Forge Press Issue 42

FREE Issue 42

Friday December 2 2011

Occupied

The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Made for students by students. Est. 1946.

INSIDE Comment

Christmas only comes once a year – but why does it come so early?

Catt Tibbs speculates. p.12

@ForgePress /ForgePress

4Uni cancels lectures as protesters take over Arts Tower basement

Music

New Zealand dream pop purveyors The Naked and Famous talk to Mark McKay about the success of their debut album.

Fuse p.4

Lifestyle

You simply can’t ignore the charm of Christmas jumpers this season.

Katie Davies, David Parker and Nicholas Carding Lectures were disrupted and cancelled after the University of Sheffield raised concerns over student safety in the Arts Tower following the occupation of the building by student protesters.

But staff told students cancellations were to due to fears the occupation “could go further.”

A group of roughly 100 students and protesters occupied lecture theatre four during Wednesday afternoon in solidarity with public sector strikes that took place across the country.

p.25

Screen

We pick Andy Harries’ brain about his upcoming film on Aung San Suu Kyi, The Lady.

Fuse p.8-9

Continued on p.5

News

Students bare all for charity calendar.

S10 Campaign

p.5

Sheffield City Council to debate gym refunds. p.3

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FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Forge in Brief ‘Speed-faithing’ event religious student groups

for

The Students’ Union hosted a range of faith-based events last week as part of National Interfaith Week.

The events were held to help raise awareness and understanding of different faiths at the University.

One of the biggest events of the week was Speed Faithing, which was described as ‘Interfaith Musical Chairs’.

Other events included lectures, quizzes, film nights and ice skating.

Hamilton Jones

Nineteen-hour rowathon raises over £800 for diabetes Students rowed their way to £855.41 in a 19-hour charity rowathon last Wednesday.

The Sheffield University Rowing Club (SURC) team set out to row the 282 km distance from Sheffield to Dorney Lake, the Olympic rowing venue, in aid of Diabetes UK. Around 25 determined club members took part in the challenge, each taking it in turns to build up the distance on a single rowing machine.

SURC’s Hannah Collins said: “The rowathon was very successful and the day went really well. It was long but I was really pleased with the enthusiasm from the new members. Thanks to the entire club for raising money for such a good cause.”

Harriet Collier

Pedal-powered film for Ethical and Environmental Week Students enjoyed a pedal-powered film showing as part of Ethical and Environmental Knowledge week (EEK Week).

Engineers without borders held a special showing of the documentary ‘The Age of Stupid’ using electricity generated by pedal power.

Sheffield Debating also took part by holding a discussion on veganism.

An EEK Week spokesperson said: “We’re very pleased Sheffield Debating were happy to run an ethical and environmental debate as part of EEK Week, and they did a great job of it.”

Samuel Dam

‘Stoned’: University Amnesty group want Iranian law change Tania Taylor Students from the University of Sheffield Amnesty Group performed a mock stoning trial, protesting against the Iranian legal practice committed against men and women who are suspected of committing adultery.

The students staged a scene of a woman being stoned to death, a punishment which is still practiced today despite lobbying from human rights groups.

A student was bound and wrapped in a shroud while the ‘stoners’ around her posed midthrow, to raise awareness of the controversial punishment.

Signatures were collected for a petition putting pressure on Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to remove stoning from the Iranian Penal Code, currently reviewed by Iranian authorities following a recommendation made by the Legal and Judicial Affairs Committee in 2009 to do so.

The punishment is issued to Iranians accused of having extramarital relations and according to Amnesty International at least six individuals have been killed in this way since 2002.

At present there are 14 men and women at risk of stoning in Iran, including Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose high-profile case has led to a number of diplomatic incidents between Iran and Western Governments.

Ashtiani’s children have launched a worldwide campaign to secure her release.

The event was part of the University’s Ethical and Environmental Knowledge Week.

The Amnesty group “stoned” adulterers on the concourse and outside Sheffield town hall.

Photo: Tania Taylor

Islamic Circle charity week raises over £5,000 Cami Khan

Photo: Lufti Mustafa Kamil

The University of Sheffield Islamic Circle (USIC) has raised over £5000 for a project that helps orphans in Muslim countries.

The USIC charity week , which was supported by Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG), was held from November 14-18.

The week saw USIC members donning amusing costumes and livening up the Union concourse, Medical School and Fargate with Krispy Kreme doughnut sales, a Sumo Wrestling competition and bucket collecting for public donations.

There were also evening events

including restaurant meals, a masquerade ball, games night and a pamper evening which all helped to contribute to the total amount raised.

The £5200 raised can provide over 200 orphans worldwide with the monthly food, shelter, healthcare, education and emotional support they require.

The week formed part of the national annual ‘Charity Week’ campaign which included every Islamic Society around the country uniting to raise money for an important charitable cause.

There was also a competitive component to the week, as the different Universities across

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

Editor

matt.burgess@forgetoday.com

Matt Burgess

Deputy Editor Nicole Hernandez Froio Managing Editor Mikey Smith WEB EDITOR Ben Williams fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com James Garrett Rachel Dixon

picture editor Adam Harley News news@forgetoday.com Nicholas Carding Katie Davies David Parker Comment comment@forgetoday.com Hannah Frost Tom Geddes LETTERS letters@forgetoday.com Holly Wilkinson

Features features@forgetoday.com Lauren Clarke Rebecca Cooke Jonathan Robinson Lifestyle and travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Ina Fischer Fay Guest Laura Davies Sport sport@forgetoday.com Jack Burnett Adam Hancock Anthony Hart

the regions competed to raise the highest amount, and USIC hope to come near the top when the final results are announced at the regional ‘Round-off’ in Manchester.

USIC president Eymen Kaya said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the week, I’m astounded as to the amount we’ve raised for the Worldwide Orphan project.

“A special thanks goes to all the committee who helped organise and make the week so successful, and of course RAG for their continual support. We can only hope that this good work carries on for many years to come.”

Music music@forgetoday.com Sam Bolton Coral Williamson

Arts arts@forgetoday.com Tim Wood Rowan Ramsden

Games games@forgetoday.com Arnold Bennett Ellen Jurczak

Copy editors Olivia Adams Hamilton Jones Kristin McIntosh Alisha Rouse Melanie Sisson Lianne Williams

Screen screen@forgetoday.com Tom Fletcher Tom Wardak

Forge Press is printed on 100% recycled paper

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 Friday December 2 2011

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Gym campaign to go before city council - Pressure mounts on Uni after councillors declare their support in refund controversy - Gym set for further refurbishments over Christmas, but no refunds to be issued

NO S REFUND Nicholas Carding Paul Scriven, former leader of Sheffield City Council, has tabled a motion to the city council, asking them to support Forge Press’ gym refunds campaign.

In its last edition, Forge Press revealed how S10 Health broke their own contract after members were not automatically refunded one month after the pool reopened.

Scriven, Liberal Democrat councillor for Broomhill which includes the gym, is the latest of many councillors to back the campaign and his motion to the city council will put further pressure on the University to fully refund members of the gym.

Scriven said: “It is only fair and right that the students get a full refund as it appears under the terms of their agreement.

“The gym must honour the contracts signed - anything less would be both mean-spirited and not in the framework of the law.

“It’s great to see Forge Press and student groups taking the initiative on this campaign.

“As their local representatives I think it’s only right that we show them our support. I hope the whole Council gets behind this

campaign.”

The city council will debate the motion at their next meeting, on Wednesday December 7.

Other councillors have also backed the campaign including Geoff Smith, the Labour councillor for Crookes, and Arbourthorne councillor Jack Scott, who stood against Nick Clegg in the 2010 general election.

Smith has written a letter to the University urging them to reconsider how they handled the whole swimming pool closure.

In his letter, Smith wrote: “My view is that students should not have to claim; refunds should be automatic on an appropriate pro rata basis.

“If this was impractical for any good reason and a claim system was necessary, I can see that it would be reasonable to have a cut off point.

“However, it would be essential that all student members who had not claimed were made aware of this.

“I would also suggest that September 1 was not a suitable date for the many students who would still be on holiday.

“Furthermore, I am told that the gym will be closed in December and January but there will be no refunds.

“The occasional one or two day’s closure is one thing but any significant period of time such as a month or more ought to result in appropriate compensation.”

Local newspaper The Sheffield Star published the story on Thursday December 1.

Forge Press launched the campaign two weeks ago after revealing the gym broke their own contract.

The contract says members will receive a refund for closure or repair “in the month following the completion of the upgrade or repair.”

Members were only offered refunds if they approached the gym directly, while a deadline of September 1 2011 was set for claiming the refunds without telling members.

Consumer group Consumer Focus said the actions showed a “complete lack of understanding” and “disregard” for the law and urged students to challenge the decision.

Forge Press also sent a Freedom of Information request to the University to release figures showing how many members were refunded and how much was given out in total compared to what each member paid to join, but after replying several days after the deadline passed the University refused to disclose any information.

A University of Sheffield spokesperson said: “The University is aware of the campaign and continues to take this matter very seriously.

“We are currently looking into the situation further, but would like to reiterate that Sport Sheffield has refunded in the region of £70,000 to pool users.

Sports Officer Ben Baldwin welcomed the councillors’ decision to get involved with the campaign and said: “It’s very good news for students.

“It shows that people in the wider community care about the things that happen to students.”

At its last meeting, the Students’ Union Council voted overwhelmingly to support the campaign.

Chair of Union Council Sam Mannion said: “I think it’s great that the Union Council unanimously backed Forge Press’s very important campaign to get people the money they’re owed. We can’t just stand by when students are so obviously getting ripped off.”

Photo: Adam Harley

Join our Campaign http://on.fb.me/GymRefunds Join Forge Press and come to the city council meeting Wedensday December 7, 2pm, at the Town Hall, Pinstone Street. Lets get our refunds back!

Fighting for refunds: Councillors and students support the Forge Press campaign

Lib/Dem councillor Paul Scriven Former Sheffield City Council leader Paul Scriven, who is now a councillor on the heavily student populated Broomhill ward, has tabled a motion for Sheffield City Council to back Forge Press’ campaign.

Scriven said: “It is only fair and right that the students get a full refund as it appears under the terms of their agreement.”

Labour councillor Geoff Smith Geoff Smith, Labour councillor for Crookes ward, has written a letter to the university expressing concerns over how the gym has treated its members over the swimming pool closure.

Smith wrote: “My view is that students should not have to claim; refunds should be automatic on an appropriate pro rata basis.”

Labour councillor Jack Scott Jack Scott, Labour councillor for Arbourthorne ward.

Scott ran against Nick Clegg in the 2010 election and has publicly backed Forge Press’ campaign on Twitter.

Scott is a University of Sheffield graduate and a member of the Central Board of Sheffield Homes.

Sports Officer Ben Baldwin Ben Baldwin, Sports Officer at University of Sheffield Students’ Union, was a member of the gym during the swimming pool closure and was one of many students who didn’t get their refund back.

Baldwin said: “It shows that people in the wider community care about things that happen to students, and is a positive step for the campaign.”

Chair of Students’ Union council The students’ union council voted overwhelmingly to support Forge Press’ campaign at their last meeting.

Chair of the council Sam Mannion said: “Hopefully with the pressure Forge, the Union Council, and other individuals will put on the gym, the people who’ve been wronged will get what’s rightfully theirs.”

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FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

NEWS LOCAL

National news

Police corruption trial collapses after ‘unfair hearing’ ruling

The trial of eight police accused of corruption has collapsed after the judge said they would not get a fair hearing.

The former South Wales police officers were accused of perverting the course of justice after three men were wrongfully convicted of murder.

The original defendant’s complaints were said to be missing and the Director of Public Prosecutions was said to be “extremely concerned.”

The case follows the murder of Cardiff prostitute Lynette White in 1988 and the wrongful jailing of Tony Paris, Yusef Abdullahi and Stephen Miller in 1990.

Terry racism file handed to CPS

Photo: flickr/ Downing Street The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been handed files relating to England and Chelsea captain John Terry’s allegedly racist comments.

Terry has been accused of making a racist comment to Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea’s October 23 defeat at Loftus Road.

The file was received on Wednesday night and the CPS will now decide whether to take the allegation further.

Terry was questioned under caution by the Metropolitan Police last week and Scotland Yard then passed a file on the matter to the CPS, who will spend the next few weeks considering whether there is enough information to prosecute.

Jeremy Clarkson apologises over ‘appalling’ on-air attack

Hillsborough victims’ families targeted by internet trolls Emily Keston Internet trolls have preyed on families of the Hillsborough disaster who were affected by the 1989 tragedy.

The people behind the scam have used Facebook to contact and befriend victims, including the sister of a man who died in the disaster.

Some allegedly pledged to donate £250,000 to a Hillsborough charity.

Others have used pseudonyms, including ‘Sean O’Connor’, who claimed he was a witness of the tragedy.

‘Sean’ spoke about his plans to attend a match at Everton’s Goodison Park, claiming it would be his first game since the tragedy due to the mental scars endured there.

Just days later, Facebook ‘friends’ were informed by ‘Zoe O’Connor’ that ‘Sean’ and his supposed brother ‘Max’ had died.

John Herbert, 45, from Litherland, Merseyside, who survived the Hillsborough crushes told the Liverpool Echo he felt “cheated” by internet trolls. He shared personal memories with ‘Max’ about the tragedy before suspicions arose, as he would never be speaking to ‘Zoe’ and ‘Max’ at the same time.

The users’ profiles have since been deleted and police have said they have the power to pursue the fake Hillsborough survivors.

They are asking those who were approached or scammed to report any allegations.

This week the Hillsborough Independent Panel also confirmed that, during ten post-mortem examinations carried out on victims, tissue was taken and retained without the families’ knowledge.

Whilst this was in accordance with established practice at the time, the 2006 Human Tissue Act made removing, storing or using tissue without consent illegal.

This fresh evidence has caused distress to bereaved relatives and the panel are now contacting families affected to explain the circumstances.

Meanwhile, the government have announced that files relating to talks held by Margaret Thatcher in the aftermath of the disaster will be released by June 2012, following their backing of the release earlier this year.

96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death at Sheffield’s Hillsborough stadium in 1989.

Why does internet trolling occur, and what has been done to tackle it? Rachel Louise Gerrish found out.

The internet is a widely unregulated part of society, allowing certain people to hide behind their online personalities while aggravating others through provocative or nasty comments - this is known as trolling.

Fevzi Turkalp, a technology expert from gadgetdetective. com, says trolling is often used in chatrooms and online forums, especially in the technology world.

People choose to troll for several different reasons, whether that may be for revenge, or just for the thrill of causing an argument. The anonymity provided by the internet allows many trolls to feel free of consequences.

But police are cracking down on internet offenders after a series of recent high profile cases.

Internet troll Sean Duffy

(pictured) was sentenced in September to 18 weeks in prison after leaving obscene messages and videos on a condolence page set up by the family of 15-year-old

Photo: David Parker

schoolgirl Natasha MacBryde, who committed suicide.

Detective Inspector Mark Tivendale, from Merseyside hi-tech crime unit, said: “Although trolling is a new phenomenon on the internet, there is existing legislation in place which gives the police power to take action.”

The Malicious Communications Act 2003 makes it an offence to send improper messages that are either grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing in character. It also covers persistent messages intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

DI Tivendale warns: “Anyone guilty of an offence can be jailed for up to six months and fined, leaving them with a criminal record which will stay with them for life.”

‘State-of-the-art’ £25 million MP opposes radio cuts Hallam building planned Lucy Topping

Jess Pitocchi Photo: flickr/ lairdscott Jeremy Clarkson has apologised after saying that all public sector workers who went on strike on Wednesday should be shot in front of their families.

Trade Union Unison brandished his comments as “appalling” and have called for his sacking.

The Top Gear presenter made the comments while appearing on the BBC’s The One Show.

Presenters were forced to make an on-air apology and have since received over 4,700 complaints over the comments.

Sheffield Hallam University has announced plans to construct a new £25 million building at Collegiate Crescent campus.

The proposed ‘state-of-the-art’ building will primarily belong to the Faculty of Development and Society, including a 220seat lecture theatre, specialist teaching facilities as well as student social space, catering facilities, customer services and facilities management.

Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Jones said: “The university has been operating at a surplus in recent years, and we have decided that now is the right

time to further invest in our infrastructure”.

“All of these new developments have been designed to make a real difference to our students and to further enhance their time at Sheffield Hallam.

“We are delighted to be able to bring these projects to fruition and to be in a position to continue to invest for the future.”

The building will open in 2014.

What’s on your mind?

Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday. com

Proposed cuts to local radio have met resistance from local MP Paul Blomfield.

Under the proposals, a total of £15 million will be cut from the budget of 40 local radio stations in England, affecting 280 jobs.

The cuts will mean more news will be shared regionally between Leeds and York, cutting local radio programming on Radio Sheffield from 16 hours a day to nine hours.

In a letter to the BBC director General, Blomfield said: “I’m concerned that the proposed cuts will lead to a spiral of decline for BBC local radio.

“What happens locally matters to people and the BBC executives need to recognise that.”

Meanwhile, former TV presenter and Labour MP Austin Mitchell said the proposed £670 million package of cuts would be “deeply damaging” to the corporation’s output.

Mitchell, who called a debate about the cuts in the Commons on Thursday, told The Guardian: “It is going to be a crippling blow.

“There are very strong feelings among our members that the cuts in local radio go too far and are too damaging. The BBC must consider the kind of objections coming from us and the rest of our society.”

“Another 7p on the licence fee [a day] and these cuts wouldn’t be necessary,” he added.

Another dozen MP’s were due to speak at the debate.

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Dig Deep for naked calendar Fundraisers hope to raise over £1,500 for Africa by baring all

David Parker Students from the University of Sheffield braved the cold by stripping naked for a calendar to raise money for water development projects in Africa.

The calendar has received the backing of on-screen Calendar Girls Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, who have provided signed photographs for the charity to sell.

The 15 students, who are all volunteers for Dig Deep, hope to raise at least £1,500 for the charity, which works with communities in Kenya to provide sustainable access to clean water and fuel.

The photo shoot was organised by volunteer Lindsey Chynoweth, who was inspired by the success of other naked calendar shoots.

She said: “It was a great way to get the team to know each other quickly.

“During the shoots, the boys were completely starkers, but girls were permitted to keep thongs on which were later airbrushed out.

Mostly, props were used to save our dignity.”

Shoots were held around Sheffield, including various University sites.

As well as signed photographs from Mirren and Walters, the group also recieved a foreword to the calendar written by fellow calendar girl Georgie Glen, who reveals the advice she received from Helen Mirren for stripping in front of the camera.

The Dig Deep group are aiming to raise £40,000 over the next year and are planning to hold a number of other events to help them achieve their target.

Chynoweth said: “We have lots of events coming up in the next few weeks, such as carol singing at the train station tonight, a bake sale in Jessop West and selling origami Christmas cards at Endcliffe.

You can get a calendar online at www.justgiving.com/ nakedcalendar, or from The West End, The Place, The Closed Shop, Oscars, and the Crookesmoor branches of Nisa and Co-op.

