Forge Press Issue 44

FREE Issue 44

Friday March 2 2012

Abdi says ‘Hi’ as President

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

INSIDE MUSIC Kaiser Chiefs’ Simon Rix speaks to Sam Bolton about their risky fourth album and Rix’s love of Young MC

Fuse p.4-5

@ForgePress /ForgePress

FEATURES Examining the truth behind the sterotypes of minority communities within our own

p.14-15

COMMENT The joint enterprise law enables police and prosecutors to include others in a crime aside from the perpetrator p.11

ARTS A review of SuTCo’s performance of Brontë the play following a family stricken by hardship Fuse p.15

New President Abdi Suleiman rides the waves of victory as he storms to success in this year’s Officer Elections.

Abdi Suleiman won a landslide victory in the Students’ Union Elections, taking the Union President crown by almost 2,000 votes. Suleiman, who won with his ‘Abdi- because I said hi’ campaign, beat off his nearest rival, Kat Dawson, with his 3,852 votes to her 1,924 votes.

Tom Hollis came in third with 1,476 votes, followed by Sam Mannion who polled 1,254.

“It’s awesome – it feels just like that – being elected President of the best SU in the country,” said Suleiman. “Thanks to everybody who ran – it’s not easy.”

Hundreds of students crowded into the Raynor Lounge waving banners and flags as champagne and tears flowed in equal measures.

The Sports Officer vote, which kicked off the results night, was the closest of all the results and was only contested by two candidates.

Luke MacWilliam narrowly

beat off the challenge from Tolu Osinubi by only 279 votes.

MacWilliam said:“I’m confident we’ll win the summer Varsity, and if not we’ll try our earnest next year.”

Sara Moon blew away other candidates to win the honour of becoming the first ever Development Officer.

She beat James Penney, her nearest rival, with 3,904 votes compared to his 2,120.

I’m completely overwhelmed and full of appreciation for everyone who voted for me,” said Moon.

LGBT committee member Jonathan Gleek took the Welfare Officer position.

Gleek, who based his campaign slogan on the TV show Glee, amassed 3,254 votes in the final round of counting beating Haworth, 1,961, to second place.

Talking about his campaign, Gleek said: “There were times when I did start believing. I

really want to make life better for students.”

Richard Alderman, who pledged in his campaign to create a mobile application for booking computers in the IC, won the Education Officer position.

Alderman’s campaign’s to ‘enRich your education’ won by almost 1,500 votes, recieving 3,706 votes in all. Lucas Tomlinson came second with 2,267.

An emotional Alderman told Forge Media: “My campaign has been about improving education every day. Personal tutors: I’m coming to get you!”

The new Women’s Officer for 2012/2013 was Amy Masson, who ran against no other candidates.

Masson was overwhelmingly elected into the position with 5,213 votes, while 1,028 students voted for RON - to re-open Nominations.

“We have a radical feminist in the Students’ Union,” said

Photo: Adam Harley

Masson.

“It feels amazing – I’ve wanted to do this since getting involved on the Women’s Committee.”

‘Happy Chappy’ Tom Dixon was over the moon when current Activities Officer Nabil announced that Dixon would replace him.

“To follow in Nabil’s footsteps is terrifying, he’s incredible,” said Dixon.”

Dixon fought off competition from six other candidates as he polled 3,276 votes, nearly twice the amount of votes than his nearest rival, Claire Haines.

600 votes separated the top two candidates for the International Officer position.

In the end International students’ councillor Fadi Dakkak came out on top. Dakkak said: “Thank you. This has been an insane journey. I really couldn’t have done it without all you guys.”

More coverage on p.4-5

2

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

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Forge in Brief It’s official: Birmingham Uni flip fewer pancakes than Sheffield

Students sleep on the concourse to raise hundreds for refugees

An attempt to challenge Sheffield’s pancake flipping world record by students at Birmingham University has flopped, with only 350 participants turning up.

The event failed to beat the 890 University of Sheffield students who smashed the Guinness World Record for the most people flipping a pancake for 30 seconds on February 15.

Rachel Gerrish

New plaque unveiled by alumni Representatives from Sheffield Alumni and the Students’ Union officers have unveiled a plaque to officially open the new refurbished Garden View Foyer.

The refurbishment has been funded by members of the Sheffield Alumni, former and current staff of the University and from the students’ union.

Union President Thom Arnold said: “We’ve seen this area go from a really under-used area to a really vibrant part of the students’ union, and it’s brilliant to see the union working closely with former graduates of the University.’

Kieran Dean

Youngster is ‘community hero’ A 13-year-old schoolgirl has been chosen as Sheffield’s local hero for her fundraising for cancer research.

Lily Marshall, a pupil at City School, was chosen from hundreds of applications by the ‘Community Heroes’ scheme launched by the Broad Lane NHS centre.

Lily, who raised £650 after competing in a local race, chose the Teenage Cancer Trust as the charity to receive her £250 prize, awarded by NHS Walk in Centre on Broad Lane.

Photo: Chris Kelk Chris Kelk Students from Sheffield Student Action for Refugees (STAR) braved the cold to sleep outside the Union, protected only by sheets of cardboard, to mark the end of Refugee Week.

The event raised £300 for Sheffield Charity ASSIST and was attended by MEP Linda McAvan and an estimated 100 people throughout the evening.

Sheffield STAR also raised

an estimated £300 for the Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (CDAS) and £100 for Conversation Club.

Refugee Week saw a packed schedule of events organised by STAR in a nationwide bid to raise awareness of destitution amongst asylum seekers.

STAR co-president Erin Mee said: “With no right to work and limited legal aid, it’s of no surprise that there is so much destitution in these cases. Since

the UK takes in less than three per cent of the world’s refugees, we should be able to do much better.”

The Asylum Seeker Support Initiative Short Term (ASSIST), a Sheffield born organisation, relies on a network of 140 volunteers to provide basic amenities for many of the city’s asylum seekers. It currently supports 76 rejected refugees.

On denial of refugee status when entering the UK, the

Hannah Styles

Apply for Bethan Reeves grant Students involved with local community projects have the opportunity to apply for funds from the Bethan Reeves Community Action Trust.

Grants of up to £1,000 can be issued to students involved in community or volunteering work in Sheffield.

Contact s.d.hay@sheffield.ac.uk

Photo: Hannah Styles

More than 80 fitness fanatics and fundraisers have raised money for the British Heart Foundation after running to the top of the University’s Arts Tower.

Organisers launched the Take the Stairs Challenge to raise money for the charity’s Red for Heart campaign and hope to make an the event annual. More than 80 students, teachers and locals took part, running up a total of 19 floors to reach the top.

Organiser Stuart Heslington said that he has taken part in fundraisers before, but this time he wanted to try something much bigger – and he found the challenge he wanted in the iconic 78 metres tall Arts Tower. He said: “The University of Sheffield

Matt Burgess

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

Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com

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

have been very kind to lend us this building.”

Mohammad Ghazi, Stephan Lau and Michelle Liao, all medic students at the University, were among the runners. All were excited and maybe a little bit nervous, but were able to raise a fair amount of money.

Stephan said: “Being a medical student I’ve studied heart disease and learnt how it is one of the biggest killers in the western world, and so of course I wanted to help.”

Organisers hope to have raised over £5000 from the day to continue the British Heart Foundation’s work.

The charity has invested £2.5 million on research at the University overall.

Advertise in Forge Press through The BAM Agency.

Call the North West and Yorkshire sales team on 0845 1300667

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

matt.burgess@forgetoday.com

What’s on your mind?

Fundraisers go sky high for Heart Foundation

Matthew Smith

Editor

government provides an asylum seeker with a maintenance grant of a minimum of £5 a day.

However, they are refused a passport, legal aid, and the right to work.

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.

Photo: Mark McKay

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

3

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

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Student to carry Olympic flame after working for child charity Amelia Jones

Fired up: Moss is ready to carry the Olympic flame.

Photo: Nicholas Carding

A University of Sheffield student will carry the Olympic flame this summer along with 8,000 other torchbearers through Britain.

Peter Moss, 18, a first year Geography student, was selected on account of charity work he has worked on for the last four years, helping deprived children in Castle Vale, Birmingham, to gain self-belief and new experiences by putting them in touch with nature.

Torchbearers were nominated last year, and conditional places were allotted in December, with nominees having a one in 11 chance of being selected.

Moss, from Castle Vale, said: “Charity is a key part of my life; raising money is one thing, but actually going into the field and helping people, doing the work yourself is best.

“I do charity work in the community where we help kids, and show them the nature around us. It’s nice to give them a chance to see and do something different.

“One mean kid I knew has turned out really nice now, so its about helping them away from dodgy areas of life and turning them into role models instead.”

“To be recognized is a great honour, I’m so proud. I think the whole scheme is an excellent idea as it lets people tell their story.

“Its going to be a great experience, its a chance of a lifetime, and its a proud moment.

“I love a good atmosphere so I hope lots of people turn out and watch us.

“My family are over the moon and it will bring everyone together, so it will be a highlight of my life.”

Prospective torchbearers were put forth following the London

2012 Organising Committee’s ‘Moment to Shine’ campaign, often owing to a positive impact they have made upon their communities.

The Community Environmental Trust works with local residents, schools and organisations to promote the protection and renovation of ‘urban green space’.

Peter Moss was nominated for his work by project manager Rupert Johnson.

Peter will be running through an area approximately a mile long in between Birmingham and Derby, on the June 24. Having previously completed a half marathon, he is less concerned about the physical challenge carrying the torch will pose, and more about the possibilities it could present for embarrassment.

Moss said: “The thing I’m most worried about is the torch going out or that I’ll not manage to light the next one.”

Torchbearers are elected as representatives of their communities, and Peter will be carrying the torch on behalf of Castle Vale.

He said: “I wouldn’t be here now without Castle Vale.

It is a deprived area, and getting to university is quite an achievement but it is still at the heart of the country.

Birmingham is a brilliant place but is often overlooked, despite its opportunities.”

Moss, whose athletics hero is Mo Farah, believes the Olympics brings everyone together in one pivotal moment and thinks audiences will be overwhelmed when watching the games unfold.

Moss said: “The Olympic flame symbolises the burning desire of all people, and we who get to carry it get to present their passion.”

Sticky situation for student campaigners at tar sands protest Mark McKay Students covered themselves in oil in a protest outside Nick Clegg’s constituency office.

Members of People and Planet were protesting against proposals which could have seen tar sands oil imported to the UK. A spokesman for People and Planet said tar sands oil extraction creates three times more emissions than conventional oil and EU countries would not meet carbon reduction targets if the vote was passed.

The majority of tar sand deposits are found in Alberta, Canada.

Ruth Fox, 22, a member of People of Planet society, said: “The tar sands is not just an environmental issue, it is a human rights issue as well.

“They are destroying forests, they are decimating wildlife populations and the rate of cancer in the local areas has been sky rocketing since tar sand extraction started.

“I am interested to know why the Liberal Democrats, who said in their election manifesto, ‘We are a green party and we care about the environment’, are choosing to side with the Canadian Government on this

issue and choosing to support the oil industry.

“Tar sands is not in line with what the Liberal Democrat office stands for.”

Jack Williams, 27, a Liberal Democrat Campaigner, speaking outside Nick Clegg’s constituency office, said he would pass their message on.

“I think it’s great that they are here. I am in no position at all to make any policy comments.

“All I can say is that the Liberal Democrats are very concerned about the environment and we are very concerned about human rights. Those things are incredibly important. I am grateful that you are raising an issue that is obviously very important to you.”

Anna Maya, 20, a Biology student who attended the protest, said: “We want to raise awareness about the issue of extracting tar sand.

“People seeing this will make them know that tar sands is not something we want. We want to let Nick Clegg know that students do not want this.”

The UK abstained from the vote on Thursday. The issue will now be decided by EU ministers in June.

Protesters covered themselves in oil at the protest outside Nick Clegg’s office

Photo:Mark MarkMcKay McKay Photo:

4

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

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

NEWS UNION ELECTIONS

Your new team of officers President

Education Officer

“Use of national campaigns is important if we feel we can help make a change for the better. I said from day one that I will make a list of all the things I need to do.

“I need to thank Mat Denton and Florrie for helping me with the green campaign. I’m determined to enhance the role of personal tutors. No student should be forgotten.”

“My campaigners were the campaign. Thank you to them – I wish I had enough thank yous. The next year – and the next couple of years of higher education are desperately important. We all care about public education and defend it.”

Richard is keen to have academic representatives for each department and wants career development to be at the heart of degrees.

Richard Alderman

Abdi Suleiman

Development Officer

Women’s Officer

“I want to keep meeting and engaging with students after the election. I want to have an open door policy – any students can come and speak to me.

“Representation for equalities is really important and it needs seperate representation – but women are the majority at the University and require distinct representation themselves.

“I’m going to celebrate with my friends – I’ll do whatever they want to! It’s their night really – I’m so grateful for their support.”

“I have so many plans. The first thing I will implement is an anti-sexism policy. Also I think self-defence lessons are really important.”

Sara Moon

Amy Masson

International Students’ Officer

Welfare Officer

“It feels great to be elected, I’ve worked with the Union for the past five years so it’s great to be finally at the top! I can’t really explain how I feel.

Now I’m going to stay in Bar One and enjoy a few drinks!”

“Thank you so much! Well done to everybody.

Thanks to everyone who voted – Don’t stop believing!

Fadi Dakkak wants to integrate international students more with British students.

Jon Gleek

“The feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. Amazing! There’s champagne all over the place and I’m still shaking.”

Fadi Dakkak

Activities Officer

Sports Officer

“Every single person who ran is incredible. I want to thank every single person who voted.

“I just want to thank anyone who had anythying to do with this campaign. This wouldn’t have been possible without you. Words can’t describe, there’s so much emotion flowing it’s unbelievable.”

“It feels incredible. Without all my friends who got involved it wouldn’t have been possible. Most people who know me know that I am a really happy chappy so I just wanted to get that idea across.”

Luke Macwilliam, a keen badminton player and cricketer, intends to increase coaching qualifications among club members and promote schemes like Rag’s Adopt-a-charity.

Tom Dixon

Luke MacWilliam

Turnout smashes national record - again Forge News Team Voter turnout at this year’s officer elections has smashed the all-time record for Students’ Unions across the country, with a total of 8,549 students taking to the polls.

It’s the third year running that the Union has broken the national record, taking back the top spot from the University of Leeds.

Students’ Union Activites Officer, Nabil Alizai, said: “We are all really ecstatic- not only did we break last year’s record, we smashed it.

“It’s great to see students engaging with the elections.

There’s been a really great atmosphere surrounding the

whole thing this year.”

Votes were shown on a voteo-meter in the foyer of the Students’ Union.

The Union had been hoping to reach a target of 10,000 votes overall but in the end fell short of the figure.

The number of votes improved on the 2011 total - when 7,692 votes were cast - by 857 votes.

While 6,095 votes at the elections back in 2009 broke the national record, the competition has been steadily becoming tougher, with 7,216 votes needed in 2010.

The 2011 record of 7,692 was stolen weeks later by the University of Leeds.

8,549 7,216

7,692

6,095

2009

2010

2011

2012

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

5

UNION ELECTIONS NEWS Catch up with all the coverage from the elections online at www.ForgeToday.com DOT COM

Referenda: your results Constitutional reform: Passed

Changes to the Students’ Union Constitution and Bye Laws proposed by Union Council.

Includes changes to the roles of Sports Officer, Activities Officer and Union Development Officer, and will allow dual students to vote for Union Councillors in both of their departments.

Votes: Yes: 4,375 Abstain: 1,603 No: 189

Anti-Racism, Hate Crime and Discrimination: Passed

The Union will resolve to fight hate crime through campaigns, ensuring equality in all parts of University life, and adopting a ‘zero tolerance’ approach.

Votes: Yes: 5,657 Abstain: 420 No: 186

Nestle: Passed

‘The Union resolves to have no dealings with, or facilitate the promotion of, Nestle, on the grounds of unfair exploitation of third world countries.’

Votes: Yes: 4,375 No: 965 Abstain: 755 Photo: Adam Harley

NUS Affiliation: Passed

The Students’ Union will remain affiliated with the National Union of Students.

Votes: Yes: 5,429 Abstain: 423 No: 193

Arms trade referendum delayed The Union’s new policy on dealing with arms companies has been delayed after the referendum was pulled at the last minute.

The proposed vote, titled ‘University Relations with Arms Companies’ which asked students to approve the Students’ Union new policy on the University’s dealing with arms companies.

The policy had already been approved by Union Council.

The new policy had been created as a result of discussions held by a committee looking at the issue.

However, an alternative proposal was put forward by students who were unhappy with the new policy.

Students’ Union President, Thom Arnold, said that the referendum had been postponed due to problems submitting the neccassary information before the relevant deadline.

“An alternatively worded proposal was put forward,” said Thom. “It didn’t meet the print deadline for election material.

“Constitutionally both proposals need to be displayed side-by-side, this could not happen so it had to be pulled.”

The referendum will now be held with the next Union Council elections.

Photo: Nurul Liyana Yeo

RON was no match for Amy Masson

Forge News Team

Photo: Nurul Liyana Yeo

Richard Alderman pops the champagne cork

The best tweets of the campaign:

#suvote

Coverage by: David Parker Nicholas Carding Alisha Rouse Adam Harley Nurul Liyana Yeo Camille Crick Daniel Harris

6

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

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

NEWS LOCAL

Lib Dem councillors plan new high speed station at Sheffield Victoria site Joseph Leigh Sheffield’s Liberal Democrats have shunted forward their campaign for a new high speed railway station connecting Sheffield to Manchester at the old Sheffield Victoria Station site.

The Liberal Democrats have written to the Secretary of State for Transport and local transport officials in order to gain their support for the new station. The campaign is also backed by local businesses.

Liberal Democrats believe that a new station at the old Victoria site would regenerate the surrounding area and maximise economic benefits by being so closely stationed to the city centre.

