ll put a PG spin so it’s less expletive but he essentially reminded us that you only get out what you put in, if you just do the bare minimum you won’t get a good degree grade.

Equally if you don’t go out and explore university as a whole and get involved in sports, societies and the area then I think you’ve missed out. After hearing stories about Ranmoor and Endcliffe I did feel as though I’d missed out on something but being away from the main “university halls” made me want to get involved in as much as possible so I didn’t completely miss out on what most people agree are the best years of your life.

Ben Warner

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ou needn’t read the rest of the arguments here. Endcliffe is the best. Fact. It’s got everything you could ever want from student halls, including a bar (don’t need anything else) with Sky Sports and BT Sport.

Some of the blocks have been rated amongst the best in the country, and the downhill trip to uni make those 9AMs so much easier to get motivated for. Just make sure you discover the shortcut through Stephenson early on – it’s better than any night out you could possibly go on. If you’re lucky, most of your mates will be conveniently located in Endcliffe, making those spontaneous nights out all the easier to arrange.

And face it: you’ll want to be going out those nights – you won’t get any sleep otherwise.

The Edge contains a spacious café during the daytime, for both catered and non-catered residents, as well as the laundrette you should be making regular trips to (as long as you don’t fall out with the Circuit Laundry gods). While convenient, I wouldn’t recommend making Endcliffe’s Village Store the place you do all the shopping. While the uphill walk into Broomhill might be daunting, the cheaper prices will be a lifesaver throughout the year. Plus, by the time you move out next year you’ll have legs of steel.

Of course, above all Endcliffe, like all halls, is a great chance to meet people who could be some of the best friends you’ve ever had. I met some of my best mates hanging about in the Edge, and regularly saw my coursemates, ensuring that whatever happened in first year, I was at least never bored.

Florrie Andrew

Y

es, you wanted to be put in Endcliffe. Yes, you called up the accommodation team to ask to if there’s any chance of being relocated (or was that just me?) But you’ll soon realise that Ranmoor really is the place to spend your freshers’ year.

Take one look at one of the microscopic kitchens in Endcliffe- would you really prefer to be clambering over your flat mates to grab a pan from the cupboard? Frankly, Ranmoor offers

kitchens that Gordon Ramsay himself would be proud of.

Situated up the fine Shore Lane, Ranmoor is the closest of the three student villages to Sheffield’s prized Peak District. One quick walk up the rest of Shore Lane and you’ll be at the bus stop ready for an 11-minute bus ride straight to the Peaks.

In fact, you’re so close to the Peaks that many of the rooms in Ranmoor have a view of them for all your friends and family to shed tears of admiration over when they visit.

Although you may have the longest walk to the Students’ Union, after walking 30 minutes up and down the hill of Fulwood Road every day for a year, you’ll surely have the most toned legs.

Whilst your Endcliffe friends (if they have ever actually visited) may comment that Ranmoor seems “dead”, you can remind them that Ranmoor folks won’t be the ones stumbling into 9ams with dark circles under their eyes. Thanks to having a population almost a third of the size of Endcliffe’s, you’ll have actually slept last night- hooray.

So, regardless of what Endcliffe and City say, with views of the Peaks, usable kitchens and sleep, sweet and lovely Ranmoor certainly deserves more credit than it gets.

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Friday 15 September

Laura Mulvey

facebook.com/forgetoday

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Arts Editor

Hey there, you’ve reached the Arts section! Turn to these pages over the next year for your fortnightly fix of culture. We’ll be discussing Sheffield’s most up-andcoming events in theatre, dance, visual arts, comedy, crafts, literature and so much more.

The section is edited by two arts enthusiasts from the Journalism department.

@forgetoday

Arts press.arts@forgetoday.com

Florrie is a second year student and self-confessed musical theatre fanatic.

Whereas I’m studying for my Masters, and spend my spare time snooping around the city centre’s many fantastic galleries.

We’re so excited to share the highs and lows of Sheffield’s creative scene with you over the coming year. The Steel City is crammed with hidden gems, and there’s no time like Freshers’ Week

to begin exploring your new home. To get you started, we’ve compiled our ultimate guide to getting involved in Sheffield’s vibrant arts scene from the moment you arrive.

Arts can sometimes fall by the wayside during the long university summer, but that hasn’t stopped contributor William Murray from keeping up with the literary world.

Check out his sterling review of Sebastian Barry’s awardwinning novel Days Without

Forge Press

End below.

Then turn the page for a whole host of Harry Potter delights!

We’ll be keeping up with arts issues from around the world this year, so if you’d like to pitch an idea, get in touch using the details on the left.

We’d love to hear from you!

Book Days Without Review End

by Sebastian Barry

William Murray

Tudor Square - home to the Crucible and the Lyceum

S

© Copyright Neil Theasby

Ten ways to enjoy arts in Sheffield Laura Mulvey

A

side from the snazziest of cutlery and the steepest of hills, Sheffield is known across the country for its thriving creative arts scene.

With a vast array of dance, theatre, exhibitions and more right on your doorstep, there’s no better way to counter the excesses of Freshers’ Week than by immersing yourself in the city’s more creative side. Here’s our pick of ten ways to enjoy arts in Sheffield: 1. Mawwke the most of the “Live for 5” scheme Seeing great theatre doesn’t have to break your student budget. Sheffield Theatres, who are responsible for the Crucible, the Studio and the Lyceum, offer £5 tickets to under-25s for the majority of their productions. To take advantage of the scheme, create an account at www.sheffieldtheatres. co.uk. Live for 5 tickets go on sale on the first Friday of each month, so plan ahead to get your fix of top notch theatre.

2) Volunteer at a festival Gain some new skills and spice up your CV by volunteering at one of Sheffield’s many cultural festivals.

As well as being a great way to make new friends from around the city, volunteers often get free tickets.

The Off the Shelf literary festival is coming up in October, while Migration Matters and the worldfamous Doc Fest will also be seeking volunteers later in the year. Look out for opportunities with university events such as Festival of the Mind and the Festival of Ideas as well.

3) Visit a Sheffield gallery or museum A great way to pass the time on a rainy (or hungover) afternoon, Sheffield boasts an impressive range of exhibition centres to suit every interest. Most are free to enter, and with constantly changing collections,

they can be enjoyed time and time again. Forge favourites include the Millennium Gallery in the city centre’s stunning Winter Gardens, and the National Emergency Services Museum, which is the largest of its kind in the world. Even the university’s own Western Bank Library hosts exhibitions through the year, providing the perfect break from revision.

4) Join a university band or choir It’s time to put those year five violin lessons to good use – university is a great place to get involved in music.

There are countless performance groups to choose from, ranging from casual collectives to serious competition bands. Check out the Music Players Society for performance groups in lots of different styles, and even an annual music tour! If you prefer to sing, the Gospel Choir and Singers’ Society are always looking to welcome new members.

5) Go to a concert You can’t share a home with the Arctic Monkeys without exploring Sheffield’s diverse music scene. Try City Hall for world-class classical concerts, or Sheffield Arena for pop, rock and more. Nightclubs like the Leadmill and Plug host a range of artists, as do plenty of local pubs, so get exploring!

6) Audition for a show You don’t need to stick to the audience to enjoy Sheffield’s theatre scene – why not get involved?

SUTCo (Sheffield University Theatre Company) and SUPAS (Sheffield University Performing Arts Society) put on productions throughout the year, and they welcome auditions from seasoned thespians and complete novices alike. You can even try your hand at directing or tech management if acting isn’t your cup of tea. The next auditions for

SUTCo will be held from Thursday 21 September; check out their Facebook page for all the details.

7) Sign up for a class If you’re feeling adventurous, why not break out of the university bubble and pick up a craft? A wide variety of arts groups meet regularly around the city, but be warned: classes can be pricey so shop around. Kelham Island Arts Collective offers a student discount for life drawing workshops, while Art House runs a wide variety of specialist courses covering painting, printing and more.

8) Visit some alternative theatre venues Beyond the big stages in Tudor Square, there are many productions taking place off the beaten track.

Theatre Delicatessen, a great place to catch quirky and provocative performances, is due to reopen later this year. Be sure to check out the Lantern Theatre too; as Sheffield’s oldest theatrical venue, the building itself is a sight worth seeing.

9) Join a creative society Everyone knows that joining a club or society is a great way to meet new people and get involved in university life, but why not take up a crafty new hobby at the same time? There are hundreds of groups to choose from, so check out the Give it a Go programme if you’re not sure where to start.

10) Write for Forge Press Arts!

Unleash your inner theatre critic and join the best team of them all! We’ll be giving out features, interviews and press tickets for reviews throughout the year, and we’d love for you to get involved. Come and meet us at the Activities fair, and join Forge Media Contributors 17/18 on Facebook for all the latest updates.

ebastian Barry continues the multi-generational tale of the McNulty family in Days Without End, exploring the relationship between Ireland and the United States during the 19th Century.

Following the novel’s release in October 2016, Barry became the first author to win the Costa Book of the Year Award twice.

The novel follows Thomas McNulty, a young man who flees to the United States to escape the Great Famine of Ireland. Along the way he meets ‘the beautiful John Cole’ and the two quickly form an unbreakable lifelong bond. The best friends and lovers work as cross-dressing dancers in a saloon, before enlisting in the U.S. Army and fighting in both the Indian and Civil Wars.

The scope is epic and sweeping, spanning multiple decades and military conflicts.

There are vicious acts of cruelty committed against the Sioux tribes and epic battles with the Confederate Army, however at its heart Days Without End is a story of love found in the most desolate of places. The barbaric acts of violence are contrasted by moments of compassion and intimacy, such as the formation of an unconventional family unit: John, Thomas and their adopted daughter, a young Sioux girl named

Winona. The LGBTQ+ themes are handled with delicacy and grace, with the depiction of Thomas and John’s relationship being heavily influenced by Barry’s own son’s experiences of being gay. At times, I found myself wishing for further character development, especially in John Cole. Nevertheless, the vivid narrative voice of Thomas makes up for this, creating the feeling of an old friend recounting his extraordinary life experiences.

The language is beautiful and vibrant, painting an evocative portrait of the hardship and horrors of war. Barry makes you feel the cold, hunger and pain experienced by the young men fighting in the war. The plot is fast paced and action-packed, yet enough time is left for detailed and visceral descriptions of the war-torn landscape, the seasonal changes and the unbearable heat of the American West.

From being longlisted for the Man Booker Prize to being named the 2016 Costa Book of the Year, Sebastian Barry deserves all of the praise he has received for this phenomenal work of fiction. I found this to be an all-consuming read that will stay with me for years to come, and I cannot implore you enough to read this book.

The language is beautiful and vibrant, painting an evocative portrait of the hardship and horrors of war.

Days Without End - Out now Design

by Faber Cover images © kouryangelo / Getty © Shutterstock

24

Friday 15 September 2017017

20 years of

Harry Potter Then...

Florrie Andrew

I

t was 20 years ago that an unknown author had her magical masterpiece introduced to our shelves. Now, the writer has had an estimated 500 million copies of her work sold in 73 different languages. This author is of course Joanne Rowling, more commonly known as J.K. Rowling.

The world of Harry Potter has enchanted the lives of millions of readers, young and old, across the globe since its birth in 1997. The books follow the story of Harry Potter, an orphan who up until his eleventh birthday believed himself to be just like any other young boy. Harry learns that he is a wizard and has a place at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. However, as the books progress, Harry discovers more about his past and what he must face as a result for the safety of the mankind.

The idea of the Harry Potter’s world came to Rowling when she was on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990. When she arrived at her flat in Clapham Junction, she immediately started pencilling down what eventually became Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Word spread about Rowling’s debut novel once it was published in 1997 and, after winning multiple national awards, the US publication rights were sold to Scholastic for £100,000. The following year, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets became the first children’s book to top the hardback bestsellers list on publication and the US was introduced to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. The third and fourth novels in the series came out in quick succession, with the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 1999 and Goblet of Fire in 2000.

There was then a pause in the rapid publication of the Harry Potter books. In 2001, 11-year-olds Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, 12, found fame as the three leads in the first film adaptation of the series. This introduced

a new audience to the books. The film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone took $974.8 million at the box office worldwide and was the highest-grossing movie of the year. The film adaptations of the second, third and fourth novels in the series were released in 2002, 2004 and 2005 respectively.