You can also follow the Dig Deep group online at www.justgiving. com/teams/digdeepsheffuni.

The University cancelled or moved lectures on Thursday, stating that lessons has been postponed so a risk assessment could take place.

Lectures on Friday were also cancelled or relocated.

However, an e-mail seen by Forge Press states: “The rooms have been locked down because of the occupation in the basement and fears it could go further.

“The folks occupying the basement are peaceful, but others with a different agenda may gain access to the tower.”

Protesters have stressed that they do not want their actions to disrupt students’ education.

The decision to cancel further lectures is being reviewed by the University.

The occupiers have release a list of demands which they say must be fulfilled before they are prepared to leave the Arts Tower.

These include a minimum wage of £7.20 for all university staff, that

World NEWS “Insane” Breivik tells psychologists he will self-terminate Self-confessed mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has told psychologists he will “selfterminate” if he is abandoned by his fabled “Knights Templar” organisation.

Breivik told psychologists: “If I have misjudged the situation, and no one wants to work with me, I will “self-terminate.”

Breivik claims he is fighting multiculturalism for a European organisation called “Knights Templar,” but psychologists believe he is living in a fantasy world.

Breivik was declared “insane” on Monday in a report by court psychologists.

He could now be treated in a mental hospital rather than face imprisonment, sparking outrage across Norway.

Photo: Jon-Are Getty Images)

Berg-Jacobsen/AFP/

EU impose new Iran-sanctions

Dig Deep fundraisers posed for photos in various locations around Sheffield.

Photo: Tom Wright

Student occupation continues in Arts Tower lecture theatre

Continued from Page One

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both Sheffield Vice Chancellors take a pay cut, that teaching assistants are given contracts and that the SU becomes more forceful in defending the right to education.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “This decision was made last night after careful consideration and when the number of occupiers in Lecture Theatre four was at its highest.

“Due to the time it takes to reschedule lectures and notify people of any changes, it was essential that the process was started as soon as possible.

“The number of individuals occupying the building has significantly reduced overnight.

We will reassess the situation this afternoon and students will be notified accordingly as to whether or not there will be any changes to tomorrow’s lectures and seminars.”

An e-mail circulated by the occupiers said: “Either the room bookings service is under

the impression that we intend to disrupt lectures, which is absolutely untrue or they are unwilling to let students to come here to have contact with us lest they sympathise with our cause.

“Under no circumstances will the occupation be preventing lectures from continuing. We urge students who don’t understand why we are here to come down and speak to us.”

Those in occupation said they chose the Arts Tower because

it was close to the University’s human resources offices, but have not ruled out a move to another building at a later date.

University security have been in contact with the protesters, agreeing that they will be allowed back inside if the building is evacuated due in the event of a fire alarm.

A full statement of the occupation’s aims and demands can be found on Sheffield Occupation’s Tumblr.

Photo: Katie Davies

The European Union have agreed further sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.

The sanctions will affect 180 Iranian officials and firms, with ministers meeting in Brussels to target Iran’s energy sector.

The sanctions come just two days after hundreds of protesters stormed the UK embassy in Iran’s capital Tehran, although EU ministers insist this is unrelated.

EU ministers said: “The council agreed to broaden existing sanctions by examining, in close co-ordination with international partners, additional measures including measures aimed at severely affecting the Iranian financial system, in the transport sector, in the energy sector,” according to the BBC.

Hungary make homelessness a crime despite charities’ protest Hungary have outlawed homelessness after politicians from the leading Conservative party said Budapest could not cope with the large number of people on the streets.

Anyone found sleeping on the street would receive a warning before being fined nearly £400, provoking anger from many charities dealing with homeless people.

Budapest has an estimated 10,000 people currently homeless, and a series of demonstrations are planned to fight the new law.

Miklos Vecsei, of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service said the law had not been passed on the basis of any rational or professional criteria but because the public were fed up with the homeless.

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FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Porter’s bright idea: Waste food from Union shop to be given to the homeless David Parker

Photo: David Parker Pictured (l-r) are Tim Allen, Billy Moynihan, Manager Lorelle Shirtcliffe and Finance Officer Harry Horton

Waste food from the Students’ Union shop will now be given to the homeless after a bright idea from a Union porter.

All food that reached its use by date was previously thrown away, but now it will all be given to homeless people at soup runs across the city.

The collections, which have been running for a month, deliver to the Sheffield Jesus Centre in Broomhill on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and St Thomas Church in Crookes, who are taking it to the Eldon St Soup Run on Saturdays.

Billy Moynihan, the porter who came up with the idea, approached shop staff and Union Finance Officer Harry Horton with the idea in January, and food collections from the shop will now be made on a daily basis.

Mr Moynihan said: “Bread is the stuff of life. It just didn’t seem right for the Union to throw any food away when we had people on the streets of Sheffield.”

The project had its first big success story two weeks ago, when Saturday volunteers took several

large bags of food to people on the streets of Sheffield directly.

Students’ Union Environmental Coordinator Tim Allen, who was heavily involved in arranging the collections, said: “The satisfying thing about this is that the environmental benefits are only a small part- this is a real human good news story.

“None of us like to see waste food, and staff here are no different. However, to donate this food we had to tackle some real issues first- getting agreements on high standards of food hygiene and strictly timed logistics.

“That makes our success even more satisfying to see. Now that we’ve got an official procedure in place, we know we’re donating this food for life, not just for Christmas!

“I’m delighted that everyone’s efforts have paid off, it’s a real whole-organisation achievement.

From Billy, the porter who originally raised the problem, through to our shop staff who now sort the collections. This is a team effort which is making a difference to people’s lives in Sheffield.”

Disruption to staff and student services as Elves ditched by Sinterklaas University House redevelopment planned David Parker Student and staff services could face disruption next year as building works take place on University House as part of a major new redevelopment programme.

Staff who work in the admin offices on Level Six of the University-owned building will operate from Edgar Allen House on Glossop Road.

Sources have told Forge Press that there will also be major disruption to nights out at the Foundry, which is situated below University House.

Nightclubs and entertainment at the Students’ Union bring in revenues of £432,381 a year and the university will be looking to minimise their losses from any potential disruption.

The programme, which will see University House integrated into the Students’ Union, will begin less than a year after the £5 million redevelopment of the Students’ Union was completed.

Finance Officer Harry Horton said: “We will be working in partnership with the university throughout to ensure any inconvenience caused to students and staff is kept to a minimum, however there may be disruptions to certain facilities and services, including the Foundry & Fusion.

“Students and staff will be kept informed of the full extent of the works early in the New Year.”

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said that work will start on the site during Summer 2012 and that during works the majority of Students’

Union services will be open for business.

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching Paul White said: “Bringing together the existing Students’ Union with a newly refurbished University House to create a new and improved building reflects the strong partnership between the Students’ Union and the university, for the benefit of both the student experience and the wider university community.”

Excluding last year’s revamp, the last major rebuild on the Students’ Union was in the early 1990s, when a 400-seat lecture theatre/cinema, informal study space, meeting rooms and catering facilities were added.

An example of the tradional celebration with elves in black facepaint.

Zoe Antell

Work will begin on University House during Summer 2012

Photo: David Parker

The University of Sheffield’s Germanic Studies Department held their Dutch Christmas celebration yesterday, despite the University saying the event wouldn’t take place.

A spokesman told Forge Press on Wednesday that the “Sintaklaas” event would not be held, but around 50 people assembled at Jessop West yesterday to celebrate.

Sinterklaas, a traditional Christmas celebration held on December 5 in the Netherlands and Belgium, involves Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) giving out presents to children along with his helpers, which are called Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes).

The controversy last year arose over the Zwarte Piet, which are usually, although not exclusively, played by a white person wearing black facepaint and an afro wig.

In order to avoid causing any offence, the Department of Germanic Studies last year made

the decision that the Zwarte Pieten should wear green face paint instead of black.

This year the event was held without controversy after no one dressed up as Santa’s helpers.

Sinterklaas is part of the Beginners Dutch course, with students learning about the cultural and historical background of one of the most important Dutch celebrations of the year, as well as listening to the songs traditionally sung at the event.

Olivia Michaud, a 2nd year Journalism and Germanic student, attended the event and said: “I think because of the allegations made against the event last year, the organisers thought it was safest to not have Zwarte Pieten at the event. They didn’t even have them with green faces this time.

“Instead, Pieten made a phone call and told us he couldn’t be there. It was a bit sad that we couldn’t have any of the helpers there.”

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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Thousands take to the streets in pensions reform demonstration Comment Jonathan Robinson

Photo: Ian Moreno-Melgar Katie Davies and David Parker Approximately 10,000 protesters gathered in Sheffield city centre as part of a nationwide strike over pension reforms.

Schools were closed and roads were brought to a standstill throughout the afternoon on November 30 as demonstrators marched to the city centre.

South Yorkshire Police reported that approximately 10,000 protesters attended the rally at Barker’s Pool. University staff also took part in the strike with pickets appearing in front of university buildings including Firth Hall, the Hicks Building, and Jessop West.

“We had a good turn out from lecturers today,” said Dara O’Reily, a lecturer and member of UCU. “We had a picket outside a large number of buildings and it was nice to see people driving by and hooting their horns.

“It’s basically, work longer, die poorer. We need more people to wake up and realise what’s going on.”

University of Sheffield Students’ Union also announced their support for the strike.

A link was placed on the Students’ Union website

throughout the day allowing students to add their name to a letter urging the Vice Chancellor to work harder to stop strikes in the future.

Sam Mannion, Chair of Union Council, said: “If you’ve been affected, write to the VC and other officials. Don’t be angry at the lecturers, be angry at the government for putting them in that position.”

“All that guff about militant strikers is garbage. No-one wants to strike - they’re striking because they have to. If you’re angry, get angry at the right people.”

The strike has been condemned by the government, who have accused trade unions of trying to “wreck” the economic recovery.

They also spoke of the need for reform due to Britain’s ageing population and the rising cost of public sector pensions.

Chancellor George Osbourne had warned trade union leaders earlier in the week that the action was “not going to achieve anything.”

Sheffield Central MP, Paul Blomfield, said in a statement that he supported the strike and would be joining a rally in Westminster.

Photo: Jingjing Liu

What’s on your mind?

Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com

For many public sector workers, George Osborne’s autumn statement was the final straw.

Gone was any faint hope of reconciliation, replaced instead by higher borrowing, greater job losses and a public-sector pay freeze.

It’s not hard to grasp why so many are angry. A further 310,000 jobs will be lost in a second wave of cuts and those lucky enough to still be employed will see their pensions capped.

For them, a pay rise of one per cent in the two years from 2013 can only be viewed as a realterms pay cut. With most public sector employees already in the middle of a two-year pay freeze, Osborne’s latest medicine to rectify the economy seems to them like yet another acidic attack.

Prime Minister David Cameron also branded the efforts on the picket lines as “something of a damp squib” but the anger felt by teachers, doctors, nurses and council staff on the streets cannot be ignored. If these strikes have exposed anything, it is the level of discontent against the Coalition.

Of course, action is needed to tackle Britain’s financial struggles, but shouldering the burden on the same group of workers each time does not do much to help the image of Cameron’s Tory party. Under the autumn budget, nothing more was taken from the top ten per cent of earners.

Governments and citizens cannot always be in harmony, but when a government shuns and demonises its own workers, then clearly something deeper is at play.

Whether lecturers, and any other workers for that matter, will gain anything meaningful out of Wednesday’s strikes is uncertain, aren’t we still asking the same about the student tuition fees protest?

But as most workers will remind us, carrying a flag, chanting and walking through streets is not what people signed up for in the public sector, should be and is the last resort.

Sheffield named University of the Year by Times David Parker The University of Sheffield has been named university of the year at the Times Higher Education awards.

Judges praised the University’s “determination and grit” in focusing on its local community and said it had “stood out as a result of a strategy based on its values and rooted in its founding principles”.

The University beat off five other universities to land the prestigious award.

Vice Chancellor Keith Burnett said: “This is wonderful news for everyone; to be chosen for such an honour is a powerful tribute to the hard work, dedication and ability of our staff, students, graduates and partners.

“At a time of real challenge for quality, access, and the funding

of universities, the University of Sheffield has drawn particular inspiration from our founding principles as a civic university established by public subscription and the donations of ordinary working people.”

The awards, now in their seventh year, look to celebrate the excellence and achievements of UK higher education institutions.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “This award is thoroughly well deserved.

“Everyone in Sheffield should be proud of the achievements of both staff and students.”

The University of Sheffield was nominated along with the University of Dundee, Edge Hill University, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton and the University of Sussex.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Forge in Brief Ennis awarded MBE Athlete Jessica Ennis, a graduate of the University of Sheffield, has been awarded an MBE. Sheffield-born Ennis, 25, became the UK’s first heptathlon gold medallist at the World Championship in 2009, and this year won gold again in the European Championships and silver in Daegu.

Voted a Sheffield Legend for bringing the city international recognition, she is also a patron of the University’s Elite Sport Performance Scheme that provides financial support to student athletes competing at national level.

Professor Keith Burnett, ViceChancellor of the university, said: “We’re delighted that Jessica has been recognised for her significant contribution to the athletics world. We wish her all the best in the London 2012 Olympics.”

Emma Wray

Scientists find breast cancer molecule in “breakthrough” Scientists at the University of Sheffield and University of Manchester have made a key breakthrough in the battle against breast cancer.

Molecules called Runx2 and CBF - B play a vital role in the development, growth and renewal of our skeletons, and CBF -B may be working with breast cancer cells, which also make Runx2, to help these cells invade and grow inside bones.

Dr Lisa Wilde, Director of Research, Breast Cancer Campaign said: “Too many people still die from breast cancer, mainly as a result of it spreading to other parts of the body. This innovative project could help the development of new treatments to halt breast cancer in its tracks.”

The research was funded by a £20,000 grant from Breast Cancer Campaign.

Olivia Adams

24-hour lecturer raises just under £8,000 in Science-a-thon A lecturer at the University of Sheffield raised almost £8,000 for Children In Need after completing 24 hours of back to back lectures.

Dr Tim Richardson from the department of Physics and Astronomy held a ‘science-a-thon’ across three venues from 5pm on 17 November until 5pm on 18 November.

The fundraising event even included a lecture on the move, which saw Dr Richardson wheeling a white board and using a megaphone.

Hundreds of people turned up to watch, including staff and students from the University and pupils from primary schools in Sheffield.

“The challenge was out of this world and I’m still pinching myself and thinking, did it really happen?” said Dr Richardson.

“There were hundreds and hundreds of people who came to watch and everyone was so supportive. I’m just so pleased it all went well.”

Jodie Gadd

Sheffield beat off competition from five candidates to land the award

www.forgetoday.com // letters@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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LETTERS

Have your say

We are not guests at this University – there’s plenty of room to ROAR! Dear Forge Press,

I am writing in reference to a recent article in the Comments section entitled “Plug your masculinity, there’s no Space for you to ROAR!”.

I know I’m not speaking alone when I say I found it grossly stereotypical, plain insulting and the rather loosely based argument unconvincing and divisive.

It placed unsupported accusations and hostility against large sections of the student population, and gave a completely distorted presentation of our Union.

I think it is a brilliant thing that we have our Union - voted one of the top Students Unions in the country - providing us with nights out almost every day of the week.

It is there for us to reconnect with friends, and have a night or two away from the high pressures and expectations to achieve the best in our academic, extracurricular and sporting performances that we find in the university lifestyle.

It is there for us to enjoy, which is what we do; people bring their outside friends, brothers, sisters and even their mothers – true story - for a cheeky night in Pop Tarts. It is a very well run institution; personally, I have never felt safer on a night out in Sheffield than when I am in the Union.

I am talking about the so far undefended culture of the ‘Lad’. There are misconceptions; it is possible and common to be cocky and kind hearted, to

be confident without being arrogant, and to be a lad as well as a decent human being.

Certain allegations of every night at our Union seeing a brawl between lads simply are not true; incidents are infrequent and quickly dealt with, they are not unique to lads, and are by far in the minority.

There is truth in the notion that we take it too far from time to time; students and young people are infamous for crossing boundaries with drinking.

However, I remember the common warning before I moved into University was that most of what students learn here about the world is not from degrees; I certainly believe this to be true.

It is by pushing these boundaries, making these mistakes and crossing these lines in academia, day to day life, and in our drinking culture, that we learn where they are; it is how we grow.

And as for the accusations of lads encouraging infidelity and cheating on their partners, I’m sure there are people who call themselves lads who have cheated, as I’m sure there are other men, ladies, boys, girls, and adults; kind hearted people everywhere have made the same mistake.

So why is this hostility aimed just at lads?

People have often judged ‘lad’ and ‘lass’ culture at a glance, without knowing or understanding the people involved. Attitudes like this put unnecessary boundaries

between people.

They fail to realize that there is much, much more to us than unfounded and ignorant labels that float around insulting people.

These same people deserve and have worked incredibly hard for years to earn their place here. It seems a shame that such attitudes dismissing and undermining this prevail in such an intellectual environment, especially in such an enlightened and liberal age.

So, to those who blindly accuse people they don’t know with sweeping generalizations and outrageous statements, stop resenting and dividing the community. Adopting these attitudes runs the risk of ruining your own night out for yourself; if you choose to do this, keep your prejudices, vendettas and insults to yourself.

We are not guests at this University, we are all people and belong here, and it belongs to everyone - to the Lads, to the Medics, the Lecturers, Athletes, Mathletes, Geeks like me, the Staff, Actors, Researchers, Musicians, the Alumni, Architects, Writers, Political Activists, the Scientists and the Poets.

We live it, we love it, we share it; we will never forget it. Embrace it. Don’t try and take it away from anyone; or all you will take with you is regret.

Yours sincerely, Sophie Swaine

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

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

Sexism has no place in our Union Dear Forge Press,

I was very disappointed to see your piece ‘She’s a celebrity get me into her!’

Whilst you may have thought it was smart and witty, a lot of students, University staff and I found it insulting.

It is infuriating that you have normalised sexism in this way and that you do not see this as a form of discrimination.

I imagine (and hope) you would never make racist, homophobic or antidisabled remarks in your newspaper. So why did you decide to treat the 52% of the people at the University and in society as a sexual object?

Sexism and gender

stereotyping is something that I see and battle against every day, it is one of the most horrendous and frustrating things that affects a lot of women’s lives.

Why should I or any woman be made to feel that our body is there for the purpose of yours or anyone’s pleasure?

Sexist remarks are serious and not something you add to fill your page when you are struggling for news one week.

The harm caused to women by being encouraged to conform to an ideal of ‘beauty’ and sexual availability has dangerous consequences.

I realise a lot of people might think that this issue

is trivial, but it is these issues that build up and lead to the acceptability of sexual harassment in society.

We are a values led Students’ Union and I would like to see Forge Press reflect this and not reinforcing patriarchy like tabloid newspapers.

It has been said before, but why isn’t Forge Press doing more to champion the acts and efforts of students?