However, Labour politicians have refused to back the campaign over concerns on where the new station would be located. Doubts were raised over the station’s realistic benefits to Sheffield when potentially located as far out as Rotherham.

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council, said: “We are stepping up our campaign to ensure that Sheffield receives the maximum possible benefit from high speed rail.

We want assurances that reopening Sheffield Victoria will be considered as a serious option.

“We believe that the new high speed rail station should be located as close to Sheffield city centre as possible. Locating the station somewhere miles out of the city would be a missed opportunity.”

“We understand discussions on the potential sites are on-going, so it is vital that we make our voices heard now before it’s too late. This issue is too important to sit on the fence, just as local Labour politicians are doing.”

Sheffield Victoria station was on the old Great Central Railway from London to Manchester, but was shut down in 1970 in favour of the Hope Valley Line, completed in 1894, which better served local communities.

Left to right: Iltaf Hussain, Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Cllr Colin Ross, Ellie Bennett from Wicker Pharmacy, Youssef Toumiat and Cllr Ian Auckland.

Student doctors help heal fluffy friends at Teddy Bear Hospital 4More than 60 ‘doctors’ help out in sixth year of Weston Park event Jodie Gadd

A teddy bear MRI scanner carries out its vital work.

Photo: Jodie Gadd

Sheffield medical students have been taking care of the city’s fluffiest friends at their annual Teddy Bear Hospital.

The event, now in its sixth year, asked children to bring their teddy bears to a makeshift hospital in Weston Park Museum to have them ‘treated’.

It aims to reduce children’s anxiety about hospitals and doctors and to familiarise them with the procedures.

Some of them were patients at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Workshops helped them learn about healthy eating and exercise.

Student ‘teddy doctors’ diagnose the bear, before performing an MRI scan and x-ray.

Children are given patient notes for their bear, as they make

their way around each room to visit special stations focusing on areas including anatomy, healthy eating, and, new for this year, dentistry and orthopedics.

Around 60 medicine students from different years in the course helped out at the event. A pub quiz and bake sales leading up to the day helped to raise nearly £400.

“It’s been successful.

It went really well.” said Arpita Chattopadhyay, final year medical student and event coordinator.

The event was advertised by posters up around the city of Sheffield.

“We’ve had a steady stream of people all day, and they all brought their teddies so they knew about it” said Tejaswi Bommireddy, fourth year medical student.

FORGE PRESS Friday 2 March 2012

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

7

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Islamic author says he would ‘join English Defence League’ Camille Crick Muslim speaker Hamza Andreas Tzortzis said that he would join the EDL if he was English at an Arts Tower lecture.

Tzortzis, giving a lecture entitled ‘Does God exist?’, said: “Our societies are full of racism and caste structure.

“How dare we complain about the EDL when a Pakistani from the north can’t marry a Pakistani from the south?

“If I were English and white working-class, I would be with the EDL. Because I know what we’re about, we’re not angels.”

Many took exception as the writer expressed opposition to homosexuality and used an analogy which some felt likened homosexuals to paedophiles.

However, the Greek Orthodox convert spoke mainly about religion, and said his comments on homosexuality had been misconstrued.

He said: “Homosexuality is a sin in Islam, but then so is swearing and not praying five times a day,” he said. “I am not saying, ‘You homosexual, you are evil and must die.’

“Last week, someone advocated genetic arguments for homosexuality and I said therefore you are advocating many other things that people claim to be genetic.

“I did not say that paedophiles are like homosexuals, I said the implications of what you are saying say that.”

His talk was diverted only briefly as the presenter expressed his annoyance at those who tried to get the lecture cancelled.

He said: “It goes against freedom of speech.

“People want freedom of speech so they can draw cartoons and put them in a magazine, but when it’s something they don’t agree with they don’t like it.”

It was not the first time

A University of Sheffield student is standing for election to Sheffield City Council in May, seeking to become one of the youngest councillors in the country.

Sam Launder, a first year Business Management student, originally from Oxford, is to stand in the Beighton ward on behalf of the UK Independence Party, two and a half years after joining the party. If elected he would become the party’s first councillor in Sheffield and one of the youngest locally elected politicians in the country.

Mr Launder, who is also a member of the University’s UKIP society, said: “Since joining the society at university I’ve had more of an involvement in the party. Before that I just did a bit of leafleting at home and helping out where I could, but I also sat back a bit to make sure I was following the right party.”

In an interview with Forge Press, he said he was ‘driven’ to run for Beighton by existing

First ever Malaysian Night to showcase rare landscape artist Talented artist Ping Lian, one of only a few dozen people worldwide with a rare form of autism, will be showcasing his work at the University of Sheffield’s first ever Malaysian Night.

Ping is one of fewer than 100 living savants, and due to this rare form of autism, he has been able to draw incredible pictures since the age of eight.

Ping’s paintings of famous city landscapes have been displayed across the globe, from New York City to London, and now he has made the journey north to give students in Sheffield a live display of his own work at the Savant Showcase.

The event, part of World Week, will take place on March 10, and will also be showcasing Malaysian culture and talent, such as drama and traditional Malaysian food.

Tickets are available from the Union Box Office.

Kieran Dean

City’s museum chief steps down

Hamza Tzortzis, shown here at a previous event, gave a lecture in the Arts Tower last Monday that the lecturer has attracted controversy. Tzortzis is a former trustee of the charity Green Crescent which was placed under investigation by the Charity Commission for links with Islamist terrorism.

He resigned his trusteeship after the charity’s head, Faisal Mostafa, was arrested and charged with terrorism offences in Bangladesh.

What’s on your mind?

Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com

Student aims to be city’s Legal advice on offer first UKIP councillor at city centre charity Daniel Harris

Forge in Brief

councillors’ failures to represent the views of local people. On his status as a student not from the area, Launder said: “It’d be great to be from this area, but I’m not.

“But one of the main duties for a politician is representation, and all across the country they aren’t listening to people’s views”.

“I’d do what other councillors don’t do. They don’t see them [local constituents], they don’t knock on their doors after elections, and it’s the most fundamental thing. You need to represent them at the top level.”

He also said that his main concerns were proposed cuts to Sheffield City Council which would see more than 600 jobs lost and affect the people of Beighton ward.

“I see myself as a serious candidate. One of the main problems with UKIP is that people see it as a single issue party.”

Launder will be attending his first national UKIP conference in Skegness next week.

Jess Pitocchi Law students from the University of Sheffield are reaching out to homeless people throughout the city by offering free legal advice at the Cathedral Archer Project.

The team of 12 have been volunteering on Thursdays at the project since before Christmas and work with two local solicitors who also offer a free legal surgery.

Students stay with their client throughout the whole process, from the preliminary meeting to pursuing claims in court.

Josh Middleton, who currently runs the Law Project branch of Sheffield Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) said: “I think our team all feel pretty strongly that volunteering at Archer gives people a chance to get probono legal advice when they can’t necessarily afford to go into local practices which charge increasingly high prices for giving advice.

“It gives legal access to people who need it most”.

The Sheffield Archer Project,

founded in 1900, offers support to homeless and vulnerable people in Sheffield.

It featured in the TV programme The Secret Millionaire in November 2011.

Dr Chai Patel, a former doctor and self-made millionaire, visited the charity in the guise of a retired doctor who was helping out as a volunteer to gain work experience.

He then gave the charity £40,000 to pay for the staff to remain in their roles for another three years, and build an on-site dentist.

The Project was also treated to a royal visit in November 2011

by Her Majesty the Queen, who wanted to meet the staff and volunteers of the Project.

Peter Bradley, the Dean of Sheffield, had previously said: “We are proud to see staff and students’ wonderful work recognised by Her Majesty's visit.”

Staff and volunteers who met her described it as an honour.

Nick Dodd, head of Museums Sheffield, is set to step down as chief executive in June.

Dodd will take voluntary redundancy after the charity lost £800,000 of Renaissance funding, as well as suffering a 15% cut in their City Council funding.

Museums Sheffield, which is suffering from ‘significant cost pressures’, will be laying off 21 members of staff at the end of March, with a further 23 redundancies expected in late summer.

Dodd’s application for voluntary redundancy was accepted by trustees last week. He became chief executive of Museums Sheffield in 2002.

David Parker

Arts Tower illuminated to celebrate £36m refurbishment The Sheffield skyline has been set alight to celebrate the renovation of one of the city’s most iconic buildings.

A display of multi-coloured lights have taken over the top four floors of the Arts Tower, the UK’s tallest university structure, to celebrate the end of a £36 million project which has taken 3 years.

Work has included replacing the building’s facade, concrete repairs and removing internal partitions.

The illuminations will be on show for the last time this evening.

Katie Davies

The tower has been lit up all week.

8

www.forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

ADVERTISEMENT

s s

Part y l ima An

Which Housemate are you?

Do

Take the quiz online at endsleigh.co.uk/quiz

d

ge

r

Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This can be checked on the FSA Register by visiting its website at www.fsa.gov.uk. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited.

Company No: 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.

ek

Bo

We’re behind you

e G

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

9

LETTERS

Have your say

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.

The only way is a full-frontal lobotomy

So-called satire not such a laugh

It was a little hard to tell, but I hope to God that the writer of “The Only Way Is... Tango” was being sarcastic when stating that shows like TOWIE and Geordie Shore have “captured the hearts of the Great British public”.

Although I rarely do so, I took the time to pick up a copy of the 17 February issue of the Forge Press.

Dear Forge Press,

If it was genuine, then I think an apology is owed to the British public, who are far, far smarter than that - even if they did award TOWIE a BAFTA television award.

Being from the North East, I am aware of the increase in tourism that these shows have brought to their ‘home towns’.

But it’s the wrong kind of tourism - I certainly cannot think of any city in Britain, or anywhere else on the planet for that matter, which would be happy to be inundated by drunken morons with stupidly big

muscles and women with six inch heels and six inch makeup.

If you’re brave enough to call any of these vacuous, hedonistic fools your “idols” in public, you should frankly be hung, drawn and quartered on the spot.

The same punishment should be given to anybody who uses words such as “jel” or “mortal” in everyday conversation, and their inclusion in the OED should surely be considered a portent of the Apocalypse.

Someone once said that you’ll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator, and television has never been lower or more common than the likes of TOWIE. Even Big Brother, surely one of the worst offenders for dumbing down television, had a promising premise - a satire on the Orwellian nature of our

modern society.

But these new semi-reality shows seem to be built entirely on the premise that, if you are loud enough and stupid enough, you can have fame and fortune.

In times gone by, our idols used to be intelligent, creative individuals with a talent worth showcasing, and voices worth listening to. But, unfortunately, it seems that people would rather emulate Amy Childs than someone like Stephen Fry. TOWIE and the Shore shows are going to mark the final nail in our intellectual coffin, and I wonder how many people will turn up to the funeral.

They’ll probably all be hung over from the night before.

Sincerely, Phil Bayles

Dear Forge Press,

I was surprised and more than a little offended by your D.A.R.T.S. section in which you said that archaeology is “digging up the same old shit.”

I have no problem with lampooning a

representative for falling asleep in a meeting, but your characterisation of my field of study was childish, disrespectful, and reveals your ignorance about what archaeology is.

Archaeology is a very demanding discipline that requires an understanding of ethics, geology, biology, zoology, osteology, anthropology, history, philosophy, etc.

My classmates and I work very hard and do not appreciate our work being belittled to our nonarchaeology peers. Write satire all you want, but how would you like it if I went around saying that your newspaper is shit?

Let’s all try to be civil and good-natured.

Yours sincerely, Charity Moore

Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to: Flippin’ eck: Sheffield smashes world pancake record

Forge Press…with its cutting edge news….reporting on things that happened a whole week ago. I imagine you’ll work out who the new officers are around christmas time.

Harry Cripps

Review: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Unremarkable with a decent ending but a tired premise? Sounds like a night of passion with me…

Simon

Advertisement

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

10

COMMENT

Dutch scientists have taken the first steps to creating lab-grown meat - Forge Press asks would you eat a ‘Bunsen Burger’?

Tartare for now: A flesh in the pan, could this be it too petri-frying for the abattoir? to ever catch on

Liam Deacon

I’m not a vegetarian, and I don’t think I’d want to be a vegetarian. But I do think vegetarianism is a pretty good thing. Not because I have any ethical objections at all to the killing of animals for food, but because it’s a simple fact that if we all gave up our bacon and steak, the poorest people in our world would be a lot less hungry, and the environment would be quite a bit less at risk.

‘This new labproduced meat is indeed less thirsty’

The UN, and other reputable organizations, have asserted that giving up meat is one of the most effective ways an individual can reduce their carbon footprint.

11 times more carbon dioxide is released in the production of one gram of animal protein than is produced to create a gram of plant protein.

It’s not hard to see why. First producing the feed, then slaughtering, processing, transporting and refrigerating meat are all energy intensive. Not to mention the fact that the methane most animals produce is 20 times more

environmentally harmful than carbon dioxide, as well as the huge areas of rainforest burnt every year to supply the West’s insatiable appetite for meat.

It is a very modern phenomenon where perfectly good grain and soya beans are fed to animals to produces meat for developed nations.

15 to 20 pounds of grain, used as animal feed, will produce just one pound of animal flesh.

It’s bizarre that we are producing more and more meat in this manner, when the human race is hungrier than it has ever been: 13.6 per cent of the world’s population is now malnourished.

Growing soya beans produces 17 times more protein than an acre of pastured land. Yet people’s carnivorous tastes are such that we’d rather eat meat when it’s clearly not the most economic, practical or ethical source of protein available to us.

People have known for a long time that changes in food production would be needed to feed our growing world. Back in the 80s, with the Somalian famine and Bob Geldof making a lot of noise at Live Aid, many people were talking about how to feed our species in the future.

There were many lively predictions made about how we’d all be living off fungus grown in huge tanks

and the likes, but 30 years down the line not a lot has changed: people like meat, and are born with canine teeth to eat and enjoy it.

For a lot of us, if you’ve eaten meat at least once, then Quorn and other similar meat substitutes just taste a bit rubbish.

You can flavour it with spices from all corners of the world, but it’s still just rubbery fungus cubes.

Food is one of the greatest pleasures of life, and we cannot expect people to give up some of their tastiest treats. The smell of bacon frying in the morning is just too good for me to ever consider giving up meat.

So if this new labproduced meat is indeed less energy thirsty and less wasteful, I can only welcome this new development with open arms. Maybe in the future those of us who just can’t contemplate a life without meat will be able to be as friendly to our world as our vegetarian friends.

Harrison Worrell

Imagine the choice, in the style of an M&S advert if you wish. A rare cut of succulent British grown beef from a farm in Cornwall, or alternatively, you could buy laboratory matured ‘Petri Dish special’ calf serum/ horse foetus mash up burger from an industrial park in the Netherlands.

I know which one sounds more appealing to me.

The problem with in vitro meat products (or meat created from stem cells, affectionately known as ‘frankenfood’ or zombie meat) is that they may never be the first choice over the real thing. In the long run, this will matter significantly.

The growing trend in food production over the last few years has been focused on more natural produce and less

Looks offal: possible effects of lab-grown meat perhaps?

highly processed foods, with less artificial flavourings.

With that in mind, would the in vitro meat be able to compete legitimately in a market that is becoming more and more about good natural food, produced locally? The meat would, in terms of production at least, be entirely unnatural.

‘The current cost of making one burger is £200,000’

Over the course of six weeks, 3,000 little strips of meat are made and subsequently ground up with 200 strips of fat (feeling peckish yet?) and perhaps some blood is added for authenticity. The burger is then complete.

Every piece of nutrition it receives, down to its texture, is artificial. Rather than muscles being built up through natural means, its mass would be acquired through Velcro straps stretching fibres.

One of the biggest outrages of late concerning meat includes forcing its growth through chemicals and the use of antibiotics, as part of normal meat production. Their use could even harm public health, as admitted by the FDA (the American Food and Drug Administration).

Unfortunately, in-vitro meat would not survive without them and has

been raised as an issue by critics of in vitro meat.

The meat would require an unhealthily high amount of antibiotics and antifungal chemicals to prevent the strips of meat from rotting. This could lead to complications in human health not encountered with natural sources of meat.

However, despite other grievances, for most people, the deciding factor will be taste - and it is not looking so good on that front.

Scientists have been trying to mimic that deliciously meaty taste for use in in vitro meat since the 1990s, and the only review so far has been a thoroughly negative one.

Perhaps the secret to the taste is the diverse environmental influences that occur to animals over the course of their diet.

It has been said that even stress levels in the animal can contribute to meat quality through the relationship between lactic acid build-up and taste. It may not be possible, then, to create a real meat taste.

Bones naturally flavour meat; in vitro meat has no bones.

If the taste is not there for the meat, then the in vitro meat industry will not be possible. The current cost of making one burger is £200,000; an eye watering sum that has no chance of coming down if the demand is not there. At this price its benefits are completely irrelevant.

SU elections - more puns than Forge Josh Carey Recently it has been nigh on impossible to get myself a coffee without first having to navigate through a raging sea of puns, before nipping to the nearest toilet cubicle to dislodge canvassing leaflets that have successfully perforated my skull.

I know it is hard to forget, but whether you like them or not, the Students’ Union Officer Elections are an important part of University of Sheffield life. Only, in my case, it is not.

It only takes the briefest of looks through the candidates to realise that the difference between them is minimal.

A complete lack of genuine innovation is readily apparent, with manifestos full of strong words, weak statements and qualitative, immeasurable notions of a clearer, better, safer and fairer university experience.

The idea that I should entrust the power to make my Union better to someone who

simply says “I am going to make your Union better” is ludicrous, especially if they provide little or no indication of the manner in which they intend this to be done.

Whether Thomas Booker’s idea of a Union lottery, or Sam Mannion’s reward card would actually work is questionable, but at least they are quantifiable promises which it is possible to side with.

