Forge Press Issue 48

INSIDE:DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS/DOC/FEST/TRAMLINES FESTIVAL/OBAMA/SIMON ARMITAGE The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.

FREE Issue 48

Friday May 18 2012 @ForgePress /ForgePress

Comment ask:

What does Hollande mean for the eurozone? p.8

Sport debate: Scrapping of hockey team’s pitch, p.25

Lifestyle find:

The best budget cocktails and meals, p.23

Council blind to the dangers of illegal vodka 4Sheffield city council fail to remove licence from Barber Road store 4Nisa found to sell Lambrini to children aged 15-17 4Student welfare officer disappointed by the decision Alisha Rouse Welfare Officer Mat Denton has slammed Sheffield city council’s decision to renew the alcohol licence of a local student shop that has been consistently found to sell illegal substances.

Nisa on Barber Road in Crookesmoor, now Costcutter, has been found on several occasions to sell dangerous, illegal alcohol to students. The illicit substances were tested and it was found the vodka was in fact industrial alcohol and contained a chemical commonly used in bleach, as well as xylene and toluene - two compounds found in paint stripper and dangerous for human consumption.

Despite this, the council renewed the store’s alcohol licence on Tuesday morning, on the condition that the premises supervisor was removed from his post.

Denton said: “It is disappointing that the council has taken the decision to renew the store’s license. The shop has repeatedly broken the law and has endangered the health of its customers by doing so, and I think these actions should have some serious consequences. I will be personally asking the council how they got to this decision.”

Zakar Ali Malook, the designated premises supervisor, was removed from his post following raids by Trading Standards, finding fake booze on two occasions. The story was exposed by Forge Press (Issue 40)

in November 2011 when a reporter was sold unbranded ‘vodka’ in the Nisa store on Barber Road, now renamed Costcutter but remaining the same company, on sale for £7.99. The story was also used as evidence in the case.

Nisa have also been found guilty of selling alcohol to children on four separate occasions.

Tahir Ayub, the holder of the premises’ licence, sold alcohol to two 16-year-old girls in a test purchase operation in July last year, which then occurred again on two subsequent occasions.

This was followed by the seizing of the store’s vast quantity of counterfeit substances, following an investigation by Forge Press.

Continued on page 4

Man fears for life after deportation verdict Lauren Clarke An activist from Cameroon and long-time resident of Sheffield will be sent back to his native country putting him in danger of torture or imprisonment.

Earlier this week friends and supporters of Bernard Mboueyeu launched a campaign to keep him safe in Sheffield after the Home Office demanded that he return to Cameroon to apply for a spouse’s visa. A petition was distributed and a vigil was held in support of Mboueyeu outside Sheffield Town Hall last Friday.

Speaking to Forge Press from the Morton Hall detention centre in Lincolnshire Mboueyeu said, “I am very, very worried; I can’t sleep and have had to be given medication to help me.”

Mboueyeu had initially offered to return of his own free will if his safety was guaranteed but the Home Office could not do so and said that if he did not return to his native country by the May 14 then he would be returned by force.

Continued on page 4

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Friday May 18 2012 FORGE PRESS

NEWS UNIVERSITY

Activities Awards showcase students

Student dancers raise funds for meningitis in annual showcase

Alisha Rouse Students celebrated their achievements this week at the annual Activities Awards, held at the Mercure St Pauls hotel.

The lavish evening, hosted

by Societies Committee and Activities Officer Nabil Alizai, honoured students for their commitment and passion for activities.

There were 360 students in attendance, and more than 50 awards up for grabs. Hundreds of nominations flooded in for the prestigious night, with categories such as Outstanding Contribution to Committees and Outstanding Contribution to Societies receiving 35 and 40 nominations respectively.

Roscoe Hastings, Chair of Societies Committee said: “It was such a difficult job for Societies Committee to shortlist, let alone pick the winners.

“Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted, which is such an achievement in itself.

“I have to say a massive thankyou to all on Societies Committee for their hard work, dedication and commitment over the past year and for making Activities Awards such a great success.”

The big wins of the night went to Geography Society for Society of the Year, and Forge Radio as Best Working Committee.

Michael Whitehouse, station manager at Forge Radio said: “Forge Radio has had an amazing year, but that didn’t stop myself and the rest of committee being completely shocked that we won.

“We were honoured to just be shortlisted, as there are some fantastic things all working committees do, but to win was amazing. Thank you to everyone that was involved this year.”

Photo: University of Kent/FlickR

Dancers performed in a variety of different styles to raise money for Nicholas Carding Dancers from the University of Sheffield raised over £250 in their annual showcase, which finished off a record-breaking year for the University’s most popular society.

DanceSoc have won 18 trophies this academic year in competitions in Durham and Sunderland, which is a new record for the society.

At the showcase, held at the Sheffield Library Theatre last Friday, dancers from all the different sections came together to show the audience their routines which have seen them bring home the prizes throughout the year.

The audience were treated to a range of performances, including tap, ballet, and street jazz.

The money raised from the event will be given to the Meningitis Research Fund which

helps people suffering from the illness.

The charity pioneers medical research in the field with a hope of discovering n e w treatments for the condition.

In addition to the money raised from the ticket sales, the dancers also held a raffle to raise more cash for their chosen charity.

Catherine Smith, President of Dance Society, said: “We do competitions throughout the year, and this showcase is a nice way of showing friends and

the society’s chosen charity. housemates the routines we’ve made.

“We’ve also hosted our own competition this year in the Octagon, and we managed to get universities like Durham and Essex to join, so it’s been a great year, with lots of hard work.”

The 80 minute show also included some stirring duos from promising dancers.

Maria Digby and Sita Jobanputra danced a fine ballet routine while David Kam shone in his dance, being only one of two male performers.

Adam Harley

Alisha Rouse

Head of Fuse Visuals Isaac Baggaley

alisha.rouse@forgetoday.com

Deputy Editor Rowan Ramsden Managing Editor Mikey Smith WEB EDITORS Adam Harley fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com Arnold Bennett Coral Williamson Head of Forge Visuals

News news@forgetoday.com Lauren Clarke Rachel Dixon Jonathan Robinson Comment comment@forgetoday.com Martin Bottomley Hamilton Jones LETTERS & COFFEE BREAK letters@forgetoday.com Holly Wilkinson

Features features@forgetoday.com Sophie Allen Lizzy Jewell Nicola Moors Lifestyle and travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Olivia Adams Laura Davies Sport sport@forgetoday.com Adam Hancock Will Aikenhead Matt Smith Music music@forgetoday.com

Nabil Alizai, Activities Officer at the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union, said: “The show was even better than I thought it would be.

“They’ve come such a long way, I’m so pleased for them.

“For them to win so many trophies, it’s an amazing achievement, and hopefully they’ll continue to be one of the best societies at our university.”

The society also capped off a hugely successful year scooping the Best Creative Society title at the Activities Award on Monday.

They were also nominated for Best Event in Sheffield and Best Society Showcase.

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Editor

Photos: Nicholas Carding

Amelia Heathman Lianne Williams Games games@forgetoday.com Kaz Scattergood Andrew Smith Screen screen@forgetoday.com Phil Bayles Dan Meier Arts arts@forgetoday.com Olivia Middleton Copy editor Tom Fletcher

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 May 18 2012

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Union officers join condemnation of ‘racist’ policy at Israeli college Faris Karouni The Students’ Union of a higher education college in Israel has sparked outrage after adopting a policy which states that candidates wishing to run in elections for Union President must have completed national service in the Israeli military.

This rule excludes most Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel from applying for the position.

Zefat Academic College has an intake of both Arab and Jewish students, and the introduction of this policy has led to accusations of discrimination.

The decision has prompted more than 120 Students’ Union officers and officer-elects from universities across the UK to sign a letter condemning the policy and calling for it to be revoked, and “for Palestinian students to be granted the same opportunities to represent, and be represented, as their fellow students.”

It then goes on to explain that “whilst there may be some students studying at Zefat College who have not completed service in the Israeli military for various reasons, the policy clearly targets Palestinian citizens of Israel as the largest demographic within the student body who are unlikely to have served.”

It goes on to state that “The implicit racism of this policy is deeply concerning as it raises the wider question of the attitude towards Palestinian students who study alongside Israeli students at institutions such as Zefat College.”

The list of signatories includes Liam Burns, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) and Students’ Union

A proposal to ban Chris Brown and his music from the Students’ Union was blocked last week after councillors failed to reach a two thirds majority.

The idea was put forward

by Women’s Officer Sarah Charlesworth who had wanted the Union to send out a strong message against domestic violence.

However, student councillors could not reach the two thirds majority required for the proposal to be immediately implemented at last Thursday’s Union Council.

In her report, Charlesworth said: “Domestic violence is wrong and by the Students’ Union advertising and playing Chris Brown and his music, we are trivialising domestic violence and contributing to a culture of misunderstanding of domestic violence.

“Society has shown that as long as you can sing, it’s fine to hit a woman. And Chris Brown has shown no remorse for his acts.”

Brown physically assaulted Rihanna in 2009 while the couple were dating, leaving the pop singer with bruises and swells across her body.

He has since sparked controversy by retweeting messages seemingly glorifying

Union Council endorses gender quota at NUS conferences The University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union has voted to bring in a gender quota for the next NUS delegate elections because it is concerned about the under representation of women.

The quota means that 50 per cent of delegate spaces will be reserved for women, leaving the remainder open to any gender.

Sarah Charlesworth, Women’s Officer, said that it is a “short term solution” and the quota will not be put into the Union’s constitution.

Lauren Clarke

Students voting at Zefah College Photo: Issam Rimawi / APA Images officers from the University of Sheffield.

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In an interview with Forge Press, President-elect Abdi Suleiman described the measures as “outrageous”. Suleiman added that: “it is inconceivable that anyone would be disallowed from running in our own Students’ Union elections on the basis of race or nationality and we should

Proposal to ban Chris Brown from Union fails Jonathan Robinson

Forge in Brief

find this equally unacceptable elsewhere.”

The recent move by Zefat Students’ Union comes at a time when the Arab population of the city faces increasing marginalisation.

In 2010, the chief rabbi of Zefat signed a letter urging Jewish property owners to refrain from renting or selling apartments to non-Jews in the city.

In response to criticism over its decision, Zefat College Students’ Union released a statement saying that the policy was “approved by the majority of the Union’s members which include both Arabs and Jews” and that “the clause is not directed against any particular sector.”

Comment Martin Bottomley

R&B singers are supposed to the violence. feel blue sometimes, so that they The majority of student can sing about it and let their councillors voted in support of sweet voices channel our own the ban but the rules state a two unspoken melancholy, making thirds majority is needed before a all of life’s tragedies bearable for policy can be implemented. us mere mortals.

Some members questioned They aren’t, however, where the line could be drawn. supposed to beat people black Reference was made to Cheryl and blue, particularly not their Cole who was found guilty of respective better halves. assaulting a toilet attendant in Unfortunately, Chris Brown 2003. turned out to be of considerably Speaking at the Union Council worse moral fibre than his thenmeeting, Charlesworth said she girlfriend Rihanna, whom he had received complaints from infamously subjected to quite students about Brown’s music brutal physical violence. being played in the Union.

But in the latest instalment She stressed she believed in of this high-profile case, the rehabilitation but also believed University of Sheffield’s Student Brown had shown no remorse for Union council will his actions. be considering She said: “I think it makes a lot a ban on Chris people feel uncomfortable.”

Brown’s Currently, Brown is advertised music in the on entertainment nights out entire Union posters and his music is regularly played at club nights.

The proposal had also wanted to write to Brown to explain the decision.

It is expected that the policy will be looked at further in the next academic year.

Photo: Eva Rinaldi/Flickr

People who have signed the letter: Liam Burns President)

(NUS

National

Abdi Suleiman (Students’ Union President-elect) Jon Narcross (Education Officer) Harry Horton (Finance Officer) Sarah Charlesworth (Women’s Officer) Jonathan Gleek (Welfare Officerelect)

as a statement against domestic abuse from even the most celebrated of artists.

Now, I for one certainly wouldn’t miss Chris Brown’s overly saccharine and utterly dull assembly-line R&B being a part of the Union shop’s ridiculously irritating soundtrack.

But music snobbery aside, singling out Chris Brown raises questions of consistency: Why not every other artist with a criminal track record or moral notoriety? Why not ban, in light of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s recentlyreleased FBI file, the former’s entire back catalogue?

The Union Council needs to ask itself the question if they aren’t exercising cultural elitism by focusing on an R&B artist, rather than numerous other cases in rock. Would they, for example, officially ban Journey, in light of their drummer’s arrest for assaulting his girlfriend in January?

The idea of stopping the promotion of scumbags’ moneymaking pursuits is great, but it inevitably comes with a huge load of difficult questions.

But even ignoring the baggage of the proposal, its efficacy is dubious: Let’s face it, Chris Brown’s a terrible person, and his popularity in spite of his criminal record is appalling, but will the Union really achieve anything with the proposal?

Considering the amount of airplay he gets on commercial radio, probably not.

Charlesworth pitched the idea

University awarded funding to research M.E Action for M.E the UK’s leading charity for suffers of myalgic encephalomyelitis, has awarded three universities funding for research projects.

Newcastle University, the University of Northumbria and the University of Sheffield will examine three key symptoms of M.E – muscle dysfunction, disturbed sleep and cognitive impairment.

The award was announced on Tuesday May 8, corresponding with the start of international M.E Awareness Week.

Professor Annalena Venneri, of Clinical Neuropsychology, has been granted £24,832 for her research.

Prof Venneri said: “We aim to uncover possible links with brain physiology and function that may be associated with this condition.”

Jodie Gadd

Pufferfish at ‘beak’ of evolution Research by Dr Gareth Fraser of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences has made some key discoveries on the evolution of teeth after examining pufferfish.

The researchers found that after the first generation of teeth, the programme for continued tooth replacement in a pufferfish modifies to form a “parrot like beak”.

They established that, with regards to fish, evolution doesn’t make jumps as its bite has changed from a set of genes preserved 400 million years.

These new findings can be applied to the study of dentistry in an attempt to make advances in the field.

Max Goldbart

Photo:the Mark McKay Research analysed pufferfish.

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Friday May 18 2012 FORGE PRESS

NEWS LOCAL

Forgein brief Man hugs tree to escape South Yorkshire Police helicopter A recent tweet by South Yorkshire Police Air Operations revealed a man’s desperate attempt to escape from search helicopter SY99.

Apparently the male undressed and hugged a tree believing the tree would absorb his body heat.

The Twitter feed of the police helicopter explained how wrong the man was.

Rachel Dixon

Barmaid receives £10,000 compensation after sexist remarks A barmaid has won £10,000 in compensation after she was asked to show off her chest to attract more customers to a Sheffield pub.

Manager Andrew Stephens asked Kathryn Broughton if she was wearing a push-up bra while working at the Rutland Arms in the city centre and told her: “Well, you really should” when she didn’t answer.

Broughton told an employment tribunal: “He said ‘we’ll get more customers and you’ll get more tips.’”

She won her claim for sexual discrimination after she quit because of sexual harassment over a six-month period.

Stephens denied making any sexual comments to the barmaid.

Miss Broughton was awarded £10,000 for injury to feelings against Stephens and Reet Ale Pubs.

Lauren Clarke

The Rutland Arms

South Yorkshire tram-train plan gets £58 million funding Commuters in South Yorkshire look set to benefit after the government announced £58 million in funding for a new tramtrain service linking Sheffield with Rotherham.

The county will become the first in the UK to trial the scheme.

It is expected that tram carriages will be used between the city centre and Meadowhall before switching to an adjoining railway line to Rotherham.

The tram-trains will be opened in 2015. Estimates predict that the system will run every 20 minutes from Sheffield Cathedral.

Jonathan Robinson

Sean Bean arrested on suspicion of harassing ex-wife Rachel Dixon Sheffield-born Lord of the Rings star Sean Bean has been arrested on suspicion of harassing his fourth wife, Georgina Sutcliffe.

The 53-year-old is accused of sending the actress abusive texts and calls.

On May 9 Bean appeared at Holborn police station in central London at 12.45pm for a prearranged interview with officers.

He also had both his fingerprints and DNA taken while at the station.

