Forge 20

The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield // www.forgetoday.com

Issue 20 // Friday March 5 2010

Freeware games fun Fuse pages 8-9

Forstenzer elected President amongst cries of foul play 4President-elect deducted 354 votes for breaking campaign rules 4National voter turnout record smashed as 7,000 head to the polls

NEWS

Dirty tactics

Presidential candidate Ben Woollard reveals election intimidation, threats and abuse News page 4

LIFESTYLE

Fashion marmite

Man Uggs, jegglings & body suits - fashion musts or fashion faux pas?

Lifestyle pages 22-23

COMMENT

Pigeonholed

Do we really care if products tested on animals were labelled incorrectly?

Comment page 13

The new Union Officers celebrate being elected last night. supervised the elections decided Rosie Taylor & Kirsty McEwen not to disqualify Forstenzer.

Current Union President Joshua Forstenzer has been Paul Tobin is convinced that his elected as Sheffield’s next Union mistakes were accidental.

President despite complaints He said: “I don’t think anyone from other candidates about his deliberately tried to cheat and campaign tactics. compared to previous years we’ve Forstenzer had 354 votes had very few complaints. deducted from his total after “Joshua made it clear to us three separate Union societies that the mistakes were made sent out messages endorsing him accidently and he responded to on Facebook. our concerns immediately.”

He was also penalised for Forstenzer blamed the problems breaking rules such as using on “vague” rules. a megaphone speaker on the He said: “I’m disappointed that Concourse to campaign and failing rules around elections are vague, to submit expenses receipts. difficult to understand and issued The Union sought advice from late. the National Union of Students “No doubt my campaign has (NUS) who told them that made mistakes, but there has been other unions had disqualified a breakdown in communication candidates for breaching similar over central issues. rules.

“When we had made mistakes, But the Returning Officers who we tried to rectify them as quickly

as possible.

“It’s especially difficult as I am an international student and someone who’s not part of Union politics already.

Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com “When I’m President I want to make election rules understandable to everyone from the get-go.”

Presidential candidate Dominic Sztyber felt that Forstenzer should have been disqualified.

“Not all of us lodged a complaint.

I really like Josh, but considering he broke so many rules, I think

Photo: Adam Harley he should be disqualified. But, saying that, I am glad he won,” he said.

But some of the Presidentelect’s rivals supported him.

Ben Woollard, who campaigned under the name iBen, was runnerup for the position of President with 1,965 votes compared with Forstenzer’s 2,043.

He said: “I think it was fair.

Josh has been punished and he won despite it.

“He’ll be an amazing President.”

The third most successful candidate was Charlotte Tobin, who received 1,535 votes. She declined to comment but Ben Cooper, a member of her campaign team, said: “It’s disappointing that someone feels the need to cheat to gain an advantage over their rivals, should these accusations be true.”

FEATURES

Sex trafficking Hear one girl’s harrowing account of life as a sex slave Features pages 16-17

2

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Editor

Robert Golledge

Deputy Editor

Helen Lawson

Managing Editor

Rob Ellerington

News

Letters

Rachel Blundy Leanne Rinne Rosie Taylor

Animal testing policy blunder The Union’s animal testing policy was labelled ‘discriminatory’ by a leading animal protection group for singling out four companies

Emily Cresswell

Comment

Michael Hunter André Nunn

Features

Lifestyle

Lucie Boase Paul Garbett Oliver Hughes

Hannah O’Connell Keri O’Riordan

Travel

Vicky Shaw

Sport

Matthew Duncan Christopher Rogan Ross Turner

Fuse

Alistair White

Music

Games

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Helen Lawson Natasha Parker Jeremy Peel

Screen

Brendan Allitt Melissa Gillespie Pete Walsh

Arts

Richard Scott Amy Smith

Web Editor Alexandra Rucki Fuse cover

James Wragg

Forge Press Media Hub, Union of Students Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG 0114 2228646 forgepress@forgetoday.com

The Union labels products that have ingredients tested on animals.

Forge Press is part of Forge Media Forge Press is published by the Union of Students. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the University, the Union or the editorial team. In the first instance all complaints should be addressed to the Managing Editor, although a formal procedure exists.

Forge Press is printed on 100% recycled paper

Advertise in the Forge Press with The Student Connection 0114 222 8540

UNION

The Union’s animal testing policy - which has now been changed following yesterday’s elections has been deemed “discriminatory” by animal rights group PETA. The previous policy meant products on sale in the Union Shop from companies that test on animals were identified by a red label.

PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation) reviewed the Union’s policy and stated that the policy unfairly discriminated four companies - Colgate, Unilever, Proctor and Gamble and Reckitt-

Benckiser - while products from some other companies that did use animal testing were not being labelled at all.

Martin Bailey explained that this situation probably arose because whenever a smaller company was acquired by one that used animal testing, it was up to the Union Shop staff to find this out and change the labelling accordingly.

An Animal Testing Select Committee (ATSC) was formed to investigate ways of changing the policy.

Two possible options were short-listed for the referendum that was part of the 2010 elections from March 2 to March 4.

ENTERPRISE

FUNDRAISING

Samuel Valdes Lopez

Vote now for Fresh taste Uni awards of Japan

RAG aim for £40k target

Sheffield Students’ Union will be hosting its first staff and student award ceremony this year.

The event will celebrate outstanding contribution to the University.

Nominations can now be made on the Union website.

Education Officer Holly Taylor said: “It is easy to be negative these days, in the face of funding cuts, so it is important to tell academic staff that their efforts are very much appreciated.”

The winners will be announced on April 22 in the Fusion and Foundry.

Emma Crowe

Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG) are hoping to raise more than £37,000 for charity in their annual RAG week fundraiser which will take place next week.

The committee will aim to beat last year’s total by fundraising from March 8 to March 14.

Events during the week will include a pub quiz, lecturer’s intelligence challenge, bungee jump, RAG Rave and the group’s own version of popular television show Take Me Out at Tapton Halls of Residence.

Contact rag@shef.ac.uk for details of how to take part.

Rosie Taylor

Students can now purchase Will Yaki Teriyaki Noodles from the Union’s New Leaf salad bar.

The new range was launched by former University of Sheffield students Xinxin Cao and William Christophers, who established Will Yaki in 2006 after winning the White Rose Business Plan.

Cao said, “It has always been my ambition to have a business in the Student Union. It’s great to be working with New Leaf, as they have an image of good, healthy food.”

For more on this story see forgetoday.com Amy Ritson

Option A referred to dropping the whole label scheme, Option B involved adopting the Go Cruelty Free standard set by the British Union Against Vivisection (BUAV).

Option B was voted for in this week’s referendum.

In their final report the ATSC also considered dedicating a display for BUAV-approved products in the Union Shop.

The Union’s Ethical and Environmental Committee (E and E), were disappointed not to be consulted in the decision by the ATSC. A spokesperson for E and E said: “We regret that we were not consulted as part of the

committee’s research, in order to ascertain our opinions on the best options to put to referenda.

“If Option B is passed, we would like to ensure that the labelling of BUAV products is as clear as possible, preferably in colour and with accompanying signs explaining what the BUAV logo stands for, so that students are able to make a truly informed choice.”

Town and Regional Planning Councillor Chris Maidment, who suggested the policy be reviewed by a ATSC, said: “Option B is an animal testing policy that allows students to make an informed choice and is practical to implement.”

Ban on bottled water?

Tom Geddes A campaign to ban the sale of bottled water at the Union gained new support this week.

On Tuesday and Thursday People and Planet Sheffield held petition stalls at the University to raise the profile of its campaign against bottled water and to share concerns with students over the environmental implications.

Union Council members will vote on the proposal to ban bottled water in April. If passed, the proposal will then be put to a campus wide referendum.

People and Planet Sheffield hope that if it is successful in banning bottled water in the Union, it can start work on making the rest of the University “bottle-free”.

The recommendations would see bottled water removed from Union shops and replaced by a series of free water fountains spread throughout the campus – a system already in place at Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan Unions.

People and Planet Sheffield believe that abandoning bottles, would cut the Union’s carbon footprint significantly, as well as saving students money.

Supporting the petition, Politics student Pat McKenna said: “Hydration is a basic human right. I don’t see why we should have to pay a corporation for that freedom.”

But some students were against the idea. First year Sarah Thompson said: “I don’t trust water fountains. People can do anything to them.”

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

3

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Apocalypse now: Film Unit struggles to survive after racking up four-figure debt Andre Nunn The Film Unit student committee is more than £4,500 in debt to the Union and has been refused its latest grant application, Forge Press has learnt.

The committee was refused extra funding from the Union for this semester because it had already overspent by £4,624 at the beginning of the academic year.

A new strategy has now been launched to help salvage the student-run cinema, which was awarded the title of Best Working Committee in the Activities Awards 2009.

Finance Officer Martin Bailey said: “Film Unit have been making a continual loss this year and so I took the decision after consulting with the treasurer to not give them any money at this round as it would effectively get eaten into their debt and its money that could be better used by another committee, for a campaign for example.”

Film Unit Treasurer Rich Clesham has blamed the recession and the ongoing building work for causing problems.

He said: “Last semester we did make a loss, due to a variety of factors including the union building works, loss of publicity and the simple fact that the first semester is always less successful.

“We are happy with the Union’s decision not to grant our budget bid - there is a lot of competition for the money and they wouldn’t be able to cover the whole of our projected loss.

“Instead they are encouraging and supporting our new initiatives and we are working closely with Martin Bailey, Claire Monk, the Enterprise Zone and various others within the Union to ensure that Film Unit achieves a successful second semester.”

For the spring semester so far, The Film Unit has had an average audience number of 132 people, which has made them a profit. But last semester the average audience number was

Total owed to the Union: £4,624 Average film reel cost: £180

Sept- Dec: 45 films shown Least popular film Sleep Furiously: turnout under 20 Most popular film Inglourious Basterds: turnout 341 (From left to right: the Auditorium where films are shown; the Film Unit committee; one of the projectors. only 72 people. solve it. seen.

Now Activities Officer Claire “We are actively working with The Committee is made up of Monk is working with Film Unit the Enterprise Zone and have 29 members. and the University’s Enterprise come up with a business plan Films are chosen through Zone to help rescue the committee for them, as well as introducing a selection process, partly in from the debt. a Film Society to run alongside response to audience input.

Monk said: “It’s not the fault them.”

Bailey said: “If Film Unit don’t of this year’s committee. They Last semester Film Unit lost end up in the black this year, were left with a deficit from even more money, which they which we have projected they last year’s committee and have claim can be blamed partly on the won’t, then we would account been completely responsible and showing of summer blockbusters for that. They are a working mature about it and attempted to which many students had already committee of the Union and for

first 59 of the past 61 years, have made money for the Union, and we are committed to working with them.”

Monk said any money overspent by the Unit would be absorbed by the Union budget.

Film Unit are raising ticket prices by 10 per cent to help increase the money they raise, as well as working on their business plan, promotion and sponsorship.

Proposal to restrict alcohol sales thrown out of Union council Rachel Blundy A proposal to significantly restrict alcohol sales and confine Union club nights to the weekends has been thrown out of Union Council.

Mature Undergraduate Councillor, Alexzander Swatton, 36, outlined the proposal at last week’s meeting only to have it quashed by several councillors, including Finance Officer Martin Bailey, who labelled the potential measures “extreme”.

Council instead unanimously decided to form a select committee to discuss the matter further, with the view of presenting revised proposals at future meetings.

Before submitting a twopage document in support of his recommendations, Swatton said: “There is an evident problem in the UK as a whole.

“I know people are going to mention civil liberties and students do have the right to drink.

“But one student’s right to drink also affects another student’s right to sleep.”

Swatton, who used to work as a barman, went on to describe how potential assaults at the Edge and other University accommodation could be prevented if alcohol consumption amongst the student community was reduced.

He added that societies should be banned from offering alcohol incentives to attend their opening social events and that the use of “hedonistic and misguiding terms” such as “Exam Slam” and “Refreshers Week” should not be used to promote Union events.

But Martin Bailey explained that whilst the proposals outlined some of the Union’s weaknesses on alcohol policy, the measures would be too extreme to implement.

He contested Swatton’s view that alcohol should only

be sold at the Union after 6pm on weekdays.

Bailey said: “If we don’t open Bar One until after 6pm then we won’t be recognised by our competitors.

“They will not look to us to make that moral change.

“The average spend in Population is £2.92. People are not going there to drink.

“They are buying from off-licenses.”

Bailey did admit that some areas needed to be addressed.

He said: “I do agree that there is work to be done with societies and drinking

promotions in clubs.”

In the annual financial report for 2008/2009, it was revealed that the Union’s bars had a commercial turnover of almost £4,500,000 - constituting nearly half of the Union’s total annual turnover.

But this included a seven per cent drop in alcohol sales from the last financial year.

Bailey thinks this dip in sales is as a result of students “becoming more health conscious” and drinking less frequently, but also because many are choosing to drink at home more and go out later in the evenings.

The news comes as a recent Union survey suggests that 51.2 per cent of University of Sheffield students believe they drink more sensibly than the average student.

Of the 2,623 students polled, 12.4 per cent claimed they do not

drink at all, whilst 74.2 per cent said they had formed their view of student drinking from media perceptions before they arrived at University.

Council voted to form a select committee to discuss the issue of alcohol sales at the Union and the promotion of Union club nights further.

The seven select committee members were voted in at council.

They are: Martin Bailey, Finance Officer; Jennifer Hastings, Welfare Officer; Claire Monk, Activities Officer; Alexzander Swatton, Mature Students Councillor; Charlotte Tobin, History Councillor; Peter Lennox, Biblical Studies Councillor and Ian Jacobs, School of Health and Related Research (SCHARR) Councillor.

On hearing that his proposal had been thrown out, Swatton said: “I did fully expect it to be rejected.”

Photo: Sam Bennett

4

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

NEWS UNION ELECTIONS

Campaigners play dirty in race to w Woollard and his team verbally and physically attacked during election Leanne Rinne Ben Woollard, the Presidential candidate who was accused of being homophobic, has said he was subjected to personal and abusive attacks against his faith.

Speaking to Forge Press on results day, he revealed his supporters had received physical and vocal abuse.

He said: “There have been people in the street pushing and shoving my supporters and people have been pulling me to one side and shouting the C word in my face.

“I have had people shouting homophobe at me”, he said.

The iBen campaign has been subject to scrutiny on social networking site Facebook and the Union message board with people telling Woollard they will not vote for him because of his “so-called extreme views”.

He said he has made mistakes, but that he always thought the University was “tolerant” to religious views.

“When people say ‘I’m not voting for Ben because he is a Christian’ – I don’t think they can actually hear what they are saying because you would never say that about another faith or orientation”, said Woollard.

Matthew Baren, an LGBT committee member and creator of the iWorried about iBen Facebook group, has accused Woollard of making a homophobic comment to him when they first met.

But Woollard said that he wasn’t even aware that Baren was gay at that time, and that other LGBT members have told him they voted for him.

He said: “I had even asked him to be on my campaign team and he is always someone I had a good acquaintance with, so obviously if I had deeply offended him I thought that he would have come out and told me in the last few years.”

Woollard was accused of deleting Facebook discussions about his campaign and not publishing the fact that he was president of the student Christian society, Synergy.

Woollard said he has never hidden his faith – even though he believes attacks have been made against Christianity.

“It has not happened to anyone else and there are also other Christian candidates – people who have taken Biblical Studies - and

Campaign banners.

they have not had a word said against them”, he said.

On the first day of campaigning he heard a rumour that he had written a homophobic article for Forge Press, but he has never written for the student newspaper before.

Woollard has been a Christian since the age of 16 and believes that God can heal people and that God did not intend people to have sex before marriage.

He said: “The way you relate to someone is by being relational – my faith has taught me to value every human being. I wouldn’t be running for President if I wasn’t a relational person.”

There were also reports that one student was impersonating Woollard to undermine his campaign.

Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com Woollard campaigner Kerry Roughton said: “We found out someone was pretending to be Ben when they arrived to a seminar where someone who knows who Ben is was in attendance.

“We were not informed of the specifics of what they said, only that the impersonator was making Ben out to be a really bad candidate.

“Ben informed the returning officers and a message was sent out to his supporters via Facebook.”

People have also reported Woollard’s Apple themed campaign to Apple.

Woollard said the whole campaign has been “surreal” and hopes people will not believe the “charade and fantasy” that has been built up.

“When it all started kicking off in the first week I did hit quite a low but I had people around me supporting me - my main worry is that people of all faiths will feel ostracised.”

He said he wished people had asked him about his policies because “anyone can have a theological debate”.

Union President Paul Tobin said: “Students are entitled to scrutinise any candidate. Ben has put up with more than any and handled it fantastic.”

Photo: Adam Harley

Union President Paul Tobin announces the result of the Presidential vote.

Elections break national record wi Rosie Taylor This year’s sabbatical team are celebrating a record-breaking turnout for this week’s elections.

A total of 7,216 students voted for the 2010-2011 officer team.