‘Three years of research for this job should have presented a few areas for improvement’

I am dubious as to whether the former would receive enough interest to consistently prove its worth to all parties and as to whether the latter can successfully receive the support to be implemented without the costs being passed on to the students. But at least they won’t be sat around for their first month in office waiting for students to fill the

suggestion box.

It seems that a number of the other candidates, though by no means all of them, have exchanged their original high hopes for the far less credible desire of being the least disliked candidate.

It is quite simply not enough to say that your doors and ears will be open to anything students desire because, quite frankly, at least three years of research for this job should have presented more than a few areas for improvement.

If you are thinking of becoming president of the Students’ Union next year, and find yourself short on ambition, innovation and popularity then please find below, my short guide to ‘how to avoid coming last (or first) in an election.’

First and foremost, create a noncommittal statement of intent based centrally around half-hearted, qualitative statements such as “I believe there should be more communication between…” and “I will work to make the following things clearer and more simple…”.

Secondly, whilst leafleting, be wary of the complex etiquette involved. For example,

never approach someone who is sitting down and never walk beside the intended recipient of the leaflet for more than three steps or whilst facing the same direction.

This however, I only mention after having been violated on both accounts.

Thirdly, create a video of yourself standing just outside the Union saying words like experience, community and improvement.

Lastly, a name-based pun is almost unavoidable. Try not to use anything too eccentric however, just something that is dull enough to avoid irritation and interesting enough to avoid being forgotten.

Forge Radio’s interview with each candidate proved to be far more concise and informative than any of the canvassing, statements or videos; their unscripted answers allowing the stronger applicants to become more apparent.

Whoever succeeds in taking the position will undoubtedly rise to the needs of the students and perform their role well.

All voters in these elections have 18 years of intelligence; so please stop patronising us through half-hearted statements.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

11

COMMENT

Court up in the wrong crowd: How ancient law is ganging up on the British youth Katy Davies How well do you know your friends? Have you ever known someone who has been convicted of a crime? Odds are, the majority of readers will be acquainted with a convict in some shape or form.

Well, if that’s you, then you too could be charged and convicted alongside your criminal acquaintance – for little more than just knowing them.

Joint enterprise is a 300 year old piece of judge-made law. It enables police and prosecutors to include others in a crime, aside from the perpetrator. Anyone with any connection to the crime can be deemed liable.

Until recently, joint enterprise was hardly used in the court of law, but in the last few years it has returned with a vengeance.

Police are now using this extremely blunt instrument to hit out against the increasing gang culture we see taking over our towns and cities.

Popular opinion has seen the recent use of this law met with nods of approval; a timely solution to the UK’s gang culture in light of last year’s summer riots.

It sounds like an ideal solution to the multitude of gang related problems plaguing the public, ‘lock them all up and throw away the key’. Perfect – until it happens to you.

You may well read this and think, ‘I’m safe, I’m not in a gang and I’ve never been involved with anything like that’. Sadly you would be wrong.

‘The job of the police is made laughably easy.

This law is a gift’

Many convicted under this law aren’t in gangs at all, despite this being argued to the jury. Many barely know each other and are merely nodding acquaintances.

The main targets for the implementation of joint enterprise law are gangs and groups of young people between their mid-teens and twenties, but it’s not just gangs and groups of young people who can be caught under joint enterprise.

Entire

families have been convicted.

The 2008 murder case of Bradley Whitfield saw a mother, stepfather, son and girlfriend - all sentenced for the killing, despite stepfather Darren Carr admitting full responsibility for the actual murder.

The family was walking home from a family party when the girlfriend of 16-year-old Lewis Faulds was attacked by a group of boys. Carr hit out at one of the boys (Bradley) with a broken bottle, killing him.

Carr and Faulds were convicted of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum of nine years, whilst Faulds’ girlfriend and mother were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five and eight years respectively.

Readers might also remember the murder of teacher Gary Newlove in 2007.

The victim was kicked to death near his home in Warrington.

Three teenagers were convicted of his murder although only one kick caused his death.

‘Joint enterprise effectively lowers the standard of proof required’

One of the three convicted, Jordan Cunliffe, was 15 at the time of the offence. He was convicted under the joint enterprise law, the prosecution stating that he foresaw what was going to happen. Jordan is almost totally blind.

You don’t even need to be present at the scene of the crime to be convicted. When directing juries on this area of law in relation to murder charges, judges will ask the following questions: Was the death murder? Did the defendant take part in the attack?

Did the defendant have foresight of what the killer might do? Did the defendant have foresight that the killer might have a weapon?

These questions are vague and uncertain in their wording.

The final question especially is unclear. In several cases the murder weapon has been a trainer, or a bottle left lying around - how could a person possibly foresee these things as potential murder weapons?

Joint enterprise law allows weak, poor quality evidence to be admitted against the accused, including mobile phone evidence showing c a l l s between

The joint enterprise law doesn’t add up in 21st century Britain parties to the crime. These calls can be used to prove gang membership, knowledge of violent intent or the presence of weapons. That seems like a lot to come out of a phone call.

The job of the police is made laughably easy. This law is a gift; it allows them to do relatively little work whilst securing high numbers of convictions.

It turns investigators into mind readers; concluding that people linked to the perpetrator foresaw their violent intentions. So much for innocent until proven guilty.

Courts are doing little to alter this arising trend.

Surely for crimes as serious as the ones

Hitting the nail on the head or completely

missing the point? The question of joint enterprise attacks the UK juricdicial system to the core.

Photo: FadderUri/Flickr

joint enterprise has been used for, the standard of proof should be high?

Joint enterprise effectively lowers the standard of proof required, helping to gain the convictions of these potentially innocent bystanders.

‘Many convicted under this law aren’t in gangs at all’

It is a lazy law that advocates cutting corners in investigation.

As judge-made law, it is not a democratic decision by Parliament, but a rule made by unelected judges who are totally disconnected yet think they know best.

So next time you’re on a night out with your flatmates and a drunken argument

Image: Jack Zaliu/Flickr turns nasty, don’t be surprised if you too end up spending your next few months in cells, rather than halls - a few texts and you could be convicted too.

Under joint enterprise, the only way to fully avoid a potential conviction is as follows: stay at home, have no contact with anyone, delete all of your phone contacts and throw away your phone; Get rid of Facebook, Twitter, Myspace - anything you can use to link up with people; and become a social recluse.

It sounds extreme, but this is the only way to fully protect yourself: wrong place, wrong time, wrong friends.

Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight?

Contact: letters@ forgetoday.com

12

www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

COMMENT

Secularisation and the City: state needs to be set free Alex Chafey

A Corp hangover or the undead? Image: Bob Jagendorf/Flickr

The streets are deserted, strewn with debris and abandoned cars. It’s dark, the only light coming from a flickering streetlight, which briefly bathes the desolate scene in a bleak orange glow. An oppressive silence suffuses the air, carrying the smell of death and destruction.

In the middle of this desperate landscape you stand alone, when a guttural groan shatters the silence. Zombies.

Forge Press asks, what would you do in a zombie apocalypse?

Dom Johnson We’ve all considered it, what would you do if the dead started to rise from the grave in search of brains?

Whether it’s heading for the pub like in Shaun of the Dead, stocking up on guns and tackling the zombies head on as preferred by Call of Duty’s ‘Zombies’ mode, or taking refuge in a shopping centre à la Dawn of the Dead, we all have ideas of what we would do. My plans?

In the face of rampaging hordes of flesh-eating monsters, it’s likely that the authorities would collapse, putting us firmly in ‘every man for himself’ territory. It’s safe to assume Sheffield City Council are unprepared for the zombie apocalypse. Last year Leicester City Council admitted they are ‘not ready’ for the walking dead and the plans Bristol Council published for dealing with the threat were worryingly lacklustre. So with no help from the authorities, what now?

The first step is to round up my friends and set up a base. The options are numerous: barricade my flat, take over Tesco, occupy the Arts Tower.

My choice would be the Union which, although hard to fully secure, would provide resources and supplies needed to survive an extended zombie onslaught and parts of the building could be shut-off if the living dead breached the defences.

With a large enough group of survivors, the Union building would be an excellent base. Not only would the shop be invaluable, but depending on power supplies Forge Radio could be utilised to contact other survivors.

Most people would think of grabbing a shotgun or assault rifle to defend themselves from reanimated corpses, but of course UK law strictly controls access to guns - for good reason - so alternatives are needed.

As we know, the only way to kill a zombie is to destroy its brain, so I would go for a trusty crowbar. There’s more chance of finding one of those than a chainsaw, and a crowbar has multiple uses. However, anything I could give a zombie a hefty smack with would be fine.

So I’m barricaded in the Union with the other survivors, with my crowbar close at hand to fend off any zombie attacks.

What next? The supplies should last at least a month, and in that time we should have made contact with help.

A large SOS on the roof to alert any passing aircraft and continual broadcasts from the Media Hub - assuming backup power is successful - should all improve chances of rescue.

And if there’s no one else out there? Then it gets tricky.

Rebuilding civilisation from scratch isn’t easy.

But no need to worry, the zombie apocalypse is never going to happen…

Baroness Warsi, the Conservative party’s goto ‘shout first, think later’ automaton, believes that militant secularism is a threat to religion in this country.

Last month she compared secularists to totalitarian regimes, just days after it was ruled illegal to ban a married gay couple from a bed and breakfast based solely on religion-inspired homophobia.

Secularism is the idea that the state should be neutral to religion, and treat everyone equally as a result. Warsi, who holds the prestigious cabinet post of ‘minister without portfolio’, believes this constitutes an attack on religious freedom.

However, this represents a critical misunderstanding of secularism. The United Kingdom has a long history of religious conflict, with monarchs battling their own subjects to impose their preferred form of Christianity upon them.

It is a result of liberal, secular principles of tolerance that Baroness Warsi’s Muslim faith

does not restrict her from holding public office in the first place.

The prospect of militant secularism is a bizarre one. When we think of militant religion, we think of the tragedy of 9/11, the sectarian violence of Northern Ireland, or the riots following the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark, which led to over 100 deaths.

“Militant” secularists, on the other hand, believe people shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate against others because they say their religion demands it.

A militant secularist might argue that funding a religious school is no business of the state, or that there should not be compulsory worship in schools.

They might believe it’s wrong that there are currently 26 seats in Parliament reserved for male, heterosexual, Church of England bishops as a result of our archaic constitution and the Church of England’s discriminatory policy.

They might argue these values in books or newspaper articles; they might sign a petition, or

speak to the public - to call this behaviour militant is to throw secularists in the same trough as Bin Laden and Anders Breivik; an accusation that is at best unbelievably insulting, and at worst blatantly slanderous.

‘The prospect of militant secularism is a bizarre one’

But there is reason and appetite for change.

The United Kingdom is currently defined as a Christian country, and our Head of State is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Yet according to 2010 social attitudes survey, only 20 per cent of the British population are affiliated with the Church of England.

74 per cent of Britons believe it’s wrong for Bishops to sit in the House of Lords. Perhaps it’s time for the government to take the final step and end institutional attachment to the Church of England once and for all.

The idea that secularism is an idea being imposed on the religious by a band

of angry atheists with pitchforks is a false one.

There are no restrictions on public expression of religion. One only needs to walk down Fargate in Sheffield to see Christian street preachers alongside women in burkhas and men in turbans, just down the road from Sheffield Cathedral.

Secularism means diversity and integration, and many religious people are, in fact, secularists.

The state being neutral to religion is a concept that benefits people of all religious views; none more than the Church of England, which continues to enjoy special privileges.

Yet most Christians think this is wrong too, with 70 per cent opposing bishops in the House of Lords. But how can we make progress when our political leaders are accusing secularists of militant totalitarianism?

If Warsi’s idea of a totalitarian regime is a society where religion is not an accepted excuse for discrimination, where religious leaders don’t sit in the legislature without a single vote, and where children aren’t divided by their parents’ religions, she needs to read her history.

Sheffield Museums should not be a thing of the past Miriam Dobson Sheffield’s culture is at a crossroads.

The Arts Council has turned down Museums Sheffield’s application for funding, cash has been withdrawn, and local authority budgets have been cut, meaning that the budget for Museums Sheffield next year will decline by 30 per cent.

Either there has been a massive administrative mistake made somewhere along the line, or the Arts Council are inexcusably shortsighted – and have clearly never been to Sheffield.

Sheffield’s cultural landscape is one that everybody should be proud of,

no matter how new you are to the city.

Most students will have ventured into Western Park Museum at some point, whether to take advantage of the £1 coffees or the museum itself.

If you are around during school holidays, it’s impossible to move for the number of families that spend their days looking round the exhibitions about Sheffield’s history, prehistoric animals or Chinese art.

More centrally, Museums Sheffield also owns the Graves Art Gallery and the Millennium Gallery.

Permanent exhibitions contain fascinating collections of Sheffield heritage, recording the events, art and manufacturing that made us the ‘Steel City’.

The touring exhibitions are always diverse and interesting, whether you are into the history of tea, wallsized apocalyptic paintings, or even showcases of local graffiti artists.

Museums Sheffield help make our city the

Museums like Western Park will miss out on funding.

welcoming, interesting and diverse place it is.

The galleries add to the atmosphere of exciting creativity that the city has, in tandem with Sheffield Theatres and the vibrant local music and art scenes.

Losing funding means that Museums Sheffield are going to be forced to make redundancies, cut back on community and school education programmes, and tone down the ambition of their exhibitions.

At a time when the arts are being sidelined anyway, Museums Sheffield has provided an oasis of inspiring collections that reveal just how integral the arts are to our understanding of what makes Sheffield, Sheffield.

They serve to build a real sense of identity within the community, pride in the city’s heritage, and boost the tourism industry.

To think that this aspect of our city may now be forced into decline is a terrible thought.

The Arts Council simply do not know what they are doing. As the country’s fourth-largest city, surely we deserve to retain this important feature of our community? Here is yet another example of short-sighted cuts which will have a real long-term negative impact, even if they save a bit of cash to begin with.

Sheffield is not getting the recognition or funding it deserves.

Students make up 10 per cent of Sheffield’s population, and we have a big voice if we all speak together.

I would urge everybody to contact the Arts Council to show our pride in Sheffield, and force the government Image: LuLuWitch/Flickr to reconsider.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

13

COMMENT

Leap years: cooking up a storm Women should be able to propose on any day of the year, not just once every four years.

Alisha Rouse So, did you take the leap?

On one single day every four years, women across the land are told: it’s time ladies, you’re allowed to propose.

That day, February 29, has graced us once again, and tremendously mundane day time TV was inundated with women shocking their husbands on national television by proposing to them somewhere random in central London.

But, in this age of presupposed sexual equality, why must we wait? It seems completely nonsensical that a woman would have to sit in an ivory tower for four, long years; waiting to either be proposed to or have her joyous opportunity arrive.

If a woman wants to propose to a man, for romance, for the sheer want of being married to him, then surely we don’t still reside in a society, which, despite being assumed to be modern and emancipatory, could

chastise this?

Further to this Victorian-era suppression of women’s choice, is the argument expressed by a disturbing number - that it is not a woman’s ‘place’ to propose, and that the very act itself would emasculate the man and leave them with about as much use as a makeshift condom made from fishnet tights.

If my boyfriend felt emasculated by my proposing to him, he would soon find many more problems when it came to being married to me. I don’t cook anything particularly outstanding and I’ve been known to leave underwear in rather strange places about my house.

Far from becoming the perfect housewife whose hand was asked for by her prince and given from her father, he would find himself living with someone who refuses to do the majority of housework, has strong career aspirations and whose mum firmly held her hand as she was walked into a registry office.

Presumably, I’m not alone in this thinking. Many women in the 21st

century have desires and ambitions that go far beyond marital life, yet a strong woman is still expected to wait for her knight in shining armour to pluck up the courage to pop the question.

Kelly Bowerbank of The Guardian wrote of her strong, feminist prowess when she proposed to her boyfriend on Tuesday. What a revolutionary.

But, having stated that she was “practically dared” by her boyfriend, wouldn’t it have been a lot stronger, and boundary breaking, to just do it in August? Some random day when the poor man wasn’t expecting such a breakthrough in women’s social emancipation.

If anything, proposing on February 29 is not a statement of feminist strength and unwillingness to condone the patriarchal marriage practices that have been thrust upon us since forever; it is, in fact, contracting you into the whole sham.

We can propose on one day in four years; affording men 1,460 other opportunities to do just the same.

How very liberating.

Maybe major Mayor overspend isn’t so bad?

Liam Deacon

Earlier this month the Sheffield Star revealed that Sheffield’s Lord Mayor, a purely ceremonial position, costs the city’s tax payers £558 a day. That’s £203,903 a year and over a million pounds in the last five years.

It’s a truly eye watering amount when considering that the mayor’s primary tasks include smiling, waving, meeting, greeting, handing out awards and patting children on the head, all between being chauffeured around in a Jag, eating lavishly.

In this austerity era when public sector privileges, pay and pensions are being brought into line with those of the private sector, it is hard to conceive how such a cosy and expensive position can remain.

However, rant aside, I think it is unfair to attack the individuals involved in maintaining the office, as the current mayor, Dr Sylvia Dunkley, does in fact perform a few useful roles for the city.

She has made significant cuts to spending on the position in recent years and other comparable cities appear to spend a similar sum on their ceremonial mayors.

The mayor is no crook; she’s not doing anything explicitly wrong, I just don’t think it’s possible for anyone to do enough hand shaking to justify such a hefty price tag.

If I was a policeman receiving an award for bravery, or a foreign visitor being greeted on arrival, I would much rather it was from an elected councillor with real power and status; not from a mere puppet wearing a chain borrowed from Mr T. Since the Local Government Act 2000, part of Labour’s wave of devolution, still

Image: dd_wapsy/Flickr

rippling out across Britain, 15 elected mayors have sprung up across the nation.