Georgina, 34, was married to Bean for two years before they divorced in December 2010.

It is believed she was alerted about the arrest shortly before her performance in this year’s West End production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.

The pair first met in 2003 when Georgina was managing the bar at the West End theatre where Sean was performing in Macbeth.

Five years later the couple married at Marylbone register office and moved in together in Belize Park, north London.

It is reported Georgina left the star of theatre and screen the same year but then later got back together.

However, the couple did eventually split for good and were granted a divorce on the grounds of ‘irreconcilable differences’, at the High Court in London.

The actor recently appeared in the new hit fantasy series, Game of Thrones.

Bean has been released on bail but officers are continuing their investigation.

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Photo: bram_app / Flickr

Flash mobs in Sheffield in world action day against homophobia

Jonathan Robinson Students joined an international day against homophobia and transphobia yesterday by holding a flash mob outside the Students’ Union.

A crowd of about 25 people gathered in support of events worldwide, which are calling for greater freedoms for same-sex couples and transgenders.

Students carried hand-painted banners and gay pride flags before popping party poppers at the event on the concourse.

LGBT Councillor and Welfare Officer elect Jonathan Gleek told Forge Press that the event marked the progress being made in gay liberation but said it wanted to highlight the discrimination faced by homosexual people in parts of the world.

Gleek said: “It is to mark and explain and publicise to the world the different atrocities that are going on in the world and also to show support for the different

campaigns that are going on.

“Sheffield has been one of the main centres in the campaign as [the city] has a history of gay liberation.”

Students also organsied a petition calling on marrige equality between same-sex couples.

One of the organisers Cez Mabe said: “We wanted to tie [the petition] in with the campaign for equal marriage status.

“We are calling on people to sign the petition as recently the government are becoming less certain in their policy.”

Events were also marked across the city in recognition of the day.

A ‘one minute noise’ took place at Sheffield’s Peace Gardens at 6pm to voice the “unacceptable” homophobia still present in society.

South Yorkshire Police supported the event to raise awareness of the impact of prejudice and discrimination

Students celebrating during their flash mob event. Photo: Lauren Clarke. on the health and well-being partnership with Sheffield city of lesbian, gay, bisexual and council. transgender people.

The event closed with a The event in the Peace Gardens performance by Out Aloud, was organised by Sheffield Sheffield’s LGBT choir.

Teaching Hospitals Centre for To find out more about IDAHO, HIV and Sexual Health, in visit idahomophobia.org.

Guilty verdicts in drugs and laundering trial

Ched Evans case: Legal warning on Twitter naming

A trial at Sheffield Crown Court has seen 10 men sentenced to a total of 87 years in prison for drug and money laundering offences.

The men were convicted of supplying class A, B and C controlled drugs across South Yorkshire and north Nottinghamshire in addition to a number of money laundering offences and perverting the course of justice.

James Flinders, 48, from Dinnington, led the group and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Richard Shimwell, who led the investigation, said: “Flinders is a career criminal who believed he was above the law.”

Twitter users who name the victims of rape and sexual assault will face the “full force of the law,” a government whip has said.

A total of seventeen people have been arrested after the alleged naming of the rape victim of Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans.

The player was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman at a Premier Inn near Rhyl.

Government whip Shailesh Vara told the commons that the internet needs to be monitored closely during high-profile cases.

Mr Vara, standing in for Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, said: “When there is a breach of that, then the full force of the law must take its place.”

Will Bailey

Making reference to Flinders’ £1,000,000 property portfolio, Shimwell said: “He coordinated family members and close friends to run what can be described as the organised supply of drugs to fund his luxury lifestyle.”

Seven of the men, whose ages ranged from 28 to 43, were sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison on Friday May 4.

Late sentences were given to Carl Clayton, 31, and Damien Fletcher, 28, of nine years and 10 years in prison, respectively, on Wednesday May 9, while the original sentence of Matthew White, 30, was cut from six to five years in prison for conspiracy to supply class C drugs.

Jonathan Robinson

Photo: Blades Sports Photography

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012

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Fake vodka in Sheffield hits a record high as investigations up Jonathan Robinson A record number of off licences are selling potentially deadly alcohol in Sheffield.

Fake vodka containing banned chemicals such as chloroform and isopropanol – a substance usually found in cleaning fluids – has been discovered in thousands of bottles of vodka.

Trading standards said that the illegal alcohol trade has never been higher in the city.

Statistics show the number of premises under investigation has increased by 566 per cent over the past year – increasing from three in the previous year to 17.

Senior trading standards officer Craig Fisher said Sheffield was a hotspot for the crime.

He said: “The Yorkshire and Humber area has got quite a high problem with it. We are a hotspot for it; we don’t know the reasons.

“With the vodka I don’t think [people] realise they are buying a product that isn’t actually vodka and they are quite shocked to find out that it’s got these nasty chemicals in there.

“We don’t know the long term effects of consuming these industrial contaminants.”

The illegal vodka can cause serious health problems including unconsciousness, hypothermia and blue-tinged skin.

Raids on illegal alcohol factories in the area have found tap water being used to dilute the vodka instead of industry standard distilled water.

Chloroform was also found to be used to give the product a crystal clear aesthetic.

LOCAL NEWS

5

Forge in Brief Nick Clegg opens charity shop drive in Sheffield Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has launched a national campaign to encourage people to donate to charity shops in Sheffield.

Nick Clegg attended Weston Park Hospital cancer charity shop in Crookes at the weekend to make the call.

The ‘Choose Charity Shops’ campaign is a nationwide drive to make people donate regularly.

Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg said: “As the local MP, I’m delighted to come to the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity shop in Crookes to show my support for such a worthy local cause.”

Jonathan Robinson

Illegal bottles collected by trading standards Photo: Jonathan Robinson However, the chemical has been linked to the development of cancer in later life.

Lisa Marsden, Sheffield’s tobacco and alcohol enforcement officer, said the economic downturn and escalating unemployment was driving people to distil or smuggle the illegal vodka.

She said there was a “profit to be made” from the black market.

Marsden said: “Drug smuggling has become low value yet the risks associated with drug smuggling are still quite high. Whereas with tobacco and alcohol it’s the reverse – there’s quite a lot of

profit to be made.”

Officers in Sheffield are also dealing with a rise in the number of counterfeit cigarettes being sold in the area.

There have even been reported cases of tobacco being smuggled in from abroad and sold outside school gates to children.

Exclusive interview Listen to an interview with Craig Fisher and Lisa Marsden www.forgetoday.com

Fake vodka: The health impact  Fake vodka is often mixed with dangerous chemicals such as chloroform and isopropanol.

Nick Clegg with staff at Weston Park Hospital Cancer charity

 Regular exposure can cause headaches, fainting and bluetinged skin.

Ecclesall Road one of UK’s worst roads for parking charges

 In extreme cases, methylated spirit is mixed with bleach to change the colour of the alcohol, so it resembles vodka - this can cause loss of vision.

Students speak: Do you worry about fake alcohol when buying?

Ecclesall Road is the ninth worst street in the UK outside London for car parking charges.

Over £54,000 was collected in fines from cars parked on double yellow lines and from people exceeding the time allocation on tickets.

Wardens on the worst street in Britain - Southampton Row in Camden - collected a staggering £1,198,870.

A spokesman from the AA said many drivers were caught out by CCTV and wardens for stopping briefly on busy restricted streets and others were misled by poor signage.

Jonathan Robinson

Duck thefts at Weston Park Lisa Blackburn, Second-year Maths

Cex Mabe, First-year Speech Science

Anthony Hart, Third-year Journalism

Martha Rogers, Second-year Journalism

“I have stopped buying from most off-licences. I now only buy alcohol from supermarkets and big chains.”

“It’s going to make Tesco cider much more expensive. It is going to affect me as I’m going to spend more money on alcohol.”

“It’s not a problem for me because I don’t drink vodka but I suppose it is worrying that there are people willing to sell it.”

“When it causes people to go blind it is a problem but otherwise if it’s having no other negative effect on people, what’s the problem?”

Cameroonian activist fears deportation Nisa licence Continued from page 1 Mboyeyeu fled Cameroon in 2007 in fear of his life after being detained by authorities and beaten because he supported a political group who were opposed to the country’s regime.

A report by Amnesty International last year noted that the Cameroon regime “continued to restrict the activities of political opponents and journalists” and that “detention conditions remained harsh and often lifethreatening” .After arriving in the UK, Mboyeyeu married a Sheffield woman, Sharon, a charity worker, in 2010 and the two now live in Wincobank and where he is a key

member of the community.

He is a regular volunteer for the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and other local charities.

If Mboueyeu returns to Cameroon may never be allowed to return to his family. He will be put on a flight back to Cameroon on Monday.

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammad, who is a personal friend of Mboueyeu and his family, is backing the campaign, branded the recent events a “tragedy” and said of Mboueyeu: “He is a political activist and was arrested detained and beaten up by police. Things look pretty grim for him.”

“We’ve argued this but for some reason the Home Office think it’s

safe for him to return.

He doesn’t have any formal documentation to travel with so as and when he returns to Cameroon he will be taken into custody to explain who he is and pretty quickly they will realise so we fear for his well being.

He added, “It’s a really bad move for the Home Office. We’re not going to give up the fight, and hopefully stop Bernard being deported.

Exclusive interview Listen to an interview with Shaffaq Mohammad

www.forgetoday.com

Continued from page 1 Bottles were found to have incorrect labels, no product description or ingredients list.

Craig Fisher, a senior officer for Trading Standards expressed his concern about this activity: “Students are at risk. We’ve had reports from Walkley, Crookes and Eccesall Road, areas with a high student population.”

Premier on West Street was also prosecuted for the supplying of illegal substances, having sold counterfeit ‘V Vodka’ which had no name or address on the bottle.

This comes as part of ongoing investigations by Trading Standards into the sale of counterfeit vodka in Sheffield.

Duck thieves are believed to be operating in Weston Park.

Between eight and 10 Peking and Muscovy ducks have been stolen in the last three weeks.

Thieves may have used food to tempt ducks to the edge of the pond before taking them away, parks and countryside manager Andrew Phillips said.

Phillips said that foxes are not to blame as no feathers have been found at the scene of the crime.

Long-tailed ducks are a protected species and thieves can be fined £5,000 or face six months imprisonment.

Anyone with information should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.

David Parker

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Friday May 18 2012 FORGE PRESS

NEWS UNIVERSITY

National news

UK universities 10th worldwide British universities have been named 10th best in the world in a report by Universitas 21, a network of global research universities, which has compiled a list of the top 48 countries for higher education.

Universities in the UK were ranked second for research and teaching behind the USA, but their overall ranking was compromised by low ratings for government spending and resourcing, at 41st and 27th respectively. The USA finished top overall, followed by Sweden and Canada.

Alex Chafey

Petrol cause of house fire in Derby Police have revealed that petrol was used to start the fire which claimed the lives of six children in Derby last Friday.

A media conference was told that the blaze was believed to have originated beneath the property’s letter box.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill has asked local people to “continue helping us with our investigation by checking the area they live for signs of discarded containers which may have contained petrol.”

He also pleaded for “forecourt staff to come forward if they can recall selling petrol in a container to anyone in the days leading up to the fire.”

International social media site to help fight crime in Sheffield

Photo: Lauren Clarke Dong Cao A police officer is planning to use Chinese social media to reduce crimes against international students.

Recent figures show that international students were victims of more than a third robberies taking place in Sheffield city centre. Rumours have been spreading around Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, that Chinese students have been victimised by local people.

PC Bob Kenney, of South

Yorkshire Police and the University of Sheffield’s Liaison Officer, said that most Chinese students were reluctant to report incidents to the police.

Kenney is planning to set up profiles on Chinese social media to get messages around quickly and encourage communication with overseas students.

“It’s common knowledge that if somebody comes from China to study, they’re quite affluent, they’re going to have with them quite expensive mobile phones, laptops and things like that.

“I think the local criminal element in Sheffield became aware of this, and targeted Chinese students. But the students won’t report this to us, but they were commenting on Weibo and QQ, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter and Facebook.”

Kenney said that in some particular areas such as Upperthorpe and Netherthorpe where lots of Chinese students live, they were frequent targets of crime.

Kenney uses Facebook and Twitter to get information out to English students and now he wants to do the same with Chinese students to help them be aware of local crime.

“That’s the idea behind it, to be able to improve police communication with Chinese community generally, but Chinese students in particular.

“I can target Chinese community quickly with news and information, hopefully that will allow people to make judgement and stay away from a particular area or behave in a particular way that might prevent them becoming a victim of crime.”

The police officer said social media gave students an opportunity to contact the police in an unofficial way and build up confidence among overseas student community.

“We’re just trying to make it easier for people, and make them more comfortable talking to the police.

“International students often look more vulnerable. They behave more in a tourist way because they are in a new city, or a new country for a start.”

He added he was trying to get involved with overseas students and point out simple things to prevent international students becoming victims.

“Social media helps get the messages out quickly, to the right people, in the right areas, at right time.

“Historically, we [the police] do not embrace social media, it takes a while to get messages out.

“He is now working with the Chinese Community of Hallam University to link up with the student community through Chinese social media.

David Ewing

WorlD news

US President announces support for gay marriage Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage during a television interview last week.

His administration has so far been supportive of gay rights, but only during his re-election campaign, has he come out as a supporter of gay marriage.

A Gallup poll last Tuesday shows 51 per cent of Americans support gay marriage, but there is a significant minority against it, some of whom are Obama’s core supporters - religious African-American voters.

Obama’s stance may facilitate the rallying of conservatives around potential rival Mitt Romney, creating a more formidable opponent.

Patrick Sturgess

University assists new Scottish alcohol laws Max Goldbart Research carried out by the University of Sheffield has led to the Scottish government pledging that they want to set new minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit.

The figure is five pence higher than that originally proposed and will work alongside plans for a 40 pence per unit minimum price for England and Wales.

Under the new guidelines, the cheapest bottle of wine possible would be £4.69 while a four-pack of lager would cost a minimum £3.52.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats both supported the legislation while Labour abstained.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement during a visit to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Sturgeon said: “Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death.

“The problem affects people of all walks of life. Introducing a minimum price per unit will enable us to tackle these

problems, given the clear link between affordability and consumption.”

The University of Sheffield’s alcohol research group were commissioned by the Scottish government to examine the impact of the policy back in 2009.

Dr. John Holmes, who led what has become the most wide-ranging and detailed investigation of this kind said: “We found that a 50p minimum price would lead to an overall reduction in consumption of 5.5 per cent.

“This means that harmful drinkers’ consumption would fall by more than 10 per cent, whereas moderate drinkers would see their consumption fall by just 2.5 per cent.”

Initially, the bill for minimum pricing was defeated in 2010 when the Scottish National Party were in a minority administration but now that they have a majority it passed easily in March.

Sturgeon has promised that discussions on the minimum price will take place before the final vote on the legislation later in parliament.

Artistic impressions of University House; work will begin in the summer.

University House in £20 million revamp Jonathan Robinson University House will undergo a £20 million refurbishment this summer to restore the building to its original architectural glory.

The building, which was unveiled almost 50 years ago, will be transformed in an attempt to revolutionise student services at the University.

The expected cost for the redevelopment is £20 million with the newly refurbished building providing facilities such as an amphitheatre styled space for special events and study spaces open for longer hours.

The makeover was designed by Sheffield based HLM architects and also includes six new meeting rooms as well as improvements to the City View Cafe and Fusion and Foundry.

Designers wanted to relive

the architecture used in the original University House, which at the time was revolutionary.

Robert Smith, a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, spent 12 years at the University from the late 1950s designing 11 buildings – including the Arts Tower and University House.

Mr Smith said: “University House was designed to be a bit like the Arts Tower - it was a ground breaking design. We were pioneers in glass curtain walling and this was one of the very first.

“It was a very fresh building design and very simple. It offered some of the best views of Sheffield, and still does now.”

The essential work will also radically reduce the building’s annual energy consumption and its carbon footprint.

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012 www.forgetoday.com // letters@forgetoday.com

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LETTERS 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.

Spearmint Rhino is refreshingly safe, fighting sexism should start smaller Dear Forge Press, The “We Won’t Calm Down “Dear”” march on April 28 claims they were fighting sexism in the city.