The popularity of Rowling’s publications only intensified as the rest of the seven-book series was released. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the longest book in the series at 766 pages, was released in 2003 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit bookstores two years later. The grand finale of the Harry Potter series, where Harry and his archenemy Voldemort battle for the last time, smashed records as the fastest-selling book of all time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold more than 15 million copies in 24 hours and is the second bestselling book in history, behind only Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

The year 2007 was a significant one in the Harry Potter calendar. Not only was the book series concluded but it marked ten years since the release of Philosopher’s Stone and the fifth film adaptation came out in cinemas. As the series progresses, Harry Potter’s journey becomes darker and bleaker and this was particularly clear in the 2009 film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Director David Yates announced in 2008 that the final book was to be divided into two parts to be released eight months apart in November 2010 and July 2011. Unsurprisingly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 opened to huge success. Part 2 is the 8th highest-grossing movie of all time, after taking $1.34 billion at the box office worldwide.

However, it was not an easy journey for Rowling. Her mother died soon after she began writing the Philosopher’s Stone, her grief of which is conveyed through Harry’s feelings of loss as he grows up as an orphan. Rowling went through a divorce and, as a single mother,

moved to Edinburgh where she was on state benefits. It may be hard to believe now but Rowling also had a difficult time trying to get published; J.K Rowling was rejected 12 times before the relatively small publishing company Bloomsbury agreed to an advance of 1,000 copies - 500 of which were given to libraries.

One of these copies was recently auctioned off for £43,750.

Despite seeming adamant that the Harry Potter series was over for good, in 2015, J.K Rowling teamed up with playwright Jack Thorne and theatre director John Tiffany to take Harry Potter to the stage. In July 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered at the Palace Theatre, London and the play takes off 19 years later from the conclusion of Deathly Hallows, which was, in fact, this very year.

Likewise, in November 2016, J.K Rowling took on the roles of producer and writer of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a film based on one of books Harry studies whilst at Hogwarts.

But the legacy of Harry Potter does not stop there. There are even theme parks dedicated to the series, with Universal Studios Orlando, Hollywood and Japan having rides, shops and restaurants dedicated to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Despite the obstacles that the author was faced with, Rowling’s relentless dedication to her imaginative mind has meant that we can escape our exhausting world for a wizarding one. Without J.K. Rowling, we would have never have heard the words ‘muggle’ nor ‘expelliarmus’ nor ‘incendio’. We would have never been able to do sorting quizzes on Pottermore putting us into ‘Hufflepuff’, ‘Gryffindor’, ‘Ravenclaw’ or ‘Slytherin’ houses. We would never have found a school that we actually all wanted to go to so badly nor would we have had quidditch. Most importantly, we would never have met Dobby.

For all of that and so much more, thank you J.K. Rowling and thank you Harry Potter.

Friday 15 September 2017

25

Now...

Chloe Dervey

M

erlin’s beard! 19 Years Later came around faster than we could say “Quidditch!”

Now, it’s time you stop spending on butterbeer and pumpkin pasties and start to put the galleons aside for a trip to the Palace Theatre in London’s West End, because Harry Potter and the Cursed Child really is bloomin’ brilliant.

A selection of lucky fans obtained tickets to the special performance on September 1st, following Albus Severus Potter on the official date of his first trip aboard the Hogwarts Express, picking up where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows famously closed.

With seven books, eight film adaptations and a new spin-off series in Fantastic Beasts, some muggles remain sceptical of another expansion to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. But hold your hippogriffs! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won a record nine Olivier Awards alongside 11 nominations, and the play has settled firmly into the hearts of fans and critics alike. After the lights go down in the Palace, it isn’t long before it becomes perfectly clear that the production remains truer to the spirit of Potter than the later film adaptations ever did demonstrate.

The eighth story is as much of a rollercoaster

as a ride on a firebolt. But the only way to really describe the production without defying #KeepTheSecrets is that it is truly magic. Not just in reference to the delightful visual effects and tricks; this production is special, and you can measure that from the smiles or tears (or both) on the faces of the audience.

Following such a successful West End debut, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is due to open on Broadway in Spring 2018 and is taking most of the original cast with it - but don’t get your wand in a knot about that. After being lucky

enough to see the play in London with both the original and new casts (no felix felicis involved, just a very dedicated family), Parts I & II still astonished the second time around with a new cast, and it most definitely will again and again for years to come. The boy who lived, lives on!

Oh, and take your Potter merch, because pretty much everyone else there will be wearing it.

Pretend you’re headed for Hogwarts with these upcoming events: 21/09/2017: Party like you’re at the Yule Ball with the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts School Disco Freshers night at the Students’ Union. £6, 11pm-3am 19-30/09/2017: Fancy yourself as the next Viktor Krum? Give quidditch a go with SQuidS, Sheffield’s quidditch club. Taster sessions are on the Tuesday, Thursday (3.30pm) and Saturday (1pm) of each week 09/10/2017: Think you’re the Hermione of Sheffield? Prove it at Bar One’s Ultimate Harry Potter quiz. Bar One will be showing the films throughout the day for some last-minute revision. Free entry, 7pm 10/12/2017: You’ve read the books and you’ve seen the movies. Go behind the scenes at Warner Bros’ Studio Tour of the Harry Potter film sets. £66, departs from the Students’ Union and Endcliffe at 8am

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

27

|

facebook.com/forgetoday

Chloe Dervey

@forgetoday

Last summer, I got to the end of Uncharted 4, joked and said “Who’s still alive? Nadine? Her and Chloe should have a game together.”

I honestly didn’t think it would happen. Because things like thatTWO well written female leads headlining the action adventure genre- does not actually happen that often in games... if at all.

Then the dazzling duo came

Games press.games@forgetoday.com

Games Editor

crashing onto my screen in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and my year was made. Find Tom Buckland’s review of it on p. 39.

I also happen to be looking for the Nadine to my Chloe! If you like talking about games all day like I do, then look out for the next Forge EGM and run for Games Editor!

P.S Welcome Freshers, you picked a good’un!

An unfriendly town with a familiar face...

Chloe Dervey New psychological horror game Welcome

to Hanwell unleashed its final pre-

release video, instilling the usual sense of disquiet when approaching games of this genre. The video spanned a setting

drenched in rain and darkness, but

something rather eye catching emerged

from the mist; it was the glow of our beloved Leadmill’s legendary logo blaring through the night.

This sight is usually a beacon of joy for those who bravely skip the taxi and make

the long trek from West Street to the club, but this is certainly not the friendly streets of Sheffield.

The game is being created by indie

developer Nathan Seedhouse. Hanwell is reminiscent of Silent hill and full of lurking

supernatural

baddies

known

in the game as Anomalies; witches, oversized spiders and original entities

we dropped it into the game with all the

from the Anomalies roaming the streets,

down in the local club. So, whether it’s

enemies or take a minute to compose

was a good call.”

individual stalks you through the streets.

be sure to take extra note of where those

flashbacks). Turns out they’re not just for

lighting and materials added I knew it The game is being developed for PC and will be available for purchase on the Steam

If they give us permission, we’ll be sure to have a nice little side quest in there.

called “burners” and “stalkers”. So you

web store on October 20th, after it was

there? Here’s what Nathan had to say on

service before it transitioned to Steam

may be asking, why on earth is Leadmill the matter:

“It was a little nod to the hometown at

the request of my 3D prop artist Niall Voice, he works there and it’s been a

pretty big part of his life. He suggested a Leadmill sign when I asked if he wanted any particular easter eggs adding. When

voted to success in Steam’s Greenlight Direct earlier this year. Development or accessibilty on other platforms is yet to be confirmed.

Welcome To Hanwell will follow the aftermath of the fall of the HCCP; Hanwell Council of Public Protection. Now, no

longer able to protect the inhabitants

equipment is failing as a mysterious The game is set to be open-world and

pre-released footage suggests that they

are fleshing out an entire city. Confirmed

locations all with unique backstories include old English pubs, supermarkets and

series

of

each is to follow, but will we

see

Leadmill’s

two

iconic dancefloors? To that

question, its a solid maybe: “At present it’s just the exterior, but with all the attention

it’s

getting

I

suggested we build the interior

and

integrate

it into the actual game somehow,

but

this

depends on what the guys

at Leadmill actually think.

If they give us permission,

we’ll be sure to have a nice little side quest in there.”

I can’t really think of

anything I’d rather do upon arriving in a city overrun

Leadmill, standing in the (not as lonely as you’d hoped) streets of Hanwell

with Anomalies, than get

importance placed on decision-making.

seen in Chloe’s journal. The soundtrack

One

ultimately making our choices seem

by indie-folk band Daughter, and is

of

the

most

seeing

Amber

and

the

Rachel her

Harriet Evans

prequel, Life is Strange: Before the Storm.

relationship with Chloe come to life in

Life is Strange quickly became one of

the original, in which new protagonist

the plot of Life is Strange, she remained

following the popular player decision

making driven narrative, favoured by

Telltale. Deck Nine have now released the

Chloe’s backstory, it’s interesting to see

the defining moments of her character and provides a better understanding of

the deep-rooted problems within her

more detail. Despite her prominence in a largely ambiguous character. Her fate

being all too well established in the first game adds an emotional connection with

the player, but feels almost too little too late.

Nathan Seedhouse

family following her

infamous

emotion filled tale with a sci-fi twist

refuge in a toilet cubicle to hide from

undoubtedly

this new instalment

Max Caulfield. By taking the player into

Fresher’s Week!

terrifying experiences in

was

of 2015. DONTNOD told an innovative,

all know a game where we’ve had to take

when the cheap jaegerbombs hit you this

the

anticipated aspects of

Chloe Price appeared as best friend to

coming in more use than you think. We

awaiting your arrival. A

Review

the most eagerly awaited episodic games

toilets are, for this knowledge may end up

yourself (sorry if that gave you Outlast

Hanwell Jail, all eagerly

father’s death.

The game takes place a few years before

GAGA on a Friday or SONIC on a Saturday,

The main issue with the game is the

As a prequel, we already know the future,

without consequence, taking away the high stakes of the previous game.

Not having the ability to rewind time like in the first game is a problem. Perhaps being able to play with alternate outcomes

before proceeding was what made the first game so successful. Although this means

you do think more about your choices, it stops you taking the same big risks as the previous game.

An interesting feature of the game is the new backtalk challenges that the player can initiate during dialogue. To win the

challenge, or argument, Chloe picks up on words her opponent uses that can be

used against them as potential responses.

These are also timed, making an accurate mimic of the quick thinking needed in a real-life argument. The downside is

heavily features emotion filled tracks flawlessly crafted to reflect the mood and emotion of the moment.

Before the Storm has its good points.

Playing through Chloe and Rachel’s

relationship answers some questions

from the first game, and it is nice to

revisit old locations and characters,

creating a welcome feeling of familiarity.

But

this

is

heavily

outweighed

by

the players choices ultimately being rendered useless. Though cringeworthy, the dialogue and backtalk challenges

need to be given more purpose in the next

episodes. If you were a fan of the original game, it may be worth playing to fill your curiosity, but don’t expect to be anywhere

near as immersed in the prequel as the original.

the dialogue used in these scenes really makes you cringe, which is a common theme throughout the game. It’s almost like the writers are trying too hard to

make Chloe’s character seem like a hard-faced bitch, which detracts from its credibility.

When

you

are

left

to

explore

the

environment yourself the meticulous

detail of this game shines through. Small optional choices and interactions are

what sets this game apart, and develops

the depth of Chloe’s character, showing a softer side not seen previously.

The

game

still

retains

its

unique

watercolour art style combined with Chloe Price, busy hating life (This issue is full of Chloes...)

Deck Nine

detailed

elements

such

as

drawings

Choices seem without consequence, taking away the high stakes of the previous game.

28

Friday 15 September 2017

When

designing

Chloe’s

The Lost Legacy encompasses far more of what the series has always been about, and that’s adventure.

character

for Uncharted 2, the creators knew they wanted her to be of an “exotic”

background in comparison to Elena.

Who

knew

Indian

heritage

opportunity

to

this

delve and

would into

myth

create

Chloe’s

in

her

own game 8 years after her debut!

Review Thomas Buckland “It’s nice to work with a woman for a change”.

That’s one of the lines in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy that stuck with me and carried more weight than I could have ever expected from a clichéd treasure-hunting adventure game. Initially proposed as a DLC to sit alongside Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, the game is a strong standalone expansion and if not for its shorter length could easily have been its very own game.

The Lost Legacy follows Chloe Frazer, the fan favourite protagonist introduced in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves who returned for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Despite this, Frazer vanished entirely once Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End came along, and Naughty Dog have remedied her absence from Nathan Drake’s finale by creating a story just for her. She is accompanied by none other than Nadine Ross, the leader of super-big super-awesome Mercenary company Shoreline, and antagonist to the Drake brothers in A Thief’s End. Even in that game her character stood out , but most importantly, she was a her.