On the May 5 this year, the people of Sheffield will be given the opportunity to vote in a referendum on whether or not to elect our own “real” mayor, not a Lord Mayor elected by the council.

The government is offering the country’s eight core cities the opportunity to harness greater control over their economic development, housing and skills. The cities stand to gain a great deal financially too.

On the February 7, Liverpool council voted through the change early to avoid the referendum and gain first access to the pot. It is claimed the city stands to gain £130 million in the first “city deal” with the government.

Critics point to London’s elections, frequently criticised for being little more that a personality contest unfortunately won by the unintentional comic genius, Boris Johnson.

But putting a face to Sheffield’s politics - other than that of the dismal Nick Clegg can only help to reinvigorate local political interest and participation; strengthening the city’s very democratic credentials and Sheffield’s sense of unity, identity and confidence.

Furthermore, the council’s ability to scrutinise the new executive will add an extra tier of accountability.

Still not convinced? Well, take it from me; elected mayors stand to change the British political landscape a great deal.

It’s starting to look like a ‘real’ mayor, that promotes the city’s interests and brings in new funds, is Sheffield’s best option for remaining competitive throughout these changes.

So, we can go on complaining about the old Lord Mayor, or we can start looking forward to a new one.

Editorial For £17k a year you have to be able to take criticism

Unless you have no Sheffield friends on Facebook or have been living under a rock for the last two weeks it would have been apparent that the Union elections have just come to an emotional close.

One blogger, PhD student Leon Derczynski (who goes by the Twitter username @shefsu1213ld), has been extremely vocal in scrutinising the presidential candidates.

His scathing blog which called the candidates “less and less competent, and weaker and weaker” than other years has caused much debate and disagreement in student circles to whether he should have posted this.

The fact of the matter is the winning candidates have won themselves a full time job. They’re going to be earning £17-18k a year and representing the views of 24,000 students.

They have no job interview and their application process is effectively painting some cardboard signs with whatever friends will show enough interest.

There’s no doubt the candidates work hard to promote themselves during the two weeks of campaigning but they should be scrutinised to this extent.

If the candidates can’t take someone they don’t know criticising them on a blog how are they going to argue against University bosses to improve the University for students?

Derczynski examined their policies, or lack of them, and commented on them, for once there was some intellectually motivated conversation about the candidates rather than about their hair.

The Union needs this sort of blog to inspire debate amongst a student population that is largely apathetic.

It may only have been one blog post, by one person but it was there to challenge the candidates and hopefully those that have now got the positions will evaluate their goals for the next year and serve the student community in a professional manner.

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

D.A.R.T.S.

Forge Press takes its satirical aim

Arts Tower disco:

Useless tossers:

It has long been thought that Sheffield could do with a new night out. As Population numbers appear to be dwindling, and our Corp shirts draw ever closer to their dreaded first wash, our trusty friends at the University have come up with an answer: turning the top four floors of the Arts Tower into a discotech.

Orange, green, red and purple light can be seen difusing the harsh 1960’s architecture on a nightly basis; only adding to the intrigue of what goes on behind those closed doors.

Word is out on what beats fill the upper floors of the Arts Tower, but there have been suggestions of ABBA’s Monet, Monet, Monet and Billy Dean’s Renoir Backs are Against the Wall.

Tragic.

Website of the fortnight:

www.randomwebsite.com Ever been there - when you desperately want to find something on the internet but you just don’t know what? Perhaps Facebook is lacking on gossip, maybe you’ve exhausted iPlayer or equally you have a ‘website of the fortnight’ section to fill, hours before a student newspaper goes to print?

Well this website is your answer. Simply click on the generate button, and voila, a completely random webpage will appear before you.

I say completely random; this website seems to dispel the common belief that 80 per cent of the internet is made up of ‘erotica’.

In fact, in my dabbles, it appears the majority of internet content relates to Chinese indigestion remedies.

It’s obviously a bit hit and miss - but you may just find something that really hits the spot.

In light of the University of Sheffield’s recent pancake success (see issue 43), the syrup-titious yolks over at University of Birmingham have already tried to steal our glory.

Only hours after we were crowned the UK’s biggest tossers, jammy students in Birmingham attempted to go one batter; by beating our new record immediately.

Thankfully, when push came to shrove, their students put in a pretty crepe showing, failing to match the support we had here in Sheffield.

We can now milk the credentials of this highly pointless award until next year, when another group of university students with nothing better to do will have another stab at this waffle.

14

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

FEATURES

The seen & unseen

Students with disabilities face many obstacles, some obvious, others less so. Forge Press speaks to a student with hearing difficulty about his daily problems.

Words: Sophie Allen Photos: Max Barners/Flickr (top) & mattsinopoli/Flickr (bottom)

S

tudent life – while everyone lives their lives differently, there are a few main parts that seem to be shared by everyone.

Lectures, seminars, and nights out in town or at the Students’ Union are pretty much taken for granted as essential parts of the student existence. It is something we assume that most people take part in more or less the same way.

However, for students suffering from disabilities, life might be quite different, and the University of Sheffield offers support in order to ensure they receive their entitlement to as equal an experience as possible.

However, the government’s recent contemplation of changes to the Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which some fear may affect the funding provided to disabled students, and thus their level of support, has thrown the lives of our disabled students under a harsh glare.

A study by the NUS showed that young disabled people between 16 and 24 experience inequalities in the education system, being faced with insufficient support or lowered self-confidence and ambitions as a result of their disabilities.

In a society that seems so preoccupied with boosting equality, it appears somewhat backwards to consider reductions in funding and support that may impede this.

“The funding and support I receive from the University allows me not only to live my life as normally as possible, but also to receive the best education,” says Doug Dunn, 20. “Without it, going to lectures and even to University would be essentially pointless. I can only imagine the impact that a funding cut would have on those with physical disabilities.

“It wouldn’t just be about cutting funds; it would be cutting our independence and stunting equality, which is completely unacceptable.”

Doug, a second year English Literature student, suffers from hearing loss, a condition which

affects everyday aspects of his university experience that most of us take for granted.

“Obviously, communication is the biggest issue,” says Doug. “In seminars it can be particularly difficult. While I can lip-read, accents, quiet voices, and mumbling are my complete nemeses.

“Everyone should just go to acting school and learn to project; it’d make my life so much easier.”

Although Doug is able to hear through the use of a hearing aid, his condition causes life and his student experience to be very different, be it in terms of lectures, seminars, or nights out.

His University funding allows him to receive specialist equipment and support in order to ensure he retains as much independence, and as normal a life as possible.

The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is provided by Student Finance England, and offers grants to cover extra costs that students participating in full time university courses may face as a result of their disability.

These can be used to improve the experience of students, and ensure as far as possible that they have as equal and fulfilling an experience as their peers, as well as equal access to the best available education.

“The DSA funding allows support to be specifically tailored to each student, in order to best cater for their needs.

“I’m given note taking support, in which MA or third year students with experience in my subject sit in on my lectures and make informed notes for me,’”says Doug.

The funding was also used to purchase a specialised microphone, worn by the lecturer, which transmits their voice directly to Doug’s hearing aid.

“Sometimes I go into lectures and my friends have sat right at the back of the theatre, where without the transmitter I wouldn’t be able to hear a thing,” Doug adds.

“Going to lectures would be basically pointless without it, so the funding is absolutely essential.”

The University also offers a

“

It wouldn’t just be about cutting funds; it would be cutting our independence and stunting equality Doug Dunn, Student with hearing difficulties

”

variety of other services to disabled students, aside from funding for specialist equipment, to ensure that they are fully supported.

The Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (D&DSS) assigns each student a support advisor that is trained specifically to deal with their particular disability and the resultant difficulties they might face.

This provides an understanding figure to speak to about any problems encountered at university, making certain that the student’s needs are always accounted for.

If necessary, the officers are able to communicate any problems to academic staff should the student’s needs not be fully accommodated, ensuring that the student at all times feels that any problems they have will be dealt with quickly and professionally.

“The support officers are great and give you a real sense of security,” Doug agrees. “It’s really strange as before I came here, my family had warned me that I might not get much support; I was expecting to walk into some kind of stone age so what I was met with was completely unexpected!”

Certainly, the University seems to offer an excellent support network for students suffering from disabilities, and it is not just limited to the D&DDS and provisions of funding.

The Disabled and Dyslexic Students’ Forum, an award nominated committee that meets to discuss issues faced by disabled students at the University, meets each Wednesday evening in the Gallery.

The forum aims to act upon these ideas and ultimately continue to improve the level of support offered. It invites those that suffer from disabilities, or simply any that take an interest in the welfare of students, to attend and discuss, allowing students to have a say in the way the difficulties they face are dealt with.

However, the funding and support provided by the university is designed to cover the educational needs of students.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

15

FEATURES

“

Certainly there are misconceptions about students with disabilities; people will look at someone and make assumptions

”

Recreational and personal support, life outside of educational commitments is not provided; however, it is arguable that this extends beyond the responsibilities of the University.

Doug finds that his condition also affects his social life, with the noise levels of nightclubs leaving him completely unable to hear and extremely disorientated; thus, he rarely takes part in the night life which some might consider integral to the typical university experience.

Luckily, though, he doesn’t particularly covet the club scene: “I can’t hear what people are saying when I go out to clubs, and I generally prefer to just go to the pub where I can sit and talk to my friends, and actually hear what’s going on. I also love the theatre, which is extremely accommodating of the needs of myself and of others.”

Most large theatres in Sheffield cater very well for our students, in Doug’s case being fitted with hearing loops that transmit the voices of the actors directly to his ears.

Amateur or older theatres without the sufficient technology also work to ensure its audience gets the full experience, and are keen to offer Doug seats close to the front as well as cut price tickets to amend for the lack of technical support.

“Theatres are usually extremely supportive, and work hard to ensure each audience member receives the same experience,” says Doug.

“I think it’s great the lengths they go to accommodate my needs; it really encourages not only equality but normality, which I think sets a great example. Theatre is a big part of my life, so it’s brilliant that I can still experience it in the same way as everyone else.”

When asked if students have to work against a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions about their experiences of university, Doug made no hesitation in his reply: “Certainly there are misconceptions about students with disabilities; people will always look at someone and make assumptions based on their very first impression.

“I’m lucky in that my disability isn’t particularly obvious and people don’t really notice – the only physical aspect is my hearing aid, which you can’t really see – so I can only assume that it’s much worse for those with disabilities that are more physically evident.

“It’s rare to find someone that would knowingly be ignorant or unsupportive, although you do grow a thick skin; you can’t walk around taking things fully to heart.

“Sometimes I won’t be able to hear what people are saying and they’ll say ‘what, are you deaf or something?’ and I just say ‘well… yeah.’ I just find things like that hilarious, as I know they’re not trying to be offensive and usually feel awful when they realise. People are generally very sympathetic.”

It would seem that although the University is unable to support personal or recreational activity, Sheffield itself is extremely supportive and accommodating towards members of the community that suffer from a disability.

Certainly, it would seem that the DSA allowance is essential in the insurance of an equal education experience for all students.

With the support currently available, Doug remains adamant that he considers himself to be fully independent: “I do basically live a normal life, and with my hearing-aid I’m very much in control of what I do and don’t hear; if things get too noisy, I can just tone it down, and if I’ve got a splitting headache I just take it off and enjoy the quiet.

“Although disabled students face a lot of misconceptions, when it comes down to it, everyone is side-lined for something. Everyone’s different. You just have to get on with life and fight your corner.”

16

ADVERTISEMENT

www.forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012 www.forgetoday.com

17

ADVERTISEMENT

18

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

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

FEATURES

Worlds within our own

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

19

FEATURES

Society is often described as being a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities, races and nationalities. Forge Press examines the truth behind the stereotypes of minority communities within our own.

Words: Sadie Gornall-Jones Image: Rebecca Cook

A

merican poet Maya Angelou once wrote “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their colour.”

It could be proposed that close inspection of your local supermarket tells you a lot about the kind of society you live in.

For instance, if you enter a Carrefour supermarket in downtown Paris you will undoubtedly see an array of cured meats, obscure cheese and expensive pâté, but a search for an English teabag will be a painful pursuit.

Likewise, if you happen to browse the aisles of a Pick’n’Pay in a Cape Town suburb you will find the largest selection of beef jerky known to man, but try and find a jar of pasta sauce and you may as well be searching for the Holy Grail.

Thankfully, in the UK, we don’t tend to suffer from the same problem.

A quick trip down the world foods aisle in any major supermarket will provide any multi-ethnic, discerning diner with all the possibilities a palate could crave, from Polish sauerkraut to the amusingly named Ghanaian Shito (a spicy black pepper sauce if you were wondering).

In other words you are - probably without even realising it - directly observing multicultural Britain.

Alone, our capital is home to over 50 non-indigenous communities with a population of more than 10,000, leading the way as the most

“

They forget that there are people in trouble and so the reception is really mixed, but for Sheffield it is excellent Samuel Musarika, Zimbabwean asylum seeker

”

diverse city in the world.

All across the UK there are these pockets of different communities living within our own. These communities exist almost entirely isolated, with their own shops, schools, community centres and societies. But what is it like to live in a country within a country?

According to a report published by the Home Office in 2006, the average Polish-born British citizen is below 34 years of age, single, and tends to work in manual labour, although a certain percentage occupy specialist roles in health, education and finance sectors.

One person, who certainly does not fit the typical mould, is Jurek Osada, President of the University of Sheffield’s Polish Society.

“My situation is a bit unusual; I was born in Britain and moved to Poland when I was about 10, but always wanted to return so applied for university over here. “[When I first came to university] I just wanted to meet some Polish people, I came straight from Poland so I wanted some sense of belonging... not just to be around my new English friends but to meet some people who speak Polish, rather than just my parents over the phone.”

After an international party at the Octagon in his Freshers week, Jurek decided to get directly involved in creating a more welcoming and inclusive Polish Society.

Frustrated with the lack of direction, Jurek, along with a friend, replaced the former committee and set about re-inventing the society.

“At least every two to three weeks we will meet up, have a mini house party, and just chat in Polish and have good time, like without the British tradition of pre-drinks and going out to town.

“We prefer house parties, just to chat without the pressure of drinking games and stuff like that.

Although we do casually drink, I’m not gonna lie.”

Jurek acknowledges that Polish students sometimes struggle to understand and adapt to the hectic British student lifestyle.

“Every night there’s something going on, which I’m not personally used to and my Polish friends aren’t, I can’t imagine getting in a cab in a t-shirt when it’s minus 20 at the moment, and just going to a club.

“Also, the lad culture annoys me very much. It’s not something you see in Poland at all, it’s strange. I’m not saying it’s wrong, it’s just they’re not quite as good as they think they are.

“My friend who went skiing in The Alps told me everything was fine except for a bunch of British students there, drinking heavily, just making fools out of themselves. That part of [British] student culture is not great.”

Despite Britain’s prized ‘multicultural’ status there is growing concern amongst political elites that as a society we have put too much emphasis on prioritising the differences between communities, rather than working towards the vision of national unity.

The Department of Communities and Local Government has recently released a report detailing the government’s direct approach to encouraging and “creating the conditions for integration.”

Recently granted asylum status, Zimbabwe-born Samuel Musarika attributes the continuing struggle for integration to the negative portrayals of ethnic minorities in the media.

“It’s just all these ridiculous things like they come here for our jobs, they come here to take our women and stuff, and it’s just really ridiculous, they forget that they are people in trouble, and so the reception is really mixed, but for Sheffield it is excellent.”

“

There’s a lot of xenophobia around Poland, and stereotyping that’s why maybe sometimes they get into a bit of agressive behaviour Jurek Osada, Polish Society President

”

Jurek argues that the formation of separate communities is a natural part of humanity, with people from different walks of life brought together through a shared nationality.

“Maybe they should spread out, mingle with other people, because Polish people are very alienated from the rest; we don’t have a multicultural kind of society.

“In Poland we are not used to other people, except for some tourists, and that’s why maybe they like to stay with their own people.

There’s a lot of xenophobia around Poland, and stereotyping, that’s why maybe sometimes they get into a bit of aggressive behaviour.

“But at the end of the day, Poland is still home. You don’t get much in England, but in Poland you get a lot of patriotism, patriotic feeling, everyone loves Poland.

“There is a reason why we meet up, why we continue to meet up, with our Polish traditional meetings – to make it feel like home.”

One Polish-born University of Sheffield student, who wishes to remain anonymous, criticised the exclusive nature of groups such as the Polish Society.

“I do feel Polish and think of Poland as my motherland, but that’s about it. I don’t think I feel a strong affinity to people of any nation Polish included. I really don’t feel people have much in common just because they share a country, and I feel no need to associate myself with others just on the basis of being Polish.

“Don’t get me wrong: if I happen to bump into a Polish person and they’re a decent human being with a good sense of humour, I’d totally hang out with them - but the same goes for any other nation.

“It’s possible that the negative portrayal of Polish people in the media might have contributed to the slight separation - but historically, Polish people have always felt the need to emphasise their independence.

“I think that the same has been happening with the second large intake of the Poles into the UK - but because of the globalization I don’t think Polish people need as much support from each other as they used to - it’s much cheaper to pop back home now than it was 30 years ago.

“I’ve not a clue whether this would contribute to multicultural Britain - I guess so.”

Some may feel that by their very nature, ethnic minorities disconnect their members from a greater national unity.

Yet could the same not be said of the Marxist society, the Black Students’ Committee or even the Christian Union?

It is an innate part of humanity to gravitate towards people with similar interests, views and backgrounds.

Ask any Erasmus student who they have befriended in their year abroad and they will likely tell you this habit is only amplified when you are in a foreign country.

But if you look at any student house, any guest lecture, or any sports team, you will see one of the most diverse selections of people from every heritage imaginable.

Whether they are from the busy streets of Baghdad, or the towering city of Dubai, whether they live in a North London suburb or a sleepy village in the valleys, the day you arrive in Endcliffe, bags in hand, they simply become your flatmate, your lab partner, your teammate; your fellow student.