I feel it is completely absurd and hypocritical that they were targeting Spearmint Rhinos yet didn’t even mention all the brothels disguised as massage parlours in Attercliffe; Girl Friend Experience, City Sauna, Pandoras to name a few.

I know someone who works at Spearmint Rhino and she says it is very safe, dancers can get clients barred for something as basic as being rude and the bouncers are very attentive and protective.

It is laughable that this march campaigned against a relatively safe environment like Spearmint

Rhino, yet ignore the women working as “masseuses” who are surely more likely to suffer violence or have been trafficked; a quick look on the websites shows there are girls from all over the world as young as eighteen.

Of course I must add that I much rather prostitutes work in proper venues than on the streets so I certainly do not support them to be shut down.

It just surprises me these supposed feminists aren’t targeting all places where women work in the sex industry.

I assume many of those marching last week are “prochoice”, but obviously not when it comes to working in adult entertainment!

Yours, Ellen Woods

Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to:

Review: Avengers Assemble Just to note on the issue of Hulk, Ruffalo is the 4th to play Hulk with the other being Lou Ferrigno.

What makes Ruffalo’s Hulk so brilliant in Avengers is the fact that it is the first film version where they use the actors likeness and therefore his transformation is a smooth transition, whereas in 2008′s The Incredible Hulk, there was absolutely no likeness between the Hulk and Ed Norton.

Marvel have succeeded by making the films for the diehard fans, adding in jokes, references and visual illusions that only fans will recognise.

Many fans are disillusioned with Fox’s X-Men series due to their inconsistencies in plot and deviation from anything resembling the comics, most notably in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the character

Deadpool (thank the heavens that they’re rebooting his character in his own film).

By using combining actual comic storylines (with the Skrull’s ‘Secret Invasion’ and Loki’s obsession with the Tesseract) Marvel have allowed themselves to create a franchise that can comfortably spurn out several more films, without anyone getting tired or frustrated (unlike Sam Raimi’s Spiderman trilogy).

Joss Whedon, as a excellent comic book writer for Marvel and all round genius (not to mention he created Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly) must be retained for this success to continue.

Should be interesting how he tackles both the Infinity Gauntlet Saga and Civil War storylines in Avengers 2 & 3.

Chloe

Students, do you know about the NUS? Ha! What a ridiculous idea.

Everyone knows who the NUS are, they just don’t know anything about it (apart from the discount cards).

The NUS is quite possibly the least democratic union in the country, considering thousands of students are forced to join without

a say. It’s nothing more than a platform for wannabe Labour politicians who think that a two year stint contributes to fighting the good fight, after which they deserve to be awarded a safe seat and not have to bother talking to the people again.

David Jeffery

Is bigger better?

I have a tiny penis so this has been a huge confidence boost. Thanks Lois!

Anon Couldn’t agree with you more Lois.

BH

What’s on your mind?

Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? Contact: letters@forgetoday.com

Have your say Well done, Forge Press, for raising awareness of important issues Dear Forge Press,

I wish to commend your newspaper for raising awareness of the prevalence of mental illness amongst students, particularly depression (“Depression: students’ silent suffering”, Issue 47).

As a psychology student, I have studied the topic of depression in depth and can honestly say it’s a truly debilitating illness.

As you rightfully point out, it is more than merely an “emotion but a medical condition” that deserves to be stripped of its stigma and given the same level of medical attention as any physiological condition.

But I have also encountered depression on more than just an

academic level, through a couple of friends and family members being diagnosed.

It doesn’t surprise me at all to read that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It is because of this that I thank you for offering a checklist of symptoms to help people spot if they, or someone close to them, may have depression.

You also mention some great therapies and cite groups within the university where help can be sought, such as the counselling service and Nightline.

I would just like to add that as a member of the Psychology Society, I have had the pleasure

of working closely with Sheffield Mind as the society’s adopted charity for 2011/12, a local charity which provides a wide range of mental health services to anyone living in Sheffield, including students.

Their advice is completely confidential and their staff are very friendly. I would like to signal to any readers who do not feel options within the university are right for them to seek help from Sheffield Mind as an alternative (sheffieldmind.co.uk / 0114 258 4489).

Yours,

Dale Griffin Vice President, Psychology Society

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Friday May 18 2012 FORGE PRESS

COMMENT

With the French electorate replacing Nicolas Sarkozy with the Parti Socialiste’s François Hollande, Forge Press asks: What does this mean for the eurozone?

Photo: jmayrault/Flickr

François Hollande is a breath of fresh air Samuel Matthews The news that France has elected a socialist president may have caused Tories everywhere to spit their coffee over their morning Telegraph, but for the rest of us, the election of François Hollande may be a breath of fresh air.

It’s not just Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest creation, The Dictator, who has congratulated Hollande on his ‘victory over a midget’.

Some far more sober characters have also been expressing their delight.

Jonathan Portes, Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, has gone so far as to say that “Mr Hollande’s programme reflects a better grasp of the realities facing the eurozone”.

David Blanchflower, former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, has written that President-Elect Hollande’s victory “presents a huge impetus to anyone who thinks that they don’t have to take this nonsense about austerity”.

Even sections of the financial elite have taken a short break from cashing in their million pound bonuses to toast the new French president.

Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs has been positive about Hollande’s election, saying he hoped the eurozone would be persuaded to include more ‘supply-side reform to raise the long term growth potential’ and emphasising that austerity is only part of the answer - “It can’t all be stick.”

The reason for the relief is that the great European experiment with austerity just hasn’t been working. America, by contrast, has a 2 to 3 per cent growth rate with unemployment at only eight per cent.

Voters in France, Greece and the UK have shown the unpopularity of austerity, with incumbent parties all doing badly. The dissatisfaction with widespread cuts is hardly surprising, least of all when accompanied by generous tax relief for the rich. A Mail On Sunday poll shows that even Conservative voters want the 50p tax rate restored.

Yet there are very few voices within the eurozone calling for a different approach.

François Hollande is unlikely to have an ally in Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel,

who apparently considered campaigning for Sarkozy. While Merkel recognises that growth looks increasingly necessary, she believes it should be achieved through deregulatory measures.

Relations with Britain may be equally cool after David Cameron snubbed Hollande on a recent trip to London, leaving him to meet Ed Miliband. Cameron’s decision to put his political weight behind Sarkozy may well isolate further Britain from Europe.

But what have our austerity measures really achieved? Growth has all but disappeared, unemployment has increased dramatically and we are seeing a drop in living standards.

It would be nice to think President-Elect Hollande is going to make a difference. He will be armed with his sword of ‘supply slide growth measures’ and his shield of ‘equality’, centre-right politicians will be cast into darkness and obscurity.

‘It’s clear that Mr Hollande recognises that we need to encourage growth’ This will, in all likelihood, remain wishful thinking. The reality is that austerity is still seen as necessary. In many ways there will be much continuity between a François Hollande presidency and Sarkozy’s. Mr Hollande still plans to cut the French deficit and balance the budget by 2017, only one year later than Sarkozy intended.

While this should allay the fears of those who believe that France cannot borrow its way out of a recession, it means that the new French president’s popularity is likely to be short lived.

He is unlikely to ever satisfy the desires of the radical left since he believes in cutting back the state. What is clear is that Mr Hollande recognises we need measures to encourage growth. If nothing else we should all be grateful for any tempering of the selfdestructive charge for austerity.

Ruthless cuts by themselves have been unsuccessful. If all goes well, François Hollande will offer Europe a new direction.

If he fails to do this democracy will still have given voice to the growing number of people who are challenging the logic of more painful cuts.

Robin Hood taxation could kill innovation Matthew Brown In a weekend of electoral madness, citizens across Europe have taken to the polls to vote against a policy of austerity in favour of vague promises of state investment to energise the eurozone economy.

François Hollande narrowly beat his centreright opponent Nicholas Sarkozy by 3.4 per cent and immediately vowed to replace austerity with a programme of investments in the public sector. But his victory and the success of other left wing parties in Greek and Italian elections has sent stock markets tumbling and investors wary of the eurozone bailout program collapsing.

Hollande’s promises sound appealing, but where is he getting the money from? The answer appears to be very difficult to work out, France’s public debt as a percentage of GDP stands at 85.5 per cent, so they don’t exactly have a lot of money floating around.

The solution follows the socialist mantra of taxing the rich to pay for the poor. This Robin Hood style of taxation, levying a 75 per cent income tax on anyone who earns more than one million euros, is a foolhardy approach to taxation in times of austerity: They should be promoting growth, enterprise and free thinking. Instead, they are imposing a top-down approach of governing, which is restricting individuals’ ability to make their own way out of the recession.

This perception of the one per cent and 99 per cent is what is stopping us from working our way out of the recession, anyone should have the opportunity to work their way to success. With the French government imposing such a ridiculous tax, the rich will stay rich and the poor will view aspiration of success as a pointless exercise when 75 per cent of their work will end up in the hands of the state.

Just try explaining why the prestigious property firm Knight Frank has said the number of French internet users searching online for prime London properties has risen 19 per cent in the last three months: the wealthy are voting with their feet, in a clear sign that they will not hand over 75 per cent of their earnings for the state to mis-manage.

This trend will only put off investment

in France and hinder the wider European economy.

However much you can criticise the right for protecting the interests of the wealthy, the reality is that in the United Kingdom the top 1 per cent pay 24.7 per cent of income tax, while the bottom 10 per cent only pay 0.6 per cent of the total income tax figure. If we are to fight our way out of the recession, the state must encourage every citizen to be innovative, entrepreneurial and brave. Where possible, giving tax breaks to start up companies and encouraging young individuals to start their own business. Citizens of every European nation have to be allowed the space to take personal responsibility for their own situation. A dependence upon the state will only stifle this drive and ambition and curtail any prospect of economic recovery.

France has already had its credit rating downgraded to AA+, and Standard & Poor’s announced only one day after the election that even that was in danger. While the initial loss of the triple A rating occurred under Sarkozy, this was an unfortunate part of a long journey. The path of austerity was never designed to be a quick fix, giving strong growth figures quarter after quarter. It was designed to save the eurozone and bring with it stability and confidence in the markets.

Instead, Hollande is gambling the security of the entire eurozone with ‘feel good policies’ including lowering the retirement age to 60, but with the amount of time French workers strike they should really be working until they’re 70 to make up the lost time.

‘The solution follows the socialist mantra of taxing the rich to pay for the poor’ This political chaos has been reflected in the markets. The day after Hollande’s first round election win saw French shares drop 2.8 per cent and the Greek stock market fall by seven per cent in the aftermath of their elections. There can be no turning back on the path of austerity, we have chosen not to borrow and spend our way out of debt but instead face the harsh reality of a recession. It is an uncomfortable route to take, but it is the right one, and as a result Angela Merkel must not relent on her promise that “Germany is not here to finance French election promises”.

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012

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

9

COMMENT

Do more, Prime Minister: Thatcher would be ashamed Fay Guest At least he finally admitted it.

On a great many issues, such as human rights, immigration, gay marriage, amongst many others, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives disagree. David Cameron, speaking before the Queen’s Speech in parliament last week stated that he “wished he could do more” and is clearly determined to at some point, lead a Conservative only government.

An article in the Daily Mail by Melissa Kite asked if Thatcher or Churchill would ever have said “I wish I could do more”.

She is right; this kind of weary defeatist attitude is frankly not what great leaders are made of.

Here’s the thing, Dave. You’re Prime Minister. So do more. Do everything. Yes, the coalition with a party that is essentially the opposite of yours means that you are constrained. But still.

David Cameron faces a backlash from his own party if he bends any more to the Lib Dems, and potentially backlash from the voters as well. The general public like to know what they’re getting with a political party, and traditionally, with Labour and the Lib Dems situated in the main, to the centre left and the Conservatives to the centre right. Unfortunately however, the Conservatives appear to have waded into the middle a little bit too much.

A constantly right leaning, or constantly left leaning government would never work.

For a start it would upset a large portion of society, and there is certainly the argument that one particular party can be in power for too long.

The beauty of democracy is that we have change; we have the power to turf them out when they inevitably no longer fill the requirements of their role. Politicians know this, and therefore for however long they are in government, they should be fighting tooth and nail to get what they believe in to the forefront of national policy and discussion.

Not everyone will like it, but some will, and regardless of political views, what this country needs is a leader who can be determined, one who refuses to back down, and one who at the end of their premiership will not have to say ‘I wish I could have done more.’

It is time for Cameron to be a dogmatic pain in the rear end of his opponents. He has a limited time to make a difference, and it is an opportunity he will never get again. When he talks about the things he believes in, he makes sense. He makes more sense than Nick Clegg, the man unable to keep any sort of promises and who is mostly hidden under the thumb of his wife, the unstoppable Miriam.

He certainly makes more sense than Ed Milliband, who has the tendency to look like he doesn’t

quite know how he managed to beat his brother, and now he has, is painfully out of his depth.

David Cameron does have it in him to be a good leader, of the Conservative party and of this country, but to do so it is imperative that he comes out fighting. We all know that if you were to cut him down the middle, you would find Tory running through the very heart of him, and it is essential, that for the Conservative party to make any real changes that do real good, that what the voters see is what they get. In order to retain the support of his own party and of the voters, decisive action, which the prime minister believes in fully, is what will guide this country in the right direction. Yes, the Tories are in bed with the Lib Dems, which makes things difficult, but this was the more favourable option in comparison with a coalition involving Gordon Brown’s Labour.

Instead of appearing to bow to the Lib Dems, David Cameron needs to remind voters and the Conservative Party exactly what he stands for, and exactly what he is willing to do in order to fix what he calls “the mess left by the last government”.

Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight?

Contact letters@ forgetoday.com

Prime Minister David Cameron is hoping to raise the profile of the Conservative party by returning to its traditional values.

Photo: Department of Business and Skills/Flickr

We need to hold off until we can frack safely Glenn Hicks You may be wondering what on earth fracking actually is. I can’t blame you for asking, after all it’s been in the news on and off all year. Its most recent claim to fame is that Lord Smith, head of the Environment Agency, has ‘controversially’ said he supports the method while being interviewed for Radio 4. But what exactly is it?

Fracking, short for ‘hydraulic fracturing’, is a trendy new method of gas extraction. It involves pumping large volumes of air and gas deep into the ground in order to break apart rocks and allow gas to escape to the surface.

It first hit the headlines a while back when it started causing all sorts of havoc in the USA. There were widespread reports of natural gas polluting groundwater supplies, which all seems a bit dull until you discover that as a result of this, the humble kitchen tap often doubled as a domestic flamethrower.

In addition to this it killed a fair

bit of cattle, caused skin rashes if you went in the bath and sent the occasional explosive bubble of methane through the water mains.

Naturally, the fracking companies accused of causing all this deny responsibility, I suppose their explanation involves bovine terrorists farting all the methane into the water supply.

‘Lord Smith has said he supports fracking, but only when a safe method is found‘ In Britain though, fracking has already begun at a site in Lancashire where there is believed to be 200 trillion cubic feet of shale gas lying beneath the earth.

You might already know this however, after reports last year that fracking has been blamed for two small earthquakes near Blackpool, and while it could be argued that causing Blackpool to fall into the sea is in fact an act of social justice, it’s clear that fracking has an impressive portfolio of environmental risks.

Why then, I hear you cry, does

the head of the environment agency support it? Well, as usual, most reports have sensationalised the issue.

Lord Smith has said he supports fracking, but only when a safe method of extraction is found and when we’ve developed suitable carbon capture technology to limit carbon emissions.

He likewise supports nuclear energy as a way of reducing our carbon output.

Indeed many an environmentalist will be deeply wounded by this news – and I am myself quite sceptical about the future of fracking and other fossil fuel extraction programmes. But despite any ill deeds you might accuse Lord Smith of, it can’t be said that he’s not being realistic.

The gas and oil reserves in the North Sea will soon be dried

Photo: ProgressOhio/Flickr

up, and we’re already heavily reliant on expensive fuel imports.

With the Lancashire reserves promising six billion pounds worth of gas per year for 30 years it’s surprising George Osborne isn’t trying to suck the gas out of the soil himself.

It’s certainly worth remaining vigilant however; often statements like this are used to slowly convince us that demonstrably terrible things like fracking are a good idea.