I hope in future issues of Forge Press you will reflect on this and think about the effect your messages have on your readers.

Yours sincerely, Sarah Charlesworth Women’s Officer 11-12

Feminists undermine their cause Dear Forge Press, I completely object to the ridiculously disproportionate opposition to what was clearly meant to be a lightly humorous article in the last issue, ‘She’s a celebrity, get me into her’.

As a volunteer student newspaper to which

anybody can contribute, if these people can’t be bothered to take part I don’t see why they should have any input as to its editorial direction.

And to be frank, some of the abusive language directed towards Forge on their infantile Facebook page only seeks to undermine the integrity

of the feminist cause as a whole, and highlight this small, reactionary group as being entirely uninterested in constructive action, to the benefit of insular selfappreciative hot air.

Yours sincerely, Ben Rigby Third-year history student

LibDems support S10 campaign Dear Forge Press,

The local Liberal Democrats are very concerned that students using S10 Gym may not be receiving refunds they are entitled to, following closures of the swimming pool.

We will be contacting the University to raise this issue and to request that those who are entitled to refunds receive them.

As local Lib Dem councillors and community campaigners with a large number of student residents in the wards we represent, we are always happy to help and support all the residents who make up the local community.

Yours sincerely, Paul Scriven, Lib Dem Councillor for Broomhill Ward

Rob Frost, Lib Dem Campaigner for Crookes Ward Sylvia Anginotti, Lib Dem Councillor for Crookes Ward Sue Alston, Lib Dem Campaigner for Fulwood Ward Andrew Sangar, Lib Dem Councillor for Fulwood Ward

Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to: Council Chair: ‘Boycott Sun over Hillsborough’ Sheffield students can only pray this guy doesn’t run for President now he’s shown himself to be so nakedly authoritarian.

Shocked!

Whoever is “Shocked!” should simply shut up.

‘Nakedly authoritarian’?

The Sun is a flithy rag and it would hardly be a ‘totalitarian act of censorship to ban it’ as someone who I can only assume is a particular fan of hard right tories patronising working class people in a tabloid column.

Anyway, the wider issue is not about whether we

have a particular dislike to right wing tabloids, it is that this is a local and timely issue which has a massive precedent, especially in Merseyside.

The role of the Union is not to stand up for the kind of ‘equality’ you’re probably thinking of.

The ‘equality’ which allows, white, bigoted, heterosexual, upper class toffs to say what

the fuczk they like.

It is an equality which protects people against bigotry and discrimination I think it would be a strong message of support for the families of the Hillsborough 96 for our Student Union to ban the sale of The Sun.

Alistair Holmes just seems to want to have a rant about The Sun! It is unfair to boycott a paper based on one poor news story which was published before much of the student body was even born.

The reporters at the paper

are now different and it is incredibly naive to tar them all with the same brush.

Ultimately people should be allowed to read what they want. I completely agree with Shocked! it is authoritarian to start dictating to students what

they are allowed and not allowed to buy in the student union shop, a trend that should have been stopped before the current ridiculous bottled water ban!

Alistair Holmes

Unfair

Dear Forge Press, I myself am from Liverpool and have never and never would buy The Sun, and I am very happy to challenge those that do.

However, I would never support a ban of the newspaper from the Union, even in light of the crazily untrue picture it painted of not only the 96 fans who died, Liverpool FC fans but also the people of Liverpool.

And why? Because the Students’ Union is not a place where censorship and intolerant authoritarianism should be practiced.

Is it not bad enough that the Union bans the selling of Nestle products, removing your consumer rights and not allowing you to enter into some ‘moral crusade’ against the company?

This authoritarianism is also promoted in a more intolerant way through the Students’ Union’s membership of NUS which bans people rightwing political beliefs from speaking.

For me this is boils down to one central issue. What is the Students’ Union?

The Students’ Union, and especially the council, is not, and should never be, some silly group of moral popularist crusaders who bring forward any measure which appears to be ‘ethical’ or ‘environmental’ or promotes ‘tolerance’.

The Students’ Union is a place where people of all political persuasions should be allowed to engage each other in debate, and this is tolerance.

Tolerance does not only work in one direction, it

is not only anti-racist, anti-feminist or proenvironmental.

Therefore, we must consider, would banning The Sun newspaper from the Union shop be tolerant?

No, it removes peoples consumer choice and once again displays how the Union council practice silly moral over-lording because you, the student at a Russell Group university (which is apparently one of the best in the country), is too stupid and ignorant to think for yourself.

So I say to the Union, the Union Council and students, who are you? Are you able to practice moral responsibility based on your own beliefs?

Christopher Beckett

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011 www.forgetoday.com

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www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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COMMENT

Forge Press asks are companies right to not pay interns?

Cost of placement Internships are is too great priceless, and without payment should remain so Nicholas Carding

Why would you work your butt off for no money at all? It goes against all the principles and practices we learn about since we start primary school and hear that adults have to work to get paid.

Nowadays, with the increasing competition for jobs, it seems people are willing to give up the most basic of human rights to get into their employers’ good books.

‘A lot of work by interns turns out to be very good work’

I don’t mind working hard at school and university because I know it will lead me to a job where I will actually get paid.

Let’s face it, from the moment you undertake an internship at any given firm, you are essentially employed by them. You do work for them from which the firm should benefit, however small or unimportant the job is.

Why then should the firm say: “No we’re not going to pay you, simply because you are new in the trade and we need to look after you more than our permenent employees.”

If any boss offers someone an internship then he/she must be prepared to pay for the material produced. It’s a basic and logical principle: you work and you get paid for it.

Anyone not willing to pay interns for their work should not offer internships in the first place.

And it doesn’t make it any better that a lot of firms exploit the interns’ eagerness and flexibility and gives them the most thankless of tasks, or makes them work extra hours since the intern will rarely complain even about anything in order to make a good impression.

When I did work experience at the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper I wrote several stories, one of which made the front page.

Clearly, the editors felt this work was of a good standard. Indeed, a lot of the work that interns do actually turns out to be very good so why shouldn’t we demand payment for it?

At least the employer could evaluate your work at the end of the week and pay you as much as the work was worth.

There needs to be a drastic change in the mentality of interns: we shouldn’t be expected to work hard for no pay.

And in some cases the law is actually on our side.

In 2010 a report was published w h i c h said many p r i v a t e sector firms are “almost certainly” breaking the law by offering unpaid internships.

Many interns, who are essentially volunteers, can be legally defined as workers under national minimum wage legislation, according to the

report by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

This means many firms who have offered internships technically owe money, and could be forced to stump up if taken to an employment tribunal.

The conclusion is simple therefore: if you do any kind of work for a firm which it benefits from, you should expect to be paid.

If the internship is a failure and you end up producing nothing, then y o u don’t deserved to be paid.

It really is as easy as that.

Hannah Frost

Across the country, thousands of students are already gearing up for a summer of long hours, difficult tasks and little or no pay.

Similarly, thousands of employers are being begged for a chance. They’re spending their days training youngsters, finding them tasks to do and clearing up after them.

We talk of the work placement; these weeks of playing at the real world are hard work for everyone involved.

Looking at it from a student’s point of view, they’re giving up precious hours, during not only holidays but also sometimes during university semesters, to carry out work for someone else. They do this for free, only to be turfed out after a couple of weeks to make space for the next student wannabe.

There’s a feeling that all that’s happening here is students - with little option but to work for free for some experience and another line on the CV - are being ruthlessly exploited.

Indeed, according to a survey by the University of Westminster, 90 per cent of students have worked for free, and 77 per cent didn’t even get reimbursed for travel expenses.

The general consensus seems to be that if what you’re doing is

deemed legitimate work that is contributing to a company – and therefore, not just licking envelopes and making cups of tea – then you should be paid.

But there’s another side of the coin to consider. It’s not that fairness towards the graduates and students that undertake work experience and internships isn’t important: it’s that there’s more to it than that.

‘Pay or no pay, they’re giving students opportunities’

It’s easy, sitting in our university bubble, to only think of what our actions can get us and forget what other people are giving up or making more complicated for themselves to help us along.

Wherever we take on a work placement, someone will be responsible for us, to give us tasks and advice, and to look at our work.

In the current economic climate, this person is probably already doing as much work as they can handle, and so by taking us on are only creating more work for themselves. Not only do they help us out, but they clear up any messes we make. In a journalism environment, this may mean that stories are all but rewritten, but maintain the original writer’s by-line despite most of the work being done by a superior or a sub-editor.

More than this, by taking on and trusting student workers, companies are accepting a risk.

By handing work to someone inexperienced, companies lose an element of control which can result in a loss.

This is reflected across different industries, and loss of content or contracts can easily mean loss of money.

Whilst using work experience candidates instead of full time employees does save a salary, there is also a huge inconvenience in the constant retraining of new interns.

Pay or no pay, they’re giving students opportunities to learn that many others aren’t. Within journalism, many local papers in particular have had to close their doors to students wanting to work for free just because they don’t have enough staff to look after a person without the experience and knowledge to work independently and without risk.

Until Government sees the issue from both points of view, no truly fair legislation regarding payment for internships can be drawn up. The economic situations of both parties must be considered, while students should also realise that a successful career is not something just to be taken: it must be earned, and this may mean compromising.

This is not to say that students should continue to contribute significant work to companies without some form of payment. Nor is it just a matter of elitism: depending on your choice of career, a period of unpaid work may be as good as obligatory. But if you’re determined to do something you love, this might well mean making some sacrifices: working extra hours at a bar or a shop during holidays, or using student loan carefully, may well be worth it if it gets you time at the workplace of your dreams.

Call of Nature: Modern Toilet 3 - coming to a pub near you Tom Fletcher If you don’t want to read an article about urination, avert your eyes now.

Let’s face it; you’d be hard set to find a man who considers evacuation the most leisurely of activities. As brief as the process may be, for 40-odd seconds you are left with no option but to mentally twiddle your thumbs and stare vacantly at the wall in front of you and wait for the inevitable.

Fear not though, thanks to the innovators down at Captive Media, a series of urinal mounted games consoles have been unveiled.

How does this ground breaking urinal console work, you ask? Well, quite appropriately, your wee is the controller.

Inside the urinal are a selection of

decorated targets labelled ‘Start’, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’. Cutting edge infrared technology captures the urine stream and, hey presto, you have a urine control pad.

Thankfully for hygiene purposes, all games are hands-free.

‘What better way to improve you urinary accuracy than honing your skills every half hour’ The digital age never ceases to amaze me.

The only games currently on offer are pub quiz challenges and skiing simulators.

Granted, it’s difficult to imagine the most dynamic toilet gaming experience will be available for some time.

This concept is a legitimate, big budget development that could be installed in

toilets nationwide very soon.

Now, as a gentleman who understands the grotesque labours of urination, I can think of no invention more nifty or relevant.

The men’s room on a Friday evening can be one of the more hostile environments.

Whether it’s the freakishly well-endowed gentlemen brandishing themselves as unsubtly as possible, or the Friday night undesirables praying you make eye contact so they can accuse you of “Startin’ summet”, there is an awful lot that one needs to distract oneself from.

“Sorry mate, I’m playing Piss-Tetris” This, then, is a welcome addition: some of the more awkward moments of a young man’s life can occur at the urinals.

Cross-toilet banter can be casual and forthcoming, but it can also be horrendously awkward. A personal favourite of mine was: “Have you ever needed a piss that badly that when it came out you got an

erection?”

I certainly could have used a urinal pub quiz right about then.

The benefits don’t stop there though. As you may know, gentlemen are somewhat infamous for the inaccuracy of their urinating. What better way to improve your urinary accuracy than by dextrously honing your skills every half hour between pints?

Never again will a bathroom floor be spoiled by the offending after-dribble.

A modified version for the ladies’ toilets is already in development too, so it’s not just the guys who are going to benefit from this astronomical contraption.

So, while the invention may seem a bizarre waste of money, I for one can’t wait to register my high score on Urinal Skiing and post that bad boy onto Facebook. These devices are also set to revolutionise the lucrative world of toilet advertising.

Technology is our friend.

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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

11

COMMENT

These scenes in Sheffield have split opinion over public sector workers and their plight.

Photos: (top) Jingjing Liu, (left and right) Hannah Frost

Pick-et up lecturers, surely our education comes first?

James Garrett I would like to think of myself as a reasonable person, someone who prides themselves on being logical and making rational decisions. I am not petulant or selfish and I don’t expect the world to do me any favours.

Nevertheless this is my final year at university and it is costing me £3,375.

I don’t mind paying this, in theory this money will allow me to further my education and better my prospects upon leaving university. Still, £3,375 is not a small amount of money, granted it’s not the £9,000 that students will be paying in later years but it is still significant.

I have paid a similar amount for each year I have been at university; in fact I have probably paid more due to inflation.

When I leave university I will be in around £27,000 worth of debt due to the loans that allow me to live.

I don’t mind this; if this is the trade off for a better education then I will pay it happily. After all nothing in life is free and with everyone struggling with the recent recession, what right do I have to demand that it is?

The fact that I have seven hours of lectures and seminars a week is something that does slightly bother me but I tell myself it’s worth it, when I am sat at my desk with the tenth can of red bull open churning essay after essay out, reading

book after book.

When I started university I was fully aware that this is what I was signing up for and agree with the principles of self learning entirely but recently something has been bothering me. If I look at a recent essay I wrote it says there in bold on the top of the first page “Direct feedback is also available from your tutor”, but the truth is that sometimes it isn’t.

Now before you send the lynching mob after me, let’s gets a few things clear. I am not a lecturer/tutor basher, in fact at this moment in time I have tutors that are excellent at providing feedback and

‘Last time lecturers went on strike some of them shouted at students who crossed the picket line’ getting in touch, but there have been cases where they haven’t. Now this would be fine if university was free but my point is that it’s not.

I despise the petulant line of “I am paying the best part of four grand a year for this” but the truth is that I am and so is everyone on my course and other courses around the University. So when tutors don’t reply to emails and are not on hand to help with assessments I have to ask myself why I am I paying for this.

Fast-forward to deadline week when I need the answer to a specific question

about an assignment and the problem multiples. Yes, university is about self learning, but when someone who is paid a salary, someone who knows far more about a subject than I do, doesn’t reply to a simple email that would really help me, questions have to be asked about why students are paying so much money for a service that is only doing half of what is required of it.

The straw that broke this student’s back was when I found out about the lecture strikes and that some students may be suffering because of them.

Imagine only having four hours of contact time a week, to then find out that this has been cut down to two.

I am not of the same political viewpoint as those going on strike. I do not agree with them and yet I am essentially paying for a service that is depleting more and more.

The last time that the lecturers went on strike some of them shouted at students who crossed the picket line in an attempt to get into the buildings to get some work done.

The recession has hit everyone and quite why the University staff and many other workers across the country feel they have the right to opt out of their jobs on a whim baffles me.

Would it not make more sense to teach the students who one day may be in the position to change things and maybe make their lives a little easier?

When they were at university they did not have to pay over three thousand pounds and certainly not anything like the

nine thousand that future students soon will do.

Still, they feel justified sitting outside

‘Imagine only having four hours of contact time a week, to then find out it’s been cut to two’ the university neglecting the students they are meant to be teaching. Students are paying large amounts of money because they want to be here, they want to learn and unlike their lecturers have not thrown the towel in when things got hard.

Indeed it would seem that these lecturers could learn something from us students, oh the irony. Life is difficult and money doesn’t grow on trees so get back into those lecture theatres and provide the service you are paid for.

There are some students who don’t want to trash London in protest and who don’t think the cuts are unreasonable.

They just want to learn so they can get a decent degree and have a chance of making a life for themselves in these tough times.

They don’t complain, so why then should you?

Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight?

Contact letters@forgetoday.com

BLANK

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www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

COMMENT

Much taboo about touching Alisha Rouse

Sally Bercow is an interesting lady. Wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons, parttime erotic model (ish) and ex-contestant of the brain cell destroying Celebrity Big Brother, is not normally a list of credentials you’d see together.

In an interview with Total Politics she announced her favourite gadget was a sex toy. The whole incident was described by The Sun and The Daily Mail alike as “embarrassment” for her husband, John Bercow; and when her interviewer questioned the answer, she replied “Oh no, put that one in.” No innuendo intended, I swear.

Yes, Sally Bercow isn’t your typical politician’s wife. She’s certainly publicity hungry and seems to hold no intentions to swan about events in a conservative three-quarter length pencil dress, ala SamCam, but why should she?

Her marital status, let alone who she is married to, should not change the kind of person she is or how she chooses to present herself to the public.

Particularly in reference to this issue, the internet and Twittersphere exploded with disgust and disgrace that a grown woman was so willing to openly announce things about her sexuality.

Is she not satisfied by her husband? Does she have no

shame in embarrassing his political career?

Women do masturbate. This fact is one that is ignored by partners and press alike. I’m sorry, but it happens. Men can openly and proudly announce their sexuality, with no taboos relating to their ‘solo sexual endeavours’.

Women, however, are generally expected to sit innocently, atop our ivory towers, awaiting a shining knight with a great steed, to satisfy us and take our sexual innocence for themselves.

Yes, yes I generalise, but the taboo about female masturbation exists. In this case, and trust me I shock myself, I agree wholeheartedly with what Sally Bercow did.

She replied in an honest and original way, what did people expect? “Mrs. Bercow, what’s your favourite gadget?” “My toastie maker and microwave oven.”

‘A man is fully assumed to enjoy pornography and masturbate’ Since stores such as Ann Summers have established female pleasure as a brand, you would assume that masturbation had become a universally accepted practice between sexes.

However, even Ann Summers parades its skimpy underwear sets and fetish dressing-up sets far more prominently in the store than the sex toys, shamefully hidden around the corner.

A man is fully expected and assumed to enjoy pornography

and masturbate on a fairly frequent basis, while if the same is said of a woman, they are described as “kinky” or assumed to be Bridget Jones, and spend the remainder of the night crying into a tub of Ben and Jerry’s.

‘Women do masturbate. This fact is one that is ignored’

Given, if Mr. Bercow announced similar things in an interview, it would be disgracing to his profession.

Announcing your masturbation techniques as a professional and influential person is obviously discrediting.

Almost as discrediting, but no where near as disturbing, as when Tony Blair announced he “devoured Cherie” in his autobiography. That entire paragraph made me come pretty close to ripping the skin off my own face.

However, Sally Bercow is not a politician, she is a female public figure who is perfectly able to be honest about her private life if she wants to be; and anyone who attempts to persuade the nation that women do have individual sexual needs is fine by me.

Amusingly, another one of the activities The Daily Mail listed as part of a continuous list of “embarrassing” things Mrs. Bercow has been up to whilst wife of the Speaker, is announcing on Celebrity Big Brother that “my husband puts a smile on my face when he unloads the dishwasher and makes me a cup of tea.”

Need I say any more?

Santa Claus is coming to town, but far too early Cat Tibbs I am no Scrooge. Honestly. I am one of those 20-year-old children who still can’t sleep on Christmas Eve night and who has ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ blasting through Crookes in preparation for the first Pop Tarts of December.