This is something that feels so great about The Lost Legacy. For four games released over ten years we have followed the story of Nate, whose story was flavoured and decorated by women. Why have we never

Forge Press

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy been able to see their stories? Why has Nathan Drake been given the limelight and not these wonderfully written female characters? Naughty Dog seem to have acknowledged this. Throughout the hunt for Ganesh’s Tusk within ruins of the Hoysala empire of India, the basic premise of The Lost Legacy, we get to learn more about these two strong women.

Chloe Frazer struggles with pursuing the same relic her father chased years ago and met his untimely demise whilst doing so.

Meanwhile, after the events of A Thief’s End, Nadine is battling her fall from grace and having to deal with losing control over Shoreline.

Together, they form a dynamic I wasn’t expecting, and although a lot of Chloe’s character points remind me of another globetrotting treasure-hunting female that we all know and love, Naughty Dog still make it feel fresh, unique, and due to the wonderful voice acting and performances from

Laura Bailey (Nadine), and Claudia Black (Chloe), it can become very tear-jerking.

A Thief’s End seemed to forget its roots, becoming less about the treasure hunting, wondrous ruins and beautiful temples and more about Drake’s own turmoil, his friends and his loved ones. Yet The Lost Legacy seems to juggle the emotion and the exhilarating sense of adventure far better, being able to balance both and impressively blend them together at points.

Naughty Dog have brought their trademark puzzles to this game too, and yet these puzzles still feel refreshing and far more challenging than any we’ve had previously; maybe due to the lack of Nathan Drake’s notebook that provided him with hints – The Lost Legacy decides to

leave all of the solution to the player.

Though A Thief’s End was a strong conclusion to the Drake era of Uncharted, The Lost Legacy encompasses far more of what the series has always been about:adventure.

Relationships, friendships, and emotion do play their part, but they should never take the wheel of the narrative. The Lost Legacy has made me hunger for more, even when Naughty Dog were generous with the game’s length; as a DLC, the game lasted far longer than I was expecting. I want more of Nadine’s pessimistic,

tactically thinking brain and dry sense of humour and Frazer’s witty irreverence. I do hope that Naughty Dog recognises the potential for these two wonderful women as great protagonists, and realise that a standalone DLC is surely only the beginning of this tale.

Frazer and Ross gazing over the Western Ghatz of India. || Eytan Zana || Naughty Dog

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

29

The mine children Starring...

Max Chambers as DM, Libby Nears as Erdei, companion Parduc, Corrie Bowers as Garesch Woad Sky, Wemmy Ogonyonkin as Anastasia Rarenscothnighbury, Camille Brovard as C’tharn (daughter of) Xathan, Sophie Maxwell as Accth’um Icetooth, Adam Bradshaw as Malagri’ir Andhorin.

Chloe Dervey

|

Demipia is a world full of horrors and darkness...

A

listeners an episode!”

At the time of our meeting, Camille had found that their Twitter follower ratio stood at around 80% male and 20% female listeners. But the concept of who plays D&D is steadily changing. The boys are outnumbered in this group, and for some of the group, The Mine Children was their first experience of D&D. Wemmy: “I swear one day we were just in the pub and the next thing I know I’m Anastasia in D&D. I think we were in wetherspoons and you waited until I was drunk and I was like YEAH MAN.” Yet, not all in the RPG community are as welcoming for a female demographic: Camille: “In a lot of ‘nerd communities’ there is a bit of a stigma for being a woman, people kind of test you a bit and I’ve had that before.”

Fortunately, this is actually the 21st century, and as noted by Corrie “Generally things like D&D an RPG games are becoming more mainstream…people seem more open to the idea of it.”

The party became friends at the university’s very own RockSoc. “Oh god we’re all wearing black!” exclaimed Sophie as the group steadily realised they had turned up unintentionally wearing similar clothing. After taking a few minutes to praise Libby’s cooking, the group

Converted D&D newbie

nd Forge Games pulled the cast of the inaugural podcast series “The Mine Children”, out just long enough to chat about their growing online success, before they delved back in to the world of Demipia to record more sessions of gameplay.

Each episode features actual play, 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, based in the fictional world of Demipia created by Max Chambers. As the party tackles morbid affairs surrounding the troubled village of Goll’s Fall, their escapades have engrossed listeners, breaking 1000 followers on twitter, 4000 downloads on podbean and even more on iTunes.

The podcast has clearly found its niche audience, but this following was never anticipated by the group.

Adam described that initially there was no strategy for such a thing when setting out; “It was always for fun-I was a bit surprised that anyone other than us wanted to listen to it-and now there’s 200

Graphics by Max Chambers

described themselves as “basically a dinner club”, and their dynamic as a group of 6 good friends has naturally engaged listeners, even if personal agendas may begin to emerge as the story unfolds.

Adam: “Its almost unplayable to have a character that doesnt like anyone else in the party- if your characters don’t care about anything, then it’s not engaging.”

The podcast maintains a dynamic pace through its collaborative storytelling, and though situations

There is plenty more to come from Demipia yet may seem bleak they are generally unpredictable. The stakes rise and fall dramatically, and there is no railroading in sight.

Max: “I don’t know whats going to happen, I have an idea of what might happen, but its up to them- their actions drive the story, and I build the framework.”

Not only recieving positive feedback from those who are new to D&D, The Mine Children also recieved praise from The Glass Cannon podcast, one of the biggest D&D podcast series’ going.

Wemmy: “Its something I would never really listen to, but I really care about character development, and I think what sticks about ours is because we all have different personalities and you want to know

what happens next to individuals.”

A lot of the success of the podcast however, also comes down to Max. Max started with the D&D video games, and after playing D&D over time, found that the decades of published histories had become somewhat stale. With intentions to “Mash my inspirations into something interesting and horrifying”- and contrast with the many comedy D&D podcasts available- Demipia was created, taking inspiration from lovecraftian horror and high fantasy. When asked how much time is needed for preparing and editing each episode of the podcast, he retorted “Ages.

Fucking ages!”

Max: “Every episode takes 4-8 hours of editing, and every ten minutes of content takes about half an hour to an hour to edit. Each D&D session makes about an episode and a half.”

Max’s own original twist succeeds in many areas; Camille revealed that at times their followers will message “this really traumatised me!” but that doesn’t mean its all misery. Corrie added that the terrifying nature brings a lot of the jokes out, although Sophie was quick to dismiss this: “I think that’s hysteria…laughing through the tears!”

In other areas of the games industry there is growing attention to presenting altered sanity states or episodes of mental illness. But particularly in The Mine Children, the sanity mechanics are used to a potential not often seen.

Camille described this as avoiding gameplay reminiscent of “killing all the pidgeys”, for this mechanic interferes with how characters can approach objects or situations that may result in scarring outcomes.

(Left) World Map, The Southern Vaals, (Below) Nothing pleasant lurks above the waterfall...

Max Chambers

4400 1300 Downloads on Podbean

Followers on Twitter

facebook.com/DemipiaT3A @DemipiaT3A demipia.podbean.com

Like the Taxidermy babies encounter. I wont say anymore.

Shadows of Esteren- a medieval horror RPG- heavily influenced the execution of the sanity mechanic in The Mine Children. Max had played it previously and after coming to the conclusion it drove him and his friends quite mad, he thought it was the perfect system to adopt for The Mine Children.

Adam: “I think demipia manages to avoid a lot of tropes- I know the “obvious” things in D&D and the way the mental health mechanics are written into the game really sets Demipia apart.”

At 20 episodes, The Mine Children is approaching its finale. But there is plenty more to come from Demipia yet.

Max: “It would be really cool to establish it as a proper entertainment system. That would be really fucking cool. Although I have no time…and I have no money!

But I’ve got passion and plans.”

Max intends to expand to a website independant of podbean, move episodes to youtube, and launch a patreon to support the creation of more content from Demipia and all of it’s ghastly inhabitants. Plenty of listening distress to look forward to!

It would be really cool to establish it as a proper entertainment system

30

Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

facebook.com/forgetoday @forgetoday

Music press.music@forgetoday.com

Review

Ghostpoet: Dark Days + Canapes

Jamie Firby

W

hile younger UK rappers are expressing anger through fast, gritty grime records, Ghostpoet opts for a subtler approach. He is brooding, hushed, melancholic. The result is a modern British rap album unlike any other.

Obaro Ejimiwe has always borrowed more from the likes of Massive Attack and Tricky than the current triumphalist landscape of modern rap, but on his fourth album Dark Days + Canapes that is clearer than ever. He fuses these influences with alt-rock sensibilities – guitar lines are layered with synths and drum machines.

The album is rife with these eclectic influences – most strongly

Review

on just about every song means that by the end of the album it has started to drag – don’t be surprised if after a while you start thinking ‘didn’t I just hear this song?’

It is also littered with unsubtle social commentary. ‘Freakshow’ takes swipes at Tinder (“I swipe left and figured out / It’s a freakshow”), ‘Dopamine If I Do’ at Instagram (“Instagram your foes / I do that a lot”). He is clearly trying to make a statement but it just comes across as obtuse, especially compared to the complexities of the music.

Despite these faults, Dark Days + Canapes is solid throughout, standing proudly alongside Ghostpoet’s three other brilliant albums. It is a quietly intense effort, the kind you can get lost in.

Everything Everything: A Fever Dream

Harriet Evans

M

trip-hop and electronica. Ghostpoet wearily talks his way through 12 tracks, vaguely rapping over dark, atmospheric instrumentals, filling each song with acres of space.

Despite a range of sounds, Dark Days + Canapes is at its best when it is at its quietest, such as on the standout ‘(We’re) Dominoes’, one of the darkest points of the album. At other times it builds up brilliantly, such as ‘Live>Leave’, which begins muted and sparse but by the end has built to something almost apocalyptic.

Across its entirety, the album sounds like a statement. It’s a depressing and observant take on life in modern post-Brexit Britain (one of the songs is called ‘Immigrant Boogie’), but it is let down by its lyrics. Endless repetition

ancunian art-pop foursome Everything Everything recently released their fourth album A Fever Dream, a fiercely charged album that unapologetically attacks the recent shifts in politics and society.

The album tackles such controversies as Brexit, Donald Trump and the increasing divisions across communities and classes.

In emotional centerpiece ‘Put Me Together’, the composition breaks down into a cacophonous clatter of out of time drums. Synths and guitars grow and spin out of control, reflecting the song’s tone of confusion.

Opening track ‘Night of the Long Knives’ wastes no time in setting the tone of the album and accurately

captures the current climate of dread regarding Brexit, translated through doomsday synths and emotion-laden vocals.

The band unashamedly tear down Trump in ‘Big Game’, a song bursting with hilarious digs including calling the President a “Wrinkled little boxing glove” and “Witless and rank as a fat-filled hole”. All, of course, disguised by Higgs’ sweet sounding vocals. The song marries this lyrical bite with pounding melodies, exploding with a foreboding bass line and a chunky, angular riff that fills the bridge and gets toes tapping.

‘Good Shot, Good Soldier’ is a minimalistic track pairing Higgs’ vocals with a delicate synth-driven melody. One of the album’s overall strengths is its understated quieter sections, running parallel to the cathartic embellishments that are part of the band’s trademark.

‘Can’t Do’ and ‘Desire’ both have incredibly catchy lyrics coupled with a scattered rhythm and glitchy New Order-style bassline that blast alongside the vocals. It’s near impossible not to dance to either of these songs.

The penultimate song on the album ‘New Deep’ trades the toetapping for a mournful instrumental that seamlessly leads into ‘White Whale’. Closing the album is the powerful message “Never tell me that we can’t go further”, a strong defiance of defeatism.

A Fever Dream showcases how Everything Everything have refined their sound since their third album Get to Heaven. The heavy messages presented are cleverly packaged into catchy and creative electro pop that retains what makes the band so unique.

Want to write for Forge Music?

Come to the Activities Fair in the Octagon on the 21st September OR go to our Facebook page at facebook.com/forgetoday & get in touch!

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

Review

Lorde: Melodrama

Laura Yoshimoto Turpin

E

31

lla Yelich-O’Connor debuted her first album, Pure Heroine, when she was only 16. Four years later she brings to the world an intimate slice of her soul. When new album Melodrama’s first single ‘Green Light’ came out, thirsty long-time fans of the ‘Royals’ singer jumped at the opportunity for new music. And boy, was it worth the wait.