The turnout is not only a record for Sheffield but also believed to be the first time any students’ union in the country has received so many votes for officer elections.

Union President Paul Tobin is thrilled with the result, which he attributes to the use of online voting.

He said: “I’m over the moon.

Having set the voting record at the Union Councillor elections last semester we’ve now done the double.

“This result shows Sheffield Union of Students’ is the most democratic student’s union in the country.”

Students voted for next year’s

sabbatical officer team, five items up for referendum and for delegates for the NUS and NUS Women’s Conferences at this week’s elections.

The vote went in favour of every item up for referendum, with all five proposals being carried.

Now the Union Link and Union Councillor positions will merge into one paid post after the proposal for the merge receieved 1,846 votes out of 2,448.

The animal testing policy change was also voted in, with 66 per cent of voters choosing Option B - which involved adopting the Go Cruelty Free standard set by the British Union Against Vivisection (BUAV).

The alternative choice to drop all labelling of products which had been tested on animals - Option A did not get passed.

Amendments to the Union constitution, which included the change to read “women” as “self-

defining women” in the constitution were carried, with 88 per cent of voters choosing to support the proposal.

Now all self-defining women will be able to use the Women’s Minibus, become Women’s Officer or Women’s Councillor and sit on the Women’s Committee.

Students also voted in favour of the Union campaigning for the University to provide safe, affordable housing, including opposing a rise in rents.

The Union remains affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS) after 3,568 students voted to stay part of it, with only 152 voting against remaing affiliated.

Students also voted in a byelection for the position of Students with Disabilities Representative on Union Council, which was won by chair of the Disabled/Dyslexia Students’ Forum.

It was won by the only candidate, Christopher Jesson.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

5

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

UNION ELECTIONS NEWS

win votes

The 2010-2011 Officer team give their reactions to being elected Education Officer

President “I don’t quite realise what’s happened yet. I’m very happy, proud and grateful. My team has been amazing. I want to help students get their voices heard.”

Joshua Forstenzer

“It feels great. I’m grateful for the people who voted for me and the people I ran against. The elections have been hard but worst of all I’ve missed Glee.”

Joseph Oliver

Welfare Officer

Finance Officer

“I can’t describe it. I’m so happy.

So much has gone into this from everyone who’s taken part.

Hopefully I’ll be able to improve the Union as a whole.”

Nicola Bowater

“I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s been a long campaign but it’s finally paid off. I’m so passionate about the Union and have been given the chance to make it even better.”

Thomas Hastings

Women’s Officer

International Students’ Officer

“Amazing, absolutely amazing.

I’m really happy to have won, especially with someone with a campaign as brilliant as Amy Woodworth’s.”

Rachel Steyne

“It’s amazing. I’m so proud of my entire team. I’m going to continue working and supporting international students and bringing all students together.”

Mina Kasherova

Sports Officer

Activities Officer “It’s amazing, I’m speechless. I had such a great campaign team, they’ve worked so hard. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and I’m looking forward to RAG week.”

Rachel Colley

“I can’t even explain how I’m feeling. I just want to thank everyone. I want more inclusivity in sports. Now I’m going to celebrate with a bottle of bubbly.”

Emma Bird Reporting by Kirsty McEwen

Elections 2010: the results in full Robert Golledge

Photo: Adam Harley

i th massive 7,216 votes - Martin Bailey - Nicola Bowater - Rory Linton

Izzard is new Honorary President

- Holly Taylor

Rosie Taylor

NUS Women’s Conference:

Eddie Izzard was voted in as the Union’s new Honorary President in this week’s elections.

The actor and stand-up comedian was a student at the University of Sheffield in the early 1980s and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2006.

Sheffield Students’ Union Honorary President is a symbolic role and is awarded to a person Sheffield students wish to honour.

Izzard started performing as a comedian while studying Accounting and Financial Management at the University.

A University spokesman said: “Eddie Izzard is best remembered on campus for his enthusiasm for the theatre and his time spent in

- Amy Sutherland

- Joe Oliver

7,216 6,095 5,373

2008

RAG chair Rachel Colley won the Activities Officer position with 2,674 votes, beating second place Victoria Jolly who had 1,599 votes.

Current President Paul Tobin, who still has five months in office, gave his advice to his successor.

He said: “Enjoy it, it can be quite stressful but you’ll learn you don’t need as much sleep as you think you do.

“Please do a brilliant job for our amazing students – I’m sure you will.”

Reflecting on his time as President, he said: “I’ve loved it. It was the biggest compliment in the world to be voted in.

“This is an important time for students to be represented and I feel I’ve done my very best to do so.”

- Amy Sutherland

NUS conference delegates NUS Conference:

Josh Forstenzer was elected Union President 2010/11 with 2,043 votes after the seventh round of voting, beating Politics student Ben Woollard who had 1,965 votes.

Charlotte Tobin came in third with 1,535 votes coming ahead of Carly Wilkinson who polled 947.

Dom Sztyber came fifth with 498 votes.

Chris Lowry earned 290 and Rajin Chowdhury received 211 votes.

Rachel Steyne was elected Women’s Officer, getting a huge 2,519 votes, beating Amy Woodworth’s 1,286.

The Welfare Officer position saw Nicola Bowater win with 1,951 votes seeing off her nearest rival

Laura Anderson with 1,497 votes.

Emma Bird caused an upset in the Sport Officer election by beating Ross Stewart and Sarah Christian.

Bird got 2,558 votes to Stewart’s 1,642 and Christian’s 1,359.

International Students’ Councillor Mina Kasherova was elected as International Officer with 2,140 votes to Philipp Schluter’s 1,365.

Joe Oliver claimed the Education Officer role with 2,382 votes, beating Rory Linton who had 1,790 votes and Peter Lennox who had 1,331.

Tom Hastings was the out and out winner of the Finance Officer position with 2,537 votes.

In second spot was Graham White with 923, followed by Dominic GeeBurch with 895.

2009

2010

Voter turnout for the past three years.

the University Drama Studio.

“During his time at the University he established the Alternative Productions Society in the Union of Students with the aim of promoting fringe-based arts.”

Izzard left the course at the end of his first year and went on win two British Comedy Awards and two Emmys for his comedy.

He is also known for his fundraising work, most notably for running 43 marathons in 51 days for the charity Sport Relief.

I z z a r d was given a special

award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009 for his marathon effort.

While in office Eddie Izzard may be invited to visit the Union.

He has already made two appearances in the past year - in May 2009 at a debate put on by The Exchange and in October 2009 to perform his new stand-up show, Stripped, to students in the University’s Drama Studio.

A new Honorary President is elected every three to four years.

6

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Objections to Uni flats plan Colin Wong New plans to build flats on the University of Sheffield’s Tapton Hall of Residence site in Crookes have been met with fresh opposition from residents.

The University’s redevelopment proposals will be considered by Sheffield City Council’s planning board in the next few weeks.

If the proposals go through, 69 flats, four six-bedroom houses and 36 four-bedroom houses with landscaping and car parking will be built on the site.

Under the new plans the botanical Tapton Experimental Garden, founded in 1951 and better known as ‘The Secret Garden’, would be built on.

Residents in the neighbourhood have voiced concerns about the loss of the garden and other potential consequences of the new development.

Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com A spokesman for Broomhill Action and Neighbourhood Group said: “The University ignores or dismisses, without proper justification, important planning reasons why this part of the site should not be developed.”

Neighbourhood resident, Louisa Noble, said: “I object strongly to any building on the existing botanic garden.

“This is a garden of immense historical and cultural interest and of great value to the city and to the nation.”

But the University claims it has considered the objections and revised its proposals accordingly.

A University spokesperson said: “The University of Sheffield has regularly engaged with and consulted local resident representatives about the plans for the redevelopment of it’s Tapton site.

“The University Community Forum has for many years provided an opportunity for discussion of issues of shared concern.

“The University also regularly attends local resident forums where matters such as planning applications are discussed.”

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Sheffield demands top grades A-level entry requirements to over 20 undergraduate courses at the University increase as record numbers of students make applications Lauren Merryweather Prospective students trying to secure an undergraduate place at Sheffield in 2010 are facing some of the toughest entry requirements yet.

The University has raised the standard of A-level grades required for entry to more than 20 undergraduate courses The rise is the result of a surge in applications to Sheffield, which has already received 33,574 submissions for places for next academic year compared to 29,000 last year - an increase of nearly 14 per cent.

Only 13 per cent of this year’s applicants will succeed in getting one of the 4,500 places available.

The University has increased its entry requirements over the last three years, with many of the most popular courses demanding higher A-level results compared with 2007, 2008 and 2009.

School leavers applying for the BA History course are now expected to achieve AAA instead of the AAB expected for 2009 entry.

The BSc Mathematics course has also increased its entry requirements since last year, asking for ABB with an A in Maths instead of the ABC expected in 2009.

The BA Journalism Studies undergraduate programme now requires ABB, the highest entry requirements for any such course in the country. Applicants in 2007 and 2008 were only asked to obtain BBB in their A-levels.

And popular course BA English Literature now demands grades of AAB at A-Level, despite applicants before 2007 only needing ABB. The increase fuels concerns that many well-qualified students may lose out on their top choices.

Gap-year student Lucie Cross, 19, applied to study History at the University of Sheffield last year but missed out on a place.

She said: “I’m now spending a year taking re-sits to try and get the three A grades I need.

“When I first looked at applying to Sheffield the requirements to take History were AAB.” A spokesperson from

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS University of Sheffield

(BA) mics Econo

2007 2008 2009 2010 BBB BBB ABB ABB

Philosophy (BA)

ABB AAB AAB AAB

History (BA)

AAB AAB AAB AAA

Journalism (BA)

BBB BBB ABB ABB

Chemistry (BSc)

BBC BBC BBB BBB

Physics (BSc)

ABC ABB ABB ABB

English Lit (BA)

AAB AAB AAB AAB

BBC BBB- BBB- BBB French (BA) BBC BBC

s All applicant der must try har the University of Sheffield Admissions department said that the increase in applications had inevitably resulted in higher levels of competition for popular courses.

They said: “The selection process continues to use a combination of achieved and

predicted grades and, where relevant, other information on the UCAS form to select the best applicants from the total number of applications.

“The increase in applications has also resulted in some delays in processing, though the Admissions Service has been

working hard to minimise this.”

The spokesperson added that although the general trend has been for entry requirements for courses to stay the same or increase during the period 20072010, in a small number of cases, entry requirements were reduced for one or two admissions cycles before being increased again.

Union Education Officer Holly Taylor insisted that the rise in entry requirements was good for the University.

She said: “I think the grade inflations are fair.

“As a Russell Group university that sits where we do in the league tables, the University needs to be constantly reviewing entry grades and making sure they accurately reflect the demands of the courses offered.

“The committees responsible for looking at the entry grades thought very carefully about the implications for prospective students who may be missing out under the new requirements but it was deemed to be a progressive measure.

“It’s possible that these changes will have a positive effect on drop out rates too as there is a perception that students who are already high achievers will react well to the academic challenges that they face when they arrive at university.”

Despite a 23 per cent rise in UCAS (University and College Admissions Servcice) applicants hoping to start higher education this September, funding cuts have forced a nationwide reduction of around 6,000 university places.

The cutbacks are part of government plans to minimise spending to improve the country’s debt problems.

UCAS chief Mary Curnock-Cook said: “The current application cycle looks to be very challenging and competitive for applicants.”

With record numbers of students attending university, the Government is under pressure to deliver on its promise of Higher Education for half of all school leavers.

But Minister of State for Higher Education, David Lammy, said: “Getting into university has always been, and should be, a competitive process.”

Disabled students left stranded by the Student Loans Company Ellie Neves Welfare Officer Jennifer Hastings has said that disabled students “should not have to pay for the inefficiency of Student Finance England” after it was revealed that up to two thirds of disabled students in the UK could still be waiting for grants to help fund vital equipment.

More than six months into the academic year, an estimated 12,000 disabled students have yet to receive their Disabled Student Allowance (DSA), funded by the Student Loans Company (SLC).

Hastings has described the situation as “unacceptable” and believes that students should not still be facing delays with funding, whether they are disabled or not.

Chris Jesson, chair of the

Disabled and Dyslexic Students’ Forum (DDSF) at the University, confirmed that disabled students at Sheffield have suffered from late loans, but could not reveal their details for reasons of confidentiality.

He said: “All students who require the services of Student Finance England have been disappointed, but disabled students even more so because they might require additional support, ranging from mentors to computers.

“The delivery of these may well have been put into jeopardy from the disorganisation of allocating funding to students.

“I find it particularly distressing that there has been so many problems nationwide but am confident the contingency plan in place at the Disability/Dyslexia

Support Service here in Sheffield has been covering those less fortunate to benefit from their allowance in time.”

The Disabled Student Allowance is provided by the SLC and entitles disabled students to funding on top of the standard student finance package.

The grants, which do not have to be repaid, aim to provide students who have a disability or specific learning disability with extra financial help.

They often go towards funding specialist equipment such as Braille paper or providing the means for a personal helper on campus.

The SLC has already been heavily criticised this year for failing to handle a backlog of regular student loan applications.

An official inquiry found that only five per cent of phone calls were answered at peak times and important documents were lost.

In response to the criticisms, the SLC emphasised that there has been a significant increase in loan applications during the last year and said that it is processing the applications as quickly as possible.

It claims that more than 25 per cent of disabled students applied for their DSA support after the

deadline for the academic year 2009/2010.

A spokesperson said: “The application process for DSAs is supported by specialised independent assessment centres that are best placed to access individual needs for additional support.

“For this reason, applications for DSAs take longer than applications for any other types of finance to determine course related needs.”

In a statement on the SLC’s website, the company’s chief executive, Ralph SeymourJackson, added: “We recognise that there were problems last year and we are urging prospective students to apply early and online, and to consult with Direct Gov websites to ensure that they are applying correctly.”

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com

7

LOCAL NEWS

University properties put back on the market in a bid to curb student influx Imogen Child The University of Sheffield has sold several of its properties back to local communities as part of a move to limit the number of students living in some of Sheffield’s residential areas.

Since 2004, the University has put 139 of its unused properties in the Crookes and Broomhill areas back on the market, many of which were costing the institution substantial refurbishment and maintenance costs.

The properties were made available only to families as opposed to private landlords, in a bid to limit the numbers of students in the areas.

Approximately 133 have been sold so far, with the money raised being put back into funding University land and building projects.

Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to letters@forgetoday.com A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University recognised the need to restore the local community balance in student-heavy areas of the city.

“All the properties were sold with restrictive covenants preventing the properties from being used in the future for multiple occupancy or student use.”

The key clause in the new housing contracts states that the purchaser will be required to sign a binding agreement with the vendor that the property is not used as a house of multiple occupation by students.

A spokesperson for Eadon, Lockwood and Riddle, one of the University’s estate agents, said that all buyers have been informed that their new properties were strictly for noninvestment use.

They said: “People have to be told that it is for non investment

use, the lawyers deal with it.”

Local resident and chairwoman of the Crookes Residents’ Association, Sue Beardshaw, said: “The fact that they’re being sold back to families brings us back to being a proper community again.

“It would be nice if we went back to being a residential area, we want a proper community back.”

The University’s Student Residencies Strategy, which is responsible for the sale of the University’s residential property, also planned to influence the number of new students using private landlords in Sheffield.

The strategy included the £160million development of the Endcliffe and Ranmoor student villages, which were built to minimise the impact on the local area from the number of students moving in, by placing them in a single, purpose-built community.

The student accommodation, built by construction company Bovis Lend Lease, will be maintained over the 40-year contract period by the facilities and estates management company Vita Lend Lease.

At the end of this lease, ownership will revert back to the University.

By building these new student communities and increasing their overall housing capacity, the Student Residencies Strategy aimed to move students away from private landlords on their arrival to the city.

Then, if there is a drop in demand, private landlords would be forced to sell their properties which can then revert back to private residential use.

But in response to the initiatives, Andrew Jarvis, the owner of Jarvis Properties in Crookesmoor, claimed that students will continue to seek property in Crookesmoor and Broomhill because of their proximity to the University.

He said: “We have been here for 30 years and nothing has changed in those 30 years.

“Endcliffe being built hasn’t had an effect at all on our business.”

Residents are unhappy about the number of houses let to students in some areas.

Photo: Stephen Findlay

The University of Sheffield’s Student Housing: Accommodation Facts and Figures 1. The University houses about 6,000 students on University contracts across Sheffield.

2. 86 per cent of first year students live in University-owned housing.

3. The cheapest University-owned self-catered room was £74.20 per week in 2008/09.

4. An en-suite room in Stephenson Hall costs £137.61 per week including a weekly food and drink allowance, while a studio in Ranmoor costs £164.22 a week.

5. The Endcliffe Village is home to around 3,500 students living together in a mix of refurbished Victorian houses, flats and new apartments.