However, I cannot help but get frustrated by the sight of Christmas trees in the windows of the many hairdressers down West Street in October.

I am a firm believer that Christmas decorations should not be seen until the month of the fabulous day itself.

Of course, as soon as we’ve eagerly opened the first window of our Disney Cars or Hello Kitty advent calendars, the countdown can begin. Until then, there should be no decorations smothering restaurant windows.

The exciting lead-up to Christmas is ruined by retail giants promoting their Christmas stocks as soon as their shelves are left bare from Halloween tack, or in the case of Harrods, on July 28. Their Christmas store opened to the public before our eagerly

anticipated (and non-existent) Indian Summer, complete with every type of hanging you could possibly choose to accessorise your tree with.

This is ridiculous! Christmas is a glorious occasion that only graces our year once. This is what makes it so special and exciting, yet the determined efforts of retailers are turning the tradition into a drawn out farce.

The famous Coca-Cola advert is a magical moment, but can’t it wait just a few more weeks? The adorable John Lewis advert that recently entered our living rooms and dominated my Facebook homepage for at least a week. Is it really necessary so early?

Clearly, I do not plan my Christmas shopping in advance so have no need for these consumer adverts. Yet the chief focus on presents at Christmas time is enough to send me up the chimney with the old bearded fella.

Dare I mention the Littlewoods advert?

Forget about a later showing, this advert should be banned altogether for its promotion of expensive, designer presents as the norm - the only gifts worth buying - together with its age old portrayal of the mother as the primary shopper, I’m surprised it made the air at all. No matter how cute the little ginger kid at the end is.

The buzz of Christmas is based around the idea of having one day dedicated to festivities whether that is religious celebration, food, family, or a pint of black sheep up d’pub.

However you choose to spend your Christmas, its magic is based on the fact that it comes only once a year; we should treasure this, not wish it away by visiting Christmas stores in August, or whacking out a tree mid-June as Forge’s previous contributor admitted he would do.

Rant over. Spot me on Christmas Day, and the rest of December for that matter, wearing a permanent Santa hat and red nose. Until then, my Christmas playlist is on hold.

To give your view, tweet @ForgeComment or visit www.forgetoday.com/comment

The tragedy of Speed exposes mental fragility Nicole Froio It is always a shock when someone who is well-loved and talented unexpectedly passes away. But the shock is even greater when that someone, who appeared to be happy and surrounded by love and adoration, seems to have taken their own life.

Gary Speed’s death was untimely, abrupt and incredibly sad. The 42-year-old Welsh coach, father and husband appeared to be happy and healthy, in a state unlikely to end with suicide. He had been on BBC1’s Football Focus programme just the day before, speaking excitedly about Wales’ efforts to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. The next day, football fans all over the UK received the news with disbelief. Speed didn’t seem to be ill or depressed, he didn’t seem to be stressed or in crisis, he was doing a good job in coaching the Welsh team - so how could he have passed the day after he had been so happily chatting about the future on the television?

Media reports that Speed took his own life will only be confirmed after the inquest is finished, but the solemn confusion that

followed his death brings to light the very serious issue of male depression and how difficult it can be to reach out – and much easier it is to be jolly and hopeful on the outside.

When a man seems to have everything to live for – a family, a job and a future – and many people to count on when times get hard, why didn’t he reach out before getting to such a final decision?

‘How could he pass the day after he had been so happily chatting about the future? ’ According to Phillip Hodson of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, men react to depression much differently to women, keeping their struggle to themselves and making recovery more strenuous. Women are twice more likely as men to be diagnosed with depression but men are three times more likely to commit suicide.

In his article in The Independent, Hodson even suggested that the way male depression statistics are recorded should be different; they should include the

consequences of excessive stress, drinking and drug abuse as well as workaholism and road rage.

Male depression clearly manifests in different ways to female depression, and the fact that men are less likely to get help indicates that mental illness awareness for men must change in a drastic way: getting help is not only acceptable but could save your life.

Whilst saying that the “macho” football attitude contributes to a lack of depression awareness in sport might be cliché, there is no denying that it makes dialogue difficult, as does the media attention surrounding football stars. The number of rumours already surfacing regarding the reasons why Gary Speed might have taken his life only show how much more difficult it would have been for him to get help under the public eye.

Gary Speed’s death is a massive loss to the whole country and the number of tributes to honour him are a testament to that. His two sons and wife won’t be left out in the cold, but there is nothing that can replace a father and a husband. It will be impossible for anyone to comprehend how he was feeling when he decided to take his own life, but hopefully it will change the way we look at male depression and rescue lives in the future.

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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COMMENT

Forge Press apology

The “She’s a celebrity, get me into her” article in Issue 41, Friday November 18, fell below the high standards that all at Forge Press aim to achieve in every edition we produce.

The comments printed in D.A.R.T.S (Forge Press takes its satirical aim) should not have been made and were part of an editorial misjudgment by myself and the comment editors.

These were not in keeping with the tone of Forge Press, who aim to represent the beliefs of all students who study at the University of Sheffield.

On this occasion we were wrong to print the comments that we did and are taking internal steps to ensure this does not happen again.

Being editorially independent from the Students’ Union, University and other sections of Forge Media, the views expressed inside the paper do not necessarily represent those held by the aforementioned groups.

Forge Press continue to welcome all articles for submission from students and greet a diverse range of opinions and views that reflect all sides of the diverse student spectrum at the university.

Articles to be considered for publication should be emailed to the relevant section editors, whose contact details can be found on p.2.

Alternatively, articles to be considered for publication can be pitched to the editors at the fortnightly meetings for contributors.

We appreciate all constructive criticism by readers and endeavour to take on-board feedback provided by our readers.

With government cuts, should expensive General Practitioners be a no-go?

GPs are ill-fated Harrison Worrel Anyone who has picked up a tabloid newspaper in the last five to 10 years will have been presented with the problem of cash-absorbing red tape in the NHS and the malevolent bureaucrats that place it there.

After the election last year the coalition promised value for money and an end to this bureaucracy.

Why then are they making a sacred cow out of the NHS’ biggest waste of money, the GP? According to the GP Earnings and Expenses 2008/09 Final Report published in January of this year the average wage for our family doctor is approximately £100,000, although this can be doubled or even tripled. That sum does not include the price of training or expenses which would push the cost significantly higher.

Also, when we consider the salary they receive does not include weekend or out-of-hours service, it is scandalous. Compare this to the average wage for a GP practice

nurse, which is around £40,000 a year. Quite a dramatic difference.

Now I am acutely aware of the training and work involved in becoming a GP, but with the biggest spending squeeze ever to hit the NHS, can we really justify them?

Most of us who visit our GP will recieve little more than 10 minutes of their time, to then be told all we need is more fluids and some rest.

More a matter of administration than diagnosis. But of course, this is when we actually get to see a doctor. Those who go for routine reasons, from a blood pressure test to a repeat prescription of the Pill, will usually see a practice nurse.

‘Most who visit our GP will receive less than 10 minutes of their time’ Consider the recent scandals involving the arbitrary removal of patients from surgery lists, and the damning news that it is the GP receptionists that control most of the repeat prescriptions. Are we

not wasting money both training and keeping these over-qualified administrators in work?

The generation of nurses training now are the most qualified in history, usually holding a degree and some even taking exams in drug prescription. Could they now take the mantle of community health, providing a service more suited to the public need, not to mention the NHS bank balance? I believe they can.

It wouldn’t just be about removing one job title, but rather it would be an institutional change. It would free up enough cash to reinforce the idea of community medicine, with a hard-line approach on prevention and education, not just treatment.

The money saved could go towards hiring more nurses and encouraging more to do further training, also leaving enough money to help the NHS balance its books.

With the incoming financial difficulties, it is time for radical choices and changes to be made that will last the long-term. It is time we call it a day on the General Practitioner; to both save money and with that, our health service too.

Editorial You have the right to be offended but don’t censor us We were wrong in what we printed in the article “She’s a celeb, get me into her” and a much deserved apology was issued as soon as complaints were received.

However, it is deplorable that anyone would think it justified to remove all copies of Forge Press from the Students’ Union because they were offended by the 107 misguided words in the D.A.R.T.S section of last issue.

This is nothing short of censorship and is not only an insult to the 100 people who worked voluntarily for hundreds of hours to produce and distribute the paper, but also a complete disregard for the rest of the content written and printed for the benefit of the student population of this University.

The Students’ Union constitution states that an enforced apology should be “of equal size and position as the original item.”

In this issue, the apology included is three times the length of the original article.

It must be remembered that Forge Press is editorially independent of the University and the Students’ Union alike.

This gives us the freedom to express diverse views while holding to account and criticising those who make the important decisions that have an impact on our student lives.

Occasionally this means that, particularly in the comment section, we will publish things that not everyone agrees with.

As with all mistakes there are lessons to be learnt from them. So, where do we go from here?

This incident has clearly highlighted how we can improve as a newspaper. Not only do we need to be better, we need to be more transparent - and we need to move on.

To continue Forge Press’ improvement we are creating new procedures and layers to the newspaper to ensure we are as accountable as possible. This will allow us to be scrutinised fairly, in an independent way, by the people who we produce the paper for; our readers.

We are creating new internal policies to support the Press Complaints Commission Code and National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct that we adhere to.

All editors and writers will be subject to a new internal anti-discrimination policy when producing the newspaper fortnightly.

This will allow the newspaper to keep its editorial independence and its right to free speech while being considerate its readers.

Forge Press are dedicated to producing the highest quality student journalism available and a newspaper that all students are proud of.

Matt Burgess - Forge Press Editor matt.burgess@forgetoday.com

Forge Press would also like to correct last issue’s comment article ‘Flyering high: the plane crash that is our concourse.’ It was attributed to Jared Barazetti-scott, but the article was actually written by Alex Chafey. Forge Press apologises for any confusion caused.

World loses its six appeal Josh Carey There is a theory that was half-heartedly tested in the late 60s that says there are just six degrees of separation between any two people in the world. But now, a collaboration between the University of Milan and Mark Zuckerberg’s finest minions, has managed to discover that the 721 million strong Facebook community is interconnected by just 4.74 moves on average.

Social networking sites are still growing and connecting people on scales never seen before, and with Facebook directly linked into most peoples phones, getting in contact has never been so easy.

Maybe someday we will have so much information at our fingertips that there will be just one degree of separation between everyone. In the cyborgian world of tomorrow we will all ‘know’ each other to the extent that we ‘know’ all our friends on Facebook.

I suppose, then, it can’t be long until we are interconnected to an extent that breaks down the barriers between human beings, and we all begin to think as one. A state whereby we are separated by nothing, our minds just an all knowing collaboration of past, present and future.

This is turning into an Asimov novel isn’t it? I’ll stop.

The Guardian’s reaction to this seemingly innocent piece of QI style news was to sneer at anyone who found it interesting.

After a brief explanation of what was going on, Guardian journalist Matt Parker said:“…They then stood back and waited for us all to be duly amazed. Well, let’s throw some numbers at the Facebook wall and see what sticks.” He then proceeded to claim that because he could do a very rough version of the maths involved, the information was no longer interesting.”

Personally, I would like to throw some knives at the Matt Parker wall just to see what sticks, and whether I could wipe the smarm off his face.

To claim that this is not interesting because a rudimentary version of the maths involved can be performed by a journalist is the equivalent of laughing in the face of Stephen Fry and David Attenborough and saying: “HAHA you idiots, the things you say are not interesting because I just looked them up and they are true. And true things are rubbish, HAHA.” Idiot.

The one really good thing to come out of this is that it does present a possible new internet game, click repeatedly on friends then friends of friends until you are lost upon a sea of strangers from places you haven’t heard of, only to then try to find your way home. It’s like the Wikipedia game for stupid people.

www.worldbeardchampionships.com

Website of the week:

World Beard and Moustache Championships

She’s a celebrity, get me into her!

D.A.R.T.S. Forge Press takes its satirical aim

Martin Bottomley

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FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

FEATURES

Women on wheels

The world of the roller derby is eccentric and at times brutal, Forge Press caught up with the Sheffield Steel Roller girls to find out more.

Words: Lizzy Jewell Photos: Sheffield Steel Roller Girls

W

elcome to the theatrical, somewhat obscure but wonderful w o r l d of roller derby. It is a dynamic, high-octane full contact sport, played on an oval track with the players wearing quad skates (as opposed to rollerblades).

Each team has a player called a ‘jammer’, and it’s her aim to overtake as many members of the opposing team as possible, within two minute periods. The rest of the team have to help their jammer get through, while preventing the opposing team’s jammer from getting points.

Slightly more dramatic than a mere keep-fit activity, the roller derby is an all girl, heavily tactical team sport with the added excitement of competitive violence and witty skate names. The Sheffield Steel Rollergirls (SSRG) are a diverse mixture of students, mums, teachers, and office workers from a range of age groups with a shared enthusiasm for, frankly, kicking some ass on rollerskates.

Originally an American phenomenon, the popularity of the roller derby seems to be spreading like wildfire. Maddy Lamb a.k.a. Parma Violence 101 says, there are teams all over the UK these days, “Everyday it seems like there are new European teams popping up, Berlin and Stuttgart are two notable European teams.”

Worldwide, there are more than 1000 teams, on every continent of the world.

It has even become so popular that the guys want a piece of the action. “I think to begin with it seemed like a totally different sport,” Lamb says.

“Guys being guys were a lot more about how fast you could go, and how hard you can hit, but I think they are now starting to see that the girls way may be more effective, using more tactics and positional blocking.”

Roller derby is by no means just rollerskating in circles, it is acutely tactical and uses each and every team member to score points. The sport

has also become more well-known since the 2009 film Whip It, directed by and starring Drew Barrymore. “It really helped to raise awareness of the sport and that the league does actually exist.” says Lamb.

A tender, funny coming of age story, Whip It follows Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) through teenage rebellion, first romance and discovering the underground, exciting world of the roller derby. Cavendar is enthralled by the thrill of the sport, but also finds the support she is looking for and a sense of belonging as part of a team. Lamb says, “The camaraderie in the film is something that I think you will find at Sheffield Steel Roller Girls.”

Lamb emphasised the appeal and importance of the more theatrical element of the sport, including skate names, allowing the players to assume a whole new identity when they’re skating. “I guess it lets people act differently than they perhaps would in every day life.”

This is what the sport is at first glance: a show, a theatrical production, bouts dubbed creatively and cleverly with names like the recent ‘Cirque du Slay’, with members of the Sheffield team assuming identities such as Skate Crasher, Marianne Faithkill and Eva Von Gorier. It’s almost superhero-like, giving women the opportunity to be a student, mother or dental nurse by day and then someone completely different by night. On the SSRG official website, each team-member is i n t ro d u c e d with creative biographies dripping with savvy word play and tongue in cheek metaphor.

The description of team member Mallory Hard-Knox reads: “Born bad, there is no way to overcome Mallory’s fearsome track presence. To look into her face is to gaze upon the cold, lifeless eyes of a shark, the bloodied tusks of a crazed boar, and the snarling maw of a hungry gator.”

“

I guess it lets people act differently than they perhaps would in every day life

”

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FEATURES The girls compete in daring outfits, warpaint, their intimidatingly cool skate names emblazoned across their backs.

Usually, the secret identity of the superhero lifestyle is a lonely one, having to permanently mask your double life from the outside world, but a really striking feature of the sport is the fact that the roller derby is nothing like the solitary lifestyle of your average superhero, as it appears to be a very open, social atmosphere to be a part of.

Ryan J Finnigan was lucky enough to attend a derby and the thing he picked up on most in his online article ‘Sheffield Steel Rollergirls or: Why Roller Derby is Sheffield’s Best Sport’ more than anything else was the “festival atmosphere, the punk spirit”. There is a sense of community, a team effort as well as a bond with the other teams they’re competing against. All in all, this article gives the impression that the team looks like a pretty marvelous thing to be a part of.

Roller Derby appears to be a dangerous hobby, according to Ms Violence 101 who had to take a year and a half out due to a nasty knee injury.

There is “an odd habit of a rollergirl displaying her injury or bruise like a chav would an ASBO,” she says.

Wearing your injury like a badge of honour may not seem to fit in with your typical girly activity.

This is a far cry from cheerleading ladies and gentlemen, and it’s definitely no trip to the spa.

The SSRG are not just pretty faces, and take their sport seriously, wearing their injuries with pride, a sisterly camaraderie for the girl who’s anything but average.

Although Lamb stresses that it’s not actually as barbaric as it could come across, Whip It is criticised slightly for showing moves that would not be allowed in a normal derby.

“There were a few dodgy moves pulled on the track in the movie that I think if we put into practise we would be sent off by the refs straight away. No punching or clotheslining, I’m sorry to disappoint.”

The team also train specifically to preserve their safety, “how to fall small so as not to trip other players over, and getting used to falling on your protective gear rather than your bottom.”

Yet the list of injuries Lamb mentioned seems to be really quite severe. “A broken collar bone, dislocated shoulders, split chins and chipped teeth.”

According to Lamb, the sport also includes an “awesome social scene with some pretty inspiring ladies from all walks of life.” The sport seems to be a celebration of femininity.

It’s smart, it’s competitive, it’s dangerous, it’s a little bit theatre and a little bit punk, but it’s also a community. The camaraderie is palpable. It’s also way more than just a sport on skates.

It’s a celebration of the fact that femininity can mean a whole range of things including multiple identities, women from all walks of life, a range of age and backgrounds coming together and enjoying being a team.

The roller derby spirit is something quite unique, being a rollergirl seems to be something special, and hopefully the sport will continue to pick up in popularity.

The Sheffield Steel Rollergirls currently have a movie themed charity 2012 calendar on sale, with proceeds going to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

Visit www.sheffieldsteelrollergirls. com for details and more information on the team.

Additionally, to see the rollergirls live in action, the first public home bout of the new year is on January 26 at Ponds Forge.

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FEATURES

Every year hundreds of families are devastated and student lives lost by road traffic accidents, a recent campaign hopes to change all that Words: Nicola Moors Art: Rebecca Cooke

I

t’s a shocking fact but nevertheless true: young people are four times more likely to die from car crashes than from drugs or alcohol poisoning.

According to the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), people between the ages of 15 and 24 are 17 times more likely to die in a road crash than to be fatally assaulted by a weapon.

Given that the media seem to report more on gun and knife crime in Britain - the most prolific recent shooting being that of Mark Duggan in August which sparked the violent summer riots - than deaths on the road, it would seem that they are fairly uncommon occurrences.

However, road crashes are the highest killer of young people aged 15-24 accounting for 38 per cent of non-medical deaths and figures show that every 16 hours a young person suffers often life-changing injuries, such as paralysis, on the Yorkshire and Humberside roads.

These high figures are more saddening when you realise that most deaths are preventable as statistics show that 80 per cent of road crashes are the fault of the pedestrian, with alcohol being a huge factor.

Busy places with bars and clubs are more likely to have incidents, particularly West Street, Division Street and Ecclesall Road.