That said, I do believe Lord Smith is being genuine when he says it’s only really an option once we have the knowledge and technology to make it safe. But the pressure on politicians to find a source of cheap energy is already mounting, and it may be up to the public to keep an eye on fracking.

We will probably have to accept it as a necessary evil, but we ought to fight it feverishly until its impacts can be sufficiently mitigated.

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Friday May 18 2012 FORGE PRESS

COMMENT

Editorial Breaking the glass ceiling Gender quotas have always been a controversial topic. Since the days of Blair’s 1997 ‘Babes’, quotas have remained a provocative source of discussion on achieving sex equality in leadership roles.

In this Union’s officer elections back in March, only two women were elected to become student officers; one of whom had to be a woman anyway. Out of 23 cabinet ministers in the coalition government, five are women and out of 650 members of parliament, there are 145 women MPs. It is all well and good saying that voters merely choose the best candidate for the job, regardless of sex. But such a premise lies on the assumption of bizarre and reasonless coincidence.

I refuse to believe that up until now, and for the entirety of the past, men have just happened to be the best candidates for the job.

Managerial roles, and positions of power, are universally dominated by men, if gender barriers have been removed; then where’s the 50 / 50 split?

There remains a glass ceiling for women in all areas of life, and it is for this reason that gender quotas are so important.

We’ve given society long enough to catch up on its own, but when attitudes don’t change, and there’s no physical results of these changes, action must be taken.

Therefore, my highest congratulations to Women’s Officer Sarah Charlesworth for ensuring Union Council endorse gender quotas for delegates at NUS national conferences.

Too long have women waited for equal representation and opportunity, there comes a point where action is a necessity.

Alisha Rouse - Forge Press Editor alisha.rouse@forgetoday.com

Fees are on the rise, but contact time has plateaued Hamilton Jones Whilst everyone reading this paper has been lucky enough to avoid the steep rise in fees that are being imposed in September, next year’s cohort won’t be.

A new survey from the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) suggests they might not get their money’s worth when it comes to contact hours.

The survey from Hepi has shown that in the year 2011 – 2012 students averaged around 13.9 contact hours a week, which is almost the same amount of hours as students who were surveyed in the academic year 20052006.

Since the earlier survey, fees have almost tripled from £1,225 to £3,375, yet it is apparent students have not benefited from higher fees as far as contact time is concerned.

With fees tripling again next year, I find it hard to believe that universities won’t follow the same pattern again and keep contact hours the same. So what are students going to be paying £9,000 a year on?

Liam Burns, the president of NUS, said earlier this week, “It is clear that changing funding from investment to loans does not increase the amount going into teaching and does not give students the power to

direct their learning.”

The report also shows a correlation between student satisfaction and contact time. 45 per cent of students who were receiving less than seven hours a week of contact time claimed that they were dissatisfied, whereas only 10 per cent of students receiving between 16 and 20 hours a week were dissatisfied.

Clearly students do care about what they’re paying for, and I for one would not be happy with a meagre seven hours a week if I were paying £9,000 annually.

Older universities also appear to fob off tutorial groups to postgraduate students instead of qualified lecturers and professors, a controversial decision considering many of the pre-1992 universities are planning on charging the full £9,000.

The survey showed that whilst universities established after 1992 have less than one in 10 tutorials taken by postgraduates, those established before this time have around one in three tutorials led by postgraduate students.

If universities don’t step up next year and offer new students more contact hours with better quality teaching, I think we could see student satisfaction plummet.

Obama’s coming out in support of gay marriage is a leap forward

Photo: jmtimages/Flickr

Campaigning with a smile

Alex Kohnert So Barack Obama has come out in support of gay marriage. You can tell it’s election season across the pond.

Obama’s admission in an interview on Good Morning America that “same sex couples should be able to get married” makes it pretty clear what he thinks the future holds for gay couples. With gay marriage being one of the issues that polarises many societies around the world, Obama’s announcement has unsurprisingly ruffled a few feathers.

As can be predicted, social conservatives and many members of the republican party (including presidential hopeful Mitt Romney) have said that Obama is destroying good ol’ American family values. What might surprise people about the US’s attitude to gay marriage however, is that a lot of the country is actually in favour of it.

When people talk about gay rights in America the first things that often spring to mind are the stunningly offensive “God hates fags” placards of the Westboro Baptist Church and others. In fact, several recent polls have put the proportion in favour of gay marriage in America at well over 50 per

cent for the first time in history, so times appear to be changing. When you look back and see that homosexuality was only declassified as a mental disorder in the 70s, it makes me hopeful as a decent human being to see such a significant shift in attitudes.

Despite this widespread support (or apathy, depending on who you ask) same-sex marriage is not recognised by the federal government in the United States, but is by a few individual states.

This is a fairly strange situation.

‘The proportion in favour of gay marriage in America is well over 50 per cent’ The Declaration of Independence, which is the legally binding document that founded the United States of America in 1776 states that “all men are created equal” and are entitled to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

Now I’m no political philosopher or legal mastermind, but if a couple of the same sex will find “happiness” by getting married, the quotes I’ve dug up seem to suggest the US government should allow them to do that.

Whether or not you agree with the idea of gay marriage, a big question being asked by a lot of commentators

D.A.R.T.S.

though is – what impact will this have on Obama’s presidency? He has already abolished the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuals serving in the American armed forces. Along with appointing the largest number of gay staffers to his backroom team during his first term compared to his presidential predecessors, he has earned his moniker as “the most gayfriendly president ever”.

Clearly then, he has the gay vote all sewn up. But what will it do to the rest of the votes he’s battling with Mitt Romney for this November? In terms of the ultra-Republican heartlands in the South – not a lot, as even by being on the gay’s side, they couldn’t dislike him much more – but that’s not really surprising.

As for the rest of the United States, the jury is well and truly out. Being in support of gay marriage is hopefully something that wouldn’t win or lose someone an election, and it’s unlikely to be the case here. A recent Gallup poll suggested that 60 per cent of people wouldn’t change their voting habits based on the announcement, so Barack can probably rest easy.

In terms of long-term legacy, his presidency will surely be remembered for having tried to enhance and advance the rights of the gay community to try and be on par with the rest of society– and who could argue with that?

Forge Press takes its satirical aim

Dinosaurs roam the Earth again:

Quote of the fortnight:

America, the land of liberty and infinite opportunities, where you can change your name to anything that strikes your fancy. In the case of one man from Nebraska, this happened to be “Tyrannosaurus Rex”. Why? Because it’s “cooler”, duh.

Poor old T-Rex was forced to strenuously deny changing his name for the purpose of avoiding creditors: In the dino formerly known as Tyler Gold’s own words, “as an entrepreneur, name recognition is important”.

We here at Comment labour every day to change the world, but this one courageous bro is truly making a difference. He stands tall, even if the Establishment tries to keep his noble, entrepreneurial, late Cretaceous spirit down. The bastards.

“Lol I know who wins!

I wish I didn’t, I prefer suspense #sportsawards” - @SarahCShef live tweeting from the University of Sheffield Students’ Union Sports Awards.

Photo: Scott Kinmartin/Flickr

Website of the Week: Live Penguin Cam http://tinyurl.com/ penguinwebcam It is the end of the year at the University of Sheffield, and many of us are beginning to feel stressed and anxious over looming deadlines and exams.

This issue’s website of the week is Penguin Cam, which has been kindly set up by SeaWorld and is guaranteed to reduce your stress levels infinitely.

Penguin Cam is a live feed of the penguin enclosure at SeaWorld in San Diego. With two cameras set up above ground and underwater, there is no shortage of penguin-related antics to keep your stress levels at bay, 24 hours a day.

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360 degrees of success Ed Miller recently won the commercial category of the Enterprising Ideas Business Planning competition, securing a grand prize of £2,000.

Words: Sophie Allen Photo: Mike King

O

n Wednesday May 9, u n k n o w n to much of the essay and revision frazzled student population, a selection of competition finalists were taken to Firth Court in their very best business wear. Breaking from the confines of Western Bank Library and the stifling Information Commons for a particularly special cause, a selection of students anxiously prepared to present their ambitions, make a pitch and, just maybe, make their ideas happen.

The Enterprising Ideas Business Planning Competition (fondly known as the ‘BPC’) is run annually by the University of Sheffield Enterprise, and pits entrepreneurial students against one another in a battle of the business plan with the hope of winning a grand prize of £2,000. Previous winners include Steve Pugh of UniPhotos.co.uk, and Jennifer Ashton with Kolours, a hairdressing business; both have gone on to success, using their prize to improve both their professional skills and to develop their concepts.

As the celebratory afternoon wine flowed and canapes were spread about the congregation, the 13 finalists – seven in the commercial category and six social – showcased their ideas at individual stalls, networked with other participants,

entrepreneurs, and USE staff, and ultimately pitched their businesses to a panel of judges.

Two winners from each category were determined by judges, with the audience also having the chance to vote and nominate their favourites.

Mark Musgrave’s Dece Inspired Clothing UK won both the judge and audience vote for the social innovation category, and George Bettany and James Routeledge’s pitch for ‘Matchchat’ secured their popularity with the audience.

Among the remaining contestants was final year Philosophy and Psychology student, Edward Miller.

With IWasThere360, an innovative social media marketing tool offering interactive, 360-degree virtual tours which users may tag, share, and interact with, Ed pitched against other hopefuls for the opportunity to win £2,000, as well as a leap towards developing his ideas.

“I’d been thinking for some time about how to have a career in photography seeing as there are thousands of brilliant photographers out there, all competing for the same work,” says Ed. “Sometimes it can be easier to stand out where there is a lot of competition, simply by doing something different from the crowd.

Pushing the interactive side of photography seemed to really make sense.”

The judges certainly seemed to agree. The originality and potential of IWasThere360 as a truly innovative and interactive

“

Sometimes it can be easier to stand out where there is a lot of competition, simply by doing something different from the crowd

”

marketing tool made Ed really stand out in the commercial enterprise category, and he secured the vote of the judges and the rather substantial grand prize.

Previously working as a freelance photographer whilst studying for his degree, IWasThere360 is just the next step in Ed’s journey towards his goals, as he incorporates photography with his ambition to work in advertising.

“I’ve always been interested in advertising and chose my course after ringing up creative directors at London advertising agencies, and asking what I should do if I want work as a ‘creative’ in an advertising agency.

“I knew I wanted to work in advertising, the question was just how to get there. I was keen to keep pushing my photography further so learnt how to build my own website to showcase my work in my second year, which helped to bring in small photography jobs. I shot for local magazines and Forge Press, but there were a lot of images that I wanted to shoot for myself.”

Despite having received no formal training in photography, Ed’s experience, portfolio, and website are all extremely impressive. After having received his first camera as a gift on his eighteenth birthday, Ed took an interest in photography and began to develop it as a hobby whilst studying for his degree.

Joining the Photography Society at university gave him the support

and inspiration to continue shooting and to work on his skills, as well as the opportunities to shoot and develop his ideas.

With the amount of strong competition in the field of professional photography, creativity, innovation and hard work are essential to make an individual mark and attract attention. Ed’s freelance shoots certainly reflect this, with an atmospheric William Tell inspired shoot in the Peak District, complete with smoke machine, standing out in particular.

Alongside his freelance work and photography for Forge Press, Ed has also worked closely with S1 Magazine – a student run magazine led by University of Sheffield masters student River Tamoor Baig – as the director of photography.

It is his own projects, however, that are really beginning to reap the rewards; IWasThere360 has already achieved one success, and looks to secure even more.

“If you’re already passionate about something, it makes perfect sense to look into starting your own business as you could end up finding a way to make a living doing the thing that you love, in a way that you might not have considered before,” says Ed, when asked about his experiences striking out on his own.

“I think help is out there for people looking to start up a business. I also think that it is important that people aren’t pushed into it; it’s not for everybody and it demands that

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people are able to take the initiative in the first place, rather than being pushed into it by others.

“The Enterprise Zone at the University is a fantastic resource to use and there are various different Student Enterprise conferences around which are good for meeting other young people trying to establish themselves. Another good way to build up the skills needed for starting a business is to get involved with some of the projects Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) run. I also know Sheffield has just started its own enterprise society, so there are plenty of ways to get involved.”

There are huge amounts of support available throughout the University, from formal advice and funding available in the University of Sheffield Enterprise Zone, to the help available through societies such as SIFE and Sheffield Entrepreneurs.

SIFE, a social enterprise focused nationwide organisation, gives students the opportunity to manage and participate in projects that not only build fantastic experience but benefit society and disadvantaged groups. One project that has run this year is City Hearts, a scheme which supports sex-trafficked women in the making and selling of jewellery.

The jewellery is currently available for purchase in Our Sheffield, with proceeds returning to the women involved in the scheme.

On the commercial side, Sheffield Entrepreneurs aims to support entrepreneurial students and

“

If you’re already passionate about doing something, it makes perfect sense to look into starting your own business as you could end up finding a way to make a living doing the thing that you love

”

organise events and projects to help with the development of their ideas.

River Tamoor Baig, director of S1 Magazine, has been heavily involved in the conceptualisation, creation, and development of the society: “Sheffield Entrepreneurs brings together students from various backgrounds and disciplines in order to inform, educate and inspire them into becoming global entrepreneurs and business leaders,” says River, of the support he hopes the society will offer.

“It aims to provide students with a wealth of information, fortnightly entrepreneurial challenges, whilst also inviting successful entrepreneurs and business leaders to give talks and facilitate skill building sessions.”

In terms of his own experiences in the BPC, and the support of the University, Ed is extremely positive: “Everybody at the Enterprise Zone has been absolutely fantastic. The competition has really helped concentrate my ideas and the prize money will be put to good use, putting it straight back into the business.”

The BPC, however, is just the start. Recently, Ed was invited to shoot the very first gigapixel panorama, consisting of over 3,000 megapixels (that’s a staggering 300 times the output of your standard digital camera), from the top of the BT Tower. He has also visited London for talks with the director of creative production at the BBC and

will soon return for a meeting with a representative of VISA. Currently, he is working inside the Olympic Park on the project ‘London Prepares 360’, which will allow users to take an interactive tour around the various Park venues as part of the London 2012 Olympic events and preparation.

“I have a few things up my sleeves for the future but at the moment, my main concentration is trying to push out the work I have been doing inside the Olympic Park,” Ed says, of the future. “It’s all really exciting stuff but I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground whilst also finding the time to finish my exams.

“Once I finish my course, I’ll have the time to set up a company formally rather than working as a sole trader, and I’ll start to think about maybe taking on staff to help make the company grow.”

At the time of year when exams, essays, and revision become allconsuming for the majority of the student body, it is inspiring to see someone make something happen for themselves that is so detached from university.

With the success of the BPC, and the projects Ed has ahead of him, it seems evident that motivation, creativity, and support are invaluable on the road to success – even if the degree you study might not be that closely related to your ambitions. Perhaps university, numbers, and grades aren’t quite the be all and end all.

“

It’s all really exciting stuff but I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground whilst also finding the time to finish my exams

”

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Fly sky high in your career Competition for jobs after university means that experience and skills are more important than ever before. Forge Press investigates how to utilise your summer.

Words: Camille Crick and Nicola Moors Photos: Sophie Carefull

I

t is the time of our lives when future employment pressures and a lack of job prospects for certain careers, especially in sectors like journalism and fashion, are now forcing students to do more with their holiday time – rather than simply just relax. According to UCAS, 33,426 students deferred starting their university degree from 2010 to 2011 (this number has since declined, presumably due to the higer cost of tuition fees from this September) – although the actual number of young people who take gap years, before starting university or the world of work, is higher.

However taking a full year out may not be necessary: with the ‘snap year’ phrase becoming ever more popular, Forge Press looks at how to make the most of your summer time without compromising your CV. The three month summer break is a perfect time to explore new cultures and cities - travelling around Europe can be done entirely by train with an interrail pass that allows for flexible travel over a set period of time from £150. Popular with students, it is a great way to cover a lot of beautiful cities and famous landmarks in a short space of time, with passes ranging from 10 days to a month.

Alternatively combine your beach holiday with travelling in exotic places like South America, India and Asia but remember that other cultures tend to have different rules about clothing and behaviour so research the places you are going to first.