This may not be the multicultural Britain David Cameron dreams of, or New Labour’s vision of every race, creed and colour living in perfect harmony, but if the University of Sheffield is anything to go by, it’s definitely a start.

20

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

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

FEATURES

Empty bottles

Forge Press investigates what it is like not to drink while at university Words & Pictures: Lauren Clarke

“

I have been tempted to try alcohol, but I don’t regret my decision not to drink alcohol Mohammad Syafiq, University of Sheffield student

”

S

tudents and alcohol go together like gin and tonic or like vodka and lemonade.

Drinking is perceived by many to go hand in hand with life at university.

Freshers week is well known for the non-stop partying and cheap drinks, with alcohol becoming a social aid for those trying to make new friends. Post-exam period is also a time to go wild, after not being able to go out clubbing for weeks.

It’s difficult to have a conversation about university without someone saying, “I bet the work gets in the way of the drinking” or “How much of your student loan is your beer money?” If you type student drinking into the Google, the first search that comes up is ‘student drinking games.’

For many students, the nightlife and social drinking is part of the appeal of university life, however what is it like for those that for one reason or another, don’t drink?

According to the Charity Drinkaware, which aims to change the UK’s drinking habits, almost a quarter (23 per cent) of 18-24-yearolds believe their friends will ridicule them for drinking a nonalcoholic drink on a night out.

Mohammad Syafiq, who is studying Architecture at the University of Sheffield, is a Muslim and therefore does not drink for religious reasons. He says, “it puts me off when I ask someone how their night was and they say, oh it was really good, but when you ask them why it was good, they can’t remember what happened.

“My friends don’t really pressure

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

21

FEATURES

me and I think I can always be part of the fun without drinking.

“I have been tempted to try alcohol, but I don’t regret my decision not to drink, but sometimes I feel a bit weird when I’m at a house party and everyone has a can or glass in their hand but I don’t.”

Shaffiq admits that during Freshers Week it was hard being a teetotal student.

“I felt judged,” he says. “But I don’t feel like that anymore. Staying sober means that I can take care of my friends and one of my friends calls me his subconscious because I can always remember the night out when he can’t.”

Staying sober gives Shaffiq an advantage when it comes to his university work, “I go out clubbing quite a lot, but not drinking means I can get up and get things done the next day.”

In a survey carried out by student website Studentbeans.com in 2011, 53 per cent of students admitted to having missed lectures because they drank too much the night before and 20 per cent said that they would not be able to survive a term at university without drinking alcohol.

In terms of the non-drinkers 47 per cent said that they wished that drinking was not such a big part of university life.

“I will always stick to my decision and I am proud of my choice,” says Shaffiq. “A lot of people use alcohol for confidence or need it to have a good time, I’d prefer it if people drank alongside having a good time.”

Lizzy Tan, who is studying Medicine at the University of Edinburgh has been teetotal from the age of 16. She says, “I don’t want

to lose control and do anything that will compromise my beliefs as I’m a Christian I have been firm in my decision not to drink and it is now second nature to me. I also don’t find being drunk attractive or safe, so I never have the desire to drink.

“I go clubbing at least three times a week. It never bothers me that everyone is drunk as I’m so used to it and enjoy seeing people so happy.

Every time I go out somebody will try to offer me a drink but I obviously refuse.

“I think everybody can make their own decisions about alcohol and I don’t judge people in any way for what they do. Some people feel they need alcohol to have a good time, others do not, I think it just depends on the individual and their personality.”

Stephen Maughan, who is studying Systems Engineering at Loughborough University and has been teetotal all of his life says, “I don’t drink because I used to not like the taste and now I think what’s the point? People question why constantly, especially people you’ve just met, which is probably one of the worst things about drinking.

“I go clubbing and work in a nightclub. I’m fine with other people getting drunk but it enhances the evening when at least one person is not so drunk you can’t talk to them properly.”

Stephen says that people do try to pressure him into drinking but that “they tend to be strangers so I just walk away. My friends don’t bother trying! Someone once put a shot of spirit in my drink but I could tell really easily.”

Both Stephen and Lizzy say

“

Somebody once put a shot of spirit in my drink but could tell really easily Stephen Maughan, Loughborough University student

”

that they save money from being teetotal. Stephen says, “At university I save money, but only because I buy less liquid than people who do drink. I get sick of sugary drinks after a while. Elsewhere it does save me a lot of money but this is not my reason for not drinking!”

Lizzy agrees saying, “I save so much money as I only drink tap water when I go clubbing. However, if I bought soft drinks, I would probably spend more money.”

Shaffiq says that he can have a night out for under £10, including taxis there and back.

The University of Sheffield came 13th on the Studentbeans.com University Drinking League table with students drinking a total of 20.8 units a week.

Leeds Metropolitan University topped the chart with 26.7 units of alcohol drunk per student per week.

At Sheffield we even have societies dedicated to drinking such as the Cocktail Society, and the Real Ale Society.

Alcohol seems to be a part of the lives of the majority of students.

But with scores of celebrity nondrinkers such as Russell Brand, Fearne Cotton and more recently Mcfly’s Dougie Poynter could teetotalism be on the rise?

At the moment there are five million non-drinkers in the UK according to the NHS and more and more people are choosing to stop drinking.

Maybe in the future, there will be more societies dedicated to tea (yes there is one at the University of Sheffield) than vodka.

22

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

Lifestyle & Travel

Fashion Food & Drink Health & Fitness Travel Sex & Relationships Technology

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

This fortnight...

We’re engrossed in the new wave of trash TV shows rolling our way. There’s nothing like a bit of fake tan and televised drama to make our own lives just seem so... normal.

FOUR OF THE BEST

Societies you may not have heard of yet... belly dance soc

stop the traffik

PAINTBALL society

baking society

Ever thought of trying out belly dancing?

There are classes for all abilities, so there is no pressure to perform. Improve your body confidence, learn something new and ‘shimmy your stuff!’

Beginners classes are every Thursday 6-7pm.

Review

The ‘Steel City Militia’ offers a social and cost-effective way to enjoy the popular adrenaline-fuelled sport of paintball. The society welcomes those of all abilities ‘from beginners to Chuck Norris’, and organises tournaments against other universities.

The first impression that 23 Bar and Restaurant gave off was not a bad one, but it wasn’t the right one either. My boyfriend and I went for an evening meal in the restaurant, which is set on the first floor above the award-winning cocktail bar on West Street.

The restaurant oozes a fine dining but casual atmosphere, assisted by low lighting and quiet background music. However, it came as a surprise that we were not taken to our table but had to find one ourselves. Once seated, we ordered a bottle of the wellpriced house white (£13.75) which was a quality Sauvignon Blanc, and sipped it whilst enjoying the view over West One Plaza.

Since 23 Bar and Restaurant is a family-run business with over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, we had high hopes for the evening. I did fear that 23 Bar and Restaurant, like many other well-located restaurants, would not be able to justify its prices with great food; luckily, this was not the case. The variety of the menu was fantastic. I eventually settled on the oriental crispy duck salad (£5) as a starter, and Jon went for the Thai fishcake with sweet chilli cream sauce, (£5.95) upon recommendation from the waiter.

The presentation and portion size of both starters were

Sheffield’s Baking Soc is for all those aspiring to be the next Mary Berry.

They discuss recipes and techniques and give you the chance to expand your baking repertoire in a friendly atmosphere- from the simple sponge cake to the perfect soufflé.

Beth Surgenor

23 Bar and Restaurant key lime tart was not available.

Purely out of interest, we decided to try the lemon posset.

The posset, which is similar to a chilled mousse, offered a sweet and velvety taste from the sugar and cream, and refreshing bitterness from the lemons. The presentation in a tea cup placed on a slate mat added the finishing touches to a delicious dessert.

Olivia Adams

excellent, but it was the flavours which truly impressed. The soft fishcake island, surrounded by sweet chilli cream sauce, was easily the best fishcake I have ever tried.

The salad had a faultless balance of spring onion, lettuce and tender duck with crispy skin, topped off with a lovely hoi sin dressing.

We had been so engrossed in our food that we barely noticed the other tables, but a large group of friends and couples had settled at the tables surrounding ours. The restaurant itself was only about half full - not surprising for a mid-week evening - but I expect that booking in advance is highly recommended for the weekend.

The mains on offer did endear themselves, but not to the standard of the starters. The menu featured sirloin steak with many extras (£19.95), pork cordon bleu with parmesan and parsley mash (£15) and Portobello mushrooms filled with spinach and goats cheese (£12), among many other delicacies.

I chose the delicious roast belly pork with caramelised apple (£14), and Jon the tender salmon encroute (£14) – which to put simply is salmon wrapped in pastry- accompanied with dauphinoise potato.

We were almost too full to try a pudding, all of which are priced at £3.50, but leaving without having sampled something off the dessert menu did not appear an option.

Unfortunately, the highly praised

Len

This society has nothing to do with easing traffic congestion... Instead, they aim to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers.

Meetings are held every Thursday at 6pm.

23 Bar and Restaurant could not have made our evening better and deserve every success. Admittedly, the menu may be slightly expensive for most students.

23 Bar and Restaurant should therefore be viewed as a prime location for special occasion fine dining... or if the parents are visiting.

Most certainly, my next visit will include a trip to the bar, which offers great drink deals on the weekend.

23 Bar and Restaurant is part of West One Plaza on 8 Fitzwilliam Street, S1 4 JB Sheffield.

For reservations, call 0114 272 23 23.

Ben Hemington Giving up: Energy drinks

David Ewing Giving up: Swearing

Progress report

Progress report

Having given up on each one of my New Year’s resolutions after less than a week in 2012, I felt it only appropriate to challenge myself once again by observing the Christian season of Lent.

Lent is a 40-day period preceding Easter that is observed by Christians as a way of replicating Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

In my opinion, 40 days and 40 nights without food or water is a tough feat and one that only Jesus Christ and David Blaine are seemingly capable of.

I decided that, in the face of a growing caffeine addiction, the logical thing for me to give up would be all variations of energy drinks.

Although it may not seem the most groundbreaking sacrifice, energy drinks have forever been the student’s elixir, and my own academic success to date can be attributed entirely to late nights fuelled by coffee and Relentless.

After less than five days, the challenge is definitely proving itself to be difficult.

My dissertation appears to be crying out for a much-needed energy boost, but Lent is a season for perseverance and effort.

Lent, that time of year where you pick something you love and try your best not to hate yourself when you inevitably fail at giving it up.

I could pick something easy to give up, like sex.

The fact I’ve just split up with my girlfriend and subsequently gained a lot of weight would make it brilliantly easy, but instead I’ve decided to pick something even closer to my heart: swearing.

Most people would go for drinking, but I’ve given that one up before with ease. Waking up naked on my bedroom floor, covered in last night’s stomach lining was all the incentive I needed.

This time around, however, I fancy a bit more of a challenge, so cursing it is!

The slightly excessive cursing started off as a side-effect of my newfound university freedom, but it quickly spiralled out of control.

When it reached the point where practically all of my utterances were accompanied by the c-bomb or one of its many cousins, I knew it had to stop.

Can I do it? Can I fu- I mean course I can!

Update: I failed at 09:20am…

Fashion

Emma Wray Within the fashion world, recycling has recently become very much en vogue.

‘Upcycling’, the process of turning waste materials into products of better quality and of higher environmental value, is the latest craze to hit the industry.

Many well-known brands and designers have started upcycling this season. The question remains: is it out of genuine concern for the environment or just a clever publicity stunt?

Recently, H&M have introduced a new line called ‘Waste’.

All pieces in the collection are made completely out of leftover pieces from their Lanvin collection.

However, this eco-friendly act incidentally follows last year’s PR disaster, when it was revealed that

the company threw away unsold clothes in New York City.

Another example of a large brand upcycling their unwanted or unused clothes is Speedo.

Cocktail dress designer Orsola

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

23

Geordie Shore

The Only Way Is Essex

My Big Fat Gypsie Wedding

It’s the UK version of American hit ‘reality’ tv show Jersey Shore, and somehow, the lads and lasses from Newcastle easily outbid their New Jersey counterparts.

Watch it on Tuesdays at 10pm on MTV.

Only a few ways into the new series, and a lot of drama has unfolded already. For more double-timing, fistfights and part nudity, tune into ITV on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10pm.

This show, centred around everything that is pink, fluffy and glitters, isn’t exactly new, but definitely a great way to take your mind off uni work.

Channel 4, Tuesdays at 9pm.

40 Day Challenge

nt special: what can you give up, and for how long?

Missed the start of lent? Its never too late to give up on a guilty pleasure or bad habit, even if its just to see how long you can go without.

Alcohol, chocolate and junk food reign among the top things students try to abstain from during lent. This year, why not try something new?

Alisha Rouse Giving up: Eating out

Lois Helan Giving up: Tomato ketchup

Laura Davies Giving up: Carbohydrates

Progress report

Progress report

Progress report

The ridiculous thing is that I’m not religious, not even a little bit. The black cat hanging out in my garden probably has a closer bond with God than I do.

However, Lent is always a good excuse for anyone to try and erase a vice from their life… and mine is eating out.

After monitoring my eating habits over the past weeks, I have come to the conclusion that my body is composed of 65 per cent Interval wedges and 35 per cent New Leaf salads.

There will always be at least one friend who fancies going for a drink or a bite to eat, and somehow I seem bizarrely incapable of the word ‘no’.

It’s an expensive habit , like smoking or printing out lecture slides in the IC. But hopefully, it is also one that I can kick with the help of Lent and pressure from my friends.

I won’t lie, it’s difficult. I’ve found myself either missing out from social events, as no one wants to go for dinner with someone sipping water, or alternatively have realised I am practically drooling over the plates of others.

I also seem to be packing yoghurts wherever I go in the vain hope that they will distract me.

But, having worked out I’ve saved roughly £30 already, that’s a hell of a lot of yoghurt.

This year, when I went through the process of trying to decide what to give up for lent, I immediately ruled out alcohol and chocolate.

After all, what is a student without these two vital necessities in his or her life?

After a long debate with myself - and my mum - I decided to give up tomato ketchup. I eat far more of it than I should, so much of it that my parents and friends have taken bets on how long I will last without it.

I have been without tomato ketchup for three days, and it is not as easy as it may sound.

After a very drunken night out, all I wanted was chips... However, without tomato ketchup they just didn’t taste the same and the majority of my late-night snack ended up in the bin, much to my house mates’ horror.

I still have trouble sitting through lunch time, when others around me are smothering their food in ketchup and I have to try and enjoy my very plain and boring food.

Nevertheless, I am determined to persevere and remain ketchup-less for 40 days. Whether this will happen or not is anyone’s guess, but for now I will stick to food that does not require that tempting dollop of ketchup on the side.

I’m not going to sugar coat this in any way.

When I waved goodbye to potatoes, I had no idea how difficult this challenge was going to be.

For the first three days, all I wanted to do was eat an entire loaf of bread and gorge on bowls of buttery pasta and rice.

I miss the little things, like that fail-safe slice of toast which provides the perfect on-the-run breakfast.

But somehow, with the support of my flatmates who dutifully removed all forms of carb-y temptation from our kitchen cupboards, I have (so far) survived.

I still shed a tear when my friends share spicy wedges in Interval, or stop off for a bacon butty on the way to lectures, but the pain is beginning to ease.

And now, seven days in, I feel fantastic.

Yes, I have stooped to slightly new lows such as eating celery and peanut butter as a snack and making ‘bread’ from bland old flaxseed.

But the positives have been incredible, even for a carb-addict like myself. I’m down 10lbs and I feel like a spring chicken.

Having said that, I won’t lie to you, I can’t promise I’ll survive the entire 40days without a drunken portion of garlic mayo and chips...

Public Transport Getting around the student areas and city centre of Sheffield is never a big trek, yet taking the 50p buses instead of walking can be so tempting!

However, paying for the bus on a daily basis can add up to a bit more than just loose change. Why not cut the bus and walk everywhere? You’ll save money and get some exercise.

Guilt Yes, it sounds strange, and it’s probably less a practice of discipline than an exercise in happiness.

But imagine you gave up feeling guilty about things you did - or didn’t do? Stay in bed all day, eat ice cream for dinner or skip the gym... maybe not for the full 40 days of lent though.

Drunk Facebooking We’ve probably all been there, and we know its not pretty.

Updating your status, messaging someone you like or uploading and commenting on photos is perfectly fine, as long as you don’t do it after you’ve had one too many to drink. The next morning won’t be pretty...

Complaining Sure, everybody likes to whine or moan at one point or another. Half of the time, its not really neccesary though.

Complaining or going on a mad rant about something sometimes even puts you in a worse mood than you were in originally. Next time you’re about to blow off steam through negative verbiage, try holding it in instead.

by Ina Fischer

Upcycling - the latest trend to hit the fashion industry de Castro received 18,000 LZR Racer swimsuits after FINA (the swimming world’s governing body) banned the swimsuits from major swimming championships in 2009.

It seems as though some leading brands in the fashion industry only boost their eco-credentials in order to cover up previous mistakes.

However,dubios motives aside, should we really criticise their efforts to to protect the environment by reducing the amount of material waste being dumped into landfills?

These actions have the potential to inspire other high street stores and large brands to do the their bit for the environment.

Returning to the example of H&M, the company currently has a range of T-shirts on sale that aim to reduce material waste- however, these are not specially promoted and thus easily overlooked.

Swimwear designed

by Orsola de Castro, using discarded materials from Speedo swimsuits.

Last year, H&M also launched the ‘Garden’ collection, which was made entirely out of environmentally friendly materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester.

This refutes the idea that upcycling is just a PR stunt, especially if brands are consistent in helping the environment.

Less well known companies have also started recycling. Sweat Shop (the UKs largest specialist running shop) have started a special promotion: customers can recycle their old sports bras in any branch of Sweatshop, get five pounds off a new one, and one pound is donated to the MicroLoan foundation.