In the past three years, 158 young people have been killed or injured on Sheffield’s roads – this roughly equates to one person a week, leaving potentially 158 families destroyed.

Brake – a road safety charity highlighted the impact of car crashes on loved ones through Road Safety Week, which was held last month during 21st to 25th November.

The theme of this year’s campaign was ‘Too Young To Die’. It aimed to show the public that road crashes are more than just a second of inattention as the results can impact families forever, causing life changing injuries to pedestrians, drivers and vehicle passengers alike.

All money raised by Brake during the week will go towards helping

“

In the past three years, 158 people have been killed or injured on Sheffield’s roads - this roughly equates to one person a week

” support families affected by road crashes.

Although research shows that the carelessness of pedestrians causes the majority of road crashes, the inexperience of young drivers can result in a higher chance of them crashing, but there are ways that drivers can minimise risks - the most obvious being not to drink and drive and to follow all speed limits.

Alison Hughes, senior community engagement officer at Brake, says: “Everyday, more families face the unbearable news that a loved one has been killed suddenly and violently, or suffered a horrific injury in young driver crashes.

“We are calling for action to tackle this needless suffering and the huge costs to society.”

In April 2009, a foreign student was killed in a fatal car collision after walking out in the path of a taxi on Manchester Road, near the Endcliffe Student Village.

She was attempting to cross near the junction with Tapton House Road when she was struck and died instantly from massive head trauma.

“

Just a second of inattention can impact families forever, causing life-changing injuries

”

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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FEATURES

700600500400300200100-

Guns

Fire

Knives

Drowning

Drug/ Alcohol Poisoning

Suicide by hanging

Road crashes

External causes of death for 15-24 year-olds in the UK (2009) // Source: RAC

“

Everyday, more families face the unbearable news that a loved one has been killed Alison Hughes, Brake

”

ADVICE • When out with friends, remember that alcohol affects your vision, judgement and balance so pay attention to traffic lights when using them to cross the road.

• Only get into taxis when they have stopped by the pavement, and when seated make sure you put your seat belt on to minimise your risk of injury should the vehicle you’re travelling in become involved in a crash. Also never distract the driver – seconds cost lives.

• Another factor is the distraction caused by iPods and mobile phones. If you are trying to cross a road, do not text and turn your MP3 player off as the loud music can blare out the noise of approaching traffic - you would be surprised how fast vehicles can seemingly appear from nowhere.

• Just be aware of your surroundings and always look at least once both ways down the road.

• Try to cross roads at designated areas such as traffic lights or pelican crossings – obviously this is not always possible, so cross the road in a place where drivers are more likely to see you.

• For instance, you are more likely to be seen if you cross on a straight stretch of road then just after a corner or from behind obstacles, such as parked cars.

A police spokesman, speaking at the time, said: “She suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

In that moment, when she stepped out into the road, the lives of her family fell apart.

As well as the effects to loved ones, the high number of collisions puts a lot of pressure onto the emergency services, especially during the weekend when they have the added pressure of alcohol-related injuries.

The Road Safety Week’s main launch was at Halifax on the 22nd November, coordinated by the West Yorkshire Fire Service.

Ian and Juliette Greenwood, from Wakefield, attended the launch as their daughter Alice, 12, was killed by a group of young drivers when she was returning from a trip to Alton Towers with her mother and younger sister Clara in October of 2008.

They were travelling on the A52 in Derbyshire when 18-year-old Andrew Sellars, breaking the speed limit by around 20mph, collided with the Greenwoods’ car after he failed to negotiate a bend.

Alice died later that night, while Clara suffered serious injuries and Juliette received permanent damage to her spine, legs and right arm.

Andrew Sellars was killed, as was his 16-year-old passenger.

The drivers of the four other cars were later convicted of causing death by careless driving – two of the drivers were sentenced to two years and three months in prison and the other two were sentenced to two years and nine months - showing how it isn’t just how the families and lives of the injured victims that suffer.

Mr Greenwood told Brake: “I am supporting Road Safety Week because I want to put an end to needless deaths and injuries caused by young drivers.”

Unfortunately it is too late for Ian Greenwood to save his daughter – hopefully the message of Road Safety Week will show people that anyone can be ‘too young to die’ and careless mistakes really cost lives.

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FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

FEATURES

From pirouettes to pasodoble The best of British ice skating talent lace up their skates for the annual British Figure Skating and Ice Dance Championships at Sheffield Ice Words: Fay Guest Pictures: HR Media

T

he British Figure Skating and Ice Dance Championships are here again, they take place every year, followed a couple of months later by the European Championships at the same venue, Ice Sheffield, near Don Valley Stadium.

The competition features the best of British talent in the skating world, whether they are solo or pair skaters, or in the novice, junior or senior age ranges.

Considering the success of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, the championships get remarkably little press coverage, and Ice Sheffield is not full of spectators by any means.

The championships are held by the National Ice Skating Association (NISA), which has been in existence since 1875, so is one of the oldest sporting bodies in the UK, and they govern ice skating throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

NISA’s national centre for figure skating is here in Sheffield, and so the city has been chosen to host the championships for the past six years.

The facility was built with lottery money, and as a result of the deal struck to obtain this funding NISA have over seven hundred free hours on the ice each year.

The championships span over one week in November, and during that week figure skating, ice dance and synchronised skating events all take place, and a number of the senior skaters in attendance will be looking to qualify for the European

“

As soon as the skaters come off the ice they are taken to dope control where they are forced to provide a sample

”

Championships, which take place in the new year.

One such skater is Jenna McCorkell, 25, the ladies solo champion and has won the title eight times previously.

As she speaks, she was in first place having just come off the ice, but was immediately taken to dope control, where she was forced to spend two hours until she could provide them with a sample.

The control surrounding this is rigorous, as soon as skaters are told they are to be taken to dope control they are accompanied everywhere even to their dressing room where they have to get changed, so there is little room for modesty.

They are then required to drink copious amounts of water until they can provide a sample, but this itself is fraught with complications, as the sample cannot be too weak.

On this occasion, Jenna was held up for only a couple of hours, but it can take longer, as much as eight hours. This can happen at any event and is usually totally random, and happens at all levels of skating, even the novice level.

This is a process Jenna has been through many times before, and is part of the career she has chosen. She trains a gruelling six days a week both on and off ice, although being the Ladies champion; no-one could argue that

it hasn’t paid off.

Jenna also went to the Vancouver Olympics last year, but as she says “unfortunately it was one of my worst performances which was absolutely devastating, but I completely enjoyed the experience.

“I had missed out on the Turin Olympics in 2006 due to a back injury so it meant even more to get to Vancouver.

“I just learnt so much from my competition, even from my own performance and really came home with a lot of inspiration and motivation to keep going.”

For Jenna, by far the lowest points of her career have been when she has been injured, she admits, “I have had so many setbacks and at times it really brings you down.

“Last season I was plagued with my foot and within four months I’d had about thirty injections which was just terrible, you get so down and frustrated because you can’t train like you want to.”

Someone who knows all about this, as he is going through something similar this season, is Matthew Parr, 21, the two times senior men’s solo champion.

He is currently out with injury, and cites this year as a real low point as he has been so frustrated, having spent six months out of action – “the most boring thing ever.”

He is now back in training, and spending much time in the gym regaining his fitness.

He says “the jumps, spins, all the technical elements on the ice come

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21

FEATURES back pretty much straight away, but the level of fitness I had before takes a long time to come back.

“I lost the title last year, which I didn’t feel I deserved to but it was awarded to someone else. I wanted to come back and regain it but I couldn’t because of the injury which is so frustrating.”

Nevertheless, high points in Matthew’s career include skating for the Queen at her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002 and winning the British Championships twice.

It’s hard not to get the impression that this time next year, he will be back fighting.

He hopes to qualify next year to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and so that is his main aim for the moment.

Junior ice dance pair Sophie Jones and Richard Sharpe were also at the championships, and have just returned from Austria and their second international event of the year with a silver medal and a personal best.

Richard holds down a full time job in Essex, while Sophie is a student at Rochester University, alongside their gruelling training on the ice.

Both are lucky in the sense that both the company that Richard works for and Sophie’s university are very flexible and allow them time off to train.

They have been abroad and seen other countries train, and Richard says “going abroad, you can’t get a better experience, when you’re next to the Russian, American and Canadian teams you get a wider perspective of how training should be done, how other countries do it.

“In Russia, for example, if you have the talent they will look after you, they will pay for everything whereas in this country you don’t get that.”

The skaters start young, with many being as young as seven or eight when they first start on the ice.

Peter Hallam is 16 and has won the championship in this novice category. He was expected to win it this year, but lost out to another competitor, although he is another competitor who works incredibly hard and didn’t feel he deserved to lose it.

He currently attends college alongside training, but he is considering dropping out to concentrate on it full time.

“Both my schools were very supportive, giving me opportunities all the time to go and train so it’s been really good.

“They helped me catch up on my work and everything and the college I’ve just moved into now is doing exactly the same.”

Peter is deeply passionate about skating as he says there are no lows to his life as a skater “it has to be something really serious for you to want to quit.”

With his passion and drive, it might be possible to see Peter on the gold medal podium of Olympics in years to come, which is his ultimate dream.

The spectator seats may not have been full, but nearly all of those that attended were entranced and excited by the array of talent they see before them.

The sheer athleticism, the skill and timing are feats that take years and years of work and dedication, and one can only hope that the very talented players of this game find their years of commitment come to fruition.

For more information about ice skating, visit NISA’s offical website: www.iceskating.org.uk

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Lifestyle & Travel

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

This fortnight...

We’re festive..obviously.. and to celebrate we’re having a drink with friends...a festive one...

FOUR OF THE BEST

Ways to give back this Christmas soup kitchens

Charity carol singing Most people gorge food at this time of year but many go hungry.

There are various soup kitchens and projects in Sheffield and at a time when we are blessed with excess food it’s nice to help those less fortunate.

The gift of giving

Caroling is an essential aspect of the holidays, so why not take part in the fun while helping charity? Sheffield Carols

by Candlelight takes place by the Cathedral with the £10 ticket price going entirely to Breast Cancer Care.

With lots of gifts to buy, you’ll be parting with cash, so why not give it to an ethical cause rather than a conglomerate? Oxfam. org.uk has presents to suit every budget, and it’s a great excuse to give the gift of giving.

Charlotte Green

Cupcakes and Cocktails An event by Fancie cupcakes

Adam Hancock and Ina Fischer HE SAYS: To say I was cynical about attending a ‘cocktail and cupcakes’ evening is an understatement. I’m usually up for most things, but this seemed too far even for me.

My fears were eased when we arrived and to my surprise, I discovered I wasn’t the only male attendee.

Admittedly, most of the men appeared to have been dragged along by the female in their life, but some seemed keen themselves.

The evening took place in The Wig & Pen, a classy location in the heart of Sheffield.

We were greeted by Fancie representatives wearing pink aprons.

I knew that by attending a cocktails and cupcakes evening, I had to make concessions... and a pink apron was one I was willing to make.

Cocktail mixing was fantastic. I felt like I was in a James Bond film

as I was taught some tricks of the trade. My hand eye co-ordination isn’t fantastic so I can probably rule out bartending as a future career, but I enjoyed it all the same.

We mixed a Cosmopolitan and an Amaretto Sour, both of which I had never tried before.

I was secretly relieved that we were able to enjoy our drinks

Vicky Browne and Fay Guest

charity christmas shopping

Hallam FM is asking for donated presents for children who wouldn’t otherwise wake up to anything on Christmas morning. Sending them presents is a nice way to help children who normally miss out on the magic of the festivities.

Review

The festive season is upon us and here at

before facing the task of decorating cupcakes, as the alcohol helped me lose my inhibitions a bit.

Thinking about my food technology AS Level, I was relatively confident to add my personal touch to the four plain cupcakes sat in front of me. After an initial demonstration we were let loose.

I found the cupcake making bizarrely therapeutic. This evening, I was firmly in touch with my feminine side.

As the night drew to a close, the last of the free champagne was sipped and our cupcakes were boxed up to take home.

As we found out from Fancie representative Hannah, the event is steadily growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why.

The cocktails were the highlight of the night, but with free snacks, a casual atmosphere and the chance to get creative, I think ‘Cupcakes & Cocktails’ is something that anyone will enjoy.

SHE SAYS: As a self-confessed cupcakeaddict, I was ecstatic at the thought of spending an entire evening decorating baked goods and mixing cocktails.

My high expectations were not disappointed when, upon arrival, Adam and I were greeted with complimentary champagne and guided to a small table by friendly Fancie representatives.

While we nibbled on prawns, olives and other canapés, we were

given a small introduction to the procedures of the evening.

First stop: cocktails. As I stood at the bar, I nervously eyed the many strange-looking appliances and tools laid out before me.

Despite being a Students’ Union bartender, I had never seen most of them before.

Nevertheless, I managed to follow instructions without any major mishaps, excluding a tiny error in judgement in freepouring.

I could hardly contain my excitement when it came to the highlight of the night: decorating the cupcakes in a Fancie fashion.

However, this proved to be trickier than I thought.

Whether you’re a final year with a well trodden ‘uni Christmas day’ routine or a first year hoping to impress with your foodie skills, you don’t have to be the next Jamie or Nigella to cook up a sumptuous festive feast this Christmas.

You also don’t need to blow the money you were hoping to invest in a new pair of socks for a lucky loved one and the icing on the home-made Christmas cake.

You don’t even have to get up at 5am to slave over a hot oven.

Here at Lifestyle we’re giving you the ultimate guide to cooking simple, delicious food on a limited budget.

We may not be able to promise you a white Christmas, but we can promise you a celebration to remember!

The main event: No doubt many people have a huge turkey that’s been lovingly prepared on the actual big day (and various variations of turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day).

While you may believe that nothing can compare to your family dinner, we have some ideas that might come close.

With this is mind, to save you a few pennies, hours of time and getting sick of roast meat, here is a simple

Housing Lauren Clarke

Not that we hadn’t been given a thorough demonstration of all the different ways to adorn our cakes, but with so many types of icing, sprinkles, sauces and fillings to choose from, I simply didn’t know where to start.

In the end, I probably went a bit overboard in my cupcake creations, loading them with enough icing to supply a threetiered wedding cake.

I am however convinced that my ‘lemon curd and peanut butter filling’-creation should be added to the Fancie repertoire.

I can only recommend Fancie’s ‘Cupcakes and Cocktails’ to anyone planning a slightly different night out. If you’re still looking for that special Christmas present- who knows, this might be it!

The task of traipsing through other people’s houses trying to find a new place to live is often a confusing and tiring job.

There are hundreds of questions we forget to ask such as am I going to be ripped off?

Is the landlord hiding the leaking pipes and dreaded damp? Is double-glazing really necessary?

Whether you are a first time or veteran house-hunter, here are some top tips to help you find the perfect home.

Don’t panic and go for the first house you see. So what if everyone else has signed for a house already?

Take your time and find a house that is right for you, there are plenty of properties out there.

Do check out the prices of lots of

alternative that still delivers that special something.

Bacon-wrapped turkey breast with cranberry gravy Served with: roast potatoes, parsnips and buttery carrots.

Ingredients: - 1 large turkey breast per person - 3 smoked bacon rashers for each breast - Potatoes (1 medium- large potato should make 4 roast potatoes) - Parsnips (1 per person) - Carrots (1 per person) - 500ml Red wine - 300ml chicken stock - 2 tablespoons of cranberry jelly - Parsley or dried mixed herbs - Butter and oil for roasting

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200c (210c if not fan assisted, gas 6) 2. Prepare the roast potatoes and parsnips by peeling, chopping into quarters and then placing in a large pan filled with water. Bring to the boil and allow to par-boil for 10 minutes.

3. Whilst, the potatoes and

similar properties in the area to make sure you will be paying the right rent.

Do look for double glazed windows.

No matter what type of property you are looking for, double-glazing is important as it helps to keep heat in, therefore saving you money on your heating bills.

Do have a word with the previous tenants.

Ask them about the landlord and any problems they may have had.

Don’t fall for the landlord’s charm or their stories about how great the house is, you’ll never know unless you speak to someone that lives there.

If the tenants are out when you do a viewing you could always pop back later in the day and have a quick

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Mulled wine

Christmassy coffees

Eggnog

Bit of an obvious one really, but there’s nothing like it to get you in the mood for festive fun. See Vicky Browne’s article below for how to make your own.

Certain coffee retailers bring out their best varieties at this time of year and we are loving it. Our favourites include praline mocha and gingerbread latte.

Another quintessential Christmas drink.

Can be enjoyed with or without alcohol, which means it’s a drink that everyone can enjoy together.

Festive feasts on a student budget Lifestyle we’re hungry, so here’s a selection of Christmassy treats for you to eat with dinner, snack on or give as gifts over the holidays parsnips are boiling, take one turkey breast per person, season well with pepper and a pinch of salt and carefully wrap each breast with 3 rashers of bacon. Place in a lightly greased oven proof dish and cover with foil.

4. Pour 3 tablespoons of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of butter into a roasting tin, place in the oven until the oil is hot and the butter melted. Take the potatoes and parsnips off the heat and drain, shaking them as you do to rough up the edges. Season well and carefully add to the roasting tin, shaking gently to coat the potatoes and parsnips in the hot fat. Place in the oven and allow around 50 minutes cooking time.

5. After the potatoes and parsnips have been roasting for 10 minutes place the turkey breasts in the oven for the remaining 40 minutes. Keep the breasts covered in foil to retain moisture and remove the foil for the last 10 minutes so the bacon will crisp.

6. 15 minutes before the meat and roasties are ready, prepare the carrots and gravy.

Chop the carrots in half and then quarter length ways, bring to the boil in a large pan until tender but not mushy.

7. Pour the red wine and chicken stock into a large pan and boil until the liquid has significantly reduced by 2/3. Add the cranberry jelly and stir until melted.

8. Drain the carrots and toss in 1 teaspoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley.

9. Remove the turkey breast and roasties from the oven and dish up with a spoonful of carrots. Drizzle with gravy.

Asparagus and cream cheese parcels (V) A satisfying vegetarian option.

Ingredients: - 6 asparagus spears per person - Cream cheese - Ready-made puff pastry - Salt and Pepper - Dusting of flour - 1 free range egg 1. Preheat oven to 200c. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut two squares 10cmx10cm.

2. Smother the pastry with cream cheese and add the asparagus. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Parcel the asparagus in by sticking the two pastry sheets together with a brushing of 1 beaten egg. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. conversation.

Most houses or flats you’ll be looking at will have fellow students in them and are generally happy to give you a hand.

Do demand repairs. Don’t be afraid to ask for something to be fixed if it is broken. It is the landlord’s duty to do so and should be covered by your contract anyway.

If there is damage when you move in take photos of it (complete with dates) so that you cannot be blamed and you won’t get money deducted from your deposit.

Most houses will come with a washing machine, a fridge, freezer and a microwave but it’s worth checking and you may even get lucky with the provision of a TV. Do check what furniture comes with the house, as some of it may belong to the tenants living there now.