You can even volunteer in these countries and others. From conserving turtles in Costa Rica to working in orphanages in Peru, these opportunities can not only extend your travelling experience but make a difference to others A study by YouGov shows that there are around 1.6 million volunteer tourists around the world per year

“

YouGove shows that around 1.6 million volunteer tourists travel worldwide every year.

”

with the market itself worth at least £832 million, which demonstrates its huge popularity.

Fortunately volunteering over the summer doesn’t necessarily mean paying hundreds of pounds for long-haul flights to other continents - there are lots of worthwhile projects in the UK or you can even do community work in your hometown.

Search the national database of volunteering opportunities, www. do-it.org.uk, which has over one million placements.

You can also improve your future career prospects with a work placement – many companies run internship schemes which offer a number of spaces for students over the summer but be prepared for some competition as placements can be difficult to gain due to fierce competition. With such high numbers of graduates but few jobs, work experience is now more crucial than ever – you can also make important contacts which could lead directly to future employment.

Sophie Petrie has done three internships with HBC and told the University’s career service, ‘‘At university, I have always made sure that I am involved in extra curricular activities as this helps you to acquire new skills and expand your network. ‘‘The competition is so fierce out there that simply having a position of responsibility on your CV really helps you to stand out.’’

Amy Gray, Job Shop Co-ordinator at the University’s career service, said, ‘‘We do always encourage students to make the most of their summer vacation by undertaking paid work, volunteering and travelling to build their transferable skills and enhance their CV. ‘‘Volunteering and working overseas can obviously have its benefits, for example, building cultural awareness, independence and learning additional languages,

but there are also many opportunities locally and nationally that do not have any fees attached. ‘‘We advertise a range of opportunities on myVacancies, the Careers Service online vacancy service so students can have a look and see what suits them.’’

Strapped for cash but still eager to get away? Working abroad is the ultimate money saving solution for those who are keen not to be stuck at home for the summer - EU residents are free to work anywhere in Europe, although language barriers might limit the countries that you can visit. Check out workaway.info which connects you to hosts who will swap work for food and board to save money on accommodation.

Alternatively, work beyond Europe can be found as visa requirements are met.

However, if working over the summer and compromising your beach time isn’t an option, then consider using your spare time outside of university to get some w o r k experience or perhaps volunteer for a couple of hours a week.

Not only will it enhance your CV, but it will make you feel better too while providing an escape from essays and university work.

If you would like any more information about your future career or how to improve your CV, then contact Sheffield Careers Service on (0114) 222 0910.

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FEATURES

Voting to be indifferent After the recent local elections, are students involved enough in politics?

Words: Andrew Smith Photo: Nurul Liyana Yeo

A

s a topic that affects all of us, and will continue to do so for the rest of our lives, are we paying enough attention to politics?

According to YouthSight.com, a staggering 71 per cent of students voted in the 2010 General Election – a higher percentage than the national turnout of 65.1 per cent.

Students themselves are encouraged to participate in politics through the elections of the Union Officer elections at the beginning of this year, for example.

As a consequence of these elections, the University broke the national record for the largest ever Students’ Union election turn out with 8,543 students casting their vote. A total of 39 candidates were competing for the eight officer roles – the highest since 2006 – including nine students competing for president. The winners will start their handover period on Monday 11th June and will formally take up office on Monday 2nd July 2012.

Professor Keith Burnett, ViceChancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “It is encouraging to see so many students actively involved in the process of electing their representatives. The University works extremely closely with the Union of Students on the important issues we have in common, and it is vital that students have a strong voice in this process.”

Taking into consideration both universities in the city, Sheffield’s student body accounts for around 10 per cent of the overall population; so students have quite the voting power. However how many of us actually voted or even knew about the elections? Second year town planning student Abi Rewhorn said: ‘‘I knew vaguely about the local elections through letters that I received through the post. However I don’t really care about politics

“

This year the University of Sheffield broke the national record for the largest ever Students’ Union election turnout

”

unless they concern me directly.

I only think that it’s worth voting if you think who you are voting for will make a difference in your community - if you do not have a clue about politics then there’s no point in voting. ‘‘Politics at university doesn’t seem to be a bother to me, although I’ll probably vote when I’ve left university and governmental policies will actually effect what I’m doing.‘‘ 20-year-old student Tamar Saphra said, ‘‘I didn’t vote in the Sheffield local elections because I chose to vote in the London one instead as I have more of an affiliation there as that’s where I live. ‘‘It’s difficult for students to be able to vote in Sheffield and determine the policies of a city which isn’t their original hometown. ‘‘However, I do think that a lot more information should have been given to students so that at least people can vote with an informed opinion rather than just following their friends. ‘‘Historically, students are one of the groups that have protested and campaigned for change whereas now, politics is more of a trend.

We’re the new generation and the ones who can make change, so I am constantly surprised at how little people take an interest.’’

Whether students have a lack of knowledge or interest, there are some students directly involved with politics. University of Sheffield History student George LindarsHammond was elected as Sheffield’s youngest councillor in this month’s local elections. George was voted in as the Labour seat for the Hillsborough ward with 2,424 votes beating his nearest rival, Liberal Democrat Jonathon Harston, by 1, 742 votes.

Traditionally, students have always been at the forefront of political activity – for example, the student protests/riots, which took place on the doorstep of

“

71 per cent of students voted in the 2010 General Election www.generalelection-2010.co.uk

”

Westminster in November and December of 2010, where up to 50,000 students (including participants from the University of Sheffield) convened on London to have their voices heard about the rising university fees. These events have since proved infamous, as what was originally a peaceful demonstration of student values, was hijacked by a violent minority and later condemned by the Government and the general public.

But this concept of “enthusiastic” student involvement in politics is far from exclusive to the events of recent history. Traditionally, the roles of students and political activism have long been synonymous with one another.

Indeed, some of the most significant moments in modern history have been the result of student participation in politics.

Typically embodying student spirit, the spectrum of events range from the militant miscreants of the 1968 Sorbonne Riots, in which the infamous message of “Je suis Marxiste - tendence Groucho” (I am a Marxist - of the Groucho variety) was spread across Nanterre University Campus, to the haunting martyrdom of the Tiananmen square massacre in 1989.

Whether you like it or not, politics surrounds us: whether you define yourself as a politically savvy individual or admit that politics baffles you, now is definitely the time to get involved as policies decided now may affect you in years to come. On the other hand, you could opt to follow a more “C’est la vie” philosophy and just chill out.

After all, you could say that within politics, there is just too much politics.

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Combatting crisis

Sheffield’s Friends of MSF are more than just about fundraising: they personally are making an impact of their own.

Words: Emma Robinson Photo: MSF

I

magine a world where you cannot access the medicine you need to get better. Your country has been savaged by war and you are on the brink of survival. Every day you pray for a saviour to answer your prayers, yet there seems to be no hope.

This might not to be easy to imagine where medicine is readily available, but for millions of people in the most deprived areas of the world, constant suffering and no access to health care is an unnerving reality. But there is hope. this does not have to be the reality any longer.

There are people out there who are offering help and you might come across them at the University of Sheffield.

A small group of University of Sheffield medics have grouped

together in an almighty bid to help countries in crisis. Partnered with the international aid organisation Medicine Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), they have named themselves ‘Sheffield’s Friends of MSF’ and have committed themselves to the ambitious task of providing healthcare worldwide to those in need. Founded in 2005, Sheffield’s Friends of MSF raise money and awareness for MSF annually through various fundraising activities, including film nights and bake sales. They also hold events where volunteers who have gone out to these countries to give aid speak about their lifethreatening and saving experiences, which generates lots of attention among students. They are proving to be a crucial element in MSF’s success.

Sheffield’s Friends of MSF are

more than just about fundraising: they personally are making an impact of their own. They encourage graduates of the University of Sheffield to embark on missions to administer health care and are also actively campaigning against companies who make giving medicine impossible, such as pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

For the past six years Novartis has launched legal action to stop India from producing and selling affordable medicines to those who need them. India has produced similar medicines to the ones Novartis make but for a whole lot cheaper, selling them for a fraction of the price. Millions of people in developing countries depend on these essential medicines to stay alive, yet they simply cannot afford Novartis’ prices and would die without the cheaper drugs.

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“

From those humble beginnings this small group of medics transformed into a successful international organisation, saving thousands of lives

”

Novartis is against this cost-saving practice, and want to stop the use of these cheaper drugs in the NHS. Sheffield’s Friends of MSF are fighting back against this worldwide organisation’s campaign so these people can access the medicines they need without paying through the roof.

Sheffield’s Friends of MSF are committed to supporting MSF’s cause in everything they do, but what exactly does MSF do? Every year MSF sends medical aid and around 3,000 doctors, nurses, sanitation experts and other professionals to over 60 countries suffering from conflict, famine and natural disasters. The organisation began 40 years ago when a group of French doctors joined an international aid mission to help victims of Nigeria’s civil war. Frustrated by government interference in humanitarian aid and feeling they were being silenced when they wanted to tell the world about the atrocities they witnessed, they joined a group of French journalists to form MSF, to try and speak out for the victims and to provide care in an impartial way.

From those humble beginnings this small group of medics transformed into a successful international organisation, saving thousands of lives as they travelled to the far corners of the world providing aid. Now MSF has thousands of employees with head offices in 19 different countries, and in 1999 the organisation was awarded the Novel Peace Prize in recognition of the humanitarian work it carries out across a variety of continents.

Now the charity is helped mainly by specialist volunteers who take time out from their long-term stable careers to give their services to some of the most desperate people in the world. They risk their lives, face political instability and stress all to give a helping hand.

One such individual is Reginald Kingston, who was a General Surgeon at Manchester’s Trafford General Hospital. At the age of 60, he decided he had had enough of the NHS and embarked on missions to devastated countries around the world. In all, Mr Kingston went out into the field 12 times, performing emergency surgery in conflict zones. His humanitarian work with MSF and Medical Experts on the Front Line (MERLIN) has taken him to countries as varied as Rwanda, Liberia, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka and frequently into harm’s way, including at the hands of the Tamil Tigers - one of the most brutal terrorist groups in the world.

“Surgery had always been a fulfilling occupation for me but the NHS didn’t excite me anymore- it became too political,” he says. “I saw an article describing MERLIN, a smaller version of MSF, in the paper and went on two short missions.

“I got the bug and started working with MSF. It was such a rich experience, I met a lot of people from different backgrounds and different countries, but all with the same thought: to help people.

“It really is shocking how little health care is provided in the third world. You have to see it to believe it.

Nurses perform most of the surgery and the health care is provided by family.”

This year, Sheffield’s Friends of MSF are branching out into the community, helping people out on the streets of Sheffield to learn and contribute to this cause. Now they are calling for students from all walks of life to lend a hand and some experience to make this year the year that makes the most difference.

“Generally at some point in our lives, we want to make a difference to the world that we live in” says Abdi-aziz Suleiman, president-elect of University of Sheffield Students’ Union.

“As students, we look at our

degrees and wonder where it will take us. For those who want to make a difference out there, how can we use the skills we have acquired through our experiences at university? It seems however, that even as students we can play a big part.”

Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central says of MSF: “For over 40 years MSF have been providing medical aid to people affected by war, national disasters and famine.

“Their inspirational work is only made possible thanks to people volunteering their time and skills to help.

“I’d definitely encourage Sheffield students, both medical and nonmedical, to sign up, find out more and get involved.”

Looking at the situations in third world countries it is easy to say that the situation is too big and has gone too far for you to be able to help. What if that small group of French doctors had been defeated that easily? MSF would not have become the successful, world-wide, life-saving organisation that it is today. Anyone can help; it only takes one person who wants to make a difference in the world for it to actually happen.

Sultana Begum, Vice President of Sheffield’s Friends of MSF, said: “As a non-medic, you’re probably sitting there wondering how this is related to you.

“However, not only do these populations require emergency medical aid, but they need infrastructure and support in many other ways regarding their day-today lives.”

Each department such as Chemistry, Engineering, Veterinary, Astronomy, Teaching, Languages and much more all have their own skills and experiences to offer to make a difference to the lives of those suffering for the better.

Students studying Business and Law can help with managing the finance and overall running of projects.

Psychology students can use their expertise in the role of a mental health specialist, and engineers can help with technical logistics and the overseeing of security protocol.

So, this could be your opportunity to realise what you can do to make a difference.

“

For those who want to make the difference out there, how can we use the skills we have acquired through our experiences at university?

Abdi-aziz Suleiman President-elect, Sheffield Students’ Union

”

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

Lifestyle & Travel

This fortnight:

We cannot wait until summer, it’s only four weeks away! Here is some of the stuff we are dreaming of...

FOUR OF THE BEST

Festivals this summer end of the road

Sziget

Lifestyle head down to the

bestival

August 31 - September 2 North Dorset Weekend tickets: £150 Highlights of the line-up so far at this wonderfully chilled-out festival include Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Midlake, Anna Calvi and Perfume Genius.

Growing in popularity every year, this is one festival you should definitely check out.

September 6 - 9 Isle of Wight Student tickets: £170 If you’re after some fancy dress and crazy decorations with your music then Bestival is definitely the festival for you. And with acts as eclectic as New Order, Sigur Ros, Justice and Gary Numan, you know you’re in for a decade-spanning weekend.

Primavera Sound

May 30 -June 3 Barcelona, Spain Tickets: 195 euros Finish your exams early or one those lucky few with only essays? Then head off to celebrate at Primavera in Barcelona, where you can see the likes of The Cure, Black Lips, Beirut and The Drums, among many others.

August 6 - 13 Budapest, Hungary Tickets: 225 euros If you like the sound of a week long festival on an island in the middle of Budapest, Sziget is for you. The music won’t disappoint either - highlights include Placebo, The Killers and Friendly Fires.

Zoë Antell

Review

Victoria Beardwood Tucked away in the unlikely location of Shalesmoor is the Nichols Building; an emporium of vintage, antique and handmade treasures.

If you like vintage or just something a little different then this is the place to visit.

The building is made up of various different businesses, all working together to create a wonderfully retro experience.

What’s more, if you’re in need of an energy-boost in between rummaging through the endless stock, there’s a sweet little café on the premises where you can grab a bite to eat.

One of the units situated within the Nichols Building is Dolly’s Delights, a shop true to its name, selling an

Orient Express

vintage

Lifestyle caught up with Jan Lupson (aka Dolly) to find out a bit more about how her vintage business works.

How did you get started in vintage?

Had you ever done anything like this before?

No, I hadn’t. I actually came to the Nichols building shopping.

Unexpectedly, there was a sign saying units available, and I guess I’m just one of those impulsive kinds of people.

It made sense, because I was buying a lot of vintage for myself and it was getting out of hand; I just had so much stuff.

This was just the perfect opportunity because now I can still shop and enjoy it, but don’t have to keep it all.

It’s not always about keeping it for me; I like finding things that will suit others.

Why do you think vintage has become so popular?

There are a couple of cheaper mainstream shops that are doing a lot of clothes in a more vintage style, so this is increasing it’s popularity. But the biggest influences are designers like Cath Kidston.

She brought it more to the forefront, but I think people are beginning to want real vintage.

Laura Davies & Olivia Adams Just two minutes walk from everyone’s favourite place, the Information Commons, Orient Express is the perfect place for a tasty dinner treat.

The atmosphere in this authentic Chinese restaurant is always vibrant, and come lunch or dinner it is always full of people.

We visited at a quieter time, earlier in the evening, where we were able to absorb the more calming atmosphere and the delicate decor; hand-painted murals on the walls and ceilings and big round wooden tables.

The atmosphere could only have been better complimented by some more traditional Chinese music; we felt that British pop didn’t quite suit.

Service was swift and professional.

Recommendations were happily given to us by our friendly waiter, so we began our experience with a classic choice; duck pancakes with hoisin sauce for just £7.

They were delicious. The quarter duck was tender and not dry or greasy, and there was more than enough for the two of us.

A slight break would have been

assortment of delightful clothing and homeware.

Do you think it’s a good thing that it’s become so mainstream?

appreciated, but all impatient diners will be satisfied as our mains rapidly followed.

We had chosen to share Kung Po Chicken (the Chinese favourite apparently) and crispy shredded beef in Peking sauce accompanied by a genrous portion of egg-fried rice.