It’s new and different, but it’s still her. Listening to her melodies and lyrics you can feel her growth, how much her sound has matured but also staying true to herself and her brand.

Within ‘Liability’ there’s a great sense of intimacy, with the sombre lyrics “So I guess I’ll go home / into the arms of the girl that I love / the only love I haven’t screwed up.” On

Twitter, Lorde described it as a song that “freaked and grossed her out at first”, a “strange part of myself” and not a single but “a little sister” of the album.

The powerful ‘Supercut’ has me looking inside myself, into my past.

I understand why this album has affected me so deeply. It’s universal.

Melodrama deals with the emotions, difficulties and self-discoveries that comes with growing up.

Much of this album’s and Lorde’s own personal growth as a musician she attributes to Jack Antonoff, who co-wrote hit songs like Sara Bareilles’ ‘Brave’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘Out of the Woods’.

The Bleachers lead singer coproduced and co-wrote Lorde’s second album and for those familiar with his work, you can recognise his undeniably beautiful touch in Melodrama.

It must be quite the experience to transform your emotions into art, lay them bare and let people revel in it, I think while listening to ‘Writer in the Dark’. Lorde’s new album feels incredibly raw, and makes me wonder how I could possibly feel so close to someone I’ve never met. It’s no wonder why the album smashed charts in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. And I’m sure it will crack many more top 10s.

With a world tour kicking off in September, Lorde, barely two decades of age, bared her exquisite soul to the world and I can’t imagine (or wait) for what the next decades will bring.

Review

HAIM: Something To Tell You

Aisling Power July saw the return of pop-rock’s coolest trio of sisters HAIM, with their sophomore album Something To Tell You. Alongside this, the band went on to drop a Behind the Album documentary, with exclusive footage of the first live performance of their new songs at a surprise gig in Camden’s Electric Ballroom.

‘Right Now’ was the first sneak preview the sisters shared earlier this year in a live video directed

by Paul Thomas, which featured a drum-off between Alana and Este Haim along with the return of Este’s Bass face. On the album itself there is a studio version, with both versions capturing the incredible vocals of the three.

The first single officially released

was ‘Want You Back’. This song was later accompanied by an exceptional video that saw the trio strutting down a deserted Ventura Boulevard and busting out the occasional wacky dance move. It is easy to see why this single was chosen to be the album’s lead: not only is it extremely catchy, it has an empowering beat which resurfaces time and time again throughout the other songs in the album.

Something To Tell You showcases the sister’s exceptional musical talent from beginning to end, most notably in their second single ‘Little of Your Love’. This features a funky guitar solo from lead singer and middle sister Danielle Haim, as well as classic pop hooks and enchanting lyrics that create an overall captivating song. This single

caught the attention of EDM artist BloodPop who later went on to release a remix of the song, which is currently the most popular song on HAIM’s Spotify page.

The band have developed their style since their debut album Days Are Gone, and are not afraid to experiment with new sounds. This is most obvious on n tracks such as ‘Found It In Silence’, which integrates violins for a dramatic opening sequence, and the road trip-friendly ‘You Never Knew’.

HAIM are hugely talented, evidenced by the sister’s captivating dynamic both live and in the studio.

It is clear to see why this album took two and a half years to produce with seemingly every note perfected for maximum impact, something all too rare in music nowadays.

32

Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

Sheffield’s beating heart Music Editor Florence Mooney gives a whistle-stop tour to Sheffield’s best live music venues.

Sheffield is a city soaked in music.

The likes of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, The Human League, Bring Me the Horizon and Def Leppard were all formed across one of Sheffield’s many rolling hills.

But even when it isn’t the homegrown talent that is playing, the many great

music venues in Sheffield host artists from all over the world. So, if you’re looking to check out the all that the Steel City has to offer, these are our top choices for where you should head.

The Leadmill When talking about iconic music venues, they don’t get much better than The Leadmill. Since first opening its doors in 1980, The Leadmill has played host to many Sheffield bands before they hit the bigtime including Pulp and Arctic

Monkeys, as well as other bands who would later conquer stadiums such as The Killers, Oasis and Coldplay. With a capacity of only 900, this is the place to go to see some of the best acts on their way up.

The Harley A smaller venue than Leadmill, The Harley is just round the corner from the SU on Glossop Road. During the day it’s an amazing burger joint, whilst in the evening The Harley hosts a range

of intimate gigs and exciting DJ sets.

Whether you want live bands or fresh DJs, it’s a venue that’s definitely worth checking out.

Tuesday Club promises some of the best nights on the Sheffield calendar

Sheffield Arena If massive crowd singalongs is more up your street, Sheffield Arena is the place to go.

Before Christmas Little Mix, Queen and The Killers are all paying a visit, and with a direct tram line from University, it’s easy to see the biggest names in music.

Elouisa Georgiou Photography

The Foundry Located in the basement of the SU, this is about as convenient as music venues come.

With Tuesday Club every Tuesday (shock horror), Sheffield welcomes the very best DJs, ranging from techno, house, grime,

drum n bass and more. In the mist all the varied club nights, The Foundry also host bands such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, who are playing on 26th September.

West Street Live During your years at Sheffield you will learn that West Street Live is the crowning jewel of this great city. Forgetting the great club nights for the time being (which you’ll probably never remember to begin with),

earlier on in the evenings WSL has packed bills of local Sheffield bands, including many student bands. Head on down before your night out to catch an array of exciting bands before they are signed.

Hope Works After The Night Kitchen closed in June (though it looks like the team behind it are coming back with something else), Hope Works is the place to be in Sheffield if you want to catch the best DJ sets. As

The Leadmill’s iconic sign

Image courtesy of leadmill.com

well as hosting massive all night events, Hope Works is also a huge advocate of the Sheffield music scene, so you’ll be sure to catch some of the local talent here too.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

The

Age

of

Hip

Hop The inevitable digitalisation of music, from physical albums to downloads to streaming, has changed the focus of music popularity to a younger audience

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Ben Kempton

T

his summer Nielsen Music, a music information and sales tracking system, reported that Hip-Hop has overtaken Rock ’n’ Roll as the most popular music genre in the USA. Rock and Roll was a foundation stone of American music, born through the likes of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry in the late 1950’s. The combination of their floor filler music, Berry’s overwhelming post-war positivity and Elvis’ hip-shaking swagger created a new rush in popular music.

Since then their influence has extended across the globe and created modern rock titans such as AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Guns N’ Roses.

Despite this, the highest selling rock albums in the USA have interestingly been from English bands: The Beatles have sold 178 million units nationwide, Led Zepplin with 111.5 million units and Pink Floyd with 75 million units.

Rock ‘n’ Roll has consistently helped set the trend for popular music and also had a profound effect on American society by allowing artists to communicate on political issues and influence government, such as The Rolling Stones’ anti-Vietnam war song ‘Gimme Shelter’. It is credited with integrating the teenagers of the 1950s, 60s and 70s and influencing clothing, television and dance. Rock ‘n’ Roll is as integral to American society as Baseball, the Statue of Liberty or even the corndog.

Whilst Rock was flourishing, it was also influencing other genres of music, in particular Hip Hop. Hip Hop culture was a product of the combination of music, dance and art. More specifically, DJing, rhyming, breakdancing and graffiti.

Grandmaster Flash was a pioneering Hip Hop DJ who extended the break beat (where only the drum sounds are playing) to stimulate improvisational expression, whether rapping or dancing.

Contests developed and HipHop grew from a backstreet tradition to a major part of black suburban lifestyle until it first came to national prominence in America, with the release of chart-topping ‘Rappers Delight’ by the Sugarhill Gang in 1979.

In the mid 1980’s a new wave of rappers came to the forefront to inject Hip Hop into popular music, redefining pop and breaking down racial barriers. Run-D.M.C. were at the forefront, fusing America’s

beloved Rock with Hip Hop and becoming regular frontmen on MTV to push Hip Hop into the world of popular music. Other innovators of the time were LL Cool J, rap’s first romantic superstar; The Beastie Boys, a white trio who broadened rap’s audience and popularized digital sampling and Public Enemy, who invested rap with radical black political ideology.

The most significant response to hip-hop came from Los Angeles, beginning in 1989 with N.W.A’s dynamic album Straight Outta Compton. Their graphic, frequently violent tales of real life in the inner city, as well as those of L.A. rappers such as Ice-T (remembered for his 1992 single “Cop Killer”) and Snoop Dogg and of East Coast counterparts such as Schoolly D, gave rise to the genre known as gangsta rap.

As the Los Angeles-based label Death Row Records built an empire around Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and the charismatic, complicated rapper-actor Tupac Shakur, it also entered into a rivalry with New York City’s Bad Boy Records. This developed into a mediafuelled hostility between East Coast and West Coast rappers, which culminated in the stillunsolved murders of Tupac and the wildly gifted MC known as the Notorious B.I.G. Hip Hop was well and truly moulded into pop music as the 21st Century came around, and from then on, it’s popularity soared through the creation of big personalities and emphasis on style and fashion. Dr. Dre was a crucial figure, and his protégés 50 Cent and Eminem became worldwide stars.

With Hip Hop becoming so popular, all of the resultant pressures of accessibility and the intricacy and subversive nature of earlier MCs had largely been pushed to the “alternative”/“underground” scene spearheaded by rappers such as Mos Def (later known as Yasiin Bey) and Doom (MF Doom).

Perhaps no one represented the cultural triumph of hiphop better than Jay-Z. As his career progressed, he went from performing artist to label president, head of a clothing line, club owner, and market consultant—along the way breaking Elvis Presley’s Billboard magazine record for the most number one albums by a solo artist.

Kanye West, one of JayZ’s producers, emerged as one of the most fascinating and polarizing characters in hip-hop, following the success of his 2004 debut album The College Dropout.

Musically experimental and fashion-forward, West represented many of hiphop’s greatest possibilities

with his penetrating, deeply personal lyrics. However, his endless self-promotion and potentially arrogant behaviour also demonstrated some of the elements that now tried the patience of many listeners.

As Hip Hop reaches its peak popularity, one man epitomises how far the genre has come.

With record-breaking album sales, he represents old school Hip Hop as a powerful lyricist of social commentary and raw flow of rhythm. Yet he also represents what Hip Hop has become, with trap records and collaborations with international popstars such as Drake, Rihanna and Taylor Swift. Impeccable vocal talents and an ability to bring the troubles Compton to the world, there is a reason Kendrick Lamar is at the forefront of Hip Hop as it overtakes Rock as the most popular genre.

The far future of Hip Hop looks quite frankly gloomy in comparison, as the new age of electronic rap takes over.

‘Lil’ or ‘Young’ seems to be before all of their names and apparently red braided hair with plastic bobbles is the new craze. Without trying to sound too much like an old man, what are kids listening to these days? Either way, as Lil Uzi Vert becomes the artist at the top of Billboard’s Most popular album, it is clear Hip Hop is not going to be knocked off the top spot anytime soon. Other than it’s rise in popularity, how did Hip Hop overthrow the giant that is Rock?

The inevitable digitalisation of music, from physical albums to downloads to streaming, has changed the focus of music popularity to a younger audience. Rock has become a stagnant genre as the rise of the generic indie band taint the rock greats, generally associated with an older generation.

Furthermore, there has been a shortage of old-school rock icons for young people to get behind, whereas Hip Hop is constantly creating new style icons – just look at the popularity of Kanye West’s Yeezy brand.

Whether or not Hip Hop will remain the most popular genre in the USA and if it will happen in other countries around the world, is yet to be seen. Its significance should not be underestimated though, as it provides an idea of what to expect from upcoming pop music.

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Friday 15 September 2017

|

facebook.com/forgetoday

David Craig

@forgetoday

Hello everyone, and welcome to the new Forge Screen!

In an effort to make a good first impression, I decided to place a large picture of a clown demon on this page. Hopefully, this establishes screen as the edgiest section in the paper.

After you’ve taken a gander at our latest batch of reviews, be sure to feast your eyes on our feature: a no holds barred showdown

Screen press.screen@forgetoday.com

Screen Editor

Review

between six huge summer movies (and the six people defending them). Why did I choose to run such a competitive feature in our first issue of the year? It’s a question I’ll definitely bring up with my therapist.

The great thing about being Screen Editor is how it allows me to push my own personal agendas in a blatant abuse of the position!

For starters, I’m going to take this space to once again recommend Valerian and the City of a Thousand

Forge Press

Planets, my avid defence of which is quickly destroying my credibility as a film critic (if I ever had any).