Eco-friendliness in fashion is getting more popular by the day; celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon and endorsing the fad for sustainable fashion.

One example is actress Emma Watson. She has designed three

collections for the fashion label People Tree, which has strict environmentally friendly guidelines for the production and distribution of their clothing.

The brand aims to “avoid using damaging chemicals in production”, wherever possible they use recycled and biodegradable substances instead.

Minimising the effect that the production of new collections has on the environment is another way in which designers can take action.

Yes, recycling in the fashion industry may sometimes seem to be used as a PR stunt to boost a brand’s popularity and publicise their environmental awareness.

But it can’t be denied that if more high profile brands embraced this trend, the impact on minimising waste and reducing materials needed would be significant.

24

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

Friday March 2 2012

FORGE PRESS

Lifestyle & Travel

UMN L O C X SE

Health

Hair to dye for?

Box kit hair dyes are a popular way to colour your hair, but they are not without risk...

Sabreen Ali

Alco-flop Until about six months ago, my only experiences with erectile dysfunction were the Viagra adverts with Pelé from the 90s.

Then, I became single and dived head first back into the slurring and sloppy world of inebriated, carnal encounters with complete strangers.

I don’t say ‘one night stands’ because that implies sex and as I have found out on various occasions, alcohol and sex go together as well as sponge cake and soup.

Oh, alcohol can certainly lubricate the initial interactions on the dancefloor or the pavement outside Balti King (don’t ask) but when it actually comes down to the old in-out in-out, alcohol is more of a hindrance than a help.

As Shakespeare said, alcohol “provokes the desire, but takes away the performance” – in other words, if you’re rat arsed, you can forget about getting a boner.

Of course, you can always thumb in a softie, but that’s like saying you’re going to go to the gym every single day when you buy your membership.

You aren’t kidding anyone, it’s not going anywhere, and you may as well pull up your trousers, apologise, and leave with your chin buried in your chest.

Whatever twee name you choose to call it (Whisky dick, Brewer’s droop, Alcoflop, etc.), alcohol induced impotence is a real problem and can be humiliating.

But it is a widespread affliction, self-induced, but frustrating nonetheless.

And that’s not even taking into account the reaction of the person you’re with, which is unequivocally one of offence.

I say this on behalf of the male population of the world, if we can’t get an erection when we’re a little tipsy, it’s not your fault.

Of course, we could always drink less, but unless you’re going on a night out with the intention of waking up with a stranger (in which case, grow up), that isn’t really possible as you tend to stumble into these situations.

In fact, it’s only really after your floppy pint that you tend to have more confidence.

But honestly, whisky dick is your body’s way of telling you that you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing anyway.

Who can honestly say they’ve had a one night stand that they didn’t regret?

There is a solution though.

Instead of taking a girl home, take her number.

If you like each other enough when you’re sober, go on a few dates then have sex.

You’ll be able to perform and you’ll be able to remember it.

Although if you do put in a less than stellar performance, I’m afraid you won’t have any excuse.

Anonymous

Have you ever wondered if your fresh highlights could be costing you anything more than the price you’ve paid for them?

Or if your transformation from blonde to redhead has some deeper consequence than a change for the next few months?

In most cases, no. But potentially, the answer is a yes with a capital Y. While the harmful effects of hair dye are rare, they can also be serious.

This is especially true when considering the long-term outcomes of using these products; it has been suggested that the spectrum of possible effects ranges from overprocessingrelated hair damage to lead poisoning and certain cancers.

There are also short term issues, and I don’t mean an uneven colour job or a ‘that colour looks awful on me’ situation. The most common acute complication is an allergic reaction; itching, redness, burning and pain around the scalp are all tell-tale signs.

The likely culprit is ParaPhenylenediamine (PPD), which infuses and darkens hair.

Although it is one of the most common ingredients used in hair dyes worldwide, it is listed as a recognised contact allergen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States.

It was also voted “Allergen of the Year” in 2006 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

Student Life

These photographs of Holly taken just after she had her allergic reaction show just how bad they can be.

Holly Neave, a Psychology student at the University of Sheffield knows first-hand the trauma of a severe allergic reaction to hair dye.

She started experiencing symptoms the morning after applying Clairol’s Nice’n Easy, a popular and reputable colouring brand.

What began as some redness and itching progressed rapidly to swelling and burns over Holly’s face.

“My head was scabby and I had red burns on the sides of my face and forehead. I had a swollen head, felt too sick to eat and was in a lot of pain. I looked like an alien.”

Holly was rushed via ambulance to A&E, where she was taken straight into a resuscitation bay due to her high heart rate of 170 beats per minute.

Although she was promptly given steroids, her heart rate remained persistently high and she was hospitalised overnight.

“It was probably the worst experience of my life. My friend and boyfriend had to leave me alone; I’d never been in an ambulance before, let alone stay overnight in hospital.”

This reaction was despite conducting a patch test on her elbow 48 hours before application, as advised by most companies.

Holly’s experience confirms that patch tests are not foolproof, and every caution should be taken when applying any dye, even a familiar one.

Her subsequent visit to a dermatologist confirmed an allergy to PPD. Thankfully Holly made a full recovery after a course of steroids and other anti-inflammatory medication, but the episode has made her less than positive about store-bought dyes.

“It’s needless to say, I will not be using a box dye kit to colour my hair ever again.”

While unsuccessful in Holly’s

case, a patch test should technically be performed before every application.

Reactions can occur after years of using a familiar product, as the individual becomes gradually sensitised to it - a process known as ‘sensitisation dermatitis’.

If you experience any symptoms of a potential allergy, inform your colourist at once, or if at home, stop applying the dye, rinse it off and seek immediate medical attention.

It’s always a good idea to read the blurb on the back of the box to check for likely irritants or chemicals, and be aware of what you will be applying on your hair.

Several well-known brands, such as Schwartzkopf, now stock PPD-free hair colour ranges, and these are well-worth checking out to avoid complications.

They’re more common, and far more serious than you might think.

Out with the degree, in with the career With a shiny new degree fully secured and tucked deeply into your back pocket, you’re all set to steam-roll your way into the successful career of your dreams – aren’t you?

Hope Lowe Having studied for two and a half years you finally begin to climb the summit of your degree and waiting for you at the top is the looming dread of ‘the real world’.

There is great pressure to apply to graduate schemes because it seems the logical thing to do and they are the most sought after progression.

However, there is actually some kind of pressure to work hard at university, and with the added pressure of having to research every company in England.

The trouble is that the focus on conventional routes clouds the view towards alternative pathways.

But fear not. There are more options than just the graduate schemes.

The problem can be with choosing which path to follow.

So, how can we get ourselves out of this sticky situation?

By turning to graduates, we can learn from seeing where their post uni pursuits have taken them.

she describes as “the best experience of my life”.

Upon her return she began a new search for a job, and found success was much easier to come by.

So despite having previously endured unemployment, Katie now Katie Rush has a competitive place Graduate: English on the prestigious Tesco Literature, 2009 Graduate scheme.

Now: Tesco Graduate Her advice would be: Scheme, 2011 “Enjoy your time as a After her first choice, graduate, don’t worry or (teaching English as a foreign pressurise language in China), fell yourself into through, Katie found herself thinking you unemployed for six months. must have a However she succeeded in job. securing an admin job within The most a local family company, and interesting over the course of a year outcomes she was able to save enough happen when money to spend the next six they are months travelling across Asia unplanned.” and South America, which

Joseph Taylor Graduate: Journalism, 2008 Now: Travelling Australia Describing himself as a “modern-day explorer”, Joseph says he was never interested in a conventional graduate career.

He spent his graduate year developing a vintage clothes shop online whilst also working part time as a P.E. teacher at his local school. .

He earned enough money to buy and live in a VW campervan for a year and a half, travelling Australia.

He now hopes to complete his bucket list before setting up his own business in the festival industry.

Iona Scott Graduate: LLB Law, 2011 Now: European

Health Law & Policy Masters Iona has a clear career path already chosen.

She has decided to continue in higher education as she says that the topics covered in a Law degree are very broad so focussing on a specific subject area by studying a specialised masters can help you to confirm your career choice.

From the advice of University of Sheffield graduates, it is clear that although a corporate job may be the most obvious progression, that path is not for everyone.

Whether it is further study or going into a job in a different way, the route into work isn’t always clear cut.

There is no right or wrong career to get into – who says you must get a ‘serious’ job right out of university?

You’re only young once.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

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

25

Lifestyle & Travel

Lifestyle

Tattoos - think before you ink

Lauren Clarke Tattoos, once a sign of rebellion, have now become a fashionable way to show off how unique you are - although it seems that just about every other person has one.

Considering the permanence of a tattoo, it is definitely better to be safe than sorry and to be completely sure before you put yourself at the mercy of a tattoo artist.

It’s definitely advisable to spend some time seriously thinking about what you’re going to get and where, rather than regretting those hundreds of star tattoos you had done on impulse.

Mirrors are inevitably hard to avoid and noone wants to be stuck with a disaster tattoo for the rest of their life.

Most importantly, we beg you: no matter how in love you are with someone, do not get their name inked onto you skin.

As some philosopher guy once said, nothing is permanent, (apart from a tattoo, that is) and you never know how long your love is going to last.

How are you going to get over a break up if their name is stamped on your body as a constant reminder?

So before you take the plunge and put needle to skin, here are a few things you should think about.

Travel

Can you handle the pain?

If you are the type of person that cries over a grazed knee don’t do it. There’s no two ways about it, getting tattooed hurts.

From those who say it feels like a continuous bee sting, to those who faint on first contact, it is by no means pain free.

If you’re slightly masochistic, then perhaps the pain will be enjoyable. Or for the budding modern artists amongst us, beauty is pain so a few hours of slight discomfort are worth it for a personal art installation.

If you don’t think you want to be the latest Tate Gallery, or the fear of the pain outweighs how much you really want the tattoo, it may be time to reconsider.

Where on your body do you want the tattoo?

Going back to the pain, some places on your body are definitely more painful to get tattooed.

Follow the general rule, anywhere boney will hurt. Your spine, foot or ribs are prime examples.

Also, ladies listen up. Over time, there’s a possibility that the tattoo will stretch, leaving you with an unrecognisable shape.

So if you’ve got a penchant for fatty foods, or the finer things in life, it’s probably advisable to avoid the stomach area.

Which tattoo parlour or artist are you going to use?

Use a tattoo artist that friends or family have gone to and rave about, or one that is always busy, even if they have a waiting list.

Remember, patience is a virtue.

Whatever happens, don’t just get it done in a back alley; you don’t know where those needles have been.

Do you know exactly what you want?

Tattoo artists are generally more than happy to help you create a design or to fine tune one you’ve dreamt up yourself.

This is definitely a good idea if you’re not too skilled with a pencil.

Or you could just choose a ready-made design from the internet or an artists portfo-

lio, but whatever you do, make sure you’re entirely happy with it.

Will you still want your tattoo when you’re 60? Will you still love having the name of your favourite band emblazoned across your chest?

If the answer is yes then go for it (unless it’s One Direction, in which case I implore you not to).

Will your tattoo be acceptable in your place of work?

As tattoos become more popular, they are inevitably becoming more common within the workplace.

However, it’s probably wise to avoid anything offensive or crude because people really do judge a book by it’s cover.

And finally ask yourself, will your bum end up looking like Frankie Cocozza’s? If the answer is yes, then just don’t do it.

It’s just not a good look.

The other biggie when it comes to tattoos is making sure they are done correctly.

By this I mean if you are having text, make sure the tattoo artist knows exactly how to spell, as you really don’t want a spelling or grammar disaster emblazoned on your body for all time.

But most importantly, don’t get yourself a fashion accessory. You can’t exchange it next season.

Choose your travel companions carefully...

Andrew Smith and Laura Davies When you’re in that exciting stage of planning your travels, who to go with may be one of the most crucial but often overlooked factors. Here is our guide to picking your travel buddies...

Who here has embarked on a voyage of discovery? Or a worldwide search to find your ‘inner self’? Anyone?

Alright, who’s gone wild in Magaluf? Loitered around Europe for a year? Or even told their parents they were building a school in rural Thailand, when in reality they were off getting a poorly translated tattoo across their left buttock?

If this sounds like you, congratulations. You’re lucky enough to have done some travelling.

Now, as anyone who has had a go at this whole traveling lark will tell you, it’s the people you’re with that will truly make a place. So when it comes to choosing your travel companions, take these pros and cons into considerations:

In a loved up pair

When you first get together with someone and that honeymoon period has you convinced that backpacking together will be the most romantic thing ever, beware.

Anything over five days of one-on-one is enough to make or break even the most resilient couple.

Surviving months in the more remote corners of the World can put you in situations you never imagined.

Let’s start with the advantages. Firstly, having a companion who you feel 100% comfortable with can be a life-saver on those long and often uncomfortable journeys.

Instead of becoming homesick or desperately skyping your Mum, your partner becomes someone to turn to during both the good and bad moments.

Not only emotionally, but practically, it’s always handy to have someone to bail you out.

When that dodgy ATM sucks up your bank card and refuses to spit it out leaving you penniless in a foreign country, your other half is there to save the day.

However there are other less desirable sides to travelling in a couple.

First things first, what if you break up. They’re bad enough when you’re at home with friends, family and Dairy Milk to support you, but when you’re far from home this is the last thing you want to be dealing with.

Also, consider how you look to other travellers whilst you’re on the road.

If you’re not bothered about making friends or meeting people then skip ahead, but some would say that when you travel in a couple you inevitably and often subconsciously make yourself less approachable.

That in mind, if you choose to travel together, good luck.

Take time out and to compromise...but not too much.

For many, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity so be sure to make the most of it.

Going it solo

Doing it in a group

The most obvious downside of going at it alone is the issue of loneliness.

Particularly if you have never spent a significant period of time away from your family and friends before, loneliness can be an unexpected blow to your backpacking dreams.

However, the trick to beating loneliness is distraction, which is not hard when you’re on the holiday of your lifetime.

If you focus on any slight hints of homesickness, then it’s likely that before you know it you will be making an extremely expensive phone call, crying to your parents with stories of how nobody speaks English to you or how the bathroom at the Hostel looks more like something out of a Saw movie.

Quit moaning and remember where you are. The more hours you spend outside of your hostel bedroom, the more likely you are going to find yourself a group of like-minded people who will instantly remove your solo-status.

One slight issue with traveling solo is the issue of expense.

Things like accommodation and other little everyday expenses will always, no matter how hard you budget, begin to stack up.

So if you haven’t already picked yourself up a room mate or a bunk buddy, then just use a little common sense.

Chatting to other backpacker types at the train station will lead to a cheaper taxi fare and sleeping in a dormitory will cut the cost of accommodation (as well as providing the perfect friend-finding spot).

Don’t get us wrong, being a lone-ranger is not all bad.

Traveling solo can also be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.

Let’s mix it up and start with the advantages this time.

First, we must acknowledge the “PTB” Algorithm, an equation as old as time itself.

Simplified, it translates to: “People + Travel = Banter” In other words, the combination of a group of like minded people with the veritable shmorgishborg of incredible experiences that come from traveling, is a recipe for a good time.

It provides an instant forum in which plans, ideas and experiences can be exchanged.

Traveling with a lively group of people can perpetually amplify any experience you might have had by yourself and the memories you form from them may be even more special than those memories of your destination.

If you’ve decided to travel exclusively for yourself, with the goal of returning a wiser, more responsible and more worldly person, then perhaps an extended period of alone time is exactly what you need.

For those of you with a penchant towards a “Bucket list” style of travel, making the journey solo can ultimately be more satisfying then it would be with others accompanying you.

They might not understand the cultural significance of a six hour detour to the spot where Leonardo DiCaprio was attacked by a shark (don’t panic, it was only in the film The Beach) but you sure do. And that’s what matters, right?

I mean, it’s been on your list for years...

Another bonus to traveling as part of a group is the aspect of safety (listen up Mum).

Let’s be honest. Being in a foreign land, full of strange and unfamiliar people and customs can be daunting and in some cases, straight up scary.

It may sound cliché, but there really is safety in numbers and there may come a time where you may be glad that you had a friend to look after you.

Particularly if you’re a fan of Thai buckets of Full Moon parties. Admit it, if you’ve been to Thailand, you’ve been there.

But while travelling in a group has it’s upsides, it won’t be long before you notice the downsides too.

For starters you need to consider the prospect that you could be stuck with these individuals for what may be an extended period of time.

After a few nights, you may realise that you have bitten off more then you can chew, living with people you have only just met whose bad habits will slowly come to light.

You may realise that the dreadlocked guy who at first seemed so laidback and cool, only washes once a month in a hippie bid to save the planet’s water supplies.

Whatever you do, keep yourself free by not making long term plans. That way you can change direction (and friend groups) at any time.

In a nutshell, whatever faraway, incredible destination you’re heading for, it’s the experiences and memories which will make the place.

So choose wisely.

26

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012 www.forgetoday.com

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

Coffee Break Outside the Union: Girl: “I’ve applied to make a shark society.”

overheard

in sheffield

In Interval: Girl: “If willy tasted like chicken I’d be on it all day.”

In the IC: Girl (who has just failed a numerical reasoning test): “But Dad, I’ve not literally written a number in like seven years, I just don’t know what they are anymore.”

The strange news this fortnight: slovaks vote for the naming of the chuck norris bridge You can’t cross this bridge until Chuck Norris allows you to.

There is a new bridge being built which will cross the Morova river from Slovakia into Austria, which with 74 per cent of the votes so far, looks likely to be called The Chuck Norris Bridge.