Most mains cost around £7 and egg-fried rice set us back a mere £2.

All was superb. The Kung Po chicken was tender and packed with spicy chilli which didn’t overwhelm, but complemented the vegetables and was calmed when eaten alongside the tasty egg fried rice.

The beef was sticky and slightly sweet, a nice contrast to the soft

chicken, although more beef less crisp would have been better.

The portion sizes were overly generous which made for great value for money.

Prices aren’t cheap, this is no Oasis Pizza, but for West Street standards this is below average.

Although we stuck to water, the wine menu was certainly appealing, ranging from £11.80 to £13.90 for a range of bottles of wine from Sauvignon to Merlot.

We were simply too full to sample the dessert menu, but we must admit, the chilli and chocolate ice-cream was certainly tempting.

Perhaps if we had sacrificed one of our tasty mains then we could have squeezed in a portion of Sheffield baked passion fruit cheesecake, for just £2.80.

Judging from the brimming tables all week nights and weekends, the Orient Express has built up a fantastic reputation in the city centre, popular with international students and locals alike.

Whether you are going for a light lunch, a blow out evening meal or a pick-me-up from revision at the IC, we challenge you to find a tastier restaurant in such a great location.

Orient Express deliver for free when you order over £20.

Tel: 0114 2728260 290 Glossop Road Open every day, 11am-11pm

Yeah, it’s good.

There are still a lot of underground scenes, magazines and events. This is great, because vintage makes you feel as if you’re part of a little family. It’s a shame that more people don’t know that it’s happening.

If vintage is more

Student Life Guilia Smith

So lectures are nearly over 1. Say no to trashy TV and the hellish exam period is Firstly, cut all the unnecessary trashy TV that most students watch. upon us.

Be it Jeremy Kyle in the morning, This is the term where Loose Women at lunch, Come Dine the weather is always at its with me at dinner or Made in Chelsea best,yet the majority of us are at night, or whatever your addiction.

Cutting out those programmes will having to deal with the biggest give you more time to work in the day workload of the year – end of (or night) and still have time to go to Corp for a night filled with green pints. year exams.

But fear not, it is possible to have the best of both worlds 2. Plan things into your day during this final semester; As strange as it may sound if you have to look forward to – be it a you just need to be productive something night out, a dinner or just a coffee, havwith your time. ing a target and being able to count-

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012

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

Strawberries & cream

There’s nothing better than spending a day in the sunshine picking strawberries and then slathering them in cream.

Paradise islands

White sand, palm trees swaying in the gentle sea breeze, waves lapping at the shore and a pina colada in hand... we can hope.

21

No more I.C.

No more rush for the silent study area at 8am, and waiting up until midnight to book a group table. Hurray.

To be fair, I like the idea that someone is wearing it and loving it, because I can’t keep everything.

@ lifestyle@forgetoday.com facebook.com/ForgeLifestyle

Word on Campus

Interview: Dolly’s Delights Nichols Building to find out more about Jan Lupton, a.k.a. Dolly

@ForgeLifestyle

Our most embarrassing moments from first year...

Do you have any advice for someone considering starting a vintage business?

mainstream, then more people can enjoy it.

What’s your favourite thing about having a vintage business?

It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life and I don’t plan on stopping soon.

The most honest answer to that is the fun things I get to do. Like this interview, like being featured in a Channel 4 program, and attending the Exposure awards recently.

So I’d say the opportunities that I get, as well as all the people I meet.

What’s the best vintage era?

something in particular, we’ve got a lot of connections so can pretty much source anything.

Even if you’re not necessarily into vintage, you should come because the atmosphere’s brilliant and we have a café as well, so there’s something for everyone.

It is a lifestyle for me and I’m passionate about it; I’m sure it would be a fun experience for all.

Lots of vintage shops seem to just sell clothes and accessories. What made you decide to sell furniture and homeware as well?

I’d probably say my favourite era is the 50s.

I know it’s a bit trendy to say that, but it honestly is.

It’s the colours, the full skirts and that everybody was so innocent then; it seems like it would have been a lovely time to be alive.

Just think of Grease. I think if people lived a bit more like that now, then the world would be a much nicer place to live in.

I think a lot of vintage shops just use furniture and homeware as props and perhaps they think they’re too precious to part with.

Originally I did want to sell just clothing, but it’s very specific, and with the mix of people that come here I think I’d be cutting off a lot of customers.

Vintage homeware is becoming very trendy. It’s also more exciting having both clothes and homeware, and it gives a bit of variation.

First of all because it’s fabulous! I’d say mainly because we’re so huge.

This is a massive area and if you love vintage then it’s just full to the brim with treasures.

Every unit holder and anybody else that works here just live and breath vintage. If people want

Other than all of them? At the moment, it’s a beige leather jacket from the 80s that I’ve hung on a mannequin, because I do really love it and want everyone to see it.

There was also a fur coat that I wanted, but someone bought it.

Why should people come to Dolly’s Delights and the Nichols Building?

Do you have a favourite item that you sourced for your shop but really didn’t want to sell?

Definitely do it, but I’d say be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.

If it’s not something you know much about, then it’s probably not something you should go into.

Trends will inevitably pass. If you’re nervous of costs or commitment, just start small.

You can always start selling online, or somewhere like here [the Nichols Building], which is great as the commitment is fairly minor.

Then once you’ve started off, just go for it one hundred per cent.

Tell us about your plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee…

We’re holding a big free vintage-y party in the building.

Dolly’s will be running 10 per cent off everything and will be doing giftwrapped royal memorabilia and a free raffle.

Entertainment will be provided by lindy hop dancers, music and there will be plenty of food stalls.

Source Photography will be doing photo shoots upstairs on the day from £10.

We’ve also got the most amazing vintage hair and beauty artist coming from London, called Lipstick and Curls.

Get yourself some beautiful vintage style hair and make-up, then have a photo shoot for £45.

Anybody who attends will get a raffle ticket and a chance to win a hamper worth £25 – not bad for just turning up!

The Jubilee celebrations are on Sunday June 3 from 12-4pm, so pop along in your glad rags if you fancy partying it up vintage style.

Look out for Dolly being interviewed on Channel 4’s new home makeover show, Secret Removers, coming soon.

Dolly’s Delights The Nichols Building, First Floor, Shalesmoor, Sheffield, S3 8UY. Tel. 0114 27000279

Work hard, play harder? down the time will make you more likely to work harder than if you have an entire day with nothing to do but study.

3. Limit your nights out

Instead of going out the usual three or four nights a week, be selective.

Go out just once a week, but really let you hair down. Then spend the other nights studying to make up for it.

4. Be realistic

Set yourself achievable goals.

If you have one week before an exam and still haven’t done any work, it’s

not likely that you’ll be able to learn the entire module as well as keeping up with all your social arrangements.

If you’re in this situation, cut out all the things you don’t really need to be doing and you’ll be amazed at how much extra time you have on your hands.

5. Preparation is key

One way to avoid stress is to prepare in advance.

Start now, by making yourself a work timetable.

It helps if you have been prepared and organised throughout the year, but it’s not too late to start.

6. Give yourself a day off Give yourself an ‘off day’ where you completely relax and forget about revision.

Going to the gym will help increase your energy and make you happier, which will reduce stress and not make it feel as though your world is going to end.

So, however you decide to go about balancing your work and play life for this final term of uni, be it cutting down on TV, planning your day or going out less, if in doubt, take caution with this motto: work hard, play harder.

Perhaps for this one hard month of the year, we should all consider this play hard, work harder.

Fred: I kissed an Endcliffe mentor at Plug. Needless to say, awkwardness ensued when we met in the Student Village a few days later.

Tim: A friend was asleep after a heavy night at Leadmill, so I took the opportunity to shave one of his eyebrows off.

Sadly, my drunken conscience got the better of me, and I felt overwhelmed by guilt. Logically, I decided to shave one of my own off in sympathy. But now we both look stupid.

Hannah: I once went to pick up a parcel from the postman only to be locked out in my pyjamas for an hour. Eventually I had to call a passer-by to fetch security... who arrived in a big group and laughed at my pyjamas.

Anonymous: I started seeing a girl early in the year. It had been going well and we had reached the 3rd date, when I invited her back to mine. Little did I know, my witty housemates had made a shrine to her in my room, complete with extensive pictures of my new girl, with all other guys cut out and replaced with my own head. There were even tea lights surrounding her photos. Totally unaware, the girl entered my room infront of me...and I haven’t seen her since.

Chris: Our landlord decided to organise a house viewing, so we decided to make it a little more interesting. One guy was tied to a table in very few clothes, another was casually sitting in the bath with the door open, and questionable web sites were open on every computer screen. Needless to say the house viewing was eventful.

Jordan: I’d just hopped out of the shower when all of a sudden my door was flung open and in walked a Room Inspector. She awkwardly backed out, while I attempted to fashion a makeshift towel out of objects in my room.

Laura: For my birthday my lovely flatmates got a life-size Sex and the City poster from the cinema. They then proceeded to find the worst ever photos of me, and stick my face onto every character. Unfortunately, when we moved out of Endcliffe, we forgot to remove it from the broom cupboard... for the first six months of this year, my face has been staring out of E1 Howden, in Endcliffe.

Beth Johl

It’s National Doughnut Week!

May 12 - 19

A survey from Meadowhall Shopping Centre has revealed that the humble doughnut is in fact the region’s favourite guilty pleasure when it comes to a sweet treat.

Over 50% of respondents stated that they would choose to splurge their calories on a doughnut treat rather than any other sweet option.

The traditional US dessert has seen a massive surge in popularity in the UK over the past few years.

Krispy Kreme, the iconic American doughnut company, opened a coffee bar in Meadowhall Shopping Centre in October 2011 - and Yorkshire’s love of doughnuts have ensured this has been a massive success.

22

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

Friday May 18 2012

FORGE PRESS

Lifestyle & Travel

UMN L O C X SE

Student Life

How venturing abroad can enhance your horizons From nerves beforehand, to not wanting to return home

Sexting - the dos and don’ts of flirty fun The art of sexting is the new form of flirting.

Put simply, sexting is texting about sex.

It is quick, effective and it can begin to get the pulse (or whatever else) racing.

However, there are a few rules to abide by in order to make a lasting impression.

Firstly, start slow and begin to describe what you would be wearing or where it would all take place.

Excitement can gradually build up and the receiver can begin to picture being there with you.

After setting the scene, you should start to describe how you would get them in the mood.

This gives them the chance to try and envision what will come next, but it leaves you with an air of mystery.

By not giving too much away, you can expect a reply that moves the sexting from kissing to more physical actions.

But, with all this sexting going on, it is easy to get swept into the moment, which may cause a lack of concentration and a texting error that could kill the mood.

There are a few more rules to remember whilst all this imagining is going on.

Drunken sexting. This is a sexting error that could mean you come out more embarrassed than ecstatic.

We all like a cheeky flirt with a stranger, but try leaving the sexting until you know them a little better.

After all, waking up with a hangover is bad, but doubling up and experiencing an early morning cringe when re-reading sent messages can ruin anyone’s day.

LOLs. These should never be present in any sexting conversation.

Allowing these three small letters to creep into a text when sexting can kill the mood instantly.

Imagine trying to pull your best moves on someone and them laughing in your face –would you then want to still try and sleep with them?

Please remember: always check your sexts before sending them.

No-one wants a stray sext to be sent to any family member or distant friend.

This would cause utter shame and embarrassment for everyone involved.

Furthermore, most phones now have predictive text.

A careless error can change the whole tone of a sentence, and leave the receiver in confusion when trying to work out where you’re putting your ‘duck’.

Sexting increases the excitement and reduces face-to-face shyness, so go for it, and describe every detail you could wish for.

It can be your naughty little secret, and there is no need to sext and tell.

Lois Helan

Interning in China: Lawrence’s story Lawrence Russell & Ania Homa A big cloud was hanging above Sheffield, leaving many doubting the optimistic weather forecasts.

Six thousand miles away, in the city of Zhuhai, in southern China, some students were being pampered in pools filled with hot springs smelling of coconut, coffee and flowers.

After this self-indulgence, they sat at a round table and relished a traditional Cantonese dinner where, among other specialties, a peculiar black fish caught just over 20 minutes ago was served.

To the further annoyance of Sheffield dwellers, who probably chose to stay at home rather than go out at those rainy weekends, the students finished that relaxing day at a karaoke bar, where they got their own private room with wallwide flat screen television and a selection of songs from ‘the best of English language’.

The following day was very different.

They had to struggle with Chinese characters at Mandarin classes, and overcome the language and cultural barriers whilst working as an intern in local companies.

16 students from UK universities are spending this Easter break away from their homes to experience living and working in Zhuhai.

This opportunity was given to them by Study China Programmea scheme run by the University of Manchester and funded by the British government.

Along with the first ever southern China programme being run in Zhuhai, students have been placed in three further cities in China: Beijing, Jinan and Hangzhou.

Zhuhai is a Special Economic Zone, where many international companies have relocated their premises.

Intern China have been organising Chinese language (Mandarin) courses and internships for foreign students for over six years, and this year joined forces with the government funded Study China programme to provide 16 students with this once-in-a-life-time opportunity.

This is the very first time students have been able to do both the language course alongside gaining valuable Chinese business work

experience.

Amongst all of this, students are part of a home stay with a local Chinese family. This is seen as one of the biggest advantages offered

by Intern China, as students get a chance to experience Chinese culture in an authentic environment.

On this Easter programme, everyone spent 17 days in Zhuhai, exploring everyday life in China, as well as experiencing the business environment in local companies.

Yet, in spite of the great Chinese city and the Confucius Institute, which runs a couple of events and seminars every few weeks, there is still a low interest in Chinese culture and language in comparison to other cities in the UK. In the current economic situation, when many people look out to China for having the most investors, customers and tourists are needed to help its economy grow.

It is a great advantage for students, especially those reading

business degrees, to gain work and cultural experience.

There are plenty of opportunities out there to grab from the Study China Programme via Intern China.

Then all the Chinese coconuts, coffee, flowers, and Chinese hot springs can be within your reach.

Check out:

Intern China – www.internchina. com Study China Programme - www. servalan.humanities.manchester. ac.uk/studychina

Katie: A year in Russia is approaching

The mixed emotions of embracing the experience and fearing the unknown Katie Davies Everybody tells you that your year abroad is the best year of your life.

The new sights, the new people, a whole new way of life – what’s not to love?

In September, I’ll be heading off to live in Russia for a year. Tickets were booked last week, and everybody else is already dreaming of eating caviar in a city where the sun never sets.

The only problem is that I’m still stuck between a sense of adventure and a sense of terrible, dreadful, inescapable, impending doom.

I’ve never been to Russia. I don’t know anyone who’s ever been there.

It’s starting to feel like I don’t know anything at all.

Suddenly, I’ve realised that the ability to down five shots of vodka in 60 seconds is not going to help me - and as this is what I’ve been spending that last two years practicing, I’m pretty devastated.

I’m scared. Very scared. Right

now, I think hiding in my parents’ shed for a year seems like a very good alternative – and I know I’m not the only one.

Actually, there are probably so many of us crazy, worrying, yearabroad fearing students in Sheffield, we’ll be fighting for free shed space by the end of July.

So before the squabble’s over our favourite flowerpots begin, it’s time we worriers unite and start to face facts.

The year abroad is not going to disappear. So isn’t it time to embrace the stress? A little bit of worrying gets things done. My visas? Ready.

Insurance? Done. Travel vaccines?

Sorted.

Everything done five months early – of course. We’ve all been taught from the age of six that super-organised scheduling does not equal cool.

Think about it – did you ever see Kenan and Kel say: “I’ve had enough orange soda for one day- I’m really nervous for the exam, let’s go and prepare extra

early?”

But, if I’m being honest, nothing makes me feel better about my trip abroad than some slightly stressed nerding out.

Yes, fellow year abroaders – it’s time to embrace the fear.

It doesn’t matter that we’re all 20-something and are supposed to pretend like we know what we’re doing.

There’s nothing wrong with admitting that a colour-coded to do list will make you feel so much better.

We all know that our year aboard is supposed to be one of the best years of our lives – but no one ever said it was going to be easy.