Whether you’re a returning student or one of this year’s freshers, Forge Screen hopes you had a fantastic summer and that your academic year gets off to a great start! What better way to kick things off than by getting stuck into the latest issue of the fantastic Forge Press?

The Limehouse Golem

Meredith Graham

T

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Clown

Review

The Movie DB

IT

he Limehouse Golem is a Victorian murder-mystery starring Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke and Douglas Booth.

Directed by Juan Carlos Medina, the film is based off the 1994 Peter Ackroyd book, Dan Leno and The Limehouse Golem.

Within the first few minutes of the film, we are introduced to the main characters of Scotland Yard’s Inspector John Kildare (Bill Nighy), Elizabeth Cree (Olivia Cooke) and Dan Leno (Douglas Booth), and told that Kildare has been handed the case to spare a fellow officer’s “golden boy” reputation. The case it seems is unsolvable. It’s up to Kildare and his partner George Flood (Daniel Mays) to unmask the ruthless killer before he strikes again.

Flashbacks are used to absolute perfection to aide in the furthering of the main plot,

the majority of which focuses on Elizabeth’s life working in one of London’s busy music halls alongside the eccentric Dan Leno. Booth’s performance is certainly the one which stands out the most, fluidly changing from his onstage persona to the man underneath in a way that makes him the most developed character by far.

The other characters are unfortunately two-dimensional.

Of course, you do get some insight into why the characters act the way they do, but with this being a film driven by the audience’s desire to discover the killer as opposed to being character focussed, their development doesn’t go much beyond what you need to see for the plot to advance.

The sound design by Robert Ireland works well to echo the tension the actors build,

whilst also furthering the dark portrayal of Victorian England that the film provides; the general atmosphere is definitely one of the film’s strong suits.

Between sound, lighting and costume, the whole mood is one of unease.

Overall, if you have the money to spare or just an interest in either the genre or the time period, The Limehouse Golem is a good film and took me by surprise with how much I enjoyed it. It will have you trying to figure it out alongside the characters and leave you with an overall sense of dread at some points, with its gloomy and eerie atmosphere which matches the story being told. Whilst I wouldn’t say it is a must-see, it’s definitely a film I’m glad to have watched.

Alex Holland

I

f you’re scared of clowns, this film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT will be nigh unwatchable; a ghastly and harrowing testament to anybody who’s ever claimed that clowns are totally inappropriate children’s birthday entertainers. If you’re not scared of clowns, IT is still a very entertaining watch.

As the promising start to a planned duology, IT is full of well-earned frights and unnerving sequences that have been conspicuously absent from the deluge of Paranormal Activity-style ‘help, the ghosts won’t stop making the doors slam’ movies.

$123m opening weekend

The story is set in the quaint US town of Derry, which is plagued by a series of child disappearances. It follows a local group of adolescents whose summer break is somewhat dampened by the exploits of a murderous clown, Pennywise.

There are two big risks with any film featuring children this heavily: bad acting and a bad script – and the horror genre already has plenty of both. This isn’t a problem for IT, with the child actors providing convincing performances as distinctive characters. There aren’t any of those eye-rollingly obvious saps whose only point in horror films is to die bloodily.

A disappearance early on prompts our young protagonists to begin their own investigation. But, in very Stephen King style, they must do so while also battling their own personal dilemmas. These

dilemmas are the basis for some honest and engaging coming-of-age plots.

Bill Skarsgård plays IT’s iconic shapeshifting villain and clown enthusiast perfectly. Jump scares are avoided in favour of creepy, bloody and occasionally comic sequences. The film makes good use of its resident clown by blending horror and comedy to entertaining and memorable effect. IT’s demonic villain is significantly more fun than those of other horror franchises, who are too preoccupied with moving furniture around to be at all interesting.

A strong score accompanies Pennywise’s every appearance, serving to both ratchet up tension and emphasise his devilish playfulness. The eerie sound of children’s laughter, while a little tropey, works well here.

On tropes: IT features a scary clown, a haunted house and a series of mysterious disappearances. It’s to the film’s credit that it still manages to find thrilling ways to incorporate these overused ideas.

Although with such a funny and likeable cast of characters, the film never has to rely on horrific ideas alone to create enjoyable scenes.

The recent spate of real-life creepy clown sightings is proof that evil clowns are enduring staples of the horror genre.

And while clown unions have expressed upset about IT’s portrayal of their frankly terrifying profession, horror fans needn’t worry. IT is a great film adaptation worthy of the source material.

Review

Logan Lucky

Luke Baldwin

M

any have hailed the return of director Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike and the Ocean’s Trilogy) as the resurrection of the comedy crime caper. Logan Lucky is the story of brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) and their attempt to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway in what the film refers to as “the Hillbilly Heist”. Can it deliver on such elevated expectations?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Logan Lucky is a film living in the shadow of Soderbergh’s previous work, namely the Ocean’s series. Take the setting: gone is the glamour of Las Vegas, replaced by the backwoods of rural West Virginia. Whilst the change of scenery to the Deep South is certainly a refreshing one, the excitement and scale of Vegas is sorely missed. The film

desperately wants to live up to its spiritual predecessors, a feeling which permeates almost all aspects of Logan Lucky. But the setting restricts these ambitions rather than giving the film a much-needed innovative spin.

The male leads are a prime example. Tatum and Driver do a decent job of being likeable and occasionally hilarious, but lack the natural charisma and chemistry of Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Obviously, Pitt and Clooney would always be a hard act to follow in this regard, but the slow, slack-jawed dialogue and delivery don’t do the Logan brothers any favours.

The rest of the ensemble cast do an adequate job despite limited screen time, most notably Daniel Craig who excels as eccentric explosives expert Joe Bang. He is by far the best part of the film

and every scene is made more memorable by his presence. It’s almost enough to compensate for Seth MacFarlane, whose lowbrow humour and terrible accent are the worst part of the film.

The plot and cinematography suffer for similar reasons, lacking the style and panache of Oceans.

Most of the film drags, with the occasional funny scene being just enough to keep the audience interested. Although the final act certainly tries to up the ante, it never quite delivers and instead just seems disjointed in an attempt to be clever. In many ways, this summarises the entire film: nowhere near as intelligent as it thinks it is.

Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

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Review

Bojack Horseman

Dan Cross

T

Inhumans cast (from left): Eme Ikwuakor, Ken Leung, Anson Mount, Serinda Swan, Isabelle Cornish, Iwan Rheon

Review

Marvel’s Inhumans IMAX

David Craig

A

The Movie DB

t the end of my screening of Inhumans, I overheard a woman say: “That was strange.” She was absolutely correct and commendably concise. What makes Inhumans such an odd experience in IMAX is that it isn’t a feature film, but rather the first two episodes of an upcoming television series which have been stapled together at the middle. Both episodes shown in this presentation will soon be heading to the small screen freeof-charge, which begs the question: why bother paying to see it in IMAX? Simply put, you shouldn’t.

The glaring issue with Inhumans isn’t the show itself, but its chosen viewing method. From the opening credits, proudly emblazoned with “written for television” at multiple points, it is clear that Inhumans simply doesn’t belong in cinemas and has only been sent there as a publicity stunt (at great expense to its audience). Had Inhumans avoided this unnecessary theatrical run and gone straight to television, perhaps reviews would be slightly kinder.

Indeed, the visual effects in these episodes are actually not awful for a network TV show; with budgets often tight on such productions, Inhumans has done the best it can using limited

resources. On an average-sized television the effects could even look passable, but they are not suited to scrutiny on a screen close to 100-feet tall. Alas, by showing in IMAX this series has definitely shot itself in the foot, if not the face.

Besides the effects and regrettable

By showing in IMAX this series has definitely shot itself in the foot, if not the face. choice of venue, these two episodes were not completely devoid of entertainment.

The story follows the Inhuman royal family in Attilan, a city on the moon where they have secretly lived for years.

The Inhuman king, Black Bolt (Anson Mount), fails to provide the social change that his citizens have desired, ultimately leading to a coup led by his brother Maximus (Iwan Rheon) who takes over the throne.

Rheon is an alum of Game of Thrones, a pop culture juggernaut that this show

is clearly inspired by, and provides the strongest performance by far. That’s not to say he was fantastic, but he was certainly more charismatic than his dreadfully bland co-stars.

Mount has the toughest role to play, given that his character isn’t able to speak, and noticeably struggles throughout. He spends much of his screen-time pulling either confused or smug facial expressions, and proves to be an irritating presence whichever the case.

The script by Scott Buck lacks both the charm of the Marvel Studios movies, and the realism of the best that television has to offer, but does perk up at certain moments and is blessed with a fast pace.

Despite all the clickbait-friendly hyperbole about how awful it is, Inhumans is actually just unremarkably mediocre. You will not come away from these two episodes as a fan of the show, but equally it isn’t quite bad enough to hate. It is simply the same kind of background noise that network television has been churning out for years, the most painful criticism for fans being that it could have been so much more.

Review

Patti Cake$

Sophie Wilson

P

he big question being asked at the centre of Netflix’s marketing efforts for season four of Bojack Horseman is: Where’s Bojack (pictured, below)?

We only capture a brief glimpse of him at the end of the trailer and he remains missing throughout the first episode. Despite his absence, there’s no horsing around from the characters of Hollywoo, as they show how they don’t rely on him and set up immersive story arcs for the season.

The mystery of where Bojack may be, is not rooted solely in geography but also emotionally. When we leave him at the end of season three he is at rock bottom, contemplating ending his life despite being an Oscar winning actor with seemingly everything anyone could want in life. Without his familiar surroundings, Bojack finds himself in uncharted territory for the show: his family history.

Most of Bojack’s interactions with other characters happens via phone calls which allows their story arcs to develop to the point where you forget about the main character.

Whilst these stories are entertaining and help develop the characters they lack what Bojack’s story arc

has. That yearning to return to him is a powerful element throughout the season and may explain why episodes involving secondary characters almost feel like stand alone episodes and not part of the main series narrative.

There’s lots of crossover between supporting characters but not so much with Bojack, who is the main driver of the story as he grows and develops as a character across the series like we’ve never seen before.

Mr Peanutbutter running for Governor is about as political as the show gets and is an entertaining sub-plot that ties together much of the supporting cast across the series; at the same time as incorporating millennial’s love for avocado, fracking and a bridge to Hawaii into a refreshing and transitional year of growth for the show.

If for some absurd reason you don’t have it already you need to sign up for Netflix purely to binge-watch the hell out of this show.

The endless clever jokes, references and spoofs that it does so effortlessly leave you picking out something unique each time you watch. For a show set in a universe dominated by animals and their variation on celebrities, it’s one of the most powerfully human shows out there right now.

atti Cake$ reinvents the archetypal rags to riches fairy tale, reflecting a public hunger for films with more diverse casting and uniquely complex characters. Patti (aka Patti Cake$, aka Killer P, aka numerous other stage names she fantasises about having), played

by Danielle Macdonald, is a 23-yearold woman navigating her way through mundane part-time jobs, small-minded bullies and her jealous alcoholic mother (Bridget Everett).

On paper, it reads like a modern Cinderella story, but this is a truly contemporary reflection of what it feels like to be the underdog. Stories that track the journey towards a goal and the obstacles faced along the way are as old as time, but Patti Cake$ gives a fresh angle, providing an honest look into life and all its quirks. It is subtly unpredictable and allows the audience to become so invested in the characters that certain scenes rack up nail-biting

tension. When Patti performs, whether in an impromptu rap battle in the streets or a formative on-stage gig, the audience is rooting for her, but feeling her nerves too.

The buzz surrounding the release of Patti Cake$ is likely down to the demand for films with strong female protagonists who defy stereotypes. We want characters with more complexity, who do not fit conventional beauty standards and break free from the thin, white movie star mould. The rap group that Patti forms represents the beauty in a group of misfits coming together. PBNJ is comprised of: Patti, bullied for being overweight and “white trash”; Bastard (Mamoudou Athie), a self-proclaimed antichrist; Nana (Cathy Moriarty), Patti’s chain-smoking grandmother; and Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay), Patti’s kooky, charismatic best friend and hype man.

Dream sequences intersect the film, laying bare the stark juxtaposition of Patti’s dreams and her suburban trappings. Against the odds, these dreams keep alive with a fiery optimism,

consolidated by Patti’s morning routine in which she calls herself a “boss bitch” and kisses her reflection. The film has a Baz Luhrmann quality to it, at times inhabiting an Americana neon dream world, though the cinematography never overshadows the humanity of the story.