6. Ranmoor Village houses 1,000 students.

7. Only 19 per cent of students in University-owned accommodation are catered.

8. The most popular areas with students are Broomhill, Crookesmoor, Crookes and Ecclesall Road.

Broomhill residents welcome proposal for new library facilities Tom Bollard

Broomhill councillors and Nick Clegg MP outside Broomhill Library.

Sheffield City Council has agreed to fund a new and improved library in Broomhill.

The new 474m2 building will be constructed on Ashgate Road and will be paid for by the council.

Union Education Officer Holly Taylor is encouraging students to use the new facility alongside local residents.

She said: “This will be a great facility for local residents and students alike.

“Students are always looking for places to study, particularly around exam periods when University libraries are busier than normal, so this could be really well used.

“I think one of the reasons Sheffield is such a vibrant city is that students and residents are integrated in the community.”

In addition to providing a larger range of books and other materials, the new site is expected to save the Council £17,700 per year due to a reduction in maintenance costs and increased energy efficiency.

Paul Scriven, the leader of Sheffield City Council and Lib Dem Councillor for Broomhill, said: “We have been able to come up with a solution that provides a new first class library for local people that actually saves council taxpayers in the long run.”

Sheffield students are hoping that the development will enhance the number of resources available to them.

Sociology and Politics student, James Bollington, said: “I am happy to hear about the plans to move Broomhill Library to a larger site as at present it’s literature is limited.

“This development should

encourage students to use local libraries rather than just relying solely on the Information Commons for study space.

“Hopefully the move will mean they get some new stock in.”

Taylor added: “It’s great to hear of new plans coming through the council that will encourage local residents and students to use the same services and facilities.

“It is important that the council continues to promote new projects to benefit everyone in the local community.”

The existing Broomhill library is to benefit from a garden project run by the Broomhill Action Neighbourhood Group (BANG).

After its completion in May, Rebecca Barnes, the University’s Broomhill community representative, will be unveiling the garden at an open day for both students and local residents to enjoy.

8

ADVERTISEMENT

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // letters@forgetoday.com

9

LETTERS

Have your say IC security disrupts Gaza memorial Dear Forge, On the 18th January, a group of students from the University of Sheffield staged a memorial in remembrance of the many lives lost in the massacre in Gaza one year ago.

The carnage, which started on the 27th December 2008 and lasted an atrocious 22 days, included serial bombardment from land, air and sea.

The operation left thousands of innocent civilians, including 314 children, maimed and brutally murdered.

A group of over 20 students remembered the blood spilt in the massacre during the Monday afternoon.

The name of each and every man, woman and child was read aloud in front of the Information Commons, so that students walking past could hear.

There was a very positive response as the victims were remembered; a true sign of solidarity for the Palestinians in Gaza.

A true sign of solidarity with justice.

We did encounter a slight problem, though, on our path.

As we held out our banners in front of the IC, security were called out only to tell us that

Star letter is sponsored by Your Harley

The winner receives a free meal for two and a Lock-In membership at Your Harley we were on “private university property.”

We had to move, as if the £3000 tuition fees we each spend per year was completely futile.

It also struck me a bit strange that other university students were allowed to loiter in groups and create noise outside the seats and stairs of the IC, but we were kicked off when we stood reading from a piece of paper.

Yours, Reem Alhimdani Medicine Fourth year

Write: Forge Press, Union of Students, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG Email: letters@forgetoday.com Please include your name, course and year of study.

We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space.

‘Belittling’ lecturers are not welcome Dear Forge, I thought that lecturers were not supposed to break confidentiality with their students.

Their essays should be guarded at all costs.

Some people take lecturing as merely a way of earning a living.

Some are more than that.

Lecturers must not only ensure that their knowledge is being passed on to their students, but must do so with the concern they would give to their own children.

Students look up to lecturers as

mentors, and believe and respect what they say.

After all, we are at our lecturers’ mercy in terms of the grades we obtain at the end of the year.

Lecturers teach, set exam questions and mark papers, with or without external moderators.

In public exams like A-levels, these duties are all performed by different sets of people.

Internal exams in universities are more subjective, meaning that students are at the mercy of their lecturers.

Besides their salary as lecturers,

they have moral and fiduciary duties towards students.

Students are indebted to selfless lecturers who impart their knowledge sincerely.

The most hateful lecturers are the type that are stingy to impart knowledge and are difficult to get in touch with.

More so are the lecturers who belittle their own students.

Yours, Jihan Tan Mechanical Engineering Second year

Is voting in the Union elections worth it?

Chris Anstey Journalism Third year

Caroline Norledge Biomedical Science Third year

Daniel Meyars Politics First year

Sarah Hogg English Literature Third year

I think so. Since they’ve been students, they know best what students’ needs are.

Yes. If you think things need to be changed, it’s important to elect people with the same ideas.

Yes, but not massively.

A lot of the adverts for different people don’t say anything about policy.

No. People aren’t voted for on the merits of how well they’d do their jobs.

It’s more of a CV filler.

RADIO 1 IS CALLING Radio 1 DJ Mary Anne Hobbs has landed in Sheffield and is coming to the Union of Students to answer any and all of your radio questions. Whether you’re looking for a career in radio, you’re involved in Forge Radio or you’re just curious, don’t miss this exclusive Q&A event.

Tuesday 9th March, 8pm; Coffee Revolution (Students’ Union) Tickets are free from the Union Box Office.

Places strictly limited.

The essenTial evenT for anyone inTeresTed in a career in The media This unmissable event will host a series of talks from professionals within the media industry. Throughout the day you’ll learn how the industry works, how to hone your skills and how to carve out a career in the media.

saTurday 6Th march 10am - 3pm; fusion, union of sTudenTs Tickets £2 from Union box office

plus: media WorKshops •Basic video 8th March, 2-4.30pm. LeTS TV Studio, Favell Road •PodcasTiNG 9th March, 2-4.30pm. Bartolome House ALG04 •Basic ediTiNG 10th March, 2-4.30pm. LeTS DIY Suite, Favell Road •advaNced FiLM MaKiNG 11th March, 2-4.30pm. LeTS TV Studio, Favell Road •advaNced ediTiNG 12th March, 2-4.30pm. LeTS TV Studio, Favell Road Workshops provided by Learning & Teaching Services. All workshops are free; places are strictly limited. To book a place email: p.mella@shef.ac.uk

PLUS: WIN ONE OF TEN TUESDAY CLUB GUEST LIST PLACES ON THE NIGHT!

VARSITY FINALS DAY 21st APRIL LISTEN LI 2010 VE

ON FORGE RA DIO from 2pm

www.forgeradio.com PLUS...

DOWNLOAD VARSITY HIGHLIGHTS PODCAST FROM www.forgeradio.com

LIVE COMMENTARY, RESULTS, INTERVIEWS, REACTIONS & POST-MATCH ANALYSIS

10

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com

COMMENT

Editorials Bully-boy tactics have no place here If we have learnt anything in this election fortnight then it’s that you should never underestimate the pitiful attempts some will succumb to in order to smear and maliciously attack a student seeking election to the Union Officer team.

Normally based on quirky, visible campaigns saturated in alliteration and good jest, Union elections are historically known for their cheesy slogans and sense of fair play.

In previous elections even the losers have at least gained friends for life in their fellow officerseeking candidates.

But despite another year of thousands flocking to the polls confining the days of voter apathy well in the past, this election will sadly be remembered as the election that got dirty. Real dirty.

The singling out of Presidential candidate Ben Woollard and subjecting him and his campaign to abuse about his faith and his religious beliefs can be summed up in just one word: Pathetic.

Let’s get this right, this was not a debate about whether he had the right policies or if he was fit for the job; this was an assault entrenched in spitefulness and formulated by a deep personal dislike.

If there was a genuine attempt at scrutiny why was it that a single candidate was subjected to such close attention?

Woollard wasn’t the only Christian running for election; neither was he the only candidate who considers themselves religious.

Of course candidates should be open to questioning by the very students they desire to represent, but let’s remember these are elections for positions that the majority of the student population aren’t remotely interested in.

Like most things in this life there has to be a point where we draw the line.

The aggressive tone of the constant flow of questioning to Woollard on social networking sites and the Union UForum resembled an angry group lacking any knowledge or sophistication in chasing the proverbial witch out of the village.

Were the 400-odd members of the iWorried About iBen group challenging Woollard and his supposed beliefs on the Concourse? No, of course not. Instead they and the group’s creators decided to hide behind their laptop screens and orchestrate their annihilation digitally or through third parties at Candidate Question Time.

Behaviour that, to be put simply, is childish.

The vast rumours that were circulating the corridors and the cafés were vindictive and unsubstantiated.

The idiotic attempts to report his campaign to Apple were shameful.

And the impersonator who went around lecture theatres impersonating Ben is clearly in a poor mental state.

It would seem the only ones who are ‘fundamental’ are the ones who are creepily obsessed by Woollard and his personal beliefs as they continued to harass him.

The average student will be asking these potent questions: Why bother in participating in these elections? Why bother in getting involved in the Union?

After all these witch chasers have shown they are not the diverse, all embracing individuals they lay claim to be.

This bitter and malicious debacle shows that it was naïve to think that all levels of persecution were obsolete from our Union today.

Yet the deplorable truth is that it stems from those who really should know better.

Forge Press Editor, Media Hub, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG, forgepress@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Cutting cash handouts for straight-A students won’t curb UCAS applications Living in an undergraduate bubble beats scary real world

Peter Brennan TOP OF THE AGENDA The lower middle-classes are losing financial support.

Entry grades are getting harder. More people want to go to university than ever before.

Yet government policy is apparently still about making university accessible for everyone. It doesn’t really add up, but does it matter?

The Office for Fair Access, which regulates Higher Education entry, says bursaries for those from higher income households and non-means tested scholarships should be cut to more ‘efficientlytargeted resources’.

They insist priorities for bursaries should lie with the students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

The household income level at which someone can qualify for a full government grant is £25,000, though this depends on the university.

I don’t see the bursary issue as a problem in terms of preventing people attend university. Exhibit A being

students like us.

We are the generation of tuition fees. The turning point of the Higher Education system. Where students were to be crippled by financial strife to the point where we’d descend into a festering malnourished underclass, eating our books to survive while incurring debts that even banks would blush at.

I can always sell my organs on eBay to help

But university became even more popular as the middle-class machine grew bigger. The major issue is the impact on the quality of student life.

Staying at home may prove much more popular as a result of the decrease in funding. While this might be a sound financial decision, it may come at the cost of the traditional university experience.

And just as support is being restricted, it is also becoming more difficult to get in as entry requirements are raised.

Some students will be outraged that facilities

of education such as universities demand their undergraduates to not only work quite hard, but in fact very hard. It’s a weak argument as university is supposed to be ‘the best of the best’, to use a stupid Army recruitment term.

The older generations, however, have complained about the increasing ease of exams for ‘us youngsters’ for as long as comedy panel shows and Ian Hislop have been on the BBC. If it is the case that exams are getting easier, then make them harder.

It’s clear that there’s no point in everyone getting the top grades.

After all, it puts a dampener on any success you achieve if every person you’ve ever met got straight-A grades.

Raising entry requirements to the point where you need three As to get onto any degree course in any university would be ridiculous, More importantly, from a selfish perspective, it would destroy people like me with my A, B, D in the job market.

It diminishes the value of A Levels and degrees.

In ten years time everyone will be doing a Masters to differentiate themselves and degrees will no longer mean a thing.

One of the current

Art: Michael Westwood Government’s biggest achievements was their university accessibility policies allowing more people from poorer backgrounds to get uni places.

But plans to scrap bursaries for A grades means they’re removing the financial incentives for students to achieve their best. Perhaps the university bubble is beginning to burst and this is the beginning of a regression back to the days of academic exclusivity?

If exams are getting easier, make them harder I doubt it. People will still want degrees. They still want the three-year break from real life that keeps the horrifying prospect of being a true grown-up further away.

I’m doing a Masters for that reason. I’m still terrified of real life and any form of responsibility.

Even if the Government doesn’t help me, I can always sell my organs on eBay to help buy bread and beer.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com

Officers play vital role in Union politics

11

COMMENT

Candidates were nothing to shout about

Not all students suffer from election apathy Officer hopefuls presented empty promises Sade Olaniyi

Thomas Booker

The recent Union elections have been something of an enigma, with the debate over its relevance to the every-student inevitably resurfacing.

My own experiences have ranged from the extremely comedic to the mildly annoying.

I had the opportunity to watch a terrible singing and rhyming attempt in front of the Students’ Union. The incident was mind-blowing.

But not in a good way.

I was also confronted by a potential Union Officer as I made my way to the IC. He wanted to have a chat about rising tuition fees and what he was prepared to do about it.

While the ever-rising cost of attending university is a cause for concern, it is the last thing I want to talk about when I am running 10 minutes late for a lecture.

It always comes as a surprise, though, when I hear fellow students expressing apathy towards the elections.

When asked whether they intend to vote, most succinctly reply: “I can’t be arsed, to be honest”.

It’s amazing how uncaring some students are when it comes to politics.

I’m left to wonder what lies behind this lack of enthusiasm for what should be a key part of university life.

It could be that the stereotype of dishonesty constantly levelled at politicians is the reason

In a few months’ time, I’ll be voting in the General Election. But should I cast a vote in the elections that are currently suffocating our Union with harassing individuals in grimy t-shirts?

The nominees are doing very well to ensure they’re in your face 24/7, but I’ve never seen these hopefuls before in my life.

The campaign posters are littered with their past experience, but still they are unrecognisable to me.

Perhaps this is because I’ve only been in the building since September.

But it does conclude that a large majority of the votes will be on grounds of popularity. Not good at all.

And informing me you were on the History Committee just tells me you once organised a bar crawl. So did Carnage UK, but would you put them in a position of responsibility?

What do the jobs they’re campaigning for entail?

I’m sure it’s something very important, but I don’t know.

And given the rather vague promises of the majority of our nominees (‘encouraging, continuing and ensuring’), neither do they.

So why apply for a job you don’t know owt about?

All I know is that Officers can help me with problems.

Great, but there’s a counselling service, ACS, a Student Advice Centre and other professional options I would rather speak to,

for the indifference many students feel towards the world of politics.

Politicians are sometimes seen as corrupt and untrustworthy.

It’s amazing how uncaring some students are Unsurprisingly so. You only have to flick the news on to hear of another MPs’ expenses scandal or of a fresh allegation of extramarital affair.

It’s a surprise anyone bothers watching soap operas these days. With a Parliament like ours, the BBC could cancel Eastenders and no one would notice.

Words like ‘dull’ and ‘boring’ are thrown about by young people and it’s not unusual to hear people

Art: Kate Mitchell declaring disinterest in political pursuits.

A quick look at the section on Facebook where friends are asked to list their political views helps me conclude that politics has taken a backseat in the minds of students.

It would, however, be unfair to say that all university students are the same.

If the turnout at Hustings last week is anything to go by, a large number of the students in Sheffield are interested in ensuring that they have a voice and are duly represented.

There are plenty who understand the important role that these Union Officers play.

As for me, I can’t wait until I’m able to put myself forward as a candidate.

The £17k salary, if nothing else, is a more than good enough incentive to put off joining the real world.

D.A.R.T.S.

should I need to.

And do these potential officers really have your interests and wants at heart? It seems some Union Officers would sooner protect their friends than someone who voiced reasonable concerns.

Why apply for a job you don’t know owt about?

When a student criticised the Welfare Committee’s ‘Sexy Week’ campaign, the vice-chair launched a series of unprofessional comments, including the authoritarian line “I am not answerable to you”.

She was subsequently defended by the Union.

Was I wrong to think the customer is always right?

Authoritarian is exactly how I perceive anyone who wishes to become Union President.

What must be going on through your mind to think ‘I don’t want to be anything other than the leader of this union?’

I know one Stalinist soand-so who, right from secondary school, has expressed his desire to become Union President so it makes him more likely to become Labour Party leader.

Power and prosperity is all he craves, not your interests. If you’re not with him or ‘his people’, you’re against him. He won’t be successful though. You’ll

be intelligent enough to see past his fake persona in a few years’ time.

As for the other candidates, well, good luck to you all. But I’m not convinced I would’ve got anything out of voting.

True, I won’t be able to moan if the Union goes wrong. But every serious candidate wanted the same outcomes. And that leads me to think, why did they not bring such issues up with the Union Officers in the past?

So it doesn’t matter if you voted for ‘a’ or ‘b’, the result is the same. A democracy this isn’t.

As one candidate insisted, ‘Don’t vote for Raj’. Trust me, I didn’t. And I didn’t vote for anyone else either.

Forge Press takes its satirical aim

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS SCRAPPED

MUPPET SHOW

ENERGY WASTED

President Paul Tobin proudly announced to the Union Councillors last week that the brand-spanking new women’s minibus is up and running, but what about the old one?

It was once intended that the old bus continue to be used, but as one Officer helpfully pointed out, the

If anyone had trouble taking Sheffield Union’s elections seriously, spare a thought for students at York University.