Why shouldn’t you do whatever it is that’s going to make you feel better – even if that’s just good, pure geekiness?

Being cool? I couldn’t care less.

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012

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

23

Lifestyle & Travel

Student Life & Health

Healthy ways to procrastinate

Charlotte Elmore & Laura Davies

Exams are upon us and we are all trying to get out of revision. Here are Lifestyle’s top tips on healthy ways to escape from your towering heap of textbooks

Any excuse to avoid working is good, especially if it’s to rustle up something to boost your energy levels. Avoid temptation to reach for the nearest takeaway menu or vodka bottle and try out some of our tasty recipes that will not only fill you up, but will probably make your dark revision-filled world a slightly happier place.

Spaghetti bolognese You will need: Lean beef mince One onion Peppers Broccoli 300g passata (sieved tomatoes) One tsp garlic paste, mixed herbs and cajun spice Pasta Beef Oxo Cubes – makes it rich and tasty

Method: 1. Dice the onion and fry it in a little oil until soft.

2. Add the mince and brown it off.

3. Drain the mince and onions and then return them to the pan, adding the peppers and the broccoli.

4. Stir in the passata and add the herbs and spices to taste.

5. Simmer for 20 minutes, boil pasta for around 10 minutes.

6. Drain the pasta, spoon the bolognaise on top and you’re good to go.

Keep it Healthy: By draining the mince once it’s cooked and pouring boiling water through it until the juices run clear, this removes the excess fat that it releases as it’s cooked. Using lots of vegetables in the sauce not only makes it healthier than using just meat, but also makes it loads cheaper too. Freeze any leftovers for dinner later in the week.

Exams driving you nuts?

Nuts and seeds are packed full of vitamins, and can therefore boost your brain power. Full of vitamin E, Vitamin B, Omega-3 and protein, nuts are guaranteed to keep you feeling fuller longer. It has also been recently proven that eating 25-50 grams of nuts a day can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Grab a bag next time you do a big food shop and keep them in your desk drawer for those energy-lacking moments.

Banana berry smoothie

Diced turkey breast One onion Peppers Fajita wraps Schwartz Thai 7 Spice – though slightly pricier than own brand spices (about £1.50-£2), it lasts ages and is well worth it!

Method: 1. Fry off the turkey and onion in a little oil until the turkey is sealed (no pink is visible) and the onion is soft.

2. Add the peppers, and any other vegetables you fancy and stir until cooked (check the turkey is white all the way through).

3. Sprinkle on the spice, stirring with a spatula so it is evenly coated.

4. Serve with wraps, and add lettuce, natural yoghurt and salsa (optional).

Keep it Healthy: Turkey is typically the healthiest meat, and using the breast rather than the thigh means an even lower fat content.

Filled jacket potato skins You will need: One jacket potato Milk Butter Bacon (optional) Cheese

Method: 1. Pierce the potato with a fork several times, and bake it in the oven on about 180 degrees for an hour or until it is crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

2. Optional: cut your bacon into small pieces and grill.

3. Slice the potato in half, and scoop out the contents.

4. Put this in a bowl and add a dash of milk and some butter.

5. Mash this potato mixture together with a fork, adding cheese and bacon.

6. Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins, levelling the top out with a fork.

7. Grill for around 5 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Keep it Healthy: Avoid the cheese, and if using bacon make sure it’s grilled!

Also, using a low fat spread such as utterly butterly doesn’t affect the flavour at all, but cuts the calories.

You will need: Caramel snack-a-jacks Greek Yoghurt Toppings - fruit, nuts, chocolate...

Method: Easy, spread your Snack-a-Jacks with yoghurt and then load them with your chosen topping.

Mojito

Sex on the beach

Bramble

This student version of a Cuban classic could be the best revision break ever...

If alcohol isn’t your thing, then this can easily be made into a ‘Safe Sex on the Beach’, by missing out the vodka and schnapps.

A lesser known, but much loved cocktail.

Pour all ingredients over ice and stir.

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake. Serve in a tall glass.

You will need: 1 shot of white rum Half a lime, squeezed 3 shots of soda water A wedge of fresh lime Fresh mint leaves Crushed ice baltimoresun.com

You will need:

Snack-a-Jack bites

You will need: (to serve one) One banana Two cups of frozen mixed berries Two large spoonfuls of natural yoghurt A splash of orange juice

Method: 1. Chop banana into pieces and put into blender.

2. Add berries, yoghurt and orange juice.

3. Blitz until smooth.

4. Add orange juice until you reach your desired consistency.

Spicy turkey fajitas

You will need: 1 shot of vodka 1 shot of peach schnapps 2 shots cranberry juice 2 shots orange juice Ice

You will need: 1 shot of gin 0.5 shot of creme de mure or cassis (blackberry liquer) Dash of lemon juice Crushed ice Sugar syrup (optional) Mix the gin, lemon juice and thedrinkshop.com sugar syrup over the crushed ice. Pour the creme de mure over the top, so it trickles to the bottom.

24

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012 www.forgetoday.com

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

Coffee Break In Crookes: Girl: “I’m roasting in my own juices.”

overheard

in sheffield

In Interval: Guy: “I’m telling your Daddy, you cannot do that.”

In Bar One: Girl: “This beer is totally sobering me up.”

revsion breaks have a new friend: omg, Have you autocorrect errors seen...?

Everyone knows one, those irritating people who cannot help but show of their brand new iPhone.

Well done, you’ve spent an inordinate amount of money and can now draw pictures throughout your lectures. Great.

Of course, these feelings normally stem from the fact you are fantastically jealous and

In Rother Valley Country Park: Girl: “Standing around is actually more tiring than walking.”

Crossword Puzzle:

secretly covet that little cuboid of glass and metal.

However, until such a time when you have won the lottery and can bath in Apple products, take solace in the fact that iPhones are not always perfect.

We’ve all sent text messages to the wrong person, but the age of autocorrect has meant that even if they reach the right person they don’t always say what you meant them to.

Yes, the iPhone is so clever that it recognises words that you most commonly used, and in its wisdom sometimes replaces other words with these favoured few.

Of course, the most common words are normally not the words reserved for your parents.

So, if you are bored of organic chemistry and feel like a break from Byron, then why not google ‘autocorrect errors’ and have a silent guffaw in the IC. Just be careful not to get carried away, these distracting fails can become highly addictive and before you know it, you’ll be that annoying person forwarding them all to your housemates via Twitter.

Oh, and of course you won’t get any work done at all.

YouTube it:

Rick Santorum inspires people to write him songs

The Harris family, from Tulsa, Oklahoma believe in Rick Santorum.

They believe, and to show their support for him they stayed up until 3am writing a song about him.

They completed their masterpiece the next day, recorded it, created a video and then unleashed it onto YouTube.

Annoyingly catchy, and equally hilarious this is definitely worth a sneaky watch inbetween chapters of revision, although it didn’t help dear Rick in his campaign.

So for lyrics as beautiful as “Oh, there is Hope for our Nation again Maybe the First time Since we Had Ronald Reagan.”

YouTube search “Rick Santorum song”

man lost for a month after spousal row

Across: 1. Great carelessness, slapdash (9) 3. Form of practise in preparation for a public performance (9) 7. Hindu goddess of learning, music and poetry (9) 8. A compulsive preoccupation with something or someone (9) 9. Elegant and persuasive oratory (9)

Down: 2. The act of trifling or fondling; wanton play (9) 4. Egyptian falcon-headed solar god (5) 5. A domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar (5) 6. A member of a southeast African People (5)

Never, ever tell your better half that they cannot cook.

Imagine the scene. It’s cold outside, you’ve had a hard day at work and are shivering in your boots. Then your wife has the audacity to serve you cold soup.

Yes, cold soup.

So, of course, you have a bit of a dig and before you know you’re storming outside into the cold in protest. Not the most mature response, as one Russian man found out.

Yuri Ticuic, found himself in the middle of a forest withstanding sub-zero conditions for over a month after an argument with his wife.

M Ticuic complained bitterly to his wife after she served him cold soup, and then stormed out of the house in a pook after an argument ensued.

The 69-year-old man walked and walked, and soon became lost as he couldn’t find his way back to

Sudoku Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight:

his home in Altai, Russia.

Mrs Ticuic thought that he had finally left her, as he remained lost for over a month in the heart of the dense forest in freezing conditions.

Ticuic explained: “I walked and walked but after a few hours I didn’t have any idea where I was and I couldn’t find my way back.

“I thought I was going to die.

The temperatures were sub-zero and I was getting really weak.”

However, he has now discovered that there are worse things than his wife’s inedible cold soup as he survived by consuming berries and leaves. Yummy.

Farmworkers eventually found him suffering from severe frostbite and he reported that: “One day I heard voices and saw some farm workers. I called them and they managed to get me to hospital.”

Mr Ticuic now knows on which side his bread is buttered, saying:

H

Fletcherize (verb): To chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.

“The two extra months at sea gave him an insight into a great business, and he had the time to fletcherize his ideas.”

- Elbert Hubbard, Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great: Volume 11 Origin: Fletcherize is named for the American dietician Fletcher Horace, who advocated chewing each bite of food at least 32 times in order to truly enjoy it.

a

Random Fact of the Week: ‘Formicophilia’ is the fetish for having small insects crawl on your genitals.

Lecture Puzzle Corner: Noughts and Crosses:

r

On this day: On May 18 1652, Rhode Island passes the first law in Englishspeaking North America making slavery illegal.

Rhode Island was also the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776.

“No matter what happens, that’s the last time I criticise my wife’s cooking. Anything is better than hay grain.”

Doctors say he is lucky to be alive, but fear they may have to amputate his legs.

“They are severely damaged from frostbite and it may not be possible to save them,” said a hospital spokesman.

d

Can you place six X’s on a noughts and crosses board without making three-in-a-row in any direction?

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com

25

SPORT

Matchdebating

Debate: Is the current re-development of the Goodwin hockey pitch into 3G a mistake?

This redevelopment Hockey participation will damage our club just not high enough Kieran Bhakta Sport Sheffield’s decision regarding the removal of the bottom hockey pitch and replacing it with a 3G pitch resulted in a huge uproar by the Sheffield University Hockey Club.

The consequences of this decision are to have detrimental effects to one of the biggest and most successful sports clubs in the Union.

After last season Sport Sheffield replaced the top astroturf with the cheapest grade of artificial pitch that passed hockey regulations, deeming it “suitable for standard hockey use.”

“The University hockey playing capacity will be severely reduced” Within a season’s use, hockey players and even umpires have commented on the poor playing quality of the surface and in some circumstances, questioned it actually meeting the criteria for a hockey pitch.

Now, at the end of the current season, Sport Sheffield are removing the hockey clubs’ preferred lower pitch, where not

only the pitch quality is better, but also where there are better facilities for spectators to watch both the University and Bankers teams.

At the outset, it is inconsiderate to the 17 hockey teams that require use of the facilities to be forced onto just one pitch, when the astroturf they are now replacing was already earning revenue from 6-a-side football; a surface that the football players were perfectly content to use.

The University hockey playing capacity will be severely reduced which could have a damaging effect on the amount of BUCS points generated by the hockey club and hence the University.

Alternatively, Sport Sheffield could have stuck to the message that they send out on their website, claiming that Sheffield Sport: “provides opportunities to represent the University in national competitions and supports some of our top national and international student sportsmen and women whilst studying at the University of Sheffield.”

If that was their real aim, then they could use the huge profit raised from their existing 3G facilities, and considering the future revenue of the new pitch, to invest in a high quality playing surface like the majority of Universities have, dedicated to hockey.

Instead, as a result of their actions, top-level student sportsmen and women will be deterred from the University of Sheffield due to its poor facilities for hockey, especially when there are so many excellent hockey facilities at Leeds Met and Sheffield Hallam.

T h i s will also negatively impact the sporting ambitions of a club w i t h a long history in the local community.

In an O l y m p i c year when Britain wants to be proud of nurturing s p o r t i n g talent and encouraging all sports, S p o r t Sheffield seem t o b e doing the exact opposite with purely f i n a n c i a l ambitions.

Please note, these views are of Kieran Bhakta and Joe McTaggart.

Arnold Bennett For the past couple of weeks the University of Sheffield Hockey Club has been outraged at Sport Sheffield’s decision to replace the bottom hockey pitch with a 3G surface that’s, unfortunately, not best suited to hockey.

I completely understand the Hockey Club’s frustration at not being fully consulted in this matter, but I have to say that I fully support Sport Sheffield’s decision in this case, if not the process in which they came about it.

A sense of aggrievement is completely normal when someone takes something away from you, I completely understand why this returfing would outrage the hockey community, but that doesn’t mean Sport Sheffield’s actions aren’t for the greater good of the sport community.

In their statement regarding the issue, the Hockey Club admit that the shock absorbers in the new 3G pitch make the surface suitable for competitive contact sports such as football, rugby, american football and lacrosse.

“What this debate boils down to is a matter of resources” Furthermore, the current sports officer Ben Baldwin has already stated that hockey players ‘won’t lose any pitch time in terms of training or matches’.

He also adds, “In an ideal situation we would have more room. It’s a case of this pitch suiting more clubs in the future”.

What this debate boils down to is a matter of resources. What I’m about to say might offend some people, outrage others and quite possibly resonate with a few too, but here goes.

It’s only hockey.

I don’t mean this in terms of quality, I’m not making a statement regarding the valuation of hockey as a sport, as I’d be the first to admit I don’t play nor do I watch hockey. I’m talking purely in terms of student participation.

Nobody can argue that a 3G pitch capable of supporting the aforementioned contact sports, including football and rugby (the two most popular sports within Sports Sheffield) is less valuable to the student community than a pitch which primarily benefits hockey, and hockey alone.

Currently Sports Sheffield have one full sized 3G pitch, and two full size ‘hockey’ pitches. Considering the demand for both it seems completely reasonable for a restructuring of resources to be made.

The Hockey Club do have a legitimate argument about the quality of the single remaining hockey pitch (which is completely inadequate), and I fully support any campaign to have that surface relaid.

However, considering the assurances made that would prevent a decrease in both training and match time for hockey players, and taking into account the already over-congested facilities for the most popular contact sports, I simply cannot see a mature argument to suggest that Sports Sheffield should have two hockey pitches rather than two 3G ones.

I am arguing for this on behalf of all the sports clubs at the University of Sheffield.

Rather than think about the individual hockey club, I am thinking about the collective sports clubs.

Canoe believe it? Sheffield take BUCS silver Canoe Polo BUCS FInals

Azariah Jenney The University of Sheffield Canoe Club won silver medals at BUCS finals in Doncaster. The final went into extra time after a golden goal before Cambridge narrowly stole victory.

The Canoe Polo Team comfortably made the semi-finals after beating Warwick 4-1, Loughborough 2-0, Dundee 6-2 and Bristol 6-2.

The A-team’s semi-final was against Durham, represented by a team including three Great

Britain players. A low key first half lit up early in the second half when Matt Titman scored the only goal of the game, before settling down into a game of ‘keep ball’ for the remainder of the half to secure a place in the final, where the A-team were to play Cambridge.

The final was a wellattended game by the spectators, despite the rain which had finally arrived in force, and saw Sheffield take an early lead with a goal from Dan Bailey. They were able to hold it until half time, when the mood was positive and upbeat about the game.

However, some hard work in the first half was undone by some sloppy passing, allowing

Cambridge to score a goal on a quick counter-attack to take the game to extra time.

Sheffield had a host of chances in the Golden Goal overtime, but was unable to capitalise upon Jack Philip’s good saves and Cambridge scored on another quick attack to win the game.

The B-team came 11th place in the reed category of BUCS. The B-Team played well as a team despite little practice prior to the competition.

Goals were scored all around as well as some fantastic saves and brilliant defensive work. With each game played the team play improved dramatically, finishing in an exciting

final game against Bangor B-team, which was so close that it lasted not only the length of the game, but 15 minutes of extra time on top.

For the first time in several years the Canoe Club entered a woman’s polo team in what is otherwise a male dominated sport. Due to illness the girls’ team was a woman down for the entirety of the tournament as well as having members that had never played before, but they still played well despite these circumstances.

Club captain Tom Drake said: ‘‘It shows that Sheffield Canoe Club is at the top of its game.”