The soundtrack is fantastic, with Patti’s infectiously catchy lines convincing the audience of her talent. Whether you are a fan of rap music or not, you will come away with verses from the film stuck in your head. The message is hidden in the music. Patti Cake$ is about finding your voice and making it heard, but more than that it is a triumphant ode to daydreams, friendship and being a boss bitch.

Friday 15 September 2017

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Forge Press

FORGE SCREEN PRESENTS

SUMMER SHOWDOWN

6

CONT FOR T ENDERS HE TIT LE

WHAT WAS THE BEST FILM OF THE SUMMER? CONTENDER #1 A GHOST STORY

James Lofthouse Screen Contributor

I’ll gladly admit my apprehensions prior to watching A Ghost Story. At first glance, the poster suggests another unremarkable haunted house horror escapade. Beyond this, the film’s billing as “a meditative poem about the enormity of time” was also something of a pretentious red flag.

Fortunately, I was proved wrong on both counts. The film follows a recently-deceased man (Casey Affleck) clad in a white sheet, returning to his former home to witness his loved ones (Rooney Mara) slowly move on. It is conceived beautifully within its means, tackling a dense subject matter with a miniscule budget and a suitably brief 90

CONTENDER #2 ATOMIC BLONDE

James Dunstan Screen Contributor

Atomic Blonde is the spy film we’ve been missing for years. It provides a thrilling mystery which focuses on themes of trust, loyalty and betrayal. All of this done with stellar performances, writing and camera work. Truly, if any film deserves to be crowned the best this summer, it’s this one.

Why? Atomic Blonde is unique, sharing neon light amongst varying shades of grey.

It’s constructed such as to almost ignore spectacle and violence at first, instead laying the groundwork for the plot. The main character is placed in the heart of cold war Berlin, beset on all sides by potential allies and enemies. The film keeps you guessing

CONTENDER #3 BABY DRIVER

Joseph Mackay Screen Editor

Summer 2017 has been tough. If you can look past the terrorist attacks, natural disasters and threat of nuclear war, it hasn’t been a great summer for film either. Original bigbudget blockbusters like Valerian (sorry, David) flopped magnificently, and franchise reboots like The Mummy didn’t work out either. Oh, and The Emoji Movie performed surprisingly well at the box office, making three times its budget.

Basically, depending on the outcome of the rest of the year, everything could go completely down the pan (that goes for nuclear apocalypse AND naff films, just to clarify). This is where Baby Driver speeds in:

Y L N O N A !

C R E E R N THE NE WIN BE O

minute runtime.

The eponymous ghost is the recipient of a curious but effective bit of costume design, looming throughout the film whilst allowing for a surprising amount of emotional physicality (for which Affleck should be commended).

The film is visually stunning in its simplicity and in this spirit of concision every scene has its place and purpose. Anathema to some, the slow pace and long takes (often upwards of five minutes) certainly take some getting used to, however a little adjustment and patience will allow you to truly enjoy it.

The story is unique in its execution, far more than just an explosion packed slew of images or the next in a forgettable line of cash-grab superhero films. It is entirely free from the standard issue barrage of

cliché, tired rehashing of dialogue and plot exposition. Meanwhile, genuinely emotive filmmaking takes precedent over soap-opera dramatics and cheap melodrama. As stated in seemingly every review of this film, it lingers in your mind long after the credits roll; a hallmark of undeniable quality, especially in contrast to a summer of films which barely managed to occupy one’s attention beyond the first 45 minutes.

Accusations of pretentiousness seem unfair given such charges were absent from films like Interstellar, dealing with similar themes in twice the time with half the elegance. All things considered, A Ghost Story is more than simply the best and most original film of the summer - it has all the qualities and curiosities of a future cult classic as well.

who is who until the very end, effortlessly misdirecting the audience only to reveal twist after twist, all of which feel satisfying and deserved.

The violence is gritty, visceral and realistic.

Each punch feels like it actually connects, each wound like it matters. Characters are bruised and bloodied and stagger around as if drunk from exertion. This is a refreshing change of pace from films plagued with shaky cameras and quick cuts. In contrast, Atomic Blonde uses virtually no cuts in its action scenes, focusing on prolonged, desperate encounters. It sets a new standard for handto-hand combat in western films, which I hope others will seek to emulate.

Now I’ve conveyed my love for this brilliant film, I can address the less colourful contenders. Baby Driver, while

well presented, is a heist film we’ve all seen before. Dunkirk is similarly well presented, but the subject matter doesn’t make it enjoyable to watch. Unless you have a fetish for watching young men drown, you won’t want to watch it again. Wonder Woman is just another superhero film, predictable as any other. Valerian was offensively bad, like the fantasy of a fifteen-year-old boy, combining the worst of action film clichés.

With this list of contenders, there isn’t really any question: Atomic Blonde is the best film this summer. It’s a unique, compelling mystery with a beautiful aesthetic and convincing violence, bringing noir mystery back to the silver screen. I can only hope that more films like it will be released.

an action movie with personality, heart and dripping with originality. Baby Driver is the kind of film that makes going to the cinema a worthwhile experience. Beautifully shot with an excellent cast and a magnificent soundtrack, it’s the kind of film where within the first five minutes you find yourself muttering “fuck, this is cool.”

Baby Driver is the perfect vehicle for Edgar Wright’s direction, which at this point is finely-nuanced and a joy to behold. Few directors could pull off a film wherein music is playing constantly from the get-go, let alone work it into the narrative. Orchestrated car chases, vinyl scratching jump-cuts, and gunshots popping off in sync with Motown staccato notes culminate to create one of the greatest audio-visual spectacles ever committed to screen. At one point Baby,

the central character played by the wildly underrated Ansel Elgort, drops his iPod and the music stops only for him to pull another iPod out of his pocket and completely change up the scene.

The acting in Baby Driver is sublime;.

Veterans like Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey take roles the likes of which we’ve never seen them play before, and the diverse supporting cast also impresses, with Baby’s deaf foster father being a favourite. The characterisation is complex and woven into an interesting story about the morality that drives us all.

Besides that, it's a fantastic movie brimming with action, comedy, clever direction, fantastic acting, lots of classic Americana, a good romance story, and a great soundtrack.

And it made more money than The Emoji Movie. Thank God.

Friday 15 September 2017

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Forge Press

CONTENDER #4 DUNKIRK

Gethin Morgan News Editor

These days, the summer movie calendar is in danger of being filled with senseless action films without a drop of substance or style. Thankfully, it’s been a pretty good few months for cinema and we’ve been handed a host of original, well made movies. We’ve had Wonder Woman, Guardians Vol. 2 and Planet of the Apes proving that big summer hits can be sophisticated and thoughtprovoking. Meanwhile, The Beguiled, Okja and A Ghost Story have given the cinephiles plenty to chew over. Baby Driver deserves a special shout-out too, an audacious piece of filmmaking which would be my film of the summer most years.

CONTENDER #5 VALERIAN

David Craig Screen Editor

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets has been repeatedly dismissed and disrespected since its release, but those willing to take a serious look at it will find a wonderfully weird movie worthy of being called the best of the summer.

Simply put: there is more creativity in the opening action set-piece of Valerian than most blockbusters can boast in their entire runtime. Valerian and Laureline are sent to the jaw-droppingly complex yet simply titled “Big Market”, (a shady marketplace located in another dimension), for a retrieval mission. After things go catastrophically wrong, Valerian is stuck partly in both dimensions, providing the basis for a clever

CONTENDER #6 WONDER WOMAN

Liam Hulmes Screen Contributor

Smashing box office records to become the all-time highest-grossing film from a female director, Wonder Woman is the best film to hit the big screen this summer.

In the crusade for increased diversity within Hollywood, Patty Jenkins’ femaleled blockbuster proves that female stories are both profitable and universally wellreceived. At the Forbes Women’s Summit in New York City, she commented: “The market is there, and the money is there… As long as you’re obsessed with young male audiences... nothing will change. The world is changing.”

The film opens on an island of rebellious, free-spirited women, presenting elegant action sequences and a nod to the queer slant

However, this isn’t just any year. This is a Christopher Nolan year. When he releases a new film it becomes an event, a rare occasion when avid film fans are joined by the masses to enjoy two hours of sheer spectacle. I feel like a child on Christmas Day when a Nolan film comes out, and boy did he deliver an absolute gift in the shape of Dunkirk.

Some say all great filmmakers have to make a war movie. Spielberg had Saving Private Ryan and Kubrick had Full Metal Jacket. Well, Nolan decided to follow suit in his own bold, unique way. He decided not to have sprawling battles and old men in war rooms. He didn’t show us the faces of the ‘enemy’ and barely even shot a gun. What he created was 105 minutes of unrelenting tension. It’s a thriller if anything, which portrays the terrors that British troops had

to go through in what was an extraordinary real life event.

Covering land, sea and air with a typically complex screenplay, he makes us care for characters not by pointing out they’ve got a love to go home to or a child on the way.

He exposes the audience’s most basic form of human empathy: worrying for people in perilous circumstances.

This summer Nolan managed to achieve something rare: he uncovered a new potential for cinema. Whether that’s strapping IMAX cameras to real spitfires, using the largest naval fleet in film history or coordinating thousands of extras, the end product is pure and visceral. There have been plenty of good movies this summer but Dunkirk is a truly great cinematic achievement, which surely makes it the film of the summer.

and vastly entertaining chase sequence.

While no doubt challenging to plan and choreograph, the entire sequence is executed flawlessly, and what makes Valerian so impressive is that this ambitious set-piece is only the first of many. The film is filled with numerous spectacular sequences, each based around a unique premise. Fleeing from gargantuan sea monsters, high-speed pursuits in a one-person spaceship, bursting through walls in an armoured suit; Valerian and Laureline have done it all and more.

It is the amazing amount of unrestrained imagination on display that places Valerian ahead of its competition, and this stretches beyond the action sequences. The production design in this movie is simply incredible, presenting an array of bizarre alien species and locales, stunningly brought to life using cutting-edge visual effects. The artistry in

every design is clear to see, and Luc Besson’s love for the source material is evident from the attention to detail in every shot.

Indeed, Valerian is refreshingly lacking in cynicism. The story promotes themes of forgiveness and understanding, while the film is also free from the shackles of other big-budget productions. It isn’t setting up another tiresome 'cinematic universe' (Wonder Woman), it doesn’t suffer from a severe case of style-over-substance (Atomic Blonde), nor is it guilty of being shameless Oscar bait (Dunkirk). It even dwarfs Baby Driver in terms of originality.

Although Valerian couldn’t find an audience this summer, that doesn’t make it any less of an achievement, one which will be looked upon more fondly as people discover it in years to come.

of the original comic-book. After hearing about the Great War from crashed U.S. pilot Steve Trevor, Diana courageously leaves to help end the conflict. Her mythological past and duty to bring global peace occasionally sits comically and ironically alongside convincing images of World War One trenches and war-torn Belgian villages, but it works in unexpected ways. The film recalls the nostalgia of the 1970s TV show, but moves forward into a modern, stirring, apocalyptic narrative.

In the battle of the summer releases, Wonder Woman captures the best of what every contender had to offer. With the female empowerment of Atomic Blonde; the heart stopping, close-combat drama of Dunkirk; and the comic-book novelty of Baby Driver.

Wonder Woman also pulls at the heartstrings with the themes of legacy and soul-searching

that A Ghost Story had to offer. It ticked all the boxes and filled all the seats for sci-fi fans too, unlike box office bomb Valerian.

As Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot is endlessly watchable, and has a movie-star aura that makes this film unforgettable. Diana is strong, witty and intelligent, yet her pin-up appearance never overshadows her standing as a hero to be reckoned with. Without the inner-demons or personal vendettas that have consumed previous big-screen heroes, she wants to make a difference and function freely in the modern world. In no way forced or overdone, the feminist slant that Wonder Woman brings is refreshing. With huge success, this blockbuster could kick-start major change in Hollywood.

THE VERDICT Nick Burke Deputy Editor SEE THEM AT FILM UNIT 23 Sep: Wonder Woman 30 Sep: Baby Driver (FREE!) 7 Oct: Dunkirk

This is an insanely hard decision. I’ve got to balance my own prejudices (specifically that Baby Driver is less a film than a work of art) against the quality of arguments put forward.

A couple of shout outs first. I loved the way that Liam Hulmes described Wonder Woman as a sum of the other contender’s parts. As a side note I thought the film itself

was excellent, but was very similar to a house party I once attended where I got to hang out with an unfeasibly beautiful man and woman for a couple of hours until someone who’d been following me all night declared himself the god of war and started rubbing his moustache all over my face.