Their election season was launched with the help of Elmo, Big Bird and co. in a Sesame Street theme.

But before you begin to ponder what a bad President the Cookie Monster would make, it surely wouldn’t be that different having muppets run the show.

Last week, Union councillors were wowed by a University bigwig’s admission that the Uni wastes a lot of energy and is trying its best to crack down.

However, nearly two hours after the presentation finished it took a plucky councillor to point out that the energy-efficient speaker had left without switching off his Powerpoint.

Must try harder.

engine and wheels were “no longer roadworthy”.

And unfortunately for any women hoping for a second lift to make the d r u n k e n journey home that much easier, the wheels on the bus went round and round - all the way to the scrapyard.

Art: Natasha Maisey

12

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

COMMENT

Union doesn’t demand us to down Jagerbombs 4It’s up to individuals to control their drinking amid a culture of budget-price booze 4Concerns of Mature councillor will do little to dent £4.5million bar turnover

Art: Mark Mackay

Harriet Di Francesco

It’s Wednesday night.

Corporation is on the cards.

You’ve got your school disco attire just right. It’s going to be cheap and it’s going to be cheerful.

You’ve worked hard (so far) this week and it’s time for a reward. Perhaps you start with a bottle of wine or a few cans with your housemates, and then move on to Bar One for some cheap drinks.

You’ve got to prepare yourself for Corp’s finest quadruple vodka and IrnBru cocktails. All this will ultimately lead to a superb night of tasteful dance moves and tuneful sing-alongs. Nothing wrong with that. Or is there?

According to Mature Students Councillor, Alexzander Swatton, alcohol is the source of a large portion of today’s social issues.

For Mr Swatton, students have little choice but to mix alcohol with socialising. The

wallet-friendly brews, the hilarious drinking games, the two-for-one offers; all these selling points amount to an irresistible drinking culture.

Swatton concludes that by subscribing to this competitive market, the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union has failed to prioritise the welfare of its students.

Banning Christmas Day will do nothing Here’s a taste of some of his proposals: Ban ‘hedonistic or misguiding’ terms such as ‘Exam Slam’ and ‘Union Christmas Day’.

Restrict Union nights to weekends.

Stop promoting society events with alcohol incentives.

And weekday bar opening hours should be restricted.

For the majority of people who don’t make use of the Union’s alcohol resources

24/7, these proposals would eliminate that mid-week reward that we treasure so greatly.

It would mean saying farewell to that post-exam pint, that football-watching tipple, and even having a comfortable Christmas gettogether. Bah. Humbug.

Alcohol-related issues plague the UK, especially the student population.

One would only have to open any tabloid paper to confirm these views.

But the source of the problem isn’t quad vods and £1 snakebites. The foundations of our alcoholinspired culture date back to the Industrial Revolution, when factory workers would celebrate their days off by hitting the local brewery.

I am not justifying bingedrinking delinquency, but it is certainly not a newfound conundrum. It is also a very British trait.

In Italy, for example, at the tender age of 14 I was able to buy a bottle of Sambuca for the equivalent of £5 from our local Luigi’s.

Yet five years on when I visit my family, Italian students aren’t seen heaving on the sides of

phone boxes or waddling bare-foot with stilettos in one hand and cheesy chips in the other.

Whatever their origins, these customs are woven into the fabric of British society.

Banning Union Christmas Day and banning alcohol promotions will do absolutely nothing to solve contemporary problems.

In 2008/9 the Union bars turned over almost £4.5million. Decapitating our greatest source of income would merely serve to cripple the Students’ Union as a whole.

Fundamentally, though, it would go against the most important pillars of democratic rhetoric: economic and social freedoms of choice.

If these proposals were taken seriously, you can forget the awards for Best Students’ Union. How does Swatton propose to fund more non-alcoholicorientated events if he cuts the majority of the Union’s revenue?

In all fairness, the University of Sheffield already provides a sufficient variety of activities. From quiz nights to kick-boxing, Sheffield students have a

wide choice.

As free-thinking individuals, however, we choose to incorporate alcohol when we socialise.

Binge-drinking has been linked to anti-social behaviour, but as Swatton himself puts it, ‘being drunk is not an excuse’.

He is absolutely right. It takes a certain individual to abuse members of the public, to act violently towards others, to buy and drink excessive amounts of alcohol. But we shouldn’t all be punished for the actions of others.

The problem isn’t quad vods and £1 snakebites When he put forward his proposals to the Students’ Union Council, Swatton admitted that he didn’t think they would be accepted. Ultimately, he was right.

Although there was some positive response towards his ideas raising awareness on the effects of

alcohol, this was as far as it went.

Finance Officer Martin Bailey told Council that on average students who go to Population spend £2.20 a head. This means the majority of drinking happens before a night out on that £3 bottle of Pinot Grigio from the off-licence.

A select committee will now discuss how to provide further education on alcohol consumption.

But ultimately, as individual adults as well as students, we must take responsibility for our own actions. We create the demand for alcohol; the Union does not demand us to drink it.

If Swatton’s proposals materialised, we would only look elsewhere in Sheffield to celebrate the end of exams or birthdays.

Our union thrives as a competitor to other universities and venues because it meets the wants and needs of its students.

If a student feels pressured into drinking because of the irresistible prices and availability of alcohol, maybe they have no self-control and should consider going to an AA meeting.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com

13

COMMENT

‘Don’t pigeonhole me,’ said the cat to the Union Shop Moral dilemma for students who prefer life as the kings of convenience Amy Ritson

Lectures are over, and you make a quick dash to the Union Shop to buy whatever cosmetic product you ran out of that morning.

Toothpaste, shower gel, soap - the shop stocks it all for our convenience.

And in the mad rush between finishing lectures and getting home before Neighbours comes on, my main priority is to check that the product is completely friendly to cute bunnies and mice and free of animal testing.

I can then return home, guilt free. Right?

Wrong. It has recently been revealed that the Union has been labelling their products incorrectly, which means that, while we thought no animals suffered at the hands of the cosmetics we use every day, some innocent creatures out there may very well have been harmed by them.

What does this mean for the referendum on animal testing in the student elections.?

A proposal was submitted to decide whether the Union should have a policy on animal testing, and if so, whether it should only stock items that are approved by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection or label the items and allow students freedom of choice.

I doubt many of us are going to lose sleep over the blunder All very well and good, but it heavily relies on the Union actually being able to label their products correctly, which they have proved they struggle to do.

Considering this, how much of a say in the Union’s policy do we actually have?

While we can quite happily speak out against

animal testing and demand that the Union only stocks products that don’t use it, it has become clear that we need to be sceptical of how far the Union is actually listening to our demands to save the lab rats of this world.

Incorrect labelling, for example, surely can’t be allowed to happen again.

But then again, how much does the average student care?

While I would fervently argue that the use of animals to test cosmetic products is entirely wrong and unethical, a quick scan of the products in my bathroom shows that I don’t exactly practise what I preach.

And I am sure that I’m not alone in this.

While we are all happy to jump on a bandwagon, waving banners and claiming that animals have as much right to a life as we do while we do so, the majority of us would choose convenience over ethics any day.

Hence the reason why our shelves are filled with products that are sure to have caused some animal

Art: Natasha Maisey

out there pain.

It seems a bit of a cliché.

We come to university, we discover our ‘student voice’ and we join in the latest campaign, whether we actually care that much or not. Some would say it is hypocrisy. Others would say it’s simply part of being a student.

Whatever it is, we can debate the issue

over a drink at Coffee Revolution, we can say how disappointed we are with the Union’s actions and we can be openly outraged at the fact that we were lied to about the morality of our products.

In fact, we can act just like a student is supposed to.

Yet I doubt very many of us are actually going to lose

any sleep over the Union’s latest blunder.

After all, hands up those who will actually go and throw out all the products they own that are now apparently not as ethical as they once seemed.

Because, while I respect anyone who does so, I know I, along with many others, probably won’t.

Give all B-listers the boot for a better night out Nina McArthur

We’ve all been there when you’re on a great Union night out.

You’re dancing the night away with your friends screaming ‘we gotta fight, fight, fight, fight for this-’ until you’re interpreted by an announcement that Bradley from S Club is on stage.

Irritating doesn’t even come close.

I’m sure many of you were at Freshers’ Mania in September when the ‘up-and-coming’ Dollyrockers were on stage A band with a lot of appeal to the male members of the audience, no doubt. But that was before they started to sing.

It must be quite nerve-racking if you’re a new band and you’re having to perform in front of thousands of students. But the Union has paid them to be there.

This was why the tickets were priced at a nail-biting £15 as opposed to ROAR’s £3.50 price tag. The difference between the two you might ask?

Well, we had the honour of seeing a few celebrities pop on stage for 15 minutes at a time, while at ROAR you get hours of uninterrupted latest hits and retro dance tracks. I know which one my bank account would prefer.

But let’s consider the Union’s

bank balance after hiring in celebrities like Scott and Abs and Alex Zane. Is it really necessary to waste money on these people?

I mean, I know Scott and Abs are quite hard to keep your eyes off. And I realise the Dollyrockers might wear skirts about two inches too short, but wouldn’t it be better to have a fun, reasonably priced night with your mates?

A night where you can actually afford to buy some drinks than paying the extra money to catch a distant glimpse of ‘stars’ on stage.

Just think what the Union could do with the money that they save.

If I was in charge of the social

budget I’d start by buying the DJ at Population a few new records.

Then they could pimp out the Octagon with a few sofas so Space didn’t have that school assembly hall feel to it.

Students don’t need Scott and Abs to wave at them to enjoy a night out And how about a few more tempting drinks offers, a couple of extra comedy gigs, or club nights that run for that extra hour or two, early into the morning.

Another thing that always gets me thinking is what the celebs

actually do when they’re at these events.

Take Alex Zane (pictured) at this year’s Freshers’ Ball, for example. He was apparently there as a ‘presenter’, which that night meant shimmying onto stage halfway through, uttering a bit of random chit-chat and hopping off after 20 minutes.

I could have watched him do the same thing on E4. So why does the Union feel the need to hire these people when the club nights through the week are so packed in the absence of any bubble-headed stars?

I don’t know if anyone in charge of hiring these stars reads this section But just in case they do, here’s a pointer.

Students don’t need Scott and Abs to wave at them to enjoy a night out.

In fact, it can only make matters worse.

14

ADVERTISEMENT

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

15

FEATURES

Capturing comic genius

Emily Cresswell As Rik Mayall’s character Richard Richard once mused in the awardwining sitcom Bottom, “You have to laugh, don’t you?”

And Richie is definitely right; humour is essential to life. Bottom, Mayall and partner Adrian Edmondson’s self-deprecating answer to Waiting for Godot, set out to remind us that comedy has a deeper function than simply amusing us: comedy is the bare bones of humour.

The simple act of making someone laugh is truly an essential ingredient to a fulfilled life. Quite simply, in my opinion, without comedy, life has no purpose.

Good comedy should always be pushing the boundaries This is the thinking behind the Graves Gallery’s exhibition ‘Comedians: From the 1940s to Now’, an array of photographs of comedians taken from the National Portrait Gallery’s collections.

To quote the exhibition’s introduction, “Humour is a core part of being human. It can bring us together or highlight our differences, and can make difficult situations bearable.”

The portraits and their subjects are diverse in every possible way.

This eclectic time-line takes in everyone: from the music hall and post-Victorian silent film veterans,

As a new exhibition at the Graves Gallery profiles photographs of seven decades of comedians, Forge Press locates its funny bone. to writers of absurd radio sketch shows, classic double acts, and the alternative wave of the 1980s; all the way to the people you may very well find gracing your screen on a panel show tonight.

Alexei Sayle shares a room with the cast of The Goon Show, who are displayed across from Jack Dee. Max Miller and the Crazy Gang, amongst others are almost totally unfamiliar to me, but as I progress further around the room, I recognise a complex network of associations and projects, linked together by influences and collaborations.

It is also a personal network; my knowledge of each one stems from my love of another, and each one has led me to another in turn.

The fact that an exhibition of such a thing exists at all, let alone one containing pictures from the National Portrait Gallery, indicates that comedy has a much bigger role than simply keeping us amused.

The inordinate effort put into such a diverse scope of projects, and the efforts of the Gallery to commemorate so many of them, shows more than a mere function; comedy is a culture, a way of life, that is constantly developing and expanding. Every act has its own agenda.

Closer to home, the University’s very own improvisational comedy troupe, the Shrimps, know this all too well.

When asked about the inspiration behind their work, Shrimp member Pete Antoniou says: “We mainly do it for the laughs, but with an occasional theme. We do try to get people involved, and push our workshops.”

The nature of their show is such, however, that even those who decide not to try the workshops are utilised within the performance itself.

“Improvised comedy always seems more impressive” says Pete.

“Because we come up with something coherent and funny off the top of our heads, based entirely on audience involvement.

People can walk out thinking ‘I added to that’.”

As the network of influences at the Graves Gallery proves, comedy will always beget comedy.

Just as the Goons influenced the Pythons, who influenced Reeves and Mortimer, who influenced Adam and Joe, the Shrimps are dedicated to introducing others to comedy performance.

“It’s something anyone can do” agree Pete and fellow Shrimp Danny Pennells.

From there, the person is inaugurated into the culture of comedy - a culture which clearly runs deep.

“It’s gotten to the point now that if I say something and people don’t laugh, I feel bad about it,” admits Pete.

In the tradition of a constantly changing comedic form where safety is often derided, there are few things the Shrimps will not do to pull a laugh from their audience.

“We try to avoid tasteless jokes and things that will depress people, but comedy will always push boundaries,” they tell me.

This is crucial; without opinionated performers, strong politics, irreverence and innovation, comedy would be nowhere near as varied as it is now.

The key is to find that perfect balance between offence and charm, to embrace the uncomfortable without stopping your audience from laughing.

It’s rare, Pete and Danny tell me, for people not to laugh at Shrimps shows. The reason for this, they believe, is the same diversity that makes the entire genre of comedy so appealing to so many people.

“We always have six different personalities in each show,” Danny explains. “ “If a person doesn’t like one Shrimp, there are five others for them to focus on. There will always be at least one that every person will like.”

The same can be said of all comedy; what sends one person into hysterics can make another cringe.

Among the many performers honoured at the Graves Gallery,

so many styles are represented that you’d be very hard pressed to find someone who didn’t like any of them. Even the photographs themselves show a huge spectrum.

Comedians as chronologically far-apart as George Robey and Russell Brand muse in simple portraits, while Victoria Wood and Hugh Laurie mimic the pose with bug-eyes and faux-clueless smiles.

French and Saunders present a sequence of photos in which Jennifer poses gloriously as Dawn indignantly storms into frame and pushes her out of the way.

A sharp-featured Rik Mayall looks on thoughtfully, holding two fish on his head. Camera-shy Kenneth Horne proves as surreal to the eyes as he is to the ears, sitting in a bin surrounded by crumpled-up paper. Paul Merton is hugging a psychotic-looking dolphin. Spike Milligan’s head is in a jar.

Humour is an essential ingredient to life itself

The crowning piece is surely Annie Leibovitz’s fantastic picture of John Cleese dressed in a black bodysuit, hanging upside down from a tree like a giant fruit bat.

The exhibition shows the true nature of comedy as diverse, inclusive, expansive, and essential. And that’s pretty good for an exhibition that claims to have only set out to “make you smile.”

16

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

FEATURES

Sex slavery: th grotesque trut Forge Press speaks to Rosa,* an Albanian sold by her mother at 16, transported into Britain, made to take heroin and forced into sex.

Robert Golledge Like every victim of trafficking, Rosa never saw it coming.

“The day the men came for me I was excited,” she says.

“We all were. My parents, my brothers and sisters, our neighbours. I had been chosen. I had a future.

“If only I knew the truth back then.”

At 16-years-old, Rosa Bushati was older than most of the children chosen to leave the poverty-stricken village, yet there was nothing unusual about this trade.

A few times a year four burley men would arrive at the small Bulqizë municipality in north east Albania – a bloodied former battle ground of the Balkans war.

She was imprisoned in the house, beaten and forced to inject drugs Following each visit the men would leave with two or three children, always girls, always younger than eight-years-old.

“When they arrived in our village desperate mothers would fling themselves to the men, pleading them to take their child.

You have to understand that the families are desperately poor.

They have lots of children to help work and earn money but then it costs more to feed those families.

“These men come and pay the families a good amount for the child and promise them lives of luxury in Tirana.”

Rosa was sold for £300 - a small fortune for her family – and promised a life she could scarcely

imagine. It was to be a win-win situation.

“I had plans to work for a few years and send money back,” she said. “I have three younger brothers and an older sister. It was my dream that they would one day be able to move away from the village and live with me in Tirana or Durrës.”

Rather than being taken to Tirana, the country’s capital, Rosa was driven by the men and boarded a ferry across the rough Adriatic Sea. After days of arduous nighttime travelling, the group arrived in Calais dock.