The Canoe Polo team celebrates

Photo: Kester Gunn

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Porter delivers Wembley for battling Blades Football Npower League 1 Sheffield United 1 Stevenage 0 (United win 1-0 on Aggregate) Matthew Smith For 175 minutes, it looked as if neither side wanted to win this game, until Chris Porter popped up to head home his first goal in 17 games, and send the Blades to Wembley, where they will face Huddersfield.

With Richard Cresswell unavailable with an eye infection, United named an unchanged line-up from the stalemate at the Lamex Stadium, and headed into the game in front of over 21,000 fans as favourites. But in a dull opening half, they failed to live up to that tag against a very well disciplined and hard to break down Stevenage side.

The visitors had the first effort within a minute, Luke Freeman and Patrick Agyemang interplaying effectively before Agyemang’s shot was deflected wide. After seven minutes, though, Sheffield had the best chance of the first period. A deep ball from Matt Hill was nodded on by Kevin McDonald, the ball bounced to Porter, whose stooping header was excellently saved low down by Chris Day. The Blades had far more

possession in the first half, but the quality of ball from Lee Williamson and Ryan Flynn on the wings was visible by its absence.

The second half saw an improvement in quality.

McDonald was removed with a hamstring injury, replaced

by Nick Montgomery, and United looked fresher. After 55 minutes, Porter showed good industry down the right, finding Williamson at the near post, but the midfielder awkwardly volleyed wide. A minute later Flynn’s 22-yarder went two yards wide of the left post, with Day scrambling.

Stevenage responded by replacing Robin Shroot with John Mousinho, pushing Freeman to left midfield, and the former Arsenal youngster looked freer as he cut inside Matt Lowton, and shot low from 15 yards, forcing Simonsen’s first save of the game.

The Blades goalie was then stretched further on 79 minutes; Harry Maguire blocked Freeman’s shot, it broke 20 yards out for left-back Scott Laird to hit a pile driver to the top left-hand corner, which Simonsen tipped over. A minute later, Michael Bostwick’s 35-yard low free-kick also troubled the stopper, who gathered at the second attempt.

But it was to be United’s night.

On 85 minutes, Lowton played a deep cross in, which Porter met to guide down past Day.

Chris Porter has Sheffield United heading for Wembley

Photo: Blades Sports Photography

Rocket blasts to Crucible win World Snooker Championship Round-Up

Stuart Hill The World Snooker Championship provided an intriguing 17 days in Sheffield, with the two biggest stories of the event featuring two of the game’s greats. Ronnie O’Sullivan took the title for the fourth time, while Stephen Hendry – seven times champion in the nineties – announced his retirement.

O’Sullivan emerged victorious with an 18-11 win over Ali Carter in the final at the Crucible. ‘The

Rocket’, as he is known, got into his stride early in the event, seeing off former champions Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson in the first three rounds before overcoming Matthew Stevens in the last four.

O’ Sullivan’s troubles with depression have been welldocumented and his final opponent has had his own health problems. Carter suffers from Crohn’s Disease and seriously considered retiring from the game earlier in the season.

However, he will be encouraged by a run to the final which saw him defeat Mark Davis,

Judd Trump, Jamie Jones and Matthew Stevens before falling to the class of arguably the game’s most gifted player ever.

Hendry, meanwhile, bowed out in style, with a maximum 147 break in the first round, and a crushing 13-4 defeat of defending Champion, John Higgins.

After his defeat against Stephen Maguire in the quarterfinal, Hendry declared “this is me finished from tournament snooker.”

However the glory laid with O’Sullivan, who indicated, despite rumours of his own retirement, that he is ready to continue.

Wednesday celebrate with civic reception Captain Michael Doyle led the celebrations

Football Adam Hancock Sheffield Wednesday ended an excellent season with a civic reception at Sheffield town hall.

The evening was a chance for the players and management to celebrate their promotion back to the Championship, and thousands of fans turned out despite the poor weather.

Wednesday collected their promotion trophy, as the players paraded on the balcony in front of their adoring fans.

Captain Rob Jones expressed his joy at promotion saying: “It’s fantastic. As a little boy you just dream of playing for your club, never mind captaining them.

“It’s incredible. The players, staff and supporters have been terrific all season. The main aim now is to keep moving forward.

“League One is not where Sheffield Wednesday should be, the Championship is probably not where they should be. It is a Premiership outfit.”

Jones praised the impact manager Dave Jones has had since joining the club towards the end of the season, but also praised the work of former boss

Photo: Blades Sports Photography

Gary Megson.

“He brought a lot of these players into the club and put us into this position eight months into the season.”

Dave Jones joined the club when they were neck and neck with city rivals Sheffield United in the race for promotion. Jones ensured the club were unbeaten for the rest of the season and was in victorious mood, saying: “It’s a fantastic feeling, when you see the fans and everything else it just makes you happy and very delighted you have delivered something that they wanted.”

Jones, 55, also heaped praise on Wednesday’s loyal supporters who have backed their team despite the lowly league position they find themselves in.

“They come out in all sorts of weather anyway, so they aren’t gonna miss this tonight. Come rain, hail or snow they weren’t gonna miss it and it’s fantastic to see them.”

Owls striker Nile Ranger, who scored one of the goals against Wycombe that helped Wednesday clinch promotion, was cautious over his future. The front man is currently on loan from Newcastle and unsure where his future lies.

“I’ve got four years at Newcastle, but I’m not too sure,

anything can happen.”

His future may well depend on decisions made by Chairman Milan Mandaric. The Serbian owner took charge of Wednesday in November 2010 and is delighted that the club is now heading in the right direction.

“I can’t put a price on what it means to see those fans, so many happy people outside.

“Now the next chapter is the Premier League. This is where this club belongs. It is a very, very big club, with great supporters, a fantastic city and I think we do everything we can and especially me on my part to contribute to that.

“League One, this club just doesn’t belong there, absolutely not. I’m so delighted, it was not easy to get out of there and head in the right direction.”

Mandaric also assessed Wednesdays chances in the Championship saying: “We’re gonna be competitive, all of our players will have a full pre-season with the new manager, “He is very experienced and knows what needs to be done.”

It’s clear to see that despite promotion, the Owls are already aiming much higher.

Jose Semedo and Gary Madine.

Photo: Adam Hancock

FORGE PRESS Friday May 18 2012

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Netball take top honour at Awards

Photo: Will Aitkenhead

Chris Murrall guides Sheffield away from relegation.

Photo: Ailsa Hickey

Netball celebrate the evening’s top honour Will Aitkenhead Sheffield’s sporting stars celebrated their successes of the past year on a glittering night at the Octagon on Wednesday.

It was the seventh Sports Awards night and former England and Southampton footballer Matt Le Tissier was the guest speaker and it was a night to remember for those who attended.

Le Tissier’s speech was full of amusing anecdotes from his career including some stories from his time on Soccer Saturday. He recounted how he scored his first league goal in the old Division One against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. When asked whether he fancied going into football management at all he replied with, ‘why would I want to work six days a week when I can only work six days a month.’

He went on to tell the 500 strong audience how Glenn Hoddle was his hero as a kid and how he was once mistaken for former England cricketer Phil Tufnell by an old lady.

Sports Officer Ben Baldwin gave an assured speech on the future of Sport Sheffield and thanked Andy Cox for the continued hard work that he puts in. Cox also gave a speech on the excellent health of sport at the University and looking forward to the year ahead.

On the awards front Netball picked up the most coveted gong as Club of the Year and their coach, Kate Vivian also picked up Coach of the Year.

Byron HaywoodAlexander from the Ski Club was awarded freshman of the year and Hollie Webb was Sports Personality of the year.

As for the team awards, Men’s Basketball picked up most improved club and Team of the Year was the Men’s Squash 1st Team.

Club Sport Member was Rob Firth from Ice Hockey and Tolu Osinubi picked up the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award for her efforts for the Ladies Rugby Club over the last five years.

It was Netball’s night though as the whole club came up onto the stage to collect the trophy for Club of the Year. After the event Club Captain Ailsa Hickey said: “I am just incredibly proud to picking up this award on behalf of the club. It’s been a fantastic year and we’ve all pulled together through some tough times.

“I just think that we are all so proud to be members of the club and it was a great night for all involved.”

Talking about their coach, Kate Vivian, she said, she was incredibly humbled just to be nominated, “I would like to thank everybody involved with the club for a terrific year once again.’”

There were undoubtedly some sore heads on Thursday morning among the 46 sport clubs through the University after a terrific night that was organised by the Sports Committee.

First XI survive Cricket BUCS Northern League 1A

University of Sheffield 1st XI 228/3 University of Liverpool 1st XI 176/7 Will Aitkenhead The 1st XI finished their league season with a comprehensive 52 run win over Liverpool. Captain Chris Murrall made 80 not out to ensure the win that cements their position in League 1A for next season.

Having won the toss for the first time this season, Murrall decided to bat first at Wath Cricket Ground on a day billed as ‘Survival Wednesday,’ with the winner guaranteed to stay up. to

Ali Haynes went early a dubious caught

MacWilliam interview Continued from back page MacWilliam admits some concerns however, “I’m a little apprehensive about some aspects, in particular the disruption to the Union caused by the University House redevelopment.”

He concluded positively, “Sportsmen and women will hopefully experience the benefit of my work

Chris Porter: Stepped up to head Sheffield United’s winning goal in the play-off semi-final, with Cresswell injured, Beattie suspended and Evans in prison.

when they join and participate in any of the 47 clubs. As I mentioned previously, I think that the Olympics will create a buzz about sport this summer and we will be ready to harness the excitement in September at events like the Sport Fair.”

It looks set to be an exciting year for all involved in sport at the University.

The Octagon in all its glory.

Photo: Anne-Marie Allan

behind decision but Will Aitkenhead and Murrall built well in tricky conditions. Once the shine went off the ball, however, it was easier to score and they added 93 before Aitkenhead was out for 53 caught and bowled.

Mark Williams’ entry to the crease ensured an increase in the run rate and Sheffield had reached 141/2 heading into the last ten overs.

Williams was run out for an excellent 49 but Murrall and Charl Jones (23*) kept the momentum going and got Sheffield up to 228/3 from their allotted overs.

With the ball Sheffield were back to their best and it didn’t take long to make in roads into the Liverpool batting line up.

Chris Hooper picked up the first wicket with the score on 40 as he clean bowled opener Breddy for 16.

Liverpool were soon reduced to 92/5 as Williams (2/32) and David Gibson (2/24) both produced excellent spells.

Gibson’s control over his off breaks was a joy to behold and he was helped by some excellent work by debutant wicket keeper Josh Rodgers who picked up a stumping with some smart work.

Rodgers then snaffled another stumping off the bowling of Jones as the game was won in the middle overs by the

Sheffield side. Liverpool never got back into the game and finished their 40 overs 176/7.

It is the first time that the University have managed to stay in the top division and captain Murrall had this to say after the finish, ‘We knew we had it all to do today and we came out with a really professional performance.

“Everyone took responsibility and we got our processes right.

We’ve set a good platform this year to build on next year and hopefully we can challenge at the top.”

Michael Goodfellow was the hero at the Norton Arena as the second XI had a remarkable win over a strong Sunderland side. They restricted the opposition to just 139 with four wickets for leg spinner Rhys Morgan and three each for Steve Wellman and Shaad Silby.

Sheffield were cruising to victory at 88/3 as Alex Griffiths made an excellent 49 but having got to 102/5 they lost four wickets without adding a run.

At 102/9 top order batsman Michael Goodfellow came to the crease having split the webbing in his hand earlier.

With his fingers glued back in place, Goodfellow played an incredible innings with one hand to smoke 35 not out and take them over the line.

Forge Sport’s heroes and villains of the fortnight Heroes Villains Pastor Maldonado: In his second season in Formula One, the Venezuelan scored his maiden victory for Williams in Spain, the Britain-based team’s first win since 2004.

Steve Kean: Footage of Kean attacking former boss Sam Allardyce has led Big Sam to ponder legal action, days after Blackburn were relegated

Ben Baldwin: Our outgoing Sports Officer has asked for an apology in this final edition, despite his attempts to ban live Varsity coverage.

No chance.

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Goodwin 3G conversion leaves hockey crushed

MacWilliam ready to ‘harness’ Olympic interest as sports officer Will Aitkenhead

Photo: Chris Kelk

Redevelopment is already well underway at Goodwin (inset), which is bad news for hockey.

Matthew Smith The University of Sheffield Hockey Club has reacted with dissapointment and anger after it emerged that their main pitch at Goodwin is to be replaced with a 3G surface unsuitable for their sport.

This leaves one of the University’s biggest sporting societies, with 18 separate teams across various levels, including the historic Bankers, with one home pitch to play on.

“We, as a club, were not involved in any discussions before this and this was an immediate shock to both our club along with Bankers”, said former club chairman Joe Battman, in a statement on the club’s uSport page.

“We were asked our opinion and on numerous occasions said we needed a higher quality playing surface than the top pitch and that a 3G pitch was completely unsatisfactory as far as the club was concerned.

“They took our opinions on board but have pretty much ignored them for, although they won’t say it, financial benefit.

“I even told them that both Bankers 1s and Uni 1s would be relegated within two seasons if a higher quality pitch wasn’t laid down.

“A final decision has been made for a 3G pitch, but there is still a lot of work going on in the background to fight this through ourselves and Bankers.”

Sports Officer Ben Baldwin defended the University’s decision, claiming “I totally understand their frustration about losing the pitch.

“But the key thing to understand in this situation is that they won’t lose any pitch time in terms of their training and matches.

“They need to have the adequate facilities, and it’s something to look at in the future to make sure the top pitch is suitable for their needs.”

Baldwin said they met with a representative of the hockey team before Christmas, and that the team was aware of what was going on.

However, he did not eleborate on the events of these meetings.

“In an ideal situation we would have more room. It’s a case of this pitch suiting more clubs in the future.

“But the key issue is making sure hockey have adequate facilities on the top pitch.”

The new 3G surface will have shock absorbers installed beneath. This will make it suitable for competitive contact sports including football, rugby and lacrosse.

The hockey club now intends to take their fight onto a national level, claiming to have notified local and national newspapers.

They have also claimed to have had contact with ‘a man’ – as yet unnamed – who works with Lord Coe on London 2012.

Battman concludes his website statement with “Old Seb would not like to see an Olympic sport suffer in the year of the home games would he?”

Andrew Cox, club sport manager at Goodwin, was unavailable to comment on this story.

This year, the hockey club had a successful season, with the Bankers firsts finishing second in the Northern Premier Division.

However, this year’s Varsity tournament provided few glories for the club, with only the women’s firsts winning for the University of Sheffield.

The men’s firsts were thrashed 9-3 at Abbeydale.

What’s on your mind?

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With the end of the academic year rapidly approaching we met up with incoming sports Officer, Luke MacWilliam, as he prepareo for the year ahead.

MacWilliam officially begins on July 1 and is confident of a smooth transition from Ben Baldwin, commenting that, “I have a good relationship with Ben and am confident that he will provide a comprehensive handover before I officially take over.”

He went on to pay testament to the hard work that Baldwin has put in and believes that, “he cares about the future of sport at Sheffield and I know that he will want to leave me in the best position possible.”

MacWilliam believes it is an exciting year ahead with the Olympics in London and his main aims centre on the Games. He wants to “harness the added interest in Olympic sports generated by the Games,” whilst he is also keen to, “ensure that we see further increases in participation across all levels of sport.”

A key aim of MacWilliam’s is to increase the coaching qualifications for those already at the University. “With these qualifications they will be able to coach other members of the club, especially beginners, to raise the level of performance.”

Crucially the target is to get first and second years qualified - “[they should] be able to impart the coaching skills for as long as possible, giving them valuable experience to take with the after they leave, and benefit the club for the maximum amount of time.”

Another of MacWilliam’s key aims is that he desperately wants to end the University’s nine-year drought at Varsity and will stop at nothing to ensure that that trophy ends up in our union next year.

It won’t all be plain sailing, however, and MacWilliam has admitted that there are some obstacles to get over in the year ahead. “We must work to improve the relationship between students and Goodwin Sports Centre. I will push so that the importance of student sport across the board gets the recognition it deserves.”

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