Do beware of the dreaded

Easy mince pies The festive staple made easy, makes 18 Ingredients - 425g ready made shortcrust pastry - 280g vegetarian mincemeat (can be bought from the shops in a jar).

- icing sugar - 1 free range egg, beaten.

Vicky’s delicious iced biscuits Gifts from the heart: These recipes can be made as a festive snack, or alternatively would make a lovely gifts. Perfect for those of you on a budget.

Thoughtful and cost effective.

Simple iced biscuits Makes 10 Ingredients: - 200g self raising flour - 100g butter - 100g sugar - 1 free range egg - Few drops of Vanilla extract - Zest of one orange - Red icing in a tube - Red ribbon

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees/ gas 6, and grease a patty tin with some butter.

2. Place the pastry onto a floured surface, and roll out until thin.

3. Using a circular cutter, cut out 18 circles of pastry, and place each one into the holes of the patty tin.

4. Fill each pie with mincemeat, making sure that each one is full enough, so that the pie isn’t all pastry and no filling.

5. Using the pastry left over from when the shapes were cut out, either cut out smaller circles to form lids for the pies, or for a festive touch, using a star shaped cutter, cut out shapes and place on top of the pies.

6. Brush the tops of the pies with the beaten egg, and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden.

7. Sprinkle icing sugar over the top and serve with lashings of brandy butter.

Mulled wine - a festive staple Mulled wine A great festive favourite Ingredients: - 1 bottle of red wine (or more just multiply spices if more wine is used) - 60g brown sugar - 1 cinnamon stick - Grated nutmeg - 1 Orange, cut into quarters - 1 dried bay leaf Combine all the ingredients in a pan and gently heat until the sugar has dissolved. Serve hot.

1. Pre-heat oven to 200c.

2. Combine the flour, sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until ‘breadcrumbs’ are formed.

3. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest and mix to form dough.

4. Shape the dough into circles or cut with a cookie cutter and pierce a hole at the edge of the biscuit for the ribbon to thread through after cooking.

5. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden.

6. Cool on a wire rack and then ice patterns or messages onto the biscuits.

7. Finally thread with a red ribbon.

The dos and don’ts of house hunting damp, the tenant’s nightmare.

Damp often looks like mould or a leak on the wall, and it smells… well, damp.

Ask the landlord to get rid of it before you move in, if there is any and in order to prevent it happening make sure the property has radiators and extractor fans in the bathrooms, as this is where damp often occurs.

Do know where to go for help. The Student Advice Centre is a great source of help and advice with regards to housing so don’t be afraid

to give them a visit.

To avoid any misunderstandings with your landlord, do get everything in writing.

Do keep copies of letters and emails, the contract, and if it needs any repairs done then put your request in writing and follow up with a letter or email once they agree to the repairs confirming that they have done so.

Do this even if you also phone them. It will help if there are ever any disputes.

Do read the contract. This may sound patronising but this is an absolute must, never sign anything unless you have read it through thoroughly.

Finally, the biggest don’t is don’t rush choosing who you’re going to live with.

You can live in the grottiest house in Sheffield, but if you have a great time with your house mates then it won’t seem so bad.

If you sign too soon however, and suddenly realize that you actually don’t want to live with the people you have signed up

Damp - the student’s worst enemy

with, the upcoming year will pretty much be doomed from the start.

Do consider the size of bedroom you all want, and whether or not you want a double bed.

Would you be willing to take the smallest bedroom with the single bed while paying less rent?

If not, then who will? Think about how you will divide rooms up, and who will take the smallest room if there is one.

Thinking about this now may save you from having arguments about it in the future.

Do think about all the rooms in general.

Is the kitchen big enough for all of you?

Is the lounge big enough?

Don’t forget to ask what energy company the current tenants are with and remember to ask the landlord about water rates. Some landlords pay the rates for you and you pay them directly and not the gas or water company.

Some don’t and you have to sort it out for yourself.

Think carefully about your house, you will be calling it home for a whole year, so it’s important that it’s somewhere you enjoy going back to every day.

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Friday December 2 2011

FORGE PRESS

Lifestyle & Travel

N

LUM O C X E S

Student life

Secre t S ant a s ol u t ion s :

Without blowing the budget

Annabel Barton

Lonely this Christmas?

If the tinkering of Jingle Bells makes you morph into Bridget Jones, fear not, you’re not alone.

Being single in all the other seasons may not faze you that much, but the festive period seems to bring some unwanted feelings to the surface.

As romantic Christmas films hit the screens and gifts for that ‘special someone’ inundate our favourite shops, it’s hard to ignore your single status.

So what can you do about it?

Hang around the mistletoe until someone absentmindedly steps under it? Or man the heck up?

Personally I vote for the latter, Christmas is about so much more than being in a relationship; it’s about candlelit carol services, quality time with your family, overdosing on mince pies and having turkey sandwiches well into the New Year.

Christmas is a time to be thankful, and there are a lot of perks to being single that you should appreciate, saving money being a big one.

It’s estimated that the UK spends over £16 billion on Christmas presents every year, a hefty feat when you’re a cash-strapped student barely surviving on a student loan.

With the commercialisation of Christmas leading us to believe that our loved one will be unaware of our amorous feelings unless we buy them the latest iPod or tickets to their favourite gig, it’s not difficult to see our precious money slipping through our gloved fingers.

Moreover, if you choose to make ‘the big step’ and spend Christmas with your partner you don’t want to ruin the festivities by arguments over the remote, I mean everyone knows Christmas day television revolves around Doctor Who, right?

Apparently not, one friend has even banned her boyfriend from watching the Christmas special this year… she clearly doesn’t grasp how cool bow ties are.

No matter how much you think you want to, don’t fall into the easy habit of an old flame.

The festivities plus copious amounts of mulled wine may make you think that reigniting the fire is all you want for Christmas (Mariah Carey style) but the harsh reality is that as the New Year looms that loved up magical feeling has about as much longevity as those quietly forgotten resolutions.

All in all this Christmas time embrace being a single pringle.

I mean you may be alone, but you’re not Home Alone.

Perspective, people.

Charlotte Green

Everyone loves a bargain.

When it comes to Christmas and it’s time to exchange ‘Secret Santa’ presents with your flatmates, society mates, course mates, team mates and all your other ‘mates’, the budget can easily be blown.

So here are a few ideas for cheap presents to keep you out of the minus figures.

Presents under £2: For those of you a little skint or under an extremely strict budget, here are a few super cheap ideas.

Now this may sound tacky, but you will be surprised by the amount that Poundland has to offer, from chocolate treats to decorative money boxes.

A Terry’s Chocolate Orange and chocolate coins have always made perfect little stocking fillers.

If you’re looking for something a little different, hop on a tram to Meadowhall and head to Hawkins Bazaar, a treasure-chest full of quirky little stocking fillers.

Pick yourself up some Magic Snow, Paper Soap or some festive Hand Warmers to baffle your mate.

Or, cheapest of all, tie on that apron and get baking.

Fun to do and always appreciated, a ribbon-tied box of festive shortbread or homemade fudge makes a great gift that can be enjoyed over the Christmas holidays.

Health

Presents under £5: Five pounds is the most common Secret Santa budget. Despite this, it’s still easy to struggle to spend it wisely. Get inspiration from these ideas to make the most of your precious pounds.

Everyone loves slippers, especially in our freezing student houses at this time of year.

Primark do a huge range of festive pairs, ranging from just £2.99 which leaves enough in the budget for a bag of trusty chocolate coins.

For a more girly present, jewellery is always quite a safe option – most high street stores have numerous pretty rings and earrings.

You can always find something in Topshop and Miss Selfridge, occasionally they have jewellery sales. Don’t forget to ask for your student discount.

If you’re going all out and having your own uni ‘Christmas Day’, add to the fun with a celebrity mask, especially if you’re planning on

going out in the evening!

Don’t forget to mark the parcel ‘must be worn at all times’ for maximum effect.

If in doubt, a fail-safe present for students is a pint glass or wine glass. These trusty companions always seem to be in short supply, so they’ll come in handy later on as well as at Christmas dinner.

Why not grab yourself a permanent marker and inscribe it with a cheeky note from Santa?

A ‘Genie Head Massager’ is a marvellous invention to relax you during exam season and honestly feels amazing. Most sites on the internet sell them for under a fiver.

Or for a comical moment at shower time, a novelty animal shower cap would brighten anyone’s scrub-a-dub-dub and could even double up as fancy dress.

Presents under £10: At the top of the student budget, there are a lot more possibilities when it comes to spending a tenner.

For something a little more personal, you can order photo mugs or personalised calendars from photo printing web sites.

If the recipient can take a joke, why not print all their dance floor snogs from night’s out onto a photo mug, so whenever they have a cuppa they are reminded of those ‘special moments’.

Or to keep them warm at Christmas, all student coach potatoes would appreciate the latest in bedtime fashion, a ‘onesie’.

Doubling up as a fancy dress outfit, these grown-up baby grows

from Primark can be snapped up for around a tenner.

To keep mitts warm and stylish,

Accessorize do gorgeous woolly gloves adorned with sequins and matching bobble-hats.

There are also CDs and DVDs under £10 you can purchase.

How about a flatmate’s all time favourite movie from when they were little or a classic Christmas rom-com?

Or make the most of the winter offers that many shops bring out, with lots of products on ‘3 for 2’ or ‘buy one get one free.’ Kill two birds with one stone and buy the rest of your list while you’re there.

If your flat or house is planning on having your own ‘Christmas Day’, add to the fun with a board game to play after your exceptional home cooked meal.

Childhood favourites such as Monopoly and Jenga allow room for competitiveness but also a lot of merriment.

Jogging around the Christmas tree Max Knighton For most, the festive season brings harmony and joy in the form of Christmas carols, family fun and marvellous meals.

Yet for others it is the most dreaded time of year. Mince pies and mulled wine, combined with endless hours of TV is a recipe that would get most people to think twice about that second helping of pudding.

Over-indulgence and its best friend, weight gain, is an issue facing people every year which threatens to dampen the festivities.

However, joining the postChristmas army of joggers isn’t the ideal way to attack your ‘festive fat’.

Constraining yourself to counting calories or running a million miles in the freezing cold

is not only unrealistic, but could just strangle the joy out of Christmas. A new, or rather re-vitalised, way of thinking is needed.

You have two choices here; accept that Christmas is a brief, but enjoyable week of gluttony and it is not the end of the world if you gain some weight, which many people do.

Or if you are still not convinced by adopting a laissez faire attitude, here are a few crafty tactics to consider.

A balanced diet is obvious and should apply all year round.

Christmas however is a special occasion that requires equally special treatment.

One step to sustain a healthy body is to get whoever is doing the cooking to use healthier alternatives in their cooking, such as cutting down on salt, and using olive oil or rapeseed oil instead of animal fat.

It is important to remember that Christmas dinner is one of the most anticipated and joyful meals of the year, so don’t ruin it by being too uptight on how unhealthy you think it might be.

One sure fire way of making your dinner healthier is to load up on the vegetables, not just the roast potatoes, stuffing and pudding.

Still counts toward your five a day remember!

Cutting down on calories is not the only way – exercise can also help you to stay trim within the comfort of your own home.

As Christmas day wares on, why not be generous and share your time with the children in the family?

A bash on the drums is not only entertaining but is also a miniworkout for that upper body.

This is also sure to draw the attention of your younger family members, in their over excited, coca cola drunk state.

Now what some see as a constant annoyance can be swiftly turned into a cardiovascular workout.

Running around the house playing ‘tig’ can be far more strenuous than you first think.

What with the prickly tree, piles of discarded wrapping paper and sleeping relatives, you’ll have

“Cutting down on calories is not the only way – exercise can also help you to stay trim within the comfort of your own home.”

no chance as the little ‘uns duck and weave their way to victory, ensuring you get fit.

As Christmas day comes to a close, there is one more flab fighting method to consider.

Tidying up the house can not only make you the family-favourite, but also make a real difference to the waistline!

Just one hour of quality time spent dragging Henry the Hoover round the house can burn nearly 200 calories.

Who knows, if you check down the back of the sofa you may even gain a few pounds for your wallet while you’re at it!

And on that note, our simple guide to beating the Christmas bulge is complete.

Now it is time to wrap the presents, hang the tinsel and hit the gym in one last desperate attempt to earn ourselves some Christmas calories... …right after one last mince pie.

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Lifestyle & Travel

Fashion

Get the look of the season Elizabeth Jewell Alas, the festive season is rapidly approaching once again and you’re presented with a choice.

You can sit and complain about it, boycott all public spaces and keep a grumpy look on your face whenever Christmas songs come on the radio.

Or you can embrace the overblown cheese-fest for the joys it can hold, which is altogether more fun.

The number one way to welcome the holidays while staying amazingly comfy and warm - and, as a bonus, bang on trend - is the ultimately classic Christmas jumper.

The Christmas jumper is a trend which both boys and girls can get on board with.

Form meets function as the humble Christmas jumper is super practical and knitwear, especially when adorned with a festive pattern, is the number one winter accessory.

Above all, by far the best justification for purchasing a sweater embellished with a grinning moose would be the look of delight on your nan’s face when everyone else sees you wearing it.

The Christmas jumper is a statement piece which can easily take you from uni or the pub to Christmas dinner with all your relatives.

Girls can layer an oversized jumper over leggings and boots or tights and overknee socks for a casual yet classic look.

Boys, pair yours with chino trousers and a cute bobble hat to complete the look.

With festive knitwear, you can go as un-

derstated or as over the top as you like.

High street shops usually carry a wide range of pieces with subtle patterns and muted designs of snowflakes and the like.

But if you want to go really over the top, the best place to look is online or in one of

Sheffield’s various vintage shops.

One could say the online monopoly of Christmas jumper sales is currently held by the Christmas Jumper King (www.christmasjumperking.com), which sells a massive selection of truly some of the most amazing (or disgusting, depending on your outlook on this sort of thing) jumpers you can find.

Their website boasts “the most ridiculous novelty Christmas jumpers anywhere in the world”, which is really quite an impressive claim.

For a slightly less laughable piece, you can’t go wrong with trying eBay or Etsy.com.

Etsy is a gold mine for this sort of stuff, with independent sellers flogging their hand made and vintage items.

It is also a dream for Christmas shopping in general, as you can find unique hand crafted items for

a decent price.

During a quick browse of one particular Etsy shop, I came across a knitted jumper depicting two reindeer engaging in intercourse.

Amusing, for you and your uni mates, but maybe not for your nan to see.

Both eBay and Etsy also sell knitting patterns, so the exceptionally ambitious can attempt to fashion their own jumpers at home.

As for the wonderful Sheffield high street, Topshop and River Island both carry a range of knitwear for men and women.

However, you will find the widest array of jumpers in no other than the wonderfully affordable student favourite: Primark.

Whether its leaping reindeer, jolly santas or glittering snowflakes you’re looking for... You’ll find it here, all for under £20.

If you’re looking for something unique, head to Bang Bang Vintage or Freshman’s, both just off West Street, or the independent shops and boutiques inside The Forum.

Although all vintage shops in Sheffield boast an agreeable, slightly larger-than-average selection of Christmas jumpers, the award for the best range of festive jumpers has to go to none other than West Street’s gloriously yellow COW. They currently have an entire rail devoted to the things, which is somewhat impressive.

Marvellous.

Travel

Dream New Years Eve getaways to suit every budget LONDON

Looking for a way to blow your Christmas cash and have a crazy time with your mates? Or are you simply bored of celebrating the new year at home with your parents and a bunch of lame party hats?

We’ve got several suggestions that will hopefully make this year’s celebrations memorable...

BUDAPEST If you have a special someone to kiss at midnight, then Budapest is the perfect romantic break for you as the Hungarian capital has plenty to offer for couples.

The beautiful city is just a 2 and a half hour flight away from the UK, with low-cost airlines such as Jet2 operating flights daily from many different UK airports.

Spend the day exploring the intricate architecture which this World Heritage site displays, including the Buda Castle where you can experience amazing views of the city from the North.

Hold hands and take a stroll on the bridges over the Danube and say goodbye to 2011 by immersing yourself into Hungarian culture.

Take a cruise on the Danube whilst you listen to singers from the Hungarian State Opera or watch folk dancing and sample the traditional local cuisine and Hungarian wine!

Be sure to wrap up warm for when you watch the stunning firework display at Nyugati Square.

Get there early to view theatrical performances and purchase local art work as a souvenir to bring back home.

To cure your hangover the next day, try korhely leves, a Hungarian soup consisting of sour cabbage and cream.

BERLIN If your ideal New Years Eve consists of dancing, drinking and having a wild time, then head to the German capital Berlin.

The city has the reputation of being one of the best and trendiest cities for nightlife in Europe, with music to suit any taste.

Spend the day shopping on Kurfuerstenstrasse, the longest and busiest shopping strip in the city with a range of shops to suit any budgets from bargain hunters to designer divas.

There is no better place to watch the fireworks than at the huge and free open air party at the Brandenburg Gate.

Bring your own drinks and celebrate into the new year with thousands of other visitors and various celebrity performances.

After New Years Eve in Berlin, you’ll be sure to spend the journey home hungover and talking about the nights’ antics- if you remember them.

If not, just consult the photographic evidence.

The end of December usually looks bleak for a student’s bank account.

Christmas presents and a term’s worth of vodka have made their impact and left you with little to spend on the remaining days of 2011?

The agonising wait for January’s loan to come through can leave you strapped for cash; however you can still enjoy New Years Eve on a budget by staying a bit closer to home.

The London fireworks are world-renowned.

Thousands of spectators line the embankment along the River Thames to hear Big Ben chime at midnight and see the fireworks light up the capital city, soaring above the London Eye and the skyline.

Make sure you arrive early to secure a good spot and listen to DJ sets by Radio 1’s finest.

London is only a train ride away, and depending on routes and times you can usually grab a bargain by booking early!

However if you can’t afford the train fare, BBC broadcast the event, so get the family and friends together in front of the TV and have a good old sing along to Auld Lang Syne.

KIRIBATI If money was no object, then the Republic of Kiribati would be the ultimate destination for anyone’s New Years Eve. The small nation of Kiribati (also known as Millenium Island) is located in the Pacific Ocean and thus the first place in the world to welcome the New Year.

Fourteen hours ahead of the UK, you will be partying and celebrating long before your friends at home.

Relax the day after on the beach and soak up the sun with lows of 75 degrees Fahrenheit to gain a winter tan which your friends will envy.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Kiribati but you can fly from London Heathrow to Fiji for around £900, and then transfer from Fiji to Kiribati.

Better raise the money quick though as it is in danger of disappearing due to rising sea levels.

Sarah Plumb

26

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011 www.forgetoday.com

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

Coffee Break Inside the IC: Girl: “The IC is strange, you feel like you’re in a volunteer prison”

overheard

in sheffield

In the Union: Guy: “Have you ever eaten crisps in the quiet zone of the IC? People try to kill you with their eyes.”