“I had no idea why we were in Calais but I had no reason to be frightened. They had been quite nice to me. I’d eaten well and slept well. I asked why we travelled at night and one man snapped at me but that was it.”

Rosa was ordered to get into the back of lorry they had prised open. She was told the men would meet her in a few hours.

Travelling by car the men stalked the lorry to a service station in Kent where thet retrieved Rosa.

“This was the first time I was frightened. It had been a few hours and this was very strange.

It was once we were in England that their persona changed. They would shout at me or order me to do things.”

Rosa doesn’t recall where the first house they stayed at was but regrettably she’ll never forget what happened there that night.

Rosa was dragged into the dark cramped house by two of the men – one of them with his hand grappled over her mouth.

Inside the deserted “home from hell” two of the men smacked her across the cheeks while another pushed her to the ground.

They ripped off her wool jumper and vehemently pulled down her denim skirt.

Rosa was then raped and continually beaten to silence her fraught screams and desperate pleas of help.

It was her first sexual encounter and over the next two and half

years it would become such a regular occurrence it became a merciless normality.

“I was made to have sex with six or seven different men a night.

I wasn’t on the street but they would come to the houses.

Each visit the men would leave with two or three children “I never saw any money, I presume they gave it to the men.”

The men moved Rosa around the country, she remembers living in London for a long time but ended up in Manchester.

Regardless of location, she was imprisoned in the house, beaten and forced to inject and consume drugs.

Distraught and suicidal she turned to self-harm.

“I was addicted to heroin and became dependent on spending the only money I was given on the drug.

“When I couldn’t get any I used to cut myself. It was my only relief,” she said.

But after two years of brutal captivity she made a lucky escape.

“I decided I could not go on. Once they were all asleep I managed to sneak to the front door and they’d carelessly left the keys by the door. So I opened the door and just ran and ran and ran.”

Rosa took refuge in a police station but by the time officers arrived at the house they found it empty and everything inside set alight.

“It was such a great feeling to be free,” says Rosa. “It sickens me to know they weren’t caught and looking back now I always wonder if mother and father really knew what was in store for me.

“Now that’s behind me, I moved on with life. Maybe one day I’ll return to Bulqizë.”

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

17

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FEATURES

Albanian Traffickers jailed for 50 years

he th

Robert Golledge It was still only days since her mother’s funeral. But instead of escaping for the dream life she had been promised, Maria* was 800 miles away - forced callously to live as a £30-a-trick hooker within hours of arriving in Britain. She was left feeling frightened, distraught and traumatised.

She was 15-years-old.

A fortnight earlier her mother had died and she was taken into an overcrowded children’s home in Slovakia, the first leg of a grotesque journey into slavery that would end in Sheffield.

She endured six nights of 12-hour sex sessions and was demanded to hand over the £300 earnings Later that week she escaped and boarded a train to nearby Trnava city in east Slovakia.

Here she was befriended by a man who offered her comfort and a place to stay.

The man beat and gang raped her and then contacted his cousin, Roman Dunka, 34.

Dunka’s sister-in-law Alzbeta Dunkova, 26, of Page Hall Road, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, travelled to Trnava and enticed Maria to a “better life” in England.

They boarded a coach at 7am one cold May morning and arrived in London’s Victoria coach station 48 hours later. Here, the two travelled to Dunkova’s three-bed roomed terraced house by bus.

The two were joined by Dunkova’s husband Marcel Dunka, 27, and his brother Roman Dunka.

Maria’s story emerged during a four-day trial in Sheffield Crown Court that ended this week with three of Maria’s oppressors jailed for a total of 50 years.

Talking to the court through video link and an interpreter, Maria told the six men and six women jury how she endured six nights of 12-hour sex sessions and was demanded to hand over the £300 earnings to the Dunka family.

It was on this sixth night that a disconcerted Iraqi punter took pity on Maria and called the police.

She was left feeling frightened, distraught and traumatised

*Names changed for legal reasons. Photo reconstructed by model.

Photo: Sam Bennett

“He didn’t want sex. He just wanted to talk to me. I told him I was from Slovakia and said ‘help me’,” she said.

The three were arrested along with Dunkova’s brother Simon

Kandrac, 19, and his prostitute wife Zaneta Hovathova, 21, who had travelled to Sheffield shortly after the Dunkas.

Detectives were able to trace the outward and return coach and bus bookings made by Dunkova from Sheffield to Slovakia. The bookings were made for two people, Sarah Wright for the prosecution told the court.

Both Dunkova and Maria were also picked up by cctv cameras in Victoria station.

Hovathova was acquitted of causing child prostitution and controlling a child prostitute but the jury failed to reach a verdict on Kandrac’s two counts of rape and he was detained in custody awaiting retrial.

Marcel Dunka pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of false imprisonment, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing child prostitution and one count of controlling a child prostitute.

Roman Dunka pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of false imprisonment, one count of causing child prostitution and one count of controlling a child prostitute.

Roman Dunka jailed trafficking.

Alzbeta Dunkova pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, one count of causing child prostitution and one count of controlling a child prostitute.

All were found guilty of all the charges and sentenced to a combined 50 years imprisonment.

Sentencing both men to 17 years and the woman to 16 years imprisonment, Judge Roger Keen QC told them they would be deported after they completed their sentences.

“You are an immoral criminal family whose continued presence here would be to the detriment of its citizens. You all intended to exploit her by selling her on the streets of Sheffield.

“You variously used deception, persuasion, violence, intimidation and coercion to profit from her.

It meant nothing to any of you to degrade, exploit and abuse her.

Your crimes are repugnant to the whole of society,” he said The sentence was met by screams of ‘no!’ as Dunkova’s elderly grandmother fell to her knees in the public gallery clutching a crucifix dangling from her neck.

18

ADVERTISEMENT

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010 www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

19

FEATURES

Finding a perfect match: Giving the gift of marrow Forge Press looks into the issue of bone marrow donation, meeting a Sheffield student who transplanted his bone marrow in a bid to save a stranger’s life.

Emmanuelle Chazarin Everyone’s familiar with the altruistic, strangely anonymous act of donating blood, yet most people are less aware that the stuff in our bones can save strangers’ lives too.

When Andrew Viggars (pictured below) signed up to the bone marrow register almost three years ago, he knew there was only a very slim chance that he’d be called up one day.

The scary e-mail came as an unexpected wake-up call on a wet April afternoon last year. A potential match had been found, and Andrew was asked if he was willing to make further blood tests to confirm that the match was indeed a perfect one. And it was.

‘I couldn’t see any valid reason not to go through with the donation’ Andrew Viggars, Student

As the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity which recruits volunteers for bone marrow transplantation says: “You don’t have to be a doctor to save lives”. Coincidentally, Andrew is a third year medical student.

But that’s irrelevant because doctors can’t create marrow to save leukaemia sufferers. It is up to public generosity to donate what is concealed in the hollow space where nearly all our new blood cells are created.

W i t h o u t marrow, we can’t

Bone marrow is a flexible tissue found in the interior of our bones. live.

On a Tuesday morning in July, the then 19-year-old Viggars headed to London. “I was nervous but couldn’t see any valid reason why I shouldn’t go through with the donation.”

There are two methods to choose from, with a third in development.

The most popular involves repeated injections over five days to help the marrow enter the bloodstream, followed by a four-hour dialysis session.

Andrew chose the more traditional one because he’d never had an operation before - and this was his chance to be the patient for the first time.

The operation went well.

He was under general anaesthetics while the doctor plunged a needle and syringe into his pelvic bone in five different places to extract the precious fluid.

“When I woke up I was confused as to where I was.

The doctor had told me to expect pain, but for the next days all I could feel was achy, like when you fall on the ice and feel stiff for a couple of days.

“I asked the Trust to tell me a bit about the recipient. They said as much as I was allowed to know: she was a female adult, and was preparing to receive the transplant very soon.

“They don’t tell donors what part of the world their marrow is going to because some people have problems with their donation going to different countries.”

How did he feel about potentially saving a strange woman’s life? “At first I didn’t realise the impact of what I’d done, it still felt surreal because I’d been asleep through the whole procedure.

“It only hit me when I was on the train home the next day.

“But I didn’t really know how to feel about it. I’d given blood before, and I’d always felt really good about myself after doing it, but since I could find out information about the transplant, it was completely different.

“I didn’t know how it was going to go, whether she was going to take to the transplant. I didn’t want to get my hopes up that she was going to survive, just in case she wouldn’t. Then I’d feel bad about it.”

It turns out the woman survived the initial transplant, but Andrew got a letter just before Christmas letting him know that she’d had some other complications and had died.

“So she got about an extra six months to live,” he says. The smile on his face as he says this hides a certain deception. It wasn’t all in vain, but he was unable to save her in the end.

Andrew feels proud of the L-shaped scars on his lower back

Hundreds of people sign up to donate their bone marrow in the hope of saving lives. But matches are very rare, and hundreds of sick people desperately need transplants to get a chance to live.

Sheffield Marrow is a part of the national student-run outreach project of the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Helen Hughes, a fifth year medical student on the Marrow committee, explains the aims

of the group: “We want to give every student the opportunity to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register, raise awareness about the urgent need for bone marrow donors – especially males and ethnic minorities, and fundraise for the Trust.

“Students are just the absolute ideal to sign up,” she says.

“They’re young, fit and healthy and will be on the register until they’re 60. We try to make it convenient for them to sign up by holding clinics every first Tuesday evening of the month in the Union, and by giving talks in lectures and generally publicising what we do.”

The Trust reckons that around 30 per cent of all donors who join the register come from people who have been signed up by Marrow Groups around the country.

“So we’re responsible for a significant percentage of new UK donors,” she says.

“I can’t wait to be matched up.

I’ll be so happy the day I get that phone call.”

Meanwhile, Andrew feels proud of the L-shaped scars on his lower back. He’ll be able to donate four more times in his lifetime, assuming he gets matched again and decides to go through with another donation - despite the emotional implications.

20

FEATURES

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

FO

T A

B a

S V c a c o o

in

o w jo m b

b th s S C tr

‘ j p a r

S

Photo: www.simonreeve.co.uk

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

21

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FEATURES

Tropical ADVENTURE

BBC adventurer Simon Reeve talks to Forge Press about his epic journey across the Tropic of Cancer and why ‘adventure journalism’ must survive.

Anna Rosario Elicano

Somewhere between Laos and Vietnam, a BBC crew had to call it a day. The question of accommodation arose: it was a choice between the jungle and the only building in that isolated part of the border.

That night, the entire crew slept n a brothel.

But, when Tropic of Cancer airs on BBC2 later this month, viewers won’t be privy to the drama or snide okes one imagines a weary crew might have exchanged over cheap bottles of beer or entertainment.

“Reality TV will turn us into brain-dead morons. I hope to God that the BBC won’t stray into that,” says adventurer and presenter Simon Reeve. So, with Tropic of Cancer, he attempted to blend travel with current affairs.

‘Adventure journalism programmes are a valuable resource’

Simon Reeve, TV Presenter The show draws its name from the northernmost boundary of the tropics, a 22,835 mile swath of land that covers parts of Mexico, North Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia.

Simon notes that this area has the richest natural biodiversity and greatest concentration of human suffering in the world.

“So beautiful and brilliant, but blighted, all at the same time,” he described in an earlier interview.

In other words, the region is a minefield of material for adventure and good reportage.

The adventure begins in Mexico, where the show attempts to capture the country’s raw, festive, and dark flavours. There are

riveting scenes of Mexico’s worldfamous beaches, the few that are still devoid of the posh resorts that have eaten up the coastline.

Then there is the spectacle of a Lucha Libre female wrestler, in a sequined mask, pummelling Simon to the ground. Fortunately, he had much less luck with her than he did when he joined a convoy of the Mexican SWAT team on its way to the house of a suspected drug dealer.

This is the point where adventure meets current affairs- we have yet to see a war correspondent jump in to join the action against the breathtaking backdrop of Afghan mountains or a reality TV host suddenly deliver an in-depth analysis of interfaith hostilities.

In Tropic of Cancer, Simon was part of the tense stand-off between men who were armed to the gills and was able to talk about deeper issues behind the drug raid.

“The officers were keen to show us about how they were fighting an ‘American War’. The weapons used by the drug cartel are bought legally in the U.S. because of lax gun ownership laws over there. The U.S. is also the prime destination of the drugs manufactured in Mexico,” Simon recalls.

The BBC couldn’t have picked a better person for its new brand of adventure journalism. Simon is an avid traveller who has managed to pull himself through scrapes such as walking through a radioactive dump protected by nothing but a shower curtain.

More interestingly, at age 26, Simon became the best-selling author of The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama bin Laden and the future of terrorism, a book published before the 9/11 attack that predicted that the Al Qaeda would attack Western targets.

“My background certainly helped me become a more questioning traveller. It helped me with the style of Tropic of Cancer. But we certainly don’t go out of our way to look for terrorists”.

Close encounters such as the Mexico raid has given Simon a reputation for being one to intentionally flirt with danger. A female fan, on one of the Facebook pages dedicated to him, wanted to know if Israel was ‘dangerous enough’ for Simon to want to travel to.

Your average traveller would set a country’s night life, landscapes, or heritage value high in their wish lists. Simon, however, seemed to be

criticized for the fat pay cheques given to top presenters; is it now squandering away viewers’ TV licence fees on yet another travel show? Simon thinks not.

“Tropic of Cancer is paid by licence (fees) so we do have a limited budget. We had enough to make it.

Also, if you remember, the pound fell against most foreign currencies in 2009”. That was when the crew was filming abroad.

The BBC crew’s night at the brothel in Southeast Asia may have been for survival but he says that every thing else, village accommodations and economy airfare, was in keeping with the tight budget.

attracted to the hazards everyone wanted to avoid.

In Tropic of Cancer, he also travelled through a minefield and joined the Indian army on patrol for rebels.

“I think the world is a safe, welcoming place. There are parts that are fundamentally dangerous but there are things that you can do to reduce it,” says the man who has travelled to over 90 countries.

Some wonder if the BBC should really be making programmes like this “If there are sensible things travellers can do to lessen danger, then they must. In Mogadishu, Somalia, we did that by wearing bullet proof jackets and brought medical equipment.”

He adds, after a thoughtful pause: “We also wore seatbelts as this was the most likely to kill us.”

Others have also put themselves at risk in hopes that Tropic of Cancer would expose injustice and forgotten conflicts.

Cheery Zahay, a young Burmese political activist in exile, volunteered to take the staff into West Burma. Since the BBC is

banned by the ruling junta from entering the country, Simon and his team had to travel into a remote area in India and cross a river by a perilous zip-line into the Burmese jungle, an area teeming with over 50 military bases.

Cheery then led them to the Chin villagers. In that episode, some faces were intentionally blurred and the exact location of the village was not revealed; the Chin is one of the ethnic groups being brutally oppressed by the junta.

“Cheery was on the wanted list and put herself in great danger by helping us. But the reward, for her, was to be able to show the world the human rights abuses happening in Burma through the show,” says Simon.

However, any show aspiring to balance adventure with current affairs must know when to step back. It cannot self-indulgently zoom into graphic details or go for the shock factor so typical of reality TV. Simon shares that he once met five men in Africa who could perform circumcision procedures on 100 boys per hour. “The men mentioned things that made me cringe and cross my legs,” he relates.

The actual circumcision was never featured in the show because it was a family programme. Similarly, Tropic of Cancer is targeted at viewers aged eight to 80.

Some wonder though if the BBC really should be making programmes like this.

The broadcaster has of course been

‘The reward was being able to show the world the human rights abuses’ Simon Reeve, TV Presenter “Adventure journalism programmes are a valuable resource in the industry. I go to other countries and I see how badly people are given information. Many have fought and died for it in most of the planet,” Simon says.

On his website, Simon talks about how problems in far-flung countries have an effect on ‘those of us lucky enough to live in the West’.

“So why don’t we try to find out a little bit more about those issues, and try to resolve them - before they become major problems for all of us?”

Shows like Tropic of Cancer do enable viewers to vicariously go on an adventure and emerge from it all the wiser about significant issues that were, once upon a time, passed off as boring, irrelevant news.

“It is a privilege to travel,” says Simon.

Most of us would never be able to go on a safari, evade the Moroccan secret police, or talk to a Bedouin about how climate change is affecting their traditional way of life. But, with programmes like Topic of Cancer, at least we can somehow join the adventure.

22

www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com

Lifestyle Four of the best: firstdate venues Hannah O’Connell

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Hero of the fortnight

Fashion Food & Drink Health & Fitness Technology Sex & Relationships

Daniel Radcliffe The star is backing a charity which aims to prevent suicide among the LGBT community.

The big fashion debate

Nic Quiggin, Amy Garrod and Vicky Shaw find out what students in Sheffield are wearing, loving and hating right now Man Uggs Guillermo DochaoNaveira, first year, Structural Engineering and Architecture “This sounds quite complex, but since we’ve been struck by the economic recession, the bubble of capitalism that the Western world has been living in for so long now has finally burst.