I also commend our own David Craig, not for making the (ballsy) choice of Valerian, but for making me understand the imagination and creativity he saw in the film despite its negative critical reception.

Ultimately though, despite six very strong arguments, I’ve got to give it to A

Ghost Story and James Lofthouse for taking me on a journey not just through the film, but through his own preconceptions. He described a film I had never even heard of using engaging and provocative writing that made me want to experience it for myself.

Also he said “anathema”, which was a posh word that made me feel special for knowing what it meant. I’m only human.

One thing’s for sure though, if all of you are writing for Screen this coming year the quality of writing will never be in doubt.

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

Coffee Break Want to make these two pages yours? Passionate about puzzles? Then why not apply to be our new Coffee Break Editor! No prior experience is needed and anyone can apply.

We also have vacancies for the following positions: - Games Editor - Treasurer - Online News Editor

facebook.com/forgetoday.com

There is also the vacant position of website coordinator, however we advise that applicants have some experience with WordPress.

For more information, visit us at the Activities Fair or attend our Intro Meeting in the Students’ Union on Friday 22 September. Contact luke.baldwin@forgetoday.com with any questions.

16/07/07: Arrow Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli press.coffeebreak@forgetoday.

Theme: Bob Marley @forgetoday

ARROWDOKU A

B

3

6

5

3

6

7

5

7

2

Arrowdoku follows the same rules as regular sudoku. The only twist is that the sum of the digits along an arrow must be equal to the number in the circle at the end of that arrow.

5

1

CONNECTION GRID PEDAL

GOOSE

STRAW

HAMMER

Connection 1

STRING

BLACK

RASP

SAW

Connection 2

KEY

DRILL

GROUSE

CRANE

Connection 3

PLANE

ELDER

DUCK

SWAN

Connection 4

1

1

1

1

I've filled in one connection for you to explain how to play, best of luck!

SUDOKU

Easy

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.38)

5

3

2

9

1 6

3

2

1

8

7

1

6

8

7

6

6

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4 2

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8

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9 2

5

1

1

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8

1

6

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9

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8

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 14 16:31:19 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

4

1 7

4

3

6

5

5

4

7

7

6

9

Hard Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.50)

4 9

8

5 6

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8 1

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5 9

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Medium

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.45)

2

9 6

7

8

4 7

7

9

3 6

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 14 16:31:27 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

3

5

2

3

7 1

5

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 14 16:32:01 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

4

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Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

41

Sport Thoughts “England’s lack of leadership is what will keep them from success” After another drab international break, Josh Taylor discusses why England’s leadership problem will be a problem going forward.

Josh Taylor

Y

et again another international break has passed, yet again every football fan in England breathes a sigh of relief as their clubs return to the pitch and yet again there are questions on whether England have the quality necessary to challenge on the international stage.

Two more drab performances bereft of any sustained and consistent brilliance meant that 80 minutes had passed until England managed to put Malta to the sword, narrowly escaping an upset. In the following match against Slovenia there was copious amounts of possession but a plethora of wasted chances and scuffed passes resulted in a disjointed performance.

Now there are many problems that plague this England squad, media scrutiny and lofty expectations set on younger talent to name just two.

But not one dilemma hinders the team’s performance more than the clear lack of leaders present every time a 23-man squad is announced.

There were times during this break where England lacked that impact in the team, a leader who will carry them to victory. A young Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard who can influence in all areas of the pitch, who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck and turn a shaky performance into a solid one.

This effect of the lack of leadership, especially in the captaincy department, has reared its ugly head in the past few years.

Gerrard, once a vital part of the squad, was on his last legs in the 2014 World Cup and couldn’t save his side from an embarrassing group stage exit and Wayne Rooney was

The stone cold fact is that Rooney was not a captain” almost a passive spectator as Iceland knocked out his Three Lions.

Concentrating on the latter’s reign over the England captaincy which has seen the side enact some of their worst performances in the 21st century, the stone cold fact is that Rooney was not a captain. His former suitors, Manchester United, gave him the armband as a panicked attempt to keep him at the club and he was given the nod for his country due to his profile and experience.

In any other case these features would earn you the armband, but since Rooney lost his edge quite dramatically in 2013, he’s no longer the hungry young lion of the 2000s.

He dropped too deep as a striker and

Rooney (pictured) was England captain up until his recent international retirement

always tried to pull off the wonder pass, which he met with limited success. His impact at both club and international level has wavered even though he broke scoring records.

His dreadful goal tally when it came to international tournaments sorely cost England in the long run. Maybe the off field accounts of him reciting poetry and being a vocal voice in the changing room paints a picture of a master motivator, but on the pitch he was far from that.

Rooney’s retirement leaves a squad in transition which lacks any form of leader, the key members of the squad are both young and lacking in not just international experience, but overall football experience. Even the players who

are deemed senior internationals are a mix bag leadership-wise, and none really stand out as a potential captain.

Even players such as Jordan Henderson and Gary Cahill, who captain their respective clubs in Liverpool and Chelsea, have been questioned by fans over their ability to lead and inspire a team to victory.

Both aren’t actually vital players for England either, rendering it almost virtually impossible for them to have a sustained impact.

Players such as Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Harry Kane, John Stones and Marcus Rashford are all better examples of key players for England, however, each of them have experienced just one international tournament. Even

looking at them as a future England leader causes faults crop up. Kane can’t impact in every corner of the field as he is isolated to the last third of the pitch, Dier isn’t an impact player, Alli has attitude problems and there are questions as to whether Rashford and Stones can perform consistently for England.

To look at the positives this squad has time and, as aforementioned, the key players are young and bags of quality is yet to flourish, as showcased by England’s youth sides this summer. Time will only tell.

Fantastic Fitzpatrick secures fourth tour victory

M

Tim Adams

atthew Fitzpatrick scaled the heights of the Alps as he held off Australian Scott Hend to win his fourth European tour title last Sunday.

The Sheffield born golfer forced a play-off at the Omega European Masters with a scintillating final round of 64 to overcome a stern test from Hend, who had succumbed to the pressure at the death and lost a four-shot lead on the last day.

Fitzpatrick finished on 14 under at Crans-sur-Sierre, allowing him to edge to victory and become only the seventh player to win a quartet of trophies after Seve Ballesteros, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle, Sergio Garcia and Matteo Manassero.

Hend, who had remarkably lost the same title in a play-off last year,

started the final round as the heavy favourite but posted back-to-back bogeys from the third and lost his outright advantage when China’s Ashun Wu fired in four consecutive gains from the fifth.

While at first the battle at the top looked to be between Hend and Wu, Fitzpatrick suddenly propelled himself into contention with a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth,

3

winning seasons for Fitzpatrick

holding another at the tenth before moving alongside Hend at the 14th.

Fitzpatrick, playing two groups ahead of Hend, then rocketed into a two-shot lead after two birdies at 15 and 16, the latter a stunning

20-footer.

Hend himself then birdied the 15th, and a bogey from Fitzpatrick at the penultimate hole created a playoff scenario.

Nothing could split the two leaders on the first extra hole, both cancelling each other out with pars.

The advantage seemingly swung to Hend after a poor drive from Fitzpatrick on the second extra hole, but the Australian failed to sink a five-footer for the win, and the two moved onto the next hole.

Failing to close out the round had hampered Hend’s concentration, and on his next drive, he hit the grandstand from the bunker, subsequently seeing his next chip finish inches from the water on his way to a bogey-five, allowing Fitzpatrick to snatch victory with a par.

After another tournament win, Fitzpatrick now goes to the top of the European Ryder Cup points list, and it would be a shock if captain Thomas Bjørn does not pick him in

the 12-man squad to face the USA at Le Golf National, France, next September.

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Friday 15 September 2017

Forge Press

Meet the Forge Sport team

I’m Tim, a second-year undergraduate student from Loughton, Essex, but now I’m studying Journalism here in Sheffield.

From the age of seven, I first discovered a passion for sport when my dad took me to a League One football match at Leyton Orient, my local

I’m Adam and it’s a real honour to be heading up the sport section of Forge Press this year. Sheffield, for those of you who are new to the city, has such a vibrant and successful sports scene and it’s a real privilege to be able to watch everything on offer.

I’m hoping to bring a vari-

ety of different sports to your attention throughout the year and, as an avid Non-League fan and former press officer in the grassroots game, I’m keen to promote everything that’s going on throughout the year.

Varsity, which is where the Uni of Sheffield competes against Hallam across all

club. Since then I’ve become addicted to others such as tennis, cricket and darts, but the most impressive aspect about covering sports here in Sheffield is that you get to venture into new unknown habitats. For me, this included rowing, lacrosse and ice hockey to name a few. At the

end of the year all of the BUCS competetion culimtaes in Varsity, a mammoth marathon over two weeks.

The openings available here at Forge are endless. Grab them with both hands, and you won’t regret it!

My name’s Josh and I’m a second year journalism student from Manchester, I’ve been involved in Forge since I arrived in Sheffield and I am excited to be your Sports Editor for this year.

The sports Iollow most avidly are American football where I support the New York

Giants, I’ve followed the sport for about 10 years and I’m finally going to watch my first game next weekend (better late than never, right?).

I’m also a fan of the normal version of football which I’ve followed since I was a kid.

Being from Manchester I’m unfortunately part of the red

sports, will undoubtedly be exciting and it was great to be involved with it last time around despite being in my first year at university. If you need me I’ll probably be hanging around the media hub or Students’ Union – if you want to get involved for this year please let me know!

half of the city, which results in a lot of frustrated Saturdays and a longing for consecutive seasons in the Champions League. I look forward to working with you this year and editing your articles!

Blades enjoying

Championship life Tim Adams With Sheffield United storming to the League One title last season and amassing 100 points in the process, it was important that Chris Wilder’s side halted the summer hangover in order to get straight into business for their return to the Championship.

And that’s exactly what the Blades have done. After putting 30 goals to his name last term, Billy Sharp picked up from where he left off as his solitary strike put United on course for a 1-0 win at home to Brentford on the opening day of the season.

First game out of the way and all three points in the bag; the perfect start for Wilder’s side, who were dealt an early blow in preseason as keeper Simon Moore, was stretchered off in a friendly over Rotherham. Some quick dealing by Wilder saw Jamal Blackman join, and the tall shot stopper has made an instant impact at the Lane already.

It would be easy for Sheffield United to have balked at the fixture list that greeted them after the Brentford curtain raiser but, due to the squad that Wilder has assembled, that was never going to be the case.

A testing away trip at

Middlesbrough almost fashioned a point but for Jack O’Connell’s stoppage time goal being harshly disallowed for offside.

They dusted themselves down, but were beaten 2-0 by their former boss Neil Warnock.

Nonetheless, any away point will probably be seen as a bonus this year and, after all, it was at Bramall Lane where the Blades were at their best last year, losing just three and winning 17, the most home wins in the division by three matches.

100 points won last season

A 1-0 win over local rivals Barnsley, thanks to yet another goal by their skipper Sharp, saw them chalk up three points on the table in a game that saw both sides finish with 10 men, before they were picked-off 4-1 at home by an impressive Leicester City outfit in the EFL Cup. Back to League action at the Lane, then, and against a much-

fancied Derby County side, and the Blades were dominant. Off to a great start after four minutes, Sharp got on the scoresheet before an own goal reddened Derby’s wounds. A comeback threatened before Sharp caught Scott Carson out after the exEngland keeper went up for a corner to add gloss to a 3-1 win.

Recruitments had gone to plan earlier in the window after Chris Wilder brought Ched Evans, who has been forced to watch from the sidelines for the majority of the season so far due to niggling injuries, back to Sheffield and signed his number one target, Richard Stearman, an experienced defender who has appeared for the likes of Fulham, Wolves and Ipswich. He too was ruled out for 4-8 weeks early doors.

George Baldock, Enda Stevens, John Lundstram and Nathan Thomas were all also added to strengthen, but Wilder was forced to endure a frustrating deadline day. While Ben Henegham signed from Motherwell and experienced midfielder Clayton Donaldson joined from Birmingham with 15 minutes of the window remaining, deals for Jerome Sinclair and Dominqos Quina, who were expected to sign on-loan from Watford and West Ham respectively, were called off due to personal terms.