On the concourse: Guy: “Striking means I can miss lectures, but I’m actually allowed to - weird.”

The strange news this fortnight: Lone Wolf on adventure for love A young wolf has become a US celebrity while evading capture – dead or alive – in an epic search for a mate.

The animal has traversed over 1,200km (730 miles) of mountains, deserts and highways, from Oregon to the California border.

He left his home on September 10 just before state officials issued a death warrant on members of his pack – including his alpha male father – for killing cattle.

His progress has been tracked thanks to a GPS collar he was fitted with by a state biologist last February.

One government hunter shot at but missed him before conservation groups won a stay-of-kill order.

OR-7 is following a wellworn instinct to strike out alone when reaching the age of two in the search

for empty territory and a mate - love makes you do crazy things!

His meandering route

has taken him across numerous county lines and each time he enters a new area, he makes it on to the local news.

Along the way, OR-7 made history by becoming the first wolf to be confirmed in southwest Oregon in 65 years. The animal is the first of his species to be detected west of the Cascade Mountains since the last wolf was shot and killed for bounty there in 1947.

Oregon wolf coordinator Russ Morgan said he was surprised by the way the public and media have embraced the wolf.

‘People have taken a shine to him,’ he said.

However, not everyone feels the same way, so a competition has been launched to change his name to something more people-friendly – and make him too famous to be shot.

However, the Oregon Hunters Association, which has opposed the state’s wolf-management program, has called the conservation group’s naming competition an attempt to glorify the return of the widely vilified animals to the state.

The first entry, from a little girl in OR7’s home territory, is already catching on: Whoseafraida.

The real news this fortnight: Marmite Catastrophe Marmite strikes again, causing the closure of part of the M1 on Novemeber 28.

Marmite, apart from being a national treasure, is the condiment that probaly inspires the most dramatic responses in people.

Featured in pop art and cutlery, Marmite is loved by Brits the world over.

However, our sticky friend has caused problems on the M1 in South Yorkshire when a tanker carrying 23.5tonnes of marmite overturned and spilled the beautiful brown stuff all over the carriageway.

The clean-up operation was underway by Tuesday morning but the road between junction 32 and 33 near Sheffield remained closed, causing rush hour delays.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the tanker driver was taken to hospital but his injuries were

watch it:

The Magic of Mobile Phone

not thought to be serious.

She said: ‘We were called at 10.15pm yesterday (Monday evening) to reports of a tanker, which was carrying 23.5 tonnes of waste yeast, overturning.

“Some of the contents were spilled on the northbound carriageway and we are in the process of emptying the remaining contents of the tanker and clearing up the spillage before it can be moved and the road reopened.”

So there you go: time to take a trip on the yeastbound carriage.

THe REAL NEWS THIS FORTNIGHT: bAD PARKING IN gERMANY The award for picking the most ridiculous parking space goes to: Helmut Schmidt, 25, told police in Hagenburg, Germany, that he had hadn’t been speeding but his car suddenly span round three times b e f o r e landing on top of the rock, the decorative entrance stone to a housing estate.

Amazing, isn’t it but unfortunately nobody managed to film the slow motion spinning and stonemounting - I guess we’ve got a while to go until the

world really has become Big Brother.

A police spokesman said: ‘He wasn’t hurt apart from a few bruises and some battered pride.

‘But he couldn’t free his car which w a s sitting t h e r e with its rear end in the air.’

Eventually the car was pulled off of the rock, but it was damaged (unsurprisingly) and was going to cost the speedconscious driver a fair whack.

cHRISTMAS Crossword Puzzle: mOST POPULAR web CONTENT 1 - University of Shefield gym broke contracts 2 - Breaking IC evacuated abruptly 3 - Watch Forge Press reporters catch supermarket selling fake vodka 4 - Cheated, lied to and let down: Why students should fight S10 for every last penny 5 - TV Review Downton Abbey (Season 2, Episode 7) 6 - Flooding Forces information commons closure 7 - Sheffield Legend Sean Bean Stabbed 8 - Councillors back our campaign to get gym refunds 9 - Physics lecturer in 24 hour science marathon for children in need 10 - Downton Abbey (Season 2, Episode 8) Visit forgetoday.com to keep up to date with all aspects of Forge Media, from articles and podcasts to listen-again shows and video content.

omg, Have you seen...? the

MisterSharp is uploading archived videos at a ferocious rate.

They cover all sorts of subjects in a cartoonish and satirical way.

However, if you feel like a laugh this fortnight, and want to re-connect with your phone (we all fall out with our electronic halves at some point), then look up this video and waste away the hours of stormy weather.

MisterSharp is, if nothing else, balancing on a knife edge with these laughs.

YouTube: The magic of the mobile phone

Random Fact of the Week: In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.

Across:

Down:

2. Alarm, toll (4) 4. Climbing vine (3) 5. Crimson, scarlet (3) 6. Sapling, timber (4) 8. Untouched, latest (3) 9. Father Christmas (5) 11. Festive food (6) 13. Decoration (6) 14. Ballerina (6) 16. Trinket (7) 18. Celestial body (5) 20. (past tense) To submerge rapidly (4) 22. Gift, current (7) 24. Game (5) 27. Interval, period (6) 28. Reindeer, kebab (6) 30. Reindeer (6) 32. Kernel, achene (3)

1. Mirthful, gleeful (5) 3. Young, new (5) 7. Fifth day gift (5) 10. Worldwide map (5) 12. Scarlet, crimson (3) 15. Yuletide (4) 17. Father Christmas’ helpers (5) 19. Rudolph’s favourite food (7) 21. Female fox (5) 22. Partridge in a ___ pear tree (4) 23. The night before, brink (3) 25. Cold weather form (4) 26. Father Christmas’ ____ (5) 29. Arrival, countdown (6) 31. Father Christmas, St. Nicholas (5)

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011 www.forgetoday.com

27

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

With Holly Wilkinson More Puzzles:

Mama Wilkinson’s Good wholesome Stew

Sudoku

Sudoku 2

Easy

Winter is closing in and the nights are getting colder, so how does a nice beef stew sound?

Heavenly? Quite possibly.

There is nothing quite like stew; it warms the cockles of your heart whilst providing some decent food for your body.

More substantial than soup, but more comforting than pasta dishes, stew is a winter stable that has lasted the ages.

Evidence has shown that the Scythians were cooking stews as far back as the 8th century BC. Hungarian Goulash has been around since the ninth century, when the Magyar shepherds were roaming the Carpathian Mountains (although paprika wasn’t added until the 18th century).

Stews are also wonderfully cheap, with braising beef being cheaper than most other cuts - chuck steak makes a lovely alternative here.

The vegetables used are also flexible, so those old potatoes, the half an onion left over and those old beans can all be used.

If you don’t have enough meat then add more potato, or if you are missing some ingredients then improvise.

For a vegetarian

Recipe: • Braising or sewing steak (300-500g) • Plain flour • Oil • Herbs • Salt and Pepper • Beef stock cubes (two in one pint of boiling water) • Wine – to drink! Add it if you can spare it!

(You can use old undrinkable wine too)

Sudoku 3

Medium

The quantity depends on how much beef you put in, but using loads of veg helps to keep it cheap. E.g. To one packet of meat usually two parsnips, two small carrots, 3 medium onions, two celery sticks plus enough potatoes for three meals are used.

Other root vegetables can be used, e.g. turnips. Experiment with different flavours (but change the stock cube to suit).

Hot Tram loud-mouth is charged with a racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment.

Women win appeal for equal pay rights, and pave the way for other claims.

Kylie Minogue and children’s entertainers The Wiggles have been inducted into the Aria Awards hall of fame in Sydney, Australia.

cipe

Ingredients:

• Potatoes • Parsnips • Carrots • Onions • Celery Sticks

alternative then simply replace the beef with quorn pieces, or even tofu. Tofu soaks up all of the beautiful flavours and so forms a wonderful base ingredient.

You could even just stew the vegetables themselves in a vegetable stock.

Sausages can also be used, either quorn or pork; but the cuts of meat that work best in a stew are the less tender, more marbled ones - which luckily for students are the cheapest!

So a stew can pretty much consist of any vegetable, all types of meat, and even can use fish or quorn; the most important thing is to be imaginative.

So as the winter term winds down and Christmas approaches, cook yourself a beautiful stew and dream of snow.

Trending

Method: Firstly peel the vegetables (thicker than the potatoes) and chop the potatoes into quite thin slices. Roughly chop the onions and then gently fry them with some salt and oil (the salt stops it going brown and slightly caramelises it) for a couple of minutes until they are soft and translucent, then remove them. Heat some more oil and cook the potatoes for a couple of minutes before adding the other vegetables. Cook these until they are slightly brown then remove (if you have a big frying pan then the vegetables can be added straight to the onions).

Plop a couple of big spoons of flour onto a plate and mix in some salt and pepper; roll the meat around in it, then fry until brown.

Finally put everything into a big saucepan, season it well and add the stock. If you have herbs then add a bouquet garni, otherwise a sprinkle of mixed herbs will suffice. Simmer on the hob for one hour, checking if more water is needed periodically. The above should be enough for three meals, if you need more then just add more potatoes to keep the cost down (or a little bit of everything if you’re not bothered). The stew can be frozen too, so you can save it for that cold, windswept winter night.

Plans for a urinal gaming platform to pass those awkward moments.

University applications are down 13% from last year - guess those £9,000 fees are beginning their impact.

The Useful news this fortnight:

fRESH aIR aCTIVITIES, hANGOVER nIGHTMARES

Hard

Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight: parsimonious (adj.) - Sparing in expenditure; frugal to excess.

(Origin: The adjective form of parsimony, from Latin parsimonia, “thrift, parsimony,” from parsus, past participle of parcere, “to spare, to be sparing, to economize.”)

Sheffield storms getting you down?

Students at the University of Sheffield are marvellously lucky, part of our beloved city actually lies within the Peak District boundaries.

So why not exploit this fact, spend that lazy Sunday morning out there rather than lying in front of the TV moaning about your hangover (wow, that

does sound appealing resist it!).

There are many villages and towns in the Peak District, many famous for various delicacies.

There is Buxton, if you fancy some fresh water or Bakewell if you are a bit peckish.

Going to Glossop provides you with a dramatic drive if you have your own car who doesn’t love a bit of Snake Pass excitement?

However, if it is quick and easy access you are looking for then you need look no further than Edale, Derbyshire.

With a railcard the train ticket will only cost you £4.75 and the journey takes less than an hour.

Edale is also the official start of the Pennine Way - the

walking route that takes you from Derbyshire up to Scotland along the spine of the Pennines.

However, one of Edale’s small delights is the Old Nag’s Head pub, which serves delightful food (the full spectrum of pub meals and the best burgers this side of the Atlantic) as well as beautiful ciders on draught and some local ales too.

The footpaths are easily signposted and the walk from the station to the pub takes five minutes (turn left once you hit the road outside the station).

As with most of the Peak District the scenery is breath-taking and it is well worth trekking as high up as possible for the views.

So go on, get out and explore the Peaks.

One fifth of people offered an HIV test decline it - please be sensible everyone!

The Tram Lady loud-mouthing off to her fellow tram riders about her views on immigration gut-wrenchingly disgusting behaviour.

Cold

28

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

SPORT

Matchdebating

Debate: Are UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules good for football, or just a waste of time?

Excessive spending New system will has to be stopped hurt smaller clubs Phil Hammond

UEFA’s proposed Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are an attempt to curb excessive and reckless spending by clubs – made even more relevant in the economic crisis we find ourselves in today.

The plainly obvious example here is Manchester City, owned and funded by Abu Dhabi tycoon Sheikh Mansour. They recorded a Premier League record annual loss of £194.9m for the last financial year, and due to the bottomless pockets of their owners this figure is largely irrelevant as all that is hungered for is success on the pitch – which, arguably, they are now getting.

“Never before has there been so much money and debt in football” You look at their playing squad, and it is the kind of congregation of star names that you can imagine a young teenager assembling on Football Manager by somehow giving themselves unlimited money.

Never before has there been so much money in European football, and

Select BUCS tables BADMINTON Men’s firsts - BUCS 2B 1. Sheffield .................. 13 pts 2. Leeds 1s......................... 12 3. Leeds Met 3s ................. 8

nor has there been so much debt. Every year professional football is the root cause of £1.4billion of debt in Europe. To allow football to keep its heart beating, UEFA has acted quickly to implement the new rules within the next couple of years.

Football clubs will be required to balance their books, only being allowed to spend what they earn in revenue. Owners will no longer be able to get away with irresponsible ownership of their club, funding growth with enormous losses.

Instead, the rules will encourage clubs to follow a sustainable business model where their long term future is secure and the club stands on its own feet.

A club that is running at a loss season upon season is an extremely unstable financial entity; if this was any other economic activity rather than sport, the business would simply not be able to function.

The debate about ‘levelling the playing field’ is a heated one in today’s world of football. The excessive spending, tied in with the non-existent need to balance books, has seen clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea gain a competitive edge over smaller clubs who are not lucky enough to experience that kind of investment, and are forced to balance books by ‘selling to buy.’

The impact of these rules will delve a lot deeper than

fundamental aspects of our game – stadiums, facilities, training and youth development programmes – which will only push our beautiful game onwards and upwards.

reality, the new rules are ensuring that the power remains firmly with the teams at the top table.

In recent years, the

only chance a team had to break the mould of the established top four was to find a wealthy Arab or Russian.

Once UEFA’s rules hit, even wealthy oligarchs will not be a weapon against the teams who serve at the top table. The aptly named ‘fair play’ rules are anything but fair.

Many have criticised Manchester City for their extraordinary spending in recent years. Their transfer policy has been described as reckless and loathsome.

Yet the only reason City have spent so much money so quickly is because they are in the last chance saloon. Sheikh Mansour had no time to slowly build a team of champions.

He had to spend before the drawbridge was closed and the path to the Champions League blocked.

We won’t see such radical spending again. The rules don’t allow for huge losses any more. City have squeezed into the elite before time ran out. For the rest, it’s too late.

Take Everton as an example. It’s a club crying out for investment. The fans know that the only real chance of a title is through a takeover from a

BASKETBALL

Women’s firsts - BUCS 1B

GOLF

NETBALL

Men’s firsts - BUCS 3B

1. Northumbria 1s ............... 9 2. Sheffield ........................... 6 3. Leeds 1s ......................... 6

Mixed firsts - BUCS 2B

Women’s firsts - BUCS 2B

1. Sheffield ........................ 12 2. Leeds Met 2s................... 9 3. Northumbria 2s ............... 6

1. Sheffield ........................ 15 2. Northumbria 2s ............... 9 3. Hull 1s ............................. 9

HOCKEY

RUGBY UNION

Men’s firsts - BUCS 1A

Men’s firsts - BUCS 1A

1. Leeds 1s ........................ 10 2. Sheffield ........................ 10 3. Manchester 1s ............... 9

1. Sheffield Hallam 1s....... 15 2. Sheffield ........................ 15 3. York 1s .......................... 12

Women’s firsts - BUCS 1A

Women’s firsts - North prem.

1. Manchester 1s .............. 15 2. Sheffield ........................... 9 3. Northumbria 1s .............. 7

5. Edinburgh 1s ................... 6 6. Manchester 1s ................ 3 7. Sheffield ........................... 0

simply the purchases of marquee signings by such clubs, however.

If the Premier League manages to stabilise its financial side, and have clubs running like proper businesses, this will only encourage better owners into the game that have so far been discouraged from it. This will allow more investment into the

1. Sheffield ........................ 15 2. Leeds Met 3s................. 12 3. Huddersfield 1s .............. 9

Adam Hancock The FFP rules are entering football to balance the books and level the playing field.

This is what we are led to believe. In

FOOTBALL

Women’s firsts - BUCS 2B

Men’s firsts - BUCS 2B

1. Bradford 1s ..................... 9 2. York 1s ............................. 9 3. Sheffield ........................... 9

1. Durham 1s .................... 15 2. Sheffield ..........................10 3. Leeds Met 2s ................. 9

FENCING

Women’s firsts - BUCS 1A

Men’s firsts - BUCS 2B

1. Northumbria 1s ............. 13 2. Leeds Met 2s ................ 10 3. Sheffield .......................... 5

4. Hull 1s .............................. 6 5. Sheffield ........................... 6 6. Bradford 1s ..................... 3

Women’s firsts - BUCS 2B 1. Leeds 1s ........................ 15 2. Sheffield ........................ 12 3. Sheffield Hallam 2s ....... 7

super-wealthy investor who fancies a new challenge.

Now not even this can save them. Unless Bill Kenwright strikes oil under the Gwladys Street, Everton will continue to be also-rans along with everyone else outside the elite.

“The new rules ensure power remains with the top teams” It is impossible to be completely critical of the new rules. After all, the game is currently a bubble which is on the cusp of bursting. Losses into the billions cannot continue; it’s unsustainable.

However, surely there is a more measured approach which can be taken by UEFA. Football is a big enough business to survive for a few years while a period of transition takes place. These new rules could then eventually be introduced.

This won’t happen though.

FFP will be introduced with many promises. In reality it will simply widen the gap between the haves and have-nots, allowing the big clubs to have the insurance of knowing that another Manchester City project will not interrupt their untouchable status.

‘Financial Fair Play’ could not be a more inaccurate term.

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

29

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

SPORT

‘There’s only one Gary Speed’: Football mourns death of former Blades boss Jack Burnett Tributes have been paid to Wales manager Gary Speed, who was found hanged at his home in Cheshire on Sunday.

Speed, aged 42, made 37 appearances for Sheffield United and later managed the Blades before taking the vacant Wales manager position.

Fans have placed shirts, scarves and flowers in tribute to the Welshman at Bramall Lane, while flags at the stadium continue to fly at half-mast.

Flags embossed with Speed’s image will also be added at the front of the stadium, where they

will remain for at least the rest of the season.

Players and coaches at the club will wear black armbands during the FA Cup tie against Torquay on Saturday, while player-coach Chris Morgan and former Blades and Wales defender Robert Page will lay a wreath on the pitch before kick-off.

A statement from Sheffield United read: “Everybody at Sheffield United is extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former player and manager Gary Speed.

“Thoughts are with Gary’s family and friends at this distressing time.”

Club owner Kevin McCabe

added to the condolences.

Speaking to the Sheffield United website, he said: “Gary Speed enjoyed his time at Sheffield United as a player, coach and ultimately manager. We, in turn, enjoyed having Gary with us in all those roles.

“Gary made a significant impact both on and off the pitch. He was respected throughout Sheffield United Football Club, as he was throughout football.

“His impact as a player was immediate, his quality shone on the field, he led by example in everything he did as a player.

“His progression into coaching seemed a natural one for a player who carried so much respect from

Tributes to Gary Speed from fans of numerous clubs have been left outside Bramall Lane.

his fellow professionals. It seemed, therefore, very appropriate for us at Bramall Lane to offer him the managerial position when the opportunity arose.