I believe that if capitalism is not removed it should at least be reformed. One method, focusing on clothing, would be to completely eliminate the divisions between male and female clothing. At the beginning it would be hard to digest and I appreciate that Ugg boots were originally seen as female clothing, but eventually people would get used to it. That’s why it’s OK for guys to wear Ugg boots.”

The Last Laugh Comedy Club: The Raynor Lounge creates a cosy setting for the perfect first date.

The show is a bargain at only £5.50 per ticket, enabling you to appear generous for treating your date; plus you’ll both be laughing so much that there won’t be any firstdate-awkwardness.

The Showroom cinema: The Showroom is an independent cinema, located right next to Hallam union, which shows a variety of newly released blockbusters and art-house films. There’s also a relaxed bar inside so you can have a chat before or after the fim. It’s cosier and more romantic than a date to your normal cinema.

Menzels: If you like things a bit flash and are out for impressing on your first date, then Menzels is the place to go. The swanky Ecclesall Road bar serves a variety of cocktails that you can both sample and enjoy. Small alcoves provide really intimate seating so it’s easy to chat.

Fancie: If you have arranged a more lowkey day time date then head down to Ecclesall Road and Sharrow Vale Road. Take a leisurely stroll round the cute shops or Endcliffe park, and be sure to stop at Fancie for a cup cake. They’re so delicious: your date will be an instant success.

Jeggings Amy Garrod, first year, English Language and Linguistics “I think about 10 per cent of girls can look good in jeggings and even then they should never, never be worn as jeans. No one needs to see that much of someone’s legs and bum.

That fake denim look on the cheap pairs looks terrible, especially when there is all the detail, like the drawn on pockets. Recently I saw a girl wearing a pair with trainers, you can only do this if you’ve got legs like Cameron Diaz, and even then why not just wear skinny jeans? They have a normal waist band and don’t look like something out of the maternity section of Topshop.”

The body Maya Collyer, third year, Town Planning “I don’t mind when people wear body suits with skirts or shorts, in fact they sometimes look better than wearing a vest top with a high-waisted skirt because they don’t wrinkle up like a top can so they give you a better silhouette.

I have seen some really bad body suits though which are too revealing. Even worse are girls who wear body suits with nothing else on, it looks like they should be on the beach not on a night out! I also think it looks trashy when people wear them with jeans or leggings and the leg line of the body suit is showing over the top of the jeans.

The body suit is definitely a fashion trend that can easily go wrong.”

Luke Wilson, second year, Town Planning “I like this look on most girls, it shows they have good fashion sense and I think it is important for a girl to have a good sense of style. Although I do think a body suit is quite a daring thing to wear so a girl would have to have lots of confidence to pull it off. I think that body suits would suit girls with slimmer figures rather than really curvy girls because they are very unforgiving. I don’t think girls should ever wear a body by itself, always with a skirt, shorts or jeans.

Otherwise they’d be practically naked and look like they were trying too hard.”

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

23

www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com

Gadget of the fortnight

Product of the fortnight

Power Plant Growing Machine Bring a bit of Spring into your own room with this quick and easy plant grower.

Tigi Root Boost £10.20 A favourite with hairdressers during LFW; this moose creates a great loose curl - and holds it.

Villain of the fortnight Ashley Cole Because even with a tasty piece like Cheryl the man still wasn’t satisfied.

Lifestyle review: Lokanta Keri O’Riordan

w...

Rosanna Brunwin, second year, German and Spanish “Firstly, I think Ugg boots are over-priced anyway, it seems ridiculous to spend so much money on a pair of boots. I don’t like the way they look, even on girls, and Ugg wearers even admit that they’re impractical as the backs wear down and once wet they’re ruined. I don’t understand the need for guys to wear Ugg boots – after all, they don’t bother wearing dresses, high heels and tights! But I guess fashion is up to each person to express their individuality.

Really, it’s a comment on the limitations of men’s fashion that men feel the need to venture into female territory.”

Alex Murr, second year, History and Japanese “I used to hate jeggings, I thought they looked stupid and the name seemed like a bad joke. I didn’t think anyone could wear them well.

But since then my girlfriend has bought a pair and, surprisingly, they look really nice. They are slim fitting and were very flattering.

She likes them because they are more versatile than other trousers and make a change from just plain black leggings. They are also way more comfy than tight skinny jeans so you can just lounge around in them. Most pairs look exactly the same as skinnys so I don’t really see what the difference is.”

Lokanta: an authentic and relaxed venue.

Photo: Keri O’Riordan

If there is one thing Broomhill is not short of it’s places to eat.

So there was baited breath when I entered Lokanta.

Does this new Turkish eatery have what it takes to compete with the likes of the popular Thyme café?

Well, I’m pleased to report that Lokanta has what it takes to offer an enjoyable evening to even the most highbrow diner.

Lokanta offers a wide range of delicious Turkish foods in a relaxed and sophisticated space.

The dishes are a compliment to the authenticity of the restaurant, hot and cold meze can be eaten as part of a starter or a selection of two or three for a lighter meal.

The selection of meze are what you’d expect in any good middle eastern restaurant and cost between £4 and £6 each.

During our meal, we sampled the stuffed vine leaves and the grilled halloumi cheese, which arrived with a small side salad.

A small selection would make

the ideal upmarket lunch, but although the meze were nice they weren’t particularly special.

However, the restaurant really stands out from others when you sample the main dishes.

With a wide range of food, all traditionally cooked, the meals are presented stylishly with good portion sizes that leave you full up, without being overwhelming.

I chose one of the specials of grilled meatballs on bread with fresh tomato sauce and creamy yoghurt, while my friend ate a baked dish of prawn, mushroom, pepper, tomato and cheese.

I can promise you that either dish would have left even the most seasoned foody’s mouth watering.

However, all this does come at a price with dishes hovering around the £11 to £12 mark, and although students do get a 15 per cent discount this will be by no means a cheap night out.

That said, the prices are reasonable for a restaurant of this standard.

Consider Lokanta next time you’re looking for a special setting with a partner, family or friends.

Syd and Mallory on student style Louise Loo Housed amongst an enclave of vintage and independent fashion shops, Syd and Mallory in The Forum is more than just a mere vintage clothing store.

A joint business venture between two close friends, this little boutique inspires fashion-wear that is every bit as original as making your own clothes.

Syd and Mallory embodies creativity and originality, with its carefully painted walls and quirky store designs (the centrepiece: a line of scissors draping artistically off a host of lightbulbs) the owners Kirsty and Lucie certainly wear this bold corporate ethos on their sleeves.

Bringing together and reworking new fabrics and vintage materials to invent clothing one can truly call their own, the store aims to keep costs low and bring to the public modern styles without the hefty price-tag.

Your Granny’s calf-length pencil skirt can now be tweaked into that party head-turner in this industrious place.

The young boutique got its name from the owners’ favourite personalities: the late Syd Barrett (from the rock band Pink Floyd), and the character Mallory Knox from the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.

Thus mirroring the nature of this thriving business – bringing random subjects together to bring out a refreshing concept.

Describing the boutique in three words, Lucie gave “raw, edgy” and “individual”.

One would be well impressed with the range of products available in-store for sale, from clothes to accessories, personalised greeting cards to home-ware, like duvets and cushions, because according to Lucie, “people want fashion in their homes, too.”

Current hard-sellers are the

headbands with bold flora designs.

Although much of the store appears catered to the young female group, the shop does have a small, but substantial section devoted to menswear.

With fixed sizes in these trendy one-off pieces, one would be relieved to hear that the shop offers an instore alteration service to cater to your tailored tastes and sizes.

As our conversations went on and I began to put to bed my fashion illiteracy, I was impressed with Lucie’s inspiring candidness.

What does she think of the fashion of students today, then?

“A bit lazy, I think” she added with good-humoured derision. “[When I was in school] I never wanted anyone to wear the same things as I did.

Plain, sheepskin boots, hoodies and jogging bottoms – it’s a little weird that everyone looks the same these days.”

Fashion tips for the majority of us wanting to stay in style and yet reluctant to experiment with our clothes?

“Wear a bold top and stay safe on the bottoms. Ultimately, you need to push fashion: fashion has no boundaries.”

The owners continually update their stock to keep up with high street trends “with a unique twist”, and often pride themselves as a platform for local, budding artists to exhibit their designs.

As it is, the spring collection is slowly coming together in-store, as the two dedicated owners aspire towards expanding the business

Syd and Mallory embodies creativity and originality.

beyond Sheffield in the years ahead.

Lucie’s advice for young adults looking to venture into the business is to take a resoundingly fearless approach, “Just go for it, if you really want to.

It took a while to build [Syd and Mallory], and it can be quite hard to get into the fashion industry. We sold our designs to shops initially, before we decided to base ourselves somewhere. I guess I just got lucky as well.”

Syd and Mallory opens every day, and students are entitled to a 10 per cent discount on purchases.

As I’ve always based my fashion tastes on whatever doesn’t itch, I was surprised to leave this quaint boutique with inspiration, to view fashion fearlessly from now on.

Photo: Paul Hollingsworth

24

www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Lifestyle

Madame Whiplash:

The mad rush to power

W

hat with the Student Officer elections upon us, there is something about men with power that is a huge turn on.

Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Brown… well maybe not the latter Gordon, but there is something about a man with a dominating demeanour that I just can’t kick out of bed.

Last week I was early to arrive at Fusion for Pop Tarts.

I was enjoying a few cheap vodka mixers, lounging on the sofa and casting my eyes on the dance floor to check out the best talent.

Suddenly, Fusion became inundated with potential Sabbatical candidates and their entourages, dressed in their annoying slogan t-shirts and cardboard banners.

I made my way to the dance floor, suddenly finding myself grinding with an overly-friendly, touchy-feely Sheffield University student.

“I’m not actually a student,” he said over the dulcet tones of ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, “I’m a Student Officer for the Union.”

“Brilliant, I love a man with power!” I said grabbing him by the shirt collars and racing

‘I love a man with power!’ I said grabbing him by the shirt collars towards a taxi.

When we were back at my place he shoved me straight towards his desk and bent me over – taking complete and utter control.

I could hear paperwork ripping alongside my moans and his spanks, whilst my computer and telephone dropped to the floor with a thud.

I always enjoyed making a mess.

Afterwards when we were lying in bed; he was on his BlackBerry sorting out important business, I was enjoying a post-coital cigarette, I decided to ask him which position he held…Finance, International, President?

“Oh no. I’m just campaigning, I don’t think I could handle the pressure of holding a Union position. Too much power for me.”

My face flushed red and I kicked him out of bed before it was even daylight.

I didn’t quite fancy cuddling up to a nobody.

But at least my desk was able to be used for something far more productive than coursework.

Hopefully next time I’ll bag a man with real influence.

Man-products revealed The regimes and products top of the beauty-conscious male’s list Lauren Astbury Imagine the scenario: boy and girl on a date and one goes to the bathroom to check their concealer or hair is holding out.

It’s the girl right?

It seems it could be either, as the male beauty regime is beginning to rival the females.

It’s no longer taboo for men to spend time and money on their appearance.

A look around my lecture room reveals boys who have that ‘just rolled out of bed’ look down to an art, and yet, some serious grooming has gone into that.

In an effort to find out just what male grooming comprises of, I spoke to boys around Sheffield.

Many admitted to cleansing and moisturising in an attempt to look good.

Hair care was a major factor;

styling and tousling to give it the desired look.

Cover up was also confessed to being worn, in a bid to give their skin a clearer look.

Finally, tweezing their eyebrows to give them a tidier look was something a few boys said they did.

It seems that male beauty regimes are not too far off female ones.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a long way from the traditional and frankly, stifling views that it’s the woman’s job to stand still and look pretty.

In today’s age, men should be able to take care of themselves, look good and admit to it proudly.

With that in mind I managed to pin down three beauty products for men which should be of some help in the grooming department.

Top Three Male Beauty Products Dolce and Gabbana have produced a set of five non-gender specific scents.

The L’ Amoureux , leans towards a more masculine fragrance and is an appealing scent for guys.

Unlike some male aftershaves, it’s not too overbearing and instead provides a distinctive and refreshing smell,.

You cannot underestimate the importance of investing in a good quality razor, and replacing blades as soon as they become dull.

If the student budget can stretch to it, the Gillette Fusion Power, is good value for money.

L’Oréal’s for men range, attempts to disregard the myth that only girls ‘are worth it’.

L’Oréal has Elvive exclusively for men, which promises to make hair thicker and easier to control.

They also offer a large range of Studioline styling hair gels and sprays, to get the desired look.

More Men are spending money on beauty products and treatments.

Society of the fortnight: Student shout: long distance love Cooking society Nic Quiggin Chinese food: that’s something you get from a takeaway, or at the very most out of a readymeal, right?

Well, wrong. I went along to the Chinese Cooking Give-it-aGo to review the cooking society and learnt that isn’t the case.

Being a big fan of food in general I went along to have my cooking skills challenged.

The turnout was more than expected as it proved to be a popular event, and we huddled around a table in the Broomhall Centre as our host from the cooking society explained to us that it was the last day of the Chinese New Year.

Today we were to tackle making dumplings, or wanton, spring rolls, and stir fry noodles.

Each dish has a different significance for the Chinese New Year; for example, the lengths of the noodles represent longevity and prosperity for the year ahead.

The different dishes were demonstrated to us before we could get stuck in ourselves.

We learnt what went in each dish, and how it can be cooked, with regional differences in ingredients and methods.

But really, the most important lesson we learnt was “put in pretty much whatever you want” – a direct quote from the host.

We were split into three groups to try each dish out ourselves.

Best of all, we could eat

whatever we made.

Before we knew it, everyone was happily milling around eating delicious home-cooked Chinese food.

It was a great afternoon which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, and I dare say that some of us will be giving Chinese food a go at home in the near future.

Cooking society hold fortnightly sessions; large ones held in the Broomhall Centre but also smaller, more intimate events at members’ houses.

The emphasis is on regional or world foods, so members can learn to cook foods from other cultures, and people from different cultures can be brought together.

Everyone is welcome as it accommodates for all, from halal to vegetarian food.

If you’re up for a truly worthwhile cooking experience then email cooking@shef.ac.uk.

Emily Spencer

Natalie Gildert, second year, Maths with French Unusually, my boyfriend and I have lived in different cities right from the start.

However long distance is still difficult.

You miss the cuddles and closeness most of all.

You can’t get those from a laptop, and often they’re the only things you want.

I’ve been with my boyfriend for over a year now, and while sometimes the distance makes you want to simply give up, there’s always something that makes it worth it.

Fearnly Evision, first year, Medical Engineering My girlfriend was at Leeds university, but is now doing a year in Japan.

Living apart meant that although we didn’t spend a lot of time together, when we did it was really meaningful.

Plus we had lots of space when we needed it which meant that we were never at each others throats.

I consider the dedication to travelling to see one another as a testament to how much we really loved each other, Plus it’s nice to keep the relationship and university life separate.

Distance doesn’t have to mean the end: the secret to successful long distance relationships is mutual trust and commitment alongside effective communication.

It is important to integrate your partner into your university life, and to maintain a separate experience for yourself.

To get the best of both, try not to overwhelm yourself with talking and seeing each other excessively, plus it makes the time you do spend together even more special.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

25

www.forgetoday.com // travel@forgetoday.com

TRAVEL Foreign Correspondent

A little bit ‘gangster’ Jo Wendel After meeting Germany’s biggest rap star, I’ve decided to leave my indie days behind and move onto something a little more gangster.

It all started a few weeks ago when Bushido released the film about his life.

Critics have called it a German 8 Mile, only with worse acting, worse dialogue and worse storytelling.

But as students of German it is our job to be oddly fascinated by all things to do with German culture, so naturally we still went to see it.

According to the film, Bushido is the German-Tunisian rapper who grew up in a rough area of Berlin with his single mother after the abusive father had abandoned the family.

It is hard to sound ‘ghetto’ in German He dropped out of school early and began drug dealing, before finally managing to escape through his music.

In real life, his rise to fame was a lot less dramatic, but that story would hardly sell two million albums, nor earn Bushido his own clothing label, as well as the adoration of 12-year-olds all over Germany.

The film was so appalling it became hilarious.

It is hard to sound ‘ghetto’ in German.

But my friends and I could not get enough of Bushido.

At first we would only listen to his music “ironically”, but that soon progressed into us actually enjoying it.

So when Bushido announced he would be signing his new album in a shopping centre right here in Berlin, we knew we had no choice.

We had to go meet our hero.

We queued up for two hours, and I learnt two important lessons: Germans can be chavtastic too, and 14-year-old girls are capable of extremely high pitched screaming.

When it was my turn to get the album signed, I told him that in England we listen to his music to learn German, (which was kind of true).

He seemed a bit surprised, but thanked me very politely and explained that he is himself learning English at the moment.

Bushido was lovely and smiley, but we were a bit disappointed.

My gran can act more ‘ghetto’.

Read Jo’s blog and see pictures (if you dare) of her adventures at www.forgetoday.com

Photo: Beth Main

Krakow Cental Market Square.