The other major contenders, Maria Thereas (after the former Austro-Hungarian Empress) and Devinska (a small village

Crossword Puzzle:

New

Across

Down:

1. American statesman (8,8) 7. Selectively, elitist(11) 9. English poet who introduced the sonnet to English literature (4) 12. Advocating war (12) 13. Lacking emotion, enervated (4) 15. ____ nightmare (10) 17. Main thoroughfare (6) 19. Lack of movement (8) 22. Richly supplied, copious (8) 24. Cured ham (6) 26. 20th Century Swiss sculptor and painter (10) 28. Semi-precious gem, milky white (4) 30. Lacking moral scruples (12) 32. One side of one leaf (4) 34. Below par (11) 36. First university in the English-speaking world (6, 10)

1. Steak dish using pastry (14) 2. A republic in Central America (9) 3. Having no tail (7) 4. Enemy (3) 5. One of the locations of the Royal Botanical Gardens (3) 6. Head louse (3) 8. Chinese currency (3) 10. Negative, dark and female side of Chinese philosophy (3) 11. Preoccupied, lost in thought (6,8) 14. Decorative vase (3) 16. Untilled, fallow (3) 18. Small, boxlike vehicle (3) 20. An even prime number (3) 21. Annoy with persistent demands (3) 23. Something that counteracts alkalinity (9) 25. Extinct, flightless bird from New Zealand (3) 27. Austrian nuclear physicist (7) 29. Linger, delay (3) 31. (abbr.) National voice of students 32. Vietnamese noodle dish (3) 33. Inflated feeling of superiority, pride (3) 35. Bread roll, hair style (3)

Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight: Pachyderm (n.)

1. A person who is not sensitive to criticism, ridicule, etc.

2. Any of the thick-skinned, nonruminant ungulates, as the elephant, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros.

3. An elephant.

(Origin: comes from the Greek roots pachý meaning “thick” and dermatos meaning “skin.” Its metaphorical meaning of a person with thick skin is attested to in the 1860s.

close to the bridge), are trailing behind with Maria Thereas currently the runner up with just eight per cent of the vote.

The ballot closes in April and although the final decision lies with the regional assembly and it looks like the officials will follow the public’s decision, Regional governor Pavol Freso said: “The same way as we have so far been building it in full sight of the public, we will seek that the name is accepted by the public as well.”

Many of you will know of Chuck Norris, a self-styled macho man who has starred in many martial arts films, after his highly successful karate career. In 1996, he even became the first Westerner to be awarded an eighthdegree black belt in Tae Kwan Do. Chuck Norris has become the punch line for many masculine jokes, such as “Google won’t search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don’t find Chuck Norris, he finds you.”

omg, Have you seen...?

Facebook it:

Weatherman fuck-ups

The BBC rarely hires someone who consistently makes mistakes on live television.

Tomasz Schafernaker is the exception. Type his name into YouTube and a plethora of bumbles fill your screen.

He is either consistently taking the piss or just has that age old problem of verbal diarrhea.

To while away the last of the bitter winter evenings, watch Tomasz swear at the camera and make mild, obvious innuendos.

YouTube: Tomasz Schafernaker feels a bit windy (BBC News, 08.09.09)

The real news this fortnight:

Guinness World Record set balancing benches on your teeth

In Chongqing, China, 30-year-old Li Hongxiao has broken the Guinness World Book of Records by balancing 23 benches on his teeth.

Hongxiao has been performing stunts since he was a child, starting with the ‘lion dance’ which he performed at eightyears-old to try and earn money for his family.

He held the benches on his teeth for 11 seconds to a vast crowd of people, however this isn’t the first time

Puzzle Corner:

for

Hongxiao has balanced unusual items in his mouth.

Since 2000, he has been balancing ladders, benches and even bamboo poles on his teeth during his performances.

However, his latest attempt hasn’t been a smooth sail, during his first attempt at the record he managed to hold only 12 benches before they slipped and cut his lower lip.

He ended up having to have 18 stitches and had to delay his record attempt.

However, he has finally done it and beat the last record holder by nine benches.

Amazingly, each bench was “one metre long, 45 centimetres high and weighing in at 3kg, the combined weight stood at a whopping 69kg - almost as much as his 75kg body weight.”

Amazing as this feat is though, please don’t go and trying this at home, as my mother always said: “It will only end in tears.”

Lecture Puzzle: Slice the square into four identical sections, so that in each section there is one caterpillar with its leaf.

One caterpillar will not have a leaf, she is on a diet.

Random Fact of the Week: The name for Oz in The Wizard of Oz was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum, looked at his filing cabinet and saw A-N, and O-Z, hence ‘Oz.’

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012 www.forgetoday.com

27

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

With Holly Wilkinson More Puzzles:

Productivity, Procrastination and Perfunctory

Sudoku

Sudoku 2

Easy

We strive for the first, end up being a victim of the second and our resulting essay is the third.

Even now, as I write this article I am a shamed champion of Temple Run. Each sentence is punctuated by another run, another swipe-tastic attempt before returning to my Word document.

This isn’t unusual, this isn’t a ‘bad day’, this is my student experience; this is me, wanting to work but finding anything, everything, more exciting than the task set to me.

I know I am not alone, and like most of you, once I get started then the block is broken and as long as the ideas keep flowing so do the words.

This is not a lifestyle that can continue, we cannot go through our lives producing superficial work and wasting time – there isn’t time for that.

If there is one thing I have been struggling to achieve since my AS levels is the ability to sit down, get the work done (before the

deadline looms) so I can go out there and procrastinate guilt-free.

I go through moments, moments of ambition and drive that cause me to get up early and actually do things. Not sitting down and catching up on a television series, but real things like going out to the Peak

District, working on a project that isn’t due in for weeks, even reading through past lecture notes.

I revel in how beautiful Sheffield is in the morning light, I listen to majestic classical music and actually achieve a productive day.

However, it never seems to last. All I need is one night

out, one too heavy night and I waste the next day wishing I didn’t know what alcohol was. Then before I know it, I am sleeping until midday again, I lie in bed and achieve nothing.

Oh, I have plans, but they never seem to materialise until the next epiphany kicks me into gear.

If all this sounds familiar then why not try what I am going to do. I have decided to have two weeks of productivity, two weeks where I drag myself out of bed before 9am every morning, attend every lecture and complete all of my tutorial sheets.

The aim of this is to make it a habit.

Self-control, like willpower, is akin to a muscle – if you exercise it enough then it becomes stronger.

So challenge yourself, become a better version of yourself and start living your life properly. n.b. And for the record, since the fifth line my iPod has remained untouched on my desk. It’s a start.

Trending

Hot

The Largest Rope Swing in Utah check out the video on YouTube (makes you very jealous!)

Wrath of the Titans is released exactly four weeks today!

You can own an enitre French village for $440, 000 The Scream is going up for sale this spring - so if you have a spare $80million or so then head down to Sotheby’s, New York.

Recipe: super healthy mozzarella sticks Ingredients: •

Sudoku 3

Medium

• • • •

1 Packet of low fat mozzarella cheese strings (8-10 sticks) ½ cup (120ml) of flour 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten 1 cup (240ml) of dry breadcrumbs Marinara sauce for dipping

Method:

Hard

Firstly, cut the mozzarella sticks in half and pop them in the freezer for 15 minutes (it sounds mad but it stops them melting too much whilst they’re cooking – keeping all that cheesy goodness inside), then set the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Put the flour, egg whites and breadcrumbs into three different bowls (to ease the dipping process) and season the breadcrumbs with S&P, and maybe some rosemary if you feel so inclined.

Take the mozzarella sticks out of the freezer and dip them, one at a time, into the flour, then the egg

whites and finally into the breadcrumbs.

Make sure each stick is completely covered in breadcrumbs.

Finally, place each stick into a baking dish and pop into the oven for 10-15 minutes (or until they are a golden colour), and serve with the marinara sauce (or maybe garlic mayo) for dipping purposes.

Little known facts about the ingredients: Originating in Italy, mozzarella is made from the milk of cows or water buffalos, and although is generally white its colour varies according to the diet of the animals’ milk.

Mozzarella di bufala contains 50 per cent more fat has 45 per cent less water than its cow’s milk cousin and when sliced it reveals a finely layered texture. It is best suited for fillings. Cow’s milk mozzarella, on the other hand, is more suitable to be cooked and is most commonly used as a pizza topping.

Amazingly a 100g ball of Mozzarella di bufala normally contains 22 grams of protein and 22 grams of fat.

Food for thought: The curse of being left-handed The world is designed for the right-handed individuals in the world.

Left-handed people have been linked to negative connotations throughout history, but not only that, they continue to be discriminated against in modern day life.

It isn’t obvious to the 90 per cent of the population which are right-handed, but most everyday tools are designed for us.

Objects such as lecture desks are mostly unusable to the left-handed person and power tools (such as circular saws) can be fraught with danger.

Think simpler, even little things like doors and taps turn in a way which is favourable to the right hander,

and writing is a constant trouble if you’re left handed as your hand smears everything you write.

The French word ‘gauche’ means both ‘left’ and ‘awkward’, whilst ‘adroit’ translates as ‘right’ or ‘straight’.

Similarly, in Latin ‘sinistra’ means ‘left’ in addition to ‘unlucky’ and gave us the modern word ‘sinister’, whereas ‘dexter’ means ‘right’ as well as ‘dexterity’. So ‘ambidextrous’ literally means ‘both right’.

Even black magic is sometimes referred to as the ‘left-hand path’.

Left-handed people march along though, proud that they are different and maybe there is a lesson there for all of us.

Russian scientists ressurect 30,000-year-old flower - next step, the dodo!

Chris Brown facing four years in prison

Photo: Brittany Akins/Flickr

Teenagers turn to YouTube to evaluate their looks - please don’t, there are too many cruel people on YouTube and it will only paint a very ugly, false picture.

Cold

28

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

SPORT

Matchdebating

Debate: Should there be tougher rules for clubs who get themselves into financial trouble?

Stricter stance on Tougher rules will finances is needed make things worse Ollie Turner

In the last few weeks, we have seen the likes of Rangers and Portsmouth enter administration, the latter for the second time in only two years.

Furthermore, supporters of the likes of Kettering Town are still wondering whether they will still have a football club to support with the financial crisis it is suffering from, while Darlington’s footballing future was also in jeopardy recently.

“Maybe administration will stop becoming inevitable” It leaves many wondering what footballing associations such as the Football Association and the Scottish FA are really doing to prevent football clubs falling into administration and suffering financially in the future.

The likes of Scarborough, Chester City and Farsley Celtic have all gone out of existence as a result of financial problems and were wound up as a result but no one has seemed to take notice, and instead

of waiting for a bigger club meet the same fate, the football associations need to bring in stricter rules and regulations to prevent similar situations occurring in the future.

While UEFA have brought in the Financial Fair Play rules to regulate the finances of the big clubs across Europe, with those failing to comply facing player bans, point deductions and clubs being banned from European competitions if they continue to buy players and record losses of over 45m euros, little seems to be done closer to home to prevent similar losses.

While the 10-point deduction seems a strong punishment as it is, perhaps the UK footballing associations need to implement stronger repercussions, such as automatic relegation at the end of the season or even losing a place in the Football League.

Clubs in the Conference face the threat of relegation if they enter administration and this may change clubs’ attitudes to regulating their finances if brought into the higher leagues.

Furthermore, while a new proposal would be welcome to have an independent body handle and investigate football club owners and directors who breach club ownership rules or who are suspected of financial impropriety, while also letting supporters’ groups

Select BUCS fixtures

raise their concerns, a new fit and proper test is also needed so businessmen who clearly don’t have the finances to run a football club or whose previous exploits means they simply cannot be trusted in the future must be brought are not allowed anywhere near football clubs in England.

Maybe with these changes, going into administration will stop becoming inevitable and the thought of a football club going bust will never have to cross our minds again.

Anthony Hart The recent financial travails of both Rangers and Portsmouth have brought back the topic of football finance into the public domain. Many have claimed that the football authorities have not done enough to deal with the problem and that tougher rules are needed. But they are in place already.

In most cases clubs generally have themselves to blame for financial

This little fella cares about financial mismanagement.

GOLF

RUGBY UNION

Mixed firsts at Leeds Met seconds

Women’s firsts vs Manchester firsts

HOCKEY

Men’s firsts at Durham seconds

Women’s firsts at Manchester firsts

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 BADMINTON Women’s firsts at Northumbria firsts FOOTBALL Women’s firsts vs Newcastle firsts Men’s firsts at Hull firsts Men’s rugby at Norton.

problems. After all, if you have a policy of “if your rivals spend a fiver you spend a tenner” then frankly, unless people address you as Sheikh, at some point along the line you will be in trouble.

And that too often is the problem. If I was to suggest just one new piece of legislation to sort things out, it would be the introduction of a wage and transfer fee cap.

This would stop the arms race that the “big” clubs started, and caused other teams to spend money they don’t have just to keep on the gravy train and run up debts that can only be sustainable with a dedicated financial backer, The Financial Fair Play rule is also a joke. It basically allows big clubs to spend vast amounts of money, as long it’s “sustainable,” while smaller clubs have to see their spending power curtailed. That isn’t fair either. Limits need to be applied in a fair manner.

The ‘fit and proper’ test should work in theory, admittedly a lot of incompetency has managed to wriggle it’s way through, but tougher penalties don’t help. relegating clubs who suffer financial trouble sounds good in theory, but’s a rather utilitarian view, like when my bank tried to charge me £20 a day for going over my overdraft.In reality, it just aggravates the solution when help is what is needed.

“Clubs generally have themselves to blame ” Sometimes it isn’t the rules, or lack of them that are the problem, it is simply the attitudes of clubs.

Maybe Rangers going into administration will prove no club is invunerable and clubs from the top will take it upon themselves to spend it within their means.

TABLE TENNIS

Men’s firsts at L’pool John Moores firsts

Men’s firsts at Durham seconds

LACROSSE

TENNIS

Women’s firsts at Newcastle firsts

Women’s firsts at Durham thirds

Men’s firsts vs Sheffield Hallam firsts

Men’s firsts vs Bangor firsts

NETBALL

Men’s seconds vs Durham thirds

Women’s firsts at Hull firsts

If a club is consigned to relegation there and then, it just effectively reduces income further. It also isn’t fair on the players and managers. Call me simplistic, but sport should be played on merit and the final standings should be decided by events on the pitch. Now I’m not saying there should be any punishments at all for a club going into administration, but the current nine points in the Premier League, and 10 for the Football League and the Scottish Premier League is enough.

The economy too is well and truely screwed at the moment. While clubs sometimes have themselves to blame, the fact is any business in any sector can regard themselves as under threat at the moment, with football clubs no exception as fans are less likely to turn up and part with their hard earned cash, if they still have jobs.

Hockey at Goodwin.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

29

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

SPORT

Special day for Special K Ahead of his fight with Matthew Hatton, Kell Brook is in confident mood. Jack Burnett catches up with Sheffield’s rising star in the ring.

Local lad Kell Brook, right, will be looking to extend his unbeaten record to 27 fights against Matthew Hatton.

Kell Brook will realise a childhood dream when he takes to the Motorpoint Arena to fight Matthew Hatton on March 17.

Sheffield’s undefeated welterweight boxer is set to take on Mancunian Hatton in the event dubbed ‘The War of the Roses’, with 9,000 fans expected to attend. For Brook, who has not yet fought at the arena, it is the kind of fight he has always relished.

“Obviously it’s my home town, and that makes it special,” he says.

“It’s something I dreamt about as a kid, boxing in that big arena.

It looks like it’s going to be a sellout too, which would be brilliant.”

Tipped by many for the big time since the dawn of his career, Brook, who trains at Brendan Ingle’s famed Wincobank gym, will be looking for a 27th victory since turning professional.

“It’s something I dreamt about as a kid, boxing in that big arena” A rapid rise to prominence bore him the nickname ‘Special K’, and at 25 years old, time is on his side in the quest for world glory.

In a notoriously strong division headed by Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Brook is currently ranked sixth in the world by The Ring Magazine.

Should he see Hatton off, a showdown with Amir Khan – who Brook believes he “could beat any time” – may be in the pipeline.

Without appearing complacent in looking ahead to future title bouts, Brook is confident of comfortably despatching underdog Hatton in Sheffield this month.

“I’m training really hard and have had some good sparring.

Obviously I’m expected to beat

him – I’m younger and fresher. I know that I can beat him in every department. Come March 17, you’ll see that.”

If recent performances are anything to go by, Hatton should not pose much of a threat. In his last fight, an American debut, Brook overcame Luis Galarza after five rounds in Atlantic City.

He could be forgiven for showing signs of distraction since then, however. Earlier this month Brook became a father, but he is adamant he will not let daughter Nevaeh – heaven spelt backwards – keep him on his feet for too long.

“I’ve actually got a blow-up bed set up in the spare room, so I’m making sure I get the hours I need to sleep. We’re all settled now as a family – everything is hunky dory.”

Evidently self-assured yet softly-spoken and approachable, Brook represents an opportunity for British boxing to repair its shattered image. Only one Brit currently holds a world title, after N a t h a n Cleverly successfully defended his WBO lightheavyweight title this m o n t h .

Outside the ring, the dust shows little sign of settling on the David Haye-Derek Chisora affair, when the pair brawled after Chisora’s failed heavyweight title shot. If the scuffle was an attempt to spark interest in the sport, it was a spectacular failure, and one that reflected negatively on fellow professionals.

“It was terrible for boxing,” Brook says.

“It was really distasteful – the way they conducted themselves was awful. But you can’t just address all fighters like that. We learn discipline from a young age in our gym and I’ve got young kids and other fighters looking up to me. I’m like a role model to some of them, so you’ll never see me going off like that.

“I might be a bit tonguein-cheek at a press conference, but never to the extent

Photos: Lawrence Lustig they were. You’ve got a line when you’re hyping a fight. It’s tough because your opponent, this kid, is trying to take the bread off your table – but with discipline, you know when to stop.”

“I think Chisora has definitely got a few marbles missing” And what of Chisora, who has since been indefinitely suspended by the WBC? Brook smirks, and chooses an answer more diplomatic than others may have put forward.