The Blades also missed out on

Fleetwood’s Devante Cole after the fee was changed from £200,000 to £1.2 million before being dropped

The Blades can’t dwell on the past, but they should be confident after turning the Lane into a fortress. back down to the original figure, but it was too late in the day for a deal to be struck. Couple these additions with the rising talents of youngster David Brookes and Wilder’s expert and old-fashioned management style, and you must say the Blades could be going somewhere.

One of their new recruits made the perfect impact as Donaldson

netted two debut goals to see off Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in a shock, but throughly deserved, away win.

If one debut goal wasn’t enough for the Blades then one more certainly wouldn’t go amiss. Over to Cameron Carter-Vickers who netted the only goal in a 1-0 win at Bolton that Wilder described as the ‘best result’ of the season so far. That win propelled the Blades to the dizzy heights of third in the Championship table Injuries and suspensions, just like every other football season, may well play a part around the undoubtedly hectic Christmas schedule but, if they continue to show the same resilience, there’s no reason why they can’t go far.

And the Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 24 September will be the perfect test for that.

Forge Press

Friday 15 September 2017

43

Sensational Steelers steal late win in last second Tim Adams There’s nothing as exciting as a comeback in sport. From the jaws of defeat, you defy the odds to claim victory as your opponents are left stunned and shell-shocked.

The difference in emotion at the full-time whistle is stark, and this was on display at Sheffield Arena last Sunday night when Sheffield Steelers completed a mesmerising comeback against the Nottingham Panthers with just one second left on the clock.

Even after finding themselves 3-0 down during the first period, last season’s beaten Challenge Cup finalists still found the inner strength to catapult themselves to victory.

The Panthers had not played a Challenge Cup game this season and went into the match against their fiercest rivals with a point to prove.

It took them just three minutes, as their first attack saw Robert Farmer score a tap-in from a precise Josh Shalla pass.

Five minutes later Shalla contributed again, this time finding Yann Sauve who blasted the puck past the Steelers’ netminder, Ervins Mustukovs, to double the

lead.

It then went from bad to worse for the Steelers as they conceded yet another goal halfway through the first period after Mark Derlago found the net.

Nottingham were by far the better team with an offensively fluent line and, having scored from every single one of their early shots, Sheffield needed to react.

They did. By the end of the first period, the home side had reduced the deficit to just 3-2, the first coming from Robert Dowd through Sheffield Steelers’ John Armstrong battles for the puck with Brett Perlini of Nottingham Panthers his roofed shot on 13:48 and the second a slap shot from Ben O’Connor just before the through Juha Koivisto. to down a valiant Nottingham team, whistle.

The third and most critical period sending the fans into delirium.

Nottingham immediately replied of the game appeared over the An incredible match with an even when Mark Matheson’s clearance horizon, and for the first time in the more unbelievable (and head-line failed to clear the puck, allowing match, both sides were cautious, grabbing) finale.

Panthers’ new signing Brett Perlini careful not to lose what was to fire home. becoming a classic.

Again, the Steelers dug deep and Over seven thousand supporters responded with not one but two had packed into Sheffield Arena, blows to Nottingham when Jonas the majority wearing the partisan Westerling and John Armstrong put orange, who were desperate to see the game level at 4-4. the Steelers edge over the line.

Defensive hockey then decided And with less than five minutes to to take a back seat as Alexander go the home side did not disappoint Mokshantsev put Panthers ahead when Levi Nelson, who scored the again, only to look in horror as the goal that won the Play-Offs last Steelers equalised 50 seconds later season, fired the puck into the net

Hayley Roberts

04:15 PANTHERS 0-1 09:12 PANTHERS 0-2 10:05 PANTHERS 0-3 14:54 STEELERS 1-3 19:04 STEELERS 2-3 22:33 PANTHERS 2-4 23:00 STEELERS 3-4 30:27 STEEELERS 4-4 34:30 PANTHERS 4-5 35:31 STEELERS 5-5

Wednesday comeback despite early scare Adam May Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 thanks to goals from Gary Hooper and Ross Wallace either side of half-time.

While Brentford may not have had a Championship win to their name yet prior to kick-off they stunned the Wednesday faithful when an error from Kieren Westwood gave them a lead inside the first ten-minutes.

A corner from the right was headed away by Hooper but the Wednesday ‘keeper fumbled a left-footed effort from Nico Yennaris as he watched the ball trickle behind him and into the net.

It gave Brentford confidence until Wallace almost levelled, but Daniel Bentley tipped a stinging effort over the crossbar. Yennaris was forced into a goal-line clearance moments later.

Neal Maupay then pulled a fingertip save from Westwood and,

as the resultant corner was swung in, skipper John Egan headed in only for it to be disallowed as the set-piece had already gone out of play.

The Bees had a golden chance to add to their tally but Romaine Sawyers, who ran the show from midfield, failed to convert Yennaris’ cute dink into the area.

Hooper then ensured that Wednesday went into the break on level terms when he reacted quickest following Egan’s goalline clearance, tapping home after the ball hit the post, finishing a move that he started with a weaving run into the box. It was his third goal in three matches and the Owls, who moved to a diamond formation for the second-half, looked more slick in possession but lacked the final ball until Wallace pounced at the back post.

A corner from Kieran Lee was helped on by substitute Jordan Rhodes, leaving Wallace to slam a shot into the top corner to give Wednesday a lead with 20 minutes remaining. It had been coming.

Maupay then cracked the post with the last kick of the game

after a ten minute stoppage as Brentford’s Henrick Dalsgaard required lenthy treatment. He was later stretchered off but their boss, Dean Smith, said he was ‘walking and talking’ in the dressing room.

Wednesday’s head coach, Carlos Carvalhal, who was serving the final game of his two match touchline ban, said: “We have the luck to achieve the goal in the right moment.

“People talk about momentum, and I’ll remember this game.

“With pain, with blood, we achieve the three points.”

59:59 STEELERS 6-5

Captain’s Corner: introduction Sport can be anything you want it to be. Training to be a worldclass athlete. Competing for fun.

Or meeting friends and trying out something new.

At the University of Sheffield, you can take part in over 50 sports, and we at ForgeSport want to provide you with unprecedented coverage of every single one of them.

So, this year we are launching a new initiative called Captain’s Corner.

Each week we’ll do a Q&A with a different sports captain at each club.

From American football to ultimate frisbee, athletics to rowing and archery to table tennis, Forge Sport will provide you the inside track on the university’s most well-known and niche sports.

What does each club offer? How many people take part? Where do the clubs hold their training?

Captain’s Corner will provide you

the answers.

But we won’t just do that. By also delivering a deeper look into each club through this weekly series, we can help paint a picture of the endless opportunities available.

Through Captain’s Corner, you can find out what sporting moments each captain has found nervous and exciting, their experience in competition against other universities and discover their passion for the sport.

The first interviews of the series will take place in our next edition in two weeks time, with the UOS tennis captains, Tom Dyakowski and Natalie Bacon.

Find out about their experiences of social sport, BUCS and their intense rivalry with Sheffield Hallam, which culminated in a mouth-watering Varsity clash at the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash club earlier this year.

You won’t want to miss it.

44

Friday 15th September 2017

|

facebook.com/forgetoday

Adam May

@ForgeSport

Welcome to the first issue of Forge Press, and a particular hello to any freshers who are reading this publication for the first time. We’re really excited about what we have in store for you for not only this issue but for the year ahead.

We will we be keeping a beady eye on how Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fare in the Championship, but we will also be bringing you results and reports from

Sport press.sport@forgetoday.com

Head of Sport

University BUCS fixtures and, of course, Varsity next year, where the University of Sheffield are looking to be crowned winners for the sixth year running over Sheffield Hallam.

We will also be bringing you a Q&A with some sports captains, which Tim Adams will tell you more about on page 47. If you fancy getting involved in our sports coverage this year, which will give you a chance to cover football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball and all other sports under the sun, then please do get in contact with us

Forge Press

by emailing press.sport@forgetoday. com. In this issue, we interview Liam Walker, who ran and cycled almost 200km to scoop a bronze medal, Josh Taylor gives his views on the England international scene, and we have a review of the season so far for United and Wednesday. Sheffield also hosted the Special Olympics over the summer and Matt Reilly provides an overview of the event. Enjoy this issue, and we look forward to meeting you all. Welcome to Sheffield!

Success for Sheffield’s Special Olympics Show Matt Reilly

Liam Walker, right, celebrates with his bronze medal for Great Britain in the Powerman Zofingen World Championships

Bronze for Walker in Taxing Test Adam May A University of Sheffield employee came third after representing Great Britain in a gruelling test of stamina, mental resilience and fitness.

Liam Walker, a receptionist at Endcliffe Student Village, cycled and ran for almost 200km as he took part in the Powerman Zofingen World Championships in Switzerland, competing in the male’s 2529 age group.

Mr Walker, 25, prepared for months before every inch of his body would be put under the microscope, testing every muscle and every ounce of strength that he could muster.

No wonder, then, the relief that engulfed him when it was announced that he had scooped a bronze medal.

He said: “The race had taken everything out of me. I was broken but I had salvaged my race from the depths of despair. This is what I’m most proud of.

“I could, and should, have stopped but I found something extra. I found a desire, a stupidly irate desire to battle. It got me a bronze medal. I also found out my final run was two hours and 22 minutes, 35th quickest overall and only four minutes off both the Belgians in my age group.

I’m sure the winner must’ve been a pro athlete.

“Considering everything, I regard this as a miracle. It goes to prove what you can achieve in the most desperate and

disastrous of circumstances.”

The University of Cumbria graduate recalled the feeling when he was announced a bronze medalist after all the hard work and training that had to be put in to even finish the exhausting and draining competition.

“There I was a few hours later, living this moment,” he continued.

Considering everything, I consider this a miracle. It goes to prove what you can achieve.

“They announced: ‘in third place, representing Great Britain, Liam Walker’ and I stood up and could hear my GB teammates whooping and cheering, the smile on my face said it all. I waved to them and to the audience, I then stepped onto the number three position on the podium in an ITU World Championship race. It was a moment of a lifetime.”

The event, which took place over the first weekend of September, sees the competitors take on a 10km run before a taxing 150km cycle ride that’s followed by

another 30km of running to really put the athletes through their paces, and it took a lot of preparation in order to complete.

He added: “My training is fairly intense and it was no different leading up to this.

On one specific day I cycled 100 miles to Pontefract and back on a memorably windy day followed by a 14km run.

“I gained a lot of confidence from this day. Leading up to the event I also put in a 26-hour training week focusing on long hilly runs and cycles with high elevation to replicate the run routes. The majority was at low intensity whilst getting used to the distance I’d be covering at the same time.”

A keen runner, Liam is now preparing for the Duathlon World Championships event in October, with some prominent names set to take part. He counts coming 7th in the Sheffield Half Marathon as one of his best achievements and, despite being unable to attend due to cost, he also qualified for the GB Age Group World Championships in Canada. At the moment, there is simply no stopping him in his tracks as he sets his sights on more success after the bronze medal in Switzerland and being crowned champion of in the Leger Man, a half-distance iron man challange.

Sheffield recently hosted the Special Olympics, a sports competition for athletes with learning disabilities, for the first time since 1993.

The competition involved 2,600 athletes, 800 coaches, 1000 volunteers and 150 officials across 20 sports ranging from football to boccia.

The opening ceremony was held at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane and hosted by a celebrity line up of ex-footballer and current TV celebrity Chris Kamara, Formula 1 presenter Suzi Perry and Downton Abbey

actor Jim Carter.

Tony Hadley, former member of Spandau Ballet, sang live and the ceremony ended with a performance of the Special Olympics anthem ‘We’ll stop at nothing’ sang by former superbike world champion-turned singer, James Toseland.

There were teams representing regions from England, Scotland and Wales as well as Australia, who

were invited as international guests.

Bill Holland travelled from Australia to support his daughter Isabella, who is part of the Australian netball team, and explained why these opportunities were so important.

Mr Holland said: “It’s very special to us, people who are often marginalised get an opportunityto shine.”

The competition displayed a sense of inspiring and unconditional team spirit and Adam Edney, the youngest member of the Eastern basketball team at 18 years of age, highlighted the special relationship the athletes and coaches have.

He said: “My coaches are more like family.”

“I want to become a coach because I have always admired those who can help others.”

The athletes stayed in University of Sheffield accommodation in Endcliffe and Ranmoor which transformed into an athletes village for the duration of the event and hosted a Q&A session with England football manager Gareth Southgate and a farewell disco on the last evening before the athletes headed home to resume training for the next world summer games in 2019.

Athletes celebrate gold medal sucess

Sarah-Louise Kelsey