A European fairy tale Discovering the delights of eastern Europe in Krakow and Lviv Beth Main Inter-railing is awesome – it’s cheap, exciting, diverse and easy; everything we want from our holidays.

Europe is varied and challenging with different languages and cultures but at the same time it feels safe and familiar.

What people don’t tell you is that a Summer spent interrailing is just a very hot British Summer.

You’re only milling around cities, catching relatively local trains and sleeping over.

No great fuss is needed - I would leave the torch and Swiss army knife at home but stock up on the after-sun, novels and batteries.

To make your inter-railing experience the most adventurous it can be get off the well beaten European track, my suggestions for two cities that you might not think of visiting are Krakow and Lviv.

Krakow is Poland’s charming anti-dote to Warsaw and Auschwitz – despite being the setting for Schindler’s List it is a world away from the more serious side to this underestimated country.

Its main attractions are Wawel Castle and Cathedral and the Central Market Square – the

largest medieval town square in Europe.

Linking the two are the Old Town and Jewish Quarter, but my must-see attractions are the ones that most people miss.

Just outside the city are the Wieliczka Salt Mines and Zakrzowek Lake.

The salt mines are so unexpected and magnificent I have nothing to compare them to.

At over 700 years-old and 135 meters underground at their deepest they should be one of the wonders of the world.

Poland’s charming antidote to Warsaw They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and play host to concerts, weddings and even a rehabilitation centre.

There is an underground lake, a cathedral and countless statues and reliefs carved right out of the salt on the walls (which tastes salty. I checked).

Zakrzowek Lake is as beautiful as Lake Bled in Slovenia and has far fewer tourists.

It really is a blue lagoon worthy of Peter Pan’s mermaids.

It is actually a disused mine quarry but the green cliffs surrounding the crystal clear,

‘alcopop’ blue water gives no hint of that.

If this all sounds a bit tame to you, Krakow also has a reputation as a bit of a ‘stag destination’ and the nightlife certainly lives up to expectations.

Bars and clubs are hidden in the delicate streets, often far above or below street level.

If you know where to go you can find yourself in anything from a death metal beer cellar to a neon pole dancing nirvana, I advise asking hostel staff on their favourite places.

Lviv is the capital of neighbouring Ukraine, an eight hour sleeper train off the main inter-railing route but well worth it if you’re feeling adventurous.

It boasts another UNESCO World Heritage site – the picturesque city centre.

Unlike most of the former Soviet Union it lacks the repulsive concrete tower blocks you may be picturing – instead imagine a fairy tale European town with all the shop signs turned upside down and the odd Babushka hobbling along selling vegetables.

There are so many truly spectacular churches dotted around town, each with incense and beautiful voices raised

in song wafting out of the doors and up through the onion domed bell towers.

My main memory from Lviv is a bit of an unusual one – Attack of the Brides.

Whether it was a fluke coincidence or a cultural phenomenon I will never know, but on my last day in Lviv the streets were crawling with your stereotypical plastic hair and boobs ‘mail order’ Eastern European Brides.

They were posing by the fountains, being photographed on a street corner, riding in a horse and carriage, chasing bubbles across the squares or modestly entering a cathedral.

In about an hour I must have seen over 40 brides, grooms grudgingly in tow.

These two cities don’t have the grandeur of Paris or Rome, nor the famed nightlife of Berlin or Amsterdam, but they do guarantee a story or two to raise eyebrows and entertain.

You won’t forget them in a hurry and they may even leave their mark.

Why not head further East and test convention?

Albert docks, where you will find the Merseyside maritime museum and the Liverpool Tate art gallery.

The influence of the Beatles is an important part of Liverpool Culture, so Cavern walks is recommended.

Where to Eat: At Liverpool ONE, the amount of restaurants feels endless.

A great place to grab some lunch is ‘Eddie’s Rockets’, a

’50s style diner on Bold street, always busy but serves great food in a buzzing atmosphere.

Nightlife: Liverpool has a well deserved reputation for nightlife, whether it’s for students or for Premier League footballers.

With debts weighing us down, it may be best to settle for the student digs. ‘Heebie Jeebies’ and Bumper are both popular student places.

City Scout: Liverpool Lauren Asbury Get there from Sheffield by: Train to Liverpool Lime Street takes 1 hour and 50 minutes.

An advance return ticket is £18.80 with a Railcard.

Where to stay: The Hotel Ibis is located in the centre of the Albert docks and has rooms from £51.95 per night for two people.

Things to See and Do: The relatively new Liverpool ONE is great for shopping.

For some culture head to the

26

www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

Coffee Break SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Fortnightly quiz 1. In which country is the city of Dresden?

2. What kind of creature is a cabbage white?

3. In which war was the Victoria Cross first awarded?

4. How is the UK golfing term albatross known in America?

5. What are Cheshire, Gouda and Gorgonzola?

in 1969?

9. Which country will hold the Winter Olympics in 2014?

10. The Queen is Dead is an album by which band?

11. What animal is also know as ‘blackfish’?

12. What would you probably do if you got pepper in your proboscis?

6. Who was assassinated on April 4 1968?

7. Who invented the thermometer in 1593?

8. Who succeeded General de Gaulle as French President Solutions: 1. Germany, 2. Butterfly, 3. Crimean War, 4. Double Eagle, 5.

Cheeses, 6. Martin Luther King Jr, 7. Galileo Galilei, 8. Georges Pompidou, 9.

Russia, 10. The Smiths, 11. Killer Whale, 12. Sneeze.

Across 1. Come into existence (9) 7. Desert plants (5) 9. Entice (5) 10. Paddles (4) 11. Pugilist (5) 14. Brass instrument (5) 15. Wood file (4) 18. Magical incantation (5) 19. Last letter of the Greek alphabet (5) 20. The history of a word (9)

Down 2. Profit (4) 3. Country (6) 4. Moderate (9) 5. Performer (5) 6. Pig pen (3) 8. Rotund (9) 12. Downhill ski race (6) 13. Lance (5) 16. Make a request (3) 17. Hard work (4)

COMPEtition: Spot the ball

Issue 17 crossword solution: Across: 1. Whale, 4. Zebra, 7. Irrigated, 8. Ebbs, 10. Serve, 13. Ulnar, 14. Slur, 17. Necessary, 19. Stern, 20. Satin. Down: 1.

Waived, 2. Air, 3. Edge, 4. Zither, 5. Bedevil, 6. Arid, 9. Balance, 11. Falcon, 12. Crayon, 15. Lens, 16. Asps, 18. Ant.

mOST POPULAR web CONTENT 1. Lecturer ridicules students’ mistakes 2. The Forge News session 3. Welfare vice-chair accused over comments 4. All square at the Ski Village 5. We’re simply the best - again 6. A third of Sheffield students may be at risk to STDs 7. The Shrimps Last Laugh Comedy Club 8. The James and Tom show 9. Uni graduate wins reality TV show 10. Giant black hole sighting

Keep up to date with Forge Media by visiting forgetoday.com; featuring articles, podcasts, listen again shows, video content and lots more.

OVERHEARD IN SHEFFIELD Election special: Charlotte Tobin, Presidential candidate (to the cricket team): “I learnt to score from the age of three.”

Joe Oliver, Education candidate (to the cheerleading and netball teams): “I came to speak to you today, because I have seen Glee, I have seen High School Musical,

I know you are all the popular people and you can get me votes!”

Joe Oliver, Education candidate, again (to management students): “Hello future managers...of regional service stations and gold clubs.”

Sarah Christian, Sport candidate: “My policies are all achieveable...Number

One : I want to improve the internet.”

Tom Hastings, Finance candidate: “I don’t want to sit on a calculator all day.”

Carly Wilkinson, Presidential candidate, in a lecture shout out: “Hi I’m Carly and I’m running for Finance...Oh no whoops I’m running for President!”

WIN a pair of Sheffield wednesday tickets SPOT THE BALL! To win a pair of tickets to a Sheffield Wednesday home game just tell us where you think the ball was in Helen Munro’s photo taken at the BUCS semi-final between Sheffield and Teesside on Wednesday.

Mark where you think the ball is on the picture above and either bring it to the Media Hub in the Students’ Union or scan and email to sport@forgetoday.com by Friday, March 12.

Good luck!

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

27

MATCH REPORT SPORT

From footballer to champion of the ring

Woodhouse played for Sheffield United, Birmingham City and the Eng;and under-21s in his football career.

Oliver Hughes Curtis Woodhouse delivered a telling knockout blow in the third round against Isle of Wight’s Jay Morris to set up a mouthwatering fight against French champion Christopher Sebire, to be staged at the M.E.N. Arena in April.

The former Sheffield United captain smashed a fearsome right hook after a barrage of shots which Morris couldn’t handle and which rapidly sent him to the deck.

Morris to his credit, got up before the count, but seconds later another bombardment of punches forced the referee to intervene and declare Woodhouse the victor.

Rotherham’s packed Magna centre was on its feet as Woodhouse embraced his coach and promoter Dave Coldwell to capture the British Masters International light-welterweight title.

Woodhouse said: “To beat the only guy to beat me – and to actually stop him – is absolutely fantastic.

“After all the ups and downs

over the past three years I feel today has made it all worth it.

Training for this fight has not been easy but now I’m proud as punch.”

I sparred with Sebire before; he broke my nose then bit a chunk out of my chest Curtis Woodhouse The fight was an especially big occasion for Woodhouse because Morris had previously beaten the former footballer in with a disputed points victory in Ireland last April and the fight was built up by the promoters as ‘Repeat or Revenge’.

Woodhouse began the first round in fantastic style, laying into his opponent early on.

“In the first round you’re

always going to be a bit nervous,” he said. It was packed out there so to get off to a good start took the nerves away.”

Morris shaded the second round after throwing a number of efforts at Woodhouse, but good defensive work from the Driffield man ensured none of them got through.

“Before the fight I had been concentrating primarily on defence. Defence wins people fights. The best defensive fighter in the world is Floyd Mayweather.

And there is no coincidence he is also the best fighter in the world at the moment.”

Woodhouse then struck the killer blow around 15 seconds into the third round. A double jab set the Isle of Wight man up before a stunning right hook which his opponent could do little about knocked Morris straight onto the canvas.

Morris stood up after an eight second count, but moments later referee Howard Foster was forced to step in and decided to end the fight.

“Maximum respect to Jay, he’s a tough cookie. We had a bit of banter on Facebook before the fight but I like the guy and

we will definitely have a pint afterwards.

“It’s 1-1- now, so I suppose why not have a third fight?”

Woodhouse added.

Morris himself was disappointed that the referee stopped it early, but was very sportsmanlike in his attitude as he gave full credit to Woodhouse.

We had a bit of banter on facebook before the fight we will have a pint afterwards Curtis Woodhouse He said: “I did think the ref stopped it too early, but it’s true that the better fighter on the night won and best of luck to him.”

Woodhouse’s trainer and promoter Dave Coldwell could barely hide his delight after the fight of how the event went and how well the boxer fought.

He said: “As a promoter I’m well happy with the show. As a trainer I’m dead proud of him, just because of what he’s come from.”

“He came from being a bit of a joke when he first turned pro to where he’s at now- being a feared fighter in the boxing world.”

Coldwell has now secured a lucrative fight for Woodhouse against Christopher Sebire on the David Haye v John Ruiz undercard at the Manchester Evening News Arena on April 3.

Woodhouse has past history against his next challenge the Frenchman Sebire - and is gunning for a knockout.

He said: “I sparred with him in Cyprus about a year ago. The first round of the first day, he broke my nose with an upper-cut, then as I fell into the clinch he had the cheek to bite a chunk out of my chest.

“I knew that our paths would cross again and I can’t wait because frankly he is going to get knocked out.”

28

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

SPORT COMMENT & NEWS

Why university budget cuts will Tenpin Bowlers inevitably affect student sport steam ahead Matt Duncan

Ross Turner Comment We have all heard about the plans to slash the Higher Education budget. Whether we agree with it or not, we all know that there will be inevitable consequences for what many have called the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Britain for the last 10 years.

What I am worried about most, though, even more than the significance of this for education, is what will become of all the progress that has been made in student sport.

Tremendous strides have been taken in the last few years with regards to university sport here and up and down the country.

BUCS is now a huge organisation, and prestige in inter-university sporting events is no longer limited to an Oxbridge boat race.

Now success in student sport means something; anybody who has been to an important match of any type at Norton or Goodwin will know by the celebrations or etched disappointment on the faces of those involved of the esteem attached to weekly university sport fixtures.

So, too, will anyone who went to the Ski Village or Sheffield Arena for Winter Varsity appreciate how important sport is to making this city so exciting to be a student in, and maintaining the all-important rivalry against Hallam.

Now, more than ever, many of Britain’s top athletes have universities up and down the country to thank for making them the world-class competitors they are.

University gives athletes a platform to improve and mature while they give back to it by raising the standard and

reputation of student sport.

A massive amount of effort has gone into promoting sport at almost every university in the country in the last decade; why, then, would the people in charge be willing to risk ruining it all by making student sport bear some of the brunt of the funding cuts?

Sport will be an easier sacrifice than anything related to academia The reason is that however important we may contend sport to be, it is not at the core of Higher Education, and the

progress that has been made here will be a much easier and less controversial sacrifice than anything academic related.

Sport, it might be assumed, is probably immune to budget cutsafter all, it doesn’t take much money to hop on a coach and go up to Leeds for a hockey match, and our Uni’s equipment seems to be in pretty good nick.

However, what makes the University of Sheffield and hundreds more so special is that there is such a wide variety of activities to choose from, so there is amazing diversity and opportunity which make our student years so important.

The proof that all these sports play a vital role is that there is more than enough demand for them.

With so much diversity, the costs rack up. Not only this, but our Sports Officer and the Club Sport team work tirelessly every

day to ensure that there is always something going on for us to get involved with, and to reward those who do get involved.

The Union pays a lot of money for high-quality coaching, and it is this has helped to make the standard of modern club sport so high.

Without the attraction of the current level of superiority in student sport, the promising sportspeople who now enrol at university would not feel so inclined to do so.

Hopefully the worst-case scenario won’t happen, and university sport will be able to see itself through the bad patch.

One thing is for sure, though: it will be a huge shame if the advancement in student sport is lost.

The last 10 years have set the ball rolling, and if it stops now the emphasis on sport may never be fully regained.

The tenpin bowling club men’s team are into the national semifinals of the British Universities Cup after a convincing win over Manchester.

The side dominated the match from the outset and cruised to a 12.5-3.5 win.

They now await the draw for the final stages of the tournament which will all be played on April 19 in Wolverhampton.

The journey to Wolverhampton started back in November since when the side have beaten Leeds, Nottingham and Hull before the recent victory against Manchester.

The club as a whole are now having their best ever season after the men finished eighth and the women fourth at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) tournament in February.

This is the only bowling competition that is sanctioned by BUCS and so is hotly contested.

Sheffield’s good showing also led to members of the team being called up to play for the English universities representative team. From the men’s side Tom Millington was chosen alongside Cat Chesney from the women’s team.

This side will play against their Welsh counterparts in the coming weeks.

The club has grown hugely this year, going from around five members at the start of the year to a current membership of 26.

Tom Andrews, the club’s tournament secretary, said: “It is such a good social thing to do.

Everyone knows how much of a social sport bowling is.

“You get to know all the other people really well whilst you wait for others to bowl, there is a lot of interaction.

“This year we now have a proper committee, we are a much better run club than we were and people are beginning to see that.”

If you are interested in joining the club then visit their website www.sutbc.moonfoot.com.

The quality that we’ve come to expect of Uni’s lacrosse team could become a thing of the past. Photo: H Munro

British Universities & Colleges Sport fixtures WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 BADMINTON York 2ns v Men’s 2nd BASKETBALL Men’s 1st v Leeds Met 1st FOOTBALL Men’s 1st v Newcastle 1st Women’s 1st v Newcastle HOCKEY Newcastle 3rd v Men’s 2nd Newcastle 1st v Women’s 1st Northumbria 2nd v Women’s 2nd LACROSSE York 1st v Women’s 1st RUGBY UNION Men’s 2nd v Newcastle 3rd Men’s 3rd v Huddersfield 1st TENNIS Men’s 1st v York 1st VOLLEYBALL Men’s 1st v Durham 1st Women’s 1st v Hallam 1st Netball firsts in action.

Rugby Union firsts battling.

Men’s lacrosse.

The men’s football thirds.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

29

REPORTS SPORT

Unique annual judo competition held

by Uni attracts hundreds of spectators Chris Rogan The thirteenth annual University of Sheffield International Students Tournament (USIST) Judo tournament held at Goodwin Sports Centre last month was one of the most successful in its history.

Although the University of Sheffield Judo teams only secured a bronze medal, the day was an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

The event, which occurred over the weekend of February 20, attracted over 200 competitors and spectators with 27 teams entering the prestigious tournament, meaning that it is one of the biggest judo events in the country, even more so than the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) equivalent.