“I think he’s definitely got some marbles missing.”

Marbles or no marbles, Chisora is a different beast to Brook.

Where Chisora thrives in the frenzied and, if you believe the hype, increasingly out of control business of promoting bouts, Brook appears content to let fans judge him on his boxing.

“I do my talking in the ring,” he says. There have been no personal attacks on Hatton ahead of their battle; his confidence may be construed so, but is rather a frank assessment of one fighter’s superior ability over another. It is a sign of preparedness, not arrogance, from a man enamoured with the sport and concerned by the direction some are prepared to take it in.

When the prospect of watching Varsity is raised, with boxing including in the schedule for this month’s University of Sheffield versus Hallam competition, Brook’s eyes light up: the venue, the Octagon Centre, was the scene of his seventh professional win against Ernie Smith.

“I’d like to see that. If I’m available, I’ll be there.” If he is there, a week after the Hatton fight, expect it to be as the stillundefeated Special K.

Rugby in Hallam loss Men’s rugby union firsts BUCS League 1A University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam

6 13

Anthony Hart Sheffield’s rugby firsts lost their top of the table derby match against their rivals Sheffield Hallam 13-6 at Abbeydale on Wednesday.

Uni sat second in the table going into the afternoon, on 21 points whereas Hallam were three in front on 24.

From the off, Hallam appeared to dominate territory, and in the opening minutes could have scored a try. They won a lineout and made progress down Sheffield’s right hand side. A pass inside went astary as danger was imminent and the loose ball was cleared away by a Uni back row player.

The ball stayed in the visitors’ half for pretty much all of the first five minutes and Hallam managed to win a penalty which was converted to give them an early 3-0 lead, Sheffield looked in for a long afternoon after a kick was fumbled not long after the testart, giving Hallam a lineout in an advanced position, but within minutes Uni managed to level the scores up.

In one of their first forays into their opponents half, they managed to get a scrum which led to a penalty. Fly-half Andrew Magowan successfully kicked the penalty and the score was 3-3.

Although large spells if the first half were played in and around the Sheffield 22, they managed to keep Hallam back and they did not appear to offer a serious threat.

Magowan missed another kick before slotting between the posts from shorter range midway through the first period to nudge Sheffield in front.

At this point, Sheffield seemed efficient, being able to rack up points despite the lack of possession or territory. Hallam were able to play rugby in the Sheffield half, but lacked the vital piece of penetration needed to score.

Before half-time forward Will Ville suffered an horrendous injury when he appeared to take a blow to the head. He was forced off and appeared unconscious, although he was soon awake.

Whether Sheffield’s attention to the game was swayed by that injury was debatable, but what wasn’t is the fact they conceeded a try in the dying moments of the half. A Hallam player managed to break through at the Sheffield 22 and crossed the whitewash just to the right of the posts. A rather easy conversion in a still wind was made, and Hallam led 10-6 at the break.

The second half offered little in terms of scoring action. Hallam on the whole remained inside the Sheffield half, but were unable to make it count, save for one penalty.

Sheffield had a revival in the last 10 minutes. Magowan missed a kick that would have made it a four point match, before piling on the pressure in the dying minutes. They had several scrums and were camped on the Hallam line, but could just not get over and score the converted try they needed to get level.

30

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

SPORT

Derby win not enough to prevent Megson axe

Clockwise from left: Ryan Lowe and Neill Collins jump for the ball, Ched Evans competes with Danny Batth and Stephen Quinn thunders home against Scunthorpe.

Photos: Blades Sports Photography

Football Npower League 1 Will Aitkenhead Sheffield Wednesday took the Steel City bragging rights over Sheffield United with a hard fought 1-0 victory at Hillsborough on Sunday.

Chris O’Grady was the talk of the blue half of Sheffield after his headed goal separated the sides and kept up Wednesday’s hope of automatic promotion from League One. The game marked the end of Gary Megson’s career as Owls’ boss. He was sacked on Tuesday evening by chairman Milan Mandaric. Victory over the Blades broke a run of three consecutive league defeats for Megson’s side.

There was a white-hot atmosphere created by the sell out crowd and Wednesday ended a run of four straight defeats in the best possible way with victory over their fierce rivals.

It was United who had started the brighter side, however, enjoying much of the early possession and they almost opened the scoring when Lee Williamson crashed a free kick against the bar from just outside the box.

Ched Evans looked a constant threat and he linked up well

with Stephen Quinn on occasion but for all their early possession United could not fashion a clearcut chance.

Wednesday grew into the game and Reda Johnson saw a header go just over the bar from a corner. Their best chance of the half though fell to Ryan Lowe after good work by new signing Michail Antonio.

The winger, on loan from Reading, beat his man down the right and fired across goal but the ball was just out of reach of the sliding Lowe.

Whilst the Blades were slightly in the ascendency in the first half, the second period was a different story as Wednesday enjoyed much greater periods of possession.

With Jose Semedo breaking up play in the middle of the field Wednesday were able to create more up front and O’Grady went close with a shot from 25 yards.

Gary Megson bought Gary Madine on to try and force a winner and he had his reward with 73 minutes on the clock.

Lewis Buxton made an overlapping run down the right and his cross found the head of O’Grady who guided the ball into the far corner and beyond the helpless Simonsen in the United goal, sending the blue and white sections of the 36,000 strong crowd into pandemonium.

Danny Wilson threw on Will

Hoskins and James Beattie in an attempt to force an equaliser and it was Hoskins who proved the biggest threat. It was only a superb last ditch sliding tackle from Owls skipper Rob Jones that prevented Hoskins from getting a shot away in a dangerous position.

Hoskins then had another headed attempt that Bywater did well to push over the bar.

In truth though Wednesday deserved their victory as they provided the one moment of class in a tight encounter between two very well matched teams.

Gary Megson said after the game, “I’m proud all the time of being manager of Sheffield Wednesday, but I suppose that’s intensified given the fact that we’ve just won a game against out local neighbours and it’s a great feeling.

“I think it was always going to be a scrappy game, being a derby and invariably they are settled by a mistake, a set-piece or a really, really top drawer goal and that’s what it was.”

United did manage to recover from the disappointment of derby defeat by coming from behind to beat Scunthorpe 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

Goals from Stephen Quinn and Lee Williamson were enough to take them five points clear of Wednesday in the race for second place.

It was Scunthorpe who had the better of the first half and it was no surprise when the dangerous looking Mark Duffy went on a mazy run before shooting left footed from the edge of the area into the bottom left hand corner to open the scoring.

The game changing moment came just before the break, as Scunthorpe captain Sam Togwell was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Michael Doyle.

It seemed a harsh decision as both players appeared to be going for the ball, although the referee was adamant it was a red.

The second half saw Stephen Quinn and Richard Cresswell introduced in placeof James Beattie and Johnny Ertl and

immediately the Blades exerted pressure on the Scunthorpe defence.

It didn’t take long for the equaliser to come as Quinn and Creswell combined well down the right before Ched Evans crossed for Lee Williamson, who volleyed home from ten yards out.

The Blades continued to pile on the pressure as Quinn and Evans both went close themselves. The breakthrough finally came when Evans’ cross was cleared only as far as Quinn on the edge of the box and he unleashed an unstoppable left footed shot into the bottom corner, securing the three points for the Blades, who now face Oldham Athletic on Saturday at Bramall Lane.

Men’s basketball in record win of perfect season Men’s basketball firsts BUCS League 3B University of Sheffield University of York

88 41

Stuart Hill Champions of Northern League 3B, the University of Sheffield men’s basketball team continued their impressive form with an easy win over bottom of the league York at Goodwin Sports Centre.

Jospeh Bossley top scored as Sheffield’s 100 per cent record remained safely intact with their most convincing victory to date.

Uni will now aim for a glorious end to the season with the chance to secure a 10th win from 10 games when they play rivals Hallam at the EIS next week.

There was never any doubt that Uni would win this game, with no hint of complacency creeping into their game despite already being crowned Champions and playing against a York side who had yet to pick up a point all season.

The scoring started after 90 seconds when Bossley scored the first of his points after a fast break, which was to become a feature of Uni’s game throughout the afternoon.

Although York managed to quickly bring the score back to 2-2, Uni went straight back ahead through Bossley and

stayed ahead for the remainder of the match.

York’s play was neat and tidy but their set plays lacked conviction and the Sheffield defence was never tested for a sustained period, while points continued to be scored on the fast break.

Sheffield ended the first quarter with a 24-6 lead, but York improved and had their best spell of the match in the first half of the second quarter, scoring eight points to Uni’s six.

Andrew Chiguri drew cheers from the home crowd with a brilliant rejection right under the basket as York almost scored on the fast break.

But on the whole, Uni were less aggressive and won fewer

rebounds in the second quarter.

By the half way point, though, Uni had established a twentytwo point lead over their North Yorkshire opponents.

The third period saw Sheffield step up their game again with Daniel Dawson setting the tone for the quarter with a basket in the first minute.

The home side started to play with the swagger of champions and were clearly enjoying themselves, notably so when Chiguri set up Dawson for an extravagant slam dunk.

An impressive 30 points for Sheffield in the third quarter meant the score going into the final ten minutes was 68-25.

With the game all but won, the only question now was how many

points Uni would win by.

They added another 20 to their total, a large proportion of which came courtesy of the tireless energy of Daniel Beels who intercepted loose pass after loose pass from a tired York side.

The win was rounded off in terrific style, with James Rowe scoring a perfect three pointer on the buzzer to make the winning margin a resounding 47 points In truth, the result of this game was probably a foregone conclusion, but to Uni’s credit they completed the job professionally with a solid performance.

10 wins from 10 looks all the more likely unless Hallam can pull off something remarkable next week.

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

31

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

SPORT

Steel Bowl defeat for Sabres American football BUAFL

Sheffield Sabres Hallam Warriors

28 29

Adam Hancock The Steel Bowl saw the Sheffield Sabres and Hallam Warriors meet in what was expected by many to be a one-sided affair – it was anything but, with Sabres losing out to their fierce rivals by a point.

The Sabres got off to a great start when their kickoff was not only kept inbounds deep in Hallam territory, but also recovered, giving their offense excellent field position. They could not capitalise however, and it was the Warriors who would score first, running in a long play from their double wing formation.

It was not the best start for the Sabres’ defence, but they did manage to prevent the two point conversion.

The teams were brought back level on the next drive, with quarterback Dan Jones connecting with receiver James Sharrock for his third touchdown of the season.

The black and gold defence managed to contain the relentless double wing for much of the first half, but conceded again in the second quarter. The Warriors converted the two point conversion, making the score 13-6 to Hallam.

The Sabres were forced to punt

on their next drive, but after the snap went over the punters head, Hallam were able to gain possession of the ball in the Sabres’ end zone to secure their second score in quick succession.

They added the point after to give themselves a two score lead late in the second quarter.

Determined not to let that be the last action of the half, the Sabres offense pulled a score back, Sharrock scoring his second of the game thanks to a Sam Kennett pass. The two point conversion was scored, leaving Hallam 21-14 at half-time.

The late score provided a huge lift for the whole of the Sabres outfit, and they exploded out in the second half with renewed vigour and belief. After a good return by Landon White, the Sabres offense marched the ball up the field, and Milo Craig scored the touchdown to bring the underdogs to within one point of their cross-town rivals.

The Hallam double wing continued to stall, and they were forced to move to other formations to try and find a way through the Steel curtain. However, this brought little success, and the momentum stayed rooted with the Sabres.

In the fourth quarter the possession would change hands twice before the next score; Sabres defensive end James Murphy recovered a fumbled toss on the Hallam 20 yard line, and Sharrock was the man to cross the plane, completing a hat-trick of touchdowns, from three different quarterbacks.

This time, it was Jacob Hardy to provide the lethal touch. After the two-pointer was converted, the Sabres held a seven point lead, with five minutes remaining in the game.

The Steel curtain had not conceded for the entire second half, and knew that if they could prevent a score on this drive, then the game may be over.

The importance of the drive was not missed by the Warriors either, and they upped their game, cutting out the penalties that had hampered them on many of their previous drives.

It was slow progress, but against the tired bodies of the Sabres defence, the Warriors marched the ball into the end zone to pull themselves within one point. They chose to go all out with a two point conversion, which paid off, taking the score to 29-28 in the dying minutes.

There was one last chance for the Sabres offense to cause a massive upset, but the Hallam defence stood firm to cause a turnover on downs. From here, the Warriors chose to run the clock down and the game finished with them taking a knee to secure a hard fought win.

Despite losing the Steel Bowl, the Sabres followed up the defeat with a victory over Bradford to secure a BUAFL playoff spot for the first time in three years.

The squad are also gearing up for a potential rematch against Hallam at Varsity, which will take place if both clubs are not still competing in the playoffs.

Sheffield Sabres pushed Hallam Warriors all the way despite being underdogs.

Steelers dish out Capitals punishment Ice hockey Elite League Sheffield Steelers Edinburgh Capitals

7 0

Matthew Smith The Steelers came into this game on the back of a minor blip – two defeats in their last four games and having to come from behind to beat bottom club Fife Flyers – that has seen them lose ground on leaders Belfast Giants, seven points behind, albeit with three games in hand.

However, they turned their fortunes around with a thudding victory over the Edinburgh Capitals, their fifth win in five games against the Scottish side.

Geoff Woolhouse was in nets for the Steelers, with regular custodian John DeCaro unavailable, and he had the box seat to witness the massacre which occurred at the Motorpoint.

After a slow start, Sheffield got their first on 12 minutes, Jeff Legue showing great skill to beat multiple players before finding Colt King, who launched it home. A minute later, the lead was doubled, Squires squaring to

Finnerty for the goal.

The game took a while to re-enter its stride upon the beginning of the second period, and the Capitals had the best early chance, Woolhouse deflecting Sladok’s shot onto the post with his skate, however seconds after this it was 3-0, as Huttel poked home.

A good crowd was in despite the numerous other sporting distractions available in Sheffield on theday, and that was illustrated by the noise that greeted goal number four, which came seconds before the end of the period - Legue’s shot was

blocked by beleaguered Capitals netminder Nathan Craze, Mike Ramsay finished up.

On 42 minutes a comfortable lead became a rout, with the best goal of the game – Steve Birnstill illustrated supreme skill to dodge between two defencemen, circumnavigate Craze and slot in.

The game was over as a contest by this point and play became more niggly, with Legue at the centre of a mini-fracas with a Capitals defenceman.

However, attention soon turned to Steelers player-coach Ryan Finnerty, as, following up a blocked Legue drive; he converted

Photos: Jingjing Liu

his landmark 300th goal for the reigning champions. This was the first of two goals in a minute, with Legue at long last adding his name to the scoresheet for his 67th point of this campaign, shooting between the legs of the hapless Craze.

Richard Hartmann did soon after illustrate the finest moment of Scottish quality in this most one-sided of encounters, as he slinked between most of the Steelers squad, however the final shot was awful, just like the entire night’s experience for the visitors.

32

www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

SPORT

Follow @forgesport on Twitter for Uni sports news

FORGE PRESS Friday March 2 2012

Like Forge Press on Facebook for the latest from your paper

Women’s basketball miss chance to extend York gap

York closed the gap between themselves and Sheffield after winning at Goodwin.

Women’s basketball firsts BUCS Northern 2B University of Sheffield University of York

31 55

Ollie Turner A sense of disappointment emanated from the University of Sheffield’s women’s basketball team, who had the opportunity to extend the gap between themselves in second and the University of York team in third to six points, but ultimately York’s superiority throughout the game lead to them winning 55-31.

In the reverse fixture, York beat Sheffield’s women 7047, and although the result was settled at Goodwin Sports Hall with a slightly smaller margin, York maintained their dominance with a ruthless attacking performance, excellent dribbling, efficient defending and good interceptions.

As early as the seventh minute of the first quarter, York quickly raced into an eight-point lead, before both Ros Day and Camille Samson got Sheffield’s first four points on the board and momentarily pegged York back.

However, despite two points from Zoe Smart, free shots scored by

Christin Kirchhuebel, as well as a further two points from Grace Liv, York went into the second quarter 14-9 up.

The second quarter was very much a back-and-forth affair in terms of scoring as Sheffield’s women strived to reduce the deficit, and scored immediately before York hit back in the following minute to maintain the five-point deficit. Samson then scored again in the fourth minute of the quarter before Kirchhuebel added to her haul of four points from right under the hoop to make it 18-13.

The game continued to flow in a hoop-to-hoop fashion as another two points from Ros Day were followed by York captain Janne Billiet scoring in the sixth and seventh minute of the quarter before York started to make their superiority count.

Billiet scored again for York and in the dying embers of the quarter, Lydie Mariutto scored to open up a nine-point lead and make the score 15-24.

Sheffield had a much more fruitful third quarter as they tried to claw their way back into the game, however York’s quality meant they remained in the ascension.

Despite an early score in the first minute from Mariutto and another score for York in the fourth minute, they dominated

Photos: Victoria Beardwood the early stages of the quarter, scoring 12 points. Day, Samson and Carnall all scored in the opening seven minutes of the quarter, the latter even scoring a fantastic three-pointer to claw the score to 27-28.

However, as the third quarter drew to a close, York punished the University of Sheffield team.

Liv scored again before Sheffield gave away sloppy fouls and Kirchhuebel capitalised, converting her free shots before then scoring two points on the break in the final minute of the quarter to open up an eight point lead, 27-35 heading into the final quarter.

The final quarter saw the York side really demonstrate their quality and dominance, quickly moving into a 16-point lead in the first four minutes.

Billiet got herself another six points, while Mariutto’s fine dribbling prowess posed a constant threat as she also scored.

Kirchhuebel also added eight points in an impressive performance, and while both Sansom and Charlie Gill both scored, the points were little more than consolation as York’s superiority in the final 10 minutes led to a 55-31 win and drawing level on 15 points with Sheffield in the Northern 2B league.