“With football matters his skill, expertise and attention to detail were exemplary. With matters off the field he gave of his time very generously and was available to talk with and spend time with supporters.”

Speed began his career at Leeds, and went on to play for Everton, Newcastle and Bolton before ending his playing days with the Blades, joining and making his debut for the club on New Year’s Day in 2008.

He replaced Kevin Blackwell as

manager in 2010, having retired from playing and moved on to coaching at the club the previous year. After a troubled start to his tenure as Blades boss, he took the call to manage Wales in December 2010.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Warrington town hall on Thursday. Speed was found in the garage of his home shortly after 7am by his wife Louise, the inquest was told.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious, and the coroner asked the media to ‘respect the privacy’ of Speed’s family.

A full hearing will take place on January 30.

Photo: Anthony Hart

Blades and Owls victorious Paralympic swimmers gear up for 2012 Football Npower League One Anthony Hart and Nicholas Carding Sheffield United kept on the heels of the League One leaders last weekend, with a 1-0 win at local rivals Chesterfield.

The Blades had most of the chances throughout the match, but they came across Chesterfield goalkeeper Greg Fleming, who was in great form, making several saves.

Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Leon Clarke came closest for the home side when his overhead kick was tipped over the bar by Steve Simonsen in the 62nd minute.

Chesterfield held out until the 82nd minute, but then Sheffield United finally made the breakthrough. Ched Evans beat two men and fired a shot into the bottom left corner, finding its way past Fleming and securing the win for United.

“I think the last few weeks we’ve been talking about tightening up at the back and

in certain areas, and we’ve been given rewards with that,” Sheffield manager Danny Wilson told the BBC. “I think the performance today was very, very strong again and it had to be.”

United’s next match will be against Torquay United on Saturday December 4 as they look to book their place in the third round of the FA Cup. Sheffield Wednesday extended their unbeaten home record as they beat Leyton Orient 1-0.

Reda Johnson’s 20th minute goal was enough to seal a win for The Owls, heading home from Marshall’s looping free-kick.

After the game Megson told the Sheffield Wednesday website: “We’ve talked all week about the importance of this game and that was a hard-fought win.

“Leyton Orient are a good side, they have now lost only one game in eleven and our players can take a lot of credit.”

Wednesday are also in cup action tomorrow, as they host Aldershot, who have already caused a cup upset this season winning at West Ham.

Swimming DSE Championships Wesley Young Promising London 2012 Paralympians were among over 200 swimmers in the Nationwide Open Short Course Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge in which two World records, six European and 32 British records were smashed.

The championships, which took place on November 2627, ran in multi-classification heats in events from butterfly to breaststroke and backstroke to medley in preparation for the London 2012 Paralympics.

Disability Sport Events (DSE), which has organised the National Short Course Championships in Sheffield since 2003, is the events division of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).

Barry Horne, EFDS chief executive, said: “The Championships are a great opportunity for our swimmers to showcase their talent.

“It is an exciting time with London 2012 fast approaching.”

Paralympian, Sascha Kindred broke his own World record with a time of 2:39.59 in the 200m individual medley on Saturday.

Jonathan Fox, 20, who has cerebral palsy, broke the other world record of the day, shaving over four seconds off his personal best to claim the 400m freestyle event in a time of 4:43.03.

Swimming in the same event was 11-time Paralympic gold medallist, David Roberts, 32, who made a welcome return to the competition pool following a tricep injury which had kept him out for eight months.

In his first competitive event since March, the Welsh swimmer looked in good shape with comfortable swims in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle.

“I always enjoy the Short Course so I’m happy to be back,” Roberts said.

“I’m going for my 12th gold medal in London next year but will be retiring after that.”

Hundreds of spectators travelled to Ponds Forge for the two days of swimming – some from as far as Canada.

Sheffield’s Ryan Wilkinson, 14, performed well, notching a top

three finish in the 100m butterfly for his category.

Fellow Yorkshireman Christopher Penny, 15, also managed a top three finish for his swim in the 100m individual medley.

Double Paralympic gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds, who has dwarfism, enjoyed confident swims in freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events over the weekend.

Simmonds won her two medals at the Beijing 2008 games aged only 13, and is anticipating even greater medal success for Team GB in London 2012.

The West Midlands swimmer, now 17, tweeted after the event: “Great few days of racing.”

It was particularly special for Lauren Steadman, 18, who was announced top female at the championships, and upcoming Scottish swimmer, Jack McComish, 15, who was named top male.

The next major DSE national meeting prior to London 2012 will be the British International Disability Swimming Championships held at Ponds Forge on 6-8 April.

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Sheffield ease into last 16 of cup Women’s football firsts Northern Conference Cup

University of Sheffield Northumbria University

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Ollie Turner A 5-1 victory over Northumbria seconds proved to be the perfect tonic for Sheffield’s women’s football firsts after the previous week’s 2-1 defeat to table-toppers Leeds. It also put the side through to the last 16 of the BUCS Women’s Northern Conference Cup. The result was emphatic, but as the atmosphere after the game underlined, the women’s team must continue winning if they are to catch and overtake Leeds firsts at the top of the league.

However, with the likes of Alice Weekes and Sophie Temple getting two goals a piece, plus Temple’s strike partner Jessica Kay getting herself on the score sheet, the squad has enough quality to do so.

The first half of the game played out at Norton was treated to a feast of goals. Sheffield went 2-0 up quickly through a goal from Jessica Kay and the first of the game for Alice Weekes, before momentarily being pegged back. However, Sophie Temple bagged her first as well, to restore

Sheffield’s two-goal advantage going into the break.

The second half however was when Sheffield really asserted their dominance. They added a fourth early in the half; Kay got an assist after a fantastic run down the left-hand side, crossing the ball in for Alice Weekes to connect with, scoring her second after drifting past her marker down the right-wing.

Northumbria rarely threatened, with Sheffield’s defence remaining calm and cool at the back and dealing with any threat to their goal quickly and efficiently.

Temple really stepped up her game in the second half with a terrific performance. She was persistent, ran the channels brilliantly and didn’t give the Northumbria defence a moment to rest.

She capped off her performance with her second goal, put through down the right-hand side and stroking the ball past the Northumbria goalkeeper into the far-left corner of the goal, killing off the game completely and putting the gloss on a great performance.

Sheffield now head into the last 16 of the cup, where they will face either Sunderland firsts or Leeds Met Carnegie seconds.

On the back of this performance, they might feel they’re in with a chance this season of winning it.

Sheffield go into the next round with high hopes after a crushing 5-1 win.

Photo: Andrey Vasilyev

Quarter finals beckon for in-form hockey Women’s hockey firsts BUCS Trophy

University of Sheffield University of Glasgow

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Gareth Burrell Sheffield’s firsts earned a quarter final berth in the BUCS Trophy with a well earned victory against a tough Glasgow side, with strikes from Holly Webb and Isabel Miller in the second half securing the win.

The Sheffield goalkeeper, Alice Mellar, must also be credited for

her performance in the victory as she stopped a penalty and saved on numerous occasions to keep Glasgow out.

Sheffield beat Cambridge 3-2 in the last round, and this game was just as tight with both sides serving up a pulsating first half.

Heather Shillitoe had the game’s first meaningful chance, bringing out a save from the Glasgow keeper.

After eight minutes though, Sheffield had a goal ruled out as Miller was penalised for the ball striking her foot as she twisted her way through Glasgow’s defence.

The chances were increasing

Holly Webb and Isabel Miller netted in Sheffield’s trophy win.

for Sheffield as Webb and Jess Kennedy both had shots stopped, but Glasgow soon came into the game with two very good chances.

They were spurned by the same forward, who twice found herself unmarked with a clear sight on goal. Both times, Alice Mellar rushed out, suppressing the threat and saving fantastically to maintain the stalemate.

The best chance of the half came close to half time: with Sheffield stringing fine passes together, Kate O’Sullivan played a through ball to Webb, who scooped the ball towards the goal, only for the keeper to push the ball onto the post. By the narrowest of

Photos: Nurul Liyana Yeo

margins, the score remained level after a barrage of chances at either end at half time.

The second half started with a slower tempo and it took a good five minutes for any real chance. Nevertheless, when it came, it was a crucial moment in the game. Glasgow won a penalty, giving them the chance to take the lead. However, Mellar made her most important save, getting down low to her right and stopping the ball dead. This seemed to give Sheffield the boost they desperately needed.

After several chances, now from the dominant Sheffield side, the deadlock was finally broken.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Beth Kennedy skimmed a ball into the area with Webb on hand to scoop it into the left hand corner of the net.

Despite a few nerves and another incredible save by Mellar, it was Sheffield who extended their lead. In the last minute, Isabel Miller got the goal she deserved as she was one-on-one with the keeper, beating her to the right to make sure it finished 2-0.

Newcastle firsts or Edinburgh seconds await Sheffield in the quarter final, which will be played at Goodwin.

FORGE PRESS Friday December 2 2011

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Hull put to the sword Men’s fencing BUCS League 2B University of Sheffield University of Hull

120 115

Jack McGregor Sheffield men’s fencing team recorded their second win in the league this season with a thrilling 120-115 victory over Hull.

Perhaps it was not surprising how close the match was due to their league positions prior to the match. Hull were in third place whereas Sheffield were in fourth.

The first round of the match was fought with the sabre.

Sheffield dominated this round, winning all but one fight, which was a draw.

This was an exciting round with lightning fast points that could be missed by blinking. Both teams displayed excellent footwork and technique, though Jonny Block was particularly impressive, winning all three of his fights by over two points.

In the end, Sheffield notched an impressive 45-25 victory.

However, in the second round,

fought with the foil, Hull managed to turn things around, recording a narrow 45-42 victory.

The teams were neck and neck at one point with 12 points each.

The crucial point came in the final fight of the round; with Sheffield holding a 40-35 lead, Hull secured a superb 10-2 win over Sheffield’s Jeremy Chui to secure Hull’s victory in the round.

This meant that heading in to the final round, Sheffield had a mere 17 point lead, leaving all to fight for in the final round.

The final round was fought with the epée. Hull dominated this round from start to finish, eventually winning by 45 points to 33.

However, Sheffield managed to score enough points to win the match despite winning one round and losing two.

Sheffield’s captain Max Wakeham, who was unable to compete due to a back injury, said: “I’m very pleased with the team’s performance.”

Sheffield edged an extremely close tie.

Sabres keep perfect record intact Men’s American football BUAFL Sheffield Sabres Bangor MudDogs

52 6

Sam Stancombe The Sabres remain undefeated after a 52-6 victory over Bangor last Sunday.

They played host to the Bangor MudDogs in a matchup between two teams with perfect starts to the season. With both teams scoring at will against their previous opponents, the game promised to be exciting.

The game started well for the home team, with an interception for Matt Duffy leading to Sam Broughton running in a touchdown from 16 yards out. After a missed two-point

conversion, it was the second quarter until the ball was in either endzone again, and it was the Sabres who extended their lead. Broughton claimed his second touchdown of the day off a Dan Jones pass, and with a successful two-pointer, Sheffield led by 14. There were also some brutal hits, in particular from Kieran Rieley, forcing multiple fumbles throughout the game.

Bangor looked threatening in possession, but were choked by the home defence, with Thomas Malagodi recovering a fumble on the MudDog 21 yard line. The offense took full advantage of the great field position, and Mark Maguire ran home the touchdown.

Alex Healey added the two points to make the score 22-0.

After again forcing the MudDogs to punt the ball away, the Sabres thought they had scored their

The Sabres continued their fine run of form by obliterating the MudDogs.

second punt-return touchdown in consecutive games, only for it to be called back for a roughing the kicker penalty. Both teams then exchanged punts, until Bangor connected a 34 yard pass to leave them on the Sabres’ one-yard line, and scored the touchdown with a run up the middle. The away team attempted the point after touchdown, but it was blocked, and the score was 22-6.

Sheffield ended the half in the ascendancy however, with Dan Jones connecting with CJ Colicchio for a nine yard touchdown. After the previous disappointing drive, the Sabres’ defense came out strong with Malagodi recording a sack to ensure Bangor did not score again before half time. The score was 28-6.

After a kick return to their 41 yard line, the Sabres’ offense

made the best possible start; a 29 yard pass by Jacob Hardy to Milo Craig left 15 yards for Maguire to get his second touchdown of the game. After another threeand-out for the away team gave Broughton another chance on punt return, he set up great field position on the eight yard line.

From here, Maguire got into the endzone for his third score of the day to make the score 40-6.

Into the fourth quarter and the Sabres’ didn’t let up; quarterback Jacob Hardy connected with Jack Johnson who ran the ball in for a 72 yard touchdown. On Bangor’s next drive, Adam Dickens picked off a deep pass, and returned the ball 35 yards, falling just short of an immediate touchdown.

However, the Sabres did convert this opportunity, with Broughton claiming his 10th touchdown of the season.

Photos: Jingjing Liu

Photos: Nurul Liyana Yeo

Table tennis knocked out Men’s table tennis firsts BUCS Championship University of Sheffield King’s College London

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Jay Allan Sheffield’s table tennis club crashed out of the BUCS championship after being thrashed 13-3 by King’s College London.

The home side started well, with club captain Tristan Gratton leading the charge, securing a resounding three-set victory over KCL’s Xiaochen Wang.

But the home side’s momentum evaporated quickly, with Matt Goold, Janosch Prnz, and Biao Yang swept aside with consummate ease by their ruthless opponents.

That left captain Gratton the difficult task of bringing his side back into contention.

And he almost did, leading his powerful opponent Jide Owolabi impressively 2-0. But the KCL man somehow managed to force his way to victory through a dramatic tiebreaker – ending 1517 - that left both Gratton and his team crushed.

With the score set at 1-4, Sheffield was forced to dig deep to salvage any hope of clawing their way back into the match.

And that they did, with Goold making easy work of Wang, smashing the ball past his opponent with some extraordinary forehands that defied his rather subdued play earlier.

But the revival petered out as the home side again lost 4 games in a row, taking the score to an insurmountable 2-8.

Gratton did however salvage some pride by winning his final game decisively in three sets against a tricky opponent in Lenert Stephane. But KCL rediscovered their clinical mood, taking five more victories that puts them safely through to the next round of the championship.

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Off the boil Leeds punished by Kettle

Heavy loss for rugby women Women’s rugby union BUCS Northern Premier University of Sheffield Leeds Met

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Adam Hancock

A brace from David Kettle and futher goals by Alex Brookes, Dom Agnew and Josh Thompson gave Sheffield the win.

Men’s football firsts BUCS League 2B University of Sheffield University of Leeds

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Matthew Smith Sheffield moved into second in the league with their third win on the bounce, and fourth in six games this season, with a confidenceboosting thumping of Leeds, who have lost all their games this year and sit rock bottom.

Having beaten their opponents’ city rivals Leeds Met 2-1 last week, the home side started brightly, with Sam Strong flicking a corner just wide in the opening minute.

Though Leeds fought back and kept possession well, Sheffield were creating all the openings – Toluwa and Dom Agnew combined excellently with an intricate passing move, however Toluwa’s shot was blocked. Nevertheless, on 15 minutes Sheffield went 1-0 up – Toluwa slid the ball in for David Kettle, who beat the offside trap and casually finished his fourth strike of the campaign, moving him on his own in the lead for top goalscorer, ahead of Will Doyle on three.

Leeds were making a real game of it however, and when Cripps and Strong failed to adequately

close down an attack, a shot from 18 yards clipped the right post with keeper Adam Seymor stranded. Seymor had already made a good close range block after a corner wasn’t cleared, and was being kept on his toes by numerous long range efforts.

At the other end, Kettle was uncharacteristically wasteful, shooting straight at the keeper from 14 yards after Jake Stevens flicked him through.

Nevertheless, Sheffield were

the better team, Strong living up to his name at centre half, and Kettle terrorising the Leeds defence from all angles – Thompson’s delicate backheel put the big man in again, but his left-footed curler missed the top corner by inches. Kettle then appeared to be hacked down right on the edge of the area, but the referee waved play on in spite of Kettle remaining prone on the ground. He was fine however, and later got a booking for one too

Photos: Andrey Vasilyev

many complaints to the official.

Then, finally, the floodgates opened as Sheffield deserved, as three goals were scored in just five minutes. On 69 minutes, Toluwa was again industrious on the right, poking the ball through for captain Andy Forster, whose pull back was polished off by Kettle – five in six league games, an exceptional return – although he would be unable to reach his hat trick.

Toluwa was at the heart of the third too; he won the corner, which was swung right onto Alex Brookes’ head, and he looped it over the hapless Leeds goalkeeper, who may well have been distracted by Kettle standing on the line.

The fourth was scored when Josh Thompson’s superb leftfooted cross was guided in by the head of Agnew, who was instantly replaced by James Shields, who had time to claim an assist. With eight minutes left, Shields threaded a through ball for Thompson, who rounded the goalkeeper, though he had time to wait until his adversary was back in position, before deservedly finishing high into the back of the net.

The University of Sheffield Men’s Football firsts want a regular physio after the winter break. Anyone interested should contact team captain Andy Forster on 07989299253.

The University of Sheffield’s women’s rugby union team put up a brave fight against highflying Leeds Met on a freezing afternoon at Norton.

The scoreline may suggest the match was very one sided, but Sheffield can take positives from their performance against an impressive side.

Sheffield were already facing a huge challenge and that task quickly became even more daunting when Leeds Met stormed into a big lead early in the game.

The game was less than three minutes old when Vicky Pinks opened the scoring for Leeds Met, storming through the Sheffield defence. Claire Garner converted, one of several good kicks on a windy afternoon.

Shortly after this, Hattie Witty scored an impressive try for Leeds Met. Pinks broke through the Sheffield defence and offloaded to Witty who had a free run to the try line. Another solid kick by Garner gave Leeds Met an early 14-0 lead.

The pattern of early Leeds Met dominance continued as Tasha Collins bagged a try. She was set up by Heike Niemand following some impressive build up play.

Garner again converted, leaving Sheffield with a damage limitation exercise. Despite the scoreline, Sheffield were defending well against an onslaught of Leeds Met pressure.

It appeared that Sheffield would keep their opponents out until half time, but two Leeds Met tries from Luxton and Width just before half time meant that the scoreline read 33-0 at the interval.

The opening of the second half started in a similar pattern to the first. Sophia Luxton intercepted a pass leaving her with a free run to the try line. It was a sloppy mistake by the Sheffield defence, although Luxton did show some great initiative to read the pass.

Garner converted again as the lead was extended to 40-0.

Sheffield finally made a mark on the scoreboard when Nicky Fitzgerald crossed after 55 minutes. Fitzgerald had performed well in the line-out and deserved her try. The conversion was missed but Sheffield had inflicted the first point that Leeds Met have conceded in two games.

This didn’t stop the flow of Leeds Met tries, as Rachel Roberts and Heike Niemand scored late on. Replacement kicker Chloe Sprules converted twice as the scoreline read 54-5.

Although it was a heavy defeat, Sheffield are a new team and were facing an almost impossible task against a Leeds Met side, which contained members of the England student team.