The most exciting travelling team was undoubtedly that of Muenster, from Germany, who went into the competition as champions three years running.

Their fights were regarded as the showpiece of the event.

Each team is made up of six, four men and two women in each weight category. All team members must fight in a match.

The most exciting fixture came between the University of London and the German side Muenster in the last stage of the knockouts.

After six enthralling bouts the teams were level on points, so a tie-break was necessary to separate the teams apart.

In this situation, a random weight division was chosen and the competitor with the highest score wins. In this case it was women’s under 57kg division which London’s competitor ultimately won with a throw that would later be decided as throw

The closing ceremony of the Sheffield International Students Tournament. The day proved to be a roaring success. of the day.

The fixtures were drawn so that both University of Sheffield teams had to fight each other to progress, which was understandably a tough prospect.

An emotional and impressive bout followed, with the first team just edging out their training partners in the second team.

The relaxed and friendly nature

of USIST makes it a popular choice on the judo circuit, and although the individual matches are always competitive, the day itself is always a nice day out for university judo teams across the country.

Louise Parker, the Judo Club Secretary spoke highly of the competition’s pleasant spirit.

She said: “The USIST is always a

great experience, and this year’s was no different.”

“Everyone always has a great time, everyone is always really friendly. We’ve organised a bit of a social for everyone tonight, and I’m sure that will be as fun as the day itself.”

Parker noted the high number of supporters at the event and was suitably impressed. “The

Photo: Dani Silva

support really adds to the buzzing atmosphere of the day and I want to thank everyone who came, as well as everyone who took part today.”

“It’s always quite sad when all the teams leave for their respective universities, because we are all quite close, which reflects the uniqueness of this event.”

Women’s table tennis slaughter Oxford in emphatic whitewash Women’s table tennis University of Sheffield University of Oxford

5 0

Andy Rivers The women’s table tennis firsts continued on their quest to avenge last year’s defeat in the BUCS Championship Cup final with a crushing 5-0 victory over Oxford University at Goodwin Sports Centre.

The team, comprising of experienced players Lisa Radford and Dominika Kolarova, go into the finals day at the English Intitute of Sport on March 12 with realistic hopes of winning the national title.

This would add to the national Women’s Doubles Championships that the pair won last month and the Northern League Conference earlier in the season.

In the opening round of singles matches both players started powerfully, not allowing either of their opponents to settle into a rhythm and constantly forcing them on the defensive.

It was Radford who closed out the opening match in style, winning quickly in straight sets by emphatic margins 11-2, 11-3, 11-2. Her ability to hit consistent winners on both the forehand

and backhand was particularly impressive.

Not to be outdone, Kolarova also began on the offensive, pressurising her opponent into making many errors and displaying a particularly strong backhand that ensured she was always in control.

Another straight sets victory, this time by a score of 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, meant that Sheffield would enter the doubles match knowing that a win in the doubles match would decide their place in the semi-finals.

It was not surprising to see the pair turn out in the same fashion as they had done separately in the previous two singles matches, as Sheffield comfortably strolled to victory.

It was evident that the pair’s success in the Doubles Championships only a fortnight previously was no accident; they demonstrated a good understanding of each other’s game and rarely had to move around the table.

This display of teamwork forced their Oxford opponents onto the back foot and the away side never looking like conceding a set: a final score of 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 reflecting their dominance.

With the tie won and a finals day place booked, the remaining singles matches were completed with the minimum of fuss to

round off a comprehensive clean sweep for the second round in succession. Speaking after the tie, both players were sounding confident of their prospects in a couple of weeks.

“We are both strong, which is an advantage, and we are obviously looking to win the title.

“The balance of our partnership is very good, which is vital in table tennis,” Radford said.

“I think we have a very good chance of succeeding in the later stages of the competition.”

Kolarova meanwhile was keen to emphasise the pair’s confidence is high following their numerous other successes this year.

With last year’s champions London Metropolitan University not in the draw it seems that an unprecedented third title of the season could very soon be on its way to the team.

The University’s table tennis squad has enjoyed more success since qualifying for the BUCS Cup semi-final.

Radford managed to reach the quarter final of the BUCS Individual Tournament, but could not progress further.

The Tournament, held at Nottingham University saw Radford and Kolarova win gold, seeing off other tough teams.

Undoubtedly this will be a huge boost to the hopes of winning the BUCS Cup in a week’s time.

Lisa Radford performed at a high level against Oxford. Photo: Tom Walker

30

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

SPORT WINTER VARSITY

Biggest ever Winter Varsity sees Ha Men’s Hockey Firsts University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam

4 7

Matt Duncan and Chris Rogan A spirited performance by the University of Sheffield could not stop Sheffield Hallam claiming their sixth straight Winter Varsity ice hockey title.

The victory also meant that Hallam claimed the overall Winter Varsity trophy for the first time in the competition’s history.

This was the first time that the match had been staged at Sheffield Arena and the thousands of fans who turned up were treated to a match full of passion and heart.

Hallam controlled the game from the start, looking more composed in possession and asking questions of Uni net-minder James Zeller straight away.

The Canadian had the answer to most of those questions but after five minutes he was beaten by Simon Offord after a scramble in front of his goal.

It didn’t take long for Uni to answer back. captain Luke Summers found himself with the puck on the blue line after an attacking face-off and his well hit slap shot managed to find its way past Sean Walsh in the Hallam net.

Despite the confidence that this obviously gave Uni, they could not get themselves on to the puck for any length of time and build pressure on Hallam.

This lack of possession told as the first period wore on. First, Nick Manning regained the lead for Hallam before Ian Clark widened the gap. Uni struggled to create chances and could not close the gap before the break.

Hallam’s dominance continued after the interval with Captain Matt Jeffcock scoring a breakaway goal. He carried the puck from centre ice over the blue line and faked a shot before sending Zeller the wrong way.

Uni finally began to find their feet after the goal. They started to keep possession and build successive attacks on the Hallam goal. Their play was rewarded when Jack Ware scored from another long range shot in the half hour.

The game soon returned to its regular pattern of Hallam attacks but Uni now seemed more confident and less likely to concede. As the team went into the locker rooms for the final time, the score was still tied.

The final period started in frantic fashion with Uni pushing hard.

They narrowed the gap to one when Michael Szollosy followed up Andrew Terentjev’s blocked shot with 15 minutes to go.

The fabulous support for both sides sensed the tension rising and a string of penalties followed only serving to increase the frantic nature of the game.

Hallam managed to calm themselves enough to reclaim their two goal lead, Ben Duffy beating Zeller with just over 10 minutes to go. However, Uni would not lie down and just over a minute later Terentjev himself did well to beat a defender and score.

As Uni pushed on they left themselves exposed in defence and GB women’s squad member Kat Wiggins found herself with enough room to pick her sport and effectively end the game with six minutes left.

Uni’s misery was compounded in the final minute when Chris

Clockwise, from left: Uni net-minder Zeller stops a Hallam shot (Photo: Jack Gilbert); the Uni Ski team could only draw to theur counterparts (Photo: Edd Wright); a Bryniarski, Hallam’s hat trick hero in last year’s fixture, squeezed his shot past the unfortunate Zeller, who had made numerous magnificent saves.

As the clock ticked down the Hallam fans celebrated their historic victory vociferously whilst the Uni contingent applauded their team’s worthy efforts.

Hallam forward Scott Antcliffe said after the game: “We played well and despite the fact that I only played a few shifts due to injury, it was a wonderful experience.”

The day ended with the Winter Varsity trophy being presented to Hallam Sports Officer Samantha Gill by Sheffield Steelers General Manager Mike O’Connor amid jubilant celebrations from the Hallam team and fans.

Kate Rickard, Sheffield University’s Sports Officer, who engineered the move to the Arena this year spoke highly of the event and all those involved.

She said: “I think Winter Varsity lived up to all expectations and was a great weekend for both

universities and their students.

“I want to thank everyone who competed over the two days, as without them, the event would not happen.”

Rickard was eager to praise the fans who attended both the events. “The turnout was great, I am absolutely delighted with the great support and team spirit that the students have given. It just shows how much Varsity means to everyone at the University” The Sports Officer did not feel that the result of the Winter Varsity would deter Uni’s hopes of overall victory against Hallam in a few weeks.

“The final Winter Varsity result does mean we are going into the Varsity in April in a weaker position than in previous years.

“But I think that this will act as a motivator for each and every competitor to double their efforts in the coming weeks in the hope of beating Hallam. We already have a strong desire to bring home the big one, and I think that 2010 will be Uni’s year.”

Honours even at Ski Village a Ski and Snowboard University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam

2 2

Anthony Hart The first day of Winter Varsity 2010 ended all square after the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam scored two points apiece in a captivating Friday of skiing and snowboarding at the Sheffield Ski Village.

Students supporting both universities flocked to the Ski Village on Vale Road for the start of the weekend’s sporting action, which created a fantastic atmosphere despite freezing conditions which continued until the night’s after-party ended at two o’clock on Saturday morning.

The night started off with competitors from both universities

warming up and impressing the partisan crowd with an array of stunts and tricks.

At the end of this session the four best riders from each ski and snowboard team were put through to the final. Each university was required to have one girl in their final four.

When the first competitive action got under way, Hallam drew first blood and took the opening point of the event, winning the snowboard slalom after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in a best of three race series.

The skiing was delayed due to rumours that one of the Hallam skiers was in fact not a student there.

A source stated: “The skier in question was not part of the club and therefore not part of the team,” which was in breach of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) regulations.

a r c v p

fr s o a

it th b le

d e a h H

p o th

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

31

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

allam edge out Uni

WINTER VARSITY

SPORT

Arena move is a success but still work to be done at Ski Village Matt Duncan Comment Winter Varsity was a success, of that there is no doubt. Any event that manages to attract nearly 4,000 people to its finale in its first year at a new venue can be called nothing else.

The ice hockey was a wonderful event that managed to awaken something in the collective student mind that resulted in thousands making their way to the Arena on a cold Saturday afternoon.

The move to the huge Arena had raised questions as to whether some of the Varsity atmosphere would be lost, but those fears proved to be unfounded as Hallam claimed victory in front of a raucous and partisan crowd.

However the event as a whole was not without its problems.

The snowsport night at the Ski Village was most affected. The lack of an official announcer was perhaps the most obvious to those watching the event. At one point the slalom racing had started with most of the crowd still watching the freestylers warm up.

Even when people did finally realise what was going on the announcements were not clear and often bore little or no relevance to the action on the slopes.

Occasionally you could here a small voice announcing the finalists and the running order but this was constantly drowned out by two idiots who seemed content to wander around, having a laugh and generally causing most people to wonder whether these two characters were even meant to be

on the microphone at all.

Whilst I do not want to be overly critical of the event as most of the people did seem to be having a good time, it must be remembered that this is still first and foremost a sporting event and that the sport should always be the centre of attention.

By the end of the night, there were maybe only a quarter of the people still outside watching the event whilst the rest were already in the bar with the Tuesday Club DJs. If Varsity loses its focus on sport then the events just become another excuse for students to go out and get drunk, and frankly there is ample opportunity for that already.

A problem that was maybe not noticed by the spectators was that of the freestyle competition judging.

The judges were up on the side of the half pipe where unfortunately the overwhelming aroma was that of marijuana. There were also copious cans of beer up there and whilst it was not only the judges on that platform, it did not look good for the competition.

Sheffield has recently been awarded a sizeable grant for winter sports but if that money is to be put to good use then people need to be able to take such sports seriously.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the case at the Ski Village.

Despite these problems it would be unfair to end this article on a negative note. This year’s Winter Varsity was bigger, and for the most part better, than any before.

It is only right to congratulate Kate Rickard and Andy Cox and their counterparts at Hallam for the work that they have put in to the event and wish them the best of luck for the main Varsity competition in the spring.

action from the Ice Hockey match, (Photo: Jack Gilbert); and Hallam celebrate their victory. (Photo: Helen Munro)

as controversy hits snowsport events

The entrant was disqualified and it did not take long for Uni to respond to Hallam’s win, with a closely fought dramatic last race victory in the ski slalom to square points on the night.

After the racing events the reestyle competition began. Uni’s snowboarders kicked off the first of their three runs with a slight advantage over Hallam.

However, just as in the ski slalom t was Hallam who ended up taking he point with some mesmerising boarding to give Uni’s rivals a 2-1 ead.

Uni’s skiers countered by dominating the skiing freestyle event, which was so one-sided that after the first round one Uni skier had a higher score than the entire Hallam team.

This domination was in no small part due to the fact that Hallam only appeared to have two skiers in he final.

The rest of the team also duly delivered, although not in such spectacular fashion, to level the overall score at 2-2.

A final twist occurred when the result of the snowboarding freestyle was disputed and had to be officially confirmed.

After a long wait, the result was deemed to be correct, meaning that the evening on the slopes eventually ended with honours even.

The reaffirmation of the end result did not signal the end of festivities at the Ski Village, though, as the huge crowd that had turned up ensured the party atmosphere continued into the early hours of Saturday morning.

Commenting on the night’s action, Andy Cox, Club Sport Manager, said, “I’m surprised at the result but I suppose it’s pretty good for Winter Varsity as a whole.

“Often, like in the past few years, we have won nearly all if not all

points on the ski slopes, but the result tonight does make the event all the more exciting, especially for us, as we are the underdogs at the ice hockey tomorrow.

“Organisation-wise everything has passed off very smoothly tonight and we’re really pleased with how it has gone.

“Winter Varsity is a great event in its own right, but i think it also makes the prospect of the main Varsity in April all the more appealing.”

Concerning the ineligible Hallam student, Cox was perplexed at Hallam’s tactics: “I was surprised that Hallam still attempted to let him participate as we had discussed the rules and how it goes beforehand.

Obviously attempting to use a non-student in the competition was against the rules. But he was eventually disqualified and rightly so.”

Uni couldn’t win their first Varsity ice hockey match

Photo: Helen Munro

32

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

SPORT

Match Reports Page 29

FORGE PRESS Friday March 5 2010

Winter Varsity special Page 26-7

Women suffer cup agony for second successive year

Photo: Helen Munro

Teesside celebrate dumping Uni out of the Northern Conference Cup semi-final.

Women’s Football Firsts University of Sheffield University of Teesside

5 6 (aet)

Matt Duncan Two goals in two minutes deep in extra time condemned the women’s football first team to an agonising 6-5 semi final defeat against Teesside at Norton.

Uni were just over five minutes away from reaching the final of the Northern Conference Cup for the second successive year but cruelly had that dream snatched away from them as the clock ticked down.

Last season, the team lost in the final amid officiating controversy and at times this match looked as if it were set up to give Uni a

second chance to go all the way.

In a match that was scarred by bad language and foul attitudes, Uni led four times but could not close out the game in the 90 minutes.

With seven minutes of extra time left, a speculative effort looped into the Uni goal from nearly 30 yards and a minute later a long ball from the visiting keeper found its way through the home defence and was coolly finished.

The second goal sparked delirious celebrations from the Teesside coach and subs whilst the Uni players looked distraught.

Captain Kat Adie said: “It is devastating but I am really proud of all the girls today. We deserved to win that game, I honestly think that.”

The game had started untidily with neither side coping

brilliantly with the rough surface.

This led to a number of collisions and Teesside temporarily found themselves a player down after three minutes when one of their players was ordered off to receive treatment for a bloody nose.

Uni took full advantage of this and opened the scoring with a well taken finish from the edge of the area.

However, the pattern of the match was started early as Teesside swiftly equalised as their centre forward cut inside to finish off a superb solo goal.

Uni regained the advantage after good pressure by Jess Kay forced the Teesside keeper into a mistake, gifting the ball to Melissa Hallmark who fired into the unguarded net.

The teams traded goals as the half continued. First Teesside levelled the game direct from a free kick before Uni went ahead

for the third time, with the partnership of Kay and Hallmark again combining well to create Hallmark’s second goal.

The sides are both in the same division in the league and this was reflected in the competitive and even nature of the match.

The early stages of the second half saw Teesside start better but it was Uni who extended their lead with 25 minutes left. Katherine Chappell hit a sweet left foot shot into the bottom corner to put Uni in a match-winning position.

However, it wasn’t to be.

Teesside closed the gap with 20 minutes remaining and three minutes later they were level, another free kick beating the Uni keeper.

Uni had chances to win the game in normal time, first Hallmark shot wide under pressure and in stoppage time the Teesside keeper produced a good save to

parry away a Uni free kick.

Extra time started well for Uni who scored within three minutes in controversial fashion.

A Teesside player went down with cramp but Uni played on and scored from the resulting play, resulting in words being exchanged between both sets of players.

Despite this piece of good fortune, events in extra time were to conspire against Uni and they were denied their second attempt at winning the tournament.

Throughout the match tensions were high between the teams and this was reflected in skipper Adies’ post match comments.

“We may have lost but I would rather play with these girls and lose than play with those lot every week. We showed real character and fight today. Character will stay with you for life.”